Sermons on Jonathan Morris:

The False Prophet Elymas Bar-Jesus Series

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Mar 19, 2025

Barnabas and Saul had just started their first missionary journey. They started in Cyprus, walking from the eastern shore to the western shore. That's where they met a false prophet with an unusual name.

The False Prophet Elymas Bar-Jesus (Based on a message preached at New Hope Baptist Church near Fulton, MO on Sunday evening, 3-16-2025. This is not an exact transcription.) (Full disclosure: Sermon Central has an outline of mine on this passage, but this is an edited sermon and not just an ...read more

Scripture: Acts 13:1-12

Denomination: Baptist

False Prophets-Simon Magus Of Samaria Series

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Mar 27, 2025

He practiced sorcery and amazed people with his deeds. Then Philip the evangelist arrived and preached Jesus. What Simon did after this tells me he was truly a false prophet, like Elymas Bar-Jesus.

False Prophets-Simon Magus of Samaria (Note: This message is based on a sermon preached at New Hope Baptist Church near Fulton, MO on Sunday evening, 3-23-2025, but is not an exact transcription.) Introduction: Someone once remarked that where you find a religion, you’ll find a prophet or more ...read more

Scripture: Acts 8:4-24

Denomination: Baptist

An Outline Of Acts 22

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Jan 13, 2024

Acts 22 has two sections. The first 2/3 covers Paul's testimony or speech to the crowd (who had just tried to kill him!); the last 1/3 describes Paul's first several hours in the Roman barracks.

Introduction: This chapter continues the events of Chapter 21. In the first section, (verses 1-21) Paul makes a defense or gives a testimony of what he had been before and after he met Jesus. The last section describes Paul’s treatment at the hands of the crowd and, fortunately, the Romans who took ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

An Outline Of Acts 23

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Jan 17, 2024

This chapter begins with Paul before the Sanhedrin, or Council, and his attempt to make a defense before them. One thing led to another and the chapter closes with Paul in Caesarea, kept in custody, by Felix, the governor.

Introduction: This chapter has three specific episodes in Paul's time at Jerusalem. First, he's going to address the "council" or Sanhedrin. Then, some enemies of Paul made a plan to eat or drink nothing until they had killed Paul. When Paul's nephew found out about this, he ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

An Outline Of Acts 24

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Jan 21, 2024

Paul is now on trial before Felix, the Roman governor, in Casearea. He was accused of several things, made his defense, and even shared the Gospel with Felix and his Jewish wife, Drusilla. It didn't end well for Paul, though.

Introduction: This chapter records the trial of Paul before Felix, the Roman governor; Paul's defense; and a summary of the events taking place after all of this. Most of the text is like a transcript of who said what. The chapter may also give a glimpse of courtroom or trial procedures of that ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

An Outline Of Acts 25

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Jan 23, 2024

Porcius Festus inherited (!) Paul when Felix left. This chapter covers Paul's second (at least) trial before a Roman official, his appeal to Caesar, and a visit by King Agrippa. Paul shared his testimony with these and more!

An outline of Acts 25 Introduction: this chapter covers Paul's second trial (at least) before a Roman official; this time, Porcius Festus, who replaced Felix. Felix had left Paul in jail, basically, to please the Jews even though Felix knew Paul was innocent. Festus appears to start where ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

An Outline Of Acts 26

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Jan 30, 2024

King Agrippa had asked Festus if he could hear Paul speak in person. Festus agreed, and Paul delivered a message none of them could ever forget.

Paul's Testimony Before King Agrippa Introduction: This chapter has a record of Paul's testimony, and almost autobiography, when he was brought before King Agrippa in Caesarea. Compare this speech or testimony with what Paul had said in Acts 9 and 22. Luke recorded in the last few verses ...read more

Scripture: Acts 26:1-32

Denomination: Baptist

An Outline Of Acts 27

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Feb 8, 2024

Acts 27 covers a period of Paul's life between his release from Caesarea and his shipwreck on the island of Malta (not mentioned in this chapter). Something seemed to be happening every minute during this longest voyage of Paul's life.

On the road to Rome, part 1: Caesarea to Crete Text, Acts 27:1-12, KJV: 1 And when it was determined that we should sail into Italy, they delivered Paul and certain other prisoners unto one named Julius, a centurion of Augustus' band. 2 And entering into a ship of Adramyttium, we launched, ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

An Outline Of Acts 28:1-16

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Feb 14, 2024

Paul, Luke, and several other people had been shipwrecked on Malta. After staying there, these men and possibly others made the last leg of their journey to Rome itself. The journey wasn't always easy, though.

Introduction: this last chapter of Acts begins with Paul and others on the island of Malta, and closes with Paul arriving at Rome, just as the Lord had promised (Acts 23:11, 27:24). Luke summarized nearly 30 years of church growth in one volume, from Jerusalem to Rome and then to other parts of the ...read more

Scripture: Acts 28:1-16

Denomination: Baptist

An Outline Of Acts 28:17-31

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Feb 16, 2024

These last verses of Acts describe Paul's ministry to the Jews of Rome and their reaction. Luke gives a summary of what he did for two years. May we always be faithful even as Paul was!

The Dialogues: Paul’s Messages to the People His Meeting with the Chief of the Jews Text, Acts 28:17-31, KJV: 17 And it came to pass, that after three days Paul called the chief of the Jews together: and when they were come together, he said unto them, Men and brethren, though I have committed ...read more

Scripture: Acts 28:17-31

Denomination: Baptist

Joshua 1: The Times, They Were A-Changin’ Series

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Feb 19, 2024

This is the first message in a series based on the Book of Joshua. In this first chapter, Joshua received some very encouraging news from the LORD which helped him lead Israel to the Promised Land.

Introduction: Change happens. There’s no doubt about that. Way back in 1964, Bob Dylan recorded a song called “The Times They Are A-Changing (which I’ve never heard)”, talking about various things. In the text, we see that in just 40 years, Israel had seen any number of changes. They had ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

This Mother's Worst Dilemma

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Jul 9, 2025

She went in disguise to find out if her son would live after he became ill. The disguise didn't work, and she came back with a dilemma no mother ever wants to face.

Introduction: She was the queen, but not even she could overcome her son’s illness. When she sought a message from a prophet of the LORD, she received news that shook her to her core. (Full disclosure: Sermon Central has previously accepted a message based on this text, called “The Message This ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 14:1-18

Denomination: Baptist

Ebenezer: The Stone Of Help Series

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Jul 24, 2025

Israel had just repented of idol-worship at Mizpeh. The Philistines, mortal enemies at the time, came close enough to cause Israel panic. Samuel prayed, the LORD delivered, and Samuel established the memorial stone of Ebenezer.

Ebenezer: The Stone of Help (Based on a sermon preached Sunday evening, May 18, 2025 at New Hope Baptist Church near Fulton, MO. This is not an exact transcription.) Introduction: Ebenezer. The name reminds us (me, anyway) of some characters I’d rather forget—as in, Scrooge. The word almost ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 7:1-14

Denomination: Baptist

King Manasseh And Three Memorials Series

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Aug 7, 2025

Manasseh, king of Judah, had the longest reign of any king in Israel or Judah. He walked in the way of sin, but repented, and proved it by taking care of several sets of memorials in Judah.

King Manasseh and Three Memorials Introduction: Manasseh, the king of Judah and son of Hezekiah, seemed to have a great future. His father had been a truly great king, as well as a good king because his father followed the LORD completely. Manasseh, though, promptly undid just about everything his ...read more

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 33:9-20

Denomination: Baptist

The Memorial Altar In Gilead Series

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Aug 12, 2025

Israel had taken control of much of Canaan. Two and a half tribes lived east of the Jordan River and decided to build a memorial altar for a witness of unity. When asked to explain, they replied honestly.

The Memorial Altar in Gilead (This message is based on a sermon preached at New Hope Baptist Church near Fulton, MO on Sunday evening, May 25, 2025 and is not an exact transcription). Introduction: Well-meaning things aren’t always perceived that way. In this message, we’ll see that a gesture of ...read more

Denomination: Baptist