Sermons on Providence:

Turning The Other Cheek

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 13, 2021

The religious leaders of the world can quote their wise and holy men in ways that show they too have many of the values of the Sermon on the Mount. But they have nothing to match the teachings of Christ on the love of one's enemies.

Almost everybody agrees with the Sermon on the Mount in general, but almost nobody can agree to the specifics of the last part of chapter 5. Even Nikita Krushev, an atheist, when he was the leader of Russia, could say he agreed with the Sermon on the Mount, for even in Russia they do not consider ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:38-48

Prevent Being Out Of Order

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 13, 2021

With the motivation of love man can turn problems into blessings and bring order out of chaos, and harmony out of discord. By cooperation men can make plans where everyone comes out a winner.

After World War II there were five army dumps in France full of machinery. It was too good to throw away, and yet not good enough to hall back to the United States. It was a major problem. The Quakers saw an opportunity for service, and so they offered the United States Army 200,000 francs for ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:1-6

The Greatest Creator Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 14, 2021

Man’s choices as to the origin of the universe are reduced to two. It either came by chance circumstances, or it came by the mind and power of a Creator.

The story is told of the teacher who asked her class to write down what they thought were the 7 great wonders of the world. They could be the ancient wonders or the modern wonders. The choices were many and one little girl could not finish her list. The teacher said just read what you have and ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 1:2

The Greatest Sustainer Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 15, 2021

Jesus has the whole universe in His hands, and if He should let go and cease to sustain it, it would collapse into a massive heap of rubble, and then fade into extinction.

Anne Graham Lotz in her book Just Give Me Jesus tells of her father Billy Graham being given a watch by a friend, and after some time it stopped working. His wife took it to a jewelry store to get it fixed, but they could not do it. She took it to several and they all said it could not be fixed. ...read more

The Hard Work Of Trust

Contributed by Reuben Bredenhof on Mar 16, 2021

God teaches us to trust in him and in his Son our Saviour. God tells us that anxious care and bitter sighing won’t help. Discontentment will get us nowhere, but only humble trust and steadfast faith.

Have you ever felt like complaining against the LORD? Maybe you’ve prayed and prayed, but the answer that you wanted hasn’t come. Or you don’t like what God has brought into your life: lots of disappointment, lots of frustration. Or maybe you look at all the wickedness in the world, and you fear ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 10:26-39, Habakkuk 2:2-4

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Are You A Church Builder?

Contributed by Reuben Bredenhof on Mar 16, 2021

The work in Christ’s church will not get done in a hurry. We don’t even have a target date for completion. But this is what makes the difference for our church building: It’s the work of our Lord! It’s the church that Christ bought with his precious blood.

Are you a church builder? Do you see it as your responsibility to serve the church of Christ? To strengthen it, and to grow it? You should, because that’s the calling given to you by the Lord God! Sometimes we like to leave church-building work to the experts. We leave the physical aspects of the ...read more

Scripture: Ezra 6:13-22, Revelation 3:14-22, Haggai 1:3-11

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

God Pursues His Beloved

Contributed by Reuben Bredenhof on Mar 16, 2021

God wants to be known personally, intimately, and vitally. He wants us to look to him with deep affection, and to depend on him always, because we know him. So foster that true commitment to God: listening to him, speaking with him, and walking with him.

Say you’ve met that “special someone.” It’s one you’ve come to love, it’s the one you want to marry. Probably we all can picture this very human event: meeting someone, falling in love, becoming husband and wife. There’s a lot of joy in this great gift! But then something takes place that nobody ...read more

Scripture: Hosea 2:2-23, Ephesians 5:22-33, Hosea 2:14-20

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Love Does Not Envy Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 17, 2021

I envy, but love does not, and so only as I and love become one can envy be eased out of my life. It may not be easy, but we must work at it.

Sometimes the best way to say what something is, is to say what it isn't. If a child asks you what a smooth surface is, you would probably say it is a surface with no bumps and no rough spots. Bumps and rough are not what smooth is, but what smooth isn't. It would be hard to describe what ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:4

Living Hope Series

Contributed by C. Philip Green on Mar 17, 2021

Jesus is alive, so be sure and be glad. Be sure of a glorious future and be glad even in times of grief today.

Several years ago, Health and Human Services sent a letter to a resident of Greenville County, South Carolina. The letter said, “Your food stamps will be stopped, effective March, because we received notice that you passed away. May God bless you. You may reapply if your circumstances change.” (S. ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 1:1-12, Hebrews 11:1

Denomination: Evangelical Free

The Physiology Of Praise Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 18, 2021

Body involvement in worship is a subject we do not often think about, but the Bible is full of it.

It was before my time, but I remember my parents talking about going to see silent movies. The movies made no sound, but according to Sam Levinson in his book Everything But Money, the audience made plenty of sound. As the hero and the villain shot it out, each firing two thousand shots without ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 47:1-9

Persistence In Praise Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 18, 2021

In the literature of success the theme you will confront most often is the theme of persistence. The athlete who didn't have a chance, but who by perseverance and persistence became the best. The Bible is loaded with this theme as well.

Captain Eddy Richenbacker was in an airplane crash in Atlanta and was rushed to the hospital. He was going in and out of consciousness. It was thought that he would not survive. The most famous radio commentator in the U.S. then was the late Walter Winchell. He said in his broadcast, ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 13:15-21

Differences Make A Difference Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 22, 2021

We do not have to like everything about Paul, for he didn't like everything about himself, but we do have to recognize that differences are not defects. They are the key to the churches having the diversity necessary to reach a very diverse world.

Sometimes a man can be so different that nobody can agree with him all the time. Such was the case with Roger Williams, who was the founder of the first Baptist Church in America. He came to America for religious freedom, and he expected to have more of it than anybody was willing to give him. ...read more

Scripture: Acts 23:1-11

God Is Love Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 25, 2021

We are never nearer God than when we love, and we are never nearer to being what he wants us to be than when we love.

Tolstoy wrote a story called "Where Love Is, God Is." It is about an old cobbler named Martin who lived alone. One night as he read the story of Jesus visiting the Pharisee, and the poor welcome he received, he prayed that the Lord would visit him. In his sleep he heard a voice saying, ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 4:7-8

Philemon - Forgiveness In Action

Contributed by Chuck Gohn on Mar 26, 2021

At any time in life we can be Onesimus, Philemon, or Paul i.e., someone who has hurt another person, someone who has been hurt, or someone who is attempted to reconcile two people. Like Onesimus we are all part of the “fellowship of the forgiven”, and therefore must practice forgiveness.

SERMON OUTLINE: Philemon : Forgiveness in Action 1. Book Background Only one chapter – 25 verses Thin book, but rich in content Originally written as a simple letter 2. Historical Setting Philemon – friend of Paul Christian converted by Paul in Ephesus? Philemon now living in Colossae A ...read more

Scripture: Philemon 1:1-25

Denomination: Christian Church

Conflict Of The Kings Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 27, 2021

Every man, including Jesus has to face the universal experience of temptation.

Art Linkletter tells of how when he was 10 years old he was offered a job of tempting people to buy ice cream cones. The ice cream stand owner noticed the dramatic way in which he licked an ice cream cone, and so he offered him ten cents an afternoon if he would wonder through the nearby park ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:9-12