|
 J.R. Miller (1840 - 1912)
Read freely text sermons and articles by the speaker J.R. Miller in text and pdf format. 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.
|
|
|
showing from 451 to 500 of 773 articles
Numbering Our Days
What is it to number our days? One way is to keep careful record of them. That is a mathematical numbering. We say we are so many years old. We note our birthdays. But that is not the numbering which is meant in the old Bible prayer, "Teach us to number o ... read more
October 1. Household Duties
"Here a dinner was given in Jesus' honor. Martha served" John 12:2
There are certain Bible people that we never fail to recognize. We know Martha by her busy serving. Each time we meet her — we find her engaged in active duties. She represents those ... read more
October 10. Let Him Take All
"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind." Matthew 22:37
We are to notice, first, that it is love God wants. We may give Him our life's highest honor — but He is not satisfied with honor. We ou ... read more
October 11. The Widow's Mite
"I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others!" Mark 12:43
It is good to have here our Lord's estimate of earth's gifts. We know that as He saw the offerings that day, and spoke of their worth, so He always b ... read more
October 12. Behold the Lamb of God
"We want to see Jesus!" John 12:21
These men had heard of Jesus — but they wanted to see Him for themselves. It does not do for us to see Jesus only through other people's eyes. No matter how vividly they may portray His beauty before us — this is ... read more
October 13. Two Ways of Living
"The man who loves his life — will lose it; while the man who hates his life in this world — will keep it for eternal life." John 12:25
We have two options. We may live for SELF, take good care of our lives, not exposing them to danger, not making ... read more
October 14. A Savior for All
"But I, when I am lifted up from the earth — will draw all men to Myself." John 12:32
As we read the gospel story we are surprised to see how few people were really drawn to Christ during His life. Crowds followed Him — many from curiosity — but ... read more
October 15. Be on guard!
"Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come Mark 13:33
These words refer to the time of our Lord's coming again. He is surely coming; but when, no one can know. He will come suddenly, without warning. Since, then, we cannot know wh ... read more
October 16. Mysterious Providence
"You do not realize now what I am doing — but afterward you will understand." John 13:7
Like many other words of Christ, this saying of His has a much wider application, than its primary reference to Peter's perplexity. It furnishes the key to many o ... read more
October 17. Washing Other's Feet
"If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet — you also ought to wash one another's feet." John 13:14
Are we to take this literally? Some have understood it in this way. No, say others — He would teach us to do lowly service for one anot ... read more
October 18. Leaning on Jesus
"One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was leaning on Jesus' bosom." John 13:23
We are not told the name of this disciple — but we know him by his place and posture. What were the traits in John's character which made him the beloved disciple? ... read more
October 19. The Last Supper
"Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and broke it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat." Matthew 26:26
There was a meaning in every act. The bread itself is an appropriate emblem of Christ's body. Bread is food; Christ is food for our souls ... read more
October 2. At His Feet
"Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus' feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume." John 12:3
We see Mary three times in the gospel, and each time ... read more
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 pasto ... read more
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 ... read more
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 t ... read more
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 comfo ... read more
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 troubl ... read more
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 ... read more
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 Hi ... read more
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 ... read more
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 ... read more
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 tr ... read more
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 indecis ... read more
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 ... read more
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? I ... read more
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 wan ... read more
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 ... read more
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 n ... read more
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, ... read more
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 i ... read more
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 beho ... read more
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. ... read more
On Growing Old Successfully
A great deal of advice is given to young people. Sermons are preached to them. Books are written for them, filled with counsels. No doubt the young need wise advice, solemn preaching, and paternal counsel. The world has many dangers for youth. Besides, ch ... read more
On Keeping QUIET.
"There is a time to keep silence — and a time to speak" Ecclesiastes 3:7
Talking is good — if it is wholesome talking. Very wonderful is the gift of speech, and the power of good words to do good is simply incalculable. But not all talking is good; ... read more
On Loving Others
"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." John 13:34-35
"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus ... read more
On the Choice of FRIENDS
Few objects are of such vital importance to young people—as the character of their early friends. Tourists among the Alps climb the mountains tied together with ropes, that they may help each other. But sometimes one falls and drags the others down with ... read more
On the Control of TEMPER.
A great many people seem to have trouble with their temper. Some years ago an English philosopher undertook an investigation. He arranged that about two thousand people should be put unconsciously under watchful eyes for a certain period, and that a study ... read more
On the Footpath to Success
Every young man, unless he is dead to the real meaning of life, has a desire to achieve success in his heart. He wants to do something which will make his living worth while. He has dreams of success which shine before him in splendor, and woo him to earn ... read more
Our Lives, Words of God
Orientals say that each man and woman has a message, and that only those who utter their message, are true men or women. It is interesting to think of ourselves in this way, as sent into the world with something to give out or manifest. Lowell tells us th ... read more
Our New Edens
Our New Edens
J. R. Miller, 1903
The first home there ever was in this world, was in the Garden of Eden. God the Father made it ready for His first children—made it ready for them before they were created. I can imagine with what loving thought ... read more
Our Unanswered Prayers
There are times when God seems to be silent to us. To our earnest supplications, he answers not a word. We are told to ask and we shall receive—to seek, and we shall find—to knock, and it shall be opened unto us. Yet there come times when we ask implo ... read more
OVER-WAITING FOR GOD
A great deal is said in the Bible about waiting for God. The lesson cannot be too strongly enforced. We easily grow impatient of God's delays. Much of our trouble in life comes out of our restless, sometimes reckless, haste.
We cannot wait for the frui ... read more
PASSING BY ON THE OTHER SIDE
"A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed ... read more
Paul a Prisoner: Before Felix Acts 24:10-27
With true oratorical instinct, Paul began his address with a kindly word to Felix. He had confidence in appealing to him, since the governor had been so long in his position that he knew well the laws, and could understand and appreciate the facts which P ... read more
Paul A Prisoner: Before Fetus and Agrippa Acts 25, 26:19-32
When Paul told his judges of the command of Jesus that he should work for him whose followers he had persecuted, he said, "I was not disobedient." The trouble with too many people, is that they are disobedient. They hear the voice of God—and do not obey ... read more
Paul a Prisoner: In Rome Acts 28:11-31
It must have been a happy hour for Paul when he saw Rome and entered the gates. For a long time he had earnestly wished to preach the gospel there. He came, however, not as a free man—but as a prisoner. Yet this was really favorable, for he was under th ... read more
Paul a Prisoner: The Arrest Acts 21:17-22:29
Paul had just come to Jerusalem after the close of his missionary journey. The elders feared there would be trouble when it became known that he had come. They arranged, therefore, for an observance of Jewish rites in the temple, in which Paul would take ... read more
Paul A Prisoner: The Plot Acts 22:30-23:35
The night after the stormy meeting described in the early portion of this chapter, Jesus appeared to Paul and bade him to, "Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome." This assured Paul that his life was s ... read more
Paul a Prisoner: The Shipwreck Acts 27:27-28:10
When in the midst of the tempest, an angel stood by Paul and assured him that he must be brought before Caesar; which meant that he could not perish in the sea, he was assured that for his sake all on board should escape, thought the ship would be lost.
... read more
|
< Previous
1
| 2
| 3
| 4
| 5
| 6
| 7
| 8
| 9
| 10 | 11
| 12
| 13
| 14
| 15
| 16
Next >
|
|
|
All sermons are offered freely and all contents of the site
where applicable is committed to the public domain for the
free spread of the gospel.
|
