Sermons and Biblical Studies

Topics: Convictions; Cross; Knowing God; Truth; Untamed Christ References: Matthew 23; Mark 11:12–18 As I studied the life of Christ, one impression about Jesus struck me more forcefully than any other. We have tamed him. The Jesus I learned about as a child was sweet and inoffensive, the kind of person whose lap you’d want … Continue reading “JESUS
UNTAMED”

Topics: Fear; Goodness of God; Incarnation Reference: John 1:14–18 I learned about incarnation when I kept a saltwater aquarium. Management of a marine aquarium, I discovered, is no easy task. I had to run a portable chemical laboratory to monitor the nitrate levels and the ammonia content. I pumped in vitamins and antibiotics and sulfa … Continue reading “TALKING
TO FISH”

Topics: Incarnation; Jesus, One with the Father Reference: John 14:7–11 There were a few occasions in Brazil when I served as a translator for an English speaker. He stood before the audience, complete with the message; I stood at his side, equipped with the language. My job was to convey his story to the listeners. … Continue reading “SYNCING
THE FATHER”

Topics: Christ’s Sacrifice; Cross; Grace; Repentance; Sin References: Luke 1:46–50; Romans 6:1–2; Hebrews 10:26–31; 1 Peter 1:17–19 I was in a store shopping for a sweater. The cost needed to be minimal, so I went to the clearance rack. As I flipped through the sweaters, one caught my eye. It was the right color and … Continue reading “A
NOT-SO-CHEAP BUY”

Topics: Dependence on God; Hearing God; Holy Spirit; Inspiration; Jesus Christ; Preaching; Suffering References: John 14:26; Acts 1:8; Hebrews 4:14–16 In Croatia I was asked to speak to a church gathering for about two hundred newly arrived refugees. Refugees from this area of the world are mostly women, because the men are dead or in … Continue reading “JESUS
THE REFUGEE”

Topics: Jesus Christ; Study; Truth; Understanding References: Proverbs 2:1–11; 23:12; John 1:1 Reading ought to be an act of homage to the God of all truth. We open our hearts to words that reflect the reality he has created or the greater reality which he is. Christ, the incarnate Word, is the Book of Life … Continue reading “READING
CHRIST”

Topics: Conversion; Family; Jesus Christ; Messiah; Prayer; Salvation; Seekers References: Deuteronomy 18:18; Isaiah 43:18–25; Luke 2:11 Stan Telchin, a successful Jewish businessman, felt betrayed when his daughter, Judy, twenty-one, called home from college to say, “I believe Jesus is the Messiah.” To prove his daughter wrong, Telchin began an energetic quest for truth. So did … Continue reading “FINDING
MESSIAH”

Topics: Consequences; Divine Power; Final Judgment; Goodness of God; Grace; Justice; Mercy; Patience; Punishment; Responsibility References: Isaiah 66:15–16; Matthew 10:28; 12:36; Romans 2:4–5; 2 Corinthians 6:2; Colossians 3:25; 1 Peter 4:5; Revelation 20:11–15 On his first day of teaching his class of 250 college freshmen, R. C. Sproul carefully explained the assignment of three term … Continue reading “STUDENTS
SHOCKED BY PROFESSOR’S JUDGMENT”

Topics: Children; Comfort; Cross; Drugs; Drunkenness; Family; Jesus Christ; Resurrection References: Matthew 11:28–30; 19:13–15; 2 Corinthians 1:3–11 “The Little Girl,” a ballad sung by John Michael Montgomery, tells the sad story of a little girl who hid behind the couch while her drug-addicted mother and alcoholic father continually fought. They never went to church or … Continue reading “HUGS
AND KISSES EVERY DAY”

Topics: Christmas; God; Humanity; Incarnation; Jesus Christ; Mysteries; Salvation References: John 1:14; Philippians 2:1–11 God fills a bush with his glory, and it burns. God enters into the great mountain, and it rocks with an earthquake. When he comes to occupy a man, he must distort the humanity he occupies into some inhuman shape. Instead … Continue reading “HIS
NATURAL BIRTH”