In Sermon Illustrations: "John Newton"

Benefits Of Humble Leadership

Contributed by John Bright on Oct 3, 2025

Earlier this year, Forbes magazine published an article that highlighted the leadership style of Dwight D. Eisenhower, who led the Allied forces to victory in World War II and served two terms as President of the United States. He was known for his humility. “Eisenhower’s humility was evident ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 5:1-5

Tags: Humility, Leadership, Dwight D Eisenhower

Denomination: Methodist

Lead By Example

Contributed by John Bright on Oct 3, 2025

Lead by example. This is different than ordering folks around. When James and John ask for places of authority, Jesus warns them against acting like the world. Jesus describes what it will look like in the church: Mark 10:43-45 “43 Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become ...read more

Scripture: Mark 10:43-45

Tags: Jesus, Example, Authority

Denomination: Methodist

Sin Of Achan

Contributed by John Bright on Oct 3, 2025

We struggle with someone suffering for the actions of another. In that day, they were not so individualistic as we are in this Western World. Whenever I share the Sin of Achan from the book of Joshua, modern folks like to protest. Here’s the story: The Israelites are given a great victory over ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 7:5, Joshua 7:24-26

Tags: Sin, Consequences

Denomination: Methodist

Spiritual Warfare

Contributed by John Bright on Oct 3, 2025

We need to be engaged in Spiritual Warfare. First, we need to acknowledge that there is both a physical realm (fallen) and a spiritual realm (good & bad). This is clear in Ephesians 6, where Paul is describing our battle gear: Ephesians 6:11-12 “11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:11-12

Tags: Spiritual Warfare, Angels, Demons, Physical Realm, Spiritual Realm  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Methodist

Full Armor Of God

Contributed by John Bright on Oct 3, 2025

Our defense is provided by the Full Armor of God found in Ephesians 6. I would recommend this article: https://www.gotquestions.org/full-armor-of-God.html (I also want to recommend the YouVersion Bible App for your smart phones or computers. Good studies there on the Full Armor of God) Here’s a ...read more

Tags: Prayer, Full Armor Of God

Denomination: Methodist

What Is Knowledge?

Contributed by John Bright on Jan 5, 2026

Today, we tend to think of knowledge as something learned and stored in the brain. It’s all about the head. In the Bible, knowledge refers to a relationship. If we know God, then we have a relationship with Him through the Blood of Jesus Christ. ...read more

Scripture: 2 Peter 1:2

Tags: Salvation, Knowledge, Relationship

Denomination: Methodist

Enthronement Of Jesus

Contributed by John Bright on Jan 5, 2026

Enthronement is foreign to us in the United States. We have discussed all the Hallmark movies featuring a reluctant prince who does not want to be enthroned. In the past and in the present, if you live in a culture where there is great political intrigue and folks are trying to take the throne by ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 110:1

Tags: Jesus, Promise, Enthronement

Denomination: Methodist

No Coasting

Contributed by John Bright on Jan 7, 2026

Whenever the price of gas goes up, people start thinking about saving gas by coasting their cars downhill. I have a vague memory of a news story from way back in the 1970s about a guy who was going downhill and decided to turn the car off to save gas. One little problem – that was when new cars ...read more

Scripture: 2 Peter 1:10-11

Tags: Assurance, Falling

Denomination: Methodist

Add To Your Faith

Contributed by John Bright on Jan 9, 2026

“We must not be content, Peter suggests, with a B- in “goodness” or “knowledge” or “self-control” or “godliness” or “brotherly kindness” or “love.” We should not be content until we have an A+ in each one.” (Moo, p. ...read more

Scripture: 2 Peter 1:5-7

Tags: Love, Godliness, Knowledge, Goodness, Self Control, Brotherly Kindness  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Methodist

Hope For The Return Of Christ

Contributed by John Bright on Jan 15, 2026

Hope is interesting because it depends on a person's circumstances. Around the world, there are literally millions of persecuted Christians. They often to the end of the Bible for hope: Revelation 22:20 “20 He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming quickly.” Amen. Even so, ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 22:20, 1 Corinthians 16:22

Tags: Hope, Rapture, Maranatha, Return Of Christ, Persecuted Christians  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Methodist

What Happens When You Die?

Contributed by John Bright on Jan 15, 2026

This body is only a temporary dwelling place for our eternal spirits. Peter calls this body a tent, just like Paul in 2 Corinthians 5:4-8: “4 For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life. 5 ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 1:13, 2 Corinthians 5:4-8

Tags: Tent, Hope, Body, Heresy

Denomination: Methodist

What Are The Synoptic Gospels?

Contributed by John Bright on Jan 15, 2026

We call Matthew, Mark, and Luke the Synoptic Gospels because they share a lot of the same content – “synoptic” means “common view.” They often include different ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 17:1-8, Mark 9:2-13, Luke 9:28-36

Tags: Witness, Transfiguration Of Jesus, Synoptic Gospels

Denomination: Methodist

Verbal Plenary Inspiration

Contributed by John Bright on Jan 15, 2026

Can we trust God’s Word as the truth? Can it be a light into the darkness we face? I want to briefly explain, again, what I believe about how we got the Bible. This is referred to as “Verbal Plenary Inspiration.” I believe the words of Holy Scripture were given to the men who wrote the original ...read more

Scripture: 2 Peter 1:19-21, Hebrews 4:12

Tags: Bible, Hope, Inspired Word Of God

Denomination: Methodist

The Pit

Contributed by John Bright on Jan 18, 2026

The Pit man fell into a pit and couldn't get himself out. A subjective person came along and said: "I feel for you down there." An objective person came along and said: "It's logical that someone would fall down there." A Pharisee said: "Only bad people fall into ...read more

Scripture: James 1:22-27

Tags: Jesus, Helping Others

Denomination: Methodist

Spurgeon Quote

Contributed by John Bright on Feb 3, 2026

"For us to hate those who are in error, or talk of them with contempt or wish them ill, or do them wrong, is not according to the Spirit of Christ. You cannot cast out Satan by Satan, nor correct error by violence, nor overcome hate ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:12, Matthew 5:43-48

Tags: Love, Enemies

Denomination: Methodist

Shoveling Snow

Contributed by John Bright on Feb 3, 2026

It was frigid—bone-chilling—and we had another heavy snowfall. When I opened my garage door, I quickly realized that looking at the big picture wouldn’t be helpful. Instead, I needed to focus on just one shovel of snow at a time. Blinders would have been useful, so that I wouldn’t see to the left ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 3:16-21

Tags: Slow Down, Trials

Denomination: Methodist

Fear And Division

Contributed by John Bright on Feb 3, 2026

A Simple Game Teaches Kids About Fear and Division One of my friends told me about a powerful lesson in her daughter's high school class recently. They're learning about the Salem Witch Trials, and their teacher told them they were going to play a game. "I'm going to come ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:10, Ephesians 4:3

Tags: Fear, High School, Division, Salem Witch Trials

Denomination: Methodist

Benediction

Contributed by John Bright on Feb 3, 2026

May you know the warmth of God’s loving embrace May you know the joy of God’s ever-presence May you know the peace of God’s gentle whisper May you know the strength of ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:20

Tags: Peace, Joy, Strength, God's Presence

Denomination: Methodist

Garbage In - Garbage Out

Contributed by John Bright on Feb 4, 2026

Do you remember this kid’s song? Oh, be careful, little ears, what you hear, Oh, be careful, little ears, what you hear. There’s a Father up above looking down in tender love, Oh, be careful, little ears, what you hear. We teach this to children because we know that what goes in will come out. ...read more

Scripture: 2 Peter 2:1-3, Jude 1:1-4

Tags: Truth, Lies

Denomination: Methodist

Standing Up For Truth

Contributed by John Bright on Feb 4, 2026

Both these letters make it clear who is a danger to the house churches. They paint a picture of men whose words and actions need to be challenged and condemned. Do you think it was as hard for them back then as it is for us today? I had a friend who visited a church and attended Sunday School. ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 2:2-3, Jude 1:4

Tags: Sunday School, Truth, God's Word

Denomination: Methodist