Sermons on Granted:

What Pulls The Train

Contributed by Steven Simala Grant on May 8, 2007

Seek first - its about priorities, not about worry

What Pulls The Train Matt 6:25-34 Intro: This past week, several of us attended a leadership conference – linked via satellite to over 38 000 Christian leaders. Conferences are almost always great experiences, getting refreshed and inspired and enlightened, learning that PowerPoint can get ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:25-34

Denomination: Baptist

The Great Adventure

Contributed by Steven Simala Grant on May 8, 2007

The story of Joseph, demonstrating that a life with God is full of adventure, challenge, and significance

Summer Day Camp Sunday 2003 Intro: How many of you love a great adventure? My friend Calvin does: (Calvin and Hobbes cartoon) And I do too: (Whitewater rafting pic) But let me tell you this: the Greatest Adventure – better than soaking your dad when he isn’t looking, (though that ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

A New Commandment Series

Contributed by Steven Simala Grant on May 8, 2007

Our society is not geared towards creating deep, lasting relationships. Jesus’ Solution:“Love one another as I have loved you.” This sermon casts a vision for small groups

A New Commandment: Experiencing Biblical Community John 13:31-35 Aug 31, 2003 Intro: I think I am in denial. Summer can’t possibly be over, tomorrow can’t be the first day of September, the fall can’t be here already… I know some of you parents with school-age children are singing along with ...read more

Scripture: John 13:31-35

Denomination: Baptist

Born To Belong Series

Contributed by Steven Simala Grant on May 8, 2007

The best answer to lonliness is true Biblical community, like we see in Acts 1

Born To Belong Experiencing Biblical Community: Acts 1 Intro: TV Guide recently came up with a list of what they consider the top 50 TV shows of all time; the top 5 were (source: http://www.tvguide.com/50th/features/020429a.asp): 5. The Sopranos – “A complex drama built around a thinking man’s ...read more

Scripture: Acts 1:13-15

Denomination: Baptist

Breaking Bread And Building Bonds Series

Contributed by Steven Simala Grant on May 8, 2007

The Holy Spirit comes in community, and creates community. This message leads into communion.

Breaking Bread and Building Bonds: Experiencing Biblical Community Acts 2:1-4, 42-47 September 14, 2003 Intro: We want to spend a little more time around the communion table this morning than normal, partly because it feels like the right thing to do early in the fall as the rhythm of our lives ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:1-47

Denomination: Baptist

The Safest Place On Earth Series

Contributed by Steven Simala Grant on May 8, 2007

bearing one another’s burdens... the early church was united, generous, and powerful witnesses

The Safest Place On Earth Experiencing Biblical Community: Acts 4:23-35 Intro: For the last several weeks I’ve been talking about our need for community – for a place to love as Jesus loved, and to be loved for who we are. I’ve shared that I’ve been feeling lonely, like there is no one outside ...read more

Scripture: Acts 4:23-35

Denomination: Baptist

The Cost Of The Forgery Series

Contributed by Steven Simala Grant on May 8, 2007

Biblical community wasn’t always perfect...

The Cost of the Forgery Acts 5:1-11 Intro: Our faith journey is a shared journey as well as an individual journey. This fall we have been on a shared journey of experiencing Biblical community – of building relationships where we can live out Jesus’ new command of John 13:34: “Love one another ...read more

Scripture: Acts 5:1-11

Denomination: Baptist

An Unstoppable Force Series

Contributed by Steven Simala Grant on May 8, 2007

God heals, puts us in conflict situations, and invites us to NOT fight against Him but rather join His unstoppable force.

An Unstoppable Force: Experiencing Biblical Community Acts 5:12-42 Intro: Have you ever been in a situation where doing the right thing was going to get you in trouble? Where you had a choice, and it was clear which option was right, and it was also clear that if you did that thing, there was ...read more

Scripture: Acts 5:12-42

Denomination: Baptist

God's Story Series

Contributed by Steven Simala Grant on May 8, 2007

Stephen’s martyrdom as a Thanksgiving sermon

God’s Story: Experiencing Biblical Community Acts 6:8-7:60 Intro: A 4 year old boy was asked to return thanks before Thanksgiving dinner. The family members bowed their heads in expectation. He began his prayer, thanking the Lord for all his friends, naming them one by one. Then he thanked the ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Danger And Opportunity Series

Contributed by Steven Simala Grant on May 8, 2007

Philip’s story: persecution to opportunities for evangelism to building bridges to baptism and the Holy Spirit.

Danger and Opportunity: Experiencing Biblical Community Acts 8:1-25 Intro: Do any of you read Chinese? I wonder if you can read the characters on the screen behind me and translate them for us. (Chinese word for crisis; two distinct characters, put together these = “crisis”) What is ...read more

Scripture: Acts 8:1-25

Denomination: Baptist

Loving Seekers Deeply Series

Contributed by Steven Simala Grant on May 8, 2007

We are ambassadors - never forget to which Kingdom we belong, but let us love the people of this world as much as Jesus loves them.

Loving Seekers Deeply: Experiencing Biblical Community Acts 8:26-40 Intro: After the resurrection of Jesus, the believers experienced the incredible outpouring of the Holy Spirit. With the Holy Spirit came power, which was evident in miracles and in changed lives and in the incredible growth of ...read more

Scripture: Acts 8:26-40

Denomination: Baptist

You Expect Me To Love Him Deeply? Series

Contributed by Steven Simala Grant on May 8, 2007

retelling Ananias’ story, leading to see that all that really matters is loving God and loving others

You Expect Me To Love HIM Deeply? Acts 9:1-19a The Story (pt 1): The man and his family were settling into their new city. Oh, it certainly wasn’t Jerusalem, but Damascus wasn’t all that bad, really. And after what had happened to Stephen when he shared what he believed about Jesus, he could ...read more

Scripture: Acts 9:1-19

Denomination: Baptist

Coming Alongside Series

Contributed by Steven Simala Grant on May 8, 2007

Can God really change people? Barnabus believed He could, even with Saul. Do we believe it too, enough to come alongside others?

Coming Alongside: Experiencing Biblical Community Acts 9:19-30 Intro: Bob Torrence was by far the best athlete in our neighbourhood. Didn’t matter the sport – street hockey, football, whatever. Bob was the best – he even went on and played for the Calgary Stampeders for awhile – he was that ...read more

Scripture: Acts 9:19-30

Denomination: Baptist

Love Found A Way: To Bridge The Gap

Contributed by Steven Simala Grant on May 8, 2007

Jesus bridges the gap, and we are witnesses to this incredible miracle!

Love Found A Way: To Bridge The Gap John 1:14 Intro: (video clip - intro scene in "The God’s Must Be Crazy") But it wasn’t garbage that came from heaven, like it was in the video clip. It wasn’t the discarded leftovers casually tossed overboard, having fulfilled their usefulness and now needing ...read more

Scripture: John 1:14

Denomination: Baptist

Love Found A Way To Heal Our Pain

Contributed by Steven Simala Grant on May 8, 2007

The problem of pain, from the perspective of Elizabeth and Zechariah. God heals!

Love Found A Way To Heal Our Pain Luke 1:5-15 Intro: (video clip from “Bruce Almighty”) Do you ever feel like that? “God could fix my life in five minutes if He wanted to…”; “the only one around here not doing his job is YOU!” If you haven’t seen the rest of Bruce Almighty, it is God paging ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:5-15

Denomination: Baptist