Inspiring, motivational, and Christ-centred. Christian sermons by Glendon Thompson, senior pastor of Jarvis Street Baptist Church and president of Toronto Baptist Seminary & Bible College.
We often do not give serious attention to the "little" sins in our lives, such as the sin of partiality. But the Bible takes the showing of partiality seriously. James addresses this issue in chapter 2 of his epistle. "My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality." James 2:1 A sermon from James 2:1–13.
"for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise." Galatians 3: 26-29 A sermon from Galatians 3:15–29.
"And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming. If you know that he is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who practises righteousness has been born of him." 1 John 2:28-29 A sermon from 1 John 2:18–29.
Many people consider the Word of God as suggestive, rather than authoritative; it merely introduces ideas that carry no particular force, nor demand a particular response. But James, develops the theme of the right response to the word of God. "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing." James 1:22-25 A sermon from James 1:19–27.
"Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”— A sermon from Galatians 3:13.
"For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:6-8 A sermon from Romans 5:1–11.
A sermon from Galatians 3:1–12. "Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham. And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, 'In you shall all the nations be blessed.' So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith." Galatians 3:7-9
A sermon from Luke 18:15–30. "And he said to them, 'Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, who will not receive many times more in this time, and in the age to come eternal life.” Luke 18:29-30
A sermon from James 1:5-8. "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways." James 1:5-8
We don't have all the details of the Bible in our minds, and there are many facts about Scripture that we do not know. But there is one fact that we must know, and that is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul had insight into numerous truths, but he had particular insight into the Gospel of the Lord Jesus and his saving grace. A sermon from Galatians 1:11–24.
Although James is often neglected compared to other apostolic epistles, it is important wisdom literature, sometimes referred to as the Proverbs of the New Testament. "My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience." James 1:2-3 A sermon from James 1:1–4.
A sermon from Galatians 1:6–9 "I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed." Galatians 1:6–9
Who is Christ Jesus for us today? In Western society, Christ is often seen as a cultural icon. A has-been superstar remembered in art, music, and on the calendar. Though many see Christ in this fashion, for the Christian, he is much more. He is our risen Lord and Saviour. A sermon from Galatians 1:1–4.
The character of Balaam might not be completely familiar to everyone, but many remember the story of a talking donkey. As we study this chapter, we will draw out some lessons from the fascinating story of Balaam and his donkey. A sermon from Numbers 22.
Like the ancient Stoics, we value self-sufficiency as one of the cardinal virtues. We value making our own way in life and we teach our children to be self-reliant. This is a good thing. But when it comes to the theological realm, self-sufficiency runs against the grain of biblical revelation. It does not work when it comes to our relationship with God. As sermon from Luke 18:9–14.
One of the challenges of aging is that with the passage of time we experience a loss of wonder. It becomes more and more difficult for us to be surprised and we lose the innocence and sense of awe we had as children. This can also happen as we mature in the faith. When can lose our sense of awe for the marvelous truths in the Bible. This was not the case with the Apostle John, eyewitness of the Lord Jesus Christ. A sermon from 1 John 1:1–10.
Often prayer is seen as a last resort, like an emergency chute on an airplane, only to be deployed when needed. And yet, the Bible calls us to be people who persist in prayer. "Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart" Luke 18:1 A sermon from Luke 18:1–8.
Jesus instituted two ordinances for the church to observe until he returns: Baptism and the Lord's Supper. The Lord's Supper is central to the life of the church, a symbolic feast that points to the work of Christ and particularly His death on the cross. "And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, 'Take, eat; this is My body.' Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, 'Drink from it, all of you. For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father's kingdom.” Matthew 26:26-29 A sermon from Matthew 26:17–30
A sermon from Luke 17:20–37 "Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, 'The kingdom of God does not come with observation; nor will they say, ‘See here!' or ‘See there!' For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you.” Luke 17: 20-21
Whatever the world has to offer does not compare to the risen Christ. The gospels do not conclude with the death of Christ, but with the resurrection of Christ, the living Lion of Judah. A sermon from John 20.
Relationships on earth demand responsibility, but our relationship to God demands greater responsibility. As children of God we are required to please our heavenly Father. A sermon from Romans 14:18.
This sermon deals with the subject of eternity and looks at the parable of the rich man and Lazarus. A sermon from Luke 16:19–31.
"And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, 'All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.' Amen." A sermon from Matthew 28:18–20.
While some scoff at the concept of faith, most people demonstrate some form of faith in everyday life. While we make many daily decisions on faith, trusting that the desired outcome will occur, we are often reluctant to trust in God. A sermon from Mark 1:14–15.
Many of our successes in life can be attributed to the help of others along the way. Where we have arrived, we hardly have done so on our own, but by the sacrifices of others. We are grateful to those parents, teachers, and benefactors, but we must be infinitely more grateful to the Lord Jesus Christ, who made a sacrifice that transcends all others. A sermon from Hebrews 10:1–14.
The Odyssey is a tale of a journey of human conquest, persistence, and struggle against great obstacles. But the greatest story of a journey is Israel's 40 years wandering in the wilderness. It is a journey not in which one man or nation receives praise, but in which God is the hero, for it is God who sustains Israel for 40 years in the wilderness and brings them into the promised land. A sermon from Numbers 20:1–13.
Most of us have been conditioned to think in material terms. We believe in the tangible, things we can see and touch. And yet there is another dimension to life. An invisible dimension beyond human understanding, that is nevertheless as real as the material world in which we live. "And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen!" 2 Timothy 1:18 A sermon from 2 Timothy 4:9–22.
Most of us will never have to lose our lives for our faith, but all of us are called upon to be faithful in our witness to Jesus Christ whatever the cost. It is this theme of faithfulness to Christ that drives the final chapter Paul's second epistle to Timothy. "But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry." 2 Timothy 4:5 A sermon from 2 Timothy 4:1–7
Continuing with the theme of being clothed with Christ, we look at Galatians 4. The New Testament in its united witness teaches that Jesus is the pattern of life. If we wish to know how to live, the answer is found in Jesus Christ because he is the pattern of our lives. A sermon from Galatians 4:4–20.
"But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all." A sermon from Colossians 3:1–15.
There are a wide range of experts who give us advice on what to wear and what the latest fads are. Fashion comes and goes, but there is one fashion that remains the same: we are to clothe ourselves in the Lord Jesus Christ. "But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts." Romans 13:14
Jesus is a superior High Priest, because he serves in a superior place. He is seated at the right hand of the throne of the majesty in the heavens. Jesus carries out his ministry at the right hand of God, which is the true tabernacle. The tabernacle on earth, in which the Levitical priests served, was a shadow, or a type of the real tabernacle. A sermon from Hebrews 8:6–12.
“For behold, the day is coming, Burning like an oven, And all the proud, yes, all who do wickedly will be stubble. And the day which is coming shall burn them up,” Says the Lord of hosts, “That will leave them neither root nor branch. But to you who fear My name The Sun of Righteousness shall arise With healing in His wings; And you shall go out And grow fat like stall-fed calves. You shall trample the wicked, For they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet On the day that I do this,” Says the Lord of hosts. A sermon from Malachi 4:1–6.
Many of you probably received a number of invitations over the Christmas holidays. This sermon relates to the greatest invitation of all time: the invitation to intimacy with God. A sermon from Luke 14:12–24.
"I am going to Him whom my soul has loved, or rather to Him who has loved me with an everlasting love." These are the last words of John Owen, who died in August 1683. We often pay attention to people's last words as they are sometimes words of consequence. In 1 Chronicles 29, David addressed the people concerning the preparations he made for the building of the temple that Solomon completed. This sermon looks at the words of consequence in David's prayer in verses 10-15. A sermon from 1 Chronicles 29:1-20
Regardless of where we stand in our commitment to Jesus, it is fair to say that of all the great men and women who have walked the earth, none has risen to the stature of Jesus Christ. The accomplishments of all the great people throughout history cannot be compared to that of our Lord Jesus Christ whose career lasted a mere three years. The offering of Christ is beyond comparison in human history. A sermon from Titus 2:11–15.
This sermon deals with worship as it appears to us in the Book of Revelation. John wrote Revelation in response to a vision that he received on the Isle of Patmos. He wrote to the seven churches of Asia Minor, now Western Turkey, around AD 95. The genre of the book is Apocolyptic. It means "revelation", or "disclosure", or "the unveiling of", and in this case is the Revelation of Jesus Christ.
Although we change over time, Jesus never changes. He has an eternal, divine nature. He is and was and is to come. "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever." A sermon from Hebrews 13:8.
The writer of Hebrews tells us that Jesus is the superior high priest. "For the law appoints as high priests men who have weakness, but the word of the oath, which came after the law, appoints the Son who has been perfected forever." Hebrews 7:28 A sermon from Hebrews 7:20–28.
The vocabulary of sin has been gradually disappearing from conversation, so that the Biblical concept of sin has is almost unknown. But all human beings are guilty of sin. The prophet, Isaiah, deals with this matter of sin, and it is a central issue in Isaiah chapter 1. "Alas, sinful nation, A people laden with iniquity, A brood of evildoers, Children who are corrupters! They have forsaken the Lord, They have provoked to anger The Holy One of Israel, They have turned away backward." Isaiah 1:4
The writer of Hebrews tells his readers to remember the kind of Lord that they were thinking of abandoning. He is the Son of God, the Captain of our salvation, and our great high priest. A sermon from Hebrews 7:11–19.
A sermon from Micah 3:1–12. It is clear from the Scriptures that we are to be concerned about this world because God is concerned about society as a whole. The prophet, Micah, shows us that God is engaged and concerned about justice. “Hear now, O heads of Jacob, And you rulers of the house of Israel: Is it not for you to know justice? You who hate good and love evil; Who strip the skin from My people, And the flesh from their bones; Who also eat the flesh of My people, Flay their skin from them, Break their bones, And chop them in pieces Like meat for the pot, Like flesh in the caldron.” Micah 3:1-3
A sermon from Hebrews 7:1–10. "For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, to whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all, first being translated “king of righteousness,” and then also king of Salem, meaning “king of peace,” without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, remains a priest continually." Hebrews 7:1-3
Baptists believe that every Christian is a priest unto God. We are able by ourselves to read and interpret Scriptures without a special class of mediators to interpret Scriptures and pray for us. We are a royal priesthood of believers with Jesus, himself, as our great high Priest. A sermon from 1 Peter 2:1–10. "Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ."
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