Park Road church of Christ Sermons

In the Gospel of Luke it is common to find two characters or groups contrasted with each other to show the difference in their response to Jesus.

For example, in Luke 5, Matthew and some of his tax collector friends believe Jesus and want to listen to his teaching. The Pharisees respond by grumbling to Jesus’ disciples about their master’s willingness to dine with sinners.

Jesus answered their consternation with these simple words: “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance” (Luke 5:31, 32).

Because of what Jesus has done, forgiveness is available to everyone. But people who think they’re perfectly healthy feel no need to seek out the Great Physician. People who recognize no debt of sin, feel no gratitude for mercy.

This lesson considers our desperate need for the grace of God.

(March 14, 2021 — Sunday AM Sermon)

In order for the body of Christ to be healthy each part must work together. But working with others is not always easy.

People have problems and struggles, and when people try to work together those things are often exacerbated. But it is also true that what we can do together with each other is much greater than what we can do on our own. So we must learn how to deal with each other and how to work through the problems that arise as we work together. 

This lesson looks at what the Bible says about teamwork; the attitudes and the skills that we need to foster so that we can be the kind of team, the kind of body of believers, that God intends for us to be.

(February 28, 2021 — Sunday AM Sermon)

Christians are supposed to stand out.

God has called us to be like his Son. When we are changed from sinners into imitations of Christ it clearly distinguishes us from the world and shows others what Jesus can do in their lives too.

In Matthew 5:47, Jesus asks his disciples, “what more are you doing than others?” The lesson considers that question.

(February 21, 2021 — Sunday AM Sermon)

Warning people about hell is by no means easy; but it is necessary.

Sometimes hearts can be won for Christ by simply telling them of the greatness of God and Jesus’ love and sacrifice.

But at other times, people cannot appreciate the Good News (Gospel) of Jesus Christ, without hearing the “bad news” about sin, judgment and eternal punishment.

Colossians 4:5, 6 says: “Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.”

How do we talk to the lost about hell in a way that is wise? How do we balance speaking with grace while warning people of the danger they are in if they continue in sin? If someone is not a Christian, then nothing is more important than for them to appreciate that they are lost, but that they certainly don’t have to be. 

How do we tell them?

(February 7, 2021 — Sunday AM Sermon)

“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16, 17)

There are number of Scriptures where the breath of God does amazing things. Starting … at the start.

“In the beginning” we learn that when God formed Adam, he did so out of the dust of the ground. And then God breathed into Adam the breath of life.

God’s breath had the power to impart life to Adam, to animate his body and give him an eternal soul; and God’s breath has the same power still, to impart life to us and indeed new life to us, when we allow the Bible—the words that are “breathed out by God”—to come into our hearts and minds and produce in us new life, even eternal life.

(January 31, 2021 —Sunday AM Sermon)

“…each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.” (James 1:14, 15)

Making a sinful choice doesn’t usually blindside us as if from out of nowhere. It is typically a process: wanting some thing or some choice that we should not, drawing close to it as we attempt to convince ourselves that it’s the right thing for us, that it’ll ultimately be okay, and that we really should just go ahead and commit that sin. And then we do. We sin.

And James is clear: sin brings death.

Twice the book of Proverbs says: “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death” (14:12, 16:25).

This lesson is about stepping off that way before sin can occur, and going the right way instead.

(January 24, 2021 — Sunday AM Worship)

We are not saved by good works but we are saved for them.

In Titus 2:11-14, Paul says: “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.”

If I’ve been saved by God’s grace, then I am regenerated and a new person, and I am to live out that new reality sharing with others the goodness that God has shared with me.

God has done the greatest work, in sending the embodiment of his grace and lovingkindness in Jesus his Son, to save us from our sins. May we, in awe of the grace that has been richly poured out on us, do good works for him gladly.