Sermons on Utilize:

What Does The Bible Say About Working Hard?

Contributed by Chris Swanson on Oct 26, 2024

Physical walls and Spiritual walls. Which, if either, do we work on the most?

Many years prior to Nehemiah’s time, the Northern Kingdom had been conquered and many were taken captive to other lands. The conquering nation introduced prisoners from other lands, which led to intermarriage with the few Israelites. This blending of the races produced the people known as the ...read more

Scripture: Nehemiah 4:6

Denomination: Independent/Bible

What Are We To Do When God Does Nothing?

Contributed by Chris Swanson on Jan 11, 2023

This is a story about one of two men that did not die. Enoch had walked with God and was taken so that he did not see death, Elijah was taken up in a whirlwind.

In the preceding chapter, Elijah has a contest with evil prophets. In this chapter, Elijah flees for his life. In verses 1-4: Jezebel was maddened with regards to the passing of her prophets since they had told her what she wanted to hear, forecasting her future glory and power. Their ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 19:1-16

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Is Showing Emotion During The Presenting Of God’s Word Acceptable?

Contributed by Chris Swanson on Jan 16, 2023

Just because we may have heard the word can we appropriately begin to speak? What has Christ brought you out of?

In the verse before this one, Paul wrote that he would rather die than lose his reason to preach. Now that he has made the decision to preach the Gospel, he makes it clear that he is not boasting. He believes that he has no control over whether or not he will continue to preach about how faith in ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 9:16

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Sermon On The Importance Of Vision

Contributed by William Meakin on May 5, 2023

Vision can relate to several derivations.

Ayn Rand, a Russian-born female American writer and philosopher once remarked: “Throughout the centuries there were men who took first steps down new roads armed with nothing but their own vision. Their goals differed, but they all had this in common: that the step was first, the road new, the ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 29:18, Habakkuk 2:3, Joel 2:28, Jeremiah 29:11

Sermon On Broken Fragments

Contributed by William Meakin on May 13, 2023

Broken fragments have been defined as small particles that have become detached from something larger or whole.

Eva Ashwood, a female author of several novels once remarked: “There’s nothing wrong with being broken. Some things aren’t meant to be whole. And some things don’t need to be fixed. Some things are broken and aren’t meant to be fixed. But that doesn’t mean they’re fine the way they are. It just ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 34:18, Psalm 51:17, Psalm 147:3, Isaiah 66:2

Sermon On The Tribulations Of Life

Contributed by William Meakin on May 23, 2023

Lifts, or elevators as they are often referred to, are defined as a platform or compartment housed in a specifically designed shaft for raising and lowering people or things to different levels.

Andy Rooney, an American television writer once remarked: “Almost all of us have an elevator or two in our lives somewhere. We wait for them, we ride on them. We're annoyed by the wait, but pleased with the lift.” Ezekiel 3:12 reminds us: “Then the Spirit lifted me up, and I heard behind me the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 24:21, Romans 12:12, Revelation 3:10, Colossians 3:15

Sermon On Involvement & Commitment

Contributed by William Meakin on Sep 5, 2023

Commitment is defined as the state or quality of being dedicated to a cause, activity, arrangement etc.

Martina Navratilova, a Czech-American former professional tennis player once remarked: “The difference between involvement and commitment is like ham and eggs. The chicken is involved; the pig is committed.” Romans 12:1-2 reminds us: “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 37:5, 1 Kings 8:61, Revelation 1:1, 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

How Exercising Authority Is Powerless Without Enforcing Our Identity In Christ.

Contributed by Patrick Usifo on Mar 24, 2021

Because without knowing and having a recognized identity, we are powerless to use our authority over the things in the heavens and on earth.

When I started my new life in Christ, one of the first things I noticed among believers in the Church was the level of humility and unblemished morality displayed even in troublesome times. But as time progresses, I began to question every form of the appearance of the outward display of humility: ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:23-24, Acts 19:14-17

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

What Are We To Do When God Does Nothing?

Contributed by Chris Swanson on Oct 19, 2022

This is a story about one of the two men that did not die. Enoch had walked with God and was taken so that he did not see death, and Elijah was taken up in a whirlwind.

In the preceding chapter, Elijah has a contest with evil prophets. In this chapter, Elijah flees for his life. In verses 1-4: Jezebel was maddened with regard to the passing of her prophets since they had told her what she wanted to hear, forecasting her future glory and power. Their occupation ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 19:1-16

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Miserable Son And The Maddened Sibling

Contributed by Chris Swanson on Oct 24, 2022

Was the miserable son wasteful? Why did the father not punish the young son, if he deserved it? Was the maddened son self-centered and resentful?

Verses 11 – 19: Was the miserable son wasteful? The young son’s portion of the property was 33% (Deuteronomy 21:17). By and large, he would have gotten this at his father’s death, although fathers in some cases decided to split their property early and resign from dealing with the estates. What is ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:11-32

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Sermon On Advocate Or Protagonist?

Contributed by William Meakin on Nov 15, 2022

Caterpillars are defined as the larval stage of members of the Lepidoptera family which is an insect order comprising butterflies and moths.

Steven James, a Wisconsin-born American author once remarked: “Think of a caterpillar entering a cocoon. Once he does so, one of two things will happen: He will either transform into a butterfly, or he will die. But no matter what else happens, he will never climb out of the cocoon as a ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 61:1, 1 John 2:1, Acts 19:19, Luke 16:26

The Problem That Did Not Prosper

Contributed by Chris Swanson on Nov 24, 2022

We do not need to let our fears control us. By doing so we make our fears come in front of God. We need to recognize that God is stronger than our fears and when He has called us to do something, He will help us in doing that task.

Nehemiah was the cupbearer to the king of Persia, Artaxerxes. He was a man of God and was a trusted advisor to the king. Many decades prior, Zerubbabel was able to get the Jerusalem Temple rebuilt. Some years later, Ezra had returned to Jerusalem to help with the spiritual needs of the people. Now ...read more

Scripture: Nehemiah 2:1-20

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Suffering For The Sake Of Righteousness

Contributed by Chris Swanson on Nov 26, 2022

The purpose of Job is to give a demonstration of the sovereignty of God and the value of true faith.

Undoubtedly, everybody has heard about Job at some point in time. The book was written to discuss the age-old question, “Why do the righteous always seem to suffer?” Introduction to the book of Job: • It is one of the five books of poetry: 1. Job 2. Psalms 3. Proverbs 4. Ecclesiastes 5. Song of ...read more

Scripture: Job 1:7-8, Job 2:2-3, Job 38:1, Job 39:1

Denomination: Independent/Bible

What Is The Significance Of Keeping Or Having Unity In The Church?

Contributed by Chris Swanson on Jul 2, 2023

What is unity and what does it mean to have unity within the church?

What is unity? Definition: the state of being united or joined as a whole, oneness, a condition of harmony – accord, the quality or state of being made one – unification, a totality of related parts. “There is one body,” according to Paul, and we have been given many gifts and capacities. Unity ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:1-6

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Agents Of Grace

Contributed by Mary Erickson on Jul 3, 2023

A sermon for the Sundays following Pentecost, Year A, Lectionary 13

July 2, 2023 Rev. Mary Erickson Hope Lutheran Church Matthew 10:40-42 Agents of Grace Friends, may grace and peace be yours in abundance in the knowledge of God and Christ Jesus our Lord. I’ve always been a fan of good news - bad news jokes: One day, the Pope’s assistant urgently approached ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 10:40-42

Denomination: Lutheran