Sermons on Stephens Sermon:

Sermon On Substitution

Contributed by William Meakin on Jun 26, 2023

Substitution is defined as the action of replacing someone or something with another person or thing.

Mitch Alborn, an American author, journalist and philanthropist once remarked: “You can’t substitute material things for love or for gentleness or for tenderness or for a sense of comradeship. Money is not a substitute for tenderness, and power is not a substitute for tenderness.” Romans 5:18 ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:4, John 3:16, 2 Corinthians 11:13-15, 1 Peter 2:1

The Gospel Sermon Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Oct 11, 2024

Mark's Gospel has been believed to have been written to the Roman people. So, why would Mark begin by declaring that he was going to tell them the "Gospel of Jesus Christ"... what did the Romans need to hear, and what do we need to hear from Mark's Gospel?

In the book of Acts, we’re told the Apostle Paul preached at Troas, and he preached so long that a man went to sleep and fell out of the window. When the Pilgrims settled at Plymouth - their sermons lasted so long that the congregation apparently placed a large hourglass on the pulpit to remind ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:1

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

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 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

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 Pilgrimage

Contributed by William Meakin on Jun 18, 2024

A pilgrimage is principally defined as a journey, especially a long one, made to some sacred place as an act of religious devotion.

Eric Clapton, an English guitarist and singer-songwriter once remarked: “I think everybody has their own way of looking at their lives as some kind of pilgrimage. Some people will see their role as a pilgrim in terms of setting up a fine family, or establishing a business inheritance. ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 6:16, 1 Peter 2:21, 2 Corinthians 5:7, Isaiah 40:31

Sermon On Altruism

Contributed by William Meakin on Dec 21, 2025

Altruism is widely considered the direct opposite of selfishness.

Albert Einstein, a German-born theoretical physicist once remarked: "Only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile." Ephesians 2:10 reminds us: “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” Altruism ...read more

Scripture: John 15:13, Philippians 2:20-21, Galatians 6:2, Jeremiah 29:11

Sermon On Collegiality

Contributed by William Meakin on Sep 15, 2023

Collegiality is defined as the relationship between colleagues. It may include companionship and cooperation.

Deepak Chopra, an Indian-American writer once remarked: "Whatever relationships you have attracted in your life at this moment, are precisely the ones you need in your life at this moment. There is a hidden meaning behind all events, and this hidden meaning is serving your own evolution." ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:12, 1 Peter 2:17, James 5:16, Titus 2:7

Sermon On Autumn

Contributed by William Meakin on Sep 20, 2023

Autumn is defined as the season after summer and before winter, in the northern hemisphere from September to November, and in the southern hemisphere from March to May.

Margaret Elizabeth Sangster, an American poet, author and editor once remarked: "Spring is beautiful, and summer is perfect for vacations, but autumn brings a longing to get away from the unreal things of life, out into the forest at night with a campfire and the rustling leaves." James ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 6:9, Psalm 23:4, 2 Corinthians 9:10, Psalm 104:19

Sermon On Tolerance

Contributed by William Meakin on Sep 28, 2023

Tolerance is defined as the ability or willingness to accept the existence of opinions or behavior that one dislikes or disagrees with.

Linda Diane Thompson, an American songwriter and former actress once remarked: Our uniqueness, our individuality, and our life experience molds us into fascinating beings. I hope we can embrace that. I pray we may all challenge ourselves to delve into the deepest resources of our hearts to ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:1, 1 Timothy 6:3-5, Exodus 14:14, Colossians 3:12-13

Sermon On Conservation

Contributed by William Meakin on Apr 2, 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 Motivation

Contributed by William Meakin on Jul 20, 2023

Motivation is defined as a reason or reasons for acting or behaving in a particular way.

Taylor Swift, an American singer-songwriter once remarked: "I just want you to know that if you are out there and you are being really hard on yourself right now for something that has happened ... it's normal. That is what is going to happen to you in life. No one gets through unscathed. ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:23, Matthew 19:26, 2 Corinthians 12:9, Romans 12:11