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.

See People Like Jesus

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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….

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Send Like Jesus

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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!

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Eat Like Jesus

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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

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Serve Like Jesus

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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

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Mother’s Day lesson

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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

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No one is good except God alone

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This comes from Mark 10:17-22 and Luke 18:18-27.  I always loved how the Mark version says Jesus looked at this rich young ruler and loved him.  Jesus knew what He was asking of him, but He did it because it was the one thing standing in his way.  I hope this young man changed his mind at some point – Jesus told his disciples only a few moments later nothing was impossible with God.  So there is hope….

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Justice

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Title:  O Lord, God of Israel, there is No One Like You Text:  I Kings 8:21ff How So?
  • Makes covenants with people… I Kings 8:23 but also….
    • Genesis 15, Exodus 19, Jeremiah 31:31-34
  • Makes His dwelling with them…
    • Psalm 8:3-4, Deuteronomy 4:7, John 1:14; 14:15-21
  • Different from the gods around who were cold, impersonal, distant and fake! – I Kings 18:27ff, Isaiah 44:15
What does the covenant entail?
  • Back to I Kings 8
    • Recognition of our failing
    • Calling on the Lord
He is faithful to answer – Psalm 121 Title:  Let Justice Roll Down like a River…. Title text:  Amos 5:24; Main text:  Isaiah 58
  • He acts in Justice and Righteousness! – Romans 3:21-27
  • Context is always in terms of those in need! – Matthew 25:34-36, James 1:27
  • Psalm 50:1-6, I Corinthians 11:17-33
 Title:  How Much More…. Becoming like God in His Justice Texts:  John 10:22-39, Psalm 82 Jesus defines Himself in John 10:34
  • The Context – Jesus is defending Himself against unbelief.
  • The Method – How much more? Common technique….
  • The Point – Jesus truly is God.
What is the lesser? – Psalm 82
  • God calls men “gods” – v. 6
  • A defining characteristic of “Godness” is justice
  • God pronounces his judgement – Since they are not acting like, it they are demoted to mortality
The Greater is proven right by His actions!
  • Does what the Father does – John 10:37
  • Contrast v. 38
What this means for us….
  • Act in justice – Psalm 82:2-4
  • We become his and gain eternal life (contrast with mortality) – Romans 2:7
Title:  Acting out Justice (God’s action against spiritual oppression to create community) Text:  Various Against gods
  • The gods of other nations are demonic in nature
  • They tear apart society
  • They dehumanize
    • Deuteronomy 12:31, 32:17,
  • In His justice, God passes judgement on them
    • Numbers 33:3-4, I Kings 18
    • Exodus 33:1-4
  • Ethical concern – Exodus 23:9
Against demons
  • Same song, different verse – still dehumanizing, still tearing apart community
    • Luke 8:34-35, Luke 9:42
    • Luke 11:15
Rulers, authorities, and powers in the heavenly realms….
  • In Christ, our spiritual place is realized…. Eph. 2:6
  • The battle is brought to the spiritual realm!
    • 18:18, Ephesians 3:6-11, 14-21, 6:10-12
Title: Acting in Justice Text:  James 2 Clarification – Justice and Righteousness are the same word in NT Greek How?
  • Remember what we’ve been given….
  • 12, Matthew 18:22-35
  • Favoritism has no place in the church!
  • 1-4, 8-11, Exodus 23:1-9
  • See clearly….
  • 5-7, 1:5-8, 22-25
  • Justice is action!
  • 14-26
Title:  Speaking Justice (Talking it Out) Talk….
  • Check your motives – James 3:3-12
  • Be gentle – Proverbs 15:1 Philippians 4:5
  • Recognize God is in the mix – Matthew 18:15; Philippians 2:12-13
Listen….
  • Don’t jump to conclusions – II Samuel 16:1-4, 19:24-28
  • Don’t think you understand perfectly – James 1:19, Proverbs 29:20, Proverbs 18:17
Be willing to get vulnerable
  • You will hear things you don’t like – Galatians 2:11-14, II Peter 3:15
  • It can/will hurt! Philippians 2:3-8
Assume the best
  • Trust people are speaking the truth in love – Ephesians 4:15, 29
  • Think the best of each other – Philippians 4:8-9
Title:  Doing Justice Text:  Ephesians 4:1-16 Love is the motivator – justice is the outcome.
  • Walk v. 1 (Translated far too often as a passive “live.” Walking is active.)
  • Look out of yourself v. 2
  • Strive for unity v. 3-6
  • Recognize diversity of gifts v. 7-13; Luke 7:35
  • Reach maturity v. 14-16; I Cor. 13:11
 Title:  Justice – Kingdom Business Text:  Matthew 28:16-20 If it is only in the Kingdom true justice is found, what are we doing about it?
  • We know more than just justice is at stake – Romans 1:16-17
  • World is all too willing to use God’s Kingdom for its own ends – Matthew 11:12
  • What the world offers can never satisfy – I Corinthians 3:3, John 14:27, 16:33, Ephesians 2:2, I John 2:15-17
  • We are commissioned to not judge those outside the church – I Corinthians 5:12, John 3:16-21, I Corinthians 11:19
  • We are commissioned to make disciples! Matthew 28:16-20

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Holiness

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Title: Be Holy

Text:  Leviticus 11:44-45

We choose wrong standards of comparison

  • Israel with the surrounding kingdoms – I Samuel 8:1-9
  • Parable of the tax collector – Luke 18:9-14
  • Peter and John – John 21:20-22
  • King Belshazzar – Daniel 5:22-26

We too easily conform to those standards….

  • Israel in the promised land – Exodus 34:10-16
  • Ahab and Jezebel – I Kings 16:29-33
  • Israel and Judah – Jeremiah 3:6-10

Be Holy for I am Holy – God is the standard

Title:  Holiness at Sinai – Awe

Text:  Exodus 19

Overview

  • God meets His People
  • Challenges them to be holy – v. 5-6
  • Extracts them from the world – v. 5-6

God is not safe….

  • Egypt – v. 4
  • Warning to stay distant – 19:16
  • Desire to stay distant – 20:18-19

Respond in awe….

  • Define: Dread, Terror
  • Tremble – v. 16
  • Fear and terror – Deuteronomy 28:58ff, 26:8
  • Hebrews 10:26-31
  • Hebrews 12:18-29

 Title:  Holiness – Fascination

Text:  Exodus 19:21-23

Attraction

  • Exodus 3:1-6, 33:13
  • Psalms 15:1, 24:3, 43:3

…despite our fears….

  • 33:18ff,
  • Isaiah 6:
  • Ezekiel 1:
  • Daniel 10:
  • Mark 9:1-6

God makes it possible!

  • II Corinthians 3:7 – 4:6
    • Unfading – v. 11
    • Unveiled – v. 16
    • Reflecting – v. 18
    • Fascinating to others – 4:2
    • Standing full-faced in the presence of Christ – 4:6

 Title:  Holiness and Glory

Text:  Exodus 19

Holiness moves and is dynamic

  • Storm imagery…
    • Exodus 19:16, Psalm 29, Psalm 144:5-8, Exodus 33:21-23
  • Movement
    • Exodus 14, Psalm 19, Romans 6:4, Romans 8:21

How we glorify

  • It is in the doing!
    • Romans 2:7
    • John 15:8
    • I Corinthians 10:31
  • God ultimately glorifies us!
    • John 17:22
    • I Corinthians 2:7-9
    • II Corinthians 3:18
    • I Corinthians 15:42-44

 Title:  Holiness and Cleanliness

Text:  Exodus 19:10ff

Reminded they are in the presence of God

  • Exodus 19:10
  • Exodus 30:19-21
  • Numbers 19:20
  • John 13:8
  • Hebrews 10:22

Lifestyle matters!

  • Psalm 51:2
  • Isaiah 1:16-18
  • John 13:10

Motives Matter!

  • Proverbs 16:2
  • Mark 7:1-7
  • James 4:1-10

Baptism as Washing

  • I Peter 3:13-21
  • Acts 22:16

Title:  Holiness – Who is Like You?

Text:  Exodus 15:11

There is no God like God

  • God revealed: Exodus 19; Daniel 10:4-6; (Ezekiel 1:25-28; Isaiah 6:1-4); Revelation 1:12-16
  • Acknowledged: Isaiah 46:9; Deuteronomy 33:26-29; I Samuel 2:1-2ff

He set His people apart

  • Leviticus 20:24-26
  • Psalm 4:3
  • II Corinthians 6:17
  • Revelation 18:4

What it means….

  • We will look different…. Ephesians 4:17-24; 5:3-13
  • To praise and to witness….I Peter 2:9-12

 Title:  Be Holy

Text:  Leviticus 11:44-45

If we are holy, we will be different….

  • Sometimes hard to square with – Deuteronomy 18:9; Luke 18:2; John 12:43
  • We are transformed – Romans 12:2; II Corinthians 3:18
  • It is noticeable – I Kings 22:8; Acts 4:13; Philippians 2:12-16
  • Contrasts: Galatians 5:19-26; Philippians 3:17-21; Ephesians 4:29-5:7

We will inspire fascination and awe

  • Mark 6:17-20
  • Acts 24:24-27
  • II Corinthians 2:14-15
  • Luke 5:8
  • Acts 16:16-34

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Gifts I Corinthians 12:28

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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

 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

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

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

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.

 Title:  Helping Others

Text:  I Corinthians 12:28

Why listed here?

  • Emphasizes everyone has a role.
  • The gifts are fluid – we can find ourselves in any number of these roles, this one most often.
  • Order is important here considering the Corinthian problem and their emphasis on tongues.

Sometimes helping is situational….

  • God puts into our paths opportunities to help – I Corinthians 16:3ff; Acts 11:27ff
  • I Peter 2:12 and subsequent history

How to help….

  • Look for opportunities – Galatians 6:10; Philippians 4:10; Colossians 4:5
  • Physically and financially – II Corinthians 8:19; Acts 9:36
  • Spiritually – Acts 16:9; Ephesians 4:29

Title:  Workers of Miracles

Text:  I Corinthians 12:28

Concentrated at certain times

  • The Exodus – Exodus 3:19-21; 7:5; 11:9
  • Elijah and Elisha – I Kings 17 – II Kings 13 (I Kings 18; II Kings 5; 6:24-7:7)
  • Judges 6:13
  • Jesus and early church
    • The book of Mark and miracles – 1:20-28; 4:41; 8:27-30
    • Mark 16:15-18; Acts 3; 16:16ff; John 20:29;
    • Contrast: I Corinthians 13:8-10; Philippians 2:25-27

Always for God’s glory

  • To create community – Acts 2 (22-24; 42-47)
  • To show where God’s favor rests – John 10:38; 14:11

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

 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

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