Sermons on Espiritual Ward: showing 391-405 of 4,127

The God Of The Unexpected Series

Contributed by David Ward on Oct 3, 2009

An expository message from Acts 12 on how God "shows up" in response to his people’s faith, and lack of faith.

INTRODUCTION: Arthur Burns was chair of the Federal Reserve in the 1970s, and a Jewish economist of great influence in Washington during the tenure of several Presidents. Burns was once asked to pray at a gathering of evangelical politicians. Stunning his hosts, he prayed thus: "Lord, I pray that ...read more

Scripture: Acts 12:1-24

Denomination: Baptist

Christmas In Ngaruawahia

Contributed by Darryl Ward on Dec 31, 2009

What if Jesus was born in New Zealand in 2009?

Hohepa sighed deeply as he changed gear on his cherished but somewhat tired Mazda 626. It was raining steadily as he drove through Huntly then south along the highway that followed every bend of the Waikato River. Every bump in the road could be clearly felt, but Hohepa was especially concerned ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:1-14

Denomination: Anglican

Every Day Will Be Christmas

Contributed by Darryl Ward on Dec 5, 2009

Miracles do happen when we hold onto the true meaning of Christmas.

It was 1914. The war to end all wars would not be over by Christmas as had been so optimistically predicted. On the western front, it had ground down to a barbarous war of attrition fought from muddy, waterlogged, vermin-infested trenches, where one had to be constantly wary of artillery and ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:1-20

Denomination: Anglican

Setting Ourselves Free

Contributed by Darryl Ward on Dec 5, 2009

When we forgive others, we are also setting ourselves free.

Whether we love it or hate it, we all will be familiar with Coronation Street, UK’s longest running soap opera. I am not much of a television watcher, but I do have a soft spot for the street. One reason is that the characters are like real people. They have flaws and blemishes, they do not wake ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 18:21-35

Denomination: Anglican

Neither Confused Nor Divided

Contributed by Darryl Ward on Dec 5, 2009

Sermon for Trinity Sunday on the Holy Trinity and the unity of the Church.

During the time of Oliver Cromwell, thousands of stained glass windows in English churches were destroyed, because the English puritans objected to objects of veneration, which they called ’abused images’. Of those stained glass windows that did survive, few were undamaged, and there was an ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:19

Denomination: Anglican

The Grateful Samaritan

Contributed by Darryl Ward on Dec 6, 2009

The importance of gratitude and humility.

We all know about the good Samaritan, but how many of us have heard of the grateful Samaritan? We are going to meet him today, but firstly I want to tell you about my friend Allen. Allen was quite different from most people. To have called him unconventional would have been an understatement, and ...read more

Scripture: Luke 17:11-19

Denomination: Anglican

Turn Turn Turn

Contributed by David Ward on Dec 30, 2007

A year’s end/New Year’s message adaptable to many occasions. BIG IDEA: "God’s got it, even though we don’t get it"

“Turn Turn Turn” Ecclesiastes 3:1-17 INTRODUCTION: "End of Year" Lists are everywhere in the media as a new year approaches: Most Newsworthy Events of the Year, Famous People Who Have Died This Year, Most Notable Sports Stories of the Year, Most Annoying People of the Year (Paris, Britney, and ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 3:1-17

Denomination: Baptist

The Sign Of Immanuel

Contributed by David Ward on Dec 10, 2004

The first message in a Christmas/Advent series from Isaiah

“The Sign of Immanuel” Isaiah 7:1-16 INTRODUCTION: Remember the movie "O Brother Where Art Thou?" Three convicts on the lam have holed up in a barn to spend the night, only to awake to find the barn surrounded by police, with guns drawn, demanding their surrender. One of the three helpfully ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 7:1-16

Denomination: Baptist

For Unto Us A Child Is Born

Contributed by David Ward on Dec 16, 2004

God’s people can hope for deliverance, because God guarantees it.

“For Unto Us a Child is Born” Isaiah 9:1-7 INTRODUCTION: It’s an unlovely tree in an unlikely place with an unmistakable message. The tree sits along Interstate 30 just outside of Fort Worth, Texas. It is a mimosa tree that appears lifeless, except at Christmas. Each December, for the past ten ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 9:1-7

Denomination: Baptist

The Yoke's On You Series

Contributed by David Ward on Dec 16, 2004

An encouragement to find rest in Christ, and to minister through his strength

“The Yoke’s On You” Matthew 11:28-30 INTRODUCTION: Do you ever find it difficult to follow Christ? Why is it so hard to follow Jesus sometimes? Do you ever get tired? Do you ever find yourself in need of rest? How can I find rest while following Jesus? [READ Matt. 11:28-30] Notice what ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 11:28-30

Denomination: Baptist

Promises Of The Shepherd

Contributed by Michael Ward on Mar 28, 2005

Celebration of Psalm 23 reviewing the promises of Good Shepherd to His faithful flock.

Introduction This is undoubtedly the most famous and oft-quoted of the Psalms. But why? Perhaps it is because of the comfort the Shepherd brings. But also, we see the promises of the Shepherd that we enjoy not only in this life, but in the eternity to come. This is a psalm of the Great Shepherd ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 23:1-6

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

A Guy Named Steve Series

Contributed by David Ward on Dec 21, 2004

A first-person narrative as Stephen. Big Idea: wherever you go, God will be with you.

“A Guy Named Steve” Acts 6:8—8:1 (Introduction) Good morning! Oh, that’s much better—thank you. My name is Stephen, but you may call me Steve if you’d rather. I guess we’re here for me to share my story with you folks. Have any of you heard of me before? You know me as the first martyr. The ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

God Your Daddy

Contributed by David Ward on Dec 21, 2004

Big Idea: If you know God as Daddy, then you aren’t His slave, but His child and His heir

God Your Daddy Romans 8:15-17 INTRODUCTION: Fred Craddock, who while lecturing at Yale University, told of going back one summer to Gatlinburg, Tennessee, to take a short vacation with his wife. One night they found a quiet little restaurant where they looked forward to a private meal--just the ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:15-17

Denomination: Baptist

Games People Play: "Sorry!" Series

Contributed by David Ward on Sep 21, 2006

From a "Games People Play" series on the Sermon on the Mount, this is a message about forgiveness.

Games People Play: “Sorry!” Matthew 6:9-15 INTRODUCTION: "Sorry!" is a board game based on the ancient Indian game Pachisi. Players try to travel around the board with their pieces faster than any other player. The game title comes from the many ways in which a player can negate the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:9-15

Denomination: Baptist

Deliver Us From Evil

Contributed by Darryl Ward on Oct 18, 2010

How addiction is very closely related to possession, and how Jesus can set us free.

Some of you may know I have not been a faithfully worshipping churchgoer all my life. Not counting a brief flirtation with the Russian Orthodox Church, I was not part of any Christian community between the ages of 18 and 38. If you had asked me what my religious beliefs were, I would have probably ...read more

Scripture: Luke 8:26-39

Denomination: Anglican