Sermons on Grant:

The First And Last

Contributed by Grant Macdonald on Feb 28, 2012

Life is full of chaos but God is in control

Chaos is a state that most people don’t like to live in. Chaos and its cousins: confusion, disorder, mess, clutter, muddle, anarchy, and pandemonium are never welcome in my life. But for some reason, just like a natural gas salesperson, they keep knocking at my door; seeking to interrupt my ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 1:4-8

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Love First

Contributed by Steven Simala Grant on Apr 10, 2012

We see real love in Jesus as he gave up his life for us.

Love First Jan 8, 2012 Intro: Let’s start with a little exercise: I want you to think of a fictional character that is widely admired. I’ll give you a bit of a start – I looked online for some lists of famous fictional characters and came up with some names: Batman, James ...read more

Scripture: John 3:16-22

Denomination: Baptist

Doing What We Love

Contributed by Steven Simala Grant on Apr 11, 2012

Jesus calls us to love to a way of living and being and acting out of a foundation of the revealed, enacted love of God for us, which we then strive to delight in and live out of.

Doing what we love January 15, 2012 Intro: Last Sunday I began by asking us to create a list of some fictional characters that are well known and generally admired by our culture (show list). Then I asked for some adjectives that we might use to describe these characters, and we brainstormed a ...read more

Scripture: James 2:14-19

Denomination: Baptist

God At The Lake

Contributed by Steven Simala Grant on Apr 19, 2012

God makes himself known to us through amazing experiences so that we have those to cling to when the foundation crumbles.

God at the Lake Jan 29, 2012 Ps 19 I’ve been looking for the perfect opportunity to share a particular story. I’ve been waiting for 6 months to tell it. I’ve been sure that along the way, in the course of preaching, there would be a spot where I’d need an illustration ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 19:1-14

Denomination: Baptist

Thriving Or Surviving Series

Contributed by Steven Simala Grant on Apr 19, 2012

We will examine what it tookDaniel and his three friends to thrive amidst difficult times.

Thriving or Surviving Feb 5, 2012 Dan 1 Intro: What does it take to not merely survive, but to thrive amidst difficult times? That is the uncomfortable question that jumped out at me through the pages of Scripture this week, in a story that I am going to tell you in a moment. See, we are in ...read more

Scripture: Daniel 1:1-21

Denomination: Baptist

But Even If He Doesn't

Contributed by Steven Simala Grant on Apr 20, 2012

Getting rid of sin, and then choosing not to sin, is by far the best way to live.

But Even If He Doesn’t… Lessons from Exile: Dan 3 Lent week 2 Mar 4, 2012 Intro: How big a deal do you think sin actually is? This is the second Sunday of Lent, and we continue our journey to the cross and the empty tomb together. This is a season of repentance, but with that ...read more

Scripture: Daniel 3:1-30

Denomination: Baptist

The Writing Is On The Wall

Contributed by Steven Simala Grant on May 1, 2012

Pride and blasphemy mean to continue in sin, and to do as one pleases, leaving God out of certain areas of our lives.

The Writing on the Wall Mar 18, 2012 Dan 5 Intro: There is a fairly common English idiom, you’ve probably heard: the writing is on the wall. It is a portent of doom or misfortune (Wikipedia) – something bad is going to happen; you should be able to see it coming because the writing ...read more

Scripture: Daniel 5:1-31

Denomination: Baptist

He Went Home And Knelt Down As Usual

Contributed by Steven Simala Grant on May 1, 2012

The discipline of prayer is not optional but rather a basic requirement of the spiritual life and as a response to the love of God for us.

He Went Home and Knelt Down as Usual March 25, 2012 Dan 6 Intro: It is two weeks until Easter. So as we prepare, I want to tell you a familiar story. About an innocent man betrayed by friends around him, presented before a ruler who could not save him, then condemned to a horrible death. It ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

The Discipline Of Remembering

Contributed by Steven Simala Grant on Jun 14, 2011

When we are in the midst of despair take some time to remember those times when God has been faithful, when He has spoken to us and has worked in power.

The Discipline of Remembering June 5, 2011 Psalm 77 Intro: Remembering is an important spiritual discipline, with one very important caution. 31 years ago, a 9yr old boy sat on the left side of the tiny sanctuary, about two thirds of the way back, listening to a visiting choir from some long ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 77:1-20

Denomination: Baptist

Getting To Know "Our Father"

Contributed by Steven Simala Grant on Jun 30, 2011

This sermon describes what God as Father is really like and our interaction as fathers with our children profoundly and deeply and emotionally shapes the way they will interact with God.

Getting to Know Our Father Matt 6, June 19, 2011 Intro: The way we imagine has an incredibly powerful impact on how we experience life. If we hear that a certain movie is the absolute best movie a friend has ever seen, they tell us we must see it as soon as possible, we start to imagine it in ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:1-34

Denomination: Baptist

The Father's Table

Contributed by Steven Simala Grant on Jun 30, 2011

This sermon goes into further detail on how God loves us and redeems us when we mess up.

The Father’s Table Sunday, June 26 Band Prelude (Holy Moment); invitation on screen to greet one another Open The Eyes of My Heart Prayer from Eph 1: 15 Ever since I first heard of your strong faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for God’s people everywhere, 16 I have not stopped ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 103:8-17

Denomination: Baptist

Jesus Or Maslow's Hierarchy Of Human Needs?

Contributed by Steven Simala Grant on Jul 15, 2011

Do you follow Jesus for what He can do for you so that you can have a great life?

Jesus or Maslow? July 3, 2011 John 6 Intro: How many of you learned Maslow’s Hierarchy of Human Needs in some psychology course somewhere along the lines of your educational journey? Maslow was an American psychologist who studied human motivation, and boiled it all down into a hierarchy ...read more

Scripture: John 1:1-69

Denomination: Baptist

Jesus: Rule-Giver Or Life-Giver?

Contributed by Steven Simala Grant on Jul 15, 2011

Being a follower of Jesus is not about adhering to a set of rules which makes your life dull, boring, and lifeless.

Jesus: Rule-giver or Life-giver? July 10, 2011 John 2:1-11 Intro: I sat down this past week with my Bible, and decided to read the Gospel of John – I planned to read the whole thing and see if I noticed any of our popular conceptions about Jesus being dumped on their heads by the actual, ...read more

Scripture: John 2:1-11

Denomination: Baptist

Cleaning House

Contributed by Steven Simala Grant on Jul 19, 2011

The Jesus of the Bible is consumed with passion and angry about injustices so he does something about them.

Cleaning House July 17, 2011 John 2:13-22 Intro: For those of you who grew up going to Sunday school, how many of you remember the beloved flannelgraph? For those of you who didn’t, the flannelgraph is old-school media in church… a simple board with a background picture, made ...read more

Scripture: John 2:13-22

Denomination: Baptist

You Have (Just) My Word

Contributed by Steven Simala Grant on Sep 23, 2011

Why do we not trust God's word when he says we are forgiven?

You Have (just) My Word Sept 18, 2011 John 4:43-54 Intro: What would you accept from someone else at just their word? A promise to meet up for coffee? – probably yes. A friend who needs $50 to make it to payday, but will pay you back as soon as he gets paid? – maybe yes, if you ...read more

Scripture: John 4:43-54

Denomination: Baptist