In Sermons: showing 1-15 of 240

Joshua 6, Odd Strategy, Amazing Results! Series

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Apr 9, 2024

Joshua had just received his literal marching orders from the LORD. But the strategy and instructions were not like anything any army had ever done before. Israel obeyed, and the LORD gave victory!

Introduction: Israel, by now, had crossed the Jordan River and were staying at Gilgal for the moment. The men of Israel had undergone circumcision, following the Law, and had celebrated their first Passover in the Promised Land. But Israel was never intended to remain packed in one small area, ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Joshua 5: Time To Take Care Of Some Things Series

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Mar 21, 2024

Joshua chapter 5 reflects a couple of items Israel hadn't done in nearly 40 years. Israel had crossed the Jordan River, ready to claim their Promised Land, but they had to take care of a couple of items first.

Introduction: Israel had crossed over the Jordan River and now they were camping in Canaan, the Promised Land! God had kept every promise He had made to Israel. Israel, though, had not kept every promise they had made to God. One of those promises was to circumcise (definition omitted here but ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 5:1-15

Denomination: Baptist

Joshua 4: The Story In The Stones Series

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Mar 15, 2024

Joshua 4 has the story of how Israel crossed the Jordan River and entered the Promised Land. The LORD told Joshua to make two memorials, from two different batches of stones. There's more in the chapter, too.

Introduction: Memorials are important. They serve to remind the people who were there of what happened, and why; and they’re also to remind the people, sometimes generations later, what their ancestors had endured. This was true for Israel as well: the people in this story lived through something ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Joshua 3: "Canaan’s That-A-Way—let’s Go!” Series

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Mar 8, 2024

Israel had moved even and ever closer to Canaan, their Promised Land. They were still on the eastern side of the Jordan River, but now it was time to cross over. Imagine Joshua saying, "Canaan's that-a-way! Let's go!"

Introduction: Israel had endured 40 years of wandering here and there in the desert wilderness but now was just a few miles from the Promised Land. They had camped near the Jordan River at a place called Shittim, and while there the two spies had gone to Jericho and returned. One can almost feel ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 3:1-17

Denomination: Baptist

Joshua 2: The Spies Found More Than Just Info! Series

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Feb 29, 2024

Spies have the mission to find out selected, desired, information and report what they found. Two Hebrew spies were sent to find out what they could about Jericho, but they found something they didn't expect to see!

Introduction: This second chapter of Joshua has the record of two spies, sent by Joshua, to get as much information about Jericho as they could. This chapter also has the account of how Rahab, a Canaanitess and native of Jericho, had come to believe in the God of Israel. Rahab protected the two ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Joshua 1: The Times, They Were A-Changin’ Series

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Feb 19, 2024

This is the first message in a series based on the Book of Joshua. In this first chapter, Joshua received some very encouraging news from the LORD which helped him lead Israel to the Promised Land.

Introduction: Change happens. There’s no doubt about that. Way back in 1964, Bob Dylan recorded a song called “The Times They Are A-Changing (which I’ve never heard)”, talking about various things. In the text, we see that in just 40 years, Israel had seen any number of changes. They had ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

An Outline Of Acts 28:17-31

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Feb 16, 2024

These last verses of Acts describe Paul's ministry to the Jews of Rome and their reaction. Luke gives a summary of what he did for two years. May we always be faithful even as Paul was!

The Dialogues: Paul’s Messages to the People His Meeting with the Chief of the Jews Text, Acts 28:17-31, KJV: 17 And it came to pass, that after three days Paul called the chief of the Jews together: and when they were come together, he said unto them, Men and brethren, though I have committed ...read more

Scripture: Acts 28:17-31

Denomination: Baptist

An Outline Of Acts 28:1-16

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Feb 14, 2024

Paul, Luke, and several other people had been shipwrecked on Malta. After staying there, these men and possibly others made the last leg of their journey to Rome itself. The journey wasn't always easy, though.

Introduction: this last chapter of Acts begins with Paul and others on the island of Malta, and closes with Paul arriving at Rome, just as the Lord had promised (Acts 23:11, 27:24). Luke summarized nearly 30 years of church growth in one volume, from Jerusalem to Rome and then to other parts of the ...read more

Scripture: Acts 28:1-16

Denomination: Baptist

An Outline Of Acts 27

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Feb 9, 2024

Acts 27 covers a period of Paul's life between his release from Caesarea and his shipwreck on the island of Malta (not mentioned in this chapter). Something seemed to be happening every minute during this longest voyage of Paul's life.

On the road to Rome, part 1: Caesarea to Crete Text, Acts 27:1-12, KJV: 1 And when it was determined that we should sail into Italy, they delivered Paul and certain other prisoners unto one named Julius, a centurion of Augustus' band. 2 And entering into a ship of Adramyttium, we launched, ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

An Outline Of Acts 26

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Jan 30, 2024

King Agrippa had asked Festus if he could hear Paul speak in person. Festus agreed, and Paul delivered a message none of them could ever forget.

Paul's Testimony Before King Agrippa Introduction: This chapter has a record of Paul's testimony, and almost autobiography, when he was brought before King Agrippa in Caesarea. Compare this speech or testimony with what Paul had said in Acts 9 and 22. Luke recorded in the last few verses ...read more

Scripture: Acts 26:1-32

Denomination: Baptist

An Outline Of Acts 25

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Jan 23, 2024

Porcius Festus inherited (!) Paul when Felix left. This chapter covers Paul's second (at least) trial before a Roman official, his appeal to Caesar, and a visit by King Agrippa. Paul shared his testimony with these and more!

An outline of Acts 25 Introduction: this chapter covers Paul's second trial (at least) before a Roman official; this time, Porcius Festus, who replaced Felix. Felix had left Paul in jail, basically, to please the Jews even though Felix knew Paul was innocent. Festus appears to start where ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

An Outline Of Acts 24

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Jan 21, 2024

Paul is now on trial before Felix, the Roman governor, in Casearea. He was accused of several things, made his defense, and even shared the Gospel with Felix and his Jewish wife, Drusilla. It didn't end well for Paul, though.

Introduction: This chapter records the trial of Paul before Felix, the Roman governor; Paul's defense; and a summary of the events taking place after all of this. Most of the text is like a transcript of who said what. The chapter may also give a glimpse of courtroom or trial procedures of that ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

An Outline Of Acts 23

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Jan 17, 2024

This chapter begins with Paul before the Sanhedrin, or Council, and his attempt to make a defense before them. One thing led to another and the chapter closes with Paul in Caesarea, kept in custody, by Felix, the governor.

Introduction: This chapter has three specific episodes in Paul's time at Jerusalem. First, he's going to address the "council" or Sanhedrin. Then, some enemies of Paul made a plan to eat or drink nothing until they had killed Paul. When Paul's nephew found out about this, he ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

An Outline Of Acts 22

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Jan 14, 2024

Acts 22 has two sections. The first 2/3 covers Paul's testimony or speech to the crowd (who had just tried to kill him!); the last 1/3 describes Paul's first several hours in the Roman barracks.

Introduction: This chapter continues the events of Chapter 21. In the first section, (verses 1-21) Paul makes a defense or gives a testimony of what he had been before and after he met Jesus. The last section describes Paul’s treatment at the hands of the crowd and, fortunately, the Romans who took ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

An Outline Of Acts 21

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Dec 15, 2023

Paul walked into Jerusalem a free man but later found himself pretty much a captive of the Roman government. No matter what, he stayed faithful to the Lord!

1 The journey by sea from Miletus to Ptolemais Text, Acts 21:1-7, KJV: 1 And it came to pass, that after we were gotten from them, and had launched, we came with a straight course unto Coos, and the day following unto Rhodes, and from thence unto Patara: 2 And finding a ship sailing over unto ...read more

Scripture: Acts 21:1-40

Denomination: Baptist