Sermons on Cain Was A Tiller Of Ground:

God Provided Hope To Be Free From Sin Series

Contributed by D. Greg Ebie on Jan 22, 2008

THE BEGINNINGS OF HOPE, part 2 – Take an honest look at the deadly consequences of sin. But we are also going to discover amidst this story of sin and death our God given hope to be set free from sin. ---Listen online and find PDF of my sermon notes at

• Genesis 3-4 NIV (selected verses) 6 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were ...read more

Denomination: Assembly Of God

What We Can Learn From Coffee About Hebrews Chapter 12

Contributed by Fr Mund Cargill Thompson on Sep 5, 2019

Unpacking the chapter through the medium of roasted beans

.......................................................... When I was kid, every couple of months my mother would take us on a special shopping expedition. Instead of the normal Sainsbury’s we would go to Waitrose (1). Then after we came out we would go to a coffee shop. Not like Starbucks or Cafe ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:16, Genesis 4:10, Haggai 2:6

Denomination: Anglican

Citizenship Day

Contributed by Chris Tiller on Nov 17, 2005

In his letter to the Philippians, Paul writes: “But our citizenship is in heaven." This sermon explores that idea.

When I was in college, one of my friends, who immigrated to this country from South Korea with his family when he was 14, became a citizen of the U.S. First he lived in this country for some time, learning the language and gaining familiarity with its customs. Then he went through a period of ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 1:3-14

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Slave To Sin Or Slave To Righteousness

Contributed by Chris Tiller on Nov 17, 2005

Simon the Sorcerer showed wrong understanding and wrong motivation in his desire to purchase the gift of the Spirit. Some times bad examples make good teachers.

Luke is a story-teller, a narrator, a writer of historical biography. Paul, in his letters, provides guidance and encouragement through mostly through direct teaching—exposing false teachings and explaining right understanding. Luke, in his gospel and in Acts, provides guidance and encouragement ...read more

Scripture: Acts 8:9-25

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Stephen--Full Life, Good Death

Contributed by Chris Tiller on Nov 17, 2005

Stephen is an example of living and dying (1) without fear, (2) without bitterness, (3) focused on Christ, (4)immersed in scripture.

They say that two things are inevitable: death and taxes. The task of an accountant is to minimize the taxes people pay. I read somewhere that the task of a pastor is to prepare people for a good death. Of course, this statement might be overly simplistic theologically. It might be overly ...read more

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Perfect Priest, Perfect Sacrifice

Contributed by Chris Tiller on Nov 17, 2005

An explanation of the sin offering described in Leviticus 4 & 5 and how this relates to the role of Christ as the perfect priest and the perfect sacrifice.

In Romans 7:23, the Apostle Paul writes, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” That’s the take-home message of this sermon. If you have to leave early, or if talking about blood makes you squeamish, or if the Levitical details of the ...read more

Scripture: Leviticus 22:1-33

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Five Short Stories Of Grace

Contributed by Chris Tiller on Nov 19, 2005

Five stories from Old Testament that demonstrate God’s graciousness. (Grace is not just a New Testament concept.)

In the second century, a hundred years or so after the death of Jesus and the birth of the church, lived a man named Marcion. Marcion was a Christian. Well, not exactly. Marcion called himself a Christian, but he had his own perspective about what that meant, a perspective shared by his ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 103:1-22

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

To Each One Grace Has Been Given

Contributed by Chris Tiller on Nov 19, 2005

If Christ brought you to this congregation, then Christ has given you a special grace to serve in a way that is needed within this congregation.

Early on in my seminary career, I was asked by a committee charged with my nurture as a fledgling pastor-wannabe about my role models for ministry. “Who,” the committee asked, “did I consider to be an example to follow?” “Who was my role model for ministry?” I guess it was a reasonable question, ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:7-16

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Magi's Guide To Following A Star

Contributed by Chris Tiller on Nov 19, 2005

God just might give you a star to capture your attention and to guide you. And if you follow that star, everything just might change. An intimate encounter with Jesus has a way of doing that to people.

I love the story of the magi. There was a time when the magi lived far away from Jesus. They were given a special star to capture their attention and to guide them. They followed the star, and it changed everything. An intimate encounter with Jesus has a way of doing that to people. I love the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:1-12

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Giving Thanks

Contributed by Chris Tiller on Nov 20, 2005

Giving thanks loosens the grip of our anxious clenched fists, so that we might let go of ourselves and receive the fullness of God’s Spirit. Five steps toward learning to give thanks.

A few miles south of downtown Atlanta, away from the tall, shiny, steel and glass buildings, a street corner is occupied by a short, unassuming, old building made of brick and stone. It’s a church building. When I lived in Atlanta, early every weekday morning a line formed outside this building—a ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:4-9

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Maranatha

Contributed by Chris Tiller on Dec 11, 2005

This passage from Isaiah 64 gives us words to express our longing for God to come down and make the world right (and make us right).

Today is the first Sunday of Advent. It’s the first Sunday of a new church year. Advent, as was said in the Lighting of the Candles, means coming. Advent signals the coming of Christmas. (Only 28 more shopping days left!) But even more so, Advent signals the coming of Christ. The season of ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 64:1-9

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Second Person Of The Trinity

Contributed by Chris Tiller on Dec 12, 2005

What does it mean to say that Jesus is the Second Person of the Trinity? What are some of the errors of understanding that have sometimes confused or deceived people?

In the midst of his earthly ministry, Jesus asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” Jesus then asked them, “What about you? Who do you say that I am?” The gospels ...read more

Scripture: John 1:1-14

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Joseph

Contributed by Chris Tiller on Dec 14, 2005

Advent is a time of preparation and repentance, and it turns out that Joseph’s story has a few things to teach about those very things.

Joseph…the husband of Mary. The Bible doesn’t really tell us that much about Joseph. Legend has it that he was an elderly widow. Supposedly that explains why he was able to honor Mary’s virginity during the first months of their marriage and why he quietly disappears from the narrative sometime ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:13-23

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

A Promise In The Darkness

Contributed by Chris Tiller on Dec 14, 2005

Isaiah the prophet communicated the prophecy about Immanuel to Ahaz. An angel communicated the promise of Jesus to Joseph. Ahaz responded in fear. Joseph responded in trust.

“The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel.” Most of you are familiar with the story: Joseph had learned that Mary was with child, and he was making plans to divorce her quietly. An angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying to Joseph: ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 7:1-17

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Much Grace Was Upon Them All

Contributed by Chris Tiller on Dec 14, 2005

First, Jesus is alive. Really alive. Abundantly alive. Second, because Jesus is alive, a new community of people is formed-—people who demonstrate the reality and power of the risen Christ in their life together. Real life. Abundant life.

When Jesus walked the earth—teaching, and preaching, and healing—-strange things happened. Not strange as in Ripley’s Believe It Or Not. More like strange as in counter-intuitive. Strange as in turning upside-down what everyone knew to be true about how the world worked—what was important and ...read more

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed