Sermons on Tom Ellsworth:

Wedding Ceremony Series

Contributed by Tom Shepard on Nov 27, 2006

This is the wedding ceremony I have used for many years. It is very traditional and Biblically based.

Message Dearly beloved, we are here in the presence of God to unite ----- and ----- in marriage. Marriage involves mutual commitment and responsibility. You as a couple will share together in the responsibilities and commitments of building a home. You will share also in the joys and sorrows of ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Christmas Courage: The Story Of Joseph Series

Contributed by Tom Shepard on Nov 28, 2006

There are three points to this sermon. 1. God gives courage to ordinary people. 2. God gives us courage to overcome our doubts and fears. 3. God gives us courage to face the future.

(This sermon is a re-working of “The Nativity Story: The Courage of Joseph” by C. Raymond van Pletsen. I used some of the same wording and illustrations but changed the outline and applications. I only spoke of movies I had seen and since I am not a sports fan changed the ending.) Christmas ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:18-25

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Christmas Hope: The Story Of Mary Series

Contributed by Tom Shepard on Dec 6, 2006

This is a Christmas Sermon about Mary. 1. Mary’s Hosanna (Song Of Praise) 2. Mary’s Humility 3. Mary’s Hope

Christmas Hope: The Story of Mary I want to start off this morning by doing an exercise. Not a physical exercise but a mental exercise. I want you to remember being 15 years old. What were you doing at 15? Fifteen is an awkward age – isn’t it? You are no longer a child yet you’re not quite an ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:46-55

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Plotting, Power, And The Way To Get Ahead Series

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Dec 11, 2006

Though evil plotted heavily against Jesus He remained in total control of every situation. Sometimes do you adopt the ways of the world to accomplish God’s will?

Have you ever met someone who really comes across as having it together and being pretty impressive? I’m reminded of that old TV show The Pretender. In it a guy named Jared could instantly become anyone he wanted: a doctor, a cop, a scientist, whatever. He wasn’t really any of those things and ...read more

Scripture: Luke 22:1-30

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

Christmas Wisdom: The Story Of The Wise Men Series

Contributed by Tom Shepard on Dec 12, 2006

Three aspects of a Wise Man 1. Journey of Faith 2. Journey of Worship 3. Journey of Change

Christmas Wisdom: The Story of the Wise Men "Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, ’Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.’ ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:1-12

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

God's Word - God's Hope Series

Contributed by Tom Shepard on Dec 14, 2006

This is a funeral sermon that uses a variety of verses to bring hope to families who have lost a loved one.

God’s Word – God’s Hope I would take nothing away from the grief you feel today. I would not say everything is all right. Because it is not. We hurt. And we know we will hurt for a long time. When someone close to us dies we feel pain – we feel loss. Those are natural feelings. God made us ...read more

Scripture: John 3:16

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Good Friday - Why? Series

Contributed by Tom Shepard on Dec 18, 2006

This is a meditation for a Good Friday Service. It is a short meditative reading for reflection.

Why GOOD Friday? Text: John 19:1-30 1 So then Pilate took Jesus and scourged Him. 2 And the soldiers twisted a crown of thorns and put it on His head, and they put on Him a purple robe. 3 Then they said, "Hail, King of the Jews!" And they struck Him with their hands. 4 Pilate then went out again, ...read more

Scripture: John 19:1-30

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Death Of The Light - A Good Friday Meditation Series

Contributed by Tom Shepard on Dec 18, 2006

This is a meditation for a Good Friday Service. It is a short meditative reading for reflection.

The Death of the Light 44 Now it was about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. 45 Then the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was torn in two. 46 And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, "Father, ’into Your hands I commit My ...read more

Scripture: Luke 23:44-47

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Glory Of God Series

Contributed by Tom Cooperider on Dec 18, 2006

Jesus came to show us the Glory of God

Introduction In the beginning God said “Let there be light, and there was light” • And God saw that all that He had created was good and He walked with Adam in the cool of the day in the Garden Then with one act of disobedience sin entered in the world and there was DARKNESS • First came Abraham ...read more

Scripture: John 1:1-14

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Power Of Darkness Series

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Dec 19, 2006

Satan has a plan for each of our lives - to sift us like wheat. If we recognize it we can overcome it in the power of the Holy Spirit

There is a philosophy out there today that says man is basically good and if you take off the restraints and the laws we will eventually grow into a utopian world where crime and poverty will be a thing of the past. There’s only problem with that philosophy: its dead wrong; its 180 degrees out of ...read more

Scripture: Luke 22:31-72

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

The Servant King Series

Contributed by Tom Cooperider on Dec 20, 2006

Jesus came as no other king, the Servant King

Introduction In the movie The Princess Diaries, young princess Mia makes a speech about her decision whether or not to accept the role as princess of Genovia. I wondered how I’d feel after abdicating my role as princess of Genovia. Would I feel relieved or would I feel sad? And then I realized how ...read more

Scripture: Mark 10:45

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Christmas Love: The Story Of God's Gift To Us Series

Contributed by Tom Shepard on Dec 20, 2006

This is a sermon about God’s gift to us. How it is 1. Usefull 2. Costly 3. Effective

Christmas Love: The Story of God’s Gift to Us Christmas was an exciting time and Joie was excited too. He was only 10 years old and he was as excited as any ten year old boy could be. For him Christmas was still a time of wonder. He did the things most 10 year olds do. He played ball, rode his ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 4:9-11

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Baby King Series

Contributed by Tom Cooperider on Dec 21, 2006

The coming of the baby was not what anyone expected - this baby is the King

Introduction I hope that you don’t mind, but I thought that I would show you some of the pictures from our family vacation… Isn’t this one of the times when you are looking for the door, looking at someone else’s family photo’s is usually not good, unless you are tied in some way. I think that ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:16-24

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Nature Of The Church Series

Contributed by Tom Shepard on Dec 26, 2006

Purpose Driven Concepts. This is the first of three sermons I plan in this series. This sermon is a reworking of another of my sermons "What Is The Church."

God’s Committed Community: The Nature of The Church Did you know the word church is not found in the Old Testament? The concept may be there and the foundational ideas for the church are there but the word church is never used in the Old Testament. The Old Testament talks about “a holy people”, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:15-18

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Resurrection Reluctance

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Apr 16, 2006

Easter should be a happy day, but for those who first experienced the risen Lord it was anything but joyful. This speaks to how you might experience Jesus at first too.

What’s the first thing that comes to your mind when I say the word "Easter"? Outside of a Christian group you’d probably say "The Easter Bunny," or "Easter eggs." Fluffy white bunnies and eggs have become so much a part of secular Easter that it wouldn’t surprise me if little kids thought that the ...read more

Denomination: Calvary Chapel