Sermons at First Christian Church, Arlington, Texas

In the Midst of Adversity

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 09:39:00 +0000

A sermon on Nehemiah 4-5. It is the second sermon in the sermon series.

Everyone is needed on the Wall

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 09:33:00 +0000

A sermon from Nehemiah 2. It is the beginning of our Stewardship Campaign

Faith Sharing is a Privilege

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 09:30:00 +0000

Philemon 1--This is the final sermon in the series entitled "Faith Sharing Driver's Ed."

Look Down the Road

Mon, 14 Sep 2009 19:49:00 +0000

Sermon 3 in our Faith Sharing Drivers Ed sermon series. Sermon on Isaiah 49:1-6.

Vehicle in Proper Working Order

Mon, 14 Sep 2009 19:26:00 +0000

Sermon 1 in the sermon series entitled Faith Sharing Drivers Ed. Sermon is drawn from John 16:4-11.

Hands in the Right Position

Mon, 14 Sep 2009 18:58:00 +0000

Sermon 2 in our Faith Sharing Drivers Ed series. This one entitled, "Hands in the Right Position" uses Matthew 5:13-16

Outbound Ripples

Wed, 19 Aug 2009 10:28:00 +0000

Message 6 from our Messages from the Shack Series. Sermon based on Colossians 3.

August 9, 2009, Here Come Da Judge

Fri, 14 Aug 2009 16:39:00 +0000

Fifth sermon in the Messages from the Shack series. A sermon on Luke 15, the Parable of the Prodigal Son.

August 3, 2009, Seasons of Life

Fri, 14 Aug 2009 16:37:00 +0000

A sermon on Ecclesiastes 3 from Rev. Joe Roberts.

Verbs and Other Freedoms

Mon, 20 Jul 2009 17:35:00 +0000

This is sermon 3 from the sermon series "Messages from the Shack." It is important to read Acts 17:22-28 before listening to this sermon.

A Piece of Pi

Mon, 13 Jul 2009 11:59:00 +0000

Sermon in our continued series, "Messages from the Shack." This sermon takes Exodus 34:5-8 as the principal text.

Voice of a Nova, Smile of Dew

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 16:28:00 +0000

First Sermon in a Sermon Series entitled: MESSAGES FROM THE SHACK. Based on Isaiah 55:6-9; Exodus 20:1-7.

Life of Purity

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 16:09:00 +0000

Second Sermon in our Sermon series on James. The sermon deals with James 1:12-26 and James 4:1-10.

Faith and Works

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 09:11:00 +0000

Sermon on James 2:14-24.

Prayer for Wisdom

Mon, 08 Jun 2009 10:13:00 +0000

Sermon 1 on the Sermon series entitled "Living the Good Life." Sermon Based on James 1:5-8 and 3:13-18

Even If Christians

Tue, 12 May 2009 21:53:00 +0000

Sermon was part of the "Going Into the World" series. Daniel 3:1-17: King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, ninety feet high and nine feet wide, and set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon. He then summoned the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates and all the other provincial officials to come to the dedication of the image he had set up. So the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates and all the other provincial officials assembled for the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up, and they stood before it. Then the herald loudly proclaimed, “This is what you are commanded to do, O peoples, nations and men of every language: As soon as you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes and all kinds of music, you must fall down and worship the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. Whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace.” Therefore, as soon as they heard the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp and all kinds of music, all the peoples, nations and men of every language fell down and worshiped the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. At this time some astrologersb came forward and denounced the Jews. They said to King Nebuchadnezzar, “O king, live forever! You have issued a decree, O king, that everyone who hears the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes and all kinds of music must fall down and worship the image of gold, and that whoever does not fall down and worship will be thrown into a blazing furnace. But there are some Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon—Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego—who pay no attention to you, O king. They neither serve your gods nor worship the image of gold you have set up.” Furious with rage, Nebuchadnezzar summoned Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. So these men were brought before the king, and Nebuchadnezzar said to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the image of gold I have set up? Now when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes and all kinds of music, if you are ready to fall down and worship the image I made, very good. But if you do not worship it, you will be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace. Then what god will be able to rescue you from my hand?” Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”

Prepared to Make A Difference

Mon, 04 May 2009 08:35:00 +0000

Second Sermon in Our "Going Into the World" Series Sermon from the Text of Esther 4:1-17 4 When Mordecai learned of all that had been done, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the city, wailing loudly and bitterly. 2 But he went only as far as the king’s gate, because no one clothed in sackcloth was allowed to enter it. 3 In every province to which the edict and order of the king came, there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting, weeping and wailing. Many lay in sackcloth and ashes. 4 When Esther’s maids and eunuchs came and told her about Mordecai, she was in great distress. She sent clothes for him to put on instead of his sackcloth, but he would not accept them. 5 Then Esther summoned Hathach, one of the king’s eunuchs assigned to attend her, and ordered him to find out what was troubling Mordecai and why. 6 So Hathach went out to Mordecai in the open square of the city in front of the king’s gate. 7 Mordecai told him everything that had happened to him, including the exact amount of money Haman had promised to pay into the royal treasury for the destruction of the Jews. 8 He also gave him a copy of the text of the edict for their annihilation, which had been published in Susa, to show to Esther and explain it to her, and he told him to urge her to go into the king’s presence to beg for mercy and plead with him for her people. 9 Hathach went back and reported to Esther what Mordecai had said. 10 Then she instructed him to say to Mordecai, 11 “All the king’s officials and the people of the royal provinces know that for any man or woman who approaches the king in the inner court without being summoned the king has but one law: that he be put to death. The only exception to this is for the king to extend the gold scepter to him and spare his life. But thirty days have passed since I was called to go to the king.” 12 When Esther’s words were reported to Mordecai, 13 he sent back this answer: “Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. 14 For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?” 15 Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: 16 “Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maids will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.” 17 So Mordecai went away and carried out all of Esther’s instructions.

April 26, 2009 Sermon

Mon, 27 Apr 2009 16:59:00 +0000

Sermon on Psalm 105:1-6, 37-45 1 O give thanks to the Lord, call on his name, make known his deeds among the peoples. 2 Sing to him, sing praises to him; tell of all his wonderful works. 3 Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice. 4 Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually. 5 Remember the wonderful works he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he has uttered, 6 O offspring of his servant Abraham,a children of Jacob, his chosen ones. 37 Then he brought Israel out with silver and gold, and there was no one among their tribes who stumbled. 38 Egypt was glad when they departed, for dread of them had fallen upon it. 39 He spread a cloud for a covering, and fire to give light by night. 40 They asked, and he brought quails, and gave them food from heaven in abundance. 41 He opened the rock, and water gushed out; it flowed through the desert like a river. 42 For he remembered his holy promise, and Abraham, his servant. 43 So he brought his people out with joy, his chosen ones with singing. 44 He gave them the lands of the nations, and they took possession of the wealth of the peoples, 45 that they might keep his statutes and observe his laws. Praise the Lord!

They Said Nothing to Anyone

Tue, 14 Apr 2009 18:13:00 +0000

Easter Sunday Sermon. On Mark 15:42-16:8 42It was the day before the Sabbath. That day was called Preparation Day. As evening approached, 43Joseph went boldly to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. Joseph was from the town of Arimathea. He was a leading member of the Jewish Council. He was waiting for God’s kingdom. 44Pilate was surprised to hear that Jesus was already dead. So he called for the Roman commander. He asked him if Jesus had already died. 45The commander said it was true. So Pilate gave the body to Joseph. 46Then Joseph bought some linen cloth. He took the body down and wrapped it in the linen. He put it in a tomb cut out of rock. Then he rolled a stone against the entrance to the tomb. 47Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw where Jesus’ body had been placed. 16 The Sabbath day ended. Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices. They were going to apply them to Jesus’ body. 2Very early on the first day of the week, they were on their way to the tomb. It was just after sunrise. 3They asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance to the tomb?” 4Then they looked up and saw that the stone had been rolled away. The stone was very large. 5They entered the tomb. As they did, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe. He was sitting on the right side. They were alarmed. 6“Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. But he has risen! He is not here! See the place where they had put him. 7Go! Tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him. It will be just as he told you.’ ” 8The women were shaking and confused. They went out and ran away from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid.

Standing in Jerusalem; Standing with Jesus

Sat, 04 Apr 2009 18:36:00 +0000

Fifth Sunday in Lent. Mark 15:25-45

Standing While Others Sit

Sat, 04 Apr 2009 18:24:00 +0000

Fourth Sermon in the Lenten Sermon Series

Falling Flat

Wed, 01 Apr 2009 19:50:00 +0000

Sermon on the Rich Young Man sometimes called the Rich Young ruler. Part of our Lenten Sermon Series. Mark 10:17-31 (NRSV) The Rich Man (Mt 19.16—30; Lk 18.18—30) 17 As he was setting out on a journey, a man ran up and knelt before him, and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 18 Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. 19 You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness; You shall not defraud; Honor your father and mother.’ ” 20 He said to him, “Teacher, I have kept all these since my youth.” 21 Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said, “You lack one thing; go, sell what you own, and give the moneyc to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.” 22 When he heard this, he was shocked and went away grieving, for he had many possessions. 23 Then Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!” 24 And the disciples were perplexed at these words. But Jesus said to them again, “Children, how hard it isd to enter the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” 26 They were greatly astounded and said to one another,e “Then who can be saved?” 27 Jesus looked at them and said, “For mortals it is impossible, but not for God; for God all things are possible.” 28 Peter began to say to him, “Look, we have left everything and followed you.” 29 Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields, for my sake and for the sake of the good news,f 30 who will not receive a hundredfold now in this age—houses, brothers and sisters, mothers and children, and fields, with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life. 31 But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.” [1] c Gk lacks the money d Other ancient authorities add for those who trust in riches e Other ancient authorities read to him f Or gospel [1] The Holy Bible : New Revised Standard Version. 1989. Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers.

Learning to Stand

Fri, 27 Mar 2009 14:57:00 +0000

Third sermon in our Lenten Series entitled "Standing in Jerusalem." This sermon is based on Mark 9:14-29

One Step Forward; One Step Back

Sat, 28 Mar 2009 12:51:00 +0000

Second Sermon in our Sermon Series for Lent. This sermon deals with the story of the rich, young man.