Sermons on Bishops:

The Spirit Of Unity

Contributed by Wesley Bishop on Jul 17, 2004

This is a Pentecost sermon.

The late 1960s was a time of great disunity in our nation. People were protesting the war in Vietnam. Race riots occurred in many major cities. Upheaval was prevalent on college campuses. Meanwhile, in baseball, the New York Mets had been the laughingstock of Major League Baseball for the ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:1-21

Denomination: Wesleyan

The Verse

Contributed by Wesley Bishop on Jul 17, 2004

This is about Jesus conversation with Nicodemus.

It is perhaps the best known verse of the Bible. Almost anyone can quote it, at least in paraphrase. It is the verse that every child learns in Sunday school and VBS. I remember making a little wall plaque in Bible school with the verse on it. I remember that 15 to 20 years ago, you would see ...read more

Scripture: John 3:1-17

Denomination: Wesleyan

God Encounters: Jeremiah Series

Contributed by Wesley Bishop on Jul 17, 2004

This is about Jeremiah’s God encounter.

Too Young the Hero is a movie about 12 year old Calvin Graham who managed to enlist in the Navy during WWII. Read Jeremiah 1:4-10. Jeremiah was young. How young? We don’t know. The word translated “youth, child, boy” could mean an infant to a young man. I. God’s CALL. We typically think of ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 1:4-10

Denomination: Wesleyan

God Encounters: Ezekiel (Religious Experience Vs. Religious Action) Series

Contributed by Wesley Bishop on Jul 24, 2004

This is about Ezekiel’s God encounter. It explores the difference between religious experience and religious action. Religious EXPERIENCE means nothing without ACTION.

Read Ezekiel 1:4-3:15. This is a bizarre vision. Not all God encounters are alike. We see here two things: Religious Experience (ch. 1) and Religious Action (chs. 2 & 3). What is the difference between the two? * Religious Experience is… In chapter 1, we see Ezekiel’s strange religious ...read more

Denomination: Wesleyan

God Encounters: Simeon And Anna Series

Contributed by Wesley Bishop on Jul 31, 2004

This is about Simeon’s and Anna’s encounter with Jesus in the Temple.

We’ve been looking at God encounters: Abe, Jacob, Moses, Gideon, Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel. They pointed to the Messiah (Christ). We turn now to encounters in the NT; encounters with Christ. Outside of the shepherds, this is the first one. Read Luke 2:21-38. Verse 21 was eight days after ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:21-38

Denomination: Wesleyan

God Encounters: Nathanael Series

Contributed by Wesley Bishop on Aug 8, 2004

This is about Nathanael’s encounter with Jesus.

Jesus is beginning his ministry. John the Baptist had baptized him. He has just called Andrew and Peter. He had been a carpenter. Read John 1:43-51. I. Proposal. Jesus makes a proposal to Philip: “Follow me.” He was from the same town as Andrew and Peter. It was a simple and direct proposal. ...read more

Scripture: John 1:43-51

Denomination: Wesleyan

God Encounters: The Samaritan Woman Series

Contributed by Wesley Bishop on Aug 13, 2004

This is about Jesus and woman at the well.

This is a rich passage. I could spend a couple months preaching from this passage. Give background of animosity between Jews and Samaritans. Women were marginalized. Read John 4:1-42. What does it mean that Jesus had to go through Samaria? Was it divine or geographically necessary? ...read more

Scripture: John 4:1-42

Denomination: Wesleyan

God Encounters: Zacchaeus Series

Contributed by Wesley Bishop on Aug 21, 2004

This is about Zacchaeus’ encounter with Jesus.

Sing “Zacchaeus was a Wee Little Man.” Share recollections of Zach from Sunday school: short, tree, etc. Read Luke 19:1-10. Who was Zacchaeus? What happened to Zacchaeus? Who was Zacchaeus? The only biographical info is right here: “a tax collector and rich.” * He was DESPISED. To say that ...read more

Scripture: Luke 19:1-10

Denomination: Wesleyan

God Encounters: The Thief On The Cross Series

Contributed by Wesley Bishop on Aug 30, 2004

This is about Jesus’ encounter with the criminal next to him.

Read Luke 23:39-43 using Lectio Divina method. Can you see it? Can you visualize the scene? Can you see the blood and the agony? Can you hear the mockers? Experience the moment. There are some things we can take away from this.  REVILING the REDEEMER This reflects the words of Isaiah ...read more

Scripture: Luke 23:39-43

Denomination: Wesleyan

Good Luck With That Thing

Contributed by Wesley Bishop on Jan 13, 2007

This is about how Christians should be involved in compassionate ministries.

You’ve probably heard of several Christian Charities. There’s Catholic Charities, Feed the Children, Christian Children’s Fund, Compassion International, Heart-to-Heart, International Orthodox Christian Charities, and others. Most denominations have some arm that is a charity, usually called ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:31-46

Denomination: Wesleyan

Little Know Bible Characters: The Son Of The Widow Of Zarepheth

Contributed by Wesley Bishop on Jan 13, 2007

This is about a little known Bible character.

Hello, my name really isn’t all that important. I’m one of the little known characters in the Bible. I appear and disappear in a matter of a few verses. I had an incredible encounter with one of the giant men of Bible history. His name was Elijah. He was a prophet from Israel. I’m sure ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 17:7-24

Denomination: Wesleyan

What's Gratitude Got To Do With It?

Contributed by Wesley Bishop on Aug 6, 2007

This is on gratitude. We followed up with communion. The asterisks in the text were related to click through PowerPoint slides.

There were many things you didn’t want to be in Jesus’ time two of them were a leper or a Samaritan. Brief synopsis of leprosy (not meant to gross you out): loss of feeling/nerve endings that cause sores. Samaritans were considered half-breeds. A funny thing happened when a Samaritan contracted ...read more

Scripture: Luke 17:11-19

Denomination: Wesleyan

Excuses

Contributed by Wesley Bishop on Jan 7, 2007

This is about making excuses.

Have you ever noticed that everyone has an excuse? Take this story for example. Nine GI’s were late for morning roll call. The first didn’t arrive until 7 PM. The Commanding Officer confronted him and yelled, “Where have you been, soldier?” The soldier explained. He said, “Sir, I had a date ...read more

Scripture: Luke 14:16-24

Denomination: Wesleyan

The Game Of Life

Contributed by Todd Bishop on Apr 18, 2007

A discovery of the 4 life strategies towards a whole, complete life with Christ.

Has anyone ever heard of “The Game of Life” by Milton Bradley? The Game of Life is a board game that takes you on the journey of life - you can be the rich man, the poor man, or even the beggar. In this game you learn that life is full of surprises. You can risk everything for BIG gains or you ...read more

Scripture: Luke 9:24

Denomination: Assembly Of God

The Moment

Contributed by Todd Bishop on May 2, 2007

Each of us must have a moment like Moses where we come face to face with God.

A young soldier and his commanding officer got on a train together. The only available seats were across from an attractive young women who was traveling with her grandmother. As they engaged in pleasant conversation, the soldier and the young woman kept eyeing one another; the attraction was ...read more

Scripture: Acts 7:30-36

Denomination: Assembly Of God