Sermons and Biblical Studies

Topics: Heaven; Hope; Resurrection Reference: Philippians 1:21–24 A woman was diagnosed with a terminal illness. As she was getting her things in order, she contacted her pastor and asked him to come to her house to discuss some of her final wishes. She told him the songs she wanted sung at her funeral service, the … Continue reading “KEEP
YOUR FORK”

Topics: Assurance; Eternal Life; Hell References: Mark 8:34–37; 9:43–48; Luke 12:5 Early on Friday morning, the phone rang. “David Noel?” I heard. “Yes.” “This is your neighbor, Mrs. Waldron.” Not wanting to embarrass myself, I tried to place a Mrs. Waldron somewhere in my neighborhood. She continued, “There’s a fire in back of your house … Continue reading “FIRE
IN THE BACKYARD”

Topics: Desires; Eternity; Fulfillment; Heaven; Hunger; Satisfaction References: Psalm 107:8–9; Isaiah 55:1–2; John 6:35; 7:37–39; Romans 8:8–25 Creatures are not born with desires unless satisfaction for those desires exists. A baby feels hunger; well, there is such a thing as food. A duckling wants to swim; well, there is such a thing as water.… If … Continue reading “MADE
FOR ANOTHER WORLD”

Topics: Conviction of Sin; Faith and Works; Final Judgment; Godliness; Hell; Repentance; Salvation; Truth References: Matthew 7:13–27; 13:40–43; 2 Timothy 2:19 In A Painted House, John Grisham describes seven-year-old Luke Chandler’s reaction to a Sunday school teacher’s eulogy for a mean boy, Jerry Sisco, who had been killed the night before in a back alley … Continue reading “BULLYING
REWARD”

Topics: Assurance; Christ, Our Righteousness; Heaven; Jesus Christ; Justification; Righteousness; Salvation Reference: Galatians 3:26–29 I make no claim to being a good golfer, but I love to play golf and watch golf, and on good nights I even dream golf. So when I was invited to attend the Masters Golf Tournament, I was thrilled. A … Continue reading “DRESSING
FOR HEAVEN”

Topics: Day of the Lord; Grace; Judgment; Repentance; Urgency References: Matthew 25:1–13; Romans 2:4–10; 2 Peter 3:9–12 Unlike other countries that have a pay-as-you-use toll system on major roads, Switzerland expects drivers using its autoroute system to pay an annual fee of 40 Swiss francs. When you pay, you get a windshield sticker you display … Continue reading “LIMITING
GRACE”

Topics: Eternal Life; Heaven; Money; Riches; Wealth References: 1 Corinthians 15:19; 2 Corinthians 4:16–18; 5:1–5; Revelation 21 For his first sermon in a preaching class, Lawrence, an African student, chose a text describing the joys we’ll share when Christ returns and ushers us to our heavenly home. “I’ve been in the United States for several … Continue reading “PREACHING
HEAVEN”

Topics: Accepting Christ; Assurance; Born Again; Death; Eternal Life; Heaven; Salvation References: 2 Samuel 14:14; Romans 5:12–14; 6:23; Hebrews 9:27; 11:5 A Sunday school teacher wanted to explain to the six-year-olds in his class what someone had to do to go to heaven. To find out what kids believed about the subject, he asked a … Continue reading “GETTING
TO HEAVEN”

Topics: Accepting Christ; Assurance; Belief; Eternal Death; Eternal Life; God as Father; Salvation; Spiritual Adoption; Tragedy; Unbelief References: Psalm 68:5; Isaiah 64:8; John 3:16; 5:24–29; 14:6; Romans 8:15; Galatians 4:6–7; Hebrews 9:27 Anne Graham Lotz, daughter of evangelist Billy Graham and his wife, Ruth, was asked if those who died in the explosions of the … Continue reading “WELCOME
TO HEAVEN”

Topics: Afterlife; Assurance; Beliefs; Desires; Eternal Life; Heaven; Hope; Human Nature; Immortality; Promises; Religion; Seeking God References: Ecclesiastes 3:11; Luke 23:43; John 3:16, 36; 14:2; 1 Corinthians 2:9; 2 Corinthians 4:18; 5:1; 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18; 2 Peter 3:13; Revelation 21; 22 Australian aborigines pictured heaven as a distant island beyond the western horizon. The early … Continue reading “LONGING
FOR HEAVEN”