Sermons on Vantage Point:

I Would Love To Serve Series

Contributed by Paul Decker on May 15, 2002

We are to lovingly serve others.

I WOULD LOVE TO SERVE! Galatians 5:13-15 S: Service Th: Grace-Full Living Pr: WE ARE TO LOVINGLY SERVE OTHERS. ?: Why? KW: Reason TS: We will find in Galatians 5:13-15, three reasons why we are to lovingly serve others. The _____ reason we lovingly serve others is because it… I. OPPOSES ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:13-15

Denomination: Baptist

Remembering People (Memorial Day)

Contributed by Steve Shepherd on May 25, 2002

Memorial Day is about remembering people.

REMEMBERING PEOPLE (Memorial Day) Phil. 2:3-4 INTRO.- ILL.- There’s a story about a city fellow who was visiting relatives on a farm and the farmer gave a whistle and his dog herded the cattle into the corral, then latched the gate with her paw. "Wow, that’s some dog. What’s her name?" The ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:3-4

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Extravagance Of Love

Contributed by Alan Smith on Aug 9, 2002

If our love the great enoough, then there will be a willingness to sacrifice the very best we have.

Introduction: Unbelievers have always had a hard time figuring out the lifestyle of Christ’s disciples. When you think about it, you can understand their difficulty. They are guided by a life philosophy that promotes selfishness (the attitude that says, “You’ve gotta look out for ‘Number One’”), ...read more

Scripture: Mark 14:3-9, Mark 14:3-14

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

God Don't Make No Junk

Contributed by Alan Smith on Aug 9, 2002

You were created in teh image of God, and that makes you very special.

Introduction: We sometimes call someone who is in love with himself a narcissist. What you may not know, though, is the story from Greek mythology from which we get that word. There are actually two Greek characters in the myth -- Narcissus and Echo. As the story goes, the goddess Hera got ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 1:26

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

If Children, Then Heirs

Contributed by Alan Smith on Aug 9, 2002

Because Christians are children of God, we have an inheritance to look forward to.

Introduction: The story is told of a young man who was in a movie theater. As the lights dimmed, and he was loaded down with popcorn, cokes and candy, he began to pace up and down the aisle, scanning all the darkened rows. It was obvious he was looking for the people with whom he had come. ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:14-17

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Knowing, Doing, Becoming

Contributed by Alan Smith on Aug 9, 2002

Christianity involves learning facts, doing good deeds and becoming like Christ.

Introduction: I heard about a story about a man whose wife wanted to buy a pet monkey. The husband protested strongly. He said, "Where will the monkey eat?" She said, "He’ll eat at the table with us." He said, "But what will he eat?" And she said, "He’ll eat the same thing we do." He said, ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 1:9-12

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Our Attitude Toward The Word Of God

Contributed by Alan Smith on Aug 9, 2002

The Bible is the inspired word of God.

Introduction: One of the questions that I hear people ask a lot is, “How is the Church of Christ different from this group or that group? What makes you distinctive?” I won’t go into a full and complete answer of that question this morning, but one of the things that makes us who we are is our ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:16-17

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Life Is Like A Baseball Game

Contributed by Steve Shepherd on Aug 19, 2002

The Cal Ripken Jr. World Series of baseball has invaded Mattoon, IL, and life is somewhat similar to a baseball game.

LIFE IS LIKE A BASEBALL GAME I Cor. 9:25 "Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever." INTRO.- ILL.- In the popular 1994 movie "Forrest Gump," Forrest with an IQ of 74 said, "Mama ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 9:25

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Story Of Gideon – The Making Of A Hero

Contributed by Joey Nelson on Aug 19, 2002

He was a farmer who really enjoyed his trade. Unlike some farmers, he had no desire to be anything more than a farmer. He never had political ambitions, nor did he dream of becoming a military leader and yet God had a different plan for his life. I’m talk

SERMONIC THEME INTRODUCTION Opening Statement: He was a farmer who really enjoyed his trade. Unlike some farmers, he had no desire to be anything more than a farmer. He never had political ambitions, nor did he dream of becoming a military leader and yet God had a different plan for his life. I’m ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 24:1, Judges 7:1-25

Nitty Gritty...meet Religion #2 Series

Contributed by Jeffrey Stratton on Aug 20, 2002

This series is based upon Mike Yaconelli’s book "Messy Spirituality and is designed to help seekers understand that God wants our Nitty and our Gritty Lives.

May 25 & 26, 2002 Luke 18:35-42 “Nitty Gritty…Meet Religion” John Currier in 1949 was found guilty of murder and sentenced to life in prison. Later he was transferred and paroled to work on a farm near Nashville, Tennessee. In 1968, Currier’s sentence was terminated, and a letter bearing ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:35-42

Denomination: Baptist

Stupid Is As Stupid Does Series

Contributed by Victor Yap on Aug 29, 2002

Judges, Pt. 3

STUPID IS AS STUPID DOES (JUDGES 16) Former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger asked an assistant to prepare an analysis on a special assignment. The assistant worked day and night. An hour after he gave it to Kissinger, he got it back. There was a note attached that said redo it. The assistant ...read more

Scripture: Judges 16:1-31

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Love That Is Better Than Seven Sons Series

Contributed by Victor Yap on Aug 29, 2002

Ruth. Pt. 1

LOVE THAT IS BETTER THAN SEVEN SONS (RUTH 1:1-22) Sunday school teacher Tom and his family had been facing trials and tests that cause him to feel unworthy to be an adult Sunday school class teacher. Week after week he felt he was a total failure and kept wondering if each week was his last Sunday ...read more

Scripture: Ruth 1:1-18

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Making The Best Out Of Life - Part Iii

Contributed by Steve Shepherd on Sep 2, 2002

Basic scriptural ideas that will help us to make the best out of life.

MAKING THE BEST OUT OF LIFE INTRO.- ILL.- After a doctor checked his patient over, he asked him, "Have you been living a normal life?" "Yes, doctor," replied the patient. The doctor said, "Well, you’ll have to cut it out for awhile." Normalcy is not always the best, depending on what a person ...read more

Scripture: John 10:10

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Overcoming The Deadly D's

Contributed by Maurice Mccarthy on Sep 3, 2002

In this study we will look at 6 things all beginning with the letter D that are emotional struggles that we have to learn how to overcome.

Overcoming the Deadly D’s In this study we will look at 6 things all beginning with the letter D that are emotional struggles that we have to learn how to overcome. The only one that doesn’t explicitly deal with the emotions per se is the first where we will look at spiritual Dysentery. Into: ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 1:9-10

Denomination: Pentecostal

Remembering, Honoring, Trusting

Contributed by Steve Shepherd on Sep 9, 2002

In the light of Septmember 11, 2001, we must remember, honor, and trust.

Remembering, Honoring, Trusting INTRO.- ILL.- One man said to his friend: "Say, you look depressed. What are you thinking about?" "My future," was the quick answer. "What makes it look so hopeless?" "My past." Our past does tend to "taint" or affect our future. Good, bad or otherwise. Our ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 4:16

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ