Sermons & Devotionals by J.R. Miller
J.R. Miller
THE PATHOS OF DIVINE LOVE
"Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep—and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it?" Luke 15:4 Nothing is more wonderful in the Good Shepherd, than His care for His lost sheep. It might be worth while, we would say, for ... Read More
J.R. Miller
The Power of the Gospel Romans 1:8-17
The Epistle to the Romans was written from Corinth by an amanuensis named Tertius, at Paul's dictation. It was sent by Phoebe, a deaconess, who was journeying to Rome. The Christians at Rome were Jews and Gentiles, the latter predominating. It is not known who first preached the gospel at Rome—but i... Read More
J.R. Miller
THE POWER OF THE TONGUE
"Death and life," says the wise man's proverb, "are in the power of the tongue!" Words seem little things, so fleeting and evanescent, that apparently it cannot matter much, of what sort they are. They are so easily spoken—that we forget what power they have to give either pleasure or pain. They see... Read More
J.R. Miller
The Print of the Nails
"Unless I see the print of the nails in His hands, and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into His side—I will not believe it." John 20:25 Thomas had missed seeing Jesus in the upper room, when he showed his wounded hands to the disciples and he declared that unless he saw the hands... Read More
J.R. Miller
THE REFUGE IN SORROW
One of life's great questions, is where to go in sorrow. For there are none to whom sorrow does not come at some time. The Master, whose footprints are on all life's paths, shows us the way to the refuge in the time of trouble. He found it in prayer. "Being in agony—He prayed." We may listen at the ... Read More
J.R. Miller
The Ripening of Character
Character is a process of growth. It is like fruit—it requires time to ripen. Different kinds of fruits come to ripeness at different seasons; some in the early summer, some later, and some only in the autumn. It is so with Christian lives—they ripen at different seasons. There are those who seem to... Read More
J.R. Miller
The School of Life
The business of noble Christian living—is learning. We know nothing when we begin. On the tomb of an English historian is the inscription, "He died learning." Learning is not confined to what we get from reading books. All of life is a school—and 'books' are ever being put into our hands, and 'lesso... Read More
J.R. Miller
The Secret of Gladness
"But let all who take refuge in You be glad; let them ever sing for joy!" Psalm 5:11 "I will be glad and rejoice in You; I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High." Psalm 9:2 "I will be glad and rejoice in Your love" Psalm 31:7 "Rejoice in the LORD and be glad, you righteous. Sing, all you who ar... Read More
J.R. Miller
THE SEEDS WE ARE SCATTERING
In one sense, when a baby is born—its life is only a patch of soil in which, as yet, nothing is growing. A mother's hand is the first to plant seeds there—in the looks of tender love which her eyes dart into the child's soul, in her smiles and caresses and croonings, and her thousand efforts to reac... Read More
J.R. Miller
THE SERIOUSNESS OF LIVING
All life is serious. We are not butterflies, to flutter a little while in the air and then drop into the dust. The words we speak and the things we do are not snowflakes dropping into the water—a moment white, then gone forever—but are beginnings of immortalities. We are not done with anything in li... Read More
J.R. Miller
The Service of Consecration
The more deeply we read into the life and teachings of our Lord and his apostles—the more clearly does it appear that the golden thought of "loving others" comes out of the very heart of the gospel. It lies embedded not only in John's Epistles—but in the teachings of the Master himself. Love for God... Read More
J.R. Miller
THE SHADOW OF THE CROSS
The Cross did not come to Jesus as a surprise—its shadow rested on Him in the brightest, busiest days. There was no hour when He did not see what the end would be. Other men are born to live—Jesus was born to die. Other men look forward to a goal of splendid success in the world—great achievements, ... Read More
J.R. Miller
The SILENT Christ
A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is suffering terribly from demon-possession." Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, "Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us." He answered, "I ... Read More
J.R. Miller
The Sin of Drifting
It is entirely proper for a piece of wood to drift on the water. It cannot do anything else. It has no wisdom to choose a better way, and no power to resist the force of the current in which it finds itself. It has no responsibility for its own movements, and is not to blame if it floats idly about ... Read More
J.R. Miller
The Sin of Not Praying for Others
There is a Scripture word which suggests to us in a striking way—the importance of praying for others. Samuel had been set aside by the people in their eagerness to have a king. For a moment their consciences were awakened to a sense of their sin; and they came to him, as they had done so often befo... Read More
J.R. Miller
The Sweet Fragrance of Prayer
True prayer is fragrant to God. This was taught in the Old Testament, in one of those emblem-lessons which, when read in the light of the gospel, mean so much. The golden incense-altar, was the altar of prayer; just as the altar of burnt-offering, was the altar of atonement and consecration. So ever... Read More
J.R. Miller
THE TEACHER BY THE SEA
Jesus loved the Sea of Galilee. It is only a small lake, and yet no other body of water on the earth is so sacred. It is associated with many holy memories of our Lord's life. He wrought many of His miracles along its shores. He often sailed upon its waters with His disciples. Several times He was i... Read More
J.R. Miller
The Things That Are above
"Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your hearts on things above! Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things!" Colossians 3:1-2 Paul reminds us that those who believe on Christ—should live a risen life. He says, "Seek the things that are above, where Christ is." We liv... Read More
J.R. Miller
The Transforming Power of Prayer
It is a very interesting fact, that it was as Jesus was praying, that He was transfigured. When He first knelt on the cold mountain, there was no brightness on His face; but as He continued in prayer, there began to be, at length, a strange glow on His features. Brighter and brighter it grew, until ... Read More
J.R. Miller
The Use of Time.
If you saw a man standing by the shore, and flinging gold coins and diamonds into the sea — you would say he was insane. Yet God sees many people continually doing something very like this. Not gold and precious stones, do they this throw away — but minutes, hours, days, weeks, and years of time — p... 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.