Sermons and Biblical Studies

Topics: Cross; Death of Christ; Deity of Christ; Dying to Self; Sacrifice References: Ephesians 5:2; Philippians 2:5–11; 1 John 3:16 Christ died because he would die; other men admitted to the dignity of martyrdom are willing to die, but they die by the torments of the executioners; they cannot bid their souls go out and … Continue reading “VOLUNTARY
DEATH”

Topics: Cross; Death of Christ; Redeemer; Savior References: Mark 10:45; Romans 6:3–9; 1 John 5:6–12 Of the biographies I have read—including biographies of men like Martin Luther King Jr. and Mahatma Gandhi, who died violent and politically significant deaths—few devote more than 10 percent of their pages to the subject’s death. The Gospels, though, devote … Continue reading “HIS
CRUCIAL DEATH”

Topics: Arrogance; Creator; Death; Fear; God; Irreverence; Judgment; Limitations; Power References: Deuteronomy 3:24; Psalm 8:3–4; 19:1–6; 145:3; Isaiah 63:1; Revelation 1:12–16; 19:1–16 King Louis XIV of France, who preferred to be called “Louis the Great” and had declared, “I am the State!” died in 1717. His court was the most magnificent in Europe, and his … Continue reading “GREATNESS
SNUFFED”

Topics: God’s Love; God’s Omniscience; Intimacy; Lord’s Prayer; Name References: Exodus 33:17; Matthew 6:9; Luke 10:20; 12:6–7 Jonathan, four, was trying to learn the Lord’s Prayer. He learned by listening at church each Sunday. One Sunday as we were praying the Lord’s Prayer, he could be heard above all the others, praying, “Our Father who … Continue reading “HE
WHO KNOWS MY NAME”

Topics: Acceptance; God as Father; Grace; Love References: Romans 8:15–16; 15:7; 1 Corinthians 1:26–31; 13:7–8; Colossians 1:21–22; Hebrews 4:14–16; 1 John 1:3–9 My twenty-one-month-old, who had just learned to say, “Daddy,” had been struggling with asthma and an ear infection for two weeks. He coughed and sneezed continually, and his nose ran like a faucet. … Continue reading “RUNNING
FOR DADDY”

Topics: Communication; Crisis; Dependence on God; Desperation; Faith; Family; God as Father; Help from God; Needs; Prayer; Trust References: Psalm 46:1; 1 Peter 5:7 While kayaking in southern England off the Isle of Wight, Mark Ashton-Smith, a lecturer at Cambridge University, capsized in treacherous waters. Clinging to his craft and reaching for his cell phone, … Continue reading “CALLING
DAD FOR HELP”

Topics: Atheism; Education; Faith; Modernism; Naturalism; Skepticism Reference: Matthew 16:13–19 The most extraordinary thing about the twentieth century was the failure of God to die. The collapse of mass religious belief, especially among the educated and prosperous, had been widely and confidently predicted. It did not take place. Somehow, God survived—flourished even. —Paul Johnson, The … Continue reading “THE
SURVIVAL OF GOD”

Topics: Adversity; Attitudes; Crisis; Faith; Growth; Hardship; Knowing God; Perspective; Presence of God; Priorities; Salvation; Spiritual Growth; Suffering; Testimony; Tragedy; Trials References: Luke 19:10; John 3:16; Romans 3:23–24; 8:28; 10:9–10; 2 Corinthians 7:10 Before I decided to live for Christ, I’d party with friends. As a guy who wanted to be a “cool and popular … Continue reading “FINDING
GOD IN SISTER’S ACCIDENT”

Topics: God; Mysteries; Understanding References: Psalm 139:6; Isaiah 55:8–9 Since it is God we are speaking of, you do not understand it. If you could understand it, it would not be God. —Augustine, philosopher and theologian (354–430), in “Reflections,” Christianity Today (July 20, 2000)

Topics: Atheism; Childlike Faith; Creation; Creator; Evolution; God; Nature; Spiritual Perception References: Genesis 1:1; Matthew 18:3; Mark 9:37; Luke 10:21; Romans 1:20 A little girl who grew up in an atheistic home where no one ever spoke of God once questioned her father about the origin of the world. “Where does the world come from?” … Continue reading “INSTINCT
FOR GOD”