Sermons on Cain Was A Tiller Of Ground:

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

Let's Make A Deal

Contributed by Chris Tiller on Dec 14, 2005

Parable of the dishonest manager: The Kingdom of God works on different principles than we’re used to. Efficiency, practicality, and self-interest are not the core values of the Kingdom. God expects a lot more for us (and from us) than we expect him to.

There was a rich man. This man was so rich that he didn’t make his own bed. He had a personal maid who did that. He didn’t make his own dinner. He had a personal chef who did that. He didn’t drive his own car. He had a chauffeur who did that. He didn’t balance his own checkbook. He had a ...read more

Scripture: Luke 16:1-13

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Marks Of Maturity

Contributed by Chris Tiller on Oct 18, 2005

A description of four marks of Christian maturity.

I found a poem on the internet that I would like to share with you. It bears some striking resemblances to a very well-known poem. Listen carefully, though, because it is not quite the poem that you might expect. One night, I had a wondrous dream; One set of footprints there was seen. ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:11-16

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Obstacles To Maturity

Contributed by Chris Tiller on Oct 24, 2005

In the parable of the sower and the seeds, Jesus identifies three categories of obstacles to maturity.

The Bible uses a lot of agricultural metaphors. The prophet Isaiah describes Judah as a vineyard planted on a fertile hillside. “He dug it up and cleared it of stones and planted it with the choicest vines. He built a watchtower in it and cut out a winepress as well. Then he looked for a crop ...read more

Scripture: Luke 8:4-15

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Just For You -- For The Common Good

Contributed by Chris Tiller on Oct 26, 2005

Encouragement to explore and develop the gifts of the Spirit—not as a responsibility to weigh you down, but as a way for you to love and honor the God who loves you.

I have a few questions for you. You don’t have to answer out loud. No show of hands required. You don’t need to nod your head. You don’t need to shake your head. But these are not rhetorical questions. They are real questions, serious questions, important questions. What do you think God ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 12:4-11

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Love Is Only True In Action

Contributed by Aldy Duque on Oct 28, 2003

Love is never a true love unless it is expressed in action.

I. INTRODUCTION The letter of the apostle John had two purposes in writing this letter: (1) to expose and reject the doctrinal ethical errors of the false teachers, and (2) to exhort the Christians to pursue a life of fellowship with God characterized by truth. His main concern is for the ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 3:11-19

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

We Are Family

Contributed by Steve Taylor on Nov 20, 2019

Brothers and sisters, we can experience the wonder of family or we can dismiss the moments of real love that comes with it. Let’s not let days like thanksgiving be the only time families gather around and share those special moments.

Brothers and sisters, last week we talked about being thankful for the things that we have, and for the life that we share. Well part of that life that we share is with family. AMEN Now, by family I don’t necessarily mean family by some blood DNA, but family as “God’s Family”. If you really ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 12:50, 1 John 3:10, 1 Timothy 5:8, Colossians 3:13, Proverbs 31:26-27  (view more)  (view less)

A Living Faith

Contributed by Derek Geldart on Aug 21, 2021

The following sermon is going to review some of the ancients of the Bible to help define what faith truly is: faith is living, action, enduring and an unwavering devotion to Jesus as our Lord, Savior and King!

A LIVING FAITH Hebrews 11:1-12 Online Sermon: http://www.mckeesfamily.com/?page_id=3567 “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. 2 This is what the ancients were commended for. By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 11:1-12

Denomination: Baptist

Faith Is Series

Contributed by Frank Lay on Sep 20, 2004

In the 11th chapter of Hebrews, we have the greatest description of faith to be found anywhere. Then we have a long list of men and women of Faith all through the Old Testament period. Time will not permit us to examine the entire chapter so we shall f

FAITH IS Hebrews 11:1-7 The eleventh chapter of Hebrews is one of the great chapters in the Bible. It is called “the faith chapter,” the “roll call of faith,” and “God’s Great Hall of Fame.” Hebrews 11:6 tells us, “without faith it is impossible to please God.” Faith is absolutely essential to ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 11:1-7

Denomination: Baptist

The Blood Of Sprinkling

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jul 19, 2019

Abel's blood cried out for vengeance, but Jesus' blood goes on speaking gracious words of mercy.

THE BLOOD OF SPRINKLING. Hebrews 12:22-24. The first mention of the sprinkling of blood is found in the institution of the Passover (Exodus 12:7). The writer to the Hebrews explains the significance of this: it is ‘lest he that destroyed the firstborn might touch them’ (cf. Hebrews 11:28). ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:22-24

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational