Sermons on Spiritual Fire:

Christian Optimism

Contributed by Richard Tow on Nov 17, 2003

Using quotes from sailors who survived the sinking of USS Indianapolis this sermon demonstrates how perspecive and point of reference impacts our state of happiness. Several reasons for Christian Optimism are discussed.

Christian Optimism II Tim. 1:12 6-23-02 On July 16, 1945 the USS Indianapolis left the San Francisco Bay carrying mysterious box to Tinian, a small island in the west Pacific. Nobody knew that in the box was the Atomic Bomb that the Enola Gay would soon drop on Hiroshima. After making the ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 84:11-12, 2 Timothy 1:12

Denomination: Charismatic

Ambassador

Contributed by Eric Bland on Jun 20, 2003

The necessity of being an ambasssador, being reconciled to and accepting Christ.

Ambassador Eric A. Bland Paul, a man that I admire very much, was a man that was willing to give up everything in order to serve our Lord and our God. He was willing to give up the uppity up lifestyle to subject himself unto God. And because he was willing to give up the world, God was able to ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

I'm Not Perfect, But ... Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jun 21, 2003

We justify not being mature by claiming that we are just like everyone else, or that we are at least working on that goal. But our example is Jesus, who gathers up our incompleteness into Himself and shows us the way to mature.

When I first announced the title of this message, “I’m Not Perfect”, somebody was sharp enough to reply, “Yes, we’ve noticed, we’ve noticed.” Well, thanks a heap! Don’t you know by now that when I say something self-deprecating, you are supposed to shower me with compliments and bathe me in ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 2:1-10, Hebrews 2:1-18

Denomination: Baptist

Mixed Signals: Awesome And Owesome

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jun 21, 2003

A banner was posted with a misprint: owesome instead of awesome. But it is nonetheless true: we owe some love to one another, we owe some urgency to ourselves, and we owe some loyalty to Christ.

As some of our youth discovered last week, it is not as easy as it looks to preside over a worship service. It is not as easy as it looks, because you have to read signals. You start to do something, and someone in the back waves at you. Meanwhile, someone else on the front pew is ...read more

Scripture: Romans 13:8-14

Denomination: Baptist

The Turning Of The Hearts Of The Fathers And The Children

Contributed by Abraham Shanklin on Jun 28, 2003

Welcome to Father’s Day 2003. This is a great day to reflect on being a father, having a father, or being a witness to the value of a father in the life of children whether you had a father or not.

The Turning of the Hearts of the Fathers and the Children Scripture Reference: Malachi 4:5 – 6 Introduction Welcome to Father’s Day 2003. This is a great day to reflect on being a father, having a father, or being a witness to the value of a father in the life of children whether you had a father ...read more

Scripture: Malachi 4:5

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Grow Up And Be Like A Child!

Contributed by Alan Perkins on Jun 30, 2003

As we mature in Christ, we will necessarily become more like little children.

Several mornings this week, I stationed myself on the sidewalk in front of the church to welcome the children as they arrived for Vacation Bible School. I loved seeing them troop up the front steps, clutching their dimes and quarters for the offering. Sometimes, I would sneak up in the balcony and ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 18:1-4

Denomination: Baptist

Information Overload Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jul 3, 2003

We have so much knowledge, but we do not know how to use it. A reverent relationship to God readies us to respond when we lack courage, reinforces righteousness when we are doubtful, and retains reticence when we are tempted to say more than we understan

Only a few years ago, we replaced the old office computer. It was a dual-floppy drive type, if that means anything to you. We decided that we would get a newer computer, the kind with a hard drive on it, so that we could not only do word processing (for the uninitiated, that just means typing, ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 1:1-7, Proverbs 1:1-17

Denomination: Baptist

Are You Positive You Are Not Positive? Series

Contributed by Carolyn Malaika Foster-Brooks on Jul 3, 2003

This sermon is the first in the Christian Education Series: BAD CHOICES=FATAL MISTAKES which is targeted to African American women in the rural south specifically! HIV IS A KILLER IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT CANNOT BE IGNORED!!!

Evangelist Carolyn Malaika Foster-Brooks The Ministry of S.A.R.A.H. (serenity*atonement*restoration & healing) Lyons, GA. Pt. 1 of a series:BAD CHOICES=FATAL MISTAKES July 2003 PRAYER: Father God, Thank you for Your Divine guidance in directing me on a subject that our ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:21-26

Denomination: Baptist

Boasting In The Greatness Of God

Contributed by Kevin Higgins on Jul 5, 2003

Believers have great reason to boast in God.

Psalm 44:8 Boasting in the Greatness of God Introduction There is a wonderful song in our hymnal that I would like for you to find and read with me. It is Hymn #122, All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name. As we read use your imagination as you picture the angels falling prostrate or all the redeemed ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 44:8

Denomination: Baptist

Available For Liberation Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jul 5, 2003

When God called Moses to the task of liberating a people, Moses felt self-doubt, uncertainty about God, and unreadiness. Actually these are positive values that will lead us as American Christians to take our place in the world.

How do you feel about eager volunteers? What’s your reaction to the kind of person who is always ready to step up to the plate and take a swing at some issue? How do you really feel about those who quickly volunteer when something needs to be done? Maybe you remember what it was like to ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 3:1-14, Exodus 4:1-12

Denomination: Baptist

Yearning To Breathe Free

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jul 14, 2003

We yearn to be free. In Christ we can be transformed from a slave mentality, we can become agents of liberation, and we can come forth from self-imposed bondages. For Transfiguration Sunday and for Black History Month; uses poems (not replicated here)

The plan of God is that all should be free. All free. Free from the things that keep us from what God intends us to be. Free from oppression, free from hostility. Most of all, free from sin and death. That is the ultimate plan of God. We who have yearned to breathe free have not been ...read more

Scripture: John 11:38-44, Ecclesiastes 3:10

Denomination: Baptist

The Wild Man Series

Contributed by Byron Harvey on Jul 16, 2003

This is a message in a series I preached on Witnesses of Jesus Christ. Each message is preceded by a dramatic monologue, which is included.

Demoniac (Adapted from a drama originally performed by Curt Cloninger) “You go way from me. You go way from me. I know who you are, Jesus; I know who you are! You a holy man; You a holy man Don’t come up here by me; don’t come up here by me! No! No no no no no! Don’t come up here; don’t come ...read more

Scripture: Mark 5:1-20

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Just Say No Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jul 24, 2003

Like Job’s friend Zophar, we eagerly find faults with others, thinking that pointing out their mistakes is all that is needed, and failing to build a relationship first. Contrast with Christ, who "became sin" for us.

We are studying the very human issue of faultfinding during this Lenten season. We are using the story of Job and his friends, if you call them that, as they tried to console him, no, really, instruct him in his misery. Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar, three miserable comforters, Job said, because ...read more

Scripture: Romans 5:6-8

Denomination: Baptist

Why Do You Ask? Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jul 29, 2003

Neither conservatives nor liberals are really interested in learning; all want their opinions confirmed. Jesus teaches us how to deal with both by asking questions to test the argumentative spirit, to test honesty, and to get people to listen to their ow

Some folks want their religion to confirm everything they’ve already committed to, but other folks want, or say they want, a religion that will challenge to change. And there isn’t much common ground between these two types. Or is there? Some folks want their religion to confirm everything ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 19:16-18

Denomination: Baptist

It Was A Setup Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jul 30, 2003

We set ourselves up for failure if we are afraid to risk using all we have been given, if we are shy about our average-ness, and especially if we are ashamed of our poverty. Sermon for Martin Luther King Sunday

On one of our trips to Louisville to see about my mother-in-law, we stayed at a motel right next to a Baptist church. It happened to be a church which had been started as a mission congregation by my home church back when I was a teenager. I told Margaret that I remembered that vacant lot between ...read more

Scripture: Luke 19:11-27

Denomination: Baptist