Sermons on Jonathan:

Joshua 17, Two Tribes With One Common Problem Series

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Jul 2, 2024

Two tribes of Israel approached Joshua about a common problem. How did Joshua respond?

Introduction: Joshua had begun to distribute the land of Canaan to the various tribes of Israel. The tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh had received their inheritance on the east side of the Jordan River, and Judah had received the southern part of the land. Ephraim and the other portion ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 17:14-18

Denomination: Baptist

Joshua 20: The Cities Of Refuge Series

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Jul 18, 2024

The LORD instructed Israel to designate six cities as "Cities of Refuge". This message explores the roles and functions of these cities.

Introduction: Accidents happen, and some of these accidents result in the death of another person. There was and is a difference between intentional murders—and there were numerous examples of this in the Bible—and accidental death, sometimes called manslaughter. To provide a safe place for the ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Zedekiah, The False Prophet With Fake Iron Horns Series

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Feb 4, 2025

A false prophet named Zedekiah used some unusual visual aids to reinforce his message. One small problem, though: his message didn't come from the LORD!

Introduction: This second message is about Zedekiah, probably one of the worst false prophets ever. He lived during the days of Ahab and Jehoshaphat but caused a great deal of grief for many people in both Israel and Judah. His “visual aids” didn’t help, either! The setting for this “prophecy” ...read more

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 18:1-27

Denomination: Baptist

The False Prophets Of Nehemiah’s Day Series

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Feb 10, 2025

As strange as it may sound, even after years of captivity there were false prophets in the land of Israel. Nehemiah had to deal not only with rebuilding Jerusalem but also with a number of these false prophets!

Introduction: False prophets didn’t die out when all Israel was carried off to captivity. At least two are mentioned by name, plus there was an unspecified group of other false prophets. All of them had one common goal, though, and that was to get Nehemiah discouraged, or as he put it, “[they] ...read more

Scripture: Nehemiah 6:1-14

Denomination: Baptist

The False Prophet At Bethel Series

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Feb 14, 2025

Just because one claims to be an old prophet doesn't mean he's a true prophet. This message recounts what happened to a true prophet who listened to an old but false prophet. The true prophet paid dearly.

Introduction: Bethel was the scene of some good encounters between people and the LORD. Sadly it was also a place where Jeroboam established a false religion, centering on the worship of a golden calf. The background for this message comes from 1 Kings 12-13 Full disclosure: Sermon Central has ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 13:1-34

Denomination: Baptist

The False Prophet Balaam: When Opportunity Knocked, He Answered Series

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Feb 28, 2025

The king of Moab had a problem: Israel was near his territory. He called on Balaam to come and curse Israel. This king gave Balaam what might be considered the opportunity of a lifetime. How did Balaam respond?

(Edited from and based on a message preached Sunday evening, 2-16-25 at New Hope Baptist Church of Fulton, MO; this is not an exact transcription.) Introduction: The story of Balaam is, or at least used to be, one of the saddest in the entire Bible. It seems he knew the One True God and could ...read more

Scripture: Numbers 22:1-21

Denomination: Baptist

Balaam And His Unforgettable Ride! Series

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Mar 6, 2025

While on his way to Balak, king of Moab, Balaam experienced two things that he probably never forgot! He heard a message from the Angel of the LORD--and from another, unexpected source!

(Based on a message preached Sunday evening, March 2, 2025 at New Hope Baptist Church near Fulton, MO; this is not an exact transcription.) Introduction: The story of Balaam and his donkey (I choose to use the word “donkey” or “beast” simply to avoid being accused of using vulgar terms) is one of ...read more

Scripture: Numbers 22:22-35

Denomination: Baptist

An Outline For Mothers Of Messiah: Rebekah Series

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on May 30, 2025

Rebekah had been married to Isaac for twenty years, but they had no children. This outline has some notes about Rebekah's past and then after she and Isaac were married. She had the privilege to be a mother of the Messiah!

An Outline for Mothers of Messiah: Rebekah Introduction: Sarah was one of the first believers in the LORD who was barren, not able to bear any children. She wasn’t the last one, either, as Rebekah had the same problem. But, like Sarah, Rebekah remained true to the LORD and stands in the line as ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 24:50-61, Genesis 24:15-21, Genesis 24:62-67, Genesis 25:19-28

Denomination: Baptist

A Roman Centurion’s Great Faith Series

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Oct 16, 2025

Centurions were Roman army officers who supervised 100 soldiers. One of these men had a servant who was very sick so he asked Jesus to heal the servant. What happened next?

A Roman Centurion’s Great Faith Introduction: The last half of Luke chapter 6 has the text of what some call “The Sermon on the Plateau” or the level place. There are a number of things similar, and different, than the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5-7 but that’s not the point of this message. By ...read more

Scripture: Luke 7:1-10

Denomination: Baptist

Joshua 7: When Ai Spelled Defeat Series

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Apr 19, 2024

Israel was fresh from victory over Jericho. But they suffered their first and worst defeat in Canaan when they tried to conquer Ai. The LORD revealed the reason why this happened.

Introduction: With the LORD’s help. Israel had conquered Jericho and was now ready to claim more of the Promised Land. The next city was Ai, but Israel made a number of mistakes resulting in a defeat—that didn’t need to happen. The Prologue: A violation of God’s commands about Jericho Text, ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Joshua 8: Victory Promised, Victory Achieved! Series

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on May 6, 2024

Israel had suffered defeat at the first battle of Ai (Joshua 7). Now, following God's strategy, they were victorious! Take a look at just how Israel achieved this victory.

The prologue: the LORD’s promise Text, Joshua 8:1-2, KJV: 1 And the LORD said unto Joshua, Fear not, neither be thou dismayed: take all the people of war with thee, and arise, go up to Ai: see, I have given into thy hand the king of Ai, and his people, and his city, and his land: 2 And thou shalt ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Joshua 9: When Israel Was Fooled Twice! Series

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on May 21, 2024

The leaders of Israel met some strangers, who had a very sad story to tell them. Little did Joshua and the others know, they were about to be fooled not once, but twice.

Introduction: Israel was on the move! Jericho had fallen to them, Ai was gone, and the peoples of central Canaan were probably wondering who would be next. There was a group of four cities which decided to make peace with Israel—even if they had to use trickery to do it! Text, Joshua 9:1-2, KJV: 1 ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

An Outline For How The Word Says, 'sow Abundance.' Series

Contributed by Jonathan Giles on Sep 12, 2023

Let's prepare for famines to come

I invite you to consider praying over the following scriptures. On the first page of the bible it says God put man on earth to “Tend and Keep the garden.” This divine design of God is encouraged throughout the scriptures. We have Jesus warning of coming famines in Matthew 24. We have the model ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 2:14

The Worst Grandparent Ever

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Sep 13, 2023

There were a number of good grandparents in the Bible but there were a number of bad ones, too. This message is about Athaliah, the worst grandparent ever.

(Based on a message preached at First Baptist Church Chamois, MO on September 10, 2023. This is not an exact transcription.) Introduction: Except for Adam, Eve, and the first generation of children (Cain, Abel, Seth, etc.) everybody has at least four grandparents! Some were good, and, sadly, many ...read more

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 22:1-4

Denomination: Baptist

The Rich Man And Lazarus

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Sep 28, 2023

Jesus told a story about two very different men and how they entered two very different destinies. Which destination will you enter when your life on this earth is over?

(Based on a message preached at New Hope Baptist Church, Fulton, MO on 9-24-2023. This is not an exact transcription.) Introduction: The closer we get to the Lord’s coming, the less, I think, we hear about Hell. You might be surprised to hear what some people have to say about Hell: some think ...read more

Scripture: Luke 16:19-31

Denomination: Baptist