Sermons and Biblical Studies

Topics: Brotherly Love; Example; Godliness; Humility; Kindness; Love; Sacrifice; Service; Virtue References: Matthew 16:25; Luke 10:25–37; John 15:13; Romans 12:1; 1 Corinthians 10:24; Philippians 2:4–11; 1 John 3:16 Shane Claiborne, who spent a summer in the slums of Calcutta with Mother Teresa, wrote the following about one of his experiences: People often ask me what … Continue reading “MOTHER
TERESA’S FEET”

Topics: Church Leaders; Consequences; Ministry; Negligence; Pastors; Responsibility References: Ezekiel 3:16–21; Acts 18:5–6; 20:26–28 On a warm autumn afternoon, Anna Flores, thirty-six, was walking with her toddler in downtown Chicago. Without warning a window from the twenty-ninth floor of the CNA building fell to the ground, striking Flores in the head and killing her. The … Continue reading “FELLED
BY NEGLIGENCE”

Topics: Compassion; Experiencing God; Giving; Grace; Love; Mercy; Strength References: Luke 10:30–37; Philippians 4:13 Francis of Assisi was riding a horse down the road that went by a leper hospital situated far from Assisi, for then, as in biblical times, lepers were a rejected lot. Francis was not yet the saint of history; he was … Continue reading “LOVING
BEYOND ABILITY”

Topics: Addiction; Character; Double-mindedness; Faith and Works; Guilt; Hypocrisy; Lust; Pleasure; Pornography; Purity; Self-control; Self-indulgence; Vices References: Job 31:1; Matthew 5:28; Romans 6:16; 1 Corinthians 6:18; Colossians 3:5; Hebrews 13:4; 1 Peter 2:11; 2 Peter 2:19 My friend looked like a good Christian. He was a faithful elder in the church and a devout husband … Continue reading “JUST
A LITTLE PORN”

Topics: Behavior; Change; Consequences; Fear; Illumination; Knowledge; Perspective; Repentance; Spiritual Formation; Spiritual Growth; Warnings; Wisdom References: Luke 19:1–10; John 13:35; 1 Corinthians 8:1–2; James 1:22 My brother-in-law would never wear a seat belt in the car. I berated him for it. Then one day he picked me up at the airport, and he had on … Continue reading “BUCKLE
UP WARNING”

Topics: Belief; Disobedience; Love for Christ; Morality; Obedience; Sin References: Galatians 5:6; James 2:14–26 Your behavior is a reflection of what you truly believe. —Hyrum W. Smith, The 10 Natural Laws of Successful Time and Life Management (Warner, 1994)

Topics: Heart; Temper; Tongue; Words References: Matthew 15:17–20; James 3:1–12 I needed to do some last-minute Christmas shopping but was having difficulty finding a parking space. I finally spotted an old couple walking very slowly to their car. I thought, “If I can follow them down the aisle and wait for them to get into … Continue reading “PARKING
SPACE THIEF”

Topics: Change; Christian Life; Conversion; New Life; Redemption; Regeneration; Repentance; Sanctification; Spiritual Formation References: 2 Corinthians 5:1–17; Ephesians 4:20–32; 5:1–17; Philippians 3:7–16 In the late 1920s, my grandparents married and moved into Grandpa’s old family home. It was a clapboard house with a hall down the middle. In the ’30s they decided to tear down … Continue reading “THIS
OLD HOUSE”

Topics: Believers; Holiness; Purity; Redemption; Repentance; Sanctification; Self-condemnation; Self-image; Shame References: Leviticus 11:45; Matthew 7:13–23; Romans 12:1; 2 Corinthians 6:14–18; 7:1; Colossians 3:12; Hebrews 3:12; 1 Peter 1:15–16; 1 John 3:3 Most Americans don’t consider themselves to be holy, said a survey published by the Barna Group in 2006. Three out of four Americans (73 … Continue reading “UNHOLY
AMERICANS”

Topics: Crime; Gratitude; Ingratitude; Rescue; Robbery; Thankfulness References: Psalm 100:4; Luke 17:16; Colossians 1:13; 3:15; 4:2; Hebrews 12:28 A South African man surprised nine men who were robbing his home. Eight of the robbers got away, but the homeowner managed to shove one into his backyard pool. After realizing the robber couldn’t swim, the homeowner … Continue reading “THROWING
HIM BACK”