Sermons & Devotionals by Russell DeLong

SIMPLIFYING A DIFFICULT WORD Or What Does It Mean To Be Sanctified? Scripture Reading -- St. John, Chapter 17. The average man is confused and frightened by theological and philosophical terminology. His life is such that he has little time for hair-splitting jargon -- what he wants is something tha... Read More

"And when they were come to a place called Calvary, there they crucified him" (Luke 23:33). The most significant event in the history of man took place on the summit of a hill, enacted by one lone figure silhouetted against a darkened sky as he hung between two thieves on a roughly hewn cross. Singl... Read More

Scripture Reading -- II Samuel 22: 1-3, Psalms 18:2, Psalms 89: 26, Psalms 95: 1, Psalms 61: 2, and I Corinthians 10:4. Text -- Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever (Hebrews 13: 8). Man is living in a world of change. The problem of stability versus change, the permanent versus ... Read More

Scripture: Revelation 3: 20 A citadel is a fortress or a stronghold. It is a place of security, safety, refuge, and strength. It also may be situated on a high plateau and thus be doubly safe from attack and also a superior spot for vision to spot enemy advances. Sometimes in past wars moats, water-... Read More

"Nevertheless I tell you the truth, it is expedient for you that I go away; for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you" (St. John 16:7) The glory of anything is its ability to perform the function for which it is created. The glory of an aut... Read More

Scripture: Matthew 10: 39 Mr. Lee Bristol, president of the Bristol-Myers Company of New York, used a phrase in his article in the popular symposium, "This I Believe," which gave the inspiration for my sermon today. He referred to the "greatest world-wide vice." Immediately one begins to speculate a... Read More

Scripture Reading -- Revelation 3:14-22 Text -- So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth (Revelation 3:16). "The Halfway Covenant" is the most striking astounding, surprising document that I have come across in years. I want to pass it on to you. ... Read More

Ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free. (John 8:32). Since the fall man has been in a search for certainty. He has groped his way through fog, darkness, superstition, ignorance, pain, suffering and sin. He has striven for intellectual certainty; for economic security; for politica... Read More

Any sin is deadly unless repented of and forgiven by God. What is sin? It is any deliberate act against the known will of God. The Ten Commandments embody all the basic rules for man's conduct in relation both to God and to other persons. One may sin vertically -- in acts against God himself; or hor... Read More

Suggested Scripture -- St. Matthew 24 Jesus was asked three questions by his disciples: 1. When shall the temple be destroyed? 2. what shall be the sign of Thy coming? 3. What shall be the sign of the end of the world? Permit me to suggest that you read the answers which are recorded in the 24th cha... Read More

Scripture: And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. And they straightway left their nets, and followed him (Matt. 4... Read More

Scripture: Psalms 16: 11; Ephesians 1: 23; 3: 19; 4: 13; Colossians 1:19; 2:9 In a conference with Dr. Jesse Bader, secretary of evangelism for the National Council of Churches, he dropped a phrase that stayed with me and upon which I have been meditating – The Tide Lifts Ships. Immediately I though... Read More

Text -- And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord (Luke 2:10, 11). For more than four centuries the human race had been estranged fro... Read More

"There is none like it, give it to me" (I Samuel 21:9) The words of my text leaped from the lips of David when the priest mentioned that they were keeping in the synagogue, as a relic of a colossal victory, the sword with which he had slain Goliath. "There is none like it, give it to me," he exclaim... Read More

Pain is common to all men, old and young, rich and poor, educated and illiterate. The problem of evil is the most baffling of philosophy. C. S. Lewis, the Oxford don, has written a very interesting and thought-provoking book entitled the Meaning of Pain. It is not my purpose today to discuss the phi... Read More

Scripture Reading -- Galatians 7 Text -- Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting (Galatians 6:7). Some wrec... Read More

Scripture: Hebrews 11:23-26 The Bible is the world's greatest literary masterpiece. It is composed of sixty-six books written by forty different authors over a period of sixteen hundred years. These inspired writers represent all classes, stations, and offices of men from kings to peasants, priests ... Read More

During the war we all became familiar with the term priorities. We met it in relation to automobiles, steel, food, and transportation. Several times I was "bumped off" an air flight because some top military "brass" had to get to some strategic place or conference and possessed a priority. He came b... Read More

What's your next move? After that, What then? Is your life a disconnected series of jerks toward no definite end? Or is your life merely a "merry-go-round," going in circles – going nowhere -- just going? You say, "I must be doing something." What? "Oh, anything. I must be going places and doing thi... Read More

Scripture Reading -- St. Matthew 16:13-18 Text -- And I say unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it (Matthew 16:18). With all of its faults the Church is the greatest institution in the world. The Church at its wor... Read More