Sermons on Fuller:

Living Life Upside Down Series

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Jun 2, 2009

One of the hardest things we as Christians have to deal with is people who don’t like us and who do bad things to us. We think we know how to react but Paul turns life upside down as he gives us the real way to overcome our enemies.

Here are a set of principles that many of us live by without knowing it. • Each negative action towards us should be met with an overwhelming opposite reaction so that those that oppose us will be crushed and humiliated. • Be happy when others are happy. Be absent when others are ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:14-21

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

Love Your Government Neighbor Series

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Jun 14, 2009

As Christians many believe government is an evil that should be avoided or opposed. Paul encourages us to be a redemptive force for the gospel by actually getting along with governmental authorities.

As we get into chapter 13, let’s sum up where we’ve been. Chapter 12 marks a big change in Romans—going from the theological to the practical—how do we live out what we’ve learned about God and us and God’s plan? Chapter 12 could be summed up like this: “The only reasonable thing to do in response ...read more

Scripture: Romans 13:1-14

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

Loving Your Rights Or Your Right To Love Series

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Jun 22, 2009

What distractions keep you from being an effective witness for Jesus Christ? One of the chief distractions is focusing on the minor differences between us, instead of building each other up in love. Paul takes this topic head-on in Romans 14.

We’ve been talking about making ourselves available to become like God and be used by God in his Great Story. Have you ever had an important task to do—a paper to write, an assignment at work to complete, a check book that needs to be balanced? As you set yourself to that task, the phone rings, you ...read more

Scripture: Romans 14:1-4

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

Loving Your Rights Or Your Right To Love Part 2 Series

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Jun 28, 2009

We continue to look at how the Lord desires us to live in the war zone of this age - compliant with government as long as it doesn’t force us to violate God’s Word and loving to others who are not as far along as we in their walk with God.

Living as a believer in this age is like being in a war zone. It’s hostile territory. In chapters 12-15 Paul explains how we can not only exist, but do God’s will and even thrive in enemy lands. We do it by knowing our place and purpose. Our place is as a part of the body of Christ and our purpose ...read more

Scripture: Romans 14:5-23

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

Be Encouraged! Series

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Jul 5, 2009

Paul’s final theological words to the Romans hold a lot of weight. But in some ways Paul says to ’lighten up!’ when it comes to dealing with people who are different than us in the body of Christ.

We’ve been talking a lot about getting along in a hostile environment. That, to use an old adage, honey attracts more flies than vinegar. To be a compliant citizen of your nation, even when it doesn’t reflect the character of God very well, is a good thing because it allows the spotlight to be on ...read more

Scripture: Romans 15:1-33

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

Entitlement Mentality Series

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Apr 19, 2009

Humans by nature feel a sense of entitlement, that by our very existence we are owed something - and that includes by God. Romans 9 is controversial in that it totally blows the entitlement mentality out of the water, but also surprising when we learn of

The word “entitlement” has become a part of the public discourse in America these days. Some people suggest that the United States is becoming a society of entitlement, where everything we need or want is owed to us. When we don’t get what we want we feel we have been treated unfairly. It’s a ...read more

Scripture: Romans 9:1-33

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

The Word Speaks Louder Than Actions Series

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Apr 26, 2009

Has God really rejected Israel forever? It’s a touchy subject, but one Paul deals with strongly in these chapters. If God has not cast them away forever, then how do they, and us, reach God? By the Word.

We’ve been talking about Israel. There are many believe that God has turned His back on those who were His people. I believe Romans 9-11 provide proof that this is not the case. Paul was so concerned about his brethren that if would have become accursed if they would come to faith. He continues ...read more

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

The Living Sacrifice Series

Contributed by Tom Fuller on May 4, 2009

Are you being impressed upon by the outside, or motivated by an inward change in character? That’s at the heart of these first very important verses of Romans 12.

God’s mercy leads us to give ourselves willingly into His hands as a sacrifice to be used in God’s service. This happens by a two step process: stopping the process of conformation to the world, and encouraging the process of transformation into someone who thinks like God. As we move forward we ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:1-2

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

Finding Your Place Series

Contributed by Tom Fuller on May 10, 2009

How do you get a sense of well being, identity and purpose? Is it by how you feel inside and how you compare to others outside? Paul gives us some wonderful advice on how to deal with this as a member of the body of Christ.

Last time we talked about how to respond to God’s mercy—by making ourselves available to God by putting ourselves on the altar as a living sacrifice, shunning the molding of the world on our character externally, while embracing the transformation of our character internally by the presence of the ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:3-8

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

Show Or Show Off? Series

Contributed by Tom Fuller on May 25, 2009

Many times when we think of God using us and us using spiritual gifts we think of some pretty impressive stuff - miracles, prophecy, healings and the like. But Paul gives us some great instruction about the color of the ways God uses us.

We’ve come to this point in our study through Romans by seeing that since God has had so much mercy on us that it is only reasonable for us to make ourselves available to Him to help spread the truth of God’s love and gift of salvation. Last time we saw that we need an accurate look at ourselves ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:9-13

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

Incomplete Vision Series

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Apr 9, 2012

Jesus asks a crucial question of His disciples - a question that every single person in all of creation and all of history must answer. How you answer may be influenced by a crucial lack in your life - a lack Je

Resurrection Sunday is a day of celebration. Today, in the 21st century, we sing upbeat songs, we put out lilies, and we exchange greetings like “He is risen. He is risen indeed!” It is a day of great joy. Such was not the atmosphere on the very first Resurrection Sunday. For most ...read more

Scripture: Mark 8:22-33

Denomination: Calvary Chapel