Sermons on Starting Poorly:

How To Act In Church Series

Contributed by Roger Thomas on May 25, 2004

When the Holy Spirit is present the believers act with decency and order in the church, always preferring one another in love.

Holy Spirit Series 2000 How to Act in Church 1 Corinthians 14 Dr. Roger W. Thomas, Preaching Minister First Christian Church, Vandalia, MO Today we are continuing our multi-part study of 1 Corinthians. My goal is that we connect with the Word of God written, find out to the best of our ability ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 14:1-40

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Roots, Ripples And Reference Points, Part Two Series

Contributed by Bill Sullivan on Aug 4, 2006

The ripples of our life choices impact things far beyond the choice itself, for good or for ill

Roots, Ripples and Reference Points Lessons from the Lake, Part 2 TCF Sermon July 23, 2006 One of the things Laura and I like to do, when we’re at her grandparents’ lake house on Beaver Lake in NW Arkansas, is skip stones on the lake. There are a lot of stones on the shoreline – in fact, it’s a ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 1:29-33

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

An Inquiring Mind Series

Contributed by Timothy Smith on Jun 25, 2005

2nd in a four part character study on the life of John the Baptist.

"AN INQUIRING MIND" MATTHEW 11:1-11 INTRODUCTION: Peter Parker, a.k.a., Spiderman has reached a crisis. It seems that his life is falling apart, nothing seems to be going right. He’s been fired from work, he’s failing at school and even struggling in his relationships. Worst of all, as ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 11:1-11

Denomination: Christian Church

Influencing People

Contributed by Steve Shepherd on Aug 4, 2001

Christians must somehow influence others for Christ in a positive way.

INFLUENCING PEOPLE Col. 4:2-6 Prov. 27:17 “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” I Cor. 15:33 “Do not be misled: Bad company corrupts good character.” INTRO.- ILL.- A mother took her young son shopping. After shopping in one store, a clerk handed the little boy a lollipop. "What ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 4:2-6

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

God's Upsidedown Courthouse: A Lesson In Faithfulness

Contributed by Ryan Sato on May 4, 2005

Today’s passage challenges us to think about the Christian discipline of prayer. How is your prayer life? How is our church prayer life? How do we measure a faithful prayer life? Jesus’ parable from Luke 18 offers us some freedom from guilt…and a call

Opener: Please allow me to rant…I often wonder if we Christians take time to reflect on what we look like to the unbelieving world that is outside the four walls of our church…Sunday after Sunday. Why go to church…why be a part of the church community? – This is a question that I have been ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:1-8

Denomination: Baptist

Listen To Your Heart Series

Contributed by Erik Estep on May 16, 2012

Today in our passage of Scripture we’re going to see Jesus giving us a choice on how we’re going to live our lives. He lets us know that we can make a deal w/Him and have some guarantees in this life or we can choose to go thru another door in life that

“Listen to Your Heart” John 10: 7-10 October 9, 2011 Intro: A # of years ago there was a game show on TV called “Let’s Make A Deal.” The host would come out and go into the audience and offer cash to a person. He’d tell them, “You can keep this cash ...read more

Scripture: John 10:7-10

Denomination: Baptist

Avoiding The Bite Of Spite Series

Contributed by Mark Opperman on Jun 6, 2008

Those who endure ill treatment from others for their faith will experience royal treatment from their Father in heaven.

Living in the Father’s Favor: Avoiding the Bite of Spite Matthew 5:10-12 10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:10-12

Denomination: Assembly Of God

What Do We Learn From Jesus' Prayer?

Contributed by Troy Borst on Apr 17, 2008

Jesus is also in quite a difficult situation. How did He handle it? How did He pray? We can learn from Jesus’ example of how we should pray in difficult, hard, and emotional wrenching times.

What Can We Learn from Jesus’ Prayer? Matthew 26:36-46 ILLUSTRATION… Children’s Prayers http://www.bible.org/illus.php?topic_id=1145 Dear God: Please send a new baby for Mommy. The new baby you sent last week cries too much. - Debbie, 7 Dear God: Who did you make smarter? Boys or girls? My sister ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 26:36-46

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Giving In The Kingdom Series

Contributed by Pat Damiani on Nov 18, 2011

Giving in the kingdom of God is an act of worship that demonstrates how much we value God and His kingdom.

Two men were marooned on an Island. One man paced back and forth worried and scared while the other man sat back and was sunning himself. The first man said to the second man, "aren’t you afraid we are about to die." "No," said the second man, "I make $100,000 a week and tithe faithfully to ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:1-4

Denomination: Baptist

Be Free! Series

Contributed by C. Philip Green on Jul 26, 2012

If you want to be truly free, don’t trust in your idols; instead, trust in the blood of the Lamb, and get up and get out of your bondage.

Tony Campolo tells the story of a town where all the residents are ducks. Every Sunday the ducks waddle out of their houses and waddle down Main Street to their church. They waddle into the sanctuary and squat in their proper pews. The duck choir waddles in and takes its place, and then the duck ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Saving The Local Church And Pastor From Extinction. Series

Contributed by Jan Oosthuizen on Aug 18, 2019

More and more people are leaving local institutional churches and pick and choose their spiritual diet on social media. Evangelism, and belonging to a local body of believers is on the increasing decline!

When the smallest cell in the body is under attack, it brings the demise of the whole. For as long as I can remember, there has always been a tension between the local church pastor and the staff of parachurch organisations. Parachurch organisasions work outside and across denominations to ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:18

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Power Evangelism Explained (John 11:1-54, Part 2) Series

Contributed by Garrett Tyson on Feb 21, 2022

How did Jesus do his signs, and how were the disciples able to do the signs? And what can we learn from this?

The last few weeks, I've been pushing the idea that God will still do signs, and wonders, and healings through us, as Jesus works in us, through the power of the Holy Spirit. I think God is far more willing to do great things in the world through us than we realize. I think the weakness, and ...read more

Scripture: John 14:12, Philippians 2:1-7, John 11:1-54, Acts 3:1-16

God With Us Brings Peace Series

Contributed by Stephen Sheane on Feb 10, 2021

Doubt is the enemy of peace. This includes doubting God's plan, presence and power in your life.

GOD WITH US BRINGS PEACE An atheist was out fishing in Scotland one day, when all of a sudden a huge dragon type creature began to come out of the water. With snarling teeth it moved closer towards him. In desperation he shouted, “Dear God, please save me!” All of a sudden, everything stopped ...read more

Scripture: Mark 6:45-52

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

The One Appraising Us Is Christ (1 Corinthians 4:1-21) Series

Contributed by Garrett Tyson on Jan 29, 2022

Don't boast; don't become proud. Be faithful servants, and don't pick apart Christians' motives. You can't see in their heads. Also, stop navel gazing.

Let's start today, by rereading 1 Corinthians 3:18-23: (18) No one must deceive himself: if anyone thinks wise to be among you this age, a fool he must become, in order he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world, foolishness with God it is. For it is written, "The One catching ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 4:1-21, 1 Corinthians 3:18-23

Pressing On Toward Maturity Series

Contributed by Craig Simonian on Jun 8, 2001

Philippian 3:10-14

PRESSING ON TOWARD MATURITY Phil 3:10-14 Back in college, I had the privilege of meeting a man who had served as a missionary in Iran for 42 years… Dr. William Miller. He had spoken at Urbana and had come to our campus as part of a follow-up conference. That chance meeting turned into a good ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:10-14