Sermons and Biblical Studies

Topics: Appearances; Beauty; Materialism; New Age; Occult; Spiritual Perception; Temptation; Worldliness References: James 4:4; 2 Peter 1:3–4; 1 John 2:15–17 For years, workers and visitors flocked to the sight of silvery dust flakes that floated to the floor in a mill where steel strips rolled over pads in a tall cooling tower. In his book … Continue reading “ENCHANTING
BUT DEADLY”

Topics: Affirmation; Encouragement; Heart; Teachers References: Romans 12:6–8; Colossians 4:8; 1 Thessalonians 5:11 “In an earlier grade, I’d taped Mark’s mouth shut for talking too much in class. Now he was one of my students in junior high math,” wrote Sister Helen Mrosia. One Friday, in a break from work, the teacher asked her students … Continue reading “WORDS
TO TREASURE”

Topics: Depravity; Evil; Fall of Humanity; Free Will; Human Condition; Human Nature; Human Will; Power; Sinful Nature; Violence References: Matthew 12:35; Luke 6:45; Romans 8:5–11 Set against Chicago World’s Fair in 1893, Erik Larson’s bestselling book The Devil in the White City tells the true story of two men, each serving as an extreme example … Continue reading “GOOD
AND EVIL AT THE WORLD’S FAIR”

Topics: Conviction of Sin; Death; Life; Mortality; Motivation; Perspective; Purpose; Repentance; Riches; Satisfaction; Shame; Spiritual Direction References: Ecclesiastes 8:8; Matthew 16:26; Mark 8:36; Luke 9:25; Ephesians 5:15–16; 2 Peter 3:11–12 In 1867, Swedish chemist Alfred Nobel awoke one morning to read his own obituary in the local paper: “Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite, who … Continue reading “DYNAMITE
AND THE PEACE PRIZE”

Topics: Praise; Thanksgiving; Worship Reference: Romans 1:19–23 My wife and I recently went on vacation and took along a camera and several rolls of film. Upon our return, my wife began proudly showing off our latest set of vacation photos; she’d then tell me her coworkers’ reactions. After a few days of this, I noticed … Continue reading “GREAT
CAMERA”

Topics: God; Holy Spirit Reference: 1 Corinthians 3:16–17 I stood at our window one Saturday afternoon and looked west. The sun was low, shining along the surface of the deep snow. A strong wind blew over the icy crust and carried snow particles along in its eddies. It made the wind visible in a curiously … Continue reading “SEEING
GOD IN PEOPLE”

Topics: Buddhism; Cross; Hinduism; Islam; Jesus Christ; Judaism; Religions References: John 14:6; 1 Corinthians 1:18–25 The cross is what separates the Christ of Christianity from every other Jesus. In Judaism there is no precedent for a Messiah who dies, much less as a criminal, as Jesus did. In Islam the story of Jesus’ death is … Continue reading “A
BENIGN JESUS”

Topics: Depravity; Gospel; Jesus Christ; Salvation; Savior References: Isaiah 59:1–2; Romans 3:9–26; Ephesians 2:1–10; Titus 3:3–7 Whenever I drive to the east side of Portland over the Marquam Bridge, I’m reminded of what it took for God to save us. On the upper deck of that two-decker freeway spanning the wide Willamette River, you can … Continue reading “FREEWAY
TO GOD”

Topics: Incarnation; Jesus Christ; Jesus, One with the Father References: John 1:18; Colossians 1:15–20 A village had a statue so immense that you couldn’t see exactly what it represented. Someone finally miniaturized the statue so one could see the person it honored. “That is what God did in his Son,” said the early church father … Continue reading “HUMAN-SIZED
GOD”

Topics: Buddhism; Grace; Hinduism; Islam; Judaism; Mercy; New Age; Religions; Unconditional Love; Worldview References: John 3:16; Romans 5:1–11; Ephesians 2:8–9 During a British conference on comparative religions, experts from around the world debated what, if any, belief was unique to the Christian faith. They began eliminating possibilities. Incarnation? Other religions had different versions of gods … Continue reading “OUR
UNIQUE GRACE”