Sermons found for the topic Angels

Postcards From the Edge: Why I Believe in Angels and Demons - Various

Angels are in. In the words of the Wall Street Journal, “after a hiatus of almost 300 years and much skepticism, angels are making a comeback.” A recent survey confirmed this fact: 58% of Americans in households making over $50,000 believe in angels, as do 55% of college graduates, 54% of working mothers and 51% of parents of children under the age of eight. These are the affluent consumers who have snapped up angel More

What Angels Wish They Knew - 1 Peter 1:10-12

“Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been More

Something Big Is Happening Here - Ephesians 3:10

When we face hard times and when life makes no sense whatsoever, we need to stop and say to ourselves, “Something big is happening here.” God never wastes anything. Not even the tiniest tear falls without a purpose. More

Midnight Miracle - Luke 22:49-51

When Jesus is betrayed and arrested, Peter impulsively strikes with his sword to try to protect Him. Jesus rebukes Peter, heals Malchus’ ear and quietly submits, knowing that in the end, God’s will must be done. What should Peter have done? How does a follower of Christ react when all is lost? More

Three Questions for Christmas - Revelation 1:5

Today as yesterday and tomorrow as today, Jesus is the answer to the deepest questions of life. More

Can We Still Believe in Life After Death? - Luke 20:27-40

One day the Sadducees tried to trick Jesus with a very weird question. Jesus’ surprising answer teaches us a great deal about life after death. Our hope of the resurrection rests on the faithfulness of God. Our hope for the future rests not in science, not in speculation, not in some proof text, but in the character of God himself! More

Journey to Bethlehem

That’s the way it was that first Christmas night 2000 years ago. Baby sleeping, mother dreaming, father thinking, and God watching over it all. More

Why God Allows Good Men to Fall - Luke 22:31-33

Peter still speaks to us today. “If you think you’ve fallen short, if you feel like you’ve denied him, look at what happened to me."� Do not despair. God still loves you, and He loves you so much that it doesn’t matter what you’ve done. If God can forgive Peter, he can forgive anybody. More

The Mystery of the Little Scroll - Revelation 10

An expanded outline of Revelation 10 with explanatory comments and application. More

Can You Hear the Angels Singing? Christmas and the "Other World" - Luke 2:8-14

"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 news of a great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. A More

Shall We Kill Our Children Today? - Hebrews 11:23

The amazing faith of Moses’ parents shows us the high value that God puts on children, including those children that are born in less than ideal circumstances. Christians love children because God loves children. Ours is true pro-family religion. More

War in Heavenly Places - Daniel 10

This is one of those times when the sermon title is important. The title “War in Heavenly Places” not only describes this sermon, it also tells us what Daniel 10 is all about. This chapter, which is often overlooked, reveals to us a cosmic struggle between the forces of good and evil. It tells of angels and demons locked in a kind of mortal combat somewhere between heaven and earth. This is like Star Wars only this isn&rs More

Faded Glory: Why Christ Had to Come - Psalm 8 & Hebrews 2:5-9

On Christmas Eve, 1998, George Will wrote a column called “The Happiest Holiday.” It began this way:A sardonic British skeptic of the late 19th century suggested that three words should be carved in stone over all church doors: “Important if true.” On Christmas Eve, at the end of the rarely stately and always arduous march that Americans make each year to the happiest holiday, it sometimes seems that they are More

The Triumphant Christ - 1 Peter 3:18-22

This is the hardest passage in the New Testament. That’s what my Greek professor said when we were studying I Peter in seminary. I recall him saying that there are so many possible views about these verses that it is impossible to be certain what they mean. The problem partly relates to the Greek text itself (What exactly is Peter saying?) and partly to the interpretation of the text (What does Peter mean?). When Martin Luther More

Suffer the Little Children - Matthew 18:1-6; 19:13-15

Jesus is on the side of those who love little children. More

The Days of Noah: Why God Sent the Flood - Genesis 6:1-8

This is the first of several sermons on Noah and the flood. As we begin our study of this important event, I’d like to focus our attention on a very crucial point: If this story is true, that is, if it really happened, if there once was a great flood that covered the entire earth, then what the Bible is describing in Genesis 6-9 is the single greatest natural disaster in the history of the world. It is so great, so vast, so eno More

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions About The Christian Life - Chapter 12

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Sound the Trumpet! Christ's Second Coming to the Earth - Matthew 24:29-35

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 the future. No Christian can be said to have a well-rounded faith who does not understand the basic truth about the Second Coming of Chri More

No Separation - Romans 8:38-39

All summer long we’ve been climbing. We’ve been talking about what it would finally be like when we reached the top of the mountain. Now at last we’re there, at the peak, the summit of the mighty mountain of God’s grace. Romans is arguably the greatest book in the New Testament. Romans 8 is unquestionably the greatest chapter in the book. Romans 8:38-39 is the greatest passage in the greatest chapter of w More

When God Comes to Dinner - Genesis 18:1-15

Last Tuesday night I sat on the platform at the UIC Pavilion for the Say Yes Chicago campaign with Luis Palau. During the evening Luis told the story of an evangelist named Mordecai Ham who came to Charlotte, North Carolina in 1934 for a citywide tent campaign. One night only six people came forward at the invitation and Mr. Ham went home thinking the service had been a failure. But one of those six was a young man named Billy Gra More

Letter From a Friend - Romans 15

To understand forgiveness, consider Jesus on the cross. In his dying moments He uttered words that still ring across the centuries: “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” Even as he said those words, the crowd laughed, mocked, cheered, jeered. They taunted him. When he died, the people who put him to death were quite pleased with themselves. No one seemed very sorry. No one said, “I was wrong. This is a mistake.” And yet h More

All One Body We: “The Communion of Saints” - Hebrews 12:1

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us” (Hebrews 12:1). In 1979 John Bass interviewed Ronald Reagan as he was preparing to run for president against Jimmy Carter. This is part of that interview.John Bass: Governor Reagan, do you feel there is a nee More

From Sodom to Oak Park - Genesis 19

Genesis 19 tells one of the most dramatic stories in all the Bible. Even people who never go to church know that God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah with a flood of burning sulphur. They have heard about Lot’s encounter with the angelic visitors, the desperate last-second escape, and the strange, sad tale of Lot’s wife turning into a pillar of salt. As if that weren’t enough, tucked away at the end of the chapter is More

Jacob's Ladder - Genesis 28

A long journey, a hard pillow, a guilty conscience, a heavy heart. These are the things that make men dream. It had been two days since he had left home— Esau seething in the background Rebekah weeping Isaac waving goodbye.Two days on a journey of 500 miles. Jacob is on his way from Beersheba to a place called Haran in a land called Paddam Aram. To get there you traveled north, then east across the Jordan River, then nor More

Worthy is the Lamb - Revelation 5

The glory of heaven is the Lamb—Jesus Christ, whose victory is celebrated without end. Jesus is the focal point of heaven and the center of all attention. Without Jesus there would be no heaven at all. And without him none of us would ever have a chance to go there. More

The Hardest Prayer You Will Ever Pray - Matthew 6:10

Some prayers are harder to pray than others. I learned that thirty-three years ago when my father died. One October day he felt a pain in his shoulder. The doctors later said it was transferred pain from a bacterial infection elsewhere in his body. It did not seem serious at first, but he got no better and a few days later traveled by ambulance to Birmingham where a battery of doctors went to work on him. Marlene and I drove in from More

What is Heaven Like? - Philippians 3:20-21

"Heaven is a place, just as much a place as is New York or Chicago.” Charles Ferguson Ball I begin this sermon with two statements that I believe to be almost universally true: Everyone wants to know about heaven and everyone wants to go there. Recent polls suggest that nearly 80% of all Americans believe there is a place called heaven. I find that statistic encouraging because it tells me that even in this skeptical age there More

Sheep on the Right, Goats on the Left: The Final Separation of the Saved and the Lost - Matthew 25:31-46

My text describes an awesome event, the Judgment of the Nations, which takes place when Jesus returns to the earth to set up his kingdom. There are three reasons why this judgment must take place:1) Evil must be exposed and finally punished.2) Righteousness must be revealed and finally rewarded.3) Jesus must be vindicated in the place where he was rejected.The first two principles hardly need any explanation. Today evil is often hidd More

Image is Everything: Highly Valued, Deeply Fallen, Greatly Loved - Genesis 1:26-28

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 where the latest killings took place. There is so much violence, so much bloodshed, and so much hatred in our world. In the Middle East the More

When Life Tumbles In, What Then? - Job 1

We do not gain if we turn away from God in the time of trouble. If we turn away from God, we lose our only ground of hope. More

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions About The Christian Life - Chapter 9

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Nothing More, Nothing Less, Nothing Else - Matthew 6:10

Praying “Your will be done” is an act of God-ordained rebellion. This is not a prayer for the weak or the timid. This is a prayer for troublemakers and rabblerousers. More

Follow the Christmas Star - Matthew 2:7-12

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 horizon, I would point out that the Bears are in the playoffs for the first time in many years. That’s good news. And the Cubs signed Moi More

Confessions of a Xenophiliac - I Peter 4:9-10

They say that true confession is good for the soul, and in that spirit, I want to begin my sermon with a simple confession. Although I am preaching a series of sermons on spiritual gifts, I am not entirely sure that what I am preaching about this morning actually is a spiritual gift. I think it is, I believe it is, but I’m not totally sure that it is. I know that it’s biblical, but I’m not sure it’s a spiri More

Does Jesus Know My Name?

A few months ago we opened the More

A Friend in High Places: “He Ascended into Heaven and Sits at the Right Hand of God the Father Almighty” - Various

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 and resurrection of our Lord. Although we would never say it this way, perhaps it doesn’t seem quite as important to us. We know t More

The Easter Conspiracy - Matthew 28:11-15

"The resurrection of Christ is either the greatest miracle or the greatest delusion which history records." Philip SchaffIt’s been a good week for Jesus if you count cover stories as good news. For the first time in my memory Jesus is on the cover of the three major newsmagazines in the same week. Newsweek features an ascending Christ (as painted by Raphael) with the phrase “Rethinking the Resurrection” superimposed More

Ready to Give an Answer - I Peter 3:15

"But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord; always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you the reason for the hope that you have” (I Peter 3:15). Peter says to be ready to give an answer. Are you ready to give an answer for what you believe? Are you ready to answer the really hard questions?This morning we are beginning a new sermon series called Why I Believe, subtitled Equipping You to Share your Faith. Fo More

Why Are You Weeping? - John 20:11-18

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 happened to the body of the one she loved. When Jesus suddenly appears, she doesn’t recognize him. Then she grips his feet so tightly More

The Impossible Dream: The Angels' Song - Luke 2:14

It was 3 A.M. and as the fleet moved through the darkness of the Pacific Ocean men on every ship began to stir. This was the hour, this was the moment of truth. The waiting was over. The battle was about to begin. From headquarters came the signal-"Climb Mount Nataka.” That meant the attack was on. For one man it was the greatest moment he had ever known. The long years of training had paid off, the countless hours of dr More

Who is Jesus Christ? - Matthew 16:13-16

Who is Jesus Christ? A good man? A great teacher? A revolutionary leader? Or is he the Christ, the Son of the Living God? Your eternal destiny hangs on your answer. More

Playing with Fire: Can We Still Believe in Hell? - Luke 16:19-31

What must I do to go to hell? Here is the shocking answer: Nothing, nothing at all. If you do nothing about your soul, hell is where you will go. More

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions About The Christian Life - Chapter 5

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This Same Jesus: The Blessed Hope of the Church - Acts 1:10-11

"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 you have seen him go into heaven." Acts 1:10-11“We believe in the personal, bodily, imminent and premillennial return of our Lord J More

Lessons from the Manger - Luke 2:12

“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 30 or 40 Christmas pageants, and after you have listened to at least that many Christmas sermons, and heard (and sung) every Christmas ca More

When Christians Disagree - Acts 15:36-41

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 thought you were stranded alone.” “I was,” replied the castaway. “Why are there three huts on the beach?” & More

How Can I Discover God's Will For My Life?

Have you ever wished you could have lunch with Jesus? Wouldn’t it be wonderful if you got a phone call from heaven saying that the Lord Jesus Christ would like to meet you for lunch next Thursday? Suppose that happened. What would you talk to Jesus about? I imagine that your first impulse would be to fall on your face at his feet and worship him. But suppose the Lord of heaven said, “Rise, my child. Let’s share a me More

When Did Christmas Begin? - John 1:14

Have you ever wondered when Christmas began? I’m not referring to the celebration of Jesus’ birth on December 25 because we don’t know exactly when he was born. It might be December 25 but it might be June 14 for all we know. The Bible doesn’t say and it doesn’t give us many clues. December 25 is a good day and it might even be the right day but no one can say for sure. I’m asking a slightly differ More

Holy, Holy, Holy - Isaiah 6

Before we can understand what it means to be holy, we must understand what it means to say that God is holy. In many ways holiness is God’s central attribute. One writer actually defines it this way. “Holiness is that which makes God God.” Dr. Renald Showers calls it “the foundational truth of revelation.” More

Here, There and Everywhere: The Doctrine of God's Omnipresence - Psalm 139:7-12

The scene: A young boy and his mother are having a serious discussion over lunch one day. “Where is God?” he asks innocently. “He’s in heaven,” his mother replies. “Does He live there?” “Yes.” “Where’s Jesus?” “He’s in your heart.” “But I thought Jesus and God were the same Person.” “They are.” “How can he be in hea More