In Sermons: showing 46-60 of 114

Joy Is Restored Series

Contributed by Thomas Clawser on Dec 17, 2017

Sorrow is but for a time. The power of prayer, memories of God’s past healing and His loving-kindness sustain Israel. God heals the pain of the present in the same manner as He has healed the pain of the past.

Joy is the emotion of great delight or happiness caused by something exceptionally good or satisfying: it is keen pleasure, or elation. Joy is more elusive, subtle, and nuanced than happiness. We can manipulate circumstances to our own advantage to obtain what we think will bring happiness, or ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 126:1-6

Denomination: Other

What's On Your Mind?

Contributed by Thomas Clawser on Oct 28, 2017

Christians must guard what enters their minds to gain the benefit of God’s peace in their lives.

In “How to Find Out Who You Are”, Nelson Price reports that 15 prominent college professors took this challenge: “If all the books on the art of moving human beings into action were condensed into one brief statement, what would that statement be?” The result of their deliberations was: What the ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:1-9

Denomination: Other

Pouring Out Your Life For Christ

Contributed by Thomas Clawser on Oct 28, 2017

We can be confident in Christ; can he be equally confident in us?

The year is A.D. 155, and the persecution of Christians sweeps across the Roman Empire to the city of Smyrna. The proconsul of Smyrna, swept up in this persecution, orders his minions to find the Bishop of Smyrna, Polycarp, arrest him, and bring him to the public arena for execution. They find ...read more

Denomination: Other

God's Inexpressible Love

Contributed by Thomas Clawser on Oct 10, 2017

Psalm 103 is a love story; one that reveals the Benefits of God's Love, the Nature of God's Love, and our Response to God's Love

In his book, Mortal Lessons: Notes on the Art of Surgery, Dr. Richard Selzer tells of his experience as a witness to the magnificence of love at a most difficult time in his surgical career: “I stand by the bed where a young woman lies, her face postoperative, her mouth twisted in palsy, clownish. ...read more

Denomination: Other

Building Bridges

Contributed by Thomas Clawser on Sep 10, 2017

When we stand before God to give an account of our life on earth, He won’t ask how many fences we made, but how many bridges we built.

Two brothers living on adjoining farms fell into conflict after 40 years of working together. It began with a small misunderstanding, grew to a major difference, and finally exploded in an exchange of bitter words, followed by weeks of silence. One morning, there was a knock on the older son’s ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 18:15-20

Denomination: Other

The Answer Is Yes!

Contributed by Thomas Clawser on Sep 3, 2017

For the church to fulfill her mission and purpose, it must be made up of disciples and workers; there are no spectators in the work of Christ.

In his book, The Call: Finding and Fulfilling the Central Purpose of Your Life, Os Guinness reviews the theology of calling and reveals what it means when one is called of God. Guinness describes the call of God as "the truth that God calls us to himself so decisively that everything we are, ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 3:1-15

Denomination: Other

Who Do You Say Jesus Is?

Contributed by Thomas Clawser on Sep 2, 2017

Jesus gave Peter the keys to the kingdom. In similar fashion, Jesus grants me the joy of sharing the Gospel as He desires, guides and allows. You have the same opportunity.

What exactly do you believe about Jesus? In my seminary days, our first semester in Systematic Theology dealt with that question. Our professor described Jesus as “the proleptic, salvific, hidden appearance of the eschatological kingdom of God”. Did you get that? Take notes; there might be a test ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:13-20

Denomination: Other

Forgiveness And Consequences

Contributed by Thomas Clawser on Sep 2, 2017

One way God demonstrates his love for us is forgiveness. Despite this forgiveness, the consequence of sin remains. The consequence is real, but cannot overcome the power of God's love

We begin with a few questions: 1. How many years did Moses live in the Promised Land? 2. When King David died, how old was his firstborn son? 3. How did first-century believers demonstrate their feelings for Paul after his conversion? I'm having some fun at your expense this morning. The truth ...read more

Scripture: Zephaniah 3:1-17

Denomination: Other

The Distracted Christian

Contributed by Thomas Clawser on Aug 11, 2017

Distraction prohibits us from learning to know God better. Reach for Jesus when the waves engross you.

Baseball fans all know the late Yogi Berra (; the legendary catcher for the New York Yankees in the 50’s. He had an amazing career at the plate, offensively and defensively. Some consider him the greatest catcher in the history of baseball; his lifetime batting average of .285 and great ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 14:22-33

Denomination: Other

Lessons From A Mustard Seed

Contributed by Thomas Clawser on Aug 6, 2017

Significance is a matter of perspective—man's versus God's.

Our perception of things is unreliable; we often think we have the right perspective on an issue when in fact we are way off. Tom Wheeler, former CEO of Mass Mutual Life Insurance Company, tells a charming story that illustrates this point: He and his wife were driving along an interstate highway ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:31-33

Denomination: Other

The Problem Of Lingering Sin

Contributed by Thomas Clawser on Jul 9, 2017

Justification does not destroy our sinful nature. It is a lens thru which we see our propensity to sin

In his writings entitled The Confessions, Saint Augustine addressed himself eloquently and passionately to the enduring spiritual questions that have stirred the minds and hearts of thoughtful men since time began. Written A.D. 397, The Confessions are a history of young Augustine's fierce ...read more

Scripture: Romans 7:15-25

Denomination: Other

The Problem Of Lingering Sin

Contributed by Thomas Clawser on Jul 9, 2017

Justification does not destroy our sinful nature. It is a lens thru which we see our propensity to sin

In his writings entitled The Confessions, Saint Augustine addressed himself eloquently and passionately to the enduring spiritual questions that have stirred the minds and hearts of thoughtful men since time began. Written A.D. 397, The Confessions are a history of young Augustine's fierce ...read more

Scripture: Romans 7:15-25

Denomination: Other

The Problem Of Lingering Sin

Contributed by Thomas Clawser on Jul 9, 2017

Justification does not destroy our sinful nature. It is a lens thru which we see our propensity to sin

In his writings entitled The Confessions, Saint Augustine addressed himself eloquently and passionately to the enduring spiritual questions that have stirred the minds and hearts of thoughtful men since time began. Written A.D. 397, The Confessions are a history of young Augustine's fierce ...read more

Scripture: Romans 7:15-25

Denomination: Other

Liberty And Responsibility

Contributed by Thomas Clawser on Jul 9, 2017

Jesus’ death and resurrection frees us from sin. Liberty breeds responsibility, the basis for seeking and submitting to God’s plan.

In the last days of the Civil War, the Confederate capital, Richmond, Virginia, fell to the Union army. Abraham Lincoln insisted on visiting the city. Even though no one knew he was coming, slaves recognized him immediately and thronged around him. He had liberated them by the Emancipation ...read more

Scripture: Romans 6:1-20

Denomination: Other

Why Are You Afraid?

Contributed by Thomas Clawser on Jul 5, 2017

Do you feel God’s presence and love in the midst of the storms in your life?

Storm-tossed waters are a frequently used metaphor for the turmoil of living. In 1975, the SS Edmund Fitzgerald went down, and songwriter Gordon Lightfoot recorded a haunting ballad in honor of and as a tribute to the ship and the men who lost their lives. He called it “The Wreck of the Edmund ...read more

Scripture: Mark 4:35-41

Denomination: Other