James Merritt

Apr 13, 2025 • 46 min

It is the worst drought in biblical history: for 3½ years, 42 months, 1,278 days, 30,660 hours without a single drop of rain. Imagine that for a moment. The stench of death from countless animal carcasses, every day dreading the immense thirst. It’s safe to say if you were in the umbrella business you went out of business. Even to this day with all of our technological advancement, all of our increase in knowledge, and all of our financial resources and education, we know (whether we admit it or not) that only God can get us out of drought. Through one of the most famous prophets in the Old Testament, you see how you, too, can live the God life—a life that is pure, powerful, and prayerful. You can see God work in your family, at work, and in your future because the secret to a powerful life is a prayerful life. Free Sermon Guide for This Series: www.touchinglives.org/storage/PDF%20Downloads/tl-sermon-guide_god-life-1215_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/devotio... Mobile App: https://subsplash.com/touchinglives/app

Mar 30, 2025 • 46 min

Ever find yourself staring at the ceiling at 3 AM, whispering desperate questions like, "God, where are you?" "Do you even care about me?" "Are my prayers hitting the ceiling and bouncing back?" If so, you’re following the footsteps of spiritual giants. In 1 Kings 17, the great prophet Elijah barely survives after a powerful showdown with false prophets, idolaters, and a wicked king and queen. Alone and desperate at the bank of a small brook, receiving food from scavenging ravens, Elijah looks doubt in the eye. Maybe you’ve followed God and lived according to His Word, but the economy crashes, you lose your job, or the marriage ends. What do you hold on to when doubt feels stronger than belief? Watch how Elijah walks through the valley of despair to the other side of doubt, remembering one timeless truth: If you trust and obey, God clears the way. As you trust God, you discover His promise, provision, providence, and power. Free Sermon Guide for This Series: https://www.touchinglives.org/storage/PDF%20Downloads/tl-sermon-guide_god-life-1215_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 23, 2025 • 50 min

If you say that someone is "living the good life," you mean they're living in comfort and luxury with few problems or worries. The good life is what our culture celebrates—financial success, personal comfort, and freedom from hardship. But there's something far greater, far more fulfilling, and far more enduring than the good life—it's "The God Life." God wants you to experience the good life by living the God life. It's life lived in the intimate presence of God, made possible through the supernatural power of God, all for the magnificent praise of God. The God life ignites when you're accomplishing the divine purpose God created you for, reflecting His glory in everything you do, and offering His goodness to a broken world that desperately needs it. How do you enter the God life? Learn from a man by the name of Elijah. Free Sermon Guide for This Series: https://www.touchinglives.org/storage/PDF%20Downloads/tl-sermon-guide_god-life-1215_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 16, 2025 • 45 min

A breathtaking subdivision in British Columbia, known as the Seawatch development, was designed to be a luxurious paradise. The homes, valued at over a million dollars, overlooked pristine waters, but when winter came, disaster struck. Houses collapsed into sinkholes because they had been built on unstable ground. This tragic event illustrates a powerful truth Jesus taught in the Sermon on the Mount: a life built on a faulty foundation will not stand. As Jesus concludes His sermon, He tells the parable of two builders—one wise, one foolish. Both build houses, both face storms, but only one house remains. This lesson is not just about building homes but about building lives. Free Sermon Guide for This Series: https://www.touchinglives.org/storage/PDF%20Downloads/get_used_to_different_parts_25_27.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 9, 2025 • 47 min

Have you ever heard of the “placebo effect?” It occurs when someone experiences improvement in their condition simply because they believe they are receiving treatment, even though the treatment itself has no real benefit. This psychological phenomenon is harmless when it comes to medicine, but when it comes to faith, self-deception can have eternal consequences. Jesus warns that not everyone who calls Him “Lord” will enter the kingdom of heaven. Many people claim to follow Jesus, but their relationship with Him is based on words rather than obedience. As Jesus closes His Sermon on the Mount, He delivers one of the most chilling statements in the Bible—a warning to those who think they are saved but are not. Free Sermon Guide for This Series: https://www.touchinglives.org/storage/PDF%20Downloads/get_used_to_different_parts_25_27.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 2, 2025 • 47 min

Over the course of human history, countless sermons have been preached, but the greatest sermon of all was delivered by the greatest preacher—Jesus Christ. His Sermon on the Mount was revolutionary, challenging the cultural and religious expectations of His listeners. As Jesus nears the conclusion of His sermon, He issues a stark warning about a danger that has plagued the church from the beginning—false prophets. Unlike external threats, this danger arises from within the church. Satan attacks both from the outside through persecution and from the inside through deception. Jesus calls His followers to be on high alert, for these counterfeit prophets masquerade as true messengers of God while leading people away from the truth. Free Sermon Guide for This Series: https://www.touchinglives.org/storage/PDF%20Downloads/get_used_to_different_parts_25_27.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

Feb 16, 2025 • 48 min

There was a five-year-old girl watching her mother apply cold cream to her face. Curious, she asked, “Mother, why do you do that?” The mother replied, “To make myself beautiful.” Moments later, when the mother wiped the cream off, the girl exclaimed, “What’s the matter? Giving up already?” Just like that little girl’s humorous observation, we often approach prayer with the same mindset—giving up too soon. Have you ever felt like giving up on God? Have you ever prayed and felt like your prayers made no difference? In this message, we’re going to see Jesus give an encouraging, definitive teaching on prayer, reminding us that if we belong to God’s family, He hears and answers our prayers. The key is perseverance. Never give up on the God who will never give up on you. Jesus teaches us four key principles about prayer. Free Sermon Guide for This Series: https://www.touchinglives.org/storage/PDF%20Downloads/get_used_to_different_parts_21-24.pdf Learn How to Share Your Faith: https://connect.touchinglives.org/your-best-news To purchase Dr. Merritt's Books: https://www.touchinglives.org/shop Take advantage of the free Christian resources from Touching Lives: Free Daily Devotional: https://connect.touchinglives.org/daily-devotional Free Mobile App: https://subsplash.com/touchinglives/app Free Monthly Bible Teaching Letter: https://secure.touchinglives.org/forms/account

Dec 8, 2024 • 46 min

John’s letter in 1 John opens by diving straight into the significance of Jesus. John’s focus is on the true comfort and joy that Christ’s coming brings. With this in mind, we’ll explore three ways to take joy in Christmas: the historical reality of Jesus, the heavenly identity of Jesus, and the holy community Jesus invites us into. These truths are foundational to experiencing a joy that goes beyond the Christmas season. Free Sermon Guide for This Series: https://www.touchinglives.org/storage/PDF%20Downloads/Comfort%20and%20Joy%20-%20Sermon%20Guide.pdf Learn How to Share Your Faith: https://connect.touchinglives.org/your-best-news To purchase Dr. Merritt's Books: https://www.touchinglives.org/shop Take advantage of the free Christian resources from Touching Lives: Free Daily Devotional: https://connect.touchinglives.org/daily-devotional Free Mobile App: https://subsplash.com/touchinglives/app Free Monthly Bible Teaching Letter: https://secure.touchinglives.org/forms/account

Nov 10, 2024 • 48 min

In Jesus’ day, divorce was more commonplace than you would have imagined and there was a great debate about when divorce was even allowed. It wasn’t incidental that Jesus had just finished talking about lust when He started to talk about divorce. Lust causes adultery and now shockingly, He is going to say that divorce and remarriage can do the exact same thing. Jesus is going to remind us that God’s ideal is one man and one wife for one life. It should be “’til death do us part.” There are two things that Jesus asks us to do when it comes to the topic of divorce. Let’s dive into those together. Free Sermon Guide for This Series: https://www.touchinglives.org/storage/PDF Learn How to Share Your Faith: https://connect.touchinglives.org/your-best-news To purchase Dr. Merritt's Books: https://www.touchinglives.org/shop Take advantage of the free Christian resources from Touching Lives: Free Daily Devotional: https://connect.touchinglives.org/daily-devotional Free Mobile App: https://subsplash.com/touchinglives/app Free Monthly Bible Teaching Letter: https://secure.touchinglives.org/forms/account

Oct 27, 2024 • 46 min

In today’s key passage, Paul reminds Christians then and now of an important truth to remember. The God that gives us grace also gives us government. So with that in mind, how are we to relate to the government? That’s exactly what we’re going to discuss in this message. Let’s dive in. Free Sermon Guide for This Series: https://connect.touchinglives.org/sermon-booklet-political-correctness Learn How to Share Your Faith: https://connect.touchinglives.org/your-best-news To purchase Dr. Merritt's Books: https://www.touchinglives.org/shop Take advantage of the free Christian resources from Touching Lives: Free Daily Devotional: https://connect.touchinglives.org/daily-devotional Free Mobile App: https://subsplash.com/touchinglives/app Free Monthly Bible Teaching Letter: https://secure.touchinglives.org/forms/account

Oct 6, 2024 • 47 min

If you are going to be rightly related to God both in this life and the life to come, you had better be rightly related to the truth of God’s Word. We are going to learn in today’s message that when you honor the Lord, you honor the law that the Lord honors. Now, what does that mean exactly? Let’s dive in together and find out. Free Sermon Guide for This Series: https://connect.touchinglives.org/sermon-booklet-get-used-to-different-part-3 Learn How to Share Your Faith: https://connect.touchinglives.org/your-best-news To purchase Dr. Merritt's Books: https://www.touchinglives.org/shop Take advantage of the free Christian resources from Touching Lives: Free Daily Devotional: https://connect.touchinglives.org/daily-devotional Free Mobile App: https://subsplash.com/touchinglives/app Free Monthly Bible Teaching Letter: https://secure.touchinglives.org/forms/account

Sep 29, 2024 • 46 min

Jesus makes two important statements to His followers in today’s key passage. He says, “You are the salt of the earth, and you are the light of the world.” As we study this text together, we are going to see that Jesus used these metaphors because we live in a world that is decaying and dark. The culture before our eyes is disintegrating. The darkness of evil is a cloud that covers this entire planet. We need to be the salt that stops the decay and light that penetrates the darkness. With this in mind, here is the whole point of what Jesus is going to say – Jesus makes us different so we can make a difference. And when we make a difference by being salt and light, we can bring the world under the influence. Free Sermon Guide for This Series: https://connect.touchinglives.org/sermon-booklet-get-used-to-different-part-3 Learn How to Share Your Faith: https://connect.touchinglives.org/your-best-news To purchase Dr. Merritt's Books: https://www.touchinglives.org/shop Take advantage of the free Christian resources from Touching Lives: Free Daily Devotional: https://connect.touchinglives.org/daily-devotional Free Mobile App: https://subsplash.com/touchinglives/app Free Monthly Bible Teaching Letter: https://secure.touchinglives.org/forms/account

Aug 25, 2024 • 46 min

Both character and conduct are important when it comes to following Jesus. Conduct without character is meaningless. And character without conduct is useless. You have to have both. As you study the Sermon on the Mount, you realize that what Jesus is saying is, “You are not a Christian because you act like one; you act like a Christian because you are one.” With all of this in mind, today’s message summed up in a sentence is this - when you truly experience the mercy of God, you will freely extend mercy to others. So let’s look at what our responsibility is when it comes to showing others the same mercy God has shown us. Free Sermon Guide for This Series: https://connect.touchinglives.org/sermon-booklet-get-used-to-different-part-2 Learn How to Share Your Faith: https://connect.touchinglives.org/your-best-news To purchase Dr. Merritt's New Book: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0736985344/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vamf_taft_p1_i0 Take advantage of the free Christian resources from Touching Lives: Free Daily Devotional: https://connect.touchinglives.org/daily-devotional Free Mobile App: https://subsplash.com/touchinglives/app Free Monthly Bible Teaching Letter: https://secure.touchinglives.org/forms/account

Jul 21, 2024 • 45 min

The God we have been talking about throughout this entire series knows you better than anyone or anything. Just like He knew Moses, and He knew the Israelites, He knows you too. But the question of the day is this, “Do you know God?” Now the question is not, “Do you know about God?” The question is not even, “Do you believe in God?” The question I am asking is, “Do you know God personally?” Then I would follow up that question with this one, “How well do you know God?” I can answer that question for all of us. You know God as well as you want to. As we wrap up this series with today’s message, we are going to take a look at how we can come to know God deeply and personally. Free Sermon Guide for This Series: https://connect.touchinglives.org/sermon-booklet-red-sea-moment Learn How to Share Your Faith: https://connect.touchinglives.org/your-best-news To purchase Dr. Merritt's New Book: https://www.touchinglives.org/shop#!/The-God-Who-Hears/p/610029990/category=0 Take advantage of the free Christian resources from Touching Lives: Free Daily Devotional: https://connect.touchinglives.org/daily-devotional Free Mobile App: https://subsplash.com/touchinglives/app Free Monthly Bible Teaching Letter: https://secure.touchinglives.org/forms/account

Jul 14, 2024 • 46 min

The people of Israel had been treating God like a heavenly bellhop expecting Him to be at their every beck and call and give them everything they wanted when they wanted it. When Moses had lingered on that mountaintop meeting with God, they decide they would just take matters into their own hands. They would make a god more to their liking. The truth is, we all have “idol hands” that tend to either make the God we worship the God we want or make the god that we want the god that we worship. We’re going to learn today that if you are for God, you won’t put anything before God. You may not think that you have an idolatry problem. You may not even understand why we even have to discuss this issue, but when we see how we do choose false idols and what happens when we do, my prayer is it will cause all of us to give our total loyalty, complete love, and full life to the only true God there is. Free Sermon Guide for This Series: https://connect.touchinglives.org/sermon-booklet-red-sea-moment Learn How to Share Your Faith: https://connect.touchinglives.org/your-best-news To purchase Dr. Merritt's New Book: https://www.touchinglives.org/shop#!/The-God-Who-Hears/p/610029990/category=0 Take advantage of the free Christian resources from Touching Lives: Free Daily Devotional: https://connect.touchinglives.org/daily-devotional Free Mobile App: https://subsplash.com/touchinglives/app Free Monthly Bible Teaching Letter: https://secure.touchinglives.org/forms/account

Jun 30, 2024 • 45 min

We have been studying a man by the name of Moses in a series we are calling, “Red Sea Moments.” This great man of God was facing a Red Sea moment when he came to his own level of stress. He is leading two million of his people through wilderness and desert and they are burning up at times at the way he is doing it, and he is burning out trying. In the 18th chapter of Exodus, Moses had a moment and a meeting that didn’t just change his life, but it literally saved his life and helped him complete his tasks. It is not only very practical, but it is very spiritual. If you feel overworked and overwhelmed, now’s the time to admit it, because you will never be the father, the mother, the husband, the wife, the employee, or even the Christian that you should be as long as you stay there. Moses took three simple steps that kept him from burning out that you can take as well. Free Sermon Guide for This Series: https://connect.touchinglives.org/sermon-booklet-red-sea-moment Learn How to Share Your Faith: https://connect.touchinglives.org/your-best-news To purchase Dr. Merritt's New Book: https://www.touchinglives.org/shop#!/The-God-Who-Hears/p/610029990/category=0 Take advantage of the free Christian resources from Touching Lives: Free Daily Devotional: https://connect.touchinglives.org/daily-devotional Free Mobile App: https://subsplash.com/touchinglives/app Free Monthly Bible Teaching Letter: https://secure.touchinglives.org/forms/account

May 23, 2024 • 47 min

There is no greater illustration in the Bible of a complete and total conversion than of a man by the name of Paul. In fact, it may be the most famous conversion in history. His conversion is well documented. It is talked about in detail three times in the Book of Acts. In fact, the story of Paul’s conversion occupies more space in the New Testament than any other event except the crucifixion of Jesus. It may be the most intense, in-your-face, radical encounter with Jesus in all of the New Testament. But even though Paul has one of the most talked about conversion stories of all time, that doesn’t mean our own stories of conversion are any less miraculous. With that in mind, I want us in today’s message to look at three things that happen anytime someone experiences conversion.

Feb 25, 2024 • 45 min

Today, we are dealing with the phenomenon of transgenderism. The percentage of people that identify as transgender in the United States varies somewhere between 0.3 and 0.6%. To deal with this issue, in my study, I’ve determined as a follower of Jesus that there are three things we have to consider as we talk about this issue: feelings, fact, and faith. Or to put it another way, you have to talk about transgender and psychology, transgender and biology, and transgender and theology. We’re going to look at all three of these in today’s message, so let’s dive in. Free Sermon Guide for This Series: https://connect.touchinglives.org/sermon-guide-facing-the-truth Learn How to Share Your Faith: https://connect.touchinglives.org/your-best-news To purchase Dr. Merritt's New Book: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0736985344/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vamf_taft_p1_i0 Take advantage of the free Christian resources from Touching Lives: Free Daily Devotional: https://connect.touchinglives.org/daily-devotional Free Mobile App: https://subsplash.com/touchinglives/app Free Monthly Bible Teaching Letter: https://secure.touchinglives.org/forms/account

Dec 24, 2023 • 45 min

As we wrap up this Christmas series, we are going to learn about what happens when we follow Jesus wherever He wants us to go. When you surrender to God’s call you are under God’s care. We already know that Joseph never had it easy. God didn’t promise Joseph a rose garden. There was a high price he paid to be the father of Jesus. We learn three things that were true of Joseph all of his life that are true about you and me when we simply surrender to the will of God in our lives. Free Sermon Guide for This Series: https://connect.touchinglives.org/sermon-booklet-this-is-your-captain-speaking Learn How to Share Your Faith: https://connect.touchinglives.org/your-best-news To purchase Dr. Merritt's New Book: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0736985344/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vamf_taft_p1_i0 Travel overseas with James and Teresa Merritt: https://connect.touchinglives.org/travel Take advantage of the free Christian resources from Touching Lives: Free Daily Devotional: https://connect.touchinglives.org/daily-devotional Free Mobile App: https://subsplash.com/touchinglives/app Free Monthly Bible Teaching Letter: https://secure.touchinglives.org/forms/account

Dec 10, 2023 • 48 min

We are embarking on a three-week study of an unsung hero in Scripture: Joseph, the father of Jesus. Even though only sixteen verses in the Bible mention Joseph by name, you are going to see his influence was much stronger and much greater than what is implied, because he truly is an unsung hero who is going to teach us what it really means to follow the Jesus of Christmas. We are going learn from Joseph that commitment to the will of God will bring clarity about the will of God. Free Sermon Guide for This Series: https://connect.touchinglives.org/sermon-booklet-this-is-your-captain-speaking Learn How to Share Your Faith: https://connect.touchinglives.org/your-best-news To purchase Dr. Merritt's New Book: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0736985344/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vamf_taft_p1_i0 Travel overseas with James and Teresa Merritt: https://connect.touchinglives.org/travel Take advantage of the free Christian resources from Touching Lives: Free Daily Devotional: https://connect.touchinglives.org/daily-devotional Free Mobile App: https://subsplash.com/touchinglives/app Free Monthly Bible Teaching Letter: https://secure.touchinglives.org/forms/account