Sermons on Fuller:

The Way Down

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Jul 3, 2007

In one of the saddest chapters of the Bible, Israel first neglects, then abandons their relationship with Yahweh. Through it all, though He remains faithful to them and stands ready to help when they cry out, just like with us.

I was 16 years old. It was my first "real" job after working as a newspaper delivery person for many years. I worked for a dry cleaner establishment that (I found out later) was about to go under. My job was to deliver cleaned drapes to customers. I was given the keys to an old van and told to take ...read more

Scripture: Judges 2:1-23

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

The Work Or The Worker Series

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Jul 17, 2007

Which matters most to you - doing the job or getting the credit? That’s what Barak faces in a battle against Israel’s enemies. He makes the right choice - do we? Also - letting God do a complete work of healing in our lives.

Chapters 4 and 5 of Judges are a real bright spot in a book that is mostly bleak and depressing. Not only do we see a great victory but it also features some real role reversals. This time it’s not the guys who shine, but the gals. We have a woman, Deborah, who is both a judge and a prophetess. I ...read more

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

Making Connections Series

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Jul 13, 2009

For some, Paul’s greetings at the end of Romans might seem boring and not relevant. To the contrary, Paul’s connections with other believers offers us a rich tapestry of life and service in the 1st century church.

Paul’s letter to the Romans was not merely a theological treatise on God’s plan to rescue mankind from evil. He wrote it to people he had (mostly) never met, in a city where he had never been. The purpose of his letter was that of introduction. “Hi, I’m Paul, and this is what I believe.” In ...read more

Scripture: Romans 16:1-27

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

Jesus-The Son Of David Series

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Jul 19, 2009

If you look at it one way, Jesus came from a very dysfunctional family and a dysfunctional family line. If God has set about to save the world, shouldn’t He have made things a little better along the way? Actually, it’s really a cool part of God’s salvati

Matthew’s gospel was one of the first written in the decades after the resurrection (50 A.D.). At the time the many forms of Judaism were on the wane. After the fall of Jerusalem, in fact, only two remained: one was Rabbinic Judaism (which came from the Pharisees) and Jewish Christianity. It was ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:1-25

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

Matthew 2 Joseph's Difficult Road Series

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Aug 3, 2009

Many times we think of Mary’s role in the birth of Jesus, but Matthew records the difficult road Joseph had to travel in protecting this little life that the enemy wanted to snuff out.

Have you noticed that the first chapters of Matthew are really Joseph’s story? Luke records Mary’s version of events and has her genealogy, but Matthew one is Joseph’s lineage, and her in Chapter 2 we find God again speaking to Joseph about caring for the safety of the Messiah. As a father, the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:1-23

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

Handling Temptation Series

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Aug 16, 2009

One of the most difficult things for a Christian is to resist temptation. Satan brings temptations to us and tries to make it easy and logical for us to fulfill legitimate needs. Jesus shows us just how crafty he is, and how to resist.

We love the great times, don’t we? The times when we feel God’s Spirit flowing through us and when others recognize the Lord in us and rejoice. Wouldn’t it be great if every day was like the baptism of Jesus—with the Spirit of God descending like a dove on us and God telling us He is pleased with ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 4:1-48

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

Paul's Pep Talk Series

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Oct 26, 2008

Sometimes in the face of difficulty we need some encouragement to stay the course. That’s what Paul gives us as we prepares for a very difficult time in his life.

I dislike performance evaluations. (Performance Evaluation Dictionary). Giving or getting employee evaluations are a little like going to dentist, but without the Novocain. I like coaching better. I took golf lessons as a youngster. I really liked it when the coach would come over and put his hands ...read more

Scripture: Acts 20:1-38

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

Walking Headlong Into Trouble Series

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Nov 2, 2008

What do you do when you know trouble is coming? Do you run the other way as fast as you can? Paul didn’t and his example helps us when we face difficulty or when those close to us face trials.

Did trouble take Paul by surprise? It shouldn’t have. Back in Acts 9, right at his conversion, Jesus made it clear to then Saul what his future would be like. He told Ananias, who was sent to pray for Saul, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings ...read more

Scripture: Acts 21:1-40

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

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