Sermons on Trials
Job 1:6-2:10
SERIES: The Book of Job God in the Dock SPEAKER: Michael P. Andrus Introduction: The Court of Heaven has just been called to order. The Judge sits on His throne and listens as His various messengers and assistants report on their recent activities. Suddenly an intruder makes an entrance. A hush falls upon the entire proceedings. The others recognize this intruder because there was a time when he was a welcome Advocate at the Court. But he has long since abandoned the Judge and has established his…
1 Peter 1:1-12
Don’t Just Hang in There; Stand Firm! Introduction: Persecution of the church in our country does not usually consist ot direct attacks on our places of worship or our teachings but rather indirect attacks on the moral and social issues that are inherent to our faith. Ten days ago the city of Philadelphia joined four states (Mass., Illinois, Calif, and I believe Connecticut) in denying Catholic Social Services (and any other adoption agency, like the evangelical Bethany Christian Services) from placing children…
1 Cor. 10:13
The Trial of Your Faith SCRIPTURE: 1 Cor. 10:13 Introduction: For our special Fifth Sunday Worship experience I want to speak to you briefly on the subject of temptations and trials. They have so much in common that the Greek language uses the exact same word to describe both. One has to determine which is being referred to from the context. Last Lord’s Day we examined one of the great verses of Scripture on temptation in 1 Cor. 10:13: “No temptation has seized…
Daniel 3
Flame Broiled Faith Note: This manuscript has been edited, and information has been added, by Mike Andrus. Introduction: I do not frequent Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse, but I’ve heard a lot about it. It seems that the secret of their steaks, what really makes them a cut above the rest, is their process of quick flame broiling them over an open fire at 1800 degrees. This searing heat seals in the great flavor of truly fine beef. That is, as long as their chef, also…
Matthew 11:1-19, 14:1-12 
When God Sits on His Hands Introduction: Have there been times when your world seemed to be crashing down on you, and God was silent? Perhaps a loved one dies, or you lose your job, or one of your children is stretching you to the breaking point, or your health is threatened, or your spouse tells you he or she doesn’t love you anymore. And some of you have had all those things happen to you in a relatively short period of…
1 Thessalonians 2:17-3:13
How the Church Suffers for the Gospel The Apostle Paul and his two missionary companions, Silas and Timothy, came to Thessalonica and planted a church during Paul’s second missionary journey, but within weeks their success in winning converts stirred up tremendous opposition. In fact, a riot was generated, and they had to flee the city during the night. Paul’s detractors apparently used that fact against him, claiming he had used and abused his new converts and then abandoned them to handle persecution…
James 1:1-12
When Troubles Pile Up Note: Most of this series was preached in Wichita; this sermon, however, was delivered in St. Louis. Introduction: For the next several months, Lord willing, we will be mining one of the mother lodes of practical Christianity, the Epistle of James. Some in the early church questioned whether this book was up to par with the rest of Scripture, and Martin Luther was quite sure it wasn’t, but the dominant view of the church has always been that while…