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.

Guidance, Administrators, Helmsmen

By / February 17, 2022

Title:  Guidance/Administrators/Helmsmen

Text:  I Corinthians 12:28

Life is not static….

  • Life is struggle – Job 5:6-7
  • Every age has its trouble – Ecclesiastes 7:10
  • If we don’t watch it, we can veer off course – James 1:5-7

Jesus as example (walking on water)

  • Matthew 14:22-36, John 6:16-24
    • Several dangers – forced kingship, disciple revolt, bad weather
    • Peter gets distracted – how about us?

I Corinthians 12:28

  • The word translated “gifts of guidance” or “administrators” is “helmsman.”
  • The church needs people with clear minds and strong faith to steer course.

Teachers II

By / February 17, 2022

Title:  Teachers II

Text:  I Corinthians 12:28

Considerations….

  • Need to be careful!
    • For ourselves – Romans 2:21; James 3:1
    • For those who listen – II Timothy 2:14-17
  • Teachers need to stick to the word – II Timothy 3:16
  • It’s not about what I want – II Timothy 4:2ff
    • As a teacher – v. 2,5; Romans 15:4 (ch. 14 as context)
    • As a student/listener – v. 3,4; Judges 17, 18
  • Still, something worth doing! – Hebrews 5:12

Teachers

By / February 17, 2022

Title:  Teachers

Text:  I Corinthians 12:28

Jesus as Teacher….

  • Spread the gospel first…. Matthew 4:12ff, 4:23-5:2
  • Gains a following like teachers did – John 1:38; 6:25; 3:2; compare with Acts 22:3
  • Yet is unique
  • No training – John 7:27, Matthew 13:54
  • Speaks with greater authority – Matthew 5:17-20; Mark 1:27; John 10:34-37

Teachers in the church

  • The function of explaining – Acts 18:26, Matthew 28:18-20, I Timothy 4:1-11
  • Requires study – I Timothy 1:7, II Timothy 2:15
  • It is a spiritual gift – I Corinthians 12:28, Ephesians 4:7-13

Teachers must practice what they teach – John 10:34-37; I Timothy 4:11-16

Prophets

By / February 17, 2022

Title:  Prophets

I Corinthians 12:28

Functions

  • Distractions – telling the future – Deuteronomy 18:21-22; Acts 21:10-11;
  • They are sent by God – Amos 7:15
  • It is spoken proclamation (preaching) of the word of God – Jeremiah 1:9; 19:2, 14; Acts 4:29; Amos 7:16
  • Explains what God wants done – Acts 13:1
  • They edify the church – I Corinthians 14:3

Considerations

  • Prophesies are God’s words – Matthew 10:20; Acts 4:29
  • We test the sent and the source – Deuteronomy 13:2-6; I Thessalonians 5:19-22;
  • The church has the responsibility to “weigh carefully” what is said – I Corinthians 14:29

Apostles

By / March 15, 2022

Title:  Apostles

Text:  I Corinthians 12:28

The Twelve

  • Matthew 10
    • Called by Jesus
    • Sent with a job
      • Consider Mark 6:30-36

The office….

  • Acts 1:15-26; I Corinthians 9:9-10; Acts 26:12-23
  • The message remains the same – Acts 2:14ff

Different uses of the term….

  • Taken as a whole, the term seems to indicate “missionary” – a term that otherwise does not appear in scripture
    • Acts 14:4, 14
    • I Corinthians 15:3-11
    • Galatians 1:19
    • Philippians 2:25
    • I Thessalonians 1:1; 2:7
  • Purpose – to start the church – qualitative and quantitative.

I Corinthians 12:28 – When Paul says “…first, apostles,” this is not an indication of importance but rather of order in how churches get started and how they grow.  The tension is in how important each part of the body is as stated in 12:12-27 and Paul’s “greater gifts” assertion in v. 31

Not My Gift

By / February 17, 2022

Title:  Not My Gift

Note:  This sermon was given during the Covid-19 pandemic

Text:  Various from Nehemiah

Some parallels to our current situation….

  • Judah had lived through the worst time in its history
  • Really hadn’t recovered – Nehemiah 1:3
  • What about us?

A way forward….

  • Judah needed a Nehemiah
    • Passion – 1:1-4
    • Vision – 1:11 – 2:5
    • Planning – 2:7-9, 11-18
    • Endurance – 3:19, 4:1, 6:1-9

The people did what needed doing

  • Well, not everyone… 3:5, 5:3-12
  • Contrast – 3:1, 12, 15-16, 17, etc., 4:6
  • II Corinthians 12:9-10
  • What needs doing now? Can we commit to doing it?

The Body of Christ

By / February 17, 2022

Title:  The Body of Christ

Text:  I Corinthians 12:12-31

You are a part of the body!

  • Don’t underestimate yourself….
  • …and don’t overestimate yourself!
  • If you are not a part, then you are dead….

Your brothers and sisters are a part of the body!

  • The jobs we do may be different…
  • Some jobs may be more important than others….
  • No part of the body is more important than the rest!

Eagerly Desire the Greater Gifts

By / February 17, 2022

Title:  Eagerly Desire the Greater Gifts

Text:  I Corinthians 12:31

Members are equal – gifts are not….

  • I Corinthians 12:25
  • II Corinthians 8:13-15
  • Matthew 20:1-16
  • James 2:1-4

How do we gain a gift?

  • Realize these are from the Spirit – be filled! Ephesians 5:18
  • Those who grow the church – How can I bring people to Christ? Acts 26 – Paul told his story and then connected it with Jesus’ resurrection.
  • Those who edify the church – How can I help others strengthen their faith and understanding? II Timothy 2:15-21; Hebrews 5:14
  • Those who serve the church – How can I help to do what needs doing? Galatians 5:13; I Peter 4:11

The Gift of Prayer

By / February 17, 2022

Title:   The Gift of Prayer

Text:  Various

Prayer is an offering to God….

  • Revelation 8:1-5
  • It is our time spent with Him…. Luke 10:38-42

Prayer leads us to God’s thoughts….

  • Joshua 9:14
  • I Samuel 23:4
  • I Samuel 30:8
  • II Samuel 2:1
  • II Samuel 5:23
  • Acts 10

Prayer prepares us for vocation….

  • Acts 10 (lead in from last point)
  • I Kings 19:15-18

Prayer is powerful!

  • James 5:16
  • I Peter 3:12

The Gift of Ourselves

By / February 17, 2022

Title:  The Gift of Ourselves

Text:  Ephesians 4:1-16

Raised up

  • In power Christ is raised – Ephesians 1:18-23
  • In power we are raised – Ephesians 2:1-7
  • Our gifts raise – Ephesians 4:7-13

Gave us to each other

  • We ourselves are a gift – Ephesians 4:11
  • These gifts complete us, allow us to serve, and build us up, making us like Christ – Ephesians 4:12
  • Reframes our thinking and doing – Ephesians 4:13-16