Sermons on Owen Bourgaize:

Ichthys - The Symbol Of A Fish

Contributed by Owen Bourgaize on Aug 26, 2003

The symbol of a fish - <>< - was a code message to tell a stranger that the person who drew it was a Christian.

ICHTHYS - THE CHRISTIAN FISH SYMBOL I’ve got a picture here - <><. Do you know what it is? Yes, it’s a symbol of a fish. But it’s more than that, it’s a Christian symbol going back to the time of the first years of the Christian church. In the first century Christians were a persecuted ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:17-18

Denomination: Baptist

Passport To Heaven

Contributed by Owen Bourgaize on Nov 11, 2002

A passport and a visa are vital documents in travelling on Earth but so is the need for a "passport" to heaven.

PASSPORT TO HEAVEN A passport is a very important document if you want to travel from one country to another. It’s a command from one country’s government to the country you want to visit, to allow you to enter its territory and look after you while you are there. It’s almost impossible to enter ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 21:27, Matthew 25:21-46

Denomination: Baptist

Bethlehem - House Of Bread

Contributed by Owen Bourgaize on Dec 1, 2002

"Bethlehem" means "house of bread", reminding us that Jesus is the Bread of Life.

BETHLEHEM - THE HOUSE OF BREAD One of my favourite carols is "O little town of Bethlehem". Do you know what happened there? It’s where Jesus was born - a town not far from Jerusalem. And do you know what "Bethlehem" means? It’s "the house of bread". Jesus was born in Bethlehem - in a stable. ...read more

Scripture: John 6:35

Denomination: Baptist

As Others See Us

Contributed by Owen Bourgaize on Jun 30, 2001

John the Elder writes an appraisal of three church members: Gaius - who serves others, Diotrephes - who hinders others, and Demetrius - who attracts others.

AS OTHERS SEE US The third letter of John is one of the shortest in the New Testament but it has much to say to us. It’s a warm and honest pastoral letter. A straight from the shoulder message from a pastor to his people. Where encouragement and commendation are ...read more

Scripture: 3 John 1:1-14

Denomination: Baptist

The Magnet

Contributed by Owen Bourgaize on Sep 29, 2003

A children’s ilustration of the power of a magnet to attract iron as a parable telling that Christians have a similar response to God.

THE MAGNET I was doing a repair job out of doors when unfortunately I dropped a tin of small nails on the gravel driveway. It was important that none be left mixed up in the gravel as I didn’t want the car to get a puncture! But it was difficult to find them among the loose gravel. Then I ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 5:11-12

Denomination: Baptist

Remembrance Day And The Suffering Church

Contributed by Owen Bourgaize on Nov 10, 2006

Many churches link Remembrance Day and the Suffering Church finding help in both life situations in David’s testimony of God who Forgives, Heals, Preserve, Provides and Satisfies

On Remembrance Day we’re reminded by the two minutes silence of the suffering and sacrifice by ordinary men and women in the interests of their nation and cherished values. It’s also appropriate to link Remembrance with the Persecuted and Suffering Church. Here in Britain the Christian Church ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 103:1-5

Denomination: Baptist

Jonah - His Message Then And Now Series

Contributed by Owen Bourgaize on Dec 19, 2004

Jonah’s real life story is on him as a Runaway from Duty, his Repentantance of Sin, his Restoration to Fellowship and Recommissioning for Service

My first encounter with Jonah was when I was in my teens. Perhaps the preacher was parading his modern scholarship or talking “tongue in cheek”, but he certainly startled his congregation by saying that he wasn’t concerned “if Jonah was swallowed by a whale or if Jonah swallowed the whale!” He ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

The Amazing Grace Of God

Contributed by Owen Bourgaize on Mar 5, 2004

Exploring the Grace of God by asking Why it’s so necessary; What has it done for us?; Why it’s so amazing; and What are the obligations in response to God’s grace.

One of the most frequently used words in Christian worship is the word ‘Grace’. We bring our services to a close with what we call ‘the grace’. It’s a wonderful benediction because it sends us out into the world with the assurance that God has been with us and will be with us until we meet again ...read more

Scripture: John 1:14-18

Denomination: Baptist

Saints With Broken Haloes

Contributed by Owen Bourgaize on Oct 31, 2002

All Christians are ’saints’ but with broken haloes; God wants to restore and shine through us - see the story of Winchester Cathedral window.

CALLED TO BE SAINTS Many years ago the bishops in England thought that there were so many good people to remember, that one day should be set apart commemorate all who had lived Godly lives, and so November 1st was designated as "All Saints Day". When St Paul wrote his letter to the Christians ...read more

Scripture: Romans 1:7, Ephesians 3:8

Denomination: Baptist

Leaning Tower Of Pisa

Contributed by Owen Bourgaize on Nov 2, 2002

Jesus urges us to build our lives on the solid foundation of trust and faith in him - see story and picture of the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

LEANING TOWER OF PISA Every year thousands of tourists go to a city in Italy called Pisa to see the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy. I went to see it some years ago but couldn’t get close because it was in a dangerous condition as it could topple over at any time. That’s why it’s a famous ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:24-27

Denomination: Baptist

Mona Lisa - Priceless And Unique

Contributed by Owen Bourgaize on Nov 2, 2002

Everyone is priceless and unique in god’s sight - see story and picture of the Mona Lisa.

PRICELESS AND UNIQUE I’ve got something priceless and unique to show you. What do you think it is? The Mona Lisa. This is one of the world’s famous art treasures. It’s hung in the Paris art museum, the Louvre. It’s so famous it’s got a room to itself, with special lighting and security guards. ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 3:10

Denomination: Baptist

Dirty Rags

Contributed by Owen Bourgaize on Jan 10, 2003

"All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags! (Isa 64:6).

Do you have chores to do at home, you know, jobs to help in the house? When I was busy at work in the office, I didn’t have too much spare time but when I retired my wife soon found me some jobs. I had to take a crash course in cleaning the silver. The trouble with silver is that it soon gets ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 64:6

Denomination: Baptist

Festival Of Lights For Jews And Christians

Contributed by Owen Bourgaize on Nov 6, 2002

Christians celebrate a Festival of Lights at Christmas and the Jews have Hanukkah, both pictures of the Spirit of God shining out in a dark world - see picture of Menorah.

FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS FOR JEWS AND CHRISTIANS This Christmas the lights in town and on houses have been better than ever. I expect you had Advent candles in church to remind you of the Christmas festival. But it’s not only Christians who celebrate with lights - the Jews do so as well. I’ve got ...read more

Scripture: Zechariah 4:1-6, Revelation 1:12-20

Denomination: Baptist

Don't Be Like The Chameleon

Contributed by Owen Bourgaize on Nov 6, 2002

The chameleon is an unclean creature. Christians should avoid its characteristic of changing opinions to suite our environment.

THE CHAMELEON When the new nation of Israel was getting ready to go into the land that God had promised them, their leader, Moses, gave them instructions on how they should live as God’s people. God wanted them to prosper, but for this to happen, they had to avoid certain animals that could harm ...read more

Scripture: Leviticus 11:30

Denomination: Baptist

New Year - Fresh Start

Contributed by Owen Bourgaize on Nov 10, 2002

The Roman god Janus - a man with two faces - has given the first month of the year the name of January, from whom we can learn much - see picture

JANUS A few days ago we entered a New Year. Who can tell me the name of the month that starts the year? January. Do you know how it got its name? It comes from the Roman god, Janus. Look at his picture. Isn’t it strange - he’s got two faces! He’s looking both forward and backwards - at the ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:13-14

Denomination: Baptist