Sermons on Open Hands:

Sermon: A Time For War And A Time For Peace

Contributed by Lee Houston on Feb 20, 2025

It is fun to preach on topics like Christmas or going to heaven. However, I would not be doing my duty as a pastor if I did not occasionally speak about some dark subject. Today, that subject is war. Our Bible chronicles many wars.

It is fun to preach on topics like Christmas or going to heaven. However, I would not be doing my duty as a pastor if I did not occasionally speak about some dark subject. Today, that subject is war. Our Bible chronicles many wars. Today, The Council for Foreign Relations, an independent ...read more

Scripture: Romans 13:1-5, Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

Quinquagesima (B C P). Series

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Feb 25, 2025

Sermons upon the Bible readings of the Book of Common Prayer.

Psalm 77:11-20, Genesis 9:8-17, 1 Corinthians 13:1-13, Luke 18:31-43. A). REMEMBERING THE WORKS OF THE LORD. Psalm 77:11-20. PSALM 77:11. “I will remember the works of the LORD.” This we must do, for ‘Hitherto hath the LORD helped us’ (cf. 1 Samuel 7:12). ‘Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 77:11-20, Genesis 9:8-17, 1 Corinthians 13:1-13, Luke 18:31-43

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

It’s Not What I Expected

Contributed by Dr. Jwt Spies on May 19, 2023

Things are not what they seem to. It's not what I expected.

As we look at our story, we see that John had been in the desert disciplining himself waiting for this special moment. And when the Word of God came to him, he came out of the desert preaching up a storm. And let me drop something in your spirit early this morning and that is whenever those who are ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 3:1

Denomination: Baptist

A Good Servant Of Christ Jesus

Contributed by Christian Cheong on May 22, 2023

As good servants of Christ, we teach the truth and live the truth. We want to train ourselves in the truth and for godliness.

1 Tim 4:1-10 - A Good Servant of Christ Jesus I borrowed this sermon title from Paul. Let’s read 1 Tim 4:6-10 ESV Subtitle: Some Will Depart from the Faith 1Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 4:1-10, 1 Corinthians 9:24-27

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Testing At Cana: Do You Measure Up?

Contributed by John Gaston on Jun 3, 2023

Cana was mysteriously chosen to be the site of Jesus' first two miracles in Galilee. Cana means "a rod for measuring." At Cana a desperate man met Jesus. His perspective was changed and his gold-like faith emerged.

THE TESTING AT CANA: DO YOU MEASURE UP? John 4:39-54 INTRODUCTION A. HUMOR 1. There was a man in prison for robbery of a bank. He’d never told the police where he’d hidden the money. 2. His old father wrote him a letter, “Son, I wish you were here. I’d like to have a garden this year, but ...read more

Scripture: John 4:39-54

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Our Journey

Contributed by Jerry Cosper on Jun 6, 2023

There are three distinct aspects of salvation: justification, sanctification, and glorification. This message will give details of each.

For the past few weeks we have been talking about being set apart from the rest of the world. We are set apart because we are Holy as we work at becoming as much like God as we can. In this process we are sanctified, or in the process of being sanctified. That's the direction that we're ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:12-21

Denomination: Baptist

Dancing With Wolves

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Jun 17, 2023

The false prophets dance around the cost of discipleship, but dancing slippers don’t suit the hard road that leads to the narrow gate, and the wolves never warn their people that they need hiking boots instead

I am trying to navigate the theological tsunami that is threatening to permanently alter the face of our denomination. The amendments to the constitution regarding ordination standards, diversity, inclusiveness, interpretation of Scripture, and so on, are incredibly important to our identity as a ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:15-19, Revelation 22:18-19

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Holy Insomnia

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Jul 4, 2023

God wants our major priority to be his kind of people even when he’s not looking.

This is a hard week for many of us here. I think all of you must have read of the murder-suicide that took place in our town just a week ago. By itself, it is one of the most tragic incidents to occur among our midst in quite a long time - certainly since I arrived. Two young men in their prime, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 24:36-44

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Avoiding A Critical Spirit

Contributed by Jerry Cosper on Jul 19, 2023

There is a place for honestly confronting others when done in a loving and gracious way. Yet maturity means learning to guard our hearts from an unhelpful, critical spirit, as we'll learn in this story of Miriam and Aaron's criticism of Moses.

It’s summertime folks. And the heat of Texas is here. And that heat causes many to be on edge—on edge enough to gripe or complain about the smallest of things. Do we have any complainers here today? This coming November, I will have been pastor here at SEBC for 27 years. Through those years I ...read more

Scripture: Numbers 12:1-15

Denomination: Baptist

Psalm 34:18-19 - Part 7 - Are You Brokenhearted Or Crushed? Deliverance From Afflictions Series

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Mar 6, 2025

Hurting people? Yes the world is full of them. Verses for today speak of those who hurt, the broken heartedness and sorrow; of those who are crushed by circumstances and the world. Jesus’ ministry is to the downtrodden. The Lord delivers those who are afflicted, and gives them hope.

PSALM 34:18-19 - PART 7 - ARE YOU BROKENHEARTED OR CRUSHED? DELIVERANCE FROM AFFLICTIONS We are nearing the end of our study of Psalm with just two more to go. The second half of the Psalm deals with practical issues like teaching and commands. Today the issue is very practical and ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 34:18, Acts 4:11-12, John 14:6, Isaiah 61:1, Luke 4:18, Psalm 147:3, Isaiah 57:15, Matthew 11:28, 2 Timothy 3:11-12, 1 Peter 2:19-20, 1 Peter 1:6-7, 2 Corinthians 1:3-4, Psalm 9:13, Psalm 31:7, Psalm 119:50, Psalm 119:92, Revelation 21:4-5  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Turning The Tables Series

Contributed by Brian Williams on Mar 18, 2025

What do you do when you witness this type of scheming and manipulation in the workplace and even in the family? As many here have testified, it is better to walk in godly integrity and let God vindicate you!

In these trying times in our lives, will our desperation drive our decisions or will we grow in our faith and be guided by God? We saw that because of God’s goodness and grace, even though Leah and Rachel were the battling brides, God accomplished what He set out to do in fulfilling His promises ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 30:25-43

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Sermon # 6 - What God Has Joined Together Series

Contributed by Andrew Dixon on Mar 18, 2025

Marriage is sacred and God-ordained. When a couple follow God’s blue-print for marriage, love and honor one another and set boundaries for the safety of their relationship, families become havens of love, support, health, peace, and abundance.

We read in Philippians 4:8, "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things." (ESV) The word of God ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:8, Matthew 19:3, Malachi 2:7, Luke 4:2, Matthew 19:4-5, Genesis 2:23, Ephesians 5:28-32  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Other

Finding The Love Of Your Life Series

Contributed by Perry Fowler on Mar 20, 2025

Life is about what you love. Jesus said that we should love God with all our heart, soul, and mind. The Book of Titus challenges us to discover, "Who or what is really the love of your life."

Life is about what you love. In the last 300 years the way people see life and the definition of a “successful life” has changed. It has moved from morality to money; from God to goals, from Christ to culture. This is not new; this same setting was the type of culture Paul was addressing in the ...read more

Scripture: Titus 1:1-4

Denomination: Baptist

The Blindness In Misinterpreting God’s Way-1

Contributed by Byron Sherman on Mar 25, 2025

1 of 6. YHWH God answered the frustrations experienced by His prophet Habakkūk, when he misinterpreted God’s way. Spiritual blindness results from misinterpreting God’s way. But, ?What characterizes that blindness? Misinterpreting God’s way, blinds you to...

The BLINDNESS In MISINTERPRETING GOD’s WAY--I —Habakkuk 1:5[part-1--:5a](:5-11) Attention: Airport Mistletoe: It was the beginning of December. The business trip had gone reasonably well, & the businessman was ready to return home.  Due to the season, the airport had been decorated ...read more

Scripture: Habakkuk 1:5, Habakkuk 1:5-11

Denomination: Baptist

Be Found Faithful

Contributed by Roger Hasselquist on Mar 31, 2025

God is faithful, and He expects His people to be faithful. Someone has said, “True faith shows up in faithfulness. Not everyone can sing or preach, but all can be faithful.” Another observed, “The world crowns success; God crowns faithfulness.”

Alba 3-30-2025 BE FOUND FAITHFUL I Corinthians 4:1-5 There is a story of a choir director who was so stressed out because at least one or more members of the choir were absent at every rehearsal for a concert. Finally came the last rehearsal and he announced: “I want to personally thank the ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 4:1-5

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ