Sermons on Tom Clairbourne:

Pick Up The Oars!

Contributed by Tom Fuller on May 5, 2003

This week we’re going to talk about the difference between how we want to be perceived as Christians, and how we should be perceived. Learn how we’re nothing special, but we’ve got an important job to do.

How do you like to be seen? What’s the image you like to portray to the outside world? Maybe for you its self confidence, or knowledgeable, or “too cool for school”. At a golf course, four men approached the sixteenth tee. The straight fairway ran along a road and bike path fenced off on the ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 4:1-21

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

Dealing With Sin

Contributed by Tom Fuller on May 12, 2003

How do you deal with sin - in your life, or in the life of someone else? Paul gives us some adivse in how to keep sin away without ruining our relationships.

For an audio version of this message, please go to: www.LivingWatersWeb.com. Don’t you just love the tabloids? I love the headlines like: “Space Alien Father of Elvis” or something like that. When they don’t have a juicy story, they usually just make it up. But more often than not, our society’s ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 5:1-13

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

What Kind Of Soil Are You?

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Jun 27, 2002

In life, just like in a garden, there are different kinds of soil. The kind of soil you are will determine how God can impact your life.

Matthew 13:1-23 What Kind of Soil Are You? I’m not a gardener, nor do I play one on TV – but my wife is. And I’ve tilled around a bit – and dug into the soil we have around our house to put in sprinklers and the like. It’s bad stuff – with lots of clay. I have learned the clay doesn’t grow things ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:1-23

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

French Horns Or Paper Dolls?

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Jun 30, 2002

Which would you rather be - a Christian who puts on Christ’s character like a costume, or an instrument playing beautiful music in God’s hands?

I admit it – I played with paper dolls as a young boy. I guess I got them from my sisters – we may have even played them together. But I remember thinking it was pretty cool that you could take this people, cut out different clothes and hair and stuff for them and make them into anything you wanted ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 15:1-20

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

Captain Hook's Treasure Hunt

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Jun 30, 2002

Getting to know God can be like going on a treasure hunt – often the looking is as wonderful as the finding.

When I was very young, my parents used to take me and my two sisters to my godparent’s cabin at Lake Tahoe. They lived on Rubicon Bay – I always liked that name – I don’t for the life of me know what it means, but it sounds kind of mysterious, doesn’t it? Anyway, they always told stories of the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:44-58

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

What's Your Focus

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Jun 30, 2002

The storms of life distract us from focusing on God – learn what Jesus focused on in times of trouble.

Most of the time in our lives we focus on what to do if things go wrong. We come up with contingency plans in case we are late for a flight. We sometimes even have redundant systems in place in case of failure. In fact, on the space shuttle, most of its systems are backed up by quadruple ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 14:22-36

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

Be A Feast Giver

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Jun 30, 2002

Two kings, two feasts – one who thought he had everything had nothing, another made everything from nothing.

Don’t you love a big barbeque? I remember as a kid going to Hooker Oak Park for barbeques and seeing all the people playing and having a good time and smelling the steaks and stuff. Well, today, we are going to attend two feasts, two large get-togethers. And we’re going to see two kings preside ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 14:1-21

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

Pulling Up Weeds

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Jun 30, 2002

How to discover make-believers in the church, and make-believing attitudes in ourselves.

Nobody likes weeds. Weeds are the bane of our existence. We do nothing, and weeds come up. We spray like crazy, and weeds come back. There’s one weed in particular that I dislike more than any other. I don’t know what they are called – but I have my own name for them: “Explode-a-weeds.” I’m sure ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:24-43

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

The Folly Of Following Signs

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Jul 9, 2002

The danger of looking to external “signs” to guide you into God’s will. So how do you know if God is leading you?

I don’t recommend very many movies – and I especially don’t recommend the movie I’m about to mention. But sometimes lines spoken in movies jump off the screen and into the dictionary and become part of the way we think and speak – and inform us about ourselves and our attitudes. In the movie ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 12:38-50

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

Baspheme Of The Holy Spirit

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Jul 9, 2002

It’s not saying you don’t like the Holy Spirit – learn the real truth about the blaspheme of the Holy Spirit.

I have a recurring dream – a nightmare, really. It takes three forms – at least one of which I’m sure you are familiar. In the dream I am either going to school, going on stage, or going on the air reporting the news on TV. In each case I arrive at my destination with no idea what I am supposed to ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 12:30-37

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

The Strong Man Vs. Jesus

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Jul 9, 2002

Nothing can happen to you apart from God’s will – he’s in control, not Satan.

Have you ever met a really big person? I don’t mean someone who is just taller than you – but someone that is really really tall. I remember once meeting Terry Porter. You know – the guy that used to play for the Portland Trailblazers? On TV, Terry always looked pretty small. I was assigned to ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 12:15-29

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

Because I Said So

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Jul 9, 2002

Don’t let your “sacred cows” keep you from experiencing all that God has for you.

When you were a kid, didn’t you hate it when your parents said "no" to something – and when you asked "why?" they just replied: "because I said so." "Well, who died and made you God?" you thought, but never dared utter. As a parent I have tried to always give a reason – however lame it might be – ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 12:1-14

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

What Is God Like - Part 1

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Jul 9, 2002

Jesus reveals His true character – one which you will find at once comforting and challenging – part 1

A kindergarten teacher was observing her classroom of children while they drew. She would occasionally walk around to see each child’s artwork. As she got to one little girl who was working diligently, she asked what the drawing was. The girl replied, "I’m drawing God." The teacher paused and said, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 11:1-27

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

What Is God Like - Part 2

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Jul 9, 2002

Jesus reveals His true character – one which you will find at once comforting and challenging – part 2

Today we conclude a study that we began last Sunday in Matthew 11 – answering the question: "What is God like"? If you missed it, pick up the tape. But to bring us up to speed – John the Baptist, having baptized Jesus as the Messiah, has some doubts and sends his disciples to ask the question: ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 11:28-30

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

Audacious - Tenacious Faith

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Jul 13, 2002

How do you approach God - tenaciously or tentatively? It can make a big different in how your prayers get answered.

Have you ever done something totally embarrassing in front of a very famous or powerful person? I remember when Ronald Regan was running for governor of California (I know I’m dating myself here). I was a young (very young) boy in a small town in northern California. Mr. Regan came by plane for a ...read more

Denomination: Calvary Chapel