Sermon series
God's Good News (Romans 1-4)
The Oldest Dad in the Nursery
Romans 4:18-25 – May 24, 1992Let’s start off with a bit of historic trivia. Who is oldest mother in history? I’m going to give you four choices: Ellen Ellis Ruth Alice Kistler Murphy Brown None of the Above According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the correct answer is B. Ruth Alice Kistler, who gave birth to a daughter […]
Faith-Yes! The Law-No!
Romans 4:13-17 – May 17, 1992This is my 15th and next-to-last sermon on Romans 1-4. In just two weeks we’ll begin a new series on the Ten Commandments. It’s appropriate to mention that now, because we’re talking about the law of God in this message. Paul’s great concern in our text is to show that no one is saved by […]
Righteousness is a Five Letter Word
Romans 4:9-12 – May 10, 1992Certain subjects present a preacher with unusual problems. There are some subjects that quite simply make people uncomfortable no matter how you deal with them. Circumcision is one of those subjects. No matter what I say after that sentence, some of you will have difficulty listening to my words. I confess that I myself feel […]
Father Abraham
Romans 4:1-8 – April 26, 1992In your opinion, who is the most honored person in human history? If we could take a Gallup Poll of the entire human race, what name do you suppose would appear at the top of the list? The question tantalizes the mind because it asks for something very specific. Out of the billions and billions […]
God Plays No Favorites
Romans 3:27-31 – April 5, 1992Every good teacher knows that the first law of learning is repetition. Say it, then say it again, then in case they didn’t get it, say it again. Say it loudly, whisper it softly, say it plainly, say it in English, then say it in Spanish. Whatever it takes, say it over and over and […]
The Only Way to Be Right With God
Romans 3:21-26 – March 29, 1992This morning we are considering the greatest question in the world—How can a man be right with God? It is the supreme problem of life. No more important question could ever be asked. Every sincere person asks this question. Every sincere Methodist asks, “How can a man be right with God?” Every sincere Presbyterian asks, […]
The Man in the Mirror
Romans 3:9-20 – March 22, 1992Perhaps you missed it when you read the newspaper this week. It was just an odd bit of information tucked away in the obituaries. A friend happened to notice that “Wally the Wiretapper” had died. Normally that wouldn’t rate any special attention but as I read the clipping, I realized that “Wally the Wiretapper” was […]
I Object!
Romans 3:1-8 – March 15, 1992It’s been a revealing week in Washington. A few days ago the House of Representatives voted 426-0 to reveal the names of all past and present members who have bounced checks at the House bank, an act that one commentator likened to committing “mass political suicide.” They tell us that when the list is finally […]
Can a Person Be Too Religious?
Romans 2:17-29 – March 8, 1992We begin this study with the question posed in the title: “Can a Person Be Too Religious?” On one hand, the question seems to imply a Yes answer. Certainly some people, the question seems to say, are too religious. Therefore, let’s make the question more personal. Is it possible that you are too religious? That’s […]
Mr. I.M. Okay Meets His Maker
Romans 2:1-16 – February 23, 1992No statement is regarded as more elementary to the student of the Bible than the statement that a day of judgment is coming for the human race. Hebrews 9:27 says, “Man is destined to die once and after that to face judgment.” That statement, as elementary as it might seem, is desperately needed in our […]
When God Gives Up
Romans 1:24-32 – February 16, 1992There are some messages that pastors would rather not preach. This sermon definitely falls into that category. It’s not that I am afraid to say what must be said; it is rather that I know these things will not be easy to hear. I also know that my words may be misunderstood or taken out […]
Nightmare on Main Street
Romans 1:21-23 – February 9, 1992There is a remarkable resemblance between the world described in Romans 1 and the world we live in at the end of the 20th century. Despite our proud claims of technological advance, just how much progress have we really made? It can be fairly argued that morally we have made very little progress at all. […]
What About Those Who Never Hear The Gospel?
Romans 1:18-20 – February 2, 1992The subject for this morning is perhaps the most troubling question that Christians can face. The fate of those who never hear the gospel is both difficult and emotional. It’s a tough question to think about because at its heart, it touches many people we know personally. Taken at its widest point, the question involves […]
The Text That Changed the World
Romans 1:16-17 – January 26, 1992Certain texts of the Bible are so familiar to the Christian that they require almost no introduction. They are the texts we learned from our very first days in Sunday School. We know them, we love them, their words are etched on our hearts. They are the “Great Texts” of the Bible. John 3:16 certainly […]
A Heart to Heart Ministry
Romans 1:8-15 – January 12, 1992“No one cares how much you know, ‘til they know how much you care.” This week those words have been echoing through my mind. It seems as if this week, more than in a long, long time, I’ve spent all my waking hours talking to people about heartache, trouble and difficulty. Every week in a […]
To Rome With Love
Romans 1:1-7 – January 5, 1992The year was 1911, and a young man from Sydney, Australia, arrived in the United States. He had crossed the ocean to study at a fledgling school called Moody Bible Institute. While still a student, he was called as the first pastor of a brand-new congregation in suburban Oak Park. He stayed for two years, […]