Sermons on Stumbling Block:

Available For Life-Shaping

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Nov 27, 2010

We can become what God wants us to become if we downplay disappointment, pick perceptive people, consider consequences, and accept affirmation. Revised from a 2003 message.

Luther Rice Memorial Baptist Church, Silver Spring, MD, June 5, 2005 It is said that the Renaissance sculptor Michelangelo could sense that in a rough block of marble there was an angel struggling to get out. He said that his job was to free that angel. Isn’t that remarkable?! To know ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

The Finish Line - Running The Race Of Life Series

Contributed by Peter Loughman on Mar 3, 2010

We are to neither run wild without direction, like a man running with poor eyesight, nor are we to look back at a past we cannot change, instead we are to live our life forward.

When I was a high school kid, one of the sports I competed in was Track and Field. We had a great track team and usually won our track meets by a large margin. One of the great assets we had was in the 100 yard dash, we had the kid that was the fastest kid in the whole league. His name was Andy. As ...read more

Scripture: Acts 20:22-31

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Secret Of The Hidden Room Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Apr 12, 2009

The Ark was the center of the worship at the Tabernacle. What made it so important, and what does it teach us about what Jesus did for us?

OPEN: A black Methodist preacher, was sent to a formerly all white church in Cincinnati, Ohio. His daughter, Leontine Kelly remembered it was the most magnificent church she had ever seen. • It was a Gothic structure with beautiful polished wood. • It had a beautiful crystal chandelier. ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 25:1-22

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Fatal Attraction Series

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Jun 27, 2011

Evil is so seductive, so easy, so clothed in plausible promises of free lunches and quick fixes, that if we are not vigilant we will find ourselves in slavery to the enemy of God.

Monsters coming up from the deep have a long and colorful history. From Leviathan to the Loch Ness Monster, from the giant squid in 10,000 Leagues under the sea to the “here be monsters” with which mapmakers once marked the limits of the unknown, the sea has been the source of fear for ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 13:1-9

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

How To Not Fall Out Of A Window And Die- Lessons From Eutychus

Contributed by Matt Krachunis on Feb 8, 2011

The story of Eutychus from Acts 20 and how it relates to us.

How to not fall out of a window and die • Have you ever fallen asleep in an inappropriate place? • I can remember when I was in college, I used to be so tired all the time. Its hard work hanging out • I had this 8am class, spring quarter, I would literally wake up, go to ...read more

Scripture: Acts 20:7-12

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Missionaries – The 12 Apostles

Contributed by Gordon Curley on Feb 19, 2011

Jesus and the 12 disicples. (PowerPoint slides to accompany this talk are available on request – email: gcurley@gcurley.info)

Sermon Outine: A strategy (vs 13-14) A calling (vs 14-15) A listing (vs 16-19) Sermon Content: Ill: • British sculptor Sir Jacob Epstein was once visited in his studio; • By the eminent author and fellow Briton, George Bernard Shaw. • The visitor noticed a huge block of stone standing in one ...read more

Scripture: Mark 3:13-19

Denomination: Brethren

God So Loved Series

Contributed by Jim Drake on Nov 25, 2008

God’s love has two sides—salvation / judgment… life / death… redemption / righteousness. He loves with a purpose—salvation. He loves with a consequence—judgment.

What was the first memory verse you ever learned? For most of us, it was John 3:16. I have a set of 6 books at the house that I bought a few years ago. They are by a man named Carl F.H. Henry. When Carl Henry died in 2003, the New York times called him the brain of the evangelical movement. ...read more

Scripture: John 3:16-21

Denomination: Baptist

Unwrapping The Gift Of Faith Series

Contributed by Scott Kircher on Dec 2, 2008

Focuses on Mary and her faith so we might be able to have faith like she did.

Unwrapping the Gift of Faith (Luke 1:26-45; 2:1-7) Faith is unwrapped by Acting despite being Afraid (Luke 1:38) Faith is unwrapped by Believing despite not Seeing (Luke 1:45) Faith is unwrapped by Being Content despite bad Circumstances (Luke 2:1-7) Slide Intro One week ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

"Help, I've Fallen & I Can't Get Up."

Contributed by Carl Kelleher on Mar 15, 2002

When a Brother falls it is our responsibility to help him to get back up.

Title: “Help, I’ve Fallen & I Can’t Get Up” Maybe you remember the commercial that was on television years ago with the Elderly Woman that is Laying on the floor shouting, “Help me, I’ve fallen & I can’t get up!” There were people all over the country repeating ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 6:1-4

Denomination: Pentecostal

Depend On The Shepherd

Contributed by T. Michael Crews on Nov 21, 2006

A sermon which deals with the importance of depending on Christ.

Depending on the Shepherd Zech. 10 Sometimes animals seem annoyingly human. A man absolutely hated his wife’s cat and decided to get rid of him one day by driving him 20 blocks from his home and leaving him at the park. As he arrived home, the cat was walking up the driveway. The next day he ...read more

Scripture: Zechariah 10:1-12

Denomination: Baptist

Back To School Series

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Aug 22, 2007

’Tis the season, and we can see 3 schools God took Saul thru before he graduated as ’Paul.’ The schools of Solitude, Suffering, & Seasoning. Link included to formatted text, audio, and PowerPoint Presentation w/ graphics and animations.

Back to School Acts 9:21-30 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/BackToSchoolForSaul.html ILL.- Teacher to student, “What are you – animal, vegetable or mineral?” The boy replied, “Vegetable. I’M A HUMAN BEAN.” ILL.- It was the little girl’s first day at school and the teacher was making out her ...read more

Scripture: Acts 9:21-30

Denomination: Baptist

In The Beginning God Created Series

Contributed by Bruce Montgomery on Apr 21, 2008

The proper beginning place to discover where we came from and why we are here is not in evolution, but in Genesis.

In The Beginning God Created Genesis 1:1 By Dr. R. Bruce Montgomery Introduction • Where did we come from? • How did our universe around us come into existence? • When and how did animate life begin? • Why are we here? • Are we merely the products of chance, or is there a purpose and plan behind ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 1:1

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Walls Come Tumblin' Down

Contributed by Joseph Smith on May 14, 2009

We run into many walls we cannot seem to get past: estrangement, grief, illness. The way past those walls is described as Sabbath, symbol, silence, and shout.

When you are up against a wall, there will be more than one way to deal with it. There will be the conventional way. And there will be the creative way. When you are up against a wall, there will be a way to break it down that costs a whole lot less than the usual way. All of us remember Mark ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 6:1-21

Denomination: Baptist

Joining The Family Series

Contributed by Curry Pikkaart on Dec 22, 2009

The idea that God is with us is ridiculous and radical - but real!

“What’s Christmas All About? Joining the Family” Matthew 1:18-23 When I first saw the original movie “Home Alone” it brought back some memories for me. In the movie a young boy is accidentally home alone when his family goes on vacation. As the plot develops the boy conquers his fears of aloneness ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:18-23

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Heaven's Benefit Package

Contributed by Bishop Talbert Swan on Mar 28, 2010

Living for God provides us with the best benefits in the world.

Heaven’s Benefit Package Pastor Talbert W. Swan, II Psalms 103:2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: A lot of people work a job only because they need the benefits. One of the hallmarks of the recent campaign for president was the cost of health insurance, which has ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 103:2

Denomination: *other