Sermons by Bruce Pratt (Page 11)

Downpayment on Eternity (Luke 16:1-13)

Jesus taught a lot about money. His parable of the unjust steward is tough for some to deal with. Is Jesus commending someone who is dishonest? No, He would never do that. Jesus uses this parable to explain the importance of recognizing the usefulness of money and possessions in furthering His kingdom.

What God Values (Exodus 20:1-17)

If we want to be faithful to God, it helps to know what He values. And what better place to start than the Ten Commandments. But the commandments (and the law as a whole) are actually only minimums. Jesus expects much more from His followers.

It Starts with the Heart (Mark 14:3-9)

Jesus said that the act of worship recorded in the focal passage would be spoken of wherever the gospel is preached. That’s a very strong statement, which Jesus certainly didn’t make lightly. But it isn’t what was done that captured our Lord’s attention. It was what motivated the action that made the difference. And it’s this motivation that should challenge every follower of Christ.

Hang In There! (Isaiah 35:3-4)

With everything coming at you fairly furiously these days, it’s not hard to get worn out. But even in the midst of your fatigue, you can have hope. Regardless of what’s going on in the world, God’s plan will still come to fruition. Both the Old and New Testament bear this out.

Where We Stand

The church in America sometimes conflates patriotism with Christianity. Believers must always remember our first citizenship is in the kingdom of God. But that doesn’t mean that we cannot love our country as well. Using the most famous sentence from the Declaration of Independence, Pastor Bruce discusses this tension between God and country. Along the way he shows that a Christian worldview helps us understand the intentions of our founding fathers.

God’s Priorities (Matthew 23:23-26)

In this world where appearances are so important, it’s easy to overemphasize actions. We can become so caught up in surface issues that we lose sight of what actually is of eternal worth. Jesus makes it clear in the focal passage for today that it’s what is in the heart that really matters.

Don’t Forget (1 Peter 3:1-10)

Scripture is very clear that many will question God’s promises. Not only that, they will try to convince you to question them as well. But they are willfully ignorant of what God’s Word teaches. God is always faithful to keep His promises. Always. Jesus will return, exactly when He’s supposed to. The fact is, He hasn’t returned because we have more work to do.

How You Can Know (Romans 8:14-17)

You can trust God’s promises and His word to know your salvation is assured. But the Holy Spirit also gives witness to the fact that you belong to Christ. A true believer will live a life yielded to the Holy Spirit. In turn, the Holy Spirit reminds you of your adoption into God’s family and your future inheritance.

An Encouragement (Philippians 4:4-9)

Life can be tough, whether there’s a pandemic or not. If you’re struggling, you can find peace and keep that peace in your life. Paul’s concluding remarks to the church at Philippi are an encouragement to anyone who needs that peace.