Sermons on Jack Cottrell:

The Call To An Exemplary Life

Contributed by Jack Perkins, D.min., Ladc, Csac, Cclc on Aug 28, 2023

Paul writes to an audience steeped in the Greco-Roman culture. The message is a call to transform their minds, avoid the cultural influences that pull them away from the call of Jesus. He calls them to an exemplary lifestyle.

While in Louisiana for the memorial service for her brother, we drove by a home we built while working as an engineer on the railroad. The home was a super nice home with 3,000 sq ft. On previous trips we witnessed it was empty and deteriorating. This time we were shocked; I wish I could show you ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:1-3, Luke 5:5-10, John 17:14-18, Ephesians 4:22-24

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Multigenerational Church

Contributed by Jack Perkins, D.min., Ladc, Csac, Cclc on Sep 2, 2023

Uncracking the secret of the early church is at the heart of this message. It looks at several key elements that has led the church to grow exponentially.

A young lady working on her master's degree in social work asked to work with me on a research project related to multigenerational trauma. She plans to get her Ph.D. and continue our work internationally. I had learned how various traits are transmitted across generations. My 5th great ...read more

Scripture: John 17:20-23

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Who, Not What, Is The Word

Contributed by Jack Perkins, D.min., Ladc, Csac, Cclc on Sep 18, 2023

This sermon provides a foundation for understanding a triuine God. Word, upper case, is used for God, Jesus, & Holy Spirit as one.

Mormons are a religious and cultural group related to Mormonism, the principal branch of the Latter Day Saint movement started by Joseph Smith in upstate New York during the 1820s. After Smith's death in 1844, the movement split into several groups following different leaders; the majority ...read more

Scripture: John 1:1-18, 1 John 5:7-10

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Completed Joy Of A Christian: The Word Of Life Celebrated

Contributed by Jack Perkins, D.min., Ladc, Csac, Cclc on Jun 28, 2021

This is a series of sermons based upon 1 John that focuses on the foundation of the Christian experience, love and fellowship with God. 1 John is about application of these two themes. This is sermon 1 of 14, a series about a genuine relationship with God and right living.

Reality shows continue to draw people’s attention. . . In an article, 10 Reality Shows That Aren't Real at All (And 10 That Totally Are), Chris Littlechild, talks about how they claim to be real; however, “the producers are just looking to stir up drama with fake moments. These shows are ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 1:1-4

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Enjoying The Maturing Process

Contributed by Jack Perkins, D.min., Ladc, Csac, Cclc on Jul 10, 2021

This is a series of sermons based upon 1 John that focuses on the foundation of the Christian experience, love and fellowship with God. 1 John is about application of these two themes. This is sermon 4 of 14, a series about a genuine relationship with God and right living.

What mother ever gives birth to a child with the goal for the child to remain a baby, never to grow into maturity? What mother would ever delight in seeing her child go immediately from infancy to heaven? On this day, my heart is heavy when I think about the children who never get to enjoy their ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 2:12-14

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Making Wise Investments Series

Contributed by Jack Perkins, D.min., Ladc, Csac, Cclc on Jul 27, 2021

Perhaps the greatest challenge the church faces is finding her place in changing world, on that doesn’t appear to be getting better. John gives an imperative for the church, make investment on in God’s promises which are eternal, not in a worldview that is destined to fail.

Our society is infatuated with extremes, there seems to be no common ground for living. I developed a model, Pathway to Recovery, that illustrates this dynamic. While at a bookstore, I observed a group of students. They were polls apart when discussing religious thought. I had made the comment to ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 2:15-17

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Staying Clam In A Storm Of Heresy Series

Contributed by Jack Perkins, D.min., Ladc, Csac, Cclc on Jul 29, 2021

A major concern for John is heresy within the church and the manner it is causing problems and robbing believers of their joy. John uses antichrist in reference to those who perhaps start with seemingly sincere faith; yet, their teaching becomes contrary to Christ and abiding in him.

There is a universal theme that runs through the book of 1 John, abiding in Christ. This is the key to “living in the world but not of the world. When we refuse to live in the world, we fail to serve Christ. Joe McKeever wrote the following. In the 1987 meeting of the Southern Baptist ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 2:18-29

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Thank God, I Am A Child Of God Series

Contributed by Jack Perkins, D.min., Ladc, Csac, Cclc on Aug 2, 2021

John’s letter contains instructions, warnings, assurances and promises; however, the greatest thing he does is to affirm Christians’ uniqueness in Jesus. John writes in such a way that the confidence of God’s children is affirmed. John has highlighted several confidence builders in his letter:

We are a miracle of love! There are many things in life that cannot be explained apart from a loving creative God. One day, while walking around your beautiful, landscaped yard you observe something. First, you discover that something has been eating on some of your plants. Then you stand in ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 3:1-3

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Right Father Enhances Our Walk With Jesus Series

Contributed by Jack Perkins, D.min., Ladc, Csac, Cclc on Aug 4, 2021

Our culture attempt to redefine our God-given morality code to make it feel comfortable living while outside that code for godly living. John reminds us that Jesus takes away, forgives, our sin and enables us to experienced changed lives.

In 1969, the year I graduated from high school, 500,000 young people made a trip to Sullivan County and set up camp in Max Yasgur’s pasture. The Woodstock Music and Art Festival was billed as “three days of peace and music.” True believers see it as an era devoted to human advancement. Cynics ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 3:4-10

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Love, The Infallible Test Of Salvation Series

Contributed by Jack Perkins, D.min., Ladc, Csac, Cclc on Aug 5, 2021

The church has a different goal–we are to model for the world the authentic way to love. The spiritual quest we must follow is that Jesus calls us to be different. John suggest the failure to love extravagantly, as God first loved us, is perhaps one of the greatest sins.

How do you explain the hatred and evilness in our society? How do you comprehend the hatred between the Jews and Palestinians? How can we support the evilness we see on the political scene? How we process the anarchy in our society? How do you explain Columbine? Families wounded by divorce? ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 3:11-24

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Gps Series

Contributed by Jack Perkins, D.min., Ladc, Csac, Cclc on Aug 6, 2021

Postmodernity has given birth to the idea that all spiritual views are simply different roads that lead to God. We have created a confusing web of “spiritual paths” for those on a quest to know God. John gives a process for gaining and maintaining our bearings while on our spiritual journey.

GPS is a satellite-based radio navigation system that was developed by the U.S. Department of Defense. It permits land, sea and airborne users to determine their three-dimensional position, velocity and time anywhere in the world. The accuracy of it far exceeds anything that we have seen in the ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 4:1-6

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Love: The Prerequisite To A Life Changing Experience Series

Contributed by Jack Perkins, D.min., Ladc, Csac, Cclc on Aug 6, 2021

John paints a beautiful picture of God and the life of believers. He says that love is the preeminent attribute of God and this is seen in the cross. Christian love doesn’t happen by self-determination, it happens because of the abiding presence of Holy Spirit.

G.A. Studdert-Kennedy, the English chaplain poet, found himself alone one dark night on the cliffs of Dover, peering sightlessly into the darkness across the English Channel. His thoughts led him to wonder what kind of force lingered in the darkness. As he thought about who may be lingering in ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 4:7-12

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

That They May Seek God By Our Witness Series

Contributed by Jack Perkins, D.min., Ladc, Csac, Cclc on Aug 7, 2021

This study raises questions that are extremely critical for being secure in our faith. They are not theoretical questions; they deserve an answer. The 5 questions I have raised fit under the two matters John holds before the reader: Belief and Love.

Turning to Janet, “Jan, did you turn off the stove?” Isn’t it amazing how a simple question often prompts a person to have serious doubt? Those under the influence of Gnosticism in Asia created doubt among many of the believers. John Stott “conjectured that their secession was due probably to ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Fact And Faith In Creative Tranquility Series

Contributed by Jack Perkins, D.min., Ladc, Csac, Cclc on Aug 7, 2021

The intensity of John’s writing increases as he attempts to call the church back to the non-negotiables of the Gospel. In this message attention is drawn to several things: the historicity of Jesus demonstrates God’s redemptive plan and calls for a response.

As John draws this short letter to a close, I am amazed by the manner in which his intensity builds. He increasingly, uses the phrase, we know. His task has been to call the church back to foundational things. The effectiveness of this series of sermons is based on our response to a very ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 5:6-13

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Pretentious Free Life Series

Contributed by Jack Perkins, D.min., Ladc, Csac, Cclc on Aug 7, 2021

John wants all believers to know they have eternal life because they are precious in the sight of Jesus. He holds before us the key by which certainty becomes a faith response to all of life: Jesus Christ. John seeks to inspire Christians to cultivate greater intimacy with God.

As we entered the COVID-19 crisis I envisioned Christians would support those in leadership positions, I cannot fathom the stress they have endured. I never envisioned the conflict we have witnessed, among Christians and churches. As seen on Facebook, many Christians become antagonistic toward ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 5:13-21

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational