In Sermons: showing 91-105 of 114

Paul: On The Parousia Series

Contributed by Thomas Clawser on Nov 13, 2004

PENT 23C: Part 1 of a two-part series on learning to live as end-times Christians ought to live.

Theories on when and how the world might end have surfaced for centuries. Consider these: 1. In 960 Bernard of Thuringia, a German theologian, calculated 992 as the most likely year for the world’s end. As the time approached, panic was widespread. 2. German astrologer Johann ...read more

Scripture: 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13

Denomination: Other

Feeding Your Mind

Contributed by Thomas Clawser on Nov 11, 2004

Our thoughts direct our conduct; our conduct determines our company. The Psalmist describes two ways a man can go, beginning with what we feed into our minds.

In his book The Wonders of the Word of God, Evangelist Robert Sumner tells of a Kansas City man severely injured in an explosion. The explosion claimed his eyesight, took both his hands and badly disfigured his face. He was just a new Christian, and among his greatest disappointments was that ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 1:1-6

Denomination: Other

Confidence In Christ Series

Contributed by Thomas Clawser on Oct 18, 2004

#1 of 4 messages from 2 Timothy. Pentecost 18C

Do you remember Lee Iacocca, former CEO of Chrysler Corporation? Some years ago, in an unprecedented act of defiance to his advisors, he became his own advertising spokesperson. His voice bellowed in radio spots; his face appeared in magazines and on television commercials. Every Chrysler ad ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 1:1-14

Denomination: Other

Is The Bible Trustworthy? Series

Contributed by Thomas Clawser on Oct 18, 2004

Paul’s admonition to Timothy to place his full confidence in the authenticity and usefulness of Scripture.

In the year A.D. 303, the Roman Emperor Diocletian issued a decree that he hoped would extinguish the spreading flames of Christianity. One of his primary objectives was the seizure and destruction of the Christian Scriptures. Later that year, officials enforced the decree in North Africa. One ...read more

Denomination: Other

In The Potter's Hands Series

Contributed by Thomas Clawser on Sep 4, 2004

Sermon on the potter and the clay for Pentecost 14C

On an overhead slide, draw four symbols: a star, a plus sign, a circle and a square. Ask the audience to pick one of the symbols and then share which sign they picked with the person sitting closest to them. Then interpret the signs; “Research shows that if you picked the square, you are a ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 18:1-11

Denomination: Other

Seeking, Knowing And Serving

Contributed by Thomas Clawser on Aug 21, 2004

David’s final words to Solomon are, in fact, a primer in spiritual formation for the believer.

An ancient Chassidic parable tells the story of Yechiel, the young grandson of a Chassidic rabbi, who once played hide-and-seek with a friend. When it was his turn to hide, he found a great hiding place where he waited, somewhat impatiently, for his friend to find him. He waited and waited; it ...read more

Scripture: 1 Chronicles 28:1-10

Denomination: Other

Unconditional Security? (Pt. 2) Series

Contributed by Thomas Clawser on Jul 30, 2004

A two-part series; based on passages from the gospel of John and the book of Hebrews.

Cable television mogul Ted Turner (who once owned CNN, TBS and others) criticized fundamentalist Christianity and said Jesus probably would "be sick to his stomach" over the way his ideas have been "twisted," the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported. Turner made his remarks at a banquet in ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 10:19-39

Denomination: Other

Unconditional Security? (Pt. 1) Series

Contributed by Thomas Clawser on Jul 30, 2004

A two-part series on the subject; based on passages in the gospel of John and Hebrews.

There are many benefits in preaching through an entire book of the Bible. One is that the preacher is not able to “avoid” the difficult passages – the controversial passages; those passages the sincerest of believers may disagree on. This morning we will delve into such a passage. Our ...read more

Scripture: John 15:1-17

Denomination: Other

Willing To Follow

Contributed by Thomas Clawser on Feb 27, 2004

They left everything and followed him; a challenge for following Jesus.

Knute Rockne served as head coach of Notre Dame University’s football team from 1918-1931. During those 13 seasons, he scored a winning percentage of just over 88%, the best ever for a college (or pro) football coach. Rockne knew how to play football. More precisely, he knew how to coach; to ...read more

Scripture: Luke 5:1-11

Denomination: Other

Refining Your Values

Contributed by Thomas Clawser on Feb 27, 2004

Jesus called his disciples (apostles and others) to refine their values so that they may better serve God in the spread of the gospel. In the gospel text of the morning, Luke records the first part of Jesus’ sermon on the plain – the blessings and woes o

The Roman emperor Charlemagne has an interesting story surrounding his burial. This famous king asked to be entombed sitting upright in his throne. He asked that they place the crown on his head and his scepter in his hand. He requested that they drape the royal cape around his shoulders and an ...read more

Scripture: Luke 6:17-26

Denomination: Other

Sunday School: Catch The Vision! Series

Contributed by Thomas Clawser on Feb 27, 2004

Some experts believe that Sunday School is on the decline. They suggest that the SS hour has been added to the church service (2:00 hour services now common, often with 1:15 devoted to music) therefore SS is unnecessary.

Chances are, you don’t know Edward Kimball. He lived over a hundred years ago. He was a Sunday school teacher in Boston, where a young teenager became part of his class. The young man was a country boy. He didn’t know the ways of the city or of the church. But, he came to Kimball’s Sunday ...read more

Denomination: Other

Trusting God

Contributed by Thomas Clawser on Feb 27, 2004

What worries you? What is it that makes you afraid? Satan longs to pull us away from the safety of we have in Jesus. He brings us fear, anxiety and worry in the hope that we will come to despair.

Rev. James Brown of Evangeline Baptist Church in Louisiana shares an interesting lesson he learned on the subject of trust. He tells it this way: “There is no situation I can get into that God cannot get me out. Some years ago when I was learning to fly, my instructor told me to put the plane ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 34:1-22

Denomination: Other

Evangelizing Skeptics

Contributed by Thomas Clawser on Feb 13, 2004

As we gather for revival services, it is appropriate to ask ourselves, “How is it that the church (at large) has fallen on such lean times”? Churches everywhere are closing, and some that remain open find it nearly impossible to sustain themselves. Many

As we gather for revival services, it is appropriate to ask ourselves, “How is it that the church (at large) has fallen on such lean times”? Churches everywhere are closing, and some that remain open find it nearly impossible to sustain themselves. Many are quick to place blame on social ills; I ...read more

Scripture: Acts 17:16-34

Denomination: Other

American Holocaust

Contributed by Thomas Clawser on Feb 13, 2004

Our goal is to consider life as God does; its design, purpose and value from His point of view. From there, we will develop a Biblical response to the atrocity that is abortion.

On September 11, 2001, two planes crashed into the twin towers of the World Trade Center and extinguished more than 3500 lives. Among the lost were future leaders of this nation, doctors who could have saved many, scientists who may have found a cure for cancer and an evangelist who may have lead ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 139:13-16

Denomination: Other

Opportunity And Opposition

Contributed by Thomas Clawser on Feb 13, 2004

Does your witness stand up in the face of opposition?

Pastor J. H. Crowell, when about sixteen, sailed on a shipping vessel, where he was the only Christian in a crew of twelve. Before leaving his mother, he promised to meet her three times a day at the throne of grace. So regularly, he went below and prayed aloud. He thought he must. His fellow ...read more

Scripture: Luke 4:21-30

Denomination: Other