Published Sermons

Fatal Core of a Fatal Crash

gpooleii@gmail.com (Glenn G. Poole, II) — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 10:11:01 PDT

This Week at Philadelphia (August 20, 2011)

A motorcyclist races down a crowded Colorado Springs street at an unbelievable speed. Something obscures his attention and he slams into the back of a pickup stopped at a stop light. He's dead. On the ground, on the scene. Gone.

Why? It was so unnecessary. We will likely never hear the real reason; not from the media, or even from the family of the deceased. But there is a reason. There was a fatal core in the sad heart of this man that led to the choices he made on Thursday - choices that ended his life.

What may be even more shocking, however, is that the answer to the "why?" of how his life ended, may be very near to the answer to the "why?" in our own life.

Why the pain?
The suffering?
The conflict?
The confusion in my own life?

This week at Philadelphia we start a new sermon series entitled: "Exposing the Fatal Core". The details we cover in the next few weeks will be a powerful step in exposing the vulnerabilities in our own lives that could have eternally fatal consequences.

And with the power of Christ as a foundation, we'll discover a most powerful hope in a lifetime of victory over the Fatal Core that stalks us!

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Judgment Day

gpooleii@gmail.com (Glenn G. Poole, II) — Mon, 23 May 2011 10:46:24 PDT

Harold Camping predicted the world would end today, May 21, 2011. He's led a lot of people astray and some of his followers are now facing financial disaster.

What does the Bible say about the End of the World? What are the real issues? What is the key to understanding the secrets of this fairly important event?

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Video introduction can be viewed here

A Place at the Table

gpooleii@gmail.com (Glenn G. Poole, II) — Mon, 23 May 2011 10:27:38 PDT

Sermonette for Philadelphia's Spring Celebration of the Lord's Supper

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Royal Immanence

gpooleii@gmail.com (Glenn G. Poole, II) — Mon, 23 May 2011 10:32:47 PDT

The marriage of Prince William and Kate Middleton this week was a world wide event. We really do love royalty, don't we. We secretly wonder what their life would be like. We're drawn to the bigness and the pomp and ceremony because it looks and feels so transcendent - so beyond what we will ever be able to experience. And, truthfully, I didn't get an invitation to the wedding. Nor did anyone I know; none of my family and not one of my friends got invited.

But the royalty of Jesus Christ is different. Very different. While His existence is truly transcendent, His presence is so immanent.

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The Cross and the Resurrection

gpooleii@gmail.com (Glenn G. Poole, II) — Mon, 23 May 2011 10:17:01 PDT

Easter weekend celebration of the Life, Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

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No Guts, No Glory

gpooleii@gmail.com (Glenn G. Poole, II) — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 07:41:01 PDT

It's true in skiing/snowboarding, and it's true in the Christian life. If you want Jesus to be the King of your glory, you'd better let Him be the LORD of your life. This week we take a look at the lesson of Jesus' Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem.

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Video introduction can be viewed here

Always Growing

gpooleii@gmail.com (Glenn G. Poole, II) — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 10:25:22 PDT

"We desire that each one of you show the same diligence so as to realize the full assurance of hope until the end."

Rain falls. Brown grass spouts green shoots. Trees show buds. Daffodils poke up through the earth. In response to rain, warmth and sunshine the life of Spring is revealed.

How's your "Christianity" doing? Is it "shooting", budding, poking life through the rough circumstances of your existence? If it's not, then it's not Christianity. No really. If it's not working for you, then it's not the real thing.

Because the real thing works. Period.

We're exploring Hebrews 6 at Philadelphia this morning on our way to understanding diligence in "Always Growing"

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Better than Circumstances

gpooleii@gmail.com (Glenn G. Poole, II) — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 15:18:00 PDT

There are a lot of circumstances to life that we wish were different. Scripture is clear that we are welcome to share all our cares and worries about life with God. Talk to Him, tell Him what we think. But Scripture is also clear that, at the end of the day, our real lives cannot be defined by those circumstances. We may be hard pressed today, but we've got something better on the inside.

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When A Child Calls, "Father"

gpooleii@gmail.com (Glenn G. Poole, II) — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 10:03:18 PDT

When Jesus used the term "Abba, Father" in His appeal to God in the Garden of Gethsemane, it represented the very deepest of intimate relationships.

Sometimes, as we negotiate the nits and dragons of life we may wonder if we have a relationship with God at all.

But if we look a little closer at the other places in Scripture where these two words are used together an astonishing promise emerges - a promise that speaks to the possibility of a relationship with God we've only dreamed of until now.

An introductory video was used at the beginning of the sermon. That video can be viewed here.
Click here to listen or download the sermon.

Philadelphia's Three-Year Anniversary Celebration

gpooleii@gmail.com (Glenn G. Poole, II) — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 09:54:39 PDT

Three years of life and ministry at Philadelphia Ministries has flow by! We've seen a lot of activities, a lot of challenges and an absolute heap-load of blessings. So many people who have been in and around this fellowship have testified to the warmth and blessing they get in relationship with this group. We have this to celebrate.

This year, six different slide shows represented the fellowship of Philadelphia from April 2010 to March 2011. You can view each those at the following links:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAio2Hfs1Tk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5m2HOOrxh_s
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XswrNRvqufY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TxUO0GxY5dA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jumlaF77XNU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XyNh5BfOj1c

The sermon for this weekend can be heard by clicking here.

Resolving Bitterness

gpooleii@gmail.com (Glenn G. Poole, II) — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 08:06:30 PST

Last week at Philadelphia (February 26), we shared prayer time together over issues that members of the congregation anonymously reported. Among all those issues, more individuals reported struggling with anger and bitterness than anything else. This week at Philadelphia, Glenn shares some biblical answers to helping all of us deal with those things.

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Corporate Repentance

gpooleii@gmail.com (Glenn G. Poole, II) — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 08:07:30 PST

This week at Philadelphia, the congregation was invited to anonymously share the spiritual issues they were currently struggling with. Unresolved personal and spiritual issues will weaken individuals, families and the entire congregation. When those issues were written down, several spiritual leaders then prayed over them asking for God's grace to bring deliverance.

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Adoption and Grace

gpooleii@gmail.com (Glenn G. Poole, II) — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 11:54:27 PST

My family and I have been watching the incredible unfolding drama of extending family members working through the adoption of a foreign teenage girl. The parallels to our own experience with God, the trials, the fears, the disbelief, the barriers and road blocks, all have been graphically illustrated for us in the last two weeks. This Saturday at Philadelphia, I shared the story with the implications for our own walk with a Heavenly Father who has adopted us so long ago!

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In Christ at Communion

gpooleii@gmail.com (Glenn G. Poole, II) — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 10:13:22 PST

In Adam, or In Christ? Which humanity are you under today? Which one do you live under most of your week? When you look in the mirror, do you tend to see a sinner, or someone who is completely righteous and obedient in Christ? How you answer these questions will determine whether you are living a joyful, growing, victorious Christian life or not.

Our Communion celebration for the winter of 2011 starts with this discussion taken from Romans 5. You will be challenged to see yourself In Christ this week!

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A descriptive presentation slide used in this sermon is available for viewing here.

The Simplicity of Prayer - A Taste From the Inside

gpooleii@gmail.com (Glenn G. Poole, II) — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 11:24:24 PST

Like a man who can't tell whether an apple is really good or not without tasting it, so the effectiveness of prayer and the blessed realities of the grace of God through Jesus Christ, can't be understood from the outside. They have to be tasted and lived to truly understand. In this final sermon in the Simplicity of Prayer series, you'll hear a powerful testimony of what God can do in the life of a praying executive secretary and a challenge to go deeper into an experience with God.

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(sermon #9 in the Simplicity of Prayer series)

The Simplicity of Prayer - When You Don't Know What to Say

gpooleii@gmail.com (Glenn G. Poole, II) — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 10:21:54 PST

Twenty-five years ago, January 28, 1986 the space shuttle Challenger disintegrated in flight, just over 70 seconds into its mission, killing all 7 crew members. The CNN corespondent commenting on the flight took 25 seconds to utter his first words after the horrific accident - probably the longest 25 seconds in his broadcasting career. He just didn't know what to say.

Sometimes, when we approach God in prayer, we don't know what to say either. A tragedy, an abuse, a persecution or some other terrible thing has occurred and we just don't know what to say to God. This week as our Simplicity of Prayer sermon series continues at Philadelphia Ministries, we'll take a look at Scripture's suggestions for times like that: What to pray When You Don't Know What to Say."

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(sermon #8 in the Simplicity of Prayer series)

The Challenger disaster video reference in this sermon can be found at the following link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4JOjcDFtBE

The Simplicity of Prayer - Uncobbered Faith

gpooleii@gmail.com (Glenn G. Poole, II) — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 11:17:22 PST

Gary Walter (former pastor of local Colorado Springs Congregation "Common Ground"; check out his blog here) joins Glenn in a spiritual dialog as they work from James 1 and John 6 seeking to uncover how to get from the desperate prayers for relief from the clobbering of life's circumstances to a calm and enduring faith under all circumstances.

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(sermon #7 in the Simplicity of Prayer series)

The Simplicity of Prayer - Unanswered Prayer

gpooleii@gmail.com (Glenn G. Poole, II) — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 08:54:35 PST

The Simplicity of Prayer sermon series continues with a look at one of the most challenging topics related to prayer. It's rarely talked about. It happens all the time. We know it's present but we just rarely deal with it. This week we'll take a look at "Unanswered Prayer".

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(Sermon #6 in the Simplicity of Prayer series)

The Simplicity of Prayer - Just Engage

gpooleii@gmail.com (Glenn G. Poole, II) — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 11:03:21 PST

When it comes to relationships, it is often better to fight (verbally) than to avoid communication all together. But what about our relationship with God? Do any of us really fight with God? Wrestle with Him? Argue, plead, kick and scream? Or do we just put on our starch-ironed WWJD T-shirt and act like everything is hunky-dorey in public while in private we've decided that we're just not going to talk to Him because nothing about Him makes sense? Maybe it's time to take a look at some Scriptural examples of just how people engaged with God and return to a more simple understand of just what "prayer" includes.

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Sermon #5 in the Simplicity of Prayer series

One Word for 2011

gpooleii@gmail.com (Glenn G. Poole, II) — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 12:44:30 PST

As we move into 2011 we think about what the next year should hold. We think about where we should put our efforts. We wonder what will be effective, where adding extra fortitude to our resolutions will bring results. One thing emerges again, as it has done every time I've gone to prayer, study and thought on this topic. Father returns me to the same subject He has brought me to every time. He is not calling us to quantity, but to quality. He is not calling us to do some great and public thing. He is calling us to be complete and finished people. Listen in as we investigate James chapter 1 in our search for the will of God: One Word for 2011

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Advent Season 2010: Incarnated Redemption

gpooleii@gmail.com (Glenn G. Poole, II) — Sun, 19 Dec 2010 18:55:03 PST

Advent Season 2010 sermon series continues. Redemption actually came. It didn't come as a thing, or simply an event. It came as the One thing that our hearts would most choose if we were totally honest. Redemption came in the form of Someone. Yes, a Baby at first, but truly Someone who came to Redeem. And not in the way an auto mechanic redeems a broken-down car. But in the way one person redeems another by entering into a Sacred Romance. Join us this week for "Incarnated Redemption"

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Advent Season 2010 - Anticipating Redemption

gpooleii@gmail.com (Glenn G. Poole, II) — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 07:48:16 PST

Redemption actually came. It didn't come as a thing, or simply an event. It came as the One thing that our hearts would most choose if we were totally honest. Redemption came in the form of Someone. Yes, a Baby at first, but truly Someone who came to Redeem. And not in the way an auto mechanic redeems a broken-down car. But in the way one person redeems another by entering into a Sacred Romance. Join us this week for "Incarnated Redemption"

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Advent Season 2010 - The Desperate Truth

gpooleii@gmail.com (Glenn G. Poole, II) — Sun, 05 Dec 2010 18:20:52 PST

It's December already. And those of us with more Grinch-like dispositions (who like him, simply despise the commercialism of the world's greatest holiday), can find comfort only in taking the time to reacquaint ourselves to the real meaning of Christmas. It's summed up in one word: Redemption. This first Sabbath of Advent we're taking a look at our Need for Redemption. It's the truth; the truth God wants in our innermost being. It's a desperate truth that we try hard to resist. But really, there's no fear in it because the coming of Christ assures us that There is a Redeemer.

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The Simplicity of Prayer - Fellowship of Confession

gpooleii@gmail.com (Glenn G. Poole, II) — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 12:15:24 PST

Far too many of us walk life spiritually alone. We face our problems alone. We keep them to ourselves. We battle temptation alone. We fight bravely, but we fight without wisdom. Scripture tells us that we should "confess our sins to one another, and pray for each other that we may be healed." When we learn to be more open and honest with each other, appropriately confessing our weaknesses, we will experience prayer for one another that DOES make a difference. The Simplicity of Prayer series continues.

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Sermon #4 in the Simplicity of Prayer series

The Simplicity of Prayer - Spreading Grace

gpooleii@gmail.com (Glenn G. Poole, II) — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 12:31:10 PST

The gospel truth of what Christ has accomplished for us through the sacrifice of His body, once and for all, is the source of our spiritual confidence and the topic of our most genuine conversation. As we learn to speak of Christ together, pray His sacrifice over one another, encourage His grace in each other, we will grow stronger and stronger in spite of the deterioration of the world around us. Join us this week as we continue our Simplicity of Prayer series with this exhortation to Spread Grace.

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Sermon #3 in the Simplicity of Prayer series