Sermons on Stephen Stoned:

Shepherds?

Contributed by Stephen Aram on Mar 24, 2020

It was lowly shepherds who got the most impressive announcement about the birth of the Messiah. That tells us a lot about the God we serve.

I think the presence of the shepherds has to be one of my favorite parts of the Christmas story. They don’t say much. They don’t do much. But it sure was important to God that they be there for the birth of Jesus. And that says a lot. When the time came to tell Zechariah about the birth of ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:8-20, Isaiah 57:15

The Christ In A Manger

Contributed by Stephen Aram on Mar 24, 2020

We have heard the story so often that it seems obvious that Christ was born in a manger. But that would have been shocking to the world of that day.

I always enjoy the chance to meet people from different cultures and learn how 2 people from 2 different cultures can look at the same event and see it differently. Years ago, we lived in New Delhi India. Kathy and I had to take a bus to a shop in the old city, so I brought my Bible along to ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:11-12

Peace On Earth

Contributed by Stephen Aram on Mar 24, 2020

We might read a Christmas card that says "Peace on Earth" and not think anything of it. But the hope of God's peace is revolutionary.

In years past at Christmas time you would see the phrase, “Peace on Earth,” quite a bit. It might be on a banner in a store window or on Christmas cards or decorations in someone’s front yard. We did get one Christmas card with the phrase, but not as many as in years past. As the years go by we ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:14

Dedicating Our Children To The Lord

Contributed by Stephen Aram on Mar 24, 2020

We share in Mary and Joseph's desire to give our kids the best possible spiritual foundations

I want all of us who are parents to think back to a time when you presented one of your children for baptism. What was it that you were asking God to do when you brought your child for baptism? Grandparents, if it’s fresher to think about your feelings at the birth of a grandchild, do that. What ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:21-40

The Price Of Peace

Contributed by Stephen Aram on Mar 26, 2020

At Christmas time we may dare to dream about peace on earth, but it doesn't last long. In Jesus, God showed us the way to true peace and it is not cheap.

“In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for see-- I am bringing you good ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:8-18

Jesus Grew

Contributed by Stephen Aram on Mar 26, 2020

Have you been saved? Great. But that's only the beginning. Jesus had to learn obedience and effective ministry. Are you on the path to becoming a useful disciple for God?

Last week we looked at a touching moment in Jesus’ infancy. His parents brought their infant son to the temple to be dedicated to God. They wanted nothing but God’s best for their special son. And in the temple God brought them across the path of one of his true saints, Simeon, who loved their ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:40

His Father's Business

Contributed by Stephen Aram on Mar 26, 2020

Even for Mary, Joseph and Jesus there were some messy family days. But that may be a necessary, healthy part of letting our teens grow up.

Have you ever found yourself in the situation where someone really impresses you, and you ask yourself, “I wonder what that person was like as a child?” You might be impressed with them for good things, or bad things. But you wonder about their childhood. For centuries Jesus has impressed ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:41-52

Palm Sunday - 2020 - Thy Kingdom Come - The Lord's Prayer - Part 2 Series

Contributed by Stephen Belokur on Apr 4, 2020

Should we be celebrating with the disciples who were waving palm branches and shouting "Hosanna to the Son of David" or should we be weeping over Jerusalem like Jesus? This naturally combines with "Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done ..." from the Lord's prayer.

(This is a shorter sermon used on Facebook Live during the Coronavirus pandemic) What is today? Today is Palm Sunday, the day we set aside to remember what many call “The Triumphal Entry” of Jesus into Jerusalem. Where do we find that? Matthew 21:1-11 As you look that up in your Bibles to read ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:9-16, Matthew 21:1-11, Psalm 119:2-3, Luke 19:37-44

Denomination: Nazarene

Resurrection Sunday 2020 - The Resurrection ... A Wall Or A Gate

Contributed by Stephen Belokur on Apr 17, 2020

The resurrection of Jesus from the dead is either fact or fiction. If it is fiction we are all lost in our sin. If it is fact then our eternal destiny pivots on whether we believe it or not.

The Resurrection – A Wall or A Gate Please open your Bibles to Matthew 28:1-7 which Pastor Karenlee will be reading and teaching from in a few minutes. We hope many of you were able to join us for our Good Friday service. It was good to remember all that happened between the Passover Meal, which ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:1-7, 1 John 1:1-4, Luke 1:1-4, 1 Corinthians 15:3-7, Romans 10:9-10, Romans 10:13-15, Acts 1:8, 2 Corinthians 5:20  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Nazarene

Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread - The Lord's Prayer - Part 3 Series

Contributed by Stephen Belokur on Apr 22, 2020

Looking at the Lord's Prayer on a phrase by phrase basis. (Shorter sermon for use in live streaming during the COVID-9 pandemic shutdown)

Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread (This sermon is a shorter sermon due to being delivered via Facebook/Live during the Covid-19 shutdown) Today is the sixth time we have gathered together to worship our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ via the internet. Aren’t you thankful that we have this technology ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:11, Matthew 6:31-33, John 6:35, Deuteronomy 8:3, Romans 12:1-2, Matthew 6:5-8  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Nazarene

John The Baptist: Challenge For A Deeper Life

Contributed by Stephen Aram on Apr 22, 2020

John the Baptist didn't follow in his father's footsteps as a priest in the temple. He challenged people to break out of normality and live radically new lives.

(John, entering from the back, in costume, down the center aisle.) Wake up, everybody! God’s Messiah is coming! That’s really good news! Get ready! Things have got to change around here! God’s blessings are coming for you! But you have to be ready! Clean it up, folks! (John standing in ...read more

Scripture: Luke 3:1-18

Point Them To Jesus

Contributed by Stephen Aram on Apr 22, 2020

Churches easily get struck in a rut and decline. John the Baptist serves as a model for vital ministry: focus on Jesus above all else.

Last week we started looking at the ministry of John the Baptist. He was a prophet. He cared for the spiritual health of his nation with all of his heart. He saw clearly what needed to be done and he spoke out what people needed to hear, boldly, without any sugar coating. His boldness was what ...read more

Scripture: Luke 3:15-18

A Family Like Ours

Contributed by Stephen Aram on Apr 22, 2020

We may be tempted to skip over the account of Jesus' ancestry, but it is an important part of the good news of Jesus.

If you had the job of writing up the story of the life of Jesus, one of the decisions you would make would be what to do with the opening paragraph. You know how important the opening is. You want something to grab people’s attention and pull them into reading the whole thing. What would you ...read more

Scripture: Luke 3:23-37

Mark 1:1-8 - Who Is Jesus?

Contributed by Stephen Belokur on Jan 30, 2018

In Mark 1:1-8 Mark declares that Jesus is the Christ and the Son of God. He goes on to show that Jesus fulfills OT prophecies and that John the Baptist is himself a fulfillment of prophecies who proclaims Jesus Deity as well.

Please open your Bibles to Mark 1:1-8 which we will read in a few minutes. The Gospel of Mark is fast paced. It is the shortest of the four Gospels filled with miracles and action to show the power of Jesus the Messiah. The Gospel of Mark emphasizes the super-human power of Jesus. Mark presents ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:1-8, John 1:1-3, Mark 14:51-52

Denomination: Nazarene

He Will Baptize You With The Holy Spirit

Contributed by Stephen Belokur on Jan 30, 2018

John was baptizing and the people knew and understood that but what was this baptism with the Holy Spirit that Jesus was bringing?

(This sermon is in an outline form so you may need to flesh it out a little) Please open your Bibles to Mark 1:1-8 which we will read in a few minutes. Last Sunday when we took a look at this passage of Scripture we talked about three things: 1. Mark was announcing Who Jesus is 2. Mark was ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:1-8, Matthew 22:37-40

Denomination: Nazarene