Sermons on Open Up:

Keep The Fire Burning

Contributed by Mark Schaeufele on Jul 24, 2019

God provides the fire, but it's up to us to keep it burning.

KEEP THE FIRE BURNING Text: Lev. 6:8-13 Introduction 1. Illustration: A U.S. Lutheran bishop tells of visiting a parish church in California and finding a stirring red and orange banner on the wall. "Come Holy Spirit. Hallelujah!" it declared in words printed under a picture of a fire ...read more

Scripture: Leviticus 6:8-13

Denomination: Methodist

Born Old

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jan 29, 2010

To experience new life, even in the senior years, means using old knowledge to gain new knowledge; to set aside pride in order to learn; and to be fully open to Christ.

We had been talking about a mutual friend. We had laughed a little at how rigid he was, how staid. We had commented that he didn’t like change; he could easily be "all shook up" when something didn’t go his way. I asked the other person in this conversation, "How long have you known John? Has he ...read more

Scripture: John 3:1-16

Denomination: Baptist

Love First

Contributed by Steven Simala Grant on Apr 10, 2012

We see real love in Jesus as he gave up his life for us.

Love First Jan 8, 2012 Intro: Let’s start with a little exercise: I want you to think of a fictional character that is widely admired. I’ll give you a bit of a start – I looked online for some lists of famous fictional characters and came up with some names: Batman, James ...read more

Scripture: John 3:16-22

Denomination: Baptist

Keep Your New Shirt On (Ephesians 4:25-5:2) Series

Contributed by Garrett Tyson on Feb 23, 2022

Become a people, who are useful to God, who can build up the body.

What we've seen over the past week weeks, is that God has a plan. God is making one family, who will live in peace with him and with each other. And to that end, Jesus gave each of us a ministry in the church, to build the church up, help it grow in love and unity. The problem is, some of ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:25-32

To Die Or Not To Die: Issues Of Life At It's End Series

Contributed by Steven Simala Grant on May 11, 2007

Our culture is pretty mixed up about death, and faces a whole series of ethical questions and dilemmas, and of a shift in our culture.

To Die Or Not To Die: Issues of Life At It’s End Series: In But Not Of May 15, 2005 Preamble: Before we take a look at today’s topic, issues of life at it’s end, which is part of our series of sermons addressing issues in our society from a Christian perspective, I want to acknowledge that this ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:35-57

Denomination: Baptist

The Love Of A Father

Contributed by Ricky Johnson on Mar 22, 2009

Facing up to John 3:16 and exactly what it means to me, phrase by phrase.

If you were like me, around the age of five or six, Miss Money taught you your first Bible verse in Sunday School; and it probably was John 3:16: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him may not perish but have eternal life." Over the ensuing ...read more

Scripture: John 3:14-21

Denomination: United Methodist

Portrait Of Humility - Philippians 2:5-8 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Apr 1, 2023

We know we are to be servants, but we struggle when servanthood requires giving up something precious. This message will help you see the beauty of a lifestyle of servanthood and giving up precious things for others.

Philippians 2:5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in the very form of God, did not consider that equality with God something to be grasped, 7 but made himself nothing, taking the very form of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:5-8

Can You Help Me Find A Hero.

Contributed by Rick Gillespie- Mobley on Feb 7, 2001

Jesus is the kind of hero we should be looking up to today, especially as Men.

Can You Help Me Find A Hero 1/24/1999 Men’s Sunday 1 Samuel 15:1-11 Luke 4:14-30 Text John 11 If I told you come over to my house this afternoon, I want you to meet Mr. Hero. What kind of person would you expect to find. Would you expect to see someone who has done something to ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 11:1-26

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

"No Longer Children" Series

Contributed by Clark Tanner on Jun 12, 2003

It’s time to grow up... (#15 in the Unfathomable Love of Christ series)

“As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves, and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming;” E. K. Simpson, in commenting on this verse, points out that the Christian is to be ever a child and childlike ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:14

Denomination: Orthodox

Christmas Plan Series

Contributed by Mark Schaeufele on Dec 9, 2019

Even though we messed everything up God had a plan to save us.

CHRISTMAS PLAN Text: Gen. 1:26-28; 2:15-17; 3:1-7, 15 Introduction 1. Illustration: In the opening pages of his autobiography, An American Life, Ronald Reagan writes, I was raised to believe that God had a plan for everyone and that seemingly random twists of fate are all a part of His plan. My ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 1:25-28

Denomination: Methodist

Disappointments New Christians Face

Contributed by Marilyn Murphree on Aug 19, 2004

Common disappointments that new Christians face often bring discouragement to the point of giving up.

Iliff and Saltillo UM churches August 29, 2004 “Disappointments New Christians Face” I Peter 1:6-9 James 1:2-4 INTRODUCTION: Think back to the time when you first came to the Lord and made your decision to become a Christian. You might have been a little child in Sunday school. It may have ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 1:6-9

Denomination: Methodist

One Last Sheep Sermon Series

Contributed by Bradley Hall on Jul 19, 2002

Fed up with life as a sheep, Lance seeks to live life as a leopard.

Over the years I have preached a couple of different sermons about a certain flock of sheep and their shepherd. I have to admit that I may have had more fun WRITING these sermons than you have had HEARING them, but I’ve written two of them already, so I felt like I had to complete a trilogy of ...read more

Scripture: John 10:22-30

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

In For The Long Haul

Contributed by John Barr on Sep 11, 2002

We are encouraged to be persistent in living for God, this offers helps to not give up.

In For the Long Haul Luke 18:1 “In June l955, Winston Churchill, who was then near the end of his life, was asked to give a commencement address at a British University. At this time he was physically infirm; he had to be helped to the podium. Then he held on to the podium for what seemed an ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:1-8

Denomination: Church Of God

Widow Series

Contributed by Michael Treston on May 8, 2002

A new look at what it means to give up everything to follow God

Economics What makes you uncomfortable to talk about? Money is essential our society does not function with out it. When we set up our priorities, When we look at our timetables we do so with an under lying belief, a hidden voice at the heart of us speaks which shapes and influences how we ...read more

Scripture: Luke 21:1-4

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

Deliverance - Psalm 124

Contributed by Alan Perkins on Mar 24, 2002

God often shows up when all other hope is gone.

Today we conclude our series of messages on the "Songs of Ascent," Psalms 120 – 134. These are traveling songs, sung by the people of ancient Israel on their journeys up to Jerusalem, as they made their way to the capitol city for the three annual feasts. Taken together, these Psalms form a kind of ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 124:1-8

Denomination: Baptist