Sermon in the Pocket

Prepare for a Christmas message that is less about the manger and more about the person in it!  References: John 1:1-14, John 14:16-20, & Proverbs 18:24

What have I been up to the last three months? I'm happy you asked.... openforumministries.com

What does it mean to be truly thankful?  References: 2 Kings 5:9-14, Matthew 20:1-15, & 1 Samuel 1

I've never done a full sermon on my favorite verse of the Bible. Let's go through it to talk about how we can look at other people and situations in the way that God looks at them.  References: 1 Samuel 16:1-7 & Matthew 8:5-13

There's a big change taking place in my life right now, and it's going to affect Sermon in the Pocket.

After dealing with internal conflict, Moses now needs to lead the Israelites in defense against an opposing army!  Reference: Exodus 17:8-16

After demanding food from God, the Israelites now began demanding water. Moses used this time to teach them a valuable lesson that can be helpful and encouraging to us as well.  Reference: Exodus 17:1-7

After God led the Israelites out of Egypt, they had a difficult time adjusting to their new life.  Reference: Exodus 16

It's no secret that there is often division in the church, but how do we even begin to address it?  References: 1 Corinthians 1:10-25 & Joshua 5:13-14

Faith is arguably the most important factor in following Christ, but how exactly does it work? Like an airplane!  References: Romans 10:10-13, Hebrews 11:1, Daniel 3:16-18, & Mark 10:14-15

How can we make sure that all the work we do is actually moving us closer to our goals and that the work itself is good and helpful?   References: Matthew 12:1-14, Mark 2:23-27, Luke 6:1-11, & 1 John 1:5-7

The way wisdom is described by people is often very different from the way the Bible describes it. You may not be as wise as you think...  Reference: James 3:13-18

How can we ensure that the things we say are actually making a positive impact in someone's life?  Reference: Ephesians 4:29-32

Today's message includes something for Father's Day, the Mother's Day message I missed, and all still on theme with my series about The Power of Words. I hope you enjoy it! Reference: Titus 2:1-8

It's important to talk through things, but maybe after the 84th time it's doing more harm than good.  Reference: Proverbs 26:20-22

Have you ever known someone who could talk for a long time while saying very little? How can we avoid being like that?  Reference: Matthew 15:1-20

This weekend we remember those who have been lost in war. Loss is difficult to deal with no matter the shape it takes, but understanding what the Bible teaches us can help us get through any grief.  References: Psalm 24:1-2, Job 1:20-22, James 1:17, Genesis 22:1-19, & Luke 15

Aren't negative people the worst? They're whiny and rude and... sometimes they're us.  Reference: Philippians 2:12-18

Isn't it frustrating when people say one thing and then a different thing later? Consistency is both important and difficult. Let's talk about it.  References: Proverbs 18:20-21, James 3:9-12, & Philippians 2:1-4

If God wants to do a work in our heart, then do our words even matter that much?  References: Matthew 12:33-37 & James 1:22-25

Jesus' death and resurrection was foretold long before it happened. Let's look at some of these examples.  References: Isaiah 53, Matthew 2:13-15, Matthew 1:18, John 8:58-59, Mark 15:34, Mark 15:16-20, 1 Peter 2:24-25, Matthew 27:11-23, Luke 23:32-43, Mark 15:43-46, Mark 14:36, Matthew 18:20, John 14:6, Matthew 28:18-20, & Romans 8:34

Jesus' resurrection showed that He had all power and all authority, but He didn't do it to show off. He did it for you.  References: John 3:16-17, Romans 6:20-23, Mark 15:16-20, Mark 15:33-39, Matthew 28:1-8, Acts 1:6-11, & Romans 8:31-39

Out of all the things Jesus could have rode into Jerusalem on, why did He choose a donkey?  References: Matthew 21:1-11, Judges 5:9-10, & Judges 12:13-14

What happens when we allow truth to be determined by the majority?  References: Matthew 7:13-23 & Galatians 5:22-23

Why do people have unanswered prayers when Jesus said "Ask and it will be given to you"?  References: Matthew 7:7-12, Isaiah 43:22-26, & Exodus 32

When Jesus gave the instruction to not judge other people, was He really saying that everyone should mind their own business?  References: Matthew 7:1-6 & 1 Corinthians 3:1-3

Would you like to be a millionaire?  Reference: Matthew 25:14-30

What advice did Jesus give for people who wrestle with fear and anxiety?  References: Matthew 6:25-34

When Jesus talks about storing up treasure in Heaven, he is talking about a lot more than just money.  References: Matthew 6:19-24, Ecclesiastes 2:18-22, & Matthew 16:24-27

Many of us are familiar with The Lord's Prayer, but what is the significance behind those words we pray?  References: Matthew 6:5-15, Hebrews 4:16, Romans 8:14-17, Luke 22:42, James 4:2-3, Matthew 7:7-12, Luke 23:34, & Luke 18:1-8

During this time of year when we celebrate love, let's talk about what is necessary for us to love others and what truly makes acts of love meaningful to others.  Reference: John 13:1-17

Many of us know that God wants us to love our enemies, but why is it important for us to do so?  References: Matthew 5:43-48 & Matthew 18:12-14

If we "turn the other cheek" like Jesus instructs us to do, does that mean we just let people walk over us?  References: Matthew 5:38-42, Leviticus 24:19-20, Genesis 34, & Matthew 6:25

What exactly was Jesus asking his followers to do when He told them to be like salt and light?  References: Matthew 5:13-16, Matthew 6:1, Hebrews 11:1, & 1 John 4:4

I was going to preach a sermon on a small portion of this passage, but I felt like I needed to share the whole thing.  Reference: Matthew 5-7

In this time of year when people set new goals and resolutions for their lives, what does the Bible say about what our renewal process should look like?  References: 2 Corinthians 5:16-21 & John 3:27-30

What does the birth of Christ show us about the relationship between the Divine and humanity?  References: Luke 2:1-21, Genesis 1:27, & Romans 3:22-24

Did Jesus actually come to bring peace on Earth?  References: Matthew 10:34-36, John 14:27, John 16:32-33, Luke 2:13-14, Romans 8:38-39, & Jeremiah 17:7-8

Why would Jesus have a problem with his disciples rejoicing a successful ministry done in His name, and what does it teach us about joy?  References: Luke 10:17-24, Ezekiel 18:23, & Isaiah 64:6

How does God's love and law both reach out to help broken people?  References: 1 John 4:16 & John 8:2-11

How was a depressed man given hope of a brighter future?  References: Luke 5:1-15 & Joshua 6

Is thankfulness required to live a righteous life?  References: Luke 12:13-21, John 14:6, Matthew 6:24, Mark 8:36-37, 1 John 4:20, James 2:14-17, & Luke 21:1-4

Samson was very dedicated and loyal to everything in his life, but it wasn't always a good thing.  References: Judges 13-16 & Numbers 6

Jephthah's greatest victory takes place at the same time as his greatest failure. What lessons should we learn from his great mistake?  References: Judges 11:29-40, Genesis 22:1-19, 2 Kings 16:2-3, & 1 Corinthians 3:1-2

Jephthah was a mighty warrior who was treated as an outcast. What lessons can we learn from his interactions with others?  References: Judges 11:1-28 & Deuteronomy 2:9, 19

A special episode this week! Enjoy listening to me read through the research paper I wrote as my senior project in college. It's surprising how much more accurate it has become in our world today!

Not all of the leaders mentioned in Judges did God's will.  References: Judges 9, Matthew 7:12, Luke 6:45, Jeremiah 17:10, & Matthew 23:27-28

I was surprised what I discovered as I took a closer look into the judgements that Gideon made as God's judge.  References: Judges 8:4-27 & Leviticus 24:17-22

How can Gideon's success be emulated in our own lives?  References: Judges 7:9-8:3

How is the preparation of Gideon's army filled with parallels for how God raises up people in the church?  References: Judges 7:1-8 & 1 Peter 3:15-16

What was it about Gideon that made him a mighty warrior?  References: Judges 6, Acts 4:13, & Proverbs 18:24