Sermons on Gifts Discernment:

Parting Gifts

Contributed by Gordon Pike on May 1, 2019

In an effort to give us the perfect gift, God did not send a general or a politician or a preacher. He took on flesh and gave us Himself. In the words of the late great preacher Wallace Hamilton: “God came walking down the stairway of Heaven with a baby in His arms.”

Mary prepares dinner while her son, Jesus, plays at her feet. Joseph is putting away his tools as he wraps up his day. Suddenly there’s a knock on the door. When Joseph opens the door, he and Mary and Jesus are confronted with a strange and interesting sight … a group of oddly dressed men who ...read more

Scripture: John 19:38-42, John 3:16

Denomination: United Methodist

The Greatest Gift

Contributed by Kerry Haynes on Mar 28, 2016

The Apostle Peter learns that God plays no favorites, that everyone matters to God! The Easter message is good news, that all our sins can be forgiven, that we can have hope of a new tomorrow. (Can be modified for other than Easter.)

Acts 10:34-43 The Greatest Gift When my wife and I started a family, we formed our own family traditions, including for Easter. When the kids awoke on Easter Sunday morning, each child would find a colorful basket just for him or her, a basket full of Easter candy, small toys, and that wonderful ...read more

Scripture: Acts 10:34-43

Denomination: Baptist

The Good Gift Series

Contributed by Kevin Ruffcorn on Apr 10, 2016

Peter doesn't have any money to give to the beggar, but Peter does heal him and the man is able to walk.

Acts 3:1-10 “The Good Gift” INTRODUCTION The writer of the Gospel of Mark understood that the life, death and resurrection of Jesus was, “The Beginning of the Good News of Jesus Christ the Son of God.” Jesus’ walk on earth was the first chapter. Following this ...read more

Scripture: Acts 3:1-10

Denomination: Lutheran

The Gift Of Baptism

Contributed by Betty Johnson on Jun 28, 2012

This message unpacks some of the statements made about baptism and leads the believer, hopefully, to make a clear decision about their own theology of baptism. This message preceded a full immersion, believers' baptism.

The Gift of Baptism Scripture: Acts 8:26-40 We’re going to consider several passages of scripture today, but this one is the key passage for what I think is the main consideration for today - at least it was for me this week. Today is Baptism Sunday. It’s a very special day in the ...read more

Scripture: Acts 8:26-40

Denomination: Wesleyan

The Gift Of The Spirit Series

Contributed by Perry Greene on Feb 16, 2016

The Holy Spirit is a mysterious part of the Christian's walk with God. We are blessed to have his presence in our hearts and lives.

1. Too Complicated Several years back, when having a computer was a fairly new experience for most people... a lot of folks got flustered over little things: * One customer called in to customer service department to complain that he kept getting an "Access Denied" message every time he tried to ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:15-21

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Gift Of Hope Series

Contributed by Pat Damiani on May 16, 2017

The birth of Jesus gives us hope that extends to every aspect of my life - past, present, and future.

Advent This morning is the first Sunday of Advent. Most of us are probably familiar with that concept, but for some of us our familiarity may be limited to those calendars with little windows that open up revealing a gift or treat for each day of the month leading up to Christmas. The word ...read more

Scripture: Titus 2:11-14

Denomination: Baptist

The Gift Of Love Series

Contributed by Pat Damiani on May 16, 2017

God's gift of love in the person of His Son is an example of how we are to love others.

This morning we are going to begin by playing a little game called “Name That Christmas Song.” I’ll read a phrase from a well-known holiday song, and you try to “name that tune”: • We’re snuggled up together like two birds of a feather would be. (“Sleigh Ride”) • When we finally kiss goodnight, ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 4:7-21

Denomination: Baptist

The Gift Of Joy Series

Contributed by Pat Damiani on May 16, 2017

To have real joy I must stay connected to Jesus.

I’m not going to ask for a show of hands, but how many of you feel like this this morning. [Show “Keep Calm. It’s only Christmas” meme] The truth is that in spite of the words of the famous Andy Williams song that tells us that Christmas is the “the most wonderful time of the year”, the reality ...read more

Scripture: John 15:1-11

Denomination: Baptist

The Gift Of Peace Series

Contributed by Pat Damiani on May 16, 2017

If I want to know peace, I need to know Jesus.

When you see these symbols, what do you think of? [Show circle peace symbol, two fingers V peace sign, and an image of a dove with an olive branch.] These three images are very different, but they all are very recognizable as signs of peace. But what all three bear in common is that they were ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 1:15-23

Denomination: Baptist

The Gift Of Marriage Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 17, 2021

Paul is trying to help Christians to be moral people in a very immoral world, and to do that he has to focus on the sex drive.

The most famous twins in history were Chang and Eng, born in Siam in 1811. They toured Europe and America repeatedly. They became so well known that all twins whose bodies are physically connected have ever since been called Siamese twins. By their early thirty's they had traveled the world, ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 7:1-7

Gifts Unlimited Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 29, 2021

Paul does not give us a listing of the gifts that is exhaustive. His list is only suggestive. Every time he writes of the gifts he mentions new ones. He is not dealing with a fixed number because he knows the Holy Spirit well enough to know that you cannot catch him in a list and limit him.

A college professor of debate thought it would be well for him to select some outstanding speaker and learn everything he could about his life, his speeches, and his writings. He chose Patrick Henry as his ideal. It was not long before the subject of Patrick Henry was becoming obnoxious to those ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 12:4

The Greatest Gift Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 30, 2021

God had been giving good things to man all through history, but Christmas becomes the greatest day in history for giving, for on that day God presented to the world His greatest gift.

For all know that all of our gifts for Christmas will not be equal. We may have one or two big gifts, which are the center of our excitement, but there are also a number of smaller gifts that wet our appetite for the grand finale when we get to the one that is the biggest. No child is satisfied ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 8:9

The Gift Of Teaching Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Apr 3, 2021

Paul is urging those with the gift of teaching to us it, but he is not saying that those who do not have the gift should not be teaching. Many Christians teach because their is no one else to do it. They may not be the best teachers, but they may be the best in their situation.

Ray Ashford, the Canadian preacher and author, tells of his good friend who invested all his money in a grocery business in a large city in Canada. It was a thriving business he was told, but soon it was in trouble. He contracted scarlet fever and while he was in the hospital the ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:7-8

The Gift Of Exhortation Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Apr 3, 2021

Every Christian needs to be exposed to exhortation. The word covers a lot of territory. It includes comfort, consolation, counsel, and such words as entreat, beg, implore, and persuade. It covers about anything you can think of that motivates people to act, or to change their behavior.

Several years ago I went to hear J. Allen Peterson one of the nation's most dynamic leaders in ministering to families. He told this true but tragic story. One of the finest couples laboring in the field of marriage enrichment, who had written 5 books that were very helpful, and who had ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:8

The Gift Of Joy

Contributed by Mary Erickson on May 10, 2021

A sermon for the 6th Sunday of Easter, Year B

May 9, 2021 Hope Lutheran Church Rev. Mary Erickson John 15:9-17 The Gift of Joy Friends, may grace and peace be yours in abundance in the knowledge of God and Christ Jesus our Lord. “So teach us to number our days that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” So says Psalm 90. How many days are we ...read more

Scripture: John 15:9-17

Denomination: Lutheran