Sermons on Suspects:

Da Vinci Code: Deciphering Da Vinci (Part 1) Series

Contributed by Thomas Black on May 3, 2006

Dan Brown couldn’t even get his front page "Facts" straight.

Why am I doing a four week study on the Da Vinci Code? Let me open simply with these quotes and letters: "Honestly, [reading the book] shook my whole faith. I realize that the book is fiction, but much of what he wrote about seemed like it was based on historical facts aside from the ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 1:8

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

At The Last He Will Stand Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on May 8, 2003

We search for permanence through accomplishments, wealth, legacies; but Job discovered that he needed a Redeemer who would stand in his place and bring him a lasting relationship with God.

Have you discovered that nothing which you call permanent really is permanent? Lots of things are called permanent, many things are described as lasting, but they aren’t. Not really. Not long ago I wanted to mark two plastic containers so that I could be sure they would stay permanently ...read more

Scripture: Job 19:7-27

Denomination: Baptist

God's Friends

Contributed by Kevin Lockett on Sep 8, 2007

We can grow as friends of God by applying life lessons from three of God’s friends: David, Mary, and Peter. Appropriate for Pentecost, Confirmation, or honoring a pastor, deacon, teacher, or other faithful servant of God.

“God’s Friends” Acts 2:1-21 The title for today’s sermon comes from a confirmation text book used in my church.(1) In fact, the scripture lessons I selected for today are actually the texts traditionally read in Christian churches around the world on Pentecost Sunday – the day on which ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:1-21

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

O Little Town Of Bethlehem

Contributed by Denn Guptill on Dec 7, 2008

This was written for the second week in Advent and focuses on the differences that the events in Bethlehem made in the lives of some

Wow, the second week of Advent, and as we were reminded earlier the second candle to be lit on the advent wreath is the Bethlehem candle. And it brings our focus to bear on the town of Bethlehem, the birth place of Jesus. We sing about it in Little Town of Bethlehem and Once in Royal David’s City ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:1-6

Denomination: Wesleyan

Snapshots In An Autumn Album

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jul 15, 2009

Contrasting Koheleth and Paul in the later season of their lives: one blames the young, the other gathers them; one mourns broken things, the other invests in ideas; one is anxious, the other trusts God for every need.

This past weekend, as a part of our brief getaway, my wife and I spent two nights in an old farmhouse. The farmhouse dated from 1704 and was partly furnished with antiques. Now my wife loves antiques; I guess that’s why she puts up with me. So we took the tour of the house, especially the parlor ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 12:1-8

Denomination: Baptist

Now That You've Tasted The Lord Series

Contributed by Steve Shepherd on Aug 10, 2009

Because we have tasted of the goodness of the Lord, what should we do? Here is some of our pay back to Him. 1- We should rid evil 2- We should crave good 3- We should grow spiritually

INTRO.- ILL.- Someone said: According to a recent article I just read on nutrition, they said eating right doesn’t have to be complicated. Nutritionists say there is a simple way to tell if you’re eating right. Colors. Fill your plates with bright colors. Greens, reds, yellows. In fact, I did ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 2:1-3, 1 John 2:1-7

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Persistence In The Presence: How Women Pray

Contributed by Joseph Smith on May 22, 2009

Women succeed in pray because they persist in trusting God, allow the whole self to pray, take God at His word, are not afraid of intensity, choose responsibility over religion, and keep their commitments.

If, as Thomas Edison tells us, genius is one per cent inspiration and ninety-nine per cent perspiration, then I suspect it is also true that prayer is one per cent insistence and ninety-nine per cent persistence. Prayer is one per cent insistence, to be sure; we do, in our prayers, tell God what ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 1:1-28

Denomination: Baptist

Faith Of Our Father(S)

Contributed by Joshua Parrish on Jun 19, 2008

We live in a time when the value of fathers is at an all-time low, yet statistics show us that fathers are needed more than ever. Jesus’ relationship to God the Father serves as an example to us, just how important a father is in his children’s lives.

What is it with our infatuation with having kids? Why do we do it? What is that desire, that passion that burns within us that makes us want children? Is it our desire to see ourselves, literally, in another person? Is it our desire to love and be loved? What is it? Its mysterious to me. And ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 2:6-12

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

One Is Bigger Than Many Series

Contributed by Mary Lewis on May 7, 2009

Idea: THE ONLY WAY TO REACH GOD’S GOAL IS TO REACH IT TOGETHER

[INTRODUCTION] The Olympic contestants line up in the starting blocks for the hundred-meter dash. Anticipation has the crowd suspended on the edge of their seats. The starter raises his gun and fires. The athletes spring out of the starting blocks. As they do, it becomes obvious this is no ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Frantic Work Or Focused Life

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Oct 26, 2009

Wisdom lies in knowing when to be busy and when to be reflective. Both Martha and Mary wanted the affirmation of Jesus. But it always comes by grace alone.

Author Sam Keen, in his provocative little book called Apology for Wonder, tells us the lesson he learned as young boy swimming in the Indian River inlet on the Delaware coast. Keen says that swimming there was very tricky, because the outgoing waters from the bay met the incoming tides waves from ...read more

Scripture: Luke 10:38-41

Denomination: Baptist

Does Jesus Care? Series

Contributed by Frank Weller on Jan 24, 2004

Based on the old hymn, this series answers the question, "Does Jesus Care?" It is a five part series, and answers the four questions posed by each of the hymns four stanzas.

Do you remember pot-bellied pigs? They were one of the passing fads from the 1980s – that decade when all of us had big hair, big glasses and really fuzzy sweaters. Some of us also had pot-bellied pigs. Around our house, pigs were for eating and not for petting. The “pet pig craze” never caught ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 10:1, Psalm 13:1-2

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Earth Yielding Increase

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Sep 24, 2009

For Worldwide Communion Sunday: How can we, like the Psalmist, be optimistic in the face of international conflict, national dispute, racism, church tension, our personal conflicts? The Cross is God’s reaching out to heal.

It was an awesome ruin. A hulk of stone, a pile of rubble. Smoke stains clearly visible. Jagged edges its roofline. What once had been a magnificent building lay now exposed to the open air, useless, a scar on the horizon. What terrible thing had happened here to create this ugly defacing of the ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 67:1-7

Denomination: Baptist

Jesus, His People, The Local Church

Contributed by D Marion Clark on Mar 6, 2017

Who are you? How you answer that question guides how you live your life. In our text this morning, John lays before us the identities of three parties: that of fellow Christians, of Jesus, and of the local church.

Revelation 1:9-20 Jesus, His People, the Local Church 3/5/17 D. Marion Clark Introduction Who are you? How you answer that question guides how you live your life. In our text this morning, John lays before us the identities of three parties: that of fellow Christians, of Jesus, and of the local ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 1:9-20

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Hitting Rock Bottom: The Younger Brother

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Oct 19, 2010

The prodigal succumbed to temptations all of us face: money, sex and power. He survived because he stopped denying his reality and received the grace of the father.

Takoma Park Baptist Church, Washington, DC June 26, 1988 It is frequently said about alcoholics that they have to hit rock bottom before they can be helped. The usual understanding is that because of the nature of the disease, the behavior called alcoholism, the person who suffers as a ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:11-32

Denomination: Baptist

Integrity Of Motive & Conduct Series

Contributed by Dennis Davidson on Jun 23, 2014

God is the source of all stability. In Jesus and through the promises of God we too are stabilized & become stable.

2 CORINTHIANS 1: 18-22 [GAINING PERSPECTIVE Series] INTEGRITY OF MOTIVE AND CONDUCT [Galatians 5:21-22] Some of the trouble makers in the church discredited Paul by pointing to inconsistency and saying he was at the least insincere, and more likely two-faced, in his relationship with them. But ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 1:17-22

Denomination: Baptist