New Hope Sermons
By Darrell Brazell
The text below the title is an excerpt from each of these sermons.You are free to copy or use however God leads you to do with any of these messages. To download, right click on "Download the MP3" and then click "Save Target As..."
A Matter Of The Heart
September 21, 2008
I Samuel 13-16
Hall of Faith Bloopers
A look at some of the major flaws of the characters of Hebrews chapter 11 through the lens of God's amazing grace. Summer 2008
Who Is This Man? The Gospel of Mark
January 2007 To June of 2008
The Story of David Through The Lens Of Sexual Addiction
Fall 2006
Brain Science Of Sex & Addiction
January 26 & April 26, 2008
In this presentation from the Men of Valor Conference in Kansas City, (Also presented April 26th at New Hope) Darrell introduces the listener to some critical brain issues involved in sex, addiction and recovery. The spect scan brain slide images he refers to are available www.brainplace.com.
Attachment
April 26, 2008
Explains how attachment issues are almost always at the core of addiction, codependency and other struggles. Also looks at the three insecure attachment styles in a way that will help you more clearly understand yourself, your spouse and your children.
Ten Pastoral Commandments When Dealing With Sexual Issues
January 26, 2008
In this presentation from the Men of Valor Conference in Kansas City, Darrell shares with pastors and other church leaders insights he has learned from seven years of working with men and couples dealing with sexual addiction. If you have a heart for the sexually broken, you will want to learn to not make the same mistakes so many pastors have made.
The Messiah Trap
February 10, 2008
Our sexual addiction recovery ministry has led me to meet with and counsel with people in some incredibly ugly places. I’ve talked with individuals who have done horrific things. Yet, I will continue to hold on to this truth: Beneath the mess, no matter how ugly it might be, there is still the pure gold of God’s image in every single human being.
The Sharecroppers Revolt
February 3, 2008
Just as God found a way around the corrupt religious leaders of Jesus day, he will also find ways around today’s broken churches. Your church could be legalistic. Your leaders could have no concept of what it means to have a relationship with God. Your pastor could be a "guardian of the faith" or a “power broker” who guards tradition or fights for power more than faith. However, just as God kicked out the farmers who rejected his son so that his plan could be fulfilled, God will do whatever it takes so that those whose hearts are tender and open can experience the joy of being children of God.
What The Cross Says About Marriage
November 25, 2007
Marriage is an incredibly difficult struggle. However, if we believe the teachings of Scripture, we will come to see that God has incredible gifts in store for us when we are willing to remain committed, not just to “not getting divorced,” but to uniting and becoming one flesh.
Immanuel Places
August 12, 2007
The most common experience for the Christian is being in the presence of Jesus without being aware of it. An Immanuel prayer process is a form of prayer designed to open our hearts to the reality of Jesus' presence. It also opens us up to a journey of discovery lead and directed by Jesus. In this message, Darrell shares his experience of Immanuel during his week at the THRIVE conference on addiction recovery.
Easter 2007: The Passion Through The Eyes Of The Centurion
April 8, 2007
When I heard his cry and saw how he died, I fell face down at his cross and declared, “Surely this man was the Son of God!” I had no more doubts about him, only about me. How could I have participated in this man’s death? How could I ever be forgiven? How could his father ever hear his prayer for my forgiveness? I fell to the ground and wept, expecting the wrath of God to consume me and everyone else on the planet.
One Road--Two Ditches
July 30, 2006
Desperation is different than denial because in desperation we will honestly face the horror of our sin and know that we cannot do anything about it. Desperation is different than despair because even while facing the horror of our sin, we trust that our savior is able to redeem.
Embrace the Spiritual Journey
April 23, 2006
"We hear their song sung to us:
From the Father: "You are my son, you are my daughter. You are perfect because I created you as perfect. You are holy because my son has washed you and made you holy." From the Son: "You are my beautiful bride. I will bring you home. You are now clean, you can present yourself in the Father’s presence and , . . . you can now draw close enough to hear Him sing." From the Spirit: "Because I now live within you, at the exact center of your regenerated soul, you now have everything you need, no matter what happens in your life, to do what you most want to do, to enjoy God and, by becoming like Jesus, to reveal the Father. You are: FORGIVEN, ADOPTED IMPASSIONED & EMPOWERED. Now it is time to LIVE!"
The Fellowship Of The Forgiven
1 John 1:1-2:2
April 2, 2006
The same thing is true in your life and my life. When the light of God leads us into the purifying fire of God, the first thing that happens is that like Isaiah, we see the horror of our sin. Satan lies to us and tells us that this is all there is. "Who are you trying to fool? There isn’t any real gold in you. You're just fools gold and you better get out of the fire before everyone sees what a fraud you truly are." But if we don't run, if we trust the assayer and stay in the fire, then when he pulls us out, our true glory can shine because of his cleansing.
The Fellowship Of The Forgiven II
1 John 4:17-21
April 9, 2006
I can look at you and not get angry about who you are and not be “disappointed” because you “let me down.” It’s Okay, because I can know your heart. I can know that you don't want to be that way, you just don't yet know how not to. I can trust that the blood of Jesus covers your sin, and I can trust that the Spirit of Jesus lives inside of you and is moving you forward on the spiritual journey and that someday you will be different. Then, the most amazing thing happens. I can embrace you as you are. No pushing, no expecting, no demands, just acceptance, just grace. It's Okay because we understand that "you don’t throw a whole life away just caused its banged up a little."
The Power Of Joy
John 17:9-16
November 6, 2005
If knowing God could have been accomplished through information then Jesus wouldn't have had to come... Jesus revealed the Father to the twelve by pouring his life into their lives. They saw his response when he was angry, sad, rejected and etc. They saw that even in the most trying of all circumstance (the night of his betrayal) he still "lustfully lusted" to be with them. His joy gave them a point of reference so that when they were in those places, they knew how to get back to joy.
Theology of Sex
Let me begin with a Question For You: "How many of you long for great sex?" I believe it is a question God wants me to ask. After all, he created it. It was his idea in the first place. And if you want the most out of something, you go to its creator.
Freedom Reigns
"The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."
The reality that you and I must accept is that we are free! He has broken the shackles. He has severed the chains. But guess what folks, now it is our job to walk out of them. . . .
Forgiven to Forgive
Matthew 18:15-35
Genuine forgiveness requires honestly facing the hurt. Too often in Christian circles we encourage one another to go to denial instead of forgiveness. Too often we try to convince ourselves that "in the whole scheme of things it isn’t really a big deal." What we end up doing is pretending the debt is much less than it really is.
The Dance
The Journey is the same for each one of us. I encounter Jesus Christ. I catch a glimpse of His holiness and it forces me to see my sin, my shame and I pull away. Then I experience His embrace, he loves me, he accepts me right where I am, so I join him in the dance.
He sweeps me off my feet and I realize for the moment that it isn’t up to me. I can rest in His grace. I can trust in His cleansing. And oh, it is so good. . . . But then it’s gone.
No, He doesn"t leave me. He doesn't stop dancing, but I become distracted by the things of our world: my relationships, my career, my superficial desires and the pain of my life and I attempt to move by my energy and my strength rather than by His Spirit. The next thing I know, I have crashed again. Only this time, the depth of my fall seems even greater than the first. After all, how could I have danced with God, how could I have accepted His love and grace and still crashed? "O, what a wretched man I am, who will save me?"
Then, once again, I hear his music playing softly in the background. Once again I stop trying to fix myself and allow Him to embrace me with His love. Suddenly, I am dancing again. Only this time, I dance higher and faster and more gracefully than ever.
I become intoxicated by his love. Nothing else compares. But then, once again, I lose focus. This time I become so absorbed in watching my own dance that I step outside myself and look in awe at the beauty of my movements, forgetting who is in the lead. Immediately I begin to stumble so I work harder and yet stumble more.
Frantically I attempt to regain my beauty, but the harder I try, the more I fail. The harder I try the uglier it gets. Finally, my failure is obvious, not merely to myself, but to everyone and the pain overwhelms me. How could I have failed so miserably? All I had to do was follow His lead. All I had to do was to flow with His movement and His Spirit.
Then, while I’m on the floor kicking myself, I stop my blubbering just long enough to hear the music still playing softly. When I look up, to my utter amazement, I see His hand reaching for me, inviting me to dance again.
"But, Jesus, I failed so miserably. I’m afraid I’ll fail again."
He answers: "My blood covers your failure, so why do you fear failure?"
Then, He holds out his hand and we resume the dance.
Such is the Spiritual Journey. Can you relate? Can you hope this is really true? Do you long for such acceptance and grace.
Then Join us in the dance. Join us in the journey!
Contact Info
Give us a call at (785) 331-HOPE or E-mail our pastor, Darrell Brazell, at darrell@newhopelawrence.com.
