The Point of the Power

Introduction

I want to talk about the whole point of power here in Mark 4. What does Jesus’ power over the world, which comes from the fact that ...

Because He Loved Us

Introduction

About 25 years ago I almost became a hero for the cause of justice and compassion. For my first job after college, every morning ...

Here I Stand

Introduction

We’ve been learning from Paul’s example how to witness well when our faith is on trial, which raises a question for us to consider ...

'A Politician, a Lawyer, and a Jew'

Introduction

James Emery White tells a story about his visit to The Eagle and Child pub in Great Britain, the place where C. S. Lewis and his friends used ...

Take Courage

Introduction

Football referees are unbiased, right? They would never be influenced by fans or football players, right? Well, according to a recent study, ...

A Story to Tell

Introduction

Last September, Pat Payaso ran for an open seat on Boston’s city council—and he got an idea for a creative way to campaign. Payaso ...

Receiving Power

This sermon is part of the “More Than a Holiday” sermon series. See the whole series here.

Introduction

We’re in the fourth week of our ...

Keyholders

Introduction

Across from the residence where I lived in college stood a mysterious building known as Scroll and Key. This great stone-clad mausoleum was ...

True Relationships

Introduction

As we wrap up our series on 1 and 2 Thessalonians, we are going to continue our focus on Christ's second coming.

I am a member at Sam's Club ...

Hope Is a Who

Introduction

Life has a way of killing dreams, doesn't it? You set out with high hopes—for your schooling, your career, your family, and your ...

The Surprise God's Mercy

Introduction

Imagine that you wake up at 2:00 in the morning, and you think to yourself, Is my life really pleasing to God? What would help you determine ...

Experiencing the Holy Spirit

Introduction

My name is Francis, and I was a pastor in Southern California for about sixteen years at a church that I planted. About a year ago, I moved ...

Hope for People Who Have Everything but Still Lack Something

Introduction

G. K. Chesterton, an English writer, once said that "every man who visits a prostitute is looking for God." Really? I believe he's right. ...

Think Hard, Stay Humble

Today I'm going to preach on humility. This is the topic assigned to me for this conference. Let's start by looking at 1 Corinthians 8:1-3:

Now concerning ...

WWJS?

Introduction: Shouldn't we be saying something?

There are certain words or phrases that are almost guaranteed to make people really uncomfortable: root ...

How to Be a Redemptive Person

Introduction

Evangelism is like strong horseradish: people praise it with tears in their eyes.

There are other word associations we could make with the ...

An Empowering Presence

Introduction

Some years ago I had a conversation with a guest after one of our services. It was her first or second time at our church, and she offered ...

Good News in America

Introduction

The Roman empire was a pagan place where Christian values were little known or honored, where corruption was pervasive in business, where ...

Keep the Dust off the High Chairs

Introduction

A couple of months ago, a relative of mine passed away. The funeral service was at the church, and the burial service was at a cemetery next ...

Adventures in Capital City

In the nineteenth chapter of Acts, when the apostle and missionary Paul walked into Ephesus, he was entering the queen city of the Roman province of Asia, ...

The Eyes of a Doctor

From the editor:

Here's a sermon from Donald Sunukjian on what we ought to do when we encounter someone who has yet to know God. We've mentioned before ...

The Sermon That Inspired Murder

From the editor:

We feel that this featured sermon from regular contributor Kevin Miller can inspire ideas for two different sermons: a sermon on the divinity ...

The Lostness of Humankind

Text: Romans 1:18-25Topic: A look at mankind's journey through rejection, separation, domination, and condemnation—and his opportunity for redemption ...

Regime Change

From the editor:

Here's a sermon by Kevin Miller that might inspire a few ideas for your own Palm Sunday sermon (April 5, 2009). As you read the sermon, ...

Show Me the Way

Text: Romans 6:23
Topic: Why we need to accept Jesus' offer of salvation

From the editor:

Bill Hybels has long been known for his ability to interact with ...

Fall

Introduction

My wife, Cheryl, and I had an opportunity in 2004 to spend a week in New Brunswick. We started in St. John, spent a couple of days in the ...

Stop Witnessing, Start Working

Introduction

A few months ago, I came across an article in The Boston Globe about religion in the workplace. The columnist, who is one of the few Jewish ...

Fighting Well

Introduction

The movie Cinderella Man is based on the true story of a boxer named James J. Braddock. Braddock was a good boxer who lost his passion and ...

Keep the Dust off the Highchairs

Text: Luke 2:52
Topic: Why the young people of a church are important

Introduction

I once attended the funeral of a relative of mine. The service was at ...

Body Life

Introduction

That the church is the "body of Christ" is more than simply a figure of speech. The church is the chief means by which Christ works today; ...

Don't Go To Church!

Introduction

D. L. Moody was visiting a prominent Chicago citizen when the idea of church membership and involvement came up.

"I believe I can be just as ...

How Should a Pastor Think About His People's Giving?

Introduction

When I mentioned the title of this sermon to a group of pastors at our monthly denominational meeting, it elicited considerable response. ...

Weighing Others Heavy

Text: Exodus 20:13; Matthew 5:21–24; Romans 12:14–21; Romans 13:8–10
Topic: How to apply the sixth commandment

Introduction

The sixth commandment ...

Come to the Banquet

Introduction

One day last December, an invitation to a Christmas party arrived in our mailbox. Inside the card were a festive holiday greeting, a time ...

Teach Your Children Well

Introduction

They say God has no grandchildren. What they mean is that it isn't enough to be born into a believing home or a believing church. Every child ...

Passing the Baton

Introduction

A few months ago, I heard a song on the radio by an artist named John Mayer. The song is entitled "Daughters," and you hear it several ...

A Christmas To-Do List

Introduction

Most of us have heard the Christmas story so many times that we think we know what it's all about, but the fact is we might have passed over ...

Gratitude Gives Way to Resentment

Introduction

I will never forget a meeting I had with unhappy parishioners a few years ago. We had made deliberate changes in our church in order to better ...

Separation Can Lead to Isolation

Introduction

Imagine a weird world where, before you can be admitted to a hospital, you have to have a clean bill of health. A world where doctors won't ...

Who Do We Think We Are?

Introduction

"Who do we think we are? How do we know we're right? Can every other religion be wrong?" I would hazard a guess that this is the number one ...

Go to the Ends of the Earth

Introduction

The British missionaries who led my family to Christ made all the cultural mistakes in the book. I remember as a little boy sitting in the ...

A Good Start

Introduction

When I began thinking about the first message I would preach here, I began to realize that the beginning of any endeavor is a perilous ...

An Unmistakable Mandate

Introduction:

Dr. Jim Moore, Pastor of St. Luke's United Methodist Church in Houston, tells of a trip to the store with his family. They decided to buy ...

Don’t You Believe It! The Myth of Greener Grass

Introduction:

This morning we’re looking at the last of the Ten Commandments, which deals with desiring something that someone else has, but which we do ...

The Witness of Worship

Introduction

Have you ever thought of the connection between worship and witnessing? As believers, we understand that we must be involved in both. We come ...

The Gospel According to Jesus

Introduction:

Have you ever found yourself completely confused by the multitude of religious ideologies being sold in the marketplace? I'm not just ...

One Step Closer

Introduction:

In the last days of Jesus' life, after the triumphal entry into Jerusalem, the religious leaders engaged him in a running battle of theology. ...

A Breath of Fresh Air

Focus: Sometimes the best way to build God's kingdom is to brace up his workers.

Introduction: I want to read three brief passages, first from 2 Corinthians ...

Work Hard, But …

Introduction

I first met Danny G. the Sunday morning he came down the aisle during decision time with his wife in tow. I had known he would probably ...

Gifts From Above

Every year at Christmas, on my birthday, or at other appropriate times, my family and friends give me gifts. Usually these gifts reflect my individual ...