Sermons on Take Me Higher:

Trouble Is Brewing Series

Contributed by Christopher Benfield on Mar 31, 2021

Mordecai, Esther, and the Jewish population in Persia may have been excited that a Jew had been selected as the new queen, but their excitement would not last. Trouble is brewing within the kingdom - a situation that will affect every Jew in the Persian Empire.

Trouble is Brewing Esther 3: 1-7 It is likely that Mordecai and the Jews within Persia were feeling confident about their current situation. Although they remained a captive people within the land, one of their own had been crowned queen over the kingdom. This surely increased their outlook for ...read more

Scripture: Esther 3:1-7

Denomination: Baptist

Called For Such A Time Series

Contributed by Christopher Benfield on Apr 21, 2021

While we are thankful for the blessings associated with our relationship with Christ, we know living the Christian life is difficult at best. Life is not without adversity, but the Lord's provision and guidance are sufficient. He has brought us to this place in life for such a time as this.

Called for such a Time Esther 4: 10-17 The entire fourth chapter of Esther deals with her reaction to the decree signed by Ahasuerus regarding the Jews and the conversation she had with Mordecai concerning this disturbing plan. Our text today is a continuation of that conversation. One can only ...read more

Scripture: Esther 4:10-17

Denomination: Baptist

Week Four Series

Contributed by Robert Butler on Mar 15, 2021

Confession is not so much a requirement for believers as it is an opportunity for restoration of fellowship after offending our holy God. Christians are a confessing people!

“Lent is one of the oldest observations on the Christian calendar. Like all Christian holy days and holidays, it has changed over the years, but its purpose has always been the same: self-examination and penitence, demonstrated by self-denial, in preparation for Easter. Early church father ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:1-11, James 5:16, 1 John 1:8-9

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

I Am Redeemed

Contributed by Edward Hardee on Mar 21, 2021

A message from 2 Samuel 9 about how God has redeemed us.

I Am Redeemed Note: We opened up with a dance to the song I Am Redeemed by Big Daddy Weave Is it not great to be redeemed? What does that mean? You were bought with a price. To be set free. 1 Peter 1:18–19: “For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 9:1-13

Denomination: Church Of God

. A Living Authority Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 23, 2021

It is Paul's goal to see that Christians put Jesus where He belongs, and that is in the place of supreme authority.

A Christian school teacher offered a dollar to the one who could give her the name of the most famous man in history. She wanted them to say Jesus, of course. They all began to shout out names like Washington, Lincoln, Edison, and Columbus, and finally a little Jewish boy said Jesus. When he came ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 1:1-9

Jesus The Amazing Teacher Series

Contributed by John Dobbs on Jan 4, 2020

The one thing we can never do with Jesus is be bored by Him. We can reject Him, we can receive Him, we can love or hate him, but he can never be boring. We notice in Mark that people are often Astounded or Amazed by Jesus - and we should be as well.

JESUS IS AMAZING: AN AMAZING TEACHER Text: Mark 1:21-45; Psalm 103:1-5 Introduction The one thing we can never do with Jesus is be bored by Him. We can reject Him, we can receive Him, we can love or hate him, but he can never be boring. We notice in Mark that people are often Astounded or Amazed ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:21-45, Psalm 103:1-5

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Banquet And The Battle

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Jan 10, 2020

A free meal almost cost this king his life!

Background: the kingdom of Israel, or the ten northern tribes, had been at peace with Syria for three years. Peace didn’t seem to last very long back then, and Ahab, king of Israel, now decided to reconquer a city which had been lost to Syria. Apparently it was still under Syria’s control. ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Smyrna: Riches Within Poverty

Contributed by Christopher Benfield on Jan 12, 2020

The second church Jesus instructed John to pen a letter was the church in Smyrna. It was situated within a city of great wealth and affluence, and yet many believers lived in poverty. They were not rich by the world's standards, but they were rich in grace.

Smyrna: Riches within Poverty Revelation 2: 8-11 Today we come to Smyrna, the second church within the series of letters John was instructed to write in the Revelation. It is interesting to note, that of the seven churches, only two received all praise and encouragement from the Lord, with no ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 2:8-11

Denomination: Baptist

Sardis: Socially Active But Spiritually Dead

Contributed by Christopher Benfield on Feb 3, 2020

Sardis was the fifth church Jesus addressed in the Revelation. While the letter was shorter than the others, this one was the most severe. Apparently, Sardis has assimilated into the culture - with little difference known between the church and the world.

Sardis: Socially Active but Spiritually Dead Revelation 3: 1-6 As we continue to examine the churches to whom John sent letters, we come to the fifth – the church at Sardis. Of the seven, the message to Sardis was the most severe. They were content to rely on prior works and a reputation from the ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 3:1-6

Denomination: Baptist

God Is Love, And We Are Not

Contributed by Randall Long on May 30, 2019

A lot of us go through life with a watered-down idea of what God's love is. We will look at two incidents from the Gospel of Luke in which someone met that love face to face to help us understand both His love and His holiness.

There is a saying that appears a few times in the Old Testament. Proverbs 9:10 puts it like this: "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom". Other verses use slightly different wording, but they all declare the value of the "fear of the LORD". I was troubled by that ...read more

Scripture: Luke 5:1-11, Luke 8:26-39, Proverbs 9:10

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

The End Of The Story?

Contributed by Jonathan Kruschel on Jun 4, 2019

What happened next? While some people might view Jesus' ascension as the end of the story, we're not left wondering what happened next. Jesus' ascension assures of him giving powerful gifts to his poeple.

What happened next? You get to the end of the movie or the end of the book, and you might be left wondering, “So what happened after they rode off into the sunset? Where did they go the next day? What did their kids grow up to be?” Some of that anticipation might be intentional as the writer or ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:16-23

Denomination: Lutheran

The Man Of Sorrows

Contributed by Christopher Benfield on Dec 16, 2018

Isaiah lived some seven hundred years prior to Jesus, and yet he revealed much about the significance of His life and death. Jesus fulfilled every prophecy regarding His first advent. I am thankful He came to provide the means of our salvation.

The Man of Sorrows Isaiah 53: 4-6 As I consider the Bible as a whole, there are specific chapters that seem to stand out above the rest. I do not imply these are any more inspired, or needful than the rest, but they are of such rich substance that I feel inadequate to enter their eternal standing. ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 53:4-6

Denomination: Baptist

Pretrib Rapture & Matthew 24

Contributed by John Gaston on Sep 4, 2024

A church member wrote asking about Matthew 24 – if the “rapture” is the same as the 2nd Coming. The 2nd Coming has two parts – the Rapture and 7 years later, the Visible Appearing of Christ to defeat the Antichrist and set up Millennial Kingdom.

PRETRIB RAPTURE & MATTHEW 24 Mt. 24-25 INTRODUCTION A. HUMOR 1. A little 6 yr. old girl, Emily, complained, "Mother, I've got a stomach ache." She replied, "That's because your stomach is empty; you’d feel better if you had something in it." 2. That afternoon, ...read more

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Praying For God's Intervention Series

Contributed by Senior Pastor Ndayiragije-Misigaro Joel on Jul 20, 2023

It is a decision to give up on our own strength and rely on God's strength and wisdom to solve our problems or deliver us. It declares our reliance on Him and our faith in His capability to step in and effectuate a turn for the better.

PRAYING FOR GOD'S INTERVENTION Written by Senior Pastor Ndayiragije Misigaro Joel, July 20, 2023 "16 He saw that there was no man. and wondered that there was no one to intercede; Then his own arm brought him salvation. and his righteousness upheld him. 17 He put on righteousness as a ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 59:16-18

Denomination: Pentecostal

Dancing With Wolves

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Jul 30, 2023

The peace that Isaiah speaks of, the peace Jesus brings us, comes only when both the wolf and the lamb come at his call and obey his commands.

Everybody wants peace. Well, almost everyone. We all know people who are never happier then when they’re in the middle of a crisis, and of course there are terrorists and other people who try to get what they want by violence. But even those would probably say that they too want peace. It’s just ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 11:1-10

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed