Sermons and Biblical Studies

Topics: Creation; Evidence for God; Evolution; God’s Omnipotence; God’s Strength; Nature; Perfection References: Genesis 1:1; Job 38:31–33; Psalm 19:1–3; 33:6; Romans 1:20 The fine-tuning of the universe is shown in the precise strengths of four basic forces. Gravity, the best known of these forces, is also the weakest, with a relative strength of 1. Next … Continue reading “FINE-TUNING
THE UNIVERSE”

Topics: Arts; Beauty; Creation; Creativity; God; Limitations; Movies; Nature; Perfection; Power References: Genesis 1:1; Nehemiah 9:6; Psalm 19:1; 104:24; Romans 1:20; Colossians 1:16 John Lasseter, Pixar Animation Studios’ genius and director of the hit film Cars, was talking to Michele Norris on National Public Radio. She commented on the amazing photo-realism of the film, which … Continue reading “ANIMATING
GOD’S WAY”

Topics: Abundant Life; Calling; Conversion; Destiny; God; Growth; Illumination; Meaning of Life; Mysteries; New Life; Potential; Promises; Purpose; Revelation; Riches References: Genesis 21:1–7; Acts 9:1–19; Ephesians 3 On my desk I like to display, on a bookstand, the kind of gift books you put on the coffee table—those filled with professional photos of nature or … Continue reading “UNFOLDING
GRANDER VISTAS”

Topics: Commitment; Community; Dedication; Determination; Diligence; Jobs; Nature; Sacrifice; Self-denial; Teamwork; Wonder; Work References: Psalm 8:1–4; 19:1–3; Proverbs 6:6; 30:25; Romans 1:20; Colossians 1:16 That sixteen-ounce jar of honey in your pantry exists only because tens of thousands of bees flew some 112,000 miles in a relentless pursuit of nectar gathered from 4.5 million flowers. … Continue reading “GOD’S
WONDER BEES”

Topics: Beauty; Creation; Creator; Environmentalism; Nature; Unity; Vision References: Genesis 1:28–30; Psalm 24:1–2; Revelation 11:18 Allen Johnson, a conservative evangelical Christian living in the mountains of West Virginia, is an environmental activist and cofounder of Christians for the Mountains, a group of people who have demonstrated against coal companies and participated in Rainbow Family gatherings. … Continue reading “FIGHTING
FOR THE LAND”

Topics: Awe; Beauty; Creation; Nature; Perception and Reality; Spiritual Perception References: Psalm 119:18; John 9:25; 16:15; 2 Corinthians 5:17–18 Christo and Jeanne-Claude hung 142,000 square feet of orange nylon fabric between the mountains on either side of Rifle Gap in Colorado in the early 1970s. Ten years later they surrounded two islands off the Florida … Continue reading “OFFERING
A NEW VIEW OF THE WORLD”

Topics: Children; Church; Community; Compassion; Empathy; Family; Teens References: Romans 12:3–8; 1 Corinthians 12:12–31; Ephesians 4:1–16 After an accident in which she lost her arm, Jamie refused to go to school or church. Finally, the young teen thought she could face her peers. In preparation her mother called her Sunday school teacher and asked that … Continue reading “HELPING
WITH HAND MOTIONS”

Topics: Community; Competition; Individualism; Spiritual Gifts; Teamwork References: 1 Corinthians 12:12–31; Ephesians 4:1–13 Jenny Thompson has won ten Olympic medals in swimming, eight of which are gold. However, she didn’t win any of the golds in individual events; she won them in team events with three other swimmers. As a result, some people have questioned … Continue reading “TEAMING
FOR THE GOLD”

Topics: Childlikeness; Church; Evangelism; Humility; Outreach; Questions References: Matthew 18:1–4; Colossians 4:5–6; 1 Peter 3:15–16 British journalist Malcolm Muggeridge was captivated by Mother Teresa’s deep compassion for the poorest of the poor in Calcutta’s slums. But he, an unbeliever, could not accept her faith. He could not join the church, which was such a flawed … Continue reading “LOVING
HIM TO CHURCH”

Topics: Attitudes; Cross; Encouragement; Jesus Christ; Missions; Provision; Thankfulness References: Psalm 100:4; Luke 17:18; Ephesians 5:20; Philippians 4:19; Colossians 1:12 When we started the PCA (Presbyterian Church in America) in 1973, we had no money—not a dime—and we were going to start a new denomination. One group gave us $90,000 for world missions. The only … Continue reading “CHURCH
BEGINS WITH THANK YOU”