Sermons on Pilgrims Return:

I Dare You! Series

Contributed by Dale Pilgrim on Feb 18, 2009

Courage doesn’t mean we’re not afraid. It means we do what we know is the right thing to do even though we’re afraid.

What does “I Dare You!” mean? Sometimes good, sometimes bad. Whenever someone dares us to do something or be something, it means they want us to do something that’s hard for us to do. Story of “The Cat and the Mice” by Aesop… Mice had a problem… Q: Why was the young mouse’s suggestion a good ...read more

Scripture: Daniel 6:19-28

Denomination: Salvation Army

Old Truth In A New Age

Contributed by Dale Pilgrim on Feb 23, 2009

When I read John 14:6, I face a dilemma...with the challenge of following Jesus as Truth at a time when the concept of universal truth is in question.” (Chan, 2007)

When I read John 14:6, I face a dilemma. I believe the truth, that is not the challenge. Dr. Mark Chan, scholar, theologian, author and professor at University of Nottingham, captures the problem for me. He wrote, “Our concern is with the challenge of following Jesus as Truth at a time when the ...read more

Scripture: John 14:6

Denomination: Salvation Army

Too Busy Series

Contributed by Dale Pilgrim on Feb 18, 2006

How many countless people are merely existing, even in the church? It is often the result of not focusing on God’s agenda and direction for the way we spend our time.

Text: 10Figure out what will please Christ, and then do it. 11Don’t waste your time on useless work, mere busywork, the barren pursuits of darkness. Expose these things for the sham they are. (The Message) Last sermon I shared an overview of what stewardship is. Stewardship lesson one: ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:10-20

Denomination: Salvation Army

The Better Choice

Contributed by Dale Pilgrim on Mar 25, 2006

We have two choices to choose from - God’s way or the alternative. Which pill will you swallow?

DVD – Matrix – scene where Neo has to choose the blue pill or the red pill… God calls us everyday to make a choice – for him or for the alternative. If we choose him we move into a world of mystery and adventure, and we experience real life! If we choose the alternative, we are promised only a ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 1:1-6

Denomination: Salvation Army

Embracing Your Purpose

Contributed by Dale Pilgrim on Apr 7, 2006

Palm Sunday - Jesus embraced his purpose, remaining focused on the goal. So can we succeed if we remained focused on him!

17-year-old Vivian Ip of Inglewood Cliffs, New Jersey offers a heart cry that resonates in the lives of all too many youth. It is an indictment of her American search for purpose and meaning. There are pages of looking, searching, whys, and survival language. She cries in her loneliness and ...read more

Scripture: Mark 10:32-34

Denomination: Salvation Army

Seeing Life Through A Different Lense

Contributed by Dale Pilgrim on Jan 14, 2006

We often look at life through the lense of the Enemy’s perspective - and live defeated lives. What can happen when we look at life through God’s eyes? Everything changes!

“A few weeks ago I thought I was going out of my mind. At the time I didn’t realize I was experiencing a form of an "Anxiety Attack." My heart raced with fear as thoughts came to my mind of all the things I hadn’t accomplished that day. And the fear of failing the people around me made me want to ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 6:8-23

Denomination: Salvation Army

Faith, The Tonic Of Life

Contributed by Dale Pilgrim on Apr 26, 2010

If you want your existence to be about something more than just careers, acquiring things and trying to get an adrenaline rush out of life, look past NOW

FAITH – THE TONIC OF LIFE Scripture: Hebrews 11:1-12:3 Lee Garfunkal's Pepsi versus Coke commercial is too funny. Pepsi is delivered to the Shady Acres Senior's Retirement Home. The residents are talking rap over rock while grandma zips by on a skateboard. Hi-fives are going around. One old ...read more

Denomination: Salvation Army

The Quest For Eden

Contributed by Dale Pilgrim on May 14, 2010

Eden is not a place but an experience. It is not a garden in the East but a garden of the soul. The human spirit is always on a quest for something more, something better.

The Quest for Eden Genesis 1:26 – 2:3 INTRO When people ask us about our charges as pastors and we speak of our time in Bermuda the response is generally the same – “that's tough but somebody has to do it.” No doubt the idyllic island with its Aqua Ocean, towering palm ...read more

Denomination: Salvation Army

Rising To The Challenge

Contributed by Dale Pilgrim on Jun 7, 2010

“Christians who persist in proclaiming Christ as Truth-Incarnate risk being tarred with the brush of narrow-mindedness or even bigotry.”(Chan)

Sermon Topic: Rising to the Challenge Sermon Text: Acts 17:16-34 (to be read during sermon) Rosa De Burca, former employee of UNICEF (1994-2003). As the Child Protection Officer she traveled with a colleague to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in 1997 in an effort to help refugees who ...read more

Scripture: Acts 17:16-34

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

Too Busy (2 Of 4, Stewardship) Series

Contributed by Dale Pilgrim on Apr 20, 2008

“I don’t have time.” “Be there in a minute!”...If you have used any of these or similar type statements, you know the experience of being in the TRAP – Time Restraints And Pressures

Text: Verse 10 (The Message): "Figure out what will please Christ then do it." Last sermon I shared an overview of what stewardship is. Stewardship lesson one: everything we have belongs to God - God has given us the honor and responsibility to manage his property, finances and affairs. ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:10-20

Denomination: Salvation Army

A Breath Of Fresh Hope

Contributed by Dale Pilgrim on Apr 30, 2008

Life can throw some bad curve balls (e.g. death) our way and they hurt . The Scriptures offer us a breathe of fresh air or rather, a breath of fresh hope!

13But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope. 14For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. 15For this we say to you by the ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

Denomination: Salvation Army

You Are What You Eat

Contributed by Dale Pilgrim on Apr 10, 2009

Is your fridge stocked full of fresh fruits, vegetables and lean meats OR is it full of fat-filled, overly salted processed convenience foods and abandoned take-out containers? If we truly are what we eat, what do your eating habits say about you?

Mike Warnke, Christian evangelist and comedian said, “Eat fat, greasy food and you become a fat, greasy dude.” BBC America hosts nutritionist Gillian McKeith who works with unhealthy eaters to break lifetimes of bad habits. BBC introduces their webpage with this introduction: Is your fridge ...read more

Scripture: John 19:28-30

Denomination: Salvation Army

Junction Or Journey

Contributed by Dale Pilgrim on Jul 29, 2007

We’re too often guilty of aiming and nothing and hitting it every time. “Visionaries can see life for what it is, can see God for who God is. They are people who can read the “signs of the times”, not the “signs of the future”.” (Leonard Sweet)

“Where there is no vision the people perish” (Hebrew Proverb) “Where there is only vision, people have nervous breakdowns.” (Postmodern Hebrew Proverb as quoted by Leonard Sweet) – having the vision and dreams but not doing (not able to do) anything about them. Larry of the Three Stooges caused ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:1-4

Denomination: Salvation Army

When You Can't Get Up

Contributed by Dale Pilgrim on Aug 11, 2007

There are too many people who become recluse when we can’t get up. Instead of getting surrounded with people to help us, most of us try to eat the problem away or starve the problem away and stay behind closed doors.

I was chatting with my younger sibling brother this week and I told him what I was preparing my sermon for Sunday. I gave him my subject, “When you can’t get up.” He said, “Sing I’m satisfied with Jesus here and stay in bed.” After we laughed that one out he asked what it was really about. When I ...read more

Denomination: Salvation Army