Sermons on Johnny Olsen:

Sue Your Own Mother! Series

Contributed by Johnny Wilson on Feb 12, 2009

Our relationship with God can require a strained relationship with others when we take sin seriously and need to avoid it.

I was watching an old movie on television and I heard a line that I’d missed before. The villain of this comedy was talking on the phone and said something like: “Sure, I know what kind of low-down person would sue his own mother, but we’re not talking about me!” It caught me off-guard and I had ...read more

Scripture: Hosea 2:2-23

Denomination: *other

Moses' Rap

Contributed by Johnny Wilson on Feb 12, 2009

Moses used poetry and music to challenge Israel to remain faithful to God’s covenant.

You can hardly go to a sporting event without hearing the pounding beat—Boom, boom, BOOM! Boom, boom, BOOM! We shall, we shall ROCK you!” When I was younger, many of my favorite radio and television programs were sponsored by a company that guaranteed to make you as safe as the Rock of Gibraltar. ...read more

Denomination: *other

Bridegroom Of Blood Series

Contributed by Johnny Wilson on Feb 13, 2009

Being "in" the Will of God doesn’t necessarily mean that we aren’t distracted by human concerns and relationships.

Personally, I have a lot of trouble with the theological term, “the permissive will of God.” We usually apply it whenever someone has done something wrong or merely made a foolish, but not deliberate, choice and then, God makes something good out of the human mess. My problem with the term is that ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 4:18-26

Denomination: *other

To The Rescue Series

Contributed by Johnny Wilson on Feb 13, 2009

Hosea didn’t merely redeem Gomer with "cheap grace," but established a plan for "sanctification," as well.

My wife enjoys watching movies over and over again. She’s the perfect target market for DVDs because, if she is really into a movie, she’s willing to watch that movie several times over a short period of time. I’m different. I like to watch a film and then, I won’t want to watch it again for a ...read more

Scripture: Hosea 3:1-5

Denomination: *other

Praying Together Series

Contributed by Johnny Wilson on Feb 15, 2009

This event in the life of the early church gives us guidance in how to pray with power.

As I’ve probably shared with you once before, I was tremendously challenged by a conversational exchange in a short-lived situation comedy. It was a comedy where the late Danny Thomas played a doctor. There was a scene in “The Practice” where a nurse overhears Thomas’ character praying. When she ...read more

Scripture: Acts 4:26-31

Denomination: *other

When We Are Called To Those Who Are Hostile

Contributed by Johnny Wilson on Feb 15, 2009

After being abused and accused by his fellow Jews, Jeremiah’s counsel was sought and ignored. Modern believers need to take note.

If I hadn’t had a similar, though less lethal, experience, I probably wouldn’t relate to that scene in “The Godfather” where the old Mafioso tells the young boss how the traitor would try to kill him after his death. With me, we were in a nice restaurant in San Francisco (my executive editor and I) ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 37:13-21

Denomination: *other

The Great Exchange Series

Contributed by Johnny Creasong on Feb 16, 2009

How would you sell your soul? It may be easier than you think!

The Great Exchange Mark 8:31-38 Mark 8:31-38 31 He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law,and that he must be killed and after three days rise again. 32 He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took ...read more

Scripture: Mark 8:31-38

Denomination: Church Of God

Believing Is Seeing! Series

Contributed by Johnny Creasong on Feb 16, 2009

We see what we are looking for. Seeing is not believing, but believing will make you see!

Believing is Seeing! John 9 John 9:35-41 35 Jesus…said, "Do you believe in the Son of Man?" 36 "Who is he, sir?" the man asked. "Tell me so that I may believe in him." 37 Jesus said, "You have now seen him; in fact, he is the one speaking with you." 38 Then the man said, "Lord, I believe," and he ...read more

Scripture: John 9:1-41

Denomination: Church Of God

Not About The Money Series

Contributed by Johnny Wilson on Feb 16, 2009

The deaths of two early church members may seem to "about the money," but that isn’t the whole story. See modern church problems in a new light.

There is a bit of folk wisdom that goes something like this: “Whenever you hear someone say that ‘It’s not about the money,” it usually is.” But this morning, I want to share from a passage that is almost always focused on the money and probably should not be. I don’t believe the Holy Spirit ...read more

Denomination: *other

The Shadow Of His Style Series

Contributed by Johnny Wilson on Feb 17, 2009

Believers need to learn to expect the unexpected and inexplicable from God, but we won’t experience such until we are sold on God’s one agenda and striving with one accord.

The shadow of your smile When you are gone Will color all my dreams And light the dawn… The year was 1965. The movie was The Sandpiper. The stars were Elizabeth Taylor as the seductress and the late Richard Burton as the Episcopal priest she seduced. The sentiment in the song is that our ...read more

Scripture: Acts 5:12-42

Denomination: *other

Seeing God Series

Contributed by Johnny Wilson on Feb 18, 2009

God’s servants need to focus on God’s activity rather than the negativity of God’s people.

1) And Yahweh proceeded to speak to Moses, “Go, ascend from this place, you and the people you caused to ascend from the land of Egypt toward the land which I promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, saying, ‘To your seed, I will give it 2) And I shall send a messenger (angel) before your presence ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 33:1-23

Denomination: *other

To Serve Man? Series

Contributed by Johnny Wilson on Feb 20, 2009

What is it about active, vital believers that is so threatening to popular culture?

One of my favorite television episodes of “The Twilight Zone” television series was a humorous episode where the entire plot revolved around a misunderstanding with an alien species and culminated in the discovery of a book. The title of that book was “To Serve Man” and the misunderstanding was ...read more

Scripture: Acts 5:27-42

Denomination: *other

Too Much On The Plate Series

Contributed by Johnny Wilson on Feb 22, 2009

God’s people aren’t immune from grumbling and murmuring, but those who wish to lead effectively will pray for divine solutions in handling dissension.

In a small, struggling situation like those of many churches, it is tempting to look upon the “growing pains” of the early church with some degree of envy. They were adding to the church daily. They were filling up Jerusalem to overflowing with excitement about Jesus’ resurrection and the presence ...read more

Scripture: Acts 6:1-7, Acts 6:1

Denomination: *other

How To Get Yourself Killed Series

Contributed by Johnny Wilson on Feb 22, 2009

Stephen’s martyrdom calls to minds questions about our own faithfulness and witness.

In the magazine business, there is an inexorable law that says that you will sell more copies of an issue if you convince people that they can do more things or do multiple things more effectively. That’s why you always see lots of cover lines like: “100 Ways to Make Your Green Thumb Glow” or “50 ...read more

Denomination: *other

When We Are Called To Those Who Are Ready

Contributed by Johnny Wilson on Feb 22, 2009

Philip’s call to travel the road to Gaza doesn’t make human sense, but it reminds us to trust God when we have to go through the wilderness of life experiences.

There is a theme in American Literature, U.S. movies, and Broadway musicals where protagonists from rural areas come to the big city and make it big. Even Clark Kent has to move from the farm to Metropolis before he makes the big time as the investigative reporter who doubles as Superman. And we ...read more

Scripture: Acts 8:26-40

Denomination: *other