Sermons on Worship Decorum:

An Explanation Of Grace-Oriented Giving Series

Contributed by Freddy Fritz on Oct 27, 2007

In this message, we learn from the Apostle Paul how grace-oriented giving works.

Scripture Today is the third in my four-week series of sermons titled, “Guidelines for Grace-Oriented Giving” from 2 Corinthians 8-9. The first week we looked at “An Example of Grace-Oriented Giving” from 2 Corinthians 8:1-5. The second week we looked at “An Exhortation to Grace-Oriented Giving” ...read more

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Get Back? - Never! Series

Contributed by Pat Damiani on Oct 29, 2007

33rd in a series from Ephesians. Once we’e experienced the new life in Christ, there is no way we ever want to go back to our old life.

In April 1969, the Beatles released a song with some ties to Tucson. I know that Steve Ponzo, and maybe many of the rest of us, are familiar with these lyrics: Jojo was a man who thought he was a loner But he knew it wouldn’t last. Jojo left his home in Tucson, Arizona For some California ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:17-19

Denomination: Baptist

Ever Expanding Joy Series

Contributed by Steve Bond on Oct 29, 2007

The world is both a hard and a beautiful place. We may experience stratospheric highs in one season only to plunge into abyss. but we more often have to work our way through the regular ups and downs, and bumps of life.

Introduction There was once a farmer who began to look at his farm through critical eyes. Every place he looked on his farm he saw something wrong. So he decided to sell and move somewhere else. He contracted a realtor who came out to look things over. Then the realtor called to get the farmer’s ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:12-30

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Sometimes I Have Doubts Series

Contributed by Rick Stacy on Oct 30, 2007

4 of 5 messages. This message addresses the challenge of doubt and how it can contribute to faith.

I have questioned many things about our faith and the things of God. I am a skeptic. I admit it. Whenever I hear about someone who is suffering from cancer miraculously discovering his or her cancer is gone, I wonder if it can be true. I doubt. I read reports about God mysteriously working in ...read more

Scripture: Luke 7:18-31

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Descending Into Greatness Series

Contributed by Steve Bond on Oct 30, 2007

Putting others before ourselves will bring us to our knees. Learning to give ourselves away is also the first step to a deeper experience of true joy.

There is something that stirs deeply within us when a man or woman gives up their life for another. A few decades ago Roger Rosenblatt wrote a moving tribute in Time Magazine. It was about a passenger on Air Florida Flight 90 that crashed into the Potomac River. The nameless 50-some-year old man ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:1-11

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Working Out Our Salvation Series

Contributed by Steve Bond on Oct 30, 2007

Scripture teaches the Christian life involves both God’s sovereignty and human responsibility. It’s not one or the other; it’s both.

From the earliest days of the church, the relationship between the sovereignty of God and the responsibility of believers has been debated. Is the Christian life essentially a matter of passive trust or of active obedience? Is it all God’s doing, all the believer’s doing, or a combination of both? ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:12-18

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Three Greatest Joy Robbers Series

Contributed by Steve Bond on Oct 31, 2007

Life gets messy. That’s no surprise. What is surprising is how easily we forget that God wants joy to be our regular experience of life. And it’s the stuff a a messy life where we’ll experience God’s joy. We’re called to live in harmony, peace and of cour

Introduction Over the years I’ve noticed a pattern in how God works in my life. Whenever I’m going to speak about a particular topic God first allows me to personally experience it. I need to tell you…this is not always fun! But God seems to set things up so I have to live out the principles that ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:2-9

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Former Failures Fortifies Future Faith Series

Contributed by Mack Armstrong on Nov 1, 2007

WE Christians can learn a great deal about our coming "Better Resurrection" as is stated in Hebrews by studying about those who once lived died and were resurrected back to this temporal life.

HEBREWS 11:21-39 FORMER FAILURES FORTIFIES FUTURE FAITH I. FORERUNNERS: A. Frailty. B. Foretelling. C. Future. II. FREEDOM: A. Feebleness. B. Failure. C. Fear. III. FACT: A. Fellowship. B. Fulfilling. C. Fragrant. A Better Resurrection is the promise given here by the writer ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 11:21-39

Denomination: Methodist

Got Joy? Series

Contributed by Steve Bond on Nov 5, 2007

The way of the world seems to focus on pleasing ourselves or pursuing a life of ease. But that brings no lasting satisfaction. God is so much bigger and has so much more for us, no matter our circumstances.

Introduction Years ago, Robert Fulghum wrote a profound essay. This is how it began. “Most of what I really need to know about how to live…I learned in kindergarten. Wisdom was not at the top of the graduate school mountain, but there in the sand box at nursery school. These are the things I ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:10-23

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Jesus And Me Myth Series

Contributed by Rick Thiessen on Nov 5, 2007

American Christainity has bought into some unbiblical ideas about faith and church and Jesus. This week, we talk about the lone ranger Christianity build on individualism

SE100707 MYTHBUSTERS 1. Jesus and Me Myth MYTHS We’re prone to pick up and pass on myths. I know this because I have an email account. I get about 4 emails a week detailing fantastic stories that just a small amount of research will prove totally false. But people just keep picking them up and ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:18-19

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

What Are You A Slave To?

Contributed by Amy Bickel on Nov 10, 2007

Exploring what it means to be a "slave of Christ"

What Are You A Slave To? (Romans 6:16-22) Today is Veteran’s Day, a day in which our nation remembers all those soldiers who fought and died, and those who are still fighting so that we could enjoy the freedoms that we have today. Someone wrote, “It is the soldier, not the preacher, who gives ...read more

Scripture: Romans 6:16-22

Denomination: Baptist

Restoring A Remnant Series

Contributed by Jim Drake on Nov 17, 2007

God is all powerful but He chooses to accomplish His work through people. While God’s desire is for all to respond to Him, the fact is that only a remnant will. But in that remnant, God provides the kinds of people it takes to accomplish His work.

1. The leaders (2:2a) 2. The laymen (2:2b-35) 3. The Lord’s ministers (2:36-58) 4. The leftovers (2:59-67) EZRA 2:1 It’s difficult to find anything more difficult to read through than a list of names. But that’s where we find ourselves in our text tonight. How do you act when you get a new ...read more

Scripture: Ezra 2:1-67, Ezra 2:1

Denomination: Baptist

Journey To The Heart Of The Earth Series

Contributed by Amy Bickel on Jun 8, 2007

Part 4 in the series There Is Power In the Blood. Takes a close look at what happened after Jesus’ death and resurrection.

There Is Power In The Blood – Part 4 A Journey to the Heart of the Earth Today we have reached the end of our Bible study on There is Power in the Blood. We started our journey in heaven with the first sin and the defilement of the heavenly temple. We looked at what it takes to forgive and ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 9:11-25

Denomination: Baptist

A New Encounter With God

Contributed by Jonathan Falwell on Jun 13, 2007

In the desert, they were pressing toward a goal they could only dream of; in the Promised Land, they actually began to believe God for greater things! They were no longer satisfied with survival…now they wanted to succeed.

A FRESH ENCOUNTER WITH GOD Two weeks ago, we opened the book of Joshua and found great promises that God had for us. Promises that would bring us through difficult days. We read of how Joshua was told by God to rise up and cross the Jordan. To cross that river that seemed like such a challenge. ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 5:1-13

Denomination: Baptist

Dying In Order To Live Series

Contributed by Brian Bill on Jun 17, 2007

True release comes from a relationship with Jesus, not from rules.

Dying in Order to Live Romans 7:1-6 Rev. Brian Bill 6/17/07 www.pontiacbible.org This past Sunday I preached at Calvary Memorial Church in Oak Park. Beth and I spent about 10 years at Calvary and were supported by them for three years when we were missionaries. For the last several summers I’ve ...read more

Scripture: Romans 7:1-6

Denomination: Baptist