Sermons on Understanding Symbolism:

Anger Series

Contributed by Michael Monica on Dec 25, 2022

Understanding Sanctification

Anger | Matthew 5:21-26 [You Have Heard it said] The Law(s) in Texas: • You must provide an oral or written notice to someone 24 hours in advance before robbing them. • In Galveston, you can be fined $500 for sitting on a side-walk. • It is illegal to shoot a buffalo from the 2nd story of a ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Self Control Series

Contributed by Michael Monica on Dec 25, 2022

Understanding Sanctification

Control Your Desires | Matthew 5:27-32 “You have heard it said” (Part 2) - Jesus is not challenging the Law. He is saying, you’ve been taught in the past how to avoid certain actions, but Jesus is showing them how to do it! - Jesus focus here is how to prevent sin before it occurs. Jesus does ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Integrity Series

Contributed by Michael Monica on Dec 25, 2022

Understanding Sanctification

Integrity| Matthew 5:32-37 “Sticks and stones will break my bones but words will never hurt me.” Numbers 30:2 • The nation of Israel had developed an elaborate system of “I swear” to guarantee that an individual was telling the truth. Of course, people used swears to make themselves look good and ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Retaliation Series

Contributed by Michael Monica on Dec 25, 2022

Understanding Sanctification

Retaliation | Matthew 5:31-42 v.38: An eye for an eye. • The “Lex Talionis” = the law of retaliation. An eye for an eye = the punishment for a crime needed to be equal to the seriousness of the crime. It also protected the offender from paying a greater price. [The Way of Jesus] v. 39: “…But I ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Love Your Enemies Series

Contributed by Michael Monica on Dec 25, 2022

Understanding Sanctification

Love Your Enemies | Matthew 5:43-48 “The Bible tells us to love our neighbors, and also to love our enemies; probably because they are generally the same people.” GK Chesterton. Verse 43: “You have heard it said…” • Jesus is referencing Leviticus 19:9-18 o Sometimes Jesus says, you have heard it ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Secret Devotion Series

Contributed by Michael Monica on Dec 25, 2022

Understanding Sactification

Secret Devotion | Matthew 6:1-8 Introduction (1) My Sports Story (2) The thing about sports – team sports and individual sports – is that it is all about accomplishments. (3) Being recognized for our accomplishments stands in contrast to much of what Jesus calls us to do. Jesus calls us to live ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Lords Prayer Series

Contributed by Michael Monica on Dec 25, 2022

Understanding Sanctification

The Lord’s Prayer | Matthew 6:9-13 [The Art of Prayer] What is prayer? 1. Prayer is a Dialogue! a. The disciples saw something in Jesus and his ministry (miracles, interactions with others) and connected what he was doing in ministry with prayer. b. Prayer is communicating with God. Talking. ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Fear Of The Lord Series

Contributed by Michael Monica on May 16, 2020

Understanding Fear

Fear: Hebrew word is “yara” to dread, terror to stand in awe to revere / respect. The last description (revere / respect) is most biblically accurate for fear of the lord. Role in the life of a Christian: Fear God, not man. Walk in fear of God. Work out salvation with fear. We ought ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Follow Jesus Series

Contributed by Michael Monica on Jan 1, 2023

Understanding Discipleship

“When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die.” Deitrich Bonhoeffer Introduction: To marry my gf or not. Matthew 16:24-28 “If anyone desires to come after me…” • Jesus is going to provide a list of expectations for those who would follow after him. • Jesus asks a lot of those who follow ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Transfiguration Series

Contributed by Michael Monica on Jan 1, 2023

Understanding the Transfiguration

“I tell you this: I want God to be what God is: the impeccably holy, unapproachable holy Thing, the all-holy One. I want him to be and remain the Holy. I want his heaven to be holy and this throne to be holy. I don’t want him to change or modify his requirements. Even if it shuts me out, I want ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

11th Hour Workers Series

Contributed by Michael Monica on Jan 1, 2023

Understanding Grace

[Intro] - My Mom has been a nurse all her life – she volunteered at the local hospital and then intervened during high school and immediately after. She then got into nursing school and worked her way to becoming a nurse and most of her adult life was spent working and going back and forth to ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Celebrating Pentecost

Contributed by Stephen Funderburk on Jun 4, 2006

understanding the day of Pentecost in Acts 2

Intro: as Pentecostals we should admit we don’t do church celebrations as good as many other denominational churches. I think many churches do communion better than we do, and celebrations around Lent and Advent are done much better in many churches. So I think we should do Pentecost Sunday better ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:1-4

Denomination: Assembly Of God

3 - Gold, Frankincense, And Myrrh

Contributed by Sterling Franklin on Jan 22, 2002

The Gifts the Wise Men brought were a symbol of Jesus’ Life - He would be our King, High Priest, and would die for the payment of our sins.

Herod was king of Jerusalem when Jesus was born in Bethlehem (means “House of Bread.”) Bethlehem, also known as Ephrath, was about 5 miles south of Jerusalem, and when wise men came to Herod asking where the REAL King of the Jews was, Herod got pretty jealous and tense, not to mention angry. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:1-23

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

'after Christmas' Gifts

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Dec 8, 2005

The Wise Men and the symbolic significance of their gifts, and how they should change us all this Christmas! Link included to formatted text, handout, and PowerPoint Presentation.

‘After Christmas’ Gifts Matthew 2:1-11 PowerPoint for this and all our sermons available at http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons.html 2 common misconceptions about the wise men that we have come to believe by tradition: -Nowhere does the Bible say there were 3 wise men. Every picture I could find had ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:1-11

Denomination: Baptist

"Stephen: A Heart Of Commitment"

Contributed by David Henderson on Nov 24, 2013

It is always right to do the right thing, even if it is difficult. Jesus never said the Christian life would be easy. Remember, the symbol of the Christian life is a cross.

HEARTBEATS “Stephen: A heart of Commitment” Acts 6:8-15 and 8:54-60 One of the things that are clear as you look at the gospels is that popularity can be costly. Most of us if we would admit it, certainly desire to have it. But we sometimes don’t realize what it can cost us. ...read more

Scripture: Acts 6:8-15

Denomination: Baptist