Archives: Sermons

Our Debt (Romans 13:8-14)

Our Debt (Romans 13:8-14)

New believers sometimes ask me if they need to give up certain things as they start to follow Jesus. Do I need to give up drinking, or cursing, or dancing? And it’s certainly natural and even good for a person to ask those kinds of questions. They show that they want to honor God by obeying Him. God saved us by grace, so we should want to honor Him because we’re in His debt. But in addition to asking what I need to give up doing, we should also ask, “what do I…continue reading →
Overcoming Evil (Romans 12:9-21)

Overcoming Evil (Romans 12:9-21)

A church treasurer and a deacon were discussing with the new pastor what he would receive for his salary at the church. The deacon said, “I have an idea” and took off his belt and laid it on the ground, making a circle. Then he said, “Okay. So we throw all the offerings up into the air and whatever lands inside this circle is his salary.” The treasurer replied, “Nonsense. We should be more generous than that! When we throw the money in the air, whatever lands outside the circle should be his…continue reading →
Therefore (Romans 12:1-8)

Therefore (Romans 12:1-8)

Jeff and Liesa Holeman had both felt called to overseas missions, but they thought that it would be later in their lives. For the time being, they had successful careers. Jeff was a student minister at a large church, and Liesa was a tax investigator. And they were raising a family, so it just wasn’t the ideal time to leave for the mission field. But sometimes God has other plans for us. Isaiah 55:8-9 says: For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as…continue reading →
Disobedience and Mercy (Romans 11:1-2, 29-32)

Disobedience and Mercy (Romans 11:1-2, 29-32)

As I sat down to begin working on this sermon a few weeks ago, reading Romans 11, I really struggled at first as to how to preach it. When I sit down to begin working on a sermon, some sermons just kind of write themselves because the Scripture passage is so incredibly clear in its meaning and application. Today’s sermon did not write itself, not because the Scripture isn’t clear, but because it’s so clear that we can easily be offended by what it’s saying. And make no mistake: when you understand what…continue reading →
Jesus is Lord of All (Romans 10:5-15)

Jesus is Lord of All (Romans 10:5-15)

How would the world look if you were in charge? If you could tell people how to live, and they actually listened to you, would the world be more like heaven, or more like hell? Wouldn’t this world be awesome if you could be in charge? If I were in charge, I would immediately declare that every food establishment in the world must always have pizza rolls and ice cream available at no charge, because I love pizza rolls and ice cream. If I could go to any restaurant and receive free pizza…continue reading →