In Sermons:

The False Prophet Elymas Bar-Jesus Series

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Mar 19, 2025

Barnabas and Saul had just started their first missionary journey. They started in Cyprus, walking from the eastern shore to the western shore. That's where they met a false prophet with an unusual name.

The False Prophet Elymas Bar-Jesus (Based on a message preached at New Hope Baptist Church near Fulton, MO on Sunday evening, 3-16-2025. This is not an exact transcription.) (Full disclosure: Sermon Central has an outline of mine on this passage, but this is an edited sermon and not just an ...read more

Scripture: Acts 13:1-12

Denomination: Baptist

An Outline Of Balaam’s Messages To Balak Series

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Mar 12, 2025

Balaam had finally arrived at Moab and met Balak, the king. Balak was anxious to have Balaam curse Israel but things didn't work out the way Balak hoped.

An Outline of Balaam’s Messages to Balak (This outline was the basis for a message preached Sunday evening, March 9, 2025 at New Hope Baptist Church near Fulton, MO.) Introduction: Balaam had arrived in Moab and had spoken with King Balak, Their first conversation seemed a bit testy, but Balaam ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Balaam And His Unforgettable Ride! Series

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Mar 6, 2025

While on his way to Balak, king of Moab, Balaam experienced two things that he probably never forgot! He heard a message from the Angel of the LORD--and from another, unexpected source!

(Based on a message preached Sunday evening, March 2, 2025 at New Hope Baptist Church near Fulton, MO; this is not an exact transcription.) Introduction: The story of Balaam and his donkey (I choose to use the word “donkey” or “beast” simply to avoid being accused of using vulgar terms) is one of ...read more

Scripture: Numbers 22:22-35

Denomination: Baptist

The False Prophet Balaam: When Opportunity Knocked, He Answered Series

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Feb 28, 2025

The king of Moab had a problem: Israel was near his territory. He called on Balaam to come and curse Israel. This king gave Balaam what might be considered the opportunity of a lifetime. How did Balaam respond?

(Edited from and based on a message preached Sunday evening, 2-16-25 at New Hope Baptist Church of Fulton, MO; this is not an exact transcription.) Introduction: The story of Balaam is, or at least used to be, one of the saddest in the entire Bible. It seems he knew the One True God and could ...read more

Scripture: Numbers 22:1-21

Denomination: Baptist

The False Prophet At Bethel Series

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Feb 14, 2025

Just because one claims to be an old prophet doesn't mean he's a true prophet. This message recounts what happened to a true prophet who listened to an old but false prophet. The true prophet paid dearly.

Introduction: Bethel was the scene of some good encounters between people and the LORD. Sadly it was also a place where Jeroboam established a false religion, centering on the worship of a golden calf. The background for this message comes from 1 Kings 12-13 Full disclosure: Sermon Central has ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 13:1-34

Denomination: Baptist

The False Prophets Of Nehemiah’s Day Series

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Feb 10, 2025

As strange as it may sound, even after years of captivity there were false prophets in the land of Israel. Nehemiah had to deal not only with rebuilding Jerusalem but also with a number of these false prophets!

Introduction: False prophets didn’t die out when all Israel was carried off to captivity. At least two are mentioned by name, plus there was an unspecified group of other false prophets. All of them had one common goal, though, and that was to get Nehemiah discouraged, or as he put it, “[they] ...read more

Scripture: Nehemiah 6:1-14

Denomination: Baptist

Zedekiah, The False Prophet With Fake Iron Horns Series

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Feb 4, 2025

A false prophet named Zedekiah used some unusual visual aids to reinforce his message. One small problem, though: his message didn't come from the LORD!

Introduction: This second message is about Zedekiah, probably one of the worst false prophets ever. He lived during the days of Ahab and Jehoshaphat but caused a great deal of grief for many people in both Israel and Judah. His “visual aids” didn’t help, either! The setting for this “prophecy” ...read more

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 18:1-27

Denomination: Baptist

The False Prophet Hananiah Series

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Jan 24, 2025

The prophet Jeremiah heard a message from another man who claimed to be a prophet. His name was Hananiah, but the LORD knew he was a false prophet. Jeremiah, in turn, gave Hananiah a message from the LORD.

The False Prophet Hananiah Introduction: False prophets—those who prophesy in the name of any “god” or “goddess” besides the One True and Living God—have been a problem since Old Testament days. Whether it was the serpent in Eden lying to Eve about not dying, to those who teach false doctrines ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 28:1-17

Denomination: Baptist

A Christmas Message For December 22, 2024 Series

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Jan 9, 2025

Jesus is the greatest Christmas gift ever! John showed how that even though He was rejected, more often than not, some from that day to this still receive Him as Lord and Savior.

A Christmas Message for December 22, 2024 (based on a sermon preached at New Hope Baptist Church near Fulton, MO on 12-22-2024. This is not an exact transcription.) (Full disclosure: Sermon Central has already posted a message of mine, based on this same text, called “The Unwanted Christmas Gift”. ...read more

Scripture: John 1:1-14

Denomination: Baptist

A Tale Of Two Different Babies (Isaiah 7) Series

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Jan 5, 2025

The nation of Judah was in trouble. Ahaz, king at the time, received a pair of messages from the LORD. One of these messages had two significant meanings!

A Tale of Two Different Babies (Isaiah 7) (Full disclosure: some of this material comes from a message preached by Dr. Tim Faber at a church near Eldon, MO around 2014. He gave me permission to use material from that message. Some of this message is also based on a sermon preached Sunday evening, ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 7:1-16

Denomination: Baptist

A Look At Joseph, Husband Of Mary Series

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Dec 18, 2024

Joseph, the husband-to-be of Mary of Nazareth, was looking forward to his wedding day! But he received some news that almost made him change his mind. After a word from the Lord, he followed the Lord's instructions.

(Based on a sermon preached December 15, 2024 at New Hope Baptist Church, Fulton, MO. This is not an exact transcription.) Introduction: Two Sundays ago we looked at Zacharias and Elisabeth as two important people in the first Christmas story. Last week we studied the message of the angel Gabriel ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:16-25

Denomination: Baptist

Mary, Now You Know Series

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Dec 12, 2024

Mary was surprised when Gabriel visited her and gave her some unexpected news. Now Mary knew exactly what the Lord wanted her to do. Best of all, she agreed to do God's will for her life!

Mary, Now You Know (Edited from a sermon preached December 8, 2024 at New Hope Baptist Church, Fulton, MO. This is not an exact transcription). Introduction: Mark Lowry’s Christmas song, “Mary, Did You Know?” has been a blessing for several years now. It’s a song which, I think, captures the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:26-38

Denomination: Baptist

People Of The First Christmas: Zacharias And Elisabeth Series

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Dec 5, 2024

A childless couple received some incredible news! How did they handle it?

(Full disclosure: this message is based on a sermon preached at New Hope Baptist Church, Fulton, MO on 12-01-2024. This is not an exact transcription.) Introduction: It’s hard to believe, we’re now in December! There are only 20 or so shopping days until Christmas Day and, we shouldn’t be ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:5-25, Luke 1:39-45

Denomination: Baptist

A Thanksgiving Day Message From Paul

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Nov 27, 2024

Paul had much to be thankful for. He shared some of this with the believers in Philippi. This is an abridged version of a sermon I've preached at a few different churches over the years. Feel free to use this as the Lord leads.

Introduction: Thanksgiving Day is only two days away as I write this in November 2024! Many have written about the first Thanksgiving Day, in 1620’s colonial Massachusetts and there is much supplemental material. The important thing is that those early Pilgrims knew they could not possibly have ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:1-6

Denomination: Baptist

Some Thoughts On Depopulation

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Nov 23, 2024

The world's current population is somewhere between 7 and 8 billion. Some think that's too many and have openly advocated for depopulation measures. All they need to do is wait for the Great Tribulation and they'll come close to getting their wish!

Introduction: A number of people, mostly elites, and increasingly calling out for more people to die! The justification, if I understand it correctly, is that there are too many people on this planet to be kept (the “sustainability” argument) and/or there isn’t enough of the right _kind_ of people. ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, Revelation 6:1-11, Revelation 9:13-21, Revelation 11:11-13

Denomination: Baptist