Sermons and Biblical Studies

Topics: Compassion; Giving; Kindness; Love References: John 13:34–35; 1 John 4:19 The owner of a drive-through coffee business in Portland, Oregon, was surprised one morning when a customer not only paid for her mocha but also for the mocha of the person in the car behind her. The owner smiled as she told the next … Continue reading “LOVE-IN
AT THE DRIVE-IN”

Topics: Character; Honesty; Integrity; Loss References: Exodus 20:15; Ephesians 4:28 A newlywed couple left a black-zippered case on the roof of their car as they sped away from the reception. The case had all their wedding gift money in it—$12,000. By the time they reached their honeymoon destination, they realized what they had lost. “I … Continue reading “RETURNING
LOST MONEY”

Topics: Contemplation; Listening; Meditation; Pleasure; Reflection; Silence References: 1 Kings 19:9–13; Psalm 46:10 I read A Hole Is to Dig to my children when they were young. Each charmingly illustrated page declares the purpose of something: “A pile of leaves is to jump in; a mud puddle is to slide in and go ‘Oodlee-oddlee-oo!’ ” And … Continue reading “MEETING
GOD IN SILENCE”

Topics: Attitudes; Human Condition; Humility; Purpose; Rewards; Self-denial; Self-image; Weakness References: Philippians 2:5–8; Hebrews 2:9 What is humility? It is that habitual quality whereby we live in the truth of things: the truth that we are creatures and not the Creator; the truth that our life is a composite of good and evil, light and … Continue reading “TRUE
HUMILITY”

Topics: Happiness; Meditation; Seeking God; Spiritual Disciplines Reference: Matthew 6:33 Seek God, not happiness—that is the fundamental rule of all meditation. If you seek God alone, you will gain happiness—that is the promise of all meditation. —Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Life Together (HarperSanFrancisco, 1954)

Topics: Addiction; Anger; Change; Choices; Repentance; Sin Reference: James 1:19–20 A Christian counselor told me about a man who came to counseling because he was having trouble controlling his anger. His outbursts were affecting his work and his family life. So he finally decided to get some help. The counselor asked, “What would your life … Continue reading “LIFE
WITHOUT ANGER”

Topics: Acceptance; Criticism; Family; Sabbath; Spiritual Formation; Teens; Tongue; Words References: Proverbs 12:18; James 1:26; 3:1–12 A family with teens decided that as part of their Sabbath commitments they would not criticize each other on Sundays. As the months went on, they realized more and more of their children’s friends were coming over on Sundays … Continue reading “HOLD
THE CRITICISM”

Topics: Anger; Honesty; Rage; Self-control References: Matthew 5:21–22; Ephesians 4:26 Many hotheads suffer from Intermittent Explosive Disorder (IED). The good news is that there is a drug that can control it. So says Dr. Emil Coccaro, a researcher and professor of psychiatry at the University of Chicago Hospitals, who has studied anger for several decades … Continue reading “ADMITTING
ANGER”

Topics: Obedience; Questions; Trust Reference: 1 John 5:1–3 It was probably a clerical error, but when Specialist Jeff Lewis, twenty-three, got the order to parachute out of an airplane, he followed the order, even though he’d had no formal training in jumping. Lewis landed unhurt. “The Army said I was airborne-qualified,” he said. “I wasn’t … Continue reading “FOLLOWING
ORDERS”

Topics: Fall of Humanity; Guilt; Human Condition; Regret; Sinful Nature References: Isaiah 53:6; Romans 3:23 The Sopranos, a TV series about today’s gangsters, attracted millions of viewers each week. According to James Gandolfini, who played New Jersey mob boss Tony Soprano, “We show people sometimes being at their worst and regretting it. And people identify … Continue reading “SOPRANO
REGRETS”