In Sermons: showing 61-75 of 114

Liberty And Responsibility

Contributed by Thomas Clawser on Jul 5, 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

Go In Faith, By Grace: Following God’s Call In Your Life

Contributed by Thomas Clawser on Jul 5, 2017

God calls all of us. Be sure you are listening, follow him in faith; his grace will provide all that you need to fulfill his purpose in your life.

A distinguished preacher once said, “There is a definite, proper end and issue for every man's existence; an end which God intended for him. That which man is privileged to become, called to become, ought to become; that which God will assist him to become, and which he cannot miss except by his ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 12:1-9

Denomination: Other

Why Are You A Christian? Series

Contributed by Thomas Clawser on Jun 18, 2017

We are not asked to convert others—God alone saves. Our responsibility is to share the way God’s glory affects us. We have a story to tell!

I. INTRODUCTION 1. If someone were to ask, “Why are you a Christian?” could you give he or she a meaningful answer? What effect has accepting Jesus Christ as your Savior had on you? 2. We aren’t looking for the textbook answer herenot a memorized versesomething that will stir the heart of an ...read more

Scripture: Romans 5:1-11

Denomination: Other

Father, Son And Holy Spirit: Practical Implications Of The Triune God

Contributed by Thomas Clawser on Jun 18, 2017

The doctrine, importance and value of the triune God is incalculable for born-again Christians. Denying this doctrine rejects the whole of Christianity.

Humorist Garrison Keillor, host of the radio show “A Prairie Home Companion,” said this of love: “We should not think that we have figured this out, because it is not a problem, it’s a mystery and always will be.” “It is not a problem, it’s a mystery, and always will be.” We’ve become so advanced ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 13:11-20

Denomination: Other

Pentecost: Power To Change

Contributed by Thomas Clawser on Jun 3, 2017

The Holy Spirit is the power of Christ manifest in the Believer; how are you using that power?

American revivalist Charles Finney often spoke of how God gave him mighty infillings of the Holy Spirit. At one point, he wrote of infillings …that went through me, as it seemed, body and soul. I immediately found myself endued with such power from on high that a few words dropped here and there to ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:1-21

Denomination: Other

What Did Jesus Pray For?

Contributed by Thomas Clawser on Jun 3, 2017

Jesus is about to go to the cross to make the ultimate sacrifice for sin, and precedes that act with this lovely prayer of intercession and consecration.

How important is faithfulness in prayer? Dr. Wilbur Chapman often told of his experience when, as a young man, he went to become pastor of a church in Philadelphia. After his first sermon, an old gentleman said to him, "You're pretty young to be pastor of this church. But you preach the Gospel, ...read more

Scripture: John 17:1-11

Denomination: Other

The Voice Of Abundant Life

Contributed by Thomas Clawser on May 7, 2017

Which life are you living: one of abundance or one of achievement? What keeps you from living the abundant life Jesus intends?

Cattle rustling is a major problem in Uganda. Every day the Ugandan army tries to reunite cattle with their owners. The biggest difficulty lies in proving ownership. BBC News reported how one elderly lady settled the issue: The BBC's Nathan Etungu witnessed the process beginning in a village north ...read more

Scripture: John 10:1-18

Denomination: Other

A Call To Holy Obedience

Contributed by Thomas Clawser on Apr 30, 2017

You were purchased with Christ’s blood; your life’s purpose is to glorify him in holy obedience.

Arabian horses go through rigorous training in the deserts of the Middle East. The trainers require absolute obedience from the horses, and test them to see if their training is complete. The final test is nearly beyond the endurance of any living thing. The trainers force the horses to do ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 1:13-23

Denomination: Other

He Delights In You!

Contributed by Thomas Clawser on Apr 16, 2017

What if you knew just how much God loves you? What would that mean to you; how would it change you?

In September of 2006, Sociologists from Baylor University released the results of a study looking into America's different views of God. The study included a Gallop survey, which identified four distinct views of God's personality and interaction with the world. Those who believe in: • An ...read more

Scripture: Zephaniah 3:14-20

Denomination: Other

Go The First Ten Feet

Contributed by Thomas Clawser on Apr 8, 2017

Self-denial is to be lifted with Jesus—and the first ten feet of his ascent is on the Cross. You cannot reach for Jesus without letting go of the things you’re holding onto. Make it your passion to go the first ten feet with Jesus.

"When I am lifted-up," Jesus said, "I will draw all people to myself." And just in case you are tempted to interpret this up-lifted status to mean something glitzy, John sticks in a little commentary in verse 33 to make clear that the "lifting up" Jesus had in mind was the cross. Ultimately Jesus ...read more

Scripture: John 12:9-26

Denomination: Other

Hope Of New Life

Contributed by Thomas Clawser on Apr 1, 2017

Hope is the basis of spiritual formation. It transforms us, drawing us closer to Christ so that others may be drawn to him.

They still tell the story at William and Mary College of daffy, magnificent President Ewell. For a century and a half, this prestigious Virginia school had been a leader among American universities. Then came the Civil War. In the hard days of reconstruction that followed, William and Mary went ...read more

Scripture: John 11:38-44

Denomination: Other

Appearances Can Be Deceiving Series

Contributed by Thomas Clawser on Mar 25, 2017

Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart. We sometimes base our opinion of someone on the way they look. This is risky, because a person’s appearance has nothing to do with their character.

I buried a friend of mine twelve years ago this June (6/4/09); it was a funeral unlike any I’d ever attended. My friend was a biker. He rode a big loud Harley Davidson motorcycle, wore leathers, a bandana on his head, and had a beard that covered his entire chest. His arms were covered with ...read more

Denomination: Other

The Power Of Confession Series

Contributed by Thomas Clawser on Mar 25, 2017

Confession is a key to spiritual formation—it frees our chains, releases Christ’s power in us, and helps us to mature as He desires, not as we desire.

In his autobiography, Mahatma Gandhi wrote that during his student days he read the Gospels seriously and considered converting to Christianity. He believed that in the teachings of Jesus he could find the solution to the class system that was dividing the people of India. So one Sunday he ...read more

Scripture: John 4:1-42

Denomination: Other

Nicodemus: The Scandal Of Grace

Contributed by Thomas Clawser on Mar 12, 2017

The scandal of grace forces Nick to look for abundant life outside himself rather than within. Jesus challenges him to think outside the box; to allow God to regenerate him by his power.

During a British conference on comparative religions, experts from around the world debated what belief, if any, was unique to the Christian faith. They began eliminating possibilities. Incarnation? Other religions had different versions of gods appearing in human form. Resurrection? Again, ...read more

Scripture: John 3:1-17

Denomination: Other

Passing The Test Series

Contributed by Thomas Clawser on Mar 4, 2017

A single brush with temptation may lead to an act or decision that ruins families, devastates churches and incapacitates our fellowship with God. Prove yourself faithful in the midst of temptation.

One sagging electrical line near Cleveland, Ohio, connected with a tree branch at 3:32 p.m. on August 14, 2003, beginning a chain of events that led to the largest blackout in American history. According to a comprehensive study, the failure of this single transmission line caused a utility ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 4:1-11

Denomination: Other