Sermons on Worthwhile Life:

Come: To A Choking World

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Oct 6, 2009

What chokes the joy out of life? Too many cares that major on minors, and the relentless pursuit of material success. Jesus came to be authentically human among us.

Nearly every time I take an airplane trip, I get a happy surprise. When we take off and rise through the congestion of earth and the grim gray clouds of our immediate atmosphere, there comes that astonishing moment when the plane bursts through the cloud cover into bright sunlight. I am always ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:3-22

Denomination: Baptist

All Your Anxieties?

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Mar 5, 2011

God is able to deal with all of our anxieties, not just a portion. He can relieve us of our fears for those things which will not really happen; for our concern for daily survival; and most of all, for our fear of death.

(Originally preached at Calverton Baptist Church, Silver Spring, MD, Jan. 30, 1983; thereafter, with slight variations, at Clinton Baptist Church, Clinton, MD, July 29, 1984; Cresthill Baptist Church, Bowie, MD, Aug. 5, 1984; Takoma Park Baptist Church, Washington, DC, Aug. 12, 1984; First Baptist ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 5:7

Denomination: Baptist

1 John - An Introduction Series

Contributed by Gordon Curley on Mar 6, 2011

Introduction to 1 John. (PowerPoint slides to accompany this talk are available on request – email: gcurley@gcurley.info)

Ill: • Mrs Fisher the primary school teacher was at home recovering from surgery; • She heard the letter box bang on the door, • Then her husband entered the room bringing in the post, • One of the letters was a get well card from her class which 2nd year class which read; • “Dear Mrs Fisher, ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 1:1-4

Denomination: Brethren

The First Series

Contributed by Jonathan Russell on Mar 14, 2011

Stephen, the first Christian martyr, teaches us how we can be prepared to live and die for Christ.

* Our culture’s love of records and stats (i.e., longest hitting streak; first to land on moon; etc.) * Our culture’s love of “firsts” = they set the standard and give an example to everyone who will ever follow them * Stephen’s role as one among those who did something first...the first Christian ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Transforming Our Narratives Series

Contributed by Tim Smith on Mar 17, 2011

Our lives are made up with stories. We are a people of the story. We love stories. We’re raised with stories and when something happens to us, we turn it into a story. This series is based on James Bryan Smith’s study, Apprentice of Jesus.

Transforming Our Narratives Romans 12:1 Ben Hooper was born in Newport, TN in 1870 out of wedlock, to Sarah Wade. As a result, he had a tough childhood, being taunted by others. When he went into town, he could see people staring at him, making guesses as to who his father was. At school children ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:1

Denomination: Methodist

Walk The Walk Series

Contributed by D. Greg Ebie on Mar 23, 2011

Our Father God wants to hold our hands to help us walk worthy of His calling in our lives. And when we fall down Father God is always there to pick us back up to step out in faith and obedience.

LIVING IN CHRIST – Walk the Walk  Ephesians 4:1-6 NIV 1 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:1-6

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Encountering God Experience In Both English And Spanish

Contributed by Ronald Crandall on Mar 25, 2011

Coming to a position and place in life where we are confronted by God at a special time and season and Change is on the way. Like right then!

My mind is not filled with thoughts of presents or things that might have been received or eaten. Mi mente no está llena de pensamientos de regalos o cosas que podrían haber sido recibidas o comidas. There is a hunger in me for a greater " Encountering God Experience," that changes my life, ...read more

Scripture: Luke 19:6-10

Denomination: Pentecostal

"Zeal For God's House"

Contributed by Christopher Martin on Mar 17, 2009

3rd Sunday in Lent, Series B. Preached 3/15/2009 at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church, Audubon, Iowa

Our Gospel reading for this morning is one that tends to catch a lot of people off guard. When you think of Jesus, you don’t usually think of Him as someone who gets angry, who resorts to violent behavior. We think of him as a tender, compassionate, easy going person who wouldn’t hurt a fly. ...read more

Scripture: John 2:13-22

Denomination: Lutheran

Who Are The Great Ones? Who Deserve The Awards?

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Oct 10, 2009

Saints are counter-cultural; saints are ordinary people doing extraordinary things that most people find crazy.

October 11, 2009 28th Sunday in Course Perhaps some of you were as puzzled and shocked as I was last week when a prestigious, high-profile international award was announced, and the winner was something of a surprise. Just a short time on the job, doing something entirely new, with the usual ...read more

Scripture: Mark 10:17-30

Denomination: Catholic

The Gift With A Cost Series

Contributed by Tim Smith on Oct 19, 2009

This time of year, we get excited and touched by Baby Jesus in a cradle but you can’t separate the cradle from the cross. This gift of Jesus comes with a sacrificial cost. A lot of us understand the cradle but we fail to connect the cradle with the cross.

The Gift with a Cost Isaiah 53:1-12 Christmas has become the #1 self-focused consumer day in America. It’s so interesting that Good Friday leads into Easter and Black Friday leads us into the Christmas holidays. The church needs to lead a movement of conspiracy to reclaim Christmas from ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 53:1-12

Denomination: Methodist

We Follow Our Heart’s Treasure

Contributed by Gregg Bitter on Oct 25, 2009

Where is your heart leading you? Jesus exposes what our hearts so often treasure, and he brings us God’s promises that work the impossible in our hearts. Parts: A. Jesus’ words expose our heart’s god B. Jesus’ invitation works the impossible

Text: Mark 10:17-27 Theme: We Follow Our Heart’s Treasure A. Jesus’ words expose our heart’s god B. Jesus’ invitation works the impossible Season: Pentecost 21c Date: October 25, 2009 Web page: http://hancocklutheran.org/sermons/We-Follow-Our-Heart_s-Treasure-Mark10_17-27.html Grace and ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 10:17-27

Denomination: Lutheran

Earning The Right To Be Heard

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Oct 27, 2009

Jesus is God’s way of earning the right to be heard. He comes to where we live, and he experiences what we experience. He is therefore credible.

I invite you to eavesdrop with me this morning. Listen and we can overhear some conversations. Overheard in the grocery store aisle: a mother and a little girl, shopping dangerously close to the candies, the cookies and the other goodies. The little girl saying, "I want these and I want those and ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Jesus Prays In Gethsemane Series

Contributed by Bobby Stults on Feb 12, 2011

Jesus prays for deliverance from 'this cup' but submits to the Father's will, and the disciples still struggle with understanding what is going on...

39 He went out and made His way as usual to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed Him. 40 When He reached the place, he told them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation” 41 Then He withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, knelt down, and began to pray, 42 ...read more

Scripture: Luke 22:39-46

Denomination: Baptist

Jesus Is The Compassionate Healer Series

Contributed by C Jordan on Feb 13, 2011

Jesus is a compassionate healer. As believers, we need to step out in faith in obedience to the great commission and pray for the sick, and see them recover.

VISITATION #9: JESUS IS THE COMPASSIONATE HEALER OPENING TEXT: “And He came down with them and stood on a level place with a crowd of His disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem, and from the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon, who came to hear Him and be healed of their ...read more

Scripture: Luke 8:40-55

Denomination: *other

How Could He? [peter's Denial Of Christ] Series

Contributed by Bobby Stults on Feb 24, 2011

So often we judge Peter harshly for his denials of Christ, but how often do WE find ourselves walking in his shoes! We need to remember that this story does have a great ending!

Luke 22:54-62 [ESV] 54Then they seized him and led him away, bringing him into the high priest’s house, and Peter was following at a distance. 55And when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat down among them. 56Then a servant girl, seeing him ...read more

Scripture: Luke 22:54-62

Denomination: Baptist