Sermons and Biblical Studies

Topics: Consideration; Evangelism; Gospel; Testimony References: Matthew 10:7–8; Colossians 4:3–6 While in seminary I discovered that a Promise Keepers convention was coming to Soldier Field in Chicago. A group of us took a commuter train downtown and then caught a cab to the stadium. We were running late but still hoped to get good seats. … Continue reading “CABBY
WITNESS”

Topics: Comfort; Convenience; Courage; Discipleship; Persecution; Risk; Suffering; Trials References: Romans 5:3–4; Philippians 1:29; 2 Corinthians 6:3–10; James 1:2–4 Recruitment posters for our country’s armed forces may emphasize seeing the world or getting financial help with college, but the harsh truth is that enlistment in the military carries serious risks. The crew and families of … Continue reading “RECRUITMENT
POSTER”

Topics: Despair; Discouragement; Endurance; Evangelism; Fruitfulness; Ministry; Missions; Perseverance References: 1 Chronicles 28:20; Psalm 31:9–24; 1 Corinthians 15:58; Galatians 6:9–10 “It seemed to me I should never have any success among the Indians. My soul was weary of my life; I longed for death, beyond measure.” That is what David Brainerd wrote in the early … Continue reading “BEYOND
POOR RESULTS”

Topics: Boldness; Deliverance; Experiencing God; Help from God; Martyrdom; Persecution; Protection References: Psalm 135:7; Jeremiah 10:13; 51:16; Mark 4:41; Acts 5:27–32; 16:22–34 While working with Christian youth in the southern part of Ethiopia under Communist rule (1974–91), Aberra Wata almost lost his life. He told the following story to fellow missionary John Cumbers: Word came … Continue reading “SAVED
BY A STORM”

Topics: Boldness; Evangelism; Witnessing Reference: Matthew 28:18–20 Our two older children, ages seven and nine, seemed to attract every child in our neighborhood for after-school games of hide-and-seek. Our youngest, Carrie, was not quite three and—in the minds of her older siblings—always in the way. Ten minutes into a game, our little one would get … Continue reading ““I
GOTS COOKIES””

Topics: Children; Discipleship; Evangelism; Fruitfulness; Preaching References: Matthew 19:13–15; Mark 4:3–20; Romans 10:14–15 Edward Kimball, a shoe store assistant and a Sunday school teacher in Chicago, spent hours of his free time visiting the young street urchins in Chicago’s inner city, trying to win them for Christ. Through him, a young boy named D. L. … Continue reading “WINNING
A CHILD TO CHRIST”

Topics: Discipleship; Evangelism; Ministry; Missions; Witnessing References: Matthew 28:18–20; 2 Timothy 2:2 A veteran missionary met a new missionary, Johnny, who was a committed disciple of Jesus Christ but had a different approach to his work. He was spending most of his time meeting with a few young men in that country. The veteran missionary … Continue reading “JOHNNY
AND THE MISSIONARY”

Topics: Boldness; Evangelism; Shame; Witnessing References: Matthew 28:19; Mark 8:38; 1 Corinthians 9:19–23; 2 Corinthians 5:13–17; 2 Timothy 1:1–14 As a youth pastor, I’d just entered a convenience store with Jeff to pay for the gas I’d put in the church van. It was apparent that the woman behind the counter had been crying. I … Continue reading “GAS-STOP
WITNESS”

Topics: Atheism; Belief; Doubt; Faith; Gospel; Jesus Christ; Regret; Skepticism; Unbelief References: Psalm 119:76; Matthew 14:31; Mark 4:1–20; John 9:35–41; 14:23–24; Romans 1:18–22; 1 Corinthians 10:12; 2 Peter 3:8–9; 1 John 5:10; Revelation 2:4 Charles Templeton was a close friend and preaching associate of Billy Graham in the 1940s. He effectively preached the gospel to … Continue reading “EX-EVANGELIST
MISSES JESUS”

Topics: Deliverance; Depression; Despair; Emptiness; Guidance; Hearing God; Help from God; Hope; Overcoming; Perspective; Prayer; Suicide; Testimony; Trials; Witnessing; Worry References: Psalm 23:4; Luke 19:9–10; John 8:32; Acts 16:25–34; Romans 8:28, 35–39 Kumar, a Christian in South India, was grieved because none of the thirteen people he had invited had come to watch a Billy … Continue reading “SAVING
A FAMILY”