Sermons on Stay Close:

Titus The Trouble Shooter Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Apr 5, 2021

No where do we find the Apostle Paul so troubled and restless that he cannot stand still and preach the Gospel. He had to hear from Titus, and until he did he could not concentrate on his ministry. This is the only record we have of Paul failing to go through an open door.

Somebody has to do the dirty work in life, and so all leaders need men who are trouble shooters. George Washington needed one when Benedict Arnold betrayed the colonies and escaped to the British forces. Washington was angry and was determined to get him back. He choose Sargent Major John Champe ...read more

Excellence Excludes Excess Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Apr 5, 2021

Paul says this is what Christian leaders are to be. They are not to be people who get captured by the culture, or by circumstances. They are to be people who are stable and consistent in their commitments regardless of changes in life.

As I read Barbara Shields book Winners-Women And The Nobel Prize, I was so impressed by the life and leadership of Agnes Gunxha, better known as Mother Teresa. As I read of her life and ministry I kept seeing her fulfilling the requirements that Paul lays down for one to be an elder, or leader, in ...read more

Scripture: Titus 1:5-9

Holy Love Series

Contributed by C. Philip Green on Apr 8, 2021

If you want to be truly restored to fly to new heights of holiness, taste God’s love and crave God’s Word. Then love God’s people with His love.

On June 23, 2001, the Boeing company finished a labor of love—the complete restoration of the last existing 307 Stratoliner. It was the world's first pressurized commercial airliner. A New York company used a vintage loom to reproduce the original Pan Am wall fabric. An interior company put ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 1:22-25, 1 Peter 2:1-3, Matthew 11:29-30, Romans 2:4, John 3:17, 1 John 4:20, Luke 22:44, Psalm 34:8  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Those Feelings Of Pride Series

Contributed by David Owens on Apr 12, 2021

God has given us the ability to feel the emotion of pride so that we can benefit from good pride and avoid the destructive nature of bad pride. It is important to know the difference between the two kinds of pride.

A. Once there was a guy named Zeke who had so much pride he could never admit he was wrong. 1. One day Zeke wandered into the blacksmith shop with sawdust all over the floor. 2. A few minutes before Zeke arrived, the blacksmith had been working on an uncooperative horseshoe, and had beat on it ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 5:5-7, Proverbs 16:18, Proverbs 3:34

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Jesus Prays (Week 2 Of 4): Your Name Series

Contributed by Troy Borst on Apr 14, 2021

Wherever you are at, the challenge for us today is to lean into bearing the Name of God.

JESUS PRAYS (WEEK 2 OF 4): YOUR NAME John 17:6-12 #JesusPrays INTRODUCTION As we begin today, I want to jump right into the Scriptures. READ JOHN 17:6-12 (ESV) I have manifested Your Name to the people whom You gave Me out of the world. Yours they were, and You gave them to Me, and they have kept ...read more

Scripture: John 17:6-12, Exodus 23:20-24, 1 Kings 8:10-21

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

What Is Truth?

Contributed by D. Dewaine Phillips on Apr 15, 2021

Fact-checking rates claims as true or false. Someone cannot determine what is true unless they claim to hold the keys to truth. Civil unrest often stems from a clash of truths. It's important to know the "real" source of truth.

I’ve entitled our message this morning, “What Is Truth?” based on a question posed by Pontius Pilate toward the end of our text. In the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, “truth” is defined as, “the body of real things, events, and facts.” It is also defined as “a transcendent fundamental or spiritual ...read more

Scripture: John 18:33-38

Denomination: Baptist

God Loves A Cheerful Giver

Contributed by D. Dewaine Phillips on Apr 18, 2021

The “tithe” is not our money; it’s God’s. When we refuse to trust the church in handling the tithe, and feel that we know the best use for it, then this is contempt for God and His Spirit, and we are treading on dangerous ground!

I remember when my wife and I first got married that she would tell me stories about the Christian camp she attended as a child, because camp meant so much to her growing up. One of the songs they sang at camp was called, “God Loves a Cheerful Giver,” which was about Ananias and Sapphira; and I ...read more

Scripture: Acts 5:1-11

Denomination: Baptist

Unbelievable Scars

Contributed by K. Heath Mcdougal-Deans on Apr 20, 2021

I heard it once said, 'nobody likes scars.' Yet, I beg to differ. Scars, and what they often represent, Truth, Light, Love, Strength, and Determination... are powerful.

Unbelievable Scars A small orphaned boy lived with his grandmother. One night their house caught fire. The grandmother, trying to rescue the little boy asleep upstairs, perished in the smoke and flames. A crowd gathered around the burning house. The boy’s cries for help were heard above the ...read more

Scripture: 2 Samuel 9:8, Luke 24:36-48

Denomination: Other

Faith And Politics Series

Contributed by C. Philip Green on Apr 22, 2021

Submit to all human authority, because of Christ, because of your critics, and because you are free!

At the spring 2000 opening of the Florida Senate, Donald L. Roberts, president and CEO of Goodwill Industries, offered a prayer. I think you’ll appreciate the candor of it. In part, this is what he prayed: Holy and Eternal God, it must be great to be God, to get what you want—when you want it—how ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 2:13-17, Acts 4:19, Acts 5:29, Romans 13:1-2, Romans 5:8, Hebrews 2:14-15, Galatians 5:13  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical Free

The Spirit Of A Servant

Contributed by Gene Gregory on May 2, 2021

Next in series on John

John 13 (1) The spirit of a Servant Yesterday was a full day. We spent a good portion of the day, fixing things for Christmas in the Country. After slipping home for a late lunch, we retuned to the church and started working getting ready for last night. After we got back down here, Gladys told ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

The Great American Culture War: Religious Liberty, Gay Rights, Naturalism & The Christian Faith

Contributed by Justin Steckbauer on May 3, 2021

The United States once again finds herself at a crossroads. The lines have been drawn. The shots have been fired. The culture war seems to rage on endlessly. Left vs. right. Liberal vs. Conservative. Secular vs. Christian.

The United States once again finds herself at a crossroads. The lines have been drawn. The shots have been fired. The culture war seems to rage on endlessly. Left vs. right. Liberal vs. Conservative. Secular vs. Christian. These are some of the most difficult and muddy issues to delve into. ...read more

Scripture: Romans 1:24-28, Ephesians 6:11

Denomination: Salvation Army

Are You Fit To Be Tied Part V

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Apr 1, 2022

In the 1992 presidential election, family values became one of the main issues when the candidates began campaigning.

Immediately the liberals made such mockery of bringing it up that the subject was dropped and barely mentioned any more, because the anti-family people made it seem that they were in the majority. The politicians who were for family values, realized that if they were going to stand a chance of ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 2:18-25

Denomination: Baptist

Are You Fit To Be Tied? Part I

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Apr 1, 2022

In the 1992 presidential race FAMILY VALUES were mentioned time and time again.

Liberals across the land stated repeatedly that family values would not play any part in choosing their candidate. Such a statement is incomprehensible. When we hear liberals, across the land, state that family values are not important in a presidential election, we want to say, “Will you please ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 3:1-8

Denomination: Baptist

Jacob And Esau Series

Contributed by John Lowe on Apr 4, 2022

God blesses Jacob, "Let peoples serve you, and nations bow down to you. Be Lord over your brothers and may your mother's sons bow down to you. Cursed be everyone who curses you and blessed be everyone who blesses you!"

Jacob and Esau Later, given the name Israel, Jacob is regarded as a patriarch of the Israelites and is an important figure in Abrahamic religions, such as Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. He had 13 children, 12 boys, one girl, Dinah. The boys became the heads of the 12 tribes of Israel. Biblical ...read more

Scripture: Malachi 1:2-3

Denomination: Baptist

David’s 911 Call For Help (1 Of 2)

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Apr 4, 2022

Psalm 35 is another of David’s imprecatory prayers.

In it David appeals to a righteous God to send judgment upon the enemies of God, and the persecutors of His righteous people. WHY DID DAVID PRAY SUCH A PRAYER? It is believed that since Old Testament characters did not have the benefit of the New Testament, they did not have a complete revelation ...read more

Denomination: Baptist