Sermons on Hope In Despair:

"In The Beginning God"

Contributed by Clark Tanner on Dec 18, 2007

A sermon to end the year on, contemplating the truth of God’s Word

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” “In spite of the universal prevalence of … pantheistic evolutionary cosmogonies among the nations of antiquity, the inspired account in Genesis does not attempt to refute them or to prove the existence of the true God. The reason for ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 1:1

Denomination: Orthodox

The Christ Clause Series

Contributed by Chris Kelly on Dec 18, 2007

Revelation seems like an unlikely place to see a Christmas story, but here it is!

“The Christ Clause” Series: Stories Hollywood Missed December 25, 2005 In the movie “The Santa Claus”, well kept secrets of the North Pole are revealed when Scott Calvin (played by Tim Allen) accidentally kills Santa, and suddenly finds himself stuck with the job of being Santa Claus because of ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 12:1-17, Revelation 12:1-12

Denomination: Wesleyan

Make Me A Blessing Series

Contributed by Victor Yap on Dec 18, 2007

Abraham, Pt. 7

MAKE ME A BLESSING (GENESIS 20) A non-profit organization’s survey of 81,355 people 18 and older, reveals that Americans are a neighborly lot, says a national study that finds 76% trust most or some neighbors, 16% say they trust them all, 44% talk to them frequently and 65% exchange favors. The ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 20:1-18

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Come And See Series

Contributed by Victor Yap on Dec 18, 2007

Apostles, Pt. 2

COME AND SEE (JOHN 1:43-51) Christianity is many things to many people. To some, Christianity is a religion no different from Islam, Hinduism or Buddhism. The purpose is to give hope, teach morals and to do good. Some identify Christianity with the liberation theology and the social gospel of the ...read more

Scripture: John 1:43-51

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Have Thine Own Way Series

Contributed by Victor Yap on Dec 18, 2007

Apostles, Pt. 8

HAVE THINE OWN WAY, LORD (MARK 8:27-33) One of the most acclaimed Jim Carrey movies was “The Truman Show,” an inside look into future reality TV shows, a stunning prediction of the format’s runaway success and a biting commentary on its unrestrained excesses. The movie was about a man who was born, ...read more

Scripture: Mark 8:27-33

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Perfect Example Series

Contributed by Victor Yap on Dec 18, 2007

Apostles, Pt. 15

THE PERFECT EXAMPLE (JOHN 13:1-17) One day a man received word he had just been appointed a *mandarin (public official). He was so excited, he could barely contain himself. “I will be a great man, now” he told his friend. “I must have a new robe made immediately, one that does justice to my new ...read more

Scripture: John 13:1-17

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Who's In Charge? Series

Contributed by Victor Yap on Dec 19, 2007

Joshua, Pt. 3

WHO’S IN CHARGE? (JOSHUA 3:1-17) Famed Japanese director Akira Kurosawabest’s black and white movie “Ikiru” certainly makes one ponder about life’s meaning and purpose. The story is about the choices a dying man faced and made upon learning he had cancer. Kanji Watanabe, the Chief of the Citizens ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 3:1-17

Denomination: Independent/Bible

All That You Can Be Series

Contributed by Victor Yap on Dec 19, 2007

Joshua, Pt. 7 (Final)

ALL THAT YOU CAN BE (JOSHUA 24:1-31) When Henry Ford (founder of the Ford Motor Company) finished giving a visitor a tour of his automobile factory, the visitor said, “It seems almost impossible that a man, starting out with practically nothing, could accomplish all this.” Ford replied, “You say I ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 24:1-31

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Eyes Wide Open Series

Contributed by Victor Yap on Dec 19, 2007

Couples, Pt. 9

EYES WIDE OPEN (ACTS 4:32-5:11) Stumpy and his wife Martha went to the State Fair every year. Every year Stumpy would say, “Martha, I’d like to ride in that airplane.” And every year Martha would say, “I know, Stumpy, but that airplane ride costs ten dollars, and ten dollars is ten dollars.” This ...read more

Denomination: Independent/Bible

A Woman's Place Series

Contributed by Victor Yap on Dec 20, 2007

Judges. Pt. 1

A WOMAN’S PLACE (JUDGES 4) Eleven people were hanging on a rope under a helicopter, ten men and one woman. The rope was not strong enough to carry them all, so they decided that one had to leave, Because otherwise they were all going to fall. They weren't able to choose that person, until the ...read more

Scripture: Judges 4:1-22

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Shape Up Or Ship Out Series

Contributed by Victor Yap on Dec 20, 2007

Samuel, Pt. 3

SHAPE UP OR SHIP OUT (1 SAMUEL 3) As I was sitting in my van in a parking lot a month after my 42nd birthday, a strand of hair dropped onto my shirt before my very eyes. Instinctively I picked up the hair to see its color, length and texture. Negative questions immediately arose: Is it gray? Am I ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 3:1-21

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Hurry Up And Wait Series

Contributed by Victor Yap on Dec 20, 2007

Saul, Pt. 2

HURRY UP AND WAIT (1 SAMUEL 11) It’s been said, “Rome is not built in a day.” When I was in elementary school I was in a big hurry to grow up. I was skinny and short. When my brother and I sat in the same car going to school every day, I could not help but compare his size to mine. My brother, ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 11:1-15

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Win The War, Not The Battle Series

Contributed by Victor Yap on Dec 20, 2007

Saul, Pt. 3

WIN THE WAR, NOT THE BATTLE (1 SAMUEL 13:5-15) There are many tests in life: death of loved ones, getting the pink slip and losing a stable job, to name the most stressful. One of the most stressful periods of my life was when I returned to full-time continuing theological education. My savings ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 13:5-15

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Great Is Thy Faithfulness Series

Contributed by Victor Yap on Dec 20, 2007

God of Wonders, Pt. 7

GREAT IS THY FAITHFULNESS (PSALMS 89:1-4) God’s faithfulness to me can be summed up by my wife’s grievance against me: “God drops everything on your lap for you - including me!” She was right. God gave me a godly, loving, smart and wonderful wife. On hearing me speak for the first time, my Ph. D ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 89:1-4

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Rags To Riches Series

Contributed by Victor Yap on Dec 20, 2007

Miracle of Faith, Pt. 6

RAGS TO RICHES (MARK 10:46-52) Joel Gregory told a story of a blind, poor and hungry Indian beggar who sat beside a road, starved from the scarcity of travelers and how much rice they could give him. One day he heard the thunder of a chariot in the distance. It was the grand entourage of the ...read more

Scripture: Mark 10:46-52

Denomination: Independent/Bible