Sermons on Spiritual Fitness:

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

Entertaining Angels (Hospitality)

Contributed by Alan Perkins on Jul 6, 2003

Hospitality isn’t just an admirable social skill; It’s essential for anyone who follows Christ. When we show kindness to outsiders, we reflect the character of God.

This morning, I’d like to talk about hospitality. Now, I realize that, being the Fourth of July weekend, you might have been expecting a sermon on a patriotic theme, something like "freedom", or "sacrifice", or "the faith of our founding fathers". So, to connect my topic with the holiday, I’ll ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 13:2

Denomination: Baptist

Get Out Of The Boat

Contributed by Denn Guptill on Jul 10, 2003

A look at Peter’s walk on the water

The entire world just disappeared. One minute it was there and the next minute, there it was gone. Well not really but it seemed like everything else had ceased to exist, and all there was left was Peter, the sea and Christ. It had started off as another boat trip across the Sea of Galilee for ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 14:22-39

Denomination: Wesleyan

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

Quitting Is Not An Option - Part #1

Contributed by Ric Freeman on Jul 14, 2003

Satan can’t win unless we quit

Why Quiting Is Not An Option - part #1 July 13, 2003 AM Matthew 14:22-26 Mark 4:36-39 This morning I want to deal with the spiritual implications of quiting -- Or giving up in times of difficulty. Tonight I want to look at the everyday realities of what happens when we quit -- But this morning ...read more

Scripture: Mark 4:35-39, Matthew 14:22-26

Denomination: Charismatic

Giant Killers Or Killer Giants

Contributed by Ric Freeman on Jul 15, 2003

victorious living

Killer Giants or giant killers? December 2, 2001 PM "Killing the giant of jealosy" 1 Corinthians 3:3 The ancient Greeks told the story of a swift athlete who came in second. He stood at the finish line, huffing and puffing as the crowd cheered -- Not for him, but for the winner. The second-place ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 3:3

Denomination: Charismatic

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

Blessed Are Those Who Mourn Series

Contributed by Victor Yap on Jul 29, 2003

Jesus: Friend of Sinners, Part 2 of 7.

BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO MOURN (LUKE 7:36-50) I had known for quite a while an elderly man who had two sons. The older son was the valedictorian of his school, a researcher at a Forbes 500 company and a visiting professor at a graduate school. The younger son paled in comparison; he was an average ...read more

Scripture: Luke 7:36-50

Denomination: Independent/Bible

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

Fire Of Glory, Fire Of Drought

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Aug 8, 2003

We have experienced the warm glow of God’s blessings, but the fire of judgment is also at hand, for worship becomes ritual, there is a critical spirit, and pessimism spreads. Diligence and integrity bring vitality in worship.

In all the annals of human history, there is one item which has held out more hope and yet offered more terror than any other. Wherever human beings gathered, in the infancy of our race, there this one item, this one element, both attracted them and repelled them; it drew them close and yet it ...read more

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 7:1-22

Denomination: Baptist

Showdown Series

Contributed by Paul Decker on Aug 10, 2003

We must have the courage to do battle.

SHOWDOWN I Kings 18:17-40 S: Courage Th: Profiles in Courage Pr: WE MUST HAVE THE COURAGE TO DO BATTLE. ?: Inductive KW: Sections TS: We will find in our study of I Kings 18:17-40 how the battle against evil is ensued. The _____ section of our story is the… I. CONTEST (17-19) II. CONDUCT ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 18:17-40

Denomination: Baptist

A Church Where Lives Are Transformed By Grace Series

Contributed by Bradford Robinson on Aug 10, 2003

This sermon looks at how we as the church need to be distinct from the world around us. It looks at life before and after salvation, and the need for a change in the life of a confessing beleiver. Includes study guide.

This past week the Episcopalian church elected its first ever openly gay bishop, Gene Robinson. The election has threatened to cause a split amongst the 2.4 million member denomination. When asked by a CNN reporter whether his election would cause a split in the church, Gene Robinson replied, “I ...read more

Denomination: Methodist