Sermons on Tom Ellsworth:

Spotting Bad Leaders - Growing Good Ones Series

Contributed by Tom Fuller on May 20, 2005

What makes good leadership material? It might surprise you that it’s not the strong, dictatorial man-in-charge, but is someone who models the gentle and giving spirit of Jesus.

Timothy found himself in a pickle. False teachers had come in and were fomenting dissent among the men and using freedoms in Christ to pull women off into their deception and rebellion. Some of these men were leaders in the church. He needed a strong hand to put this troubled church back on track ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 3:1-16

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

Confrontation! Series

Contributed by Tom Fuller on May 20, 2005

Laban confronts Jacob after God tells him to leave and go to Canaan. We learn how God peels away the flesh and transforms us with His character through the confrontation between Laban and Jacob.

I don’t like confrontation - especially with people who I know have ulterior motives and are trying to trip me up and get the best of me. I get obsessed about it - and it makes my stomach churn. I’m sure Jacob was feeling some of those feelings as he thought about Laban - who at every turn cheated ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 31:1-55

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

Jacob's Final Transformation Series

Contributed by Tom Fuller on May 20, 2005

After Jacob gave his heart to God, and saw the Lord change his character, there was a point where God needed to break Jacob so that he would be fully devoted. God does that in our lives as well - what does it mean?

You give your heart to the Lord - saying "I’m yours, be my Lord and Savior." Then the Father begins a process of transformation. The Apostle Paul put it this way: "being transformed into His image with ever increasing glory" (1 Cor 3:18). That transformation process often involves the tearing ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 32:1-31

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

Treating People Right Series

Contributed by Tom Fuller on May 20, 2005

What is the appropriate response to bad leadership, or people that you have to correct that are older or younger than you? Find out - along with how Paul told Timothy to treat widows on the church payroll.

Paul gives Timothy some pastoral advice on how to treat various groups in the body of Christ: older and younger men, older and younger women, widows - and then elders. Finally he gives Timothy some very personal advice. It’s possible that these two groups - widows and elders - were the focus of ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 5:1-25

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

Unexpected Welcome - Unexpected Sin Series

Contributed by Tom Fuller on May 20, 2005

After dreading the meeting - Jacob and Esau have a family reunion. But then jealousy and violence take over as Jacob’s sons do something unthinkable.

Jacob has had a really tough time - back in Padan Aram he finally left his uncle Laban, who had cheated him for 20 years. Laban would have probably killed him had God not intervened but even still Laban gives Jacob a really hard time and then makes this agreement asking that God judge Jacob if he ...read more

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

The Secret To True Contentment Series

Contributed by Tom Fuller on May 20, 2005

What is true contentment? Is it gaining security by gaining possessions? Learn the mistakes of loving things - even if you don’t have any.

When is enough enough? Each day we Americans are bombarded with thousands of messages - many telling us that we aren’t complete until we buy the latest and greatest product. Whether its cars or houses or boats or computers - what you have is no good anymore. It has bred a society founded on the ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 6:1-21

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

What To Do If You Make A Big Mistake Series

Contributed by Tom Fuller on May 20, 2005

We all make small errors now and again. But what do you do if you make a big blunder? We learn from Jacob and what he did after Shechem about how to get back with God.

When we make small errors we often just breeze over them or remind ourselves not to do that anymore. But what happens when we make a really big blunder - something that affects other lives and our own in significant ways? Sometimes we panic, or we throw up our hands and do nothing, or we allow ...read more

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

Don't Give Up! Series

Contributed by Tom Fuller on May 28, 2005

Do you face opposition in your life? Does it discourage you? Listen to Paul’s words of encouragement to a discouraged pastor and find hope.

Have you ever been ready just to give up - especially when it comes to serving the Lord. You’ve learned about Him, given your heart to Him, then stepped out either to hare the Lord with someone or in some kind of ministry and nothing seems to be going right. You are ready to throw in the towel ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 1:1-18

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

Persevere Under Hardship Series

Contributed by Tom Fuller on May 30, 2005

Are you going through tough times? It could be that God is making you into a wonderul tool - to use in furthering His kingdom. Find out how Paul encouraged Timothy to stay with it under pressure.

Paul has just gotten finished telling Timothy that despite the fact that he was abandoned in Rome – that there were a few – like Onesiphorus, who were a great comfort during hard times. Now he takes it one step further – be strong yourself, and look for people you can trust – then pass on good ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:1-26

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

Moving Out Of Your Comfort Zone Series

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Jun 3, 2005

Joseph had it all - favored by his father, in a position of power - yet God moved him out of the place of having it all to having nothing. What does that teach us?

Genesis 37-38 Sometimes when we think about the patriarchs and the leaders of the tribes of Israel they take on sort of a patina glow – a sort of holiness – like they were not quite human. But here in chapters 37 and 38 we see the very human nature of Jacob’s twelve sons. We see the dirt swept ...read more

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

The Truth Of God's Word Series

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Jun 14, 2005

How fully do you trust that the bible is God’s word? and what happens to your faith if you doubt the bible?

This chapter contains some of the richest verses about the veracity of the Word of God, and the reality of persecution in the New Testament. It also contains some of the strongest language in the Bible against those who pose as teachers of the Scriptures, but are actually false teachers and what ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:1-17

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

Come Before Winter Series

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Jun 14, 2005

Is it winter in your life? Do you feel abandoned and without hope? Let the last words of the Apostle Paul encourage you as he prepared to cast off for the next shore.

Quite a number of years ago now I saw what was one of the most impacting presentations of my entire life. An actor – Phil Nash – performed a dramatic reading of 2nd Timothy called “Come Before Winter.” It was just him – in costume, alone on the stage with a few props, reciting the book as Paul the ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:1-22

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

Living A Godly Life In A Godless World Series

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Jun 16, 2005

Joseph was stuck as a slave, then a prisoner in Egypt. He could have claimed God had forgotten him, but Joseph remained faithful and a man of character on the inside and outside. It gives us many lessons on how to live our lives in Christ.

The story of Joseph reminds me of someone else later on in the Old Testament - Daniel. Like Joseph, Daniel was carried off to a foreign land but because of his God given talent and integrity, he was given broad trust and responsibility. Also like Joseph, that character got him enemies who sought to ...read more

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

Which Side Of The Cross Are You On? Series

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Jun 20, 2005

Titus ministered in an area where the culture influenced the Christian community with immorality, independence, and idleness. These same character traits exist in our culture as well - placing Christians on opposite sides when they don’t need to be.

Wouldn’t it be great if everyone in the church was like you? I’ve heard it said before that “church is great – except for all the people.” The fact is, the church is the people – imperfect members of the human race who came to Christ from various backgrounds and dysfunctions. Sometimes I wish ...read more

Scripture: Titus 1:1-16

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

Be Ready When God Comes Calling Series

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Jun 23, 2005

Joseph languished in prison for two years after he thought he had a chance to get out. But when Pharaoh came calling suddenly he was ready to serve. So how do we keep "at the ready" when God comes to ask us to serve unexpectedly?

Verse 1 2 years passes after Joseph gives interpretation to the baker and butler. What must Joseph had thought. After it looked like God was making a way for him to get out of prison – the days were followed by weeks which were followed by months and years – and nothing. You’d think God had given ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 41:1-57

Denomination: Calvary Chapel