Sermons by Jim Larson (Page 6)
The Song of Isaiah – A Song of Hope
Pain, discouragement, disappointment and fear are constant companions for a lot of people. Sometimes it’s hard to even get through the day. 700 years before Jesus was born, Isaiah, living in hard times had an amazing answer: “There will be no more gloom for those in distress.” We’ll look at his incredible song in Isaiah 9:1-7 and find what inspired…
The Gospel According to Zechariah – An Overture
Zechariah’s song represents the overture to the birth of Christ through John the Baptist in Luke 1:67-79. This great prophecy points to the reality that even for the coming of Christ, God partnered with humanity to bring the gospel to a lost world. God’s willingness to use us all in his…
The Gospel According to Mary
Sunday as our youngest worshipers become the messengers opening up our Christmas celebration. They’ll sing at both services and then encore the presentation at 5 pm. Your heart will be blessed! Remembering Christ’s birth is important. We do not superstitiously observe days merely as days, but as reminders of important facts. Christmas can be celebrated on any…
Guarding the Gates
(Click on “Save” above to download this week’s sermon notes) Sunday we return for one final but important look at God’s Blueprint for the Church in 1 Timothy 6:11-21. We’ll see overarching themes that govern the flow of our lives – not just the direction for the moment. This message also sets the stage for our Christmas season as it lifts our vision…
Thanks on Display
(Click on “Save” above to download this week’s sermon notes) Prayer is the right response when we are faced with impossible tasks beyond our capabilities. Daniel 2:1-23 tells of just such a challenge to a group of young men who had pledged themselves to God. They prayed and God answered. But rather than running ahead with the answer they stopped, gave thanks, and…
The Thankful Samaritan
(Click on “Save” above to download this week’s sermon notes) Thanksgiving is more than a holiday of a point of manners. It is an important part of godliness that not only blesses the recipient of gratefulness, it changes the heart of the one who expresses it. Sunday we look at the fascinating results of transforming thanks in Luke 17:11-17. It can transform your…
Building Godly Relationships
Building Godly Relationships in the church is a tough task for everyone, but especially leaders. We are called to love those who are like us and those who are different. This important passage gives us guidelines for speaking and caring for those around us in a world where it is easy to be misunderstood. 1 Timothy 5:1-16 opens the eyes of a young pastor and points him…
Embrace God’s Call for You
Embracing God’s call for you can be an intimidating proposition if you think the task is too big or you are too small. Half way through Paul’s letter, Timothy probably felt that way. Sunday we’ll look at what’s required if you are going to step into service for God in spite of your misgivings and what you need to know if you’re going to be…
Mysterious Simplicity
Mysterious Simplicity Whether we’re thinking about what to look for in leaders or general qualities of godliness in ourselves, we tend to over complicate things and thereby lose sight of the obvious. As we continue with God’s Blueprint for the Church, 1 Timothy 3:14-4:5, gives a solid foundation upon which godliness is built. For everything created by God is…
It Matters Who You Follow
It Matters Who You Follow. What qualities should we look for in leaders? It is so important because in our world, and even in our churches there are many voices vying for our loyalty. Paul speaks to his young protege, serving in a church with many desiring to be leaders. In 1 Timothy 3:1-13 he gives important qualifications that should be set. The saying is trustworthy:…
Looking for Something to Agree On
We often ignore the things we agree on and fight over the obscure things. 1 Timothy 2:8-15 opens up many thorny questions, strong emotions and cultural minefields that we need to address. Yet there are also clear statements that we tend to ignore. Sunday I’m praying that God will open our hearts to be the prioritized people he has called us to be. I desire then that in…
Pray For Who?
Pray for Who?? If there was ever a passage that seemed to be written for today it’s 1 Timothy 2:1-7. Many are worried and wondering how we should live in our current day. It’s a similar dilemma that faced first century Christians. We’ll see how Paul’s instructions give us a perspective that moves beyond the moment and moves to an eternal viewpoint.…