Sermons by Brad Barrett (Page 5)
Pastor
Rise and Fall – Man of Faith
From childhood to the end of his life, Samuel walked by faith in the Lord. His consistent life is a stark contrast to the people of Israel who, though they had brief periods of faith, generally rejected the Lord as their king.
Rise and Fall: Desperate in Faith
In our new sermon series through the books of Samuel, we will be challenged by the rise and fall of “heroes” and “villains”. The first story we read is that of a grieving woman named Hannah who, in the midst of severe trial was also humble and faith-filled. And God used her to raise up a godly servant of the Lord, Samuel, who influenced an entire nation. Hannah can inspire us to know and trust the Lord.
What a Mother Needs
A mother’s work is glorious, yet daunting. Who is equal to such a task? God and His grace is. He is enough.
Love One Another
That You May Know—The Epistles of John 1 John 4:7-21 – Love One Another I’ve been to many weddings over the years, and one of the more common Scriptures read is 1 Corinthians 13. It’s about love. The pre-eminence of love. And a description of love. A beautiful chapter, really. “If I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.”…
Walk As Jesus Walked
That You May Know—The Epistles of John 1 John 2:3-17 Walk as Jesus Walked I just finished reading a fascinating biography of a former U.S. President. The focus of the book is the President’s faith. What his spiritual and religious background is. What he says he believes. I’m reading this wondering, “Is this President a true believer in Jesus Christ?” Some of his statements say an emphatic “Yes.” Some of his statements say, “Hmm, not so sure.” Still others say,…
Two Women and Their God
We may find it today to be a challenge to feel the drama of the Advent story, i.e., the first coming of Jesus Christ. If we said aside the nostalgia of “the holidays” and focus on this story, we will be amazed by the work of God. In Luke 1:39-56 we are thrust into the story of two women and their God—two women caught up in the glory of the most momentous period in human history. Both are participants in the drama of angelic appearances, prophetic utterances, and miraculous conceptions—one son to be a great prophet and the other to save his people from their sins.
The First Coming of Christ
We are entering into a season of remembrance of the greatest period of time and the most influential events in human history. This period centers on the person of Jesus Christ and his entrance into our world, when the divine took on humanity. This is his First Coming, or the First Advent. All of history and the foundation of our lives is built upon this Person and these events.
Death Is Defeated
Every person ever born has a relentless and ferocious enemy whose name is death. Ever since Genesis 3, mankind and our world have been under an oppressive curse, the curse of death, which is the judgment from God for our rebellion against him, our Maker. But God in his great mercy and rich love sent his own Son from heaven to take on humanity in order to live the perfect life, offer up himself as a sacrificial exchange, and then rise from the dead to give us life in glory forever and ever. Christ is risen! Behold all things will be made new!
Jesus, King of Kings
No greater contrast could be found than in the story of Jesus’ death. He was treated like a horrific criminal, kept in custody instead of a terrorist, and declared to be worthy of death, yet he stood before his own people and the Roman government declaring himself to be a king from another world. Just who is Jesus?
That the World May Know – John 17
In his last hours before his crucifixion—the worst horror and injustice the world has ever seen—Jesus prays. And his prayer is not ritualistic or rote but heartfelt and passionate. And he prays for us. What he prays and how he prays has tremendous significance for us as we learn of our mission and calling.
Abide in the Vine
After the resurrection, Jesus left the earth and promised to come back later. But until then, we are not alone, for he has given us the Holy Spirit as our helper. And he has also given us instructions and called us to bear fruit. Like a grapevine overflowing with luscious grapes, we are to bear the fruit of God. And we do this according to a rather odd expression: we are to abide in the Vine.
Only One Way
We like options in our lives, lots of options. Classes to take, cars to buy, cell phone plans to sign up for. And what about religion? Can we have many options to choose from there, too? Spoiler alert: Jesus says no.
John 11 – Rising from the Dead
Death is our greatest enemy. And we spend countless dollars, energy, and even worry to hold it off as long as we can. But God not only has the answer, he is the answer.
I Was Blind, But Now I See
The word “enlightenment” has been popular since the 18th century in Europe, but mankind has always been hungry for enlightenment. To be in light and not in darkness. To know and follow truth, not lies. But how do we know what is light and true? Jesus, claiming to be the light of the world, encountered a man blind from birth and miraculously gave him sight. But even more than physical sight, this man found spiritual sight. In contrast, the religious community was confronted with their own spiritual blindness. In calling us to true light, Jesus calls us to himself. How will we respond?
The Truth Will Set You Free
Freedom. Such a beautiful word. The pursuit of freedom might be one of our life goals, or it might feel hopelessly out of reach. But first we must ask, from what do we want to be free? For the word freedom implies there is some type of imprisonment, enslavement, or severe restriction. In the Gospel of John, Jesus points us to freedom, but we will find two surprises: what we are enslaved to, and what—actually who—is our only source of freedom.
Jesus, the Matchless One
While Jesus walked the earth, controversy surrounded him. A few loved him, but most were either confused about or hateful toward him. Even today Jesus Christ is controversial across the world, and in some countries his followers are being persecuted unto death. What is it about Jesus—his words and actions—that makes him such a polarizing yet remarkable person? He is matchless.
The Father and the Son
Who really is Jesus? Just another religious figure, prophet, good teacher, or excellent moral example? Or was he actually sent from heaven by God the Father to point us toward heaven and to bring eternal salvation? If we humbly and sincerely read of Jesus’ miracles and his statements about himself, we are compelled to conclude that heaven truly has descended upon the earth. And we would do well to pay attention to Jesus, for our eternal future is at stake.
Gospel of John: Life in Jesus’ Name – Born Again
Ever watched a football game on TV and seen a guy in the end zone holding a sign up of John 3:16? Football. Basketball. Baseball. And even golf!! Why would someone hold up this sign? What does it say? John 3:16 ESV “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” This has to be the most well-known verse in the Bible. When I was…
Gospel of John: Life in Jesus' Name – Born Again
Ever watched a football game on TV and seen a guy in the end zone holding a sign up of John 3:16? Football. Basketball. Baseball. And even golf!! Why would someone hold up this sign? What does it say? John 3:16 ESV “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” This has to be the most well-known verse in the Bible. When I was…
Gospel of John: Life in Jesus’ Name – The Word
Whether we are seekers or even skeptics, or we have been believers in Jesus Christ for many years, this Gospel can impact us. Throughout this book, we are confronted with the reality and uniqueness of Jesus, and we are called on to look to him for the answers to life. For Christianity is far more than another religion with good rules for living. Fundamentally, it is about a person, and his name is Jesus.
Gospel of John: Life in Jesus' Name – The Word
Whether we are seekers or even skeptics, or we have been believers in Jesus Christ for many years, this Gospel can impact us. Throughout this book, we are confronted with the reality and uniqueness of Jesus, and we are called on to look to him for the answers to life. For Christianity is far more than another religion with good rules for living. Fundamentally, it is about a person, and his name is Jesus.
Mothers to the Next Generation
God wants children for his kingdom– people who are saved by him, born again, and adopted into his eternal family. And every woman–married or not, young or old– can be God’s agent to influence the next generation.
Gently Restore
Conflict in relationships seems unavoidable, but we don’t have to stay there. God offers wisdom and power to be peacemakers, which can include lovingly and gently confronting others for their sin, with the goal of restoring the relationship.
Resolving Conflict: Get The Log Out!
Conflict in relationships seems to come easy, but peace takes more effort through the power of God. Peace begins by humbly looking within our own hearts for our contribution to the conflict.