Sermons by “Rev. John R. Larson”

Do You Not Know?

This is dangerous sermon.  We normally don’t talk about such issues so publicly.  But that is not why this is dangerous.  I know I have crushed the hearts of a number of you.  This sermon has opened some old wounds or exposed some fresh ones.  Sexual sin is guilt that we carry.  We know better but it is our thorn in the flesh.

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A Brilliant Light

If you trust in Jesus you have God’s brilliant light. If you do not trust Him, if you do not believe in Him, if He is not your Savior, if you do not follow Him, then all you have is darkness. But God wants you and the entire world – your family, your children, your grandchildren, your friends, your neighbors to know Jesus. “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.” (John 3:17)

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The Widow’s Mite

God is interested in little because little also means personal. He cares for the whole world but He cares for the world once person at a time. In the midst of all those people in the Temple in Jerusalem He pointed out the widow who gave the two pennies that day. God cares about each person, the big things in life, and the little. He has counted all the hairs on your head – little stuff, and He has fought the enemies that would take over your life and soul and has been victorious – that’s big stuff – and He has had you in mind the whole time!!

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Never Ordinary

Ordinary? Life with God in it is never ordinary. Go back to the changing of an ordinary life for Elizabeth and Zechariah, the parents of John the Baptist. They were old, barren, impotent, child-less and the angel came and said that all that would change. And it did. The child that they were going to have would be the voice to call God’s people back to Him. He would be the forerunner of the Messiah. Ordinary? Not for Zechariah and Elizabeth and not for John. And His work and message would not be ordinary. It actually would be quite challenging to the hearts of those whose lives were so far from the ways that God had established.

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Come to Bethlehem; Go Home a Different Way

After going to Bethlehem we go home a new way amazed at God’s love and righteousness given to us sinners. We receive presents from God not because we have earned them but because God has been gracious to us.

This different way also tells us of a new way to live. Go on a new route after seeing how much God wants you to be His. There is a new and better way for each of us to live. If you have seen improvement in your life over the past few weeks don’t go back to the old ways and the old you!

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Christmas Children

Folks have all types of fears. Fear of the present, regrets of the past, fears of choices they have made, fears of the future or their eternity. But the angel says that we need not have any fear. FEAR NOT!! UNTO YOU is born this Savior, this Lord, this Jesus. Christmas children receive God’s gift of Jesus with faith – childlike faith.

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Who Are You?

Who are you? Let God give the answer. I’m His. I’m loved. I’m treasured. I’m restored. I am immortal. I am a child of the King.

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A Proud Father

Zechariah had to be a proud father. This son, born by God’s miracle, was going to do greater things than his earthly father could ever imagine. But as proud as he was, he wasn’t able to share this verbally for at least five months. Gabriel took away his speech. “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their proper time.” (Luke 1:19-20)

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Great Songs of Advent, Part 1

Great songs have some history to them. I don’t think Mary was welcome in Nazareth, pregnant and not married. She left her town to go visit Elizabeth, her relative, who also was pregnant with John the Baptist. Her trip gave her time to think. When she gives us the 10 verses of the Magnificat she is borrowing words from Hannah, the mother of Samuel (see I Samuel 2:1-10). Hannah had tried for years to have a child with her husband, but she didn’t conceive. In I Samuel 1 it says, “Her rival kept provoking her in order to irritate her. This went on year after year.” (Verse 6) It gets worse – “Whenever Hannah went up to the house of the Lord, her rival provoked her till she wept and would not eat.” (Verse 7) Her husband loved her and had a heart for her pain. But she had no child. Her heart was heavy and she faced bitter remarks from others constantly.

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