Sermons on Pilgrim:

When Hope Seems Gone Series

Contributed by Dale Pilgrim on Mar 28, 2010

Despair makes hope seem an empty dream as we snap awake to reality and we begin to believe the lie, “there's no way out.”...Our lesson today is one of “how” and “what”. “How” can I move from a spirit of despair to a life of hope?

DARE TO BELIEVE – “When Hope Seems Gone” Jonah 2:1-10 This picture (person sitting against a wall, very dark room, small light in the window) is, to me, a powerful image of despair. It creates a sense of aloneness where an overwhelming gloom settles into your spirit and there's ...read more

Denomination: Salvation Army

House Rules Series

Contributed by Dale Pilgrim on Mar 28, 2010

Like most of you, I could do without picking up my socks, mowing the lawn or setting the table for dinner. But you know why I do it (and for the most part) don’t have to be told to do it? I love my wife! I love being able to help her and that’s what gives

House Rules Text: Selected passages House rules – the blessing and curse of daily life. Pick up your socks. Brush your teeth. Mow the lawn. Take out the garbage. Set the table. Walk the dog. “Seriously Dale, you’re worst than the girls” laments my weary lady! God has ...read more

Scripture: Malachi 3:6-12

Denomination: Salvation Army

Is This Your Time Series

Contributed by Dale Pilgrim on Mar 28, 2010

The matter of destiny is something we can’t afford to treat lightly. We must carefully evaluate what our destiny choices mean, both for today and for the future and ultimately eternity.

IS THIS YOUR TIME? Luke 19:44 “…you did not recognize the time of God’s coming to you.” You may have seen the commercials about quitting smoking where the interviewee says, “I talked to my doctor and now I see quitting in a whole new way. It was my time to ...read more

Scripture: Luke 19:44

Denomination: Salvation Army

A Face In The Crowd Series

Contributed by Dale Pilgrim on Mar 25, 2008

God’s anger is inflamed when humanity exploits itself but more especially in the name of religion. God will hold accountable, people who make worship a burdensome thing.

Michelle Sterling, Global Image Group: "Within the first three seconds of a new encounter, people evaluate you… even if it is just a glance. People appraise your visual and behavioral appearance from head to toe. They observe your demeanor, mannerisms, and body language and even assess your ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 21:6-15

Denomination: Salvation Army

"Full Life" Investment (1 Of 4, Stewardship)

Contributed by Dale Pilgrim on Mar 30, 2008

Stewardship is God’s invitation to us to experience freedom rather than live as slaves. Are you ready to take a journey of faith and liberation?

Church Humor (from The Daily Dilly, 1/6/03) as cited at http://bible.christianity.com/SermonHelps/11546199/ “Here are some comments you’ll probably never hear at church: 1.Hey! It’s my turn to sit in the front pew. 2.I was so enthralled, I never noticed your sermon went 25 minutes over time. ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:1-21

Denomination: Salvation Army

Unshackled Hands Series

Contributed by Dale Pilgrim on Jan 28, 2008

I could quite easily justify not even stopping...But I was reminded that unshackled hands are not concerned about how or why – only that there is a need and I should do something about it.

A well dressed woman was on an African Safari that stopped in a leper hospital. The air was humid and sticky. Flies buzzed in frenzy. The woman noticed a nurse bending toward a patient, attending a leper’s pus-filled sores. The woman said, “I wouldn’t do that for all the money in the world” to ...read more

Scripture: Luke 10:30-36

Denomination: Salvation Army

Prayer-Works Series

Contributed by Dale Pilgrim on Feb 16, 2008

Why ‘work’ instead of ‘activity’ of prayer or ‘picnic’ of prayer? Why does ‘prayer concert’, or ‘prayer vigil’ sound so gray and bland? The answer is obvious. Prayer is hard work! It is rewarding; it is life-changing; but it is hard.

We continue today on our topic, “Learning to serve in a Service-less Age”, more specifically looking at “The refurbished Life”. God refurbishes our lives, in part, through “The Habit of Prayer”. I confess my struggle with this topic. It is complex yet simple. So complex that we will not even begin ...read more

Scripture: Luke 11:1-11

Denomination: Salvation Army

He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not

Contributed by Dale Pilgrim on Mar 2, 2008

The cry of the inner child remains the same. We desperately want someone to love us. Love me for me. Charles Spurgeon (English preacher of the 19th century) said, “God chose me before I was born; for he never would have chosen me afterwards!”

The childish art of love – pulling the petals from a flower and reciting, “(s)he loves me, (s)he loves me not” – left love to chance. Even rigged it because if you start a certain way you end up where you want to – “(s)he love me!” Prance off feeling hopeful that love has a chance! The cry of the ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:38-39

Denomination: Salvation Army

What Is That In Your Hand?

Contributed by Dale Pilgrim on Oct 21, 2008

It was only with a shepherd’s staff that Moses parted the waters of a great sea, that he commanded natural disasters and demanded water from a rock. It was in the great lesson of a simple stick that when anything is given to God it wields mighty power!

“What is that in Your Hand?” Exodus 3:16-4:2a It happened several times a week, almost without fail. Whether they lined up against the wall of the gymnasium, the local ice rink or the snow bank for the back-roads hockey, it was always the same. The leaders picked him last. Last for basketball ...read more

Denomination: Salvation Army

Between A Rock And A Hard Place

Contributed by Dale Pilgrim on Oct 27, 2008

The biggest enemy we have in the church is not the Bible...It is fumbling, insensitive extremists who wave judgmental fingers and presume themselves to be the conscious of God for the world.

Between a rock and a hard place Meaning: To be forced to make a decision between two undesired options or as an another source puts it, “stuck between two opposing forces” (www.goenglish.com) Origin Gary Martin, author of Meanings and Origins provides us with the US origin of the phrase. He traced ...read more

Scripture: Romans 7:7-25

Denomination: Salvation Army

Friends And Fountains

Contributed by Dale Pilgrim on Oct 28, 2008

Death, through our eyes, is ‘the end’. Death is not the grand finale called “THE END”. It is the 2nd DVD to the story!

FRIENDS & FOUNTAINS St. John 11 (Selected verses) It is wonderful to have friends. I hope you all have at least one good friend and wish that for you. We can share our hearts with friends and they understand us like no one else can. Jesus had three such friends. He travelled a lot and didn’t own ...read more

Scripture: John 11:25-26

Denomination: Salvation Army

Son Power Series

Contributed by Dale Pilgrim on Sep 16, 2007

We each have choices to make today. We want either the Light on or off. We’re going to explore what those options will mean for us.

I have had occasions when I would awaken in the middle of the night having had a bad dream or unsettled sleep. In these moments the darkness momentarily overwhelms me. I’d climb out of bed and fumble in the darkness for a light switch so I can come out of my disturbing slumber. Of course, the ...read more

Scripture: John 8:1-12

Denomination: Salvation Army

Soul Food Series

Contributed by Dale Pilgrim on Oct 6, 2007

People fill up on friendships that give them what they want; they fill up on entertain; they fill up by taking all they can get without ever realizing that they will be more satisfied if they give.

THANKSGIVING DINNERS are awesome! Driveways are over-packed with cars. I have a meal before the meal picking the turkey while I’m carving it! Then, just to make sure there’s not an empty spot down there, we stuff in some pumpkin pie! A few hours later most of us need another meal. * A picture of a ...read more

Scripture: John 6:25-35

Denomination: Salvation Army

Bridging The Distance

Contributed by Dale Pilgrim on Jul 13, 2008

What people want is a key to purposeful life. They want answers to where they are. They want to grasp something higher and bigger than themselves. They reach for a deeper connection beyond the boring routine of where they live and what they do.

“Bridging the Distance” Sermon Topic: Being in relationship with God Psalm 84 Airport terminals are entertaining venues to hang out if you cannot afford the movies! The most interesting storylines involve watching people arriving or leaving. The couple huddled – more like a locked embrace – as she ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 84:1-12, Acts 2:42-47

Denomination: Salvation Army

Come And Have Breakfast

Contributed by Dale Pilgrim on Jul 22, 2008

The invitation to breakfast intends to take us beyond the surface picture of an hour at a fireside having fishcakes and tea.

From time to time, Glenys says something to me that is sweet to hear and extremely powerful. These words arrest me and make me sit and up and listen. Ladies, if you have a man that does not pay attention, you need this sentence because you will get the undivided attention you so desperately desire. ...read more

Scripture: John 21:1-12

Denomination: Salvation Army