Search for sermons - Philippians 2
Making God's A-Team - Philippians 2:19-30 - Nov 22, 1998 - 366
Let’s begin with a question that might be slightly embarrassing to some people. Do you like to read other people’s mail? When I asked that question on Sunday morning, I noticed quite a few sheepish grins in the congregation. Before you answer, let me clarify the question. I’m not a ... More
Will the Real Jesus Please Stand Up? - Philippians 2:6-11 - Oct 25, 1998 - 364
Who is Jesus Christ? Of all the questions that might be posed to modern men and women, none is more important than this. It is no exaggeration to say that this is the central question of history and the most important issue anyone will ever face. Who is Jesus Christ? Where did he come from? Why did ... More
Getting Along With Cantankerous Christians - Philippians 2:1-4 - Oct 18, 1998 - 363
Here is the text taken from The Message, a contemporary translation of the New Testament by Eugene Peterson: If you’ve gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if his love has made any difference in your life, if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you, if you have a he ... More
He Ascended Into Heaven: Why It Still Matters Today - Acts 1:9 - Mar 29, 1998 - 634
"After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight." Acts 1:9This is one of the most remarkable statements in Holy Scripture. We call it the ascension of Christ into heaven. All the major creeds mention it and every Christian group believes it. There ... 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
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
Can You Hear the Angels Singing? Christmas and the "Other World" - Luke 2:8-14 - Dec 14, 2003 - 197
"And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. And the angel said to them, ‘Fear not, for behold, I bring you good ne ... 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 God We Hardly Know - Sep 22, 2006
David Mains caught me off guard with his question. “If you had to grade your congregation on their knowledge of the Holy Spirit, what grade would you give them?”Up until that moment, the interview had gone well. David and his daughter Melissa had thrown me fast pitches right over the cen ... More
Sound the Trumpet! Christ's Second Coming to the Earth - Matthew 24:29-35 - Nov 4, 2001 - 692
The most significant event in Bible prophecy is the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. It is an event so important that there are over 300 separate prophecies relating to it in the Word of God, making it one of the most important doctrines in the Bible. It is the key that unlocks the door that leads to ... More
Inside the Wedding Ring - Romans 15:5-7 - Apr 20, 2007 - 738
I was twenty-five years old and fresh out of seminary when I became the pastor of a small church in Downey, California. I stayed there almost five years and then moved to Garland, Texas to pastor another church for five-and-a-half years. Then we moved to Oak Park, IL where I served as pastor for jus ... 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
When Christians Disagree - Acts 16:36-41 - Mar 12, 2007 - 776
Christians disagree about almost everything. And when we disagree, we usually start a new church. Which reminds me of a story I heard a few years ago. A Scottish Presbyterian is rescued after many years of living alone on a desert island. When he is picked up, the captain says to him, “I thoug ... More
Changing Your Mind - Romans 12:2 - Oct 20, 2006 - 727
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect” (Romans 12:2).We would all like to make some changes, wouldn’t we? Suppose you could change anything ... More
"In Jesus' Name, Amen" - John 14:13-14 - Apr 16, 2000 - 7
"And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it” (John 14:13-14).These words of Jesus contain a remarkable promise. They tell us that whatever we ask—anything at all!—if we ask it in ... More
The Incomparable Christ: “Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord” - Philippians 2:9-11 - Feb 15, 2004 - 647
Who is Jesus Christ? Of all the questions that might be posed to modern men and women, none is more important than this. It is no exaggeration to say that this is the central question of history and the most important issue anyone will ever face. Who is Jesus Christ? Where did he come from? Why did ... More
Who is That Baby? - Hebrews 1:1-3 - Dec 13, 2006 - 86
We live in a day when Christmas has become a controversial holiday. If you doubt that statement, just try putting up a manger scene on public property. Or try saying “Merry Christmas” instead of the ubiquitous “Happy Holidays.” Sometimes it seems as if there are more lawsuits ... More
Harambee! - Romans 15:5-7 - Apr 13, 2003 - 506
With this sermon, we are almost to the end of the “Praying with Paul” series. There is one more sermon after this and then we are done. The prayer we are looking at in this sermon is different from any of the others in this series. All the other prayers could be answered individually. &l ... More
REACHING PEOPLE WITH GOD'S LOVE - Various - Mar 11, 1991 - 581
Friday morning I did something I had not done since becoming pastor of this church. I took a few minutes and sat on the steps in front of the sanctuary. It was a typical March day in Chicago–clear and cool with just a touch of wind coming from the north. The sun was high overhead and partia ... More
Dancing With the Devil - Genesis 13 - Apr 14, 1996 - 16
While most of you were eating Easter dinner my youngest son and I set out on a quick trip to Alabama. We journeyed back to my home in order to surprise my mother on her 75th birthday last Monday. It was the first time that my brothers and I had gotten together in seven years. We truly did surpris ... More
Why Are We Here? The First Question of the Catechism - Jeremiah 24:7; John 17:3; Ephesians 1:17; 2 Thessalonians 1:8 - Jan 5, 1997 - 466
As this is the first Sunday of a new year, it is an appropriate moment to begin a new sermon series. Beginning today, and continuing into May, we will be considering the attributes of God in a series called “Our Awesome God.” In particular, this sermon series will focus on the person of ... More
Who Is Jesus Christ? Article D: The Person and Work of Jesus Christ - Various - Mar 15, 1992 - 751
Tonight we are coming to the most critical doctrine in the Articles of Faith. Other doctrines are important as establishing foundational truth (the inerrancy of the Bible, the Trinity) or as explaining what we believe in a particular area (eternal security, the premillennial return of Christ), but ... More
The God We Hardly Know: Why I Believe in the Holy Spirit - Various - Oct 29, 1995 - 793
David Mains caught me off guard with his question. “If you had to grade your congregation on their knowledge of the Holy Spirit, what grade would you give them?” The interview, broadcast nationally on the program You Need to Know, centered around my book Names of the Holy Spirit. I g ... More
This Same Jesus: The Blessed Hope of the Church - Acts 1:10-11 - Apr 5, 1998 - 638
"They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. ‘Men of Galilee,’ they said, ‘why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way ... More
A Friend in High Places: “He Ascended into Heaven and Sits at the Right Hand of God the Father Almighty” - Various - Apr 25, 2004 - 653
This is one of the most remarkable statements in the Apostles’ Creed and it is also one of the most neglected areas of Christian doctrine. Even though we (along with all Christians) believe in the ascension of Christ, we tend not to think about it very much, at least when compared to the death ... 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
Worship Vision Statement - Various - Sep 17, 1992 - 565
Re: Contemporary Worship–The VisionA few days ago the Board of Calvary Memorial Church met to consider the possibility of changing our present worship format by adding a contemporary worship service on Sunday morning. The following paper is a slightly-revised version of the vision statement ... More
Who is Jesus Christ? - Matthew 16:13-16 - Oct 11, 2009 - 1215
Who is Jesus Christ? Before you answer that question, let me set the scene. It’s a few minutes past noon in downtown New York City. You’ve walking with a few friends to a favorite lunch spot when a camera crew stops you for a spontaneous interview. To your surprise, their questions have ... More
The Church Christ Prefers - Revelation 3:7-13 - Jan 21, 2012 - 1302
What sort of church does Jesus prefer? Baptist? Methodist? Lutheran? Catholic? Presbyterian? Brethren? Episcopal? Perhaps we should ask it another way. Does he prefer . . . Rural churches? Megachurches? House churches? City churches?Multisite churches? Church plants? Independent churches? New churc ... 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
How Your Life Can Change Those Around You - 1 Peter 2:11-12 - Nov 28, 2004 - 593
“Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us” (I Peter ... More
Follow the Christmas Star - Matthew 2:7-12 - Dec 23, 2001 - 95
This isn’t exactly the sermon I planned to preach on the Sunday before Christmas, but I don’t suppose that will surprise anyone since Christmas itself comes as a relief at the end of a year that has not been what we thought it would be. If one searches for glimmers of light on the horizo ... More
Lessons from the Manger - Luke 2:12 - Dec 13, 2006 - 83
“Christmas is full of surprises.” Somewhere in my reading this week I ran across that sentence. While I am sure it is true, it doesn’t always seem true. Christmas poses a yearly challenge to those of us who have heard the story since we were children. After you have attended 20 or ... More
No Crib for a Bed: The God of Every Circumstance - Galatians 4:4 - Dec 7, 2003 - 199
“And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn” (Luke 2:7 KJV). While doing some preparation for this message, I ran across a sermon title that stuck in my mind. Someone preached ... More
Serving to the End - Malachi 3:13-18 - Jun 8, 2003 - 1263
A man stopped by a house with a sign out front that said, “Talking Dog For Sale.” The owner directed him to the backyard to see the dog. He was pretty skeptical and called out, “You talk?” “Yep,” the mutt replied. The man then said, “So, what’s your st ... More
