I.   Introduction A.  Stumped 1.    Have you ever had a moment when someone stumped you? 2.    Through the years, people have given some pretty crazy answers in moments of stress, such as this woman on Family Feud many years ago. 3.    Perhaps you’ve had a moment when someone asked you a religious q …

I.    Introduction A.  Running on Fumes 1.    Americans are running on empty, and I don’t mean our gas tanks. a.    In a Gallup poll last year, over half of U.S. adults (57%) said they would feel better if they got more sleep.[1] b.    Part of the reason is likely stress. According to research by th …

I.   Introduction A.  Three Wishes 1.    What if God told you that you could have three wishes? What would they be? a.    What if you could have any wish you desired? What if there were no restrictions? Would you really want that kind of power? b.    There is an old saying, “Be careful what you wish …

I.   Introduction A.  The Lost Battalion[1] B.  Background on the Passage (2 Kings 6:15-19) II.  The Battle Belongs to the Lord A.  Fear Not in Your Heart 1.    We can face life’s challenges because we serve the One whose power gives us the courage to overcome our fears. a.    We’ve concentrated a l …

I.    Introduction A.  Armor 1.    Armor is essential in war. Armor is often one of the most important technological advances any military power can develop. If your soldiers don’t have good armor, they will be less effective. 2.    Some of us wear armor every day just to make it through the day 3.  …

I.    Introduction A.  Unrealized Value 1.    A Scottish chess piece that had been lost for centuries was stored in a drawer in Edinburgh since 1964. The owner had no idea for decades that the piece was actually one of five lost pieces of a famous 12th-13th century chess set called the Lewis Chessme …

I.   Introduction A.  Tough Week 1.    This has been a rough week. 2.    It seems like nothing but bad news has prevailed. 3.    My sermon this morning is not meant to diminish the events of the week. 4.    The sermon this morning is meant to remind us of something very important; something so impor …

I.    Introduction A.  The Loneliest Job in America 1.    Steve Fuller most likely has the loneliest job I’ve ever read about. Each year, he arrives at Yellowstone National Park in November and doesn’t leave until a snowplow can reach him. His job? He takes care of about 100 buildings by shoveling s …

I.    Introduction A.  We are at War! 1.    On December 7, 1941, Pearl Harbor was attacked by Japanese forces. a.    The day after, FDR gave a famous speech on December Pearl Harbor: “Yesterday, December 7, 1941-a date which will live in infamy-the United States of America was suddenly and deliberat …

I.   Introduction A.  Stories about Failure 1.    Some of the most successful people we know have been failures at some point in life. 2.    Steve Jobs- Steve was fired from the company he created (Apple), but returned later to save it. Steve had this to say about his firing at Apple: “I didn’t see …

I.   Introduction A.  Angkor Wat 1.    According to The Guinness Book of World Records, Angkor Wat in Cambodia holds the title of the largest temple complex in the world. 2.    The temple complex itself is over 400 acres. 3.    It originally served as a Hindu temple to honor Vishnu, but was later tr …

I.   Introduction A.  The Meaning of Life (according to an atheist) 1.    The famous atheist author Bertrand Russell was sent a book for review by Hugh Moorhead. Hugh asked Bertrand to answer the question, “What is the meaning of life?” Bertrand’s response was revealing. He wrote, “Thank you for you …

I.   Introduction A.  Origami B.  Transformed 1.    In our passage today, Paul writes about the new life that Christians have in Christ. 2.    He shows us what it looks like to walk in a manner worthy of our calling. 3.    The passage today makes it clear that our transformation is not a one-time oc …

I.    Introduction A.  Fruit Tree B.  Spiritual Fruit II.  Growth A.  Rooted in Good Soil 1.    In our passage, we find words like building, mature, measure, no longer being tossed, grow up, joined, etc. In order for these things to take place, we have to have the right foundation from which to star …

I.    Introduction A.  Who are you? 1.    If you grew up watching police shows, one of the things that police used to identify individuals in crimes was fingerprints. 2.    It is commonly presented that no two people’s fingerprints are identical based on loops and whorls located within every finger …

I.   Introduction A.  First Day of School B.  Adult Packing C.  Back to School Spiritual (Deuteronomy 6:5-9) II.  Packing for the Journey of Life A.  Map – The Word of God 1.    There are times we feel pretty lost, don’t we? 2.    God’s Word is meant to be a guide. a.    Psalm 119:105 b.    John 14: …

I.    Introduction A.  The Random Narratives of the Bible 1.    There are narratives in the Bible that seem a bit “random” to us. a.    Who exactly were the Nephilim? b.    What kind of animal was the Leviathan? c.    Among those narratives, an OT/NT reference to a person named Melchizedek is someti …

I.   Introduction A.  Invitations B.  Back to School Drive Invitation C.  Simon’s Party 1.    In our passage today, Jesus reminds us that our concept of who deserves an invitation may differ from who God would invite. 2.    The Narrative a.    Simon (not Peter) is a Pharisee who has invited Jesus to …

I.    Introduction A.  The soul in Scripture[1] 1.    There are a few words that seem to be interchangeable in Scripture at times and also unique at other times regarding that part of us which is not physical. 2.    OT- (Hebrew נֶפֶשׁ nep̄eš or רוּחַ rûaḥ) a.    Genesis 2:7 (soul) b.    Genesis 6:17 …

I.    Introduction A.  Suffering 1.    Illustration: There is a girl in the UK who feels no pain, hunger, or fatigue. She has been dubbed the Bionic Girl. What sounds like a blessing at first is actually a curse. Once, at the age of seven, Olivia was hit by a car and dragged down the road a bit. She …

I.   Introduction A.  Family 1. The picture of the family is changing. Many of you may come from homes where you had to navigate stepparents, step-grandparents, step-siblings, etc. 2.    Family is often the greatest source of pride and shame. 3.    Family can be a blessing and a curse. B.  Family in …

I.    Introduction A.  Time at Work 1.    It appears that the 9-5 work week is dead.[1] a.    According to a recent segment on the Today Show, many of us are reading and responding to emails, engaging in business meetings, etc.,  before 6 am and well after 8 pm these days. b.    Here’s some good new …

I.    Introduction A.  Facebook Feedback 1.    I opened up the floodgates again! LOL! I reached out to the Facebook community for some assistance on this one. 2.    Number 1 thing…we don’t talk about this like we should. 3.    While there are some limitations, that doesn’t excuse talking about it so …

I.     Introduction A.    Father’s Day Gifts B.    Father’s Day Feelings II.     Faithful Fathers A.    Men of Conviction (Genesis 22:1-19) 1.     Abraham’s faith led him to search for guidance from the right place. a.      Abraham is a man who shows us the complexities of faith. Sometimes his faith …

I.    Introduction A.  Six Words 1.    In an article on Preaching Today, the story is told that Ernest Hemingway was once asked to write a story using only six words.[1] 2.    If you could only use six words to sum up your life, what would they be? 3.    Most likely, the words Christian and family w …

I.    Introduction A.  Required B.  Background on Micah[1] 1.    His name means “Who is like Yahweh?” 2.    Country prophet, not a city boy 3.    Contemporary of Isaiah and Hosea 4.    It is Micah who prophesies that the Messiah will be born in Bethlehem. 5.    Serves as a prophet to the Southern Ki …

I.    Introduction A.  Review of Part 1- God’s Design for Marriage 1.    Covenant Relationship- God’s design is that one man and one woman marry for as long as they are both alive. 2.    Roles & Responsibilities- God has created both the roles of husband and wife each unique and special. 3.    P …

I.    Introduction A.  Weddings 1.    According to theknot.com the average cost for a wedding in 2024 was $33,000. 2.    That data comes from a survey of 17,000 couples who registered their wedding plans with the website.[1] 3.    With weddings being so expensive, you better be sure that the person …

I.    Introduction A.  What Happens When We Die? 1.    Most all human beings have questions about death and life after death 2.    Some have a fear, some have curious nature, some have even tried to study it 3.    Not something to fear for the Christian, but is to be respected a.    Psalm 116:15 b.  …

I.    Introduction A.  Mother’s Day Funnies[1] B.  Mother’s Day C.  God on Mother’s Day 1.    This morning, I would like for us to think about mothers from God’s perspective. a.    God created this season of life when Eve found herself to be with child. b.    What began there was the complexity of m …

I.               Introduction A.  The Modern Family 1.    In 1970, 67% of Americans ages 25-49 were living with their spouse and one or more children younger than 18. 2.    Over the past five decades, that percentage has dropped to 37%.[1] 3.    The picture of the American family is changing. 4.    …

I.    Introduction A.  The Human Element of the Church B.  Background II.   When Church Hurts A.  Three Quick Things 1.    Defining Church Hurt a.    The number one thing I want us to learn today is that church hurt is real. b.    Paul experienced it.                                                  …

I.    Introduction A.  Nicknames B.  Background 1.    Peter is writing to the brethren who would experience suffering for their faith. a.    In chapter one, he reminds them of their birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Christ (1:3). b.    They have been called to live holy lives as t …

I.    Introduction A.  Resurrection B.  Background II.   Cross to Crown A.  Resurrection is about Sacrifice (vs. 7-8) 1.    Jesus’s sacrifice a.    Jesus emptied Himself (Php 2:7). He gave up everything knowing it would lead to the cross. b.    Jesus was obedient to the point of dying on the cross ( …

When in Doubt Sunday Morning, April 13, 2025 Daniel 3:13–18 Introduction A.          No matter how much time and effort you may spend preparing for a test or a game, there are times you may doubt the fundamentals you know so well. B.          What are we to do when doubts like this arise when our fa …

I.     Introduction A.  Standing in the Gap 1.    The idea of standing in the gap has long meant someone who will intercede or mediate for a person in a difficult situation. 2.    Abraham and Moses both did this on occasion. 3.    When God speaks through the prophet Ezekiel, He states that he has fo …

I.   Introduction A.  Dark Paths B.  Light and Darkness in Scripture II.   Walking in the Light A.  Avoid the Dark (3-7) 1.    Sin takes you down a path to nowhere good. Stay out of its grasp. 2.    Paul provides a sample list of things that put us on dark paths. 3.    Notice that some of these are …

I.  Introduction A. Fandoms of the World[1] B. Fan or Follower C. What is the Church? 1.    The church is not an organization or a building. 2.    You’ve probably heard me say at some point, “You don’t go to church, you are the church.” 3.    The church is the people who have responded to the gospel …

I. Introduction A.  Is it just a secondhand emotion? B.  Background of 1 Corinthians 13 1.    In the middle of a discussion about the misuse and misunderstanding of miraculous spiritual gifts in Corinth, Paul writes one of the most familiar passages of the Bible. 2.    It is a passage spoken at many …

I.               Introduction A.  Shaking the Box B.  Review of Walk in Love Series C.  Greatest Commandment II.            Loving Self & Others A.  Loving God 1.    We will never truly learn to love ourselves or others until we understand God’s love for us and pursue loving Him. 2.    Jesus quo …

I.               Introduction A.  Jake Walks America B.  Background 1.    In the practical section of Ephesians, Paul uses the imagery of walking to make key points about what it looks like to follow God. a.    Ephesians 4:1 …walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called… b.   …

I.               Introduction A.  Interesting[1] 1.    Did you know that human bodies give off a tiny amount of light (biophotons) that is too weak for the human eye to see? We literally glow (not talking about infrared heat emissions)! 2.    The average person has 67 different species of bacteria i …

I.               Introduction A.  When you think of the term father, what comes to mind? B.  Background 1.    One God a.    One God is a foregone conclusion for those who had grown up in Judaism, but not so for the converts from paganism.[1] b.    Paul is also declaring that God is the Father of all …

I.               Introduction A.  Secrets to Success B.  Secrets to Spiritual Growth C.  Review of Part One 1.    Rejoice in the Lord (Philippians 4:4-5) 2.    Find Peace in Prayer (Philippians 4:6-7) II.            Secrets to a Joyful Life Part Two A.  Dwell on the Good (Philippians 4:8) 1.    When …

I.               Introduction A.  Illustration: B.  Review of Seven Ones of Unity 1.    One Lord- who do you belong to? 2.    One Faith- is your personal belief system shaped by God’s word? C.  One Baptism 1.    Why does he write about the one baptism? 2.    Unity in Ephesus and its relation to Bapt …

I.               Introduction A.  Forgiveness B.  Background 1.    This statement from Jesus is found in the three synoptic gospels: Matthew (Matthew 12:32), Mark (Mark 3:29), and Luke (Luke 12:10). 2.    This narrative is found in the section where Jesus has been tested by the Pharisees repeatedly. …

I.               Introduction A.  Truth 1.    Muller-Lyer Illusion[1] 2.    Just because we might perceive something within our minds to be true doesn’t always make it so. How can we know?   B.  Two Views of Faith 1.    Defining Faith 2.    Two Faiths a.    Subjective                                 …

I.               Introduction A.  Compass 1.    A compass is a really useful tool if you know how to use it. 2.    In 1942, Semenov, a Russian immigrant, was serving as a junior engineer on the American merchant ship SS Alcoa Guide, sailing from New Jersey to the Caribbean island of Guadeloupe with …

I.               Introduction A.  Juggling Life B.  Review of Series C.  ONE Lord II.            Making Him Your One Lord A.  Focus 1.    The two masters are the challenge. 2.    God has always been consistent in the message that we must keep our focus on Him. a.    Exodus 20:3 b.    Luke 14:26 B.  …

I.               Introduction A.  Promising Secret Ads B.  All Time Favorites Series 1.    Tonight I want us to look at a passage that contains two of your all time favorite passages: Philippians 4:6-7 and Philippians 4:13. 2.    I’ve put these together because they appear at the conclusion of Paul’ …

Text: Ephesians 2:13-22; 4:4-6 I.    Introduction A.  Belonging 1.    DNA research has revolutionized one’s search for ancestry. Many, who once had no hope of discovering their biological roots are now turning to DNA services. 2.    In 2019 a documentary called The Missing Piece explored the reunion …

Text: Ephesians 4:4-6 I.               Introduction A.  Fascinating Facts about the Human Body B.  Body of the Church C.  The Seven Ones II.            Unity and Diversity in the One Body A.  Unity in the Body 1.    Unity in Headship a.    We serve under the headship of Christ. (Colossians 1:18, 2:1 …

Text: Matthew 16:13-20 I.               Introduction A.  The Kingdom of Eswatini[1] B.  Series Introduction 1.    On the third Sunday night of each month, we’ll examine an image of the church in Scripture. 2.    The purpose will be to better understand the blessing and importance of the church. II.  …

Text: Ephesians 4:1-3 I. Introduction A. Bobbie the WonderDog[1] B. Reunited with God 1.    Bobbie’s story pales in comparison to what God has done to reunite us with Him. 2.    Our passage this morning is designed to explain how we should respond to the lengths that God has gone to in order to rede …

Text: Ephesians 4:12-16 I.               Introduction A.  The Right Tools 1.    I have a set of tools on the stage today. Some of these tools have a very specific purpose while others can have multiple applications. 2.    This Christmas, I decided to build something for Sally. It wasn’t the hardest …