Sermons on Irreducible Complexity:

Alpine Christianity

Contributed by Stephen Evoy on Dec 14, 2007

Applies a "mountaineering" metaphor to the Christian journey to illustrate the difference between a burden ("boulder") and a load ("backpack"). First person perspective, honest illustrations from my own experience. Engaging stories, easy applicability,

In 1953, John Hunt organized an assault-style expedition to Mt. Everest. He enlisted an army of Sherpas to serve as porters. The porters established the climbing route, built bridges across the glacier, and stockpiled supplies at strategic locations up the mountain. One of the Sherpas was named ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 6:2-5

Denomination: Free Methodist

You Cannot Win Them All Series

Contributed by Victor Yap on Dec 20, 2007

Saul, Pt. 1

YOU CANNOT WIN THEM ALL (1 SAMUEL 9:15-10:27) When Christian Herter was governor of Massachusetts, he was running hard for a second term in office. One day, after a busy morning chasing votes he arrived at a church barbecue. It was late afternoon and Herter was famished. As Herter moved down the ...read more

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Jesus Is Lord Series

Contributed by Victor Yap on Dec 20, 2007

God of Wonders, Pt. 8 (Final) Paul, Pt. 18

JESUS IS LORD (PHILIPPIANS 2:4-11) An army corporal needed to use a pay phone, but didn’t have change for a dollar. He saw a lower-ranking private mopping the base’s corridor floors, and asked him, “Soldier, do you have change for a dollar?” The private replied, “Yeah, sure.” The corporal turned ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:4-11

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Beginning Of… Genesis Series

Contributed by Glenn Durham on Apr 10, 2010

God lays the foundation for all of life and godliness in Genesis.

Scripture Introduction Last week Rebekah and I bought a ball of twine for our pole beans. It came wrapped in plastic with a hole through the middle so that the string was dispensed from the inside. As I wrapped the bean-poles, the packaging held the shape of the outer shell of string, even as the ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 1:1

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Beginning Of… God Series

Contributed by Glenn Durham on Apr 10, 2010

God alone is self-existent; we depend on him for life and being.

Scripture Introduction Thomas Boston pastored from 1699–1731. A biographer wrote of his ministry: “If Scotland had been searched during the early part of the eighteenth century there was not a minister of Christ within its bounds who, both in personal character and in the discharge of his pastoral ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 1:1-2

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Beginning Of…the Earth Series

Contributed by Glenn Durham on Apr 14, 2010

God centers his creativity on the earth, forming a “nursery” for his children and revealing himself as gloriously worthy of worship.

Scripture Introduction Sir Arthur Conan Doyle understood well creation’s testimony to the goodness of God. In his memoirs, Sherlock Holmes makes a rather remarkable speech to Watson: “What a lovely thing a rose is…! Our highest assurance of the goodness of Providence seems to me ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 1:1-25

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Beginning Of… Mankind Series

Contributed by Glenn Durham on Apr 14, 2010

God humbles and gives great hope to mankind, created in his image.

Scripture Introduction “There are one hundred and ninety-three living species of monkeys and apes. One hundred and ninety-two of them are covered with hair. The exception is the naked ape…homo sapiens.” So wrote Zoologist Desmond Morris in his effort to analyze human behavior through the actions ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 1:26-31

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Beginning Of… Work Series

Contributed by Glenn Durham on Apr 15, 2010

God lays the foundation for all of life and godliness in Genesis.

Scripture Introduction In honor of the “Green Eggs and Ham” which Rebekah made last week, I found the story, Dr. Seuss Goes to Work: I love my Job, I love the Pay! I love it more and more each day. I love my Boss; she’s the best! I love her boss and all the rest. I love my Office and its ...read more

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Barriers Roadblocks And Bottlenecks Series

Contributed by Peter Loughman on Apr 15, 2010

Ultimately, the Gospel will not be hindered.

I had this job one summer where I delivered eggs to omelet shops, small groceries, bakeries and such on the East side of the San Francisco Bay. It was a crazy job fraught with difficulties and adventure. You would think the most difficult place to make deliveries would be Berkley because of all the ...read more

Scripture: Acts 28:16-30

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Beginning Of… Temptation Series

Contributed by Glenn Durham on Apr 16, 2010

God’s ways, words, and wisdom, are questioned in tempting us to sin.

Scripture Introduction So, three men walk into a museum, one British, one French, one Russian. They stand together admiring a painting of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. The Brit says, “Look at their reserve, their calm. They must be British.” “Nonsense,” the ...read more

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Battle Between God's Kingdom And The Kingdom Of Man

Contributed by Grant Sisson on Apr 17, 2010

Asks the question, "Who's in charge?" Who is in charge of America, who is in charge of your life?

Battle between God’s Kingdom and Man’s Kingdom 4/16/2010 Daniel 1 Last week we introduced the topic for the next few weeks. I got a lot a positive feedback from that sermon, and I want you to know I appreciate your comments. Just a little more introduction and we’ll get ...read more

Scripture: Daniel 1:1-7

An Analysis Of I Corinthians 15

Contributed by Frederick Meekins on Apr 20, 2010

An Analysis Of I Corinthians 15

To religious progressives wanting to at least acknowledge the morality of Jesus without having to acknowledge His rightful place as the Lord of the their lives, the resurrection of the body is viewed as a disposable dogma more suited for less scientific times when the masses of humanity were less ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:1-58

Denomination: Independent/Bible

"The Desire Of God"

Contributed by Andy Grossman on Apr 20, 2008

I will share with you 1. The desire; 2. The problem; and 3. The solution.

“The Desire of God” April 20, 2008 "Therefore I am now going to allure her; I will lead her into the desert and speak tenderly to her. There I will give her back her vineyards, and will make the Valley of Achor a door of hope. There she will sing as in the days of her youth, as in the day she ...read more

Scripture: Hosea 2:14-23

Denomination: Holiness

Opposition, Prayer, And Victory Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Mar 30, 2009

Preached in 1989. Sometimes opposition is deeply destructive and isolating; the only answer is through prayer, for ultimately integrity is given by the risen Christ.

Opposition comes in all shapes and sizes. Opposition: feeling that somebody is out to stop you -- it takes many different forms. Sometimes it is just outright, straightforward, political campaigning. Sometimes folks choose up sides and define the issues and go after each other, and that‘s all ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

In What Manner Can I Love Jesus? Series

Contributed by Bobby Stults on Jan 16, 2011

If we say we love Jesus, then in what manner can we show it? Jesus revealed His love for the Father in several ways, but in our story this morning we can see 3 specific ways in which Jesus reveals His love... 3 specific actions on His part that prove His

Sermon Brief Date Written: January 14, 2011 Date Preached: January 16, 2011 Where Preached: OPBC (AM) Sermon Details: Series Title: Falling in Love With Jesus Sermon Title: In What Manner Can I Love Jesus? Sermon Text: John 2:1-11 [ESV] Introduction: If anyone ...read more

Scripture: John 2:1-11

Denomination: Baptist