Sermons on Stephen:

You've Got A Lot Going For You, Part 1: God The Father

Contributed by Stephen Aram on Jul 29, 2019

Too many Christians feel inadequate to be any use to God or their church. Paul reminds the Ephesian Christians of the resources they have going for them.

In any church you’ll find some members who sit on the sidelines, feeling like they don’t really belong on the team. They have heard a number of times that God loves them, but in their hearts, they wonder. They feel a little lonely at church, a little on the sidelines. And they’d like to get to ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:3-14

You've Got A Lot Going For You, Part 2: The Trinity

Contributed by Stephen Aram on Jul 29, 2019

It can be confusing to talk about serving one God who is 3 persons. We may think we can just ignore abstract ideas like that. But this part of the nature of our God is one of the richest blessings of being a Christian

Last week we started looking at the main body of Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. He starts out with a very high falutin statement of the glory of God, listing first, blessings we have received through God the Father, then through God the Son, then through God the Holy Spirit. Starting out like ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:3-14

God The Son Series

Contributed by Stephen Aram on Jul 29, 2019

We may think we can make our own way to be good enough, but our only hope is in the redemption won by Jesus.

We are still at the beginning of working our way through one of the most amazing books of the Bible, Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. It presents the most beautiful picture of the church and the Christian life, a picture that really stretches your mind. The last two weeks we have been working ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:3-14

The Holy Spirit

Contributed by Stephen Aram on Jul 29, 2019

The Christian faith focuses on what God did long ago and will do in the future. But an experience of the Holy Spirit is a taste of what God means to us here and now, deep in our hearts.

Today we’ll finish up with the first chapter of Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. Because of holidays and our communion schedule we haven’t done the chapter in order. Some weeks ago we started looking at the trinitarian opening of the letter, with Paul’s introduction of God the Father, God the Son, ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:3-14

Blessed Be You

Contributed by Stephen Aram on Jul 29, 2019

Maybe you have heard many promises of blessings in Christ, but aren't experiencing them for yourself. Perhaps the next step is an act of faith to receive those blessings.

The last two Sundays we’ve taken a break from working through Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. Those were Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday. And those Sundays are always a treat. But today we go back to the first chapter of Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. And that’s a different kind of treat. If you ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:15-23

You Are The Body Of Christ

Contributed by Stephen Aram on Jul 29, 2019

Many times, if God is going to touch someone, it will be through us.

Today we celebrate the baptisms of three children of our congregation. A lot of things are happening in a baptism. Their parents are asking for God's blessing on their children and making promises to provide Christian nurture for them. God is making a statement to the children, that he ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:22-23

The Kingdom Of Heaven Part 1 - Millennialism Series

Contributed by Stephen Smith on Aug 5, 2019

A brief critical outline of the three differing views on the timing of Christ's return to the Earth and his establishment of an Earthy kingdom.

The Two Kingdoms The Kingdom of Heaven part 1 Millennialism Millennialism - 3 views This message is the first in a series dealing with the Kingdom of Heaven, the Kingdom of God and the Rapture. I trust you will be blest as we examine these three vital ...read more

Denomination: Brethren

Joseph The Holy Man Series

Contributed by Stephen Belokur on Dec 9, 2013

Not much is said about Joseph the husband of Mary in the Holy Bible. But the simplicity of his story in Matthew 1 can lead to some conclusions indicating that he was a man who loved God and had amazing character traits! PTL!!

How do you react when something totally unexpected and earth shattering happens in your life? We can learn a lot from how Joseph responded to Mary’s unexpected pregnancy. Matthew 1:18-25 “This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:18-25

Denomination: Nazarene

Holiness - A Simple Overview

Contributed by Stephen Belokur on Sep 17, 2013

One of the distinctive doctrines of the Church of The Nazarene is Holiness, entire sanctification. What does this look like in our daily, spiritual walk with God? Is it perfection? Is it simply that God no longer sees our sins? Let's take a look ...

1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 “May God Himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The One who calls you is faithful and He will do it.” What a wonderful Scripture! Today ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24

Denomination: Nazarene

Advent 4 2016 Series

Contributed by Stephen Belokur on Jan 5, 2017

The lengths to which God the Father would go in order to redeem and reconcile fallen humanity is a unfathomable testimony to His unrivaled position as God and Father of all. God the Son was indeed in a manger; fully God and fully the God-Man. Emmanuel!

Scripture Reading: Matthew 1:18-25 (Please open your Bibles to this text) When a man fathers a child and then leaves he abandons his child. The father might live in the same town as the child but if he only ever observes the child then he is a biological father but not a father in the true sense ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:18-25

Denomination: Nazarene

Will Jesus Return In 2017?

Contributed by Stephen Belokur on Jan 5, 2017

Every year we wonder, "Will Jesus return this year?" We don't know but the Bible tells us that we need to be ready when He does come and we must be about the Father's business just as Jesus on earth was.

Scripture Reading: Matthew 25:31-46 (Please open your Bibles to this text) The three most important questions … 1) Can you believe it is 2017? (Are you ready for Y2K yet???) 2) Will Jesus return in 2017? 3) If Jesus does return will you be ready? Let’s go ahead and read the Scripture ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:31-46

Denomination: Nazarene

Advent 2014 Part 2 Series

Contributed by Stephen Belokur on Dec 10, 2014

It was prophesied that Jesus would be born in Bethlehem which means the House of Bread. Then He goes on to claim to be the Bread of Life. Micah 5:2 also reveals that the One to come is from eternity past! What an awesome God we serve! PTL!!

Last week we took a look at the 2nd chapter of Daniel and saw that: - the “stone cut out from the mountain without human hands” was a prophecy about the virgin birth of Jesus - the “kingdom that will never be destroyed or conquered, that will crush all these kingdoms into ...read more

Scripture: Micah 5:2

Denomination: Nazarene

The Crown Of Life ... For The Humble Or The Rich? Series

Contributed by Stephen Belokur on Jul 29, 2015

Those in humble circumstances and those who are rich undergo testing. This is a continuation of the opening themes of testing, endurance and victory in the first chapter of James.

Today as we continue in the first chapter of the book of James we will be looking specifically at verses 9 through 12 but before we get into those verses let's read starting at verse one to refresh our minds with what the Lord is saying through James. James 1:1-12 “James, a servant of God ...read more

Scripture: James 1:9-12

Denomination: Nazarene

Looking For Jesus.

Contributed by Stephen Belokur on Dec 17, 2013

When it comes to looking for Jesus we see several "types" of people in the Gospels. Are they all still with us today? What kind of person actually finds Jesus?

Looking for Jesus. There are at least three kinds of people looking for Jesus ... Those who want nothing to do with Jesus Those who are looking for Jesus in all the wrong places Those who are looking in the right places We see all of these people in the Christmas story and you probably know ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:1-3

Denomination: Nazarene

Temptation Vs. Testing And Trials - What's The Difference? Series

Contributed by Stephen Belokur on Aug 5, 2015

Earlier in the first chapter of James much has been said about testing and trials but now James turns his attention to temptation. How are they alike and how are they different, especially since the Greek word is the same for both? Let's take a look!

James 1:1-15 “James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes scattered among the nations: “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. ...read more

Scripture: James 1:13-15

Denomination: Nazarene