Sermons from 2022 (Page 2)
Colossians 3:18-21
Renewing Our Passion for Family SCRIPTURE: Colossians 3:18-21 SPEAKER: Michael P. Andrus Introduction: Our brief but profound text for today is found in Colossians 3:18-21: Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them. Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged. Bible scholar Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones has stated, “The failure to understand and implement…
Colossians 3:22-4:1; Ephesians 6:5-9; I Peter 2:13-23
“Work” Is Not a Four-Letter Word SCRIPTURE: Colossians 3:22-4:1; Ephesians 6:5-9; I Peter 2:13-23 SPEAKER: Michael P. Andrus Introduction: I have often heard it said that there are two God-ordained institutions in the pages of Scripture—the church and the home. Then last week I read an article that stated, “God has established three basic institutions: the home, the church, and government.” I believe both views are wrong. As I read the Bible, there are actually four God-ordained institutions. And what is the fourth? Not Bible Study Fellowship or the Republican Party or…
Colossians 4:2-6
Right Angle Christianity SCRIPTURE: Colossians 4:2-6 SPEAKER: Brad Harper Introduction: In their admonitions concerning how believers should live, many biblical writers are fond of using what might be called a “right angle” image. They emphasize a balance between a vertical relationship (with God), and a horizontal relationship (with the world in which we live). Several general patterns emerge from this image. For example, a relationship with God is the necessary foundation for right relationships with people. Or, the other side of…
Colossians 4:7-18
The Friendship Factor SCRIPTURE: Colossians 4:7-18 SPEAKER: Michael P. Andrus Introduction: We have been involved for the past three months in a study of the NT book of Colossians. I entitled the series, “Christ is the Answer,” because no book in the Bible focuses as much attention on the person and work of Jesus Christ as this book. To review briefly, it tells us that Jesus is the image of the invisible God, the first-born over all creation. By Him all things were created…
Matthew 1:1-17
Son of Man, Son of God (Or, Termites in the Family Tree Introduction: We are launching a new series of sermons this morning from the Book of Matthew, the first book in the NT and one of four that are called “Gospels.” Matthew, Mark, Luke and John all share a common theme–the good news of salvation through the life and death of Jesus of Nazareth. They all have much in common, but they are also very different, for each of these disciples…
Matthew 1:18-25
The Forgotten Father: Joseph’s Journey of Faith Introduction: I want to thank you for the many cards and expressions of kindness and love we have received over the past ten days since my father died. The funeral service was a bitter/sweet experience–so many tears and so much joy. He was a remarkable man and we will miss him dearly. I want to publicly thank three of my colleagues–Tom Kluge, Wink Nolte, and Phil Thengvall–for making the long drive to Arkansas to attend the funeral. And…
Matthew 1, Luke 1-3
His Amazing Mother: Why Evangelicals Can and Should Embrace Mary Note: Mike Andrus authored this sermon, but it was presented by his associate Dick High, due to the death of Mike’s father. While this sermon is included in our Matthew series, it is really a follow-up on last week’s sermon on the mother of Jesus and is based on the first chapter of Luke. Scripture reading: Luke 1:26-45 In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to…
Matthew 1, Luke 1
Holy Mary, Mother of God? Introduction: The cover story for Life magazine a few years ago was entitled The Mystery of Mary. The story begins: “Two thousand years after the Nativity, the mother of Jesus is more beloved, powerful and controversial than ever.” I may be adding to the controversy this morning. Before we get started, I would like to know how many of you grew up Roman Catholic or Eastern Orthodox, or perhaps even now belong to a Catholic or Orthodox Church. I had a dear…
Matthew 2:1-12
Wise Men Still Seek Him, (or “Curse Those Filthy, Wicked Magi”) Note: This sermon was preached at First Free in St. Louis. Introduction: I want to read a news article to you from next Sunday’s St. Louis Post Dispatch. If you wonder how I can get hold of a news event a week in advance, well, I’m a senior pastor, you know; we have special connections. This short article is from page 3 of the international news section and is headlined: “Jesus Christ Returns to Earth.”…
Matthew 2:13-23
When God Doesn’t Make Sense Note: This sermon was preached by Associate Pastor Jeff Schultz at First Free St. Louis. Introduction: How are things going for you? Is life working out the way you planned? Maybe things are going well, but you still fear that if you don’t keep it together, things will fall apart? We follow a God who doesn’t always (or often!) do things the way we would – what makes sense to us is often not the way God…
Matthew 3:1-12
Messiah’s Strange Advance Team Introduction: A few years ago on Dateline NBC there was an hour-long expose of faith healer and televangelist Benny Hinn. I personally don’t trust network investigators much further than I can throw them, but even after adjusting for the media’s obvious bias against Christians in general and televangelists in particular, I am still amazed at the gullibility of vast crowds of people who come to watch a flamboyant entertainer like Benny Hinn, accept his claim that he is…
Matthew 3:13-4:2
From Coronation to Crucible Introduction: We come today to two of the most important events in Jesus’ life–His baptism and His temptation by Satan in the wilderness. I think it is not accidental that these two events occurred back-to-back. The author is trying to communicate an important truth to us, namely that times of significant victory are often followed by great times of trial and temptation. There are several causes of this common occurrence. First, we ourselves help bring it about. When things are…