Sermons on Stephen:

Precious In God's Sight

Contributed by Stephen Aram on Jul 1, 2019

Do you realize how much God loves you?

Sometimes when I’m wrestling to figure out what is on God’s heart for me to preach on, I’ll take a pictorial directory of our church family, look at the pictures one by one and pray, “Lord, what is on your heart for this person, for that family?” I did just that this week, thinking about this ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 43:1-7

Why Did Jesus Really Come?

Contributed by Stephen Aram on Jul 1, 2019

The prophet Isaiah foretold some of the most beautiful results of the coming of Jesus.

There is a phrase that you hear more and more this time of year, as we get closer and closer to Christmas. The phrase is ‘the true meaning of Christmas.’ Mostly you hear it used with an unhappy tone as people are missing out on ‘the true meaning of Christmas.’ I’m one of these people who like to ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 61:1-4

The Church Is Like A Garden

Contributed by Stephen Aram on Jul 1, 2019

Church is a Growing Place

When this building was first constructed, it was called Garden Methodist Church. The name was changed to First United Methodist Church when Garden Church and Redeemer Church merged in 1975. But on this day, when we dedicate our memorial walkway, I want to look back a bit and then look forward. ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 61:1-11

Tear Open The Heavens And Come Down

Contributed by Stephen Aram on Jul 1, 2019

Do you realize how much we need God to intervene in our world? The prophet Isaiah modeled for us a heart longing for God.

This morning we are going to look at a deeply heart-felt prayer from the Old Testament prophet, Isaiah. As I read it for you perhaps you’ll recognize that his longing for God to come and stir up God’s people of his day is a longing that many of us are also feeling deep down inside. And perhaps ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 64:1-12

The King, The Sheep And The Goats

Contributed by Stephen Belokur on Jul 13, 2019

This sermon is intended to help us identify where we stand in relationship to the King and where we will stand on the Day of the Lord when Jesus returns.

The King, The Sheep and The Goats Please stand as we read our newest memory Scripture together … John 14:23-24 “Jesus said, ‘If anyone loves Me, he will obey My teaching. My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make our home with him. “He who does not love Me will not obey My ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:31-46, Isaiah 53:2, Revelation 5:11, 2 Corinthians 5:17, Jeremiah 29:12-14  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Nazarene

Paul And Ephesus

Contributed by Stephen Aram on Jul 29, 2019

We hear Paul's letter to the Ephesians like we might overhear someone talking on the phone. We get only half of the conversation. If we are going to understand Paul's teaching we need to learn as much as possible about the circumstances of his readers.

Years ago there was a farmer from a very small village in Germany who was just itching to get out and see something of the world. His big chance came when his nephew got a job on a barge that would sail up the Rhine River to Rotterdam. Even if it only stayed there for one day to drop off one ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:1-2

God Chose You

Contributed by Stephen Aram on Jul 29, 2019

Some of us might have trouble believing that the big, eternal God would ever even notice little old me. But Paul, right from the start of his letter to the Ephesians, emphasized that God had chosen them to be his.

This is our third Sunday now focusing on the book of Ephesians. At last we're getting around to starting at the beginning. We have already peaked at parts of chapter 2 and chapter 3 because of special themes for Epiphany and Human Relations Sunday. But now we get back to a more orderly ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:1-14

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

I'm Looking For You!

Contributed by Stephen Belokur on Aug 6, 2019

the Scribes and Pharisees were confused as to why Jesus spent so much time with Tax Collectors and Sinners! Jesus came to seek and save the lost and that mission is ongoing! Praise His Name!!!

I’m Looking For You Please stand as we read our newest memory Scripture together … John 14:23-24 “Jesus said, ‘If anyone loves Me, he will obey My teaching. My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make our home with him. “He who does not love Me will not obey My teaching. These ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:1-10, Luke 18:11, 1 John 5:16-17, Matthew 18:12-14, 2 Peter 3:9, Luke 19:10  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Nazarene