Sermons on Hacksaw Ridge:

Thanksgiving - I Owe It All To You

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Jan 7, 2001

For Christians, Thanksgiving is a day to acknowledge that everything we have is a gift from God, & to lift our hearts in thanksgiving to Him. But we're not very good at saying "Thank you," are we? .

MELVIN M. NEWLAND, MINISTER RIDGE CHAPEL, KANSAS, OK (Revised: 2014) A. Many holidays have two different celebrations or connotations - one worldly, & the other, Christian. The world celebrates Easter with Easter bunnies & ...read more

Scripture: Luke 12:22-24, John 6:35-51

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Hate The Sin, Love The Sinner

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Jan 10, 2001

I want us to see Jesus - His attitude toward sin, and His attitude toward sinners. And in order to do that, let's look at 3 people and their encounters with Jesus.

MELVIN NEWLAND, MINISTER RIDGE CHAPEL, KANSAS, OK (Revised: 2022) TEXT: Matthew 9:10-13; John 4:1-42; Luke 7:36-50, 19:1-10 ILL. There is a story about a pilgrim standing outside heaven, longing to enter, watching as others were ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 9:10-13, John 4:1-42

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Radical Love!

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Jan 14, 2001

Your faith, what you have been taught, what you believe about God & His will for your life, makes all the difference in the way you act, in the values you hold dear, & in the standards that guide your life.

MELVIN M. NEWLAND, MINISTER RIDGE CHAPEL, KANSAS, OK (REVISED: 2019) TEXT: Matthew 5:38-41; Luke 23:34 A. Fifty-two years ago Ethel & I became acquainted with Dr. Vijai & Pushpa Lall of India. The story of their family’s introduction to Christianity & their ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:38-41, Matthew 27:54, Luke 23:34

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Love Test

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Aug 1, 2002

It’s easy to say that we love God, isn’t it? As long as we don’t probe any deeper than that. But the Bible does probe deeper than that, & it asks more questions than just that one.

MELVIN M. NEWLAND, MINISTER RIDGE CHAPEL, KANSAS, OK (REVISED - 2018) TEXT: 2 Corinthians 13:5; 1 Corinthians 11:26?31 A. I'm not thrilled about taking tests, & I'm glad my years of schooling are behind me. At my age the tests I take now are stress tests & EKGs & hearing ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:21-23, 1 Corinthians 11:27-31, 2 Corinthians 13:5

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Dark Places Of The Earth

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Aug 2, 2002

Our Lord said, “Go into all the world & preach the good news to every creature.” What is that good news? I think it consists of two things that need to be proclaimed - that would really be “good news” to the world today.

MELVIN M. NEWLAND, MINISTER RIDGE CHAPEL, KANSAS, OK (REVISED: 2017) TEXT: Psalm 74:20 A. The scripture passage that I want us to consider this morning is found in the 74th Psalm. It is a beautiful &, at the same time, a tragic psalm. In it the Psalmist is speaking to the people of ...read more

Scripture: John 3:16-17, Psalm 74:20

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Easter: Father, Forgive Them!

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Jan 24, 2001

It was not just once that Jesus prayed this prayer. Again & again He prayed, "Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing." But I wonder if we understand what He was praying for?

MELVIN M. NEWLAND, MINISTER RIDGE CHAPEL, KANSAS, OK (REVISED: 2016) TEXT: Luke 23:32 34; Acts 3:17 19 ILL. Jamestown, VA, was the first permanent English settlement in the new world, & some of their religious practices were rather interesting. For instance, they had 2 ...read more

Scripture: Luke 23:32-34, Acts 3:17-19

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Easter - They Didn't Understand

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Jan 24, 2001

In amazement, we wonder, "What's the matter with them? Were they hard of hearing? Why didn't they get the message? Why didn't they understand?" I think there are several answers to that question.

MELVIN M. NEWLAND, MINISTER RIDGE CHAPEL, KANSAS, OK (Revised: 2015) A. The ability to make intelligent & correct decisions is one of the great secrets of successful Christian living. ILL. Even if you aren't a sports fan I think you'll appreciate this story about a college ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:31-34, 1 Corinthians 1:23-24, Luke 18:9-14

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Thanksgiving - Grateful To Whom, My Dear?

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Jan 24, 2001

I encourage you to take two safeguards to protect your Thanksgiving - two things that you need to remember.

MELVIN M. NEWLAND, MINISTER RIDGE CHAPEL, KANSAS, OK A. By Presidential Proclamation, this Thursday is traditionally a day of national Thanksgiving. So I want to call your attention to two great thanksgiving ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, Psalm 103:1-5

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

When You're Down!

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Jun 22, 2005

Jesus says that part of the solution to a troubled heart is trust, and He tells His apostles to trust in 3 things: "First of all, trust in My presence. Secondly, trust in My promises. Thirdly, simply trust in Me."

MELVIN M. NEWLAND, MINISTER RIDGE CHAPEL, KANSAS, OK (Revised: 2018) TEXT: John 14:1-6; John 12:13,19 A. Have you ever had one of those days when everything goes wrong? It ...read more

Scripture: John 14:1-6, John 12:13

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Simon's New Name Series

Contributed by Rick Stacy on Jun 27, 2005

4th of 7 messages on the transformation of Simon into Peter. This message focuses on the blessing and responsibility of confessing Jesus as Lord.

Simon’s New Name Ricky vs. Richard. My mother wanted Ricky. My dad wanted Richard in case I grew up to be a minister. Now that I’m a preacher I prefer Rick – or maybe “Flash”. Just kidding! That was Charlie Brown’s secret desire – to be called “Flash” by his friends and of course Lucy ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:13-20

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Thanks, Dad!

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Jun 15, 2003

Let’s talk about the positive aspects of fatherhood. And to do that, I call your attention to the familiar story of the prodigal son, & especially to the father of the prodigal son.

MELVIN NEWLAND, MINISTER RIDGE CHAPEL, KANSAS, OK (REVISED: 2017) (This sermon is largely my adaptation of an excellent sermon by Dennis Slaughter, former Minister of Valley View Christian Church, Dallas, TX.) TEXT: Luke 15:11-31 Well, today is Father’s Day, as you have been reminded ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 5:8, Luke 15:11-31

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Blessed Is The Nation... Part 1

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Jun 17, 2003

We’ve gone a long ways away from our roots as Americans. So, one of my goals is to do a little bit of educating. People need to know this, & if they don’t hear it at church, where will they hear it?

MELVIN M. NEWLAND, MINISTER RIDGE CHAPEL, KANSAS, OK (Much of this sermon and the following one, "Blessed Is the Nation...Part 2," came from books by David Barton, and excerpts from other sermons. At the time I prepared this sermon I was much more ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 33:12

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Seven Trumpets Series

Contributed by Sean Harder on Nov 23, 2010

There’s a saying that we should have an “attitude of gratitude”. We all know that even in the worst of times we have at least some little thing to be grateful for, but our nature is to focus on the things that are wrong. I am telling you that when we choo

You’ll notice there’s no outline in your bulletin or on powerpoint today because I want you to be completely focussed on experiencing our passage today. This is meant to be an experiential passage of Scripture, and I want you to be able to really put yourself in the story today. So ...read more

God Takes Promises Seriously Series

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Nov 24, 2010

Anytime you think the Bible is out of date & doesn’t deal with contemporary problems just go back & read Nehemiah. The problems Nehemiah & the people faced are some of the same problems people face today.

MELVIN NEWLAND, MINISTER RIDGE CHAPEL, KANSAS, OK (This is the sixth of a Leadership series featuring Nehemiah. Some ideas & illustrations in these messages were based on or benefited ...read more

Scripture: Nehemiah 5:1-13

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Trusted With A Heritage Series

Contributed by Todd Stiles on May 16, 2007

There’s more to life than power, position and prestige. Find out how Joseph saw through all of this to the real meaning of his existence.

Trusted: Lessons from the Life of Joseph Week 5: “Trusted with a Heritage” After final song, go to Video [Word on the Street interviews asking, “How do you want to be remembered?”] INTRO: Regardless of what you think about those answers (and there were some pretty crazy ones, eh?), it is evident ...read more

Denomination: Baptist