Sermons & Devotionals by J.R. Miller
J.R. Miller
July 3. Not Dead — but Sleeping
"Why all this commotion and wailing? The child is not dead, but asleep." Mark 5:39 The Christian should not sorrow as others do. Christ has brought the truth of immortality out into clear light. We ought to familiarize our minds with the Christian conception of death. We ought to learn to look at de... Read More
J.R. Miller
July 30. He Could Not Be Hidden
"Jesus left that place and went to the vicinity of Tyre. He entered a house and did not want anyone to know it; yet He could not be hidden." Mark 7:24 The fame of Christ had gone out too widely over the whole country, for Him to travel anywhere without being recognized. No doubt there was something ... Read More
J.R. Miller
July 31. Silence, Not Denial
"But He did not answer her a word." Matthew 15:23 There is something very remarkable in this silence of Christ. Usually He was quick to hear every request made to Him by a sufferer. Scarcely ever had anyone to ask twice for a favor. His heart was as sensitive as is a mother's heart to her child's cr... Read More
J.R. Miller
July 4. Words of Wonder
"When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed. 'Where did this man get these things?' they asked." Mark 6:2 They could not help being astonished, for Christ's words were full of wisdom. "No man ever spoke like this man," they said. Yet, although they ... Read More
J.R. Miller
July 5. Only a Carpenter
"Isn't this the carpenter?" Mark 6:3 Certainly; yet that refutes nothing. It only helps to prove the claims of Jesus, to be the Son of God. If he had been a learned rabbi or philosopher, it might have been said that he had received His wisdom from men; but as he was only a poor village carpenter, he... Read More
J.R. Miller
July 6. The Secret of Power
"When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases" Luke 9:1 The first thing is always to come to Christ Himself. We can do nothing — until we have been to Him. We should take every commission from His lips, and go out always wit... Read More
J.R. Miller
July 7. What We can do for Others
"He sent them to preach." Luke 9:2 Apostles are not the only people to whom Christ gives this same commission. He wants everyone whom he saves — to go out and preach the gospel to others. Christian boys and girls can preach by living a sweet and beautiful life at home, at school, among companions. B... Read More
J.R. Miller
July 8. Home Missions
"Whatever house you enter into, there abide." Luke 9:4 The place to carry the gospel is right into people's homes. We must take it down along the streets and alleys, and over the fields and hills, entering every door, and telling the old, old story by the firesides and at the household tables. It sh... Read More
J.R. Miller
July 9. The Missionary Spirit
"They departed, and went through the towns, preaching the gospel, and healing everywhere" Luke 9:6 A great many people do not do this. They come to Christ and hear His command — but they do not go, or at least they do not preach and heal. They do not carry to other homes and to other lives — the swe... Read More
J.R. Miller
June 1. Waverers
"What did you go out into the desert to see? A reed swayed by the wind?" Luke 7:24 The picture is of a man wavering and unstable, easily swayed and bent from uprightness. That is what a good many men are. A reed grows in soft mud by the water's edge. Then it is so frail and delicate that every breez... Read More
J.R. Miller
June 10. Covetousness
"Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life does not consist in the abundance of the things which he possesses." Luke 7:15 This is one of the red flags which our Lord hung out — which most people nowadays do not seem to regard much. Christ said a great deal about the danger of riches; b... Read More
J.R. Miller
June 11. Heart Hardening
"As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the wayside, and the birds came and ate it up." Matthew 13:4 How are human hearts beaten into a hard wayside? A child's heart is sensitive to every impression. But as it grows older, the thousand influences, feelings, emotions, imaginations, treading o... Read More
J.R. Miller
June 12. Rootless Grace
"Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root." Matthew 13:5-6 There is a thin covering of soil on top of the rock. The seed sinks in a li... Read More
J.R. Miller
June 13. What of the Root?
"But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root." Matthew 13:6 A root is very important in a plant or a tree. One may take a green branch from a living tree and set it in the ground, and for a little while it may seem to be living; but soon, under the ... Read More
J.R. Miller
June 14. What are the Thorns
"Some fell among thorns — and thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no fruit." Mark 4:7 The thorns had been chopped off — but their roots were still in the ground. Then as the seed began to grow, so did the thorns; and growing faster and more rankly than the wheat, they soon choked it out, so... Read More
J.R. Miller
June 15. Golden Grain
"The sower sows the word." Mark 4:14 The human heart is only the soil. Its natural products are thorns and briers. These grow without sowing and without cultivation. We do not need to be taught — in order to be wicked. But if good things are to grow in our hearts — they must be sown and cultivated. ... Read More
J.R. Miller
June 16. Hidden Lights
"Do you bring in a lamp to put it under a bowl or a bed? Instead, don't you put it on its stand?" Mark 4:21 No one would think of doing such a thing. People always set a lamp where it will give the most light. It would be very absurd to cover it up so that its beams could not pour out. Yet that is j... Read More
J.R. Miller
June 17. Profitable Hearing
"Take heed what you hear!" Mark 4:24 This is a very important counsel. "Take heed what you hear." The things we hear enter into our souls and become part of our being; they give form and color to our character. There have come infinite blessings from the printing-press. There are thousands of good b... Read More
J.R. Miller
June 18. Christian Growth
"All by itself, the soil produces grain — first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head." Mark 4:28 Yet not without certain other influences upon it. If the sun does not shine upon it, and if there is no rain from Heaven — the seed will never germinate, however rich the soil. The ... Read More
J.R. Miller
June 19. Progress
"First the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head." Mark 4:28 We understand this well enough in nature; but do we in spiritual life? The beginnings of Christian life are very feeble and imperfect. We must not expect in young converts, the maturity of character we look for in older Ch... Read More
Subscribe
Get Bible verse every day in your inbox
Read on Mobile
Most Searched
Group of Brands
© 2026 Bibleportal.com All rights reserved.
J.R. Miller (1840 - 1912)
Prolific author and pastor of Presbyterian churches in Pennsylvania and Illinois, Rev. James Russell Miller served the USCC as a field agent in the Army of the Potomac and Army of the Cumberland.J.R. Miller began contributing articles to religious papers while at Allegheny Seminary. This continued while he was at the First United, Bethany, and New Broadway churches. In 1875, Miller took over from Henry C. McCook, D.D. when the latter discontinued his weekly articles in The Presbyterian, which was published in Philadelphia. J.R. Miller D.D.'s lasting fame is through his over 50 books. Many are still in publication.
James Russell Miller (March 20, 1840 - July 2, 1912) was a popular Christian author, Editorial Superintendent of the Presbyterian Board of Publication, and pastor of several churches in Pennsylvania and Illinois.
In 1857, James entered Beaver Academy and in 1862 he progressed to Westminster College, Pennsylvania, which he graduated in June, 1862. Then in the autumn of that year he entered the theological seminary of the United Presbyterian Church at Allegheny, Pennsylvania. Mr. Miller resumed his interrupted studies at the Allegheny Theological Seminary in the fall of 1865 and completed them in the spring of 1867. That summer he accepted a call from the First United Presbyterian Church of New Wilmington, Pennsylvania. He was ordained and installed on September 11, 1867.
J.R. Miller began contributing articles to religious papers while at Allegheny Seminary. This continued while he was at the First United, Bethany, and New Broadway churches. In 1875, Miller took over from Henry C. McCook, D.D. when the latter discontinued his weekly articles in The Presbyterian, which was published in Philadelphia.
Five years later, in 1880, Dr. Miller became assistant to the Editorial Secretary at the The Presbyterian Board of Publication, also in Philadelphia.