Sermons by Tim Stephens (Page 45)
Tim Stephens is the senior pastor of Fairview Baptist Church, Calgary, Alberta. Tim grew up on a farm in Eastern Ontario, graduated with a Computer Engineering degree from Queen’s University, a Masters of Divinity degree from Detroit Baptist Theological Seminary, and a Doctor of Ministry in Expository Preaching from The Masters Seminary. He is happily married to Raquel and they have been blessed with nine children.
Elders in the Local Church
We look at the qualifications for elders (also called overseers, bishops or pastors) from this text in 1 Timothy. What we see is three main qualifications (a desire for the ministry of oversight; godly character; and the ability to lead and to teach). These qualities must be found in a man if he is to join other godly men in leading the household of God.
A Model for Our Times
Paul reminds the Ephesian elders of his own example and gives them a charge. A three-fold watch to watch themselves, the flock, and false teaching. We learn here what an elder or pastor looks like and what they do.
Flee Sexual Immorality
Sexual immorality is an especially serious sin. What are the tools to fight such sin? Laws? Will power? This passage wonderfully demonstrates how our identity in Christ is the power to fight serious sin. This text reminds us of the future bodily resurrection, our oneness with Christ, our bodies being temples of the Holy Spirit, and that God bought us with a high price. It’s remembering who we are that is going to give us the strength to flee immorality…
Such Were Some of You
We are not to be deceived, those who live immorally will not inherit the kingdom of God. A bold and stark warning. Thankfully this is not the end of the story. God has provided a way of forgiveness, a way of righteousness through Jesus Christ.
Handling Church Grievances
Want to win a fight in church? This this sermon is a must. We learn from this passage on how we are to handle grievances inside the church. Certainly all Christians must practice greater self-denial for the sake of Christ and his church.
Purging Immorality
Why do we and why must we keep the church pure by purging immoral “brothers”? This text is the longest text in the Bible about church discipline.
Dealing with Sexual Immorality
There was sexual immorality in the church at Corinth and it needed to be dealt with. Mourning and excommunication were the prescription, restoration and seeking the forgiving and transforming grace of Christ the anticipated outcome. This is not a Corinthian problem. Our sexualized culture has had a significant impact on the church. Pornography, for example, is common in our churches. We ought to mourn, we ought to deal with sin. May this text be a call to get right with…
Evolution and the Bible
Is it even conceivable to believe in a literal six day creation just thousands of years ago rather than millions of years ago? How can we reconcile Genesis with what we’re told is a scientific consensus on an old earth and evolutionary progress. What we see is that the Bible tells us of that the Creator God made this earth just thousands of years ago by the word of his power and he promises to do the same in the…
Islam and the Bible
Does the Bible teach us how to behave and think in a world with increasing violence in the name of religion? This sermon looks at Romans 13 to see that government is supposed to punish the evildoer, not the church. As Christians we should support our government, military, and police as they work in our country and abroad to rescue the vulnerable and punish those who do evil. For the church, our aim is different. Our answer to violent Islam…
Abortion and the Bible
Abortion has been happening for a long time and God’s people have always been against it. How can we support this position from the Bible? How can we defend this view from the slogans we hear today? This sermon looks at the biblical witness and then addresses a number of objections before reminding us that our God is an adopting God. The world’s answer to unwanted children is abortion, the Christian answer is adoption.
Gay Marriage and the Bible
Did Jesus address homosexuality? Many say no. Jesus did, however, clearly define marriage and the bounds of sexual intimacy between one man and one woman in a one flesh union. This is not “traditional” marriage or Jewish custom. Jesus said that this is how God designed male and female and society at the beginning, in the garden of Eden. What we see today, divorce, adultery, same-sex marriage, is a result of sin. From the beginning it was not so.
Homosexuality and the Bible
What does the Bible say about homosexuality? To be upfront, the Bible says it is sinful. This sermon goes through a variety of text to show that and then reflects on a number of objections that are common when such an issue is discussed. What we all need, since we are all sinners, is the forgiveness and mercy of God in the Lord Jesus Christ. Denying sin will not lead to forgiveness, rather denying self, taking up our cross and…