Sermons on Thriving:

The Prodigal Savior Series

Contributed by Jerry Fenter on May 23, 2002

The reckless extravagance of love, especially God’s love.

Portraits of Jesus The Prodigal Savior Mark 14:1-9 Has it ever occurred to you that one of the characteristics of love is wastefulness? Maybe wastefulness isn’t such a good word; perhaps extravagance is a better word. Has it ever occurred to you that Jesus displayed some of the traits of a ...read more

Scripture: Mark 14:1-9

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Sowing And Reaping

Contributed by Ed Wood on May 30, 2002

What is the difference between a living church and a dead church? This message examines a person’s commitment to church.

SOWING AND REAPING Galatians 6:7 INTRO: C. S. Lewis’, “The Great Divorce,” is a fantasy on heaven and hell. In this fantasy, a chilling discovery is made. A thriving congregation exists in hell. The church is busy. It makes the same sounds and goes through the same motions as if it were ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 6:7

Denomination: Baptist

Get Out Of The Boat

Contributed by Ken Sowers on Nov 11, 2002

Exercise your faith

POV - Safety is an illusion - it kills - there is no such thing - you won’t get out of here alive Staying in the boat is no guarantee of safety. TITANIC. Everything has some risk ½ million hurt falling out of bed 10 a year hung in venetian blinds Listeners POV - Not convinced - EZ Boy, Serta ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 14:22-33

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Walking In The Light

Contributed by Lanny Carpenter on Oct 20, 2003

Designed to teach the importance of conducting one’s life in the presence and influence of Christ.

WALKING IN THE LIGHT I JOHN 1:5-7 INTRO: Are you afraid of the dark? 1. As a child, shadows make us think of monsters. 2. If you like scary movies, you may at times think you see those characters in the dark. (ILL.) In interview, Stephen King, horror author, was asked about daily writing ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 1:5-7

Denomination: Methodist

Blessed Are The Poor In Spirit Series

Contributed by Eloy Gonzalez on Feb 29, 2004

Ash Wednesday: Christ’s name elicits jeers and rejection from those who don’t know Him. But for the poor in spirit, Christ is Savior, Son of the Living God.

Why the outcry? Why the outcry when the name or the work of Jesus is mentioned in public? The reaction to the mention of the name is like splashing ice water on people. We see it in our own lives as the name of Jesus offends – sometimes family members; sometimes friends or neighbors. We see it in ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:3

Denomination: Lutheran

Reaching The Lost

Contributed by Christian Cheong on Apr 10, 2005

Salvation of the lost requires the help of the Holy Spirit. Without Him, we can’t reach the lost. Pray for His guidance.

Acts 8:26-35 REACHING THE LOST Salvation of the lost requires the work of the Holy Spirit. Without Him, we can’t reach the lost. Yet He is going to work through you and me. Beginning - Acts 8:4-8 - Philip was preaching in Samaria, crowds came to hear him. Sick were healed. There was great ...read more

Scripture: Acts 8:26-35

Denomination: Independent/Bible

If You Remain Silent Series

Contributed by Charles Salmon on Nov 7, 2006

Sometimes God’s people are put in a difficult situation and God expects committment. He will stand by those who take a stand for the right.

“If you remain silent” Esther 4:14 INTRO.: Summarize the story of Esther 1-4. Events occurred during the last period of Old Testament history. In the middle of the 100 year period Israel was returning from Babylonian exile. The dominant world empire is Persia. Mordecai and Esther, Jews of the ...read more

Scripture: Esther 4:14

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Lord Is My Shepherd

Contributed by Charles Salmon on Nov 13, 2006

A sermon on Psalm 23 based on material from Phillip Keller’s book, "A Shepherd Looks at the 23rd Psalm."

The Lord Is My Shepherd Ps. 23 INTRO.: Written by a shepherd, David. Later became leader of the most powerful empire Israel ever had. We see him in the field with his sheep. Perhaps meditating on God’s goodness and care. He draws upon his knowledge of a shepherd’s relationship with his sheep to ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 23:1-6

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Introduction To Ephesians And Chapter 1 Series

Contributed by Eric Hanson on Sep 8, 2008

Let’s go mining for treasure in this gem of a Bible book. The first half of Ephesians lays great foundations, and the second half builds a well informed Faith upon that foundation. The series begins here.

EPHESIANS 1 Pastor Eric July 6, 2008 Introduction to Ephesus and Ephesians Ephesus was the fourth largest city in the Roman World. It was located on the Asia Minor bulge into the Mediterranean region. It was a tremendously important crossroads of commerce, which is reflected by such artifacts as ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:1-23

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Beginnings Series

Contributed by Joe Adaline on Jun 27, 2010

The Book of Genesis is the story of beginnings. It is also a story of people in conflict, matters of life and death, and also redemption and hope.

Life is full of beginnings. We start each day with a new dawn of expectation. We start each year with a resolution and an expectation of things to come. We find new friends or make an acquaintance a friend, it is a new beginning. These changes and beginnings are all from God. He gives us the ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 1:1-31

Denomination: Baptist

The Good Wine Series

Contributed by Emile Wolfaardt on Jul 2, 2009

(PowerPoint slides and Cell Study Notes freely available by emailing Emile@Wolfaardt.com) Looking at Jesus first miracle, and the significance of the good wine.

Journeying with John, It’s a Trip (JWJ-11) The Good Wine John 2:1-11 This morning my heart is burdened with a rather unusual subject - and it flows directly out of a rather intriguing passage in Scripture. Our text is the account of Jesus’ first sign in Cana of Galilee - at the wedding where He ...read more

Scripture: John 2:1-11

Denomination: *other

Part 16 - Matthew 12:43-45 - Playing Whack-A-Demon! Series

Contributed by Ross Cochrane on Nov 16, 2010

Even when confronted they were abrasive and uncooperative, malevolent. It took some time to EVICT them, and there was always the danger that they would RETURN.

Part 16 - Matthew 12:43-45 - PLAYING WHACK-A-DEMON! Many years ago I worked in an organisation called SCILS - Sunshine Coast Independent Living Skills. We worked with people who had mild to moderate intellectual disabilities. David (not his real name) was helped to find a place to rent in the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 12:43-45

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

First Seal

Contributed by Jimmy Haile on Aug 25, 2009

The first seal is broken

Verse 1-First Seal Who opened the seals? The Lamb This tells us that all that is going to happen is preordained by God! Verse 2-White Horse When a King was victorious during times of war he would ride into town on a great steed, and during times of peace he would ride a colt. This ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 6:1-2

Denomination: Baptist

Small Stuff Or Big Deal? Series

Contributed by Vance Elzinga on Jul 5, 2007

This is about the problem of spiritual indifference, and God’s promise, "return to me and I will return to you."

Main Idea: The problem with spiritual indifference. God’s Promise: Return to me, and I’ll return to you. HOOK A quote from David Hansen (The Power of Loving Your Church) about being ’at war’ with God sometimes but at least not ambivalent. (The strong wording of the quote gets one’s attention ...read more

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

An Eye For An Eye Series

Contributed by Bill Lyle on Apr 5, 2007

A study in 1st Peter

An older sister was sitting next to her younger brother in Church one Sunday morning unsuccessfully trying to keep him still and quiet. Finally she said, “I wish you would calm down.” “I can’t”, he said, “it’s just so boring.” With that his sister turned and said, “It’s supposed to be ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 3:8-12

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed