Sermons on Fuller:

What You Get When You Give

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Aug 15, 2011

What happens when you give of your time, talents, and money? Many ministries teach that you will receive a material blessing for material giving. I think they completely miss the mark. Paul, in this chapter, sets out a wonderful pattern of the true result

Last time we talked about the motivation behind giving, and the process for how to give: it comes from the word “generosity” which means simplicity, sincerity, and singleness. We give who we are, and what we have, back to the Lord who owns it all, for Him to take our simple gifts given ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 9:1-15

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

Who Is Better?

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Aug 29, 2011

It is human nature to compare ourselves to one another. We do it all of the time very naturally and almost without noticing it. That's what was happening in Corinth and it was giving the Corinthians a false impression about who to trust.

There is an old saying “appearances can be deceiving.” Or: “Don’t judge a book by its cover.” In the case of the Corinthians, those sayings apply very well. They fell into a trap that many of us fall prey to, using human senses to judge spiritual realities. In this ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 10:1-18

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

Why Do Bad Things Happen To Good People?

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Sep 11, 2011

This question haunts many of us, especially as Christians. We think that things should go well if we are blessed of the Lord. When bad things happen, even seemingly disconnected things like losing a job or getting into an accident, we wonder why? Paul won

Finally here in the latter half of Chapter 11, Paul defends himself to the super-apostles by listing his accomplishments. He does it very reluctantly as he should. Taking credit for what you’ve done was normative for the false teachers in Corinth but is “this age” thinking. God is ...read more

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

What To Do When You Are Surrounded Series

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Oct 1, 2012

Are there times in your life when you feel penned in on every side and there is no where to turn for relief? Do you ever cry yourself to sleep only to wake up early? If so, then these psalms are for your comfort and hope.

Many think that Psalm 3 and 4 go together. Psalm 3 was to be sung in the morning and Psalm 4 in the evening. If this is true, then the situations are likely the same—David’s fleeing from his son, Absalom, who was trying to take over the kingship of Israel and kill his own ...read more

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

When Evil Boasts Series

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Oct 14, 2012

Sometimes it feels like people who boast there is no God and they will not be accountable for what they do are everywhere. But Psalms 10, 11, & 12 show us the true character of evil and the true heart of God who hears, observes, and rescues those who take

Do you believe that there is such a thing as evil? Our culture today suggests that there is not. A recent book “Love Wins” even suggests that there is no hell or punishment for sin. I think we don’t want to accept the fact that there is evil, and most of the time it is simply ...read more

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

Waiting Series

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Oct 29, 2012

The thing we have the least patience with is waiting. When we are facing a difficulty we want instant results. When God doesn't operate on our table we get frustrated. David got frustrated too but how he handles it can help us have patience too.

Psalm 13 teaches that waiting is really hard. There is nothing worse than being in a tough space and pleading with God and nothing happens! We saw this in Psalm 10 as well when David cried: “Why do you stand so far away?” 1 David feels like God must have forgotten him in his trial. ...read more

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

Is This All There Is? Series

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Nov 4, 2012

In our world of entertainment, glitz, and glamor, we are led to believe that if we follow the pattern of this age we can get satisfaction. But in the end it is only temporary. David tells us that the satisfaction that comes from a relationship with God ha

Psalm 16 is a Miktam. We don’t know what that Hebrew word means, but it could suggest music in a “plaintive” style or a contemplative poem. This psalm is about God’s protection, praise, and provision. It is about how to live life in the here and now, and how to be assured of ...read more

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

God As Your Warrior Series

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Nov 12, 2012

No matter how deep of a hole you find yourself in, if you have a relationship with God He will hear, He will find, and He will rescue you, though the victory may not be what you expect, it is accomplishing God's will

Psalm 18 is the longest Psalm we have dealt with so far at fifty verses. It appears to have been written by David (though some argue against this) at a time after his lengthy battles with enemies that surrounded Israel and Saul’s battle against him for the kingship. It really speaks to the ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 18:1-50

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

Principals For Giving – Principals For Living Series

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Apr 11, 2011

Often times as a Christian we think that what we do only affects us. In reality the body of Christ is an intertwined unit and who we are and what we do does indeed impact others for good or not. With that in mind, the Apostle Paul gives some parting but v

Usually people ignore the final chapters of many of Paul’s letters. They are usually filled with last minute instructions, greetings, and signatures. We don’t know who many of the people are, and already know who Paul is, so we skip over these sections. But in 1st Corinthians 16 there ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 16:1-24

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

Come Out Of Hiding - Part 2

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Apr 25, 2011

For some of us, the resurrection of Jesus Christ is a reminder, not of the victory over death, but the death of victory in our lives. We fear really relishing in the resurrection because of our own failures, fears, and weaknesses. If that's you, then I've

The first Resurrection Sunday was not a happy day for the most part. For the disciples it was a day to cower in fear that they were next to be hauled away and crucified. It was a day of extreme sorrow for the women who loved Jesus so. It was a day of fear and dread for the Roman soldiers who ...read more

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

The Purpose Of Suffering

Contributed by Tom Fuller on May 2, 2011

Why do we go through hard times? Is it because God is not pleased with us? Is it that we just must suffer in order to really be deserving of God's grace? Though the reasons might be many (and those two are not among them), Paul gives us one of the most im

Having received a very stern letter from the Apostle Paul, you’d think that God’s problem church, Corinth, would have gotten their act together. The church was rife with pastor worship, division, misuse of spiritual gifts and the Lord’s supper, class distinctions, tolerance of ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 1:1-11

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

Who Do You Belong To? Series

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Sep 16, 2010

Often times we think of our society today as so different from Bible times. But it may surprise you that the things facing the Corinthians are much the same as today, and so is God's grace!

1st Corinthians was written in A.D. 56 from Ephesus at the close of Paul's 3 year residence there (Acts 20:31, 1 Corinthians 16:5-8). Paul's relationship with the Corinthian church is in Acts 18:1-18. He met Aquila and Priscilla there and taught in a house next door to the synagogue for 18 months. ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:1-9

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

Don't Worship Your Pastor Series

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Sep 20, 2010

You might never think of yourself as worshiping your pastor. But that's just what has happening in Corinth and it happens in churches all over the world to this day. What are the dangers, how to spot it, and how to avoid it are the subject of part two in

It had been only 18 months since Paul left his newly formed church at Corinth. A trusted family had filled him in on what had happened to this fledgling body: fights, divisions, class envy, a return to paganism, and out and out sin. I picture Paul pulling his hair out and tearing his clothes as he ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:10-17

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

Lesson 3: Don't Confuse The World's Values With God's Series

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Sep 27, 2010

In today's politically correct world it seems more and more Christians are swallowing some pretty bad stuff in order to 'get along.' The culture pushes back to get us to conform to the values of our culture. Paul comes against that and says you should thi

In lesson three Paul takes aim, not at superstar pastors, but the philosophies and values of the world around us. The Corinthians were very much in the middle of a culture that valued philosophy and discussion as a way to arrive at truth. Paul's time before the Areopagus in Acts 17 was like that, ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:18-31

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

Lesson 4: Don't Trust Your Mind - Trust God's Series

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Oct 4, 2010

The mind is one of the most amazing and most dangerous things we possess. It is incredibly creative, self-justifying and horribly deceiving and sick. So Paul tells us when it comes understanding God, using our minds only will never get us there.

In our series: Lessons in how NOT to be a Christian, we have seen: Lesson 1: You (and your church) do not belong to you, but to God Lesson 2: Don't worship your pastor Lesson 3: Don't confuse the world's wisdom with God's And now Lesson 4: Don't rely on your own mind Scientific ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 2:1-16

Denomination: Calvary Chapel