In Sermons: showing 1-15 of 189

How To Get Along With Christians

Contributed by Alan Perkins on Aug 4, 2024

Jesus said that our love for other believers would be a testimony to the gospel. But sometimes, it's hard to tolerate, much less love, our fellow Christians. In his letter to the Colossians, Paul tells us how to do it.

As I look around the room this morning, I see a lot of white and gray hair. That’s nothing to be ashamed of; in fact, Proverbs 16:31 tells us that “Gray hair is a crown of glory”. A “crown of glory”. I like that. My problem is that my crown gets a little smaller every year. By the way, I tried to ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:12-14

Denomination: Baptist

The Day Before Easter

Contributed by Alan Perkins on Mar 31, 2024

What was the disciples' state of mind on Saturday, the day between Good Friday and Easter? And what lessons can we learn from their change of perspective?

What we are remembering this morning is the central, defining event of the Christian faith. Today all over the world, Christians are gathering together, in cathedrals and in rented storefronts, in remote villages and in crowded cities, in thousands of different languages, all celebrating and ...read more

Scripture: Luke 24:1-8, Luke 24:33-44

Denomination: Baptist

Palm Sunday - The Triumphal Entry

Contributed by Alan Perkins on Mar 25, 2024

When Jesus entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, he was at the height of his popularity. But only a few days later, the crowds were calling for him to be crucified. What happened? And what did the Triumphal Entry signify that the people didn't understand?

Today is Palm Sunday, one of the most significant days of the church calendar. And I think it’s fitting to remind ourselves that as we worship this morning here in our church we are part of a worldwide celebration, one that has been repeated every year for twenty centuries. In other words, this is ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 21:1-11, Hebrews 2:14-15

Denomination: Baptist

Why Go To Church?

Contributed by Alan Perkins on Mar 17, 2024

Attending church has many benefits - social connection, uplifting messages, inspiring music, coffee. But all of those needs can be met in other ways. There is one thing, however, that is absolutely unique about meeting together to worship, and that is the promised presence of Christ among us.

Happy Saint Patrick’s Day! How many of you are wearing green? Good for you. But - wasn’t it just Christmas a couple of weeks ago? It’s hard to believe that Easter is only two weeks away. I realize that what I’m about to say will betray my age, but don’t you find that every year seems to go by ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 139:7-12, Romans 8:35-39, John 15:4-8, 2 Corinthians 1:3-4, Matthew 18:19-20  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Are You Dancing To Their Tune?

Contributed by Alan Perkins on Apr 30, 2023

Many people want you to dance to their tune, to order your life according to their convictions and demands. Some of them are in the church. But the freedom that we have in Christ releases us from being slaves to the opinions of others, and even requires it.

This morning, I’d like us to consider a passage of Scripture in which Jesus makes an astute observation about the social and religious culture of his day. It’s a fairly brief remark, but one that is full of significance for us today, because it gives us a perspective on how to react to criticism ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 11:16-19

Denomination: Baptist

Why Do We Sing?

Contributed by Alan Perkins on Oct 16, 2022

On the occasion of dedicating new hymnals, it is fitting for us to think about why we sing, and how important singing hymns is to our spiritual health and growth.

This morning we are dedicating new hymnals for use in our worship. Lord willing, these hymnals will bless our congregation for many years to come. We are thankful to have them. We are thankful to the committee which compared and evaluated several hymnals before choosing this one. And we are ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 96:1-3

Denomination: Baptist

Forget It!

Contributed by Alan Perkins on Jul 31, 2022

In order to press on, to move forward, in the Christian life, we must first "forget" the past. We must forget the sins of others and our own sins and mistakes; we must forget our successes and failures; we must forget our vision of how our life would turn out.

My text this morning is a familiar one, from Paul’s letter to the Philippian church, chapter three, verses twelve through fourteen. Let me set the context. Paul begins by listing his credentials as an authentic descendant of Abraham, in rebuttal to those who were attacking him and his message. ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:4-11

Denomination: Baptist

Your Resources Are Insufficient. That's What God Intends.

Contributed by Alan Perkins on Feb 20, 2022

It was never God's intention that our resources should be sufficient. He wants to show us what he can do with the little we have.

As we consider the world that we live in today; as we watch the news on television, as we read the paper, or more likely, read the news online; as we look around us, and consider everything that is happening in our nation and in the world, it’s easy to become discouraged and disillusioned. ...read more

Scripture: Mark 6:30-44

Denomination: Baptist

God Sees You, Not Only As What You Are, But As What You Are Becoming

Contributed by Alan Perkins on Jul 14, 2019

When Jesus met Simon, he named him "Peter", or "Rock", even though Peter's character at that time was decidedly un-rocklike. But Jesus saw what he would become, just as he sees as, not only as we are but as what we will become in Him.

The first thing we notice in these seven verses is the number of references to stones. Living stones. Precious stones. Corner stones. Stones that are chosen by God but rejected by men. A stone that causes people to stumble and fall. Now, think about that for a moment. Why would that be? Why would ...read more

Scripture: John 1:40-42, 1 Peter 2:4-10

Denomination: Baptist

How Can We Be Good?

Contributed by Alan Perkins on Jul 7, 2019

In order to grow in obedience and godliness, we must start by having minds that are "alert and fully sober".

In this passage, Peter is addressing a question that each of us struggles with: how can we be good? Because we do want to be good, at least theoretically. Don’t we? We want to be people who do the right thing, who are honorable, who are worthy of respect, people who tell the truth. We want to be ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Jesus' High Priestly Prayer

Contributed by Alan Perkins on May 26, 2019

In Jesus' longest recorded prayer, offered to the Father just hours before his arrest and crucifixion, he asks for three critical things that we need, and for which God's power is both necessary and sufficient: (1) purity and protection, (2) unity, and (3) glory.

Chapter seventeen of John’s gospel consists of a prayer, offered by Jesus to the Father. It is a remarkable prayer. First of all, it’s the longest prayer of Jesus which is recorded in any of the gospels. Jesus was known to pray for long periods of time, but usually he went off by himself to do so. ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Take Up Your Cross

Contributed by Alan Perkins on Apr 7, 2019

Following Christ means following him to the cross.

There are basically two kinds of sermons on the Christian life. The first type of sermon views the Christian life as a kind of puzzle to be solved, with the message going something like this: Life is full of hardships, and frustrations, and obstacles. But if you do this one thing; if you ...read more

Scripture: John 12:23-33, Matthew 10:38-39, Luke 17:32-33, Mark 8:34-37

Denomination: Baptist

Christianity Is Not Unique

Contributed by Alan Perkins on Feb 24, 2019

Christianity, in many ways, is not all that different than other religions and faith traditions. In fact, there is really only one thing about Christianity that is unique.

I’m going to begin this morning with a familiar text: "What you do not wish for yourself, do not do to others." Sound good? That, of course is . . . a well-known saying of Confucius, a Chinese wise man who lived in the 5th and 6th century B.C. "What you do not wish for yourself, ...read more

Scripture: John 8:31-59

Denomination: Baptist

Feeding On Christ

Contributed by Alan Perkins on Jan 13, 2019

What does it mean to feed on Christ? Why doesn't everyone respond positively to the gospel?

Today’s passage is challenging. The passage is difficult in two ways; first, it is difficult to understand, as it requires unpacking a figure of speech, a metaphor. What does it mean, really, to “eat the flesh” and “drink the blood” of Christ? So it’s difficult to understand. And perhaps more ...read more

Scripture: John 6:22-71

Denomination: Baptist

Sheep Do Sheepy Things, Goats Do Goaty Things

Contributed by Alan Perkins on Aug 12, 2018

Salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. How then, can Jesus link our eternal destinies as "sheep" or "goats" to what we have done; i.e., whether we have served one another?

All right. Everybody buckled up? Good. We may get jostled about a bit this morning, but our destination will be worth the drive. Let’s start with a question. It’s an important question, one of the most important questions that we are confronted with. The good news is that the gospel of Jesus ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:31-46

Denomination: Baptist