Search for sermons - Genesis 2
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
Adam's Rib: How God Arranged the First Marriage - Genesis 2:18-25 - May 26, 2002 - 223
Yesterday I performed a wedding ceremony for Chris Hall and Kara Hansen. It was a lovely occassion, as weddings usually are, and everything seemed to go well. As I stood on the platform with the happy couple only two or three feet away, I looked into their hopeful faces, and the same thought I have ... 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
Is Marriage Really Made in Heaven? - Genesis 2:18-25; Hebrews 13:4 - Sep 12, 2004 - 265
Since this is the first sermon in the God Speaks Today series, I thought we should answer a few key questions up front: ... More
What Makes a Marriage? - Genesis 2:18-25 - Apr 18, 1999 - 297
It was a hot night when we got married. Late August in Phoenix, Arizona, is always hot but by the time our wedding started, the temperature outside had cooled down to a balmy 97 degrees. There weren’t very many people at our wedding — less than 100, I think. Except for my family they wer ... More
Marriage Conference - Various - Jul 19, 1993 - 428
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
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 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
Grow Up! - 1 Corinthians 13:7 - Apr 9, 2006 - 541
Have you ever wondered what life would be like if you weren’t married? If somehow you were suddenly single again? No matter how happy your marriage is, every honest person would have to answer yes to those questions. We’ve all thought about it from time to time. We’ve wondered ... More
Snake Eyes - Genesis 3:1-7 - Mar 8, 2006 - 46
“The literal Genesis record of supernatural creation is the foundation of the true gospel, the true doctrine of Christ, true evangelism, genuine saving faith, and of all the key aspects of biblical Christianity.” “All truth–in every area of life–finds its beginning in t ... More
Snake Eyes: The Four Stages of Temptation - Genesis 3:1-7 - Jun 2, 2002 - 226
The Bible makes no sense unless we understand the first few chapters of Genesis. These chapters answer a very crucial question: Where did we come from and how did we get from where we started to where we are today? The way that question is worded suggests that somewhere along the way, a massive chan ... More
The Blessing of a Believing Spouse - Hebrews 11:11-12 - Jul 23, 2008 - 1159
This is the story of Sarah’s faith. It is the story of one woman who together with her husband believed God and received a very great reward. It is also a story about the enormous blessing of having a believing spouse. If man has a wife who believes in Jesus, he is greatly blessed, and if a wi ... 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
Take Time for God - Exodus 20:8-11 - Jun 21, 1992 - 716
Let’s begin with three observations on the Fourth Commandment: 1. This is the longest of the Ten Commandments. 2. It is also the most difficult to properly interpret. 3. The Fourth Commandment remains a source of perennial interest.On that last point I call your attention to a survey conduc ... More
He's In Charge - So Relax! - Genesis 24 - Sep 19, 1993 - 394
Nothing is more important in the life of the children of God than becoming fully persuaded that God does indeed lead his children on their journey from earth to heaven.Besides building your confidence in God, I also want to help you as you face the great decisions of life. I’ve said it before ... More
Unhindered Prayers - 1 Peter 3:7 - Feb 13, 2005 - 596
Quick now, what well-known actor said the following: “I don’t like danger. I’m not a womanizer. My happiest moments are when I’m at home with my wife or in the company of a couple of good friends. I don’t covet wealth. I do want to be able to end my days in dignity and ... More
Living in Light of the Future - Malachi 2:17-3:5 - May 25, 2003 - 1261
As I mentioned last week, because of the depth of practical help for “Making a Marathon Marriage” in Malachi 2, I want to take some extra time this morning to lay out six building blocks of marriage. We’ll conclude by getting back on track with our outline next Sunday. A man and a ... 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
The Sin No One Will Admit - Exodus 20:17 - Aug 16, 1992 - 723
We begin the final message in this series with the text of the Tenth Commandment: “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.” The key w ... More
Why God Prefers Losers - 2 Corinthians 4:7 - May 3, 2010 - 1246
God prefers losers.That statement sounds positively un-American. As General George Patton famously remarked, ”Americans love a winner. America will not tolerate a loser.” Then we have this from Coach Vince Lombardi: “Show me a good loser, and I’ll show you a loser.” We ... More
Water, Wine, Wind, Fire - Four Pictures of the Holy Spirit - Nov 13, 2009 - 1230
Are you spooked out by the Holy Spirit?Perhaps I should say, “Are you spooked out by the Holy Ghost?” Lots of Christians are, you know. They say things like, “I know about God the Father, and I know about Jesus, but the Holy Spirit is a mystery to me.” You may remember the st ... More
The Next Hero - Hebrews 11:39-40 - Mar 8, 2009 - 1192
Twice recently Marlene has brought up a song by Steve Green called Find Us Faithful. It’s a song that any Christian would find moving, but parents especially will ponder its message. Marlene said she has been thinking about this particular verse: After all our hopes and dreams have come ... 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
Sleeping Together and Christ’s Global Cause - Aug 26, 2008
I received an email from a man who asked a very particular question. He is a Christian, divorced, and in his forties. He met a Christian woman who seems to be an answer to prayer. Over time they have fallen in love and hope to get married eventually. But they can’t marry right now becaus ... More
Love is Blind but Marriage is a Can Opener - Oct 26, 2007
Ray: It was a hot night when we got married. Late August in Phoenix, Arizona is always hot but by the time our wedding started, the temperature outside had cooled down to a balmy 97 degrees. Marlene: There weren’t very many people at our wedding less than 100, I think. Except for Ray’s ... More
How to Inherit a Blessing - 1 Peter 3:8-12 - Feb 20, 2005 - 597
“Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. For, ‘Whoever would love life a ... More
Love is Blind but Marriage is a Can Opener - Oct 26, 2007
Ray: It was a hot night when we got married. Late August in Phoenix, Arizona is always hot but by the time our wedding started, the temperature outside had cooled down to a balmy 97 degrees. Marlene: There weren’t very many people at our wedding less than 100, I think. Except for Ray’s ... 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
The Tragedy of Double Vision - Matthew 5:8 - Feb 25, 1996 - 57
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” This beatitude stands alone. It is unlike all the others. In many ways, this is the most unexpected thing Jesus ever said. It is not difficult to believe—like Blessed are the meek. It is not difficult to apply— ... More
