This is my third collection of sermons published for posterity and my family's future edification. The sermons in this book are not listed chronologically but rather according to the lectionary. For nearly every Sunday in Easter, I provide one sermon each for series A, B, and C of the Lutheran Service Book lectionary published by the Commission on Worship of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (my denomination). Most times it aligns well with the Revised Common Lectionary (RCL) used by most mainline Protestant churches in the United States. Where it differs, you will still be blessed, I hope, to read and meditate on God's Word.In addition to sermons for the Sundays of Easter, Ascension, and Pentecost, I include two funeral sermons, both for practical and sentimental reasons. My father, who was a pastor, always had a reputation of being good at a funeral. In fact, this is an area where all preachers must succeed because there are fewer times in life where Easter joy becomes the basis for real life hope than at the death of a Christian loved one. For if the ones we lose belong to Christ, they are never truly lost; we will see them again, either when we die or on the Last Day when Christ returns. Either way, when we see Jesus face to face, we will see our Christian loved ones again. As Jesus told Martha at Lazarus's funeral, "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?" I hope that you do, or at least that you might, after reading these messages of life and hope. Until the Day of Christ's second Advent, we are caught in the "now, not yet" reality of a fallen world into which the kingdom of God is already breaking in. Jesus came to make all things new (Rev. 21:5). To him be glory forever! Amen.
Where’s God when times are hard? He’s winking to let us know He’s with us! Life is mysterious and cryptic. It defies explanation, especially in times of suffering and distress. We wonder, Where is God in all of this? He’s with us—and the Scriptures wink to show us His redemptive activity unfolding in our lives. In Winks from Scripture, Chris Palmer takes you through familiar New Testament stories and points out unfamiliar features that have the effect of a punchline. When the Scriptures wink, you’ll be surprised, delighted, and challenged not to give up hope. “Biblical stories are loaded with mystery,” Chris says. “That mystery keeps us asking questions about the story’s details. In doing so, little ironies and nuances emerge that we hadn’t seen before. This is God winking at us, letting us know He’s there, guiding our lives.” In Winks from Scripture, you will: • Come to embrace mystery • Learn how to appreciate uncertainty and integrate it into a vibrant life of faith • Discover how God triumphs over suffering • Observe how the New Testament writers understood the Old Testament through Jesus • Renew your hope in God’s beautiful plan of creation and redemption Guided by careful scholarship and heartfelt, pastoral reflection, these thirty studies offer a fresh perspective to the most difficult questions of the Christian faith, certain to bring comfort to your soul.
Your mission to the world may start with simple things, such as a cup of cold water. But what are some of these simple things and how can you learn to recognize them and act? They may be: A “chance” meeting with a thirsty little girl on a back street in Haiti and God’s plan is received by the author, forever changing his life and that of his family. “And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup and of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.” – Matthew 10:42 What “cup of water” is Jesus asking you to deliver? What is your mission in this world? Are you willing to obey? Will you spend your life fishing safely from the dock? Or will you step out of a boat with Jesus and walk across the water in His plan? This short Topical Line Drives volume will encourage you to recognize these opportunities and act, doing good one small thing at a time.
When life circumstances made her run from the God she had known all her life, He continued to show Himself to her. Once Chris Scholl realized He was not going anywhere, she gave in and is now closer to Him than ever. God speaks today, just as He did in the Old Testament days. The only difference now is, we have so much more clatter around us that we just have to look harder and listen closer. In Well, Let Me Just Tell Yall, Chris keeps it simple as she shares the lessons God has taught her. The book includes inspirations, devotionals, poems, and just a few of the many scriptures God has used to remind her that He has a purpose for all of us, that He loves us, and that He provides strength, hope, and forgiveness.
This book takes an easy-to-read, controversial look at whats been taught about diet, health, and nutrition. Axon challenges conventional wisdom at every turn and helps readers discern the truth from the hype. (Christian)
Some say there were two thieves crucified on Golgotha, but I believe there were Three . “Gutsy. Unexpected. Refreshing. Chris Durso explains the story of saving Grace in a language that both the world and the Church, sinners and so-called saints, can understand. The Heist walks us down the road with the prodigal son, inviting us to come home to the One who has a grace-party waiting. Fresh and accessible, I believe this book will help many live fully and freely in Jesus.” —Louie Giglio, pastor of Passion City Church, founder of Passion Conferences, author of Goliath Must Fall In the ultimate act of sacrifice, Jesus robbed the Enemy of every claim he ever had on our lives. He stole all our shame and guilt, and gave us back our lives so that we could live in true freedom. The real scandal of Jesus’ work on the cross is found not only in what it gives but also in what it steals. The Grace of God robs the enemy of his ability to shame us. It robs death of its sting. And it robs sin of its power to destroy. We’ve all felt the weight of shame and brokenness. Like the prodigal son, we’ve pursued our own path only to find ourselves far from home and out of options. We long for a fresh start, but what we need most is the ability to see ourselves through God’s eyes of grace. New York City pastor Chris Durso believes grace is the central message of all Scripture. While there have been some daring heists and cunning capers throughout history, this book is about the greatest heist the world has ever seen…a daring raid where God’s son took back what the enemy had stolen, freeing us from the power of shame, sin, and Satan. Through a fresh take on the parable of the prodigal son, and the fascinating account of a true modern day diamond heist, The Heist offers a bold invitation into God’s boundless grace.
Pastor Chris does some really neat Bible Studies; when he taught one on the gospel stories that are unique to Luke, I thought he should write a book about it. He said yes, if I include my thought in it as well. The Young Pastor-Pastor Chris Halverson is currently the Pastor of St. Stephen Lutheran, South Plainfield, NJ. He came here directly from Seminary at the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia. Before that he was a Missionary in England and did an M. Phil. in Intertestamental Studies at the University of Cambridge (St. Edmund's College). The Not So Young Parishioner-Linda Nietman, a life long Lutheran is a retired Navy Nurse. She worked at the bedside and as a nursing instructor for 25 years. While she at one time considered the ministry, she had found her true calling as a nurse and as an active parishioner.
Life is a series of lessons. For the Christian the goal of each is to guide and encourage the student to become a little more like Jesus. For some those lessons are taught in the office or classroom; for others, they arise in the home; for others still those lessons may be taught on the road while traveling from place to place. For me, many of those lessons have come on the hard and often unforgiving streets of Norfolk, Virginia. Some will bring a smile to your face, while others may bring tears. Some result in great victory, while others appear to end in tragedy and defeat. Some may provide answers, while others may raise questions, but all have a common purpose. Each one, when learned, will lead to a closer walk with Jesus Christ. This book is a collection of those lessons written in hopes that you too may be encouraged in your quest to become more like our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ. God is still, as in times past, using the most unsuspecting people to teach some of His most profound lessons. Join with me now as together we let the lessons begin.
Imagine finding joy unspeakable through a simple hunt in the mountains. It is a beautiful, crisp late October morning. With shotgun in hand, Chris and his young Brittany bird dog, Maddie, head into the mountains. Maddie's excitement boils over as grouse season has finally begun after a long dry summer. The beauty of the majestic Blue Ridge Mountains and the vibrant autumn leaves teach us that there is an Almighty God who created all things. As we search the mind of our Creator, we see that he is a loving God who desires for all mankind to be saved--and has provided a way. While hunting truth, we find that personal relationship with Jesus Christ. As that relationship grows, we learn His plan and His purpose through nature and through the experiences along the way. These help us grow as Christians, and by knowing His will for our lives, we can find that unspeakable joy.
The authors share how, tired of just preaching the words of the Gospel, they tried to manifest the Gospel in their intentions and actions, and how this shift in focus from words to action changed their family, church, and relationship with God.
What if every choice you made led to positive, productive results? How would your days be different if you so clearly understood your purpose that the words you spoke and the actions you took always added value to the people around you? How would this influence your family? How would it affect your friends? Would your income change? Would your career path be different? What would your life be like if you weren't so busy just doing "stuff"? Can the tyranny of the urgent be overshadowed by the significant and substantive possibility of a life lived with purpose? "Welcome Home", is a 6-week journey for you and your family. Through personal interaction with scripture, you are invited to invest unhurried focus on timeless truths that influence every decision. Life is going to be busy. Let's be busy doing things that matter most.
Come and Ride with Me is a call for action. God is saying you can depend on me. In both the physical and invisible realm, well, before global navigational systems emerged, the word of God has been a guiding light. The Psalmist declared in Psalm 119:105, saying, "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." The word of God enlightens presently the path for the living in this world and has been since the beginning of time. The precious word of God is true, living, ageless, and relevant today and will be in years to come as it was in the past. It is holy, righteous, blessed, and priceless. Considering its origin, it will not fail. God who is faithful and true has blessed it. The full impact of its power is in the application. From joyous to sad times, from easy to challenging times, the word of God shines a bright light into the hearts and souls of the hearers. Whosoever receives and applies it to their lives will forever know the difference.Consistent with the call to serve, I have traveled to various countries of the world proclaiming the gospel. In each place, I beheld the working power of God through changed lives. In the beginning, I shared weekly messages online on many topics. Each message is inspirational, speaking to the hearts and minds of people. Over the years, I had desired to compile those messages in a book for the benefit of more readers. So to that end, with much prayer, we have incorporated in this book those messages with some images and testimonies that reflect the great commission. I encourage youto read by faith to discover how God has done extraordinary things in the lives of ordinary people.
With this collection of short stories, Howard has blended his passions for God and railroads. These tales are filled with thought-provoking insights and teachings, yet maintain a simplicity and clarity that all ages can enjoy. (Christian)
Prepare for a paradigm shift. In this book Chris challenges us to view scripture from a higher perspective, one of victory. Learn to see a victorious future as you embrace and walk in your destiny of dominin now!
In this book, Pursuing Your Passion, as a child of God, you will learn how to identify your passion. More importantly, however, you will learn valuable lessons that will be encountered along the way. Throughout this book, we will explore the passion and pursuit of Nehemiah in God's Word. Learn how God develops a servant's heart in all of us first and foremost. Through studying God's Word, see how obstacles we face must come, to see what we're really made of, and how these obstacles can actually strengthen our passion. Walk with me, as we read about Nehemiah's passion, and how he pursued it. Dare to take a risk, and step out in your own passion. Are you ready to pursue your passion? Get ready to embark upon an adventure! Chris Louer is a native born Californian who lives in Mission Viejo, California. Chris, a bible teacher, received the Lord at the age of seven, and has been teaching and ministering to women for over twenty years. God's faithfulness to His Word is a reality to Chris and the gentle, practical way she encourages women, has won her the loving respect of women she has ministered to in Bible Studies, retreats and converences, and individually over the past twenty years. Chris and her husband Ron have been married for thirty-six years. They have two grown married daughters, Melissa and Adrianne, four grandchildren, as well as two godly son-in-laws, Shane and Aron. With boldness and practical teaching, Chris delivers the Word to this current generation, alerting the Body of Christ to what God requires for us to remain overcomers in these days.
Reaching maximum success cannot be achieved without making the necessary sacrifices. In fact, the size of any success is directly proportional to the extra mile covered in its pursuit. Therefore, the extra mile defines the level of success. Do not expect your actions to be logical when you are operating in this realm. Extra-mile actions do not make sense because they do not appeal to the senses. So when you are about to embark on an extra-mile action, it is pointless to consult anyone but God! Sacrificing can hurt, but nothing lifts the spirit of a person better. You can change your present circumstances by launching your sacrifices a notch higher.
The Song of Solomon or "Song of Songs" is a story of intimacy between King Solomon and a Schulamite girl, his bride. It has also been interpreted by some to be an allegory of the love relationship between Christ and His Bride. However you choose to interpret this book, no one can deny the passion and intimacy that the king and his bride enjoy together. In the book Staircase to Transformation, we will take a journey with the Schulamite girl as her groom leads her into intimacy with him, and changes her into a strong woman of God. By following her journey, may your relationship with Christ become closer than ever, and may you be transformed into that woman of God you were created to be. Solomon 2:10 "Arise my darling, my beautiful one and come along." Chris Louer is a native born Californian who lives in Mission Viejo, California. Chris, a Bible teacher, received the Lord at the age of seven, and has been teaching and ministering to women for seventeen years. God's faithfulness to His Word is a reality to Chris and the gentle, practical way she encourages women, has won her the loving respect of women she has ministered to in Bible Studies, retreats and conferences, and individually over the past seventeen years. Chris and her husband Ron have been married for thirty-five years. They have two grown married daughters, Melissa and Adrianne, four grandchildren, as well as two godly son-in-laws, Shane and Aron. With boldness and practical teaching, Chris delivers the Word to this current generation, alerting the Body of Christ to what God requires to remain overcomers in these days.
“This is the secret of the Saints: abiding in Christ, joined to him like branches to the vine, in order to bear much fruit.” Pope Francis We have an obligation as Christians to share the Gospel of Christ. But many are at a loss as to how to fulfill this commission. Good news – we have a clear path we can follow, trod by holy men and women who have successfully brought millions of souls to Christ, the saints! In his newest book, Casting Nets with the Saints, author and speaker Chris Stewart builds on The Seven Pillars of Effective Evangelization, using entertaining stories of the saints to demonstrate THE SEVEN CHARACTERISTICS OF AN EFFECTIVE EVANGELIZER Modeled on the life and ministry of Jesus, a truly effective evangelist must be Joyful • Humble • Merciful • Peaceful • Faithful • Hopeful • Charitable As Casting Nets with the Saints powerfully demonstrates, the saints embody these characteristics, and their stories can inspire us to share the Faith. This book is perfect for individuals or parishes searching for an effective program for bringing the Faith to others and growing in it themselves.
So many Christians experience delayed marriages, separation, divorce, suffering, affliction, sickness, poverty, disappointments and failures in their endeavours. Do you think it is the will of God that Christians experience such problems? It is definitely not the will of God. If it is not the will of God, why then do many still have problems? Very many suffer afflictions because they unknowingly practise some wrong doctrines. One of such doctrines that make some Christians suffer is the back-to-sender prayer. The prayer seems logically reasonable but it actually opens the door for the devil into a person's life. Anyone who prays such prayer has no relationship with Jesus Christ. In this book, Pastor Chris used the scripture to expose how praying back-to-sender opens the door for the devil into a Christian's life, and how you can easily receive your heart desires. Pastor Chris Ojigbani is the Apostle of Marriage. God commissioned him to liberate marriages through the preaching of the Word. He is the Senior Pastor of Covenant Singles and Married Ministries. He and his wife Pastor Uche, who is also involved in the ministry, live in Lagos, Nigeria. His television programme, Singles and Married with Pastor Chris Ojigbani, is aired on various television stations in many parts of the world. He also conducts interactive marriage seminars in different countries.
It Is Time is essentially a sermon compilation in which the author shares what God has put on his heart to share with those who read this book. Keeping in mind the times we live in today, it is time to turn back to the one that gave His life for the whole of humanity. In these sermons, the author teaches you who God is and shows you all the marvelous aspects of the Gospel you want to know. He will also introduce you to and tell you about who Jesus is in simple language that you will understand. His prayer is that as you read this book, you will be blessed by the good news he shares with you.
In "That's My Story & I'm Sticking to It", Pastor Chris Bowen shares both the trials and triumphs of his personal journey in ministry. His goal is to encouarge every reader that no matter how hard the circumstances of life may seem, or how "unqualified" you may feel to be where God places you, that He will provide everything you need to succeed in ministry for Him. You will see that God has a purpopse and plan for you, and He will indeed turn the very darkest times of life into blessings beyond your imagination.
One of the primary reasons God elected and kept you alive today is for you to stand for Him in a times of affliction, war, famine, in the time of plenty and in a time lack when people refuse to acknowledge Him as Lord and Savior. God wants you to stand for Him in FAITH, BELIEF, TRUST, OBEDIENCE, AND WORSHIP. There has never been a time in the history of the church that God needed His elect to stand in obedience to all His commandments such as it is now. There’s a sudden, mysterious wave of evil occurrences chiefly trying to undermine the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus which the church represents. Apostle Paul in Ephesians 6:11, said, “Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to STAND against the wiles of the devil.” This book, “Standing for God,” is one of the desired Christian classics which reminds the church to stand solidly in obedience to God’s commandments as we pass through sets of turbulent periods in our lives. Beloved, let us take the word of Moses to the Jews for our comfort: ”Fear ye not, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord which He will accomplish for you today, for the Egyptians whom you see today you shall see again no more.” Exodus 14:13 As you go through this book, may the Holy Spirit help in your wilderness experience to stand and proclaim the salvation of the Lord Jesus Christ. Rev. Dr. Chris Okeke March 15, 2023
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