In Sermons: showing 1-15 of 49

Starry Starry Night

Contributed by Steven Spillman on Jul 14, 2008

“He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name.” (Psalm 147:4)

“He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name.” (Psalm 147:4) My buddy Roger called last week. He wanted to share a new software program with me; “Stellarium.” Stellarium is a star watching program. You tell it where you live and it takes you to a grassy meadow (supposedly ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 19:1-4

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Great Treasure Hunt

Contributed by Steven Spillman on Jul 14, 2008

“‘But you, O mountains of Israel, will produce branches and fruit for my people Israel, for they will soon come home. I am concerned for you and will look on you with favor; you will be plowed and sown, and I will multiply the number of people upon you, e

“‘But you, O mountains of Israel, will produce branches and fruit for my people Israel, for they will soon come home. I am concerned for you and will look on you with favor; you will be plowed and sown, and I will multiply the number of people upon you, even the whole house of Israel. The towns ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:12

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

"Is ‘church' A Dirty Word?” Series

Contributed by Steven Spillman on Jul 14, 2008

This week I’ve promised to tell you what “church” is – according to the Bible.

“Jesus replied, ‘Blessed are you Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.” (Matthew 16:17-18) Well … this is week four on the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:17-18

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Just Another Brick In The Wall

Contributed by Steven Spillman on Jul 14, 2008

Something I said in the last letter has had me thinking. “If we’re all bricks in the same building, stretching back over thousands of years and covering the whole earth, then I have trouble with the idea of my ‘church’ and your ‘church.’”

“You, then, why do you judge your brother? Or why do you look down on your brother? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat. It is written: ‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee will bow before me; every tongue will confess to God.’ So then, each of us will give an account of ...read more

Scripture: Romans 14:10-13

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

"Is ‘church' A Dirty Word?” Series

Contributed by Steven Spillman on Jun 16, 2008

“Jesus replied, ‘Blessed are you Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.” (Matthew 16

“Jesus replied, ‘Blessed are you Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.” (Matthew 16:17-18) Well … this is week four on the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 18:20

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Is "Church" A Dirty Word? Series

Contributed by Steven Spillman on Jun 3, 2008

At this point in Christian history we’ve been so ingrained with our concept of what “church” is, it can be a real shock to our systems to find out what the Bible says it is.

I may have opened a can of worms by bringing up the definition of “church.” At this point in Christian history we’ve been so ingrained with our concept of what “church” is, it can be a real shock to our systems to find out what the Bible says it is. I got a phone call from my buddy Roger this ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:8-10

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Is "Church” A Dirty Word? Series

Contributed by Steven Spillman on May 27, 2008

“And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.”(Matthew 16:18)

“And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.”(Matthew 16:18) Last week we started talking about “church.” We brought out our trusty old Webster’s Dictionary to tell us what “church” meant. According to Webster “church” ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:18

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Is "Church” A Dirty Word? Series

Contributed by Steven Spillman on May 19, 2008

"Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another - and all the more as you see the Day approaching." (Hebrews 10:25)

I’ve always felt a little guilty over church. I felt guilty when I didn’t attend; felt guilty when I did attend; felt guilty if I didn’t become a member; felt guilty after I became a member; felt guilty when I stayed at a certain church; and felt guilty when I left that church. Then the cycle ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 10:25

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Road Not Taken

Contributed by Steven Spillman on May 12, 2008

“If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be my disciple.” (Luke 14:27)

“If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be my disciple.” (Luke 14:27) Hate my father and mother? Brothers and sisters? Sounds a bit harsh doesn’t it? Not much of a Mothers Days weekend topic, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 10:39

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Timing

Contributed by Steven Spillman on May 7, 2008

I heard someone say once that the definition of “luck” was “preparation meeting opportunity.”

I heard someone say once that the definition of “luck” was “preparation meeting opportunity.” The point the speaker was making was that those people we consider “lucky,” having fallen into some overnight success, are really people who quietly and diligently prepared for an opportunity they ...read more

Scripture: Numbers 6:24-26

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Courage Series

Contributed by Steven Spillman on May 5, 2008

“We have met the enemy, and he is us” - Pogo

“In those days Israel had no king; every one did as he saw fit.” (Judges 17:6) “We have met the enemy, and he is us” - Pogo We’re going to hang with the Judges for one more week. From last week’s letter you could tell that things were beginning to go astray in Samson’s time, but after he died life ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 11:13-16

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Courage Series

Contributed by Steven Spillman on May 5, 2008

What Makes a Hero?

What Makes a Hero? Remember last week? Gideon fought the bad guys, the Midianites, and won. He was a Judge, remember? There was another Judge in old Israel, a few Judges down from Gideon; his name was Samson. In the eyes of most folks Samson was a hero; the kind of stuff Sunday school stories are ...read more

Scripture: Judges 16:30

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Courage Series

Contributed by Steven Spillman on May 5, 2008

Fear is a part of life. I don’t believe people who say they’re not afraid of anything. Everybody’s afraid of something.

Fear is a part of life. I don’t believe people who say they’re not afraid of anything. Everybody’s afraid of something. I used to be afraid of eighth graders. They terrified me, bullied me, threatened me and laughed at me. Of course, I was a seventh grader at the time. I’ve gotten over that ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Money Series

Contributed by Steven Spillman on May 2, 2008

A “talent” is a measurement of weight.

Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them. To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey.” (Matthew 25: 14–15) Remember the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:14-15

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Prophecy Conference

Contributed by Steven Spillman on May 2, 2008

This was a prophecy conference. At prophecy conferences people talk about what hasn’t happened yet, but what they believe will happen based on what they think the Bible says about what will happen, held up to the light of what’s happening now.

Elaine and I were out all of last week at an “equipping the saints” conference. It wasn’t really named “equipping the saints,” but you know what I mean. It was a conference for Christians by Christians, with subject matter focused on a particular facet of the faith. This one was about “prophecy.” ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:3

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational