Sermons on Open Hands:

Trinity Series

Contributed by Pastor Glen Key on Mar 2, 2011

The word Trinity doesn’t appear as a theological term till near the end of the second century. “It was first used as ‘Trias’ by Theophilus, the Bishop of Antioch in AD. 180 and later by Tertullian asTrinitas to signify that God exists in three persons.”

ARTICLE 2. In one God eternally existing in three persons; namely, the Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Crucial, to the biblical doctrine of God is his Trinitarian nature. Trinity is a term that is not found in the Bible but a word used to describe what is apparent about God in the ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 5:7

Denomination: Church Of God

Walking In Unity – Is It Possible?

Contributed by Gordon Curley on Nov 27, 2010

Unity in the body of Christ. (PowerPoint slides to accompany this talk are available on request - email: gcurley@gcurley.info)

Reading: Ephesians chapter 4 verses 1-16: (OHP) Introduction with reading. Ill: • There were two doctors with the same name who lived a few doors apart. • One was a Christian and a lay preacher, the other made no profession of faith. • One night a rather sick person, who was ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:1-16

Denomination: Brethren

Why I Am A Baptist Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Jan 2, 2011

Exploring the biblical basis for the Baptist Faith.

Jesus said to the Jews who were seeking to kill Him, “I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me. If I alone bear witness about myself, my testimony is not deemed true. There is another who bears witness ...read more

Scripture: John 5:30-47

Denomination: Baptist

Limits On Judgement Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Oct 14, 2011

The message explores our responsibility to one another to honour God and to build one another in the Faith.

“Let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother. I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself, but it is unclean for anyone who thinks it unclean. For if your brother is ...read more

Scripture: Romans 14:13-23

Denomination: Baptist

Live The New Future/ Part 2 Of Identity Check Series

Contributed by Steve Wright on Nov 11, 2014

Live The Future Identity In The Now

Identity Check – Part 2 1 Peter 1:13-21 We're going to continue this morning in part two of Identity Check. If you have your Bible, I want you to open with me first to the book of Galatians, chapter 3. In Galatians 3:13, it reads like this. "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 1:13-21

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Detrimental Competition-1 Series

Contributed by Byron Sherman on Mar 3, 2017

1 of 8. John the Baptist pointed out the weakness/detriment/absurdity/incompatibility of competitive ministry. A competitive spirit can be detrimental to Christian ministry. But when? A competitive spirit is detrimental to Christian ministry when...

DETRIMENTAL COMPETITION-I—John 3:22-36 A DETRIMENTAL SPIRIT Attention: Humility in competition seems somewhat rare. I can remember seeing & hearing an American long-jumper & runner--Carl Lewis--in the Olympics(1988 Summer?) who just ‘tore-up’ his competition. He outran & out-jumped everybody! In ...read more

Scripture: John 3:22-36

Denomination: Baptist

The Value Of Work Series

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Apr 1, 2017

Workers show the Godly value of work, when their labors are: 1) Submissive (Titus 2:9a), 2) Selfless (Titus 2:9b), not 3) Subjective (Titus 9c) or 4) Stealing (Titus 2:10a) but 5) Steady (Titus 2:10b)

The only scheme the New Testament knows for evangelization is personal, apart from the proclamation of God-called and anointed and gifted preachers. Approximately ninety percent of all people surveyed as to how it was that they came to know Jesus Christ pointed to a personal witness, a friend, ...read more

Scripture: Titus 2:9-10

Denomination: Other

Fix Your Hope

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Jun 28, 2016

1) The Person of God (1 John 2:29), 2) The Parousia/Return of God (1 John 2:28, 3:2), 3) The Provision of God (1 John 3:1, 3)

After a recent national referendum held on the question of Britain’s future within the European Union, the “Brexit,” short for “British exit”, vote prevailed, sending financial markets worldwide into a tailspin. The result has left people wondering about the future of ...read more

Denomination: Other

New Clothes For The New You!

Contributed by Ernie Arnold on Jun 15, 2015

In Col, 3:1-17 Paul shares with us that we are 1. Set our hearts and minds 2. Put to death that which will kill us and 3. Put off that which will harm and Put on the New Clothes of Our New Life in Christ.

Scripture: Colossians 3:1-17 Theme: New Life - New Clothes or New Clothes for the New You! INTRO: Good morning and I am so glad you are here this morning! Throughout the years, America has been identified by various iconic images. For example, during the great western expansion ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:1-17

Denomination: Nazarene

Living In The Light Series

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Aug 9, 2015

The 1) Contrast (Ephesians 5:8) , 2) Characteristics (Ephesians 5:9–10), 3) Command (Ephesians 5:11a) 4) Commission (Ephesians 5:11b–13) and 5) Call (Ephesians 5: 14) of Christians as God’s own children of light.

For anyone who remembers the days when just one Spider-Man movie seemed impossible, it is an astonishing how comic book superheroes now dominate popular entertainment. There is a precise schedule of superhero movies to be released over the next six years. Even with such a variety of movies there is ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:8-14

Denomination: Other

Rules For Engagement Series

Contributed by Steve Malone on Sep 2, 2015

The Story Chapter 5.

Rules For Engagement New Commands and a New Covenant The Story – Chapter 5 Video Bumper… Maple Grove… WELCOME to chapter 5 of The Story, ‘New Commands And A New Covenant…’ A conversation I am calling ‘Rules For Engagement.” AND LISTEN – if ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 20:1-18

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Meditation 101

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Oct 19, 2013

1) The Confidence in Meditation (Psalm 4:1–3), 2) The Calling for Meditation (Psalm 4:4–5), 3) The Confession in Meditation (Psalm 4:6–8)

Researchers have determined that we produce up to 50,000 thoughts a day and 70% to 80% of those are negative. This translates into 40,000 negative thoughts a day that need managing and filtering — no small task for any person. Even the most confident individuals fall prey to negative, ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 4:1-8

Denomination: Other

In The Beginning

Contributed by Guy De Swardt on Nov 13, 2012

What does Genesis teach us about God's grace? How does the account of Genesis refute the Evolutionist theories?

Beginnings! In The Beginning!- Part 1 Reading: Genesis 1v1-2 When you start reading the Book of Genesis,…it gives you the beginnings of God’s work here on earth. It also tells us of the beginnings of the Doctrine of God,…something that was completely different to the religion of ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 1:1-2

Denomination: Baptist

The Fruit Of The Spirit Series

Contributed by Pat Damiani on Sep 16, 2013

If we want to produce the fruit of the Spirit then we must be a "Holy Spirit tree".

Last week after church we stopped at Trader Joes on our way home. We just needed to pick up a few items so I picked up one of the small red baskets on our way in. As we entered the store and tried to go down the first aisle our way was blocked by two women who had parked their carts right in the ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:16-25

Denomination: Baptist

The Way Series

Contributed by Brian Bill on Mar 6, 2016

If I believe the Bible, I must say that Jesus is the only way!

The Way John 14:1-6 Rev. Brian Bill March 5-6, 2016 In a video message to churchgoers, one of the most-recognized religious leaders in the world made this stunning statement: “Many think differently, feel differently, seeking God or meeting God in different ways. In this crowd, in this ...read more

Scripture: John 14:1-6

Denomination: Baptist