Sermons on Jonathan:

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

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

A Veteran’s Day/Thanksgiving Day Message Series

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Nov 18, 2022

There's only a couple of weeks between Veteran's Day and Thanksgiving Day. This message is an attempt to combine features of each holiday.

(Note: Based on and edited from a message preached November 13, 2022 at First Baptist Church, Chamois, MO. This is not an exact transcription.) Introduction: Veteran’s Day was originally called Armistice Day in honor of the Armistice ending the First World War. This Armistice took place on “the ...read more

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 20:1-25

Denomination: Baptist

A Thanksgiving Meal—in The Springtime! Series

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Nov 22, 2022

Barley harvest--springtime--may not be the time when people think about Thanksgiving Day meals. During Elisha's day, a pair of miracles made a small meal into a real feast!

(Full disclosure: Sermon Central has accepted two of my different illustrations based on this text. This message is not merely a combination of those illustrations.) Introduction: What do you think of when you’re pondering a Thanksgiving Day meal? For many years, it’s a more or less American ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 4:38-44, Ruth 3:14-18

Denomination: Baptist

First Sunday In Advent: The Hope Candle Series

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Dec 1, 2022

Hope. Something everyone needs. This message describes times when hope seemed gone but reminds us that Jesus provides hope!

(Modified from a message preached at FBC Chamois, MO on 11-27-2022; not an exact transcription) Introduction: This is the first Sunday in the Advent season, the four or so Sundays before Christmas Day. Now I understand that some churches believe in using these candles and some don’t; and there is ...read more

Scripture: Romans 15:1-6

Denomination: Baptist

Joshua 3: "Canaan’s That-A-Way—let’s Go!” Series

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Mar 8, 2024

Israel had moved even and ever closer to Canaan, their Promised Land. They were still on the eastern side of the Jordan River, but now it was time to cross over. Imagine Joshua saying, "Canaan's that-a-way! Let's go!"

Introduction: Israel had endured 40 years of wandering here and there in the desert wilderness but now was just a few miles from the Promised Land. They had camped near the Jordan River at a place called Shittim, and while there the two spies had gone to Jericho and returned. One can almost feel ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 3:1-17

Denomination: Baptist

Joshua 4: The Story In The Stones Series

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Mar 15, 2024

Joshua 4 has the story of how Israel crossed the Jordan River and entered the Promised Land. The LORD told Joshua to make two memorials, from two different batches of stones. There's more in the chapter, too.

Introduction: Memorials are important. They serve to remind the people who were there of what happened, and why; and they’re also to remind the people, sometimes generations later, what their ancestors had endured. This was true for Israel as well: the people in this story lived through something ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Joshua 5: Time To Take Care Of Some Things Series

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Mar 21, 2024

Joshua chapter 5 reflects a couple of items Israel hadn't done in nearly 40 years. Israel had crossed the Jordan River, ready to claim their Promised Land, but they had to take care of a couple of items first.

Introduction: Israel had crossed over the Jordan River and now they were camping in Canaan, the Promised Land! God had kept every promise He had made to Israel. Israel, though, had not kept every promise they had made to God. One of those promises was to circumcise (definition omitted here but ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 5:1-15

Denomination: Baptist

Joshua 6, Odd Strategy, Amazing Results! Series

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Apr 9, 2024

Joshua had just received his literal marching orders from the LORD. But the strategy and instructions were not like anything any army had ever done before. Israel obeyed, and the LORD gave victory!

Introduction: Israel, by now, had crossed the Jordan River and were staying at Gilgal for the moment. The men of Israel had undergone circumcision, following the Law, and had celebrated their first Passover in the Promised Land. But Israel was never intended to remain packed in one small area, ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Outline For The First World War-And It Was In The Bible!

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Dec 4, 2021

This is a "talking paper" type of outline for Genesis 14, a description of what could be called the truly First World War!

Introduction: The holiday we call Veterans’ Day was originally called Armistice Day, in honor of the cease-fire that ended World War I. That conflict had other names, such as “the Great War”, the “War to End All Wars”, and even “the 1914-18 war”. Certainly it was one of the worst times of war in ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Outline For The People Of Christmas: Zacharias

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Dec 11, 2021

This incident in the life of Zacharias is, strictly speaking, not a part of the first Christmas story. Even so, his son, to be named John, was the forerunner of the Messiah!

Text: Luke 1, selected verses Introduction: Zacharias was a priest, married to a woman named Elisabeth, but they had no children. Humanly speaking, there was no way for them to have a child, but God intervened, and gave them the child they so desperately wanted. Although these events took place ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

For God So Loved The World

Contributed by Jonathan Nelson on Dec 18, 2021

A Christmas message focusing on John 3:16 and God's love for mankind.

John 3:16 is both the easiest verse in the Bible to preach on and it is the hardest verse to preach on. Of the 31,102 verses in the Bible, John 3:16 captures the very essence of the message of the Gospel. If we were to remove every verse from Genesis to Revelation, leaving only John 3:16, I still ...read more

Scripture: John 3:12-21, 1 Timothy 2:4

Denomination: Nazarene

Now What?

Contributed by Jonathan Nelson on Dec 27, 2021

A sermon about the hope we have in the post-holiday season, when many are left asking, "Now what?"

INTRO Have you ever noticed how the day after Christmas is kind of a letdown? There is always this build up to Christmas. Some of us have had the decorations hung for over a month. We have sung the songs, watched the movies, bought and wrapped the gifts, and cooked the meals. There is admittedly ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:40

Denomination: Nazarene

The Lord's Prayer

Contributed by Jonathan Nelson on Dec 27, 2021

A look at the most popular prayer in the world and how the Believer can apply it to their lives.

Today, I want us to look at what is perhaps the most popular prayer in the Christian faith. We learn it at an early age and it is easy to remember. It can be prayed at almost any occasion. I have heard it prayed over meals, at weddings, at funerals, even in times of worry and fear. Ills: Flying for ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:9-13, Matthew 6:25-34, Romans 3:10

Denomination: Nazarene

Back To School-The Final Exam Series

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Aug 10, 2023

Many schools, where I live, begin the academic year in August. Not very many students understand, though, that there is a final exam at the end of this year in spring. In the same way, we believers will have a final exam when we stand before the judgment seat of Christ.

(Based on a message preached August 6, 2023 at First Baptist Church, Chamois, MO; not an exact transcription). Introduction: Have you noticed that some things change? We have one student who’s going away to college next week, and school’s going to start before long. I’m sure you’re all excited, ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:1-10

Denomination: Baptist