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Writings on Christianity

Haggai 1 Sermon

Here’s the audio and sermon note for my sermon on Haggai 1 “Build the House!” preached at Cross of Christ Fellowship in Naperville. Haggai 1: “Build the House!”Intro: 586 B.C.: temple burned to ground and Jews carried to exile in Babylon     -In 539 King Cyrus frees the Jews and allows as many interested to go […]

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Sermon Outlines

Preaching’s Priority! Acts 6:1-7 Sermon Outline

Here’s the sermon for my “Preaching’s Priority” Acts 6:1-7 sermon, preached at Cross of Christ Fellowship in Naperville.   “Priority of Preaching” Acts 6:­1-7Intro: Nehemiah built Jerusalem wall faced many challenges: getting to Israel, resources, enemies slandering & threatening.        -Also faced internal challenges: nobles refusing to serve, oppression of poor, compromise from with community -John Stott […]

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Writings on Christianity

Jonah 1 Sermon Outline

Here’s my sermon notes from Jonah 1 “The Unexpected Mercy of God” preached at Cross of Christ Fellowship on 1/15/23. The audio can be found here. Jonah 1 “The Unexpected Mercy of God” (1/15/23) Intro: I’m not sure what you think of when you hear about the book of Jonah. Most likely you think of […]

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Writings on Christianity

Book of Romans Overview

Romans Wrap-Up: An Overview and Review of Paul’s Letter to the Church at Romeby Tom Schmidt Our church, Cross of Christ Fellowship, recently just completed a sermon series in the book of Romans. First sermon: 2/7/21 on Romans 1:1 (Midst of Covid; meeting at MMA Gym)Last sermon: 11/20/22 on Romans 16:25-27 (Post Covid; Back at […]

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Writings on Christianity

The Task of a Preacher

The task of a Christian preacher is not to entertain people but proclaim God’s Word. God’s Word tells us far more thrilling realities than any earthly excitements or titillating stories. It tells us about the glory of God, about the grace of God, about the love of God. It leads us to marvel at our […]

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Writings on Christianity

How to Speak, How to Listen

I recently read through Mortimer Adler’s book “How to Speak, How to Listen.” I think there are lots of applications for pastors and preachers–we do a LOT of speaking and listening. Drawing from Aristotle, Adler reminds us that effective persuasive speech contains the three elements of ethos, pathos, and logos. Ethos is establishing a rapport […]

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Writings on Christianity

Why Have Preaching In A Church Service?

Several years ago someone took me out to dinner and asked me, “Why have preaching in a church service?” I was challenged on theological and biblical grounds. That conversation always stuck with me. I think we do need to know why we have preaching of sermons in a church service, and I think there is […]

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Writings on Christianity

Apocalyptic Literature for Suburban Christians (Part 3)

Clinging to God in the Midst of Pain and Perplexity Daniel 8 is an apocalyptic vision of future events. The vision tells us of the rise of Persia followed by the rise of Greece and a future king that comes from Greece who causes great suffering for the people of God. This king—whom most commentators […]

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Writings on Christianity

Apocalyptic Literature for Suburban Christians (Part 2)

A Glorious Hope (This post is a continuation of a previous post on Daniel 7, found here.) Along with the troubling fact there is also a glorious hope given to us in Daniel 7. The beastly nations and our own beastly nature do not have the final word. God, who is eternal and majestic and […]

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Writings on Christianity

Preaching Daniel

Our church in Naperville (Cross of Christ Fellowship) is going through the book of Daniel together on Sunday mornings. And as I write this post we have made it through the first five chapters so far. This Sunday a friend of mine is coming to preach chapter 6 and then we’ll be in a new […]