Sermons on Stephens Sermon:

Sermon On Persistence

Contributed by William Meakin on Jul 12, 2021

Persistence is defined as: "The fact of continuing in an opinion or course of action despite difficulty or opposition."

Roy T. Bennett, the author of “The Light in the Heart: Inspirational Thoughts for Living Your Best Life” once remarked: "Keep going. Your hardest times often lead to the greatest moments of your life. Keep going. Tough situations build strong people in the end." Luke 18:1-5 states: ...read more

Scripture: Luke 11:9-10, Philippians 3:14, James 1:2-4

Sermon For A Baptism

Contributed by Rev. Matthew Parker on Aug 2, 2021

This is a message given at an outdoor baptism service, the first live service after 16 months during the Covid pandemic

August 1, 2021 Sermon - A Baptism I speak to you joyfully in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Baptism is a sign, a symbol, and an important marker of the life of a follower of Jesus. It is a sign of a person’s inclusion in the Body of Christ, the church, which is the hands ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:16-20, Romans 6:1-11

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Sermon On Deception

Contributed by William Meakin on Aug 10, 2021

Wikipedia defines deception as “An act or statement which misleads, hides the truth, or promotes a belief, concept or idea that is not true.

Christopher James Gilbert, an American philosopher, better known by his pseudonym Criss Jami once remarked: “Just because something isn't a lie does not mean that it isn't deceptive. A liar knows that he is a liar, but one who speaks mere portions of truth in order to deceive is a craftsman ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 52:2, Mark 7:20-22, 2 Corinthians 11:3

Sermon On Egalitarianism

Contributed by William Meakin on Feb 4, 2022

Egalitarianism is defined as "A belief in human equality especially with respect to social, political, and economic affairs."

Brad Miner, an American author once remarked: “The egalitarianism that is the most offensive is the notion, whether embodied in opinion or law, that every way of behaving is as good as any other and that the man who stands apart by reason of his dignity, restraint, and discernment is somehow an ...read more

Scripture: John 13:16, Proverbs 22:2, Acts 10:34-35, Philippians 2:3

Sermon On The Plain

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Feb 10, 2022

Have you noticed that Jesus often contradicts popular ideas, because He taught us to worship God also with our minds? Perhaps He gave the Sermon on the Plain after the Sermon on the Mount. It contains some contrasting thoughts. Let’s look at Luke 6:17-26.

Prelude Have you noticed that Jesus often contradicts popular ideas, because He taught us to worship God also with our minds? Perhaps He gave the Sermon on the Plain after the Sermon on the Mount. It contains some contrasting thoughts. Let’s look at Luke 6:17-26. A Level Plain “And He came down ...read more

Scripture: Luke 6:17-26

Denomination: Baptist

Sermon On Subterfuge

Contributed by William Meakin on Feb 17, 2022

Subterfuge is defined as deceit used to achieve one's goal.

Antoine Rivarol, a French author of maxims, once remarked: “Wrong is wrong; no fallacy can hide it, no subterfuge cover it so shrewdly but that the All-Seeing One will discover and punish it.” Psalm 101:7 reminds us: “No one who practices deceit shall dwell in my house; no one who utters lies shall ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 6:16-19, Proverbs 20:17, Proverbs 26:24-26, Psalm 120:2

Sermon On Presence

Contributed by William Meakin on Jul 31, 2022

Presence is defined as the state or fact of existing, occurring or being present. It may also refer to an existence that is present, but is not seen.

Tara Brach, an American psychologist and author once remarked: “In any moment, no matter how lost we feel, we can take refuge in presence and love. We need only pause, breathe, and open to the experience of aliveness within us. In that wakeful openness, we come home to the peace and freedom of our ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 51:10-12, John 14:17-20, Psalm 31:19-21, Hebrews 10:36

Sermon On Existentialism

Contributed by William Meakin on Aug 4, 2022

Existentialism is defined as the philosophical belief that each person in life is responsible for creating their own individual purpose and meaning.

Jagadish "Jaggi" Vasudev, better known as Sadhguru, an Indian yoga guru and proponent of spirituality once remarked: "Your thoughts and emotions are of no existential consequence. They are your creation - you could make them any way you want." Galatians 5:16-21 reminds us: “But ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 21:1-27

Sermon On Resilience

Contributed by William Meakin on Aug 22, 2022

Resilience is defined as the capacity to recover quickly from difficulties.

Jagadish “Jaggi” Vasudev, better known by the honorific title “Sadhguru,” an Indian yoga guru and proponent of spirituality once remarked: “Once in a way, something may go wrong in your life. But if your mind and your energies are focused on beating yourself up, it will become a series of ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 1:9, Isaiah 41:10, Philippians 4:13, 2 Corinthians 4:8-9

Sermon On Bitterness

Contributed by William Meakin on Sep 7, 2022

Bitterness is defined as anger and disappointment at being treated unfairly.

Jagadish “Jaggi” Vasudev, better known by the honorific title “Sadhguru,” an Indian yoga guru and proponent of spirituality once remarked: “To forgive does not mean to forget. To forgive means not to carry any bitterness in you, because that destroys your life.” Ephesians 4:31-32 reminds us: “Let ...read more

Scripture: Acts 8:23, Romans 3:14, Matthew 6:14-15, Job 7:11

Sermon On Misfortune

Contributed by William Meakin on Aug 16, 2021

We all experience misfortune in our life from time to time.

William James, an American philosopher, historian and psychologist once remarked: “Acceptance of what has happened is the first step to overcoming the consequences of any misfortune.” 1 Peter 1:23 reminds us: “For you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the ...read more

Scripture: Job 12:5, 1 Kings 5:4, Job 6:2

Sermon On Confidence

Contributed by William Meakin on Aug 22, 2021

Confidence is defined as: “The feeling or belief that one can have faith in or rely on someone or something.”

Norman Vincent Peale an American minister and author once remarked: “Believe in yourself! Have faith in your abilities! Without a humble but reasonable confidence in your own powers, you cannot be successful or happy.” Psalm 139:13-14 reminds us: “For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 10:35-36, Philippians 4:13, Jeremiah 29:11

Sermon On Emotions

Contributed by William Meakin on Aug 29, 2021

Emotion is defined as a strong feeling deriving from one’s circumstances, mood or relationships with others.

Jeffrey Kent Eugenides, an American novelist and short-story writer once remarked: "Emotions, in my experience, aren't covered by single words. I don't believe in "sadness," "joy," or "regret." Maybe the best proof that the language is patriarchal is that ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 28:26, Proverbs 12:15, 2 Timothy 1:7, Galatians 5:22-23

Sermon On Obsession

Contributed by William Meakin on Sep 3, 2021

Obsession is defined as an idea or thought that continually preoccupies or intrudes on a person’s mind.

John Ortberg, an American evangelical Christian author once remarked: “Being deeply contented with God in my everyday life is a focused attitude. It is always available. It means practising letting go of my obsession with how I’m doing. It means training myself to learn to actually be present with ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:2, Proverbs 16:9, Colossians 4:5

Sermon On Contrition

Contributed by William Meakin on Sep 27, 2021

Contrition is defined as a state of feeling remorseful and penitent.

Washington Irving, an American short story writer, once remarked: "There is a sacredness in tears. They are not the mark of weakness, but of power. They speak more eloquently than ten thousand tongues. They are the messengers of overwhelming grief, of deep contrition, and of unspeakable ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 51:17, Isaiah 66:2, Proverbs 28:13