In Sermons: showing 31-45 of 51

Faith Over Feelings

Contributed by Richard Futrell on Oct 7, 2010

You are to believe! But it’s what you put your faith in, that’s what’s often left unsaid. And when the object of your faith is not clear, then your faith isn’t connected to the Lord.

Intro The Apostle John says in his first Epistle, “This is the victory that has conquered the world: our faith” (1 John 5:4). If so, then it seems that all we have to do is have more faith. If we believe more, if we have more faith, then faith will destroy our sinful urges. Faith ...read more

Scripture: John 20:19-31

Denomination: Lutheran

Prayer

Contributed by Richard Futrell on Oct 7, 2010

Jesus’ words tell us to “ask for anything”? Is that for real? “Ask for anything”?

Intro When Jesus tells you to “ask” in our Gospel reading, He tells you to pray in His name. When our Lord says, “Whatever you ask the Father in My name, He will give you,” He tells you that true prayer is never a waste of breath. For Jesus gives you His word that God the ...read more

Scripture: John 16:23-24

Denomination: Lutheran

Faithfulness Above All

Contributed by Richard Futrell on Oct 7, 2010

Jesus says, “If anyone comes to me and doesn’t hate his father, mother, wife, children, brothers, and sisters--and yes, even his own life--he cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:26).

Intro In the Gospel reading for today, we possibly find Jesus at the height of His success, as we measure it. Never had He enjoyed such large crowds. People flocked to Him--and the numbers just grew larger and larger as He got closer to Jerusalem. Yet, Jesus has to ruin it by preaching a bunch ...read more

Scripture: Luke 14:25-35

Denomination: Lutheran

What Is Hell?

Contributed by Richard Futrell on Oct 7, 2010

Scripture describes God as both an all-consuming fire (Hebrews 12:29) and an illuminating light (Psalm 119:105; 1 John 1:5). Both the rich man and Lazarus saw the same reality: God in all His blazing glory. One expereinced heaven; one expereinced hell.

Intro Many people believe that Christianity is one, big, fat lie. It must be, they assume, because they see so much injustice in this world. They say, “How can there be a God if He allows so much evil to exist?” Even in the Bible we find complaints about injustice in this world. ...read more

Scripture: Luke 16:19-31

Denomination: Lutheran

Are You Saved?

Contributed by Richard Futrell on Oct 7, 2010

In the Pharisees' hammering out of the truth, they missed Jesus' point. The real question wasn’t, “How many are going to be saved?” The real question was, “Are you going to be saved?”

Intro Swollen and bloated with pride, convinced their conclusions were correct, the Jewish rabbis hunkered down to refute the other side. So who was the other side? They were other Jewish rabbis. Some of them were saying that everyone who was Jewish would be saved. Others were saying that only ...read more

Scripture: Luke 13:22-30

Denomination: Lutheran

Dreamy-Eyed Mary, Busily Working Martha

Contributed by Richard Futrell on Oct 7, 2010

Why does Jesus praises the contemplative, dreamy-eyed Mary, sitting at His feet, but scold the busily working Martha?

Intro The puzzling response of Jesus to Mary and Martha leave us scratching our heads. Our Lord Jesus praises the contemplative, dreamy-eyed Mary, sitting at His feet. He scolds the busily working Martha. What gives? Martha was the one who was busily looking after Jesus’ needs and His ...read more

Denomination: Lutheran

The Difference Between Faith And Unbelief

Contributed by Richard Futrell on Oct 7, 2010

The woman heard Jesus’ sermon in faith. Simon, the Pharisee heard it in unbelief.

Intro What’s the difference between the Pharisee and the woman in today’s Gospel reading? I’m not asking about the difference in how they acted. Let’s go deeper. What was different in their hearts that showed in their actions? If we look beyond the superficial, we can see that their different ...read more

Denomination: Lutheran

Loyalty

Contributed by Richard Futrell on Oct 7, 2010

Faithfulness to God’s people. Faithfulness of God. For LWML (Lutheran Women’s Missionary Leauge) Sunday.

Intro The words of Ruth are some of the most beautiful and moving words of Scripture. Ruth cried to her mother-in-law, Naomi: “Wherever you go, I will go, and wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God.” Such loyalty is moving and inspiring. Yet, ...read more

Scripture: Ruth 1:1-19

Denomination: Lutheran

Women Saved Through Childbearing?

Contributed by Richard Futrell on Oct 7, 2010

1 Timothy has some strange stuff for our 21st-century ears. It says, women “will be saved through childbearing--if they continue in faith, love, and holiness, with self-control.”

Intro Today’s Epistle reading has some strange stuff for our 21st-century ears. It says, “Let a woman learn quietly with all submissiveness. I do not allow a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet…. She will be saved through childbearing--if they ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 2:1-15

Denomination: Lutheran

Remembering Back To The Apostles

Contributed by Richard Futrell on Oct 7, 2010

We remember for a reason. If we lose apostolic doctrine, we lose Jesus Christ.

Intro Alzheimer’s is a memory-destroying disease. Yet, this disease isn’t merely content to take away a victim’s memory; it tries to take down an entire family with it. When one person in the family has lost his memory, the others have to pick up the slack. The family has to do ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 13:1-17

Denomination: Lutheran

No Fear

Contributed by Richard Futrell on Oct 7, 2010

Nothing exists for you to fear--nothing! God has given you the Son, just as He promised. That changes everything!

Intro Long before he was Abraham, he was called “Abram.” Even before his name was changed, God still chose to bless him. When the Lord told Abram to leave his homeland, this is the promise He gave him: I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you. I will make your name great, and ...read more

Denomination: Lutheran

Let Us Not Grow Weary Of Doing Good

Contributed by Richard Futrell on Oct 7, 2010

This is how we live as God’s people. 1.) We help restore those caught in sin. 2.) We help carry one another’s burdens. 3.) We support our pastor and the work of this congregation. 4.) We do what is good.

Intro Why do we as a people want to support public schools, various health programs, water and sewer services, and Social Security? You might be thinking, “Well, it’s because I have to pay taxes.” Or on a day like today, July 4th, you might say that you are doing your patriotic duty as an ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 6:1-18

Denomination: Lutheran

Keep On Keeping On

Contributed by Richard Futrell on Oct 7, 2010

So when you’re fed up, discouraged, and ready to quit, when you whine and complain to God, “I’m done. I’m through. It’s over,” don’t lose it when God says: “No you’re not."

Intro Elijah is running for his life, frightened, trying to hide from the fears that haunt him. Suddenly, in the thick of his escape attempt, “The word of the Lord came to [Elijah]”! Now if that’s not enough to frighten someone, the question the Lord asks him should. God asks ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 19:9-21

Denomination: Lutheran

True Freedom In Christ

Contributed by Richard Futrell on Oct 7, 2010

Christian freedom is from God’s Law condemning you and freedom from sin’s bondage. But it’s also freedom to receive God’s gifts in worship and freedom to stand in His presence as a sinner, yet fully righteous because of Christ Jesus.

Intro We Americans revel in our freedom. We delight in our freedom to do what we want, when we want. We believe it’s our right to enjoy life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. But of course, we know that political freedom is always conditional. I am not free to interfere with your ...read more

Denomination: Lutheran

Pentecost--A Real Reality

Contributed by Richard Futrell on Oct 7, 2010

Sometimes we don’t realize how much we need Pentecost. Pentecost is the birthday of the New Testament Church. Pentecost is God giving His Holy Spirit to all believers, not just a few.

Intro During the last ten days of the Church year, we’ve been living in liturgical limbo, existing between two realities. We’ve celebrated our Lord’s ascension into heaven. But since the Ascension, we’ve been waiting. We’ve been waiting for this day. Like the Apostles of old, we’ve been ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:1-21

Denomination: Lutheran