Comparison: The Thief of Joy

Introduction

Whenever I have preached on John 21 I have tended to speak about the kindness of God shown through how gently the Lord restores Peter, ...

A Song of Contentment

Introduction

One of my favorite films of all time is Chariots of Fire. Chariots of Fire is based on the true story of two runners named Harold ...

Anguish in the Garden

Introduction

We have left the upper room where Jesus has identified the one who will betray him as he reclines at a table to celebrate Passover and institute ...

The Characters of Christmas: Joseph

This sermon is part of “The Characters of Christmas” sermon series. See the whole series here.

Introduction

Matthew’s gospel tells the ...

The Characters of Christmas: Mary

This sermon is part of “The Characters of Christmas” sermon series. See the whole series here.

Introduction

Dave Richards was raised in a strong ...

The Characters of Christmas: Zechariah

This sermon is part of “The Characters of Christmas” sermon series. See the whole series here.

About the Series

We all love a good story. A ...

The Good Creation

Introduction

The last book of the Bible is the Book of Revelation. Revelation begins with letters written to seven churches. It’s a little bit like ...

Repentance

Introduction

Benjamin Franklin was into virtue, as were many of the founding fathers of the United States. That 18th century was a society in which self-discipline ...

Running to the Lost

Introduction

Should God have any enemies?

The popular answer these days is basically this: "No, God shouldn't have any enemies … if there is a God, ...

God Is in Pursuit

Introduction

What happens when what God wants is different than what you want?

That's one way to summarize what's so difficult about this life, ...

Get a Grip

Editor's Note: This sermon was given from an empty gymnasium. To prepare for the topic and really connect with the idea of "letting go," John Ortberg ...

What Kind of Heart Does God Desire?

Introduction

David is often described as "a man after God's own heart." That is how Samuel described him at the point that he was going to be anointed ...

Blessed Are Those Who Do Not Stumble over Jesus

Introduction

If you pay close attention to the Advent wreath, you'll notice that it contains three purple candles. We talked last week about how the purple ...

Deny Ability

Introduction

Years ago Clarence Jordan started an interracial Christian community, Koinonia Farm, down in Georgia. He suffered greatly for his stand, ...

A New Philadelphia

Introduction

There is something in a name. My name is Mike. Actually, Michael's not my first name; my first name is Jerry. I'm Jerry Michael Breaux. On ...

What a Nation Should Never Forget

Introduction

The Fourth of July is a wonderful weekend of celebration of the goodness of God in national life. It is also an important reminder for us ...

"Gay" Myths

Homosexuality is probably the most emotionally divisive issue facing our nation. It's a hot topic, as a range of Newsweek covers on the issue suggests: January ...

Walking Into the Purposes of God

Introduction

The first words of the Bible tell us that this universe of which we're a part belongs to a God of purpose: "In the beginning. God created." ...

Who's the Boss?

Story behind the sermon (from Lee Eclov)

I wonder if people aren't a little suspicious when we preach about work. When we say that all work is a calling, ...

Return to Power

Introduction

We talk a lot here at New Life about the kingdom of God. The reality is that the kingdom of God comes first in the lives of God's people. ...

Guide

Click here to listen to the audio.

The story behind the sermon (from John Ortberg)

I have grown to love the theme of God's guidance. This is a chance to ...

God's Unstoppable Purpose

Text: 2 Chronicles 17:1-18:34
Topic: The unstoppable will of God

From the editor:

Here's a sermon from Old Testament professor Dennis Magary (Trinity Evangelical ...

Welcome to the Pearly-Gated Community

Introduction

In the first sermon in our series, I talked about the primary person we will get to see in heaven: Jesus, face to face. Now I want to talk ...

How to Be Blessed in the New Year

From the editor

Your listeners will have to make a number of choices in the new year, but no choice is more important than the choice between living within ...

In the Father's Arms

Text: Job 36, 38
Topic: How a Christian should respond to suffering

From the editor

As you read Jill Briscoe's sermon, notice how she takes a classic story-story-story ...

Living on the Edge of Whatever Happens

From the editor

One of the great joys in preaching is when you know you have something special to offer. Perhaps it's a particularly well-crafted thesis ...

A New Name for Philadelphia

Text: Revelation 3:7–13
Topic: We have a new name, and we're going to live in a new city that cannot be shaken.

From the editor

Like Dave Stone of Southeast ...

Trust Me

From the editor

As Marshall indicates in his introduction, few people ever rummage around in the final few chapters of Genesis. But the final events recorded ...

A Strange Résumé

Introduction

It's the most dreaded question of the job interview, and when the time comes, you can't seem to push the words out of your mouth. "Tell me," ...

Paying Your Dues

Introduction

How many of you would say, "The truth is, I really am more clued in than my boss"? Who would say, "My boss, my company, my manager, my supervisor, ...

The First Extreme: Conformity

Introduction

We have already met Jonah, a scowling, spiteful little man in a chronic state of bellyache. The meaning of his name—"dove"—just ...

Beyond Will and Grace

Texts: Genesis 1:1–2:28; Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13; Romans 1:24–26; 1 Corinthians 6:9
Topic: What should we think about homosexuality?

Inquiring of the Lord

Introduction

I want to read to you an obscure little verse from an obscure part of the Old Testament. Very few people know this story, but it has a lot ...

The True Spirit of Christmas

Introduction

In one Peanuts comic strip, Lucy was saying that Christmas is a time for kindness and a time to forgive one another. Charlie Brown says: "Why ...

Walking in Wisdom

Introduction:

I love the story of the young man of 32 who had been appointed president of the bank. He'd never dreamed he'd be president, much less at ...

God's Guide to the Good Life

Exodus 20:1-17

There's a story about a man who had lost his hat. He wanted a new one, but didn't want to pay for it, so he came up with a scheme. He ...

The Heart of Worship

We're in a series called "Soul Survivor." It's about getting through life with your faith intact. In week one we talked about having assurance of your ...

Courageous Obedience

The second half of the first chapter of Matthew is the story of Mary and Joseph. This is an important story in the life of Jesus, even though he hasn't ...

What Does God Want Me to Do?

When someone considers the prospect of doing God's will, they often have to overcome a few mental obstacles first. What if God's will is something too ...

Trust God

Today we're looking at one of the most popular passages of scripture in the Bible. You've probably heard it before...

(v. 5-6) Trust in the Lord with ...

Born to Live

Jesus is enjoying the most exhilarating moment of his life. He has just finished being the guest of honor in the Palm Sunday parade. His archenemies, ...

A Durable Hope

It's interesting what our Lord does with parables. Sometimes he leaves them with no comment at all, like the parable of the Prodigal Son, which has no ...

Triumphing Over the Past

I doubt that there is any more debilitating problem for Christian people than the problem of regrets. We feel subject to the guilt of something that we ...

Choices

Introduction

Life has been described by many as a series of choices. That's partly true. Obviously there are times when our lives are impacted by things ...

He Shall Direct Thy Paths

When you're young person, there are two or three things that generally are important to you, and finding and doing the will of God is not one of them. ...