Sermons on Open Hands:

What’s In Your Wallet?

Contributed by Thomas Bowen on Mar 4, 2010

Bitterness destroys - don't get mad get even.

What’s in your wallet? Ephesians 4:17- 5:2 Last week we talked about fear and how fear is a gift from God that protects our lives. However, often we let fear take our lives away from us if we allow the natural tool to go wild and unanchored in Christ. Today we are looking at another ...read more

Denomination: Congregational

Failing, Fruitless, Flourishing

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Mar 7, 2010

We are a part of this world's injustice and brokenness, and need to repent, for we have too often attempted nothing or have given ourselves to pointless activity. "Only what you do for Christ will last" and that is guaranteed by His risen life.

There are just too many things that are not the way they ought to be, and I don’t like it! Are you with me? There are too many things going on that should not be going on, and when I hear about them or experience them, it disturbs me. I don’t like the brokenness I see in this ...read more

Scripture: Luke 13:1-9

Denomination: Baptist

Life In Christ Series

Contributed by Steve Shepherd on Mar 8, 2010

1- Life in Christ excludes hypocrisy 2- Life in Christ excludes salvation by observance of the law 3- Life in Christ includes death to self

INTRO.- Life. What is life all about? Obviously, that depends on who you are talking to. Here are some examples. ILL.- It was said that Jimmy Johnson, when coaching football on the college level, had a wife and the appearance of a marriage because it was expected of college football coaches. ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 2:11-21

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Road To Greatness

Contributed by James May on Mar 10, 2010

Greatness in the eyes of the world is not the same as greatness in the eyes of God. What does it take to be great in God's eyes?

The Road to Greatness Wednesday, March 10, 2010 By Pastor James May How does the world judge a man to be great? Often men are declared to be great if they have the ability to influence heads of state or leaders in society as Statesmen. These are often found as Leaders of Nations, peacekeepers ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 18:1-7

Denomination: Independent/Bible

You Foolish People! Series

Contributed by Steve Shepherd on Mar 18, 2010

In our text, the apostle Paul is trying to straighten out the thinking of the Galatians. There are some matters in their thinking and faith that need to be cleared up. 1- The matter of receiving God's Spirit 2- The matter of faith and righteousness 3-

INTRO.- People often do dumb things or foolish things. ILL.- June 16, 2009, BRUSSELS - A Belgian teenager told police how she came from a tattoo parlor with 56 stars over one side of her face, rather than the three she had asked for. "I said this part, the top, is ok, but not the rest," Kimberley ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 3:1-14

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Always God Series

Contributed by Sean Harder on Mar 18, 2010

God is always what we need when we need Him. He always restores and he always provides.

Restoring a relationship can be a very difficult thing. Whether it be a completely severed relationship, restoring a marriage after infidelity or an affair with pornography, or even just after a regular argument. If you can boil it down to three things that need to happen to restore a relationship ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 21:22-34

Part 10 - Why Am I So Depressed? Series

Contributed by Russell Brownworth on Mar 19, 2010

Depression is common....where does it come from, what does it look like, and how do I get rid of it?

Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you disquieted within me? Psalm 42:5a (NRSV) If I were going to give this message a subtitle it would come from what one of my friends wrote to me about my question: How does depression feel? She wrote: Depression feels pretty good when you are ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 42:5

Denomination: United Methodist

Iworship Part 1: Why Iworship Series

Contributed by Stephen Collins on Apr 14, 2009

True worship begins with a clear picture of who we are in light of who God is.

iWorship Part 1: Why iWorship “To worship God is to ascribe to Him supreme worth, for He alone is worthy.” -Ralph P. Martin "Worship in the Early Church" Icebreaker: I heard a cute story the other day about a little boy named Chris. He was going up the steps to a large church. He saw 3 statues ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 6:1-8

Denomination: Church Of God

It's Not That Complicated!

Contributed by Monty Newton on Jan 16, 2009

Jesus simply says, "Follow me."

Title: It’s Not That Complicated! Text: John 1:43-51 The Big Idea: Jesus simply says, “Follow me.” Introduction Sometimes I think we make much more of what it means to be a Christian than is necessary or even intended. Perhaps you’ve been following the hiring of Josh McDaniels to replace Mike ...read more

Scripture: John 1:43-51

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Best Is Yet To Come

Contributed by Victor Yap on Jan 24, 2009

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

The God Of All Comfort

Contributed by Victor Yap on Jan 24, 2009

Paul, Pt. 9

THE GOD OF ALL COMFORT (2 CORINTHIANS 1:3-6) Everything that could go wrong went wrong for Will Smith’s character in “The Pursuit of Happyness.” He invested his money into buying and selling bone-density scanners. One of his $250 scanners was stolen by a hippie and another by a lunatic. The lack of ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 1:3-6

Denomination: Independent/Bible

"Wait On The Lord"

Contributed by Ray Ellis on Jan 25, 2009

The best way to learn to pray is to pray.

To Busy To Pray “Wait on the Lord” Matthew 6:5-8 Luke 11:1 How do you view prayer? Do you view prayer like a diet? It didn’t seem to work so you gave up. Do you view prayer like a lottery? When your number comes up you’ll find the answer. Do you see prayer as an “escape hatch” to get out of ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:5-8

Denomination: Free Methodist

Encouraging Frail Faith Series

Contributed by Jim Drake on Dec 7, 2009

When a person is born again, they are like a newborn baby. The disciples were really no different. They had a lot of growing up to do in just a short period of time, and all through the Gospels, Jesus grew them and nurtured them. He purposely put them in

We all know what happens when a person is born again, right? The very instant that we’re born again, we’re automatically fully mature Christians, right? We’re able to handle anything the devil and the world has to throw at us, right? We have all of the wisdom, experience, knowledge that we need, ...read more

Scripture: John 6:16-21

Denomination: Baptist

Family Matters I: Honoring God In Our Relationships Series

Contributed by Mark Opperman on Dec 9, 2009

The more the church knows how to please the Lord in all our relationships, the better we will be able to help one another (and others) grow closer to God. [INCLUDES MESSAGE FROM ROBIN OPPERMAN]

Family Matters: Honoring God in our Relationships Ephesians 5:21-33 Intro: In Ephesians 5:8&10 Paul says, “Live as children of light” and “Find out what pleases the Lord.” Well, one thing that pleases the Lord is when His people love one another and honor one another. People who belong to the ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:1-33

Denomination: Assembly Of God

There'll Always Be An Egypt

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Nov 27, 2009

We are either dreamers or detractors, but God will use both. Whatever is worth doing begins as a dream; and the dreamers redeem the detractors. There will always be ministry to do.

The world is made up of two kinds of people. The dreamers and the detractors. Dreamers and detractors. Dreamers look at the world as it is, and see new possibilities. Detractors look at the world and see nothing but disaster. Dreamers look at the world as it is and know it can be better. ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 37:1-36

Denomination: Baptist