In Sermons: showing 31-45 of 965

A Failed Leader Who Trashed A Dynasty Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Feb 21, 2022

Fearfully grasping for control can drive us to act sinfully and foolishly.

A Failed Leader Who Trashed A Dynasty (I Kings 11:26-40, 12:12-16, 25-33; 14:1-20) 1. Comedy, jokes, humor – those are involved subjects. Professionals write comedy shows or scripts for comedians. Anything that is a livelihood eventually becomes a science. “In many comedies, the lead character is ...read more

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Confident Or Competent? (Rehoboam) Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Feb 14, 2022

When we choose to listen to confident people over experienced and competent people, we are asking for trouble.

Confident or Competent? (Rehoboam) (2 Chronicles 10:1-12:16) 1. Four people—a pilot, a professor, a pastor, and a plumber—were flying in a small plane when the engines died. The pilot said, “There are only three parachutes. Since this is my plane, I’m taking one of them.” He put it on and jumped ...read more

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Too Late: Decisions Which Cannot Be Undone Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Jan 3, 2022

Many decisions are major crossroads, others less but sill significant; trying to reverse them only may make matters worse in the long run. Therefore, we need to ponder our decisions, using God-honoring caution.

Too Late: Decisions Which Cannot Be Undone (Numbers 14:20-45) 1. We make small decisions all the time, and they can affect the direction of our lives. Take this true story: “When I was a kid, my mom, my cousin, my sister, and I were all about to go to my great grandma's house from my ...read more

Scripture: Numbers 14:20-45, Hebrews 6:4-6

Denomination: Independent/Bible

New Year 2022 Aspiring In Bleak Times Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Dec 24, 2021

The New Year is an opportunity not only for us to improve our physical health, it is also an opportunity for us to develop our spiritual health and thus experience His joy between and around the gloom.

2022: Aspiring in Bleak Times (Psalm 16) 1. Some people observe New Year’s traditions, others do not. Joey Adams shares his blessing for the New Year with us: “May all your troubles last as long as your resolutions.” 2. Someone defined a New Year’s resolution as “something that goes in one year ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 16:1-11

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Built To Last Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Dec 7, 2021

Church congregations need to withstand storms: changes in membership, changes in leadership, differing political situations, changes in culture, and a host of potential challenges. Church congregations need to be strengthened and reinforced.

Built to Last (Romans 16:1-27) Intro 1. My kids just got a puppy that is scared of every appliance in the house, but one in particular. I suggested they name the dog, “Nature.” Because nature abhors a vacuum. 2. Appliances are not what they used to be. Old appliances were built to last. 3. We had ...read more

Scripture: Romans 16:1-27

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Let Me Explain Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Nov 29, 2021

Blessed are the forthcoming, and blessed are those who intelligently listen and seek to understand. Others might turn a deaf ear because they judgmentally equate explanations with excuses.

Let Me Explain (Romans 15:14-33) 1. Some people are not honest with themselves and cling to excuses. Here is a true account: In our younger days, my husband and I sign up for a“boot camp”fitness class. This class costs $300 per person for ten classes. At the start of the first class, our ...read more

Scripture: Romans 15:14-33

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Major Dynamics Of Church Life Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Nov 15, 2021

Our personal histories, church history, our culture and experiences all color our view as to what church is about. We need to recalibrate and correct our assumptions by returning to the Scriptures.

The Major Dynamics of Church Life (Romans 15:1-13) NOTE: If I could do it over again, I would make three sermons from this text. All three points could have used more elaboration than I gave them. In the first point, I could have demonstrated further that the New Testament purpose for church ...read more

Scripture: Romans 15:1-13

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Harmony Amidst Diverse Opinions Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Nov 1, 2021

Differences between believers are not always about the Biblical vs. the Unbiblical; most differences are about the extra-Biblical or a misunderstanding of what Christianity is. We must therefore be careful in determining the hills for which we are willing to die.

Harmony Amidst Diverse Opinions (Romans 14:1-23) 1. My young son ran to me, crying. “Daddy, I stubbed my toe,” he sobbed. “Let me kiss it and make it better,” I said. “Which toe was it?” My son answered, “The one that has no roast beef.” [rd.com] 2. Would that life was so simple. It never is. ...read more

Scripture: Romans 14:1-23

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Our Huge Debt Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Oct 25, 2021

Biblical Love does not just happen; we can make choices that nurture it, and we can make choices that hinder it.

Our Huge Debt (Romans 13:8-14) 1. What will happen to you if you get so badly in debt that you cannot pay your electric bill? You will experience the darkest days of your life! 2. We can make jokes about debt, but actual debt is no laughing matter. 3. Many folks seek to live within their means ...read more

Scripture: Romans 13:8-14

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Government And Attitude Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Oct 11, 2021

God calls His children to be especially respectful of governing authorities.

Government and Attitude (Romans 13:1-7) 1. Modern governments have an awful lot of responsibility. 2. One person writes: “For several years, my dad worked as an inspector for the state transportation department, traveling the state to make sure roads were properly maintained. On one of his trips, ...read more

Scripture: Romans 13:1-7, John 19:8-11, Daniel 2:21, Acts 5:29, Ecclesiastes 5:8  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Christian Ethics At A Glance Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Oct 4, 2021

Christians are supposed to stand out from others in their ethics, but sometimes we need both direction and permission to be different. Paul does this by means of several bullet points.

Christian Ethics At-a-Glance (Romans 12:14-21) 1. The Law Professor specialized in teaching ethics: “You’re currently failing your ethics course,” he told me. So I slipped him a $200 in crisp bills across the table. “How about now?” I asked. The professor pocketed the money and said, “Still ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:14-21

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Love And Zeal: A Tall Order Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Sep 27, 2021

God sets a high standard for His children, and He expects us to be diligent, but in the right direction. We therefore need to understand what it means to practice brotherly love and to be properly zealous in our devotion.

Love and Zeal: A Tall Order (Romans 12:9-13) 1. The wise man said, “It doesn’t matter if you’re tall, short, fat, thin, rich, poor, at the end of the day....It’s night.” 2. Short people rule the world – most powerful dictators or emperors were short – Alexander the Great, Julius Caesar, Napoleon, ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:9-13

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Horizontal Shift Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Sep 19, 2021

Being a disciple of Jesus Christ demands us to surrender in two directions: vertically toward God and then horizontally to serve fellow citizens of the Kingdom. We cannot choose just one.

The Horizontal Shift (Romans 12:3-8) 1.A customer walked into my clothing shop and asked to see the pants that were advertised in the paper that day. “We don’t have an ad in the paper today,” I told her. She insisted I was wrong, so I got a copy of the paper, and we went through it, eventually ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:3-8

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Ready To Surrender Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Sep 13, 2021

When you understand God’s mercy and the wonders of salvation, when you are overwhelmed by Who God is, this should make you consider surrendering Your life to Him.

Ready to Surrender (Romans 12:1-2) 1. Airline personnel deal with the public, and anyone who deals with the public has stories. 2. Farida can’t even begin to count how many times she’s been asked to open a window or the emergency exit to “let some fresh air in.” Incredibly enough, this doesn’t ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:1-2

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Calibrating With God Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Sep 7, 2021

Part of serving Jesus Christ is our lifelong commitment to calibrate and recalibrate what goes on within us and what goes on in our relationship to the people in our lives. This frequent adjustment is based upon His revealed will in His Word.

Calibrating with God (Proverbs 29:20, 23-27) 1. One man: “While working as a prison guard in Prague, part of my job included a lot of walking up and down the prison corridors. I used to pass a lot of bad Czechs.” Ouch! 2. Checking account checks, different story. Some people balance their ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 29:20, Proverbs 29:23-27

Denomination: Independent/Bible