Gary Shogren's Blog
Just out: Between 81% and 90% of U.S. adults are either “very” or “somewhat” satisfied with their life. And a large swath of them feel that way without Christ. Our evangelism should take into account that in a growing secular society, the majority of the population do not cry themselves to sleep in spiritual despair.... Continue Reading →
Few individuals set out to be heretics. But there are those individuals who believe the devil when he says they will get money, power, cars, houses, sex, bestsellers, huge crowds, lasting fame. "Just give your doctrine a bit of a twist," he whispers, "and in exchange for a few tiny drops of falsehood you'll get a... Continue Reading →
With all due respect to the original, this is my thorough paraphrase, condensation, and updating of George Whitfield’s, “Worldly Business No Plea for the Neglect of Religion,” Sermon 20 of his Collected Sermons Matthew 8:22 – “Let the dead bury their dead.” When Paul preached at Athens, he observed that they were “very religious.” But... Continue Reading →
Note: These are sermon outlines, not full messages. Let's begin with a "tip" for Bible reading – it's a good idea to look for repetition, repeated words or ideas. This certainly helps in the case of this passage. I would like you to look for pronouns: we, our, us; you; they, them, those 4 But you, brothers... Continue Reading →
Note: These are sermon outlines, not full messages. 13 Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. 14 For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God... Continue Reading →
These are notes of a sermon outline, not a full message. 17 But, brothers and sisters, when we were orphaned by being separated from you for a short time (in person, not in thought), out of our intense longing we made every effort to see you. 18 For we wanted to come to you—certainly I, Paul, did,... Continue Reading →
Note: this sermon outline is based on my volume in the Zondervan Exegetical Commentary of the New Testament; readers might want to acquire that commentary if they wish to see the exegetical work behind these talks. These posts are Sermon Notes, not polished messages. Introduction A few years ago I went to a reunion; there were people I hadn’t... Continue Reading →
You go down town to the park where there are always people begging for money; selling something; preaching some message. So you circulate around to see what new doctrines are in the air. Over there is a new guy, talking earnestly to a small group. You pick up a few words of his discourse: “Now... Continue Reading →
Since one night in 1985, I know what the world looks like through a zombie’s eyes. In Scotland, I would go out evangelizing on Thursdays and then take the hour-long hike home in the dark. But then one night I figured that I could cut out to the main highway, grab a bus, and save 20... Continue Reading →
By Gary Shogren, Seminario ESEPA, San José, Costa Rica A reader asks, Will departed Christians recognize each other in heaven? I respond: There are several passages that might imply being able to recognize others in the afterlife. Luke 16:19-31 is a parable; nevertheless, it is based on what the Jewish hearers would have accepted... Continue Reading →
Open Our Eyes, Lord! 