Galen Harrill

Galen Harrill's passion for the church developed as he saw God working powerfully in his native Northeast through the individual and collective activities of churches throughout Pennsylvania, Delaware and New Jersey. His participation in these works greatly matured his love of service in a cause greater than himself and challenged him to seek how he might further God's Kingdom wherever God placed him. In college, he gained experience in ministry and missions as he served internships in Illinois, California and Kenya. After earning degrees at Abilene Christian University, he worked with a small church in Philadelphia while preparing to go abroad. In 1995 he moved to Prague, Czech Republic to serve with a church planting team among a predominately atheistic population. It was there he faced his greatest challenges as he grew to understand the limitless power of faith working in the lives of God's people. He met and married his wife while serving in Prague and two of their three children were born there. They returned to the States in 2005 and moved to Pennsylvania, where Galen has worked as a special education teacher and itinerant preacher. Officially, he has served with churches in East Lansdowne, Pottstown and North Wales, PA. He currently preaches at the North Penn Church of Christ in North Wales. While serving as preacher for this congregation over the past three years, Galen has helped to nurture this loving congregation to greater depths and heights of love and service for Christ. Galen holds two bachelor's degrees in Biblical Studies and Human Communication and two master's degrees in Missions and Educational Leadership. He lives in Lancaster County with his wife and three children.

Faith that Endures

By / February 17, 2022

Title:  Faith that Endures

Text:  Hebrews 10:35-36

Endurance allows us to withstand hard times

  • Job – Job 1:5, 20-21
  • The Women – Luke 23:55-56

Our worship is a matter of the heart….

  • Isaiah 1:11-14
  • Jeremiah 6:18-20
  • Hosea 5:5-6
  • Revelation 2:1-5

Practical steps….

  • Lean on scripture, be encouraged by one another!
  • II Timothy 3:16-17
  • I Corinthians 14:26-33
  • Ephesians 5:19-20

Colossians 3:15-17

Hope and a Future

By / February 17, 2022

Title: Hope and a Future

Text:  Jeremiah 29:11

Our dilemma….

  • We are forward thinking… Luke 12:20; James 4:13
  • …but not very insightful…. Luke 16:1-9; James 1:6
  • We should not be caught off-guard… Matthew 24:6

Approaching the future with hope….

  • Instilled within us through trouble – Romans 5:3-5
  • We have the responsibility to nurture it – I Corinthians 9:10; I Samuel 25; Psalm 126:4-6; I Timothy 6:17-19
  • It is sure – I Corinthians 15:12-28

Living in the Spirit

By / February 17, 2022

Title:  Living in the Spirit

Text:  Galatians 5:16-25

The Spirit gives life!

  • John 6:63
  • New birth – John 3:6, 6:63,
  • Resurrection – Romans 8:10-11, II Corinthians 3:6

The Spirit frees!

  • Romans 8:2
  • II Corinthians 3:17
  • Galatians 5:18

Life by the Spirit is obvious….

  • Judges 13
  • I Samuel 10:11
  • Galatians 5:22

I Am Resolved – A New Year’s Lesson

By / February 17, 2022

Title: I Am Resolved

Text:  Ephesians 4:20-24

Be in the word….

  • II Chronicles 34:14-33
  • Hebrews 4:12

Pray….

  • James 1:5
  • James 5:16
  • Ephesians 6:18-20

Be in the church!

  • Acts 2:46
  • Hebrews 10:24-25
  • Ephesians 5:19

How Long? Revelation 6:9-11

By / February 17, 2022

Title:  How Long?

Text:  Revelation 6:9-11

We are in the end times….

  • Hebrews 1:1-2
  • Hebrews 9:24-28
  • Matthew 28:19-20
  • Acts 17:30-31

God knows His own

  • Ephesians 1:13-14
  • Revelation 7
  • Revelation 11:1-2

Our task is to be faithful – He is coming!

  • Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43
  • II Corinthians 4:17
  • II Peter 3:8-9

Revelation 22:7-21

Making the Most of Every Opportunity

By / February 17, 2022

Title:  Making the Most of Every Opportunity….

Text:  Matthew 24

Background….

  • Jesus condemns Jerusalem’s leaders – Matthew 23
  • He recognizes His rejection – Matthew 23:37-39
  • The disciples are awed by what they see

Jesus’ explanation….

  • Disciples think they are asking related questions, they are not….
  • Jesus explains –
    • Everything in this life is transitory
    • The world over-emphasizes its own importance – it is a deception
    • We must choose wisely

Why the persecution?

  • Jesus is honest with us
  • People don’t like their allegiances and values challenged
  • A life in Christ is inherently confrontational – John 3:19

Takeaways

  • Jesus is concerned with now
  • Don’t need to look for trouble
  • Hold on to the eternal

Strengthening the Body, Engaging the World

By / February 17, 2022

Title:  Strengthening the Body, Engaging the World

Text:  II Corinthians 10:1-6

Must have a standard for interpretation

  • Tied to God’s will and work… John 5:19-20, 30
  • Allows for proper interpretation – John 7:21-24
  • Tied to what God has revealed – Mark 12:28-35

Must teach new generation….

  • Judges 2:10-11
  • II Kings 22:8-23:3
  • Proverbs ch. 1-9
  • I Timothy 1:18
  • Titus 1:4

World engagement

  • Acts 1:8-9 – Spirit empowered
  • I Corinthians 5:9-10
  • II Corinthians 10 – Starts with the church, expands to the world….

Blessed Assurance

By / February 17, 2022

Title:  Blessed Assurance

Text:  Romans 8:14-39

God is listening to us in our struggles

  • It is a real struggle – Romans 8:17
  • It is temporary and cannot compare with the glory that awaits us – Romans 8:18

We live in hope of what we already have a taste of in Christ

  • We are baptized with a future orientation
    • Immediate forgiveness of sins
    • Immediate indwelling of the Spirit
    • Future redemption of our bodies v. 24, I Corinthians 15:42-44
    • Future inheritance – v. 24, 32
  • In Christ is key! – Romans 8:1, 39

Purpose in the Problems (Why Adversity?)

By / February 17, 2022

Title:  Purpose in the Problems (Why Adversity?)

Adversity purges….

  • Zechariah 13:9
  • Isaiah 1:21-28
  • Jeremiah 6:27ff
  • Ezekiel 20:38
  • Matthew 3:12

Adversity – purifies us!

  • Psalm 66:8-18
  • Isaiah 48:10
  • Jeremiah 9:7
  • Daniel 11:35, 12:10
  • Malachi 3:2-3
  • I Peter 1:6-7

Adversity perfects us!

  • Jesus the example and pattern (Pressing doctrinal question, how can Jesus be made perfect when he is already perfect?  Answer – He wasn’t perfect for our need until he experienced our need – He was made perfect for us.  Our suffering helps us be perfect for others in their need.)
  • Hebrews 2:10, 5:9, 7:28

Keeping perspective….

  • Temptation is not trouble! I Corinthians 10:13
  • II Corinthians 1:8 – 9

Palm Sunday – A Time of Decision

By / February 17, 2022

Title:  Palm Sunday – A Time of Decision

Text:  Matthew 21:1-17

The Triumphal Entry

  • Jesus sets the stage:
    • Walking vs. riding
    • Brings a crowd
    • Accepts the praise
  • Jesus is praised as king
  • Jerusalem has to make a decision

Jesus at the temple

  • Acts totally in charge
  • Enlarges the place of worship (money changers were in the Gentile section, excluding non-Jews from worship)
  • Specifically heals those who might be excluded – II Samuel 5:6-8
  • Does not back down – puts the decision in their hands

How will you decide?