Sermons by “Rev. John R. Larson”

A Sermon Dialog with Peter

I guess the best part of my story is that I did not finish my discipleship in tears of failure. Jesus came and found me that day on the beach, after he had risen. He loved me enough to call me back after I had turned my back on him. “Do you love me?” he asked me three times. And he sent me to feed his lambs and sheep. And here is the best part, he calls you back, too. He does not leave us in our failure. He does not turn away. He is there each day with the forgiveness we need to go on one more day, to face one more test, to stand at one more crossroad. And by his power, the power of his Holy Spirit, to be what he wants us to be, what we want to be.

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3:16

3:16. Needed. Without Jesus there is not the fullness of life for life right now. And there is not the fullness of life for all eternity. Instead of anticipating the light of eternal life – heaven – there is no such hope.

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All Encompassing Religion

We have an exceptional God. Do you marvel at how great He is? Are you speechless at how wise and good He is? Have you seen that His timing for the things in life that happen, or don’t happen, are just amazing? Our own Pastor Don Ginkel has written a book, over 100 pages in length, now being studied on Wednesday mornings titled, “Our Awesome God.” In every aspect concerning our God, God is awesome and exceptional. He saved Israel and brought them to a promised land. He told them, “I’m your God and you’re My people.”

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A Sermon Dialog with Pontius Pilate

P You have said it better than any of us could. We are forgiven and free. We are made new by God’s grace each day. We know that “if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). And we can rejoice.

R And I envy you that.

P Thank you for being with us today and for reminding us of the gift of hope.

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Back To Basics

If you want to build on something you first must build on a broken heart. Nothing good comes from an arrogant, self-sufficient heart. God can’t live there. God is not needed. But if you seek Him, you will find Him. One of the Church Fathers said, “Our hearts are restless till they find rest in Thee.”

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The Daily Battle, The Forever Victory

We want to complain when life is hard. We want to let the world know how unfair this is. We want to throw a pity party and demand an answer for the question, “Why ME??” And God talks about the benefit of the daily battle. Romans 5 says this, “We rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us.” (Romans 5:2b-5)

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A Sermon Dialog with King David

This is Ash Wednesday. We receive a mark of ashes on our heads on this day. That is not only a reminder that we are mortal, going from ashes to ashes. It is also a reminder that we are marked by sin. We come to confront our own frailty, our spiritual need. And we are assured that God is here. He is coming after us to forgive us.

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Better Things to Come

Peter was entrenched in how things were then, at that moment. But Jesus could only tell him that there were better things yet to come. Yes, He was the Christ but the Christ had great work to do. The ransom for the sins of the whole world had to be made!! Such work didn’t end on the Mount of Transfiguration but it needed to continue on to Calvary and to an atoning death. Three tents?? Stay put?? How silly!!

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Worn Out

Where do you go when you are empty and worn out? Where should I go when I have nothing left? The people of Israel had two questions in all of this that had to be answered. First one: “Can God truly help us?” Second one: “Will He help us?” Those are our questions too. How strong is God, really? Does he really care about me?

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Missed Opportunities

  The opportunity for us to know the fullness of God’s love for us is something that God doesn’t want us to miss.  He delights in restoring His people.  He wants us to have faith in His love and forgiveness.  His opportunity to bring us peace in our soul and hope for our eternal life is something that God doesn’t want us to miss.

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