Sermons on Stay Close:

Top Level Thanksgiving Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 10, 2021

Top-level thanksgiving depends on deep awareness of the goodness of God, and none can have this awareness until they have the assurance of salvation in Christ. You must experience God's goodness and mercy in being forgiven and set free from sin to have the thankful heart of the Psalmist.

Leslie Weatherhead tells the story of the 5 year old boy use to listen to the radio even though he could not understand anything but the children's programs. He observed that his parents listened every day to what was called the news. He could make nothing of that. One Sunday morning he went ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 118:1-5

Successful Suffering Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 12, 2021

The lesson on how to suffer successfully involves the whole of one's spiritual life and relationship to God. In learning this lesson we will learn that which is necessary to be a complete and entire Christian.

Imagine the testing of the body in such a sport as football. To be on your feet and seconds later brought to the ground hard and fast. Then to get up and do it again, and again, and again, but constantly moving forward. All of that falling is not what wins the game, but whether or not you win ...read more

Scripture: James 1:1-8

Good Out Of Evil Part2 Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 12, 2021

We cannot know the value of any experience at the time of experiencing it. There is no way to know if that which makes us cry now will be one of our most precious blessings in the future.

A tornado came sweeping across the prairie of Minnesota destroying everything in its path. When it struck Rochester, Minnesota, hundreds of people were injured, and 23 were killed. It was a tragedy, yet millions of people have been thankful for what God did to bring much good out of that tragic ...read more

Scripture: James 1:12

Loving Our Enemies

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 13, 2021

This means the Christian must love the non-Christian, and even the anti-Christian. He does not need to like them, but he does need to love them.

Andrew Jackson was the 7th president of the United States and one of the most popular presidents ever. After two terms he left office with greater popularity than when he entered. He is one of the most interesting presidents to study, for the record would indicate that he had no business being ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:38-43

Concealing The Word Of God

Contributed by James Dina on Mar 14, 2021

The counsels of God, His truths, must be revealed. It is a dangerous thing for any man to conceal the Word of God, either in his opinion or in his practice. Speak the truth to one another in love.

CONCEALING THE WORD OF GOD "For I have not concealed the words of the Holy One." (Job 6:10b) "Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost has made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he has purchased with his own ...read more

Scripture: Job 6:10, Acts 20:28

Denomination: Pentecostal

Seven Sundays To Easter: "whence Art Thou?" Series

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Mar 15, 2021

Pontius Pilate asked Jesus this question. The reply of Jesus to that question left Pilate very unsettled!

Introduction: John chapter 18 records the arrest of Jesus while He and the disciples were in the garden of Gethsemane. In one of the most illegal trials of history, Jesus was questioned by several different people including Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor of Judea. Pilate, being a pagan Roman, ...read more

Scripture: John 19:1-16

Denomination: Baptist

The Gentle Encourager Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 16, 2021

Jesus intended to conquer, but not like any other conqueror who had ever lived. His method was sheer folly to the world and still is today, but Jesus goes on reigning while the mighty mock him and then disappear into the dust of oblivion.

Harry Reichenback in the book World's Most Spectacular Hoaxes tells of his grand deception in promoting Francis Bushman. Bushman was a small time actor in Chicago, but Reichenback was able to get his salary raised to a commanding figure. He took Bushman to New York and carried 2000 pennies in ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 12:9, Matthew 12:15-21

Worthy Is The Lamb Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 17, 2021

The basic issue in worship is not, is the choir worthy, is the soloist worthy, is the organist or pianist worthy, is the pastor worthy-the issue is, is Jesus worthy?

Colonel John Howard was ordered to retreat in the Revolutionary War. But as he did, the British started to charge, and he decided to surprise them. He ordered his men to attack. They did and won a smashing victory for which he received great honor. But General Morgan reminded him, had his plan ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 5:1-14

Spontaneous Prayer Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 19, 2021

Spontaneous prayer is much more meaningful and real than planned prayer. Planned prayer is usually locked into formulas, and we repeat the same requests over and over. This kind of prayer gets dull, and it is seen as a duty rather than a joy.

George Buttrick in his large book simply called Prayer tells of why the Acoma Indians in Colorado chose to live on the mesa. The rock gave them safety. The Apaches on the South and the Navajos on the North made them sitting ducks down on the plains, and so they headed for the rocks. A narrow path ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:12-28

The Pleasure Of Prayer Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 19, 2021

The pleasure of prayer is that by means of it we become more Christlike, for in prayer we develop the spirit and perspective of Christ.

One of life's greatest pleasures is the pleasure of answered prayer. But the pleasure of one can be the pain of another. Dick Van Dyke tells some funny stories about children and answers to prayer. Five year old Mark gave a loud whistle in the middle of the pastors sermon. His grandmother ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 84:8

A Mother's Comfort Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 19, 2021

Here in Isa. 66:13 God says to His people who have suffered His judgment: "As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you." God is impressed with motherhood, and especially her ability to comfort her child.

Charles Connick was an unknown artist in Boston who brought his mother to live with him. They spent a summer at Cape Cod where they met a Mr. Swift. All summer Mr. Swift noticed how Connick honored his mother. He was so impressed that he decided to do something unusual. He was rich and had given ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 66:7-13

Everybody Touches Somebody Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 21, 2021

The beauty of being may be limited to the few, but the beauty of doing is open to all. Everyone of us can do beautiful things that aid the fulfillment of God's plan.

Harriet Beecher Stowe was a preacher's daughter who was born in 1811. She certainly didn't look like she would ever amount to much. She was shy and had a large nose and a hunched back. She considered herself to be quite homely. Calvin Stowe, professor of Biblical Lit. in Lane Theological ...read more

Scripture: Esther 2:15-23

Christian Education Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 28, 2021

Wisdom is the ability to make right choices in life. Folly is the making of wrong choices. The goal of education in both the secular and sacred realm is to give to people the knowledge and awareness they need to make wise choices.

The Jews loved to tell stories about the importance of choices. Nathan Ausubel tells one of the wealthy Jewish merchant who took his slave on a long journey leaving his only son behind. On the journey the merchant became very ill, and at the point of death he made a will leaving all this ...read more

Scripture: Mark 12:18-24

The Face Of God Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 30, 2021

When Mary pressed the soft warm cheeks of baby Jesus to her own, she was touching the face of God. When the shepherds and the wise men came to see Jesus they were seeing the face of God. Christmas is about the face of God.

John Mcgee Jr. wrote the poem High Flight. It is so meaningful to some pilots, they repeat it as they sit in their planes soaring though the skies. It goes like this- Oh, I have slipped the surly bonds of earth And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings; Sunward I've climbed, and ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:1-6

The Supreme Virtue Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 31, 2021

Paul made it clear in I Cor. 13 that he could have all gifts and powers that anyone could ever hope to have, but if he lacked love he would be nothing. Peter agrees with Paul, and that is why he puts love at the top.

Pitiram Sorokin in his book The Ways And Power Of Love tells of how in 1918 he was hunted down by the Communist Government of Russia. He was imprisoned and condemned to death. Everyday he expected to be shot as he witnessed the shootings of his friends and fellow prisoners. For 4 years he ...read more