Sermons on Vital Ministry:

Questioning Christ And Christianity

Contributed by Steve Shepherd on Feb 15, 2007

There are three different questions in this text. 1- The marriage question 2- The Resurrection question 3- The Law question

INTRO.- ILL.- It is said that when Herbert Hoover ran for election as President of the United States at the height of the prosperity boom in 1928, one of his campaign promises, expressed as a campaign slogan of the Republican party, was “A chicken in every pot, a car in every garage.” The ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 22:23-40

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Good, The Bad & The Ugly

Contributed by Leonard Cook on Apr 3, 2007

Our church has a mission statement, which states that "We are committed to be a Great Commission, holiness, evangelistic, compassionate, loving and inclusive congregation!" • This is powerful Mission Statement! This is why this church will continue to be

"The Good, The Bad & The Ugly" John 9:1-41 Introduction • Our church has a mission statement, which states that "We are committed to be a Great Commission, holiness, evangelistic, compassionate, loving and inclusive congregation!" • This is powerful Mission Statement! This is why this church will ...read more

Scripture: John 9:1-41

Denomination: Holiness

Good News For The Poor

Contributed by Chris Appleby on May 14, 2007

Here is a goal that everyone of us is called to work towards as a part of Christ’s body here on earth: to preach good news to the poor, to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, and to proclaim th

I wonder how many people were here when we first sat down to work on a Parish Plan. I don’t think there were many of you around back then, though most were when we reviewed that plan a few years ago. But for those who weren’t it was one of the first things we did after I started here. But then that ...read more

Scripture: Luke 4:14-30

Denomination: Anglican

Lost In Translation Series

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Jan 27, 2008

How well do you know Jesus, really? Jesus probes some Jews who say they believe but don’t. Jesus says the truth will set us free, but sometimes we are speaking a different language and so can’t understand what he is saying at first.

How well do you know Jesus? Some of us grew up in church and think we know him. He’s the guy who walked on water and changed water into wine and started that Golden Rule thing. Others know Jesus as a good man who gave us a lot of good advice on how to live. To others Jesus is love guy-love your ...read more

Scripture: John 8:31-59

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

Why Bad Things Happen To Good People

Contributed by David Smith on Feb 26, 2008

It’s the age-old theological question - why do bad things happen to good people? Jesus, as ever, doesn’t give us the response we expect. ...

They say that philosophy deals with two sorts of questions: * Questions to which everybody knows the answer (eg. Do I really exist?). * Questions to which nobody knows the answer (eg. Why do I exist?). Religious teachers tend to deal the same sorts of questions, perhaps particularly questions ...read more

Scripture: Luke 13:1-19

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

A Time Of Transition Series

Contributed by Carl Willis on Mar 4, 2008

Life is full of turning points. Times of change that prepare us for the road ahead and fulfill God’s purposes in our life. The arrest of John the Baptist leads Jesus into a place of transition. Jesus goes to Galilee and begins to preach a message of

A Time of Transition Mark 1:14-15 March 9, 2008 Mark 1:14a (HCSB) After John was arrested, Jesus went to Galilee… Time to Leave - Turning points - Circumstances that God uses to redirect - Focus - Energy - Actions - These circumstances may be good or bad - The Holy Spirit gives ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:14-15

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Pharisee & The Tax-Collector (Luke 18:9-14 )

Contributed by David Smith on Nov 12, 2007

A Pharisee and a tax-collector bump into eachother at the temple. This looks like a sitcom! ...

“Jesus told them another joke”, we are told, “and He told this one to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and looked down on others.’ Now, I suspect that your translation probably says ‘parable’ rather than ‘joke’, but I think ‘joke’ is actually a very good translation. We ...read more

Scripture: Luke 19:9-14

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

The Parable Of The Great Big Party (Matthew 22:1-14)

Contributed by David Smith on Nov 12, 2007

Jesus said that the Kingdom of God is like a great big party!!! But this is a party with a twist to it. ...

Once more Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying: "The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding banquet for his son. He sent his slaves to call those who had been invited to the wedding banquet, but they would not come. Again he sent other slaves, saying, ’Tell those who have ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 22:1-14

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

Jesus And Sinners Series

Contributed by David Owens on Nov 13, 2007

If we are going to be disciples of Jesus then we must adopt His attitude toward sinners, and follow His example in reaching out to the lost.

Introduction: A. I think that most of us know that God loves sinners and wants them to be saved. 1. The Apostle Paul wrote, “This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, ...read more

Scripture: Luke 19:9-10

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Parable Of The Two Sons (Matthew 21:28-31)

Contributed by David Smith on Nov 13, 2007

A man had two sons, and I bet he wished he’d had more daughters! ...

Jesus said "What do you think? A man had two sons; he went to the first and said, ’Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’ He answered, ’I will not’; but later he changed his mind and went. The father went to the second and said the same; and he answered, ’I go, sir’; but he did not go. Which of ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 21:28-31

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

Spiritual Training (1 Corinthians 9:24-27)

Contributed by David Smith on Nov 16, 2007

’I do not box as though beating the air’ - the little known fight career of St Paul! ...

Do you not know that in a race the runners all compete, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win it. (25) Athletes exercise self-control in all things; they do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable one. (26) So I do not run aimlessly, nor do I box as ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 9:24-27

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

The Lord Is My Shepherd (Psalm 23)

Contributed by David Smith on Nov 27, 2007

The Lord is my shepherd. Of course, the problem is that most of us have never even seen a shepherd! ...

Psalm 23 The Lord is my Shepherd The Lord is my trainer I shall not fear the fight. He is constantly with me, working my corner He refreshes me between rounds with cool water And with even cooler advice Yeah, though I walk to centre-ring To stare out an opponent twice ...read more

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

Jesus The Teacher Series

Contributed by David Owens on Nov 28, 2007

Jesus is the greatest teacher who ever taught. In this sermon we discuss what made Him such a great teacher, and what His teachings will do for our lives.

A. Did you hear the story about the teacher who was helping one of her kindergarten students put on his boots? 1. She pulled while he pushed and the boots still didn’t want to go on. 2. Finally, after the second boot was on, and she had worked up a sweat, the little boy said, “Teacher, they’re on ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:28-29, Mark 4:35-41

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Disappointment And Discontentment Of Expectations Series

Contributed by Warren Lamb on Dec 8, 2007

Tell me about your expectations – especially of people – and I will tell you about the disappointment in your life. Tell me about the details you expect to be fulfilled in your life, and I will tell you about the discontentment that you live with.

The Disappointment and Discontentment of Expectations Matthew 16:1-12 Tell me about your expectations – especially of people – and I will tell you about the disappointment in your life. Tell me about the details you expect to be fulfilled in your life, and I will tell you about the discontentment ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:1-12

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Outcast Series

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Dec 10, 2007

Do you ever feel like you have to keep everyone at arms length because you just don’t trust them? Perhaps you feel like who you are is just not acceptable. Jesus comes to such a person in John 4 and engages them in a patient yet revealing dialog that chan

Picture this: Your political beliefs put you in the small minority. The majority party, in fact, shuns you. Socially you are considered not really part of the nation because your ancestors were immigrants. Spiritually your stands made you unpopular, and leave you confused. Morally you have made ...read more

Scripture: John 4:1-54

Denomination: Calvary Chapel