Sermons on Chess Openings:

Open House

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Aug 17, 2023

When God calls people to us, it is our job to gather them in his name and share the joy he provides for all in his house of prayer.

Almost 40 years ago, July or August of 1984, I was at my very first Bible camp. It was the annual women’s retreat for the Northwest Women’s Caucus of the Evangelical Free Church of America, and I was scared to death. Well, maybe that was putting it a little strongly, but I was pretty nervous. You ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 56:1-8

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Heaven Opened Series

Contributed by Roshelle Brenneise on Mar 1, 2024

At the center of this amazing room is a Being sitting on a throne.

March 02, 2024 So far we have learned about the cities and conditions of the 7 churches and how we can apply their circumstances and struggles to the panorama of history – even in our own day. There are a couple of things to be aware of as we move on to chapter 4: • Time: The letters to the 7 ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 4:1-11

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

Opening Presence

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Mar 24, 2023

Jesus Christ is the greatest gift of all. What have you done with this present - his presence?

When my godchildren were little, I went back to Minneapolis for Christmas every year to see them. I left the Christmas morning service just as soon as Jesus’ birthday cake was cut (I did take a piece to eat in the car) and took off for the airport. The plane was always on time and I got off the ...read more

Scripture: John 1:1-18, Exodus 34:6-7

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Opening Eyes!

Contributed by K. Heath Mcdougal-Deans on Mar 29, 2020

Open your eyes, your 2020 vision is not over! It should be growing. The current pandemic is an opportunity to open our eyes to a new vision, to opportunity, to come together as a world and heal divisiveness. After all, 'We are the world, We are 'Thee' children".

Christopher Chabris and Daniel Simons conducted an experiment at Harvard University more than a decade ago that became infamous in psychology circles. Their book The Invisible Gorilla popularized it. And you may be one of the millions of viewers who made their Selective Attention Test one of ...read more

Scripture: John 9:1-41, John 8:1-11, Luke 4:18-19, Acts 26:18, Ephesians 6:12, Isaiah 6:9  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Other

An Open Door

Contributed by Geoffrey Foot on Nov 29, 2018

The door of opportunity is there for the taking and John in Revelation outlines this for the Church in Philadelphia.

An open DOOR Rev.3:7-13 Of all the seven churches in the book of Revelation, Philadelphia was the ideal Church, and the one against which Jesus had no accusations nor did He find any sin there. However, Philadelphia was not a perfect city it was a city of many temples, and was called “the little ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 3:7-13, Colossians 4:3, 1 Corinthians 1:27-29

An Open Door Series

Contributed by Frank Szatmari on Apr 13, 2019

Our Lord Jesus Christ is the Open Door which leads us into the presence of God.

An Open Door Sermon April 7, 2019 at Calvin Presbyterian Church Kitchener, Ontario, Canada “I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut.” Revelation 3:8a The word Philadelphia means “brotherly love.” - The city of Philadelphia in Asia Minor was showing this brotherly love towards ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 3:8

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Open The Door

Contributed by John Dobbs on Jun 9, 2020

Emerging from a time of crisis is not easy - and everyone is dealing with that on their own terms. In our text today the Christians in Jerusalem are in a firestorm of persecution and trouble - a time of crisis that became a time of prayer.

Open The Door Acts 12:1–11 Introduction As we enter Phase Two in Louisiana, doors are opening that have not been. More churches are meeting - although with recommended restrictions to keep people as safe as possible from the virus. Emerging from a time of crisis is not easy - and ...read more

Scripture: Acts 12:1-11

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

"It's Open!" Series

Contributed by Stu Hodges on Jun 11, 2013

We live in a world full of closed doors, but God did not want the world to be like this.

You know in many ways, life is all about the doors. We come into doors and go out of doors. We open doors and shut doors. Sometimes, we slam doors, no need to confess, we’ve all done it. And if you really stop to think about it, it’s the closed doors in life that really are the most ...read more

Scripture: John 10:9

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Open Secret

Contributed by Victor Yap on Feb 4, 2017

Nicodemus

OPEN SECRET (JOHN 19:38-42) Fourth century church theologian Augustine told of a Victorinus (a renowned philosopher and teacher in Rome; who had even been honored with a statue in the Roman forum) who was converted to Christianity in his old age. He came to Simplicius, one eminent at the time for ...read more

Scripture: John 9:28-42

Denomination: Independent/Bible

An Open Letter

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jul 20, 2019

No longer a slave.

AN OPEN LETTER. PHILEMON 1:1-21. Onesimus was a slave who had escaped from his Christian master, Philemon. Yet in a beautiful irony, having not ‘made it’ alone in the big city, he found himself at last brought under the direct personal influence of “Paul the prisoner” (Philemon 1:1). Many a ...read more

Scripture: Philemon 1:1-21

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Door Is Open Series

Contributed by Ernie Arnold on Aug 10, 2023

What doors are open in your church and in your heart today. Let's look at a couple of doors that need to be open today, tomorrow and forevermore.

Scripture: Revelation 3:7-13 Theme: Doors Title: Come on In – the Door is Open What doors are open in your church today? Let’s look at a couple of doors that need to be open in every church. INTRO: Grace and peace from God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit! It’s such a simple word - ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 3:7-13, Matthew 18:21-22

Denomination: Nazarene

Open Doors

Contributed by Perry Greene on Dec 29, 2024

God opens and closes doors daily and annually. With the New Year come open doors of opportunity.

Open Doors 1 Corinthians 16:5-9 1. Alexander Graham Bell: “When one door closes, another opens; but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us.” We must look for it. We don’t always recognize it. [Far Side Push-Pull 2. As we end ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 16:5-9

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Divine Opening Series

Contributed by Rev. Samuel Arimoro on Jan 22, 2025

A divine opening is a supernatural opportunity orchestrated by God to grant access, breakthrough, or fulfilment of His promises. It signifies a door opened by God's power that cannot be hindered or shut by human effort.

Title: DIVINE OPENING By Rev. Samuel Arimoro Main Text: Revelation 3:8 “I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut.” Supporting Texts: Isaiah 22:22; 1 Corinthians 16:9; John 10:9; Acts 16:26; Psalm 24:7 INTRODUCTION: A divine opening is a supernatural ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 3:8, John 10:9, Acts 16:26, Psalm 24:7

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Open Heavens

Contributed by Rev. Samuel Arimoro on Feb 1, 2025

Open heavens represent a season of divine encounter, provision, and breakthrough. God desires for us to live under open heavens, where His presence and blessings flow continuously into our lives.

Title: OPEN HEAVENS By Rev. Samuel Arimoro Main Text: Isaiah 64:1 – “Oh, that You would rend the heavens and come down, that the mountains might quake at Your presence!” Supporting Texts: Deuteronomy 28:12 Malachi 3:10 Ezekiel 1:1 Luke 3:21-22 Acts 7:55-56 INTRODUCTION: The concept of ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 64:1, Deuteronomy 28:12, Acts 7:55-56, Ezekiel 1:1, Luke 3:21-22  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Opening Doors Series

Contributed by Shawn Drake on Oct 5, 2020

This is the 26th sermon in the Action Series. This series began during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Series: Action [#26] OPENING DOORS Acts 12:1-25 Introduction: How do you know when to go through doors of opportunity? How do you know if the door is even open? In the Book of Revelation, a message was given to the Church in Philadelphia. Revelation 3:7-8 Our text today, shows us how to ...read more

Scripture: Acts 12:1-25

Denomination: Baptist