Sermons on Town:

Writing Your Dream/Vision

Contributed by Elmer Towns on Feb 1, 2006

“Vision . . . is a clear mental image of a preferable future, imparted by God to His chosen servants and is based upon an accurate understanding of God, self, and circumstance.” -George Barna, The Power of Vision

THREE ASPECTS OF VISION “Vision . . . is a clear mental image of a preferable future, imparted by God to His chosen servants and is based upon an accurate understanding of God, self, and circumstance.” -George Barna, The Power of Vision 1. God. Your vision comes from God, it is not thought up. 2. ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 23:7

Denomination: Baptist

Palm Sunday

Contributed by Elmer Towns on Apr 17, 2006

"The next day a great multitude that had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, took branches of palm trees and went out to meet Him, and cried out: ‘Hosanna! ‘Blessed [is] He who comes in the name of the Lord! The King of

“The next day a great multitude that had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, took branches of palm trees and went out to meet Him, and cried out: ‘Hosanna! ‘Blessed [is] He who comes in the name of the Lord! The King of Israel!’ Then Jesus, when He had found a ...read more

Scripture: John 12:12-19

Denomination: Baptist

Praying The Proverbs: Lesson 2: The Trollop And The Scoffer

Contributed by Elmer Towns on May 3, 2006

“For all that is in the world the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life” (I John 2:16 “Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall” (Proverbs 16:18, KJV)

A. WHO IS THE TROLLOP? 1. Webster, “A slovenly, dirty woman, a sexually promiscuous woman, a prostitute.” 2. Trollop came from troll. “To fish by moving the line in water working it up and down, or trailing behind a boat.” A troll is used to catch fish, a trollop catches men. 3. Synonyms: slut, ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 16:18

Denomination: Baptist

Bulding Dynamic Faith: Lesson 1: Developing A Dream

Contributed by Elmer Towns on May 3, 2006

“I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places plain, and the cracked places made straight, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together” (Excerpt

A. WHAT I WANT YOU TO LEARN! 1. Understand the difference between a biblical dream and a passing fancy or fleshly desire. 2. Examine your past dreams to find the dream God has for you. 3. Write down a concise dream statement for your life. B. INTRODUCTION 1. Dictionary definition: “To conceive ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 40:3-4

Denomination: Baptist

Building Dynamic Faith: Lesson 2: Praying With Big Faith

Contributed by Elmer Towns on May 3, 2006

“Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him” (I John 5:14-15).

A. WHAT I WANT YOU TO LEARN! 1. Understand where and how to develop your faith. 2. To be encouraged and motivated to grow your faith. 3. To apply faith principles to your prayers so God can move mountains – problems in your life. B. INTRODUCTION 1. Growing in faith is expected. “As newborn ...read more

Scripture: Romans 1:17

Denomination: Baptist

Thoughts On Church Membership

Contributed by Bill Towns on May 5, 2006

What is "church membership" all about? What does it mean? "Just who is a member?"

SERIES: GENERAL TITLE : THOUGHTS ON CHURCH MEMBERSHIP SCRIPTURE: 1 CORINTHIANS 12:12FF INTRODUCTION: Most of us, for the most part, do not like to be alone all the time. We like being a part of something. Whether that is a group activity or being where other people are, we like being a part of ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 12:12-31

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Building Dynamic Faith: Lesson 3: The Prayers Of Many

Contributed by Elmer Towns on May 15, 2006

The Christian life is relationships: first with God and second with people.

A. WHAT I WANT YOU TO LEARN! 1. That two people praying together is both powerful and practical to get answers to prayers. 2. To get a burden to begin praying with a prayer partner who challenges you to pray for even bigger things. 3. Apply the power of agreement-prayer to see God actively work ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 4:9

Denomination: Baptist

Three Of The Greatest Emotions In Life

Contributed by Elmer Towns on Apr 9, 2003

We have many emotions. These include fear, anger, excitement, loneliness, despair, and satisfaction. What emotions motivate you the most?

A. INTRODUCTION 1. We have many emotions. These include fear, anger, excitement, loneliness, despair, and satisfaction. What emotions motivate you the most ____________________________? 2. The three greatest emotions. Today’s lesson surrounds three of the greatest emotions: WHAT EMOTIONS What ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 137:1-6

Denomination: Baptist

(Lesson 1) Jacob: Motivated By Fear

Contributed by Elmer Towns on Apr 10, 2003

Jacob wrestled all night with God and wouldn’t let Him go. Because of Jacob’s tenacity, God blessed him and changed his name to Israel, i.e., a Prince with God.

A. INTRODUCTION: GENESIS 32:22-32 What an encounter is not. 1. Not a greeting, i.e., when we talk to God. 2. Not a thought, i.e., when we meditate on God. 3. Not a meeting, i.e., our scheduled communion. 4. Not incidental, i.e., something we do every day. 5. Not an answer to prayer. B. WHAT ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 32:22-32

Denomination: Baptist

(Lesson 2) Gideon: A Weak Self-Image

Contributed by Elmer Towns on Apr 10, 2003

Gideon was at the bottom of the social ladder and filled with self-doubt when he encountered God. Because of that experience, Gideon was able to drive the enemy out of his homeland.

A. INTRODUCTION: JUDGES 6:11-23 1. Poor. Gideon was the youngest son, of the poorest family, of the weakest tribe in Israel. "My family is poor in Manasseh, and I am least in my father’s house" (I Judges 6:15). 2. Weak Name. Gideon was also called Jerubbal (Baal fighter) after confronting idol ...read more

Scripture: Judges 6:11-23

Denomination: Baptist

(Lesson 3) Moses: His Face Shown

Contributed by Elmer Towns on Apr 10, 2003

God said Moses was the meekest man on the face of the earth, yet Moses boldly asked to see God’s glory. When he saw the backside of God, his face shone for 40 days.

A. INTRODUCTION: EXODUS 33 and 34 What frustration drove Moses to seek and encounter God? 1. Murder. "Now when Pharaoh heard this thing, (Moses killed a guard) he sought to slay Moses" (Ex. 2:15). 2. Inability. "I am not eloquent" (Ex. 4:10). 3. Complained. "The people murmured against Moses" ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

(Lesson 4) Elijah: An Encounter Out Of Discouragement

Contributed by Elmer Towns on Apr 10, 2003

Elijah ran into the desert because Queen Jezebel threatened to kill him. He encountered God, not in a mighty force to destroy the evil rule of Jezebel, but in a still, small voice to send Elijah back into service.

A. INTRODUCTION: I KINGS 19:3-18 1. Miraculous food. God provided for Elijah’s needs. "The ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning and bread and flesh in the evening; and he drank of the brook" (I Kings 17:6). 2. Miraculous source. "The barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 19:3-18

Denomination: Baptist

(Lesson 5) Isaiah: Destroyed Dreams

Contributed by Elmer Towns on Apr 10, 2003

Isaiah put his dreams in a king who died, then he saw the Lord. That encounter changed him forever, and he became God’s prophet who wrote one of the most beautiful books in the Bible.

A. INTRODUCTION: ISAIAH 6:1-13 1. Spiritual prosperity. Uzziah was one of the great kings of Judah that restored the glory and power of David. "He did right in the sight of the Lord" (II Chron. 26:4). 2. Healthy prosperity. "Sixteen years old when he began to reign, and he reigned two and fifty ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 6:1-13

Denomination: Baptist

(Lesson 6) Jeremiah: Built Up For A Call To Service

Contributed by Elmer Towns on Apr 10, 2003

God set Jeremiah apart for ministry from His mother’s womb. God later encountered 21 year-old Elijah to call him to a ministry of rejection and persecution.

A. INTRODUCTION: JEREMIAH 1:1-10 1. Father the High Priest. "Jeremiah the son of Hilkiah of the priests that were in Anathoth" (1:1). "They came to Hilkiah the high priest" (II Chron. 34:4). 2. Born in evil days. "Amon . . . did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord . . . sacrificed unto ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 1:1-10

Denomination: Baptist

(Lesson 7) Ezekiel: Seeking Visions For God

Contributed by Elmer Towns on Apr 10, 2003

Ezekiel was a priest who was trained for Temple service, but he encountered God in a vision in which he saw extraordinary sights. Out of that encounter, he became a prophet who communicated a vision of Israel’s future Temple.

A. INTRODUCTION: EZEKIEL 1:1-28 1. Age 30. "In the thirtieth year . . . the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God" (1:1). 2. Occupations. "Ezekiel the priest" (1:3). 3. Birthday. "Take the sum of the sons of Kohath . . . from thirty years old and upwards" (Num. 4:2,3). 4. Captive. "I ...read more

Scripture: Ezekiel 1:1-28

Denomination: Baptist