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.

Hope – “At That Time….”

By / February 17, 2022

Title:  Hope – “At That Time….”

Main Text:  Jeremiah chs. 30-31

Jeremiah’s shifting emphasis….

  • Hope for Israel – 31:7-9, 15-20
  • Hope for Judah – 31:23-25, 31
  • Through trouble and judgement – 30:7,11; 31:18-19
  • Through God’s character – 30:10-11, 18-22; 31:9, 11, 13-14

Application….

  • We can expect trouble… Rachel – 31:15; Jeremiah himself
  • We are saved through trouble – 30:7, II Corinthians 4:17
  • God does right by His people – 31:15-17, 27-30

A Reason for Thanksgiving

By / March 15, 2022

Title:  A Reason for Thanksgiving

Text:  Various

Blessing and Deliverance – Old Testament….

  • Psalm 136
  • II Chronicles 20
  • Psalm 88 – not always seen – considered the saddest song in the psalter

Blessing and Deliverance – New Testament….

  • Everything is better! (In comparison with Psalm 88)
    • Hebrews 7:18-22; 11:16, 35;
  • We have Christ! – Colossians
    • Inheritance and forgiveness – 1:12-14
    • Reconciliation – 1:21-22
    • Fullness – 2:2-5; 9-10
    • Resurrection – 2:12

Thanksgiving!

By / February 17, 2022

Title:  Thanksgiving!

Text:  Psalm 95

Our God is a great God!

  • Psalm 95:3,4,5
  • Job 38-41

God shares His greatness with us! – Psalm 95:1,6,7

Our response is joy, thanksgiving, and worship!

  • Psalm 95:1,2,6
  • II Samuel 6
  • Acts 3:1-10

Any other response is absurd…. Psalm 95:8-11

To Be Like Dad! A Father’s Day lesson

By / February 17, 2022

Title:  To Be Like Dad!

John 5:19-23

Set the example in holiness….

  • Set apart and different:
  • Leviticus 11:45
  • Genesis 6:9-13 vs. I Kings 15:25-26

Set the example in love….

  • Lamentations 3:22-24
  • Psalm 30:5
  • Job 1:1-5
  • Ephesians 5:1
  • Proverbs 13:24

Set the example in fairness!

  • Romans 2:11
  • Matthew 5t:45-48
  • Genesis 37

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