Sermons on Jonathan:

The Third Sunday In Advent: The Joy Candle Series

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Dec 16, 2022

The shepherds of Bethlehem experienced the first Christmas when the saw the angel, the heavenly host, and ultimately Baby Jesus Himself! We may never know joy like they did, but we can still have joy, too.

(Note: This message is based on a sermon preached at First Baptist Church of Chamois, MO on December 11, 2022. This is not an exact transcription.) Introduction: This is the third Sunday in the Advent season. Today’s focus is on joy, and if there was ever a need for joy, it’s these days! In fact, ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:8-20

Denomination: Baptist

The Fourth Sunday In Advent: Love Series

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Dec 23, 2022

We sometimes hear a lot about love during Advent and the Christmas season. May we never forget the incredible love God has for us. John 3 isn't usually a Christmas text but what Jesus said there is good for Christmas, too.

(Based on and edited from a message preached at First Baptist Church, Chamois, MO on 12-18-22. This is not an exact transcription.) Introduction: There is no greater expression of love, anywhere, when we think about how Jesus left Heaven to come to this earth, to be born like us, live with us, die ...read more

Scripture: John 3:1-18

Denomination: Baptist

Jacob-When He Had To Deal With Losses Series

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on May 15, 2022

Jacob had his share of blessings but he also endured a number of losses. This message gives some glimpses of what he endured and how he dealt with these situations.

Introduction: Jacob had to deal with bad things as well as good things during his earthly journey. He thought he had received the paternal blessing as well as the birthright but he lost as much, if not more, than he gained because of this. Now Jacob is going to experience a number of “hits”. 1 He ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Jacob-Glimpses Of His Twilight Years Series

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on May 18, 2022

The next to last chapters of Jacob's life are like a quiet period between his arrival in Hebron and his final earthly journey to Egypt. He endured several things but there is no record he ever lost his faith.

Introduction: After Jacob and his household returned to Hebron (Gen. 35:27), he seemed to settle down to a life of farming and ranching. Isaac, his father, had died; he was at peace with his brother Esau; and it seemed all would be going well for him in his twilight years. But several things were ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 37:31-35, Genesis 42:1-5, Genesis 43:11-15

Denomination: Baptist

Jacob-When He Heard Some Very Good News Series

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on May 27, 2022

Jacob had been told his favorite son, Joseph, had been killed many years before this incident took place. Then he received some very good news that changed everything for him!

Introduction: Jacob had believed Joseph, his favorite son, had been killed many years before. Now he not only heard the news, but saw proof, Joseph was alive. This was some of the best news Jacob had ever heard! 1 The good news when he heard about Joseph being still alive Text: Genesis 45:25-28, ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 45:25-28, Genesis 46:1-7, Genesis 46:28-30

Denomination: Baptist

Jacob-The "Dinah Jacobs” Story Series

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Apr 28, 2022

Jacob's daughter Dinah is only mentioned in a few places in Scripture. This story shows how one decision can lead to a whole lot of problems.

Introduction: Remember the old TV Western, “Wagon Train’? Every episode was called “the So-and-So story”, featuring one character who had some kind of impact or another on the wagon train’s journey to California or wherever. Sometimes the “guest” would impact one of the train’s leaders, too—but ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 34:1-31, Galatians 6:9

Denomination: Baptist

Jacob-When He Came Back To Bethel Series

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on May 9, 2022

Jacob had met the LORD at Bethel when he fled from Esau, his brother. Now, some twenty years later, he's on his way back to Bethel but things are much different than before.

Foreword: Full disclosure, there is a message on this site, which I prepared, called “Back to Bethel” in a series about Bethel experiences. This message here is not a rehash of the previous message, but, as both messages are based on the same text, some overlap in probably unavoidable but is ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 35:1-7, Leviticus 8:24, Genesis 28:10-22, Deuteronomy 21:10-14

Denomination: Baptist

Present And Prevent: In View Of The Lord’s Mercies

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Jul 19, 2023

Romans 12 has two important commands for each and every believer. Paul gave two of them in the first two verses.

Introduction: Paul’s letter to the Romans is a classic piece of Scripture. Alva J, McClain and perhaps others noted how Paul made four basic divisions: condemnation, salvation, vindication, and exhortation. Chapter 12 begins the final section and indeed begins with a word of exhortation to these ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:1-2

Denomination: Baptist

Elijah, The First Encounters Series

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Sep 17, 2024

Elijah is one of the most well-known people in the Bible. This message speaks about the very early part of his ministry. Oh that the LORD would raise up more Elijahs these days!

Introduction: Elijah, the prophet. He was and is one of the most well-known men in the Bible. He seemed to come out of nowhere, and eventually was one of only two people (so far) to go to Heaven but never died! But like most people, Elijah had a lot to endure before he began his ministry. ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 17:1-16

Denomination: Baptist

Jeremiah’s Unusual Purchases: A Clay Jar Series

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Oct 13, 2021

A simple jar of clay was bought and then broken. God used something as simple as this for an object lesson.

Introduction: clay jars, or “earthen vessels (KJV)” have been in use for thousands of years. These jars came and still come in various sizes, colors, and so on. Even when these jars were broken (they’re just clay, after all) the pieces could be and were used for notes, receipts, and the like ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 19:1-15

Denomination: Baptist

Jeremiah’s Unusual Purchases: His Cousin’s Occupied Field Series

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Oct 15, 2021

Jerusalem was surrounded with the army of Babylon laying siege to the city. During that time, Jeremiah's cousin came to visit Jeremiah and offer Jeremiah one of the strangest real estate deals in history!

Introduction: Jeremiah had been instructed by the LORD to make at least two unusual purchases. First, the LORD told him to buy a linen waistband (“girdle”, KJV) the wear it, and then bury the thing many miles away in a place where it was practically guaranteed to be ruined (see Jer.13:1-11for ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 32:6-15

Denomination: Baptist

An Outline For Jeremiah’s Unusual Purchases Series

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Oct 18, 2021

This outline summarizes each of Jeremiah's three unusual purchases. The outline could be used for a single message or Bible study on various topics.

Introduction: Jeremiah delivered some of the last messages God ever gave to the nation of Judah, the southern kingdom. God also told him to make at least three unusual purchases which also gave object lessons to the nation. The first was a linen waistband, the second was a jar of clay, and the ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 13:1-11, Jeremiah 19:1-15, Jeremiah 32:6-15

Denomination: Baptist

Mothers Of Messiah-Ruth Of Moab Series

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on May 12, 2021

She grew up a pagan in a pagan land, but became a believer in the God of her mother-in-law. The story of Ruth is a beautiful story of God's grace and redemption. Another foreign-born girl became a mother of the Messiah!

Introduction: Ruth is only mentioned in the Old Testament book bearing her name. She was a native of Moab, a country to the east of Israel across the Jordan River. Eventually she married a Hebrew man, lost him to death, but journeyed with her mother-in-law to a new land. She became a believer in ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Mothers Of Messiah-Bathsheba Of Jerusalem Series

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on May 14, 2021

The Scriptures don't say much about Bathsheba except what's mentioned in connection with her relationship with David and his family. Even so, she had the privilege of being one of the mothers of the Messiah.

Introduction: The line of Messiah Jesus began with Abraham, then Isaac, followed by Jacob and Jacob’s son Judah. Of course each man had children by his wife; except for Judah’s twin sons Pharez and Zerah who were born to his daughter-in-law Tamar of Canaan (see Genesis 38). Rahab was a prostitute ...read more

Scripture: 2 Samuel 23:34, 2 Samuel 11:1-5, 1 Kings 1:15-21

Denomination: Baptist

Mothers Of Messiah-The Known And Unknown Series

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Jun 1, 2021

The names of several women in the line or ancestry of Jesus, the Messiah, are listed in Scripture. Many other such mothers are not. No matter if they're mentioned by name or no, each of these ladies can someday rejoice that they were among the mothers of the Messiah!

Introduction: some of the women who are in the line of Jesus, the Messiah, are well-known. Some are mentioned only by name and others aren’t mentioned at all. Regardless, the Lord knows each one of them—by name—and allowed each one to be part of His plan to bring salvation to a lost and dying ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:1-6

Denomination: Baptist