Sermons on Ed Sasnett:

Discipleship In The Original Jewish Context: Elijah, Elisha, And Jesus

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Jan 6, 2025

Today we are going to look at Elijah and Elisha and note their potential influence upon the life and ministry of Jesus.

Discipleship in the Original Jewish Context: Elijah, Elisha, and Jesus Parallels between Jesus’ ministry and that of Elijah/Elisha (I Kings 19:1-9, 15-16 compared with Matthew 4:1-11) When Protestants have visions, they usually have visions of Jesus. When Roman Catholics have visions, they often ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 4:1-11, 1 Kings 19:1-9, 1 Kings 19:15-16

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Old Testament Background For Jesus' Teachings About Discipleship (Discipleship Intro)

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Jan 6, 2025

Understanding the relationship of rabbi to disciple – and what discipleship entailed – will help us to better understand Jesus’ teachings because they help us better understand the teacher (Jesus) and His most frequent audience (the disciples).

The Old Testament Background for Jesus' Teachings About Discipleship I Kings 19:19-21,Luke 9:57-62, Matthew 19:21, and Luke 5:27 Intro A lot of ignorance about discipleship primarily because interpreters isolate the New Testament teaching from its Old Testament context. Main Idea: ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 19:19-21, Luke 9:57-62, Matthew 19:21, Luke 5:27

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Life Is A Miracle

Contributed by Ed Cheng on Jan 28, 2025

This message came out during the pandemic when I was quarantined for three long weeks in a Hong Kong hotel. God taught me much about Himself and myself during this time that I would like to share.

I thank God to be alive to share my story with you. I believe that every life is a Miracle created by God for a special purpose. And it is only as you begin to discover this purpose will your life be truly satisfying. I thank God for bringing me to Uzbekistan to meet some of the most wonderful ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 11:6, Matthew 24:14

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The New Covenant Via Jeremiah

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Jan 25, 2024

Regenerate believers since the time of Jesus – including most of us -- have begun to experience the New Covenant; the nation of Israel will experience the New Covenant in the future. So what does this mean?

The New Covenant via Jeremiah (Jeremiah 31:31-37) 1. My relationship to Social Security has changed. For years, I was required to contribute money for Social Security. 2. Now that I am retired, the Social Security Administration is sending money to me. 3. In a way, I have left the Old Covenant ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 31:31-37, Romans 9:3-5, Romans 11:25-26, Isaiah 42:1-7

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Irritating God

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Feb 3, 2024

We human beings can and do sometimes irritate God. When we fail to respect God properly, the result is not a pretty picture. Our attitude toward God affects our lives significantly.

Irritating God (Numbers 11:1-35) 1. This older Jewish man was on the operating table awaiting surgery and he insisted that his son, a renown surgeon, perform the operation. As he was about to receive the anesthesia he asked to speak to his son. "Yes Dad, what is it?" "Don't be ...read more

Scripture: Numbers 11:1-35, John 6:1-36

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Shavuot: The Feast Of Weeks (Pentecost)

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Nov 1, 2024

Pentecost foreshadows that during the church age, a new phase in God’s program has emerged: Jewish and Gentile believers are united in one body through the Holy Spirit -- and God uses them to labor in His harvest field.

Shavuot: The Feast of Weeks (Pentecost) (Leviticus 23:15-23) 1. A Christian man and a Jewish man were debating which faith was best. The Jewish man argued, “We gave you the 10 Commandments.” The Christian responded, “Yes, but you can’t say we’ve kept them!” Many Christians are surprised to ...read more

Scripture: Leviticus 23:15-23, Acts 2:1-4

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Passover (Pesach) And Unleavened Bread (Matzoh)

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Nov 1, 2024

Passover is about redemption and foreshadows that Christ died for our sin; Unleavened Bread foreshadows the reason Christ died for our sins is – to make us holy.

The Feasts of Passover and Unleavened Bread (Leviticus 23:4-8) 1. Since we are discussing the seven original annual Jewish Feasts, we should begin with a Jewish joke. 2. It was a sweltering August day when all three Cohen brothers entered the posh Dearborn, Michigan, offices of Henry Ford, the ...read more

Scripture: Leviticus 23:4-8, 1 Corinthians 5:7, Exodus 12:3-14, Matthew 6:11, Isaiah 53:5  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Importance Of The 7 Feasts Of Leviticus 23

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Nov 1, 2024

God has a plan, a long-range intricate plan. He does not improvise as things move along, for He moves things along at His pace in His way.

The 7 Feasts of Leviticus and You (Leviticus 23) 1. The church board wanted a truly special speaker for today. So they decided to ask the man considered the best preacher in the state, but he said “no.” Then they decided to ask the most academically acclaimed speaker, but he said “no.” Then they ...read more

Scripture: Leviticus 23:4-44

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Perspectives Of A Tentmaker

Contributed by Ed Lu on Dec 17, 2024

Just as Paul brings a perspective as God’s instrument in both his occupation and ministry, similarly we have a calling to live out our purpose for the people we are responsible for.

Perspectives of a Tentmaker 1 Timothy 6:1-10 What kind of bosses do you work for? What type of a boss do your employees think about you? As for me, I had many. One of them has a mouth as foul as a sewer. But if you get to know him, his heart is as tender as a newborn’s skin. The one ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 6:1-10

Denomination: Baptist

Worthy Of Honor

Contributed by Ed Lu on Dec 17, 2024

Paul is teaching Timothy how to be a caretaker of people. That’s essentially what leaders are. Good leaders must know how to treat others. How to empower others. And how to uphold standards.

Worthy of Honor 1 Timothy 5 What is the single most valuable thing in this room? In your car, house, at the restaurant, on a plane, in the office? You and the people who matter in your life. Family is a sacred entity to God. He designed it. He blessed it. And He keeps an album of it. The ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Our Huge Debt Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Oct 25, 2021

Biblical Love does not just happen; we can make choices that nurture it, and we can make choices that hinder it.

Our Huge Debt (Romans 13:8-14) 1. What will happen to you if you get so badly in debt that you cannot pay your electric bill? You will experience the darkest days of your life! 2. We can make jokes about debt, but actual debt is no laughing matter. 3. Many folks seek to live within their means ...read more

Scripture: Romans 13:8-14

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Harmony Amidst Diverse Opinions Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Nov 1, 2021

Differences between believers are not always about the Biblical vs. the Unbiblical; most differences are about the extra-Biblical or a misunderstanding of what Christianity is. We must therefore be careful in determining the hills for which we are willing to die.

Harmony Amidst Diverse Opinions (Romans 14:1-23) 1. My young son ran to me, crying. “Daddy, I stubbed my toe,” he sobbed. “Let me kiss it and make it better,” I said. “Which toe was it?” My son answered, “The one that has no roast beef.” [rd.com] 2. Would that life was so simple. It never is. ...read more

Scripture: Romans 14:1-23

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Major Dynamics Of Church Life Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Nov 15, 2021

Our personal histories, church history, our culture and experiences all color our view as to what church is about. We need to recalibrate and correct our assumptions by returning to the Scriptures.

The Major Dynamics of Church Life (Romans 15:1-13) NOTE: If I could do it over again, I would make three sermons from this text. All three points could have used more elaboration than I gave them. In the first point, I could have demonstrated further that the New Testament purpose for church ...read more

Scripture: Romans 15:1-13

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Let Me Explain Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Nov 29, 2021

Blessed are the forthcoming, and blessed are those who intelligently listen and seek to understand. Others might turn a deaf ear because they judgmentally equate explanations with excuses.

Let Me Explain (Romans 15:14-33) 1. Some people are not honest with themselves and cling to excuses. Here is a true account: In our younger days, my husband and I sign up for a“boot camp”fitness class. This class costs $300 per person for ten classes. At the start of the first class, our ...read more

Scripture: Romans 15:14-33

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Built To Last Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Dec 7, 2021

Church congregations need to withstand storms: changes in membership, changes in leadership, differing political situations, changes in culture, and a host of potential challenges. Church congregations need to be strengthened and reinforced.

Built to Last (Romans 16:1-27) Intro 1. My kids just got a puppy that is scared of every appliance in the house, but one in particular. I suggested they name the dog, “Nature.” Because nature abhors a vacuum. 2. Appliances are not what they used to be. Old appliances were built to last. 3. We had ...read more

Scripture: Romans 16:1-27

Denomination: Independent/Bible