Sermons on Open Hand:

Getting Perspective From Psalm 73

Contributed by Joey Nelson on Nov 22, 2002

In Psalms of Lament, there is a three-fold emphasis: I am hurting; You are not helping; They are winning. Psalm 73 focuses on the third statement of this three-fold pattern - “They are winning.”

SERMONIC / WORSHIP THEME Opening Statement: It’s Thanksgiving Day and the aroma of roast turkey fills Charlie Brown’s house. Snoopy, outside, lying on top of his doghouse, smells that aroma, and he is thinking, “It’s Thanksgiving Day. Everybody eats turkey on Thanksgiving Day.” So he lies on top ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 73:1-28

Remain In Me

Contributed by Amy Bickel on Aug 6, 2008

Christ is our place of safety during the storms of life.

Remain In Me (John 15:4, 9-10) ILLUSTRATION: It was a dark and stormy night when a lady was on a boat crossing Lake Michigan. The lightning, thunder, and rain made her very nervous. She saw jagged rocks jutting above the surface of the lake. In fear, she asked the captain, “Do you know where ...read more

Scripture: John 15:4

Denomination: Baptist

Lydia The Business Woman Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 20, 2021

Lydia was so grateful that Paul brought her the good news about Jesus that she immediately went into home missions. She asked Paul and his fellow laborers to come to her home. Her hospitality led to her home becoming the first church in Europe.

We may not see them very often, but they are out there in the world, and they have always been there, and in our day there number is increasing. I am not talking about UFO's but about those women who are wise in the ways of the world of wealth, and, thus, are rich and successful women ...read more

Scripture: Acts 16:11-15

Christ The Giver Of Life Series

Contributed by Brian Bill on Jan 26, 2026

A right vision of the risen Savior transforms how we view the sanctity of life.

Christ the Giver of Life Revelation 1:17-20 Rev. Brian Bill January 24-25, 2026 A lot of things happened in 1973. I was a teenager with a face full of acne and an appetite for adventure. Beth was a cute ten-year-old dreaming of her Prince Charming from Packerland. Notre Dame topped the college ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 1:17-20

Denomination: Baptist

He Who Began A Good Work In You.

Contributed by Edward Hardee on Feb 16, 2023

Reminding that He which began a good work in us will finish it.

Jeremiah 18:1-6 The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying: (2) "Arise and go down to the potter's house, and there I will cause you to hear My words." (3) Then I went down to the potter's house, and there he was, making something at the wheel. (4) And the ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 18:1-6

Denomination: Church Of God

Baby Steps

Contributed by Chris Thron on Oct 18, 2000

Just as a mother encourages her child to walk, God encourages us to grow spiritually.

Therefore if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why do you subject yourself to regulations as if you still belonged to this world? You say, "Don’t touch this! Don’t eat that! Don’t handle that!" You are entirely preoccupied with perishable things. Your commandments ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Bring Ye All The Tithes

Contributed by Ian Humphrey on Nov 10, 2015

Prayer

Malachi 3:1 - 12 10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. 1. THE ...read more

Scripture: Malachi 3:1-12

Denomination: Holiness

The Great Exchange!

Contributed by Mike Hays on Oct 18, 2000

God will exchange our mourning and sorrow for His grace and peace.

The Great Exchange! Luke 24:13-34 Imagine with me for a moment if you will. For years you have been slaving at your job with nobody ever noticing your diligence or the backbreaking work you undergo on a daily basis. The hours are long. The work wears you out every day. The pay is barely enough for ...read more

Scripture: Luke 24:13-34

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Evangelize -- Just Do It!

Contributed by Robert Simmons on Feb 23, 2002

Challenge to congregation to do the work of an evangelist.

Evangelize. It means to share the good news of Christ. We are all commanded to evangelize. We are all evangelists. Look at your neighbor and say "YOU ARE AN EVANGELIST." Now say, "I AM AN EVANGELIST." Not only are Billy Graham, Steve Hill, and other prominent ministers evangelists. We all ...read more

Scripture: Mark 16:16-20, Acts 16:6-12

Denomination: Church Of God

When Heaven Fights For You

Contributed by Rev. Samuel Arimoro on Aug 14, 2025

When heaven fights for you, you are guaranteed to win. No weapon can prevail, no enemy can stand, and no plan against you can succeed.

WHEN HEAVEN FIGHTS FOR YOU By Rev. Samuel Arimoro Main Text: Exodus 14:13-14 Key Verse: “The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.” (Exodus 14:14, KJV) Supporting Texts: Deuteronomy 1:30, 2 Chronicles 20:15-17, Isaiah 49:25-26, Psalm 35:1-3, Romans 8:31 INTRODUCTION: There are ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 14:13-14

Denomination: Assembly Of God

The Donkey King

Contributed by Ajai Prakash on Apr 13, 2011

In a day when Christians in America are increasingly in a crusading posture to capture more political, social, and economic power, the picture of Jesus riding into Jerusalem on a lowly donkey and anticipating intense opposition, rejection, and death makes

Opening illustration: Every spring, hundreds of Hollywood stars gather for the Academy Awards. Very few “slip in the back door:” instead, they make an entrance. They walk down the long red carpet, smiling at the cameras and waving to the people in the stands (who, by the way, all had to apply and ...read more

Scripture: Luke 19:28-40

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Gift

Contributed by Don Jones on Dec 19, 2006

A message about the greatest Gift ever given.

The Gift John 3:16 Pastor Don Jones Prop needed: Small gift box with bow on top For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 Introduction My family has always had interesting Holidays, especially ...read more

Scripture: John 3:16

Denomination: Baptist

Elisha’s Ministry - The Passing Of The Great Man Of God – Elisha Dies, Now With His Lord 2 Kings 13: 14-21 Series

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jul 21, 2022

Elisha was a prophet mightily used by God because he was available and faithful. However like all of us, our ministry comes to an end, and we are called home. This completes the series on Elisha and is a fitting close to this great man.

ELISHA’S MINISTRY - THE PASSING OF THE GREAT MAN OF GOD – ELISHA DIES, NOW WITH HIS LORD 2 Kings 13: 14-21 SERIES – MESSAGES ON ELISHA – HIS LIFE AND MINISTRY Number 21 [A]. THE LAST DAYS OF THE PROPHET. 2Kings 13 v 14 When Elisha became sick with the illness of which he was to die, Joash the ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 12:2-4, Hebrews 11:32-39, 2 Kings 13:14-21, 2 Kings 13:10-11

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Spiritual Heartburn

Contributed by Bruce Howell on Apr 10, 2009

Spiritual Heartburn--when your heart burns within you because of the presence of the Risen Christ! Unlike physical heartburn which brings misery, spiritual heartburn brings unspeakable joy!

If you’ve ever had heartburn, let me see your hand? Not pleasant, is it? The serious kind is “acid reflux.” It feels like you’re having a heart attack. But praise God, there is relief available through medication. I want to speak to you today for a few moments about spiritual heartburn—when ...read more

Scripture: Luke 24:13-32

Denomination: Wesleyan

Bringing Life To Dead Bones (Ezekiel 37:1-14)

Contributed by Donald Whitchard on Jun 9, 2024

Throughout the Bible, we read about Israel's faithfulness and unfaithfulness to God. Yet, God is not finished with them. He restored Israel as a nation and will make it the centerpiece of the new earth at Christ's return.

The thirty-seventh chapter of Ezekiel presents what on the surface seems to be a story of desolation and ruin that is beyond any hope of restoration by human standards. This chapter describes a tragic episode in the history of Israel as a nation. It paints a bleak picture of its past but also ...read more

Scripture: 2 Samuel 7:1-29, Jeremiah 31:31-34, Ezekiel 37:1-28

Denomination: Baptist