In Sermons: showing 1-15 of 198

Debt And Devotion Series

Contributed by Glenn Durham on Apr 12, 2011

God absorbs a debtor’s default.

Introduction Read Luke 7.36-50. Pray. So bad people need big forgiveness; as a result, when they meet Jesus, they love him much. Better people need less forgiveness, and so love little. The woman was bad, “a woman of the city,” “a sinner.” To state it crassly, a streetwalker or prostitute. ...read more

Scripture: Luke 7:36-50

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

I Simply Must Have… Series

Contributed by Glenn Durham on Apr 4, 2011

God recreates the whole life of those who give up small ambitions and admissions.

Read Matthew 13.44-46. Pray. Introduction Matthew again pairs two parables to press on us all the more forcefully one point. Last week we heard two parables of hidden and growing power. The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, small and insignificant, but hidden in the dirt it grows to ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:44-46

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Bust Or Boom? Series

Contributed by Glenn Durham on Mar 30, 2011

God grows his life in his people until his power renovates them wholly.

Introduction Read Matthew 13.31-33. Pray. Revelation 20.1-6: Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hand the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain. And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, and ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:31-33

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Weeds In Church Buildings Series

Contributed by Glenn Durham on Mar 22, 2011

God asks patience and faithfulness of his people while he works his cosmic plan to a perfect conclusion.

Read Matthew 13.24-30. Pray. Introduction They are likely the two worst spy cases in US history. Beginning in April of 1985 and continuing until his arrest in February of 1994, Aldrich Ames sold intelligence secrets to the Soviets (and then the Russians) for $4.6 million. Early on, the CIA ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:24-30

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Soil Of The Soul Series

Contributed by Glenn Durham on Mar 15, 2011

God must be sought by those whose soil is not nurturing the fruit of the Spirit.

Read Matthew 13.1-9. Pray. Introduction A Greek philosopher wanted to illustrate to his students that they must not only have knowledge but also a life changed by the truths he gave them. He said, “Sheep do not vomit up the grass to show the shepherds how much they have eaten; but, inwardly ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:1-9

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Why Speak In Parables? Series

Contributed by Glenn Durham on Mar 8, 2011

God’s Kingdom advances by seeing and hearing Jesus.

Scripture Introduction Read the Shorter Catechism question and ask the congregation to answer: “How is the word to be read and heard, that it may become effectual to salvation?” Congregational Response: “That the word may become effectual to salvation, we must apply ourselves to it with ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:10-17

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Clouds You So Much Dread Series

Contributed by Glenn Durham on Mar 1, 2011

God works his sovereign will with never failing skill for the good of his people who trust him for his grace.

Children’s Sermon Trivial Pursuit. Lowest score ever in bowling organized league play? Mike Kappa, Racine Wisconsin: 2. Nothing wrong with playing game; but careful lest our lives be trivial. How do we know what is important? Some people think it is receiving mention in the paper. WSJ. But the ...read more

Scripture: Ruth 4:13-22

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Switchbacks On The Road Of Life Series

Contributed by Glenn Durham on Feb 22, 2011

God weaves our lives through many turns on the upward call.

Children’s Sermon Freight trains cannot climb very steep hills. In fact, 4% would be near the absolute limit of any freight train. (Show as 4 cm lift on meter ruler.) Steepest road in the United States? Canton Avenue, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with a grade of 37%, meaning that for every ...read more

Scripture: Ruth 4:1-12

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Behold, A Woman Lay At His Feet! Series

Contributed by Glenn Durham on Feb 16, 2011

God works through unexpected circumstances to protect and redeem his people.

Children’s Sermon Tell about time when Helen and I were sound asleep and suddenly – plop, something jumped into the bed with us! I woke, sat up, stared blindly into the dark (of course saw nothing), and laid back down thinking I had a bad dream. When it happened the second time, I was certain it ...read more

Scripture: Ruth 3:1-18

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

It Just So Happened? Series

Contributed by Glenn Durham on Feb 8, 2011

God provides wonderfully for those who place their hope in his unfailing love.

Scripture Introduction We meet Boaz in our study today. Do you know what kind of man Boaz was before he got married? Answer: he was Ruth-less. The book of Ruth teaches us to look for God’s blessings even in our bitterness. Naomi, just like you and me, had hopes for her life: a husband, happy ...read more

Scripture: Ruth 2:1-23

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Love Of Jesus Christ

Contributed by Glenn Durham on Feb 1, 2011

God’s love for his people in Jesus Christ is unfathomably rich.

Scripture Introduction One of the most famous intellectuals in the church in the last 100 years was Karl Barth. Near the end of his life, he was lecturing at the University of Chicago Divinity School. When Dr. Barth completed the lecture, the school president noted that Dr. Barth was exhausted, ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 3:14-21

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Making Of Mara (Bitterness) Series

Contributed by Glenn Durham on Jan 25, 2011

God’s wondrous workings may take us through a deep struggle with sovereignty.

Scripture Introduction One old commentator wrote about our text: “Names are given to men and women, not only to distinguish them from each other, but also,—1. To stir them up to verify the meanings… of their names. Wherefore let every Obadiah strive to be a “servant of God,” every Nathaniel to be ...read more

Scripture: Ruth 1:19-22

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Choosing Hope Over Happiness Series

Contributed by Glenn Durham on Jan 18, 2011

God offers a future and a hope to all who trust in him more than we treasure earth’s rewards.

Scripture Introduction In his old radio show, Thru the Bible, J. Vernon McGee said, “The Book of Ruth is a pearl in the swine pen of the judges.” I’m not sure I would say just that, but these people did live in the time of the judges (about 1100 B. C.), which were not the best years for Israel. ...read more

Scripture: Ruth 1:6-18

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Shattered Dreams Series

Contributed by Glenn Durham on Jan 11, 2011

God shatters dreams which leave us short of full joy even if fully satisfied.

Scripture Introduction In literature, a tragedy ends with a negative or sad outcome, a comedy with a happy one. Macbeth is a tragedy; Much Ado About Nothing, a comedy. From a literary view, Ruth is a comedy – the characters pass through difficulty (even heartbreak) to end with joy and hope. The ...read more

Scripture: Ruth 1:1-5

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Hearts Open Wide For The Ministry Of Evangelism Series

Contributed by Glenn Durham on Jan 4, 2011

God entrusts the work of evangelism to ambassadors controlled by love for Jesus.

Scripture Introduction To teach pastors to dig deeply into the Bible, seminary students take Greek Exegesis, a course connecting study of the Greek language with work in the New Testament. During the semester, we translated and analyzed ten or so passages, each one revealing different methods to ...read more

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed