Sermons and Biblical Studies

Topics: Blessings; Cooperation; Finances; Giving; Money; Sowing and Reaping; Stewardship; Talents; Testing God; Tithing; Vision References: Malachi 3:10; Matthew 16:18; 25:14–30; Luke 19; Philippians 4:19; 1 Peter 4:10 St. Peter and St. Mary’s Church in Stowmarket, England, needed repairs. So in December 2005, Reverend Michael Eden challenged his congregation to raise money with an application … Continue reading “MULTIPLYING
TALENTS”

Topics: Adultery; Body of Christ; Church Discipline; Church Membership; Repentance; Restoration; Testimony References: Matthew 18:15–20; Luke 17:1–4; 1 Corinthians 5:1–7; Galatians 6:1; Philippians 1:6; 2 Thessalonians 3:14–15; Titus 3:10 A few years ago, we had to discipline a man by removing him from membership for repeated and unrepentant adultery. We followed the guidelines of Matthew … Continue reading “FINDING
JOY IN CHURCH DISCIPLINE”

Topics: Busyness; Health; Rest; Sabbath; Stress; Weariness; Work References: Genesis 2:1–3; Exodus 20:8–11; Psalm 23:2–3; Matthew 11:28; Mark 6:31; Hebrews 4:9–11 A few years ago, I got a call from a girl in my department who said her car had broken down and left her stranded about two miles from the office. So I drove … Continue reading “CHANGING
THE OIL”

Topics: Accountability; Choices; Church Attendance; Community; Conversion; Self-reliance; Spiritual Disciplines; Spiritual Formation References: Proverbs 22:6; 1 Corinthians 9:24–25; 1 Timothy 4:8; Hebrews 10:24–25; 12:1 Sylvester Stallone surprised the entertainment world by resurrecting his iconic movie hero, Rocky Balboa, for one last film in 2006. Then, while promoting the film, Stallone shocked Christian fans by saying … Continue reading “TRAINING
IN THE GYM OF THE SOUL”

Topics: Apathy; Church Involvement; Complacency; Devotion; Faith and Works; Giving; Indifference; Sanctification; Service; Spiritual Formation; Spiritual Growth References: Matthew 18:15–16; Romans 12:6–8, 11; Ephesians 4:11–16; 1 Timothy 3:10; Revelation 3:15–16 Julie and Bob Clark were stunned to receive a letter from their church in July asking them to “participate in the life of the church” … Continue reading “SAYING
FAREWELL TO CHURCH FREELOADERS”

Topics: Character; Choices; Church Attendance; Faithfulness; Obedience; Priorities; Respect; Responsibility; Sabbath; Sacrifice; Talents; Thankfulness; Worship References: Genesis 2:1–3; 22; Exodus 20:8–11; Matthew 5:16; 11:28; Acts 20:7; Hebrews 10:25 Elliot Huck, a fourteen-year-old from Bloomington, Indiana, who had placed forty-fifth out of 250 spellers in semifinal competition, skipped the National Spelling Bee. The 2007 National Spelling … Continue reading “SPELLING
FINALIST SKIPS NATIONALS”

Topics: Division; Gratitude; Joy; Love; Thanksgiving References: Psalm 16:11; 100:4; Colossians 3:15; 1 Thessalonians 5:18; 1 Peter 1:8 I believe that the real difference in the American church is not between conservatives and liberals, fundamentalists and charismatics, or Republicans and Democrats. The real difference is between the aware and the unaware. When somebody is aware … Continue reading “FINDING
JOY IN GRATITUDE”

Topics: Evangelism; Judgment; Mercy; Preaching; Repentance; Warnings; Word of God References: John 16:5–11; Romans 2:2–4 Seattle’s famed Kingdome—home of the Seahawks, Mariners, and at times, the SuperSonics—was destroyed in March of 2000. Maryland-based Controlled Demolition Incorporated (CDI) was hired to do the job of imploding the 25,000-ton structure that had marked Seattle’s skyline for two-dozen … Continue reading “PROTECTING
PEOPLE IN DEMOLITION”

Topics: Bible; Conversion; Emptiness; Repentance; Word of God References: Matthew 11:28–30; John 6:27–35; 1 John 2:15–17 Ken Mansfield, the United States manager for Apple Records (the Beatles’ label), tells about his wonderful times with the Beatles before they broke up. Things went downhill after that until, in the mid-1980s, he hit bottom. Through a woman … Continue reading “FINDING
THE BEATLES HOLLOW”

Topics: Apologetics; Martyrdom; Resurrection; Testimony; Truth; Witnessing References: Matthew 28:1–10; Luke 24:1–12; John 20:1–18 Whenever Charles Colson, onetime Watergate-criminal-turned-founder of Prison Fellowship, is challenged about the truth of Christ’s resurrection, he responds, “My answer is always that the disciples and 500 others gave eyewitness accounts of seeing Jesus risen from the tomb. But then I’m … Continue reading “TRIUMPHING
OVER CONSPIRACY”