Sermons on Chris Tiller:

Saul And Ananias

Contributed by Chris Tiller on Oct 24, 2005

Christ’s call to Saul on the Road to Damascus and Christ’s call to Ananias to visit Saul in Damascus both provide insight into the nature of Christ’s call.

This passage is most typically known as Saul’s conversion story—his Damascus Road Experience. It describes a dramatic encounter between Saul and Jesus on the road to Damascus…the encounter that started Saul down a new path that would make him the most prolific evangelist of the early church and ...read more

Scripture: Acts 9:1-19

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Just For You -- For The Common Good

Contributed by Chris Tiller on Oct 26, 2005

Encouragement to explore and develop the gifts of the Spirit—not as a responsibility to weigh you down, but as a way for you to love and honor the God who loves you.

I have a few questions for you. You don’t have to answer out loud. No show of hands required. You don’t need to nod your head. You don’t need to shake your head. But these are not rhetorical questions. They are real questions, serious questions, important questions. What do you think God ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 12:4-11

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

How (Questions In The Aftermath Of Hurricane Katrina)

Contributed by Chris Tiller on Oct 30, 2005

How could God have let this happen? How can we speak to God of what has happened? How can we respond to the need before us?

Lamentations 2:11-13, 18-19; 3:19-23, 40-42, 46-57 The Lamentations were written by someone, probably Jeremiah, who observed the devastation of Jerusalem following the Babylonian invasion in 586 BC. Jerusalem was literally leveled. The temple was destroyed. Anybody who was anybody was carried ...read more

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Reflections On Halloween

Contributed by Chris Tiller on Oct 31, 2005

How does a Christian deal with Halloween in a way that glorifies God?

Halloween can be a troubling holiday. Many of us carry fond memories of Halloweens long ago, back when we were growing up. Many of us remember it as innocent fun—a special day just for children. I remember dressing up in silly costumes and going door to door begging for candy. When I was ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:8-14

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Between Two Worlds

Contributed by Chris Tiller on Nov 1, 2005

The values, priorities, and expectations of the kingdoms of this world are completely at odds with the values, priorities, and expectations of the Kingdom of God. Conflict is inevitable.

During his last night with his disciples, before his arrest, Jesus concluded his teaching with these words: “I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) In his Second Letter to the ...read more

Scripture: Acts 9:19-31

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Prince Of Peace...?

Contributed by Chris Tiller on Nov 15, 2005

A look at Jesus’ statements about coming to bring not peace, but division.

With this speech, Jesus certainly grabs our attention. “Do you think that I have come to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division.” It’s not exactly what most of us come to church on Sunday morning hoping to hear. To a large extent our families are what make us who we are, where we ...read more

Scripture: Luke 12:49-53

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Can You Imagine?

Contributed by Chris Tiller on Nov 15, 2005

A sermon for International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church.

(Show video clip for International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church.) It wasn’t long after the church’s first Pentecost that the first follower of Christ was martyred for his faith. With furious opponents gathered around him, Stephen “looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God.” (Acts ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:8-18

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Citizenship Day

Contributed by Chris Tiller on Nov 17, 2005

In his letter to the Philippians, Paul writes: “But our citizenship is in heaven." This sermon explores that idea.

When I was in college, one of my friends, who immigrated to this country from South Korea with his family when he was 14, became a citizen of the U.S. First he lived in this country for some time, learning the language and gaining familiarity with its customs. Then he went through a period of ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 1:3-14

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Slave To Sin Or Slave To Righteousness

Contributed by Chris Tiller on Nov 17, 2005

Simon the Sorcerer showed wrong understanding and wrong motivation in his desire to purchase the gift of the Spirit. Some times bad examples make good teachers.

Luke is a story-teller, a narrator, a writer of historical biography. Paul, in his letters, provides guidance and encouragement through mostly through direct teaching—exposing false teachings and explaining right understanding. Luke, in his gospel and in Acts, provides guidance and encouragement ...read more

Scripture: Acts 8:9-25

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Stephen--Full Life, Good Death

Contributed by Chris Tiller on Nov 17, 2005

Stephen is an example of living and dying (1) without fear, (2) without bitterness, (3) focused on Christ, (4)immersed in scripture.

They say that two things are inevitable: death and taxes. The task of an accountant is to minimize the taxes people pay. I read somewhere that the task of a pastor is to prepare people for a good death. Of course, this statement might be overly simplistic theologically. It might be overly ...read more

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Perfect Priest, Perfect Sacrifice

Contributed by Chris Tiller on Nov 17, 2005

An explanation of the sin offering described in Leviticus 4 & 5 and how this relates to the role of Christ as the perfect priest and the perfect sacrifice.

In Romans 7:23, the Apostle Paul writes, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” That’s the take-home message of this sermon. If you have to leave early, or if talking about blood makes you squeamish, or if the Levitical details of the ...read more

Scripture: Leviticus 22:1-33

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

From Fear To Courage To Perseverance

Contributed by Chris Tiller on Nov 19, 2005

Falling deeper in love with Jesus (from knowledge about him, to conviction that he lives, to identification with his suffering) moves us from fear to courage to perseverance.

This passage in Acts 5 describes the third time that the apostles risked arrest because of their association with Jesus. The first time that the apostles stood and faced arrest, they didn’t… That is, they didn’t stand, they turned and ran. And they didn’t face their opponents, they scattered ...read more

Scripture: Acts 5:17-42

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Five Short Stories Of Grace

Contributed by Chris Tiller on Nov 19, 2005

Five stories from Old Testament that demonstrate God’s graciousness. (Grace is not just a New Testament concept.)

In the second century, a hundred years or so after the death of Jesus and the birth of the church, lived a man named Marcion. Marcion was a Christian. Well, not exactly. Marcion called himself a Christian, but he had his own perspective about what that meant, a perspective shared by his ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 103:1-22

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

To Each One Grace Has Been Given

Contributed by Chris Tiller on Nov 19, 2005

If Christ brought you to this congregation, then Christ has given you a special grace to serve in a way that is needed within this congregation.

Early on in my seminary career, I was asked by a committee charged with my nurture as a fledgling pastor-wannabe about my role models for ministry. “Who,” the committee asked, “did I consider to be an example to follow?” “Who was my role model for ministry?” I guess it was a reasonable question, ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:7-16

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Magi's Guide To Following A Star

Contributed by Chris Tiller on Nov 19, 2005

God just might give you a star to capture your attention and to guide you. And if you follow that star, everything just might change. An intimate encounter with Jesus has a way of doing that to people.

I love the story of the magi. There was a time when the magi lived far away from Jesus. They were given a special star to capture their attention and to guide them. They followed the star, and it changed everything. An intimate encounter with Jesus has a way of doing that to people. I love the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:1-12

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed