FREE ESSAY ON BIBLICAL AND CONTEMPORARY PROBLEMS/SOLUTIONS IN SERMONS

BIBLICAL AND CONTEMPORARY PROBLEMS/SOLUTIONS IN SERMONS

Unit Assignment #1
Preaching Today Tape 3830 Dr. Louis H. Evans Jr.
How To Handle Anger 1 Sam. 18:1-7
In this sermon Dr. Evans discusses what anger is and how it can and does affect our
lives. He first states the root causes of anger, frustration, disappointment, and
resentment. He then goes on to describe how anger if left unresolved affects every aspect
of our lives from the physical to the spiritual and how this anger, if left unresolved,
leads to serious health problems and spiritual danger. Dr. Evans speaks about several
different ways that we handle anger both constructive and destructive. He further expound
that by handling our anger constructively we seek to remove the barriers that this anger
places between us, those around us, and God. He concludes the sermon by showing us that
if we will rely on God's resources we will be able to reconcile our anger and have our
lives made stronger in Him as well as have a clear conscience before God.
Biblical Problem: Saul's anger towards David has caused conflict.
Biblical Solution: David gives Saul the chance to resolve his anger towards him.
Contemporary Problem: Our Christian walk can be placed in danger by unresolved anger.
Contemporary Solution: We must rely upon God to help us resolve the issues surrounding
our anger and restore our relationships.
Preaching Today Tape # 4340 Stuart Briscoe
Ordinary Folks Make Great Disciples Mark 8
In this sermon Briscoe tells us what it truly means to be a disciple of Christ. Being a
disciple is not some higher status for Christians nor does having a denominationally
correct title make one a true disciple of Jesus. A true disciple is one who has a growing
relationship with the teacher. In order to say that we are truly disciples of Christ we
have to be willing to hand over our lives entirely to Him and not try to retain any of
our self-interests. We have to trust wholly in Christ and be careful not to try and make
Christ fit into a mold that we create for Him. We must deny ourselves completely in order
to follow after the path that Jesus has laid out for us and we must daily reaffirm this
to Him and ourselves.
Biblical Problem: The disciples of the Scribes and Pharisees are more concerned with not
breaking the laws than having a personal relationship with God.
Biblical Solution: Become a true disciple of Jesus.
Contemporary Problem: People are more caught up in correct titles than in pursuing a
relationship with Jesus Christ.
Contemporary Solution: Rather than worry about "Correct Titles" we as Christians must
follow after Jesus.
Preaching Today Tape # 4046 James O. Rose
A Day In The Life Of Simon The Cyrene Mark 15
In this sermon Rose gives a first person presentation of a minor character by the name of
Simon the Cyrene who witnessed the closing days of Jesus' ministry, His death on the
cross, the stories of His resurrection, and the gift of the Holy Spirit given to the
disciples of Christ. In giving this first person account Rose, as Simon, constantly
refers to the Jewish beliefs of the day and the prophecies of Isaiah concerning the
Messiah. Acting as Simon Rose gives us a vivid and personal look into these events as
they unfold, from Jesus speaking with the people to the point where Simon is commanded to
carry the beam of wood for Jesus, we are allowed to take a small part in the feelings of
a Jew during this climatic time. Rose then goes on to tell of the journey from skepticism
to belief that this Jesus who was crucified is the true Messiah, the one spoken of by
Isaiah and proclaimed by Peter on the day of Pentecost. Rose concludes this dramatic
presentation by having Simon issue the challenge of accepting the cross of Jesus, not as
an unjust burden imposed by a roman soldier, but rather as a gift from God that leads to
salvation.
Biblical Problem: N/A
Biblical Solution: N/A
Contemporary Problem: N/A
Contemporary Solution: N/A
The Finney Sermon Collection Volume 1, pp 3-12
Blessed Are The Poor In Spirit Matthew 5:3 Charles G. Finney
In the first part of this sermon Finney describes what it means to actually be "Poor in
spirit." He describes this, as a total dependence upon God to reveal and strengthen our
faith, to be poor in spirit is to fully realize that we cannot of ourselves fully believe
in God and accept what He has to say. We find it much easier to believe what a fallible
man tells us than we do believing the promises that God has made. Only by completely
surrendering to God can we fully realize that God's word is truth. In the second part of
his sermon, Finney tells us why those who have completely surrendered to God are blessed.
They are blessed because they have passed beyond the mere theory of salvation and
embraced the factual release from sin that allows them to no longer rely upon themselves
to make their lives acceptable to God. Rather they let God have His own way within their
lives, emptying themselves of their wants and desires and allowing God to fill them with
His. In this way they not only have the promise of inheriting the kingdom of God to come,
but they are also allowed to share in His kingdom here and now.
Biblical Problem: No Specific problem given
Biblical Solution:
Contemporary Problem: Some hold to the theory of Salvation but fail to realize its
fullness.
Contemporary Solution: We must allow God to completely take control of our lives.
The Spurgeon Sermon Collection Volume # 2 pp 323-335
Faith And Repentance Inseparable Mark 1:15 Charles H. Spurgeon
Spurgeon starts this sermon by proclaiming that when Jesus said, "Repent and Believe the
gospel" He was doing more than pleading with the people, Jesus was issuing a command from
God. Spurgeon goes on to remind us that as ministers of the gospel we must convey the
authority of this command instead of trying to minimize its importance. The fact is that
this command, issued by Jesus, demands a response either for or against. There is no
middle road to be taken. Spurgeon then goes on to explain exactly what repentance and
belief are, repentance is much more than a simple change of mind as is too often
proclaimed, rather it goes much farther in that is a hatred of our sins and a true sorrow
for them. Of course repentance has to be jointly accompanied by the belief that Jesus is
able to forgive our sins no matter how terrible we think they are. If we convince
ourselves that our sin is so terrible that even God cannot forgive them, then no matter
how much we hate and are sorry for these sins, no matter how many times we repent from
our ways, we cannot be freed from damnation. For without faith it is impossible to please
God.
Biblical Problem:
Biblical Solution:
Contemporary Problem: The church tends to diminish and separate the importance of
repentance and Faith.
Contemporary Solution: We must obey this command in full and believe that Jesus will
forgive us if we are truly repentant and believe.
The Works of John Wesley Volume #5 The Life of John Wesley: First Series of Sermons pp
75-83
The Almost Christian Acts 26:28 John Wesley
In this sermon Wesley explains to us the difference between living a "good" life and
actually being a Christian. Living a life that is good is not enough to enter the kingdom
of Heaven, no matter how well we've treated others, no matter how long we've gone to
church, no matter how pure our motives, if we do not know Jesus as Lord and Savior it is
all worthless. We cannot do enough good in our lifetimes to earn our way into the
kingdom, it is only through the atoning blood of Jesus that we receive forgiveness of our
sins and it is the grace of God that helps us to fulfill those things that He desires of
us. As forgiven people of God we also share in a unique gift given only to those who have
accepted God's plan, that gift is the ability to love as God Himself loves. As genuine
Christians God empowers us to love even our enemies because His love is ever present
within us. Wesley concludes this sermon by reiterating that just living a "good" life is
not enough to make one a Christian, we must accept the gift that God has given us in His
son Jesus and only then will we be able to live a true Christian life.
Biblical Problem: Agrippa is almost persuaded to become a Christian by Paul's testimony.
Biblical Solution: 
Contemporary Problem: Being a good person is not enough to be a Christian.
Contemporary Solution: We must accept Christ as both Lord and Savior in order to receive
forgiveness from our sins and the power to live a true Christian life. 
Bibliography
Dr. Louis H. Evans Jr.
How To Handle Anger
Stuart Briscoe
Ordinary Folks Make Great Disciples
James O. Rose
A Day In The Life Of Simon The Cyrene
The Finney Sermon Collection Volume 1
Charles G. Finney
The Spurgeon Sermon Collection Volume # 2
Charles H. Spurgeon
The Works of John Wesley Volume #5