Sermons on John Harper:

Heroes Of The Bible: Esther Series

Contributed by Scott Bayles on Mar 7, 2022

The Bible is full of heroes! They don't wear spandex or fly around in capes and cowls, but God empowered these heroes and heroines to accomplish some pretty amazing feats that can inspire us to become heroes of God ourselves. Our next hero is Esther. (Alliterated Outline, PowerPoint Available)

Heroes of the Bible: Esther Scott Bayles, pastor Blooming Grove Christian Church: 9/5/2021 NOTE: This sermon was adapted from my book, Holy Heroes of the Bible. If it's a blessing to you, please consider buying the book which includes chapters/sermons on 17 additional Bible heroes: ...read more

Denomination: Christian Church

Grace From Galatians (1 0f 19)

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Mar 7, 2022

The churches in Galatia were being influenced by those who would "pervert the gospel of Christ" (1:6-7; 3:1). Known as "Judaizing teachers,"

Paul recognized the danger of teaching such things. Because the enemies of the true gospel were trying to support their case by undermining Paul's authority as an apostle of Christ, it was necessary to verify that he was truly an apostle "not from men nor through man, but through Jesus ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 1:1-5

Denomination: Baptist

Universal Praise Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 18, 2021

Can a pagan glorify the God of the Bible? If he becomes a believer, he certainly can. This invitation of Psa. 117 is authentic when it says whosoever will may come, and praise the God who is the God of all peoples.

If you think Psalm 117 is a short chapter, you are right, for it is the shortest in all the Bible. But it is twice as long in English as it is in the original Hebrew. It is 33 words in English, but only 17 in the Hebrew. And it is another of the many paradoxes of the Bible, for small as it ...read more

The Pleasure Of Praise Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 18, 2021

One of the things God is most pleased with is the praise of His people. If they feel pleasure in Him, and rejoice in thanksgiving for His goodness to them, He feels great pleasure.

In the movie, Chariots Of Fire, the great runner Eric Liddell was talking to his sister about going back to China as a missionary. Jennie was so pleased with his decision, but then Eric said, "I've got a lot of running to do first." When her look of happiness vanished, ...read more

Spontaneous Prayer Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 19, 2021

Spontaneous prayer is much more meaningful and real than planned prayer. Planned prayer is usually locked into formulas, and we repeat the same requests over and over. This kind of prayer gets dull, and it is seen as a duty rather than a joy.

George Buttrick in his large book simply called Prayer tells of why the Acoma Indians in Colorado chose to live on the mesa. The rock gave them safety. The Apaches on the South and the Navajos on the North made them sitting ducks down on the plains, and so they headed for the rocks. A narrow path ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:12-28

The Pleasure Of Prayer Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 19, 2021

The pleasure of prayer is that by means of it we become more Christlike, for in prayer we develop the spirit and perspective of Christ.

One of life's greatest pleasures is the pleasure of answered prayer. But the pleasure of one can be the pain of another. Dick Van Dyke tells some funny stories about children and answers to prayer. Five year old Mark gave a loud whistle in the middle of the pastors sermon. His grandmother ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 84:8

A Mother's Comfort Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 19, 2021

Here in Isa. 66:13 God says to His people who have suffered His judgment: "As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you." God is impressed with motherhood, and especially her ability to comfort her child.

Charles Connick was an unknown artist in Boston who brought his mother to live with him. They spent a summer at Cape Cod where they met a Mr. Swift. All summer Mr. Swift noticed how Connick honored his mother. He was so impressed that he decided to do something unusual. He was rich and had given ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 66:7-13

Sociology: The Divine Image, The Family & The Social Order Series

Contributed by Justin Steckbauer on Mar 20, 2021

Today we’re talking about family. The official title of this message is “Sociology: The Divine Image, the family, and the social order.”

Today we’re talking about family. The official title of this message is “Sociology: The Divine Image, the family, and the social order.” But ultimately what we’re talking about is family. Society broken down to it’s simplest repeating structure is the family unit. Husband, wife, and children. We’re ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 1:26-27, Genesis 3:17-19, Genesis 2:24

Denomination: Salvation Army

The Timing Of Christmas Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 23, 2021

What we want to see is that though timing may not be everything to Christmas it is plenty, and a focus on the timing of Christmas events can be quite revealing.

Timing may not be everything, but it is plenty. At the dedication service of the Statue of Liberty a boy was to wave a flag indicating that Senator William Evarts had finished his speech. This way the signal for men high in the head of the statue to let go of a giant French flag, which in turn ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 4:1-7

Devotion To The Lord Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 29, 2021

Paul is saying it is not wrong for any Christian to get married, but there are circumstances that make it better if they are not married.

Few groups of people in history have fought a more bitter battle than the Pilgrims who came to Plymouth on the Mayflower. So many of them died from sickness, that at one point only four of the original couples still had each other. Edward Winslow and Susanna White had each lost their mates. They ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 7:32-40

The Gospel And The Body Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 29, 2021

When Paul preached to the Greeks in Athens about the resurrection of the dead, they mocked him. The idea of the body being raised was folly to the Greeks.

Captain James Saunders of the U. S. Navy taught a graduate class on the principles of agreement. As a demonstration, he would give each member of the class a piece of white paper, and ask them to chew it. The paper had been treated with a chemical called phenylthiocarbimide. Some reported that ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:1-12

The Supreme Virtue Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 31, 2021

Paul made it clear in I Cor. 13 that he could have all gifts and powers that anyone could ever hope to have, but if he lacked love he would be nothing. Peter agrees with Paul, and that is why he puts love at the top.

Pitiram Sorokin in his book The Ways And Power Of Love tells of how in 1918 he was hunted down by the Communist Government of Russia. He was imprisoned and condemned to death. Everyday he expected to be shot as he witnessed the shootings of his friends and fellow prisoners. For 4 years he ...read more

Successful Suffering Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 31, 2021

The difference between tragedy and triumph is all in how you count your trials. James says by an act of the will count it all joy when tried.

Imagine the testing of the body in such a sport as football. To be on your feet and seconds later brought to the ground hard and fast. Then to get up and do it again, and again, and again, but constantly moving forward. All of that falling is not what wins the game, but whether or not you win ...read more

Scripture: James 1:1-8

How To Receive A Royal Reward Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 31, 2021

How do we receive this royal reward? James says the road to this reward is the road of endurance. Kings only want tried men in their army, and so how much more does the King of Kings want tried men and women to serve with Him?

In modern educational psychology we read such statements as, "Learning takes place only when the act that is performed is reinforced or rewarded." And, "Without reward, people fail to learn." Educators are more and more realizing that rewards play a major part in teaching that ...read more

Scripture: James 1:12-18

The Christian Mind Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Apr 3, 2021

We need to be constantly asking ourselves how our thinking on any issue is uniquely Christian. We need to ask, can a good pagan without Christ, and without revelation think the same as I do? If so, what does Christianity have to say on the issue that is of any unique value?

The first fly said to the second fly, "Human beings are funny aren't they?" "Why do you say that," responded the second fly?" "Well," said the first, "they spend a pile of money building a beautiful ceiling, and then always walk on the floor." From ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:2