Sermons by “Rev. John R. Larson”
Families Really Matter
This is also the day to be forgiven and to give forgiveness. A family has to be a place of grace. We offer to others what has not been earned. We receive from others what we have no right to ask. Grace. Forgiveness. What a great gift to give to your own flesh and blood. No more grudges. No more bitterness. Love, forgiveness, kindness are offered instead. We receive forgiveness freely from Jesus and we share it freely with others.
View SermonWhat About Women?
Beauty isn’t found in that person who only has the perfect smile, the perfect face, the perfect shape. Look for beauty that goes to her bones, that lives in her soul. In that section from Proverbs 31 it tells us, “Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.” (Proverbs 31:30)
View SermonOur Namesake
“There’s work to be done!!” That is what the angels were saying to them. The Ascension tells us that the church of Jesus has a purpose to life. You have a purpose. I have a purpose. This church has a purpose. Rick Warren, a pastor in California, wrote the book The Purpose Driven Life, and his question throughout the book is ‘Why in the world am I here?’ That’s a question that every person, and especially every person who caries this namesake of the Ascension, must answer.
View SermonGood Questions
Never tire of seeking God. Never think you know everything about Him. Have a passion for knowing more and more of God’s truth. Jesus says this about spiritual growth, “I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. He will bring glory to me by taking what is mine and making it known to you.” (John 16:12-14)
View SermonSheep or Goats?
Sheep listen. They trust. They follow. They take Jesus, the Good Shepherd, at His word. But goats don’t. They live in unbelief. They do not pay attention to what God says. They don’t trust, nor do they follow God. When the crowd ganged up on Jesus and said, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” Jesus answered, “I did tell you, but you do not believe. The miracles I do in my Father’s name speak for me, but you do not believe because you are not my sheep.” (John 10:24-26)
View SermonAgainst All Odds
Against all odds God kept on defying what should have happened. With their mouths wide open in amazement, we hear the song of Moses and his sister, Miriam, “Your right hand, O Lord, was majestic in power. Your right hand, O Lord, shattered the enemy. Who among the gods is like you, O Lord? Who is like you – majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders?” (Exodus 15:6 and 11). Just previous to this they formed a duet to sing, “The Lord is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. He is my God and I will praise him, my father’s God and I will exalt him.” (Verse 2)
View SermonAngus Dei
In the end, at the very end, blood was all Jesus had. His disciples had deserted him. His garments had been gambled away. Even his Father had turned his back. Blood was all Jesus had, but the blood of Jesus is all we need. The blood of Jesus is all we need!
View SermonLove Language
But there is a greater love language than you telling God how much you need Him. The greater language is God telling you that He wants you to know His works that bring His salvation.
Love is costly. Love demands much from you. Love will mean that you will be inconvenienced for another. Love demands sacrifice. Love places another, or others, before you. When the Bible says that “God so loved the world…” He knew about the cost of love. Jesus has shown God’s love for us. Jesus is God’s language of deep love.
Access!
The Bible says that we are born dead in transgressions and sins. The Bible says that by nature we are God’s enemies. The Bible says we are fading leaves, empty cisterns, and flowers quickly fading. The Bible says that we are rebels, prodigals, prone to wander, hard-hearted, selfish, and lost in sin.
View SermonA New Beginning
And what does God do when he comes down? Scold us? Shame us? Berate us? Reject us? Condemn us? No! God cries out, “Yahweh! Yahweh! The compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in steadfast-love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and lifting up wickedness, rebellion and sin.” A new beginning is totally possible!
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