Sermons and Biblical Studies

Topics: Anxiety; Fear; Future; Money; Provision References: Matthew 6:25–34; Philippians 4:19 People are fearful about money. According to a 2000 survey, here are some of the things they are worried about: •     not being able to pay medical bills: 36 percent •     Social Security going bust: 35 percent •     caring for elderly parents: 31 percent •     no inheritance to … Continue reading “MONEY
WORRIES”

Topics: Afterlife; Death; Doubt; Hopelessness; Meaning of Life; Priorities; Skepticism; Values Reference: John 11:25 Samuel Johnson once said the prospect of being hanged concentrates a man’s mind wonderfully. I can testify that the prospect, extended over an hour or two, of dying in a gasoline fireball after an automobile crash does much the same. It … Continue reading “DEATH
COMES CALLING”

Topics: Advent; Christmas; Freedom; Incarnation; Patience; Redemption; Salvation; Waiting on God References: Psalm 27:14; Acts 9:1–19 One Christmas we had an unexpected houseguest. A squirrel had fallen down the chimney into the wood burner stove in the basement of our home in Michigan. I thought if it knew we were there to help, I could … Continue reading “FREEING
THE SQUIRREL”

Topics: Creation; Goodness of God; Praise; Thanksgiving References: Isaiah 25:1–9; Ephesians 5:20 One winter I sat in army fatigues somewhere near Anniston, Alabama, eating my supper out of a mess kit. The infantry training battalion that I had been assigned to was on bivouac. There was a cold drizzle of rain, and everything was mud. … Continue reading “TURNIP
AND MUD”

Topics: Adversity; Attitudes; Faith; Hope; Overcoming; Perseverance; Praise References: Romans 5:3–5; James 1:2–4 A dog fell into a farmer’s well. After assessing the situation, the farmer decided that neither the dog nor the well was worth the bother of saving. He’d bury the old dog in the well and put him out of his misery. … Continue reading “SHAKING
THE DIRT”

Topics: Busyness; Rest; Sabbath; Work References: Exodus 20:8–11; Mark 6:31–32 Our most notorious industrial accidents in recent years—Exxon Valdez, Three Mile Island, Chernobyl, and the fatal navigational error of Korean Air Lines Flight 007—all occurred in the middle of the night. This may indicate that fatigue, more than anything, was a contributing factor. When the … Continue reading “FATIGUE
DISASTERS”

Topics: Balance; Family; Rest; Sabbath; Work References: Exodus 23:12; 31:12–17 I do not mean to make an idol of health, but it seems to me that at least some of us have made an idol of exhaustion. The only time we know we have done enough is when we are running on empty and when … Continue reading “IDOLIZING
EXHAUSTION”

Topics: Achievement; Choices; Drinking; Drugs; Parenting; Peer Pressure; Sex; Teens References: Romans 12:2; 1 Peter 2:11–12 Teens are stressed. Here’s what they say stresses them, according to a 1999 survey by Peter D. Hart Research Associates: •     pressure to get good grades: 44 percent •     pressure to get into college: 32 percent •     pressure to fit in socially: … Continue reading “TEEN
STRESS”

Topics: Example; Glorifying God; Hope; Purpose; Sports; Tragedy References: Psalm 46; Isaiah 40:29–31; 43:7 Dennis Byrd was an up-and-coming defensive superstar for the New York Jets, who was expected to help turn the Jets around. But on November 29, 1992, when the Jets were playing the Chiefs, Byrd was about to sack the quarterback when … Continue reading “PARALYZED
ATHLETE WALKS”

Topics: Blindness; Experiencing God; Spiritual Perception; Spiritual Vitality References: John 3:1–16; 1 Corinthians 2:9–16 Humans can perceive only 30 percent of the range of the sun’s light and 1/70 of the spectrum of electromagnetic energy. Many animals exceed those abilities. Bats detect insects by sonar; pigeons navigate by magnetic fields; bloodhounds perceive a world of … Continue reading “ALIVE
TO THE UNSEEN”