Sermons on Suspect:

Jesus Needs A Break! (Mark 7:24-37)

Contributed by David Smith on Nov 5, 2007

Jesus Needs a Break! Depictions of Christ suffering on the cross are common in Christian literature and iconography. Few though are the depictions of Jesus walking around..

Our Gospel reading this morning is from Mark chapter 7, where we come across a Jesus who is tired - tired, I think, to the point of exhaustion. This is not the sort of depiction of Jesus that is given much attention by the church. I’ve never seen a stained-glass window with an image of Jesus ...read more

Scripture: Mark 7:24-37

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

How To Waste Your Time Looking For Lost Sheep! (Matthew 18:10-17)

Contributed by David Smith on Nov 6, 2007

Why waste time with negative pepole who are never going to make much progress? Because we follow a shepherd who will leave the ninety-nine grazing to pursue one lost sheep....

One of the things I hear a lot in the business world is that if you want to be successful, you need to hang around successful people. I don’t know if you’ve heard of the concept of the ‘Mastermind Group’, but I’ve been encouraged repeatedly, over recent years, to join one. The concept of the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 18:10-17

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

Rejoice! (Philippians 4:4-7)

Contributed by David Smith on Nov 15, 2007

At the time of writing this letter to the Philippians, we know full well that Paul was in prison, awaiting a trial that would determine whether he was to be executed. You...

I’ve chosen as my text this morning the Philippians passage - ‘Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say ‘rejoice’!’ I do this partly to spare you from having to hear my John the Baptist sermon again. I only have the one. More significantly though, I’ve chosen this passage because I’m conscious ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:4-7

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

Jesus Is The Answer...not Always (Acts 17:22-31)

Contributed by David Smith on Nov 16, 2007

Sermons by Father Dave ...

“Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him as he saw that the city was full of idols.” (Acts 17:16) Ange and I have been to Athens, as I suspect many of you guys have also. We went for less pious reasons than St Paul. We went as the Australian contingent ...read more

Scripture: Acts 17:22-31

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

Genesis 3 (Eating The Forbidden Fruit)

Contributed by David Smith on Nov 21, 2007

In this voyeuristic age, where everybody thinks they have a right to know everything, here’s a story that suggests that there are some things that we ought not to know...

"The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it" (Genesis 2:15) Some will take this as a sure indication of the fact that this story was written by a man. For it seems that from Day 1 (or, to be exact, from Day 8) the creation story focuses on the jobs that need ...read more

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

To Follow Or Fear, Part 2

Contributed by Kevin Higgins on Nov 25, 2007

Are you listening to the right voice?

The Right Voice Numbers 13:30 Woodlawn Baptist Church November 11, 2007 Last week I spoke to you about fear, and as I did, many of you said that God spoke to you about your own fears. Remember that the people of Israel responded to God’s instructions to take Canaan with fear: fear of the giants, ...read more

Scripture: Numbers 13:30

Denomination: Baptist

Genesis 21:8-21 (The God Of Ishmael)

Contributed by David Smith on Nov 28, 2007

The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob turns out the be the God of Ishmael too!! ...

We continue our sojourn with Abraham today – Abraham, the ‘father of faith’. We’ve been working our way through the story of Abraham for some time now – stories about Abraham & Sarah, Abraham & his family, Abraham & his descendents, Abraham and the promises God made to him - Abraham the ‘father of ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 21:8-21, Genesis 21:13-20

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

David & Bathsheeba (2 Samuel 11)

Contributed by David Smith on Nov 28, 2007

David and Bathsheeba - an old story with a very contemporary ring to it, and a few things still to teach us!

"You can get a large audience together for a strip-tease act-that is, to watch a girl undress on the stage. Now suppose you came to a country where you could fill a theatre by simply bringing a covered plate on to the stage and then slowly lifting the cover so as to let everyone see, just before ...read more

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

Come Out With Your Hands Up

Contributed by Everett Mccoy on Jul 19, 2008

Everyone loves a good pursuit. Like in an old western - God pursues us. It’s about time we surrendered!

7 Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? 8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. 9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, 10 even there your hand will guide me, your right hand ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 139:7-14

Denomination: Pentecostal

It Takes A Thief Series

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Aug 5, 2008

Not only SIMPLE STEALING, but 5 other types of SOPHISTICATED STEALING, as well as the truth about SPIRITUAL STEALING. Link inc. to formatted text, audio, and PowerPoint.

It Takes a Thief Exodus 20:15 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/TakesAThief.html The popular TV show is back, where crooks teach us how to protect ourselves from people like them. But the Bible says, we ARE people like them! Synonyms for stealing: Extortion, burglary, defraud, misappropriate, ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 20:15

Denomination: Baptist

Calling On The Spirit

Contributed by Michael Deutsch on Jan 15, 2008

We need to experience the Holy Spirit.

Calling on the Spirit August 26, 2007 Acts 2:1-8 Have you ever received a gift you just weren’t sure you knew what to do with? Ties that make good presents for someone else. Perfumes and colognes that would rival a skunk for a worst smell contest. Maybe it was some picture or painting that would ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:1-8

Denomination: Baptist

Making Mummies Dance

Contributed by Doane Brubaker on Jan 29, 2008

We preserve in the museum of our memories some mummies - parts of us that once lived but have died. Can they live again?

“Making Mummies Dance” “Making the Mummies Dance” is the title of Dr. Thomas Hoving’s memoir. In 1966 he became the Commissioner of Parks in New York City under Mayor John V. Lindsay. Hoving had earned a Ph.D. in art history from Princeton and had previously worked at the prestigious ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 29:4-14

Denomination: Mennonite

Have Faith In What You See And Hear (A Sermon On Matthew 11:2-6)

Contributed by David Smith on Feb 20, 2008

Now when John in prison heard about the activities of Christ, he sent a message by his disciples and asked him, "Are you the Coming One, or should we wait for someone else?" Jesus answered them, "Go and tell John what you hear and observe: the blind see,

We’re in Matthew Chapter 11 this morning - a scene taken from the final days of the life of John the Baptist, and a bizarre scene it is! John has been sent to prison, though he probably did not realise at this stage that he was not going to be released - indeed, that he was about to be put to ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 11:2-6

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

One Year Toward Eternity

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Apr 20, 2008

Preached for the first anniversary of Salem Gospel Ministries, a church for French-speaking Africans. Like the Christians of Antioch, you fled persecution, you reached out beyond your own group, and you have learned for a year from your pastors.

What a difference a year makes! Just one short year. Just twelve months. It is not long, but it can make a difference. It can be one year toward eternity. Just one short year ago I was still in my 60’s, but now I have started a new decade! Adrien and Barbara, I hope I do not show it too ...read more

Scripture: Acts 11:19-26

Denomination: Baptist

The Wounds Of Love Series

Contributed by Victor Yap on Dec 26, 2007

Stations of the Cross, Pt. 3

TTHE WOUNDS OF LOVE (JOHN 19:17) Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha). (John 19:17) The parents of a ten-year old public school boy who was failing fifth grade math decided to enroll their son in a private Catholic school after ...read more

Scripture: John 19:17

Denomination: Independent/Bible