Sermons on Fuller:

Facing The Court Series

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Nov 16, 2008

The Apostle Paul has put himself in harms way and now stands before a Roman court. Thanks to the Lord working through other people, he is bold to share his faith - a boldness we can have too.

As we saw in verse 11 of chapter 23, Jesus’ will was for Paul to go to Rome. Paul may have not known just how he was going to get there but here he was in Roman custody, having barely escaped being torn to death twice—first by the Asian Jews in the Temple and second by the Sanhedrin itself. What ...read more

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

The Escape Button Series

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Nov 24, 2008

We learn from the Apostle Paul that as we mature as a Christian it becomes less about us and what we get and more about the Lord and what we give for Him, including ourselves.

It’s been my experience in the 30+ years I’ve been a follower of Jesus Christ, that there are two major stages in the maturity of a Christian, and within those major stages are two parts. What Can I Get For me from the Lord (it’s about me finding blessings for my life) In me from the Lord (it’s ...read more

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

Shipwreck Series

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Dec 14, 2008

The Apostle Paul is thrown into (literally) a very tough spot while on his way to possible execution in Rome. Why does God allow turmoil upon turmoil in our lives and how can he use it for His (and our) good?

Recently Margaret and I had the opportunity to spend some time at sea. At times all you could see was ocean. There were no islands or land of any kind in sight. All you had was the rolling waves. I thought what it must have been like for the Apostle Paul—on his way to Rome where he would most ...read more

Scripture: Acts 27:1-44

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

Shake It Off Series

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Dec 29, 2008

Paul safely escapes shipwreck only to have a snake come out of the fire and bite him. Instead of panicking or making a big show of how "bullet proof" he was, the Apostle simply goes about the business of serving God. It’s a great lesson for us when we fac

Doesn’t it seem like something (or someone) didn’t want Paul to reach Rome? Angry mobs, corrupt leaders (both Israeli and Roman), then even the wind and waves seem to conspire to destroy Paul or crash him up against the rocks—anything to keep him from reaching God’s intended destination. But as ...read more

Scripture: Acts 28:1-31

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

Knowing Your Place Series

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Jan 4, 2009

Paul the Apostle knew who he was (and was not) and his job in the kingdom. It’s his passion for his job that led him to write to a group of people he’d never met, in order to introduce himself and the theology of grace to them. It encourages us to know ou

I think it is great to study the book of Romans just after leaving Acts. Much of Acts is devoted to what Paul did—whereas in Romans we get to see how Paul thinks. Paul wrote the letter in about A.D. 57, which coincides with one of his visits to Corinth (Acts 20). Paul was looking ahead to the next ...read more

Scripture: Romans 1:1-15

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

The Power And The Shame Series

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Jan 11, 2009

Paul lays out the entire book of Romans in just two verses and gives his reason for excitement about the gospel, an attitude that can infect us as well.

How ‘bout them Blazers! They beat Golden State 113-100 before a sellout crowd of over twenty thousand in the Rose Garden. The Portland Trailblazers are now 22-14 for the season, inching up on first place Denver in their division. Portland is a basketball town once again. The team is winning and ...read more

Scripture: Romans 1:16-17

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

Man Is Basically Good Series

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Jan 18, 2009

Thought that might get your attention. The debate about the goodness of man rages, as does the arguments for the existence of God. Paul takes on both in this very hard hitting section.

How can you know you are dying unless someone tells you ‘you have a terminal disease’? How do you know you need to be set free unless someone tells you ‘you are a captive’? How can you tell something is wrong unless someone tells you what is right? That’s the essence of the rest of Romans 1. Before ...read more

Scripture: Romans 1:18-32

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

Judgment Series

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Jan 26, 2009

Many people have a hard time understanding or accepting the idea of God as a judge. We learn about judgment and the nature of God in this section. The news actually is good!

There’s probably one question I get more than any other from those who do not yet know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior: “How can a loving God send anyone to hell. How can a loving God judge anyone? Didn’t Jesus say ‘judge not lest ye be judged’?” Judgment is a very difficult subject to talk ...read more

Scripture: Romans 2:1-11

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

Justification Series

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Feb 1, 2009

How do you know if your good is good enough? What do you compare your goodness with to know? Get answers to these questions as Paul bursts some "human" bubbles.

Many years ago, prior to 9-11, as a reporter I would need to go to crime scenes or get into events in order to get good shots and interviews—do my job essentially. But sometimes there were security types who somehow didn’t believe that a news truck, news camera, and reporter/photographer made up an ...read more

Scripture: Romans 2:12-29

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

Humanity's Greatest Folly - God's Great Gift Series

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Feb 8, 2009

Do you know what are human’s three great faults? It leads us to know why we can never reach God ourselves. But we also see in chapter three how God does what we cannot.

There are three great faults in humanity—three great reasons why we have such a hard time as a race accepting the good news of Jesus Christ. Those reasons are that we are self sufficient, self justifying, and self focused. Self sufficient means we can do it ourselves, we can create goodness, we can ...read more

Scripture: Romans 3:1-31

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

Plan B Series

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Sep 21, 2008

Do you ever get into a situation where you are trying to follow God’s will but things just don’t seem to work out? If so, you are in good company. Find out how the Lord used a pinball to guide Paul, and you!

We’d love to get an email from God with our day all planned out but it doesn’t work that way. And so we seek God and move forward—only to run into road blocks and rivers and dead ends. So what gives? Does the fact that things don’t work out perfectly mean we don’t hear God or are somehow not ...read more

Scripture: Acts 16:1-40

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

How Do You Hear The Word? Part 1 Series

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Sep 29, 2008

When God’s Word is communicated, the state of your mind can greatly affect how your heart receives what God is saying. We have the first part in a discussion from Acts 17 on the ways the Bible is communicated and received.

Chapter 17 gives us three glimpses at how people process the Word of God. Isn’t contrast great? Medical science uses contrast to find anomalies in the body, and here we use contrast to see the different approaches people take to the Word of God and the gospel of Jesus Christ. We’ll look at the ...read more

Scripture: Acts 17:1-15

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

How Do You Receive The Word Part 2 Series

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Oct 5, 2008

The philosophers of Paul’s day are not really that much different from what we see in the world around us in a post-Christian society. How Paul addressed them can help us in dealing with people who collect thoughts like Matchbox cars.

What did you collect as a child? I collected a number of things, pennies, model trains, marbles, and Matchbox® cars. I would wait anxiously until my mother would drive me down to the toy store so I could drool over the latest and greatest tiny little car or truck. I used to show off my more ...read more

Scripture: Acts 17:16-34

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

Finding Friends In Low Places Series

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Oct 12, 2008

Do you ever find yourself in a place where nothing is going right? The Apostle Paul came to Corinth in just such a state. Learn how God brought him help and fellowship just when he needed it.

The recent plunges by the world stock markets, bank failures, fortunes lost, even suicides by financial planners—all bring back chilling reminders of the Great Depression. 25% of Americans were unemployed. People couldn’t find work that lasted and many people lost their homes. Discouragement was at ...read more

Scripture: Acts 18:1-28

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

Firing On All Cylinders Series

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Oct 19, 2008

Finally after years of struggle, Paul sees victory after victory, even amidst tough opposition in Ephesus. It is an affirmation of his apostleship. What happens as God begins to work more through you than on you?

Chapter 19 could be called the High Point in Paul’s ministry. In this chapter he goes to the place he may have wanted to go way back at the beginning: Ephesus. God confirms his authority as an apostle by healing, his reputation as an apostle through mention by demons, vindication of his ministry ...read more

Scripture: Acts 19:1-41

Denomination: Calvary Chapel