Brooklyn Tabernacle - Audio Sermons Feed
542 episodes — Page 5 of 11
The Order of Events | Mark 14:1 | Daily Devotions | Pastor Jim Cymbala
Order matters. In Jewish history, Passover came before the feast of unleavened bread. For us today, this represents salvation first, since Jesus our Passover lamb saved us, and then dealing with the leaven—sin—in our lives. We don’t deal with sin to get saved, we do it because we’re saved. Praise God, we don’t have to earn salvation.
Watch for His Return | Mark 13:32–37 | Daily Devotions | Pastor Jim Cymbala
People throughout the years have tried to predict when Jesus will return, but the Bible plainly tells us that no one knows. And if no one knows the day or hour that it will happen, that means no one knows when it won’t happen—so we’d better stay alert! May the Lord help us to keep an attitude of watching for Him every day.
Born Again | Pastor Jim Cymbala | Sunday Sermon | The Brooklyn Tabernacle
"Born again." The term is hard to understand—unless we realize that Jesus was talking about spiritual rebirth. The only way we can be saved and spend eternity with God is to be born again. That means having a new spiritual life, with the Holy Spirit coming to live inside us. This incredible new birth gives us a living hope. Let’s be alive in Christ today, knowing that we have a heavenly inheritance in Him that can never be shaken!
End-Times Interpretations | Mark 13:26–31 | Daily Devotions | Pastor Jim Cymbala
We don’t need to have prophetic calendars or understand all the verses on the end times. We actually should have a little latitude on secondary matters. There has never been total agreement on every portion of Scripture. But there is one thing we can unite around: Jesus is the Savior of the world.
Jesus Is Coming │ Mark 13:24–27 | Daily Devotions | Pastor Jim Cymbala
Almost everyone has an opinion how to interpret verses about the end times. Some people hold strongly to their personal beliefs about when Jesus will return and what the apocalypse will look like. But why do we have to argue over nuances that we’re not sure of? Let’s focus on what matters: Jesus is coming again!
Be on Guard | Mark 13:20–23 | Daily Devotions | Pastor Jim Cymbala
Jesus warned us, in the midst of our evangelizing, fellowshipping, praying, and worshiping, “Be on your guard.” The enemy can take on the form of an angel of light to deceive people who are used to light. Praise God, the Holy Spirit will warn us about that false presence! Let’s stay in the Word so we can sort out heresy and false teaching.
Strength Out Of Weakness | Pastor Jim Cymbala | Tuesday Prayer Meeting | The Brooklyn Tabernacle
The difficulty you’re facing right now is an opportunity to draw near to God. He said His power is perfected in our weaknesses. We fail when we try to get strength on our own—like Uzziah, the Old Testament king, who saw firsthand the destruction of not drawing on God’s strength. Instead, let’s be like Paul, who prayed to God and fully depended on His power.
God’s Word Is Sure | Mark 13:14–19 | Daily Devotions | Pastor Jim Cymbala
As Christians, we can easily get caught up in the interpretations of Bible prophecy. But we have to remember that the prophecies are there to remind us of God’s faithfulness—that His Word is sure. If God says something is going to happen, we can rest assured that it will!
Endure to the End | Mark 13:11–13 | Daily Devotions | Pastor Jim Cymbala
The age of social media sometimes feels like a hostile environment. When we stand up for our faith, we can be labeled as haters and radicals. Though that's nothing compared to what Jesus faced, it is the form of persecution many of us identify with. We have to be encouraged by Jesus’s words, “The one who endures to the end will be saved.”
Worshiping Jesus | Pastor Jim Cymbala | Sunday Sermon | The Brooklyn Tabernacle
The most beautiful moments in life tend to be when we are worshiping Jesus. Worship is pouring out what is inside of our hearts, not repeating words we’ve heard. There’s no casual worship in the Bible. It should be a sweet and powerful time with Jesus. We were created to worship God. Let’s tell Him how much we love Him today!
Mature Christians | Mark 13:6–7, 9–10 | Daily Devotions | Pastor Jim Cymbala
Some teachers claim that we don’t have fancy blessings because we lack faith. What does that mean for the suffering Christians in third-world countries? Jesus disproved this message in the Gospel of Mark when He said that some believers will experience great trials. Difficulties don’t show a lack of faith—mature Christians see that they create opportunities to witness for the Lord!
Rumors of Wars | Mark 13:5–8 | Daily Devotions | Pastor Jim Cymbala
Many of us have heard a lot about the end times—the end is near, prophecies are being fulfilled, this next war is “it.” Yet here we are, and the world still hasn’t ended! Jesus made it very clear that there will be wars and rumors of wars. But we don’t need to worry about that. God has the whole world in His hands! Shake off the anxiety, and trust Him today!
Watch Out! | Mark 13:3–6 | Daily Devotions | Pastor Jim Cymbala
Diligently search the Scriptures and compare everything you hear to the Word of God. Why? We need to watch out for false teachers! Everywhere, every day, there are people who claim to have a word from above, and we must stay clear of any false teachings. When we draw close to God daily, the Spirit will show us the truth. Let’s stay on guard!
Focus on What Matters | Mark 13:1–2 | Daily Devotions | Pastor Jim Cymbala
How often do we realize that God doesn’t care about the beauty of buildings? Even stunning cathedrals and magnificent churches aren’t His focus. He said heaven and earth will pass away before He replaces them with perfection. We must shift our focus from the earthly things the world is impressed by to what actually pleases God.
Holy Spirit Walking | Pastor Jim Cymbala | Sunday Sermon | The Brooklyn Tabernacle
As Christians, we often try to be Christlike through our own effort. But no matter how hard we try, we can't defeat our sinful tendencies on our own. When we walk in the Spirit, though, the grace of God teaches us to say no to our sinful human natures so we can live in victory. Let’s say no to sin today and yes to Jesus and His grace!
God’s Math | Mark 12:41–44 | Daily Devotions | Pastor Jim Cymbala
Nobody thinks that five cents is greater than five hundred dollars—except God! To Him, what matters most is the sacrifice and honor. Anything we do for the Lord that costs us something is honorable and pleasing to Him. Jesus sacrificed His life for us—surely we can give to Him our tithes and offerings, knowing all the while that He blesses those who trust in Him.
Be a Giver | Mark 12:41–43 | Daily Devotions | Pastor Jim Cymbala
The Lord loves a cheerful giver. But fewer than 5 percent of Christians tithe! The love of money is the root of all kinds of problems. We can’t take money with us to heaven. We should give with joyful hearts, letting others see our love for and trust in God.
Let’s Be Real | Mark 12:38–40 | Daily Devotions | Pastor Jim Cymbala
One look on social media shows us the lives of millionaires, the latest trends—even the next big evangelical product. The problem is, it’s all fake! Jesus tells us to watch out for hypocrites and legalists. If we claim to be believers, then we must be sincere and keep our eyes on Jesus alone. Let’s block out worldly distractions and just be real.
Hidden Love | Justin Lewandowski | Tuesday Prayer Meeting | The Brooklyn Tabernacle
As Christians, we are called to love everyone. But that's not always so easy! We can put on appearances at church, but when we pray in secret to God, sometimes we tell Him how people rub us the wrong way instead of praying with gratefulness for them. Even in our private prayers, we are to love others—especially our church family.
Encouragement in Waiting │Mark 12:35–37 | Daily Devotions | Pastor Jim Cymbala
Whether it’s for a new job, a good diagnosis, or a wayward family member to turn to God, we are all waiting for something. But Jesus Himself is waiting for God to right all the wickedness in the world! And God's going to be right on time. Periods of waiting can be so discouraging, but we can rest in our Father’s goodness while we wait.
Love Others | Mark 12:29–34 | Daily Devotions | Pastor Jim Cymbala
The greatest commandment given to Christians is to love God and others. But many of us are guilty of being unloving when someone holds a different belief than we do. People interpret the Bible differently—but differing opinions shouldn't be used as fuel in a hateful fire. We ought to be imitators of God today and love one another.
The Greatest Commandment | Mark 12:28–31 | Daily Devotions | Pastor Jim Cymbala
We love because God first loved us. How amazing! Jesus said that the greatest commandment in the whole Bible is to love the Lord God with everything in us. Then, because of that immense love we have from God, we are called to love our neighbors. Sometimes it’s hard to love others. But we must remember Jesus’ command. It gets easier when we focus on God’s love for us.
God of the Living | Mark 12:26–27 | Daily Devotions | Pastor Jim Cymbala
Jesus didn’t say that God is the Lord of the dead—He is the God of the living! This is encouraging. To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. Heaven is a place full of life! When we keep this in mind, we can shift our focus from physical possessions to heavenly life. We should tell others about our living God so they can have eternal life too!
Word and Power | Matthew 12:18–25 | Daily Devotions | Pastor Jim Cymbala
Which is more important: the Word of God or the power of the Holy Spirit? Neither! One is not higher in importance than the other—we are supposed to know and love both. Some churches focus only on one aspect, Word or power, and that kills their spiritual health. We can’t afford to live that way. Let’s know and love both, in Jesus’ name.
Pray About Everything | Pastor Alex Burgos | Tuesday Prayer Meeting | The Brooklyn Tabernacle
Why do we carry loads that God never intended us to carry? We shouldn't worry about anything. Instead, as the apostle Paul wrote, we must pray about everything. When we instill a routine of praying in a place where we are totally alone with God, the Lord meets us there. He takes our burdens. He turns around our situations. Let’s cultivate a private prayer life.
The Importance of Honesty | Mark 12:15–17 | Daily Devotions | Pastor Jim Cymbala
Tax season is approaching! Most of us don’t like paying the government. It was the same in Bible times. Even then, people avoided—and even cheated on!—taxes. Jesus called out the hypocrisy of the religious leaders who weren’t honest in their giving to the government or to God. We Christians are to do everything as unto the Lord, so we have to be honest in all of our exchanges.
Speak the Truth in Love | Mark 12:13–15 | Daily Devotions | Pastor Jim Cymbala
If we truly care about people, then we need to tell them the truth. That’s easier said than done, right? It’s hard to confront wrong behavior in others. But with God’s grace, we can speak the truth in love and point the people in our lives toward righteousness. Let’s not simply tell others what they want to hear; let’s tell them the good news of Jesus!
Sudden Loss | Pastor Jim Cymbala | Sunday Sermon | The Brooklyn Tabernacle
Greed and the love of money can hinder us from seeing how desperately we need a Savior. Life is too precious to be wasted on greed and too short to not trust in Jesus for salvation—it is a vapor. Those of us who are saved, we have to share this good news with our loved ones! Let’s set aside our constant desire to gain more worldly possessions and focus rather on the eternal placement of others.
Jesus Is Our Cornerstone | Mark 12:10–12 | Daily Devotions | Pastor Jim Cymbala
When a monumental building is being constructed, the most significant part is the cornerstone. Builders won’t pick just any old brick for this spot! Just like this important piece of a physical structure, Jesus should be the cornerstone of our lives. Yet He was rejected like a common rock by the religious teachers of His day! Let’s not make that same mistake—let’s give Jesus glory.
Don’t Reject Jesus | Mark 12:1–9 | Daily Devotions | Pastor Jim Cymbala
Jesus, God’s only Son, was the sacrifice for our sins. The only way for us to spend eternity in heaven with God is through repentance and faith in Him. Yet every day people reject Jesus. Even as saved Christians, we have to be careful not to turn away from our Savior. We need to live for Him every day and point others to salvation
Sincere Leadership | Mark 11:27–33 | Daily Devotions | Pastor Jim Cymbala
Remember the phrase “Beware a wolf in sheep’s clothing”? Unfortunately, sometimes so-called spiritual leaders are those wolves. We have to hold anything someone says up to the Bible and find out if that person has an ulterior motive to his or her teaching. May we always be sincere in our sharing of Scripture and wary of false teachers.
Launch Out Into The Deep | Pastor Jim Cymbala | Tuesday Prayer Meeting | The Brooklyn Tabernacle
When someone goes fishing and catches nothing, he probably won’t revisit the same spot soon. But when the disciples spent hours in the sea without a single bite and Jesus told them to go back into the deep—they caught so much that their boats started to sink! If Jesus says to go deeper, then we must obey. None of us has reached the depths God wants us to be at in our relationships with Him. Let’s launch out deeper today!
The Gift of Faith | Mark 11:20–24 | Daily Devotions | Pastor Jim Cymbala
Instead of meditating on the Bible, many times we try to work up our own faith. It becomes a game of mental positivism—a denial of reality. But there's a gift of real faith that comes from God. Rather than rushing in and trying to believe in ourselves for things, we should spend more time in God’s Word. Faith comes from hearing the Word!
The Church of Jesus Christ | Pastor Jim Cymbala | Sunday Sermon | The Brooklyn Tabernacle
We are called to be the body of Christ—that’s what church means. The church is so much more than just a building. We are members of it in the same way a finger is a member of a body. We must act like we’re part of the same body—the body of Christ—by loving, supporting, and encouraging one another. If you need to feel loved and included today, you can find that in your church body.
The Evil of Envy | Mark 11:17–19 | Daily Devotions | Pastor Jim Cymbala
Sometimes it’s hard not to be jealous when we see others receiving blessings. But we have to remember that envy destroys others. In fact, the envy of the religious leaders in Jesus' day was the human catalyst for getting Jesus on the cross! Let’s pray that God delivers us from jealousy and envy. May He help us to rejoice in others’ blessings.
A House of Prayer | Mark 11:17 | Daily Devotions | Pastor Jim Cymbala
Churches should be houses of prayer. Pause and think about that. How much time do our church services give to praying? While there’s nothing wrong with focusing on a theme, the real vision of the church should be talking with and calling out to the Lord in prayer. We need to remember what the church is called to do today.
It's God's House | Mark 11:12–18 | Daily Devotions | Pastor Jim Cymbala
Most of us have seen or heard about churches and preachers scamming people. What a shame! Jesus literally overturned tables in the temple because He saw people overcharging those who were there to give glory to the Lord. God wants His house to be a place of worship and offering. May we never be a part of taking advantage of others.
Hosanna! | Mark 11:7–11 | Daily Devotions | Pastor Jim Cymbala
When Jesus rode into Jerusalem, the people called out "Hosanna!" They were drawing attention to Him. But the Lord was entering their city on a lowly colt. Jesus never showed off or tried to impress; instead, He was humble and meek. Let’s be humble like Jesus today and cry “Hosanna” to His name.
It’s Not About Us | Mark 10:52–11:6 | Daily Devotions | Pastor Jim Cymbala
What do you have that the Lord can use? Perhaps you have a talent, a pay increase, or some spare time in your day-to-day life that you can give to God. The greatest joy in life is to be available to the Lord and see Him use us in some way for His honor and glory. It’s not about us, it’s about Him.
Wide Open Spacious Life | Pastor Alec Rowlands | Sunday Sermon | The Brooklyn Tabernacle
God has called us out of a narrow, constricting life in Christ into the wide open spacious life of faith and boldness in 2025.
Follow Jesus | Mark 10:49–52 | Daily Devotions | Pastor Jim Cymbala
magine being blind for your whole life, then someone gives you sight. If we experienced that, we’d want to thank whoever helped us. That’s exactly what happened in the Bible! Jesus healed a blind man who didn’t know anything about salvation or sanctification—he just ran after Jesus in thanks for His gift. We’ve been given a great gift, too, so we should follow Jesus everyday!
Call on God | Mark 10:46–48 | Daily Devotions | Pastor Jim Cymbala
At some point in our lives, we carry burdens so heavy that they overwhelm us. No matter if we cry silently or loudly, we should always call on God. He's rich in mercy to everyone who calls on Him. Why don't we get alone with God today and hand over the thing that's weighing on our hearts? Let’s call on Him even now.
The Opposite of Selfish | Mark 10:42–45 | Daily Devotions | Pastor Jim Cymbala
We live in a society that is obsessed with self. But Jesus Christ was an example of the complete opposite. He was a servant, and we are called to imitate Him. We can’t be selfish and self-absorbed like the world. To make a difference on earth and earn rewards in heaven, we must be willing to serve others. Jesus will help us, we just have to let Him!
Persistent Prayer Works | Pastor Jim Cymbala | Tuesday Prayer Meeting | The Brooklyn Tabernacle
Grace to Serve | Mark 10:41–45 | Daily Devotions | Pastor Jim Cymbala
We’ve heard that Jesus said that the last will be first. But let’s take a closer look at that. He said whoever wants to be great in His eyes has to be a servant. It is hard for us to get over our selfish desires and want to help others. But if we humble ourselves, God will give us the grace and strength we need. Let’s look for ways to help others today.
Heavenly Prominence | Mark 10:30–31, 35–40 | Daily Devotions | Pastor Jim Cymbala
f anyone gets to sit at the right hand of Jesus, we’d think it would be one of the disciples or maybe a martyr. But when He talked about status in heaven, Jesus said, “the last shall be first.” This upside-down approach reminds us that prominence and fame on earth don’t matter. All the glory belongs to God. May we serve Him together daily!
Remember Jesus’ Love | Mark 10:32–34 | Daily Devotions | Pastor Jim Cymbala
Jesus was killed by religion. Isn’t that a shocking statement? The One who walked on water and healed countless hurting people was despised, rejected, and killed by the most devout religious people of His day—all so we could spend eternity with Him. That’s how much He loves us. Let’s live in His love today.
Living for Eternity | Mark 10:30b–31| Daily Devotions | Pastor Jim Cymbala
We aren’t promised easy lives just because we’re Christians. What we are promised, though, is a wonderful eternity with our Creator and Savior. Jesus gives us all we need to handle trials and persecutions today, and He calls us to live our lives with eternity in mind. What a difference it makes when we shift our focus towards Him!
The Body of Christ | Mark 10:28–30 | Daily Devotions | Pastor Jim Cymbala
Have you ever had family members turn on you? Or maybe they relocted or passed away? We know that that loss hurts. But Jesus said we as Christians gain family in God! Whatever we have lost in this life, we can find in the body of Christ—the church. Let’s not turn to substances or isolation when we get hurt. Instead, let’s turn to Jesus and our spiritual family.
What's Most Important? | Pastor Brian Pettrey | Tuesday Prayer Meeting | The Brooklyn Tabernacle
The most important thing in our lives as Christians has to be the love of God. There can’t be room in our hearts for anything else! If we are full of God’s love, it will shine out of us and point others to Him. We were put on this earth to bring people to Christ—being filled with His love helps us do that!