Sermons on Stephens Sermon:

Sermon On Success

Contributed by William Meakin on Apr 21, 2024

Success is defined as the accomplishment of an aim or purpose.

Saint Clement of Alexandria, a Greek theologian and philosopher once remarked: “... So then, you rich who have wisdom, apply yourselves to this business... Why let yourselves be transfixed by diamonds and emeralds, by houses that fire devours, time destroys, or earthquakes throw down? Aspire for ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 29:11, Philippians 4:13, Proverbs 3:1-4, James 4:10

Sermon For Pentecost

Contributed by William Meakin on May 2, 2024

Pentecost is fundamentally a celebration and acknowledgment of the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles.

Kevin J. Vanhoozer, an American theologian once remarked: “It is well known that Pentecost reverses Babel. The people who built the tower of Babel sought to make a name, and a unity, for themselves. At Pentecost, God builds his temple, uniting people in Christ. Unity – interpretive agreement and ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:1-47, Acts 1:8, 2 Timothy 1:7, Ephesians 6:10

Sermon On Divergence

Contributed by William Meakin on May 21, 2024

Divergence is defined as a situation in which two things become different, or the difference between them increases.

Charlan Jeanne Nemeth, a female professor of psychology at the University of California once remarked: “Consensus, while comforting and harmonious as well as efficient, often leads us to make bad decisions. Dissent, while often annoying, is precisely the challenge that we need to reassess our own ...read more

Scripture: Romans 5:12, Genesis 1:1-31, Isaiah 14:1-32, Genesis 2:4

Sermon On Dissimulation

Contributed by William Meakin on Dec 12, 2023

Dissimulation is defined as concealment of one’s thoughts, feelings or character. It can include disguise, pretense or codology.

Aaron Blaylock an Arizona-born author once remarked: “The lesson here is temperament. Wanting something is fine but there’s no need to be reckless. If you’ve lost the upper hand in a relationship you’ve got no one to blame but yourself. Taking a relaxed or even an aloof approach sometimes is the ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:9, 1 Corinthians 2:1-16, 1 Peter 1:22, Matthew 5:44

Sermon For Epiphany

Contributed by William Meakin on Dec 21, 2023

Epiphany is defined as the manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles as represented by the Magi.

Sarah Ban Breathnach, an American author, philanthropist and public speaker once remarked: “Everyday epiphanies encourage us to cherish everything. Today a new sun has risen. Everything lives. Everything can speak to your soul passionately if you will be still enough to listen. "You have to ...read more

Scripture: John 1:13, Psalm 67:2, Jeremiah 1:5, Psalm 139:13-16

Sermon On A Scapegoat

Contributed by William Meakin on Feb 4, 2025

A scapegoat is defined as a person who is blamed for the wrongdoings, mistakes, or faults of others, especially for reasons of expediency.

Lloyd Blankfein, an American businessman once remarked: “There is a line in which populism can cross over into demagoguery. Demagoguery is the crossover where populism becomes a bad thing, and people make things up, and they assign responsibilities that aren't fair and justified, and scapegoat ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:4, 2 Thessalonians 2:10, Philippians 3:21, Galatians 6:5

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 Addiction

Contributed by William Meakin on Mar 11, 2022

Addiction is defined as the fact or condition of being addicted to a particular substance or activity.

Wayne Gerard Trotman, a Trinidadian-British author once remarked: “Happiness is not to be found at the bottom of a bottle or from the tip of a needle; it is not to be found amidst a cloud of smoke or within a sugar-coated pill. If you look for it in these places, you will find naught but despair.” ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 6:12, 1 Corinthians 15:33, 1 Peter 2:11, Matthew 6:13

Sermon On Repentance

Contributed by William Meakin on Mar 15, 2022

Some people in life bitterly regret certain remarks or actions after the event.

Thomas Merton, an American Trappist monk, writer and theologian once remarked: “God does not demand that every man attain to what is theoretically highest and best. It is better to be a good street sweeper than a bad writer, better to be a good bartender than a bad doctor, and the repentant thief ...read more

Scripture: Luke 13:1-9, Acts 17:30, 2 Chronicles 7:14, Matthew 3:8

Sermon On Conservation

Contributed by William Meakin on Apr 3, 2022

Conservation is defined as prevention of a wasteful use of a resource.

Dian Fossey, an American-born primatologist, conservationist and author of “Gorillas In The Mist.” once remarked: “When you realize the value of all life you dwell less on past and concentrate more on the conservation of the future.” Genesis 9:1-3 reminds us: And God blessed Noah and his sons and ...read more

Scripture: Numbers 35:33-34, Jeremiah 2:7, Revelation 11:18, Psalm 24:1

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 Change

Contributed by William Meakin on Oct 5, 2022

Change is defined as to make someone or something different.

Sydney J. Harris, an American journalist once remarked: “Our dilemma is that we hate change and love it at the same time; what we really want is for things to remain the same but get better.” James 1:17 confirms: “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:51, Jeremiah 29:11, 2 Corinthians 4:16-18, Deuteronomy 31:6