Search for sermons - James 2
What is Saving Faith? - Sep 5, 2001
The question, “What is saving faith?” is not as easily answered as one might assume. It is evident from reading the New Testament that not everyone who “believes” truly possesses saving faith. Jesus Himself warned in Matthew 7:21-23 that on the Day of Judgment many will claim ... More
The Only Thing That Matters: Faith That Works By Love - Galatians 5:1-12 - Aug 5, 2001 - 260
These are the closing words of the Declaration of Independence:We, therefore, the Representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the World for the Rectitude of our Intentions, do, in the Name, and by the Authority of the good People ... More
What is Saving Faith? - Romans 10:9-10 - Oct 24, 1999 - 305
The question posed by my title is not as easily answered as one might assume. It is evident from reading the New Testament that not everyone who “believes” truly possesses saving faith. Jesus himself warned in Matthew 7:21-23 that on the Day of Judgment many will claim to have worked mir ... More
What Is Saving Faith? - Sep 6, 2006
"Pastor Ray, how can I know that I am truly saved?” The young man standing before me was obviously in some distress. His story was familiar. He had been raised in an evangelical church where he had accepted Christ as his Savior when he was 8 or 9. After 19 years of Sunday school and church ser ... More
The Man from the Tombs: Christ Speaks to the Problem of Spiritual Bondage - Mark 5:1-17 - Apr 1, 2001 - 122
"You can only believe in God if you believe in the devil as well."—Dutch novelist Harry MulischThis is the story of Jesus and a man with a “legion” of demons. It is one of those unforgettable biblical encounters that many of us first heard about as children in Sunday School. I shou ... More
Faith-Yes! The Law-No! - Romans 4:13-17 - May 17, 1992 - 289
This is my 15th and next-to-last sermon on Romans 1-4. In just two weeks we’ll begin a new series on the Ten Commandments. It’s appropriate to mention that now, because we’re talking about the law of God in this message. Paul’s great concern in our text is to show that no one ... More
The Only Way to Be Right With God - Romans 3:21-26 - Mar 29, 1992 - 284
This morning we are considering the greatest question in the world—How can a man be right with God? It is the supreme problem of life. No more important question could ever be asked.Every sincere person asks this question. Every sincere Methodist asks, “How can a man be right with God?&r ... 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
Allied Force Questions - Various - Jan 4, 1998 - 522
When we surveyed the congregation asking for their questions a few months ago, our high school ministry (called Allied Force) turned in their own set of questions. On October 12, the students joined me on the platform and participated in a live question-and-answer session. The questions that follow ... More
Living in the Fear of God - 1 Peter 1:17-21 - Oct 24, 2004 - 589
After a six-week break, we are returning to our study of I Peter. I want to begin by reminding you that Peter wrote this letter to believers scattered across ancient Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey). Widely separated and facing persecution, Peter encourages them to stand fast in the grace of God in sp ... More
The Fool on the Hill: What the Cross Means to the World - 1 Corinthians 1:18-25 - Jul 26, 2006 - 675
Every religion and every ideology has its own symbol. For the Buddhist it is the lotus flower. Judaism has the Star of David and Islam the crescent. In this century the communists were known for the hammer and the sickle and the Nazis for the swastika. In our day the democrats have the donkey and th ... More
From Rahab to Jesus - Hebrews 11:31 - Feb 7, 2009 - 1189
“By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient” (Hebrews 11:31).There are certain occupations that we associate with certain biblical characters. To say a particular name immediately brings a certain occupation to mind. Abra ... More
