James Merritt

May 10, 2026 • 46 min

Napoleon’s foreign minister once said, “You can do anything you like with bayonets, except sit on them.” That is exactly what most Americans do with their Bibles. Eighty-eight percent of Americans own at least one Bible, yet nearly half of Christians say they are too busy to read it. George Washington rose at five every morning to spend an hour on his knees before an open Bible, because he understood something most people miss. Hebrews 4:12 says, “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart” (NIV). This one verse tells us exactly what the Bible is and what it does. As you study these four truths about the power of God’s Word, you will be equipped to pick up this sword, wield it in your life, and never set it down again. Free Sermon Guide for This Series: https://www.touchinglives.org/storage/PDF%20Downloads/tl-sermon-guide_the-sword-of-the-lord_wk-19_download.pdf To purchase Dr. Merritt's Books: https://www.touchinglives.org/shop Connect with Touching Lives today for FREE Christian Resources Daily Devotional: https://www.touchinglives.org/devotional-subscribe Mobile App: https://subsplash.com/touchinglives/app

May 3, 2026 • 47 min

Most people could answer this question without hesitation: What is the most important birth in the entire Bible? Christmas makes that one easy. But here’s the harder question: What is the second most important birth in Scripture? In Genesis 21, a 90-year-old woman named Sarah finally gives birth to a son named Isaac, the child God had promised 25 years earlier. It sounds like a personal miracle for one elderly couple, but it was far more than that. That one birth set off a chain reaction, from Isaac to Jacob, from Jacob to Judah, from Judah to David, and from David to Jesus. Without Isaac, there is no Israel. Without Israel, there is no Jesus. Without Jesus, there is no Gospel. God is a missionary God, the Bible is a missionary book, and, if you have a heart for God, you will have a missionary heart. Free Sermon Guide for This Series: https://www.touchinglives.org/storage/PDF%20Downloads/tl-sermon-guide_the-father-figure-wks-1518_download.pdf To purchase Dr. Merritt's Books: https://www.touchinglives.org/shop Connect with Touching Lives today for FREE Christian Resources Daily Devotional: https://www.touchinglives.org/devotional-subscribe Mobile App: https://subsplash.com/touchinglives/app

Apr 26, 2026 • 48 min

What does it look like to be completely, unreservedly committed to God? In 1519, Spanish explorer Hernán Cortés sailed to Mexico with 11 ships, more than 500 men, and odds completely against him. When he arrived, he gave his men a shocking order: Burn the ships. Retreat was no longer an option. They were all in. Over 3,000 years earlier, a man named Abraham faced his own burn-the-ships moment. God had finally given him the son he had waited 25 years for, a boy named Isaac, and now God was asking Abraham to give him back. What happens on that mountain in Genesis 22 is one of the most breathtaking stories in all of Scripture. It shows us what giving really is, what giving really does, and why giving is one of the most important things you will ever do. Free Sermon Guide for This Series: https://www.touchinglives.org/storage/PDF%20Downloads/tl-sermon-guide_the-father-figure-wks-1518_download.pdf To purchase Dr. Merritt's Books: https://www.touchinglives.org/shop Connect with Touching Lives today for FREE Christian Resources Daily Devotional: https://www.touchinglives.org/devotional-subscribe Mobile App: https://subsplash.com/touchinglives/app

Apr 19, 2026 • 45 min

In 1875, poet William Ernest Henley lay in a hospital bed, one leg already amputated, and wrote these now-famous words: “I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul.” It sounds courageous, but Scripture tells a different story: “Our God is in heaven; he does whatever pleases him” (Psalm 115:3, NIV). In Genesis 17, God appears to Abraham and introduces Himself by a name never used before in all of Scripture—El-Shaddai, God Almighty—because Abraham still hasn’t grasped who is truly in charge. What Abraham discovers in this encounter is the one truth that can anchor any life: When everything seems out of control, everything is under God’s control. To live in that reality, there are three things you need to do: Walk before the Lord, wait on the Lord, and watch for the Lord. Free Sermon Guide for This Series: https://www.touchinglives.org/storage/PDF%20Downloads/tl-sermon-guide_the-father-figure-wks-1518_download.pdf To purchase Dr. Merritt's Books: https://www.touchinglives.org/shop Connect with Touching Lives today for FREE Christian Resources Daily Devotional: https://www.touchinglives.org/devotional-subscribe Mobile App: https://subsplash.com/touchinglives/app

Mar 29, 2026 • 45 min

What makes someone truly brave? William Wallace, Scotland’s 13th-century national hero, led his outnumbered army to victory at the Battle of Stirling Bridge, proving Scotland could defeat the mighty English. The movie Braveheart immortalized his courage with the famous line: “They may take our lives, but they’ll never take our freedom!” The film won five Academy Awards and made more than $209 million worldwide. But here’s the thing—parts of the movie were made up. We don’t know if Wallace actually said those lines, and the movie’s climactic battle scene didn’t happen in an open field (it would have been a massacre). The real battle occurred on a narrow bridge. I’m taking you back to what I believe is the original braveheart—a man whose story is completely accurate and should be made into a movie. His name is Abraham. This story in Genesis 14 shows more about Abraham’s greatness than any other part of his life, revealing how we, too, can be bravehearts. The Apostle Paul reminds us, “Now these things occurred as examples …” (1 Corinthians 10:6, NIV). God is great and wants us to be great. The secret to greatness? Every day, follow God’s way. See how burden, battle, and blessing work together to build the courage you need for the life God’s calling you to live. Free Sermon Guide for This Series: https://www.touchinglives.org/storage/PDF%20Downloads/tl-sermon-guide_the-father-figure-wks-1013_download-1.pdf To purchase Dr. Merritt's Books: https://www.touchinglives.org/shop Connect with Touching Lives today for FREE Christian Resources Daily Devotional: https://www.touchinglives.org/devotional-subscribe Mobile App: https://subsplash.com/touchinglives/app

Mar 15, 2026 • 47 min

Have you ever made a promise to stick with something 100% only to cave at 98%? Clayton Christiansen, the famous Harvard Business School professor, taught that it’s easier to hold your principles 100% of the time than 98% of the time—because at 98%, you’re constantly debating whether “this time” is the exception. Abraham discovered this truth the hard way. God had called him to leave everything behind and follow Him to a new land, promising to bless him personally, nationally, and globally. Abraham packed up and obeyed, mostly. He took his nephew Lot when God said leave everyone, and when famine hit the Promised Land, he panicked and fled to Egypt without asking God. What started as faith turned into doubt, and doubt is simply forgetting God. Every time Abraham dropped from 100% trust to 98% trust, he made decisions that nearly cost him everything. It cost his integrity, his wife, and his witness. When doubt knocks at your door, let God answer. Discover three ways doubt attacks your faith, and how to let God answer every time. Understand how forgetting God happens in stages, so you can catch yourself before you lose your integrity, your peace, and your witness. Free Sermon Guide for This Series: https://www.touchinglives.org/storage/PDF%20Downloads/tl-sermon-guide_the-father-figure-wks-1013_download-1.pdf To purchase Dr. Merritt's Books: https://www.touchinglives.org/shop Connect with Touching Lives today for FREE Christian Resources Daily Devotional: https://www.touchinglives.org/devotional-subscribe Mobile App: https://subsplash.com/touchinglives/app

Dec 28, 2025 • 49 min

When world-renowned author Sir Walter Scott lay on his deathbed, he asked his son-in-law to bring him “the” book from his massive library. “Which book?” his son-in-law asked. Scott replied, “Son, there is only one book!” He meant the Bible, the most-read book in the world, with 100 million copies sold annually. Of its 31,103 verses, one stands above all others, and it’s John 3:16. Atheists, agnostics, Jews, and Christians alike know this verse. It’s only 25 words, with “Son” as the 13th word, dividing it perfectly in half. The first 12 words are about God: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son …” The last 12 are about us: “that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (NKJV). Short enough to write on a napkin, but long enough to tell anyone how to have a lasting, eternal relationship with God. This one verse can save the universe. Unpack the power of these 25 words and discover God’s love for you afresh. Free Sermon Guide for This Series: https://www.touchinglives.org/storage/PDF%20Downloads/tl-sermon-guide_christmas-jesus-greatest-verse_wk-49-52_download.pdf To purchase Dr. Merritt's Books: https://www.touchinglives.org/shop Connect with Touching Lives today for FREE Christian Resources Daily Devotional: https://www.touchinglives.org/devotional-subscribe Mobile App: https://subsplash.com/touchinglives/app

Dec 21, 2025 • 46 min

The Christmas story never grows old. From an angel announcing to teenage Mary that she’d become pregnant with the Son of God to an angel telling Joseph he’d have a son but not by him, you’re hooked. Then myriad angels announce Jesus’ birth to minimum-wage shepherds, while great men travel 715 miles not just to see a baby, but to worship Him. The Gospels show the human perspective, but what about God’s viewpoint? Hebrews 1 gives us exactly that. It was written to Jews who believed intellectually that Jesus was the promised Messiah, but needed final convincing that He wasn’t just the human Messiah, but God Himself. The doctrine of the incarnation, which is a word from Latin meaning “becoming flesh,” teaches this. Jesus Christ is one person with two distinct natures, fully human and fully divine. He’s not two people but one. He’s the same person both before and after the incarnation. The difference is that before, He had one nature (divine); but after, He had two (divine and human). The one who sits on the throne of the universe today is God and man. The man who walked on earth in time is the God who is to be worshipped forever. When you see Jesus for who He really is, you discover God’s complete message for you. Free Sermon Guide for This Series: https://www.touchinglives.org/storage/PDF%20Downloads/tl-sermon-guide_christmas-jesus-greatest-verse_wk-49-52_download.pdf To purchase Dr. Merritt's Books: https://www.touchinglives.org/shop Connect with Touching Lives today for FREE Christian Resources Daily Devotional: https://www.touchinglives.org/devotional-subscribe Mobile App: https://subsplash.com/touchinglives/app

Nov 30, 2025 • 45 min

What do you think is the one ingredient that can transform an ordinary marriage into an extraordinary one? McDonald’s has its Big Mac sauce, Shake Shack has its Shack sauce, and even What-A-Burger guards its spicy ketchup recipe. These “secret sauces” give each restaurant its competitive edge. But there’s also a secret sauce to marriage that isn’t secret at all. It’s found in the word love. Now, this isn’t Hollywood’s love that evaporates when your spouse gains weight or loses their job. This is the kind of love described in 1 Corinthians 13, often called “The Love Chapter,” describing the hard work of what real love is and what real love does. As we study it, you can discover the answer to this question: Can two people who fall in love before marriage really stay in love after marriage? The answer depends entirely on what kind of love you’re talking about. The 1 Corinthians 13 kind of love doesn’t quit when your husband forgets your birthday. It doesn’t walk out when your wife criticizes you in front of friends. This is the kind of love that makes it to the finish line, not because it’s easy, but because it comes from the God who never fails. Free Sermon Guide for This Series: https://www.touchinglives.org/storage/PDF%20Downloads/tl-sermon-guide_marriage-made-in-heaven_wk-43-48_download.pdf To purchase Dr. Merritt's Books: https://www.touchinglives.org/shop Connect with Touching Lives today for FREE Christian Resources Daily Devotional: https://www.touchinglives.org/devotional-subscribe Mobile App: https://subsplash.com/touchinglives/app

Nov 2, 2025 • 45 min

You may remember Frank Sinatra’s classic hit about love and marriage going together. Now, that may have been true 70 years ago, but it’s not the same today. In 1960, 59% of adults ages 18 to 29 were married compared to only 20% today. It seems our culture has become one of “hook up, shack up, and break up.” As a result, many think doing a series on marriage is a fool’s errand. But from the very beginning of time, God’s Word says, marriage has mattered, and it always will. It’s not coincidental that God’s Word begins with a wedding between Adam and Eve and ends with a wedding between Christ and the church. We face something unprecedented in our country, with marriages failing and the very institution of marriage being questioned. But God calls you to remember what He says about marriage instead of being conformed to the world’s view of marriage, because healthy homes, communities, and nations depend upon it. Free Sermon Guide for This Series: https://www.touchinglives.org/storage/PDF%20Downloads/tl-sermon-guide_marriage-made-in-heaven_wk-43-48_download.pdf To purchase Dr. Merritt's Books: https://www.touchinglives.org/shop Connect with Touching Lives today for FREE Christian Resources Daily Devotional: https://www.touchinglives.org/devotional-subscribe Mobile App: https://subsplash.com/touchinglives/app

Oct 5, 2025 • 47 min

Did you know that nearly 85% of Americans struggle with low self-esteem? I have been part of that statistic my whole life. Low self-esteem affects how productive we are at work and how we relate at home. It can even lead to violent behavior or suicide. In my years as a pastor, I’ve discovered that the root cause often lies in the trap of comparison: measuring ourselves against others who appear better off, better looking, or in a better situation. But the fundamental question isn’t how we compare to others; it’s understanding who you truly are. You are not who others think you are, or even who you think you are. You are who God says you are. The only one qualified to define your identity and worth is the God who made you. And in Ephesians 1, the Apostle Paul reveals three transformative truths about your identity in Christ that form the foundation for healthy, holy self-esteem rooted not in pride but in God’s declaration over your life. Free Sermon Guide for This Series: https://www.touchinglives.org/storage/PDF%20Downloads/tl-sermon-guide_who-am-i_wk-40_fep.pdf To purchase Dr. Merritt's Books: https://www.touchinglives.org/shop Connect with Touching Lives today for FREE Christian Resources Daily Devotional: https://www.touchinglives.org/devotional-subscribe Mobile App: https://subsplash.com/touchinglives/app

Sep 28, 2025 • 46 min

A lady driving from Washington, DC, to Richmond had a flat tire and sat stranded by the roadside praying for help. Two cars passed by—one with a “Smile, God Loves You!” bumper sticker, the other reading “Honk If You Love Jesus!”—but both drivers moved to the far lane without stopping. Then a man in an old pickup with no bumper sticker pulled over, changed her tire, and refused payment, saying he hoped someone would help his wife if she were stranded. Three men drove by that day, but only one chose the right side of the road. How can you know which side you would be on? Comfort is found on the wrong side of the road; compassion is found on the right side of the road. Through Jesus’ parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10:25–37, discover that when you have a heart for God, you’ll have the heart of God—a heart of compassion that shows love with no limits to a world desperately needing mercy. Free Sermon Guide for This Series: https://www.touchinglives.org/storage/PDF%20Downloads/tl-sermon-guide_the-heart-of-god_wk-35-39_download.pdf To purchase Dr. Merritt's Books: https://www.touchinglives.org/shop Connect with Touching Lives today for FREE Christian Resources Daily Devotional: https://www.touchinglives.org/devotional-subscribe Mobile App: https://subsplash.com/touchinglives/app

Sep 21, 2025 • 47 min

I once read this in an article in Reader’s Digest: “Primates, like bonobos, mountain gorillas and chimps often follow confrontations with friendly behavior like embracing or kissing…The only species that has so far failed to show outward signs of reconciliation is the domestic cat.”1 Unfortunately, there are more than a few cats in the church today. When Peter asked Jesus how many times he should forgive someone who sins against him, suggesting seven times as generous, Jesus responded with “seventy-seven times,” meaning there’s no limit to forgiveness. C.S. Lewis put it best when he said that we all agree that forgiveness is a beautiful idea until we have to practice it. But through the parable of the unforgiving servant in Matthew 18:21–35, you will discover being forgiven means forgiveness is part of your calling and how to practice it. Free Sermon Guide for This Series: https://www.touchinglives.org/storage/PDF%20Downloads/tl-sermon-guide_the-heart-of-god_wk-35-39_download.pdf To purchase Dr. Merritt's Books: https://www.touchinglives.org/shop Connect with Touching Lives today for FREE Christian Resources Daily Devotional: https://www.touchinglives.org/devotional-subscribe Mobile App: https://subsplash.com/touchinglives/app

Sep 14, 2025 • 46 min

I remember visiting Mother Teresa’s Home for the Dying in Calcutta and remember the story of an American tourist who once witnessed her tenderly dressing a leper’s wounds. After a moment, he said, “Sister Teresa, I wouldn’t do what you’re doing for $10 million!” She replied, “My friend, neither would I. Neither would I!” Mother Teresa wasn’t motivated by money but by compassion. She modeled the heart of one of the greatest pictures of compassion in the Bible, where Jesus encounters a man with leprosy. Just as Mother Teresa reached out to touch the untouchable, Jesus shows you that a heart of compassion will lead you to touch the untouchable and love the unlovable. In Mark 1:40–45, we discover that compassion truly has the magic touch, and we also find the three touches you can give people around you today. Free Sermon Guide for This Series: https://www.touchinglives.org/storage/PDF%20Downloads/tl-sermon-guide_the-heart-of-god_wk-35-39_download.pdf To purchase Dr. Merritt's Books: https://www.touchinglives.org/shop Connect with Touching Lives today for FREE Christian Resources Daily Devotional: https://www.touchinglives.org/devotional-subscribe Mobile App: https://subsplash.com/touchinglives/app

Sep 7, 2025 • 50 min

Have you ever noticed that two people can look at the same thing but see completely different things? In the comic strip Peanuts, Lucy and Charlie Brown are cloud gazing when Lucy confidently identifies Mount Rushmore, Michael Jordan dunking a basketball, the state of Hawaii, and the Magic Kingdom. When she asks Charlie Brown what he sees, he says, “Well, I was going to say I saw a horsey and a ducky, but now I’m not gonna say nothing.” Two of us will see completely differently, even gazing at the same thing. But God always sees through a heart of compassion. In fact, if you could perform openheart surgery on God, you would see compassion all the way through. The God who has a heart of compassion also has the eyes of compassion. When you have a heart for God, you, too, will have the eyes of compassion. Free Sermon Guide for This Series: https://www.touchinglives.org/storage/PDF%20Downloads/tl-sermon-guide_the-heart-of-god_wk-35-39_download.pdf To purchase Dr. Merritt's Books: https://www.touchinglives.org/shop Connect with Touching Lives today for FREE Christian Resources Daily Devotional: https://www.touchinglives.org/devotional-subscribe Mobile App: https://subsplash.com/touchinglives/app

Aug 17, 2025 • 48 min

Mike used to avoid me at neighborhood parties because he wasn’t interested in spiritual things. But when Mike was diagnosed with esophageal cancer, I visited him and shared the Gospel, and he accepted Christ. Everything about Mike radically changed from that day. If you asked what happened to him, I could tell you in one word: conversion. But what in the world is conversion? It’s a term you had better know and experience because Jesus said, “…unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:3, NKJV). So we need to ask ourselves, “Have I ever truly been converted, and what does ‘conversion’ mean?” There’s no greater story of complete conversion than the Apostle Paul’s Damascus Road experience — the most famous conversion in history, explained three times in Acts and occupying more space in the New Testament than any event except Christ’s crucifixion. While conversions aren’t one-size-fits-all, there are three common marks found in everyone who is truly converted. Free Sermon Guide for This Series: https://www.touchinglives.org/storage/PDF%20Downloads/tl-sermon-guide_lost-in-translation_wk-31-34_download.pdf To purchase Dr. Merritt's Books: https://www.touchinglives.org/shop Connect with Touching Lives today for FREE Christian Resources Daily Devotional: https://www.touchinglives.org/devotional-subscribe Mobile App: https://subsplash.com/touchinglives/app

Aug 10, 2025 • 47 min

What if the one word that can save your life is the same word most people refuse to hear? When Tiger Woods held his first professional press conference in 1996, he spoke two words that changed golf forever: “Hello World!” But what if they had press conferences back in Jesus’ day? What would be His first words? Well, we don’t have to wonder. The Gospel of Matthew tells us, and it was a shocker. He did have a word for the world, but it wasn’t “Hello.” Here is the very first word that He publicly uttered: “From that time on Jesus began to preach, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near’” (Matthew 4:17, NIV). This forgotten and forsaken word appears 969 times in Scripture, yet today it’s rarely heard from pulpits across America because it implies people have something they need to repent of—and no one wants to hear that. But certain words, doctrines, and beliefs are at the core of the Christian faith, and it is imperative that unbelievers hear these truths and that believers truly understand them. Free Sermon Guide for This Series: https://www.touchinglives.org/storage/PDF%20Downloads/tl-sermon-guide_lost-in-translation_wk-31-34_download.pdf To purchase Dr. Merritt's Books: https://www.touchinglives.org/shop Connect with Touching Lives today for FREE Christian Resources Daily Devotional: https://www.touchinglives.org/devotional-subscribe Mobile App: https://subsplash.com/touchinglives/app

Aug 3, 2025 • 45 min

What if understanding one biblical word could change everything about your relationship with God? In the comic strip Peanuts, Lucy fears a thunderstorm might flood the world, but Linus reassures her by explaining God’s promise to Noah and the rainbow as a guarantee. Lucy says Linus has really reassured her, and Linus says, “Sound theology has a way of doing that.” Indeed, the church desperately needs sound theology today, especially about salvation—what the entire Bible is all about. In our “Lost in Translation” series, we’re defining key biblical words that many Christians don’t really understand. Today’s topic emerges in Jesus’ conversation with Nicodemus, a highly religious Pharisee and member of the Jewish ruling council, to whom Jesus delivered a shocking message: “You must be born again.” This conversation reveals where salvation begins—with regeneration, the miracle where God gives spiritually dead people spiritual life. Free Sermon Guide for This Series: https://www.touchinglives.org/storage/PDF%20Downloads/tl-sermon-guide_lost-in-translation_wk-31-34_download.pdf To purchase Dr. Merritt's Books: https://www.touchinglives.org/shop Connect with Touching Lives today for FREE Christian Resources Daily Devotional: https://www.touchinglives.org/devotional-subscribe Mobile App: https://subsplash.com/touchinglives/app

Jun 15, 2025 • 49 min

To this day, I remember the first summer I came home from college. As I walked up to our front door, my father didn’t welcome me with a hug or even a “Good to see you.” Instead, he met me with three blunt words: “Get a haircut,” though my hair barely touched my ears. My father had an unbending belief that a man’s hair should never be too long. For the first time in my life, I stood my ground. I reminded him of my good grades, my solid reputation, and how I’d never given him a minute’s trouble. Trembling, I told him if he meant what he said, I’d find another place to live that summer. Thankfully, my mother intervened, but that day revealed a powerful truth: Even people who love each other deeply can disagree profoundly over matters of personal preference. In today’s highly-charged culture, disagreement is inevitable—especially when it comes to politics, social issues, and personal choices. Romans 14 addresses this very challenge faced by the early church, where Jewish and Gentile believers clashed over food choices and holy days. The principles Paul taught them apply to our own struggles. When it comes to the gray areas of life—those issues where Scripture isn’t explicitly clear—we must be free to disagree without making it “all about me.” These principles will help you maintain unity even when you don’t see eye to eye. Free Sermon Guide for This Series: https://www.touchinglives.org/storage/PDF%20Downloads/tl-sermon-guide_when-you-dont-see-eye-to-eye_wk-24.pdf To purchase Dr. Merritt's Books: https://www.touchinglives.org/shop Connect with Touching Lives today for FREE Christian Resources Daily Devotional: https://www.touchinglives.org/devotional-subscribe Mobile App: https://subsplash.com/touchinglives/app

May 18, 2025 • 47 min

Everyone worships something. Well-known novelist David Foster Wallace said, “Everyone worships. The only choice we get is what to worship.” Some worship money, fame, or success. Whatever controls your thoughts and behavior is what you worship. Jesus has a life-changing conversation about worship with an unlikely person—a Samaritan woman with a troubled past. In that encounter, Jesus makes a revolutionary declaration: “God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth” (John 4:24, NIV). Most remarkably, Jesus reveals the one thing God actively seeks from us—our worship. As we begin our “Who We Are” series, we discover that worship isn’t just what we do; it’s who we are called to be as we point people to Jesus and inspire them to live the cross-shaped life. Learn How to Share Your Faith: https://www.touchinglives.org/evangelism-training To purchase Dr. Merritt's Books: https://www.touchinglives.org/shop Take advantage of the free Christian resources from Touching Lives: Free Sermon Guide: www.touchinglives.org/storage/PDF%20Downloads/tl-sermon-guide_who-we-are_wks-2023_download.pdf Free Daily Devotional: https://www.touchinglives.org/devotional-subscribe Free Mobile App: https://subsplash.com/touchinglives/app Free Monthly Bible Teaching Letter: https://www.touchinglives.org/account-registration