Sermons on Spiritual Life:

A Bookkeeping Nightmare

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Oct 27, 2010

Forgiveness is an act of understanding how much God has forgiven us; of the heart, making a changed spirit possible; and of the will, opening up all that God wants to do in us.

First Baptist Church of Gaithersburg, MD, October 4, 1979; Cresthill Baptist Church, Bowie, MD, June 8, 1980; Calverton Baptist Church, Silver Spring, MD, May 16, 1982; Takoma Park Baptist Church, Washington, DC November 24, 1985 Back in my early teen years I was a Monopoly freak. Not an ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 18:23-35

Denomination: Baptist

Double Your Money

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Nov 4, 2010

We think that we must protect what we have, and do not see those in need as brothers and sisters in disguise. But God puts back in our sacks more than enough when we walk on a mission of mercy and a journey of faith, caring for the hungry and needy.

Takoma Park Baptist Church, Washington, DC, October 16, 1988 (World Hunger Sunday) Somehow, when our whole orientation is consuming and enjoying and entertaining ourselves, we pay no attention to anything beyond today. What we have today we use, and assume that tomorrow will take care of itself. ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Curing Church Conflict-1

Contributed by Byron Sherman on Feb 21, 2011

1 of 3. James revealed the solution for conflict within the local church body. There is a known cure for conflict within the local church. But how is it challenged ? The cure for church conflict is challenged by....

CURING CHURCH CONFLICT—I—James 4:1-17 Attention: *Our own behaviors can circumvent the very cure we need. Need: The tensions in my church are are obvious. As soon as you step on the property you know it. Visitors sense it. The community talks about it. Everybody hates it. We’re losing ...read more

Scripture: James 4:1-17

Denomination: Baptist

Jesus In The Lion’s Den

Contributed by Gordon Curley on Nov 23, 2010

Opposition to Jesus. (PowerPoint slides to accompany this talk are available on request - email: gcurley@gcurley.info)

Reading: John chapter 7 verse 1-24. Ill: • A secondary school faced a unique problem. • A number of female pupils were going into the toilets and putting on lipstick. • But wearing lipstick was not the biggest problem; • After all if the Teacher noticed they would simply ...read more

Scripture: John 7:1-24

Denomination: Brethren

A Reason To Party Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Dec 26, 2010

It’s an odd phenomena: people stealing the baby Jesus from Nativity scenes. It’s called the "Stolen Baby Jesus Syndrome." Why would people do that, and what does it tell us about mankind and God?

OPEN: A few years back, Wellington, FL had their baby Jesus stolen two years running. This was a wealthy community and their Jesus was worth around $1800. The third time around they put a GPS inside and traced the thief to her home. But the baby Jesus doesn’t have to be expensive. In 2008, in ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 12:1-6

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

A Messiah's Sense Of Urgency Series

Contributed by Mark Schaeufele on Apr 1, 2011

Jesus emphasizes to us that the urgency to spread the Gospel is greater than ever before.

A Messiah's Sense of Urgency Text: Matthew 20:1-16 Introduction 1. Illustration: Richard Baxter, the Puritan preacher of the 17th century conveys the urgency, the zeal of Christian witness when he said, "I preached as never sure to preach again, and as a dying man to dying men!" 2. We can look ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:1-16

Denomination: Methodist

Like A Thief In The Night

Contributed by Jose R. Hernandez on Apr 9, 2011

Today I want to speak to you about a touchy subject; today we will be dealing with the issue of prophecy about the Lord’s return.

Today I want to speak to you about a touchy subject; today we will be dealing with the issue of prophecy about the Lord’s return. But before proceeding I wish to make a clarification. I want it to be very clear that I’m not a prophet, and I definitely don’t know the date of ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:1-6

Denomination: Independent/Bible

I Get The Point Series

Contributed by Thomas Swope on Nov 4, 2011

A study of the book of Judges chapter 3 verses 1 through 31

Judges 3: 1 – 31 I Get The Point 1 Now these are the nations which the LORD left, that He might test Israel by them, that is, all who had not known any of the wars in Canaan 2 (this was only so that the generations of the children of Israel might be taught to know war, at least those who had ...read more

Scripture: Judges 3:1-31

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

What Will It Take To Give Thanks With A Sincere Heart Series

Contributed by Rodney V Johnson on Nov 26, 2011

This message focuses on how we choose to give thanks to God and the attitude in which we do it.

What Will It Take? What Will It Take For Me To Sincerely Give God Thanks? Scriptures: James 2:19; Ephesians 5:20; 1 Thess. 5:18; Daniel 3:16-18 Introduction We have just celebrated the Thanksgiving holiday. This holiday is about taking time to reflect on the blessings that we have received and ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:20

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Part 2 - We Need The Heart Of The Wise Men Series

Contributed by James May on Dec 7, 2011

This is the 2nd in a 4 part series for the Christmas Season. Each message deals with the kind of heart that we must have if we truly want to see who Jesus is and be in his presence while the rest of the world sleeps in darkness.

What Does It Take to See Jesus? Christmas Series 2011 Part 2 – We Need the Heart of the Wise Men One of the greatest statements in recent years concerning the appearance of the Wise Men in the story of the Birth of the Christ Child is this: “Wise Men Still Seek Him”. Psalms ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:1-11

Denomination: Independent/Bible

How To Be A J-U-S-T Man Series

Contributed by Charles Mccall on Dec 7, 2011

Joseph wasn't just any knd of man, but he was a just man.

St. Matthew 1:18-25 Topic: How to be the J-U-S-T Man In Matthew 1:19 it says that Joseph was a "just" man. He was a J-U-S-T Man. So the question that we need to ask ourselves is, What does it means to be a just man? What does it mean to be a J-U-S-T Man? Now according to the dictionary ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:18-25

Denomination: Baptist

A Rejoicing Heart Series

Contributed by David Owens on Dec 20, 2011

In this lesson, we learn that having a rejoicing heart comes from learning to rejoice over our salvation and the salvation of others. We should rejoice that our name is written in heaven!

A. How many of you like surprise parties? 1. Here’s a funny cartoon about a surprise party gone wrong. 2. Ed’s co-workers surprised him on his birthday. 3. “Well one thing’s for sure…He was definitely surprised.” B. Max Lucado tells an interesting story ...read more

Scripture: Luke 10:20

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Little Church, Big Impact Series

Contributed by C. Philip Green on Jan 20, 2012

A little church like ours can have a big impact if we trust the Savior, love the saints, and put our hope in the certainty of the Gospel.

As a church leader, I am often challenged by the question: If our church would cease to exist, how much would the community really miss us? In other words, What kind of contribution are we making to the Washington Island community? Well, a professor at the University of Pennsylvania actually ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 1:1-8

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Shape Up Or . . .

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Jun 19, 2011

Amos sends Israel a clear message from God: you are not meeting my standards, and I am about to cut you off.

Good morning. I am special correspondent Shinon Byorus for the Mesopotamian News Network, coming to you live from Bethel in Israel, where controversy has been stirring for months around the inflammatory rhetoric from the prophet Amos, who appeared some time ago from Judea with a very harsh message ...read more

Scripture: Amos 7:7-17

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Knowing Where You're At Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Jun 21, 2011

The first thing a good GPS system needs to know is "where are you at?" And that's the question God asked Adam... But didn't God know where Adam was at? The answer to that question can mean a lot to us.

OPEN: Some wealthy hunters had come to Colorado and hired an experienced hunting guide to lead them into the mountains. They had been trekking into the woods for a couple of days when it became obvious that they had become hopelessly lost. It wasn’t long before the hunters became angry with ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 3:1-13

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ