Sermons on Open Hands:

Beauty That Can't Be Bought Series

Contributed by Chip Monck on Nov 28, 2007

This message explores the God given desire to be beautiful. Inspired by "The Seven Longings of the Human Heart" by Mike Bickle.

(“Beautiful” Music Video by Christina Aguilera) In her song, appropriately titled “Beautiful”, Christina Aguilera sings all the right words: Now and then, I get insecure From all the pain, I’m so ashamed But I am beautiful no matter what they say Words can’t bring me down I am beautiful in ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 61:1-3

Denomination: Wesleyan

Peter Goes Back To Fishing

Contributed by Michael Durst on Dec 6, 2007

After Christ died, Peter went back to what the used to do, fish. Are we ever tempted to return to the way we lived before Christ?

When I was in elementary school, my best friend was Jon Barleycorn. From kindergarten through fifth grade, we were best friends, both in and out of school. And his family introduced me to fishing. I would go with them to Buckeye Lake and we would fish from his grandmothers’ dock and from his ...read more

Scripture: John 21:1-3

Denomination: Holiness

A Tale Of Ten Lepers (A Sermon On Luke 17:11-19)

Contributed by David Smith on Dec 9, 2007

On the way to Jerusalem he was passing along between Samaria and Galilee. And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance and lifted up their voices, saying,

I remember hearing of a rural vicar in England whose bicycle went missing. The man relied exclusively on his bicycle to get around his little parish, and he knew things like bicycles didn’t just disappear into thin air, so he put two and two together and figured out that someone in the parish - ...read more

Scripture: Luke 17:11-19

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

Envy Is The Green Monster Series

Contributed by John Morris on Mar 5, 2008

Envy is an underhanded enemy that chaffs at many Christians and spoils our joy.

When the early church fathers developed this list of the seven deadly sins, they knew well what they were talking about. Today we look at the sin of envy. There are 2 reasons this is an important sermon for us. First, Envy is the sin no one talks about. We boast about other sins, but ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

I Must Insist On This

Contributed by Steve Shepherd on Mar 14, 2008

1- I insist that you don’t live like others 2- I insist that you did not learn Christ from the world 3- I insist that the truth is in Jesus

INTRO.- Roger Clemens. Guilty or not? Is he guilty of using drugs and Human Growth Hormone or not? Clemens insists he is not guilty! Clemens has won seven Cy Young Awards, two more than any other pitcher. He throws and bats right-handed. On December 13, 2007, Clemens’ name was listed in the ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:17-24

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Rest For Today And Forever

Contributed by Christopher Martin on Mar 15, 2008

I preached this at my grandmother’s funeral. She was 88 and althogh her health had been declining, her death was very sudden. Her last request of me was to officiate at her funeral, which I did and was the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my ministry.

(Reading of the obituary) I think it’s pretty safe to say that this day came as a great shock to almost every one of us in this room here today. While we knew that Grandma wasn’t in the best of health, and had some past health issues a little over 4 years ago, none of us thought that we’d be ...read more

Scripture: John 11:1-46

Denomination: Lutheran

Abraham & Lot

Contributed by Neil Richardson on Mar 16, 2008

Two godly men, one faithful & one compromised

Background: judgement on Sodom [Show pic of Dead Sea.] The ruins of Sodom and Gomorrah have been discovered southeast of the Dead Sea. Both places were destroyed at the same time by an enormous conflagration. The destruction debris was about three feet thick. Archaeologists found that buildings ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

What Then?

Contributed by James May on Mar 25, 2008

Sermon dealing with the resurrection, both of the saved and lost. We will be resurrected but what then? Which resurrection will we be a part of?

What Then? By Pastor Jim May At the darkest hour of history, on a little hill called Golgotha, three men were crucified for crimes against the state. Two were thieves, no doubt tried and convicted of terrible crimes, who had been sentenced to die to pay the price for their crimes. But the man ...read more

Scripture: Daniel 12:1-3

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Finally—getting People To Do What You Want Series

Contributed by Glenn Durham on Apr 1, 2008

God uses our praying together to change the world.

Scripture Introduction I often remind my family of a profound truth I have learned from living: you cannot make people do what you want. Even if it is in their best interest, even if they should do it, matters little. You cannot make people do what you want. You have tried. You have shown your ...read more

Scripture: Romans 15:30-33

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

What More Can God Do?

Contributed by Ken Pell on Apr 6, 2008

God has done / is doing everything within the scope of Divine power to show us how much He loves us and how valuable we are.

What More Can God Do? 1 John 4:7-18 Sermon Objective: God has done / is doing everything within the scope of Divine power to show us how much He loves us and how valuable we are. Supporting Scripture: 1 Corinthians 2:9-10; Exodus 15:21-26 7Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 4:7-18

Denomination: Nazarene

The Best Is Yet To Come

Contributed by Victor Yap on Apr 10, 2008

Paul, Pt. 15

THE BEST IS YET TO COME (EPHESIANS 3:14-19) There once was a sculptor working hard with his hammer and chisel on a large block of marble. A little boy who was watching him saw nothing more than large and small pieces of stones falling away left and right. He had no idea what was happening. But when ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 3:14-19

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Hard Times - Better Than Evian Water Series

Contributed by Peter Loughman on Apr 12, 2008

Hard times and difficult circumstances are not an argument for the absence of God in our lives; Hard times and difficult circumstances are in fact, an argument for the presence of God in our lives.

We assume that sailing through life with ease is a sign that God is with us. We assume that when a tragedy happens, God was looking the other way. We assume that when we find ourselves out in a desert standing in the middle of nothing but dirt and rocks, we assume that there has been some mistake. ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 17:1-7

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Finding Fellowship Series

Contributed by Brien Sims on Dec 13, 2007

The first in this series discusses the first four verses as the foundation for the book and the foundation for rock solid fellowship.

How many of us truly understand the idea and importance of family? Something about the idea of family should bring security, love, pride, and joy to our hearts. Family is the center of our earthly worlds and the one domain where we actually have the power to build strong bonds. We honestly believe ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 1:1-4

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

What If Jesus Christ Had Never Come To Earth?

Contributed by Eric Hanson on Dec 17, 2007

This message explores the drastic differences that the Earth and its people would be suffering had not Jesus Christ been born. It deals with science and other important matters too.

What if Jesus Christ Had Never Come to Earth? Pastor Eric J. Hanson (with thanks to the late Dr. D. James Kennedy) December 23, 2007 On this Christmas Sunday, we stop and reflect on the events that brought our Lord Jesus Christ to Earth to become the Savior of all who will put their trust in ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:31-46

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Good Grief Series

Contributed by Victor Yap on Dec 18, 2007

Abraham, Pt. 9

GOOD GRIEF (GENESIS 23) Charlie Brown of the popular Peanuts comic strip has a habit of blurting out two words whenever he is stuck, trapped or frustrated. His favorite expression is “Good grief!” Death or bereavement in the family is a hurting, devastating and overwhelming affair. Recovering ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 23:1-18

Denomination: Independent/Bible