Sermons on Fuller:

How's Your Soil? Series

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Jan 10, 2010

Jesus presents a familiar story with a real spiritual punch - take a listen and figure out if you are rocky, weedy, pathy, or pliable. It may be more significant than you ever dreamed.

Last winter I collected bags of leaves as a covering and mulch for our garden. I got the bags from a street corner where someone had raked them off their lawn. I spread them around and was satisfied. Then in the spring when it was time to plant our beans, pumpkins, tomatoes, and cucumbers, a ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:1-23

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

Getting Into The Weeds Series

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Jan 18, 2010

Why does evil exist in the world and what are we to do about it? Jesus tells a good story and has some sober advice as we look at ourselves - are we weeds or wheat?

Today we are going to talk about three parables that give us an idea of the effect of the gospel in the world. Last time we looked at the parable of the sower, which describes how the individual is or is not open to the gospel. Now we turn outward to look at how the gospel spreads. First century ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:24-33

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

Treasure Island Series

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Jan 24, 2010

Just how valuable is Jesus to you? Is He more of a common rock you use to skip across the water or buried treasure so valuable he is worth everything you own and more?

Most American kids love pirates. I was also among them—I’m not sure if it was the adventure of the open seas, the outfits, or those great accents that did it for me. Of course, the reality of pirates is something quite different than the romanticized “Pirates of the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:44-58

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

Overcome Series

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Feb 1, 2010

How does suffering affect our ability to minister? As Jesus is overcome with grief how is it that He ended up with compassion, not bitterness?

Back in 2006 my wife and I were presented with an opportunity—go to Kenya and minister to folks who have been unreached by other organizations. On one hand it was an obvious opportunity and a way to serve God by spreading the gospel. On the other hand I was scared to death. We were going to a ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 14:1-21

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

Dealing With Disputes Series

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Sep 14, 2008

Whether your dispute is with another believer or with a whole church, there are vital lessons to handling conflict contained in Acts 15. Learn how to find God’s will, keep your integrity, and still be a family.

Raise your hand if you have ever had a dispute with another Christian. Hopefully we all raised our hands because if we have never had a dispute then we are not really actively plugged into the body life in Jesus. Disputes occur for a number of reasons, some good, some bad. Often disputes come from ...read more

Scripture: Acts 15:1-41

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

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

A Servant's Heart Series

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Jul 27, 2008

The greatest man or woman of God can perform the most menial tasks willingly. Plus, the most lowly of jobs can actually be the most mighty works for God if you combine two things: wisdom and God’s Spirit. Learn how it worked in the life of Stephen.

In a lot of ways chapters 6 and 7 mirror the life of Jesus Christ. Jesus was anointed by the Spirit, chosen to serve, healed and performed miracles while contending with the intransigent religious leadership and preaching the gospel, then was arrested and tried for attacking Moses (supposedly) and ...read more

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

The Amazing Incredible Flexible Philip Series

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Aug 4, 2008

Does life happen to you or do you happen to life? See how Philip adjusted to changing life circumstances and how learning from him can help us cope too.

How you look at life really can determine whether you act on life or life acts on you. Is life a series of unrelated coincidences? Is it the cosmos is conspiring to bring about the most pain and suffering possible? Is it something you command like an army to bend to your will? None of these are ...read more

Scripture: Acts 8:1-40

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

Seeker Or Saver? Series

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Aug 18, 2008

Are you a person who resists change or seeks it? Peter and Cornelius were two such people. Learn how God intervened to bring truth and life to each.

There’s a phrase that I really hate, but one that I’ve heard often, “We’ve always done it this way.” Change comes hard to some people, even when presented with a new reality that requires change. They’re the kind that say, “I don’t mind change as long as everything stays the same.” There’s ...read more

Scripture: Acts 10:1-48

Denomination: Calvary Chapel