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.

Barnabas – Son of Encouragement

/

Title:  Barnabas – Son of Encouragement

Text:  Acts 4:36

Acts 4 does not tell us much….

  • Barnabas was renamed “Son of Encouragement…”
  • …or exhortation…
  • …or consolation…
  • …or comfort….

How did he encourage?

  • Took care of those in need…. Acts 4:34-36
  • Did what needed doing when it needed doing…. Acts 9:26-28; 11:19-24; 13:1-3
  • Exhorted others to remain faithful – 11:23
  • Converted souls for Christ – Acts 11:24
  • Brought others along in the work…. Acts 11:25-26
  • Didn’t give up on people – Acts 15:36-41

Barnabas – Son of Encouragement Read More »

James – The Discerning Peacemaker

/

Title:  James – The Discerning Peacemaker

Text:  Acts 15

Conflict between two groups of Christians….

  • Probably sincere….
  • Definitely out of line – Acts 15:24
  • Peter’s role – Galatians 2:11-14; Acts 15:6-11
  • Paul and Barnabas’ testimony – 15:12

James’ rationale….

  • God has clearly worked
  • Covenant language – a people for Himself – Deuteronomy 14:2; Acts 15:14
  • Makes a compromise – Acts 15:20
  • All are encouraged – 15:31

James – The Discerning Peacemaker Read More »

Mark – a Man of Growth

/

Title:  Mark – a Man of Growth

Text:  II Timothy 4:11

An early disciple….

  • Barnabas was his cousin – Colossians 4:10
  • Had seen the power of God displayed and discussed – Acts 12:12

Missionary effort

  • Barnabas believed in Mark – Acts 12:25, Acts 15:39
  • Mark leaves Paul and Barnabas – Acts 13:13
  • What happened?
    • Culture shock?
    • Homesick?
    • Family responsibilities? (Acts 12:12 – no father mentioned)
  • It bothered Paul – Acts 15:37-39; Matthew 8:19-22

The rest of the story?

  • Gave it another try – Acts 15:37-39
  • Becomes close to Peter and Paul – I Peter 5:13; Colossians 4:10; II Timothy 4:11
  • Writes the book of Mark….

Mark – a Man of Growth Read More »

Stephan – The First Martyr

/

Title:  Stephan – The First Martyr

Text:  Acts 6 and 7

Clarification – The word translated “witness” in our English Bibles comes from the NT Greek word martyr.

Given responsibility….

  • Full of the Spirit and wisdom – 6:3
  • Allowed for others to do the work they needed to do – 6:2-4
  • Went beyond given responsibilities (gaining talents?) – 6:8-10
  • God’s kingdom grew – 6:7

Stephen’s gifts….

  • Miraculous – 6:8
  • Knew scripture and how to use it – 6:10
    • His Defense
      • To the charge of blasphemy
        • Gives God His due – 7:2; 32-34; 48-50
      • Disrespectful of place
      • God is not contained in place 7:48-50
      • It’s all about Jesus – 7:52
    • Brave – 7:51-56
    • Forgiving – 7:59-60

Stephan – The First Martyr Read More »

Philip

/

Title:  Philip

Text:  Acts 8

An outsider’s perspective, part I

  • A Hellenist like the other chosen six – Acts 6:5
  • Did not get bogged down in times of trouble – Acts 8:4-5
  • Reached out to those not like himself….

Intermission….

  • The apostles and the Samaritans….
    • God puts reconciliation in our hands – 8:14-17
    • John Boanerges – Luke 9:54
    • Shows the Samaritans they are accepted
    • The schism between Jew and Samaritan is bridged in Christ
  • Simon – conversion is a matter of the heart

An outsider’s perspective, part II

  • Did what God told him to do – Acts 8:26-30
  • Saw the opportunity and knew what to do – 8:30
  • Knew Jesus is the point of scripture – 8:32-35
  • Explained what was necessary – 8:36-38

Philip Read More »

Lydia

/

Title:  Lydia

Text:  Acts 16:11-15

Background:

  • Acts 16:6-10
  • Paul and Silas are moving through modern day Turkey
  • They are thwarted by the Spirit from moving further into Asia
  • Paul sees the vision of a man from Macedonia
  • Concludes they are to preach the gospel there

Lydia – Paul’s first convert in Europe….

  • A woman of means… v. 14
  • Did not keep the gospel for herself… v. 15
  • Practiced hospitality… v. 15, 40
  • Became the nucleus of the church…

Lydia Read More »

Cornelius and Peter

/

Title:  Cornelius and Peter

Text:  Acts 10

Cornelius

  • Generous and devout – v. 1-2
  • Obedient – v. 5-8
  • Evangelistic – v. 24

Peter

  • Willing to listen – v. 17, 21, 29, Mark 7:17-19
  • Redemptive in action – v. 23, 28, 34-43, 47
  • Brought others along – v. 23

Loose ends….

  • Exceptions never define the rule… Acts 8:15-17; 10:44-46
  • Peter still has to explain himself…. Acts 11:1-18

Cornelius and Peter Read More »

Priscilla, Aquila, Apollos

/

Title:  Priscilla, Aquila, Apollos

Text:  Acts 18

Background

  • The gospel had travelled far – Acts 18:2
  • Pockets of incomplete understanding throughout the world – Acts 18:25; 19:2

Priscilla and Aquila….

  • They worked for the church as a couple….
  • They supported themselves – Acts 18:3
  • They worked within systems that gave them access to people – Acts 18:26
  • They were not afraid to explain when they saw the need – Acts 18:26

Apollos….

  • Studied – he knew his stuff – Acts 18:24
  • Was willing to learn – 18:26
  • Was passionate about sharing the gospel – 18:27-28

Priscilla, Aquila, Apollos Read More »

Speaking in Tongues

/

Title:  Speaking in Tongues

Text:  I Corinthians 12:28

What are they?

  • Another world language like Spanish or Chinese
  • Apostles, by the Spirit, were able to speak these without learning Acts 2:1-12
  • Purpose – To spread the Gospel quickly

What are they?

  • Groanings too deep for words – Romans 8:26-27
  • Purpose – to express to God what we cannot say but which validly reveals the content of ourselves to God

What are they?

  • A language from Heaven – I Corinthians 13:1
  • Often unintelligible – I Corinthians 14:27-28
  • Might be hyperbole
  • Purpose – Self-edification – 14:4 – sometimes we need it!

Lessons

  • We often major in minors… the Corinthian Christians did.
  • We should seek to build up the body – I Corinthians 14:12
  • We should always remember what is most important – I Corinthians 15:3-5

Speaking in Tongues Read More »

A Case Study in Healing

/

Title:  A Case Study in Healing

Text:  John 9

Why is he blind?

  • Disciples and religious leaders assume sin….
  • Deuteronomy 7:12-15; 28:58-59; Job 11:5 versus 23:1-7
  • Jesus is interested in the work of God….

What did Jesus do?

  • Healed the blind man
  • Brought the man to faith
  • Exposed faulty thinking

What are we to do?

  • Pray – James 5:13-16; Psalm 41
  • Remember all healing is from God (where is our faulty thinking?) …. Jeremiah 30:12-17
  • Let God be glorified in all circumstances…. Philippians 4:11-12; Job 2:10
  • Remember our greatest need is always spiritual! Matthew 16:24-26

A Case Study in Healing Read More »