Sermons and Biblical Studies

Topics: Christmas; Divine Power; Holiness; Humility; Incarnation Reference: Philippians 2:5–11 Those who believe in God can never in a way be sure of him again. Once they have seen him in a stable, they can never be sure where he will appear or to what lengths he will go or to what ludicrous depths of … Continue reading “EXPECTING
THE UNEXPECTED”

Topics: Advent; Christmas; Freedom; Grace; Hope; Waiting Reference: Luke 1:76–79 A prison cell, in which one waits, hopes, does various unessential things, and is completely dependent on the fact that the door of freedom has to be opened from the outside is not a bad picture of Advent. —Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Letters and Papers from Prison … Continue reading “OPENING
THE DOOR OF ADVENT”

Topics: Christmas; God’s Sovereignty; Hope; Incarnation; Providence; Salvation Reference: 2 Corinthians 1:18–20 Songs, good feelings, beautiful liturgies, nice presents, big dinners, and sweet words do not make Christmas. Christmas is saying yes to something beyond all emotions and feelings. Christmas is saying yes to a hope based on God’s initiative, which has nothing to do … Continue reading “SAYING
YES ON CHRISTMAS”

Topics: Easter; Experiencing God; Jesus Christ; Laughter; Resurrection References: Acts 2:24–32; Romans 5:9–11 Let’s celebrate Easter with the rite of laughter. Christ died and rose and lives. Laugh like a woman who holds her first baby. Our enemy death will soon be destroyed. Laugh like a man who finds he doesn’t have cancer, or he … Continue reading “LAUGHING
ON EASTER”

Topics: Crime; Death; Depravity; Fall of Humanity; Greed; Human Condition; Injustice; Robbery; Sin References: Luke 10:27–37; John 10:10; Romans 1:28–32; 6:12–14, 19–23; 2 Timothy 3:1–4 The drivers of the first two vehicles that struck Lynette Spiller, forty-two, in Las Vegas on New Year’s Day 2002, hit her and drove off. While Spiller’s body was pinned … Continue reading “UNHAPPY
NEW YEAR”

Topics: Bible; Christmas; Conversion; Drunkenness; Fathers; Heaven; Longing; Praise; Redemption; Surrender; Worship References: Isaiah 45:21; Luke 2:28–32; Romans 6:17 One of my fondest memories of Christmas Eve is singing “Angels We Have Heard on High” alongside my father when I was about nine years old. Dad was a shy man, so he normally would sing … Continue reading “DRUNK
WITH YEARNING”

Topics: Children; Christmas; Deceit; Family; Holidays; Lying; Parenting Reference: Ephesians 6:1–4 An elderly man in Phoenix calls his son in New York and says, “I hate to ruin your day, but I have to tell you that your mother and I are divorcing—forty-five years of misery is enough.” “Pop, what are you talking about?” the … Continue reading “HOME
FOR THE HOLIDAYS”

Topics: Celibacy; Chastity; Christmas; Jesus Christ; Purity References: Psalm 51:10; Luke 1:26–45; 2 Corinthians 11:2; Ephesians 5:3–4; 2 Timothy 2:22; Hebrews 13:4 Olivia, five, and her best friend, Claire, were in a nativity play at school. Claire was playing Mary, and Olivia was an angel. Before the show, a young boy went around the dressing … Continue reading “PLAYING
THE VIRGIN”

Topics: Burdens; Christmas; Dependence on God; Jesus Christ; Problems; Self-reliance; Unbelief References: Jeremiah 17:5–8; Matthew 11:28–30; Hebrews 4:15–16; 1 John 5:5 It was nearing Christmas, and I received a phone call from a man who needed to talk to a counselor. I met him at my church office, where he told me his tale of … Continue reading “EXCLUDING
JESUS”

Topics: Christmas; Dishonesty; Generosity; Giving; Lying; Money; Sacrifice; Stewardship References: 1 Chronicles 21:24; Matthew 6:1–4; 2 Corinthians 9:12–15 A. A. Milne, author of the Winnie the Pooh books, wrote a seasonal piece titled “A Hint for Next Christmas.” He tells of William who went to a big Christmas party and was stunned to discover that … Continue reading “GIVING
THAT COSTS SOMETHING”