Sermons & Devotionals by J.R. Miller
J.R. Miller
October 20. Remembering Jesus
"Do this in remembrance of Me." Luke 22:19 There is something very tender in the thought of the Lord's Supper as a memorial. We all know the value of mementos — in keeping in mind one whose face we cannot see. A young man sat one morning in his pastor's study, and drew a letter from his pocket, sayi... Read More
J.R. Miller
October 21. The Remission of Sins
"This is my blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins." Matthew 26:28 Right in the heart of the Lord's Supper, we are reminded of two things — of the price paid for our redemption, and of the deliverance that this redemption brings to us. The price paid was ... Read More
J.R. Miller
October 22. The Heavenly Feast
"I tell you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on — until that day when I drink it anew with you in my Father's kingdom." Matthew 26:29 The Lord's Supper points forward — as well as back. It keeps the past in remembrance; we are to think of what happened nineteen hundred years ago.... Read More
J.R. Miller
October 23. Comfort in Sorrow
"Let not your heart be troubled." John 14:1 Jesus always loves to comfort. He loves to put little candles in the darkened chambers of sorrow. He loves to dry tears — and change grief into joy. Then He is able to give comfort, because He has the comfort in Himself. We cannot give, what we have not to... Read More
J.R. Miller
October 24. Peace in Believing
"You believe in God — believe also in me." John 14:1 We should all learn how to comfort others. No duty of Christian love requires more delicacy. We may study our Lord's way of comforting, to learn to give comfort ourselves to those who are in trouble. We see that he did not go over the cold platitu... Read More
J.R. Miller
October 25. The Way to Heaven
"I am the way — no man comes unto the Father, but by me." John 14:6 A way always leads somewhere. Jesus is the way from earth to Heaven, and also from Heaven to earth. Through Him we get to God, and through Him — God comes to us. He is the true and only ladder whose foot rests on the earth, and whos... Read More
J.R. Miller
October 26. Knowledge of Christ
"Have I been with you all this time, Philip — and yet you still don't know Me?" John 14:9 There seems to be pain in the Master's question. This disciple had been with Him for three years. He had seen His beautiful and gentle life. He had witnessed His works of power. Surely by this time, after such ... Read More
J.R. Miller
October 27 Immanuel
"He who has seen Me — has seen the Father." John 14:9 That was surely a very strange thing for a man to say. Can we imagine John, the beloved disciple, saying of himself, that those who had seen him — had seen the Father? The fact that Christ said it shows that He was conscious of divinity, that He ... Read More
J.R. Miller
October 28. The True Vine
"I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener" John 15:1 This is a wonderful Vine. It grew up at first, like "a root out of a dry ground, with no form nor loveliness." The soil in which it was planted seemed too poor to produce anything good. But its origin was heavenly, and it grew into luxuri... Read More
J.R. Miller
October 29. The Pruning-Knife
"He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit; while every branch that does bear fruit — he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful." John 15:2 Christ taught many lessons on the sin and doom of uselessness. One of His parables told of a tree which bore no fruit. The soil was good, and the... Read More
J.R. Miller
October 3. Fleeting Opportunities
"You always have the poor with you, and you can do what is good for them whenever you want, but you will not always have Me." Mark 14:7 We ought to well learn the value of opportunities. They do not wait for our convenience; but while we linger indecisive — they are gone. Then, when they are gone — ... Read More
J.R. Miller
October 30. Abide in Me
"Abide in Me, and I will abide in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must abides in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you abide in Me." John 15:4 As a truth in nature — the meaning of this is very plain. A branch torn off a vine or a tree, and lying on the ground — will not bear f... Read More
J.R. Miller
October 31. Fruit-bearing
"This is to my Father's glory — that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples." John 15:8 What is fruit in a Christian? We know what fruit is in the natural world, and we know its uses — but what is fruit in the spiritual world? It cannot be merely Christian activities. It is true ... Read More
J.R. Miller
October 4. Acceptable Offerings
"She has done what she could!" Mark 14:8 This was a wonderful commendation to come from the lips of Jesus. Mary could not have done better than this — if she had been a thousand times as gifted. We get two lessons here: One is, that all Christ wants — is what we have ability and opportunity to do. H... Read More
J.R. Miller
October 5. Not Your Own
"The Lord has need of it." Mark 11:3 There seems to have been no formal request of the owner for the use of the colt. Jesus sent His disciples to take it by Divine authority. So then — the Lord has a right to anything we have. No property right that we can get, takes the title out of His hands. We t... Read More
J.R. Miller
October 6. Nothing But Leaves
"Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs." Mark 11:13 There were many other fig trees in that region — but Jesus did not turn to any of them to look for food, because t... Read More
J.R. Miller
October 7. Believing Prayer
"If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer." Matthew 21:22 There are other scriptures qualifying this: In the first place, it is not all asking that is really praying — and therefore not all asking that receives. James says, "You ask, and receive not, because you ask amiss, tha... Read More
J.R. Miller
October 8. A Forgiving Spirit
"And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him — so that your Father in Heaven may forgive you your sins." Mark 11:25 It is told of a Christian woman that a friend entered her room and found her with bowed head, as if in prayer. At length her friend spoke to her tender... Read More
J.R. Miller
October 9. The Corner Stone
"The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone." Matthew 21:42 Those to whom Christ first came, did not think Him suitable to be their Messiah. So they refused to receive Him, and nailed Him on a cross instead. But now what do we behold? That same Jesus whom they thought unfit to b... Read More
J.R. Miller
On Doing Our Best
Your best is all you are ever required to do; indeed, no one can do more. It is not some other one's best which is expected of you, either — but your own. Sometimes people forget this, and worry because they cannot do as well as some other person does. Our gifts differ — no two people are just alike... Read More
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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.