Sermons on Compromise
Gal. 4:12-20
SERIES: Great Church Fights When Pastor and Parishioner Clash SPEAKER: Michael P. Andrus Introduction: I’m not sure there’s any more conflict in the average church than in the average business or political party or social organization, but it certainly gets more publicity. When a pastor is fired, or a church splits wide open, or a church member sues the Elder Board, it usually gets front page coverage. We all know how the news media thrived on the conflict between Jim Bakker and Jerry Falwell, the…
Judges 8
The Book of Judges: Hearts of Iron, Feet of Clay The Tragedy of Not Finishing Strong SPEAKER: Michael P. Andrus Introduction: One of the most important goals of my life is to finish strong. I am in my mid-fifties, which means I may have ten years remaining as a senior pastor, then hopefully a few more years as an interim pastor or in some other ministry capacity. Ten years is not long in the total scheme of things, but it’s long enough to…
Philippians 3:15-4:1
SERIES: Philippians: Cheerful Sounds from a Jail Cell Sound Advice for Resident Aliens SPEAKER: Michael P. Andrus Introduction: I have never lived in a foreign country, but I have had the privilege of traveling extensively throughout North America, and also to Central America, South America, Europe, and the Middle East. Visiting a foreign country for a few weeks is certainly not the same as living there for an extended period of time, but even my relatively brief visits have taught me some…
1 Cor. 4:6-7
SERIES: Christ is the Answer When the Church Is in Crisis Principles for Purging Pride SPEAKER: Michael P. Andrus Introduction: If you have been worshiping with us for the past several months as we have been studying the book of 1 Corinthians, you have undoubtedly become aware that one theme common to almost every paragraph so far is that of conflict and division in the local church in Corinth, particularly over their spiritual leaders. Some members were bragging that they were converted under Pastor…
Revelation 2:18-29
To Thyatira: The Church of Compromise Just ten days ago on June 6, 2001, there was a feature story in U.S.A. Today entitled, “Protestants face annual sexual divide.” The subtitle was “Same-sex unions, gay clergy, female leaders divide faithful.” Listen to the opening paragraphs: Forget how many angels can dance on the head of a pin. How many views on gender, sexuality and church authority can fit under one church steeple? Should gay clergy be ordained? Are same-sex unions blessed before God the same as the marriage…