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.

Be Flexible Like Jesus

By / March 15, 2022

Title:  Be Flexible Like Jesus

Text:  John 2:1-11 – The Wedding at Cana

Relationships are Key!

  • Jesus and the wedding party
  • Jesus and his mother
  • Jesus and the servants
  • The servants and the master of the banquet
  • Jesus and his disciples

Anchored to Principle…

  • The message in His method….
    • Hour: 2:4, 7:30, 8:20, 12:23, 12:27, 13:1, 17:1
    • Wine: John 6:53-56, Luke 22:20
  • Ceremonial cleansing vs. the cleansing of Jesus’ blood:
    • Heb. 9:11-14, Rev. 7:14-17
  • “The best for last” – an eschatological reality:
    • Rev. 21:9, 22:17

The Takeaways….

  • There is time to enjoy life….
  • Not everything goes according to plan….
  • It is always time to do the right thing!
  • Infuse every moment with meaning!

Have Faith Like Jesus

By / February 17, 2022

Title:  Have Faith Like Jesus

  • Matthew 17:14-21
  • Mark 9:14-29

Life will beat you down….

  • The father and his boy….
  • The disciples….

Cannot take our faith for granted….

  • Is formulaic relational!
  • Is static dynamic!

Faith lives in paradox….

  • Acts, but….
  • It is God doing the action!

Illuminate Like Jesus

By / March 14, 2022

Title:  Illuminate Like Jesus

Text:  John 9

The Disciples

  • Jesus penetrated their presuppositions… suffering is not always a result of sin
  • Proved His point with action! – God’s glory displayed in his healing

The Blind Man

  • Spoke to him as a man….
  • Helped him in his need….
  • Planted the seeds of faith and let it grow! (Jesus is invisible to him until v. 37)

The Pharisees… (Two teachers – Jesus and the blind man)

  • Truth-driven! V. 17, 25
  • Did not back down…. V. 30-32
  • The invitation to see is always open! 40-41

Be Confident Like Jesus

By / February 17, 2022

Title:  Be Confident Like Jesus

Introduction text:  Mark 1:21-28 (Jesus took the situation in hand with confidence).

Confidence in speech:

  • Tether what you say to the truth – I Cor. 3:7-13
  • Let your actions also speak – Mathew 5 – point out the action portion of Jesus’ sermon. Matthew 13:8, 23 – expound a bit on the parable itself.  I Timothy 4:16

Confidence in God’s power to change people.

  • The power struggle:
    • I Kings 18-19
    • Luke 4:41
    • 3:10, 6:12, Col. 2:15, I Pet. 3:22
    • II Cor. 10:4-5

Know Who You Are Like Jesus

By / February 17, 2022

Title:  Know Who You Are Like Jesus

Text:  Luke 9:18-27

Jesus communicated with the Father….

  • Who we are is always relative to God….
    • God acts, we respond!
  • Jesus places Himself in relation to God through prayer….
    • We must practice prayer!

Jesus dealt with misunderstanding….

  • Explained Himself
    • We will have to explain ourselves to a world that does not understand Christ!
  • Was patient with the ambiguity – Even after Peter’s confession, he didn’t really get it….
  • Recognized where the real danger was….
    • Matthew 16:23 – still worked with Peter, recognized Satan’s work….
  • To others
    • Romans 1:16
    • Matthew 28:18-20

See People Like Jesus

By / February 17, 2022

Title:  See People Like Jesus

Text:  John 8:1-11

The disingenuous accusers:

  • Where was the man?
  • Their question was not aiming for an answer but for a target.
  • Didn’t see the woman as a woman, but as a tool

Shedding light on the subject….

  • Jesus sees the men for who they are….
  • Jesus sees the woman as a person who needs saving….
  • Physically and spiritually!

Calls each to take stock of their spiritual need….

Send Like Jesus

By / February 17, 2022

Title:  Send Like Jesus

Text:  Mark 6:6-13, Luke 9:1-6

The sent are prepared!

  • Jesus spent time with them….
  • Jesus trained them!

The sent had a clear purpose…

  • Gospel is paramount!
  • Brings healing and freedom to all!

Eat Like Jesus

By / February 17, 2022

Title:  Eat Like Jesus

Text:  John 4:1-42

It is always time to do God’s work!

  • The harvest is now!
  • Jesus’ conversation always got to the heart of His mission…
    • John 3:3
    • John 4:26
  • The early Christians followed this example…
    • Paul – Act 21-28
    • II Tim. 4:2
    • I Peter 3:15

Jesus found God’s work all-sustaining!

  • John 4:32-34
  • Matthew 4:4
  • Exodus 34:27-28
  • Matthew 6:31-34

Serve Like Jesus

By / February 17, 2022

Title:  Serve Like Jesus

Text:  John 13:1-20

  • Relationship over ritual!
  • Service is key to our life together as Christians!
  • This happened in the context of the last supper – true communion takes each other into account! John 13-17

Service does not look for convenience….

  • Jesus is running out of time….
  • He knows He is about to undergo the hardest of tests….
  • He performs the most menial of tasks….

What is service without love?

  • John 13:1
  • I Samuel 25:1-22
  • I Corinthians 13:1-3

Mother’s Day lesson

By / February 17, 2022

Title:  Honoring our Mothers!

Opening text:  Exodus 20:12

Honoring is active….

  • Luke 2:41-52
  • John 2:1-11
  • Mark 7:10-12

Honoring is for the here and now (not after they are gone)

  • Luke 11:47-48
  • Leviticus 19:28
  • John 19:25-27

Honoring God is honoring mothers….

  • I Samuel 1:9-11
  • Proverbs 23:23-25
  • II Timothy 1:5