In Sermons: showing 31-45 of 126

Separation

Contributed by Lou Nicholes on Apr 12, 2005

Separation from the ungodly is a basic Bible doctrine. Verses 14 and 15 of this chapter are often applied to various sorts of alliances such as mixed marriages, improper business associations and religious fellowship. The idea of the unequal yoke comes f

THOUGHTS ABOUT THE PASSAGE: It is often argued that we should stay in the midst of churches and bodies whose sins and follies we deplore, in the hope of saving them for God and mankind. Such reasoning has a good deal of force in the first stages of decline. A strong protest may arrest error and ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Salvation

Contributed by Lou Nicholes on Apr 12, 2005

In this passage (vv. 16-21) Paul summarizes the motive of the whole Christian life. Christ died for all and the old self of the Christian died in that death. He arose a new man. In this newness of life he has acquired a new set of standards. He no longer

THOUGHTS ABOUT THE PASSAGE: In verses 14 and 15 Paul comes to two conclusions: 1. The total depravity of man (v.14). If Christ died for all, then all must be dead in trespasses and sin. 2. God’s purpose for saving us (v. 15). He died that we might live through Him and for Him, and one day with ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:14-21

Denomination: Baptist

Faith

Contributed by Lou Nicholes on Apr 12, 2005

How to lived by faith and not by sight.

THOUGHTS ABOUT THE PASSAGE: A man named Smith was sitting on his roof during a flood, and the water was up to his feet. Before long a fellow in a canoe paddled past and shouted, “Can I give you a lift to higher ground?” “No, thanks,” said Smith. “I have faith in the Lord and he will save me.” Soon ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:1-9

Denomination: Baptist

Suffering

Contributed by Lou Nicholes on Apr 12, 2005

. This section is one of three sections in II Corinthians devoted to a listing of Paul’s sufferings. Paul was not afraid of suffering because he knew that God controls trials, and God uses trials for His own glory.

THOUGHTS ABOUT THE PASSAGE: Driving through Texas, a New Yorker collided with a truck carrying a horse. A few months later he tried to collect damages for his injuries. “How can you now claim to have all these injuries?” asked the insurance company’s lawyer. “According to the police report, at the ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:7-18

Denomination: Baptist

Discouragement

Contributed by Lou Nicholes on Apr 12, 2005

Physically, the demands of the ministry were sometimes almost more than Paul could bear (1:8;11:23 27). However, even more draining were the spiritual demands (7:5;11:28 29). He reflects on these experiences in this passage and tells why, though discoura

THOUGHTS ABOUT THE PASSAGE: Larry Olsen describes a man lost in the desert: “He has been out of food and water for days. His lips are swollen, his tongue is swollen, he’s all beat up and bloody. Some of his bones are almost peeking through. He has been scraped and beat up by the cactus, sand and ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:1-6

Denomination: Baptist

Promises

Contributed by Lou Nicholes on Apr 6, 2005

Misunderstandings are often very difficult to untangle, because one misunderstanding often leads to another. This is what had happened to Paul as he was forced to make a change of plans. In Paul’s initial itinerary, he had intended to go immediately from

THOUGHTS ABOUT THE PASSAGE: C.S. Lewis in his biography tells of the suffering he endured because he kept a promise he had made to a buddy during World War I. This friend was worried about the care of his wife and small daughter if he should be killed in battle, so Lewis assured him that if that ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 1:15-22

Denomination: Baptist

Comfort

Contributed by Lou Nicholes on Apr 6, 2005

Have you ever wondered, why do the righteous suffer? In various portions of Scripture we find that suffering is the result of Adam’s original sin which plunged the human race into misery. However, in this portion of Scripture Paul teaches us why it is n

THOUGHTS ABOUT THE PASSAGE: One night while conducting an evangelistic meeting in the Salvation Army Citadel in Chicago, Booth Tucker preached on the sympathy of Jesus. After his message a man approached him and said, “If your wife had just died, like mine has, and your babies were crying for ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 1:1-11

Denomination: Baptist

Giving

Contributed by Lou Nicholes on Apr 6, 2005

In this passage, Paul answers a question the Corinthian believers had asked about a collection he was taking for the poor and then shares his personal travel plans. The Corinthians had apparently heard from the Galatian churches that he was taking an offe

THOUGHTS ABOUT THE PASSAGE: On the way home from church the father was complaining, "That church service, the sermon was too long, the music was too loud and the building was too hot." His son in the back seat replied, "I don’’t know, Dad, I thought it was a pretty good show for a buck." (Source ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 16:1-12

Denomination: Baptist

Steadfast

Contributed by Lou Nicholes on Apr 6, 2005

Paul’s doctrinal declarations led to practical directives and this chapter’s conclusion was no exception. We will be given new bodies when Christ returns and these bodies will be without disabilities (vv. 52-53). This means that death should no longer be

THOUGHTS ABOUT THE PASSAGE: William Carey, the “father of modern missions,” wanted to translate the Bible into as many Indian languages as possible. He established a large print-shop in Serampore where translation work was continually being done. Carey spent hours each day translating Scripture, ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:51-58

Denomination: Baptist

Changed

Contributed by Lou Nicholes on Apr 6, 2005

In the previous passage, we were told that the body is buried in corruption because it is going to decay; but it is raised with such a nature that it cannot decay. With this change there is no decay or death in heaven.

THOUGHTS ABOUT THE PASSAGE: It was not until 1850 that our world reached the one billion mark. By 1930 we reached two billion. It took only thirty more years for the world’s population to reach three billion. We have now arrived at six billion. Statisticians tell us that by the end of this century ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:45-50

Denomination: Baptist

Body

Contributed by Lou Nicholes on Apr 6, 2005

The apostle Paul opens up discussion concerning the nature of the resurrection body. He deals with two questions which foolish objectors raise (v. 35). The first question implies that resurrection is impossible; the second, that it is inconceivable.

THOUGHTS ABOUT THE PASSAGE: In March of 1981, President Reagan was shot by John Hinckley, Jr. , and was hospitalized for several weeks. Although Reagan was the nation’s chief executive, his hospitalization had little impact on the nation’s activity. Government continued. On the other hand, ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:35-44

Denomination: Baptist

Resurrection

Contributed by Lou Nicholes on Apr 6, 2005

These verses reveal the essential nature of the resurrection of Christ so far as Christian truth is concerned. There were people in Corinth who were saying there was no resurrection. Paul presents logical consequences of denying the resurrection:

THOUGHTS ABOUT THE PASSAGE: D. L. Moody, the great evangelist of the nineteenth century, assigned some ministerial students to conduct evangelistic tent meetings throughout the city of Chicago. The students were to preach nightly sermons as a means of winning souls for Christ and to practice their ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:12-19

Denomination: Baptist

Resurrection

Contributed by Lou Nicholes on Apr 6, 2005

It has been said that this is truly the great resurrection chapter of the entire Bible. The first eleven verses present the Gospel message and the evidence for its truthfulness. Paul gives three proofs to his readers that Jesus Christ has indeed been rais

THOUGHTS ABOUT THE PASSAGE: As Vice President, George Bush represented the U.S. at the funeral of former Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev, he was deeply moved by a silent protest carried out by Brezhnev’s widow. She stood motionless by the coffin until seconds before it was closed. Then, just as the ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:1-11

Denomination: Baptist

Organized

Contributed by Lou Nicholes on Mar 28, 2005

Two things are specifically emphasized in this passage: 1. "Let all things be done unto edifying" (v. 26). 2. "Let all things be done decently and in order" (v. 40).

THOUGHTS ABOUT THE PASSAGE: In a Peanuts cartoon Lucy demanded that Linus change TV channels, threatening him with her fist if he didn’t. “What makes you think you can walk right in here and take over?” asks Linus. “These five fingers,” says Lucy. “Individually they’re nothing but when I curl ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 14:26-40

Denomination: Baptist

Communication

Contributed by Lou Nicholes on Mar 28, 2005

Paul’s statement in verse 10 gives us good reason to believe that he was referring to known languages and not some “heavenly” language.

THOUGHTS ABOUT THE PASSAGE: The story is told about three kids bragging about their fathers: The first one said, “My dad’s so smart he can talk for one hour on any subject.” The second one said, “My dad’s so smart he can talk for two hours on any subject.” Finally, the third one said, “My dad’s so ...read more

Denomination: Baptist