Sermons and Biblical Studies

Psalm 19:12 “Who can understand his errors? Cleanse Thou me from secret faults.” STRANGE as it may seem, multitudes called Christians go through life with no effort to obtain a correct knowledge of themselves. They are contented with general and vague impressions concerning their real state; and, if they have more than this, it is … Continue reading “SECRET FAULTS”

John 13:17 “If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.” THERE never was a people or an age to which these words could be more suitably addressed than to this country at this time; because we know more of the way to serve God, of our duties, our privileges, and our … Continue reading “KNOWLEDGE OF
GOD’S WILL WITHOUT OBEDIENCE”

Matthew 16:26 “What shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” I SUPPOSE there is no tolerably informed Christian but considers he has a correct notion of the difference between our religion and the paganism which it supplanted. Every one, if asked what it is we have gained by the Gospel, will promptly answer, … Continue reading “THE IMMORTALITY
OF THE SOUL”

Hebrews 12:14 “Holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.” IN this text it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit to convey a chief truth of religion in a few words. It is this circumstance which makes it especially impressive; for the truth itself is declared in one form or other in every … Continue reading “HOLINESS
NECESSARY FOR FUTURE BLESSEDNESS”

Topics: Church; Community; Influence; Ministry; Service; Small Things; Teamwork References: Mark 12:41–44; Ephesians 4:16; Colossians 3:23–25 I was asked to speak at the funeral of a man who had helped develop the Boeing 747 aircraft. After the service I spoke with the widow and commented on what a remarkable thing her late husband had done. … Continue reading “PERFECTING
A LITTLE SWITCH”

Topics: Fulfillment; Ministry; Pastors References: Matthew 6:33; 1 Timothy 4:9–10 If you don’t love Jesus, you will soon discover that being a pastor or a church leader is not really a very good job. You will be overworked, underpaid, overstressed, and underappreciated. But if you do love Jesus, you will discover, as so many others … Continue reading “WORKING
WITH JESUS”

Topics: Change; Determination; Motives; Sanctification References: Matthew 22:1–14; Galatians 5:16–25 My wife, Carol, a career counselor, was meeting with a client, George, who said to her in their first session, “I’ve got to get out of the rubber industry.” She gave him some homework to do before their next session. He came back the next … Continue reading “CHANGING
JOBS”

Topics: Balance; Control; Human Effort; Rest; Sabbath; Stress; Work Reference: Mark 6:31 John Henry once raced a steam drill tunneling through a mountain. He beat the machine, only to fall dead from the superhuman effort. Sherman James, an epidemiologist at the University of Michigan, named a syndrome after John Henry, saying people with it believe … Continue reading “RACING
TO DEATH”

Topics: Business; Character; Giving; Integrity; Ministry; Obedience; Sabbath; Work References: Matthew 25:34–40; James 1:22 Truett Cathy, the founder of Chick-fil-A restaurants, is a successful businessman, but many know and respect him more for how faith guides his work. For example, Cathy’s restaurants have been closed on Sundays since 1948. The seventy-nine-year-old CEO of the nearly … Continue reading “HONORING
GOD WITH CHICK-FIL-A”

Topics: Depression; Despair; Expectations; Family; Happiness; Meaning; Suicide; Weariness References: Matthew 11:28–30; John 10:10 Ten percent of the British people believe they would be better off dead, according to a survey. One in four was unhappy in his or her job, while one in three felt exhausted, unappreciated, or underpaid. Christine Webber, the psychotherapist who … Continue reading “UNHAPPY
AT HOME AND WORK”