Sermons on All (Page 30)
All sermons listed in chronological order.
“Shouts of Joy” (Psalm 126)
Shouts of Joy (Psalm 126) In 2014, hundreds of undergrad students were ushered into a plain room at the University of Virginia. They were asked to put away their cellphones, books, and pens in order to engage in “thinking periods” lasting between six and fifteen minutes. Some were given prompts while others were told to think about whatever came to mind. It was intended to be a pleasant experience, but 50% of the participants didn’t think so. They tried “thinking…
“Revive Us Again” (Psalms 85)
Revive Us Again (Psalm 85) Illustration: Twilight Zone “A Nice Place to Visit.” After being gunned down during a burglary, Mr. Valentine, is ushered into eternity. To his surprise he experiences all the things he had been craving in this life (luxurious penthouse, fancy suits, all the alcohol he could want, an endless supply of money and women). But as the episode nears the end, he finds that his eternity is empty. It doesn’t leave him satisfied. He tells his…
“Jesus Heals A Man With A Demon” (Luke 8:26-39)
Jesus Heals a Man with a Demon (Luke 8:26-39) Luke continues to show how people are responding to Jesus. The parables were about how we respond to his word. This passage, like the one before it, provide examples of people responding to Jesus’ power. The episode is found in all three synoptic gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke). One of the significant differences being that Matthew mentions two demoniacs. The easiest answer is that Mark and Luke refer to the greater…
“Restore Us, O God” (Psalm 80)
Restore Us, O God (Psalm 80) How do you approach God when you need restoration? Advent is about waiting/anticipating God’s restoration. In Psalm 80, Asaph longs for the covenant blessings to be returned to Israel. He pictures God as an angry Shepherd who left his flock, in the midst of their enemies, to feed upon their tears. He longs for the Lord’s restoration and favor. The Psalms teach us how to communicate with God. We learn to express our emotions…
“Jesus Calms the Storm” (Luke 8:22-25)
Jesus Calms the Storm (Luke 8:22-25) We allow our circumstances to dictate the state of our faith rather than trusting in the person and work of our Savior. Similar to the scene in Jonah, but the parallels are probably little more than coincidental with accounts of a stormy sea. Jesus has been teaching in parables about the importance of how we hear and respond to God’s Word. Read Luke 8:22-25. I. The Fear of the Disciples The “Mills Fire” –…
“Wholehearted Thanksgiving” (Psalm 9)
Wholehearted Thanksgiving (Psalm 9) We’ve heard a lot about recounting in the news over the past few weeks. Once again, Florida was in the middle of the controversy. At least we have our act together over here in California… Hopefully, recounting the wonderful deeds of the Lord isn’t so complicated. Psalm 10 has no title supporting the theory that 9-10 were originally one (mostly acrostic) psalm. However, due to a significant shift in the mood, we will only focus on…
“The Family of God” (Luke 8:19-21)
The Family of God (Luke 8:19-21) This follows Jesus’ teaching on the parables (the Sower and the Lamp). In both cases, the emphasis was upon how people respond to God’s Word. There are many inadequate ways to receive God’s Word (road, rocks, thorns). It is only the good soil that hears God’s Word and does it who will produce fruit. Along the same lines, the lamp is the light of God’s Word that illuminates the truth for those in darkness,…
“Civil War” (Judges 20-21)
Civil War (Judges 20-21) Conclusion: Israel’s religious decline > moral decline > political decline. Upon receiving their portion of the Levite’s concubine, Israel gathered for battle. Read Judges 20-21. The near elimination, and subsequent restoration, of the Benjamites portray Israel’s need for a king. I. Vengeance Upon Benjamin (20:1-48) 1. A Devastating Unity (1-18) 400,000 Israelites gather for a divine mission. Upon hearing the Levite’s story, minus any self-incriminating details, Israel unanimously decide to attack Gibeah, demanding Benjamin hand over…
“The Light of God’s Word” (Luke 8:16-18)
The Light of God’s Word (Luke 8:16-18) The parable of the Sower was related to the proclamation of God’s Word and the various soils in which it lands. The good soil bears much fruit. That fruit is the multiplication of the Word received. Jesus stays on the same subject, but transitions to another analogy. God’s Word is not only like a seed, but it’s also like a light. Because men love the darkness, we don’t always appreciate the light. It…