Search for sermons - John 8
The Woman Caught in the Act: Christ Speaks to the Problem of a Judgmental Spirit - John 8:1-11 - Apr 22, 2001 - 124
"It is a terrible thing for a sinner to fall into the hands of his fellow sinners.” F. B. MeyerThis is the story of Jesus and the woman taken in adultery. It is so popular that even those who rarely read the Bible know about it. Clarence McCartney comments that the great museums of Europe alwa ... More
Are You Excited About Your Future? - John 8:1-11 - Oct 27, 1991 - 786
Are you an optimist or a pessimist? When you look at the glass of water, is it half-full or half-empty? When you face the trials and problems of life, do you face them with hope or with despair?There’s a big difference between an optimist and a pessimist. Some wag put it this way: Between ... More
Why Are You Weeping? - John 20:11-18 - Mar 31, 2002 - 180
The story of Mary Magdalene meeting Jesus at the empty tomb is found only in John’s gospel. I think Mary must have told John about it personally. Everything about this little slice of life rings true to human nature as we know it. A weeping woman lingers by an empty tomb, wondering what has ha ... More
God's Freedom - Romans 9:6-18 - Jun 25, 2006 - 425
While studying Romans 9, I was struck by Paul’s question in verse 14: “Is God unjust?” In our hearts we already know the answer. God is not unjust. But oftentimes he seems inconsistent. The very examples Paul chooses seem to uphold that inconsistency.He chooses Isaac over Ishmael.H ... More
The First Law: He's God and We're Not - Feb 10, 2002
This is the first sermon in a new series called “The Seven Laws of the Spiritual Life.” For the last few years I have been thinking about putting together a short list of the basic principles of the Christian life. What are those truths that every believer needs to know in order to have ... More
Out On A Limb With Shirley MacLaine: Is Reincarnation True? - Various - Jun 4, 2000 - 216
This is a sermon about reincarnation, which means that I have a serious problem right off the bat. It is also a sermon about Shirley MacLaine, which poses a second problem. My first challenge is to convince you that reincarnation matters enough to warrant a full sermon. Perhaps this will help. Over ... 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
The King Has Come! - Matthew 2:1-6 - Dec 16, 2001 - 686
We begin with the words of Flannery O’Connor: “The truth does not change according to our ability to stomach it.” Truth is truth whether we like it or not. The fact that I personally may object to the truth doesn’t matter. Those things that are objectively true remain true ev ... More
When Was Jesus Born? - Dec 5, 2007
Let me begin by saying right up front that no one knows exactly when Jesus was born because the Bible does not clearly answer this question. That doesn’t mean the question is unimportant, only that it is not essential to our Christian faith. As we approach Christmas this year, it is good to re ... More
The King Has Come! - Matthew 2:1-6 - Dec 13, 2006 - 85
We begin with the words of Flannery O’Connor: “The truth does not change according to our ability to stomach it.” Truth is truth whether we like it or not. The fact that I personally may object to the truth doesn’t matter. Those things that are objectively true remain true ev ... More
Who Do Men Say That I Am? - Matthew 16:13-17 - Mar 19, 2006 - 780
If you ever travel to the Holy Land, one of the places you may visit is an Arab town called Banias. To get there you will have to travel north from Jerusalem to some place like Tiberius or Capernaum and from there travel even farther north into the finger of Galilee. You will pass through a kibbutz ... More
God's Freedom - Romans 9:6-18 - Apr 26, 2006 - 761
While studying Romans 9, I was struck by Paul’s question in verse 14: “Is God unjust?” In our hearts we already know the answer. God is not unjust. But oftentimes he seems inconsistent. The very examples Paul chooses seem to uphold that inconsistency.He chooses Isaac over Ishmael.H ... More
The First Rule of Holes - Sep 26, 2004
THE FIRST RULE OF HOLES by Ray Pritchard A friend was talking with his son about the importance of sound financial principles. But what do you do when you are already in debt? The answer is not hard to find: Get out of debt as quickly as possible. My friend shared a pithy aphorism that he called the ... More
Passing the Baton - Genesis 25 - Aug 4, 1996 - 29
All week long one question hung in the air. Would he or wouldn’t he? Some said yes, most said no. The debate raged in a sports bars across America. He’s America’s fastest runner. But he didn’t practice with the team. He’s our best hope for a gold medal. But it&rs ... More
Christ B.C. Part IV: Born of a Virgin - Isaiah 7:14, Matthew 1:23 - Dec 24, 1995 - 68
Christmas is an amazing time of year. Yesterday I ran across a statement that sums it up: “Isn’t it amazing that a baby born in a stable 2,000 years ago can cause traffic jams this week?” I am thankful for this season. We Christians ought to enjoy Christmas more than anyone. D ... More
Christ B.C. Part I: Seed of the Woman - Genesis 3:15 - Dec 3, 1995 - 69
"And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”This is the first promise given after the Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden. It is also the first gospel sermon ever preached ... More
Truth or Consequences - Exodus 20:16 - Jul 26, 1992 - 721
When I was growing up my mother had a little rhyme she often repeated to her four sons. You probably heard it many times while you were growing up: Sticks and stones may break my bones But words will never hurt me.As much as I hate to admit it, my mother (who wasn’t wrong about many thing ... More
Out of Control - Judges 14 - Feb 18, 1990 - 516
It’s been a tough week for Donald Trump. He’s the billionaire developer and deal-maker from New York City who is leaving his wife, Ivana. Since the news broke last Sunday, the story has been on the front page of virtually every newspaper in America. Just this morning, the Chicago Sun- ... More
Free at Last - Romans 6:1-7 - Jan 5, 1993 - 445
There are many reasons people give for not becoming a Christian. Most of those reasons are in the form of either excuses or misunderstandings. But there is at least one reason that bears some consideration.The woman said, “Pastor, you don’t understand. I’ve been like this for so ... More
What Does the Bible Say About Divorce and Remarriage? - Matthew 19:1-12 - Nov 23, 1997 - 526
Perhaps the place to begin is with a few quotes taken from The Abolition of Marriage by Maggie Gallagher: “Over the past 30 years a consistent 96% of the American public has expressed a personal desire for marriage. Only 8% of American women consider remaining single ideal, a proportion that h ... More
Can I Lose My Salvation? - Philippians 1:6 - Nov 2, 1997 - 525
I would like to begin with the observation that this is a controversial question in Christian circles. It would be difficult to find a subject about which believers are more deeply divided. To the question, “Can I lose my salvation?” there are whole denominations that answer yes: The Met ... More
Do People Feel Important Around You? - John 13:1-17 - Nov 3, 1991 - 788
Strange winds are blowing in America. In Louisiana, the experts say that a man who once led the Ku Klux Klan may be elected governor. Although David Duke has said that he favors the white race over the other races, and although he is basically nothing more than a blow-dried neo-Nazi, he may win. ... 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
Seed of the Woman - Genesis 3:15 - Dec 7, 2008 - 1178
“And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”This is the first promise given after the Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden. It is also the first gospel sermon ever prea ... More
Born of a Virgin - Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23 - Dec 8, 2008 - 1180
Christmas is an amazing time of year. Yesterday I ran across a statement that sums it up: “Isn’t it amazing that a baby born in a stable 2,000 years ago can cause traffic jams this week?” I am thankful for this season. We Christians ought to enjoy Christmas more than anyone. Don&rs ... More
He Became Sin for Us: What the Cross Meant to Christ - 2 Corinthians 5:21 - Feb 28, 1999 - 672
“God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21). This is one of the most magnificent verses in the all the Bible. Spurgeon called it the heart of the gospel. It is the gospel in one verse. Everything you need to k ... More
