Sermons from 2023 (Page 10)
1 Peter 5:1-14
Living Together as God’s Flock Now to the final chapter of 1 Peter. The relational rules of the world are characterized by competition, division and individualism. The Church of Jesus Christ is called to live by a different set of relational rules, not only with the world but with each other. That’s why I have entitled this chapter as “Living Together as God’s Flock.” We’re going to see a variety of topics here, but most fit somewhere under this title. We start with instructions…
1 John 1:1-10
CLICK THE LISTEN BUTTON TO HEAR THE ENTIRE SERMON Walking in the Light Introduction: When I first took Greek in college in preparation for ministry, I remember how good it felt to be able to read the book of I John just six weeks into the course. I was so proud I was sure I was destined to be a great Greek scholar. It didn’t take me long, however, to realize that my ability to read 1 John had a lot more to…
1 John 2:1-6
Called to Holiness Introduction: I collect lawyer jokes. Would you like to hear a couple of my new additions? It seems that a lawyer and the Pope both died about the same time and were met by St. Peter, who said he would take them to their respective dwelling places. They came to a little hovel with nothing but a table, a chair and a lamp, and St. Peter said to the Pope, “This is where you will live for all eternity.” The lawyer…
1 John 2:3-11
Something Old, Something New Introduction: I have an immense amount of respect for this Apostle who was willing to call it like he saw it—not mincing words, not worrying about whether others agree with him, refusing to compromise his black and white stand on the Gospel. Perhaps he could speak boldly as he does because he was in his 90’s. There’s something about growing old that helps you realize you have nothing to lose. We have been looking at the three tests…
1 John 2:7-14
Something Old, Something New Introduction: A strange thing is happening. I’m becoming fascinated with I John. As I mentioned a few weeks ago I entered upon this study with some fear and trepidation, and I haven’t lost that. But at the same time I am in the process of gaining an immense amount of respect for this Apostle who was willing to call it like he saw it—not mincing words, not worrying about whether others are going to agree with him, refusing to compromise…
1 John 2:15-17
The Love God Hates Introduction: Some time ago I saw a bumper sticker which read, “The one who dies with the most toys wins.” I doubt seriously that you would find that on any of the cars in our parking lot this morning. However, if we were totally honest some of us would have to admit that we live as though it were true. Our lives are characterized by acquisition fever and by accumulationitis. Every new electronic gadget triggers our desires, and if we can’t…
1 John 2:18-29
Truth or Consequences Introduction: When I was attending Southern Methodist University one of my philosophy professors, Dr. Robert Jung, an existentialist agnostic, spoke with great conviction one day in class and said, “There are no absolutes.” I knew him pretty well and felt sufficiently secure to raise my hand and ask, “Dr. Jung, are you absolutely sure?” He responded with a rambling treatise on epistemology and a lot of doubletalk which merely clouded the issue. It was evident that the only absolute he was…
1 John 3:1-10
Like Father, Like Son Introduction: I recently read that insanity is hereditary: parents get it from their children. Well, there’s perhaps a measure of truth to that—I’ve been on the brink a few times myself lately—but it’s also true that our children inherit a lot from us. Sometimes that’s very positive. I think of the Steimel family, for example. You can tell a Steimel child a mile away—thoughtful, intelligent, respectful, gentle, and able to sit through church without a peep. Why? Because Norm and Libby are thoughtful, intelligent,…
1 John 3:11-24
The Mark of the Christian Introduction: Someone has likened the First Epistle of John to a spiral staircase in that the Apostle keeps returning to the same three topics—love, obedience, and truth—only each time he picks up one of those themes he takes it to a higher level. In our last message the moral test of the believer’s faith (are we obedient?) was predominant, but it ended with a transition to the social test in verse 10: “Anyone who does not do what…
1 John 4:1-6
Spiritual Warfare in the Church Introduction: I’d like to set the stage this morning with a story from 2 Kings 6. The prophet Elisha is in Dothan, where he has been regularly receiving information from God about the military movements of the Aramean or Syrian army and passing the information on to the King of Israel. The King of the Arameans suspects a spy among his trusted confidants, but eventually he is informed that Elisha is the culprit; in fact, one of his…
1 John 4:7-21
The Love Connection: God’s Love and Ours Introduction: A strange story hit our newspapers about two weeks ago involving two ten-year-old girls and their parents. One of the girls, Arlena Twigg, had a congenital heart defect, and when the doctors ordered some genetic testing to aid in her treatment, it produced a surprising result: her parents weren’t her parents. Regina and Ernest Twigg didn’t tell her the news because of her critical condition, and shortly thereafter, in August, 1988, she died. The Twiggs hired private…
1 John 5:1-12
Three Tests, Three Testimonies Introduction: Those of you who are avid basketball fans know what a triple double is. It occurs when a player gets ten or more points, ten or more rebounds, and ten or more assists in the same game. Some great basketball players never get even one triple double in their entire careers, but Larry Bird just got his 57th last Tuesday. The Apostle John doesn’t score a triple double in our text today, but he does employ a double…