Love Worth Finding | Audio Program

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Dealing With Loneliness

Sermon Overview Scripture Passage: Psalm 102:6-7 Loneliness is the most devastating and inevitable fact of human existence. We all must experience it, and we can’t stop it; rather, we must learn how to deal with loneliness. Loneliness is not solitude, nor is it being lonesome or being in isolation. It is insulation; it is feeling cut off, unnoticed, unloved, uncared for, unneeded and maybe even unnecessary. David expresses his loneliness in Psalm 102:6-7: “I am like a pelican of the wilderness; I am like an owl of the desert. I lie awake, and am like a sparrow alone on the housetop.” Everyone has three basic psychological and spiritual needs: to share love intimately, to be understood and cared for, and to be needed and wanted. When we don’t feel these needs are being met, we feel cut off. Loneliness can come from feeling rejected; it can be a deep inner wound that hasn’t healed, and we don't want to risk being hurt again. Others of us may have a sense of insecurity and low self-worth. We are unable to see ourselves as worthy of acceptance. Some of us are lonely because we’ve gone through deep sorrow, tragedy, and loss. In our grief, we lose our sense of perspective. We must see that loneliness can be destructive to our health and well-being. Many of our harmful vices and coping mechanisms are formed due to loneliness. We must also remember that Jesus is the answer to loneliness. He alone meets our three basic needs. He loves us intimately and He understands what it is to feel lonely. Psalm 102 is a messianic song, one that portrayed how Jesus would feel on the cross. Adrian Rogers says, “When David died, he could say, ‘yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil, for thou art with me,’ (See Psalm 23.) but Jesus walked that lonesome valley all by himself.” He needs us as His beloved Body; more than that, He wants us as His Bride. We may be alone, but we are never alone. Nothing can separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus (See Romans 8:38-39.). Apply it to your life If you are dealing with loneliness, understand that it is a common fact and it can be a crippling force. But more than that, remember: Jesus, alone, is the answer.

Dec 10, 2021

Dealing with Depression

Sermon Overview Scripture Passage: Numbers 11:15; 1 Kings 19:4 Depression is not just sadness -- it is a profound helplessness and hopelessness that we can’t seem to regulate on our own. Becoming Christians does not make us immune to depression. If it can happen to Moses, Elijah, and Jonah, it can happen to us. God’s Word offers insight to help us in dealing with depression. Each prophet who uttered prayers of deep depression was physically worn and emotionally distraught. When Moses desperately prayed for death, he had been leading the Israelites in the wilderness alone, heavy under their burdens. As the people blamed him day and night for their problems in the wilderness, Moses felt emotionally drained. Frazzled by death threats from Jezebel, Elijah made a long, strenuous journey without food and water; exhausted, he asked God to take him out of his misery. Likewise, Jonah was far from home after a perilous journey by land and sea. Jonah was also angry because God had started a revival in the land of Tarshish after Jonah had prophesied judgment upon the land. Adrian Rogers says, “Moses had his eyes upon others. Elijah had his eyes upon himself. And Jonah had his eyes upon circumstances. But none of them had their eyes upon God.” As a result, these prophets became spiritually run down. Right on the heels of great spiritual experiences, these prophets faced great letdowns; they were walking through valleys after hillside experiences. But we also see God did not answer the prophets’ prayers for death because He knew them. Knowing the prophets were in the throes of depression, God did not mistake the moments for the men. Instead, God physically blessed them. He gave Moses help and assurance that He’d take care of His people. God provided Elijah with food and rest to replenish his strength. As Elijah asked for pity, God instead showed him His great power. And God delivered Jonah from his grief through shelter from the sun. In the cool of the shade, God provided Jonah with a new perspective. God lavished His love on the prophets, and their stories did not end with depression. What powerful examples these are: when we draw near to God, He draws near to us! Apply it to your life Are you dealing with depression? The answer, though profoundly spiritual, could be quite practical. As you ask God for His provision, remember: God loves you; when you draw near to Him, He will draw near to you.

Dec 8, 2021

Dealing with Doubt

Sermon Overview Scripture Passage: 1 John 5:13 As Christians, we have the opportunity to know without a doubt that we have eternal life. Praise God, we can be saved and know it; but we can also be saved and doubt it. As pain is a signal that there is something wrong with one’s physical body, doubt is a signal that something is wrong in the believer’s spirit. 1 John 5 is written for those who are dealing with doubt, so that we may be saved and know it. “These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God” (1 John 5:13). Understanding this, we can dispel doubt through these three basic tests: Commandment Test If we claim to love God, we will keep His commandments (1 John 5:2). This does not mean we follow these commandments flawlessly. In this context, to “keep” means to steer. The commandments of God are the standard by which we chart our course. We order our lives by His commandments. This is not about sinless perfection; it simply means a Christian does not make sin his lifestyle. Adrian Rogers reminds us, “We’re not saved because we keep his commandments. We keep his commandments because we are saved.” Companion Test Another birthmark of the Believer is love for our brothers and sisters in Christ. Fellowship is in the nature of both the Christian and the Church. Adrian Rogers says, “The Church and God are not identical, but they are inseparable.” If we love Jesus, we will love the Church—because of who we are, and who fellow believers are. We, having the nature of God, are called to love the Church, which is both the Body and the Bride of Christ. Commitment Test The assurance of our salvation is ongoing; it is not a past event, stamped by a time, date and place. It is a present decision to trust in Jesus, right now. We can trust in Him, for He alone is the assurance of our salvation. Apply it to your life Do you have doubts about your faith? Consider these tests; if you don’t know whether your doubt is the Holy Spirit’s conviction, or the devil’s tactic, believe in Jesus.

Dec 6, 2021

The Blight of Bitterness

Sermon Overview Scripture Passage: Hebrews 12:14-15 Bitterness is a terrible problem that blows the joy out of our lives and leaves our souls in darkness. It often manifests itself in people as hostility and fault-finding. Sometimes, it can look like self-pity, or an aloof, disinterested spirit. The Bible warns about the blight of bitterness and describes how to uproot it before it takes its full effect. Hebrews 12:14 says, “Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord…” We must recognize the root of bitterness. A bitter person is someone who has generally been hurt. Adrian Rogers says, “The root of bitterness grows in the soil of a hurt that has not been properly dealt with.” The hurt could have been intentional, unintentional, or imagined; regardless, something happened and that hurt has turned into anger. Second, we see the fruit of bitterness: “...looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled…” (Hebrews 12:15). Bitterness produces physical and emotional trouble; it fatigues us, it stresses and depresses us, and it can even make us sick. It also brings spiritual trouble; anger becomes a sin when we begin to live with it—when we nurse and feed it and cherish it. The bitterness turns to wrath, which burns slowly, then explodes into an unproportionally big anger. The arguing and clamoring lead to evil speaking, and then tragically transforms into malice—a desire to harm someone else. Finally, we must pursue bitterness to uproot it. Because bitterness is an underground sin, we have to seek it out. When we live outwardly good lives while bitterness festers beneath the surface, we prune its limbs while strengthening the root. The only way to uproot bitterness is forgiveness. On the basis of God’s grace, we must forgive others as God has forgiven us. We must make things right with our brothers and sisters if we want the love of God to take root in our hearts, instead. Apply it to your life Do you feel the blight of bitterness, deep down in your soul? Adrian Rogers says, “There may be somebody who has shut you out, but I want you to take God's love and bring him in—for Christ's sake and what He has done for you.”

Dec 3, 2021

God's Answer to Anger

Sermon Overview Scripture Passage: Proverbs 19:11-12 It’s been said that unjustified anger is like an acid that brings harm to anything it is poured on, including the very container it inhabits. If we can’t control our temper, we risk wrecking our lives and destroying our testimonies. Proverbs 19:11 reveals God’s answer to anger. “The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger, and his glory is to overlook a transgression.” Scripture says sudden anger is to be controlled. When we feel it coming, we must confess it to God and keep it contained until we have a chance to consider it. Sinful anger is to be condemned; it is not a weakness, it is wickedness. It is anger without a cause rooted within us. It is centered on a person rather than on an offense. It refuses to forgive and let go. Stubborn anger is to be conquered. Bitterness and wrath take over when we let the sun go down on our anger. We allow the devil access in our lives when we let anger rule over us. We must recognize and repent of our anger and refuse the devil’s schemes to use our emotions against us. If we don’t control, condemn, and conquer anger, it will control, condemn, and conquer us. But there’s a sanctified anger we are instructed to channel. It is not destructive to the soul, and it does not result in sin. We see it in Jesus in Mark 3, when He cleared the temple of malicious Pharisees and self-seeking merchants who were taking advantage of the poor. It is not only possible to possess righteous anger, but it is also expected. In fact, injustice ought to stir us and move us to act. Never once did Jesus retaliate when he was personally attacked and abused, even when He was crucified. Yet, Jesus was moved with righteous anger to act when He saw other people being attacked and abused. Adrian Rogers said, “Sometimes anger is love’s clearest expression, but we need to be careful with it.” If we want to follow the example of Jesus, we are instructed to get angry at the right time, for the right reason, against the right thing, in the right way. Apply it to your life Is there a sudden, sinful, stubborn anger in your life that is controlling you? Recognize it, repent of it and rebuke the enemy, so that you may live righteously and protect your testimony.

Dec 1, 2021

Cleansing with Chastisement

Sermon Overview Scripture Passage: 2 Samuel 12:1-14 2 Samuel 12 tells the heartbreaking story of how God dealt with David’s sins. David had committed adultery and murder. When David finally asked God for forgiveness, he faced cleansing with chastisement through the loss of a child. In order to understand why David suffered as he did, we must know the law of the harvest. The first principle of the law of the harvest is implantation: if we want a crop, we have to plant. We reap because we have sown, and many times we reap the physical and spiritual blessings somebody else has planted before us. The second principle is identification: we reap the same as we sow. Adrian Rogers says, “You cannot plant discord and reap unity. You cannot plant hypocrisy and reap holiness. You cannot sow to the flesh and reap to the spirit.” Galatians 6:7 confirms, “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.” The third principle is incubation: we reap later than we sow. David’s fatal crop came up days after God pronounced judgment on him. But some seeds sprout after a long incubation period. Whatever it may be, we will reap in due season. The fourth principle is intensification: we always reap more than we sow. Hosea 8:7 warns, “They sow the wind, and reap the whirlwind.” If we do a little good, God rewards us a lot; if we do a little evil, our punishment will be far more severe than we’d expect. The final principle is implementation: if we want to reap a crop, we must get busy. God gives the opportunity, but we must implement the plan. We may try to talk ourselves out of planting based on exterior circumstances. Ecclesiastes 11:4 instructs, “He who observes the wind will not sow, and he who regards the clouds will not reap.” David’s experience with the law of the harvest was a painful one. God forgave him, but He did not cancel out the law of the harvest. To be forgiven means there’s unbroken communion with God, but it doesn’t mean we bypass the suffering for what we’ve done. What David planted came to the surface, just as we will reap what we’ve sown. Apply it to your life Understanding the law of the harvest, will you reap blessings or consequences? Choose to plant what is good and pure.

Nov 29, 2021

Giving Thanks in Dark Days

Sermon Overview Scripture Passage: Habakkuk 1-3 The Book of Habakkuk might be the most pertinent Scripture in this day and age. In three short chapters, Habakkuk shows us how to give thanks in dark days. There are three things to remember about faith as these days grow gloriously dim. In chapter one, we learn that faith does not live by explanations, but by God’s promises. “The burden which the prophet Habakkuk saw. O Lord, how long shall I cry, And You will not hear? Even cry out to You, ‘Violence!’” (Habakkuk 1:1-2). Habakkuk has been praying fervently, crying out for help with a broken heart. Yet he experienced Heaven’s silence, Earth’s sinfulness, and Hell’s success. He begins to question if God is even listening. God will not explain everything to us because we would not understand His ways; He will not limit Himself to our understanding. In chapter two, Habakkuk shows that faith doesn’t live by appearances, but by providence. In the silence of a prayer tower, God revealed His providence to Habakkuk, first through Scripture, which is Truth. Habakkuk also saw God’s provision for the saints: “Behold the proud, his soul is not upright in him; but the just shall live by his faith” (Habakkuk 2:4). Faith, when it is rooted in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, is the most powerful force on earth. God also provides retribution for the sinner. Judgment will come against all material, moral, and spiritual corruption running rampant on Earth. Adrian Rogers reminds us, “The mills of God grind slowly, but they grind exceedingly fine.” God will also show provision through the reign of the Savior: “For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea” (Habakkuk 2:14). Finally, in chapter three, we learn that faith doesn’t live by circumstances, but by praise. Habakkuk 3:3 says, “His glory covered the heavens, and the earth was full of His praise.” In these dimming days, we must remember God’s glory, rejoice in His goodness and rely on His grace. Adrian Rogers says, “We don’t need to know why, we need to know Who.” Apply it to your life Are you giving thanks in these dark days? Remember: faith does not live by explanations, but by promises. It does not live by appearances, but by providence. And we can praise Him in every circumstance.

Nov 25, 2021

The Way Back to God

Sermon Overview Scripture Passage: 2 Samuel 11:1-2 King David, though a man after God’s own heart, was a great sinner. In 2 Samuel 11, he committed adultery and, in covering it up, he committed murder. But in 2 Samuel 12, we find that David was also a great repenter. He exemplifies the way back to God after we fall into sin. We must first recognize the causes of David’s sin. In a time of war, David was at home while his army fought without him. Adrian Rogers says, “The sin of omission is failure to do what you ought to be doing.” David’s idleness quickly turned into a careless affair with a married woman. That carelessness turned into callousness. After committing the hot-blooded sin of adultery, David murdered his mistress’s husband Uriah in cold blood. We also see the consequences David faced when he covered up his sins rather than confess them. He aged prematurely, his body groaned inwardly under heavy conviction, and he experienced a spiritual dryness. Proverbs 28:13 says, “He who covers his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy.” For those who are children of God, the Holy Spirit convicts us of our sins until we confess them. If we do not confess, God must chastise us as he did David. God is more interested in our relationship with Him than in anything else; He will do whatever He has to in order to restore us to Himself. Then, God will use someone or something in our lives to challenge us about our sins. For David, He sent the prophet Nathan. Once David realized how far he had drifted from God, he was desperate to find the way back. Psalm 51:7 says, “Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.” Even when he sinned, David had confidence in God’s lovingkindness. He confessed his sins without any excuse or alibi, and God was faithful to cleanse and forgive. 1 John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” We don’t have to carry around our own condemnation anymore; we can be clean. Apply it to your life Do you have any unconfessed sin weighing on you today? Ask God to search your heart and reveal your sin to you. Confess it, and be cleansed by God’s forgiveness.

Nov 23, 2021

Then Came Sin

Sermon Overview Scripture Passage: 2 Samuel 11:1-5 2 Samuel 11 is a dark chapter in the history of King David’s life. David was at the height of his career, seeing continuous blessings from God. But then came —David committed the sin of adultery. “Then it happened one evening that David arose from his bed and walked on the roof of the king’s house. And from the roof he saw a woman bathing, and the woman was very beautiful to behold...” (2 Samuel 11:2). Marriage is a divine creation, a supreme commitment, and a faithful continuation. It is the first institution created by Almighty God, designed for one man to be married to one woman until death do them part. Though he did not understand the beauties of monogamous marriage, David broke the marriage vows he made to his wives. When David sinned against his marriage, he ultimately sinned against himself. Adrian Rogers says, “There is no sin that will do you more damage, hurt, or harm than the sin of sexual impurity. Sexual immorality is harmful spiritually, psychologically, and physically.” David also sinned against his family, which is the basic unit of society; God established monogamous marriage to meet a family’s deepest emotional, physical and spiritual needs. The glue that holds the home together is sexual faithfulness. Adultery is also a sin against the church; when a member of a church lives in sexual immorality, he sins against the holy body of Christ. No matter how society tries to glamorize it, adultery has destroyed great nations in the past: Rome, Egypt, and Babylon, to name a few. It may be the sin that destroys our nation, as well, because it is a sin against Almighty God. If we want to avoid sinning the way David did, we must make the decision; bring our failures and sins before Jesus Christ and depend on Him. We have a responsibility to exercise our devotion to Christ and to our families. We must let our love develop, cultivate and grow over time, guarding our hearts; we must be disciplined, and have control over who or what we let into our lives. Remain determined; make up your mind that you will not fall into temptation before it comes. Apply it to your life We have a responsibility to remain faithful in our marriages. Remember your decision to depend upon Him, remain devoted, and develop your love for your spouse; stay disciplined and determined.

Nov 19, 2021

Games That Fools Play

Sermon Overview Scripture Passage: 1 Samuel 26:21 No man in Scripture ever had a brighter beginning, nor a sadder ending, than King Saul. Any one of us could become like Saul if we dare to play the games that fools play. First, we must see Saul’s golden opportunities. 1 Samuel 9 notes his superior manhood, modesty, and magnanimous spirit. He was anointed by God to rule Israel—God’s chosen people—surrounded by men of valor and mentored by God’s chosen prophet, Samuel. Yet, despite being set up for success, he started down the road toward self-destruction and became a fool. His first step toward failure was his self-determination. Saul ran ahead of God’s timing and acted by self-will. He did what seemed good to him rather than obeying God. Those who run ahead of God eventually veer off track. Second, in his wandering, Saul chose to stubbornly disobey rather than to repent. In his reasoning, he wanted to do wrong so that he could then do right. Third, 1 Samuel 16:14 says, “But the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and a distressing spirit from the Lord troubled him.” Something terrible happened to this man as God’s Spirit left him and an evil spirit came upon him. Spiritually depraved, Saul engaged in witchcraft and began communicating with evil spirits for guidance on the battlefield. He put himself in company with the devil and opened himself to the occult. Seeing his defeat, Saul died in shame by his own hand, falling on his own sword. He became the finished product of the devil’s art. Saul’s story reminds us that we could have every advantage in the world and still play the fool. Success is temporary, and we have no chance of it without obeying God. If we knowingly disobey Him with our eyes wide open, we put ourselves in danger. Adrian Rogers says, “Sin is horribly powerful; it will take you further than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay, and cost you more than you want to pay.” No one is immune to the power of sin; we must get clean and stay that way. Apply it to your life Do you have any unconfessed sin in your heart? Are you ignoring any instruction from God, or daring to run ahead of His will? Carefully pray for forgiveness and guidance; don’t play the game fools play.

Nov 17, 2021

The Death of a Brilliant Fool

Sermon Overview Scripture Passage: 2 Samuel 3:33, 38 2 Samuel 3 tells of the tragic demise of Abner, a great man of middle age and robust health who died in a foolish manner. Then the king said to his servants, ‘Do you not know that a prince and a great man has fallen this day in Israel’” (2 Samuel 3:38)? Abner’s story is instructive for those who want to live lives full of wisdom and abundance. First, we see that Abner was in a place of fearful danger; he was in the middle of a battle, fighting on the wrong side against David. Seeing his defeat, he fled and was chased down by the brother of Joab, the king’s commander-in-chief. Abner killed his hunter, and as a result, faced a foolish death, himself. “Now when Abner had returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside in the gate to speak with him privately, and there stabbed him in the stomach so that he died for the blood of Asahel his brother” (2 Samuel 3:27). Hebron was a city of refuge where Abner would be safe. But he was lured outside of the city gate by Joab, who killed him to avenge his brother’s death. Abner’s foolish death is an illustration of what it is like to die without faith in Jesus Christ. Adrian Rogers says, “Jesus is our city of refuge, and yet many great, discerning men are going to die like fools because they will die just outside the gate of the city of refuge.” Abner, a brilliant man, died like a fool because he was deceived. Likewise, the devil has deceived many into believing he is their ally and God is their enemy. This friendly deceiver lures them outside of Christ our refuge to strike them down. Finally, we see the final determination of David and his tears after the fact: “And the king sang a lament over Abner and said: ‘Should Abner die as a fool dies’” (2 Samuel 3:33)? Abner’s destiny was fixed, and David’s tears could not bring him back. Adrian Rogers says, “David wept after the fact, but Jesus wept before the fact. Oh, may God give me a heart that’s broken over the lost destiny of men.” Apply it to your life Are you safe in the city of refuge that is a relationship with Jesus Christ? Is your heart broken for the lost? Pray for the salvation of those who may not yet know Jesus.

Nov 16, 2021

The Judas of the Old Testament

Sermon Overview Scripture Passage: 1 Kings 2:5-6 In 1 Kings 2, David is coming to the end of his reign. Before relinquishing the throne to his son, Solomon, David proclaims judgment on his right-hand man, Joab. By all appearances, Joab was devoutly loyal to his king. He was David’s nephew who believed the right things about him. He knew David was the savior of Israel and a sovereign king. He even believed David was a sufficient leader, risking his life for his king on the battlefield. But in spite of his loyalty, there was still something missing: he never really gave his heart to David. Adrian Rogers says, “Joab was a man who loved the kingdom without loving the king. He loved the power, but he didn’t love the person. He loved the glory, but he did not love the glorious one who was God’s anointed.” There are some Christians who will profess their loyalty to Christ, yet remain lost like Joab, the Judas of the Old Testament. Joab represents those who claim to know and love the Lord, and yet don’t have the mind of Christ. They can’t deal properly with those whom Jesus has forgiven, because they don’t understand it—and they don’t understand it because they haven’t experienced it. Joab did not have the heart of David. David’s son, Absalom, had rebelled against his father, trying to usurp the throne. But David loved his rebel son and instructed Joab to deal gently with him. Instead, Joab killed Absalom the moment he got the chance. Nor did Joab have the will of David; it was David’s will that Solomon be king, but Joab sought out other candidates. There are many like Joab in our churches who will claim to fight in the name of their king, but they don’t have the heart of the king. They don’t deal with other people as Jesus would, or forgive as Jesus forgives. They don’t seek rebels as Jesus seeks rebels, therefore, they don’t share in His sovereign will. Joab’s tragic story shows our loyalty doesn’t matter if we are still lost. We must consider our own hearts, minds, and wills, and be sure they are like Jesus. Apply it to your life Do you have the heart and mind of Christ, thinking what He thinks, loving whom He loves? Don’t let a Joab or a Judas or any other hypocrite keep you from loving Jesus and serving in your church.

Nov 12, 2021

The Blood Covenant

Sermon Overview Scripture Passage: 1 Samuel 18:1-4 A blood covenant is a biblical principle that permanently unites two people together in marriage, business or friendship. It is made when the blood of two individuals is mingled together, and the two parties adopt a lovingkindness toward each other, meaning their love surpasses all differences. Jonathan and David’s blood covenant in 1 Samuel 18-19 is a picture of the blood covenant God made with us, through Jesus. After David came into power, the former King Saul’s descendants were scared that he would kill them, especially his grandson, Mephibosheth. But because of the covenant David made with Mephibosheth’s father, Jonathan, he was shown lovingkindness. 2 Samuel 9:7 says, “And David said unto him, ‘Fear not; fear not; for I will surely show thee kindness, for Jonathan thy father’s sake, and I will restore unto thee all the land of Saul, thy father; and thou shalt eat bread at my table continually.’” Mephibosheth changed his mind and ratified the covenant first made by his father. King David, who was once his enemy, became his friend. Once he ratified the covenant, a transformation took place. Mephibosheth, deformed, dethroned, deceived, and good as dead, was now a son of the King. He shared the King’s possessions, protections, and personhood. In the same way, when we change our minds, we take a new King into our lives: Jesus Christ. The blood covenant is not just a biblical principle… it is the subject of the Bible; Jesus entered into a blood covenant with God the Father on our behalf. On the cross, the blood of God and the blood of man mingled. As a result, we now live by the steadfast promise and the saving power of the blood covenant. We have received the King’s forgiveness, His fellowship, and His fortune. Adrian Rogers says, “Because of the blood covenant, the meek shall inherit the earth. We’re heirs of God and joint-heirs with the Lord Jesus Christ.” Thank God that God sought us, just as David sought Mephibosheth. We are in the king’s family; whether we feel it or not, our sonship is a matter of the blood covenant. Apply it to your life Adrian Rogers says, “Jesus came to Earth to make a blood covenant so that we might enjoy what we have with our Lord, share the wealth of His possessions, and rest in the shadow of His protection.”

Nov 8, 2021

The Formula for Friendship

Sermon Overview Scripture Passage: 1 Samuel 18:1-4 A true friend is of great value and worth the find. The Bible places a great emphasis upon friends, but it also encourages us not to have too many of them. Rather, we are to consider friendships as an investment. We invest time, energy, prayers, and emotions into people. We cannot fully invest in more than we can maintain. Jesus loved many people in his time on Earth. He made good acquaintances, but he regularly invested himself in his twelve disciples. In his humanity, Jesus needed a friend, and He showed us the virtues of a true friend. 1 Samuel 18 provides a vignette of David and Jonathan, and the fortune and formula of their beautiful friendship. “Now when he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul” (1 Samuel 18:1). David and Jonathan’s friendship was selfless. Jonathan was the king’s son, and the heir to the throne; yet there’s not one speck of jealousy of David, the one who would become king. Rather, the Bible says that Jonathan loved David as he loved his own soul. Their friendship was steadfast, as 1 Samuel 18:3 continues: “Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul.” By entering a blood covenant, their steadfast friendship was unconditional. Their friendship was also sacrificial: “And Jonathan took off the robe that was on him and gave it to David, with his armor, even to his sword and his bow and his belt” (1 Samuel 18:4). Jonathan, who lived a life of royalty, shared all he had with David, who lived a life of a shepherd. Finally, their friendship was sanctifying. Proverbs 27:17 says, “As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.” Adrian Rogers says, “The best thing that could happen to you is to have a friend that so loves God and so loves you that you’re always a better person when you leave his presence.” Apply it to your life Do you have a friend who loves, strengthens, helps, corrects, guides, and sustains you? More importantly, are you that kind of friend? Pray and ask God for the wisdom to maintain the relationships in your life.

Nov 5, 2021

Don't Be Defeated by Your Victories

Sermon Overview Scripture Passage: 1 Samuel 17:45-54 Because King David lived by purpose, progression, and power, he saw many victories. But victory can be dangerous if we don’t know how to receive it. It is entirely possible to be defeated by our victories. In 1 Samuel 17-18, David demonstrates how to live in our victories. First, we see David’s partnership with Jonathan: “<a href="http://...the" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">...the</a> soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.” After David defeated Goliath, King Saul brought David to his home, where he met Saul’s son, Jonathan. They became close friends, and would eventually enter a blood covenant together. Jonathan rejoiced with David as he watched God bless him with many victories. As the Body of Christ, we are in blood covenant with one another. When one member rejoices, every member should rejoice. When one member suffers, every member should suffer. Second, we see the problem of the women’s praise: “So the women sang as they danced, and said: “Saul has slain his thousands, And David his ten thousands” (1 Samuel 18:7). The women praised David, but David knew it wasn’t his victory, it was God’s. We must be quick to pass the praise on to Jesus. Adrian Rogers says, “The way to lose the next victory is to fail to give God the proper praise for the last victory.” The third response to victory was the pride of Saul, who felt David’s gain was somehow his loss. The marks of his pride were his anger, jealousy, and fear. Adrian Rogers says, “No one is a complete failure until he starts disliking the man who succeeds.” Finally, we see the prudence of David, in his reaction to victory: “And David behaved wisely in all his ways, and the Lord was with him.” (1 Samuel 18:14) When we receive praise, it does something to us, either good or bad, according to our own estimation of ourselves. David knew each battle he faced was the Lord’s, which is why God could bless him and use him. When we receive blessings from God, we should seek wisdom as David did, and be wise in our response. Apply it to your life Our true natures are revealed when we receive victory. If you find yourself in a position of praise, direct it all to God. Celebrate with your fellow believers without jealousy.

Nov 3, 2021

Live Like a King in Victory

Sermon Overview Scripture Passage: 1 Samuel 17:3-11 The story of David and Goliath in 1 Samuel 17 teaches us how to deal with the problems in our lives. Some of us live in quiet desperation, intimidated by our “giants.” But God’s plan for His children is to live like kings and queens in victory. In this passage, Goliath of Gath represents the vicious enemy behind our problems: the devil. Everything, from his measure, might, manner, and motive, mimic Satan’s testing, trying, sifting, and fighting the people of God. The encounter in this passage was a vicarious prefiguring of Jesus Christ and Satan. 1 Samuel 17:8 says, “<a href="http://...Choose" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">...Choose</a> a man for yourselves, and let him come down to me.” David fought on behalf of the entire army, just as Jesus Christ was crucified on our behalf. David defeated Goliath, just as Jesus defeated Satan. The story of David and Goliath is also a victorious example of God’s power. As Jesus fought that battle against sin so long ago, there is a continuing battle. In one sense, it’s already won; yet in another sense, it needs to be fought day by day. There are three principles to remember in order to live like kings and queens in victory. First, there is a principle of persistence. Battles can only be won by those who are persistent. Filled with a divine purpose, David remained persistent in it in spite of others' dismay, disdain, and discouragement. Second, there’s a principle of progression. We must learn how to handle the small things before we could ever be trusted with big things. Before David fought Goliath, he fought a lion and a bear. He was simply elevating from victory to victory. Adrian Rogers says, “The reason some of us are not winning our big battles is because we’re losing our little battles.” We have to be faithful where we are, with the least we have, in order to prepare for much more. Finally, there’s a principle of power. David was only able to take down Goliath because of the power of God within him. He had the right method and served the right master with the right motive. If we want to live in victory, we must reduce our aim to one thing: that Jesus be glorified. Apply it to your life Do you know your purpose? Are you committed to progress -- being faithful in the small things? Are you filled with the power of the Holy Spirit?

Nov 1, 2021

You Can Be Sure

Sermon Overview Scripture Passage: Romans 8:28-31 Salvation, from start to finish, is of the Lord. It is only by the grace of God that we can be sure of our salvation. Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” There are five foundational facts on which our faith rests. The first fact is God’s foreknowledge of our salvation. God knew we were going to be saved before we did. When God foreknows something, it is not an educational guess; He sees the beginning, middle, and end of everything, all at once. Second, we can be sure of our predestination to be like Jesus. “For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren” (Romans 8:29). Adrian Rogers says, “God doesn’t predestine some people to go to Hell, and God doesn’t predestine some people to go to Heaven. God predestines every child of God, everyone who is born again, to be like Jesus.” God wants everyone to be saved, but in order for love to be love, it cannot be forced. So God gave us free will; whether we want to be saved or not is up to us. Third, we are sure that God foreknew we would be saved: “Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called…” (Romans 8:30). Whenever the Gospel is preached, God is calling people to salvation. Through His Word and His Spirit, God can make the spiritually blind see things they’ve never seen before. Fourth and fifth, we can be sure of our settled justification, and finally, our eternal glorification. “<a href="http://...whom" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">...whom</a> He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified” (Romans 8:30). The basis of our justification is the blood of Jesus Christ; it becomes effective when we trust in Him. As a result, God no longer deals with us as sinners, but as servants. As servants, God already sees us in Heaven, in His heart and mind, settled and glorified. And what has been settled in Heaven cannot be annulled or undone in time. Apply it to your life Are you sure of your salvation? Adrian Rogers says, “If you’ll put your faith where God has put your sins, on the Lord Jesus Christ, you can be absolutely sure.”

Oct 22, 2021

Prayer

Sermon Overview Scripture Passage: Romans 8:26-28 As Christians, prayer is our greatest privilege and service, yet it can be our greatest failure. Too often, we don’t have the desire to pray, nor do we know what to pray for. Other times, the enemy interferes to keep us from praying. Adrian Rogers says, “The devil laughs at our organization and mocks our schemes. He ridicules our good intentions, but he fears our prayers.” Knowing this, God has given us an ally, an asset, and Great Helper: the Holy Spirit. Romans 8:26-27 says, “Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.” These are some of the ways the Holy Spirit helps us pray: -The Spirit activates our will to pray. Our flesh resists prayer, but the Holy Spirit in us recognizes God for who He is and reignites our will to pray. -The Spirit animates our bodies to pray. When our minds wander and grow weary, we must yield to the Holy Spirit and receive His energy and power. -The Spirit adapts our requests. Sometimes we’re not sure how to pray but, glory to God, the Holy Spirit is the ultimate transformer. Simply pray with a clean heart, and He will adapt our prayers. -The Spirit administrates our access to God. God has given us the royal invitation to pray, and the Holy Spirit is our guide into the throne room. -The Spirit articulates our words. The Holy Spirit understands our groans and wordless heartache. Even when we don’t have the vocabulary to express our thoughts, God knows our hearts. And we know that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him. (See Romans 8:28.) His plans are for our holiness, not our happiness. -The Spirit amplifies our victory. When we pray in the flesh, we are no match for Satan; but when we pray in the Spirit, we remember: if God is for us, who can stand against? (See Romans 8:31.) Apply it to your life Prayer is warfare; as you go to the Lord in prayer today, remember that you have a Helper, who intercedes for you.

Oct 20, 2021

How to Live in Victory

Sermon Overview Scripture Passage: Romans 6:1-2 The grace of God enables us to live godly lives in Christ Jesus and empowers us to live in victory. Romans 6 reveals how to live in victory. First, we must know our identification with Jesus, who gave Himself for us. “For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin” (Romans 6:5-6). Jesus has acted on our behalf; when He died for us, we died with Him. When He was buried, we were buried with Him. And now, we have that same power that raised Jesus Christ from the dead, in us. Adrian Rogers explains, “When Jesus came out of the grave, we came out with Him and we’ve been raised to walk in a new life.” Second, we must reckon our appropriation of Jesus: “Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:11). Reckoning is acting by faith, on what we know to be true, which is that we are dead to our sins and alive in Christ. Third, we must yield our emancipation to Christ. The victorious life is God’s work in us; we cannot do it without Him, and He will not do it without us. Yielding begins when we dethrone sin. We must choose against our old master. No longer will our eyes be a tool for sin, nor our ears be sin’s instruments, nor will our hands do its bidding. We must also enthrone the Savior: “<a href="http://...but" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">...but</a> present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God” (Romans 6:13). We must make Jesus Lord of our lives, enslaving ourselves to Him, as Romans 6:18 explains: “And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.” When we become slaves of Christ, we receive new freedom, faithfulness, and fruitfulness. God will begin to live His life in us, claiming victory every step of the way. Apply it to your life Do you know that you identify with Jesus in His death, burial, and resurrection? Have you reckoned your life to what you believe? Have you yielded to Him?

Oct 11, 2021

There is So Much More

Sermon Overview Scripture Passage: Romans 5:6-9 This modern world is trying to obliterate the word “sin” from our language. Everything is excused by psychology, evolution, human studies, and behavioral science, yet the real root of the problem is sin. If we don’t understand the bad news of sin, we’re not ready for the Good News of the Gospel— that there is so much more that we’ve gained through Jesus Christ. Romans 5:6 says, “For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.” Presently, there are two kingdoms: one is of death and destruction and the other is of love and life. Adam is the head of that old kingdom, and Jesus is the head of that new kingdom. Adam is the head of the old kingdom. Being the first man created by God, Adam was given dominion over the Earth. But when Adam sinned, he forfeited his dominion to sin. And because we are his offspring, we are identified with Adam in this slavery to sin. Romans 5:8-9 explains, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.” When we join the kingdom of light, we gain so much more through Jesus than we ever lost through Adam. Through Adam, we received weakness rather than power, and we gained ungodliness rather than godliness. We also received wrath rather than approval, war instead of peace. We inherited our ability to sin from Adam: not only when we do as we shouldn’t, but also in failing to do as we should. Yet in Jesus Christ, we receive much more in His redeeming blood. Because of His sacrifice, we are justified and reconciled with the Father. We have the fellowship with God that was severed when Adam sinned. In Christ, we are also renewed and made righteous to reign with Him in the kingdom of life. Finally, we receive His restoring grace, as Romans 5:20 says, “Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more…” Apply it to your life Each one of us is either with Adam in the kingdom of death, or we are with Christ reigning in the kingdom of life. Choose Jesus today; there is so much more!

Oct 7, 2021

When Faith Is in the Fire

Sermon Overview Scripture Passage: Daniel 3:1-30 As these days grow gloriously dim, we must stand on the principles of God’s Word—for things that are true and righteous, which last throughout time and eternity. Daniel 3 tells the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego who refused to bow down to King Nebuchadnezzar’s idol. This story reminds us that we will face immense pressure to bow down, yet we must stand alone, even when our faith is in the fire. First, see the fury they faced: there was emotional enticement and a social obligation to bow to the idol. Everyone was doing it; the government was even enforcing it. The devil is behind all of this defiling spirituality, seeking out converts. But Daniel 3 also reminds us of the faith that followed. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego exhibited a settled, strong faith, having already made up their minds beforehand to remain devoted to God. They knew God could deliver them, and even if He didn’t, they would never bow to anyone else (See Daniel 3:16-18.) Adrian Rogers says, “It is one thing to have faith to escape. It's another thing to have faith to endure.” So, the three were thrown into the furnace as they were warned. And we see the fellowship they found in the fire: “I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God” (Daniel 3:25). “<a href="http://...they" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">...they</a> saw these men on whose bodies the fire had no power; the hair of their head was not singed nor were their garments affected, and the smell of fire was not on them” (Daniel 3:27). Rather than being consumed by the fire, God used it to cleanse them. Rather than sparing them from the furnace, He joined them in it. As a result of this miracle, Nebuchadnezzar had to admit: there is no God like our God. Adrian Rogers says, “Do you know when this world is going to start having respect for the Lord Jesus Christ, the God of the Bible? When you and I, by the grace of God, stand alone.” Apply it to your life Understanding the fury to conform to this world, do you have the faith to stand alone? Take courage today—know that whatever fire you face today, the Lord is with you.

Oct 5, 2021

The Ungrateful Brother

Sermon Overview Scripture Passage: Luke 15:11-32 In Luke 15, Jesus tells the story of the prodigal son reconciling with his loving father. However, as the passage continues, we meet his ungrateful brother. Through this epilogue, Jesus reveals that the love of God that melts one sinner’s heart can harden another sinner’s heart. Our love, service, and joy can help us determine our relationship with the Father: are we more like the prodigal son or the ungrateful brother? We measure our love for the Father by our relationship with our brother. 1 John 4:20 says, “If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?” Some want to assume the place of a child of God without assuming the responsibility of a brother in Christ. We are called to love our siblings in Christ without any personal hindrance. We measure our service to the Father by our fellowship with Him. When we meet the older brother in Luke 15, he is working in the field for his father. Upon finding out about his brother’s return, he angrily reminds his father of his own faithfulness as the elder son. Some people serve their churches as model workers, yet they do not know the Father’s heart. When we serve the Lord, we must do so out of a love for God and not for a reward. We measure our joy with the Father by sharing the Father’s burden. “And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours. It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found’” (Luke 15:31-32). The older brother was so full of self-righteousness and self-pity, he missed the blessing of his brother’s homecoming. If we are so concerned about our possessions, positions, or privileges that we feel threatened by a brother’s reconciliation, we don’t share our Father’s burden. Adrian Rogers says, “Other’s blessings are not our demise.” The Lord rejoices when a sinner comes home. If we share in His burden, we will share in His celebration. Apply it to your life Do you identify more with the prodigal son or the ungrateful brother? Your love, service, and joy toward your brother measure how much you love the Father.

Sep 30, 202129 min

Fools: Wise or Otherwise?

Sermon Overview Scripture Passage: 1 Corinthians 1:18 When we live for Jesus Christ, believing in the Gospel, we will be looked upon as fools by this world. What God calls wisdom, the world calls foolishness. And what the world calls wisdom, God calls foolishness. Adrian Rogers says, “The Gospel is so radically different: it starts at a different source, follows a different course, and ends at a different conclusion. We don’t need to make it compatible with this world.” The cross of Jesus Christ is the measurement of a man’s foolishness or wisdom. It is how we can know if we are wise or otherwise. God speaks, demonstrates His power, saves us, and sanctifies us through the cross. God speaks through the cross. God reveals Himself in many ways, but we will never know His heart and mind until we understand the cross. Fools look for signs and wonders and often overlook Jesus as the Messiah because He died upon the cross. God demonstrates His power and wisdom through the cross. 1 Corinthians 1:18 says, “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” God also saves us through the cross; it is how He provided salvation for our souls. While others may take offense to it, we believe that the cross is God’s only way of salvation. Finally, God sanctifies us by the cross; not only have we been saved, but we are also being saved. God is in the process of making us more like Jesus. Salvation is in three tenses: We have been saved from the penalty of sin. Presently, we are being saved daily from the power of sin -- it is an ongoing process. We will be saved from the presence of sin when the rapture occurs. The Christian life isn’t hard…it is impossible. It commences with a miracle, which is the new birth, and concludes with a miracle, which is the resurrection. But it also continues with a miracle. If we wish to be wise, we must learn to live the principle of the cross; to die to ourselves every day so that the Holy Spirit can live through us. Apply it to your life Are you actively seeking God’s wisdom? God speaks, demonstrates His wisdom, saves us, and sanctifies us by the cross. Are you living by the principle of the cross—dying daily so that Christ can live through you?

Sep 28, 202134 min

The Ministry of the Word of God

Sermon Overview Scripture Passage: 1 Peter 1:22-25; 2:1-2 We don’t have to be ordained ministers to be in the ministry; in fact, every man and woman who names the name of Jesus partakes in the ministry of the Word of God. 1 Peter 1:22 says, “Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart…” First, we must receive the Word of God personally into our lives. When we become Christians, we are literally conceived by the Word of God, as 1 Peter 1:23 says, “<a href="http://...having" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">...having</a> been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever…” God’s Word is a seed that produces new life within us. 1 Peter 2:1-2 says, “Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby…” We’re also cleansed and completed by Scripture: first made new, and then made strong by the Word of God. After we receive Scripture personally, we must respect the Word. There’s no debate about it: God is a God of truth. Therefore, His Word cannot have errors in it. Adrian Rogers says, “The God of truth cannot inspire error.” God’s Word is the product of the Spirit of God, therefore it is totally infallible because God is infallible. We must not only respect its inerrancy, but we must also respect its authority and vitality. There is living power in the Word of God that changes lives and lasts for eternity. 1 Peter 1:24-25 says, “<a href="http://...All" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">...All</a> flesh is as grass, And all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, and its flower falls away, But the word of the Lord endures forever.” Finally, we need to release the Bible; preach it everywhere. When we receive the Word of God and respect it, we won’t grow tired of it. We must preach it faithfully, fully, and freely. Adrian Rogers says, “Newborn babes desire it, men of God share it, preach it and proclaim it.” Apply it to your life Are you a minister of the Word of God? Have you received God’s Word? Do you respect it and release it? Consider its life-changing power today and share it with someone you love.

Sep 23, 202127 min

How to Make Your Bible Come Alive

Sermon Overview Scripture Passage: Psalm 119:89 In order to have spiritual power, we need to be molded, motivated, and managed by the Word of God. Yet for many, the Bible remains a closed book. There’s no magical way to understand the Bible. It takes work—joyful, thrilling work—to understand the Word of God. Psalm 119 shows us how to make the Bible come alive. First, we must appreciate its virtues: “Forever, O Lord, Your word is settled in heaven” (Psalm 119:89). The Bible is a timeless book, ultimate and indestructible; it is full of God-breathed truth. If we don’t treasure it, we won’t have any desire to understand it. Next, we must assimilate the Word of God; we begin by praying that our eyes will be opened, our hearts stirred, and our minds enlightened. Then, with a pen in hand, we read and ponder it, ready to write down whatever the Lord reveals through it. When reading the Bible, we should use our sanctified common sense. We need a plan. Try not to jump into the middle of a chapter, the middle of a book somewhere, with no plan, no rhyme, no reason. Third, we must preserve it and practice it, as Psalm 119:16-17 says, “I will delight myself in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word. Deal bountifully with Your servant, That I may live and keep Your word.” If we want to learn more of the Word of God, we should obey the parts of it we do know. Next, we must proclaim it: “My tongue shall speak of Your word, For all Your commandments are righteousness” (Psalm 119:172). Finally, we must appropriate the values of the Word of God. It’s a source of victory, growth, joy, power, and guidance. Adrian Rogers says, “The Bible addresses one problem, and that problem is sin. The Bible has one villain, and that villain is the devil. The Bible has one hero, and His name is Jesus. The Bible has one purpose, and that is the glory of God." Apply it to your life As you read Scripture today, dwell on these six questions: -Is there a promise to claim? -Is there a lesson to learn? -Is there a blessing to enjoy? -Is there a command to obey? -Is there a sin to avoid? -Is there a new thought to carry with me?

Sep 15, 202136 min

How You Can Know God Personally

Sermon Overview Scripture Passage: Luke 10:21 Luke 10:21 says that God has "hidden these things from the wise and prudent and revealed them to babes." We are neither too intelligent nor unintelligent to believe in God and know Him personally! Psalm 19 gives us three ways in which God speaks to us, and in return, we can know God personally, intimately, and assuredly. First, God has confirmed His words in the heavens: “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament shows His handiwork…” (Psalm 19:1). The heavens also declare God’s greatness. The vastness of the Universe, along with its small intricacies, demonstrates God’s power. Adrian Rogers says, “There are no laws of nature; they are God’s laws that nature obeys. Science only discovers what God had already put there.” The heavens declare the goodness of God: “Day unto day utters speech, And night unto night reveals knowledge” (Psalm 19:2). It is God who daily maintains the fixed order in the Universe and provides everything it needs to give us life. His mercies are new every morning. (See Lamentations 3:23.) God also speaks to us by placing His converting Word in our hands. We have access to Scripture, which is His very word. We ought to marvel at the Bible and celebrate its many virtues. It is inerrant, infallible, foundational, and full of God’s promises. Adrian Rogers says, “Every sentence, every jot, every tittle, every syllable is put in Scripture by the mind and purpose of God.” The value of the Scriptures is precious, “more desirable than fine gold” (Psalm 19:10). They are protective, for "by them Your servant is warned" (Psalm 19:11). They are profitable, for "in keeping them there is great reward" (Psalm 19:11). Finally, we can know God through His convicting Word in our hearts. By the Holy Spirit in our hearts, the Scriptures we read can become real. Psalm 19:12 says, “Who can understand his errors? Cleanse me from secret faults.” The Holy Spirit cleanses our wicked and deceitful hearts. When we hand our control over to the Spirit, He brings us into communion with the Father. This is the only way we can know Him personally, intimately, and assuredly. Apply it to your life Do you feel distant from God? Remember, by the Word of God in the heavens, in our hands, and in our hearts, we can know God personally.

Sep 8, 202137 min

Having Strong Faith

Sermon Overview Scripture Passage: John 4:46-54 In the kingdom of Heaven, faith is the medium of exchange. Whatever we receive from God is according to our faith. Adrian Rogers says, “The greater your faith, the greater glory God gets; by faith man gives God pleasure and by faith God gives man treasure.” John 4 tells the story of a man whose superficial, superstitious faith was transformed into a strong, saving faith. “So Jesus came again to Cana of Galilee where He had made the water wine. And there was a certain nobleman whose son was sick at Capernaum. When he heard that Jesus had come out of Judea into Galilee, he went to Him and implored Him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death. Then Jesus said to him, ‘Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will by no means believe’” (John 4:46-48). First, we must see the problem of superficial faith. In this passage, the nobleman had heard about Jesus’ first miracle, turning water into wine, and was blown away. But Jesus knew that signs and wonders do not truly help in developing a strong faith. We must also consider the problem of superstitious faith. God performed miracles through Jesus to authenticate His ministry. It is dishonoring to demand a sign from God in order to believe in Him. It is also self-deceiving; signs and wonders can easily deceive; it is how our enemy leads others astray. This passage also shows the progression of strong faith. There are steps in developing this sort of saving faith, the first being that he heard the Word of God, and then that he believed it. What we believe is not contrary to reason; it goes beyond reason. We must obey the Word of God, and then rest in it. Adrian Rogers says, “Faith is not seeing signs and wonders, rather, it is a response to the character of God.” Finally, this passage shows the provision of saving faith. After the nobleman’s son was healed, he not only believed in a miracle worker but in a Messiah. All of Jesus’ miracles point to the greater miracle, which is the new life in Him. Apply it to your life If you want to strengthen your faith, get a good grip on the Word of God. Don’t look to the miracles, but to the Messiah; do not follow the signs, but the Savior.

Sep 6, 202139 min

When We All Get to Heaven

Sermon Overview Scripture Passage: 1 John 3:1-3 Adrian Rogers says, “A rich man is poor without Jesus, a strong man is weak without Jesus, and an educated man is ignorant until he comes to know the Lord Jesus Christ.” Without Jesus, man is ignorant of his past and afraid of his future; he lives somewhere in between mystery and misery. But when we know the Lord Jesus Christ, we experience the sweetest fellowship on Earth and can anticipate joy beyond comprehension when we all get to Heaven. 1 John 3:1 says: “Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God!” First, this passage identifies what we are; it describes our Christian dignity. We are children of God; He loves us as He loves Jesus, and nothing we do can make Him love us any less. Because of this love, we have our Father’s care; we can rest assured that we are provided for. We have His correction as well; He will lovingly chastise us that we may be sanctified and holy in His sight. We have our Father’s compassion; His heart is broken when ours is broken. We have his companionship, and we will never be alone ever again. This passage also reveals what we will be, it outlines our Christian destiny. “Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is” (1 John 3:2). Christ is going to appear; He is coming back to this Earth, and we will see Him as He is, in all of His glory. And this verse confirms that we are going to be like Him. Finally, this passage confirms what we should be; it challenges us to our Christian duty: “And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure” (1 John 3:3). The biblical definition of “hope” is absolute certainty mingled with anticipation. We should live with the hope of His return, looking and longing for His coming. And we should be living for His coming, striving for purity and holiness as we wait with expectancy. Apply it to your life Are you living in anticipation of the fellowship we’ll have when we all get to Heaven? Remember your dignity, your destiny, and your duty today.

Aug 17, 202140 min

Living in the Last Days

Sermon Overview Scripture Passage: 1 John 2:18-19 As children of God, we cannot afford to be ignorant of the dynamic days in which we’re living. The sands of time are running low for this generation, and history as we know it is headed for a climax. 1 John 2 gives clear instruction for those living in the last days. First, we need to be awake. 1 John 2:18 says, “Little children, it is the last hour…” We’re not just moving toward the last days, we’re living on the edge of them. We are not waiting for any sign, no event must take place—the Second Coming of Jesus Christ is imminent. Adrian Rogers says, “All of the Bible teaches that we’re on the very edge, on the very brink, and therefore we should be yearning and not yawning.” Second, the antichrist is coming and we need to be aware: “<a href="http://...and" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">...and</a> as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour” (1 John 2:18). The time is ripe for the appearance of a person the Bible calls the antichrist. He’s the beast of a man lurking in the shadows of history, ready to step from the wings to center stage. The antichrist is devilish and divisive; he is the diabolical substitute who opposes God and exalts himself. He is deceptive and, as a result, he is destructive. Being a master liar, he constantly attacks our understanding of who Jesus is. Finally, this passage reminds us of our triumph: our Lord is on His way and we need to be abiding. “Therefore let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father. And this is the promise that He has promised us—eternal life.” (1 John 2:24-25) If we are not anchored in Scripture, we will be blown away. And if we have the Holy Spirit in our hearts, the Lord Jesus Christ will be revealed in our lives. Apply it to your life Because we are living in the last days, we must: Be awake: the antichrist is coming. Be aware: our Lord is on His way. Be abiding: abide in the Word, the Spirit, and the Son of God.

Aug 13, 202137 min

When Christ Is All

Sermon Overview Scripture Passage: Colossians 3:1-5, 11 As Christians, we don’t just receive knowledge of Jesus Christ; our life is knowing Jesus Christ. Adrian Rogers says, “You can get to know Jesus better, but you can never know anything better than Jesus. You can go deeper into Jesus, but you can never go beyond Jesus.” Colossians 3:11 says, “<a href="http://...where" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">...where</a> there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all.” There are three things that will happen when Christ is all, when He is everything to us, when He consumes our entire life. First, Jesus captivates our ambitions. Colossians 3:1 says, “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God.” When Christ is our all, our ambition is to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. But when our ambition is to seek righteousness, we must beware of the world’s reasonings. The world will try to distract us with ritual, religion, and regulations so that we will remain captive to those things. We must remember, these are shadows of the substance we have in Christ; Christ is the priority. Adrian Rogers says, “You’re not going to be any more like Jesus with a list of dos and don’ts. They’re not going to make you one speck like Jesus. It may look good, it may have a show of wisdom and humility; but if you let all of the air out of it, it is will-worship and not God worship.” Second, Jesus dominates our attention. Colossians 3:2 says, “Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.” There are many things pulling at our minds, at any given moment. But we are instructed to set our minds on Jesus. As our ambitions come to a burning focus, we’ll find that Jesus takes the center stage of our affections. Finally, when Christ is all, Jesus regulates our actions. Colossians 3:5 says, “Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.” If Christ is our life, we are to live like Him, loving the things He loves and hating what He hates, which is sin. Apply it to your life Is Christ your life, your everything, your all? Has Jesus captivated your ambition, dominated your attention, and regulated your action?

Jul 30, 2021

Treasuring Truth

Sermon Overview Scripture Passage: Proverbs 23:23 In this day, it is not values that we desperately need, but virtue. We must be able to differentiate truth and fact: we acquire facts, but learn truth. Facts deal with knowledge, and knowledge can double, but truth never changes and is settled for eternity. We must make a habit of treasuring truth. Proverbs 23:23 says, “Buy the truth, and do not sell it, also wisdom and instruction and understanding.” We must prize the truth, for it is indispensable, absolute, and attainable through the Word of God. It is not enough just to know it; knowledge without transformation avails nothing. We must see the transforming power behind it, through the Holy Spirit. We must also purchase the truth. Adrian Rogers says, “Salvation is free, but truth is costly; you pay a price to have truth.” John 8:31-32 says, “Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, 'If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.'” Believing in Jesus is the first step in attaining truth; we must also abide in His Word through discipleship. Discipleship is costly—it costs time, discipline, and obedience; but ignorance is far more costly. We must study the Bible for enlightenment. If we know in knowledge but not in grace, we will be dangerous to ourselves and to others. Adrian Rogers says, “Truth is to your spirit what good is to your body, what light is to your eyes, what melody is to your ears.” We also study Scripture for our enjoyment; reading the Bible should not be perceived as a punishment but as a privilege. We read for our personal enrichment, to sharpen our minds and strengthen our wills. We read Scripture for our enablement, to grow in our faith and fellowship with others. Finally, we must preserve the truth; guarding it against those who will deny, distort, dilute and defile the Bible. We do this by proclaiming the Gospel truth: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). Apply it to your life Do you treasure truth—prize, purchase, preserve, and proclaim it? Do you read Scripture for your enlightenment, enjoyment, enrichment, and enablement?

Jul 28, 2021

How to Cultivate a Marriage

Sermon Overview Scripture Passage: Ephesians 5:23 Adrian Rogers says, “We can never be over those things that God wants to be under us until we get under those things that God has put over us.” In order to learn how to cultivate a marriage and a healthy home, we must first understand godly authority. Ephesians 5:23 says, “For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and He is the Savior of the body.” This does not mean wives are inferior to their husbands; in Christ, we’re equal. But God created us to meet different needs and to fulfill different roles within the home. When the Bible speaks of the husband being the head of the home, it is not speaking of his rights; it is speaking of his responsibilities. There are three major responsibilities that deal with the husband, the first being his servant leadership. Ephesians 5 does not call the husband a dictator. Rather, we are given the example of Jesus Christ, who is head of the Church, yet serves her and meets her needs. We are to meet the needs of our wives, who submit to our servant leadership. Husbands are also responsible for sacrificial love, which is first passionate. It is a commitment that comes from the deepest part of our being. It is also a purifying love, as Ephesians 5:26-27 says: “That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word... not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.” Husbands are to express their love through their protection. If the enemy wants to attack our homes, he has to go through the husband. Husbands are also responsible for offering loving provision, to meet our family’s physical, spiritual and emotional needs. Finally, husbands are responsible for showing steadfast loyalty. Jesus promised to never leave nor forsake His church. (See Hebrews 13:5.) Likewise, we are responsible for keeping the vows we made when we entered our marriage covenant. If we think of marriage as a contract, we will look for loopholes and miss the blessing that it truly is; if marriage is viewed as a covenant, we will cultivate something beautiful. Apply it to your life Are you cultivating a marriage based on servant leadership, sacrificial love, and steadfast loyalty?

Jul 23, 2021

How to Behave in a Cave

Sermon Overview Scripture Passage: 1 Samuel 24:1-7 King David was a remarkable man after God’s own heart. David was a man that lived by principle, not by appearance. He was a warrior who knew many victories, but perhaps his greatest victory was the one over his own spirit when he became subject to kingdom authority. In 1 Samuel 24, David is hiding in a cave after King Saul has put a bounty on his head. King Saul comes into the cave, unaware that David and his men are hiding just out of sight. David has the opportunity to kill Saul, the man actively trying to kill him. But he does not; instead, he shows us how to behave in a cave when no one else is watching. He refuses to take vengeance and acts as according to Scripture: “Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:21). As David did, we should recognize authority. David knew that he had no right to take Saul’s life because Saul was David’s king—bad king, sure, but he was God’s chosen and anointed king. There is no king, no power, no ruler that has not been ordained of God. Therefore, to rebel against authority is to rebel against God. We must make a practice of submitting to leadership. We should also respect authority. If the authority in question commands us to do something that is contrary to the Word of God, we should obey God rather than men. But we must be sure that even when we disobey our appointed leader, we have a warrant from Scripture. And even still, we act in a manner that respects the leader’s authority. Finally, we should rest in kingdom authority. God took care of Saul, and God will take care of our enemies as we learn to rest in the Lord. Apply it to your life Adrian Rogers says, “Is there anybody or anything that you have a rebellious spirit about? Let me ask you this question: Have you submitted to the King of kings? That’s where it all begins — by giving your heart to Jesus Christ. And when you get under the authority of Jesus Christ, under the authority of the Word of God, under the authority of those that God has put over you, you’re going to find yourself living, praying, speaking, and acting with incredible authority.”

Jul 21, 2021

The Authority of the Holy Spirit

Sermon Overview Scripture Passage: Romans 5:1-5,17 Any Christian who has not discovered the tremendous power of kingdom authority is living beneath his privileges. However, Adrian Rogers says, “God will never place you over those things that He means to put under you, until you get under those things that He has put over you.” Many of us fail to think of the Holy Spirit as a person with authority, yet the Holy Spirit has authority to rule and reign in our lives. In fact, kingdom authority is mediated by the Holy Spirit. Romans 5 reveals why we should be under the authority of the Holy Spirit. “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God” (Romans 5:1-2). Adam was the first man created by God, and was given dominion over the Earth. But Adam sinned, he forfeited his dominion to sin. And because we are his offspring, we are identified with Adam in this slavery to Satan. Through Adam, we received weakness rather than power and gained ungodliness rather than godliness. We also received wrath rather than approval, warfare instead of peace. We inherited our sinfulness from Adam: not only when we do as we shouldn’t, but also in failing to do as we should. But Romans 5 also reveals what we receive through Jesus when we join the kingdom of light: “Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us” (Romans 5:5). “For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.” (Romans 5:17). When we submit to the authority of the Holy Spirit, we receive justification of our sins and reconciliation with the Father. Through the Holy Spirit, we have the fellowship with God that was severed when Adam sinned. We’ve also been regenerated and made righteous to reign through the power of the Holy Spirit. Apply it to your life Each one of us is either with Adam in the kingdom of death, or we are with Christ reigning in the kingdom of life. Choose Jesus today; choose kingdom authority through the Holy Spirit.

Jul 19, 2021

The Word of God

Sermon Overview Scripture Passage: 1 Peter 1:23-25 There is an ongoing war over the Bible. There are those who despise it, but some of the greatest enemies of the Bible are those who disregard that it is the very Word of God. If we want the kingdom authority that God has promised His children, we must be under the authority of the Word of God. We must see it as incontestable: there is no contest, controversy, or denial that the Bible is the Word of God. The Bible is absolutely perfect, for the God of truth cannot speak in error. 1 Peter 1:23 claims: “<a href="http://...having" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">...having</a> been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever…” Second, we must see the Bible as the incorruptible Word of God; there is no blemish or spot in it. Though many have come against it with their own personal agendas and opinions, the Bible outstands them all. Third, we see that it is indestructible: “...because “All flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, and its flower falls away, but the word of the Lord endures forever...” (1 Peter 1:24-25). Finally, the Word of God is indispensable: “Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you” (1 Peter 1:25). The Gospel is the message of the church, and we get the Gospel from Scripture. We don’t need a new or modern Gospel for the new and modern age; it stands the test of time. The Bible also prescribes the church’s method, which is (and always will be) preaching. Adrian Rogers says, “No church will ever grow and prosper and be a New Testament church until the pulpit is central and the Gospel is central in the pulpit.” In order to join a church body, one must be born again into the family of God. Only the Gospel can grow this family, and therefore, grow the Church. Apply it to your life Do you see the Bible as the incontestable, incorruptible, indestructible, indispensable Word of God? Adrian Rogers says, “We can never have Kingdom Authority, speak or preach with authority, witness with authority, live with authority until we get under the authority of the Word of God.”

Jul 15, 2021

Lordship of Christ

Sermon Overview Scripture Passage: Romans 14:7-12 God wants us to live with kingdom authority; but there can be no reigning in this life until we confess these three words: Jesus is Lord. Lord means “someone or something having power, authority, or influence.” When we claim to commit to Jesus Christ, we must surrender to His lordship, as Paul explains in Romans, “For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself” (Romans 14:7) First, remember the redeeming claim of His lordship: “For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s” (Romans 14:8). When Jesus died for us, He purchased our souls with His redeeming blood; we are no longer our own, we belong to Him. Adrian Rogers says, “When you gave your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ, that was the last independent decision you ever made.” Second, we see the resurrection conquest of His lordship: “For to this end Christ died and rose and lived again, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living” (Romans 14:9). There can be no other king in our lives; no man can serve two masters. (See Matthew 6:24.) Christ requires our submission and absolute ownership of all we possess with unquestioned obedience. We shouldn’t be afraid to trust our lives to the One who loved us enough to die for us. Finally, there must be a regal confession of His lordship: “<a href="http://...As" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">...As</a> I live, says the Lord, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to God” (Romans 14:11). We will confess Christ as Lord, whether in this world or the next. Confessing Christ as Lord seals our salvation and conquers Satan; it also comforts and confirms the saints. The more we assert it to others, the stronger our faith becomes. As we confess Christ’s lordship, the things of this world fall away. Our separation from this world convicts those who see the difference in our lives and want to understand the source of our joy. And when we claim Christ as Lord, our decisions seem to make themselves, as He guides us in all things. Apply it to your life Have you surrendered to the lordship of Christ? Is He Lord of all that you have and do, Lord of your thoughts, your tongue, your temper, time, and testimony?

Jul 13, 2021

The Warfare of Prayer

Sermon Overview Scripture Passage: Luke 10:17-19 When we were born again, we became spiritual freedom fighters in God’s invasion army. We cannot be neutral in this spiritual battle: we are in a fight to the finish. We must learn how to come against the enemy and use our kingdom authority in the warfare of prayer. First, let us remember our kingdom authority has been sovereignly established by God. He delivered us from the bondage of spiritual death. Without Christ, we are spiritually dead; but when Jesus came, He gave us life through His sacrificial death. We’ve also been delivered from our staggering debt; in His death, Jesus paid the debt of our sins in full. Jesus also delivered us from the bondage of satanic dominion. Colossians 2:15 says, “Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.” Through His resurrection power, Jesus stripped, shamed, and subdued the enemy. Adrian Rogers says, “We don’t pray for victory, we have the victory; we stand in victory.” Secondly, kingdom authority must be strongly enforced if we want to do what our King wants us to do. While we were slaves to Satan, in bondage to his dark kingdom, Jesus came to set us free. Even though Satan’s defeat is absolute, it must be appropriated. He will not roll over in defeat; he will fight to keep us bankrupt, brokenhearted, and bound to our sin. We must come against him in the power of the Holy Spirit. Finally, kingdom authority must be strategically exercised through the children of God who bear clean hearts. Those who act according to the Spirit must also come from the right position: seated with Jesus in the heavenlies. Adrian Rogers says, “Without Jesus, you are in Satan’s dark kingdom, and Calvary is your defeat. But when you come into the kingdom of God, it is now your victory.” Apply it to your life Are you longing to pray with kingdom authority? Understand the necessity of your clean heart and begin praying from your victory in Heaven. Remember this wisdom from Adrian Rogers: “Stop praying from earth to Heaven, and start praying from Heaven to earth.”

Jul 9, 202135 min

Kingdom Authority

Sermon Overview Scripture Passage: Ephesians 1:15-2:6 As Christians, most of us can accept that Jesus Christ is King and He has authority. However, some of us fail to grasp that He has given that kingdom authority to His servants. Ephesians 1:22-23 says, “And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.” We’re in a spiritual battle, up against the organized, mobilized, and demonized powers of Hell. Therefore, we must understand what kingdom authority is in order to utilize it. First, kingdom authority over all God's creation was gloriously given to Adam. God made us to have dominion; it is the very reason we were created. Second, that kingdom authority was legally lost by Adam. When tempted by the devil, Adam and Eve failed to use the kingdom authority that God had given to them, and therefore, they became slaves of Satan. Third, kingdom authority has been righteously regained by Jesus Christ. Adrian Rogers says, “God owes Satan nothing, but God owes everything to His own justice and His own holiness; Jesus Christ came to this Earth as the second Adam, to gain back what the first Adam lost.” Kingdom authority was lost by a man, and it was legally regained by a man: “For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive” (1 Corinthians 15:21-22). Adrian Rogers says, “Jesus died that we might have spiritual authority, not to do what we want, but authority to do what He wishes.” Until you are under the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ, His Word, and the things God has set over you, you will never live with authority. The devil hopes that you will not understand the incredible power we’ve been given; that he can keep you in the dark. If we ever utilize kingdom authority, all of Heaven will break loose. Apply it to your life If you are struggling to claim your kingdom authority, remember: the same weapons that belonged to Adam in the Garden of Eden were the weapons that Jesus Christ used in the wilderness. Spend some time in Scripture, saturating your life in the Word and in the Spirit of God, that you may understand your kingdom authority.

Jul 5, 202135 min

The Demands of Christian Citizenship

Sermon Overview Scripture Passage: 1 Peter 2:11-17 A Christian is a citizen of this world and the world above; 1 Peter 2:11-17 lists some of the demands of Christian citizenship. First, we see the character of a Christian citizen: “Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation” (1 Peter 2:11-12). We must first be absolutely and totally clean; we renounce and abstain from everything that is wrong and embrace everything that is right. We must live such godly lives that even those that hate us will have to admit that there is a difference. The liberty we have as a nation is in direct proportion to our character; if we lose our character, we lose our liberty. Secondly, we must remember the importance of our compliance. “Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, whether to the king as supreme, or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good” (1 Peter 2:13-14). God-fearing Americans are also law-abiding Americans: We submit ourselves to the laws we like and to the laws we don’t like. However, we must remember there is a higher power, and if the laws of man contradict God, we must obey God rather than man. Even so, we should not strive to be renegades or lawbreakers; we strive to be the best and most productive citizens in this nation. Finally, this passage speaks of our conduct as Christian citizens. “For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men—as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God. Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king” (1 Peter 2:15-17). Adrian Rogers says, “Every person is intrinsically precious. If there is in you racial prejudice or pride, or if there are people that you do not see as precious, you do not understand the demands of Christian citizenship.” Apply it to your life Do you meet the demands of Christian citizenship? Prayerfully consider your character, your compliance, and your conduct.

Jul 1, 2021

Investing for Life

Sermon Overview Scripture Passage: Genesis 37 Life is not lived in length, it is lived in depth. There are many people who are existing, but they are not living; we should desire that our lives count for the Lord. Perhaps the most Christ-like character in the Old Testament was Joseph. His story in Genesis 37 gives us insight into investing in a worthwhile life. First, we must learn to dream; we should find God’s will for our lives and lean in. Adrian Rogers says, “God doesn’t promise to fulfill our fantasies, but God does want to give us a divine aspiration, divine inspiration, divine inclination, to be what we ought to be.” If we want to know the difference between our selfish inclinations and our God-given ambitions, we should ponder them in our hearts in divine, wise scrutiny. Second, we must remember our distinctiveness. Joseph was different, distinct, because of his nobility. His brothers hated him because he would not conform. The world wants to squeeze us into its mold. But Romans 12:2 reminds us, “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” When we refuse to conform, the world resents our nobility in the Lord Jesus Christ. This is why, thirdly, we must learn to turn problems into possibilities. Adrian Rogers says, “God doesn’t want you to have an easy life; God wants you to have an exciting life. God put Joseph through all of these troubles because He was training him.” Joseph was sold as a slave by his brothers, then later falsely accused and thrown in prison. But he used his hardships as a reason to practice the presence of God, as we should learn to do. When the Bible says that, “God was with him,” it means that God was for him, working on his behalf. God was with him, not only in times of mundane servitude but in his persecution, his temptation, his slander, and his suffering. How humbling it is to know God is with us, too! Apply it to your life Would you like to invest in your life -- living in depth? Learn to dream, remember your distinctiveness, turn your problems into possibilities and practice the presence of God. Remember, as Adrian Rogers says, “The highest place is just in the center of God’s will, wherever it is.”

Jun 29, 202139 min

Friends

Sermon Overview Scripture Passage: Proverbs 17:17 Adrian Rogers says, “The greatest joy of your life or the greatest disappointment of your life is going to be your friend.” Our deepest longings, whether we’re young or old, are for enduring friendships. We all want to commune with someone who truly understands our deepest needs, our highest aspirations, and our worst fears. A true friend is a great treasure, as Proverbs 17:17 says, “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.” We are all instructed to have casual friendships with those who are not saved, but we should not be so intimate with them that we regress in our faith. This is especially true for our children; teenagers are more affected by friends than almost anything else. The wrong kind of friend is the greatest danger that a teenager can possibly have because we ultimately become like our friends. Every teenager starts out as a simple teenager, having knowledge but lacking spiritual wisdom and understanding. Teenagers are easily led into error, ready to believe anything. If a child remains naive, he becomes a scorner, he defies instruction and despises the good and godly. Because of this, he is destined for destruction. The scorner is very hard to reach, but there is still hope for him. If the scorner is not reclaimed, he becomes a fool; the scorner is insolent, but the fool is immovable. The fool rejects wisdom, ridicules righteousness, and rejoices in iniquity. His moral sense has been so perverted, he thinks good is evil and evil is good. We cannot allow our impressionable teenagers to hang around with scorners and fools; we must be firm with who we allow them to be friends with. As parents, we must help them to understand the dangers that are involved, carefully guard their company, and teach the importance of their choices. Adrian Rogers reminds us, “You’re free to choose, but you’re not free to choose the consequences of your choice. After you choose, then your choice chooses for you.” Apply it to your life Adrian Rogers reveals six things to keep in mind when raising teenagers: -Have a positive attitude -Learn to listen to them -Try to see life from their point of view -Be gentle with them -Learn to touch, hug and show non-verbal expression -Be available to your kids

Jun 25, 202143 min

Three Strikes and You're Out

Sermon Overview Scripture Passage: Mark 10:17-27 There’s a real problem we may have today of trying to live outwardly good lives without ever finding a new life in Christ. Mark 10 tells the sad story of the rich young ruler who, when given the opportunity to follow Jesus, turned away. This story offers four insights to help avoid striking out at the opportunity to follow Christ. First, proud men at their best are sinners at their worst. This man in Mark 10 was quite proud of his achievements; he was eager, full of strength and the vigor of youth. Outwardly, he was morally clean; he knew the commandments and had kept them in his youth. But Jesus taught him something he didn’t expect: the young ruler, in himself, was not good, and also Jesus Himself is God. Second, God’s perfect law condemns man’s sinful pride. God is a holy God with holy laws; the purpose of the law is to show us our need for Christ. God’s grace means nothing to us until we first see ourselves as sinners in the sight of a holy God. Adrian Rogers says, “When a man has been wounded by God’s law, then he’s ready for the healing balm of salvation.” When Jesus asks the rich young ruler to sell everything he has, give it to the poor, and follow Him, the reality of the man’s depravity was exposed. He was unwilling to do this because he loved his money more than he loved God and his neighbor. Jesus showed him the futility of trying to behave himself into Heaven; all he had was a superficial knowledge of his own goodness. Third, Jesus teaches no man can serve two masters, but he must serve one. In order to follow Jesus, we must turn from our idols to serve the living God. This turning is called repentance, which means to change your mind and change your life. Finally, Jesus teaches him that whatever master a man chooses will master that man. Adrian Rogers says, “Faith is not merely nodding a head to a series of theological facts about Jesus; it is enthroning Jesus.” Apply it to your life Every man has three opportunities to go to Heaven: -Pass away before the age of accountability (infants) -Keep the commandments perfectly -- never sin (impossible) -Come and follow Jesus. If you fail to do this, that’s three strikes, and you’re out.

Jun 21, 202139 min

The Gift of Encouragement

Sermon Overview Scripture Passage: Acts 4:34 The Book of Acts tells the story of a man called Barnabas, which translates to, “son of encouragement.” Five characteristics of Barnabas’ “gift of encouragement” show us how to be encouragers for others. First, Barnabas saw a need that he could meet, and he met it. In Acts 4:36-37, Barnabas sold his property and gave the profits to the church. He decided to meet the needs of others with the resources God had given him, no matter what it cost him. Encouragers understand that we all have something to give. Encouragers find needy people and enrich them through their money, time, or service. Second, encouragers find lonely people and include them. After the Apostle Paul’s conversion, he was despised by his old colleagues, but feared by his new brothers and sisters in Christ. He was a man who needed a friend. Barnabas found him and became a friend to this very lonely new disciple. A lot of new Christians need somebody to find and befriend them. An encourager finds the lonely and neglected, puts an arm around them, and brings them into the fold. Encouragers will also find a misunderstood person and affirm him. In Acts 11, the Gospel was spreading quickly, and new believers were sprouting up everywhere. There were some concerns that some of them were not sincere. But Barnabas’s encouragement validated and affirmed those who were misunderstood. Encouragers develop disciples. Barnabas found buried gifts in new disciples and helped them develop their talents. Our churches are full of talented people with abilities waiting to be discovered and developed. But it takes a “Barnabas” to find them. Finally, encouragers help failures find second chances. After the disciple Mark ran away from his calling, Barnabas sought him out and gave him another chance. This young disciple went on to write the Gospel of Mark. Thank God for the encouragers in our churches who see second chances in us when no one else does. Apply it to your life Adrian Rogers says, “Barnabas was a good man, full of the Holy Ghost; it was God in Him. Because you see God has cornered the consolation on consolation.” We can all be encouragers like Barnabas. Ask God to fan the Holy Spirit in you to meet needs, befriend lonely people, affirm the misunderstood, develop disciples, and offer second chances.

Jun 1, 202140 min

Faithful in Ministry

Sermon Overview Scripture Passage: Ephesians 4:7 When God saved us by His grace, He gave each of us spiritual gifts. However, many of us do not understand how to use them. In order to be faithful in ministry, we must identify and develop our spiritual gifts. Ephesians 4:7 says, “But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift.” Spiritual gifts are God-given abilities for service and ministry. We do not choose our spiritual gifts; as our natural talents are embedded in us at birth, our spiritual gifts come at our new birth. There are several spiritual gifts identified in the New Testament, such as wisdom, faith, healing, miracles, prophecy, and discerning of spirits. Other gifts include speaking in tongues, acts of service, ministry, exhortation, teaching, giving, ruling, and mercy. Ephesians 4:11-12 says, “And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ…” There are five ways we can know our individual spiritual gifts: -Desire: We consider what we enjoy doing—what do we feel we naturally do well? -Discovery: We discover our gift as we endeavor to do it. -Development: Though they come naturally, our gifts must be crafted and studied. -Dependence: Our gifts must operate in the power of the Holy Spirit. -Deployment: We understand how our gifts operate as we work alongside other believers. Finally, our gifts are displayed as we mature in our ministry. Ephesians 4:13 says, “<a href="http://...till" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">...till</a> we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ…” Adrian Rogers says, “You can tell when the gifts are working in a church when the church becomes like the Lord Jesus Christ.” When the gifts are working, we will not be blown about by every wind of doctrine. Instead, we will learn how to speak truth in love and find that all of our gifts work together in flexible harmony. Apply it to your life It’s important to know our spiritual gifts and to discover and develop them, so that God may be glorified as we serve the Church.

May 28, 202136 min

Faithful in Fellowship

Sermon Overview Scripture Passage: 1 Corinthians 12:12 It is important that we understand that while Jesus Christ and the Church are not identical, they are inseparable. We cannot forsake the church; we must remain faithful in fellowship. 1 Corinthians 12:12 says, “For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ.” This passage describes the church as a body, with Christ as the head. As our bodies inhabit our humanity, the church inhabits Jesus Christ. The body serves the life of the person who lives inside of it; likewise, we are Jesus’ hands and feet. Adrian Rogers says, “Jesus is the invisible part of the visible church, and the church is the visible part of the invisible Christ.” We are not just a collection of parts; we have life. The Holy Spirit moves us, therefore we are more than an organization… We are an organism. We have many members, but we have one agenda. “For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit” (1 Corinthians 12:13). The formation of the church body begins when the members are born again and spiritually baptized by the Holy Ghost. As a result, we are bound together as a single body in fellowship. We share a common life, unified by the Holy Spirit dwelling in each of us. We belong to one another, casting aside any competition with one another or isolation. We also show a common love as 1 Corinthians 12:25 and 26 say: “<a href="http://...that" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">...that</a> there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.” Finally, we serve the same Lord; Adrian Rogers says, “Loyalty to Jesus means loyalty to His body; you cannot love Jesus without loving what Jesus loves.” As Jesus loves the church—faults, failures, flaws and all—so should we. Apply it to your life We are all somebody in His body; accept your role, whether you are an ear to hear or an eye to see. Be yourself and give yourself to the church; as we work with each other, Jesus Christ will be seen through us.

May 21, 202134 min

Faithful in Worship

Sermon Overview Scripture Passage: John 4:3-24 Our greatest need, privilege, and supreme duty as Christians is to worship God; it is the very reason we were created. We are invited, commanded, encouraged, and empowered to worship God because we become like what we worship. Adrian Rogers says, “If you want to be utterly miserable, turn your life inward. If you want to be filled with joy, turn your life upward. Look into the face of God and learn to worship.” In John 4, Jesus met a woman who had been blinded by Satan, broken by sorrow, and bound by sin. What Jesus shares with this Samaritan woman reminds us why it is important to be faithful in worship. First, Jesus taught her the meaning of true worship. It is easy to fall into the trappings of idolatry, insincerity, and iniquity. But, as Adrian Rogers says, “True worship is all that we are, responding to all that God is. It is the adoring contemplation of God revealed in the Lord Jesus Christ. We worship according to the worth we place on God.” Second, Jesus tells us how to practice the true method of worship. John 4:23-24 says, “But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” We must be regenerated by the Father. We cannot worship a God that we don’t know; we must make certain that we have been born into the Father’s family. We must be activated by the Spirit; it is impossible to honor God apart from being filled with the Holy Spirit. We must also be regulated by the Word; true worship is linked with studying the Word of God, for we worship in spirit and in truth. Finally, Jesus reminds us of our motive as worshippers. We go to church not primarily for what we can get but for what we can give. We glorify God when we bring our worship to church; it reveals that He is of the utmost importance in our lives. Apply it to your life What does your worship life say about how much worth you’ve placed on God? Consider the meaning, method, and motive of true worship as you glorify God in your faithfulness to Him.

May 19, 202138 min

The Five Pillars of Salvation

Sermon Overview Scripture Passage: Romans 8:28-30 The five pillars of salvation are identified in Romans 8. These are five pillars upon which the temple of truth rests. If you take away any one of these, the Gospel comes tumbling down. The first pillar of salvation is the supreme wisdom of God: “For whom He foreknew…” (Romans 8:29). God’s wisdom is unlike any other man’s knowledge or understanding. It is not based upon guess or whim; He sees the beginning, the end, and everything in between. The second pillar of salvation is the sovereign will of God: “He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren” (Romans 8:29). When God predestines something, nothing can stop it—it will come to pass. God wants to redeem the whole human race, as 2 Peter 3:9 says, He is “not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” But because He lovingly gave us free will, we have a choice in the matter and we will give an account for the choice we make. Adrian Rogers says, “There is no contradiction between the sovereign grace of God and the free will of man.” The third pillar rests upon the seeking word of God: “Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called…” (Romans 8:30). “Called” means to issue a summons; God sends His Word to those who would hear it, His Gospel to those who would receive it. The fourth pillar is the saving work of God: “<a href="http://...whom" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">...whom</a> He called, these He also justified…” (Romans 8:30). Justification is more than a pardoning or acquitting of our sins, it is being made righteous in God’s sight. We receive this justification through grace and grace through our faith. The fifth and final pillar is the settled ways of God: “<a href="http://...and" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">...and</a> whom He justified, these He also glorified” (Romans 8:30). Because God deals in eternity, He sees the future as well as the present. And because we have been predestined for glory in Christ, we are already glorified. Apply it to your life We cannot lose our salvation, because it is not dependent upon us. It is held up by the five pillars of God’s wisdom, will, Word and work. Though we may slip back into sin, our destiny is settled by His grace. Rejoice in this truth today, and share it with someone.

May 3, 202138 min

The Word of God

Sermon Overview Scripture Passage: Hebrews 4:12 Adrian Rogers says, “The Bible is not like any other book: it breathes, sings, and weeps; it is alive in the power that it possesses.” Whether penned by the Apostles, spoken by the mouth of Jesus, or recorded on scrolls by the Old Testament prophets, God calls these inspired utterances the Word of God. The Word of God is absolute perfection; though the Scriptures were written by men, the words were inspired by God, declared completely infallible. 2 Peter 1:21 says, “<a href="http://...for" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">...for</a> prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.” The Bible also speaks of God’s wonderful character. Jesus is called the Word of God in John 1:1-3; this comparison links together the character of Jesus and the character of the Bible. Both Jesus Christ in His humanity and the Bible have come from God. They both live for eternity, absolutely unchanging lights for dark places. They bear elements of humanity and are given authority by God. Hebrews 4:12 says, “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” The Word of God is quick, pulsating with life, because it presents a living person: Jesus. The Bible is like a sword, dividing our innermost beings, between soul and spirit. The Bible discerns and criticizes; it searches us so that it may sanctify the saints. It works with sinners to convict and convert us; and if we do not adhere to its power, it can condemn us. Adrian Rogers says, “The Gospel is a saver of life unto life or death unto death. If the Bible does not cut you to heal you, the Bible will cut you to kill you.” The Bible works against Satan himself. When we face spiritual warfare, our only strategy should be pointing the enemy to Scripture. When we go to battle, we must not forget our sword: the Word of God. Apply it to your life When you read the Bible, does it divide, discern, search and sanctify you? Let the Bible work on your life, revealing what you need to cut out or let go of in order to become more like Jesus.

Apr 28, 202140 min

Treasuring Truth

Sermon Overview Scripture Passage: Proverbs 23:23 In this day, it is not values that we desperately need, but virtue. We must be able to differentiate truth and fact: we acquire facts but learn truth. Facts deal with knowledge, and knowledge can double, but truth never changes and is settled for eternity. We must make a habit of treasuring truth. Proverbs 23:23 says, “Buy the truth, and do not sell it, also wisdom and instruction and understanding.” We must prize the truth, for it is indispensable, absolute, and attainable through the Word of God. It is not enough just to know it; knowledge without transformation avails nothing. We must see the transforming power behind it, through the Holy Spirit. We must also purchase the truth. Adrian Rogers says, “Salvation is free, but truth is costly; you pay a price to have truth.” John 8:31-32 says, “Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” Believing in Jesus is the first step in attaining truth; we must also abide in His Word through discipleship. Discipleship is costly—it costs time, discipline, and obedience; but ignorance is far more costly. We must study the Bible for enlightenment. If we grow in knowledge but not in grace, we will be dangerous to ourselves and others. Adrian Rogers says, “Truth is to your spirit what good is to your body, what light is to your eyes, what melody is to your ears.” We also study Scripture for our enjoyment; reading the Bible should not be perceived as a punishment but as a privilege. We read for our personal enrichment, to sharpen our minds and strengthen our wills. We read Scripture for our enablement, to grow in our faith and fellowship with others. Finally, we must preserve the truth, guarding it against those who will deny, distort, dilute and defile the Bible. We do this by proclaiming the Gospel truth: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). Apply it to your life Do you treasure truth—prize, purchase, preserve, and proclaim it? Do you read Scripture for your enlightenment, enjoyment, enrichment, and enablement?

Apr 26, 202135 min

How to Be Strong in the Faith

Sermon Overview Scripture Passage: Romans 4:16-25 As children of God, faith is the stamp on our lives that pleases our Father. It is faith alone that enables us to live this Christian life. Romans 4 reminds us that in spite of Abraham’s sins, God remembers him for his faith, not his failures. By his example, we can learn how to be strong in the faith. “Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be sure to all the seed, not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all...” (Romans 4:16). Faith is not a hunch, nor is it positive thinking; faith is our response to the promises of God, taking Him at His word. Strong faith is received as a gift of God: “according to grace.” Grace is not a reward for our faith; it takes the initiative to give us that faith. We cannot generate faith, for we are totally depraved by nature. The only reason we could have faith is that God takes the initiative and puts that faith in our own hearts. Unbelief holds grace a prisoner; strong faith releases the grace of God. The only way that grace can ever operate in us is through faith. Abraham was faced with two impossibilities: having a child in spite of being barren, or believing God, who raises the dead and makes something out of nothing, could break His promises. Abraham respected the greatness of God, and he experienced the miracle of having a child in his old age. Strong faith regards God’s guidance, and as a result, reflects His glory. “He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform” (Romans 4:20-21). Abraham obeyed God, knowing that He would work through him; his story reflects the glory of God. Adrian Rogers says, “The greatest thing you could do to glorify God is to believe God.” Apply it to your life Adrian Rogers says, “You cannot please God without faith; if you please God, it doesn’t matter whom you displease, and if you displease God, it doesn’t matter whom you please.” Do you have strong faith, believing in Him, taking Him at His word?

Apr 21, 202124 min

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Love Worth Finding | Audio Program

Dealing With Loneliness

Dealing with Depression

Dealing with Doubt

The Blight of Bitterness

God&apos;s Answer to Anger

Cleansing with Chastisement

Giving Thanks in Dark Days

The Way Back to God

Then Came Sin

Games That Fools Play

The Death of a Brilliant Fool

The Judas of the Old Testament

The Blood Covenant

The Formula for Friendship

Don&apos;t Be Defeated by Your Victories

Live Like a King in Victory

You Can Be Sure

Prayer

How to Live in Victory

There is So Much More

When Faith Is in the Fire

The Ungrateful Brother

Fools: Wise or Otherwise?

The Ministry of the Word of God

How to Make Your Bible Come Alive

How You Can Know God Personally

Having Strong Faith

When We All Get to Heaven

Living in the Last Days

When Christ Is All

Treasuring Truth

How to Cultivate a Marriage

How to Behave in a Cave

The Authority of the Holy Spirit

The Word of God

Lordship of Christ

The Warfare of Prayer

Kingdom Authority

The Demands of Christian Citizenship

Investing for Life

Friends

Three Strikes and You&apos;re Out

The Gift of Encouragement

Faithful in Ministry

Faithful in Fellowship

Faithful in Worship

The Five Pillars of Salvation

The Word of God

Treasuring Truth

How to Be Strong in the Faith

God's Answer to Anger

Don't Be Defeated by Your Victories

Three Strikes and You're Out