Sermons on J Gordon Melton:

"Out Of The Whirlwind” Series

Contributed by Gordon Curley on Nov 3, 2019

God does not explain why Job has suffered, but focuses on God's knowledge, power and majesty. (PowerPoint slides to accompany this talk are available on request – email: gcurley@gcurley.info)

SERMON OUTLINE: Job is humbled by God (38:1-42:6) Job is questioned by God #1: Can you explain my creation? (38:1-38). Job is questioned by God #2: Can you oversea my creation? (38:39-39:30). Job is questioned by God #3: Can you subdue my creation? (40:6-41:34) Job replies to God (42: 1-6) Job is ...read more

Denomination: Brethren

So Great A Cloud

Contributed by Gordon Pike on Nov 18, 2019

Saints can be great people like Mother Teresa or Francis of Assisi … but saints can be ordinary people. People like you and me. People who have given their hearts to Jesus. People that the light of God … the light of the Holy Spirit … shines through.

One day a man and his five-year-old son were walking through a beautiful church. The church was filled with bright light from its many colorful stained-glass windows. As the boy looked at the windows, he asked: “Who are all the people in the windows, Daddy?” “They are saints,” his father ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:1-3

Denomination: United Methodist

Rolling Stone Series

Contributed by Gordon Pike on Apr 23, 2022

There are lots and lots of ways that we can put Jesus in a tomb and roll a stone over it, but there is no tomb strong enough, my friend, no stone too heavy that Jesus can’t smash it to pieces.

[Remember ... the members have been placing stones at the foot of the cross for the past seven weeks of Lent and the pile of stones around the bases has gotten pretty impressive ... powerful visual. But when they come in on Easter morning, the stones are all gone.] [Read Luke 15:11-24.] You’ve ...read more

Scripture: John 20:1-16, Luke 15:11-24, John 19:41, Matthew 27:51, 1 Corinthians 15:55-57  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: United Methodist

Let The Journey Begin Series

Contributed by Gordon Pike on May 19, 2022

Our journey towards a deeper and closer relationship with God is not something that just happens. We don’t just passively float through life and hope that we end up somewhere wonderful or nice. We have to be intentional and we have to be engaged in the process.

How many of you have just woke up one day, got in your car, went to the airport and randomly bought a ticket to a place you never heard of? Or just got in your car and drove to a random city? None of you, I would suspect. When you go on a trip or a vacation, you picked a certain place to go and ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 3:3, Proverbs 3:5-6

Denomination: United Methodist

Who Am I? Series

Contributed by Gordon Pike on May 24, 2022

Are we just some accident? Some random lump of cells? Or are we fearfully and wonderfully made by a Divine, Loving Creator?

There is a question that is being hotly debated right now that’s pretty much dominating the news and threatening to perhaps tear our country apart and the debate is scary and uncomfortable but maybe it’s a good thing because we’re wrestling with an important question … perhaps the most important ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 8:1-9, Genesis 1:1-2, Genesis 2:7, Genesis 1:30

Denomination: United Methodist

Remember Series

Contributed by Gordon Pike on Jun 5, 2022

Rabbi Abraham Joshua Herschel wrote: “Much of the Bible’s demands can be comprised in one word … Remember” … which is why God commanded us to set up special days and special celebrations and activities … to “remember.”

“Mah nishtanah ha-lailah hazeh mikol ha-leilot?” Recognize it? If you were Jewish you would recognize it instantly. It is the question that the youngest child or person at the table asks at the beginning of every Passover or “Pesach” ceremony: “Why is this night different from all other ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 12:21-28, Luke 12:14-20, Acts 2:1-4, Jeremiah 7:23, Mark 1:7-8, John 14:15-18, John 7:39, John 2:22, John 12:15-16, Luke 12:11-12  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: United Methodist

The Best Type Of Stress!

Contributed by Gordon Curley on Jun 5, 2022

(PowerPoint slides to accompany this talk are available on request – email: gcurley@gcurley.info) Note: This sermon was preached on the weekend of Queen Elisabeth II Platinum Jubilee Celebrations and that is why I have included so many royal illustrations.

SERMON OUTLINE: (1). Jesus stresses the importance of listening (vs 19-22) (2). Luke stresses the seriousness of the storm (vs 23-24). (3). Luke stresses the authority and power of Jesus (vs 24). (4). Luke stresses the response of the disciples (vs 25). SERMON BODY: Ill: • The Queen's former ...read more

Scripture: Luke 8:19-25

Denomination: Brethren

From Our Mouths To God's Ears Series

Contributed by Gordon Pike on Jul 18, 2022

In the midst of the spiritual wilderness that we find ourselves in today, our serenity … our comfort … our confidence comes from the fact that God provides us with our daily bread.

After Jesus was baptized, the Gospel writers say that Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness where He was tempted by the devil for 40 days (Matthew 4:1-11; Mark 1:12-13; Luke 4:1-13). During that time, Jesus ate nothing. At this point, the devil attempts to use Jesus’ hunger to ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 4:1-11, Exodus 15:23-27, Exodus 16:1-22, Exodus 31:15-16, Deuteronomy 8:3, Deuteronomy 8:7-10, Exodus 16:31, John 6:27, John 6:32-35, John 6:53-58  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: United Methodist

Eagle's Wing Series

Contributed by Gordon Pike on Aug 7, 2022

God, grant me the courage to change the things I can.

[This the second sermon that is based on Reinhold Niebuhr's prayer/poem "The Serenity Prayer." This sermon is about asking God to grant us the courage to change the things that we can.] Once upon a time, a caterpillar crawled inside a hare’s house when the hare was away and set ...read more

Scripture: Romans 7:15, Isaiah 40:25-31, Jonah 1:2, Jonah 1:12, Jonah 1:17, Romans 8:28-31, Jonah 2:2, Jonah 3:4, Jonah 4:2, Jonah 4:6-11, Jonah 3:9-10, Isaiah 40:31, 1 Samuel 17:46, Numbers 14:9  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: United Methodist

Grant Me Wisdom Series

Contributed by Gordon Pike on Aug 7, 2022

God, grant me the wisdom to know the difference … and, as we shall see, therein lies the problem. I don’t know about you, but I usually don’t know the difference and I usually do the most harm to myself and to others when I think that I do.

[This is the third sermon on Reinhold Niebuhr's "The Serenity Prayer," asking God to grant us the wisdom to know what to accept and what to change. This was also preached on Communion Sunday, hence the lead up to Communion at the end.] Wisdom. What is wisdom? Well, let’s ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:13-17, Acts 9:1-9, Romans 7:15-19, Philippians 3:5-6, Isaiah 29:13-14, Acts 26:9-11, John 9:30-33, 1 Corinthians 1:20-25  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: United Methodist

The Freedom Of The Moment Series

Contributed by Gordon Pike on Aug 14, 2022

Look at the birds of the field and rejoice in the Lord. Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow and rejoice in the Lord. Look at what God is doing in your life right now and rejoice!

[This is the next part in a series based on Reinhold Niebuhr's prayer "The Serenity Prayer." Past sermons dealt "the serenity to accept the things I cannot change," "courage to change the things that I can," and "the wisdom to know the difference." This ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:24-34, Luke 9:1-6, Luke 10:4-7, Mark 10:17-22, Philippians 4:6-7, 1 Peter 5:7, Philippians 4:13  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: United Methodist

From Death To Life; And From Life To Death Series

Contributed by Gordon Weatherby on Oct 19, 2021

Jesus performed a great miracle in raising Lazarus from the dead; The result of this miracle was a plan to put Jesus to death.

FROM DEATH TO LIFE, AND LIFE TO DEATH JOHN 11:45-53 GREENMOUNT AND O’LEARY CHURCHES OF CHRIST AUGUST 01, 2021 Phillip’s Residence August 07, 2021 Video Link: https://youtu.be/kQn7VZTbao4 INTRODUCTION: This morning’s message deals with Jesus raising Lazarus back to life. Because ...read more

Scripture: John 11:38-53, 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, John 5:25, John 5:28, John 12:10, John 10:16  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Let The Little Children Come Unto Me

Contributed by Gordon Weatherby on Oct 19, 2021

This is the funeral sermon for a bay boy who had lived for one day after his birth before passing away.

LET THE LITTLE CHILDREN COME TO ME Luke 18:15-17 INTRODUCTION: 1) As we look at Luke 18 today, I want us to see a bit of the background to this passage of Scripture. A) As Jesus was speaking on the Kingdom of God, prayer, and the need to be humble before God families in the crowd started ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:15-17, John 14:2-3

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

A Party Pooper At The Party For Jesus Series

Contributed by Gordon Weatherby on Oct 20, 2021

This message deals with a dinner party held in honour of Jesus shortly before his death. Both the host of the party, Simon the Leper, and also Judas were not gracious about some of what went on.

A PARTY-POOPER AT A PARTY FOR JESUS John 12:1-11 Greenmount and O’Leary Churches of Christ August 08, 2021https: //youtu.be/RI7FzZ51_Ng INTRODUCTION: 1.) Have you ever been all excited about an upcoming party, and really looking forward to it? 2.) What if when you got to the party it wasn’t ...read more

Scripture: John 12:1-11, Exodus 19:10-11, Numbers 9:10, John 11:57, Luke 10:40  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Blessed Is He Who Comes In The Name Of The Lord Series

Contributed by Gordon Weatherby on Oct 21, 2021

This message deals with Jesus coming into Jerusalem on his Triumphal Entry as their Messiah or king of peace.

BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD. John 12:12-19;31-33 Greenmount and O’Leary Churches of Christ August 15, 2021 Video Link: https://youtu.be/g8ZtkaossYE INTRODUCTION: 1.) This morning we come to a text during the final week of Jesus’ life on this earth. 2.) This twelfth chapter of ...read more

Scripture: John 12:12-19, John 12:31-33, John 11:57, Zechariah 9:9

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ