Sermons on J Gordon Melton:

Talk Is Cheap

Contributed by Gordon Pike on Mar 6, 2019

Actions or works may not create faith but they can reveal the substance and form of a person’s faith. To me, works is our faith made visible. “For just as a body without the spirit is dead” … a corpse … “so faith without works is also dead” … a corpse (James 2:26).

[Put up picture of me on screen.] Let me tell you a little bit about that man in the photo. He was 40 years old when that picture was taken. He was 20 months sober at the time. Well … “sober” is not the right word. He was a dry drunk” … which means that he hadn’t picked up a drink in 20 ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:18-25, Deuteronomy 15:15-17, James 2:14-26

Denomination: United Methodist

Only You Can Prevent Forest Fires Series

Contributed by Gordon Pike on Mar 10, 2019

If I recognize that my ability to think, to speak, and to share those thoughts comes from God, then I should be very careful of how I use it, don’t you think? How many of you use the gift that God gave you to think about the gift that God gave you … the gift of thought.

“In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep. While a wind from God swept over the face of the waters. Then God said, ‘Let there be light’ and there was light … and God saw that the light was good” (Genesis ...read more

Scripture: James 3:7-12

Denomination: United Methodist

I Was Just Thinking Series

Contributed by Gordon Pike on Mar 13, 2019

As James points out, there are two kinds of wisdom: Godly wisdom (from above) and worldly wisdom. True wisdom is a gift from God and what we are doing with it today is not how God intended us to use it.

As many of you have probably heard before, the Greeks had three different words to describe three different kinds of love: “Eros” … where we get our English word “erotic” from. It denotes a sexual sort of love. “Agape” … denotes a spiritual or unconditional type of love … usually used to ...read more

Scripture: James 3:13-18, 1 Corinthians 1:20-21

Denomination: United Methodist

The Devil Goes To Church Too Series

Contributed by Gordon Pike on Mar 21, 2019

Satan’s aim is to destroy our faith and to destroy our church. If he can destroy our faith, then we’ll destroy our church for him. And if he destroys the church, our faith will follow.

The Devil goes to church … did you know that? He has his favorite pew. He has his favorite hymns. He loves to see a church stuck in a rut because that’s a dying church. He loves a divided church because constant conflict keeps the church distracted from what it’s supposed to be doing. He’s ...read more

Scripture: James 4:1-12, James 1:27, 1 John 3:10, 1 John 2:15-16

Denomination: United Methodist

Our Prayers Have Been Answered Series

Contributed by Gordon Pike on Apr 11, 2019

Throughout the Hebrew scriptures, the promise of a messiah is clearly given. These messianic prophecies were made hundreds, sometimes thousands, of years before Jesus Christ was born … and clearly Jesus Christ is the only person who has ever walked this earth who could fulfill them.

“Jerusalem, Jerusalem … the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it!” (Matthew 23: 37). Prophetic and chilling words given the one who spoke them. They are the last words that the Lord Jesus Christ would address to His beloved city, Jerusalem … the city that hailed Him ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 23:37-39, Micah 5:2, Isaiah 7:14, Psalm 22:17, Isaiah 53:5-9, Luke 19:41-44  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: United Methodist

Death & Life

Contributed by Gordon Curley on Dec 2, 2018

A simple overview of these two chapters - PowerPoint slides to accompany this talk are available on request – email: gcurley@gcurley.info

SERMON OUTLINE: Death & Failure (chapter 20): • Death of Miriam (vs 1). • Failure of Moses & Aaron (vs 2-13). • Failure of Moses in negotiation (vs 14-21). • Death of Aaron (vs 28). Life & Conquest (chapter 21): • God gives victory (vs 1-3). • God gives water (vs 10-21). • God gives ...read more

Scripture: Numbers 20:1-29, Numbers 21:1-35, John 3:13-16

Denomination: Brethren

It's All Over But The Praying Series

Contributed by Gordon Pike on Dec 5, 2018

Keep praying always and don’t lose heart. Today we’re going to listen in as Jesus explains to His disciples why it is so important to persist in prayer … and then we’re going to look at what we miss out on when we don’t spend dedicated time with the Lord each day.

As a courtesy, a guest preacher was asked to give the offertory. Seeking to impress his captive audience, he went on and on … and on. Finally, one man leaned over to his neighbor in the pew and said: I don’t know about you but I’d double my offering right now if he’d just shut up!” You might ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:1-8, Luke 11:5-8

Denomination: United Methodist

A Promise Made Series

Contributed by Gordon Pike on Dec 13, 2018

A faith promise prioritizes our faith, it is a sign of our trust and faith in God, and it decreases our faith in money and increases our faith in God. When we make our commitments, God doesn’t want us to do so out of guilt, compulsion, or fear from our love for Him, for His people, for His church.

Anyone here remember … or have … a “Magic 8 Ball” when they were growing up? It looked like a giant, black number 8 pool ball only it was filled liquid and had a little window where the “8” would be. You could ask it the deep questions of life and it would give you the answer. Does Cindy like ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 9:5-7, 2 Corinthians 8:5-20

Denomination: United Methodist

"o Little Town Of Bethlehem" Series

Contributed by Gordon Pike on Dec 19, 2018

We need to go to Bethlehem … the Bethlehem of long ago. We need to find the peace and hope that was born there in Jesus Christ … and Advent and hymns like Brooks’ “O Little Town of Bethlehem” can take us there in mind and heart, amen?

On Thursday, November 29, the people living in and around Anchorage, Alaska, went about their lives as usual – working … shopping … watching TV … talking on the phone ... making plans … surfing the net … hinging out with friends. Just going about life. Totally unaware that 3.9 billion – that’s ...read more

Scripture: Micah 5:1-5, Matthew 24:37-39

Denomination: United Methodist

"o Come, All Ye Faithful" Series

Contributed by Gordon Pike on Dec 24, 2018

When we sing hymns and carols like “O Come, All Ye Faithful,” we who are faithful, joyful, and triumphant join with the shepherds and the angels and all the others who are faithful, joyful, and triumphant in praising and adoring our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!

On Friday, November 30th, George H.W. Bush, the 41st President of the United States went on to be with his Lord and Maker … the Creator of all that seen and unseen … the Eternal President of the Universe. I’m sure he was greeted by family … especially his wife, Barbara, who died on April 17th … ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:8-20, Psalm 100:1-2, Hebrews 4:14-16

Denomination: United Methodist

"joy To The World Series

Contributed by Gordon Pike on Jan 8, 2019

Has the Bethlehem child changed your life? If He is your Lord and King … if He reigns over your heart and soul … if He has changed your life … then He rules over your heart and soul and life with perfect truth and grace then you can’t help but sing: Joy to the world!

I head a story about a woman who was doing her last-minute Christmas shopping at a crowded mall. She was tired of standing in lines. She was tired of fighting her way down long aisles looking for a gift … only to find out that it had sold out days before. Her arms were full of bulky packages ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 98:4-9

Denomination: United Methodist

Gospel Shaped Living – Week 2: ‘a United Church In A Divided World’ Series

Contributed by Gordon Curley on Jan 13, 2019

Gospel Shaped Living – Week 2: 'A united church in a divided world' - Ephesians chapter 2 verses 11-18. PowerPoint slides to accompany this talk are available on request – email: gcurley@gcurley.info

Reading: Ephesians chapter 2 verses 11-18. SERMON OUTLINE: (A). Before They/We Became Christians: • They were without Christ (vs 12a) • They were without citizenship (vs 12b) • They were without covenants (vs 12c) • They were without hope (vs 12d) • They were without God (vs 12e) (B). After ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:11-22

Denomination: Brethren

Lift Up Your Heads, Ye Mighty Gates Series

Contributed by Gordon Pike on Jan 16, 2019

Christ is the King of Glory. He is the One who ascends into the Presence of the Lord. Only He has perfectly fulfilled the Law in perfect righteousness. Christ, who went to the cross and defeated our two greatest enemies: Sin and death!

It’s funny how things go sometimes. A couple of years ago I wouldn’t have started out preaching by making a political disclaimer but, given what’s going on today with the government shut down and caravans, I feel the need to be perfectly clear that what I am about to say is not political in any ...read more

Denomination: United Methodist

We Three Kings Series

Contributed by Gordon Pike on Jan 22, 2019

Gold, frankincense, and myrrh. But myrrh is not the final gift. The final gift is the one that God has given to us: the death, the sacrifice, the resurrection of Christ and our death, our resurrection into new life … eternal life with Him … a joy past all telling.

At last … after traveling a thousand miles and enduring countless hardships and obstacles … the caravan reached the gates of Jerusalem. The city began to buzz as the news of their arrival spread … eventually reaching the courts and ears of King Herod. A caravan of magi had travelled all the way ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:1-2

Denomination: United Methodist

"what Doesn't Kill Us ..." Series

Contributed by Gordon Pike on Jan 29, 2019

James calls God’s training regimen “various [kinds of] trials” (James 1:2). As he prepares his friends for the inevitable test, he outlines for them ... and for us … the following five strategies to employ when times of testing challenge us.

A very popular show in the sixties and seventies was a little half-hour police drama called … [do the theme music] … “Dragnet.” Remember that show? It starred Jack Webb as “Joe Friday” … a detective with the Los Angels Police Department. Joe Friday was a no-nonsense cop. His famous line was … ...read more

Scripture: James 1:1-4

Denomination: United Methodist