Sermons by “Rev. John R. Larson”
Living Faith
Many years ago a lady from outside my congregation came to see me to confess a sin that had burdened her for decades. She did not want her pastor to know of it, it was too painful and too personal. She knew she had not followed the will of God for her life. Did she need James 2 or Ephesians 2? Did she need a pointing finger or an embrace? She needed Gospel. She needed forgiveness. She needed to know that her sin was no more. That is what she heard. That is what she received. That is what God gave her by the grace of Jesus Christ.
View SermonHear and Listen! Believe and Thank! Share and Spread!
Jesus, the one that we call Immanuel, “God-with-us”, has come right to our side. When we haven’t done a very good job of hearing, listening or following God’s ways, when at times we’ve added or, more likely, subtracted, from His very words to us, He came to us and called us His own and cleansed us from our sin and forgave us with His own blood. When we were speechless, not knowing what to do next, He came and put His hand on our shoulder and made us strong and hopeful once again.
View SermonAuthentic Life
But don’t think that this authentic new life is going to occur by you or I making a few improvements to our life and then declaring that that is enough. Let’s see – We’re going to watch our sharp tongue. We’re going to stop having such a critical attitude. We’re going to control our temper. We’re not going to let dirty thoughts take over our mind and heart. If we do those things then we’re authentic. Right? No!! We don’t have a few things that have to be changed. We have a life that has to die. Over and over again. That’s the authentic life. The old man needs to be put to death. Everyday. And everyday we need to be resurrected. Jesus does that.
View SermonA Promise Is A Promise
But you know what hurts worse than someone not keeping their promise to us is when we can see, clearly, that we have not kept our promise to them. We didn’t live up to our word. We spoke but never followed up on what we said. Others can look at us and say, “You promised…” And we know that we didn’t live up to our word. A promise is a promise… but a lie is a lie.
View SermonWeak Faith
Today we acknowledge that Christians can have struggles with their faith. It can be the worst time of your life. It can cause you to lose sleep and put you into a difficult depression. But at that moment God does not abandon you. He does not disown you. Rather He comes to you – showing compassion and understanding. He invites you to see His Word, the life-giving Savior, and His Word, the Scriptures that He has given us, in a new and full way.
View SermonThe Happiest People I Know
The happiest people I know don’t just give money. They have a way about them that is just generous. They sacrifice their time. They go out of their way for others. They look for ways where they can be helpful. They plead for the privilege of helping, serving, giving. The happiest people I know have an attitude that is a little weird – different. It is better. It is good and God-pleasing.
View SermonIn Control?
God’s control, His rescue, must be personal. God didn’t come to bring his favor and love and strong hand just to others. He came to do it for you. God shows that you are important to Him. He cares for your troubles. Your problems are important to Him. He covered your sins. Remember, “My God is so strong…” After taking care of all those others He took care of His own – those in the boat with Him.
View SermonA Man After God’s Own Heart
God’s own heart has to be our heart. We want our children and grandchildren and every generation to come to trust in Jesus for their forgiveness and eternal salvation. We want them to be certain of the love of God that brings them the joy of heaven. We want them to follow God in the strength of His Spirit and in the guidance of God’s Word.
View SermonA Divided House
I started this sermon talking about the divisions that existed that day between Jesus and His family. I spoke about the division that existed when He was accused of being in bed with the devil, as well as the divisions that exist in our own soul due to our choices. But Christ brings unity with God through His blood. He unifies our broken relationship by His mighty work. He brings peace to us.
View SermonDuties Next Step
Do you know what duties next step is? It is delight. Delight. We have so many “have to’s” and “ought-to’s” and “must’s” in life, even in relation to what God is asking of us. But what if we can combine the “have to’s” with a “want to” and a yearning to do something good and right?
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