Sermons on Fresh Fire:

Have Thine Own Way Series

Contributed by Victor Yap on Dec 18, 2007

Apostles, Pt. 8

HAVE THINE OWN WAY, LORD (MARK 8:27-33) One of the most acclaimed Jim Carrey movies was “The Truman Show,” an inside look into future reality TV shows, a stunning prediction of the format’s runaway success and a biting commentary on its unrestrained excesses. The movie was about a man who was born, ...read more

Scripture: Mark 8:27-33

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Say What You Mean, Mean What You Say Series

Contributed by Victor Yap on Dec 18, 2007

Apostles, Pt. 19

SAY WHAT YOU MEAN, MEAN WHAT YOU SAY (LUKE 22:54-62) What would it take for you to change or switch your long-distance telephone company service? Several years ago, telephone companies battle one another for the lucrative long-distance market, offers included 20% discount on calls to your 12 ...read more

Scripture: Luke 22:54-62

Denomination: Independent/Bible

One Thing I Know Series

Contributed by Victor Yap on Dec 19, 2007

Crisis and Choice, Pt. 2

ONE THING I KNOW (JOHN 9) One embarrassing game day, after giving up nine home runs in a row, Charlie Brown cried out in despair, “What can I do?!!” He complained to his catcher, “We’re getting slaughtered again, Schroeder. I don’t know what to do. Why do we have to suffer like this?” Schroeder ...read more

Scripture: John 9:1-39

Denomination: Independent/Bible

When Life Seems Unfair Series

Contributed by Victor Yap on Dec 19, 2007

Crisis and Choice, Pt. 4

WHEN LIFE SEEMS UNFAIR (JOB 1:1-2:10) The year 2001 was a sad year for a family I had known for more than ten years. The family was a staunch Christian family and for four generations the tight-knit family had served tirelessly in church. The matriarch of the family was a widow and her two sons and ...read more

Denomination: Independent/Bible

You Have More Power Than You Think Series

Contributed by Victor Yap on Dec 20, 2007

Judges, Pt. 2

YOU HAVE MORE POWER THAN YOU THINK (JUDGES 6:11-35) Dietrich Bonhoeffer, known for his opposition to Hitler, was imprisoned and executed in 1945. One of Bonhoeffer’s poems in prison is a masterpiece, revealing his fear, courage and faith in the face of unspeakable evil. “Who am I? Who am I? They ...read more

Scripture: Judges 6:11-35

Denomination: Independent/Bible

You Cannot Win Them All Series

Contributed by Victor Yap on Dec 20, 2007

Saul, Pt. 1

YOU CANNOT WIN THEM ALL (1 SAMUEL 9:15-10:27) When Christian Herter was governor of Massachusetts, he was running hard for a second term in office. One day, after a busy morning chasing votes he arrived at a church barbecue. It was late afternoon and Herter was famished. As Herter moved down the ...read more

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Hurry Up And Wait Series

Contributed by Victor Yap on Dec 20, 2007

Saul, Pt. 2

HURRY UP AND WAIT (1 SAMUEL 11) It’s been said, “Rome is not built in a day.” When I was in elementary school I was in a big hurry to grow up. I was skinny and short. When my brother and I sat in the same car going to school every day, I could not help but compare his size to mine. My brother, ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 11:1-15

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Great Is Thy Faithfulness Series

Contributed by Victor Yap on Dec 20, 2007

God of Wonders, Pt. 7

GREAT IS THY FAITHFULNESS (PSALMS 89:1-4) God’s faithfulness to me can be summed up by my wife’s grievance against me: “God drops everything on your lap for you - including me!” She was right. God gave me a godly, loving, smart and wonderful wife. On hearing me speak for the first time, my Ph. D ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 89:1-4

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Champions Are Made, Not Born Series

Contributed by Victor Yap on Dec 20, 2007

David, Pt. 2

CHAMPIONS ARE MADE, NOT BORN (1 SAMUEL 17:21-49) Hockey’s Great One, Wayne Gretzky, was asked, “What is it that separates great champions from the near-great?” He replied, “My goodness, I don’t know. If I did, I’d bottle it up and sell it.” (“What do Jeff Gordon, Martina Navratilova, Bob Knight and ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 17:21-49

Denomination: Independent/Bible

What Does It Mean To Be "Perfect?"

Contributed by James Cloud on Dec 21, 2007

Exploring the principles that make us more Christlike.

What Does It Mean To Be Perfect? Illustration: (There was a young boy who had been writing God a note on how good he had been throughout the past year. He began by writing, “Dear God, I have been good for six months now and I think I deserve a good gift for Christmas.” Upon thinking about it he ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 55:8-9

Denomination: Anglican

All Is Vanity Series

Contributed by Victor Yap on Dec 22, 2007

Solomon, Pt. 3

ALL IS VANITY (1 KINGS 11:1-14) A Jewish story tells of Alexander the Great’s presence before the gates of paradise on his journey home after he had conquered the whole world. Seeing that the gates would not open for him, he asked for a token to prove that he was there. All he got was a human eye. ...read more

Denomination: Independent/Bible

You Are Hired! Series

Contributed by Victor Yap on Dec 22, 2007

Parables for Seekers, Pt. 7

YOU ARE HIRED! (MATTHEW 20:1-16) The economic crisis at the turn of the 21st century that hit the airline industry reflects the cost of doing business. United Airlines and Continental Airlines filed for bankruptcy, and American Airlines avoided bankruptcy after the union gave back $1.62 billion in ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:1-16

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Gain More Than You Lose Series

Contributed by Victor Yap on Dec 22, 2007

Parables for Stewards, Pt. 5

GAIN MORE THAN YOU LOSE (LUKE 16:1-12) I searched the web for what makes a good hire and what makes a bad hire to the following quotes: “A good hire is hard to find.” “Making a good hire is important, keeping a good hire is far more important.” “The cost of making a good hire is high; the cost of ...read more

Scripture: Luke 16:1-12

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Power Game Series

Contributed by Victor Yap on Dec 25, 2007

Esther, Pt. 3

THE POWER GAME (ESTHER 3) I am highly suspicious of people in power and with power, from politicians to pastors. My low regard and utter disdain for power can be traced to the power game and the power struggle I have witnessed. The church I was a part of in my youth had a heartbreaking split every ...read more

Scripture: Esther 3:1-11

Denomination: Independent/Bible

A Series Of Coincidental Events Series

Contributed by Victor Yap on Dec 25, 2007

Esther, Pt. 6

A SERIES OF COINCIDENTAL EVENTS (ESTHER 6) Somerset Maugham, the English writer, once wrote a story about a janitor at St. Peter's Church in London. One day a young vicar discovered that the janitor was illiterate and fired him. Jobless, the man invested his meager savings in a tiny shop, where ...read more

Scripture: Esther 6:1-14

Denomination: Independent/Bible