Sermons and Biblical Studies

Topics: Apologetics; Easter; Jesus Christ; Resurrection References: Matthew 28:6; John 20:18; 1 Corinthians 15:20 In April 2002, the well-respected Oxford University philosophy professor Richard Swinburne used a broadly accepted probability theory to defend the truth of Christ’s resurrection. He did this at a high-profile gathering of philosophy professors at Yale University. “For someone dead for … Continue reading “PROVING
THE RESURRECTION”

Topics: Apologetics; Belief; Bible; Doctrine; Doubt; Faith; Inerrancy; Insight; Inspiration of Scripture; Knowledge; Testing God; Truth; Unbelief; Uncertainties References: Genesis 36; Numbers 20:14–21; 2 Samuel 8:11–14; 1 Kings 11:14–17; Isaiah 55:11; Galatians 1:11–12; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Timothy 3:16; 1 John 5:9 Scholars have long debated history in the Bible. For example, they have argued … Continue reading “DOCUMENTING
ISRAEL-EDOM RIVALRY”

Topics: Arrogance; Bible; Brokenness; Experiencing God; Hearing God; Humility; Prayer; Pride; Renewal; Seeking God; Spiritual Growth; Spiritual Perception References: Isaiah 66:2; Jeremiah 33:3; Micah 6:8; 1 Corinthians 13:12 I wanted a deeper relationship with God, and I thought Isaiah 66:2 was speaking to me in the words “This is the one I esteem: he who … Continue reading “SEEING
SINS IN GOD’S LIGHT”

Topics: Agnosticism; Atheism; Belief; Bible; Conversion; Doubt; Jesus Christ; Truth; Unbelief References: John 6:29; 1 Timothy 1:16; 1 John 5:6–12, 20 Lew Wallace, governor of New Mexico, was writing a book against Jesus Christ and in the process was converted to Christianity. He told a friend how it happened. “I had always been an agnostic … Continue reading “TRANSFORMING
A SKEPTIC”

Topics: Bible; Evangelism; Gospel; Missions; Outreach; Vision References: Isaiah 55:10–11; Matthew 28:19; Acts 1:8; Romans 1:16; Hebrews 4:12 The people of the Hmar tribe of northeast India were once fierce headhunters known for their vicious slayings. But in 1910, Welsh missionary Watkin Roberts sent the gospel of John to a Hmar chief. The chief invited … Continue reading “HOW
BELIEF MULTIPLIES”

Topics: Devotional Life; Spiritual Disciplines; Word of God References: Matthew 4:4; 1 Peter 2:2–3 Nothing is more perilous than to be weary of the Word of God. Thinking he knows enough, a person begins little by little to despise the Word until he has lost Christ and the gospel altogether. —Martin Luther, Galatians Commentary (on … Continue reading “WEARYING
OF SCRIPTURE”

Topics: Bible; Truth References: Matthew 7:21–27; 1 Corinthians 6:9–11; Galatians 5:22–24; James 4:4; 1 John 2:15–17 Thomas Linacre was king’s physician to Henry VII and Henry VIII of England, founder of the Royal College of Physicians, and friend of the great Renaissance thinkers Erasmus and Sir Thomas More. Late in his life, Linacre studied to … Continue reading “TROUBLED
BY GOSPEL TRUTH”

Topics: Reflection; Self-deception; Self-examination References: 1 Corinthians 11:28–29; James 1:22–25 Andras Tamas had been drafted into the army, but the authorities mistook his native Hungarian language for the gibberish of a lunatic and had him committed to a psychiatric hospital in Russia. Then they forgot about him for fifty-three years. A few years ago, a … Continue reading “NOT
RECOGNIZING YOURSELF”

Topics: Bible; Satan; Spiritual Warfare; Temptation References: 2 Corinthians 2:11; Ephesians 6:10–18; 1 Timothy 3:7; 1 Peter 5:8–9 The battle of Antietam in 1862 was the bloodiest day of the Civil War. In twelve hours, there were ten thousand Confederate casualties and even more on the Union side. “At last the sun went down and … Continue reading “USING
OUR ENEMY’S PLANS”

Topics: Bible; Grace; Inspiration of Scripture; Kingdom of God; Redemption; Salvation References: Psalm 119:18–19; Luke 24:25–27 In Mystery on the Desert, Maria Reiche describes a series of strange lines made by the Nazea in the plains of Peru, some of them covering many square miles. For years, people assumed these lines were the remnants of … Continue reading “GETTING
THE BIG PICTURE”