Sermons on Unsettle:

A Prevailing Church: Loosing Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on May 20, 2002

A prevailing church is one which lives like those persons others thought Jesus might be -- like John the Baptist, loosing himself from tradition; like Elijah, living out of grace; like Jeremiah, let loose in the world.

I walked into the Baptist Student Center at the University of Kentucky, about to take over as chaplain. My predecessor was still on the scene, filling up garbage cans with files. In those pre-Watergate days, nobody had thought of shredders, I guess. He was throwing away every record, ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Lot: The Man Who Compromised Series

Contributed by Darren Ethier on May 21, 2002

Part 1 of 6 of the series, Who’s That? Stories of little known people of the Bible. Lot, the nephew of Abraham had a lot(!) of things going right for him in his life. But he ended up losing a lot(!) because of the compromises he made...

LOT: THE MAN WHO COMPROMISED Gen. 11-14; Genesis 19; 2 Peter 2:7-8 Read at beginning of service: 2 Peter 2:1-10 (NIV) 1 But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign ...read more

Scripture: 2 Peter 2:1-10

Denomination: Pentecostal

God Reconciles The World To Himself Through Christ

Contributed by Timm Meyer on Jun 28, 2002

PENTECOST 5(B) - June 23, 2002 - As God is reconciling the world to himself through Christ: This is God’s message to the world and our ministry into the world.

GOD WAS RECONCILING THE WORLD TO HIMSELF THROUGH CHRIST 2 Corinthians 5:14-21 - June 23, 2002 2 CORINTHIANS 5:14-21 14For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. 15And he died for all, that those who live should ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 5:14-21

Denomination: Lutheran

Presenting Eyes And Ears: Vantage Point From The Hiding Place Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jul 7, 2001

When we are overwhelmed, in our panic we do not see what is before us, nor can we hear any word of counsel; someone -- innocent, devoted to us -- needs to create a stable point, a hiding place for us. Ultimately that is what Jesus Christ in His cross does.

We have abilities that we barely even use. Our senses are capable of doing much more than we allow them to do. I want to try a short experiment with you. I want to test your eyes and your ears. First, I am going to give you thirty seconds to look around this room and take it all in. Many of ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 32:1-8

Denomination: Baptist

Sinking In The Storm Series

Contributed by Ken Alford on Aug 17, 2001

WITH FOCUS FIXED ON JESUS, ONE CAN RISE ABOVE LIFE¡¦S WAVES. Three times in this passage, the word ¡§immediately¡¨ introduces something Jesus does. Each action reveals a need of the disciples that the Lord met in the time of storm. Here are Three indisp

Lessons from Storms in the Scripture #6 -- August 5, 2001-- AM SINKING IN THE STORM -- The Storm Where Peter Walked on the Water -- Matthew 14:22-33 INTRODUCTION: (1) When an important event has unexpected and undesirable shifts in circumstances, one normal outcome is a sinking feeling in the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 14:22-33

Denomination: Baptist

Radical Giving

Contributed by Bob Hunter on Jul 23, 2002

How do we fill up our Churches with radical givers determined to make a difference for the kingdom? Read or use this sermon to inspire a wave of generous- sacrificial giving.

"Radical giving" Acts 4:32-37 Pastor Bob Hunter (read scripture) (opening illustration) In our home these days, there is such a thing that rules called toddler control. Our children are young, and from a very young age human beings understand that possession is 90% of the law. Only in the ...read more

Scripture: Acts 4:32-37

Denomination: Holiness

Resting In The Lord Series

Contributed by John Walls on Sep 16, 2002

What areas in which we can rest in the Lord

RESTING IN THE LORD Psalms 37:7 Part 1 Introduction: At the pastor’s fellowship the other day, one of the preachers made the point that sometimes we get more out of the messages when the Lord gave us a thought. Then He mentioned in his message about resting in the Lord. That sparked me to reread ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 37:7

Denomination: Baptist

How To Make The Most Of Your New Year

Contributed by Jim Mooney on Dec 30, 2000

Belivers will learn how to make the most of the New Year from this sermon.

HOW TO MAKE THE MOST FROM YOUR NEW YEAR Proverbs 17:24 (GN) Proverbs 17:24 (The Good News Version) "An intelligent person aims at wise actions, but a fool starts off in many directions." Can you believe that this year is over? It seems that with each passing year time just speeds up. It seems ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 17:24

Denomination: Pentecostal

When A Dog Sees A Rainbow

Contributed by Russell Brownworth on Jun 23, 2003

Spiritual blindness is nothing new. What is it like to live with opened eyes, fully seeing God’s magnificent gifts for our lives?

THE PASTOR’S POINTS sermon ministry of CEDAR LODGE BAPTIST CHURCH Thomasville, NC A fellowship of faith, family and friendships. ------------------------------------------------------- June 22, 2003 17Then Elisha prayed, "O LORD, open his eyes and let him see!" The LORD opened his servant’s ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 6:17, 2 Corinthians 5:7

Denomination: United Methodist

No More Night

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jun 28, 2003

We are promised "no more night": no more blind thrashing about, unable to see where our lives are going; no more mistrust; no more incompleteness. Sermon for Remembrance Day, when we celebrate members who have passed away in the previous year.

Several Saturday nights ago I just was not satisfied with my preaching preparation. Somehow the message had not quite gelled, and I knew there were many improvements I needed to make before Sunday morning. But by then it was late, after a busy weekend, and I decided, hey, so what, it’ll be all ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 22:1-6

Denomination: Baptist

Fire Of Glory, Fire Of Drought

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Aug 8, 2003

We have experienced the warm glow of God’s blessings, but the fire of judgment is also at hand, for worship becomes ritual, there is a critical spirit, and pessimism spreads. Diligence and integrity bring vitality in worship.

In all the annals of human history, there is one item which has held out more hope and yet offered more terror than any other. Wherever human beings gathered, in the infancy of our race, there this one item, this one element, both attracted them and repelled them; it drew them close and yet it ...read more

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 7:1-22

Denomination: Baptist

Bridges Swamped, Swamps Bridged

Contributed by Joseph Smith on May 10, 2003

In times like these the very things we have created to solve human problems are easily swamped; but God wants His people to flourish and will build bridges over the difficulties.

In June of 1972 I was standing in the middle of Colesville Road, not far from my home. I was standing safely in the middle of the road because no traffic was coming through. Why not? Hurricane Agnes had done. Remember Agnes? We’ve had a lot of storms around here, but not many that did as much ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 35:1-10

Denomination: Baptist

Consider The Source Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on May 16, 2003

Job, struggling to find his source of meaning, is frustrated with Bildad, who finds meaning in the past; and with his own feelings, looking for meaning in the present. Look to Christ, who provides meaning from the future.

Sooner or later, we all come to a point where we wake up and ask ourselves what life means. This life we are living: does it matter? All this energy we are putting in on studying or working or church or family or whatever: is it really necessary? I submit to you that most of us at one time or ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Exploding Manhole Covers Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on May 31, 2003

A series of exploding manhole covers in Washington is compared with the series of unexpected and disruptive events in Paul’s life. Surviving becomes a matter of one’s vision of where we have come from and where we are going.

It all started in Georgetown. On M Street, in broad daylight, a manhole cover suddenly exploded into the air, flying six feet straight up and landing with a heavy clatter. There were no injuries, but there were fiery flames, an acrid smell, cars dodging one another, pedestrians pumping ...read more

Scripture: Acts 26:19

Denomination: Baptist

Up In The Air Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jun 4, 2003

Spiritual indecision leads to sickness and ultimately to death. We are scared of taking risks. Black history shows us, however, that without accepting risk there is no progress.

You should be a fly on the wall around our house on Friday evenings. You see, Friday evenings are our night for ourselves. We try not to take on church things on Fridays, and unless you are at the point of death, you can wait for your pastoral call until Saturday morning. The pastor and his ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

Denomination: Baptist