by Timothy J. Keller
The following sermons are in MP3 format. To download right-click and save to your hard drive.
Overview
A New Community - This sermon was preached by Timothy J. Keller at Redeemer Presbyterian Church on Oct 8, 1995. Series: The Book of Acts. Scripture: Acts 2:40-47. “What was it about early Christianity that made it spread like wildfire through the Mediterranean world? There was something astonishingly attractive in the inclusiveness of a religion that drew people from across all racial, cultural, economic, intellectual and philosophical divides.” In fact,the essence of what worked then is the key to what works today! Christ in you and God’s love shed abroad in the hearts of believers! It all starts and is driven by a constant rejoicing for who Jesus is to all of us. When you listen, think ,”Revival”.Heavenly Father,Please renew,awaken and revive our love for you in and through your Son, Jesus!
Spiritual Friendship
Spiritual friendships are needed by all people; are discovered through the immediate bond of the love of Jesus Christ; are created through shared faith,prayer,possessions,feelings,and decision making; and will last forever. Scripture: Acts 20:36-21:8
The Community of Jesus
Jesus not only saves us from our sins,he weaves us into a new human community. That community is characterized by a reversal of values. When we realize that we are both sinners and saved by grace,we will have freedom from the values that previously defined us,and yet a regard and love for those who don't share our values. - Luke 6:12-36
Family and Friends
Parents and Children
The Bible tells us to honor our parents, no matter who we are and how flawed they are. To do this, we must free ourselves from the idolatry of their approval in order to both forgive and honor them. Ephesians 6:1-4; Exodus 20:12
You Are My Friends (YouTube)
John 15:9-17; Genesis 2:18; Psalm 25:14; Ephesians 1:18; Deuteronomy 7:7-8; Matthew 26:36-46; Psalm 55:12-14
Father's Day Message
Paul tells fathers in particular, and parents in general, to raise their children in the instruction of the Lord, without creating anger and bitterness. To do this, parents must balance nurture and discipline, raise children to be independent by degrees, and raise them to know the Lord. - Ephesians 6:4
It Takes a City to Raise a Child
In many ways, cities are the very best places to raise children. The city plays a crucial role in raising children who embrace the Christian faith.
Singleness
Singleness - The Biblical Guidelines
Timothy and Kathy Keller discuss the Biblical view of dating,sex,and romance; the goodness of singleness; and the Christian ordering of the different types of love. This talk was done in an open forum setting and is followed by a Q&A.
Singleness - The Biblical Guidelines (cont.)
Timothy and Kathy Keller continue to discuss the biblical view of singleness and marriage in an open forum setting. Topics discussed include the biblical passage on eunuchs,coping with romantic rejection,spiritual growth as a single person,seeking a spouse,making an idol out of a romantic relationship,meaningless romantic relationships,dating non-Christians,and myths about both singleness and marriage. Scripture: Matthew 19:10, Romans 8:28
Marriage
Marriage as Commitment & Priority
The key to transforming ourselves and our marriages is being filled with the Spirit. This sermon examines the power of marriage,the definition of marriage,and the priority of marriage. Scripture: Ephesians 5:22-33
Cultivating a Healthy Marriage
Using the metaphor of cultivating a garden,Timothy and Kathy Keller address methods of cultivating healthy marriages by exploring eight practical areas in marriage: planning and planting,roles,headship and submission,fertilizing and watering,love language,sex,conflict resolution,forgiveness and repentance,and spiritual life together. This talk is followed by a Q&A. 1 Corinthians 7
Hope for the Family
The premise of Christian marriage is that two people are filled with the Holy Spirit and are committed to serving one another. Wives are to grant husbands leadership in the marriage. Husbands are to use that leadership not for their own selfish desires but to sacrificially serve their wives. The purpose of Christian marriage is not for individual self-fulfillment,but to work for the growth and sanctification of the spouse. Lastly,Christian marriage is not an end in itself,but a pointer to Jesus Christ,the ultimate spouse who will never let us down. Scripture: Ephesians 5:22-33; Jeremiah 29:4-7; Ephesians 18-20; Colossians 3:16-17; Romans 8:30
Sexuality
Love, Lust and Liberation (YouTube)
Lust exists,it is powerful,and we must respect its power. The Bible rejoices in sex and sexual desire,but lust is an impersonal,inordinate desire and an idolatrous search for meaning. Lust can be overcome if you esteem Jesus as your bridegroom and the lover of your soul. Scripture: Matthew 5:27-30; Matthew 5:27-30
Sexuality and Christian Hope
Christianity presents a revolutionary view of sex,singleness,and marriage that rejects both traditional and modern conceptions of the purpose of sex. Ultimately,our hope in our future family,future journey and certainty of our true love,Jesus Christ,shapes our attitudes towards sex,singleness,and marriage. Scripture: 1 Corinthians 6:13-20; 7:27-31; 1 Corinthians 6-7
1 Corinthians 6-7
The Biblical view of sex is unique. It rejects the view, held by some conservative cultures, that sex is dirty. Instead, the Bible views sex so highly that it cannot be shared casually with anyone. Sex is meant to bind two people together. It renews the covenant that they have made with one another. This talk was given during a leadership training session at Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City.
The Church
Prayer For The Church
Paul's prayers for churches he wrote to are counterintuitive. Despite the hardships suffered by the earliy churches, Paul never prayed for alleviations of difficulties. Instead, he prayed that the church would know a deeper realization of God's love. Scripture: Ephesians 1:15-23; Philippians 1:9-11; Colossians 1:9-12; Ephesians 3:14-19; 1 Timothy 2:1-2; 1 Corinthians 1:26-31; John 17
Eating wih Jesus
Many Americans disregard Christianity not because they don't believe in God,but because they don't believe in the church. Jesus exhorts the church to be a "city on a hill," a community where people love and serve one another,in fellowship with God as well as with our neighbor. When he fulfills our deepest needs,we can find resources that we never knew we had for serving others. Scripture: John 21:1-22
The Gospel, the Church and the World
The church is described as "living stones" to represent it as a deeply interconnected community. We must neither give into culture nor withdraw from culture,but maintain our beliefs while engaging and serving the world. The power to maintain this balance comes from being secure in Christ and united as a church body,with him as our cornerstone. Scripture: 1 Peter 2:4-12, 21-25
Hospitality
Biblical hospitality goes far deeper than merely entertaining your friends and family at your home. In the Bible,hospitality is proactively seeking to welcome the marginalized. Hospitality is providing a warm home for the lonely. Throughout the Bible,God is the exemplar of hospitality. God provided a home for the Israelites when they were slaves in Egypt. But most of all,God the Father even abandoned Jesus in order to bring us home to God. Scripture: Hebrews 13:1-14; Genesis 19; Genesis 24; Genesis 18:1-8; Acts 16:12-15; Deuteronomy 10:17-19; Luke 9:58; Mark 15:34; Ephesians 2: 12-13; Revelation 21-22; John 13:1-17; John 14:2-3; John 2:1-11
Hope for the Church
Too often people see the church as a hindrance to their spirituality rather than the necessary fuel for its growth. The Biblical church is called to be a community unlike any other,a place where people welcome the outsider,spur one another to good works,encourage one another in difficult times,and work to help all members grow in Christ. Scripture: Hebrews 10:19-25; Hebrews 10:1-2; Mark 15:34
A Counter-Culture of Grace
James 4:1-12; Hebrews 3:13; Romans 15:14; Romans 12:9; John 17:20-24; Romans 15:1-3; Matthew 27:46
Spiritual Gifts
Discovering your Spiritual Gifts (manuscript)
In this talk,Tim Keller tries to elucidate several issues concerning spiritual gifts. First,we don't choose which gifts we have; they are given by God. Secondly,the church body plays a role (but does not have the final say) in confirming a person's gifts. Thirdly,we must be careful to never mistake our talents for spiritual fruit. Finally,Tim discusses the three elements to discerning a call: affinity,ability,and opportunity. Scripture: Ephesians 4:1-16; Ephesians 2:10; Colossians 2:15; 1 Timothy 3:1; 1 Corinthians 13:1-2; Matthew 10:1-4; Luke 10:41-42
Spiritual Gifts and Graces
No one person has all the spiritual gifts. Some have the gift of speaking truth, some have the gift of loving others, and others have a gift for organization. It is only when people with diverse gifts come together that the church will best minister to those in need. Yet - as important as spiritual gifts are - developing Christian character must take precedence. If we are mainly concerned with Christian character but think little about gifts, then Christians will be effective in ministry. But if Christians think a great deal about gifts but little about character, they will bear very little genuine fruit. Scripture: Ephesians 4; 1 Corinthians 12-14; Romans 12; Matthew 7:21-23
Racial Unity
An Immigrant's Courage
Ruth is a story of redeemers. Ruth teaches us that friendships can change the world (as with Boaz,the kinsman-redeemer),and that we can and must reach across spiritual and cultural barriers to do so (as with Ruth,the hidden redeemer). Both Boaz and Ruth point to Jesus,our true Redeemer. Once we realize that,we can ourselves reach across barriers to engage in spiritual friendships and be true disciples of Jesus. Scripture: Ruth 4:13-17
Hope, Race and Power
Racial and cultural differences exist. They cannot be resolved by simply embracing broad-mindedness,but by adjusting our lives and forming deep relationships with people from whom we are different. These relationships will enable us to finally view all aspects of God's glory. Scripture: Romans 14:1-3,14-15:7
Related Resources by Tim Keller
Spiritual Friendship (.pdf)
Why God Made Cities (.pdf)
Gospel Community, Singleness, Marriage and Family
Don't Take It from Me: Reasons You Should Not Marry an Unbeliever by Kathy Keller
The Bible and same sex relationships: A review article
Discerning and Exercising Spirtual Gifts (.pdf)
A Theology of Singleness (Vimeo)
Friendship - Proverbs 17:17; 18:24; 25:17,20 (MP3)
Marriage in Gospel Focus (MP3)
Sexual "compatibility" (MP3)
Celibacy & sexual "fasting" (MP3)
Is there a Biblical commandment against pre-marital sex? (MP3)