Sermons and Biblical Studies

Topics: Character; Children; Honesty; Integrity; Name; Reputation; Trust; Truth; Virtue References: Exodus 20:16; Proverbs 11:3; 12:19; Zechariah 8:16; Ephesians 4:25; Colossians 3:9; James 4:17 It pays to be honest. That’s what Tanner Munsey, seven, discovered. While playing T-ball as a first baseman in Wellington, Florida, Tanner fielded a ground ball and tried to tag a … Continue reading “UMP
REWARDS HONEST PLAYER”

Topics: Authenticity; Confession; Honesty; Hypocrisy; Sin; Truth; Worship References: Psalm 51:1–12; Luke 18:9–14; James 5:16; 1 John 5:5–10 Research psychologists have found there are at least three situations when we are not ourselves.      1.     The average person puts on airs when visiting the lobby of a fancy hotel.      2.     The average person stifles emotion to bamboozle the … Continue reading “WHEN
WE FAKE IT”

Topics: Church; Doctrine; Gospel; Humility; Mysteries; Paradoxes Reference: Romans 11:33–36 Respect for differing views provides some defense against the natural desire to probe incessantly the mystery of the gospel. (There are those who would consider it the ultimate intellectual achievement to unravel the hidden counsel of God.) But the pursuit of doctrine for the sake … Continue reading “LIMITS
OF UNDERSTANDING”

Topics: Philosophy; Postmodernism; Relativism; Religions; Truth References: John 18:38; Acts 17:16–34; 1 Timothy 3:15 The notion that there are many truths might seem well suited to a diverse society. But when everyone is free to define truth as he or she prefers, as at present, the result is an intellectual and moral shouting match in … Continue reading “SHOUTING
MATCH FOR TRUTH”

Topics: Arrogance; Humility; Pride References: Mark 9:33–37; Luke 18:10–14; Philippians 2:3 When researchers at Duke, Harvard, and Northwestern asked investors how their mutual funds performed last year compared with Standard & Poor’s 500 stock index, a third claimed their funds outperformed the market by at least 5 percent. One in six said their funds fared … Continue reading “MARKET
BEATERS”

Topics: First Commandment; Idolatry; Love; Reality References: 1 Thessalonians 1; 1 John 5:21 One hundred decoys were placed on the Izu islands of Japan to encourage endangered albatrosses to breed. For more than two years, a five-year-old albatross named Deko tried to woo a wooden decoy by building fancy nests and fighting off rival suitors. … Continue reading “DECOY
LOVE”

Topics: Authority; Leadership; Media; Publishing Reference: 1 Timothy 3:15 “For the first time in American history, whatever is happening in religion is being driven by the media instead of ecclesiastical institutions.” So said Phyllis Tickle, religion editor of Publishers Weekly, about the explosive growth in sales of books on religion and spirituality. —Life@Work (November–December 1998)

Topics: Grace; Prayer; Surrender References: Romans 8:15–17; Colossians 1:22 I took Bekah, six, to audition for the part of a munchkin in The Wizard of Oz. The thought that she might not get the part seemed never to occur to her. I encouraged her but didn’t say anything about her chances. I had no idea … Continue reading “BEING
YOURSELF WITH GOD”

Topics: Religions; Spirituality; Teens References: John 4:23–24; Romans 10:1–3 When George Gallup asked teens how much interest they had in learning more about other religions, there was “a great deal of interest” or “some interest” in these faiths: •     Roman Catholic Christianity: 54 percent •     Protestant Christianity: 52 percent •     Native American spiritual worship: 44 percent •     Islam: 29 … Continue reading “TEENS
AND RELIGION”

Topics: Concentration; Discipline; Focus; Priorities; Values Reference: 1 Corinthians 10:31 A student once asked Albert Einstein how many feet were in a mile. He was astonished when Einstein replied, “I don’t know.” The student was sure the great professor was joking. Surely Einstein would know a simple fact that every schoolchild is required to memorize. … Continue reading “NO
TRIVIA FOR EINSTEIN”