Sermons on Ray Vander Laan:

What Is Your Story?

Contributed by Ray Ellis on Feb 22, 2005

Everyone has a story and everyone likes a good story. God’s story is all about His Son Jesus. God wants His story to be your story. Part of God’s plan is for you to tell His story.

What is Your Story? Acts 8:26-40 Everyone has a story and everyone likes a good story. God’s story is all about His Son Jesus. God wants His story to be your story. Part of God’s plan is for you to tell His story. In the early church we find an interesting story that started on the Day of ...read more

Scripture: Acts 8:26-40

Denomination: Free Methodist

Minister One To Another

Contributed by Ray Ellis on Sep 26, 2005

This messager describes several ways we carry out the command to "Minister One to Another."

Minister One to Another Romans 12:3-5 Ecc. 4:9-10 I Thess 5:11 The Apostle Paul in his writings teaches that we are to “minister to one another.” One of the hardest times in my life was when I started high school in a new city, Sterling, Kansas. I moved from Gypsum to Sterling a city four times ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:3-5

Denomination: Free Methodist

The Christian Life - An Exciting Adventure

Contributed by Ray Ellis on Sep 27, 2005

This message is a testimony of how God guides our life as ministers of the Gospel.

The Christian Life—An Exciting Adventure Matthew 4:18-22 Jesus gives the invitation: “Follow me and I will make you fishers of men.” Where God Guides He provides The Christian life is an exciting adventure. I have learned over the years that ”Where God guides He provides.” When you open a ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 4:18-22

Denomination: Free Methodist

Honor The Overlooked

Contributed by Ray Ellis on Sep 27, 2005

This message consider the Shepherds that first heard of the birth of Jesus. The message gives honor to those who are often overlooked.

Honor the Overlooked Luke 2:8-20 This morning I want to consider the Shepherds that first heard of the birth of Jesus. I want us to give honor to those who are often overlooked. Abraham Lincoln once said, "Die when I may, I want it said of me by those who know me best that I have always ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:8-20

Denomination: Free Methodist

"How Can A Loving God Allow The Suffering Of Good People?”

Contributed by Ray Ellis on Sep 27, 2005

This sermon addressed the suffering people experienced following the 9-11-01 terrorist attack in New York and Washington, DC.

“How Can A Loving God Allow the Suffering of Good People?” I Peter 4:12-19 This past week has been a time of suffering for many people in America. Evil hearts resulted in killing friends and family members in San Francisco and Sacramento. Evil hearts planned for months to strike at the heart of ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 4:12-19

Denomination: Free Methodist

Living In The Light Of Eternity

Contributed by Ray Ellis on Sep 27, 2005

When a person embraces the reality of the world to come it radically changes how the peson view this world. A person’s priorities change concerning money, things, time, friends, family, and life itself.

Living in the Light of Eternity Ephesians 1:15-23 (Message) When waiting in slow traffic on a hot day with 100-degree heat do you wonder why you do what you do? Do you wonder what’s the point of your daily activity? What gives you sense of purpose? Events can happen in your life that helps ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:15-23

Denomination: Free Methodist

Reaching Out In Love

Contributed by Ray Ellis on Oct 3, 2005

Jesus would have us as a local church to get involved in outreach for Kingdom growth.

Reaching Out in Love I Thessalonians 2:8 (New Century Version) “Because we loved you, we were happy to share not only God’s good news with you; but even our own lives.” A year ago we did a survey of 350 homes in our community. In our survey we asked several brief questions: 1. How long have ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 2:8

Denomination: Free Methodist

Go On To Spiritual Maturity

Contributed by Ray Ellis on Oct 10, 2005

As Christians we are not to be satisfied to remain as baby Christians we are to keep growing in knowledge and understanding of the things of God.

Go on to Spiritual Maturity Philippians 1:9-11 (NLT) In this passage of scripture the Apostle Paul gives the admonition: “Keep on growing.” During the past year have you grown in the knowledge and grace of our Lord Jesus Christ? 2 Peter 3:18, “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:9-11

Denomination: Free Methodist

Partners In Ministry

Contributed by Ray Ellis on Oct 17, 2005

God created each of us for a purpose. God endowed us with certain gifts, unique to us alone. We can use these gifts for the building up of the Body of Christ or use them for selfish ends.

Partners in Ministry Philippians 2:1-4 – People matter to God and should matter to you. I Peter 4:10 - “Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.” I Corinthians 3:9 “We work together as partners who belong to ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:1-4

Denomination: Free Methodist

Jesus: King Of Kings & Lord Of Lords

Contributed by Ray Ellis on Mar 14, 2005

As we prepare for the Easter celebration in a couple weeks we want to have an adequate view of the person and work of Jesus Christ.

Jesus: King of Kings and Lord of Lords Revelation 19:11-16 Philippians 2:4-11 As we prepare for the Easter Celebration in a couple weeks we want to have an adequate view of the person and work of Jesus Christ. We don’t want a perverted view given by television or Hollywood. We want a Biblical ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 19:4-16

Denomination: Free Methodist

Beyond The Cross - Salvation To All Who Believe

Contributed by Ray Ellis on Mar 22, 2005

This message focuses on I Corinthians 1:18. "The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but o us who are saved it is the power of God."

Beyond the Cross -Salvation to all who Believe- I Corinthians 1:18-25 Today is Palm Sunday, the beginning of Holy week, the last week of the public life and ministry of Jesus. Holy week goes from the Triumphant Entry into Jerusalem to the crucifixion on Friday to the resurrection on Easter ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:18-25

Denomination: Free Methodist

Jesus Is Risen

Contributed by Ray Ellis on Mar 23, 2005

This sermon looks at the eleven appearances of Jesus to his disciples.

“Jesus is Risen” Mark 16:1-7 I Corinthians 15:1-8 For us in the Christian Church the fact of the resurrection of Jesus is the truth that makes or brakes our faith. Without the resurrection we have no need for the Christian Church. The resurrection gives meaning to the CROSS of Calvary. The ...read more

Denomination: Free Methodist

A Transformed Life

Contributed by Ray Ellis on Apr 4, 2005

One of the greatest truths in the Bible is that people can experience a transformation. A person in Christ is given a new nature, a spiritual nature.

A Transformed Life -A Fresh Start- 2 Corinthians 5:17 - “What this means is that those who become Christians become new persons. They are not the same anymore, for the old life is gone. A new life has begun!” (NLT) One of the greatest truths in the Bible is that people can experience a ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:17

Denomination: Free Methodist

Living Out God's Plan For Your Life

Contributed by Ray Ellis on Apr 4, 2005

Do you have a LifePlan? Are you living the life God meant for you to live? This message helps you begin the development of a LifePlan.

Living the Life You Were Meant to Live -God has a plan for your life- Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the thoughts I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” Do you have a life plan? Do you have a life plan that takes you from where you are ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 29:11

Denomination: Free Methodist

Spiritual Versus Ordinary Human Sight

Contributed by Ray Searan on Apr 16, 2005

This is a sermon comparing and contrasting spiritual vision and ordinary human sight.

Text: Numbers 13:1-3, 25-33; Numbers 14:1-12, 36-38 Proverbs 29:18 Introduction: Briefly: there are two ways of looking at any of the circumstances in our life. We can look at it with ordinary human sight–which is based on what can be done only through human power. Alternatively, we can look at ...read more

Denomination: Assembly Of God