Sermons on Tough Teaching:

Genesis 21:8-21 (The God Of Ishmael)

Contributed by David Smith on Nov 28, 2007

The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob turns out the be the God of Ishmael too!! ...

We continue our sojourn with Abraham today – Abraham, the ‘father of faith’. We’ve been working our way through the story of Abraham for some time now – stories about Abraham & Sarah, Abraham & his family, Abraham & his descendents, Abraham and the promises God made to him - Abraham the ‘father of ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 21:8-21, Genesis 21:13-20

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

David & Bathsheeba (2 Samuel 11)

Contributed by David Smith on Nov 28, 2007

David and Bathsheeba - an old story with a very contemporary ring to it, and a few things still to teach us!

"You can get a large audience together for a strip-tease act-that is, to watch a girl undress on the stage. Now suppose you came to a country where you could fill a theatre by simply bringing a covered plate on to the stage and then slowly lifting the cover so as to let everyone see, just before ...read more

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

The Great Counselor Series

Contributed by Tim Patrick on Nov 30, 2007

Discover the benefits that Jesus offers when we allow him to be our divine counselor.

There are four weeks between now and Christmas. During these four weeks I am going to be using one verse of scripture to guide our thoughts. The verse is Is. 9:6. Look at the verse. “For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 9:6-7

Denomination: Baptist

Loving Your Neighbor

Contributed by Paul Wallace on Dec 6, 2007

We know we should love our neighbor, but how do we practically do it? Let’s look.

Loving Your Neighbor Matthew 22:36-40 Relationships are the key to life. Jesus said all of the commandments of God can be boiled down to just two - Loving God and Loving your neighbor as yourself. By themselves they are too vague for self centered humans to follow. So God expanded them to ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 22:36-40

Denomination: Wesleyan

Following Jesus

Contributed by Michael Durst on Dec 6, 2007

A look at the real life results of a decision to follow Jesus.

When I was in elementary school, we didn’t have Upward basketball. The only league we had was the Westerville Parks and Rec. And for me the Westerville parks and rec league presented a problem. The problem was that I wasn’t allowed to play until the 4th grade. For those of you who don’t know, I ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 4:18-22

Denomination: Holiness

The Second Greatest Commandment Series

Contributed by Carl Allen on Dec 6, 2007

Love your neighbor, as yourself.

The Second Greatest Commandment Matthew 22:39 Intro As Jesus approached the end of his earthly ministry, he gave his disciples a badge by which they could identify each other. He gave a uniform with which to clothe themselves that would indicate to the world that they were his followers. This ...read more

Scripture: Malachi 22:39

Denomination: Baptist

Faith To Do The Work Of Ministry

Contributed by Brian La Croix on Dec 10, 2007

Discussion of Jesus’ words after healing a boy possessed by a demon.

Faith to Do the Work of Ministry Matthew 17:14-23 May 27, 2007 I don’t know about you, but as I listen to what people say, read what they write, and see how they act, I get the impression that our world thinks that Christianity is weak faith. That we’re really just a bunch of religious people ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 17:14-23

Denomination: Wesleyan

A Wee Little Man

Contributed by J. Curtis Goforth, O.s.l. on Nov 7, 2007

A sermon for the 23rd Sunday after Pentecost Year C.

When Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down; for I must stay at your house today.” -Luke 19:3-5 Have you ever stayed at someone else’s house before? Of course you have. Even the younger ones in our families have probably spent the night at ...read more

Scripture: Luke 19:1-10

Denomination: United Methodist

There's No Marriage In Heaven! (Luke 20:27-38)

Contributed by David Smith on Nov 9, 2007

Things are about to change. The things we love as well as the things we hate - all is to be ’recreated’! ...

Luke Chapter 20 – Jesus tells us that there is no marriage in heaven. One of the few clear memories I have of being lectured to by our current Archbishop while in seminary was when he spoke on this passage. He began by saying that early on in his marriage, whenever his wife Christine read this ...read more

Scripture: Luke 20:27-38

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

The Hope Of Heaven (Revelation 7:9-17)

Contributed by David Smith on Nov 14, 2007

This passage in Revelation 7 came to light at a time when the church was dealing with a lot of pain and death through persecution, and when indeed every victory that they di...

It’s an image of the coming Kingdom - Heaven, the Kingdom of God, the New Jerusalem. Call it what you will, it is an image of the final dawning of the new age - the climaxing of human history, and, strangely, it seems quite appropriate to be talking about it today. The end of the world is becoming ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 7:9-17

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

Don't Let Go Of The Vine

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Nov 15, 2007

You don’t have to be Tarzan to learn to hold on to the Vine. Practical outline on abiding in Christ and how to ’branch out’ and bear fruit for the Father, our Husbandman. Link inc. to formatted text, audio, and PowerPoint.

Don’t Let Go of the Vine John 15 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/DontLetGo.html Sometimes it may seem we are spinning our wheels and going nowhere. What are we supposed to do then? We live in an age where we feel we must always be busy and be doing something. We are restless [and young!] and ...read more

Scripture: John 15:1-8

Denomination: Baptist

The Stone That The Builders Rejected (Act 4:11-12)

Contributed by David Smith on Nov 15, 2007

The Stone that the builders rejected has become the head of the corner ...

I must admit that I was drawn to this passage this morning because it had a refreshingly urban feel about it. If you’re familiar with the parables and metaphors used by Jesus, you know that He often spoke using rural images - speaking of shepherds and sheep and fields and harvests. And you could ...read more

Scripture: Acts 4:11-12, Acts 4:11-15

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

Introduction Series

Contributed by Aarron Ellerman on Dec 31, 2007

Introduction to the book of Jude

Jude 1-4 “Introduction” • Vs 1 Who is Jude? Jude or Judah (Heb.) form of Judas (Greek) • 2 Possibilities o Judas, the Apostle, also called Thaddaeus (Luke 6:16) o Judas, the half brother of Jesus (Matthew 13:55) • It was not the apostle, vs. 17; he would have identified himself as an apostle ...read more

Scripture: Jude 1:1-4

Denomination: Baptist

False Teachers Series

Contributed by Aarron Ellerman on Dec 31, 2007

Grace is not an excuse to indulge in a sinful lifestyle.

Jude 8-13 “False Teachers” • Vs. 8 “in the same way” these false teachers were acting with the same heart as the previous 3 examples: they were untrusting, disobedient, chasing after there own desires. • “Dreaming” can be interpreted in a couple ways. o These false teachers were claiming to ...read more

Scripture: Jude 1:8-13

Denomination: Baptist

Questioning Jesus? Series

Contributed by Tim Hedberg on Mar 10, 2008

Seeking something deeper with Jesus.

Questioning Jesus? - Nicodemus John 2:23-3:21 February 17, 2008 Second Sunday of Lent 4 Saturdays ago our family was on a family adventure to Krispy Kreme donuts in Burlington. On Saturdays we try to do something fun as a family. As we were driving through Burlington, we were stopped at a ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational