Sermons from 2023 (Page 3)
Nehemiah 6, 7
Operation Intimidation DATE: April 7, 2019 Note: This was Michael Andrus’ last sermon at First Free in St. Louis, preached in 2019. It has been inserted into the 1992 series on Nehemiah. Greetings: Thank you kindly, Adam, for that introduction. I listened to John Richardson’s last message in which he said you were turning on the “way back machine” and inviting me to speak. Well, he’s not far off as it’s been over 15 years since we moved back to Wichita. I expect this will…
Nehemiah 8:1-18
Spiritual Renewal Begins with You! Introduction: For the past two months as we have been walking through the story of Ezra and Nehemiah. In the process, we have witnessed not only the Israelites returning to Judah after over 40 years in exile. But we’ve also seen the temple rebuilt and worship restored. In the last four weeks we’ve seen the walls around Jerusalem rebuilt in 52 days. In Chapter 7, which I didn’t read, Nehemiah seems to bring a fitting end to the story. He…
Nehemiah 9:1-31
The Importance of Learning from Our Past Note: This message was delivered on the final Sunday that First Free met at Westminster Christian Academy before moving to the new facility at Carman and Weidman. Introduction: After graduating from the University of Missouri in 1985, I decided to attend the Summer Institute of Biblical Studies, sponsored by Campus Crusade for Christ. In order to attend I needed to raise my own financial support. The Sunday I was to leave, I had $500 of the $1,500…
Nehemiah 9:32-10:39
Making Commitments at a Time of Transition Note: This is the day that First Evangelical Free Church of St. Louis County first worshipped in our new facility at Carman and Weidman. Introduction: For the sake of our visitors and those returning from vacation, we are moving toward the end of a three-month series on Godly Leadership, based upon the OT books of Ezra and Nehemiah. These books describe the trauma of the nation of Israel during the decades after their nation was destroyed…
Nehemiah 11
Distinguished Service from Undistinguished Servants Introduction: When I submitted my preaching schedule for Ezra and Nehemiah to the Worship and Music Committee last April, it listed Nehemiah 10 for last Sunday (August 9), and Nehemiah 12 for today (August 16). It left chapter 11 out, and that wasn’t accidental. When I first read through Nehemiah in preparation for this series, my initial thought was that if ever a chapter could have been left out of the Bible without anyone noticing, this is it. It…
Nehemiah 12:27-47
A Celebration of Joy Introduction: Two and a half years ago I stood at the Berlin Wall and watched as hundreds of young people, under the confused and helpless gaze of East German guards, chipped away at that hated symbol of Communist repression. To the German people that wall divided them from their families, from their fellow-countrymen, and from the ideals of freedom and opportunity. There was no joyful dedication when that wall was erected in 1961, only when it was torn down…
Nehemiah 13:4-31
Eternal Vigilance Is the Price of Liberty Introduction: A better writer surely would have ended the book of Nehemiah one chapter sooner. You will recall that the completion of the wall of Jerusalem in chapter six was followed by a significant spiritual revival, a return to the Word of God, the confession of sin, public written agreements to live in obedience to God, and a willingness on the part of many to repopulate Jerusalem and serve God faithfully. Then they dedicated the wall…
1 Kings 1-4
Solomon: “Give Your Servant a Discerning Heart” Introduction: We’re going to begin today with a little quiz. I want you to take a pen or pencil and write something on your worship folder. Suppose I was in a position to give you any three wishes your little heart desired, what would they be? That’s right. Anything you want. Write it down. You don’t have to show it to anyone else–this is just between you and the Lord. Have you got it? Now just set it aside; we’ll come back…
1 Kings 5-9, 2 Chronicles 2-7
Solomon: “I Intend to Build a Temple for the Name of the Lord My God.” Introduction: A week ago I was at a worship retreat where, as an ice breaker, everyone was asked, “If you had a choice of all human beings, dead or alive, with whom would you choose to spend an afternoon?” It was fascinating to hear the answers and the reasons for the answers. My immediate response was my grandfather, Edwin Samuel Roth, who died in his 90’s just after our…
1 Kings 12, 2 Chronicles 10
Rehoboam: “He Rejected the Advice the Elders Gave” Introduction: The Scriptures offer two powerful epitaphs for Rehoboam, and they are closely related to one another. I have chosen the first, from 1 Kings 12:8, as my title today, namely, “He rejected the advice the Elders gave.” But the second, from 2 Chronicles 12:14, is just as important: “He did evil because he had not set his heart on seeking the Lord.” The first is outward while the second is inward. The first deals with symptoms while the…
1 Kings 13, 20
The Man of God From Judah: Nothing Trumps a Word from God. Introduction: Every Sunday I announce at the bottom of the outline what the sermon and the text will be for the following Sunday. Last Lord’s Day I noted that today I would be preaching on “The Man of God from Judah” from 1 Kings 13, and the epitaph I listed for this unnamed prophet was this: “He listened to a prophet of the Lord instead of to the Lord.” Well, I’m still…
1 Kings 15:9-24, 2 Chronicles 14-16
Asa: “He Did Not Seek Help from the Lord, But Only from the Physicians.” Introduction: Dr. John Piper is a well-known pastor and writer in Minneapolis. This past week I came across a prayer he used before preparing a sermon: Lord, I have a text and I have an idea and a mind and hands and a computer and health and energy and a free day and safety from interruption. If I rely on these things–these good things that you yourself have given me–then…