Sermons on Granted:

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

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

To Live Is...

Contributed by Steven Simala Grant on Oct 12, 2010

Truly living is to have Jesus First in order to shape and form our emotional perspective on death, for ourselves, and for those we love.

To Live Is… October 3, 2010 Phil 1:18b-26 Intro: How would you finish this sentence: “to live is…”? Take a few moments to think about that – in your experience and from your perspective, what does it mean to “live”? Our answers might include the ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:18-26

Denomination: Baptist

On Rhythms And Seasons - Thanksgiving

Contributed by Steven Simala Grant on Oct 12, 2010

Today's worship experience is meant to recapture the seasonal rhythms that will lead us towards fall, harvest, celebration, and thanksgiving.

On Rhythms and Seasons Thanksgiving, Oct 10, 2010 • Opening hymn – In Thanksgiving Let us Praise Him #557 • Greeting time • Welcome/ announcements/ intro – Steve - family service – activity packs available - CLM on Wednesday - Worship night – Nov. 6; ...read more

Scripture: John 4:34-38

Denomination: Baptist

Citizenship

Contributed by Steven Simala Grant on Oct 19, 2010

What it means to actually be a citizen of heaven.

Citizenship October 17, 2010 Phil. 1:27a Intro: In the “big picture”, what is your life really about? What do you want out of it, what do you expect out of it, where are you putting your energies and efforts on a day-by-day basis? And I mean that “day-by-day” bit, it is ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:27-30

Denomination: Baptist

Stand, Fight, And Don't Run Away

Contributed by Steven Simala Grant on Oct 28, 2010

As citizens of heaven we must fight together for the faith, stand together with one spirit and one purpose, and not be intimidated in any way.

Stand, Fight, and Don’t Run Away Oct 24, 2010 Phil 1:27-30 Intro: Only some of you here today have experienced military service. Only some of you know what it really means to go through basic training, to be put in a squadron, to be taught how to fight as a unit, where your very lives are ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:27-30

Denomination: Baptist

Make My Joy Complete

Contributed by Steven Simala Grant on Nov 2, 2010

The focus on unity is to be able to think the same thing, have the same love, joined in soul, and thinking one thing.

Make My Joy Complete Oct 31, 2010 Phil. 2:1-4 Intro: What would it take to make you truly happy? I don’t presuppose in the question that you are unhappy at the moment, but I want to get you thinking for a moment about that question, and locate at least the beginnings of an answer. And ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:1-4

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

Awakening - Easter Sunday

Contributed by Steven Simala Grant on May 9, 2012

Jesus rose triumphant over the grave so that we could live fully awake and in response, He asks us to awaken to Him, His Kingdom, His power, His purpose, His will.

Awakening April 8, 2012 Easter Sunday For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then we will see face to face. Now I know only in part; then I will know fully, even as I have been fully known. (1 Cor 13:12, NRSV) Yesterday I went for a brief walk, having been sick these past few days I was feeling ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:12

Denomination: Baptist

Is It Well?

Contributed by Steven Simala Grant on May 11, 2012

If we put Jesus first in our lives then in any crisis we can turn to God for comfort and peace and say all is well.

Is it Well? Apr 29, 2012 Intro: Crisis has a distilling effect. In the midst of one, or many, all the routine, boring, petty things of life get hastily shoved to the side and the focus becomes intense. What do we have to do right now? What is important in this moment? What will happen in the ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 4:8-26

Denomination: Baptist