Sermons on Granted:

Love Overflowing Even More

Contributed by Steven Simala Grant on Sep 28, 2010

To be a slave of Jesus Christ means He is the Lord of your life in everything leaving little room for individualistic ideas of ourselves.

Announcements: So this past Wednesday night, around 9 when everyone had left except for Garret and Sue and I, we sat back, looked at these pieces of flip chart, took a deep breath, smiled, and said, “ok… so what next?” One thing was clear immediately – Pastor Sue looked at ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:1-11

Denomination: Baptist

Perspective

Contributed by Steven Simala Grant on Sep 28, 2010

We must learn to see things as God sees them.

Intro: How we see things in our lives and in our worlds is a lot more powerful and has a lot more impact on us than we might imagine. For example, if we see the world as existing to bring us pleasure and happiness, then when it doesn’t we get angry or frustrated or confused: “why is ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:12-18

Denomination: Baptist

Selflessness: Fundamentals

Contributed by Steven Simala Grant on Jul 14, 2010

As we look at what it means to be a Christian the first fundamental issue we will look at is selflessness.

Selflessness: Fundamentals July 11, 2010 Luke 9:23-27 Intro: One of the purposes of a sabbatical is to get some space from the day-to-day demands, to “step back” and gain some different perspectives, and to return with something new to offer. First I want to say “thank ...read more

Scripture: Luke 9:23-27

Denomination: Baptist

A Way To Walk Series

Contributed by Steven Simala Grant on Jul 20, 2010

To walk in the Spirit means to be active instead of passive and to allow the Spirit to lead.

A Way To Walk: Fundamentals Gal 5:16-26, July 18, 2010 Intro: I’m going to begin with a little story I wrote, sort of a parable. Like most parables, it isn’t about what it seems to be about, the message is something different. I offer this uncharacteristic preamble because we are ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:16-26

Denomination: Baptist

Justice, Mercy, Humility Series

Contributed by Steven Simala Grant on Aug 4, 2010

Christianity is fundamentally about a relationship and so not a contract such as I do "x" for God, and God does "y" for me.

Justice, Mercy, Humility: Series: Fundamentals Micah 6:1-8 July 25, 2010 Intro: Fundamentals. A child has to learn balance in order to learn to walk. A business has to have more money coming in than going out. A family has to understand the basic rules of the Monopoly game before they can ...read more

Scripture: Micah 6:1-8

Denomination: Baptist

Pointed In The Right Direction Series

Contributed by Steven Simala Grant on Aug 4, 2010

To be a Christian is to be transformed by the Holy Spirit for our entire lives.

Pointed in the Right Direction: Fundamentals August 1, 2010 Rom. 12:1-2 Intro: How many of you have ever studied the book of Romans – not just read it, but actually dug down deep and worked hard to understand it? If you haven’t, I suggest you need to. This morning as we’ve ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:1-2

Denomination: Baptist

A Life Of Discipline Week 2 Series

Contributed by Steven Simala Grant on Mar 3, 2010

In order to get into better spiritual shape we need to apply certain spiritual disciple. Paul said that working hard does not earn us our salvation; instead it demonstrates our salvation.

A Life of Discipline, week 2: Lent 2010 Feb 28, 2010 Intro: Welcome this morning to the second Sunday in Lent, which is the season of preparation for Easter. I’ve decided to theme our Lenten Journey this year along the lines of “a disciplined life”, recognizing that God calls ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 9:25-27

Denomination: Baptist

A Life Of Discipline Series

Contributed by Steven Simala Grant on Mar 9, 2010

The empty tomb means that we are freed from the power of sin over our lives and we can live the kind of lives God originally intended right now in the present.

A Life of Discipline: Lent week 3 March 7, 2010 Intro: The season of Lent can sometimes feel like the opposite of the season of Advent, don’t you think? Advent, our preparation for Christmas, seems to be full of excitement and anticipation and joy and merriness, as we prepare to gather ...read more

Scripture: Romans 6:1-14

Denomination: Baptist

Holistic Salvation: A Life Of Discipline Series

Contributed by Steven Simala Grant on Mar 25, 2010

We tend to divorce our spiritual lives from our physical lives and see little connection or interdependence between the two.

Holistic Salvation: A Life of Discipline Lent Week 4 March 14, 2010 Intro: One of the things I love about being a pastor is that as a generalist, I get to experience an incredible variety in jobs, tasks, roles, and activities. Part of the time I am a public speaker, part of the time I am a ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:1

Denomination: Baptist

Filled With Good Things Series

Contributed by Steven Simala Grant on Mar 25, 2010

We need to fill our spiritual lives with good things that bring life, the presence of God, and offer opportunities for the Holy Spirit to produce fruit in us.

Filled With Good Things: A Life of Discipline Lent Week 5 March 21, 2010 Intro: I hope this morning that I am not going to confuse those of you who have been following closely on our journey through this Lenten season, our time of preparation for Easter. While my main point this morning may seem ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:11-32

Denomination: Baptist

Repentance And Refreshing Series

Contributed by Steven Simala Grant on Oct 28, 2009

One of the things that traps us in our places of emotional and spiritual and relational lameness is that we get to a point where we cannot really imagine life differently.

Intro: Last Sunday we began our look at the second section of the book of Acts. The first section, chapters 1-2, told the story of the ascension of Jesus and then the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, filling the believers with the power and indwelling presence of God, and now the next two ...read more

Scripture: Acts 3:9-26

Denomination: Baptist

God Or Man? Series

Contributed by Steven Simala Grant on Nov 3, 2009

God’s plan from the very beginning is to take ordinary people and transform their lives with Jesus.

Intro: How many of you can think of a time when you did the right thing, and got in trouble for it? I can recall a few, but my stories aren’t really appropriate for a sermon here so I’m looking to you to think of some stories that illustrate a time when you did the right thing, but got in trouble ...read more

Scripture: Acts 4:1-22

Denomination: Baptist

A Picture Of A Church Series

Contributed by Steven Simala Grant on Nov 17, 2009

This sermon describes the unity believers had in the early church of hearts and minds.

Intro: Calgary has a new piece of public art. It used to be in Vancouver, where it was temporarily on display, and now it has moved to Calgary for the next little while. It is officially part of the Glenbow museum, on display in a park close to the Saddledome. The piece is entitled, “Device to ...read more

Scripture: Acts 4:32-37

Denomination: Baptist

Death By Lying Series

Contributed by Steven Simala Grant on Nov 25, 2009

Sin kills the soul, the community, momentum and our witness in the world.

Most people don’t really “like” sermons on sin. They don’t like hearing them, and (at least in my case) they don’t really like preaching them. I think that is because judgmental-ism and “holier than thou” attitudes have typically characterized our discussions of sin, and often the end result has ...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