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.

Why Think about Spiritual Gifts?

By / February 17, 2022

Title:  Why Think about Spiritual Gifts?

Text:  I Corinthians 12:1-3

Helps us in our vocation

  • We think about our jobs, how about our spiritual jobs?
  • II Timothy 1:6, 2:15

Mobilizes the church for mission

  • Lets us know what direction we can take – Luke 14:28-33
  • May chose some ministry directions over others – Acts 13:1-3

Helps us set priorities

  • Study – Hebrews 5:12-13, I Corinthians 3:2
  • Growth – I Corinthians 12:31
  • Ministry – Acts 6:1-4

Shows the value of each individual

  • One body
    • I Corinthians 12:12ff
    • Romans 12:4-5
    • Ephesians 4:4

Helps us accept the ministry of others

  • Matthew 3:13-15
  • John 13:6
  • Matthew 8:5-9
  • II Timothy 4:9-11

Our Gifts for God’s Glory II

By / February 17, 2022

Title:  Our Gifts for His Glory II

Text:  Various

Are gifts the same as talents?

  • Talents reveal our (natural) abilities – I Chronicles 11:10ff, 15:22, II Samuel 2:18
  • Talents can be infused with gifts – Exodus 31:6

Are gifts the same as talents?

  • Gifts reveal God’s (supernatural) power in you
    • Given by God as He wills – Romans 12:6, Hebrews 2:4
    • The Spirit comes at baptism, gifts can come later – I Corinthians 12:31, II Timothy 1:6
  • For us, we should strive to use both for God
    • Matthew 25:14-30 – parable of the talents
    • I Corinthians 14:12

What is the purpose of the gifts?

  • Build one another up – I Corinthians 12:7, 14:12, Eph. 4:9-13
  • Reveal God – I Corinthians 14:22-25
  • Glorify God – Acts 3:8

Our Gifts for His Glory

By / February 17, 2022

Title:  Our Gifts for His Glory

Text:  Acts 17:24-28

What is a gift?

  • Something without strings attached – Genesis 23:10-16, I Corinthians 2:12
  • Something we have thought about – Genesis 43:11, Mark 14:1-9
  • Something we have paid for or made – II Samuel 24:18-25

Perspective One

  • “I have talents and abilities and assets I can chose to craft, develop and give to God… and I give at my prerogative. Or not.”
    • Nebuchadnezzar – Daniel 4:30
    • Herod – Acts 12:21
    • Pharisee vs. tax collector – Luke 18:9-14
    • Parable of the bigger barns – Luke 12:18

Perspective Two

  • We give You what is Yours
  • Solomon – I Kings 8:22ff
  • Psalm 50:9-12
  • Acts 17:24-28

Love that Invites

By / February 17, 2022

Title:  Love that Invites

Text:  Revelation 22:17

God always makes the first move….

  • All are created and blessed by Him – Genesis 1:27-31
  • The Patriarchs – Genesis 12:1-3; 26:1-4; 28:10-15
  • Moses – Exodus 3&4
  • The Passover – Exodus 12
  • Metaphor of Israel – Ezekiel 16:9-14
  • “Because He first loved us” – I John 4:19

We respond!

  • I John 4:19
  • Consider those already mentioned….
  • Israel – Genesis 24:3; Joshua 24:14-19
  • Psalm 108
  • Acts 26:28-29

 

To Be a Treasured Possession

By / February 17, 2022

Title:  To Be a Treasured Possession

Text:  Exodus 19:5

  • Our relationship becomes exclusive
  • Not what the world wants to hear…. John 3:16ff; John 15:1-17
    • Doesn’t understand the purpose of His care – Naaman did; to follow Him – II Kings 5
    • Wants the benefits without the work – Mark 10:17ff
  • He fights for us – Numbers 21; Joshua 6; II Kings 6:8; Colossians 2:13-15
  • He takes care of us – John 10:14-18; Psalm 34:4-10

Come Lord Jesus

By / February 17, 2022

Title:  Come, Lord Jesus!

Title text:  Revelation 22:20

Why is He Coming Again?

  • Because He promised!
    • John 14:1-4
    • 24:30-31
  • Because He loves us!
    • John 17:20-26
  • Because He has a job to do!
    • He came first to save…
    • John 12:47*
    • He comes again to judge…
      • Acts 17:31, Rom. 2:16, Rev. 20:13
      • Mt. 25:31ff
      • II Tim. 4:1-8*
      • John 5:21-27

What’s Taking So Long?

  • No one knows the hour or the day…
    • Mark 13:34
    • 24:36
  • He wants all to come to repentance!
    • I Peter 3:9

What is Our Response?

  • Be pure and blameless…
    • 1:9-10, I Thess. 5:23-24*
  • Be prepared!
    • 25:1-13
  • Prepare others!
    • II Tim. 4:1-8

The Word Became Flesh

By / February 17, 2022

Title:  The Word Became Flesh

Text:  John 1:1-14

  • The Word is what the Word does….
  • No hypocrisy….
  • Ezekiel 12:25, II Corinthians 1:20, II Peter 3:3-9
  • The Word creates….
  • Genesis 1
  • The Word reveals….v. 18
  • The Word saves! v. 12, 13, 17

How will we respond?

  • To recognize!
    • Matthew 7:20
    • Matthew 14:35
    • Matthew 17:12
    • Jeremiah 44
  • To receive!
    • Mark 4:20
    • John 6:60ff

For to Us a Child Is Born

By / February 17, 2022

Title:  For to Us a Child is Born! (cf. The People Living in Darkness Have Seen a Great Light)

Text:  Isaiah 9:1-6

Every age has its oppression….

  • Midian – Judges 6
  • Zebulun and Naphtali – I Kings 15:20, II Kings 15:29
  • Matthew 9:36
  • Revelation 6:9-11

Jesus answers this oppression!

  • Isaiah 9:1-5
  • John 16:33

The People Living in Darkness Have Seen a Great Light

By / February 17, 2022

Title:  The People Living in Darkness Have Seen a Great Light (cf. For to Us a Child is Born!)

Text:  Isaiah 9:1-7

Sometimes our world is dark:

  • Lamentations 3:1-7
  • Job 3:(4)
  • Psalm 88
  • Isaiah 8:11-22

Jesus brought light!

  • Who would receive it? Precisely those who had suffered the most – v. 1, 4-5 (consider Zebulun and esp. Naphtali)
  • There is growth – v. 3, 7
  • The occasion – the birth of the King v. 7
  • The result – Justice and righteousness – v. 7

Immanuel – God With Us

By / February 17, 2022

Title:  Immanuel – God with us

Texts:  Matthew 1, 2; Luke 1, 2

The incarnation is a matter of faith in and of itself…

  • Mary – Luke 1:26-38
  • Joseph – Matthew 1:18-25
  • Magi – Matthew 2:1,2,12
  • Herod – Matthew 2:3-8, 16-18

The incarnation is a matter of faith in what it means for us…

  • Immanuel – Matthew 1:27
  • Jesus – Luke 1:31
  • Savior – Luke 2:11
  • Christ – Luke 2:11

We take Jesus as He is…

  • Compare with Joash – II Chronicles 22:10, 24:1-2
  • Jesus at the temple – Luke 2:41-52

We give Jesus His due…

  • Our gifts – Matthew 2:11
  • Our worship – Mark 5:22,33; Rev. 1:17; Phil. 2:10-11
  • Our obedience – John 14:23, Heb. 5:9, II Thess. 1:8