Sermons on thesis:

Judgment Vs. Discernment

Contributed by Roddy Chestnut on Oct 18, 2000

Thesis: We can discern right from wrong without judging the individual.

Thesis: We can discern right from wrong without judging the individual. Intro.: 1. Have you ever tried to point out the truth to someone only to have them accuse you of judging them? a. Illust. Suggesting to a co-worker that drinking and chasing women is wrong. (He's alcoholic/married!) "You're ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:1-15

Seeing Ourselves In Christ

Contributed by Roddy Chestnut on Oct 18, 2000

Thesis: We need to look to God to tell us who we are.

Thesis: We need to look to God to tell us who we are. Intro.: 1. < Show the congregation a mirror > a. "This is obviously a mirror." 1) You probably look at one several times each day (some more/less). 2) Anytime you want to see how you look, step in front of a mirror. b. Looking at the unseen ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:1-4

Intercessory Prayer

Contributed by Roddy Chestnut on Oct 18, 2000

Thesis: To intercede for someone is to want more for them than it is in your power to give.

Thesis: To intercede for someone is to want more for them than it is in your power to give. Intro.: 1. In Richard Foster's book, Prayer, he says: "If we truly love people, we will desire for them far more than it is within our power to give them, and this lead us to prayer. Intercession is a way ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:12-13

The Glory To Be Revealed

Contributed by Roddy Chestnut on Oct 18, 2000

Thesis: Christ's return will vindicate the faithful life we are now living in Christ.

Thesis: Christ's return will vindicate the faithful life we are now living in Christ. Intro.: 1. Illust. When I was a little boy growing up in Fredericksburg, VA the Second Coming of Christ was something that was very real to me. I'll never forget one hot, Summer Sunday night in June. As soon as ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 3:12-13

Do You Have Eternal Life?

Contributed by Roddy Chestnut on Oct 18, 2000

Thesis: Assurance comes from confessing sin, practicing righteousness, and loving the brothers.

Thesis: Assurance comes from confessing sin, practicing righteousness, and loving the brothers. Intro.: 1. Illust. This year Kathy & I will celebrate eleven years of marriage. Having been both married and single, I would choose to be married any day! One of the most miserable periods in my life ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 5:9-13

Where Are We Going

Contributed by Roddy Chestnut on Oct 18, 2000

Thesis: To reach the promised land we must choose trust over fear.

Thesis: To reach the promised land we must choose trust over fear. Intro.: 1. It has gone down as one of the greatest baseball games ever! a. 6th game of 1986 American League championship series. 1) California Angels ..... Boston Red Sox. 2) California led series 3 games to 2 (best of 7). b. ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 1:19-36

When You Eat And Are Satisfied

Contributed by Roddy Chestnut on Oct 18, 2000

Thesis: Praising God in prosperity reminds us of our constant dependence on him.

Thesis: Praising God in prosperity reminds us of our constant dependence on him. Intro.: 1. Illust. Remember old TV show, "The Jeffersons"? About an upwardly mobile family in NYC. Dry-cleaning business. Had come a long way--"Finally got a piece of the pie." Episode where Geo. Jefferson opened a ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 8:1-10

"No More Tears"

Contributed by William Young on Sep 1, 2001

Thesis; For all to understand that tears are for those on earth, not for those who will inherit Heaven

NO MORE TEARS REV. 7:13-17 Thesis: for all of us to understand that tears are for those on earth, not for those who will inherit Heaven Introduction: 1. The Elder here asks John these questions not to learn but to teach 2. The answer returned by the apostle, a. in which he tactfully acknowledges ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 7:13

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

We Are Witnesses Second Sunday Of Easter, Year C

Contributed by Amiri Hooker on Apr 24, 2022

Easter is unsettling. That’s our thesis for this series. No, wait, that’s a given. That’s a foundational statement. The thesis is because Easter is unsettling for the world, we need to be witnesses to the Easter event.

We Are Witnesses SECOND SUNDAY OF EASTER, YEAR C Acts 5:27-32 5:27 When they had brought them, they had them stand before the council. The high priest questioned them, 5:28 saying, "We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and ...read more

Scripture: Acts 5:27-32

Denomination: United Methodist

Hell Is A Choice

Contributed by Roddy Chestnut on Oct 18, 2000

Thesis: God doesn't send people to Hell; people choose to go there.

Thesis: God doesn't send people to Hell; people choose to go there. Intro.: 1. Troublesome question: Would a good God send people to Hell? a. Some: Unthinkable--fit the crime? (No Hell/no God). b. Others: Yes!--relish idea; "roast `em & toast `em!" 2. This AM we want to approach this ...read more

Scripture: John 3:16-21

What Has The Lord Done For You?

Contributed by Roddy Chestnut on Oct 18, 2000

Thesis: There is tremendous power in simply telling the truth about how we came to the Lord.

Thesis: There is tremendous power in simply telling the truth about how we came to the Lord. Intro.: 1. It's Sunday AM and you're "channel grazing" through the TV channels. a. Your attention is drawn to a popular "Christian Talk Show." 1) Host (immaculately dressed, hair perfect) is all ...read more

Scripture: Acts 26:15-19

When Seeing Is Not Believing

Contributed by Roddy Chestnut on Oct 18, 2000

Thesis: Faith that requires proof is inferior to faith that does not have to see in order to believe.

Thesis: Faith that requires proof is inferior to faith that does not have to see in order to believe. Intro.: 1. Illust. I'll never forget the day I was told that I was going to be a father. "You've got to be kidding!" was about all I could say. I was assured that this was no joke--all the proper ...read more

Scripture: John 20:24-29

Doing Community

Contributed by Roddy Chestnut on Oct 18, 2000

Thesis: We create community when we restrict our freedom for the sake of others.

Thesis: We create community when we restrict our freedom for the sake of others. Intro.: 1. "I WANT TO DO WHAT I WANT TO, WHEN I WANT TO, AND I DON'T WANT ANYONE TELLING ME WHAT TO DO!" a. Sound familiar? b. Words of someone (demanding their rights / expressing their personal freedom). c. ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 8:1-13

Hannah's Prayer Of Praise

Contributed by Roddy Chestnut on Oct 18, 2000

Thesis: The way God delivered Hannah is characteristic of the way God rules his world.

Thesis: The way God delivered Hannah is characteristic of the way God rules his world. Intro.: 1. Everyone loves to see an underdog win! (cf. two recent children's movies-- "Angels in the Outfield" and "Little Giants"--predictable films where the underdogs win.) 2. Hannah's story (1 Sam. 1) ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 2:1-11

How To Have A Healthy Crisis

Contributed by Roddy Chestnut on Oct 18, 2000

Thesis: Depending on how it is handled, a crisis can either make us or break us.

Thesis: Depending on how it is handled, a crisis can either make us or break us. Intro.: 1. Illust. The Chinese do not have an alphabet as we know it. Rather than letters, words are represented by symbols. They have an interesting word-symbol for "crisis." It is a combination of the symbols for ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 30:1-31