Sermons on Open Border:

Seventh Sunday In Ordinary Time- The Opening Up Of A Relational Space By Forgiveness.

Contributed by Paul Andrew on Jan 11, 2022

Forgiveness is a conditional gift offered that opens a relational space that expects a reciprocal response.

There used to be a sign in the Princeton University Book Store basement which said: "Love your enemies—it will drive them crazy." Clever but love of enemies and forgiving, commanded by Jesus in our Gospel this Sunday, is not hoping that the other person will change or trying to be ...read more

Scripture: Luke 6:27-38

Denomination: Catholic

Open Wide And Say 'ah-H-H-Men!' Series

Contributed by Gordon Pike on Oct 31, 2021

Imagine sitting in the waiting room at your doctor’s office and he comes in with a very serious look on his face. “God must be really, really mad at you because you have cancer.” That was David’s reaction when he came down with a serious illness.

Imagine sitting in the waiting room at your doctor’s office and he comes in … with a very serious look on his face. “God must be really, really mad at you because you have cancer.” That was David’s reaction when he came down with a serious illness. “O LORD, do not rebuke me in Your anger, or ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 6:1-10, Philippians 3:21, Revelation 21:4, 1 Corinthians 15:54-55, 2 Corinthians 10:3-5, 2 Timothy 1:7, 1 Thessalonians 5:18  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: United Methodist

He Came To His Own: A Christmas Story Of Open And Closed Hearts

Contributed by Ajai Prakash on Dec 4, 2025

As we reflect on the birth of Christ this Christmas, let us ask ourselves: How do we respond to Jesus, our Savior? Will we make room for Him, open our hearts, and joyfully welcome His presence, or will we turn Him away?

OPENING ILLUSTRATION: Play the video “The Shepherd’s Story.” INTRODUCTION: Christmas is the celebration of God’s greatest gift to humanity—Jesus Christ, our Savior. But from the very moment of His birth, Jesus was met with contrasting responses: rejection by some and joyful acceptance by others. ...read more

Scripture: John 1:11

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

4 Christmas Gifts You Don’t Have To Wait To Open

Contributed by John Gaston on Dec 13, 2025

There are many gifts we'll receive we really don't care for. But this Christmas, God offers you gifts of His love, healing, forgiveness, and inner joy. And these best gifts you don't have to wait until December 25 to open!

4 CHRISTMAS GIFTS YOU DON’T HAVE TO WAIT TO OPEN Matthew 2:11 INTRODUCTION A. HUMOR: WHEN JOSEPH WENT ROGUE 1. The Director of the Christmas play was nervous when she cast Jimmy, the middle-school class clown, as Joseph in the Christmas Pageant. 2. Her fears were realized when Jimmy decided ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:11

Denomination: Assembly Of God

A Walk In The Dark

Contributed by Bruce Gebbeken on Nov 11, 2006

A camping trip opens up to me the powerful insight of the opening words of John.

A Walk in the Dark John 1:1-9 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines ...read more

Scripture: John 1:1-9

Denomination: Independent/Bible

It Matters: The Ascension Series

Contributed by Jeffery Anselmi on Mar 25, 2016

The ascension of Jesus matters because it opened some doors for us previously not opened.

INTRODUCTION • EASTER WORSHIP INTRO VIDEO • SLIDE #1 • I want to welcome you to FCC today, we are so glad all of you decided to join us as we worship our Lord together today! • Jerry and I have been taking you on a journey through a series we entitled, “It ...read more

Scripture: Daniel 7:13-14

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Go! And... Let The Word Cut Deep - Hebrews 4:12 (Nlt) Series

Contributed by Dean Courtier on Nov 17, 2025

When you open your Bible—the Word of God opens you.

Go! And... Let the Word cut deep - Hebrews 4:12 (NLT) INTRODUCTION — “THE BOOK THAT READS YOU” If you were to walk into a surgery and see an X-ray machine glowing, you would understand its power: it reveals what the naked eye cannot see. In the same way, when you open your Bible, something far ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 4:12, 1 Peter 1:23, 2 Timothy 3:16-17, Jeremiah 23:29, John 1:14, Psalm 119:105, James 1:22, Romans 10:9, Hebrews 4:16  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Pentecostal

Out Of The Comfort Zone

Contributed by Jon Mackinney on May 4, 2006

God is in the business of changing lives, and that means the disruption of our comfort zone. Here is the story of a man whose world was rocked!

Passage: Acts 10:1-8 Intro: Henry Ford Story, submitted by Jeff Strite 1. change is tough, whoever and whatever is involved. 2. we settle into a comfort zone, where we know everyone and everyone know us 3. we appreciate the known, even if that known is miserable. A known misery is often preferred ...read more

Scripture: Acts 10:1-8

Denomination: Evangelical Free

The Passion, Ash Wednesday And Lent

Contributed by Andrew Chan on Feb 21, 2004

What to learn as The Passion of the Christ movie opens on Ash Wednesday.

Did you hear about the lady who shut down the US and Canadian border? Apparently Canadian customs officials found a grenade in the glove compartment of a 28-year-old woman¡¦s Ford Explorer as she crossed the border on last Monday. Due to the current tensions re: terrorist activities, this created ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 2:13-17

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Elijah And The First Child To Be Raised From The Dead Series

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Sep 23, 2024

Elijah had been staying with a widow and several others in Zarephath, outside Israel's borders. Tragedy struck when the widow's son died. What would happen next?

Introduction: Elijah had come to Zarephath, a city in Sidon—Jezebel’s home country!—at the LORD’s command after living near the brook Cherith in Israel. In Zarephath, he stayed in a boarding house, we might say, operated by the widow whom the LORD had shown him. It seemed things were going well, ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 17:17-24

Denomination: Baptist

Overcoming Obstacles--Principles Of The Jabez Territory Series

Contributed by Don Hawks on Mar 5, 2002

If Jabez was to be blessed indeed, he had to be kept from evil. Some important principles to overcoming the obstacles to expanding the borders of God’s blessings he has prepared for us are also discussed.

(Based on comments by Bruce Wilkinson at Walk thru Life Conference PPT slides and outline available) Today I continue with part 3 of the challenges of the prayer of Jabez. A man had a problem finding a parking space. He finally parked in a no parking zone and left a note on his windshield that ...read more

Scripture: 1 Chronicles 4:10, Exodus 4:10-14

Denomination: Methodist

How To Lie To God? Reflection On Artificial Intelligence Series

Contributed by Alexandre Choi on Sep 4, 2012

The science and the modern technological civilization must turn back to the Bible to complete the advance of humanity. They are stuck in the most remote borders. This always happened that way. Within the limits of the frontiers faith was always invoked

The science and the modern technological civilization must turn back to the Bible to complete the advance of humanity. They are stuck in the most remote borders. This always happened that way. Within the limits of the frontiers faith was always invoked: The Faith in God. (…) To test the true ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 2:7

Denomination: *other

Blinded By The Dark

Contributed by Keith Broyles on Dec 4, 2007

Jesus comes to us, and anoints us, Christ opens the eyes of our hearts, our eyes are opened. With our eyes opened, we are no longer blinded by the dark.

A couple of weeks ago I had the opportunity to what the fairly new movie Ray, staring Jamie Foxx. It is the life story of the soul and jazz musician, Ray Charles. The movie touched on Ray Charles’ life growing up and losing his younger brother in a tragic accident, an event that he blamed ...read more

Scripture: John 9:1-41

Denomination: Methodist

Seeing The Unseen

Contributed by Dr. Ronald Shultz on Feb 4, 2006

Are your eyes open?

Seeing The Unseen A lot of skeptics laugh at Christians because they say that we have blind faith. We cannot see God and yet we believe in Him. We believe in souls, angels, Heaven and Hell yet we have not seen any of these things. Skeptics and Atheists say that they only believe in what they ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 11:1-3

Denomination: Baptist

Tell The Truth

Contributed by Paul Decker on Jul 3, 2005

We are to be open and honest.

TELL THE TRUTH Acts 4:32 – 5:11 S: Integrity Th: Community Pr: WE ARE TO BE OPEN AND HONEST. KW: Section TS: We will find in Acts 4:32 – 5:11 a community that is growing in faith and fear. Type: Inductive The ____ section of the narrative describes… I. UNITY (32-33) II. GENEROSITY ...read more

Denomination: Baptist