Sermons on Open Hand:

Christmas Time Is Fear Part 1

Contributed by Gerald Albers on Oct 31, 2011

I wonder how many of us are fearful this season. How many of us are afraid of what the future holds, or afraid of how we can go on? I’d like to open up today with a quote by E. Stanley Jones, a famous missionary. He said, “I am inwardly fashioned for fait

CHRISTMAS TIME IS FEAR Part 1 TEXT: Luke 1:5-25 5 There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth. 6 And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:5-25

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Enlarge My Coast

Contributed by Darren Ethier on Mar 13, 2002

I preached this message before the Prayer of Jabez book hit the market. It is a message challenging people to get out of their comfort zones.

ENLARGE MY COAST JABEZ – 1 Chronicles 4:9-10 INTRODUCTION comfort zone on the heat dial. We as Christians also have our comfort zones. When we are in them we are more likely to relax and be satisfied with the way things are. Those things might be worship, etc. When things start to happen that are ...read more

Scripture: 1 Chronicles 4:9-10

Denomination: Pentecostal

Healing Rain Series

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Dec 3, 2008

When God’s time of refreshing comes we need to sit back like a sponge and soak it in. We need to allow a cleansing rain to flow over our lives and our hearts. When we open up our hearts to the Lord a healing rain washes over the wounds of sin and make us

Healing Rain! Opening Video Illustration: Healing Rain by Michael W. Smith Thesis: When God’s time of refreshing comes we need to sit back like a sponge and soak it in. We need to allow a cleansing rain to flow over our lives and our hearts. When we open up our hearts to the Lord a healing rain ...read more

Scripture: John 7:37-39

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Seven Temptation Fighters

Contributed by Howard Strickland on Nov 12, 2012

“Temptation comes to everyone!’ When it comes,’ I want to give you 7 things to remember.” “Temptation is the devil looking through the keyhole. Yielding is opening the door and inviting him in.” (Billy Sunday) “Victorious living does not mean freedom fro

Seven Temptation Fighters James 4:7NKJ A certain boy was severely warned by his dad not to go swimming again, but he disobeyed and came back home all wet. His dad asked him, “why did you disobey me despite my warnings. He answered, ‘I was tempted by the devil. I ...read more

Scripture: James 4:7

Denomination: Pentecostal

Worship Is More Than You Think Series

Contributed by Perry Fowler on Feb 29, 2024

“How should I approach God in worship? How should I prepare? What should I come expecting?” The writer of Hebrews in Hebrews 10: 19-25 opens the curtain and helps us see how God sees worship. He shows us that worship is more than we think.

Probably the most preparation I have ever made for one worship service was when Jan and I started a church in Northern Michigan in a small town called “Charlevoix.” I was fresh out of seminary, 25 years old and excited about launching the new church. Yet, if you ever have been part of a church ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 10:19-25

Denomination: Baptist

Spot, Wrinkle, Or Blemish

Contributed by Jeffrey Cox on Sep 15, 2003

What would we do if we were to get serious? Read the bible, pray a lot, raise our hands, dance, witness, speak in tongues in public. What would we NOT do? Cuss, drink, smoke, lie, lust, glutton, bad attitude, selfish, mean spirited, boastful, quit w

I. Matthew 25:1-13 We think we have all the time in the world, like the ten virgins. We know that someday we will get serious, but not yet. Not today. Maybe tomorrow. Definitely if I get sick, or am on my deathbed. After all, Matthew 24:43 states that if we know when we are going to meet ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:1-13, Galatians 5:27

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Restoring Time God's Way Series

Contributed by Ethel Lamazon on Sep 22, 2021

If I could turn back the hand of time is a familiar slogan spoken by many people, but what if I told you that time can be restored God's way and your latter days can be greater than your former days, if you can just believe that keep reading this message.

Money can be restored. Property can be restored—broken-down cars, stripped painting, old houses, old pictures can now be restored. Relationships can be restored. But there’s one thing that can never be restored is time. Time flies and it does not return. Years pass and we never get them back. Each ...read more

Let God Arise

Contributed by Charlie Roberts on Jul 26, 2020

Resting in God’s ability to fight your battles shows the accuser the strength of your faith! The strength of your faith stems from the amount of trust you place in Gods hands! Knowing you can be thankful for God’s ability to act in each and every situation you may face is POWERFUL!

Let God Arise Psalms 68:1-3 NKJ Let God arise, Let His enemies be scattered; Let those also who hate Him flee before Him. 2 As smoke is driven away, So drive them away; As wax melts before the fire, So let the wicked perish at the presence of God. 3 But let the righteous be glad; Let them rejoice ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:6, 1 Thessalonians 5:18, Psalm 68:1-3, 2 Chronicles 20:14-17

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Spiritual Battle Of Worry

Contributed by Anthony Sosa on Jan 14, 2025

Worry is a battle we all face, but it’s more than just a natural response to life’s uncertainties—it’s a spiritual issue rooted in trust. The good news is that God invites us to hand our worries over to Him, offering peace, freedom, and His unfailing faithfulness in return.

Worry: A Spiritual Battle We All Face Worry is something we’ve all wrestled with at one time or another. Life brings challenges that can feel overwhelming, whether it’s about finances, health, relationships, or the future. But as much as worry feels natural, Scripture shows us that it’s more than ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:28-29, Matthew 6:33-34, Matthew 6:27

Denomination: Baptist

Thanks For Nothing - Your Tests Tripped Me Up. I Guess I'm Good And Lost..

Contributed by Coz Von on Feb 10, 2016

We have effectively silenced Him out of our lives and we get frustrated when we go it alone. We are losing everything and we ask – Where are you Lord! “and we wonder am I Slipping from the palm of Gods hand. I guest I will be one of those Lost ones?

Why do ye imagine evil against - Lord? Though I cause grief, yet will I have compassion according to the multitude of My mercies. Out of the mouth of the most High proceedeth not evil and good?) He doth not afflict willingly, nor grieve He the children of men. God shall bring every work into ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 42:3, Isaiah 42:2-3, John 3:16-17

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

What Is Your Calling? (Part 7) Series

Contributed by Ajai Prakash on Mar 10, 2016

The call of God has been upon our life much before even we could comprehend our left hand from the right. That is the time when God had people in place who would take care to raise us up. How has your call played out? Do you see yourself facilitating ...

Opening Illustration: A friend of mine by the name of Joseph who I met while teaching at a Catholic school. At that time he was climbing up the corporate ladder of the Catholic church which was grooming and raising him up to be a father and possibly a bishop or cardinal in the future. In our free ...read more

Scripture: Judges 13:1-25

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Jabez: Overcoming The Significance Of A Sorrowful Name

Contributed by Sterling Franklin on Aug 7, 2011

Jabez' mother named him 'Sorrow,' but the LORD kept this man of prayer from experiencing it. We ought to pray faithfully to God, asking Him to help us in any weighty task and to bring about what is dear to our hearts and according to His will.

Turn to 1 Chronicles 4... In the book of 1 Chronicles, there is a man given honor in the middle of a genealogy of very important people, including many kings. His name is short, so we don't have a Maher-shalal-hash-baz. We have Jabez, essentially pronounced "Ya-Bates" in Hebrew. Many have ...read more

Scripture: 1 Chronicles 4:9-10

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

"God Is With Us"

Contributed by Ken Sauer on Jun 2, 2010

Jesus reaches out to us saying, “Don’t cry. It really will be alright,” and if we are willing-- if our eyes are open to God’s never ending presence among us, if we look for Him in the dim and mist of our confusion, hurt and pain--we will see that He is ri

Luke 7:11-17 “God is with Us” By: Ken Sauer, Pastor of East Ridge United Methodist Church, Chattanooga, TN What is it that you most dread in this upcoming week, month or year? Maybe it’s something that you know is going to happen, like a traumatic move to a new house, school, ...read more

Scripture: Luke 7:11-17

Denomination: United Methodist

The Transforming Power Of Jesus Christ

Contributed by Bruce Readling on Aug 13, 2019

We are here tonight to celebrate the incredible life transforming power of Jesus Christ. Each of us, believers, have experienced this amazing work of Grace. And it is what our world so desperately needs...so lets open the treasure chest of God's word and see what precious treasures we uncover.

I'm going to mention a few names to you tonight. When I do, you will have very definite things come to your mind. So here we go... O.J Simpson, Billy Graham, Lebron James, Adrain Rogers, Tiger Woods, Chuck Swindoll, Barak Obama and finally Donald Trump. Wow, what a list of men. Each of them is ...read more

Scripture: Acts 8:3, Acts 9:1-2, Acts 7:58, Acts 9:3-6, 1 Timothy 1:12-17, Romans 1:16, 1 Corinthians 1:18, Galatians 6:14-15, Ephesians 3:7-9, Colossians 1:15-23, Matthew 5:16, Philippians 3:4-11, Philippians 1:12-14, Philippians 1:27  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Reset! Series

Contributed by Scott Turansky on Jul 27, 2022

young people, I would encourage you to understand the code. Where are you going to find out the code? You're going to find it in your own personal walk and your own personal Bible study. As you open the Bible regularly and you understand what God has for you personally.

I'm a Mac guy. I love my Mac toys. I've got a Mac watch, I've got my phone, I've got my iPad that I actually run the presentation with on Sunday morning. I enjoy my Mac toys until I get the little colorful wheel on my computer that freezes my computer and I can't do anything and ...read more

Scripture: Nehemiah 8:13-18

Denomination: Independent/Bible