All or Nothing Scripture: Matthew 16:24-27
One of the most popular radio programs is called "Double or Nothing." A contestant is
given a number of dollars, then asked a question, and if he gives the correct answer this amount is doubled. But if the answer is wrong, he loses all -- so it is double or nothing.
Following Christ is similar but ev ...read
Are You Majoring in Minors? Scripture: Philippians 3:12, 13; Matthew 6: 33; Matthew 16:26
One of the great dangers of our fast, modern tempo is that we will become so occupied
with incidentals, nonessentials, and minors that we shall neglect the fundamentals, essentials, and majors.
It is not enough to be busy or to be active or to be alive. We must be busy ...read
Christ Or Chaos? If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (I John 1:9)
"I'm a frightened man," says Dr. Harold C. Urey, Professor of Chemistry at the University of Chicago, writing in a recent issue of Collier's magazine (January 5, 1946). He opens his sobering article with thes ...read
Decaying Foundations Text -- If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do? (Psalms 11:3).
The text is a very striking and thought-provoking question. If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?
Our present civilization, particularly here in America, was founded upon religion. Roger
Babson, the great statistician, in repo ...read
Do You Keep a Box Score on Yourself? Scripture: Matthew 7: 1-5
Life has frequently been likened to a game. There are many analogies: goals, rules, judges, scorekeepers, training, teammates, captains, spectators, opponents, coaches, timekeepers, and trophies.
America's national pastime is baseball. In England and Australia it is cricket or Rugby.
Canada goes strongl ...read
Eight Standards For True Religion "What shall I do with Jesus?" (Matthew 27:22).
One who reads widely and studies extensively is confronted by many baffling problems and faced with a variety of interesting questions. The most important question that has ever come to any individual is composed of only six words which form the text of this message: "What shall I do with Je ...read
Eight Tests Of True Religion Text -- Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free (John 8:31).
Borden Parker Bowne, that great philosopher, said, "For good or for ill the world is full of religion." True! It is estimated that there are over 500 different organizations purporting to be religious. At the same time in the United States and Canada there are ...read
Famous Prayers Scripture Reading: Matthew 6:9-14
Animals do not pray. Only man, created in God's own image, reaches out beyond himself
for a Being greater than himself to whom he can commit and upon whom he can rest his own self. Intercourse between man and man is called conversation, between man and God is called prayer, between God and man is called ...read
Five Steps From Sin To Salvation
The jailor asked, "What must I do to be saved?" St. Paul answered, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved" (Acts 16:30, 31)
Everyone is lost. All have sinned. Sin has caused us to be deprived of God's presence and, in thus being denied the light and life of God, to have become depraved in nature. Deprivation and de ...read
Greatest Danger Confronting The Church Scripture Reading -- St. Matthew 24:3-13, Revelation 2:1-7
Are you a church member? If so, what, in your opinion, is the greatest danger confronting
the Church today? To bring the matter a little closer, what is the greatest danger facing your own denomination? And still a bit closer and more personal -- what is the greatest danger confr ...read
He Who Walks Toward the Sun Never Travels in Shadows The first utterance attributed to God is recorded in the story of creation -- "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. . . . And God said, Let there be light." It is significant that God's first words concerning man and this planet had to do with light.
There are various kinds of light -- physical, natural, intellectual, m ...read
If I Should Die Before I Live Scripture: Romans 6:19-23
Most of us are tenderly familiar with the child's bedtime prayer taught to us by our mothers:
"Now I lay me down to sleep,
I pray the Lord my soul to keep.
If I should die before I wake,
I pray the Lord my soul to take."
For my sermon today I am lifting out that third line and changing t ...read
Imptaitging, and Devil-Begotten Spirit Acts beyond the call of duty are always inspired by a supreme devotion to a great cause. It is in such moments that the finest in man is manifest. The basic law of life is that one finds his best when he gives himself to the best. Jesus gave us this truth when He declared, "He that findeth his life shall lose it, but he that loseth his life . . . ...read
Is Life Closing In on You? Scripture: Matthew 7:13, 14; Proverbs 4:18; 14:12
One of the most infamous instruments of torture used in the Middle Ages was a box much like a diver's suit. It stood about six feet high, eighteen inches wide, and a foot deep. Protruding from the back and sides were six inch, sharp spikes spaced about eight inches apart. Also on the inside ...read
Is Life Worth The Living? "But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great
possessions" (St. Matthew 19:22)
The story of the Rich Young Ruler is recorded in three gospels, Matthew, Mark, and Luke. From the three accounts we are able to get a vivid picture of the earnest seeker after eternal life. Three things are apparent -- h ...read
Lost Control Scripture Reading: Luke 15:11-24
One of the most frightening, helpless experiences one can have is to be driving a car and
suddenly to realize that you have lost control. You have your hands on the steering wheel but you cannot steer. You put your foot on the brake but you cannot stop. The automobile is out of control. It is free from y ...read
Love in Four Dimensions Scripture: John 3:16; Ephesians 3:18
Einstein's theory of relativity has given rise to much discussion of the fourth dimension. It is a twentieth century scientific and mathematical discovery.
The fourth dimension is nothing new in Biblical or theological thought. It is as old as God.
The Apostle Paul incorporates it in his ...read
Mastering Our Midnights For our beautiful theme today, I am indebted to my friend, Dr. Roy S. Nicholson, president of the Wesleyan Methodist church. We were preaching colleagues at the great Lakeland, Florida, camp meeting. One day he said, "I've been thinking of a theme that maybe you could use on 'Showers of Blessing.'" Always eager to receive helpful suggestions, ...read
Now That The War Is Over
"Choose you this day" (Joshua 24:15).
Israel faced a crisis. A choice had to be made. The prophet cried out for immediate
decision. "Choose you this day," he exhorted.
History does repeat itself. Centuries have passed since Israel was confronted by the crisis
of the text but humanity again faces the necessity of a decis ...read
Out at Home Scripture: Acts 26
Imagine this situation. It is the seventh and final game of the World Series, each team
having won three games. It is the ninth inning; the score is three to nothing in favor of the Yankees; there are three Giants on the bases; the batter has three balls and two strikes on him. The next ball is hit squarely. The player ...read
