Norris Ferry Sermons

The eastern tribes depart from Shiloh (vs. 9) and build a giant altar. When the western tribes hear of the altar they assemble at Shiloh (vs. 12-20) and decide to send a delegation under the direction of Phinehas to inquire into the matter before they...

Joshua 20 & 21 gives us a closer look at life in the land for Israel in two areas, criminal justice and worship, based on what Moses had said they should do when they entered the land. At first glance, as with other parts of Joshua, it may appear...

Jesus’ authority over the wind and the sea demonstrate His identity as God and as the One we can trust. Mark 4:35-41 is marked by careful accuracy and detail. No doubt we have the reminiscences of Peter, the eyewitness authority behind Mark’s Gospel...

In these verses we are going to see all twelve tribes gathered for worship in Shiloh when Joshua calls the seven tribes out for being slackers. In v3 Joshua says, “How long will you put off entering to take possession of the land which the LORD, the...

These chapters describe the tribal allotment of “the sons of Joseph” (Josh. 16:1, 4), Ephraim and Manasseh. Again, this is not merely another careful land survey. At the start of chapter 16 you may notice a peculiarity, Joshua 16:4 reads, “The people...

Today we are going to do three things:First, we will do a quick overview of the entire chapter so you know what is going on. Second we will look at how these verses relate to salvation. Third, we will look at how these verses relate to sanctification.

Chapter 14 is part of unit spanning chapters 13-19 - the allocation of the land that has been conquered in the first 12 chapters. Chapter 13 dealt with the allocation of the land east of the Jordan river to 2.5 tribes and chapters 14-19 deals with...

We have come to a major transition here in chapters 13-21. Probably even the most determined reader of Joshua begins to crumble and nod as he enters these chapters. Dale Ralph Davis says, “watching war movies always tends to be more exciting than...

Eleven brings conquest narratives to conclusion with victory over northern coalition. Twelve summarizes all the kings and territories Joshua/Israel/God conquered to date. In these concluding summary verses we see the narrative focuses on Joshua’s...

You ever feel like everyone is ganging up against you? I know you have. Maybe you feel your friends, or co-workers, or family members, or church family has turn against you. Maybe you are battling your emotions, or thoughts, or struggles. Maybe...

In our verses today we see God faithfully bringing about His plans and promises to bless the nations through His people despite the fact that His people fail to seek His will and carelessly enter into an ill-advised covenant with the Gibeonites.  My...

Today, in chapters 7&8, we discover that things were not as good inwardly as they appeared outwardly for Israel was harboring secret sin within them and it proves to be quite destructive for the people of God. Today, in chapters 7&8, we are...

Today we look at Joshua 6 and we see what total devotion looks like. Chapter six and the battle of Jericho is the Lord’s answer to Joshua’s question. The Lord tells Joshua exactly what to do to Jericho so these verses give us a picture of what total...

Today, in Joshua chapter 5, we see God has faithfully delivered Israel across the Jordan River as Israel carefully obeyed God’s every word. Now God’s people are camped just outside of Jericho. There Israel sits, their past is behind them and their...

Why do we make worship a weekly priority? - Ex. 31:13 “But as for you, speak to the sons of Israel, saying, ‘You shall surely observe My sabbaths; for this is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am the LORD...

Today we look at Chapter 3 where we find Joshua leading Israel in their scary first steps of obediece into the deep waters of the flooding Jordan river.

Today we will study Joshua 2 and in this chapter see that apparently Joshua still needed a little more assurance that God was with them so Joshua sent two spies in to check out the land. When the spies returned they were convinced the Lord had given...

In our passages today we see God telling Joshua how to find the courage to fulfill his calling. We see God telling Joshua how to be successful. Has God called you to do something that strikes fear in your heart? Do you know how to be successful in...

The story of the Bible is the story of God faithfully delivering on His promise to redeem His people and restore them to the place of glorious rest in His presence - heaven. As Christians we look forward to spending eternity in heaven as God has...

Christmas morning with the kids of Norris Ferry.

We come to our final passage in 1 John 5:13-21. In these verses John gives us three assurances we have as believer in Christ. John wants authentic believers to have strong assurance about Jesus - today we will look at three assurances we have in Christ.

What does John mean when he says authentic believers have faith. That is what we will look at today and in this passage we are going to see that the authentic faith is all about having faith in the testimony of God concerning Jesus Christ.

In our passage today, 1 John 5:1-5, John again tells us that we, as born again believers, are both obligated to love and forgive like this and we are able to love and forgive like this.

In our passage John begins and ends with an exhortation for believers to love one another. In 4:7, Beloved, let us love one another. Again in v21, 21 And this commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God should love his brother also...

After an orphan becomes a member of your family, legally, he still must come to the point where he feels like a member of the family. God causes this to happen to us in his family by the presence of the Holy Spirit in our hearts..