Sermons on Jonathan:

Nearer, My God, To Thee Series

Contributed by Jonathan Twitchell on Dec 7, 2006

When we are most in need of a "Close Encounter with the Divine," is when we should look for God to build a ladder to us, that we might experience His grace and guidance.

Texts: Genesis 28:10-22 Date: Sunday, July 21, 2002 Author: Rev. Jonathan K. Twitchell Last week, we watched Esau trade in his birthright for a simple bowl of red stew. Overcome by hunger, he gave into his selfish, deceitful younger brother Jacob and traded the double portion of his father’s ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 28:10-22

Denomination: Nazarene

Standing On The Promises Of God Series

Contributed by Jonathan Twitchell on Dec 7, 2006

When the "realities" around us seem to crumble and fall, we must rely upon the "Kingdom Realities" of God’s promises.

Texts: Genesis 29:15-30 Date: Sunday, July 28, 2002 Author: Rev. Jonathan K. Twitchell The floor I lived on my Freshman year in college was known for pranks. Oh, I didn’t get too involved, playing pranks on other people was never really my idea of a good time, but the guys on Second Shields ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 29:15-30

Denomination: Nazarene

Awaiting The Dream Come True Series

Contributed by Jonathan Twitchell on Dec 7, 2006

What happens between The Dream dreamed and The Dream realized? Between the dream and the reality of the dream come true we patiently wait, living our lives, remaining faithful to God and His calling, trusting Him to bring about what He would have us to d

Texts: Genesis 37:1-28 Date: Sunday, August 11, 2002 Author: Rev. Jonathan K. Twitchell If ever there was someone destined for greatness, it was Joseph. Born the eldest son of the favorite wife of Jacob, Joseph was born to a position of privilege. He was Jacob’s favorite because he had been ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 37:1-28

Denomination: Nazarene

Feasting At The Table Of Grace Series

Contributed by Jonathan Twitchell on Dec 7, 2006

Joseph demonstrated great grace when he invited his brothers to eat with him--the same grace Jesus offered the Canaanite woman, and the same grace He offers you.

Texts: Genesis 45:1-15 Date: Sunday, August 18, 2002 Author: Rev. Jonathan K. Twitchell When we began our study of Genesis back at the end of May, we learned who the Main Character was. In Genesis chapter 1, we watched as the Author of the play also made Himself known as the Set-designer, ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 45:1-15

Denomination: Nazarene

The Thorny Soil

Contributed by Jonathan Goats on Nov 8, 2003

What to do when you find thorns choking the spiritual life out of you.

Mark 4:3 Hearken; Behold, there went out a sower to sow: 4 And it came to pass, as he sowed, some fell by the way side, and the fowls of the air came and devoured it up. 5 And some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth; and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of ...read more

Scripture: Mark 4:3-7, Mark 4:18-19

Denomination: Church Of God

How To Be A Spiritual Survivor

Contributed by Jonathan Semro on Nov 9, 2003

Spiritual survival in a hostile spiritual environment dictates a firm confession of faith

1st Sunday of End Time - Series B Reformation Sunday November 2, 2003 Psalm 46 1 God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. 2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, 3 though its waters roar and foam and the ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 46:1-11

Denomination: Lutheran

Accepting The Challenge Series

Contributed by Jonathan Russell on Feb 23, 2011

Will the church accept the challenge of Christ to share the Gospel to the ends of the earth?

"Accepting the Challenge" (Acts 1:1-11) INTRODUCTION Now that Christ was physically gone, he gave the disciples (and the church) their "job description." * Matthew 28:18-20 * Mark 16:15-16 * John 20:21 The perpetual message and challenge for believers is to go and transform the world. Challenge ...read more

Scripture: Acts 1:1-11

Denomination: Baptist

The Kind Of Person God Uses To Transform The World Series

Contributed by Jonathan Russell on Feb 23, 2011

What kind of person does God use to change his/her community with the Gospel?

INTRODUCTION * God has chosen to accomplish his task of redemption through the efforts of...YOU AND ME! * We have been appointed and chosen to change the world. John 15:16 1 Cor. 12:28 Eph. 4:11 * Before God can use us for this mission, we must become "usable." The kind of person God uses to ...read more

Scripture: Acts 1:12-26

Denomination: Baptist

Doing The Impossible Series

Contributed by Jonathan Russell on Mar 6, 2011

This sermon explains how the disciples (and the church today) were able to do a seemingly impossible task: taking the Gospel to the world

* Assignment from Acts 1:8 is impossible in Acts 1 because the disciples have no spiritual power to help them * Explain Holy Spirit’s role, pre-Acts 2 (came upon isolated individuals or small groups for a specific purpose or on a special occasion) * Disciples know the facts about Jesus but lack the ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:1-21

Denomination: Baptist

Divine Dynamite Series

Contributed by Jonathan Russell on Mar 7, 2011

This is a sermon on the power of God (divine dynamite) and what it can do

* Dynamite = power // Divine Dynamite = power of God * What we mean when we say we need to "live in the power of God" or we need to have the power of God: the ability to act in a situation so as to produce an effect or to exercise authority over something or someone * Living in God’s power means ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:22-41

Denomination: Baptist

Why You Need The Church Series

Contributed by Jonathan Russell on Mar 7, 2011

This sermon explains three reasons why every believer needs the church

* The church doesn’t need us in order to be the church nearly as much as we need the church in order to be the person God created us to be. * The importance of the church is based upon its mission * Wrong question: "What can the church do for me?" // Right question: "What can I do for the ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:42-47

Denomination: Baptist

A Changed Church Changes The World Series

Contributed by Jonathan Russell on Mar 7, 2011

This sermon explains a few lessons about how a changed church can change the world

* Change: to make the form, content, future course, etc., of something different from what it is or from what it would be if left alone; a transformation or modification; alteration * Change is often resisted in the church. Yet one could sum up a church’s purpose with one word: change - We must ...read more

Scripture: Acts 3:1-10

Denomination: Baptist

Dealing With Difficulty Series

Contributed by Jonathan Russell on Mar 7, 2011

This sermon focuses on the first persecution of the church and helps us understand how to deal with difficulty today

* When something big happens, new people come out (i.e, winning the lottery) * There’s both a positive and negative reaction when God does something big (he just did something big in the first church) * Jesus warned that persecution and adversity would occur (John 15:18-19) * Text: First ...read more

Scripture: Acts 4:1-31

Denomination: Baptist

The Message Of The Church Series

Contributed by Jonathan Russell on Mar 7, 2011

This sermon examines what the message of the church should consist of.

* The "real" message a church sends determines that church’s reputation - If always bickering and fighting, the message is sent: "We don’t like each other...or you." - If always doing things for self, the message is sent: "It’s all about us, not you." - If never reaching out, the message is sent: ...read more

Scripture: Acts 3:11-26

Denomination: Baptist

The Facts Of Church Life Series

Contributed by Jonathan Russell on Mar 13, 2011

Acts 4:32 - 5:11 reveals some facts about church life, both the good and the bad.

* "You take the good, you take bad, you take them both and there you have the facts of life." * Scripture does not omit the "bad" aspects of various people (i.e., Noah, Moses, David, Jonah, Elijah) * The church in Acts has been all "good" so far: the Holy Spirit’s arrival; multiple conversions; ...read more

Denomination: Baptist