Sermons and Biblical Studies

Topics: Easter; Faith; Jesus Christ; Passion; Purpose; Resurrection; Witnessing References: Job 32:17–19; Hosea 6:3; Mark 16:19; Acts 13:32–33; 2 Corinthians 2:14; Colossians 1:3–6; 2 Timothy 1:8; 1 Peter 3:22 Following an Easter service in 2003, a woman approached a pastor and asked, “So what happened with Jesus after the resurrection?” “Well, he ascended into heaven … Continue reading “IS
HE ALIVE?”

Topics: Holidays; Honor; Mourning; Respect; Thanksgiving; Victory References: Matthew 26:26–29; Mark 14:22–25; Luke 22:19–20; 1 Corinthians 10:16; 11:23–24 Every December since 1992, Morrill Worcester and volunteers have been laying wreaths on the graves of soldiers in Arlington National Cemetery. Worcester, owner of one of the world’s largest holiday wreath companies, started Wreaths Across America, the … Continue reading “LAYING
WREATHS FOR SOLDIERS”

Topics: Easter; Hope; Jesus Christ; New Life; Priorities; Resurrection; Work References: John 6:35; 11:25; 2 Corinthians 1:6; Titus 3:4–5; 1 Peter 1:3 It was Good Friday. My house looked more like a set for Rescue 911 than a place of solemn preparation for the pinnacle of the church year. Barbara, my wife of fifteen years, … Continue reading “COMING
ALIVE ON EASTER”

Topics: Easter; Jesus Christ; Resurrection References: John 2:19; Acts 2:22–24; Romans 1:3–4 While driving to church on Easter Sunday a few years ago, I told my children the Easter story. “This is the day we celebrate Jesus’ coming back to life,” I explained. Right away, my son, Kevin, three, piped up from the backseat, “Will … Continue reading “JESUS
AT CHURCH”

Topics: Advent; Atonement; Christmas; Cross; Gift of Righteousness; Jesus Christ; Justification; Pardon; Reconciliation; Redemption; Salvation References: Isaiah 53:3–5; John 3:16; Acts 20:28; 1 Corinthians 6:20; 7:23; Ephesians 1:7; 1 Peter 1:18–19; 1 John 2:2; 4:9–10; Revelation 5:9 Just prior to Christmas, I went to the post office. After helping me, the pleasant postal clerk uttered … Continue reading “POSTAL
BLESSING”

Topics: Advent; Christmas; God’s Love; Grace; Help; Human Worth; Incarnation; Jesus Christ References: Luke 2:6–7; 15:11–24; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Hebrews 2:17 I love ribs, so when I heard about a restaurant that had amazing ribs, a bunch of my friends and I drove fifty minutes to get there. The place was packed, and the food … Continue reading “OUR
DUMPSTER-DIVING GOD”

Topics: Advent; Attitudes; Christmas; Cynicism; Holidays; Jesus Christ; Stress References: Isaiah 7:14; 53; Matthew 1:18–25; 2:1–12; 11:28–30; Luke 2:1–20 A woman was doing her last-minute Christmas shopping at a crowded mall. She was tired of fighting the crowds. She was tired of standing in lines. She was tired of fighting her way down long aisles … Continue reading “WHO’S
TO BLAME FOR CHRISTMAS?”

Topics: Advent; Christmas; Greed; Holidays; Materialism; Secularism References: Isaiah 9:6–7; Matthew 1:22–24; Luke 1:1–20; 3 John 1 The Upside-Down Christmas Tree. That’s what Hammacher Schlemmer, a retail company based in New York, is currently offering for sale. Standing at seven feet tall and prelit with over eight hundred commercial grade lights, this technological marvel can … Continue reading “TURNING
CHRISTMAS UPSIDE DOWN”

Topics: Christmas; Generosity; Giving; Hope; Money; Stewardship; Testimony References: Leviticus 25:35; Deuteronomy 15:7; Proverbs 11:25; 22:9; Matthew 6:3; 19:16–26; Luke 6:38; 11:39–41; Acts 20:35; 2 Corinthians 9:7 Just prior to the 2006 Christmas season, Larry Stewart, fifty-eight, a successful businessman from Lee’s Summit, Missouri, revealed that he was the Secret Santa who has been doling … Continue reading “REVEALING
SECRET SANTA”

Topics: Birthdays; Celebration; Children References: Matthew 15:7–9; Luke 11:42; John 4:23–24 The party on June 3, 2006, was for Michael Emmanuel’s sixth birthday, and friends and family were celebrating at the local Chuck E. Cheese in Boca Raton, Florida. The party went just fine. The problem came when it was over. All the children and … Continue reading “FORGETTING
BIRTHDAY BOY”