Sermons and Biblical Studies

Topics: Blessings; Gratitude; Old Age; Thanksgiving References: Deuteronomy 8:10; Psalm 100:4 During the Depression, William Stidger was in a restaurant with friends who were all talking about how terrible things were: suffering people, rich people committing suicide, joblessness. The conversation got more miserable as it went on. A minister in the group interrupted. “In two … Continue reading “THANKS
IN HARD TIMES”

Topics: Courage; Endurance; Failure; Perseverance; Persistence; Strength; Success; Winning and Losing References: Proverbs 24:16; Romans 5:3–5; 1 Corinthians 9:24–27; Galatians 6:9–10; Hebrews 10:36; James 1:2–4 Walter Payton, who was five feet ten inches and 202 pounds, was not a particularly large running back for the National Football League. But he set one of sport’s greatest … Continue reading “KEEP
GETTING UP”

Topics: Belief; Christianity; Faith; Loyalty; Support; Trust; Unbelief References: 2 Timothy 1:12; Hebrews 10:23, 35–39; 11 Alumni and fans made UCLA football coach Pepper Rodgers’s life miserable the year his Bruins got off to a horrible start. Nobody in Southern California would hang out with him. “My dog was my only true friend,” Rodgers said. … Continue reading “BREAKING
WISHBONE FAITH”

Topics: Character; Ministry; Service; Trials References: 2 Corinthians 1:3–7; 1 Thessalonians 2:9–13 If you are going to be used by God, he will take you through a multitude of experiences that are not meant for you at all; they are meant to make you useful in his hands. —Oswald Chambers

Topics: Dependence on God; Experiencing God; Grace; Happiness; Joy; Prayer; Strength; Weakness References: 2 Corinthians 12:8–10; Philippians 4:13 Honesty is always the best policy, especially when you are surrounded by women in a restroom during a break at a Christian women’s conference. One woman, putting on lipstick, said, “Oh, Joni, you always look so together, … Continue reading “A
SMILE FROM HEAVEN”

Topics: Attitudes; Despair; Discouragement; Faith; Hope; Overcoming; Pain; Strength; Trials; Victory; Waiting on God References: Isaiah 40:28–31; Romans 12:12; Hebrews 11:1 Ernest Gordon, dean of the chapel of Princeton University for twenty-six years, was called to the ministry in a Japanese concentration camp during World War II. Gordon and his fellow prisoners were used as … Continue reading “HOPING
BACK TO HEALTH”

Topics: Affliction; Fear of God; Mercy; Vindictiveness References: Job 16:12; Psalm 90:7; 102:9–10 Is not the question “Why is God letting this happen to me?” really a question that seeks to find out how God feels toward me? When I have pursued the “why” question by asking, “Could you tell me what you think might … Continue reading “WHY
IS THIS HAPPENING TO ME?”

Topics: Adversity; Burdens; Despair; Help from God; Jesus Christ; Misery; Overcoming; Pain; Problems; Providence; Questions; Security in God; Struggles; Trials; Trust References: Matthew 11:28–30; Romans 5:3–5; 8:17; 2 Corinthians 4:11; Hebrews 4:15; James 1:2–4; 1 Peter 1:6–7; 2:24; 5:10 The answer to suffering cannot just be an abstract idea, because this isn’t an abstract issue; … Continue reading “SUFFERING
IS PERSONAL”

Topics: Circumstances and Faith; Comfort; Compassion; Death; Despair; Emotions; Faith; Funerals; Grace; Grief; Ministry; Mortality; Mourning; Murder; Overcoming References: Psalm 23:4; 46:1–3; 121; Isaiah 41:10–13; 43:1–2; John 14:27; 2 Corinthians 1:3–4; 1 Thessalonians 5:11; 1 Peter 5:7 The day Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated (April 4, 1968), Robert F. Kennedy was in Indianapolis, speaking … Continue reading “GOING
PUBLIC WITH PAIN”

Topics: Conversion; Crime; Forgiveness; Freedom; Murder; New Life References: Genesis 50:15–21; Matthew 18:15–35; Ephesians 2:10; 1 Peter 4:12–19 Yvonne Pointer was one of ten children born to a wonderful mother and father, though she admits, “I was the worst. I did everything my parents did not want me to do.” For three years a friend … Continue reading “CHILD’S
MURDER INSPIRES MOM”