Sermons on Spiritual Trial:

The War On Principles & The Hope In Our Worldview

Contributed by Justin Steckbauer on Mar 26, 2021

We live in a culture where really, values are passe. You aren't allowed to have values.

We live in a culture where really, values are passe. You aren't allowed to have values. Morality, principles are scorned by the media, ignored by academia, dismissed in politics, and mocked by Hollywood. Especially for young people, if you have values your a loser. If you carry a Bible ...read more

Scripture: James 1:22-27

Denomination: Salvation Army

The Beginning Of The Gospel Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 27, 2021

Mark is the only one who tells us that our Savior was a carpenter. Mark tells us more about our Lord's emotions than the other Gospels. He brings Jesus closer to us as a man of like feelings.

The painter Lundwig Richter, tells in his memoirs of how he and three friends set out to paint the same landscape. They each were committed to produce as accurately as possible what they saw. Nevertheless, the result was four different pictures, as different as the four personalities of the ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:1-8

Acceptable Anger Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 27, 2021

Is it possible that we eliminate the vice of anger, but in so doing also eliminate the virtue of it? It is obviously not Christ like to be losing your temper and blasting people, and seeking revenge. But on the other hand, it is also not Christ like to never be angry at the forces of evil.

I had an awful temper as a child. When I was in first or second grade I broke a pool cue over the head of one of my brother's friends, and for years after I was reminded that I caused the scar on his forehead. My older brother came close to getting even worse. In one of our fights he picked ...read more

Scripture: Mark 3:1-7

The Resurrection Of Jesus Christ: The Greatest Historical Event In History

Contributed by Justin Steckbauer on Mar 27, 2021

What is the greatest single event of history? What moment in the history of the world signifies the most to humanity?

What is the greatest single event of history? What moment in the history of the world signifies the most to humanity? Could it perhaps be the renaissance, when so many beautiful inventions and works of art were created? Was it the inventions of the 20th century that made life so much easier? Or ...read more

Scripture: John 20:24-29, 1 Corinthians 15:3-4

Denomination: Salvation Army

From Despair To Hope Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 30, 2021

Paul comes to the end of his rope, but he does not come to the end of his hope. He had no resource in himself, and all he could do was to surrender his life and future to the providence of God.

Paul Aurandt tells the story of one of the fastest rising young singers back in the early 50's. He was called the Romantic Voice Of America. Teenage girls would give anything to see him, but he never appeared anywhere. He was not even seen in photographs. He was strictly a radio voice. Soon ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 1:8-11

All Those Who Wander Are Not Lost: A Study In Nothingness

Contributed by Justin Steckbauer on Mar 30, 2021

Much of my early life was lived by such reverberations. I don't want to bash it. It had it's appeals. No burdens, no responsibilities. Just drift about. Ironically enough I live in a similar way today at times. I'm in the arms of God. I have no idea what will happen today.

"When Monday comes I want nothing Come Tuesday morning I want the same The days and nights fly by Looking to embrace the nothing of the everyday...." -Yo La Tengo, "Everyday" from the album: And Then Nothing Turned Itself Inside Out. Much of my early life was lived by such ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 1:2-9

Denomination: Salvation Army

The Go-Between Series

Contributed by Sherm Nichols on Mar 31, 2021

Jesus is our much needed intercessor to bring us near to the Father

Introduction: My family often enjoyed visits to the boyhood home of George Washington Carver, just 15 minutes outside of Joplin in Diamond, MO. There’s a beautiful national memorial park there, and Carrie and I had gone there one late afternoon for a visit. As it turned out, there was a special ...read more

Scripture: Job 9:32-35

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

How To Test The Reality Of Your Religion Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 31, 2021

A Christianity that is not practical is not a real Christianity. If it does not control your conduct, and change your character, and make you more sensitive to the will of God and the world's need, then you better stop and ask some questions about the reality of your religion.

An anthropologist once visited a Bantu village in South Africa to study the customs of the very primitive people who lived there. When he returned to the U.S. he sent back a sun dial to those people to express his thanks for their cooperation. The natives were delighted with their gift, and they ...read more

Scripture: James 1:26-27

The Prayer Of Thanksgiving Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Apr 1, 2021

Paul demonstrated the power of a thankful heart to overcome enormous negative circumstances. Prayer is not the dark garment of despair. Prayer is a bright garment of praise that will dress up the soul even on the dreariest of days.

My earliest childhood memories of being in church are of the rope that I could ride. The thick rope hung down through the ceiling in the church entry way. I was so little that when the rope was pulled to ring the bell in the belfry, I could hang on to it and get a ride as it would pull me up off ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:3-6

The Successful Failure Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Apr 6, 2021

Peter was the greatest failure in his abusive power. And yet we see that he not only survives, but he does so quite successfully. He is able to stay on top as the leader of the 12. He does everything wrong, and still comes out a winner.

Apollo 13 was one of the biggest flops in the history of our space program, and yet it was also one of the most celebrated. Can a catastrophic failure also be a colossal success? Just ask the three astronauts of that ill fated flight. It was 1970, and they were on their way to the moon when an ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:13-26

A Prayer For Healing Series

Contributed by Scott Maze on May 27, 2021

David is looking for God’s healing and grace rather than his anger. Nevertheless, David appeals to God for grace

We continue our series entitled God Talk: A Conversation through the Psalms. This is the third part of our series as we have been examining selected Psalms that have been recorded and persevered for us by God. Today, we investigate a prayer of Israel’s famous King David. It is a prayer for ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Healing From Anger Series

Contributed by Scott Maze on May 27, 2021

One of the mightiest emotions we have inside of us is our anger. We feel intense anger when something horribly wrong or unjust is done, say the sexual abuse of a child, or some blatant racial discrimination, or your wife has betrayed marriage vows and committed adultery with another person.

The Psalms are inspired by God and therefore meant to instruct us how to think about God and the entire world. On the other hand, the Psalms are poems or songs and are meant to awaken and shape our feelings about God and the world. We have focused in the previous messages on the feelings of ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Bouncing Back (Part Two)

Contributed by Derrick Tuper on May 30, 2021

Last week we looked at the story of Joseph. He bounced back from multiple situations: sold into slavery, a false accusation, betrayal, etc. But he wasn't the only one who bounced back from multiple hardships; Paul did too.

BOUNCING BACK (part two) There are many personal stories of people who bounced back from a bad situation. We're bouncing back from the pandemic with vaccinations and loosening COVID restrictions. People have bounced back from having COVID. Churches have bounced back from having to shut down ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:8-9, 2 Corinthians 6:3-10, 2 Corinthians 11:24-27, 2 Timothy 3:10-11

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Love Is Better Than Miracles Series

Contributed by Scott Maze on Jun 4, 2021

You’ll be like the Christmas tree that you remove from your house after the holidays. It is planted in a metal tree holder, the needles will fall off the moment you try to pick it up. The person who hasn’t experienced the love of Christ is nicely decorated but falls apart when handled.

Ron and Patti had been married for twelve years and have two children. Patti had grown up with believing parents as they attended church where she grew up in the area. Ron was born in Ada, Oklahoma to hard working parents. His father had served in the Vietnam War and neither parent felt church was ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:1-13

Denomination: Baptist

Jesus' Credentials Series

Contributed by Scott Maze on Jun 10, 2021

Jesus’ identity is shown as we research Jesus’ family tree. And Jesus’ identity is shown as we see Him fend off Satan’s attacks - the very attacks that were driven to distort Jesus’ special identity.

We continue a series entitled, The Man Who Won’t Go Away, this morning. Normally when someone dies, their impact on the world immediately begins to recede. Over the past few days, Baltimore Oriole manager, Earl Weaver died. As did advice columnist “Dear Abby.” If someone’s legacy will outlast their ...read more

Scripture: Luke 3:21-28

Denomination: Baptist