These sermons are designed to help you in your preaching/teaching ministry. You may freely edit and use these in your ministry. Please do not reproduce, post on any website, or give away these materials. There are many free resources available through Sermonseedbed.com. Thank you for your purchase of this resource which helps provide the website and tons of free resources to people around the world. Table of Contents OFF THE RADAR THANK GOD FOR THE FIRE CONQUERING YOUR COMPULSION WHAT MAKES YOU TICK? 10 REASONS TO AVOID BITTERNESS FATHER S FIVE VOICES? TREASURE BLINDNESS YOUR SPIRITUAL VOUCHER WHAT TIMOTHY HAD THAT EVERYBODY NEEDS! CRUMBS AREN T SO BAD THE PLACE OF NO MORE THE INGREDIENTS OF A GRATEFUL HEART THE DAMASCUS EXPERIENCE WHAT YOU DO NOW THAT COUNTS LATER ARE YOU STANDING IN THE WAY OF WHAT GOD WANTS TO DO? THE TWO REMEMBER ME S WHAT GOD CAN DO FOR AMERICA! THE GOOD NEWS PEOPLE ARE YOU EASILY OFFENDED? THE RIGHT KIND OF LOVE TOXIC ANGER THE GOD WHO USES FAILURES YOUR SPHERE OF INFLUENCE WATCH WHAT YOU SAY! THINK AGAIN LIVING THE YIELDED LIFE!
HOW TO LIVE A PROFITABLE LIFE HOW TO LIVE A PROFITABLE LIFE (PART 2) PRESSING PASS YOUR GIVE UP POINT DEVELOPING GOD CONSCIOUSNESS FIVE FACETS OF WORSHIP WHEN IT GETS WORSE BEFORE IT GETS BETTER! HOW TO BE A CHAMPION FOR CHRIST SIX WAYS WE MISREPRESENT GOD (PT. 1) SIX WAYS WE MISREPRESENT GOD (PT. 2) WHO S IN CHARGE OF THE CHURCH? SOWN SEED WILL BECOME GROWN SEED! (PART ONE) SOWN SEED WILL BECOME GROWN SEED! (PART TWO) FOUR TRIUMPHANT THOUGHTS ABOUT THE LORD S SUPPER ISAIAH 58 HELP FOR YOUR HEART JOHN S THREE-FOLD BLESSING HOW TO HAVE A GREAT FAITH LET GOD DO IT! THE POWER OF A CLEAR CONSCIENCE THREE SCRIPTURES AND THE WILL OF GOD THE LORD S PRAYER THREE THINGS WE ALL NEED RIGHT PLUS MIGHT! AM I READY FOR REVIVAL? THE STRENGTH TO LET GO WHY DO THE WILL OF GOD?
Alternate Titles WHY DID THEY CRASH? SPIRITUAL SEARCH AND RESCUE OUT OF SIGHT OUT OF MIND WHAT TO DO WHEN A STORM STRIKES OFF THE RADAR by Eddie Lawrence Introduction A few years back, Air France flight #447 lifted off from Brazil headed toward Paris, France. The flight gained the right altitude and was on course. Four hours into the flight, the plane simply disappeared from the radar screen. There was a single computerized message indicating the plane had lost power. What then ensued was a massive full scale search and rescue effort. The USA sent their underwater unmanned submarine units. France sent planes, Brazil sent planes, other nations sent planes, naval vessels, merchant vessels and any who were willing to help were summoned in the hopes of finding the crash scene and possible survivors. Of course they did discover the oil slicked area of the crash still strewn with floating debris and most recently two floating bodies. There were no survivors. 228 people were lost! Everyone s hearts are broken over this. What a tragedy. One of the greatest since 911. I think it would be fitting for us to pray right now for all these families, would you bow with me? (Lead a prayer) Amen. Now this tragedy has caused me to reflect upon how the world has rushed to find those who disappeared off the radar. It has caused me to ask the question from a pastoral perspective, What about the people that drop off the radar in our churches? Do we send out rescue teams? Are our hearts broken over an inability to bring them back? Jesus taught us that some people would disappear off the radar. But it is our job to find out why and to do all we can to help them become fruitful. Listen to his
explanation of the different types of responses to the Word of God s affect on the human heart: Mark 4: 13 And He said to them, Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand all the parables? 14 The sower sows the word. 15 And these are the ones by the wayside where the word is sown. When they hear, Satan comes immediately and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts. 16 These likewise are the ones sown on stony ground who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with gladness; 17 and they have no root in themselves, and so endure only for a time. Afterward, when tribulation or persecution arises for the word s sake, immediately they stumble. 18 Now these are the ones sown among thorns; they are the ones who hear the word, 19 and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. 20 But these are the ones sown on good ground, those who hear the word, accept it, and bear fruit: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred. This message will focus on the people in the parable that drop off the scene. Once really involved, but now gone! What about the people who drop off the radar in our churches? To answer this question, let s consider three aspects of dealing with people off the radar: Aspect Number 1: People You Once Observed Moving Toward God A. We all have known people who once were so excited about the things of the Lord. They made commitments to Christ, they became actively involved in church activities. Their faces were seen at fellowship events, they contributed to the support of the church, they may have taught a class or served on a committee--- BUT THEN---they disappeared.
Why? A great question. Honestly, if we do not know the answer to that question, we more than likely have not fulfilled our responsibilities correctly. Possible Answers- 1. Lapsed back into sin 2. Became offended at someone 3. Started attending somewhere else (but why?) 4. Just gradually lost interest 5. Felt they could not measure up 6. A thousand other reasons.. If the Lord led someone to us to care for, to feed, to lead, then we should at least call when they drop out and try to help. If not, they will assume we really do not care. Maybe that assumption is more true than we would like to admit? In the parable Jesus told, he could tell us what happened to the people that did not become productive. Cares of the world, deceitfulness of riches, persecution and like are given as reasons. But he did no what happened to them. How many times do we not have a clue what happened to them or where they are? Something to think about This is a reality in every congregation. So, how do we address it? This brings us to - Aspect Number 2: Develop A Search and Rescue Operation When a tragedy occurs in the natural world around us, a response is expected immediately.
-Search begins -I got a visual -Move in for closer look Three words of direction for a search and rescue effort: 1. Time is of the essence-- The best time to stop a hemorrhage is before the person bleeds to death. If someone fails to show, then a simple I missed you call might be the very thing that brings them right back to the place where they know they are missed and loved. Not a Private Eye Call to make people feel badly, but a I really did miss you call. Jesus hung on the cross for six hours. How many of the disciples showed up? The ones that did, are recorded in Scripture and we still talk about the love for Jesus. 2. Persistent Compassion One call then check off the box, I met my obligations, will not get the job done when someone is really struggling in their walk with God. The Good Samaritan went the second and third mile to make sure his Neighbor recovered and got back on his feet. 3. Family Intervention Many of you have seen the television show INTERVENTION where family and friends finally confront a loved one with an addiction issue. The goal is to commit to do whatever it takes to get them the help they need. Churches should have a family mentality. When one of the family is off the radar, we all start looking and helping. Paul in writing to the Corinthians addressed several situations that involved the church family to reach out to individuals. 4. Refuse to be Discouraged Not everyone will be found or brought back. But remember the heart of Jesus who taught us to leave the 99 who were safe in the sheepfold and go get the one that was astray. There will be victory in the camp, each time that forgotten face is once again seen in the pew, or in the choir, or behind the podium, or greeting people at the door.
This brings us to- Aspect Number 3: Track the Results with the Right Motives Developing a way to insure people are being cared for is important. It cannot simply be done by one person alone. It cannot be done by a handful of people. We all need to take ownership in this important issue. 1. A list of all our names 2. Contact information 3. Scouts assigned to spot the absent 4. Teams assigned to go after them 5. Accountability by recording what we have done 6. Let s all look for them this week. INSERT ILLUSTRATION (Consider inserting the second of the two illustrations provided this week here. I think it would fit well, unless you have a more personal story to close with.) Conclusion If we do this well, then if the time ever came, when you or I for whatever reason dropped off the radar, then everyone would be alerted and people would come looking for us. Isn t that what Jesus did, he came looking for us.
THANK GOD FOR THE FIRE by Eddie Lawrence Alternate Titles FIRE IN THE HOLE TRIED, TESTED, AND TRUE FOUR THINGS GOD KNOWS THAT WILL GET YOU THROUGH THE FIRE WHAT MAKES FOR GOOD BISCUITS? Ice breaker Customer to waiter: Sir, do you serve crabs in this restaurant? Waiter: Yes Sir, have a seat, we serve anyone who comes in. Transition --Well friends, no matter what your mood is this morning, this will be a message that will help you. If you don t need it now, you will later. Listen to what the Apostle Peter wrote. 1 Peter 1:6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 that the genuineness of your faith, [being] much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, 8 whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see [Him], yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, 9 receiving the end of your faith--the salvation of [your] souls. Introduction: Life is not always fair. There are trials that come and they test us. We have all watched the old western movies that show miners blasting rock in the side of a hill
looking for gold. They would run a long fuse down the hill and light it. As it burned closer and closer to the sticks of dynamite, one of the miners would yell at the top of their voice, FIRE IN THE HOLE FIRE IN THE HOLE! Shortly thereafter, BOOOOM! Now hearing those words, FIRE IN THE HOLE in an old western can be exciting and makes for good movie watching. But, it is totally different, when it is real life, and someone yells, FIRE IN THE HOLE! And----------YOU ARE IN THE HOLE! Yet, those days come. The furnace is not fun. I saw a church sign that read: Eternity Smoking or non-smoking. Truth is there is fire in this life not just the life to come. We need to know this or we will become discouraged and disillusioned. LIFE IS NOT ALWAYS GOING TO BE EASY! WE AMERICANS WANT THE PAIN-FREE SHORT VERSION. Make everything quick and easy for us. Even in the church, we seldom hear that life can be tough. Have you heard about the new drive through confessional. It is called Toot and Tell. The truth is, dear friends, the text we read a few moments ago tells us that we will be tried by fire. WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? Tried by fire---the test looking for authenticity which therefore exposes that which is imitation. It exposes our hypocrisy, our inconsistency.
TEST==TO SEE WHAT YOU GOT IN YOU! To see what you are made of. To see what you are afraid of. Transition Statement: There are four things that God Knows about us that we need to know. Knowing these four things will encourage us when we are in the fire. 1. GOD KNOWS OUR BREAKING POINT Illus tightening bolt on new microwave. God never has to say Ooops! (1 Cor 10:13) 2. GOD KNOWS OUR BAKING POINT Illus-BISCUITS ARE MADE OUT OF INGREDIENTS THAT ARE NOT GOOD TO THE TASTE UNTIL THEY ARE COMBINED AND PUT TO THE FIRE. Flour by itself yuck Salt by itself yuck Grease by itself yuck Put them all together and put the fire to it---yum, yum, yum! Same way in life, the fire can cause things to become better. God knows our baking point. He knows how much fire it takes to bring out the best in people. 3. GOD KNOWS OUR ACHING POINT Joke--It usually takes about two years before a child has its parents broke in. Every child needs correction. Trials can bring correction to our lives. Sure they are painful but they can be profitable.
Sometimes we get confused and rebuke the devil instead of submit to God. Humorous Story: A man came forward at the end of the church service and asked the pastor if he would pray for his hearing. The minister said that he would be glad to pray for him and proceeded to lay his hands on the man s ears. He prayed fervently for the man for several minutes. Finally, he asked the man. How is your hearing now? The man replied without hesitation, I don t know yet. It s not until next Thursday! It s this way in the trials of life, most people don t understand what you are going through or they misunderstand what you are doing through. 4. GOD KNOWS OUR MAKING POINT Illus--In the movie, Facing the Giants, the head football coach was frustrated with a young man who had great ability but wasn t giving it his all. The death crawl was the one drill the whole team hated the most. They were required to crawl on their hands with their hands and knees for 10-20 yards. The coach blindfolded the.continued in package. GET THE COMPLETE 52 SUNDAY SERMON PACKAGE BY CLICKING HERE!