... to visit his partner who had been taken strangely ill and was near death. Suddenly the dying man began to speak. "John," he said, "before I go I have got to confess some things and get your forgiveness. I want you to know that I robbed the firm of $100 ... Network, Inc, 2001, www.esermons.com 4. From a sermon by Walter Brueggemann quoted by Jim Gorman, via Ecunet, "Sermonshop 02 18 01," #27, 2/14/01 5. Quoted by Philip Yancey, "An Unnatural Act," Christianity Today, 4/8/91, p. 36 6. Lewis Smedes, "Forgiveness ...
... Americans overwhelmingly supported George W. Bush, but polls now indicate that this year they are likely to vote in large numbers for John Kerry and Ralph Nader. This may constitute one of the most dramatic changes of heart on the part of any major voting ... cashing his tax rebate check while knowing how many millions of American children have no health insurance. The tone shifts with verse 18. In the wonderful language of the old King James Version in which so many of us were nourished, "Come now, and let ...
... an academic setting, but ended up taking on the whole church to correct massive abuses. Our own John Calvin began his career looking to become a lawyer, but instead became the greatest theologian of ... shoemaker who became the father of modern missionary enterprise when he took the gospel to India. There was John R. Mott, a businessman at the turn of this century who was convinced that Christian churches would present ... John 1:46 3. Acts 9:1 4. Laura King, "Oh, Little Town Lies Still Indeed," New York Times, 12 ...
... the same way you would treat Jesus. That's how we are commanded to show our love. 1. From St. George Orthodox Church, Flint, MI: Cited in Joyful Noisletter, Nov 2001, p. 1, "Thanksgiving Thoughts." Contributed by Dr. John Bardsley. 2. "God is Love, But He Hates . . ." By Dr. Robert R. Kopp Feb. 18, 1996, p. 1. 3. "The Empowered Life" by David Wilson, Preaching, Nov./Dec, 1998, p. 34. 4. Bruce Larson, Living out the Book of Acts (Dallas: Word Publishing, 1984), p. 80. 5. "Loving the Unlovely" by Michael E ...
... of Teaster. It was not a gift; rather, it was a challenge. Two weeks earlier, Albert Teaster had preached on Mark 16: 15-18. This is the passage that says that believers are able to take up poisonous snakes and not be hurt. This man, in the hopes ... opinion soon judged him a fool. His simple faith, and the dangerous challenge it withstood, made him a laughingstock among many people. John Parris, the reporter who first shared Teaster's story with the world, went on to prestigious jobs with the United Press ...
... in this sermon “Trinomius,” which means “the man with three names.” In Mark he is called Thaddeus (3:18), in Matthew he is called Thaddeus or Lebbaeus (10:3), and in Luke he is called Judas, the son of ... with him. He who does not love me does not keep my words; and the word which you hear is not mine, but the Father’s who sent me.” (John 14:22-24) In order to resolve my confusion about this fellow’s name, I looked him up in my trusty Interpreter’s Dictionary of the Bible. It said: “Thaddeus ...
... an excellent job. I give him an “A” for courage. Bill began his sermon on our text with some lines from a once-popular song by John Denver: So live and let live, Let this be our motto, And let the sleeping dogs lie. Here’s to the dogs of Toledo, Ohio; Ladies ... audibly, only the most immature would find him funny.” (From a sermon preached by William A. Ritter of Nardin Park UMC Oct. 18, 1987) And yet...and yet...there is the record in the Gospels that Jesus once referred to a foreign woman as a “dog ...
... Jesus Christ was more thoughtful than that. We come to the sixth "I Am" statement of Christ found in the gospel of Saint John. We have examined the claims of Jesus to be our Bread--our Source of Living Water--our Light--our Door--our Shepherd--and ... big and bold claim--but it is a true claim. It is also found in Acts 4:12, Philippians 2:9-11 and Revelation 1:18. Throughout history many men and women have sought to make their names unforgettable, but now their names are only a faint scribble on the pages ...
... to make peace between himself and us, and he has given us the work of making peace between himself and others. -- 2 Corinthians 5:17-18 (NCV) Lest the Corinth church not get it, he says it again, in a different way: What we mean is that God was in Christ ... , but I always wondered why." His response startled me! What else would he do simply because I did it? We all have a person like John in our lives. Somebody, a friend, a family member, a person we don't even know is influenced by our example. If we live as ...
... sons of God...the whole creation has been groaning in travail...and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the...spirit, groan inwardly as we wait for...redemption...if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience." (Romans 8: 18-25 RSV). "St. John, exiled on the Isle of Patmos, dreamed of the fulfillment of God's creative purpose when he wrote, 'I saw a new heaven and a new earth.'" (Rev. 21:1 RSV). He said that the sea, the Old Testament symbol of chaos, and the physical reality ...
... may grow into salvation " (I Peter 2:2) "But grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." (I Peter 3:18) We could go on and on with that and I hope you will. Do it as a spiritual exercise sometime during this coming week looking ... was a tavern where the main character stood at a bar, drinking. His wife came to the door of the barroom and called to him, "John, come on home." The man turned slowly and looked at her, then said deliberately, "I am home." That's the way it is in life. ...
... of the conversion of Saul in the Gospel according to Luke (9:1-20; 22:6-16; 26:12-18). They differ in a few minor details, but essentially they are the same. In addition, Paul writes of his ... plans and goals become secondary. And what we really desire is to further God's purpose of love and to serve his will in the world. As John the Baptist said, we decrease and Christ increases (John 3:30), and the Lord takes over our lives. And we find, as a converted Paul found, that it is not we who live, but Christ who ...
... command as a promise only Christ can fulfill. This is where we are headed. If we are going on with Christ, then we are, as John Wesley taught, going on to perfection in love in this life, and in the life beyond this life. As his brother Charles taught us to ... when it turns out that God hates all the same people you do."8 So it was in the day of Jesus. In Leviticus 19:18 it says, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” and since the word love was clearer than the word neighbor, the second word was ...
... Gettysburg. But I tell you, in my life and yours, there is an even greater commission. It is found here in Matthew 28:18-20 where Jesus Christ turns to his disciples and says, "Go! Go therefore and make disciples of all nations...." Think of it! Almighty ... nations" makes every person fair game for evangelism, discipleship, and the church covenant. Let me encourage you to take what I call a "John 3:16 walk" this week. Take an hour and go for a stroll being careful to notice every person you see. The newsboy ...
... have not yet seen. The troubles will soon be over, but the joys to come will last forever." (2 Corinthians 4:17-18). Instead of nervously or pigheadedly denying the inevitability of death, a Christian looks towards death as a fulfillment of all human possibility, ... you, am I, like the child in the womb? Are we prepared to claim God promises? Will you trust God? (With thanks to John A. Huffman, Jr. for jogging my memory in his "God's Answer to Death," 4 November 2001, St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Newport ...
... boy humbly responds, "Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my house that thou hast brought me thus far?" (2 Samuel 7:18; 1 Chronicles 17:16). Inspired by this passage, in 1770 Newton wrote these words: Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch ... again, as though I had forgotten all." Newton added, "I got a hymn out of this lion." (The story is told in in John Rousmaniere, After the Storm: True Stories of Disaster and Recovery at Sea (New York: International Marine, 2004), 259). Newton got a hymn or ...
... about the kingdom of God. He left them with this final instruction: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit . . .” Then he gives them a promise and a purpose: “You will receive power when ... com/hom05/dec11.html. 2. Adapted from http://www.lectionarysermons.com/7598Kdom.html. 3. Adapted from http://revbill.wordpress.com/2005/06/18/matthew‑1024‑39/.
... t say. They determined that fully 82% of what Jesus reportedly said in the gospels he didn't say, and much of the remaining 18% is in doubt. To gives specific examples: They said of all of the words in the Lord's Prayer Jesus probably only said, " ... kill you, or it can cut you and heal you. The choice is up to you. 1 Out of My Treasure, Willie W. White, p. 23. 2 John Blanchard, Will the Real Jesus Stand Up, p. 24. 3 The Guinness Book of World Records, 1995 addition. 4 Joel Gregory, Homesick for God, p. 98. 5 ...
... day just as there are all kinds of opinions about Jesus in our day. There are some who say Jesus was a great preacher like John the Baptist. There are others who would say that Jesus is a great person like Elijah, upon whom the mantle of God rested. Then there ... 's confession, Jesus said, "And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church." (v.18) For fifteen hundred years there have been those who have said that the church is built on Peter, that Peter was the first Pope, ...
... this book really is. Don't just take my word for it. Let me just quote from a few Presidents of the United States. John Quincy Adams said, "The first, and almost the only book deserving of universal attention is the Bible. I speak as a man of ... whom I am well pleased.' And we heard this voice which came from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain." (vv.16-18) Now only three people saw this vision, and heard this voice, and he was one of those three. They were on that Mountain of Transfiguration, ...
... , "For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth." (Jn. 18:37) We must, in our generation, pass on to the next generation the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, about the truth. In ... of truth has not only given us the reality of truth, but He has graced us with the ability to know truth. Jesus said in John 16:13, "When He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth." Now why is all of this so important? For ...
... be from the world, and the more different you will be from the world, the more you will be persecuted. Just listen to these promises: Matt. 10:22 – "And you will be hated by all for My name's sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved." John 15:18-20 – "If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you ...
... featured some of the biggest preachers of the day: - Joel Osteen, pastor of the largest church in America - Joyce Meyer, one of the most popular TV evangelists - Kirby John Caldwell, pastor of the largest United Methodist church in America …all espousing something of the "gospel of prosperity." And I would say there is an element of truth ... Harnish's sermon, "Till All Heaven Breaks Loose," Nov. 22, 1987 2. Time Magazine, Sept. 18, 2006, page 55 3. Bruce Modahl, Christian Century, Oct. 27, 1999, page 1025
... need "Barnabases" in our lives, don't we? We all need a Son of encouragement once in awhile. Lloyd John Ogilvie says: "The world is filled with discouraged people who desperately need the friendship of one who encourages." [1] ... , hoard it all." And Jesus said, "Thou fool…tonight your soul will be required of thee, then whose will all these things be?" (Luke 12:18) When you realize you could lose the whole harvest overnight, you've learned how precious all these things really are. Then you discover that it ...
... For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it" (Matthew 18:24-25). In essence Jesus is saying that the recipe for eternal life is not about me only, but rather our ability to give ... to treat others with dignity we cannot deal in untruth. As Jesus himself said, "You will know the truth, and the truth will make you free" (John 8:32). Paul then speaks of the need to rid ourselves of anger, bitterness, and wrath. We must not allow the sun to set on our ...