Sermons on Magi From The East:

Preaching From Philippians #7

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Dec 28, 2021

As we look at the life of the apostle Paul in this passage of scripture, we see that he is in jail.

Illus: A man that was in prison was asked, “What is the worst thing about prison?” He said, “The worst thing about prison is that you are here and everybody that you love and care for are out there!” Paul knew exactly what this man was talking about. He was in prison and those that he loved and ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:19-24

Denomination: Baptist

Preaching From Philippians #8

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Dec 28, 2021

Paul’s life was like ours in that he had two kinds of friends.

(1) HE HAD HIS SUNSHINE FRIENDS One of the sunshine friends was Demas. When things were going great, Demas was there, but when things got rough, Demas got going! Look at 2 Timothy 4:3, we read, “For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:25-30

Denomination: Baptist

Preaching From Philippians #9

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Dec 28, 2021

When you consider that Paul is in jail, this verse takes on new meaning.

Notice, he says, “Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord…” • We can understand someone who is not in jail writing to someone in jail trying to get them to do this. • It is unusual for a fellow who is in jail to be encouraging to those who are free to do this. This passage of scripture is ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:1-3

Denomination: Baptist

Preaching From Philippians #10

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Dec 28, 2021

We have all done our share of boasting. We generally start this bad habit of boasting when we are a child.

Illus: Three boys are in the school yard bragging of how great their fathers are. • The first one says: "My father runs the fastest. He can fire an arrow and start to run, and he gets to the target before the arrow." • The second one says: "Ha! You think that's fast! My father ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:4-16

Denomination: Baptist

Preaching From Philippians #11

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Dec 28, 2021

Many consider this passage of scripture to be one of the most important passages in the Bible. Once we get into these verses, it is easy to see why it is ranked so high by so many.

The reason it is ranked so high is because this passage deals with the example we set before our FAMILY and FRIENDS. Every one of us has influence for GOOD or BAD! Illus: Even Jesse James had a gang that followed him around, and so do we. We have people under our influence. When we speak about ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:17-21

Denomination: Baptist

Preaching From Philippians # 12

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Dec 28, 2021

All the nations on earth desire to have peace, but as you know, all nations do not have peace. There is a reason for that. For example, many Americans discovered during the Iraq war that peace comes at a high price. This is difficult for many Americans to comprehend because of two reasons:

(1) As Americans, we are used to watching Clint Eastwood ride into town on a horse, and in one hour clean up the meanest town in the west. We wonder why the United States military can’t do the same in one hour! (2) Americans see other nations are having wars on their streets, but we have never ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:1-9

Denomination: Baptist

Preaching From Philippians # 13

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Dec 28, 2021

Today we conclude our study in the book of Philippians by looking at some of the professional secrets of Paul’s success in the Christian life.

Everyone has trade secrets in their profession. Illus: A married couple shared some marriage secrets about why they had a happy marriage. • They said, “One reason we have a happy marriage is that we go two times a week to a nice restaurant, she goes Tuesday's, I go Friday's.” • Another ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:10-23

Denomination: Baptist

Conveyed From Darkness To Light

Contributed by Pablo Catala on Jan 6, 2022

Transformation

There’s a Spanish story of a father and son who had become estranged. The son ran away, and the father set off to find him. He searched for months to no avail. Finally, in a last desperate effort to find him, the father put an ad in the Madrid newspaper. The ad read: “Dear Paco, meet me in front of ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 29:11

Denomination: Pentecostal

Fire Power From God

Contributed by Anthony Seel on Jan 9, 2022

A sermon about the power of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer.

The Sunday After Epiphany January 9, 2022 M. Anthony Seel, Jr. Holy Trinity Lutheran Church Luke 3:15-22 In our gospel lesson this morning, John the Baptist proclaims, “he who is mightier than I is coming… He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. Last week in the sermon, Pastor ...read more

Scripture: Luke 3:15-20

Denomination: Lutheran

Our Gift From The Lord

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Jan 11, 2022

A woman decides to try riding horseback, even though she has had no lessons or prior experience.

• She mounts the horse unassisted and the horse immediately springs into motion. • It gallops along at a steady and rhythmic pace, but the woman begins to slip from the saddle. • In terror, she grabs for the horse's mane, but cannot seem to get a firm grip. • She tries to throw her arms ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:7-16

Denomination: Baptist

The Look Of Love--From Jesus Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Jan 21, 2022

What did He see in Jesus’s eyes? What attracted him? I think He saw love, because Jesus, whose whole life was an image of the Trinitarian love, pierced his soul with love.

Monday of 4th week in Course This Gospel brings to mind a letter of Pope Benedict, “Deus est caritas,” or “God is love.” If we look at the story of Jesus and this Gadarene madman, we are struck by the question, “why did Jesus bother with this guy?” He lived in a graveyard, he stank of dead flesh ...read more

Scripture: Mark 5:1-20

Denomination: Catholic

Breaking Free From Fear

Contributed by D. Dewaine Phillips on Jan 21, 2022

Fear, especially the fear of death, can turn us into slaves living in bondage. The devil uses fear to rob us of our freedom and abundant life. He uses fear to seize us, take hold of us, and suck the life right out of us! But the Son sets us free!

In John 8:36 we read, “Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.” We all desire abundant life, but if we are held in bondage then we are not experiencing true life; and one major thing that holds us captive is “fear.” Frank Herbert, in his Dune Chronicles, says that the “fear ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 2:14-15

Denomination: Baptist

Children - Gifts From God

Contributed by Wilson Oshorakpor on Feb 16, 2022

Children are gifts from God. Christian parents should recognise that they are care givers, trusted with a charge to raise and nurture godly children for God. It is an arduous but rewarding task if properly executed.

TEXT: PSALMS 127:3-5 (NLT) "Children are a gift from the LORD; they are a reward from him. Children born to a young man are like arrows in a warrior’s hands. How joyful is the man whose quiver is full of them! He will not be put to shame when he confronts his accusers at the city ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 127:3-5, Malachi 2:15

Denomination: Pentecostal

Freedom From Spiritual Bondage

Contributed by Michael Mays on Jul 3, 2021

No one is more qualified to help another person than the one who has already experienced the same trial

I. Introduction In their book "The Sacred Romance" (Thomas Nelson), John Eldredge and Brent Curtis write: "A 19th-century Scottish discus thrower lived in the days before professional trainers and developed his skills alone in the highlands of his native village, making his own ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 6:1-10

Learning From The Mistake Of Others.

Contributed by Patrick Agbonkpolor on Aug 11, 2021

There is a saying that if you fail to learn from history you are doomed to repeat it.

LEARNING FROM THE MISTAKE OF OTHERS And thou his son, O Belshazzar, hast not humbled thine heart, though thou knewest all this; But hast lifted up thyself against the Lord of heaven; and they have brought the vessels of his house before thee, and thou, and thy lords, thy wives, and thy ...read more

Scripture: Daniel 5:22-23, Romans 15:4

Denomination: Pentecostal