Sermons on Jonathan:

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

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 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

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