Sermons on Suspicion:

Grow To Care, Care To Grow

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Aug 11, 2010

A church that wishes to grow must "get over" negatives about evangelism and must tell the truth about the human spiritual condition; must present a full diet of worship and study and preparation; and must be a source of radical community.

We have a garden at our house. Or should I say, we had a garden. It was carefully planted, lovingly tended for a time, it was nurtured through the searing heat of July and watched over during the thundershowers of mid-August. But something happened to that garden, something awful and terrible, ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:37-47

Denomination: Baptist

No ‘mulligan’s’ Series

Contributed by Thomas Swope on Mar 15, 2012

A study of the Gospel of Luke 9: 7 – 9

Luke 9: 7 – 9 No ‘Mulligan’s’ 7 Now Herod the tetrarch heard of all that was done by Him; and he was perplexed, because it was said by some that John had risen from the dead, 8 and by some that Elijah had appeared, and by others that one of the old prophets had risen again. ...read more

Scripture: Luke 9:7-9

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

Christ's Compassion On The Cross Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Apr 8, 2012

Why would Jesus deliberately go the cross to die? And why would He say "Father Forgive Them"?

OPEN: Ever since the 1950s, the men of the Philippines have had unusual tradition around Easter. It has grown to the point where from 50,000 to 75,000 people attend every year. McDonalds sets up a temporary store to sell burgers, fries and ice cream to those exhausted by the tropical heat. The ...read more

Scripture: Luke 23:32-34

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Treasure’s Trap Series

Contributed by C. Philip Green on Sep 18, 2010

Stop pursuing wealth, because: such a pursuit has made us (the American Church) sick; it never satisfies; and it is a snare into sin and self-destructive behavior.

Several years ago, Millard Fuller of Habitat for Humanity addressed the National Press Club on public radio, on which he recalled a workshop he conducted at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary with 200 pastors in attendance. The assembled pastors quickly pointed toward greed and selfishness as the ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 6:3-10

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Double Your Money

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Nov 4, 2010

We think that we must protect what we have, and do not see those in need as brothers and sisters in disguise. But God puts back in our sacks more than enough when we walk on a mission of mercy and a journey of faith, caring for the hungry and needy.

Takoma Park Baptist Church, Washington, DC, October 16, 1988 (World Hunger Sunday) Somehow, when our whole orientation is consuming and enjoying and entertaining ourselves, we pay no attention to anything beyond today. What we have today we use, and assume that tomorrow will take care of itself. ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Jesus In The Lion’s Den

Contributed by Gordon Curley on Nov 23, 2010

Opposition to Jesus. (PowerPoint slides to accompany this talk are available on request - email: gcurley@gcurley.info)

Reading: John chapter 7 verse 1-24. Ill: • A secondary school faced a unique problem. • A number of female pupils were going into the toilets and putting on lipstick. • But wearing lipstick was not the biggest problem; • After all if the Teacher noticed they would simply ...read more

Scripture: John 7:1-24

Denomination: Brethren

True Shepherds & False Shepherds - Part 2 Series

Contributed by Dennis Davidson on Dec 30, 2010

The reason for the broken covenant symbolically depicted in the Zechariah breaking the staff of grace is now more fully described. It becomes painfully clear that not only did they reject the Son of God but they mocked the character and glory of God incar

Zechariah 11: 11-17 TRUE SHEPHERDS AND FALSE SHEPHERDS - PART II [Matthew 27: 1-10] God gave His Shepherd two staffs, one called Favor (or grace) and the other Union. The Messiah spoke compassionately to them and opposed the false shepherds. He wanted to unite them in the Father and pour His ...read more

Scripture: Zechariah 11:11-17

Denomination: Baptist

The Sword Of The Spirit Series

Contributed by Vernon L Caruthers on Jul 2, 2009

This is the 7th message in our series. Today we are looking at the only offensive piece of spiritual armor, the Sword of the Spirit, the Word of God.

Sermon Notes: July 05, 2009 Sermon Series: Spiritual Warfare Sermon #07: The Sword of the Spirit, the Word of God Scripture Ref: Ephesians 6:10-18 V#17 ‘& take the helmet of salvation & the sword of the SPIRIT, which is the WORD of GOD.’ Introduction: A house church in a city of the ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:17

Up And Down And In And Out

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jul 12, 2009

Calverton Baptist Church, Silver Spring, MD: Worship involves four dimensions: UP toward God, our help; DOWN from our pride; IN toward a caring unity; and OUT toward a world in need.

When I was in college, I had a math professor who would write a problem on the board, and then with a few deft strokes of his chalk, write the answer: X equals 12. Somehow, no matter what the problem, it seemed as though X always equaled twelve. But how did he get that? From long and complex ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:1-16

Denomination: Baptist

So Near And Yet So Far

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Sep 14, 2009

We will never be as close to Christ as we could be or think we are if we are oblivious to today’s issues or build monuments to past achievements.

We can be close to something, and yet miss it. We can be almost on target, almost where we want to .be, and yet, if we’re not exactly where we ought to be, we miss it. So near and yet so far. A couple of years ago, when my wife and I were touring England, we were in Victoria Station, one of the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 9:18-36

Denomination: Baptist

A Law Of Liberating Love Series

Contributed by Dennis Davidson on Oct 19, 2009

Since we all are law breakers, we need to seek mercy. Those who have found mercy from God’s judgment should no longer judge other’s with partiality but with mercy.

JAMES 2:8-13 A LAW OF LIBERATING LOVE [Matthew 22:36-40] Getting a proper perspective can help change our attitude. A COWBOY out west was driving down a dirt road with his dog riding in back of the pickup truck and his faithful horse in the trailer behind. He failed to negotiate a curve and ...read more

Scripture: James 2:8-13

Denomination: Baptist

End Does Not Justify The Means

Contributed by Victor Yap on Jun 28, 2008

Jacob, Pt. 2

THE END DOES NOT JUSTIFY THE MEANS (GENESIS 27:1-46) In Italy, a man went to a priest and confessed. “Forgive me, Father,” he said, sobbing. “During World War II, I hid a refugee in my attic.” “Well,” the priest replied, “That’s not a sin.” “But,” the man admitted, “I made him pay rent.” “That ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 27:1-46

Denomination: Independent/Bible

6 Ways To Be A Better Friend Series

Contributed by Brian Atwood on Jun 28, 2008

Insights about friendship from the book of Proverbs.

Today’s message is the last installment in our series from the book of Proverbs. We’ve been looking all this month at the God-given wisdom that helps us lead happier and more successful lives. So far we’ve looked at: How we talk – which plays a big role on our fulfillment in life – if we talk ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 2:2-4

Denomination: Baptist

Is Love The Defining Mark Of Our Church? Series

Contributed by Glenn Durham on Oct 28, 2008

God’s compassion for the world and power in his people combine for an unassailable testimony of his grace and greatness.

Scripture Introduction Jesus “did not speak to them [the crowds] without a parable…” (Mark 4.34). And the Apostle John shows us that Jesus’ parables were often acted teachings, the most famous of which is in John 13: “Jesus laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around ...read more

Scripture: John 13:31-35

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

When Life Turns Sour Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Mar 15, 2009

When life turns sour, tell yourself the truth, complain to God, and He will deliver. Message focuses on Dylan Thomas’ poem, "Do not go gentle into that good night; rage, rage against the dying of the light."

On a warm spring evening in 1952, at his home in Swansea in Wales, David John Thomas lay on his deathbed. Once a soldier who had fought in the Second World War, later an English teacher, Thomas had become very frail in his later years. There was no doubt that he would die soon. There was no ...read more

Scripture: Job 10:1-22

Denomination: Baptist