How to Use This Site
The quickest way to become familiar with the site is with Search Sermons and the Subject List, both of which are linked, or by bringing up the Index in Excel for a quick scan.
The Search
The first result of a sermon search will be the Heading for one or more sermons. Clicking on a Heading in either Search Sermons or the Subject List will bring up the sermon. The Heading has the name of the sermon, its subject/s, its Biblical reference/s, its date/s, its rating, and, where applicable, a series of which it is a part, or a special topic or occasion.
There are pull downs on scripture references (Books of Bible), Series, Topics/Occasions and a complete page for the Subject List.
You may Sort by title alphabetically, and by rating and by date first preached.
The Subject List has all subjects listed alphabetically. Clicking on a subject in the Subject List will bring up the Headings for all sermons linked to that subject. Many sermons have multiple subjects (most of which are linked). The number to the right of the Subject indicates the number of sermons linked to it.
All of the sermons are rated, with 5 being the highest rating. The ratings are rated only in relation to the other sermons on the site – not to sermons generally. All sermons on the site are superior.
Clicking on PTJ Dr. Paul Tudor Jones anywhere on the site brings you back to the homepage.
At the top and bottom of every page are links displayed:
Sermons Watercolors Biographical Legal Pages
By placing the cursor on Sermons (at top of page only) you see below additional links vertically displayed: Find a Sermon, Audio Sermons, Sermons by Subject, How to Use the Site, and Download Sermon Index
and by placing the cursor on Biographical (at top of page only) you see below additional links vertically displayed: Purpose of the Site, Biographical Background, Nominating Speeches for Moderater of General Assembly, Chain Of Kindness – Introduction, Dedications, and Posthumous Tributes. Some sermons, or talks, are part of a Series and are searchable by series.
For example: Series on the Lord’s Prayer; Series on the Apostles’ Creed; Series on the parables of Jesus; Series on Communism
Authors quoted can be found through the authors’ list (unlinked) and by a search of a sermon text.
The Table of Contents of the book, The Chain of Kindness, is included.
The Index
Another way to understand the site is to look at the Index. The Index is unlinked. If you bring up the Index in Excel and save it as an Excel file you can sort it by any column heading so that you are able to arrange scripture references, subjects, dates, topics, etc., in the order desired. The Index includes all sermons and only those with an X in the column to the left of the title and whose title has a red background are available.
Miscellaneous
Not all entries are sermons. Other non-sermon entries are talks, Bible lessons, commencement addresses, addresses to civic groups, etc. Search All Sermons includes only those that are available.
Sermons preached more than once were preached to a different audience in a different place each time. They were also modified for different occasions and audiences and to address current affairs. The version included is usually, but not always, the last. Sermons may be added periodically.
The site was originally conceived to help seminary students learn how to construct sermons and broaden their theological understanding and as an aid to ministers in preparing their sermons, but it should be valuable to anyone interested in furthering their understanding of Christianity and human relationships. Life’s most important issues are addressed in these sermons.