Sermons on Open Opportunities:

Opie's Newspaper

Contributed by Davon Huss on May 7, 2014

A sermon on the tongue or the words that we use (Material adapted from Ben Patterson's book, He Has Made Me Glad, chapter 8 Words That Give Life; Opening illustration and title from Joey Fann's book, The Way Back to Mayberry, chapter 25)

HoHum: “Opie’s Newspaper” is an episode on the Andy Griffith Show. Opie’s friend, Howie, received a small printing press as a gift, and the boys decide to go into the newspaper business. They work hard and produce an initial issue of what they call the Mayberry Sun. The ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:29-32

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Books Of Judgment!

Contributed by Mark N. Posey on May 5, 2015

Daniel Webster once said, "The greatest thought that has ever entered my mind is that one day I will have to stand before a holy God and give an account of my life." Webster spoke of the Judgment Day. On that day certain books will be opened and consulted

SERMON: Books of Judgment! TEXT: Revelation 20:11-15 1. Book of Deeds—2 Cor. 5:10–21. 2. Book of Life—Rev. 3:5; Phil. 4:3. 3. Book of God—John 12:48. Con: Everyone will face Jesus as Lord & Judge & they will all receive a just sentence for their sins (Rom. 14:12). ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 20:11-15

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Grow Free From Bondages

Contributed by Jeff Van Wyk on Feb 12, 2013

Self-deliverance is one of the most important parts of the deliverance process. The devil will seek to enter legally through open doors into a person’s life. Once these doors have been identified and shut, believers can break off any legal grounds that th

Grow Free From Bondages Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 2:14-15

Denomination: Charismatic

The Benefits Of Fasting, With Prayer Series

Contributed by Margaret Olubiyi on Mar 5, 2013

Are you a woman who prays? If your answer is yes, praise God, but if you are not or you feel in your heart that you do not pray/talk to the Lord as much as you should, my prayer is after this series, you will be fired up to open that communication line wi

There is a saying "Prayer is the Key, it is the Master Key" meaning it is the key that unlocks or opens up the door to your blessings, breakthrough, etc. Today we will be looking at the benefits of integrating fasting with prayer. And so, this is a message that will be beneficial not ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:16-18

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Bartimaeus!

Contributed by Tony Abram on Sep 11, 2012

Of all the healings Jesus did, the opening of the eyes of blind Bartimaeus is one of the most exciting and one event where we can learn a lesson on how to receive from the Lord answer to our prayers. In this outline we list what he did to receive h

BARTIMAEUS! Mark 10:46-52 (KJV) 46 And they came to Jericho: and as he went out of Jericho with his disciples and a great number of people, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the highway side begging. 47 And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, and say, ...read more

Scripture: Mark 10:46-52

The Sights Of Christmas Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Apr 8, 2021

The challenge for all of us is to go into this Christmas season determined to see in the sights of Christmas that which makes us praise God and want to be part of His light in this dark world. Let your prayer be, open my eyes Lord, I want to see Jesus.

Hal Bowser said, "the most exciting gift I've ever received was the microscope my parents gave me for Christmas when I was eleven." The first thing he did on that Christmas day was to go out in the back yard and get some water from a rain puddle. He put a drop under his microscope ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:8-20

Avoiding The Syndrome Brought On By The Pandemic

Contributed by Otis Mcmillan on May 25, 2021

Trouble came upon Elijah suddenly and unexpectedly, when he promised to himself peace and prosperity, because He had obeyed God. But Trouble came. Elijah runs until he is completely exhausted. Exhaustion opens the door of discouragement. The pandemic did all the above!

Avoiding the Syndrome Brought on by the Pandemic Introduction: A fifty-five-year-old woman threw herself from her fourteenth-floor apartment to the ground below. Minutes before her death, she saw a workman washing the windows of a nearby building. She greeted him and smiled, and he smiled and said ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 19:1-9, James 5:17, 1 Kings 18:46, Psalm 37:7

Denomination: Methodist

I Want To Read My Bible. Where Do I Start?

Contributed by Jenny Franklin on Nov 14, 2020

Many "mature" Christians have never read their Bible except for passages for Sunday School or other lessons. I was one of them. When I opened my Bible and began reading the Bible for myself, that is when God started revealing himself to me.

JOHN Most Bible scholars would recommend the Gospel of John as the first book a new Christian should read. -- John records the seven “I am” statements of Jesus. 1. I am the bread of life. John 6:35,48,51 2. I am the light of the world. John 8:12 3. I am the door of the sheep. John 10:7,9 4. ...read more

Scripture: John 6:16-24, John 6:5-15, John 4:46, John 2:1, John 15:1, John 14:6, John 10:11, John 11:25, John 10:7, John 8:12, John 11:1-46, John 6:35  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Ask, Seek, Knock

Contributed by Derrick Tuper on Jul 29, 2014

Ask and you will receive, seek and you will find, knock and the door will be opened. Does this mean Jesus is our genie in a bottle? Can I ask for anything I want and Jesus will just give it to me? There's much to understand about what Jesus said here.

ASK, SEEK, KNOCK Matt. 7:7-12 1) Ask, Seek, Knock (7-8). Here we see three different words three different meanings. I think this illustrates a process; like a chain of events if you will. As the Fourfold gospel commentary puts it, “Asking is a simple use of voice, seeking is a motion of the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:7-12

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Mystery Journey

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Apr 21, 2020

Life’s journey is a mystery. We meet a stranger. He opens the Scriptures to our understanding. He can be a mystery until we break bread. Who’s the stranger? What’s the mystery? Let’s find out in Luke 24:13-35.

Mystery Journey Life’s journey is a mystery. We meet a stranger. He opens the Scriptures to our understanding. He can be a mystery until we break bread. Who’s the stranger? What’s the mystery? Let’s find out in Luke 24:13-35. Luke 24:13 says, “Now behold, two of them were traveling that same day ...read more

Scripture: Luke 24:13-35

Denomination: Baptist

Christmas: Our Savior Is Born

Contributed by Ajai Prakash on Dec 20, 2025

God's greatest gift was delivered in the humblest of settings, revealing His love for humanity in a way that transcends time. This Christmas, as we reflect on this passage, may we embrace the quiet beauty of the nativity and open our hearts to the Savior born for us that holy night.

OPENING ILLUSTRATION: "A small cathedral outside Bethlehem marks the supposed birthplace of Jesus. Behind a high altar in the church is a cave, a little cavern lit by sliver lamps. You can enter the main edifice and admire the ancient church. You can also enter the quiet cave where a star ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:1-7

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

9. Message In 1 Peter – Number 9 - Consider The Suffering Church And Peter’s Teaching On Suffering - How Do We Suffer? (1 Peter 4:13) Series

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Oct 31, 2025

Suffering is a sad fact of our generation. It has always been the case for Christians right from the times of the Roman Empire to today, especially in Africa. Peter opens up the matter of suffering as a Christian and we look at this to draw important lessons from what he is saying.

9. Message in 1 Peter – Number 9 - CONSIDER THE SUFFERING CHURCH AND PETER’S TEACHING ON SUFFERING - HOW DO WE SUFFER? (1 Peter 4:13) “It’s not fair! Why should it be happening to me? Why has God not stopped this? Does God notice what is happening? It doesn’t happen to others - why to ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:12, 1 Peter 4:15, 1 Peter 3:17, 1 Peter 2:20, 1 Peter 1:6-7, 1 Peter 2:19, Matthew 13:20-21, 1 Peter 3:14, 1 Peter 3:18, Philippians 2:5-11, John 14:1, John 14:27, Mark 4:35-41, 1 Peter 4:12, 1 Peter 4:13, 2 Thessalonians 3:2-3, Malachi 3:3, Hebrews 12:2, 1 Peter 4:14, 1 Peter 4:16, 1 Peter 4:19, 1 Peter 5:10, 2 Corinthians 4:16-17  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Defending The Faith Series

Contributed by Austin W. Duncan on May 20, 2025

In the opening verses of Jude, we’re reminded that following Christ means embracing a new identity—one marked by complete submission and ownership by Jesus. This message calls the Church to stay alert and defend the faith from subtle internal threats that distort grace and divide the body.

It’s the end of June of 2023. Crazy, isn’t it? Well I guess not really - that’s how time works. But, May 1st of this year marked half a decade that I’ve been here at New Hope, and in fact, this month, although it’s almost over, marks exactly 2 full years since I’ve started preaching here. Kind of a ...read more

Scripture: Jude 1:1-4, Jeremiah 17:9-10, 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Book Of Galatians – Chapter 4:6-7 Message 13 – The Greatness And Wonder Of Being Made Adopted Sons And Heirs In Christ – What Is "The Inheritance” - Part 2 Series

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Apr 13, 2024

Our high privileged position is to be lifted from sin and made the adopted sons of God. That makes us heirs, and this time we are opening up what THE INHERITANCE is that God has reserved for us in heaven. It is so wonderful. The inheritance was purchased at greatest cost. Praise God!

THE BOOK OF GALATIANS – CHAPTER 4:6-7 MESSAGE 13 – THE GREATNESS AND WONDER OF BEING MADE ADOPTED SONS AND HEIRS IN CHRIST – WHAT IS “THE INHERITANCE” - PART 2 We have been focussing our studies in the last two messages on {{Galatians 4:6 Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 4:6-7, Acts 20:32, 1 Corinthians 2:9-10, Acts 26:17-18, Ephesians 1:11-12, Ephesians 1:13-14, 2 Corinthians 1:22, 2 Corinthians 5:5, Ephesians 1:15-18, Colossians 1:12, Hebrews 11:8, 1 Peter 1:3-5, Romans 8:28-31, 1 Corinthians 2:7-8, Ephesians 1:5-6, Ephesians 1:11  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Daniel’s Amazing Thankfulness

Contributed by John Gaston on Nov 19, 2022

When Daniel learned that his enemies had published a decree specifically designed to make him break the law by giving thanks to his God in prayer, he went home, opened his window toward Jerusalem, and in the sight of his foes, gave thanks to God!

DANIEL’S AMAZING THANKFULNESS DANIEL 6:10 INTRODUCTION A. HUMOR 1. During his years in the White House, President Harry Truman began an unusual Thanksgiving tradition. Every year since, United States presidents have used the Wednesday before Thanksgiving to pardon a turkey. A preselected bird is ...read more

Scripture: Daniel 6:10

Denomination: Assembly Of God