Sermons on Vain Imaginations:

Keep Stable Series

Contributed by Sherm Nichols on Mar 30, 2021

The key role that Scripture and our regard for it has in our lives

Oprah Winfrey, at last year’s Golden Globe Awards said, “What I know for sure is that speaking your truth is the most powerful tool we all have.” Her words are reflective of a trend that has been growing for decades now - the idea that truth isn’t the same as reality. Truth is more like something ...read more

Scripture: 2 Peter 3:14-18

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

No More Gloom Series

Contributed by Sherm Nichols on Mar 31, 2021

Christmas series introduction - focusing on the role of light in the Christmas story

Intro: Light. We have a hard time even describing what it’s made out of, but we sure do depend on it. We know it’s very fast - 186,282 miles per second. We know that it’s important to our emotional and physical health. Sunshine is a source of vitamin D, and areas where the sun doesn’t shine much ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 9:2

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Cornerstone Or Stumbling Block? Series

Contributed by Sherm Nichols on Mar 31, 2021

A look at Jesus as a Rock - transition into a Christmas series of OT snapshots of Jesus

Wherever you’re at in life this week, and this Thanksgiving, I hope you’re able to thank the Lord for some blessings He’s given to you. God must have thought rocks were important, because when He made the world, He made lots of them! Ask any farmer. There’s even a whole range of mountains, ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 118:22-23

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

How To Escape The Power Of Prejudice Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 31, 2021

Psychologists tell us that all of us have our in-groups, and out-groups. All of belong to certain categories, and there are others outside of those categories, and so all of us are in a position to be prejudiced against out-groups.

Arturo Tosconini became famous in the world of music because of the power of prejudice. He was a young cellist with a touring opera company from Italy. In June of 1886 they were in the greatest opera house in Rio de Janerio in Brazil. The house was packed with shouting people, but what they were ...read more

Scripture: James 2:1-13

Unafraid - God Has Heard Your Prayer Series

Contributed by Sherm Nichols on Mar 31, 2021

This is the first in a Christmas series that examines the several "Fear Not" commands given throughout the Christmas story. This is the story of Zechariah.

(Song - "Fear No More" - Building 249) That might be you this morning. You didn’t choose to be situated quite like you are this morning. Things haven’t turned out just like you’d hoped. And here you are. If the future is anything like much of the past, it’s looking pretty scary. But ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:5-25

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Sacrificial Perspective Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Apr 1, 2021

Selfishness does not care about the interests of others. It focuses on the self only. To give up this focus at all is to sacrifice some time, energy, thought, and possibly even some resources for the needs of others.

One of the major causes of human suffering is the fact that people see life from many different perspectives. While we were in Duluth we went to a park where we stood on a bridge and watched a bus load of junior boys and girls eat their lunch on the rocks below. A lovely stream flowed over the ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:1-11

The Mountain Perspective Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Apr 2, 2021

This is why people fly and why they climb mountains. They want to see things differently. If you can just get high enough you can see from heaven's perspective, and from that viewpoint you can always be optimistic.

\ Mary Crowley is one of the richest women in America. She is founder and president of the multi-million dollar empire of Home Interiors And Gifts Inc. She was the first woman to sit on the board of directors of the Billy Graham Assoc. In reading her book Think Mink, I discovered she has a retreat ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 21:9-14

Control Is The Goal Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Apr 3, 2021

The goal of the Christian is to so gain control of his emotions that all of them in their vast variety might become valuable in making him what God wants him to be. Control is the goal.

John Powell, whose books have now sold over 11 million, begins his book The Christian Vision with the request that we run a short home made movie on the screen of our minds. Imagine that you have come home on a dark night and to your horror you see a long snake on your front lawn. Your heart ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:9-21

We Are Born To Rule Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Apr 5, 2021

Here in Psa. 8:6 it says clearly, "You made him the ruler over the works of your hands; you put everything under his feet." Man is made the ruler of nature, and he is made king of creation by the Creator Himself.

David did not need a telescope to consider the heavens and the wonders of God's creation. What he could see with the naked eye left him in awe at the majesty of God. Today we go far beyond the vision of David, not only into the macrocosm of the vast universe, but because of new instruments ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 8:1-9

Self-Control Is The Key Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Apr 5, 2021

The point that Paul stresses is that a Christian leader is to be one who has a great deal of self-control so that he does not let his actions or emotions go to extremes. He does not dominate, lose his temper, or go off on a binge of drinking to escape the pressures of life.

Gigi is Billy Graham's daughter, and she writes about one of those days she wishes she could wiped off the calendar. It all started with an experience some of you have had. It was flood damage to their house. The carpet men were there replacing the water ruined carpet. She was trying to do ...read more

Scripture: Titus 1:5-9

The World System's Utopian Fantasies & The Resistance Awaiting A Better World

Contributed by Justin Steckbauer on Apr 5, 2021

One may browse through a hundred news articles a day or reflect on the situations facing humanity with great trembling. And one may reflect back upon history to consider how history repeats itself.

I'd like to arrange several elements which we'll reference during this reflection. We'll be referencing sources including Madeleine L'Engle's A Wrinkle in Time, the novels 1984 and Animal Farm by Orwell, Aldous Huxley's Brave New World, an obscure Walt Disney film from 1979 ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:11-12, 2 Corinthians 10:3-5, Ephesians 6:13

Denomination: Salvation Army

The First Father Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Apr 7, 2021

It is true that we must trace the fall of man to Adam, and there is no way to minimize the harm he brought to the human race by his sin. But the fact remains that somebody has to have been an example of righteousness in that beginning generation, and the evidence points to Adam.

Ronald and Nancy Reagan had something in common in their childhood, and that was that they both had fallen fathers. When Ron came home one day as an 11 year old boy he found his father flat on his back on the front porch, and there was no one there to help. He said, "He was drunk, dead to ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 4:1-8

A Supportive Father Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Apr 7, 2021

Jesus received praise and approval from His Father in heaven. This is a gift you cannot buy. John Drescher, one of the greatest authors of the 20th century, says that if he could go back and raise his children over he would be more free to express words of praise and appreciation.

Tal Bonham writes about how one night he slipped a poster under the doors of each of his two teenage sons. The poster said- Attention teenagers! If you are tired of being hassled by Unreasonable parents, Now is the time for action! Leave home and pay your own way While you still know ...read more

Scripture: Judges 13:1-14

The Duties Of Dads Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Apr 7, 2021

This is a big area, and it involves giving your children a wise and biblical perspective socially, economically, educationally, and morally. It is no wonder that it is so easy to fail as a father. You have to know how to live wisely and godly yourself in order to be an effective teacher and guide.

A teacher took her class of young boys and girls to the zoo where they were seeing many animals for the first time. They came to one large enclosed area, and the teacher pointed to the graceful inhabitants and said, "Children, that is what your mother always calls your father." One ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 23:13-28

Christmas Secrets Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Apr 8, 2021

The secret of the star is based on the fact that the more precious the gift the greater the secrecy connected with it. A precious gift is meant to be a surprise and so it is kept secret.

C.S. Lewis is one of the most read and most quoted Christian scholars of the 20th century, but he had to endure the burden of a very heavy secret in his life. He fell in love with a divorced woman and his church, the church of England, forbid marriage to one who was divorced. Joy Davidman, the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:16-25