Sermons on Paul On Trial:

Hands Open Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Sep 21, 2008

Hands open may be a handshake or a salute, signalling friendship or respect. Just as those gestures affirmed Saul, we also must approach others by leading them to safety and by affirming their potential.

f I come toward you with an open hand, what does that mean? If I approach you from across the room with either one hand or both hands open, how would you interpret that? Well, of course, it would mean different things for different kinds of open hands. There is more than one way to be ...read more

Scripture: Acts 9:1-19

Denomination: Baptist

Ephesians Chapter 3 Series

Contributed by Eric Hanson on Sep 8, 2008

Paul here goes into some detail about his own call and his aims with the Ephesians believers. It was clearly his fondest wish that all believers understand who we are in Christ.

Ephesians Chapter 3 Pastor Eric July 27, 2008 (Read verses, then comments.) (1-3) Paul, building upon the closing thoughts of chapter 2, refers to himself as the prisoner of the Lord Jesus Christ for the sake of the Gentiles. Note that Paul did not refer to himself as the prisoner of the Roman ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 3:1-21

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Within, Without Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Dec 11, 2008

Paul and John Mark, a study in maturing relationships. John Mark starts out young and conflicted; he is insecure around the powerful Paul; but Paul grows to accept him and think of him as useful.

The Scripture texts I will be using today are scattered through several chapters in the Book of Acts, plus other locations in the New Testament. And so instead of simply reading passage after passage, let me put together a vignette, a character sketch, in order to make the life of John Mark ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Putting It To Use Series

Contributed by Chris Stevens on Dec 16, 2008

The first lesson in this two lesson series took a look at our "free" gift from God and what it provides. In light of the gift we as Christians are challenged to share what we have been given.

This morning we began our study on “Our Gift…from God!” by identifying His gift to all mankind – once applied to our lives Jesus blood provides: • Justification…(Romans 5:16-17) • Sanctification…(1 Cor. 6:9-11) • Preservation…(John 10:28-29) • Identification…(1 John 3:1; Rev. ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 4:13-15

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Two-Minute Drill

Contributed by Jerry Falwell on Sep 22, 2009

A sermon about the final two minutes of life.

THE TWO-MINUTE DRILL By Jerry Falwell INTRODUCTION A short time ago I preached a sermon on “The Final Quarter.” That sermon was about people who are in the last part of their life. I talked about lessons I had learned about the last quarter and how people should live in the last quarter. ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:6-8

Denomination: Baptist

Forget Your Past, Focus On The Future Series

Contributed by Babatunde Olugboji on Jun 6, 2011

Remember, yesterday is history (you can’t change it) today is a present (enjoy it) and tomorrow is a mystery (look forward to it with expectations).

That I may know Him (2): Forget your Past, Focus on the Future Text Philip 3:12-14: Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:12-14

Denomination: Pentecostal

Leaning Against Legalism

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Jun 20, 2011

We often measure our success by how closely we stick to a set of expectations - whether on the job, at home, or in our walk with the Lord. We do good, we feel good - we do bad, we feel bad. But measuring success is really much different in a relationship

When you apply for a job you supply your resume—it’s that collection of information that tells why you are qualified for a particular position. Until not too long ago, a very important thing to have when going to a new area was a letter of recommendation. We still use them occasionally. ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 3:1-18

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

Lesson 5: Don't Remain A Baby Series

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Oct 11, 2010

One of the most dangerous places to find yourself as a Christian is thinking you are more mature than you really are. This was one of the main reasons the Corinthian church had so many problems and may be a reason you are not moving forward in your walk.

I have a granddaughter, little Maya. She is our first grandchild and, of course, she is the cutest baby on planet earth. Up until now Maya has only known her mama's milk as her food. She is just starting to eat puréed foods like bananas and the like. We saw the cutest video of her and she actually ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 3:1-4

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

How Will God Find You?

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Sep 18, 2011

Many times we as Christians live our lives in the dark. We think we are reasonably good people trying our best. But our past, our associations, the flesh, and the culture around us, conspire to blind us to many things that are not like the Lord going on i

The church today is in trouble. Two recent surveys show that church attendance, even among professing Christians, is way down. Many people today also feel that while they acknowledge faith in Jesus, also want a Burger King style religion—the “have it your way” mentality of ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 12:11-21

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

Maturing Is Hard To Do - But It's Worth It!

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Sep 26, 2011

Too often as Christians we take short cuts to maturity. In reality the only way to become complete is to let the Lord take you through difficulty and make you seem to "fail." In the process He builds life and a character in you that will lead you into His

We all have a decision to make. After we become a disciple of Jesus Christ the culture around us, our own brokenness, and an invisible enemy—will all try to mitigate the work that the Holy Spirit is doing inside of us: transforming us into a new character. The decision we have to make is how ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 13:1-13

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

What Good Are You? Series

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Jan 3, 2011

Sometimes we feel like God has to completely change us in order to use us. Paul shows us that God takes the background, weaknesses, and even difficulties and uses them for His kingdom, if we let Him.

Who are you as a person? Who are you as a Christian? Do those two questions get two different responses from you? I think often times we think that when we come to Christ, Jesus basically considers us to be a blank slate that needs to be redrawn into the character of Jesus and that everything about ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 9:1-27

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

Riding The Fence Series

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Nov 1, 2011

More times than we would probably like to admit, we slip into legalism. It can happen when God takes too long to answer a prayer, or answers in a way we don't expect. We take over the reigns, and it's a mistake!

To continue Paul’s arguments against legalism he turns again to a story in the Old Testament. This time it is the children that God promised to Abram. The issue is whether you let God fulfill His promise of righteousness in you, or whether you want to take the controls and do it yourself. ...read more

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

The War Within Series

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Nov 7, 2011

Being human we are born with certain default settings that drive us to think in certain ways. When we become a Christian a war starts between a new nature seeking to establish a beachhead and take over and the old regime that wants to stay in control.

The human mind is self-rationalizing. In other words, we will rationalize our thoughts and actions according to ourselves, rather than to some external source. Even when we read something or hear something and alter our behavior, it is because we choose to believe that thing we read or ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:13-18

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

The Stark Contrast Series

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Dec 5, 2011

The contrast between the old nature and the new couldn't be more stark as we finish up our study in Paul's letter to the Galatians. The question we all have to face is: where is our treasure, in this legalistic age, or in God's kingdom?

Galatians is all about the contrast between the old nature and the new, legalism and Spirit-life. As we finish up the book today we’re going to see that contrast in stark relief so let’s look for it as we finish chapter 6. As we talked about the fruit of the Spirit in chapter 5, we saw ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 6:6-18

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

Many Parts - One Body Series

Contributed by Bobby Stults on Oct 1, 2012

Are you using your talents and gifts as God intends... for His glory? Your position in Christ is ALL because of His Grace and not because of anything we have done.

SERMON BRIEF Date Written: October 1, 2012 Date Preached: September 30, 2012 Church: Oak Park BC (AM) FOUNDATIONAL ELEMENTS Series: A Series In Romans Title: Many Parts – One Body Text: Romans 12:3-8 ETS: Paul knew unity was crucial and all believers have a part to ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:3-8

Denomination: Baptist