All Episodes — Love Worth Finding | Audio Program

How to Cope with Criticism

Sermon Overview Scripture Passage: Acts 23 If you are criticized for standing for the Lord Jesus Christ, the Bible says, “Rejoice and be exceeding glad. Great is your reward in heaven.” (Matthew 5:12) This may seem easier said than done, however. Scripture tells us that we will be criticized if we live for Jesus. How can we cope with criticism and have peace in times of persecution? Consider the apostle Paul, who was criticized for following the Lord Jesus Christ, and yet he went through it triumphantly. First, he had a righteous life that came out of a good conscience. Acts 23:1 says, “I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day…” Our conscience is that inner voice that accuses us or excuses us for our actions. It doesn’t make us good or bad, it simply defines for us what we truly believe is good or bad. However, if our conscience bothers us, then criticism will bother us. We must ensure that our conscience is free from defilement, searing, and evil. If we ever let our conscience get warped or burnt out, we will not be able to cope with criticism in a sound, biblical way. The second thing that enabled Paul to stand as he did was his message of a resurrected Lord. There is tension in the Gospel: the Son of God was crucified, killed, and rose from the dead three days later. When you truly preach the resurrection of Jesus Christ, it is a disturbing and dividing truth. Either Jesus rose from the grave, or He didn’t. Which side are you on? Adrian Rogers says, “When you take a stand for truth you’re going to have a head-on collision with error.” This truth that disturbed and divided others is what delivered Paul. God gave him a reassuring lift, with a word of courage, commendation, and confidence in his time of need. If we are morally clean and theologically pure, we will be spiritually close to Jesus in times of suffering. When this happens, not only will we cope with criticism, we might just rejoice in it. Apply it to your life Have you been facing criticism for following the Lord Jesus Christ? Use the example of Paul in Acts 23 to face it triumphantly.

Sep 11, 202429 min

Three Challenges to the Cross

Sermon Overview Scripture Passage: Acts 17:16-18 In Acts 17, Paul walks down the streets of Athens, Greece, and meets three challenges to the cross—to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The same three challenges that Paul met are ones we could meet tomorrow morning; the ones who opposed the Gospel in Acts 17 could believe the same things as the people we rub shoulders with today. We need to learn how Paul met these challenges so that we can meet them in a God-honoring way. First, Paul met superstitious idolatry. Acts 17:16 says, “Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry.” An idol is anything you love, serve, fear, or trust more than God. Paul saw idolatry everywhere he turned in Athens. Our city, even sometimes our churches, are filled with idolatry. We all worship something because mankind is incurably religious. Adrian Rogers says, “If man does not worship the true God, he will worship a false god, but he will worship.” Secondly, Paul met stubborn bigotry. When Paul entered the synagogue and presented the Gospel to the people, he was met with stubbornness; the people were so sure they were right and he was wrong. Adrian Rogers says, “The hardest man to win to Jesus Christ is the man who doesn’t see his need of the Lord Jesus Christ. Many times he has a religious bigotry.” Thirdly, Paul met sophisticated philosophy. A philosopher is a lover of wisdom, one who takes pride in his learning. In Paul’s day, he encountered two types of philosophers: the Epicures and the Stoics. Epicureans sought pleasure above anything else. Stoics believed they were victims of fate, that God is in everything and everything is God. We still encounter people who believe this way. Unfortunately, often times, their innate foolishness keeps them from knowing Jesus. How did Paul deal with this opposition? He simply continued to preach, and reveal the character of God: that He created us, controls us, convicts and commands us. Some mocked, some laughed and some procrastinated. But, thank God, others believed. We can’t make others believe, however, we have the opportunity to preach the Gospel anyway. Apply it to your life Do you have any idols in your life that need to be dealt with? Repent and follow God with a wholly devoted heart.

Sep 9, 202431 min

How to Measure a Man

Sermon Overview Scripture Passage: Acts 20:35-38 The world often measures a man by his intelligence, strength, or wealth. However, the world often forgets that when we pass away, we leave behind all that we have and take with us all that we are. What will you take with you? What truly matters in a man? Consider what the Apostle Paul took with him. Acts 20:19 says, “Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations…” A man’s life will be measured by his manner. We must live a life of humility, and the mark of humility is service. Adrian Rogers says, “Humility is an honest estimation of yourself… based on what God says about you. It results primarily in serving others.” Our manner of life should be marked by heartache. "Serving the Lord... with many tears." The apostle Paul was a compassionate man. He knew how to weep. He knew how to enter into the sorrows and the hurts of other people. Our manner of life must also include hardship. There is no way to live a life that counts and make an impression on this world without making some enemies. That didn’t scare Paul, and it shouldn’t scare us. A man's life will also be measured by his message. We will be known for something when we are gone. Our lives will bear a message for others to remember when they think about us. Paul’s life message revolved around repentance toward God and faith in Jesus Christ. Finally, a man’s life is measured by his motto. Every man has a life motto; something that motivates, drives, and constrains him. Paul's life motto was: "Remembering the words of Jesus, it is more blessed to give than to receive.” (Acts 20:35) Paul spent his life, not primarily as a receiver, but as a giver. This motto freed Paul from covetousness, idleness, and selfishness. Therefore, his life was blessed. There is no easy way to have a great life. But if we remember that a man’s life is measured by the manner, the message, and the motto of his life, we will find a life worth living. Apply it to your life If you based your life on Paul’s testimony in Acts 20:19, how would you measure up? When we pass away, we leave behind all that we have and take with us all that we are. What will you take with you?

Sep 6, 202435 min

The Simplicity of Salvation

Sermon Overview Scripture Passage: Acts 16:23-31 The Gospel is meant to be told simply. God wants salvation to be made simple because it is His desire that anyone can understand and obtain it. Acts 16:23-31 tells the story of Paul and Silas, who have been put in prison for preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They’ve been beaten and stuffed into a dungeon; yet, they are singing and praising God. Then came a great earthquake, and the prison doors and shackles came undone. They were free. When the jailor saw that the prisoners were freed, yet remained in their cell, he asked, “What must I do to be saved?” Paul and Silas’s answer reveals the beautiful simplicity of salvation. First, we must consider the meaning of salvation.To be saved means to be delivered from sin. Sin comes in three forms: -The wrong we do-The right we don’t do-The good we do without God So what does it mean to be saved from sin? We are saved from the penalty, the pollution, the power, and the presence of sin. Second, we must consider the man of salvation. The Lord Jesus Christ. Acts 16:30 says “...Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shall be saved.” When these disciples said, “Lord” they meant He’s the Master of our lives. When these disciples said, “Jesus” they meant He's the Mediator between us and God. When these disciples said, “Christ” they meant He’s the Messiah, the one who saves. Finally, remember the method of salvation. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved. What does it mean to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ? It is not mere intellectual belief. The demons believe and tremble (James 2:19), and they are certainly not saved. “Believe on” means “commit to”. Commit to the Lord Jesus Christ. We believe that whosoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. (Rom. 10:13) And whosoever means anybody, any time, any place, anywhere. Apply it to your life If someone asks you, “How can I be saved?” as the jailor asked Paul and Silas, would you know what to say?

Sep 4, 202432 min

The Church Member of My Dreams

Sermon Overview Scripture Passage: Acts 4:36-37 The Book of Acts tells the story of a man called Barnabas. His name means “son of encouragement.” And there are five characteristics that make Barnabas the church member of any pastor’s dreams. First, he was a load lifter. In Acts 4:36, Barnabas meets a need by selling his property and giving the profits to the church. He saw a load and he decided to lift it. Encouragers understand that we all have something to give. Encouragers find out what it is that can be used to lift another’s burdens and offer it. Encouragers are also friend finders. 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 friend them. An encourager finds the lonely and neglected, puts an arm around them, and brings them into the fold. Encouragers are also bridge builders. Barnabas knew the old and he saw the new; he was used to link the past to the future. Adrian Rogers says, “Barnabas believed in the tradition, but he believed in the frontier. And he was used by God to mold it all together. He was a bridge builder.” Encouragers are disciple developers. Barnabas often found buried gifts in new disciples and he brought these hidden talents out of them. There are people in our churches with gifts and abilities that need to be discovered and developed. But it takes a “Barnabas” to find them. Finally, encouragers are failure fixers. 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 Barnabas, who strove to fix this failure with words of encouragement. And thank God for the encouragers in our churches, who see second chances in us when no one else does. Apply it to your life Would you consider yourself to be a church member of your pastor’s dreams? Are you an encourager like Barnabas — a load lifter, friend finder, bridge builder, disciple developer, and failure fixer?

Sep 2, 202437 min

How You Can Be Sure

Sermon Overview Scripture Passage: Acts 10:33-42 Acts 10 tells the story of a Roman army officer named Cornelius. Cornelius was also a Gentile. Up until this time, the Gentiles had not been added to the Christian church (the early believers were Jewish). Yet, Cornelius was hungry to know God and he was hungry for faith in Jesus Christ. Supernaturally, God brought Cornelius and the apostle Peter together. As he is presenting the Gospel to Cornelius, Peter claims three indisputable witnesses who testify that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. By believing them, we, like Cornelius, can be sure of our salvation as well. The first was a personal witness of the saints. The apostles standing before Cornelius had literally walked with Jesus during his ministry. The disciples were a diverse group of young men who lived with Him, ate, and fellowshipped with Him. They personally witnessed His life, death, and resurrection. And though a wide mixture of characters, the disciples’ recollection of Jesus is unanimous: He is the resurrected Son of God. The second was the prophetic witness of the Scriptures. Every page of Scripture is about Jesus, if not explicitly, then prophetically. Even in the Old Testament, before Jesus walked the earth, prophecies the salvation He would bring to mankind. The Bible has one hero, which is Jesus; and it has one message: Jesus saves. Adrian Rogers says, “The Bible was not written primarily to give us the history of Israel. It's not written primarily to tell us about ceremonies and rituals; the Bible was written to tell us that Jesus saves.” Lastly, the Holy Spirit acted as the third witness. After he was saved, Cornelius immediately received the Holy Ghost and began to speak in tongues. This was the outward evidence of the internal work of God in the hearts of these new believers. God was expanding the church to include the Gentiles right before their eyes. Jew and Gentile became one body, by witness of the saints, the Scripture, and the Spirit. Apply it to your life Are you sure of your salvation and do you believe the three indisputable witnesses at hand?

Aug 30, 202430 min

All Things New

Sermon Overview Scripture Passage: Acts 9:17-22 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore if any man be in Christ Jesus, he is a new creation; old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” Adrian Rogers says it this way, “A Christian is not just somebody who has become nice; he’s become new.” Acts 9 tells the story of the conversion of the Apostle Paul. His early name was Saul and he was a persecutor of Christians. Yet, in this passage, he becomes Paul, the greatest missionary and evangelist the world has ever known. He was changed by the grace of God, so much so, he even changed his name! There are five markings of this man made new, found in Acts 9:17-22. First, Saul had a new Lord. The first question Saul asked when confronted by Jesus on the road to Damascus was, “Lord, what would you have me do?” Jesus had become his Lord; immediately, he was under new management. The Bible calls Jesus, Lord 433 times. And Adrian Rogers says, “You cannot have what He gives, salvation unless you receive what He is, and that is Lord.” Second, Paul had a new life. When you receive Jesus as Lord, you receive a new life and a new spiritual sight. You’re able to see things you’ve never seen before. Third, Paul had a new liberty. God put His power within Paul. The Christian life is what God does in us and through us. He’s the one who gives us that liberty. Fourth, Paul had a new love. A few days before his conversion, this man was threatening the church. His heart was filled with bitterness and malevolence toward those who were called Christians. And those he once loathed he now loves. If you love Jesus, you will love what He loves. Finally, Paul had a new labor. Saul’s mission was to destroy the church. Paul’s mission was to build the church. The marking of a new life in Christ is that he shares it with others. And what God did for Saul, God wants to do for us, all. Apply it to your life Have you been made new in Christ? Does your life show that you have a new Lord, life, liberty, love, and labor?

Aug 29, 202431 min

The Devil's Religion

Sermon Overview Scripture Passage: Acts 8:5-24 Contrary to popular belief, the devil is very much for religion; in fact, he uses religion to oppose the Gospel of Jesus Christ. In the Book of Revelation, the Bible prophecies that in the Last Days, there will not be a lack of religion; there will be more than ever. Men will have religion without reality; they will not know God, and yet they will be very religious. It is vital that we recognize the warnings and refute the devil’s religion, lest we fall into its deception. -Beware of the devilish power of false religion.-Beware of the devilish pride of false religion.-Beware of the devilish pretense of false religion.-Beware of the devilish poison of false religion. In Acts 8, a man named Simon was practicing what the Bible calls “sorcery.” He had tapped into a devilish, unholy, supernatural power so great, it left his city in awe. We must remember that the devil is a deceiver, and he often uses miracles and signs to deceive even those who believe they are Christians. Acts 8:9 says, “But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one.” Simon was inflated with ego. The hallmark of false religion is pride. Remember: It was pride that made the devil, the devil. There are two kinds of believers described in Acts 8:12-13: possessors and pretenders. The difference is in the object of their belief. Simon the sorcerer was interested in power that he could get hold of. When he saw the apostles, filled with the Holy Spirit, laying their hands on people and giving healing and restoration, he wanted it. Adrian Rogers says, “Because false religion is egocentric, it is always rooted in what I can get and not in what I can give.” False religion poisons everything it touches. It can’t make a person free; you are ensnared and undelivered from sin and temptation, left unfulfilled and unsatisfied, bitter and in bondage. The only remedy to false religion is repentance of sins of the spirit. Receive the Holy Spirit through a relationship with Christ. Apply it to your life Have you been ensnared by the dangers of false religion? Do you need to repent of the sins of the spirit? Repent; stand on the word of God.

Aug 27, 202431 min

Wherever He Leads, I'll Go

Sermon Overview Scripture Passage: Acts 8:26 We, as Christians, have been sent on a mission to share the Gospel anywhere and everywhere God calls us to go. Where is anywhere and everywhere for you? Have you ever said in your heart, "Wherever He leads, I'll go"? We should be able to say this and mean it, without fear or hesitation. God has a plan for us and God will use us if we will let Him. How can we know where God wants us to go? First, we must perceive the call of God. God has many ways to speak to us, through prayer, the Holy Spirit, angels, and others. We must get rid of our selfishness, our pride, and our ambitions, and be ready to be filled by God. And what God fills, He uses. We must preach the Gospel, simply and clearly, according to Jesus Christ. Adrian Rogers says, “The Gospel is simply glorious and gloriously simple.” The Gospel, simply put, is three statements: -“I am a sinner.”-“Christ died for my sins.”-“I am saved by grace, through faith.” Finally, we must practice the commands of God. The Great Commission in Matthew 28:19-20 says, "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.”Baptism is our way of showing our salvation. A true baptism follows true salvation. Adrian Rogers says, “If we are real missionaries, we're going to receive the call of God, preach the Christ of God, and practice the commands of God.” Apply it to your life Are you willing to say to God, “Wherever you lead, I’ll go”? If there was ever a time we ought to say it, it is now.

Aug 23, 202435 min

How to Turn Problems into Possibilities

Sermon Overview Scripture Passage: Acts 6:1-7 Being a Christian means seeing opportunities in every difficulty. In Acts 6, the early church was experiencing some growing pains. By understanding how they dealt with their difficulties, we can learn how to turn our problems into possibilities. We know what it’s like to experience growing pains, physically, mentally, and spiritually. With that understanding, there are four things to keep in mind when our churches undergo this grueling process of maturity. First, remember that where there is life, there is growth. If your church is growing, it is important to remember this is a good thing. Anything that grows has pains. Growth is not easy or automatic. We have to plan, pray, and work for it; we have to cultivate and water something if we want it to grow. Even still, it is God alone who gives growth. Churches can be big or small, each one unique and designed to maintain different capacities. No matter what size the church may be, if it is surrounded by lost people and still not growing, there’s something wrong. Our mission is to reach souls for the Lord Jesus Christ. If we’re not reaching them, we’re not doing what we were told to do. Where there is growth, there are problems. Anything that moves makes friction. However, many times, churches divide moreover incidentals than fundamental things. Adrian Rogers says, “When God sets out to multiply, the devil sets out to divide.” Where there are problems, there are solutions. A mature Christian is going to be deeply spiritual and intensely practical. In Acts 6, there was murmuring over neglected widows in the congregation. So, God demonstrated His practical love through the church leaders as they, themselves, waited tables for widows. These high-powered spiritual men were willing to minister in the small and mundane things. As a result, the church began to grow and the murmuring stopped. Where there are God-given solutions, there is even greater growth. It seems that every time the devil attacked this early church, their problems simply became springboards for greater possibilities. Adrian Rogers says, “All hell can’t stop a church that’ll keep its eyes on the Lord Jesus Christ.” Thank God for a growing church! Apply it to your life Are you or your church experiencing some growing pains? Embrace it; turn your problems into possibilities for growth. Acknowledge the issues and pray for God-given solutions.

Aug 21, 202431 min

The Expedience of Obedience

Sermon Overview Scripture Passage: Acts 5:29-32 Being a Christian is a joyous thing. The reason we are not filled with joy in this Christian life could be a matter of disobedience. Adrian Rogers says, “Obedience is the missing ingredient in so many Christians’ lives.” What does it mean to truly obey Christ? What is the expedience of obedience? In Acts 5, Peter and the other apostles have caused quite a stir by preaching about Jesus Christ. The religious authorities are trying to stop a revival they began. They command the apostles to stop preaching. Verses 29-32 says: “Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.”In this text, we are first given the reason for obedience. When God tells us to do something, we don’t have any other reasonable choice because He is a sovereign God. He has every right to instruct His children, no refusal or rebuttal about it. He is also a saving God, who suffered and died for us. Why do we obey Him? We owe it to Him. What are the requirements for obedience? Understand first, we can’t obey unless we know what it is that God wants us to do. Once we know God’s will, we must be intentional about obeying it and do so immediately. We will be held accountable for what we know. When He speaks, we must answer Him, regardless of circumstances. Only then can we see the supernatural rewards of our obedience: -Power in our lives-Joy in our hearts-Victory in the church. When we obey God rather than men, we will see great multitudes of people come to Jesus Christ. Apply it to your life Would you like to obey, to be happy in Jesus? Would you like to have victory in your life? Know the will of God for your life and do it immediately, inflexibly, and passionately.

Aug 20, 202429 min

Lifestyle Evangelism

Sermon Overview Scripture Passage: Acts 5:19-20 Acts 5:42 says, “And daily in the temple and in every house they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.” Publicly and privately, the early church did not stop preaching and teaching about Jesus Christ; it was a daily experience. In our own way and opportunity, each of us is called, ordained, and equipped to share the gospel of Jesus Christ. In fact, if you are a Christian, evangelism is supposed to be a lifestyle. Adrian Rogers says, “God has called you to witness. A Christian who is not witnessing is not merely missing a blessing, he is guilty of high treason against heaven’s King.” If you are not witnessing, you are disobeying God. In the Book of Acts, the conversion of three men reveals why it is so important to witness to others. In Acts 8, the conversion of the Ethiopian man shows us that all people have a common hunger to know God, even if we don’t understand it yet. In Acts 9, the conversion of Saul—who later became Paul, apostle of Christ— reminds us that all people have a common heartache. All the intelligence and money in the world couldn’t buy the satisfaction that is found only in Christ. In Acts 10, the conversion of Cornelius tells us that all people have a common hope—Jesus. Back-to-back, we are shown by Scripture that the hope of Africa is Jesus, the hope of Asia (Paul the Apostle) is Jesus, the hope of Europe (Cornelius) is Jesus. All people need the same help. The hope of the world is Jesus. God took Phillip, Annanias, and Peter, with their availability, expendability, adaptability, and used them to share the Gospel with men who would carry it even further, to the uttermost ends of the earth. We all have the same heartaches and hunger that are only satisfied through our common hope in Jesus Christ. And remember: Jesus will save anybody who is willing to come to Him. They may not even know that it is God who they are searching for, but each and every man needs to know him. It is our job, as a Christian community to help them. Apply it to your life Are you available, expendable, and adaptable, ready to be used by God? There’s somebody who needs you desperately. All men need the same help—they need somebody to tell them about Jesus and that somebody is you.

Aug 16, 202431 min

God's Warning to Pretenders

Sermon Overview Scripture Passage: Acts 4:36-37-Acts 5:11 In Acts 5, the early church was in the blaze of revival. However, the Devil crafted a new attack from within the church, through Ananias and Sapphira. After seeing another church member receive praise for selling his property and giving everything to the church, Ananias and his wife Sapphira lied about their own offering to receive the same praise. Right on the spot, God struck them both dead. This is God’s warning to big pretenders about the seriousness of hypocrisy. This lie was rooted in pride. They wanted praise. They pretended to have a devotion to Jesus they did not have; they became hypocrites. The Holy Spirit gave Peter the gift of discernment and exposed the lie through him. Peter then revealed that this couple didn’t just lie to men, they lied to the Spirit of God. It is unspeakably serious to lie to the Holy Spirit, and it is important to know that we could never fool Him. There were serious consequences for their pretending. As Christians, we will be judged as sinners, servants, and sons. Our judgment as sinners was settled at the cross of Jesus Christ. The judgment for our service will be dealt with at the judgment seat of Christ. The judgment of sons is the way God the Father disciplines us and grows us day by day. What happened to Ananias and Sapphira was their judgment as children of God. This punishment can sometimes be very severe. But the judgment of God can save us, too. God doesn’t take vengeance on his own children. God, in mercy, took Ananias and Sapphira to keep them from further sin. It was a saving judgment for the church, as well. Through this example, the church saw how God felt about sin. This hypocrisy did not stop the revival; in fact, revival only increased. It didn’t stop this early church; it shouldn’t stop us today. Hypocrites come and go, but the church of the Lord Jesus marches on. Apply it to your life We are saved by grace, but one of these days we will face the judgment seat of Christ and give an account for how we stewarded our lives. If you’re a child of God, sin in your life is more serious than sin in the life of an unsaved person. Be careful that you do not lie to the Holy Spirit.

Aug 15, 202437 min

How to Put Power in Your Prayer

Sermon Overview Scripture Passage: Acts 4:23-33 The need of the hour is power in prayer—not merely to pray, but to pray with power. In Acts 4, there was trouble in the early church. There was opposition against the Gospel of Jesus. Christians’ lives were being threatened. This was the catalyst for this great prayer meeting. It was not just any prayer that they needed. No rhetoric, eloquence, music or beauty would do. They needed power; and they received it. How do we put power in our prayers? First, we must understand the confidence of their mighty prayer. Acts 4:24 says, “...they lifted up their voice to God with one accord and said, Lord thou art God which hath made heaven and earth and the sea and all that in them is...” When facing opposition, it’s necessary to gain the right perspective: to look beyond the visible to the Invisible. To look beyond the creature to the Creator. We will find that nothing has happened that God does not control. We will find the conquering God still on His throne. We can be confident that we are praying to a God who is the creator, controller, and conqueror of all things. Notice also the commitment of a mighty prayer. The reason that many of our prayers are not answered is that we’ve not made that commitment to the Lord. Prayer is the means of bringing the power of heaven into our lives. As servants of God, we must express His Word, extend His hand, and exalt His Son. When we commit to doing so, then we will see power in our prayers. Finally, we must be ready for the consequences of a mighty prayer. The Spirit is received—a fresh filling of God’s Holy Spirit. Unity is achieved; Adrian Rogers says, “Prayer, more than anything else, unites the church.” Then, the Gospel is believed. Adrian Rogers tells us, ”Our first duty is not to preach the gospel, but to be ready and worthy to preach it through prayer.” Apply it to your life Do you want to put power in your prayer? Have you made yourself available to Jesus, a vessel for Him to work through and accomplish His mighty works? Submit totally to God.

Aug 14, 202429 min

The Secret of Holy Boldness

Sermon Overview Scripture Passage: Acts 4:1-3, 4:13 Many of us want to share our faith, but we’ve been intimidated out of doing so. Acts 4:13 says, “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marveled; and took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.” We need an epidemic of holy boldness, the same one that transformed Peter and John. What is the secret of their holy boldness? If we are going to be bold witnesses for Jesus Christ, we can expect persecution. Peter and John were persecuted. The persecution was not against them, it was against Jesus. If the resurrected Christ dwells in us, the same world that hated Jesus will hate us. But we are to rejoice and be exceedingly glad. Why? Adrian Rogers says, “The church persecuted is always the church powerful.” When you have a holy boldness, you can express persuasion. No one has ever been argued into Heaven. Witnessing is about sharing your personal encounter with the living Christ with others. Adrian Rogers says, “I can preach truth, but only He can impart truth.” Another secret of holy boldness is the presence we will experience. The disciples were bold because they had been with Jesus. They had seen Christ alive and resurrected and now Christ lives in them. Nothing could intimidate them. The Enemy could not shut them up or hold them back. They were filled with the Spirit of God and the presence of Jesus. The final secret to holy boldness is the person we will exalt. Again, Adrian Rogers says, “You cannot be convinced that Jesus Christ came out of that grave and that He’s the only hope of a sin-cursed world and be silent; you cannot!” Understand that holy boldness is not human courage. It is not arrogance or presumption. Holy boldness is saying, “Lord Jesus. If You are for me, who can be against me?” Apply it to your life Do you wish to have more courage when you share your faith in Jesus with others? Pray for an epidemic of holy boldness. Be a good steward of the faith you have been given.

Aug 13, 202425 min

The Keys to a Beautiful Life

Sermon Overview Scripture Passage: Acts 3:1-10 Acts 3 tells the story of Peter and John healing the crippled man at the gate of the temple in Jesus’ name. As a result, perhaps twenty thousand people came to know and follow Jesus Christ. In this passage, we can identify three keys to a beautiful life. These twenty thousand people who were saved were first confronted with a miracle. The man who would be healed by Jesus’ disciples had been crippled since birth. He resides at the gate of the temple (actually called ‘Beautiful’). Day after day, he lived on the outside of a beautiful life. Until one day, Peter and John approached him, offering him the healing power of Jesus Christ. The man was healed, free to leap, dance, and praise God. He entered through a gate called Beautiful, into the temple of God. This was a miracle that could not be reasonably denied or humanly explained, and it comes with a message for us all. This man represents those of us who are spiritually and morally crippled by birth. When Jesus—through the apostles—healed this man, His actions said this: “A touch from God leads to a beautiful life of serving, worshiping, and walking with God.” Secondly, Peter tells the crowd of the murder that condemned them. More than likely, the people in Act chapter 3 didn’t literally nail Jesus to the cross, but Peter said, “If you’re not with Him, you’re against Him. If you don’t crown Him, you crucify Him.” We learn from Peter’s accusations that it was our sin that nailed Jesus Christ to the cross. We’re implicated in His murder. Thirdly, there was a message that converted them. After the miracle grabbed the crowd’s attention, the stage was set for one of the greatest evangelistic messages ever preached. Peter’s message was, “Jesus is the risen Lord. We are witnesses. He is alive and He is present, even today. He redeems those who repent.” This message still rings true today, for us. Adrian Rogers says, “When you repent, Christ comes in and He gives you the power to live the life that you could not live.” Apply it to your life Do you want a beautiful life? Do you want to be spiritually healed? Repent! Change your mind about yourself, about sin, and about the Savior. And watch Him make something beautiful out of your life.

Aug 12, 202432 min

The Ingredients of a Church Aflame

Sermon Overview Scripture Passage: Acts 2:1-13 In Acts 2, nearly a million Jews were in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost. However, 120 disciples of Jesus Christ were at the center of attention as they received the baptism of the Holy Ghost. They were a church aflame; an early Christian church that made an impact on their community in a mighty way. What are the ingredients of a church aflame? The first is Supernatural Power. God demonstrated the power He had promised the disciples in Acts 1:8. This power was visualized by wind and fire. John 3:8 explains that the wind symbolizes the Holy Spirit because it “bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth.” The sight of fire over each of the disciples’ heads also symbolizes the Holy Spirit, as fire spreads and consumes, just like our Lord wants to consume our lives for His glory. This power was vocalized by the speaking of tongues and vitalized by the Holy Spirit. When we become Christians, we are baptized by the Holy Ghost, indwelled by the Holy Spirit, and sealed into Christ. From there, we can choose to be filled with the Holy Spirit through surrender and faith. Then, there’s the anointing of the Spirit: the special touch for a specific task. The second ingredient of a church aflame is the spiritual preaching. Peter preached the Word of God to the disciples with boldness. The third ingredient of a church aflame is a saved people; those who understand what salvation truly is. Adrian Rogers says, “Real salvation is not merely a crisis act that you look back to, it is a present experience.” The last ingredient of a church aflame is the spiritual program. The church must study the Bible together in fellowship and worship as one Body. Each member must participate as they should. When each member is active in the church, the church will grow and catch the flame of the Spirit. Apply it to your life Are you an active member of a church aflame? Remember, as Adrian Rogers said, “God doesn’t want us to do anything for Him, He wants to do something through us.” Let Him use you in your local church.

Aug 8, 202443 min

The Pathway to Power

Sermon Overview Scripture Passage: Acts 1:1-9 The Book of Acts is the success story of a small group of uncultured people—with no seminaries, radio, television, internet, newspapers, and very little resources—who told the world about Jesus. They went out against great obstacles and turned that world inside out and upside down for Jesus Christ. They did so much with so little! And we need to understand today what they did and how they did it, so that we can walk on the pathway to power, making much use of the resources God has given us. First, we must recognize the presence of Jesus in our lives. In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus was here in His physical body. In the Book of Acts (also written by Luke), He is here in His mystical body. Jesus is still alive and active through us. Adrian Rogers says, “Jesus doesn’t want us to do anything for Him. He wants to do something through us.” The reason this early church did what they did with such power is because it really wasn’t them doing it. It was Jesus doing it through them. Second, we must receive His promise of power. God made a promise, and that promise to us is the spiritual power through the Holy Spirit to accomplish far more than we believe could be done. When we are filled with the Spirit of God, we’re filled with the Power of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit enlightens us toward the path we should take. He enables us to take it because we can’t do it on our own. And the Spirit encourages us in our moments of hardship. Finally, we must respond to His program through us. We are to be witnesses. Adrian Rogers tells us, “We must get our heads out of the clouds of prophecy and got our feet on the sidewalks of soul winning to tell others.” When we make ourselves available to His program through us, we become witnesses of the Gospel. And seeing what He accomplished through His early witnesses, there is no estimation of how powerful our witness to Jesus’ transformational love can be. Apply it to your life You don’t know what you may do when you bring a soul to Jesus Christ. Recognize His presence in you. Receive His promise to you. And respond to His program through you.

Aug 7, 202432 min

Jesus and His Bible

Sermon Overview Scripture Reference: Matthew 5:17-18 In His day, the Bible Jesus knew was the Old Testament. Jesus’ unwavering devotion to it reminds us why we put our faith in the Word of God, cover to cover. In Matthew 5:17-18, Jesus says, “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.” This passage reveals three things concerning Jesus and His Bible. First, Jesus fulfills the Old Testament in its predictions. Old Testament Scripture identifies the Savior as the Son of a mother from a specific family, belonging to a certain tribe, of a designated nation, of a specific section of the human race. Jesus meets the exact criteria; He is the fulfillment of every prophecy. Adrian Rogers said, “The key to understanding the Bible is to look for Jesus in the Bible. If you read the Bible and you don’t find Jesus, re-read it!” God has no plan or purpose that does not ultimately center on Jesus Christ; He is in all of the Bible. What a testimony to the character of the Bible and of Jesus, how they rise and stand together. Second, Jesus fulfills the Old Testament in its perfection. Jesus holds the highest view of the Bible. He tells us that the Bible is verbally inspired: not just as a thought, but Word for Word. Every piece of it, every jot and tittle, is plenarily inspired. Finally, Jesus fulfills the Old Testament in its purposes. God demanded a perfect, sinless sacrifice—born of a virgin, with no Adamic nature in Him, and living a sinless life. Jesus Christ meets every standard and requirement of the law. Adrian Rogers said, “Jesus fulfilled the law for us, that grace might fulfill it in us.” The Old Testament law is there to remind us that we are sinners; we are lost and cannot save ourselves. However, Jesus came to save sinners; He suffered, bled, and died to pay every debt we owe—to fulfill the law in its prediction, perfection, and purpose. Apply it to your life Have you put your trust in Jesus, the fulfillment of the law? Repent, confess, and pray for His grace to fulfill the law in you.

Aug 6, 2024

A Unified Church

Sermon Overview Scripture Reference: Ephesians 4 A biblically unified church is a wonderful thing. Because this unity comes from the Spirit, we do not produce it; we merely preserve it. Ephesians 4 tells us that we, as Christians, are to be, “...endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:2-3). We preserve this sacred unity by recognizing three important concepts from this passage. First, we must see that the ground of our unity is doctrinal and spiritual.Unity does not mean unison or uniformity. It means we are in agreement on the basic truths of Scripture. Ephesians 4:4-6 tells us the seven pillars of truth that hold us up and hold us together. 1. One Body: the Church, which began in the New Testament and has been kept alive and active to this day. 2. One Spirit: the Holy Spirit, the substance of our life, secret of our strength, and source of our unity. 3. One Hope: the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. 4. One Lord: Jesus Christ, the Head of the Church, always. 5. One Faith: God’s revealed Word, which we are to earnestly contend for. 6. One Baptism: baptized by the Holy Spirit at salvation and brought into the body of Christ. 7. One God: The Father, who is above all, through all, and in all. Once we are unified as a church, then we can see the glory of our diversity. Adrian Rogers says, “Sameness is not unity; unity comes from diversity.” God gives us different spiritual gifts that are meant to unite us, not to divide us; they are not toys, they are tools. Though we are unified in our doctrine, our spiritual gifts do not have to march in lock step. Finally, we recognize that the goal of our unity is maturity. -We are meant to mature in stature, in how we look more and more like Jesus every day. -We are to mature in stability, not being swayed by false teachings. -We are to mature in speech, speaking truth in love without stutter, stammer, or apology. And we mature in service toward one another, edifying the body as we grow, ourselves. Unity, diversity, and maturity—all three are necessary for peace among the brethren. We learn how to get along despite our differences when we work together in harmony. Apply it to your life Are you a part of a unified church? Do you serve the body with your spiritual gifts?

Aug 5, 2024

The Gospel of Grace

Sermon Overview Scripture Passage: Galatians 1:6-12 Man has three great enemies: sin, sorrow, and death. There is no answer to these problems apart from Jesus Christ. In Galatians 1:6, Paul questions why the Galatian church has deserted the Gospel of grace and followed a “different” Gospel. This specific, social gospel these believers bought into had to do with self-effort and good works. But the true Gospel reminds us it is the grace of God alone that saves us from our sins. To understand the Gospel of grace, we must see the satanic opposition. Satan fought against grace. Satan has no raw materials; he perverts the good that already exists. If he can convince us to accept a synthetic gospel, we’ll never see our need for the real Gospel. Second, we see the settled origin of the Gospel: God taught it. Galatians 1:11-12 says, “But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ.” Adrian Rogers says, “The Gospel is not man’s invention; it comes by divine revelation.” We cannot bring human ingenuity, wit, or wisdom against the Gospel. It does not matter how we feel; what God says is the only thing that counts. We do not need a “new, modern” gospel for the new, modern age; the Gospel of grace is settled. Third, we see the sacrificial obtainment of the Gospel: Jesus bought it. The Gospel of grace was purchased by the blood of Jesus The true Gospel is centered on Christ alone—His death, burial, and resurrection. He is the only way to salvation. Fourth, we notice the saving operation of the Gospel: Grace wrought it. Grace is what caused God to love us while we were sinners. It is a seeking, saving, and securing grace. This grace is sufficient and surviving; it will never run out or fade away. Finally, we see the singular obsession with the Gospel: Paul taught it. In a world obsessed with what others think of us, we should become like the Apostle Paul, who was solely interested in pleasing Jesus. Apply it to your life Do you believe in the Gospel of grace? Remember, the only true Gospel is the one centered on Jesus Christ. Do not spend your time concerned with pleasing men; focus on pleasing God.

Aug 1, 202434 min

Too Blessed to Be Stressed

Sermon Overview Scripture Reference: Psalm 37 Few things are as debilitating as worry; it will take the blue out of your sky and the joy out of your heart. Psalm 37 explains why it is important to know we are too blessed to be stressed. First, we must trust in the Lord when resources vanish.“Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness” (Psalm 37:3). Sometimes, God will put us in a place where we don’t have any option other than to trust in Him. When we don’t have anywhere else to go but to the Lord, we will learn that Jesus is all we need. He is enough. He has promised to meet our needs, if only we will seek Him first. (See Matthew 6:33.) Second, we must delight in the Lord when dreams dissolve. “Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart” (Psalm 37:4). If we put our joy in our finances, circumstances, or other people, it can be threatened. These things can go away in an instant. But when our source of joy is in the Lord, it cannot be threatened. We will find that the innermost needs of our hearts are met. Adrian Rogers says, “You want to know everything you have that really counts? You add up everything you have that money can’t buy and death can’t take away.” Third, we must commit our ways to the Lord when our lifestyle is threatened. “Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass” (Psalm 37:5). Lifestyles are bound to change throughout our lifetimes, based on our ways of life, our reputations, and our careers. Our standard of living may change, but our standard of life never changes. We will find that when we give everything to Him in total trust, our worries decrease significantly. Finally, we must rest in the Lord when God seems slow to act. “Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him...” (Psalm 37:7). Here, rest means to be silent before the Lord, waiting patiently for Him to act. Patience comes once we’ve learned to commit, delight, and trust. Apply it to your life Have you learned to commit, delight, trust, and rest before the Lord? Consider Psalm 37 today, and pray that God would begin to work in your heart.

Jul 31, 2024

The Dawning of a New Day

Sermon Overview Scripture Reference: Luke 22:31-34 Luke 22 tells the story of one of Jesus’ most devoted disciples, Peter, on the darkest night of his life. Peter was known to argue when he should have listened. He boasted when he should have leaned on the Lord. He slept when Jesus asked him to pray. And he fought when he was supposed to love. But Jesus loved Peter, even in his disobedience, and eventually, in his denial. We know this because after the darkest night of his life, Peter saw the dawning of a new day. The night Jesus was arrested and sentenced to death, Peter’s world was unraveling. Jesus was supposed to be Lord, now he is being sentenced to death? How could this be happening? When recognized as a disciple of Jesus by the angry crowd, Peter fearfully denied knowing Jesus three times; then, a rooster crowed... Luke 22:61 says, “And the Lord turned and looked upon Peter, and Peter remembered the word of the Lord; how he had said unto him, before the (rooster) crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.” Peter remembered Jesus telling him this would happen: that he would deny Him three times before the rooster crowed. Peter learned that God is still in control, even when it doesn’t seem so. Peter also learned the sympathetic compassion and steadfast commitment Jesus has toward His followers. When we become children of God, Jesus commits Himself to us. We may stray, but if we are truly saved, God brings us back to Him. The Bible says that Jesus prays for His believers, even to this day, (John 17:20-23) and is committed to praying for us even when we regress in our faith rather than progress. He convicts us of our sins so that we will not wander for long. And when we return to Him, He is faithful to forgive. So what did Peter learn on one of the darkest nights of his life? That Jesus is still in control, He has compassion for us, and is committed to praying for us. Just as dawn broke once more for Peter, Jesus will see us through to a new day. Apply it to your life Have you been going through a long, dark night, wondering when the dawn will break? Take courage, God is with you! Worship Him in prayer and reading Scripture.

Jul 29, 2024

Learning to Endure

Sermon Overview Scripture Reference: James 1:2-13 Do you want to be strong, prosperous, and content? All of us do. But do you want trials and tribulation? Most of us don’t. There will be heartache in this life. That is guaranteed. And as any loving Father would, God wants us to overcome it with unexplainable joy and strength. That is why He tests His children, so that we may learn to endure. Don’t be afraid of God’s tests; they are not there to make us stumble, rather, to teach us to stand. When we know this, there are a few things we discover when we learn to endure. We might be surprised to find joy in our trials. James 1:2 says, “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations.” Why do we count it all joy? Because overcoming Christians are joyful Christians. We know that pain is inevitable, but in trials, we learn that misery is optional. We also grow exponentially when tribulation comes. James 1:4 says, “But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” The Greek word for “perfect” here doesn’t mean sinless —it means mature. Maturity comes with trials; as does enlightenment. We learn many new things and obtain so much wisdom that roots us in an unshakeable faith. James 1:12 says, “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation; for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life.” Endurance makes kings and queens out of the children of God. Adrian Rogers says, “If you do not bear the cross, you can’t wear the crown.” And when we learn to endure, we are brought to the place where we need nothing. We learn that there is no necessity that God is unable to meet. God wants to give His children the real riches of life. And once we learn that our greatest gift from God is the ability to endure, we will see trials and tribulations as opportunities to do so. Apply it to your life Are you going through a trial or tribulation right now? Endure; thank God for His gifts and His grace, and pray for the strength to endure. Do not waste this pain. Use it to glorify God.

Jul 25, 2024

The Key to Unbroken Victory

Sermon Overview Scripture Reference: Joshua 7:1 God has planned a life of victory for each one of us, yet many Christians live in defeat. They have saved souls and lost lives. Defeat is possible, but not necessary. Joshua 7 reminds us of the pitfalls of defeat we could face and the key to unbroken victory. “But the children of Israel committed a trespass regarding the accursed things, for Achan… of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed things; so the anger of the Lord burned against the children of Israel” (Joshua 7:1). After a huge victory, the Israelites pitched tents outside of a fallen city. In the night, Achan snuck into the city and stole the goods which were dedicated to God. Having taken what belonged to God, he brought a curse upon himself and Israel. This passage first tells us that great victories are often followed by great defeats. Though one man’s sin led to the ultimate downfall, Israel was guilty of plenty. The people’s carelessness and prayerlessness revealed the pride in their hearts. They did not feel the need to pray before heading into battle, presuming God was with them. But it was Achan’s sin of covetousness that caused them to fall, as he confessed himself, “I coveted… I took… I hid…” (see Joshua 7:21). Adrian Rogers says, “Covetousness is an unlawful desire that grows in the soil of an unsatisfied heart.” Second, private sin is never really private. Achan’s sin dishonored God and brought defeat to his brothers. He disgraced his family and brought on the ultimate destruction to his loved ones, as they were stoned and burned with fire. Our “hidden” sins do not just affect us; they affect everyone around us. Third, every sin that we cover, God will uncover. The things done in secret will be shouted from the rooftops. Whether by revelation, confession, or retribution, every sin must be judged. Finally, every sin that we uncover, God will cover. Proverbs 28:13 says, “He who covers his sins will not prosper, But whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy.” Adrian Rogers says, “The key to unbroken victory is not perfection; it is continual, perpetual confession, keeping your heart right where there is no unconfessed sin.” Apply it to your life Do you have any unconfessed sin in your heart? Bring it before God and ask for His forgiveness. Don’t live in defeat any longer; live in unbroken victory.

Jul 24, 2024

The Only Hope for America

Sermon Overview Scripture Reference: Proverbs 14:34 Proverbs 14:34 says, “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.” If we want to know what is wrong with our great nation, we should first look in the mirror. By and large, nations receive the kind of government they deserve. What we expect out of our Constitution and government today is not something they were designed to do. At this crucial time in our nation, we need to understand the only hope for America is God. First, righteousness is the exaltation of a nation.Righteousness and liberty are inextricably woven; there is no true liberty without true righteousness. Adrian Rogers says, “Righteousness is living responsibly under God.” Righteousness is assuming our God-given responsibilities as a citizen of the kingdom of God, and this country. Our liberty directly correlates with our character; when we lose responsibility, we lose character, and then we lose righteousness. Adrian Rogers says, “People who cannot live responsibly from within will be governed from without.” The Word of God teaches responsibilities of the Church, to the government, and vice versa. Respectfully, we do not want the government infringing upon our religious affairs. Likewise, as Christian citizens, we have a civic duty to pray for our government leaders, pay our taxes and express patriotism. Second, reproach is the humiliation of a nation. The government’s purpose is not to meet our needs; it is to protect us from tyranny and punish evildoers. However, the erosion of character has led to a perverted nation. We as a people have become too dependent upon the government to provide, and therefore, control us. But the government only gives what it first takes away. The government’s influence grows larger as our nation’s character dwindles more and more. Finally, revival is the restoration of a nation. America needs a new birth of freedom, and God is our only hope of that. We, as His people, are called to be salt and light—to purify, heal, preserve; to illuminate, guide and expose. (See Matthew 5:13-16.) We are not to go out and make demands for our liberty; instead, we must assume our responsibility, and let our character permeate our society. Apply it to your life It is not too late for America—liberty comes when God’s people assume their responsibility. Pray for a revival to break out across this nation today.

Jul 4, 2024

Calling America Back to God

Sermon Overview Scripture Reference: Nehemiah 1:1-3 The America of today is not the America that we once knew. This nation has been taken captive by the world, the flesh, and the devil. God has blessed America; but we have created greed out of abundance, turning freedom into license to sin. There is hope, as there was hope in the days of Nehemiah, but we must be committed to calling America back to God. In the days of the Old Testament, God’s people had been taken captive and carried away to a foreign land. In Nehemiah 1:1-3, Nehemiah, a cup-bearer to the king, heard about Jerusalem where a nation’s glory was now buried beneath despair. Nehemiah’s first response was to visualize the situation: he wanted to see the situation for what it was. City walls are for protection, and in this passage, Jerusalem’s walls had fallen. Spiritually, America’s walls of defense have fallen, and we are vulnerable to the enemy’s attacks. We must get an accurate picture of how our nation’s moral walls have decayed, and how our spiritual gates have burned; once we picture it in our minds, it should break our hearts. “So it was, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned for many days; I was fasting and praying before the God of heaven” (Nehemiah 1:4). Nehemiah agonized over Jerusalem; he wept and prayed over the ruins of his home. Adrian Rogers said, “The things that break the heart of Almighty God ought to break our hearts.” Nehemiah’s prayer was filled with contrition, confession, and confidence. He prayed the Word of God, reminding God of His own promises to gather and restore those who have been scattered for His own sake. (See Nehemiah 1:8-9.) Finally, after committing himself completely to God and fasting and praying for four months, Nehemiah organized. He risked his own life and livelihood when he sought the king’s permission, protection, and provision to go on mission to restore the walls of Jerusalem. God is primarily looking for our obedience, faith, and love. When we get serious about serving Him—when we have visualized, agonized, and organized—He will grant us permission to carry out His will, with His protection and provision. Apply it to your life Would you commit to fasting and praying for America? Visualize the ways this nation is in trouble. Agonize in prayer for our country—praying with contrition, confession, confidence, and commitment.

Jul 3, 2024

The Generation to Come

Sermon Overview Scripture Reference: Psalm 78 America did not just happen; America was a gift from God. However, it seems as though the virtues and values upon which this nation was built have been trampled. What legacy are we going to leave for the generation to come? What is the America of tomorrow? It could look like Psalm 78. In this passage, God had blessed the nation Israel, delivered the people from the chains of slavery, and brought them into a good land. Yet, they defiled the land, denied the Lord, and disobeyed the new law. If we want to avoid the judgment given in Psalm 78, we must heed to this ancient truth in today's world, following three practical ways. First, we need to proclaim our history. As a country: America has a distinct spiritual heritage. We must teach our children America’s history of trusting in God. As a family: How did your family come to know Jesus? Do your children know the story of how the Gospel changed their heritage? As a church: It is crucial to remain rooted in the infallible Word of God our churches were built upon. As an individual: We must understand and acknowledge what God has done in our lives and tell the generation to come. Next, we need to retain our memory. As a nation, we have three evil principalities at work, trying to manipulate our perspectives. We see them exemplified in Psalm 78: The lust of the flesh: Rather than thanking God for blessings, Israel asked for more, testing His graciousness. The lure of the world: The people broke God’s heart by forgetting Him; they renovated the nation to exclude the One upon whom it was built. The lies of the devil: The one who steals, kills, and destroys was behind it all. Finally, we must reclaim our legacy. Adrian Rogers says, “Not only is God our greatest hope, but God is also our biggest threat. And the nation that was born in 1776 must be born again or we will join the graveyard of the nations.” The America of tomorrow depends on our decision to reclaim our legacy. We must do the best we can with what we’ve got, every chance we get. Apply it to your life Our only hope is to review our history, renew our memory, and reclaim our legacy. For the sake of the generation to come, repent and turn to God.

Jul 1, 2024

Seven Sacred Secrets

Sermon Overview Scripture Passage: Matthew 13:3 Anyone can learn the facts and study history, but they cannot understand the deeper things of God unless they have a personal relationship with Him. To those who do not have the Holy Spirit within to illumine and interpret the Word of God, the Bible remains a mystery. In Matthew 13:11, Jesus says, “…it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.” Jesus’ parables in Matthew 13 reveal seven sacred secrets we can only know if we know God personally. Expect many to reject the Gospel. (See Matthew 13:18-23.) Jesus knew the hardness of human hearts. In the Parable of the Sower, He explains that there are only a faithful few. He expects to be rejected by many. As soul winners, we should expect the same thing, but not let it discourage us from continuing to share the Gospel. Expect many church members to be hypocrites. (See Matthew 13:24-30.) Every church has hypocrites, but hypocrisy does not mean the Gospel has failed. It is not our job to separate the hypocrites from the true believers. Our business is to preach the Gospel. Expect the rise of false cults. (See Matthew 13:31-32.) The Bible tells us there will be an increase of false religion in the Last Days. Expect corruption in the professing church. (See Matthew 13:33.) The devil is at work in the church; he infiltrates it with spiritual “leaven,” which works stealthily to puff up the whole body. Anywhere there is right fellowship with God, expect traces of corruption and arrogance. Expect God to keep His word to the nation Israel. (See Matthew 13:44.) If we are wise, we will keep our eyes on Israel; we will see for ourselves what God has promised to do through His chosen people. Expect Jesus to be building His Church. (See Matthew 13:45-46.) Despite the rise of false religion and cults, Jesus will continue to build His Church, making her undivided and beautiful. Expect God to bring it all to judgment. (See Matthew 13:47-50.) God sees it all; He will bring about judgment upon the righteous and the wicked. Apply it to your life Are you a soul winner? Remember: your job is to share the Gospel, despite discouragement or rejection. Adrian Rogers says, “God’s job is to sort the catch; our job is to draw the net.”

Jun 27, 2024

The Strange Mystery of the Precious Pearl

Sermon Overview Scripture Passage: Matthew 13:45 Jesus taught us profound, heavenly lessons in the most practical parables. However, despite its simplicity, the strange mystery of the precious pearl is often misinterpreted by the most devoted believers. Jesus said in Matthew 13:45-46, “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.” Some may think the merchant of the story is the lost sinner seeking the Lord Jesus. But this isn’t so—a sinner cannot initiate the search for God unless God has first initiated that desire in him. Ever since the beginning of time, God has been seeking Man. Adrian Rogers says, “If you sought Him, it was because He first sought you.” The bankrupt sinner cannot buy Christ; even if he had anything to buy Him with, Jesus Christ is not for sale. Salvation cannot be bought or earned. Therefore, the pearl of great price is not Jesus. The pearl is the Church, and the merchant is the Lord Jesus, who purchased the Church with His own precious blood. Much like a pearl is formed in the deep—grown through impurity, dirt, grit, and irritation—the Church has gone from depth to height, from guilt to glory. To divide it is to destroy it. Christ’s Bride is one Church without spot, wrinkle, or any blemish whatsoever. The merchant sold everything He had to buy this pearl. He sought it out, and considered it beautiful; to him, it was worth every penny. Adrian Rogers says, “God doesn’t love us because we’re valuable; we’re valuable because He loves us.” Jesus Christ stepped out of glory and into time to pay the price for us. He suffered and died, purchasing us with His own blood. He knew the cost—at every turn of His life, He was reminded of the suffering He would face—yet He paid it anyway. God loves us and greatly desires us. We are sinners, and on our own, we are helpless to save ourselves. But Jesus Christ is the answer. He covered us with His own grace and made us something beautiful. Apply it to your life Do you have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, who paid a great price to have you and keep you? Thank Him for His sacrifice and praise Him for the salvation He’s freely given.

Jun 26, 2024

The Strange Mystery of the Buried Treasure

Sermon Overview Scripture Passage: Matthew 13:44 Adrian Rogers says, “A parable is an earthly story with a heavenly meaning.” The Parable of the Hidden Treasure is a short, but often misinterpreted, teaching of Jesus. We often believe this is about a man finding the treasure of salvation and giving up everything to have it. But if we look closer at the strange mystery of the buried treasure, we’ll see this is not the correct way to read it. Jesus said in Matthew 13:44, “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.” First, the field is the world, meaning the treasure cannot be Jesus. We cannot buy the field or the treasure in the field because the Gospel is not for sale. Salvation is the free gift of God. Rather, the man represents Jesus, and the treasure hidden in the field is the nation Israel. Israel is a treasure sovereignly chosen by God. As Israel goes, so goes the world; the Bible is full of evidence that Israel is God’s treasured people. Israel is also a treasure sadly covered. When Jesus came into this world, Israel was lost unto her original plan and purpose. The kingdom God had promised to His people was languishing, as Israel suffered under the thumb of Rome. But Israel is also a treasure sovereignly claimed. When Jesus came, He uncovered Israel and claimed her as His own. As a shepherd seeks the lost sheep, Jesus came for the lost sheep of the house of Israel. (See Matthew 15:24.) Remember, the man in the parable, Jesus, not only revealed the treasure—He covered it back up again and went to redeem it. He’s the one who paid the price to buy the field. This tells us that Jesus is coming back to reclaim Israel in the Last Days. Israel is buried in the field—suffering unspeakable atrocities and persecution. Yet God will keep His word to Israel, His treasure. What does this mean for us? It means everything is on schedule—God has sovereignly kept His word to Israel, so we know He will keep His word to us. And the signs of the times are telling us that our Lord is about to uncover the treasure He bought. Apply it to your life Pray for Israel, God’s chosen nation, as we live in the Last Days.

Jun 25, 2024

The Strange Mystery of the Sneaky Housewife

Sermon Overview Scripture Passage: Matthew 13:33 The Parable of the Unleavened Bread is one of Jesus’ most misunderstood parables; if we read it incorrectly, we may find ourselves discouraged by it. This parable does not teach that the Gospel will permeate the whole world; in fact, Christians are considered a faithful few. Adrian Rogers says, “The Gospel was never given to save civilization from wreckage, the Gospel is given to save Man from the wreckage of civilization.” Rather, this parable warns us about the devil’s deception in the Last Days, and what we can do to protect the true Bride of Christ. Jesus said in Matthew 13:33, “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal till it was all leavened.” The mention of three measures of meal takes us back to the Old Testament, in the days of Abraham and Sarah (see Genesis 18:6) and Gideon (see Judges 6:19). This custom of baking bread for guests is something that satisfies the heart and mind of God because it speaks of communion and fellowship. We, the Church, are the bread—mingled together, being brought through the fire as one loaf. Leaven works quietly, undetected—yet it causes fermentation and corruption. In the Bible, unleavened bread stands for sincerity and truth, while leavened bread speaks of malice and wickedness. Jesus compares the legalism of the Pharisees and the liberalism of the Sadducees to leaven. He also compares Herod’s love of pleasure to leaven because he valued pleasure over God. (See Mark 8:15.) We must be sure to purge the leaven out of the Church because a little bit of it leavens the whole lump. The sneaky housewife in this passage represents devilish, deliberate, deception. If the Church is the Bride of Christ, this woman represents the bride of the devil, which is the false church. She represents Satan’s work in the Last Days, infiltrating the Church with legalism, liberalism, and love of self. Understanding the parable this way, we can combat false expectations and discouragement. God, who teaches us these things, has built the true Church, and the gates of Hell will not prevail against it. Apply it to your life Are you aware of the leaven of legalism, liberalism, and love of self? Purge your own life of these things. Praise God for the true Church, and the fact that He will protect her in these last days.

Jun 21, 2024

The Mystery of the Mustard Seed and the Devil's Dirty Birds

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Matthew 13 In Matthew 13, Jesus teaches us secrets of the kingdom of God through seven parables. In these prophetic stories, the Lord Jesus is beginning something new. Yet the enemy has many ways to sabotage His good work. In the Parable of the Mustard Seed (Matthew 13:31-32), Jesus is the one planting seeds of faith for a godly crop. The Godly Crop The mustard seed is small, emphasizing the faithful few of the kingdom of God. It is simple, bypassing grandiosity and fanfare, and boils down to Jesus’ love for us. Yet it is also strong; faith like a grain of mustard seed can move mountains (see Matthew 17:20). The secret of a seed is that it has the germ of life within it; it can reproduce itself over and over again. The seed begins to grow and becomes a shrub, which represents the growth of the Gospel in the lives of believers. It is not huge like a mighty oak, yet it bears whatever flowers, fruit, or seeds are within it. It doesn’t speak of prominence; rather, lowliness. Another Crop But we also see in this parable a strange shade—defying nature, the shrub develops into a tree. The spiritual meaning of this abnormality is rooted in Daniel 4. In a prophecy, Daniel typifies false religion as a monstrous tree—the final form of apostasy in the final days. The rise of false cults that deny the Bible are likened to this tree. The same devilish birds that come and steal the seed in the Parable of the Sower, come and lodge in the branches of apostasy. Adrian Rogers says, “Satan is not against religion; he uses religion to accomplish his purpose.” The birds in the branches of apostasy are not easily spotted, because the devil is a master of deception and camouflage. We can identify these birds by their messages, using five tests. As you evaluate the messages you hear, use these five tests: 1. Source Test: Is the Bible the basis of his teaching?2. Savior Test: Does he believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God?3. Subject Test: Is the primary focus of his teaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ?4. Salvation Test: Does he teach salvation by grace alone?5. Sanctification Test: Does he teach and endeavor to live a holy life? Apply it to your life Are you on the lookout to identify the dirty birds who rest on the branches of false religion? Remember these five tests, and be careful regarding who you listen to.

Jun 19, 2024

The Strange Mystery of the Counterfeit Christian

Sermon Overview Scripture Passage: Matthew 13:24-30, 37-40 Not everybody who claims to be a Christian is a genuine Christian. Hypocrisy is a confusing and bewildering thing. Through the parable of the wheat and tares, Jesus shows us how He deals with counterfeits. Matthew 13:24-30 is a word of comfort, warning, and instruction for those caught in the strange mystery of the counterfeit Christian. “Another parable He put forth to them, saying: ‘The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way. But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared’” (Matthew 13:24-26). First, we see the sowing of the tares. The tares in the parable came from the chief counterfeiter himself, Satan. The devil wants worship and false believers. He has convinced hypocrites to follow a false Jesus and false spirit. (See 2 Corinthians 11:4.) He has false ministers to produce false brothers and proclaim a false gospel. (See 2 Corinthians 11:13-15.) We shouldn’t let hypocrites keep us from seeking true fellowship with God and with each other; counterfeits copy what is worthwhile. Adrian Rogers says, “Every false Christian that you see is a testimony to the good, the worth, and the reality of the real.” God is well aware of counterfeits; they may pass through the world with ease, but God cannot be fooled. Second, we see the growing of the tares. No matter how tempting it may be, we cannot uproot false religion; it’ll do more harm than good. God is the judge, not us. Every church must exercise discipline—not meant to root out and remove but rather to reclaim and restore. Finally, we see the knowing of the tares. The wheat and the tares will be discerned at the harvest. God tolerates the tares for the sake of the wheat; He waits until they are all ripe before He sends the reapers. He does not judge now, because it is too early. Our influence, whether for good or for evil, goes on and on after we die. God collects the evidence of our influence. Apply it to your life Adrian Rogers urges us to: 1. Make certain of your salvation.2. If you are not saved, don’t let a counterfeit Christian keep you out of heaven.3. If you are a counterfeit Christian, repent and receive Christ as your Lord and Savior.

Jun 17, 2024

Mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven

Sermon Overview Scripture Passage: Matthew 13:1 The Bible is a love story in many ways, but it is also a great mystery. There are hidden truths in the Bible that cannot be known by human wisdom. Jesus was the master teacher. He taught in parables—earthly stories with heavenly meanings—which are meant to both reveal and conceal. The meek, the teachable and guidable, could understand, while the scholars could not. Matthew 13:3-9 explains the parable of the sower. There are three basic components of this story: the seed, the sower, and the soil. The seed is the quick and powerful Word of God, pulsating with life and energy. The sower is Jesus—the Son of Man who sows the Word in people’s hearts. The main emphasis of the parable is on the soil, which represents the hearts of men and women. Some receive the seed, while others don’t. Yet, the Gospel does not fail; there is nothing wrong with the seed—the problem is always the soil. First, there is the soil with no reception. “And as he sowed, some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds came and devoured them” (Matthew 13:4). The “wayside” is often described as stone, meaning this heart is too hardened to receive the seed, and therefore, will not understand it. There’s also the soil that receives the seed, but it does not take root. Matthew 13:5-6 describes a seed that sprouts too early in the shallow dirt and withers in the sun. This represents those who live in the realm of emotion—who are moved by spiritual things but are not truly changed. They are likely to abandon their faith the moment they face a trial. Adrian Rogers says, “Salvation is the deepest work of God; God doesn’t do the deepest work in the shallowest part.” There’s also the seed scattered among thorns that has no room to sprout. (See Matthew 3:7.) This represents those who want to add Jesus Christ onto their lives but aren’t willing to have their lives changed. They leave their rival crop undisturbed, giving Jesus no room. But thank God there is a fourth kind of soil: the one with no refusal—a heart wide open for the Word to take root. Apply it to your life Has God’s Word taken root in you? Are you scattering His Word among the soil? Don’t stop to test the soil—just scatter the seed.

Jun 13, 2024

The Conquering Christ

Sermon Overview Scripture Passage: Ephesians 1:15-23 God created man and woman to have dominion and rule over this Earth. Once we understand this, we can claim what was lost by Adam and restored by Jesus, the conquering Christ, the Second Adam. According to Genesis 1:26, God gave dominion on Earth to Adam. But Satan, a fallen angel who became the father of the night, lost the battle in Heaven and hopes to win the battle on Earth. He came to the Garden of Eden as a serpent and tempted Adam and Eve to sin; therefore, they turned dominion over to him and became his slaves. God was dethroned in their hearts, and Satan began to reign. But this dominion, legally lost by Adam, was righteously regained by Jesus Christ. Dominion was lost by a man, and it was legally restored 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) Satan tried to tempt Jesus to sin as he had tempted Adam (see Luke 4), but Jesus defeated Him by the Word of God. Adrian Rogers says, “The first Adam lost it all in a garden; the last Adam won it all back in the wilderness.” The second battle began at Calvary. When Jesus died and was buried, the devil believed he had won. But three days later, Jesus walked out of the grave and brought back dominion that had been lost. Finally, this dominion has been gloriously given to those who believe in Jesus Christ. 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.” When God raised Jesus Christ from the dead, He raised us up as well. The devil wants to keep us in the dark, so that we never see the incredible power we’ve been given. But when we finally recognize it, all of heaven will break loose. Apply it to your life Adrian Rogers says, “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, dwell on the Word of God, exercising your dominion, rightfully restored by Jesus Christ.

Jun 12, 202439 min

Our Great Savior

Sermon Overview Scripture Passage: Matthew 12:42 In the Old Testament, King Solomon was the apex of all greatness, wealth, and wonder. In Matthew 12, Jesus was criticized and judged by the Pharisees. In response, He said, “The queen of the South will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and indeed a greater than Solomon is here.” By all appearances of class, wealth, and status, Jesus, a carpenter’s son, did not compare to Solomon, son of King David. But the truth is, our great Savior is infinitely greater than Solomon. First, Jesus is greater than Solomon in wisdom. Having written the Book of Proverbs, Solomon was a man known for his wisdom, but it did not satisfy him. Solomon’s wisdom about life, nature, and direction did not compare to Jesus’ lordship over life, nature, and direction. Adrian Rogers says, “You can have a full head and an empty heart.” Jesus is also greater than Solomon in His works. Solomon built a temple for the Lord and hosted feasts. But Jesus is building the Kingdom, setting a table, and turning us, His people, into living temples of God. Third, Jesus is greater in His workers. Solomon’s servants were notably happy, dressed, and nourished like wealthy men. But as workers of Jesus Christ, we’ve received infinitely more, therefore, we are greater in joy and dedication. Jesus is greater than Solomon in His wealth. No one had ever seen a man as wealthy as Solomon. Yet, the cattle on a thousand hills belong to Jesus; every star in the sky is His. This is His world; and as His followers, He has left us great spiritual riches no money can buy. Jesus is greater in worth and worship. Solomon built the temple to lead his people in worship. Jesus sits upon the eternal throne in Heaven and He will never dispossess it. Finally, Jesus is greater than Solomon in His wonder. When the queen of Sheba saw everything Solomon had done, she was filled with awe and amazement. Jesus is even more wonderful; we could never articulate or describe His wonder. Apply it to your life Do you worship our great Savior, who is greater than any before Him, who reigns for all eternity? Spend some time in Scripture today and thank Him for saving you.

Jun 10, 2024

The God-Man, Our Mediator

Sermon Overview Scripture Passage: Job 9 Many of us wonder why bad things happen to good people. But the real question is: How can good things happen to bad people? Sin cannot be explained away by weakness or illness; man is a sinner by birth and by practice. We are too sinful to lift ourselves up to God, and He is too holy to lower Himself down to be only a man. The only way a holy God and sinful men can come together is through Jesus, the God-man, our Mediator. Job 9:2 says, “Truly I know it is so, but how can a man be righteous before God?” After experiencing disaster and loss, Job’s three friends came to him, asking the right questions, but giving the wrong answers. The first man, Eliphaz, spoke of a seducing spirit that appeared to him in a dream and gave him a satanic revelation to pass onto Job. (See Job 4:12-17.) Like Eliphaz’s experience, New Ageism, cults, and false doctrine run rampant today, spreading deceit. If we are neutral, we open ourselves up to demonism. The second friend, Bildad, spoke of humanism and sophisticated reason. (See Job 8:10.) He suggested that for Job to understand what he was going through, he needed to study the ancient wisdom and philosophers of the ages. Nowadays, those like Bildad point to the scientists and evolutionists for answers. These empty ideas are not only wrong but also poisonous. Job’s final friend, Zophar, suggested that the answer is legalism. (See Job 11.) Like Zophar, a lot of religious people will turn to sterile ritualism and self-reformation to try to be right with God. But Job recognized his real need for a mediator. He saw his need for Jesus before he even knew his name. 1 Timothy 2:5-6 says, “For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time…” Jesus was a qualified mediator: being both God and Man. Adrian Rogers says, “As much a man as if not God at all… as much God as if not a man at all. Not half-God and half-man, but all God and all man, never another like Him, the God-man.” Apply it to your life Have you accepted Jesus, the God-man, our mediator? Do you see your need for Him, and seek Him first in times of need?

Jun 6, 2024

Jesus, Friend of Sinners

Sermon Overview Scripture Passage: Luke 15 Adrian Rogers says, “A parable is an earthly story with a heavenly meaning.” In Luke 15, Jesus responds to the Pharisees’ criticism with three parables: the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost son. In these three stories, we see how much God loves us, and why Jesus is a friend of sinners. “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it?” (Luke 15:4). Sheep are dumb and defenseless; they are completely dependent on shepherds to protect them from predators. They can't find their way home. In spiritual terms, we are very much like sheep. “Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it?” (Luke 15:8). A coin is meant to be spent or treasured, but one that is lost is worthless and unprofitable. This coin was lost in darkness, dirt, and disgrace. Likewise, we were created to know, love, and serve God; when we are lost, we are worthless. “...A certain man had two sons. And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.’ So he divided to them his livelihood…” (Luke 15:11-12). In this final parable, Jesus begins the story of the lost son. After he received his inheritance and squandered it, there was a deep depression in the land. As a result, the son was broke; he was degraded to feeding pigs in a foreign country, which brought great dissatisfaction. Like this lost son, we’ve gone astray and find ourselves desperate and spiritually starving. These parables not only explain the sinful nature of Man, but they also reveal the saving nature of God. Jesus Christ is the shepherd who rescues the lost sheep. The woman searching for her lost coin represents the Holy Spirit. God our Father is the father running to receive his prodigal son. God loves us; He is the Good Shepherd seeking us. He is the Holy Spirit shining light upon us. And He is the Father with arms open wide, welcoming us home. Apply it to your life Have you been rescued, revealed, and received by God? Worship God the Father, God the Son, and the Holy Spirit today. Let Him begin a good work in your heart.

Jun 5, 2024

Jesus, The Sinner's Refuge

Sermon Overview Scripture Passage: Joshua 20:1-3 Jesus Christ is the hero of the Bible; every book, every illustration is about Him. If we look closely, we see He stands in the shadows of the Old Testament; when we do, every detail of Scripture is given a new meaning. In Joshua 20, God instructs Joshua to explain the cities of refuge to His people:“Speak to the children of Israel, saying: ‘Appoint for yourselves cities of refuge, of which I spoke to you through Moses, that the slayer who kills a person accidentally or unintentionally may flee there; and they shall be your refuge from the avenger of blood’” (Joshua 20:2-3). These six cities of refuge are highly symbolic and teach us more about Jesus, the Sinner’s Refuge. Hebrews 6:18 says, “...we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us…” There is great significance in the names of these six cities, which reflect Jesus Christ. -Kedesh means a place of holiness. Above all things, Jesus Christ is holy. -Shechem means shoulder or support. We are carried on the shoulders of our Savior, who gives us strength. -Hebron means fellowship; it speaks of Christ, our satisfaction, and the divine joy of fellowship with Him. -Bezer means stronghold or fortification; Christ is our security, the One who keeps us. -Ramoth means exalted; it speaks of Christ our sovereign, the One whom we worship. -Golan means separate; after Jesus, we are not the same. Through sanctification, we are made new day by day. God wanted people to have safety and refuge, so He strategically placed the six cities throughout Israel. The roads were clear and level with signage that pointed travelers in the right direction. Likewise, Jesus has made a way to Himself; our City of Refuge is always near. He is closer than our next breath, for everyone who confesses He is Lord and believes in Him can be saved. (See Romans 10:13.) It is not enough to be near the city of refuge: we must enter in and begin a relationship with Jesus Christ. Apply it to your life Adrian Rogers says, “To be almost saved is to be altogether lost.”If you are inside the city of refuge, thank God for Christ our salvation, strength, and satisfaction. If you’re not, come in today; receive Jesus Christ. Warn and educate friends and tell them about the city of refuge.

Jun 3, 2024

Is Anything Too Hard for the Lord?

Sermon Overview Scripture Passage: Genesis 18:13-14 In Genesis 18, God promises the barren Abraham and Sarah a child in their old age. This was so unbelievable, so miraculous, that when she heard this promise, Sarah laughed. In verse 13 she says, “‘Shall I of a surety bear a child, which am old?” Sarah’s question prompts an even greater question from God in verse 14: “Is anything too hard for the Lord?” Jeremiah 32:17 answers this question beautifully: “...Thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm. There is nothing too hard for thee.” Consider the majesty of God’s limitless power: -There is no promise too hard for God to fulfill.-There is no prayer too hard for God to answer.-There is no problem too big for God to solve.-There is no person too hard for God to save. Yet, if there’s nothing too hard for God, why doesn’t it happen? Because men limit God. Psalm 78:41 says, “Yeah, they turned back and tempted God and limited the Holy One of Israel.” How is it possible for the Creator to be limited by his creature? Because He allows it; He allows Himself to be chained and bound, restricted from working in our lives. We chain Him with our unwillingness. God will not force Himself upon you. He wants to bless you, but you must be willing to receive it. We chain Him with unconcern. When we are completely indifferent, it breaks His heart, because He cannot move in an apathetic life. We chain Him with unreasonableness, our prejudices, pre-conceived ideas. We do not want to give up our dirt for His diamonds. We chain Him with uncleanliness. Unconfessed, un-repented of sin keeps God from blessing us and working with us. We chain Him with our unbelief. Adrian Rogers says, “Faith is the channel through which the risen Lord pours His life into you. But you will tie His hands by unbelief. Faith is the key that causes the shackles to fall from the hands of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Apply it to your life Have you ever limited the Lord’s work in your life? Have you chained Him with unwillingness, unconcern, unreasonableness, uncleanliness, or unbelief? Examine your heart and your life today and choose to unleash God’s limitless power in your own life.

May 28, 2024

Knowing God Intimately

Sermon Overview Scripture Passage: Exodus 33:11-16 It is not enough to casually know about God; we were created to know God intimately and to enjoy Him personally. Yet many believers will settle with feeling infatuated with His works, and never know Him face-to-face. Adrian Rogers says, “To know about God is to see God’s works; to know God intimately is to know God’s way.” In Exodus 33:11-16, Moses demonstrates the beauty of knowing God intimately, seeing beyond an infatuation with His works to know His ways. To know God intimately brings tranquility and peace to our troubled souls. “And He said, ‘My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest’” (Exodus 33:14). If we only see God outwardly—His miraculous works—we will live with worry. We often disappoint ourselves when He doesn’t act how we think He should. But knowing God’s ways helps us recognize His presence in every situation, and that is what gives us rest. Knowing God intimately also gives us stability in our lives. By nature, feelings of infatuation are fickle. But Christians who seek the unchanging heart of God have stability in their faith, no matter their circumstances. Finally, knowing God intimately is necessary for victory. In Exodus 33, the Israelites had strayed in their devotion to God, and Moses was interceding on their behalf. He begged for God’s mercy, and in response, God promised His protection and provision, but He would not be with them. It is frightening to know we can have God’s protection and provision without His presence. Seeing how easy it is to be satisfied in worldly things, we cannot take anything as a substitution for knowing God intimately. We cannot know God intimately by human reason. We know Him by directly dealing with Him, turning to Him in every circumstance or difficulty. Adrian Rogers says, “To know Him is to love Him; to love Him is to trust Him. To trust Him is to obey Him; to obey Him is to be blessed, and to be blessed is to be a blessing.” Apply it to your life Adrian Rogers says, “You cannot know God by hearing sermons about knowing God; you can’t know anybody that you don’t spend time with.” Don’t take anything as a substitute for knowing God intimately. Turn to Him today, and spend some intimate time in His Word.

May 27, 202439 min

Treasuring the Trinity

Sermon Overview Scripture Reference: Isaiah 6:1-3 The doctrine of the Holy Trinity is one of the great distinctions of the Christian faith. It’s what makes Christianity stand out in a world of religions. It is the idea that we worship one God who has revealed Himself in three persons. Isaiah 6:8 says, “Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: ‘Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?’” In this passage, God, using the plural pronoun, “Us,” indicates His triune nature. This is not the same thing as polytheism; we do not worship three gods. There is one God, and He is triune: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We will never understand the Holy Trinity by human investigation, logic, or science. The only way we can know about the Holy Trinity is by divine revelation. We can only understand by reading Scripture. If we try to understand it on our own, we will lose our minds; if we deny it, we may lose our souls. Isaiah 40:18 says, “To whom then will you liken God? Or what likeness will you compare to Him?” Though it may be difficult to comprehend, we can see God’s triune nature reflected in everything He has created. Space is made up of height, width, and depth. Time is a culmination of past, present, and future. Man is at once body, soul, and spirit. The idea of the Trinity was not created in the New Testament. God’s triune nature is evident in creation (Genesis 1:1) and in the greatest commandment (Deuteronomy 6:4-5). God is spoken of as a unity, or as a collective one. The life of Jesus Christ did not begin at Bethlehem. Jesus says so Himself in John 8:58: “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.” The Son of God is spoken of throughout the Old Testament, in prophecy (Isaiah 48:12) and physical presence (Daniel 3:25). He has no beginning and He will never have an ending. The treasure of the trinity is that we have the Father above us, the Spirit within us, and the Son, who died for us. Apply it to your life Praise God that He is bigger than our understanding. Today, worship God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Lay down your intellectual pride and offer your heart to Him.

May 6, 2024

Stop Enduring Religion

Sermon Overview Scripture Passage: John 7:37-39 Most of us have had all the religion we can stand; what we actually need is a personal, vital relationship with Jesus Christ, the Son of God. We need to stop enduring religion and start enjoying salvation. John 7:37-38 says, “On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, ‘If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’” There are four simple steps to deeply drinking in the satisfaction of Jesus Christ. First, we must understand the subjects—those who thirst. Jesus was not speaking to everybody, rather only to thirsty people. If we’ve been filling ourselves with shallow things like self-love and worldliness, we will not long for the living water of Jesus Christ. Second, we must understand the source of this living water—Jesus Himself. We don’t find living water in rituals or religion or rules, rather, we receive it through Jesus. We will never live “right” until we are filled with the Holy Spirit. Adrian Rogers says, “Holiness is not the way to Christ; Christ is the way to holiness. We don’t work our way to the Way; He is the Way.” Third, we must recognize the secret: “Come to Me and drink.” This living water is free, but it costs everything within us. We must let it sink into our hearts so that we claim Him so deeply that we believe in Him and appropriate His promises. Finally, we must remember the supply. Ezekiel 47 prophecies what we, as believers, are to look like today: a mysterious river, flowing past the altar, which represents Christ crucified. This river’s mighty force brings life where there was death and success where there was failure. This living water brings fruitfulness where there was barrenness and health where there was sickness. When we are filled with the Spirit, our lives will overflow with joy, praise, and service. Not only will there be an income, but there will also be an outflow. We will become springs of revival and rivers of blessing. Apply it to your life Have you experienced the living water bubbling up from within? Have you experienced satisfaction in Jesus Christ? Don’t wait until you’re better or stronger; bring Him your failures and heartaches. Come to Jesus.

May 3, 202436 min

Friendship with Jesus

Sermon Overview Scripture Reference: John 15:12-25 It is a privilege to call Jesus our friend—to know Him intimately as a close companion. John 15:12-25 highlights five things about our friendship with Jesus: what it means, and what it makes of us. First, friendship with Jesus elevates us. “No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you” (John 15:15). Simply being His servant would be an honor. But friendship with Jesus lifts us to a level we could not reach without Him. We didn’t choose Him; He chose us (see John 15:16). Adrian Rogers says, “A man is known by his friends; if you’re a friend of Jesus, you’re somebody.” Friendship with Jesus also enlarges the company we keep. “This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you” (John 15:12). Friends of Jesus become friends with each other; He is our common bond. Because we love Him, we love one another, and the circle grows. But we must also remember the cost of friendship with Jesus.“Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends” (John 15:13). Real friendships are expensive, but they are worth it. The highest service is when we serve because we want to, not because we have to. Serving and obeying Jesus does not earn us His friendship; it proves our friendship. However, friendship with Jesus still enriches us. Healthy friendships with good people sharpen us and make us better. On the contrary, unhealthy friendships make us dull and drag us down. Friendship with Jesus, who is the Vine, makes us fruitful. Finally, friendship with Jesus means entering inevitable conflict with the world. “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you” (John 15:18). Just as His friends become our friends, so do Christ’s enemies become our enemies. But it is an honor to be counted worthy of suffering as Jesus suffered. Our deepest need is to have someone who understands us, and Jesus does; He is all we need. Apply it to your life Are you friends with Jesus? Have you made friends with His friends and seen His enemies rise against you? Consider your relationship with Jesus today.

May 1, 2024

How to Have a Meaningful Quiet Time

Sermon Overview Scripture Passage: Psalm 119:97 Psalm 119:97 says, “O how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day.” Because it is Jesus Christ Himself who makes us more like Him, it is crucial to spend quality time with Him and in His Word, and there are five factors that go into having a meaningful quiet time. First, it must be early in the day, at our most optimal time, when we are preparing for the day. We must: -Be physically alert, so we can think clearly.-Be morally pure and clean, so we can blamelessly bow before a holy God.-Be mentally aware, so we can be receptive to what He has to say. We should have our quiet time in an isolated place; somewhere we can shut the door on the world, to avoid distractions. Adrian Rogers says, “What you are when you’re alone is what you are. The mark of your prayer life is not how well you pray in public, but in private. Your Father who sees you in secret will reward you openly.” We also need the right tools: a Bible we can read and understand, a journal to record your time with God, and a second journal to record prayers. Practically, it’s also good to have a notepad to write down your spiritual instructions for the day. Having prepared for a meaningful quiet time, how should we proceed? 1. Get quiet; take a deep breath and focus your thoughts on the Lord.2. Get into the Word of God; read the Bible before praying.3. Meditate on it; reading for quality, not quantity.4. Record what God has given you through His Word in your journal.5. Record instructions, goals, and decisions revealed from your time with God.6. Pray; pour out your soul to God with reverence and honesty. Tell Him everything; He already knows.7. Share what you’ve learned. We ought to be in the habit of exhorting and encouraging one another.8. Obey what God tells you. Our spiritual lives run on revelation and obedience. One does not run without the other. Apply it to your life Is your quiet time with God meaningful to you? Have you properly prepared and set yourself up for a fruitful time with the Lord? Consider these steps today, and talk to God.

Apr 30, 202434 min

How to Function with Unction

Sermon Overview Scripture Passage: Genesis 2:7 If you have “unction,” it means you have the power of God upon your life, energized and directed by the Holy Spirit of God. To understand how to function with unction, we must first understand how God designed us and why. Genesis 2:7 says, “And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.” When the Bible says “God formed man,” formed is a word used for a potter molding clay. God made the complex, intricately woven man out of dirt. We have a body, made of the dust of the ground. God’s crowning creation. But we are not our bodies… we just live in our bodies. We also have souls, which is what lives inside our bodies. Our souls are our real personality, our sense of humor, intelligence, likes and dislikes, idiosyncrasies —all of those things that make us the uniquely wonderful person that you are. Roughly speaking, our soul is mind, emotion, and will. The human spirit is inextricably united with its soul, completely inseparable, but they are not the same thing. The difference between the soul and the spirit is the spirit’s uniqueness to the human design. The human spirit is the organ of spiritual knowledge. The spirit is evidence that God put Himself into man. Proverbs 20:27 says, “The spirit of man is the lamp of the LORD…” As a lamp is fed with oil, the Holy Spirit feeds our spirit, which is the innermost part of our nature that enables us to know and worship God. Adrian Rogers says, “With your body, you know the world beneath you; with your soul, you know the world around you; with your spirit, you know the world above you.” When the Holy Spirit speaks to the human spirit, it then speaks to the human soul. The soul speaks to the body through mind, emotion, and will. Then the body goes out and lives in the world, showing the life and love of the Lord Jesus. Apply it to your life How is a man to function with unction? Pray for the Holy Spirit to illuminate your spirit. Adrian Rogers says, “When your body is right, you’re healthy. When your soul is right, you’re happy. When your spirit is right, you’re holy.”

Apr 26, 202435 min

How to Make Sense of Your Suffering

Sermon Overview Scripture Passage: Romans 8:18-23 If we live long enough on this Earth, we will know sorrow, disappointment, and pain in a personal way. Suffering is inevitable, and if we aren’t careful, it can consume us. If we want to make sense of our suffering, there are three words to consider from Romans 8:18-23: bondage, liberty, and hope. We must first consider the bondage of yesterday’s curse. Sin entered the perfect world God created because, in His love for us, God gave us free will to choose. Because mankind chose to sin, we are condemned according to the law of the Bible. God could not destroy evil without destroying freedom. Because there is evil, there is suffering. Though our suffering cannot be destroyed, God has defeated evil. Romans 8:1 says, “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.” Liberty is tomorrow’s conquest. Through Christ’s death and resurrection, we are liberated from the curse of sin. There is no more condemnation for our sin; and when Jesus comes again, He will restore everything. However, though we have been freed from the curse of sin, we can still feel the hurt of it. Our hope is our comfort for today. Romans 8:18 says, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” Adrian Rogers says, “The groans we endure are temporary, but the glory we expect is eternal.” All of creation groans as a symptom that there is something wrong with this fallen world. Christians groan, for we are not immune to suffering, and there is a lot of it in our world today. We live in a cursed world with other sinners, in bodies that have not yet been redeemed. But there is comfort in knowing the Comforter groans, too. God sees our pain, and the Holy Spirit intercedes for us when we hurt so badly we don’t know what to pray for. Finally, we must remember that we’ve been prepared, predestined, and preserved for glory— that is the Gospel. Apply it to your life Are you facing suffering that doesn’t make sense to you? Remember: the Holy Spirit intercedes for us in our pain. Spend time with God and ask for His victory over your life.

Apr 24, 202432 min

Turning the Rat Race into a Pilgrimage

Sermon Overview Scripture Passage: Ephesians 6:5-8 As Christians, we have the chance to put joy, zest, and dignity into the most mundane jobs. God can turn our Monday mornings into a thing of beauty and joy. There are three principles to draw from Ephesians 6:5-8 as we begin turning the rat race into a pilgrimage. One, we need to see our jobs as an opportunity and be grateful. There are three wrong ways to look at work: a necessary evil, a cruel master, or a god itself. But when we see our work for what it truly is, a gift from God, we will begin to feel grateful. Two, we need to see our jobs as a responsibility and be helpful. When we work, we join a partnership with God, even in the secular workforce. We can draw parallels from Jeremiah 29, where God instructs Israel, captives of Babylon, to get into the work world and seek the welfare of Babylon. (See v. 4.) Your job is a part of a greater plan; we must be helpful to others. Three, we need to see our jobs as a ministry and be faithful. Our jobs are our greatest ministry opportunity. We serve God full-time wherever we work no matter how mundane the job might be. Ephesians 6:6-7 says to approach our work, “not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, with goodwill doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men.” Adrian Rogers says, “We’ve been saved out of the world, sent back into the world to witness to the world, and that’s the only business in the world we have until we’re taken out of the world when Jesus comes. We’re in this world, but not of this world. And Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount, ‘You are the light of the world’.” Apply it to your life Understanding that we are not called to a rat race, but a pilgrimage, there are four things to remember when you go to work tomorrow: 1. Don’t brag; do away with self-righteousness. Your light is to glow, not to glare.2. Don't nag; no one has ever been talked down into a relationship with Jesus.3. Don’t lag; carry your part of the load… in fact, work harder than anybody else.4. Don’t sag; uphold your Christian faith in the workplace.

Apr 22, 202432 min

How to Be a Growing Christian

Sermon Overview Scripture Passage: 1 John 2:12-14 A growing Christian is a maturing Christian because spiritual maturity is becoming more like Jesus. Some Christians are saved but aren’t growing. We will never know true victory and joy unless we learn how to be growing Christians. In 1 John 2, the Apostle John compares spiritual maturity to three stages in our physical lives. “I write unto you, little children, because you have known the Father. I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known Him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the Word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one” (1 John 2:14). New Christians experience the thrilling wonders of spiritual childhood. They are “all tomorrows; no yesterdays.” However, children live in the realm of their feelings. They can be selfish and self-centered; uncooperative. We are only young once; but if we aren’t careful, we can be spiritually immature for a long time. If we grow, we’ll experience the triumphant warfare of manhood. Abiding in the Word of God strengthens us for warfare. Obeying God and serving others transforms us into workers and warriors, equipped to combat the enemy. Next comes the tested wisdom of fatherhood. Adrian Rogers says, “When we spend time with someone, we become like that someone.” Because we view God as our Father, the goal of spiritual maturity is to become spiritual fathers (and mothers). Mature Christians reproduce through soul-winning and discipleship. What are the means of maturity? -There must be the miracle of life; we must be saved.-It takes time. There is no instant maturity; we experience growth through time spent with Jesus Christ.-Growth requires nourishment; we have to feed on the Word of God.-Growth demands discipline and exercise; we serve God and others. Remember: we don’t substitute fatherhood for young manhood, nor young manhood for childhood. In a father, there ought to be the vision and zeal of a young man. In a young man, there ought to be the wonder of childhood. All three stages are legitimate; a mature Christian is a composite of them all. Apply it to your life It takes life, time, nourishment, and exercise to grow.Adrian Rogers offers this advice: “Don’t worry about what you can’t do. Find out what you can do and begin to do it, and you will grow.”

Apr 18, 202435 min

Love Worth Finding | Audio Program