Sermons on First Bowl:

A Study Of The Letter Of First John – Proving That You Are A Christian Series

Contributed by Chuck Brooks on Aug 13, 2020

One cannot have fellowship with God and at the same time walk in darkness.

John wrote his first epistle from the city of Ephesus. It helps to understand this epistle if you know something about the city of Ephesus at the beginning of the second century. There were four important factors that were in play in Ephesus and throughout the Roman world when John wrote this ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 1:5

Denomination: Independent/Bible

A Study Of The Letter Of First John –the Testimony Of God Series

Contributed by Chuck Brooks on Aug 17, 2020

When John writes of the “love of God” he is literally referring to one’s “love for God. “Love for God” is expressed when one keeps God’s commands.

1 John 5:1-12 A police officer pulled over a driver and informed him that he was speeding. Just then, his wife, who was seated next to him, said, “I told you; you have to drive slowly until you get a license!” The policeman, surprised, exclaimed, “Were you driving without a license?” His ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 5:1-12

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Jesus’ Circumcision And First Temple Visit With Acknowledgements By Simeon Series

Contributed by John Lowe on Jun 13, 2017

Sin has an internal character, because we are sinners by birth, not because we have come into contact with anything. There is a connection between motherhood and the transmission of sin by inheritance. At birth, we inherit a sinful, fallen nature.

-5-4 BC- In Bethlehem Jesus’ Circumcision and First Temple Visit with Acknowledgements by Simeon and Anna Jesus’ Circumcision (Leviticus 12:3) Luke 2:21 Circumcision was the sign that God gave to His covenant people, Israel. Every male child was to be circumcised when they were eight days ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:21, Luke 2:21-38

Denomination: Baptist

The First Convert In Europe (Acts 16:9-16)

Contributed by Victor Yap on Apr 4, 2019

THE FIRST CONVERT IN EUROPE (ACTS 16:9-16)

THE FIRST CONVERT IN EUROPE (ACTS 16:9-16) https://bible.ryl.hk/web_en Grammar Bible (English) https://bible.ryl.hk/web_Bah Tatabahasa Alkitab (Indonesian) https://bible.ryl.hk/web_Esp Biblia de Gramática (Spanish) https://bible.ryl.hk/web_Tag Gramatika Bibliya ...read more

Scripture: Acts 16:9-16

Denomination: Independent/Bible

How Do We Compare To Jesus First Disciples? Series

Contributed by Dean Courtier on Apr 1, 2016

When I think about the first disciples of Jesus there is one thing that I find really encouraging - they were very ordinary people, average people, people like you and me, people with faults and failings, imperfect people.

How do we compare to Jesus first Disciples? When I think about the first disciples of Jesus there is one thing that I find really encouraging - they were very ordinary people with very ordinary jobs - fishermen & a tax collector. If Jesus public ministry had begun here in Rayleigh and Jesus ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:19-20

Denomination: Pentecostal

The First Passover: An Exposition Of Exodus 12:1-14

Contributed by Mark A. Barber on Aug 22, 2020

The first Passover points the way to a greater second Passover.

The First Passover: An Exposition of Exodus 12:1-14 The Passover is a special day for the Jewish people. Even secular Jews celebrate it. It serves a purpose similar to Independence Day in the US or Cinco de Mayo in Latin and South America. The Children of Israel had served as slaves in Egypt for a ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 12:1-14

Denomination: Independent/Bible

First Sunday Of Advent, Year B: Advent Hope

Contributed by Paul Andrew on Nov 5, 2023

Optimism is an assessment. Hope is an act.

A man named John Hakel says his three-year-old daughter looked at a calendar and asked him, "Daddy, how many BE GOOD days until Christmas?" 1 Advent is not a penitential season; it’s a period of devout and expectant delight, yet we intuitively understand that it is not possible ...read more

Scripture: Mark 13:33-37

Denomination: Catholic

First Sunday Of Lent, Year A- The Tactics Of Temptation

Contributed by Paul Andrew on Jan 21, 2023

C.S. Lewis made an astute observation in his masterful Screwtape Letters: the devil cannot manufacture real goods or pleasures; he’s stuck with the ones God has made and for which our natures have an inclination.

I saw this Cartoon of Satan tempting Jesus, saying: “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become a medium rare ribeye steak with truffle butter.” [Jesus is thinking to himself, “He’s getting better at this.”] Note that Jesus did not say, “Man cannot live by coffee alone, but he will ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 2:7-9, Genesis 3:1-7

Denomination: Catholic

Putting Jesus First Isn't Easy. Series

Contributed by Michael Blitz on May 5, 2024

Martha's jealousy and anger drove her to the point where she was literally yelling at the Lord, and bossing him around. How did she get to this point? What is the point of service to God, family and church, and what can get in our way?

Good Morning. I got a fun story to start with as we dig into the story of Mary and Martha. It took place in 1956, and Tom Attridge was test piloting the brand new jet they wanted to use for the famous Blue Angels. Gunning it up to break the sound barrier, he was instructed to test fire his guns at ...read more

Scripture: Luke 10:38-42

Denomination: Anglican

Thirty-First Sunday In Ordinary Time, B: Shema

Contributed by Paul Andrew on Oct 16, 2024

Prostrating oneself in prayer helps me to mean all the words of this creed, with all its intensity and wide scope.

This is the most Jewish and Catholic prayer possible, in our Gospel today, from Mark 12:29, which Jews call the Shema, which means “hear” in Hebrew-- we have the first line of the Shema in our Gospel today: “Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is Lord alone! You shall love the Lord your God with all ...read more

Scripture: Mark 12:28-34

Denomination: Catholic

The First Sunday Of Advent, Year C: Not Very Christmasy.

Contributed by Paul Andrew on Nov 12, 2024

The Church tells the Christmas Story backwards: the focus is to prepare for the coming of the Lord: at the end of the world, and when Christ comes for us at the end of our individual worlds, at death.

Our Gospel from St. Luke today is a little unsettling. Not very Christmasy. Unseasonal thoughts about the end of the world. Yet, the word Advent from the Latin, adventus, means “coming.” The Church tells the Christmas Story backwards: the focus is to prepare for the coming of the Lord: at the end ...read more

Scripture: Luke 21:36

Denomination: Catholic

Balaam's First Prophecies (Numbers 23)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Nov 27, 2024

Can a crooked prophet be used by God? Let's look at Numbers 23.

Though he was hired to curse Israel, what was Balaam forced to do? Can even a bad prophet be used by God to tell the truth? Do we take God’s word at face value or look for excuses to change God’s mind? Let’s look at Numbers 23. What did Balaam request so that God would perhaps give him a ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

First Sunday After Epiphany (B C P). Series

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jan 7, 2025

Sermons upon the Bible readings of the Book of Common Prayer.

Psalm 72:1-8, Zechariah 8:1-8, Romans 12:1-5, Luke 2:41-52. A). THE REIGN OF MESSIAH. Psalm 72:1-8. The name of Solomon is associated with this Psalm, and it is quite possible that this sacred song was premiered on the occasion of his coronation. However, Christians recognise Jesus as the ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 72:1-8, Zechariah 8:1-8, Romans 12:1-5, Luke 2:41-52

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Samson's First Wife (Judges 14)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Mar 15, 2025

How important is it that a marriage have a common faith? Let's begin in Judges 14.

How foolish is choosing a life’s marriage partner solely because of their looks? How important is having the same faith values? Let’s begin in Judges 14. What happened when Samson traveled and saw a foreign woman? Samson traveled down to Timnah. While he was in Timnah, a Philistine woman caught ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

First Sunday After Easter (B C P). Series

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Apr 22, 2025

Sermons upon the Bible readings of the Book of Common Prayer.

Psalm 81:1-4, Ezekiel 37:1-10, 1 John 5:4-12, John 20:19-23. A). A SUMMONS TO RESOUNDING PRAISE. Psalm 81:1-4. PSALM 81:1. There may be a time for quiet contemplative worship, but this is not it. It is a time of loudness, a time of noise. It is a time of fulness of joy. We are not called to be ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 81:1-4, Ezekiel 37:1-10, 1 John 5:4-12, John 20:19-23

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational