Sermons and Biblical Studies

Topics: Anxiety; Brides; Fear; Love; Marriage; Spouses; Vows; Weddings References: Genesis 2:24; Proverbs 18:22; 1 Corinthians 7:1–7; Ephesians 5:22–33; 1 Peter 3:1–7 A young bride was so nervous she said to her pastor, “I’m afraid I might not make it through the ceremony.” The pastor soothed her, saying, “When you enter the church tomorrow and … Continue reading “I’LL
ALTER HIM”

Topics: Commitment; Contentment; Divorce; Happiness; Intimacy; Love; Marriage; Relationships; Romance; Satisfaction; Spouses; Unfaithfulness; Vows References: Genesis 2:24; Malachi 2:13–16; Matthew 7:24–27; 19:3–9; 1 Corinthians 7:10–11; Ephesians 5:22–33 If we are serious about pursuing spiritual growth through marriage, we must convince ourselves to refrain from asking the spiritually dangerous question, “Did I marry the right person?” … Continue reading “MARRYING
THE RIGHT ONE”

Topics: Consequences; Death; Eternal Life; Faith; Fear; Heaven; Hell; Hope; Jesus Christ; Lifestyle; Mortality; Peace; Resurrection; Salvation; Trust; Uncertainties References: John 3:16; 11:25–26; 14:1–6; Romans 8:35–39; 2 Corinthians 5:1–10; Philippians 1:21; Hebrews 9:27; Revelation 21:1–5 In the 2007 film The Bucket List, two terminally ill men—played by Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman—take a road trip … Continue reading “FEARING
THE UNKNOWN”

Topics: Conversion; Meaning of Life; Pleasure; Purpose; Questions; Significance; Sin; Worldliness References: Psalm 16:11; Matthew 6:19–21; 1 Timothy 1:12–17 Leo Tolstoy, known for his classic work War and Peace, also wrote A Confession, which tells the story of his search for meaning and purpose in life. Tolstoy rejected Christianity as a child and went to … Continue reading “TOLSTOY’S
REASON TO LIVE”

Topics: Ambition; Death; Greed; Money; Perspective; Time References: Psalm 90:12; Luke 12:13–21 A man opens a newspaper and discovers it is dated six months in advance of the time he lives. Reading through the newspaper, he discovers stories about events that have not yet taken place. He turns to the sports page and sees scores … Continue reading “BETTING
ON DEATH”

Topics: Apologetics; Atheism; Belief; Death; Despair; Faith; Knowledge; Naturalism; Science; Skepticism Reference: John 20:29 Carl Sagan was fascinated that educated adults, with the wonders of science manifest all around them, could cling to beliefs based on the unverifiable testimony of observers dead for two thousand years. “You’re so smart, why do you believe in God?” … Continue reading “UNBELIEVING
TO THE END”

Topics: Death; Eternity; Life Span Reference: Psalm 90:10–12 Want to make the most of your life? Consult a website to find out just how much time you have left. If you enter your birth date and gender at The Death Clock (www.deathclock.com), you will get your projected date of death. If you were born, say, … Continue reading “COMPUTING
YOUR DEATH”

Topics: Cross; Crucifixion; Death; God as Father; God’s Love; Human Condition; Humanity of Christ; Limitations; Parenting; Sacrifice; Suffering References: Matthew 26:39; John 3:16; Romans 8:32; Philippians 2:8 Last week my son, Bjorn, got sick. I took his temperature, and it was 102.5 degrees. The Children’s Advil came out. He slugged down the appropriate dose for … Continue reading “AM
I GOING TO DIE?”

Topics: Afterlife; Death; Eternity; Fear; Mortality; Peace; Trust References: Hosea 13:14; Luke 23:43; 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18; Hebrews 2:14–15 “I have moments when fear makes me sit up in bed at night and weep like a three-year-old,” says Cathy Hainer about her struggle with cancer. “I’ve become afraid of the long, lonely nights. Yet at other … Continue reading “SAILING
INTO DEATH”

Topics: Death; Despair; Eternal Life; Fear; Hope Reference: Psalm 23:4 When divers combed the wreckage of the Kursk, the Russian nuclear submarine on which 118 sailors perished, they found a letter written by Lieutenant Dmitri Kolesnikov, addressed to his wife, Olga. It was written after the explosion that felled the sub August 12, 2000, in … Continue reading “WRITING
BLIND”