In Sermons: showing 241-255 of 903

Fanatic For Jesus Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Apr 1, 2021

Paul's point is that when your life is devoted to the highest you can't lose, for even if you die it is not loss, but gain. Fanaticism for Christ is the only perfect fanaticism, for it is the only fanaticism that is a no lose situation.

In Tiger Of The Snows Tenzig Norgay is a fanatic for mountain climbing. He and a British companion were going to climb Mt. Everest. His wife did not share his enthusiasm, and she felt he was obsessed. "You are a dare devil," she said, "And you care nothing about what your death ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:18-26

Good Out Of Evil Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Apr 1, 2021

Paul never dreamed that his days in prison would be days God would use him to let his light shine through all of history because of the epistles he would write there. We should pray, "Lord this is a bad day I am having, what good can you help me make of it for your glory?"

Luther Burbank, the world famous scientist, worked for years to try and develop a black-petaled lily. He had several thousand experimental lily plants in his laboratory. A sudden cloudburst let loose a flood of rain that they were all washed away. William Stidger tells of sympathizing with him ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:12-26

Envious Christians Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Apr 1, 2021

This sin of envy is capable of any evil, even to the point of killing the Son of God to eliminate Him from the competition. We live in a dangerous world because of the potential of this sin. Paul lists it with the worst sins of depravity

We seldom get the whole story on anything. No doubt, most of us are aware of how the rocks brought back from the moon were kept in isolation for some time less the contain some organism that could spread disease for which we have no defense. That made a lot of sense, and made everyone feel more ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:12-18

Educated Love Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Apr 1, 2021

Paul is not knocking the love of the Philippians. Kindergarten love is not bad, but it is no place to level off and be content. A child who does not progress beyond kindergarten is greatly handicapped, and so is the Christian whose love does not abound more and more in knowledge.

The best of Christians make their share of mistakes, but John Turner was apparently trying to get a large portion of his quota of mistakes out of the way all in one day. John was a conscientious pastor who got to his church early one Sunday morning, and he discovered that he had left his sermon ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:1-11

Joyful Saints Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Apr 1, 2021

A saint is not determined by what they are, but by where they are. If they are in Christ, that is the bottom line. The degree of holiness varies tremendously, but all who are in Christ are equally saints.

Roger Fredricksen, a well-known pastor in my hometown of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, wrote a book titled God Loves The Dandelions. In it he tells of how he and his wife Ruth were at a small cabin on the lake in Minnesota. They had just finished reading the book of Philippians with all its powerful ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:1-11

Incurable Optimism Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Apr 1, 2021

This optimistic letter has been used of God to comfort, encourage, and challenge Christians all through history to be optimists in a fallen world.

The things that can go wrong in Christian service could fill an encyclopedia. Tal Bonham has recorded just a few. A note in the bulletin said, "Ladies don't forget the rummage sale. It is a good chance to get rid of those things not worth keeping around the house. Bring your ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:1-11

A Happy Ending Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Apr 1, 2021

Job is saying, now he really knows God, and has a great concept of God. He, like so many, had dragged God down into the realm of mere words. God was a subject in theology to be explained, instead of a person to be encountered.

Job is one of the masterpieces of world literature. It is studied today even in secular colleges, and students are required to write papers comparing Job's sufferings with those of the Greek god Prometheus. I know this, because I just recently loaned a commentary on Job to my neighbor who had ...read more

Scripture: Job 42:1-6

The Treasures Of The Snow Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Apr 1, 2021

That part of nature we want to focus on is--snow. There are 25 references to snow in the Bible, and we are to live by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God, and so snow is to be a part of creation that teaches us something about God.

It was one of the strangest funerals on record. Nobody was being buried, but things were being buried in a lot of little graves, and in one, the Bible was being buried. Shackleton and his men were exploring the Antarctic when they were over whelmed by the forces of nature. Their ship, Endurance, ...read more

Scripture: Job 37:1-14

Job And Self-Esteem Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Apr 1, 2021

Job's attitude toward himself forces us to wrestle with one of life's major issues, the issue of self-esteem. This is a complex issue because the whole world is in on it.

Cornelius Vanderbilt, the New York millionaire, back in 1853, entered the Moon Lake Lodge as the talk of the town. The chef was an Indian Chief named George Crum. He was one of the greatest chefs, but even he could not know everything. So when Vanderbilt ordered, what was then the newest craze ...read more

Scripture: Job 27:1-6

Why? Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Apr 1, 2021

Job does not offend God with his whys. Instead, he makes God proud of him, because of his patience and persistence in spite of having no answer to his whys.

Paul Aurandt shares this true story of James Macie. He was an illegitimate child, which is really a foolish idea, for it is the parents that are illegitimate, and not the child, but as is so often the case, the stigma of this followed him for life. The laws of England, in the 18th century, denied ...read more

Self Defense Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Apr 1, 2021

Job's friends were not just indifferent. They felt compelled to argue, scold, and reject him for his negative expressions of grief. Having no one else to defend him, Job comes to his own defense, and as his own lawyer, argues his case.

Some of you may have visited the famous Carlsbad Caverns of New Mexico. I have not, but I have read about how the ranger guides the group to a place where they are seated on stone benches. Then all of the lights go out. Suddenly it is as black as black can be. You can hear water dripping you ...read more

Justifiable Complaint Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Apr 1, 2021

There was no escapism with Job. He got no comfort by trying to deny the reality of evil. Many believers often try to pretend that there is no evil. This is not healthy at all. Job is healthy, for he condemns evil for what it is.

Disraeli, as the Prime Minister of England, was once walking with a friend. As they went along the street in London, they met a distinguished looking gentleman. Disraeli greeted him, and asked, "How is your old complaint?" The man responded that it was getting worse, and he was sure it ...read more

Discouraging Comfort Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Apr 1, 2021

The book of Job makes clear that one of life's greatest tragedies is that believers do not comfort and encourage one another, but rather are often discouraging. That is what we see Job's friends being to him.

Emilie Lorning in her novel, Swift Waters, tells the story of a young single pastor who fell in love with a beautiful young woman in his congregation. She learned to play the chimes in the tower of the church, and when she learned the pastor's favorite hymn, she would play it frequently. ...read more

Jumping To Conclusions Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Apr 1, 2021

The friends of Job explained life's sufferings, and specifically Job's sufferings, as very simple and obvious. They said there is no mystery here at all. It is clear as a bell that suffering is God's judgment on the sinner. Job is suffering, therefore, Job is a sinner.

There is a poem that I have enjoyed for many years, but I could never see how it could be used in a sermon, until I began to study the friends of Job. I want to share it with you, for it both describes them, and gives us insight into why they could be so wrong when they were so often right. It is ...read more

Sanctified Sympathy Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Apr 1, 2021

It is easier for those who have suffered deeply to be more sympathetic. Those who are more likely to be like Job's friends are those who have not suffered, and do not bother to develop the power of sympathy.

Sometimes you have to hurt others to help them. Iona Henry's case is a prime example. She had been in the hospital for 83 days on Demerol. She became dependent upon this drug for sleep, and escape, for she could not stand to think of her future without her husband and two children, all of ...read more