Sermons on Jonathan:

The Fifth Sunday In Advent: The Christ Candle Series

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Dec 27, 2022

This candle, according to some customs, represents the birth of Jesus Himself. This message contains excerpts from one of Dr Martin Luther's Christmas sermons preached nearly 500 years ago!

Edited from a message preached 12-25-2022 at First Baptist Church, Chamois, MO. This is not an exact transcription. Introduction: It’s good to see you here today as we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus. Christmas Day only falls on a Sunday every dozen years or so, as I recall, so ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:1-18, Galatians 4:1-4

Denomination: Baptist

Jacob-What He Did For Love Series

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Mar 4, 2022

Jacob was now staying at his uncle Laban's house. Laban offered him a job, and asked him, "What kind of wages would you want from me?" Jacob's reply eventually changed his life forever!

Introduction: Jacob had arrived in Haran, the land of his mother and uncle Laban. He had assisted Rachel, Laban’s daughter, by watering her flock of sheep. Laban then ran out to meet Jacob, and they all returned to Laban’s house. For Jacob, things were about to get interesting. 1 The wages ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 29:14-30

Denomination: Baptist

Jacob-When He Knew It Was Time To Leave Series

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Mar 12, 2022

Jacob had lived with and served uncle Laban for twenty years. He soon found out that it was time for him to leave and go back to his home country.

Introduction: Jacob had now lived with and worked for his uncle Laban for 14 years. He had received his rewards, Leah and Rachel plus a servant girl for each and was now the father of at least 12 children (details for these children are found in Genesis 29:31-30:24). He was ready to leave but Laban ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 31:1-21

Denomination: Baptist

Gideon: When The Lord Gave Him The Promised Victory Series

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Nov 9, 2022

Military strategists would have laughed out loud if they had heard God's strategy for defeating the enemies of Israel during Gideon's day. Gideon,though, followed these instructions to the letter and God gave Israel a great victory!

Introduction: Some of the military’s greatest strategists mentioned never going into action against the enemy unless you have two or three times more of everything than they do. Gideon had blown the trumpet, basically the same thing as declaring war against Israel’s enemies, and many of the local ...read more

Scripture: Judges 7:1-23

Denomination: Baptist

People Of The First Christmas: Zacharias And Elisabeth Series

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Dec 5, 2024

A childless couple received some incredible news! How did they handle it?

(Full disclosure: this message is based on a sermon preached at New Hope Baptist Church, Fulton, MO on 12-01-2024. This is not an exact transcription.) Introduction: It’s hard to believe, we’re now in December! There are only 20 or so shopping days until Christmas Day and, we shouldn’t be ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:5-25, Luke 1:39-45

Denomination: Baptist

"sending Help" Signed -- God Series

Contributed by Jonathan Meade on Dec 10, 2024

Christmas is God's answer to life because the answer to our brokenness couldn't come from this world, the answer had to come from above.

“Sending Help” signed -- God Does anyone here have a birthday right around the holidays? How do you like that? (The Little boy and his prayer for a bike joke) Two weeks before Christmas a little boy had a birthday, and before his birthday came, he prayed, “God please give me a bike on my ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:26-38, Luke 2:22-40

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Mary, Now You Know Series

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Dec 12, 2024

Mary was surprised when Gabriel visited her and gave her some unexpected news. Now Mary knew exactly what the Lord wanted her to do. Best of all, she agreed to do God's will for her life!

Mary, Now You Know (Edited from a sermon preached December 8, 2024 at New Hope Baptist Church, Fulton, MO. This is not an exact transcription). Introduction: Mark Lowry’s Christmas song, “Mary, Did You Know?” has been a blessing for several years now. It’s a song which, I think, captures the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:26-38

Denomination: Baptist

A Look At Joseph, Husband Of Mary Series

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Dec 18, 2024

Joseph, the husband-to-be of Mary of Nazareth, was looking forward to his wedding day! But he received some news that almost made him change his mind. After a word from the Lord, he followed the Lord's instructions.

(Based on a sermon preached December 15, 2024 at New Hope Baptist Church, Fulton, MO. This is not an exact transcription.) Introduction: Two Sundays ago we looked at Zacharias and Elisabeth as two important people in the first Christmas story. Last week we studied the message of the angel Gabriel ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:16-25

Denomination: Baptist

A Tale Of Two Different Babies (Isaiah 7) Series

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Jan 5, 2025

The nation of Judah was in trouble. Ahaz, king at the time, received a pair of messages from the LORD. One of these messages had two significant meanings!

A Tale of Two Different Babies (Isaiah 7) (Full disclosure: some of this material comes from a message preached by Dr. Tim Faber at a church near Eldon, MO around 2014. He gave me permission to use material from that message. Some of this message is also based on a sermon preached Sunday evening, ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 7:1-16

Denomination: Baptist

A Christmas Message For December 22, 2024 Series

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Jan 9, 2025

Jesus is the greatest Christmas gift ever! John showed how that even though He was rejected, more often than not, some from that day to this still receive Him as Lord and Savior.

A Christmas Message for December 22, 2024 (based on a sermon preached at New Hope Baptist Church near Fulton, MO on 12-22-2024. This is not an exact transcription.) (Full disclosure: Sermon Central has already posted a message of mine, based on this same text, called “The Unwanted Christmas Gift”. ...read more

Scripture: John 1:1-14

Denomination: Baptist

The False Prophet Hananiah Series

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Jan 24, 2025

The prophet Jeremiah heard a message from another man who claimed to be a prophet. His name was Hananiah, but the LORD knew he was a false prophet. Jeremiah, in turn, gave Hananiah a message from the LORD.

The False Prophet Hananiah Introduction: False prophets—those who prophesy in the name of any “god” or “goddess” besides the One True and Living God—have been a problem since Old Testament days. Whether it was the serpent in Eden lying to Eve about not dying, to those who teach false doctrines ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 28:1-17

Denomination: Baptist

Joshua 10: Joshua And The Very, Very Long Day Series

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on May 27, 2024

Joshua and Israel needed extra time and daylight to finish defeating an enemy. The LORD heard Joshua's prayer and gave him a lot of extra light!

Introduction: Not everybody was pleased to hear about Israel’s victories at Jericho and Ai! The first two verses of Joshua 9 mention several kings of several groups decided they were going to fight against Israel. Of course, they must have hoped that delaying, if not destroying, Israel would make ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 10:1-28

Denomination: Baptist

Joshua 11: The North, The Final Campaign Series

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Jun 7, 2024

Israel, under Joshua's leadership, had reclaimed southern Canaan from the various tribes who fought against them, Now Israel was facing a much larger enemy in much larger territory. The LORD, though, gave victory!

Introduction: The last several verses of Joshua 10 describe briefly how Israel, with God’s help, swept through southern Canaan. Once that was done, Joshua and all Israel returned to Gilgal (see Joshua 10:29-43). There was still a great deal for Israel to claim, however, and this chapter gives some ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 11:1-23

Denomination: Baptist

Joshua 13: Well Begun, But Not All Done Series

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Jun 13, 2024

The initial campaigns to reclaim Canaan for Israel were over. Joshua, though, was old and there was still a lot of land unclaimed. Israel had begun well but had not yet finished all of the Lord's commands. What now?

Introduction: Israel, under Joshua’s leadership, had conquered a great deal of Canaan, the Promised Land. Several years had gone by, and Joshua was nearing the end of his earthly journey. Israel, though, was not nearly done with reclaiming the land so the LORD commanded Joshua to divide the land ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Joshua 14, Caleb's Birthday Request! Series

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Jun 17, 2024

Caleb and Joshua were the only two Israelites of those aged 20 and older to survive from Kadesh-Barnea to Canaan. Caleb, on his 85th birthday, asked for his inheritance--a mountain!

Introduction: Caleb. He’s truly one of the unsung heroes of the Bible. He and Joshua were the only two of the twelve spies who gave Israel a “we can take the land!” message when the other ten said, basically, “we’ll lose everything if we try to do it. (Numbers 13-14)”. As a result, every Israelite ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 14:6-15

Denomination: Baptist