Are We Really Supposed to Love Our Enemies?

Introduction

I was at the airport getting ready to fly out for Easter weekend. I arrived at my gate early and got a nice seat by the window. After ...

'A Thrill of Hope'

Introduction

I don’t know if you’ve noticed this, but we’re going through a season of change. Maybe you’ve felt it, the leaves ...

Sent to Sacrifice

Introduction

I was gathered around a huge bonfire many years ago in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. I was part of a larger Christian camp and I had students ...

The Beauty of Sacrifice

Introduction

On October 1, 2017, as a shooter was spraying the field where concertgoers were attending a country western concert in Las Vegas, there was ...

Courage to Sacrifice

Introduction

I have to say on a Sunday when I get to kick off a new study, it does feel a little bit like Christmas morning and I finally get to open that ...

The Parable of the Rich Fool

Introduction

(Read Luke 12:1-13)

A long time ago, before there were Republicans and Democrats, a Constitution, a Bill of Rights, or a Declaration of Independence, ...

Greed and Envy: The Twin Terrors

Introduction

Let's begin with a story I read in The New York Times. It's a story told by a young Wall Street trader who found himself addicted to money—not ...

Called Out and Called Up

Introduction

Our title for today's message is "Called Out and Called Up." One of the things that people misunderstand about the Christian ...

Be Afraid of Not Fearing

Introduction

You need to look the other way, pastor. This is business. You're not cut out for this. My friend had been pastoring this church for a few ...

Following Christ in a Material World

Introduction

"Living in a material world
And I am a material girl
You know that we are living in a material world
And I am a material girl"

The princess ...

The Divine Dare

Introduction

Everybody has to make decisions about how we're going to deal with money. There are a couple scholars named who talk about two metaphors for ...

The 10 Financial Commandments

Introduction

A mom was trying to teach her two kids about Jesus and the Easter story. When she reached the part about Pilate and what he did with Jesus, ...

When Is Enough, Enough?

Introduction

Sometimes it's not just a practice but a word—just one word—that God uses in our minds and our hearts to transform us.

When ...

Treasury Notes in Heaven

Introduction

Our son-in-law, Keith, works on the trading floor of the commodities market exchange in Chicago. I've been there to watch him. You stand in ...

Stand in the River of Grace

Introduction

The Dead Sea is called the Dead Sea for a reason: it's dead. This is because of its salt content. It is the saltiest body of water on ...

The Gravity of Greed

Introduction

Do you remember watching your very first NASA rocket launch? I remember as a boy sitting on the edge of the family room sofa and listening ...

The Motivation for Generosity

Introduction

Stephen King is the author of 49 suspense and horror novels that have sold over 350 million copies. Some of his novels have been made into ...

Becoming a Generous Giver

Introduction

It is ironic that this book entitled Generosity has my name at the bottom of the cover. That God would link me with generosity makes me want ...

The Offering

Introduction

Today I want to talk about how the difficulties and disappointments of our life can deaden our heart, making them cold and inward-focused. ...

Lost and Found

Introduction

Some of you may have heard of Anthony Bourdain. He has a reality show on The Travel Channel called "No Reservations." He's a chef who travels ...

As Good As It Gets

Introduction

In 1969, Malcolm Muggeridge, a British journalist, broadcaster, and the editor of Punch, a satirical magazine, went to Calcutta to make a ...

Unexpected Kindness

Introduction

I want you to imagine with me a hypothetical situation. You get a certified letter in the mail, and it's kind of mysterious. It looks ...

What Christmas Love Always Does

From the editor:

Every year at Christmastime, news stations run video segments of crazy shoppers pushing and shoving each other to get their hands on the ...

The Shared Life

Introduction

For the last few weeks, we've been turning to the Book of Acts, the place where we hear about the stories of the early church, to learn something ...

The Kingdom of God Is Like

Introductory remarks from Mark Buchanan:

This sermon was the second-to-last sermon of an eight-week series on the kingdom of God. I wanted, with this sermon, ...

Help! The Prayer that Calms

Maybe you have heard about the book called The Prayer of Jabez: Breaking Through to the Blessed Life. It is extremely popular, breaking all kinds of records ...

The Muchness of God

Introduction

In this very moment, God is ready to pour out upon you—from the lavish abundance and overflow of his reserves—blessings that will ...

The Use of Money

From the editor

From time to time, we like to feature a classic sermon from a celebrated preacher of old. Bill White, a frequent contributor to PreachingToday.com, ...

Givers and Takers

Introduction

My son is the assistant manager of a Potbelly's sandwich shop in the northern suburbs of Chicago. When you ask for a glass of water, most ...

What Do You Need to Be Happy?

Click here to listen to the audio.

The story behind the sermon (from Francis Chan)

This message is about being content. It comes out of Philippians ...

Affluenza

Introduction

The next time you get a chance to go to the public library, check out the book A Material World. A photographer went around the world and ...

Consumerism

Introduction

Paul Anka penned a song back in 1968 that was made famous by Frank Sinatra: "I'll Do It My Way." It became his signature song and rose as ...

Mind Your Own Business: What does the Bible say about savings and debt?

From the editor

If the prognosticators are right, the current economic crisis will probably stretch on into 2010. With that in mind, now might be a good ...

Take the Risk

From the editor:

As the country sinks further and further into a time of recession, financial issues will be weighing heavily on the minds of listeners. ...

The "Muchness" of God

Text: James 5:13–16
Topic: How to experience God's provision and power

Introduction

In this very moment, God is ready to pour out upon you—from ...

Secrets of Financial Contentment

Introduction

When I was a kid, my dad told me two stories all the time.

In the first one, a couple goes to Harvard University and asks to see the president, ...

A Crop Is A Crop

Introduction

We've been considering what it means to be jars of clay—ordinary, fragile people living in a difficult and dangerous world. The message ...

You Can't Fool the Lord

Introduction

One of the ministers at this church the television show 24 because of the things that Jack Bauer never has to do: eat, charge his cell phone, ...

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. ...

A Lifestyle Inventory

Introduction

I want to tell you exactly how to live your life and spend your money. I know I have your attention now, because when we talk about money, ...

Treasury Notes in Heaven

Text: Matthew 6:19–21
Topic: Why storing your treasures in heaven is better than storing treasures on Earth

Introduction

Our son-in-law, Keith, works ...

How To Gain a New Perspective on Money

Introduction:

Leadership experts like John Maxwell, Warren Bennis, and Jack Welch, along with social psychologists, agree that when it comes to change, ...

Christmas Compassion: How to Give Christmas Gifts All Year Long

It's commonly accepted that people should be compassionate during the Christmas season, and it's a sociological fact that they are. People tend to do ...

Being a Giver

Today we are beginning a new series entitled "How To Make A Difference." This is something we can all relate to—everyone wants their life to make ...

Becoming a Giver

Don't it always seem to go That you don't know what you've got till it's gone...

Do you remember that song? "Big Yellow Taxi." Joni Mitchell. 1969. I'm ...

God's Promise to Meet Your Needs

Don't miss the premise to the promise.

At this time of year, between Christmas and New Years, I usually do two things: I write thank you notes to everybody ...

Wise Up About Money

The shock disk jockey, Howard Stern, is probably most well known for his vulgar and crude antics on his radio and television shows. In fact, at last count, ...

Stealing From God

When we put our faith and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ, we enter a love relationship with him. It's a sacred romance. It's not just a working relationship. ...