Sermons on Unacceptable:

Advancing Without Hindrance

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Oct 18, 2001

In our own lives, as well as in the life of the church, there are barriers to advancement, but they are nowhere near as difficult as our spiritual hindrances.

When I entered junior high school, I was introduced to track and field games – to things like the 100-yard dash, relay races, and, most of all, the hurdles. As any red-blooded American boy would have done, I had done my share of running and climbing and bicycling and the like. But hurdles I had ...read more

Scripture: Acts 28:23-30

Denomination: Baptist

Channeling Anger Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on May 14, 2003

Dramatic monologue: Jonah analyzes the sources of his anger, but prays that God will use all of his misdirected energy for Kingdom purposes.

Hmmph! Blah! Of all the fool things! Repent and be saved! Who would have thought it? Why in the world? I am angry. Yes, I don’t dispute it. I am angry. And why wouldn’t I be, after all I have gone through? I am angry. And with good reason. I went through hell and back, and with what ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Road Maps For A Far Country

Contributed by Joseph Smith on May 24, 2003

For Father’s Day: Fathers who say "yes" to everything provide a road map to disaster; who keep their children at arm’s length point to alienation; but who may also go home themselves to lead their children home. (Maps were displayed)

I have always liked maps. Any kind of map fascinates me. You can learn so much from a map. If it is a road map, you can find out how to get from here to there and back again. When I was in elementary school and the classroom got boring, like most kids, I would doodle. But while some kids ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:11-32, Galatians 4:6-11

Denomination: Baptist

Murder Most Foul Series

Contributed by Victor Yap on May 7, 2002

In the Beginning, Part 4 of 7.

MURDER MOST FOUL (GENESIS 4:1-18) There is a beautiful Hebrew legend of how the location of the Jerusalem temple was determined. Two brothers lived side by side on adjoining lands in the past. One was the head of a large family, and the other lived alone. One night, the former lay awake and ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 4:1-26

Denomination: Independent/Bible

God Is Our Source Of Comfort

Contributed by James May on Oct 19, 2003

Our God is a loving God. Though he is often forced through our disobedience to bring judgement, he always makes a way for us to repent and come back to him. Jesus is that way.

GOD IS OUR SOURCE OF COMFORT Isaiah 39:1-8, "At that time Merodachbaladan, the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a present to Hezekiah: for he had heard that he had been sick, and was recovered. And Hezekiah was glad of them, and shewed them the house of his precious things, the ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 39:1-8, Isaiah 40:1-5

Denomination: Independent/Bible

You've Been Invited To The Wedding Banquet

Contributed by Joel Pankow on Oct 10, 2005

This parable opens up the generosity of God’s grace to a world of sinners who wants nothing to do with it.

October 9, 2005 Matthew 22:1-14 1 Jesus spoke to them again in parables, saying: 2 "The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son. 3 He sent his servants to those who had been invited to the banquet to tell them to come, but they refused to come. 4 "Then he ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 22:1-14

Denomination: Lutheran

Happy Are The Merciful

Contributed by Ed Sasnett on Aug 14, 2006

People who experience the fullness of life are merciful. They receive the mercy of God and are filled with healthy emotions.

Title: Happy are the Merciful Text: Matthew 5:7 Truth: People who experience the fullness of life are merciful. They receive the mercy of God and are filled with healthy emotions. Aim: Encourage others to be merciful. INTRODUCTION There is something enticing about a movie plot dealing with ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:7

Denomination: Baptist

Spirit-Filled Life Series

Contributed by Steven Chapman on May 7, 2007

Paul’s point is that the Holy Spirit is the controlling influence motivating and directing the lives of believers. As we sort through these participles, we can identify at least three results of the Holy Spirit’s influence.

The Spirit-Filled Life Ephesians 5:15-21 Quick Discussion: What are the two most significant influences on your life? “Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead be filled with the Spirit.” At the heart of this contrast is a life lived under the influence of … those influences, ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:15-21

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Truth-Telling: Key To Authentic Relationships Series

Contributed by Freddy Fritz on Feb 8, 2006

In James’ day, as in ours, people revered the idea of truth in principle but in practice it was blatantly disregarded. In James 5:12 he makes a special point to address this issue of being truthful.

Scripture In a Reader’s Digest survey of 2,624 readers in January 2004 we read about the percentage of those who said they had: 1. Switched price tags to get a lower price: 12% 2. Cheated on their tax return: 17% 3. Misstated facts on a resume/job application: 18% 4. Lied to their spouse about ...read more

Scripture: James 5:12

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

12 Steps To God's Way Of Living – Part 5

Contributed by Jim Kane on Feb 27, 2006

Part 5 of a 6 part series on the 12 Steps as a Spiritual Discipline

(Slide 1) Last week was the Super Bowl and those who love the color of black and gold are rejoicing because their beloved Steelers are the champions! The half-time show was tame, (at least by Rolling Stones standards,) and I never thought I would see 60-year-old men rumble up and down a stage as ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:18

Denomination: Church Of God

Keep Watch With Me For One Hour Series

Contributed by Joel Pankow on Mar 8, 2006

This sermon examines the one hour of prayer that Jesus requested of his disciples - their failure and Jesus’ response.

March 8, 2006 Matthew 26:36-46 Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, “My soul ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 26:36-46

Denomination: Lutheran

The Importance Of Knowing History

Contributed by Paul Decker on Mar 19, 2006

We must not be set in opposition to God.

THE IMPORTANCE OF KNOWING HISTORY Acts 7.1-53 S: Church C: Purpose of the Community Th: A People with Purpose Pr: WE MUST NOT BE SET IN OPPOSITION TO GOD. We must not set ourselves in opposition to God. KW: Pleas TS: Since Stephen stands accused of blasphemy, we will find four pleas he makes in ...read more

Scripture: Acts 7:1-53

Denomination: Baptist

Christmas According To The Shepherds

Contributed by Jonathan Mcleod on Dec 19, 2006

The story of the shepherds teaches us what Christmas is really all about.

One night many years ago, a shepherd named Benjamin was keeping watch over his flock. It was a night that began like every other. Little did he know that this night would change his life forever. The sky was unusually clear that evening. Benjamin never grew tired of looking at the night sky. ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:8-20

Denomination: Baptist

I Almost Finished Well

Contributed by Rick Gillespie- Mobley on Jan 2, 2007

This is a sermon reflecting on the past year and on the need to finish well in the Lord.

1 Kings 12:1-13:29 I Almost Finished Well, In the Lord 1/23/2000 1 Kings 12:25-33 1 Corin. 9:24-27 Our year has come to an end. How many of us have started on a project in 2006 with great expectations of what we were going to do, only to have that project sit around and eventually left ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 12:25-33

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Condemned By The Righteous Series

Contributed by Tim Smith on Sep 16, 2008

Jesus Trial before the Sanhedrin

Condemned by the Righteous Mark 14: 53-72 This is a map of the city of Jerusalem. You’ll notice the Garden of Gethsemane. It’s at the base of the Mount of Olives. From there, while Jesus was praying, he could see the temple across the Kidron Valley. When Jesus is arrested in the Garden, he makes ...read more

Scripture: Mark 14:53-72

Denomination: Methodist