Sermons from 2024 (Page 5)
2 Samuel 12:1-14, Psalm 51
SERIES: A Person After God’s Heart He Said He Was Wrong SPEAKER: Michael P. Andrus Introduction: John R. W. Stott, one of the great evangelical thinkers of our day, has stated, “Christianity is the only religion in the world which takes sin seriously and offers a satisfactory remedy for it.”[i] I believe that is absolutely true. Examine the great religions of the world–Hinduism, Confucianism, Taoism, Islam, Mormonism, spiritism–and none even comes close to the moral standards set down in the Bible or offers a…
Psalm 90
SERIES: Psalms, Cries of the Heart The Cry of Futility SPEAKER: Michael P. Andrus Introduction: I heard on the radio last week that of the top ten most frequently prescribed drugs in the United States, three are anti-depressants. They are prescribed for a wide variety of ailments, but the most common is depression. Obviously, there are millions and millions of Americans who are confronted regularly with a sense of the futility of life. Even those who are not subject to depression are often…
Psalm 99
SERIES: Psalms: The Cry of the Heart The Cry of Worship SPEAKER: Paul T. Stolwyk The Psalms contain the cries of God’s people to their God. As we have seen over the last few weeks, God’s people cry out to God for all sorts of reasons. Injustice prompts us to cry out to God in confusion. Pain causes us to cry out in faith. Sin causes us to cry out in confession. At different times in its history, Israel had leaders who firmly understood…
Psalm 127
SERIES: Psalms, Cries of the Heart Straight Arrows SPEAKER: Michael P. Andrus Note: This was a fifth Sunday, and the service was devoted to musical worship, baptism, child dedication, communion, and a brief message. Introduction: We’re delighted to have our families worshiping together this morning. The Children’s Ministry is taking a one-week break between Passport to Adventure and the Fall Sunday School program, and therefore the children are here with us in the service this morning. We welcome you and we hope you enjoy…
1 Samuel 1-3
SERIES: Leadership in Hard Times The Difference a Godly Home Makes SPEAKER: Michael P. Andrus Introduction: It’s good to be back with you this morning after fulfilling a life-long dream of visiting Egypt. Several previous attempts to go there had been scuttled by Mideast politics, but this one went off without a hitch. We (Saba Khalil, Brad Baraks, Mark Friz, and I) enjoyed wonderful hospitality and filled our eyes and minds with the magnificence of a civilization that was already ancient when…
1 Samuel 4-7
SERIES: Leadership in Hard Times A Boy Named Ichabod, A Stone Named Ebenezer SPEAKER: Michael P. Andrus DATE: May 23, 2004 Introduction: Have you ever met a boy named Ichabod? I doubt it. The fictional character, Ichabod Crane, in Washington Irving’s The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, is the last one I ever heard of, and he was such a despicable character that I suppose all parents since the time of Washington Irving have studiously avoided “Ichabod” when trying to find the right name for their…
1 Samuel 8
SERIES: Leadership in Hard Times How to Handle Rejection SPEAKER: Michael P. Andrus Introduction: Rejection. Is there anything in all of life that is harder to handle than rejection? I don’t know about you, but I have experienced a profound sense of rejection several times in my life. Once was in Little League. I remember it well, because my dad was there–a rare treat because he had two full-time jobs–one as a pastor and another as a Bible College administrator. I was playing right field (you…
1 Samuel 12, 13
SERIES: Leadership in Hard Times The Difference Integrity Makes SPEAKER: Michael P. Andrus Introduction: 1 Samuel is a book about leadership, both positive and negative, among God’s people. We began in chapter 1 by observing the difference a godly home makes in the development of leadership. Today, in the fifth message in our series, we will look at the difference integrity makes in the exercise of leadership. Please follow along as I read portions of 1 Samuel 12 and 13: Samuel said to all Israel,…
1 Samuel 14
SERIES: Leadership in Hard Times When a Leader Misuses His Authority SPEAKER: Michael P. Andrus Introduction: We are in the middle of a trilogy of sermons on the failed leadership of Saul, the first king of Israel, as we set the stage for his successor David, a leader worth emulating. Leadership is a topic of great relevance to all of us, for we are all leaders, and we are all followers. We may be leaders in church or in industry or at school…
1 Samuel 15
SERIES: Leadership in Hard Times Partial Obedience Is Disobedience SCRIPTURE: 1 Samuel 15 SPEAKER: Michael P. Andrus Introduction: Let me paint a little word picture for you that will be readily identifiable to anyone with a toddler at home. “It’s almost supper time, Adam. Pick up the papers and crayons that are all over the floor and put them in your desk before supper.” “Oh, Daddy, do I have to?” “Yes, you have to.” The family gathers at the supper table, Adam…
1 Samuel 17
SERIES: Leadership in Hard Times The Difference Stature Makes SPEAKER: Michael P. Andrus Introduction: Last week I saw a major news article on television on the startling increase in the use of growth hormones by ordinary Americans. Previously extremely expensive, and used only for children with pituitary deficiency, growth hormones are now made synthetically, are available cheaply, and are being used by perfectly healthy adults who want to have bigger and better bodies. Even some parents of normal-size children are giving growth…
1 Samuel 18
Jealousy, the Jaundice of the Soul SPEAKER: Michael P. Andrus Introduction: In our study of the OT book of 1 Samuel, we have discovered that Saul, the tall, brave, and charismatic first king of Israel, has been sliding down the slippery slope of spiritual defection. He who once had so much going for him has demonstrated an amazing lack of integrity, a narcissistic spirit of independence, and virtually no heart for God. So, God has already declared him bankrupt and has anointed the…