Sermons on Open Hands:

Developing A Grateful Heart

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Nov 24, 2002

We need to ask God to change our hearts from 1. Complaints to Praise. 2. Criticism to Encouragement. 3. Cynicism to Faith.

Two men were walking through a field one day when they spotted an enraged bull. Immediately they ran toward the nearest fence. The storming bull ran after them in hot pursuit, and they realized that they were not going to make it. Terrified, one man shouted to his friend, “Say a prayer, John. ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:4-8

Denomination: Methodist

Examine Your Offerings

Contributed by Timm Meyer on Nov 27, 2002

Third Sunday of End Time(WWIID #3) - When people examine their offerings they discover that Jesus’ gospel motivates believers to react generously.

EXAMINE YOUR OFFERINGS 2 Corinthians 8:8--12 November 17, 2002 2 CORINTHIANS 8:8-12 8I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others. 9For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 8:8-12

Denomination: Lutheran

Jonah Series

Contributed by John Walls on Oct 21, 2001

The link between Jonah and Israel

JONAH Jonah 1:17 Introduction: Of the Books of the Bible that the critics like to criticize, this is one of their favorites. One such critic asked a Bible believer if he really believed this part of the Bible too. The man answered “why, of course!” “Do you understand all that went on in the ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 1:17

Denomination: Baptist

An Unlikely Hero

Contributed by Kevin Taylor on Oct 28, 2001

Gideon was considered by others as the least and the last. But to God, he was considered to be a mighty man of valor.

I. Out of Sight, Out of Mind A. Text: Judges 6:1-25 B. So make the situation clear, I want you to notice that, at the beginning of our story, we find Gideon threshing wheat in a winepress! C. Now, why would he thresh wheat in a winepress? Shouldn’t he just thresh wheat on a threshing floor? The ...read more

Scripture: Judges 6:1-25

Why Is The Resurrection Of Jesus Important? Series

Contributed by David Fox on Nov 12, 2001

Does it matter if Jesus really rose?

WHY IS THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS IMPORTANT <<<ILL>>> On February 27th, 1991 Ruth Dillow was at home in Chanuk, Kansas when the phone rang. It was bad news from the Pentagon. Her son, Private First Class Clayton Carpenter, had stepped on a landmine in the Persian Gulf War and was dead. ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:24, John 11:24-25

Denomination: Pentecostal

The Parable Of The Shrewd Steward Series

Contributed by John Hamby on Dec 10, 2002

This parable gives us three principles for being Shrewd Disciples.

A Study of the Book of Luke Sermon # 42 “Parable of the Shrewd Steward” Luke 16:1-15 A middle-aged man is in trouble with his boss. He has helped himself to his employer funds one time too many and now he is facing the music. In ...read more

Scripture: Luke 16:1-15

Denomination: Baptist

I'm Going To Heaven. Ok, Now What?

Contributed by Joel Pankow on Dec 12, 2002

how we respond in light of Jesus’ Second COming.

December 15, 2002 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 16 Be joyful always; 17 pray continually; 18 give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 19 Do not put out the Spirit’s fire; 20 do not treat prophecies with contempt. 21 Test everything. Hold on to the good. 22 ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24

Denomination: Lutheran

His Name Is Wonderful

Contributed by Denn Guptill on Dec 16, 2002

A look at the different ways that the name of Jesus is Wonderful.

For most people the only contact they have with the Old Testament Prophet Isaiah is Christmas time. And they probably don’t realize it then. It’s on Christmas cards and in Christmas Carols. These words that Ruth read for us earlier, Isaiah 9: 6 For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 9:2-7

Denomination: Wesleyan

To Build A Fire

Contributed by Jim Grinnell on Dec 31, 2002

like Jesus, we need to not only look, but to really see men, that is, perceive and understand the deep longings in men who are without God … in short … “what are they seeking?”

To Build a Fire September 2, 2001 Read John 1:35-39a and 2 Tim. 4:5 I want to bring an exhortation on evangelism today, but rather than stress our responsibility to evangelize, I want to do it by thinking deeply about the nature of man. When it comes down to “doing the work of an evangelist” I ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:5, 1 John 1:35-39

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Utmost Evil Series

Contributed by Byron Harvey on Dec 31, 2002

This is the fifth in a series on love from I Corinthians 13; it deals with the fact that love does not boast and is not arrogant.

“The Utmost Evil” I Corinthians 13:4 December 15, 2002 Love of Another Kind – I Corinthians 13 Don’t look in your Bibles yet; let’s play a little “word association” first: when I say the term “the utmost evil”, what comes first to your mind? C.S. Lewis called bragging “the utmost evil.” In I ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:4

Denomination: Evangelical Free

The Power Of Purpose Series

Contributed by Brian Moon on Jan 2, 2003

Why can’t people help but say "I love this place" It is because of our purpose and strategy. This message deals with why we exist as a church.

“I Love this Place” part 1 (The Power of Purpose) Brian A. Moon One of golf’s immortal moments came when a Scotchman demonstrated the new game to President Ulysses Grant. Carefully placing the ball on the tee, he took a mighty swing. The club hit the turf and scattered dirt all over the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 22:37, 1 Chronicles 12:32

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Creating Your Roadmap To Forgiveness Series

Contributed by Ely Lambert on Jan 3, 2003

In the journey of life forgiveness must happen for us to live as Christians, but what a hard task. This sermon begins a process of understanding how we can truly forgive those who are our oppressors.

Creating Your Roadmap to Forgiveness Destination Forgiveness Preached at the Laurel Church of Christ On January 5, 2003 Introduction: I. “Not long before she died in 1988, in a moment of surprising candor in television, Marghanita Laski, one of our best-known secular humanists and novelists, said, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:14-15

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Putting An End To Self-Defeating Behavior Series

Contributed by Brian Atwood on Aug 13, 2003

Here are some self-help principles from Daniel chapter 4 on putting an end to self-defeating behavior in your life.

In Daniel chapter four we read of a king gone mad. This, by the way, is not unusual. There are many instances in history (and in modern culture) of those who have achieved great status, wealth, power or fame, ending up mentally and/or emotionally disturbed. Sometimes it is directly tied to the ...read more

Scripture: Daniel 4:1-37

Denomination: Baptist

"showdown On The Mountain" Series

Contributed by Dwight Davis on Aug 16, 2003

This is the second sermon in a series of four exploring the life and ministry of the prophet Elijah.

Elijah Part II “Showdown on the Mountain” Let’s begin this morning by reviewing briefly our previous sermon in this series dedicated to the life and ministry of Elijah. First of all, do you remember what Elijah’s name in the Hebrew means? It means “Yahweh is my ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 18:1-39, Joshua 24:15

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

The Tower Of Babel

Contributed by Owen Bourgaize on Aug 25, 2003

The Tower of Babel is a life parable telling of the dangers of the Spirit of the Age - Poverty of Spirituality and Pride of Life - and the chaos it brings which only Christ’s redemption can right.

The story of the Tower of Babel is a sad description of breakdown of fellowship, growing isolation and confusion. It all results from human beings’ failing to live in dependence on God, becoming proud of their achievements and determined to be the source of their own security. That was the root ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 11:1-9

Denomination: Baptist