Sermons by Bruce Pratt (Page 3)
Faith
Sermon text: Hebrews 11:1-6 Faith is one of the most prevalent themes in Scripture. The “Hall of Faith” in Hebrews brings much of this together in one chapter. The writer of Hebrews begins this famous roll call with a short explanation of biblical faith. While not an exhaustive treatment of what faith means, it captures its essence. These few verses also challenge the Christian to draw closer to God and His Word.
What’s Your Mission?
Sermon text: 1 Corinthians 12:4-11 Every follower of Jesus Christ has a mission. Certainly we have the overall mission given to the church, to make disciples. We have a mission as a part of a local church. But we also have a personal, individual mission. This mission will definitely line up with the larger missions of Christianity and our local body of believers. But no one else will have a mission just like you do. Do you know your mission?
Follow
Sermon text: Luke 9:57-62 Following Jesus is not about staying in your comfort zone. It’s not supposed to be convenient. It’s not about just fitting Jesus into your already crowded schedule. Following Jesus means putting His priorities above your own. It means counting the cost and then serving Him with gusto. To truly follow Jesus means doing whatever it takes to bring Him glory.
The Good Kid
Sermon text: 1 Peter 1:13-16 All who call on Christ as their Lord have hope for their future. Scripture has many verses that assure us of this fact. But often that hope can be clouded by the cares and distractions of this world. Early in his first epistle Peter warns his readers to avoid this pitfall. Using the example of an obedient child he tells us to live holy lives. We need to not conform to the world in which…
The Widow’s Oil
Sermon text: 2 Kings 4:1-7 The wife of a prophet was in dire straits. Her husband was dead and she was in debt. The creditor was planning to enslave her young sons to recover his money. She came to Elisha begging him for help. The prophet asked what she had in her house. She responded that she had nothing but a jar of oil. But the Lord used that jar of oil in a mighty way! And how God used…
Think Like Jesus
Sermon text: Philippians 2:5-13 Jesus was the greatest servant who ever walked the earth. In fact, His very mission was to come here to serve the most people. He accomplished that task perfectly, in that He took our sin upon Himself on the cross. The apostle Paul makes it very clear in the focal verse for this sermon that Jesus is the very embodiment of how we should live our lives. But not just in how we act. We should…
Things We (Should) Know
Sermon text: 1 John 5:18-20 At the very end of his first epistle, the aged apostle John lists some basic truths. He prefaces each with the phrase “we know.” These facts relate to how sin affects believers, the difference between those how follow Christ and those who don’t, and how we have been given spiritual understanding. Internalizing these can help us to better deal with the world around us and put our reliance on Jesus.
Confidence
Sermon text: 1 Corinthians 15:1-8 People put their confidence in all sort of things. But so often, that confidence is misplaced. People can fail you. Processes can come up short. Markets are as likely to go down as go up. But you will never be disappointed if you put your confidence in the Lord. You can be certain that trusting in Jesus will save you. You can be sure that God’s plan will come out as He intends it to.…
Laser Focused
Sermon text: Luke 9:51 Jesus was not caught by surprise when He was arrested in Jerusalem the week after He entered the city so triumphantly. He knew why He was arrested and what the punishment would be. He had told His disciples repeatedly that He would be killed in Jerusalem. He also told them He’d rise again. But for all that He knew He would go through, He was totally focused on completing His mission.
Rock Always Wins
Sermon text: Matthew 7:21-27 One of the first songs kids learn in church is “The Wise Man and the Foolish Man.” They discover that building a house on the rock is wise, while a house built on sand will not withstand the storms. This fun song is based the final section of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. He explains as He completes His sermon that a life built on a relationship with Him will weather the storms of life.