Search for sermons - Genesis 1
What About Creation and Evolution? - Genesis 1:1 - Nov 9, 1997 - 527
"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” First sentences matter. Every writer knows that the very first words he puts on paper set the tone for everything else that follows. In fact most writers work for hours trying to come up with just the right combination of words that wil ... More
What About Creation and Evolution? - Genesis 1:1 - Nov 9, 1997 - 527
"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” First sentences matter. Every writer knows that the very first words he puts on paper set the tone for everything else that follows. In fact most writers work for hours trying to come up with just the right combination of words that wil ... More
“In the Beginning": The Most Important Verse in the Bible - Genesis 1:1 - Apr 21, 2002 - 220
Today we are beginning a new sermon series entitled First Things: The Amazing True Story of How the World Came to Be. Over the next few months we’ll be looking in detail at the opening chapters of the Bible, Genesis 1-11. Our goal is abundantly simple. We want to know what God has said about t ... More
Fact or Fable in Genesis: Was the World Really Created in Six Days? - Genesis 1:1-2:3 - Apr 28, 2002 - 221
These are exciting days to study the book of Genesis. A great deal has been written on this book in the last few years and there has been much new research in the area of science and the Bible. It’s always a good thing to focus on issues that really matter. Sometimes in the church we spend too ... More
“In the Beginning": The Most Important Verse in the Bible - Genesis 1:1 - Apr 21, 2002 - 220
Today we are beginning a new sermon series entitled First Things: The Amazing True Story of How the World Came to Be. Over the next few months we’ll be looking in detail at the opening chapters of the Bible, Genesis 1-11. Our goal is abundantly simple. We want to know what God has said about t ... More
Fact or Fable in Genesis: Was the World Really Created in Six Days? - Genesis 1:1-2:3 - Apr 28, 2002 - 221
These are exciting days to study the book of Genesis. A great deal has been written on this book in the last few years and there has been much new research in the area of science and the Bible. It’s always a good thing to focus on issues that really matter. Sometimes in the church we spend too ... More
Image is Everything: Highly Valued, Deeply Fallen, Greatly Loved - Genesis 1:26-28 - May 5, 2002 - 224
Upon reading these verses, the thought comes to mind that we’re not in Eden anymore. Whatever else you can say about the first chapter of the Bible, the world of the 21st century is far removed from the world of Genesis 1. Things have changed. These days we wake up every morning to find out wh ... More
Image is Everything: Highly Valued, Deeply Fallen, Greatly Loved - Genesis 1:26-28 - May 5, 2002 - 224
Upon reading these verses, the thought comes to mind that we’re not in Eden anymore. Whatever else you can say about the first chapter of the Bible, the world of the 21st century is far removed from the world of Genesis 1. Things have changed. These days we wake up every morning to find out wh ... More
The Truth About Same-Sex Marriage - Genesis 1:26-28; Revelation 22:17 - Sep 26, 2004 - 267
My story today begins a long way from Oak Park, and a long way from our current controversies. In order to get the proper perspective, let’s go all the way back to the beginning of the Bible. To quote a line from The Sound of Music: “Let’s start at the very beginning, that’s ... More
The Truth About Same-Sex Marriage - Genesis 1:26-28; Revelation 22:17 - Sep 26, 2004 - 267
My story today begins a long way from Oak Park, and a long way from our current controversies. In order to get the proper perspective, let’s go all the way back to the beginning of the Bible. To quote a line from The Sound of Music: “Let’s start at the very beginning, that’s ... More
A Place to Begin - Genesis 1:1; John 17:3 - Sep 19, 1999 - 309
"True and substantial wisdom principally consists of two parts; the knowledge of God, and the knowledge of ourselves.” With this sentence John Calvin begins his famous book, Institutes of the Christian Religion. He goes on to note that it is hard to say which should come first—the knowle ... More
A Place to Begin - Genesis 1:1; John 17:3 - Sep 19, 1999 - 309
"True and substantial wisdom principally consists of two parts; the knowledge of God, and the knowledge of ourselves.” With this sentence John Calvin begins his famous book, Institutes of the Christian Religion. He goes on to note that it is hard to say which should come first—the knowle ... More
Darwin’s Delusion: Why I Believe in Creation - Nov 5, 1995
To many modern thinkers this sermon would seem incredible, like a relic of the Dark Ages, a living fossil, a sermon that might have been preached during the Colonial Era but not at the end fo the twentieth century.. For I propose to assert several things in this sermon: First, that the universe wa ... More
Men and Women in Biblical Perspective - Genesis 1-3 - Oct 18, 1992 - 132
I find myself in a peculiar position this morning. No matter what I say, or how carefully I say it, someone is bound to disagree with me. But that doesn’t begin to cover the subject. Not only will some people disagree with me, even the people who agree with me will probably not agree with ever ... More
Men and Women in Biblical Perspective - Genesis 1-3 - Oct 18, 1992 - 132
I find myself in a peculiar position this morning. No matter what I say, or how carefully I say it, someone is bound to disagree with me. But that doesn’t begin to cover the subject. Not only will some people disagree with me, even the people who agree with me will probably not agree with ever ... More
Darwin’s Delusion: Why I Believe in Creation - Nov 5, 1995
To many modern thinkers this sermon would seem incredible, like a relic of the Dark Ages, a living fossil, a sermon that might have been preached during the Colonial Era but not at the end fo the twentieth century.. For I propose to assert several things in this sermon: First, that the universe wa ... More
Behind Closed Doors - Hebrews 13:4 - Apr 9, 2006 - 540
There are times when a writer knows beyond a shadow of a doubt that he doesn’t have to worry about getting the reader’s attention. Certain subjects require no gimmicks, tricks or elaborate introductions. Some subjects–there are only a few–call forth such universal interest ... More
Creation-Evolution Teaching Statement - Various - Nov 5, 1997 - 559
The Bible begins with these simple words: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1). From the very first verse we are faced with the critical importance of the biblical doctrine of creation. Among other things, that verse tells us that the universe ha ... More
Behind Closed Doors - Hebrews 13:4 - Apr 9, 2006 - 540
There are times when a writer knows beyond a shadow of a doubt that he doesn’t have to worry about getting the reader’s attention. Certain subjects require no gimmicks, tricks or elaborate introductions. Some subjects–there are only a few–call forth such universal interest ... More
His Love Endures Forever - Psalm 136 - Jan 7, 2011 - 1270
A few days ago I received a note from a friend I first met when we were in the same youth group together many years ago. My friend sent a Facebook message that contained a poignant observation: In my heart and mind, we are still innocent, carefree teens at the church. However, the reality is that we ... More
The Mysterious Doctrine of the Trinity - Acticle B: The True God - Various - Feb 16, 1992 - 747
My introduction to the doctrine of the Trinity came at a very young age. I first learned it through the music we sang at the First Baptist Church. The great hymn “Holy, Holy, Holy” was number one in the Baptist Hymnal. Over the years the words “God in three persons, Blessed Trin ... More
Every Tree But One: Why Freedom Isn't Free - Genesis 2:4-17 - May 19, 2002 - 222
What is freedom? Ask the question of ten people and you will get at least ten different answers. One person says that freedom is the right to get drunk every weekend. Someone else says that freedom means doing whatever you want, whenever you want to do it. To another man freedom is sleeping with as ... More
The Mysterious Doctrine of the Trinity - Acticle B: The True God - Various - Feb 16, 1992 - 747
My introduction to the doctrine of the Trinity came at a very young age. I first learned it through the music we sang at the First Baptist Church. The great hymn “Holy, Holy, Holy” was number one in the Baptist Hymnal. Over the years the words “God in three persons, Blessed Trin ... More
Every Tree But One: Why Freedom Isn't Free - Genesis 2:4-17 - May 19, 2002 - 222
What is freedom? Ask the question of ten people and you will get at least ten different answers. One person says that freedom is the right to get drunk every weekend. Someone else says that freedom means doing whatever you want, whenever you want to do it. To another man freedom is sleeping with as ... More
Not by Chance: “Maker of Heaven and Earth” - Revelation 4:11 - Feb 1, 2004 - 646
Evolution was in the news this week. Actually the word “evolution” was in the news. The Georgia state school superintendent has proposed taking the word “evolution” out the biology curriculum. That’s not as radical as it might sound since schools would still be required ... More
What the Bible Says About Homosexuality - Various - Oct 22, 1989 - 133
Perhaps the place to begin this morning is with the simple confession that I did not want to preach this message. It was not part of my preaching calendar and I did not make the final decision until two and a half weeks ago. My hesitations were very simple: As the brand-new pastor of Calvary Memoria ... More
Not by Chance: “Maker of Heaven and Earth” - Revelation 4:11 - Feb 1, 2004 - 646
Evolution was in the news this week. Actually the word “evolution” was in the news. The Georgia state school superintendent has proposed taking the word “evolution” out the biology curriculum. That’s not as radical as it might sound since schools would still be required ... More
God in Three Persons: A Doctrine We Barely Understand - Jan 12, 1997
My problem this morning is simple: to explain a doctrine that all Christians believe but no one really understands. And I have to do it in 30 minutes!So let’s start at the very beginning. All Christians believe the doctrine of the Trinity. If you do not believe this—that is, if you have ... More
Equal But Not Identical: Men And Women In The Local Church - Jul 21, 1991
In this day of social upheaval, many traditional views held by the Christian church are being questioned. Not the least important of these is the issue of women in ministry. During the past several decades, the feminist movement has had significant impact on the church; this impact is such that the ... More
God in Three Persons: A Doctrine We Barely Understand - Jan 12, 1997
My problem this morning is simple: to explain a doctrine that all Christians believe but no one really understands. And I have to do it in 30 minutes!So let’s start at the very beginning. All Christians believe the doctrine of the Trinity. If you do not believe this—that is, if you have ... More
What the Bible Says About Homosexuality - Various - Oct 22, 1989 - 133
Perhaps the place to begin this morning is with the simple confession that I did not want to preach this message. It was not part of my preaching calendar and I did not make the final decision until two and a half weeks ago. My hesitations were very simple: As the brand-new pastor of Calvary Memoria ... More
Equal But Not Identical: Men And Women In The Local Church - Jul 21, 1991
In this day of social upheaval, many traditional views held by the Christian church are being questioned. Not the least important of these is the issue of women in ministry. During the past several decades, the feminist movement has had significant impact on the church; this impact is such that the ... More
Amending Our Church Constitution to Define Marriage - Oct 10, 2004
AMENDING OUR CHURCH CONSTITUTION TO DEFINE MARRIAGE by Ray Pritchard Last spring the elders appointed a task force to work on revising our church constitution in several key areas. This marks the first time since we approved our current constitution in 1992 that we have made any changes. The task fo ... More
Marriage Conference - Various - Jul 19, 1993 - 428
The Truth About You - Ephesians 2:1-3 - Sep 26, 1999 - 310
A quarter-century ago psychiatrist Karl Menninger wrote a landmark book titled Whatever Became of Sin? In it he frames the question this way:In all the laments and reproaches made by our seers and prophets, one misses any mention of “sin,” a word which used to be a veritable watchword of ... More
