Sermons on Christus Victor:

Pay Up Or Pack Up Series

Contributed by Victor Yap on Jul 27, 2003

Parables of Eternal Life, Part 7 of 9

PAY UP OR PACK UP (MATTHEW 21:33-44) US News and World Report (3/31/97) polled 1,000 people several years ago on who they thought were people “very likely” or “somewhat likely” to go to heaven. The person most likely to go to heaven was none other than Mother Teresa, who garnered 79 percent of the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 21:32-46

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Buy Oil While The Sun Shines Series

Contributed by Victor Yap on Jul 27, 2003

Parables of Eternal Life, Part 8 of 9

BUY OIL WHILE THE SUN SHINES (MATTHEW 25:1-13) A good friend called me shortly on the Saturday afternoon exactly a week before the day of my wedding. He asked hesitatingly, “What are you doing?” I sensed something was not right and asked him what he meant. After a brief pause he asked meekly: ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:1-13

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Too Little, Too Late Series

Contributed by Victor Yap on Jul 27, 2003

Parables of Eternal Life, Part 9 of 9

TOO LITTLE, TOO LATE (MATT. 25:31-46) Shortly after the Pope had apologized to the nation of Israel for the treatment of Jews by the Catholic Church over the years, Ehud Barak, the leader of Israel, sent back a message to the College of Cardinals. The proposal was for a friendly game of golf to be ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:31-46

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Every Saint Has A Past And Every Sinner A Future Series

Contributed by Victor Yap on Jul 29, 2003

Jesus: Freind of Sinners, Part 1 of 7

4. FRIENDS IN LOWLY PLACES (LUKE 5:27-32) On his trip to Hawaii, a hungry Tony Campolo unwittingly made his way at 3:30 in the morning to a seedy part of town for a snack, to be surrounded by eight or nine prostitutes who had just taken the night off. He overheard a prostitute saying to her ...read more

Scripture: Luke 5:27-32

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Blessed Are Those Who Mourn Series

Contributed by Victor Yap on Jul 29, 2003

Jesus: Friend of Sinners, Part 2 of 7.

BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO MOURN (LUKE 7:36-50) I had known for quite a while an elderly man who had two sons. The older son was the valedictorian of his school, a researcher at a Forbes 500 company and a visiting professor at a graduate school. The younger son paled in comparison; he was an average ...read more

Scripture: Luke 7:36-50

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Shepherd And Overseer Of Our Souls Series

Contributed by Victor Yap on Jul 29, 2003

Jesus: Friend of Sinners, Part 5 of 7

THE SHEPHERD AND OVERSEER OF OUR SOULS (LUKE 15:1-7) An elderly farmer was brought into the hospital because he appeared confused and was thought to have had a stroke. Attempting to assess his mental state, the doctor asked, “If you have a hundred sheep in a pasture and seven escape, how many will ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:1-7

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Sinner's Prayer Series

Contributed by Victor Yap on Jul 29, 2003

Jesus: Friend of Sinners, Part 6 of 7

THE SINNER’S PRAYER (LUKE 18:9-14) Famed Holocaust novelist Elie Wiesel tells the story of the great rabbi Haim-Gedalia of Upshpitzin, who interceded fervently with God for an innkeeper who was notorious for his many sins. “Very well, I forgive him,” said the Almighty. The rabbi was pleased with ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:9-14

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Loving People And Using Things Series

Contributed by Victor Yap on Jul 29, 2003

Jesus: Friend of Sinners, Part 7 of 7.

LOVING PEOPLE AND USING THINGS (LUKE 19:1-10) One of the greatest novels written, as well as my favorite Broadway musical, is “Les Miserables,” the story of Jean Valjean’s transformation from an uncaring and unfeeling man into a kind, noble, generous, sacrificial and selfless man later in life. He ...read more

Scripture: Luke 19:1-10

Denomination: Independent/Bible

It Only Takes A Spark Series

Contributed by Victor Yap on Sep 17, 2003

Nehemiah, Pt. 1

IT ONLY TAKES A SPARK: FROM ABSENCE TO AWAKENING (NEHEMIAH 1) William J. Bennett’s “The Book of Virtues” tells of how England’s King Richard III lost his kingdom in the late 15th century. King Richard III had sent his groom to the blacksmith to ready a horse for battle; however, the blacksmith had ...read more

Scripture: Nehemiah 1:1-11

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Put It In Writing Series

Contributed by Victor Yap on Sep 17, 2003

Nehemiah, Pt. 2

PUT IT IN WRITING: FROM ASPIRATION TO ASSIGNMENT (NEHEMIAH 2:1-9) At the height of the phone wars, AT & T, MCI, and Sprint advertised their advantage over another in the papers, on TV, and through telemarketing. Many people were bombarded with slogans like Get 100 Free Minutes, Save 20% or ...read more

Scripture: Nehemiah 2:1-9

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Only Thing Constant Series

Contributed by Victor Yap on Sep 17, 2003

Nehemiah, Pt. 3

THE ONLY THING CONSTANT IS CHANGE: FROM AMBITION TO ADVANCEMENT (NEHEMIAH 2:11-20) In the movie Braveheart about Scotland’s struggle for independence from the English at the turn of the 14th century, William Wallace attempted to persuade the Scottish nobles to discontinue their ties with the ...read more

Scripture: Nehemiah 4:1-19

Denomination: Independent/Bible

No More Mr. Nice Guy

Contributed by Victor Yap on Sep 17, 2003

Nehemiah, Pt. 4

NO MORE MR. NICE GUY: FROM ALARM TO ASSERTION (NEHEMIAH 4) I went into a small post office in Pasadena that had only two workers on duty. Taped to the side of the sales window was a smiley face minus the smile. In its place was a glum, flat, expressionless line of a smile, with words on top of the ...read more

Scripture: Nehemiah 4:1-23

Denomination: Independent/Bible

You Cannot Win Them All Series

Contributed by Victor Yap on Oct 15, 2003

Saul, Pt. 1

YOU CANNOT WIN THEM ALL (1 SAMUEL 9:15-10:27) When Christian Herter was governor of Massachusetts, he was running hard for a second term in office. One day, after a busy morning chasing votes he arrived at a church barbecue. It was late afternoon and Herter was famished. As Herter moved down the ...read more

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Life Is A Test Series

Contributed by Victor Yap on Oct 15, 2003

Saul, Pt. 3

LIFE IS A TEST (1 SAMUEL 13:5-15) There are many tests in life: death of loved ones, getting the pink slip and losing a stable job, to name the most stressful. One of the most stressful periods of my life was when I returned to full-time continuing theological education. My savings dried up after ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 13:5-15

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Trust And Obey Series

Contributed by Victor Yap on Oct 15, 2003

Saul, Pt. 4

TRUST AND OBEY (1 SAMUEL 15) I love mangoes. A ripe mango is one of the tastiest fruits around. However, the problem with supermarket mangoes is that most are never ripe - they are usually green, not yellow or golden. The buyer has to put the mangoes in a brown bag to ripen it. Lately, I use the ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 15:1-35

Denomination: Independent/Bible