In Sermons: showing 16-30 of 402

The New Life Series

Contributed by Steven Simala Grant on Mar 19, 2013

The result of our confession of sin and God cleansing us from our sin is to proclaim his righteousness through teaching others and worshiping him through our brokenness.

The Psalm that we have been studying during this Lenten season has taken us deep into our hearts, confronted us with the reality of our sin, and given us incredibly beautiful words with which to pray for forgiveness and cleansing. Last week we concentrated on the verses where we pray, ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 51:13-19

Denomination: Baptist

The Cleansing Shower Series

Contributed by Steven Simala Grant on Mar 14, 2013

After David's confession of his sin, he asks God to purify and renew him.

The cross is such an ironic symbol. In context, 2000 years ago, a cross was a horrible instrument of torture and death, it was feared and reviled, it was a punishment so dehumanizing that it was to be a major deterrent to crime, and those sentenced to death on a cross were humiliated and debased. ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 51:6-12

Denomination: Baptist

Looking Deeply, Letting Go Completely Series

Contributed by Steven Simala Grant on Mar 5, 2013

This is an exploration of sin and guilt and the freedom we can have in Christ.

I did some searching on the internet, and it appears that nobody wants to feel guilty. Not so much evidence of people not wanting to do bad things, but nobody wants to feel guilty. The term “guilt-free” is now a major marketing tool: I came across all sorts of ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 51:3-6

Denomination: Baptist

Planning And Packing Series

Contributed by Steven Simala Grant on Feb 26, 2013

This is an introduction to Psalm 51.

I hope that you all know that today marks the first Sunday of Lent, which is the season of preparation for our greatest Christian celebration, that of the Resurrection of Jesus. I won’t be at all surprised if that comes as news to many of you, especially as the official beginning of Lent ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 51:1-19

Denomination: Baptist

I Cannot Climb This Mountain Myself Series

Contributed by Steven Simala Grant on Feb 26, 2013

David pleads for God's mercy from within the context of God's covenant love.

Last week we began our Lenten journey, towards the cross and the empty tomb, and I introduced Psalm 51 as the text that will guide us along the way. As a reminder, Lent is the season of preparation for our greatest celebration as Christians, that of remembering the death and celebrating the ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 51:1-2

Denomination: Baptist

Glory Internalized Series

Contributed by Steven Simala Grant on Feb 26, 2013

God's glory shine through the brokenness of our lives when we let Him be the center of our lives.

Last Sunday we began again a focus on the glory of God, and I skipped the video I had planned to share (which we first saw last September), so I want to begin there today. It helps us with the review: what is “the glory of God”? It is the words of Pastor-theologian John Piper, ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:7-16

Denomination: Baptist

Glory Experienced

Contributed by Steven Simala Grant on Feb 26, 2013

God's glory is expressed through our transformed lives.

2 Cor 3:7-4:6 7 The old way, with laws etched in stone, led to death, though it began with such glory that the people of Israel could not bear to look at Moses’ face. For his face shone with the glory of God, even though the brightness was already fading away. 8 Shouldn’t we expect far ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Glory Experienced Series

Contributed by Steven Simala Grant on Feb 26, 2013

God's glory is expressed through our transformed lives.

2 Cor 3:7-4:6 7 The old way, with laws etched in stone, led to death, though it began with such glory that the people of Israel could not bear to look at Moses’ face. For his face shone with the glory of God, even though the brightness was already fading away. 8 Shouldn’t we expect far ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

New Beginnings; Old Themes

Contributed by Steven Simala Grant on Feb 26, 2013

It is difficult but essential to put the Greatest Commandment into practice when life's circumstances are difficult.

I am very pleased to report that we had a great family vacation, and I hope you will be pleased to hear that I am back at work ready to tackle a new season of ministry together. In many ways it does feel like a new season, and I want to talk about that a little more in a few moments. But first I ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 22:34-39

Denomination: Baptist

Glory In A Field Series

Contributed by Steven Simala Grant on Feb 26, 2013

God's glory, through Jesus (God with us), is close and tangible and brings peace, not fear.

To avoid offending anybody, the school dropped religion altogether and started singing about the weather. At my son’s school, they now hold the winter program in February and sing increasingly nonmemorable songs such as “Winter Wonderland,” “Frosty the Snowman” ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:8-20

Denomination: Baptist

Glory In A Barn Series

Contributed by Steven Simala Grant on Feb 26, 2013

The fullest expression and revelation of God's glory come in the form of an infant child, the Son of God born in a humble stall.

We’ve been talking about the glory of God, and we were studying the glory of God primarily through the Exodus stories where the descriptions of God’s glory were these awe-inspiring displays of power, of majesty, the pillar of fire, God on the mountain with Moses, God seated on the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:25-32

Denomination: Baptist

Desire - Only Met In Jesus Series

Contributed by Steven Simala Grant on Feb 26, 2013

The deepest desires of our hearts are meant to be met as we experience God's glory, but fulfillment of our desires has often been hijacked by cheap imitations provided by our culture.

In preparation for today’s message, continuing our exploration of the glory of God, I read a sermon by CS Lewis entitled “The Weight of Glory”. And it launched me down a path that I am going to attempt to describe, and hope that you might accompany me on, this morning. Now, the ...read more

Scripture: John 1:14

Denomination: Baptist

The Goodness Of God's Glory Series

Contributed by Steven Simala Grant on Feb 26, 2013

God's glory is a consuming fire, burning away our sin because He loves us and wants us to experience the abundant life that He has promised us.

We have been looking at experiencing God’s glory, and our last study of Scripture was with the Israelites as God’s glory – visible in a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night – led them out of Egypt to the Red Sea, and then delivered them from Pharaoh and his ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Attentive To The Swirls

Contributed by Steven Simala Grant on Feb 26, 2013

Because God speaks in a variety of ways, it is important that we pay attention to the variety of ways that God is speaking to us through our life circumstances, scripture, prayer, etc.

Intro: In my experience, a significant part of living as a child of God is being attentive to life. It is in listening carefully and prayerfully to all the various sounds going on inside and around, to all the various voices and calls, to all the various situations and circumstances, to the ...read more

Scripture: Romans 1:20-23

Denomination: Baptist

The Depth Behind The Words

Contributed by Steven Simala Grant on Feb 26, 2013

This Thanksgiving sermon uses various Psalms to explore the depth behind the things for which we are thankful: friends, family, health, the world, God and what he does.

Intro: The smell of the turkey roasting away has been tantalizing for quite some time, but now the breast meat has reached 165 degrees, the thigh meat is at 180, the skin is a beautiful brown, and the bird is resting tented loosely under foil. The pies (plural!) have been cooling on the ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 68:5-6

Denomination: Baptist