Sermons and Biblical Studies

Topics: Ethics; Government; Law; Morality Reference: Romans 2:28–29 In the ultimate analysis of what moral forces govern a society, it must generally be concluded that law alone is a feeble instrument. Laws will not be enacted or enforced unless there is a moral consensus to support them. Underlying every enforceable law there has to be … Continue reading “GOVERNING
WITH MORALITY”

Topics: Defiance; Disobedience; Rebellion; Ten Commandments References: Deuteronomy 4:1; 30:16 Jan Davis, sixty, a professional parachutist, was BASE jumping when she fell to her death. Her husband, who was filming the jump, and several reporters were stunned when Davis crashed onto the rocks. She was jumping off the thirty-two-hundred-foot granite cliff, El Capitan, in Yosemite … Continue reading “JUMPING
TO DEFY LAW”

Topics: Beatitudes; Confidence; Divine Power; Gentleness; Human Power; Meekness; Strength References: Psalm 37:11; Matthew 5:5; Philippians 1:27–30 President Theodore Roosevelt adopted as his pet proverb, “Speak softly and carry a big stick.” He meant that if the United States had a strong military, it could work its will among the nations of the world. In … Continue reading “HOLDING
THE STICK”

Topics: Gentleness; Human Worth; Judging Others; Kindness; Self-control References: Proverbs 15:1; 1 Corinthians 13:1–3; Galatians 5:22–23 I once questioned a state trooper presented with an “Outstanding Trooper” award about what the governor said when presenting the award. “He said you haven’t once roughed up a drunk or used excessive force on anyone. How can you … Continue reading “HONORABLE
TROOPER”

Topics: Despair; Justice; Retribution; Sowing and Reaping References: Psalm 62:12; Galatians 6:7–8 Mafia boss John Gotti thought he was immune to the law. Nicknamed “the Teflon Don” for escaping punishment by bribing jurors, Gotti had eaten at the best restaurants, worn the most expensive suits, and had his hair trimmed daily by his personal barber. … Continue reading “CRUEL
END FOR TEFLON DON”

Topics: Accountability; Complacency; Consequences; Debt; God; Guilt; Judgment; Punishment; Sin References: Matthew 12:36; Romans 3:10; 13:8; Hebrews 9:27; James 2:10; 1 Peter 4:5; Revelation 20:11–15 After moving to a new state, I went to the Department of Motor Vehicles to get a new driver’s license. The guy behind the desk said he couldn’t help me … Continue reading “ON
THE WRONG SIDE OF THE LAW”

Topics: Anger; Bitterness; Enemies; Family; Fathers; Forgiveness; Grudges; Hatred; Love; Malice; Murder; Resentment; Revenge; Self-control; Violence References: Exodus 20:13; Romans 12:19; Ephesians 4:31; Colossians 3:13; Hebrews 10:30; 12:15; 1 John 2:9; 3:15 Rick Garmon’s daughter, Katie, was date-raped in 2002 when she was age eighteen and a freshman in college. Too humiliated to speak about … Continue reading “LOVING
AWAY RAGE”

Topics: Admonition; Confrontation; Gentleness; Guidance; Leadership; Love; Mentoring; Perspective; Reconciliation; Responsibility; Teaching References: Matthew 18:15; Romans 1:11–12; Ephesians 4:15; Colossians 3:12–14; Philemon 1:7; James 5:19–20 Jim Slevcove was my supervisor for six summers at Forest Home, a Christian conference center in California. I held a responsible position over junior high and high school kids, but … Continue reading “CONFRONTING
BENNY”

Topics: Blame; Consequences; Faults; Honesty; Human Nature; Self-deception; Sin References: Psalm 19:12–13; Matthew 18:15–18; Romans 7:15–24 In March 2006, a city dump truck backed into Curtis Gokey’s car. The car was damaged badly, so Gokey sued the city of Lodi, California, for $3,600. The catch? Curtis Gokey was driving the city dump truck that crunched … Continue reading “SUING
HIMSELF”

Topics: Creation; Culture; Government; Human Condition; Human Nature; Sex Changes References: Genesis 1:27; 2:22–25; Psalm 139:13; Proverbs 14:12; 1 Corinthians 6:19; 2 Timothy 4:3 The proposal to allow people to change the sex on their birth certificates without sex-change procedures got scrapped in January 2007 when the New York City Board of Health unexpectedly withdrew … Continue reading “SEX-CHANGE
PROPOSAL DIES”