All Episodes — Love Worth Finding | Audio Program

The Mighty Meek

Sermon Overview Scripture Passage: Galatians 5:22 Meekness is not weakness; it is strength under control. Scripture reminds us that the mighty meek will inherit the Earth. (See Matthew 5:5.) The secret to incredible wealth, leadership, peace, and joy is meekness. When He created us, God put certain drives, abilities, and ambitions into our very nature. Our natural talents are not evil in themselves; but we must yield to the Holy Spirit, so that we may bring Him glory and honor. We learn what to do with our drives, abilities, and ambitions when we remember the meaning of meekness. Some believe releasing or restraining our strength will lead to meekness. But God does not want to cripple us; He wants us to take all that He gave us and control it for His glory. True meekness comes after we surrender to the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus offers our wild spirits rest and invites us to submit to His lordship and learn true strength from Him. Adrian Rogers says, “A meek person is someone who has turned the reins over to the Lord Jesus Christ and let Him do for Him and through Him and with Him what he could not do for himself.” The method of meekness is to receive the Word of God. We need guidance; if we want spiritual wealth, wisdom, and worship, we must receive the engrafted Word like a welcomed guest. We can study the Bible with all the knowledge we can muster, but if we do not approach the Word with a repentant and receptive spirit, we will not learn anything worth knowing. We must lay our intellectual pride in the dust, humble our hearts and get right with God; then, we must respond to what He reveals to us. Learning something from the Word and not acting upon it will be to our own detriment. Finally, we must remember the motive for meekness: when we are meek, we will receive our inheritance, which is spiritual wealth, wisdom, and worship. 2 Corinthians 6:10 says, “...as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.” Meekness (or gentleness) is a quality of the fruit of the Spirit. We must be filled with the Spirit of God to see the quality of meekness produced in our lives. Apply it to your life Have you submitted your abilities, drives, and ambitions to the Lord Jesus? Remember, we become meek as we approach the Word of God with repentance, receptiveness, and responsiveness.

Jun 22, 2023

Faithfulness

Sermon Overview Scripture Passage: Galatians 5:22 Faithfulness is integrity, trustworthiness, and loyalty; it means people can count on us. It is a quality we all admire, and it is what God requires of His children. 1 Corinthians 4:2 says, “Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.” Faithfulness is a quality among the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22), meaning it is something God produces within us as we abide in Jesus Christ. A good steward is marked by his faithfulness, first, to his family. Adrian Rogers says, “The religion that doesn’t begin at home doesn’t begin.” Husbands and wives must be morally faithful to each other. Parents must be emotionally faithful to their children, who remember more than we realize. We must be faithful with our finances. Our relationship with money says so much about our character. Money is a test: if we are not faithful with little, we will not be faithful with much. If we can’t be trusted with money, God will not trust us with spiritual power. We must be faithful with our friends. True friendships are so important, but they require work. One measure of a faithful person is the health of his friendships. We must be faithful to the Church. Scripture is clear that we are not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together. (See Hebrews 10:25.) We must also be true to the Word of God. Some “believers” judge Scripture according to their own standards. We are not to judge God’s Word—rather, God’s Word is to judge us. God’s faithfulness toward us motivates us to be faithful ourselves. He is faithful to forgive our sins, to keep us close to Himself, and to show new mercy every morning. How do we become faithful? We become faithful stewards by first being faithful in the small things, which are what truly count. Our lives are not a handful of big decisions—they are a culmination of day-to-day honesty, kindness, and integrity. We must also be faithful in the secret things; we are who we are in secret, when no one else notices. Lastly, we must be faithful in the sacred things. Keeping our hearts warm and right with God is the secret to remaining faithful to the finish. Apply it to your life Are you a faithful person? Do you bear the marks of faithfulness? Consider how God has been faithful to you; become faithful in the small, secret, and sacred things.

Jun 20, 2023

What Is the Good Life?

Sermon Overview Scripture Passage: Galatians 5:22 Galatians 5:22 identifies goodness among the attributes of the fruit of the Spirit. People want good in their lives, but what does it mean to live a good life? Micah 6:8 says, “He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?” Real goodness is a moral characteristic—it is to be good and therefore to do good. It won’t make us rich or popular, but it pays to be good. We cannot deceive ourselves; inward peace and tranquility are reserved for those who are good. A clear conscience grants us tremendous freedom. Living a good life is knowing that if someone else knew us as we did, they would still respect us. Outwardly, the purpose of goodness correlates with the influence it has on others. Adrian Rogers said, “None of us lives to himself and none of us dies to himself. You’re the best Christian, and you’re the worst Christian somebody knows. You’re the only Bible that somebody is reading.” There is also the joy of knowing there is nothing hindering our relationship with God because we are who He wants us to be. The problem is we are not good on our own. (See Romans 3:12.) We have a problem of wickedness and sin in our lives. History proves, the Bible teaches, and personal experience reveals that we are inclined toward evil. There is a pathway to goodness, but it is not through our own doing. In the Book of Romans, the Apostle Paul describes being a saved man, having a new desire and determination to do good. (See Romans 7:22.) Still, Paul said the desire to do good is not enough; Paul came to despair in his sinful nature. But in Romans 8, he reminds us it is not that we are too weak, but too strong. We still believe we can do it on our own; we are trying rather than trusting. But it is the Spirit of God that delivers us from the law of sin and death. (See Romans 8:2.) Because goodness is a quality among the fruit of the Spirit, it is only accomplished if we abide in Jesus, the Vine. Apply it to your life Have you been freed from sin, eradicated from your old nature? The pathway to goodness is through Jesus Christ alone; we don’t produce the fruit; we bear it.

Jun 16, 2023

Try a Little Kindness

Sermon Overview Scripture Passage: Galatians 5:22 Galatians 5:22 lists kindness among the attributes of the fruit of the Spirit. To be kind is to be useful, helpful, or suitable; it is goodness and tenderness, sometimes friendliness or generosity. As believers, we are implored to try a little kindness every opportunity we get. Adrian Rogers says, “All kindness is just simply love in practical and personal ways.” God saved us through His kindness; in Scripture, Jesus is often referred to as God’s kindness coming into this world. The world will not see Jesus Christ through us if they don’t see our kindness. It doesn’t matter if someone takes advantage of us if we are acting like Jesus; what matters is that we are kind. If we want to receive kindness, we must first give it away, because we reap what we sow. All around us, people are bruised and bleeding—financially, emotionally, and spiritually. We cannot let our busyness distract us from showing kindness. Our kindness should reveal itself during arguments, conflicts, and quarrels. 2 Timothy 2:24 says, “And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient…” We must be very careful when arguing with another person, whether or not that person is saved. If he is a brother in the faith, he is part of us. If he isn’t, we could potentially drive him further away from Jesus. Our hope should always be to draw people closer to the Lord. We do this when we express sensitivity in the most unlikely occasions. In times of grief and sadness, acts of kindness speak louder than the “right” words ever could. We must also remember to show sensitivity in our homes. So many marriages are saved by a little gentleness, which is a mark of true leadership; our children need our tenderness, not our belittlement. We must show kindness in church; our greatest opportunity to show the beautiful love of Jesus is among other believers. Because kindness is a characteristic of the fruit of the Spirit, kindness is part of the life of Jesus within us. If we abide in Him, as a branch abides in a vine, we will bear the fruit He produces. Apply it to your life Every day, we have the opportunity to choose kindness. Look for opportunities to be useful, helpful, and friendly. Bear the fruit of Jesus, who is alive in you.

Jun 15, 2023

You're Never a Failure Until You Quit

Sermon Overview Scripture Passage: Galatians 5:22 Our society is becoming increasingly impatient every day; we do not deal well with inconveniences. Patience is a quality among the fruit of the Spirit; when we bear patience, we learn that inconveniences are opportunities for growth. Patience is not simply grinning and bearing hardship; it is praising God during those hardships with blazing hope. Without patience, also called endurance or long-suffering, we are failures, but we are never failures until we quit. James 1:3-4 says, “...knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” Patience is necessary for maturity. We become like Jesus as we mature in our faith. But there is no maturity without patience and no patience without trials. God allows us to face trials and tribulations to give us opportunities to grow in our faith. Patience is necessary for victory. We are created to be strong warriors for God, not putty in the devil’s hands. Trials make us victors, not victims; trials exercise our spirits and build our endurance. Patience is necessary for prosperity. James 5:7 says, “Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain.” Many don’t reap because they do not wait; if we want to prosper, we must follow the law of the harvest: We reap what we sow, more than we sow, and later than we sow. God knows what is good for His children, and when it is good for His children. Adrian Rogers says, “With God, timing is far more important than time; just wait on the Lord.” Patience is necessary for tranquility. An impatient person is an unhappy person; when we learn to laugh at the appropriate times and things, we’ve learned well. Finally, patience is necessary for love, because it enables us to see things from another’s point of view; when a person is filled with love, almost nothing can provoke him. We can only bear patience, a quality among the fruit of the Spirit, if we abide in the Vine, Jesus Christ. Apply it to your life If you are having trouble with impatience, have a little joy; find the fun and relax. Pray for wisdom to laugh at inconveniences and strength to endure hardships.

Jun 13, 2023

Peace in the Midst of Your Storm

Sermon Overview Scripture Passage: Galatians 5:22 Galatians 5:22 identifies peace as a quality included in the fruit of the Spirit. Peace is not the subtraction of problems from life; it is the addition of power to meet our problems. Sooner or later, we will find ourselves in a storm. But if we want to keep our peace in the midst of our storms, we must remember what God has promised to us now, in the stillness. There are five words of encouragement to remember when facing a storm. Providence: “His purpose brought me here.” In Matthew 14, Jesus’ disciples were caught up in a treacherous storm at sea. The storm they faced did not take Jesus by surprise; nor were the disciples there by mistake. Every storm we face is allowed by God as a correcting or perfecting storm. When we face unexpected storms, we must remember that we are exactly where God has placed us and His providence is there, too. Entreaty: “His prayers protect me here.” Matthew 14:23 reveals that before He appeared to the disciples on the waves, Jesus was alone on the mountain top, praying for them. Jesus sees us and prays for us, especially when we are in the midst of a storm. Assurance: “His presence comes to me here.” Matthew 14:26-27 says, “And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, ‘It is a ghost!’ And they cried out for fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.’” Adrian Rogers says, “In your storm, there is a center that is calm; it’s the heart of God. You need to understand that He is there, He is the ‘I Am’ in the midst of your storm.” Comfort: “His power enables me here.” Comfort is a compound word that means “with strength.” To be comforted by God means to be sustained by His power. God’s will does not take us where His grace cannot keep us. Anything over our heads is already under His feet. Expectation: “His promise assures me here.” God will see us through every perfecting or correcting storm. We do not need to know how, we simply know He will keep His word. Apply it to your life Are you in a storm? Remember the promises of God! Take heart; He has overcome the world, and He is walking on the water, headed straight for you.

Jun 9, 2023

Joy is an Inside Job

Sermon Overview Scripture Passage: Galatians 5:22 Happiness depends on external things, but joy is an inside job; it comes from within. As Christians, joy is one of our most attractive qualities. It is proof that what we have is real and satisfying. We’re implored to serve with gladness because joy lifts our burdens. Romans 5 reveals four ingredients to having joy. The first ingredient of joy is a cleansed life. “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ…” (Romans 5:1). Faith brings justification, justification brings peace, and peace brings joy. To say we are justified by faith means that the righteousness of God is imputed to us. Because cleansing brings joy, sin is what takes the joy out of our lives. Nothing else in this life can take the joy out of our hearts. Joy is the understanding that there is nothing between us and God. Our sin is the only thing that can break that fellowship. Sinning does not make us lose our salvation, only the joy of our salvation. The second ingredient of joy is confidence. “...through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God” (Romans 5:2). Hope means confidence based on the Word of God. A Christian knows that no matter what happens to him, God is working all things together for good and for God’s glory (see Romans 8:28). If we are confident in this, we can rejoice in this hope. That is why joy is steadfast in sorrow and triumphant in tribulation; it lasts in the losses. Joy also comes from a commitment to the lordship of Jesus Christ. This commitment is the secret to cleansing and staying clean; every part of us must be dedicated to Him. Finally, joy comes from communion with our Lord. Adrian Rogers says, “Joy is not found in circumstances; it’s found in a person.” Joy is a characteristic in the fruit of the Spirit, which means it comes supernaturally as we abide in Jesus, the Vine. We do not produce joy, the Lord Jesus Christ does; we simply bear it. Apply it to your life To rejoice is a choice; it’s not automatic. Do you have the joy that is steadfast in sorrow, triumphant in tribulation, and lasting in losses?

Jun 7, 2023

How to Love and How to Be Loved

Sermon Overview Scripture Passage: Galatians 5:19-23 Love isn’t a feeling or an emotion, and it doesn’t just happen. Love involves choice and conduct; we choose to love. The Bible reveals to us how to love and how to be loved. Galatians 5:19-23 describes the fruits of the Spirit—the attributes of a true Believer—the first one being love. 1 Corinthians 13 describes this godly, agape love: -Steadfast: Love enables us to be patient and long-suffering. -Serving: Love urges us to be kind, and kindness is serving one another. -Sincere: Love does not consider someone else’s gain its own loss; it rejoices in other’s blessings. -Self-effacing: Love teaches us to be humble; it is not proud or puffed up. Adrian Rogers says, “Pride and love do not dwell in the same heart. You cannot be big-headed and big-hearted at the same time.” -Self-restraining: Love is not rude; instead, it is courteous of others and puts them first. -Self-denying: Love does not seek its own rights or privileges; instead, it seeks the welfare of Jesus, His glory, and the welfare of others. -Serene: Love is not easily provoked or quick-tempered. An explosive response is a sure sign that the love of Jesus is not operating. -Sacrificial: Love does not keep a record of faults or a collection of grudges. It forgives and forgets, even at its own cost. -Sympathetic: Love hurts over others' failures rather than gossip about them. -Suffering: Love “...bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things” (1 Corinthians 13:7). We cannot love without suffering; there are burdens to bear and risks to take when we love. Love will break our hearts, but we must choose it anyway, because God chose to love us first. The development of this love is a supernatural experience. We don’t produce it; we simply bear it. The vine (Jesus) is within us; if we abide in Him, we’ll bear the fruit. This fruit is meant to be desired and consumed. The world needs this love that the Lord wants to produce through us. We must abide in Him in order to offer His love to the world. Apply it to your life Do you abide in Jesus and bear the fruit of His character? Spend time in God’s Word today and pray that the Lord will work through you and develop the love this world needs.

Jun 5, 2023

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.

Jun 1, 2023

The Secret of Satisfaction (1864)

Sermon Overview Scripture Passage: Exodus 20:17 Exodus 20:17 reveals the final Commandment, which is, "You shall not covet..." God has given us a desire for love and happiness. It’s not wrong to want success or victory, nor is it wrong to acquire these things. Rather, this commandment warns against unlawful desires. Covetousness has an appetite that is never satisfied. Whether material possessions, money, power, fame, or status, we have been tricked into believing that newer, bigger, or better will bring us happiness. If we want to know the secret of satisfaction, we reject any trace of covetousness in our lives. First, think about the perplexing problem of covetousness. It is a very deceptive and debasing problem; not many acknowledge that they struggle with this sin. We are egocentric by nature and often wear the cloak of self-righteousness. Adrian Rogers says, “The heart of the human problem is the problem of the human heart.” It’s a destructive problem. There is a reason why the Bible condemns making riches our lifelong goal. When we do that, we make gods out of wealth when our desire should actually be to "Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness" (Matthew 6:33). Covetousness is also a lack of perspective. A covetous person is a person who has not put his eyes on the Lord, for contentment is found in Jesus Christ, alone. Hebrews 13:5-6 says, “Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’ So we may boldly say, ‘The Lord is my Helper. I will not fear. What can man do to me?’” Adrian Rogers says, “The only truly satisfied people in this world are the ones who’ve let go of this world and taken hold of Jesus Christ with both hands.” As Christians, we have everything we need: We have our salvation and family, our brothers and sisters in Christ. We have knowledge of the Word of God, and wisdom that comes from our time spent in Scripture. We have the peace of God that passes understanding; when we gain this righteous perspective, we can see we are very, very rich. Apply it to your life If we want to rid ourselves of covetousness, we must apply this daily practice: 1. Trust in the Lord.2. Develop a habit of thankfulness.3. Learn to love other people.4. Learn to give.

May 19, 202338 min

Truth or Consequences

Sermon Overview Scripture Passage: Exodus 20:16 Exodus 20:16 reveals, "You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor." There is an alarming decline in basic honesty in our nation. We know more facts and believe less truth than ever before. As we choose between truth and consequences, we must consider three things about our witness. First, we must remember the liability of a false witness. Bearing a false witness is perhaps the most foolish and damaging thing we could do; it is hurtful to people and hellish before God. The father of all false witnesses is Satan himself; there is no truth in him. We are never more like him than when we bear a false witness. When we slander, falsely criticize, remain silent when we ought to speak or insinuate things that are not true, we bear a false witness and break God’s holy commandment. We will receive the judgment of Almighty God. Second, remember the reliability of a faithful witness. Jesus Christ is called, “the faithful witness of God.” (Revelation 1:5) When we tell the truth, we are like Him. Acts 1:8 says, “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be witnesses to Me.” As witnesses of Christ, we are called to testify of what Jesus has done for us, to tell the truth of who He is and how He has saved us. Finally, we must remember the responsibility of a family witness. Adrian Rogers says, “There is a crying need in America today for families that know, believe, love, teach, speak, and share the truth. A home that is not built on truth will crumble.” How do we translate the importance of a faithful witness to our children? -By precept: Teach your children Scripture so they know and understand the Holy commandments. -By example: Moms and Dads should tell the truth and keep their word. Integrity is so very important, especially in the home. -By discipline: As parents in this corrupt world, we cannot tolerate deliberate disobedience, defiant disrespect, or dishonesty from our children. Apply it to your life Are you living a life of honesty? If you want your home to win and your children to obey God, it starts with you. Take these commandments one at a time, measure your life by them, and teach them to your children.

May 18, 202337 min

Integrity: Don't Leave Home Without It

Sermon Overview Scripture Passage: Exodus 20:15 Exodus 20:15 reveals the eighth commandment: “You shall not steal.” It seems that we have forgotten the basic rules of honesty. Any time we take anything that belongs to someone else or keep from someone the thing that we owe to them, we are guilty of stealing. There are three grand principles found in Ephesians 4:28, that we are to etch into the consciousness of our children: Integrity "Let him who stole steal no longer..." Stealing isn’t just burglary or embezzlement; it can also mean fraud. Lying is a form of stealing; half-hearted work is stealing. Gambling is another form of thievery; it is an attempt to get what belongs to someone else without giving him anything for it. We belong to God, whether we acknowledge it or not. When we live for ourselves and not for God, we are robbing God of what is His. When we fail to tithe to the church, we are stealing from God, as well. Adrian Rogers explains, “It pays to serve Jesus; it pays every step of the way. You have defrauded yourself: In seeking to get, you’re the one who loses.” Industry “…but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good..." Work is not a curse; it is a gift from God, and absolutely imperative in our world. When someone receives something without working for it, someone else has to work for it without receiving it. We must begin instilling a good work ethic into our children early, so they grow up to become hard workers. Generosity "...that he may have something to give him who has need." The opposite of stealing is giving. Just as we teach our children the importance of hard work, we must teach them the importance of charity. As Christians, we labor to meet our needs and give to others. It’s a sin to expect the government to care for our loved ones when we, ourselves, ought to do it. Adrian Rogers says, “Misery comes from mirrors. Joy comes from windows when we’re beginning to pour out and give to others.” Apply it to your life Would you like to teach your children the importance of working with honesty, vigor, and the expectation to give it away? Adrian Rogers emphasizes this powerful advice from John Wesley: “Make all you can, save all you can, and give all you can.”

May 16, 202332 min

The Key to a Magnificent Marriage

Sermon Overview Scripture Passage: Exodus 20:14 The key to a magnificent marriage is found in Exodus 20:14, which reveals: “You shall not commit adultery.” As Christians, we have a responsibility to uphold this commandment, whether or not we’re married. The modern world tells us that the Ten Commandments, especially this one, are out of date and old-fashioned. Generations come and go, but the Ten Commandments remain. They don’t need to be amended or revised, and we are broken upon them if we try to break them. But if we obey them, they liberate us. We have to teach the next generation of God’s plan for a magnificent marriage. God’s original plan for marriage in Genesis 2 emphasizes a supreme commitment between a husband and wife. It is of the highest priority, above any other human relationship. The Bible also teaches about the permanence and purpose of marriage. Mark 10:9 says, "Therefore, what God has joined together, let not man separate." Adrian Rogers says, “Marriage is a romance; in the first chapter both the hero and the heroine die and become one new person.” Second, we need to warn our young people that adultery is a sin. It is a sin against one’s own self, against the home. No other sin does more personal damage––spiritually, mentally, or physically–– than immorality. Adultery is a sin against the church; when a member of a church lives in sexual immorality, he sins against the holy body of Christ. No matter how society tries to glamorize it, adultery has destroyed great nations in the past: Greece, Rome, Egypt, Babylon, to name a few. It may be the sin that destroys our nation, as well, because it is a sin against Almighty God. As the next generation grows and prepares for marriage, we need to model magnificent marriages through our own. Apply it to your life If you are struggling in your marriage, consider these steps: Make the decision; bring your failures and sins before Jesus Christ. Depend on Christ; let His life in you energize you and give you power. Exercise your devotion to Christ and to your family. Let your love develop, cultivate, and grow over time. Guard your heart; be disciplined, and have control over who or what you let into your life. Remain determined; make up your mind that you will not fall into temptation before it comes.

May 12, 202335 min

Families that Choose Life

Sermon Overview Scripture Passage: Exodus 20:13 Exodus 20:13 reveals the sixth commandment: “You shall not murder.” Life is God’s wonderful gift that we might choose to enjoy. Jesus is the great life-giver; He alone gives us physical, spiritual, and eternal life. John 10:10 says, “I have come that you might have life and have it abundantly.” And Adrian Rogers says, “With his body, a man knows the world beneath him; with his soul, the world around; and with his spirit, the world above him.” We have an enemy who wants to destroy life. He wants to bring physical, spiritual, and eternal death. His method is deception; he deceives, then destroys, then damns. We must be families that choose life; we must protect the physical, spiritual, and eternal lives within our homes. The family is given to protect physical life. As true Christians who believe in love and life, we should be deeply disturbed by the senseless murders broadcast on the news. We should be alarmed by the increasing rates of suicide, heartbroken for those who could feel so hopeless. We are also called to oppose abortion; we should never be desensitized by the crime of infanticide. In a world that dares to discredit the value of our unborn children, we must speak on their behalf. Protecting physical life also means preserving the family from wicked vices and addictions. Alcohol, drugs, binge eating, cruelty, and hatred destroy the family from the inside out. We must oppose them. The family is given to provide social life. In such an untrustworthy society, we are called to make home the happiest place on earth for our children, setting them up for good health and success. The family is given to present spiritual life. Moms and dads ought to lead their children to Jesus, praying for and pleading for their spiritual life until there is full assurance that they are truly saved. Apply it to your life Adrian Rogers says, “Families need to choose life! You’ve got to build a wall around the roof of your house, lest your children fall off. You need to protect them; their physical life. You need to provide their social life and make home the happiest place on earth. And you need to pray for and plead for their spiritual life and say, ‘I will not go to Heaven without my children to come with me.’”

May 11, 202331 min

How to Make the Rest Day the Best Day

Sermon Overview Scripture Passage: Exodus 20:7 The Ten Commandments were given for our good and welfare because God wants our homes to be vital and victorious. Exodus 20:7 reveals the third commandment: "You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain." We’ve been instructed not to take the name above all names in vain; which infers that we are to take this name in victory. In the Bible, names encompass prayer and prophecy. The name Jesus means, “Jehovah saves.” There’s personality in that name; our God is not some abstraction. He is a person who keeps His word. There is power and protection in His name, in which we can take refuge. There’s provision in the name. In John 16:23, Jesus says, "Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you." Because of this, we ought to praise His name and teach our children not to take the precious name of God in vain. How do we take God’s name in vanity? -Profanity: According to Pastor Rogers, using God’s name in profanity reveals “an empty head and a wicked heart.” We have to be careful with our words. -Frivolity: Joking about God is a dangerous game that we dare not play. We should make a habit of expressing our humor wisely. -Hypocrisy: This is using God’s name without truthfulness or righteousness. Nothing turns our children away from the Gospel like a hypocritical parent.Colossians 3:17 reads, “Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” If we want our children to take the Lord’s name in victory, we must teach them to wear the name--to remember who they are and whose they are. We must also teach them to share the name--we will be known by our character, our contemplation, and our conversation. And finally, as Adrian Rogers says, “Teach them to bear the name, to unfurl the banner, and to march under the blood-stained banner of Prince Emmanuel. Don’t be ashamed of the one who died for you.” Apply it to your life Teach your children to wear the name, share the name, and bear the name of Jesus Christ.

May 9, 202337 min

Has the Nuclear Family Bombed?

Sermon Overview Scripture Passage: Exodus 20:12 God created the nuclear family, but with the world in its current state, we may be tempted to ask ourselves: Has the nuclear family bombed? God gave us families for living, learning, and lasting; they are a little part of the Garden of Eden that we have carried with us. Adrian Rogers says, “When the home begins to decay, the nation begins to decay.” Exodus 20:12 says, “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you.” Whether we are worthy or not, children must honor their parents. But are we fathers and mothers worthy of honor? We can never be perfect parents, and we will never have perfect children. But there are five ways to parent our children that are worthy of honor, regardless of our imperfections. First, by loving them: Love is not giving our children what they want, it is giving them what they need. They need this love steadfastly and consistently. Children need hugs, blessings, and comfort. They need a listening ear and their parents’ prayers. Second, by lifting them: Wise encouragement is better than lavish praise. Children need encouragement like a plant needs water. We must let our speech be positive and affirming. Third, by limiting them: It takes firm restrictions to set children free. It is our responsibility to liberate them by limiting them. These limitations, though lovingly placed, will be tested over and over again, but they should never move. Psalm 11:3 says, “If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?” Fourth, by leading them: To teach without training is to fail in your task. We need to compliment character more than talent and teach by example. There should be more emphasis on moral attributes than sports, grades, or popularity. Finally, by laughing with them: Serious situations call for a lot of laughter. Our homes should be filled with joy and happiness. We should let our children see that God is over every circumstance, and we are free to laugh at ourselves, even in times of trouble. Apply it to your life Do you honor your parents? Are you a parent worthy of honor? Evaluate your relationships today, and pray for God’s guidance and grace.

May 5, 202334 min

The Name Above All Names

Sermon Overview Scripture Passage: Exodus 20:7 The Ten Commandments were given for our good and welfare because God wants our homes to be vital and victorious. Exodus 20:7 reveals the third commandment: "You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain." We’ve been instructed not to take the Name Above All Names in vain; which infers that we are to take this name in victory. In the Bible, names encompass prayer and prophecy. The name Jesus means, “Jehovah saves.” There’s personality in that name; our God is not some abstraction. He is a person, who keeps His word. There is power and protection in His name, in which we can take refuge. There’s provision in the name. In John 16:23, Jesus says, "Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you." Because of this, we ought to praise His name and teach our children not to take the precious name of God in vain. How do we take God’s name in vanity? Profanity: according to Pastor Rogers, using God’s name in profanity reveals “an empty head and a wicked heart.” We have to be careful with our words. Frivolity: joking about God is a dangerous game that we dare not play. We should make a habit of expressing our humor wisely. Hypocrisy: using God’s name without truthfulness or righteousness. Nothing turns our children away from the Gospel like a hypocritical parent. Colossians 3:17 reads, “Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” If we want our children to take the Lord’s name in victory, we must teach them to wear the name--to remember who they are and whose they are. We must also teach them to share the name--we will be known by our character, our contemplation, and our conversation. And finally, as Adrian Rogers says, “Teach them to bear the name, to unfurl the banner, and to march under the blood-stained banner of Prince Emmanuel. Don’t be ashamed of the one who died for you.” Apply it to your life Teach your children to wear the name, share the name, and bear the name of Jesus Christ.

May 4, 202334 min

Learning Family Worship

Sermon Overview Scripture Passage: Exodus 20:4 The Ten Commandments are wonderful laws to live by, for all time, eternal and universal. When we build our families upon them, they become our strength. The first commandment tells us who to worship: “No other gods.” (Exodus 20:3) The second commandment tells us how to worship. Understanding this, we can begin learning family worship. First, we must have a proper conception of God. Man is incurably religious; if he doesn’t worship the true God in the right way, he will worship something else. There are all kinds of false idols: we make idols of ourselves, money, family, popularity, pleasure or sex, and sports. Exodus 20:4-5 reads, "You shall not make for yourself a carved image--any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God..." This holy, righteous jealousy of God means He will not compete with our toxic idols, for they represent our lust, greed, war, and vengeance. False worship is iniquitous; it corrupts the minds. The greatest thing we can do for our children is to teach them to worship. 2 Chronicles 26 tells the story of King Uzziah, who decided to worship God in a way that was forbidden. His disobedience led to his son’s sins, and his grandson’s sin, each one of his descendants drifting further from the correct conception and picture of God. Adrian Rogers says, “Sin never hurts just one person; understand that. We’re bound up in our humanity together. And the most hideous result of sin is its effect on the sinner’s children.” In 2 Timothy 1:5-6, Paul said to Timothy, “When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois and in thy mother Eunice, and I am persuaded that in thee also.” The law of sowing and reaping reaps for good, too. True worship leads to generations of believers, each as devoted to God as the last. Apply it to your life Do you worship the one true God? Do you worship Him in spirit and in truth? Do your children know that you love Him more than anything else?

May 3, 202332 min

It Takes God to Make a Home

Sermon Overview Scripture Passage: Deuteronomy 5:6-6:12 Our families cannot survive apart from a moral base, which is why it takes God to make a home. God’s plan for the home is to be so super-charged with spiritual truth and godliness that these things will go from one generation to another. To do this, we must refer back to the timeless Ten Commandments found in Deuteronomy 5. The Ten Commandments declare the great revelation that there is one Lord. Scripture declares the fact of God. Deuteronomy 6:4 says, “Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one!” Creation displays the hand of God; the laws of God have been discovered by scientists… not the other way around. Faith discovers the belief in God. By Scripture and Creation, we have external evidence of our Creator; by faith, we have internal evidence. Adrian Rogers says, “God so created you that when your heart is right, your heart will respond to the fact of God.” The great response to this revelation is one love. Deuteronomy 6:5 says, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength." Our love for God should be a sincere, selfless, strong love, that our children learn more from than anything else. By our loving response to this great revelation, we realize our great responsibility to uphold this law. Deuteronomy 6:6-7 says, "And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up." We must teach the Ten Commandments to our children, convincingly and creatively. Learning Scripture doesn’t have to be dull; it is caught as well as taught. We must teach consistently and conversationally; when the curiosity factor is high, we must answer. And when we teach these commandments conspicuously, our children will know without a doubt that we believe what we believe. Apply it to your life Have you had the great revelation of one Lord? Have you responded with a great love for God and a desire to teach His Word to your children? Teach them, convincingly, creatively, consistently, conversationally, and conspicuously.

May 1, 202334 min

Patience

Sermon Overview Scripture Passage: Hebrews 10:36 We live in a society of instant gratification, so much so, most of us are out of the habit of waiting. But so many times, there is a waiting period between asking and receiving. This is why we must learn the virtue of patience. Hebrews 10:36 says, “For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise…” Adrian Rogers says, “With God, timing is more important than time.”There are reasons God delays our requests or withholds blessing for a time. God may not give us what we want when we want it, because we are not ready to handle it. As we wait, we will develop and grow in faith, becoming ready to receive it. We should also remember that God does not give answers to those who are not diligent. As we wait, we must learn to diligently seek Him. God could also be waiting to ensure we are devoted to Him rather than the blessing we seek from Him. There are three things to consider as we patiently hold onto His promise. First, we must remember yesterday’s provision. We are prone to forget the works and goodness of God, and how He graciously delivered us before. God has seen us through dark times, trials, and difficulties; we should always remember He took care of us yesterday. Second, we must resolve today’s patience. Many fail to receive because they have failed to endure. We cannot throw away our confidence, because we will need it to bear up under trials and difficulties. Patience is more than waiting or silent suffering; it is abiding with steadfastness and constancy. It is the bridge between doing the will of God and receiving the promise. Patience is not grinning and bearing—it is a blazing hope that refuses to let go of the promise. Finally, we must rest in tomorrow’s promise. Adrian Rogers says, “God doesn’t owe us explanations; God gives us promises.” No matter how dark the days become, God will keep the promises He gave us in Scripture. There will be a bright tomorrow because God’s Word will never pass away. Apply it to your life We need patience, so we might inherit the promises of God. Remember yesterday’s provision, resolve today’s patience, and rest in tomorrow’s promise. Get a hold of the Word of God and never let it go.

Apr 28, 2023

This is Your Life

Sermon Overview Scripture Passage: Titus 3:3-7 As Believers, this world is not our home; but while we’re on our way to glory, we are to demonstrate God’s grace to those around us. Titus 3 reveals the life we could have if we choose to live grace-filled lives.This passage recognizes our past guilt. We are sinners by birth, nature, and choice. Titus 3:3 says, “For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another.” This passage also describes our present grace. Grace is absolutely contrary to human nature. All the wisdom of this world could never explain it. But having experienced God’s grace for ourselves, we understand what we were once foolish. By His grace, we are freed from a life of sin and the hateful spirit that plagues this messy world. Scripture says, “But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit…” (Titus 3:4-5). Grace is rooted in God’s love; there is nothing we can do or stop doing that will save us; it is the grace of God alone that atones our sin. The Holy Spirit supernaturally regenerates us and cleanses us from the inside out. It is a continual work; day by day, the Spirit keeps us, renews, restores, and refreshes us. Adrian Rogers says, “God doesn’t love us because we’re valuable; we’re valuable because God loves us.” This present grace is rooted in the saving death of Jesus Christ. (See Titus 3:6.) Jesus Christ provided himself as an innocent sacrifice; He bore our sins and died the death we deserved. This grace is also for our future glory. Titus 3:7 says, “...that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” Because of God’s grace, we are joint heirs of Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit is a token of our future inheritance. We are simply passing through this world as pilgrims on our way to greater things; the best is yet to come. Apply it to your life Have you been forgiven of your past guilt, renewed by God’s present grace, and received the promise of future glory? Let your life be a testament of God’s wonderful grace.

Apr 18, 2023

From Grace to Glory

Sermon Overview Scripture Passage: Titus 2 The amazing grace of God is what writes our spiritual biographies. Titus 2:11-15 explains how God saved us, and brought us from grace to glory. First, this passage reminds us what grace brought: salvation.“For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men…” (Titus 2:11). Without Jesus, we are spiritually dead, separated from God. We are considered devilish, disobedient to God, and depraved in our humanity. We cannot redeem our depravity and earn salvation; however, God brought salvation to us, because of His grace. Adrian Rogers says, “You’re not saved by the merit of man, but by the mercy of God; not by the goodness of man, but by the grace of God. Salvation is not a reward for the righteous; it is a gift for the guilty.”Secondly, Titus 2 reveals what grace taught: sanctification. “...teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age…” (Titus 2:12).Though saved by grace, we cannot continue to live in sin. There is nothing to earn, yet there is so much to learn. We must engage in discipleship and study God’s Word. Third, Titus 2 explains what grace sought: service. “...who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.” (Titus 2:14). Grace is a gift at the cost of the giver, and we have been purchased by the blood of Jesus. We are also purified from the inside out; we don’t work for God’s love, but our good works are a sign that we love the Lord. This passage also calls us peculiar; we are meant to be different, set apart, a trophy of grace used for the service of God. Finally, this passage shows us what grace wrought: glorification.“...looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ…” (Titus 2:13). The story is not over yet; what began in grace will end in glory. As believers, we have a glorious hope that He will come again. And one day, we will see Him, the one who saved us by His grace. Apply it to your life Do you have the blessed hope of Christ’s return in you? Remember the amazing grace of God today, which brought salvation to you while you were dead in your sins.

Apr 12, 2023

The Day Death Died

Sermon Overview Scripture Passage: 1 Corinthians 15:45 Death is a fact. People die suddenly, instantaneously, and in strange ways. But as believers, we have hope in Jesus Christ, who beat death and rose from the grave. 1 Corinthians 15 gives a picture of the day death died. This chapter first explains the sovereign majesty of our Redeemer.“For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive” (1 Corinthians 15:22). In Scripture, Jesus is referred to as the second Adam; He is also called “the first fruits” (1 Corinthians 15:23). When He comes again, we will have a harvest. When Jesus Christ rose from the grave, He became the death of death; He sealed the deed. Second, this passage describes the sacred mystery of the rapture (1 Corinthians 15:51-52). The Rapture is a sacred secret—no human wit, wisdom or scientific investigation could ever reveal it; only divine revelation. One day, the living saints will be brought up into Heaven, and the dead saints will be raised from the grave. When Adam sinned against God, he died immediately in his spirit, progressively in his soul, and ultimately in his body. When the Lord redeems us, we are justified immediately in the spirit, sanctified progressively in the soul, and glorified ultimately in the body. We don’t know when the rapture will take place; we only know that we live in a world that is ripe for it. Finally, this passage shows the steadfast ministry of the redeemed.“...then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: Death is swallowed up in victory. ‘O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?’” (1 Corinthians 15:54-55). Because Jesus is alive, we have victory and must walk in that victory by serving Christ. Adrian Rogers says, “Jesus has been the death of death, so He takes the pain out of parting, the gloom out of the grave. He takes the strength out of sin and the sting out of death.” Apply it to your life 1 Corinthians 15:58 says, “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.” Until Jesus comes again, we should work to further His kingdom with stability, fervency, and expectancy. Be steadfast, immovable, and abound in the work of the Lord.

Apr 7, 2023

Magnifying Jesus Through Worship and the Word

Sermon Overview Scripture Passage: Isaiah 53:1-12 There is only one Jesus; we exist to magnify Jesus through worship and the Word. Seven hundred years before Christ’s birth, the prophet Isaiah wrote about Jesus, the promised Messiah and Savior of the world.Isaiah 53 first prophesies Jesus’ Virgin Birth. “For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant, and as a root out of dry ground...” (Isaiah 53:2). Jesus’ miracle birth is essential to our faith. Without the Virgin Birth, Jesus would have been under the curse of Adam, and couldn’t have been our atonement for sin. Adrian Rogers says, “He was born of a virgin that we might be born again; He became the Son of Man that we might become the sons and daughters of Almighty God.” This passage also describes Jesus’ virtuous life. “He has no form or comeliness; and when we see Him, there is no beauty that we should desire Him” (Isaiah 53:2). We may have expected Him to come to Earth in splendor and majesty, but Jesus Christ was quite ordinary. He did not live in royalty or stand out in a crowd. Though He performed miracles, did good, and showed love, He was not without sorrows—only without sin. This passage also addresses Jesus’ vicarious death. “But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5). Jesus took our sins, shame, separation, and suffering. We owe everything to the Savior who took our place and became the object of God’s wrath. Fourth, we see Jesus’ victorious resurrection. “...When You make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days...” (Isaiah 53:10). Three days after His crucifixion, Jesus rose from the dead and walked out of the grave; we serve a living, risen, victorious Savior. Finally, this passage gives insight into His visible return. “He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many, for He shall bear their iniquities” (Isaiah 53:11). He is coming again; our only hope in this world is to know Him and look forward to His Second Coming. Apply it to your life Today, magnify the Lord Jesus through worship and reading His Word. Thank Him for who He is: His birth, life, death, and resurrection.

Apr 6, 2023

How to Discover Your Spiritual Gift

Sermon Overview Scripture Passage: Romans 12:6 A spiritual gift is not a natural talent; it is a supernatural ability from God. We must discover our spiritual gifts and be good stewards of what God has given us to use for His glory. Romans 12:6 says, “Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them…” If we want to discover what our spiritual gifts are, we must first present ourselves as living sacrifices to God. We must willingly give Him all that we are, recognizing that our lives do not belong to us; rather, we first belong to Jesus, and then to one another. As living sacrifices, we stay put on the altar through discipline and devotion. Then we experience a complete transformation; Jesus becomes our inner nature, working from within. We cannot understand our spiritual gifts without the mind of Christ; when He renews our minds, we must think with them. Adrian Rogers says, “The Jesus hidden in you is the Jesus revealed in you.” Though we must carefully consider our gifts, we do not have to identify them before we begin to serve. No one has all the spiritual gifts, but every Believer has at least one. We must take inventory of how the Holy Spirit works in us. Think of when we feel most enlightened or when we find enjoyment, encouragement, or opportunity to serve. This is a shared participation; we must begin somewhere with what we have and give our gifts a chance to grow. Our gifts could be prophecy, ministry, teaching, exhortation, giving, ruling, or mercy, to name a few. When we seek out opportunities to serve in church, our gifts will be activated. If we are faithful to serve, we will eventually receive confirmation in our hearts of the assigned spiritual gifts. As we allow God to use these gifts in us to serve one another, we will see their true value in a much deeper way. God is glorified and the Church is strengthened when we serve each other with what He has graciously given to us. Apply it to your lifeToday, consider what your church’s greatest need is, and how you can be of best use. As you are figuring out where you fit in the Body, be open to things you may not see as “glamorous.”

Mar 31, 2023

Learning to Love

Sermon Overview Scripture Passage: 1 Corinthians 13 In this wicked world, where darkness spreads and lawlessness abounds, love is a rare commodity. As children of the light, it is our responsibility to learn to love. In 1 Corinthians 13, the Apostle Paul explains why love is exceedingly valuable in our lawless age. First, love excels all other virtues, and without it, those virtues are meaningless.“But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away” (1 Corinthians 13:8). Love is more valuable than speaking in tongues, prophecy, and knowledge. Scripture is meant to encourage, exhort, and edify us, but if we handle it without love and use it to divide, we are nothing. Love is even greater than faith. What good is faith that can remove mountains if it cannot remove malice in our hearts? Love inspires a charitable attitude, but our good works are worthless if we do not do them in love (see 1 Corinthians 13:3). Second, this passage explains that love enables all other virtues.“Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up…” (1 Corinthians 13:4). Love enables us to be patient and kind; it enables a humble spirit, a courteous new nature, and an unselfish attitude. Love does not envy or harbor irritability. It enables us to be forgiving and sympathetic; it does not collect grudges, and it rejoices in truth (see 1 Corinthians 13:5-6). Adrian Rogers says, “Love is not blind; literally, love sees more, but love forgives. Real love is not giving people what they deserve; it’s giving people what they need.” Finally, in verse 7, the Apostle Paul says love, “...bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” While other virtues fade and fail, the mighty force of love endures; it conquers all things, making friends out of enemies. It completes everything else, adding infinite value to prophecy, worship, and knowledge. “And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love” (1 Corinthians 13:13). One day we will see the Lord face to face. Our faith will become sight, our hope will become reality, yet love will continue on and on, throughout all eternity. Apply it to your life Are you learning to love, which excels all other virtues, enables the fruits of the Spirit, and endures all things?

Mar 29, 2023

You Are a Gifted Child

Sermon Overview Scripture Passage: 1 Corinthians 12:1 As Christians, our desire should be that our lives count for Jesus. We were not meant to simply sit in church on Sundays and co-exist with other believers. As children of God, we are called to serve Him by serving one another with our spiritual gifts. 1 Corinthians 12:4-6 says, “There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all.” As individual members of the Body, we serve different functions but are united in the same power. We were meant to live in unity, not in unison. Though we are ignited by the same source of strength and power, we are each assigned a specific spiritual gift distributed by the Holy Spirit Himself. We were given our specific gifts the moment we were baptized into the Body of Christ. We just have to discover and develop these gifts as we grow as believers. Paul identifies the spiritual gifts in Scripture: wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, prophecy, discerning spirits, tongues, interpretation of tongues, ministry, teaching, exhortation, giving, ruling, and mercy. We must be careful not to exploit these gifts. The Devil can counterfeit our assigned gifts to lead the unsuspecting Christian astray. The Devil does not use raw material; he works from within our basic knowledge of Scripture and twists it to confuse and discourage. Adrian Rogers says, “Your spiritual gift is not a toy; it is a tool. It is not for your enjoyment; it is for your employment.” Each one of us is a gifted child, important to the Kingdom of God. It is necessary to realize our gifts, not only for our own relationships with God but for the sake of the Church. Apply it to your life If you do not know what your gift is, it does not mean you do not have one; you do. Today, pray that God would reveal it to you and that you would accept whatever he has given to you as a good and grateful steward. Pray also that God would show you how you can serve in your church in a way that makes good use of your spiritual gift.

Mar 27, 2023

You Are Somebody in His Body

Sermon Overview Scripture Passage: 1 Corinthians 12:12-18 The Body of Christ is not a building, it is not an establishment or an organization. It is a collection of believers with a mutual love for Jesus Christ and a desire to serve Him. Each of us is somebody in this Body of Believers. 1 Corinthians 12:12 says, “For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ.” The Body of Christ is a manifested person. It is the visible part of the invisible Jesus—the living, breathing display of his redemptive power and love for mankind. The Body’s purpose is to serve the Person—that Person being Jesus Christ. The day we become born-again Christians, we receive the Holy Spirit; we also receive our spiritual gifts, which are given to us with the purpose of serving one another in the Body. The Holy Spirit is the life of the Body and the Body’s motivating power. Each spiritual gift has a specific role in the Body, just as each part of a physical body has a specific role. As an eye sees, a hand holds, and a heart beats, our spiritual gifts are meant to accomplish something for the sake of the Body, as it serves the Person. Finally, we have a mutual programming. We as Christians are meant to operate alongside one another. God has designed His Church so that no one part of the Body can function as it ought apart from the others. Adrian Rogers says, “Loyalty to Jesus means loyalty to one another.” We must love the Body and walk in unity, undivided. In our loyalty to each other, we prove our desire to remain loyal to Jesus. We have the same life and the same love, and we serve the same Lord. Whatever our gifts may be, they were given to us for a reason, and that reason has everything to do with the Body of Christ. Apply it to your life Everybody is somebody in the Body of Christ. Today, make yourself available to the Lord and pray that He will reveal your gift to you. Discover your gift, accept it, and give yourself to the Body. Whether it is listening to someone who is hurting or serving where you are needed in your church community, remember: when we serve one another, we are ultimately serving Jesus.

Mar 23, 2023

Faith: What it is and How to Have it

Sermon Overview Scripture Passage: Romans 10:17-21 Adrian Rogers says, “Faith makes God’s grace available and real to us. Grace is God’s ability, and faith is man’s responsibility.” In the Kingdom of God, our faith is the measure of our victory and success. Our belief is our greatest spiritual asset and richest currency. Conversely, unbelief is our greatest stumbling block. This is why there is an immediate urgency to receive what grace provides through faith in God. Romans 10 reveals the intricacies of faith, what it is, and how to have it. First, we must consider the object of our faith in order for it to be real.When we rely on the wrong things, it can be dangerous to our spiritual health. We do not rely on positive thinking, or even on faith itself. True biblical faith is placed in Jesus Christ, alone. Adrian Rogers says, “If the object of your faith is God, then the ambition of your heart ought to be to know Him.” Once we confirm the object of faith, we see it originates from the Word of God.Romans 10:17 says, “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” In order to grow spiritually, we must hear from God; we cannot know the will of God by guessing at it. Faith cannot be generated; it is given, as Hebrews 11:1 says, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” When God speaks to us through His Word and Jesus Christ, we will see the result of our faith, which is the Will of God. The objective of our faith is to get God’s will done on Earth as it is in Heaven.God is sovereign; He remains in control at all times. What He says He will do, He will accomplish. We have the beautiful opportunity to take part in His Will, through faith. Finally, we must know the operation of faith, which is the work of God.We do not work for our salvation, but our obedience to Him is proof that we believe in Him. Apply it to your life True faith does more than merely believe; it translates into action. When you pray and ask God what to do, and how to accomplish His Will for your life today, trust and obey Him.

Mar 3, 2023

Salvation

Sermon Overview Scripture Passage: Romans 10:1-13 Some may think being saved is an old-fashioned concept, but salvation continues to be man’s greatest need. Romans 10 describes the necessity and timelessness of salvation. First, this passage reveals the freeness of salvation. “For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes” (Romans 10:2-4). Adrian Rogers says, “Some people think salvation roots in the merit of man. They think salvation is a reward for the righteous, but really it is a gift for the guilty.” Many remain unsaved, not because they think they’re sinners but because they think they've never sinned. The worst form of badness is human goodness if human goodness is what keeps you from salvation. Second, in Romans 10:6, we see the nearness of salvation: “But the righteousness of faith speaks in this way, ‘Do not say in your heart, “Who will ascend into heaven?”’” We don’t have to go on a pilgrimage to find salvation, because Jesus Christ stepped out of Heaven to find us. He already paid the price with His life, already bore the weight of our sins on the cross, and rose to life to give us hope. We only need to be bold and unashamed as we confess Jesus as Savior and Lord. Salvation is not an intellectual belief that we tack on along with other ideas; it is trusting and committing everything to Jesus, claiming Him as Savior and Lord. Finally, we see the richness of salvation in Romans 10:12: “For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him.” Adrian Rogers says, “Nobody is so good they don’t need to be saved, and nobody is so bad that they cannot be saved.” God wants everybody to be saved; anyone who calls upon Him will be saved. We may fail Him, but He has never failed us. Salvation is by grace through faith, trusting the Lord Jesus. Apply it to your life Are you sure and solid in your salvation? Consider the freeness, the nearness, and the richness of salvation today.

Mar 1, 2023

Dads Who Shoot Straight

Sermon Overview Scripture Passage: Psalm 127 Psalm 127:3-5 says, “Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one’s youth. Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them; they shall not be ashamed but shall speak with their enemies in the gate.” God says fathers are to be like warriors, and their children are like arrows to be shot at the enemy. But an arrow is no more effective than the warrior who shoots it. It is crucial that dads shoot straight. If we want to hit the target with our children, we must be skilled and strong. An arrow could miss the target for several reasons. The wind may take the arrow, or the target may move. But this does not diminish the warrior’s responsibility to be strong in his faith. Adrian Rogers says, “My responsibility as a dad is to shape, sharpen, and shoot those arrows at the enemy.”Second, our arrows must be straight. Because children are not born as straight arrows, it is our job to shape them. There are eight ways to shape, polish, and sharpen our children: -Start early. -Be creative. -Build their character. -Set limits for your children. -Assign responsibilities. -Let your home be the happiest place in your community. -Let your children see God at work in the home. -Cover them with constant prayer. Finally, our aim must be sure. As Christians, we must have a goal, an aim, and a desire before we release our arrows. Adrian Rogers says, “Arrows are not to be collected; they’re to be projected.” God has given us children, that they might go where we cannot go, and we’ve got to point them to a worthy goal. One of these days, our children will be out of our hands. We point them at the enemy, and send them forth, letting them go. Even after we’ve let them go, we must pray that the winds of grace will guide them, keep them, and use them. Apply it to your life If you are the leader of your household, ask God to make you a mighty man. Get to work shaping, sharpening, and seasoning your arrows. Work on your skills and rethink what your goals and desires are for your family.

Feb 27, 2023

Treasuring Marital Fidelity

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Matthew 19:1-6God has put marriage in the hearts and minds of people. Regardless of the tragic failures of past generations, the desire for marriage is born anew in every generation.Adrian Rogers says, “Marriage is not old-fashioned, out-of-date, or obsolete. It is a plan of God, a plan divine in creation.”In Matthew 19, Jesus urges us to treasure marital fidelity and remain faithful to one another.“So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate” (Matthew 19:6).Marriage is the first institution ordained of God, therefore it is a priority. It is permanent; when we commit to another in marriage, we become one, completely inseparable. Holy matrimony is not some sort of penalty; married life is God’s plan for total intimacy.Yet, sexual immorality pollutes the married life. Adultery is a sin against one’s self; there is no other sin that will do more damage, spiritually, psychologically, and physically.It is a sin against the home; God established monogamous marriage to meet the deepest emotional, physical, and spiritual needs of a child. The glue that holds the home together is sexual faithfulness.Adultery is a sin against the Church; when a member of a church lives in sexual immorality, he sins against the holy Body of Christ.No matter how society tries to glamorize it, adultery has destroyed great nations in the past. It may be the sin that destroys our nation, as well, because it is a sin against Almighty God.There is a way to preserve our marriages. We must bring our failures and sins before Jesus Christ and depend on Him. We must exercise our devotion to Christ and to our families. We must guard our hearts and be disciplined, having control over who or what we let into our lives. We must remain determined, making up our minds that we will not fall into temptation.Adrian Rogers says, “Love is a growing thing; it’s like a flower that needs to be cultivated and nurtured. It needs to be protected; its full beauty can be developed through life.”Apply it to your lifeWe have a responsibility to treasure marriage fidelity. Remember your decision to depend upon Him, remain devoted, and develop your love for your spouse; stay disciplined and determined.

Feb 23, 2023

The Wonders of Womanhood

Sermon Overview Scripture Passage: Titus 2:1-5 Physical features change and fade, but a lifestyle that adorns the Word of God brings unending beauty into the home. Yet, these days, our families face many oppositions that threaten to drain women of their splendor.Titus 2 describes the lifestyle of a true woman of God. “...the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things...” (Titus 2:3). This passage first addresses the legacy a godly woman is to leave. A godly woman teaches younger women how to be homemakers and how to instill values in their own families by example. She has the perfume of God in her life, marked by holiness, godly in her speech. She is not a false accuser, scandalmonger, or slanderer, nor does she indulge in addictive behaviors. Secondly, this passage tells of the love she is to learn. “...that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children…” (Titus 2:4). Our young generation looks at children as burdens rather than blessings. Children are the heritage of the Lord, and motherhood is a gift from God. Adrian Rogers says, “A father has influence on a child, but a mother makes the greatest impression.”Finally, this passage teaches us the life she is to live. “...to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed” (Titus 2:5). -Discreet Sober-minded, sensible, using good judgment in her shopping, bookkeeping, decorating, and physical culture. -Chaste Pure and sexually moral. -Homemakers A woman’s primary responsibility is to keep the home. -Good Kind-hearted. -Obedient to her husband Submission is not subjugation; wives are instructed to submit to their husbands’ loving leadership in the home. A woman who rebels against these things will have difficulties with God and with her husband and children. Ultimately, she will have difficulty with herself, because her deepest, most God-given instinct will not be met.God has a plan for women; when all else fails, as we’ve witnessed in our world, we must return to the directions laid out in Scripture. Apply it to your life Women, consider your legacy, your love, and the life you live. Is your home adorned with the Word of God, and do you glorify Him in how you care for your family?

Feb 21, 2023

God's Plan for the Man

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Psalm 128:1-6Adrian Rogers says, “You can be born a male, but it takes maturity to be a man.”Perhaps the most difficult, yet rewarding, role a man could ever commit to is being a good husband and father. The Lord develops godly men through His Word, and Psalm 128 exemplifies God’s plan for the man.A godly man is first meant to be faithful in his walk with the Lord.Psalm 128:4 says, “Behold, thus shall the man be blessed who fears the Lord.” Men are a picture of God in their homes, as we view God as our Heavenly Father. Though we will inevitably make mistakes, we can be godly fathers by remaining faithful to God and to our families.Second, a godly man is known for his fruitful work.“When you eat the labor of your hands, you shall be happy, and it shall be well with you” (Psalm 128:2). God’s plan for the man is to provide for his family. Man is also designed to protect his wife and children, physically and emotionally. “Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine in the very heart of your house, your children like olive plants all around your table” (Psalm 128:3).He is also considered the pastor of the home.As the wife is the vine, a wise husband understands it is his job to cultivate his wife’s love and needs, so she may meet the needs of their children.Finally, a godly man is known for his worship and future wealth.“The Lord bless you out of Zion, and may you see the good of Jerusalem all the days of your life. Yes, may you see your children’s children” (Psalm 128:5-6). If the husband and father establishes a home rooted in a love for God, he is very wealthy in what matters.Adrian Rogers says, “Children don’t make a rich man poor; they make a poor man rich. The rich man can’t take his money to Heaven, but I’m taking my kids to Heaven.”As fathers, we have an opportunity to make a lasting difference in the lives of our children, and our children’s children.Apply it to your lifeAre you leading your family to know God—loving your wife and leading your children on the path of righteousness? Consider your walk, work, worship, and future wealth today.

Feb 20, 2023

Millionaire Marriages

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Genesis 2:18-25Those who are married have the potential for great wealth in what truly matters. We can have a millionaire marriage when we understand the value God has placed on the family.In Genesis 2:18-25, we learn the basis for a wonderful marriage.“And the Lord God said, ‘It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him’” (Genesis 2:18).First, we must remember that marriage is made in Heaven. God designed marriage for a distinct purpose.There is no deeper companionship than a husband and wife. In their fellowship, they are designed to strengthen each other and cooperate in the world. They are meant to complete each other, to reflect the relationship between Jesus Christ and the Church.God gave us marriage to replenish the Earth and continue the human race. Our homes are meant to be the center of God’s glory.There is a heavenly design for our human differences.Men and women are different in their nature, their personalities, and priorities. God made male and female different so that they may become one in marriage. (See Genesis 2:24.)But marriage has been marred by Hell.Satan’s plan for the family is to deny the authority of God, debase man, and deny morals. If he can destroy the family, he can dominate the world. When Adam and Eve brought sin into the world in Genesis 3, Satan’s war against the family began.But marriage is always marked by hope.Genesis 3:15 says, “...He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel.” This verse was a prophecy of Jesus coming and crushing the head of the enemy. No matter our circumstances, there is always hope because the grace of God covers all of our sins.Adrian Rogers reminds us, “Jesus performed his first miracle at a wedding – He turned water into wine. I tell you that Jesus can turn the water of your sorrow into the wine of joy.”Apply it to your lifeAdrian Rogers says, “The Jesus that turned water into wine will turn arguments, strife, and heartache into peace, purpose, and joy.”

Feb 17, 2023

How to Handle Conflicts

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: James 1:19God made husbands and wives different so that He can make them one in marriage. Because of these innate differences, arguments are inevitable.James 1:19 reveals how to handle conflicts: “So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath…”We must be swift to hear, or quick to tune in.Only by listening can we begin to understand each other, and be brought back into a place of emotional intimacy.When in conflict, remember four things as you listen to your spouse:ObservationBe perceptive; listen with your eyes as well as with your ears, reading body language. Rather than looking away, lean in to show you are listening.ConcentrationAll too often, we are thinking about other things rather than our spouse’s words. As loving mates, we should instead give them our full attention.ConsiderationThink about what the other person is saying. Don’t assume you already know what is going to be said, or try to catch your spouse in an error; instead, listen to what is said and also to what is meant.ClarificationAfter the other person has spoken completely, restate what was said, to make sure you understand what was meant.Second, we must be slow to speak, or tone it down.Our tongues will often get us into trouble. Having two ears and one mouth, we should listen twice as much as we speak.When in conflict, some spouses like to play judge or professor. Some play psychologist or historian, dictator or critic. Some might even play the self-righteous preacher. But as believers, we must remember that love is what controls our language.Adrian Rogers says, “Watch your words; keep them warm and sweet because you may have to eat them.”Finally, we must lighten up, or be slow to wrath.Unwarranted anger severely damages the home; it is not a weakness, it is a wickedness.When facing marital conflicts, don’t run away, give in, or get fired up. Instead, find the right time, with the right tone, at the right place. Rather than being right and losing, compromise and gain together.Married life may never get easier, but if we learn to deal with each other lovingly, it will get sweeter.Apply it to your lifeAre you facing conflicts in your marriage today? Take the words of James 1:19 to heart: tune in, tone down, and lighten up. Practice acceptance, accommodation, and adjustments together.

Feb 14, 2023

Communicate or Disintegrate

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: 1 Peter 2:21-24The biggest problem in many marriages is failure to adequately communicate; if we don’t learn to communicate, our homes could disintegrate.Marriage is the most intimate relationship there is; we are designed to communicate on the deepest level. Healthy communication peaks when we have absolute, total, openness with one another, spoken in discerning kindness and gentleness.Jesus is both the power and the example of healthy communication, and we would be wise to follow His steps.We must first remember the awesome power of communication; the tongue gives direction, but it can also bring destruction because our words reveal what is in our hearts. (See Matthew 12:34.)Adrian Rogers says, “If you want to know what’s in their hearts, listen to their words.”The greatest hurts in the home often come from spoken words. The problem of poor communication could be due to our differences as men and women.There is also the issue of self-centeredness, being full of pride and clinging to the idea of being “right.”1 Peter 3:7 says, “Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered.”Poor communication could also be rooted in bitterness, unresolved problems, or an unforgiving spirit, which completely defile marriages. The distractions of life or differences in temperament could also hinder healthy communication.Insecurity or fear directly threaten our ability to achieve the freedom level of communication.1 Peter 3:8 says, “Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous…”If we want to practice proper communication, everyone must do their part. We must learn to be more sensitive with each other, deal with our self-centeredness, and be willing to overlook our partners’ problems. We must find the root of a closed-off spirit, create areas of commonality, and make time to talk things through.Communication is an ongoing process. It evolves over time spent together and requires maintenance, yet there is nothing more important.Apply it to your lifeAre you practicing healthy communication with your family? Pray for Jesus’ power as you follow His example in how you speak to others. Adrian Rogers says, “Quit trying to change your partner and change yourself.”

Feb 10, 2023

Celebrate the Difference

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Genesis 2:19There is no sweeter, deeper, more wonderful companionship than that of a husband and wife. In Genesis 2, we first see God’s divine, unique design of male and female. These differences between us should not divide us; rather they unite us.Adrian Rogers says, “God made us different that He might make us one in marriage.” By understanding our roles, we can celebrate the differences between us.Genesis 2:18 says, “And the Lord God said, ‘It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.’” Even Adam, who had face-to-face fellowship with God, was still incomplete and in need of a companion. And though he was surrounded by all sorts of creatures in paradise, God knew Adam needed someone like himself.There are general differences between men and women designed to complement each other. God gave Eve to Adam to make up for what was lacking in Adam’s nature, and vice versa. These differences are not necessarily strengths and weaknesses. Rather, they are traits to contribute to the partnership.The Beauty and the Beast.God made man physically stronger, to provide and protect, while He made women to give and nurture life. Being physically weaker does not make women inferior; rather, her delicacy is her strength.The Tortoise and the Hare.Men may have more energy for the moment, but women are designed to endure longer.The Romantic and the Mechanic.By nature, men are motivated by maintenance. On the other hand, women are relational and long for romance.The Radar and the Computer.We process information differently because we look at things differently. Generally speaking, men tend to be logical, analytical, and factual, while women factor in details, emotions, and context.The Code Speaker and the Reporter.Women use language to express their emotions, while men use language to dispense facts.The Lover and the Achiever.The deepest need of a woman is to be loved, while a man’s deepest need is to be respected. (See Ephesians 5:33.)As we come to understand the innate differences between men and women, we can better love and encourage each other in our marriages, honoring God by how we treat our spouses.Apply it to your lifeIf you are married, take time to celebrate the definite differences between you and your spouse, and see how you can use your marriage to glorify God.

Feb 8, 2023

The Divine Design

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: 1 Peter 3:1-7The marriage relationship is meant to be the most intimate of all human relationships. In marriage, we share the inmost part of our nature with another person. But in order to build lives together as husband and wife, we need to build on a solid foundation.1 Peter 3:1-7 explains God’s divine design for marriage: “Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives, when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear…” (1 Peter 3:1-2).There must be order in the home rather than chaos. As is true in any organization, there must be a leader. God has appointed the husband to lead the home; this does not mean the wife is inferior. When wives express an attitude of submission, it means they are to look to their husbands, not as servants to masters, but as subjects to leaders.These verses also call to attention a wife’s adornment of serenity. According to 1 Peter 3:3-4, a woman is to have an internal beauty about her—a gentle spirit, which becomes more beautiful every day. It is also important for wives to respect their husbands and offer them encouraging affirmations. She must pay close attention to his needs.“Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered” (1 Peter 3:7).Husbands may delegate authority, but they cannot escape their responsibility. They must provide for the home, more than just food and clothing—they must also meet their wives’ emotional needs.He is also called to protect the home and pastor it; as the God-appointed spiritual leaders of the home, husbands are to treat their wives as Christ treats the Church.Adrian Rogers says, “You cannot have a Christian home without having Christians, any more than you could have a cherry pie without cherries; if you want God in your home, then you have to give your heart to God.”Apply it to your lifeHave you laid the foundation for a good, godly marriage, accepting your divine role as a husband or wife? Prayerfully agree to God’s plan and enact what He has called you to be in your home.

Feb 6, 2023

Real Love

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: 1 Corinthians 13We are fast approaching a loveless world; in our mechanical society, it is clearer than ever that real love is what we lack.In 1 Corinthians 13, the Apostle Paul shares three observations about real love, and why it is exceedingly valuable in our lawless age.First, real love excels all other virtues, and without it, those virtues are meaningless.“But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away” (1 Corinthians 13:8). Love is more valuable than speaking in tongues, prophecy, and knowledge. Scripture is meant to encourage, exhort, and edify us, but if we handle it without love and use it to divide, we are nothing.Love is even greater than faith; although it is necessary, what good is faith that can remove mountains if it cannot remove malice in our hearts?Love inspires a charitable attitude, but our good works are worthless if we do not do them in love. (See 1 Corinthians 13:3.)Second, this passage reminds us that real love enables all other things.“Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up…” (1 Corinthians 13:4). Love enables a humble spirit, a courteous new nature, and an unselfish attitude.Adrian Rogers says, “Love and pride don’t dwell in the same heart; you can be big-headed or you can be big-hearted, but you can’t be both.”Love does not vaunt itself; it enables us to not envy, or to harbor irritability. It enables us to be forgiving and sympathetic; it does not collect grudges, and it rejoices in truth. (See 1 Corinthians 13-5-6.)Finally, in verse 7, the Apostle Paul says love, “...bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”While other virtues fade and fail, the mighty force of love endures; it conquers all things, making friends out of enemies. It completes everything else, adding infinite value to prophecy, worship, and knowledge.“And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love” (1 Corinthians 13:13).One day we will see the Lord face to face and our faith will become sight, our hope will become reality, yet love will continue on and on.Apply it to your lifeAre you filled with real love, which excels all other virtues, enables the fruits of the Spirit, and endures all things?

Feb 3, 2023

Zeal: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Titus 2:11Every Christian needs a burning, blazing, passionate love for the Lord Jesus Christ that overflows into service and worship. However, we must be careful with our zeal, so that it doesn't become misguided.Titus 2 addresses the good, the bad, and the ugly parts of zeal, and urges us to watch out for extremism and harmful fanaticism.First, zeal can display the grace of God.“For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men… that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.” (Titus 2: 11,14).When we truly love the Gospel of Jesus Christ, we will become zealous about truth and excited to do good works for the kingdom of God. This is a good and godly thing, because we are called to go “all in” with our love for Jesus.Adrian Rogers says, “The cause of Christ has been hurt by lukewarm Christians—Sunday morning benchwarmers who claim to be on the Lord’s side, but don’t live for Him.”However, when taken to the extreme, good things can become bad things. If we're not careful, zeal can distort the grace of God.Zeal that is divisive and destructive can be deadly to our churches, homes, and communities. Principles are great when used as tools to live by, rather than as weapons to hurt others.When we obsess and debate over incidental things, we lose sight of what is fundamental. This kind of zeal is foolish, fractious, and fruitless. Extremism can also be fatal because it causes the spiritual death of many other people. When we have zeal for the wrong things, we’ll often fight the wrong enemy with the wrong weapons and the wrong energy.Finally, there is a zeal that denies the grace of God.Salvation comes from God alone; no matter how passionate we become, we must never lose sight of that truth. No one is so bad that he cannot be saved, and no one is so good that he need not be saved.Apply it to your lifeWe cannot be moderate about our love for Jesus. Are you filled with zeal that displays the grace of God?

Feb 1, 2023

When Prayer Seems Unanswered

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Luke 1:5 There is no substitute for prayer; it is to our spiritual life what breath is to our bodies. But sometimes, we find ourselves perplexed, because it feels our prayers are unanswered. Oftentimes, our unanswered prayers are due to our unoffered prayers. But when we sincerely pray, we can expect God to answer one of four ways. Sometimes, God denies our request: He simply says no.Perhaps our prayers are self-centered rather than God-centered. We could be asking God to underwrite our worldliness. We are to pray in Jesus’ name, in the will of God. If the answer is no, we must check our motives, to see if they are pure, if we are earnestly seeking His will. Adrian Rogers says, “Prayer is not bending God’s will to fit our will; prayer is finding the will of God and getting in on it.” Second, the answer to our prayers may be strategically delayed.In Luke 1, Zacharias and Elisabeth had been praying for a child for many years. When hope seemed lost and their childbearing years were past, God told them they would have a son. God always answers prayer in a way that will give Him the greatest glory. As we see in the stories of Daniel, Lazarus, and of Abraham and Sarah, He moves into impossible situations to work in miraculous ways. He also delays in order to dispense His grace; the child He gave to Zacharias and Elisabeth was the forerunner of Jesus Christ, who came in the fullness of time. By waiting to bless them, He allowed their family to be a part of a greater story. Sometimes, answers to prayer may be significantly different than we expect.We may ask God for one thing and He gives us something else. If God doesn’t give us what we ask, He will give us something better and sweeter than what we asked, if we ask in the name of Jesus. Looking back, we may be thankful that we didn’t get what we prayed for. Finally, God’s answers may be direct.How wonderful is our Heavenly Father, who delights in providing for His children! Apply it to your lifeIf your prayer seems unanswered, check your heart and your motives: are you praying for the glory of God? If so, keep praying; don’t stop until you have the answer in your hand or in your heart, or until God has told you no.

Jan 30, 2023

What Shall I Do with Jesus?

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Matthew 27:22 In Matthew 27, Jesus Christ stood on trial before Pilate, and in verse 22, Pilate asked the most personal and pressing question: “What shall I do with Jesus?” What we do with Jesus is an unavoidable decision each of us will make; what we decide—or not decide—will dictate our eternity. We must consider Pilate’s decision: as the people cried out for Jesus’ death, Pilate’s voice of reason and conscience raised alarm. He examined the evidence and listened to witnesses, including his own wife (v. 19), and Jesus Himself, who confessed that He was the King of kings. (John 18:37) Though the voices that confronted Pilate clearly revealed the right thing to do, his warped values pressured him to decide otherwise. Pilate was pressured by the public’s opinion; the people were viciously calling for Jesus’s blood. His boisterous pride, his lofty position, and plentiful possessions were more valuable than the innocent man standing before him. At first, Pilate ignored the issue, then shifted the decision to King Herod. When Herod declined and sent Jesus back to Pilate, He confessed Jesus was faultless, yet decided not to decide. However, as Adrian Rogers warns, “You cannot be neutral about Jesus.” Matthew 27:24 says, “When Pilate saw that he could not prevail at all, but rather that a tumult was rising, he took water and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, “I am innocent of the blood of this just Person. You see to it.” Pilate’s rejection of reason and misplaced values made Jesus’ trial a mockery of justice. Pilate’s “neutral” verdict condemned Jesus to death, and also condemned himself. We have an opportunity to make a different decision. Analyzing the evidence from Scripture, the witnesses of the saints, of old and of new, we know Jesus is exactly who He says He is. And perhaps the most crucial witness of them all is God the Father. 1 John 5:9 says, “If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which He has testified of His Son.” We know that Jesus is Lord because after He was crucified, God reversed the decision of the court and raised Him from the dead! Apply it to your lifeYou cannot be neutral about Jesus; you cannot avoid Him, escape Him, or bypass Him: so what will you do with Him?

Jan 19, 202337 min

The Simplicity of Salvation

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Romans 10:1-7 Jesus did not come to Earth as a great philosopher, educator, economist, or social worker; He came as a Savior. He came to seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10) and to meet man’s greatest need, which is salvation. Romans 10:1-7 explains the simplicity of salvation. First, we must keep in mind the righteousness that God rejects.“For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God” (Romans 10:3). We cannot be ignorant of God’s righteousness and try to establish our own righteousness. Self-righteousness is firmly rejected by God, and our attempts to keep the law and be good people are not enough. It is impossible to keep the Ten Commandments in our own strength; the Bible says that if we break even one, we are guilty of them all. Adrian Rogers says, “Salvation is not a reward for the righteous; it is a gift for the guilty. Salvation is not a goal to be achieved; it is a gift to be received.” Second, this passage shares the righteousness that God reveals.“For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes” (Romans 10:4). We don’t have to search for salvation: He has already found us (see Romans 10:6-7); Jesus Christ is our righteousness. Finally, we see the righteousness that God receives.“...if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9). In order to receive salvation, we must confess Christ as our reigning Lord. He must rule over our lives. We must confess that He is our risen Lord, who was crucified, buried, and raised from the dead. And we must unashamedly confess Him as our redeeming Lord. Romans 10:12 says, “For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him.” Jesus has never disappointed anyone. He is the only one who satisfies, and He is all-sufficient, able to save us from our sins. Apply it to your lifeDo you understand the simplicity of salvation? Don’t depend on our own righteousness; instead, confess that Jesus Christ is your reigning, risen, redeeming Lord today.

Jan 17, 2023

The Unpardonable Sin

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Matthew 12:22-32 Each of us faces a spiritual deadline that, if crossed, will result in the commission of unpardonable sin. This is not a moral, intellectual, or verbal sin; it is blaspheming the Holy Spirit. Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is a sin against light; it is attributing to Satan the work of the Holy Spirit when one knows better. Though we can commit this sin without saying a word, it is not accidental; we would do it knowingly and willfully, with our eyes wide open. In Matthew 12, Jesus heals a demon-possessed man and opens his eyes and mouth to see and speak. Full of pride, the Pharisees claimed Jesus performed this miracle by the power of Satan. In verse 31, Jesus says, “Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men.” Blaspheming the Holy Spirit is a sin against redemption; Jesus was healing this man out of His love. It is a sin against reason; Jesus explained He couldn’t have cast out Satan if he worked for him. A kingdom divided will fall—even the devil’s. (See Matthew 12:25-29.) It is a sin against revelation; the pride in the hearts of the Pharisees prevented them from being able to see the legitimacy of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, performing miracles right in front of them. Adrian Rogers says, “When men and women stand before God to be judged, they’re not going to be judged primarily by the sin they committed, but by the light they rejected.” A person who commits blasphemy against the Holy Spirit opens himself up to deception. We cannot have our sin and God’s truth at the same time. This sin also has a deadening power; if we reject the truth of Jesus Christ, something dies within us. Little by little, we’ll stop feeling the conviction of the Holy Spirit. And if the Spirit’s presence in our lives fades out, we’ll see the magnitude of its destruction. This sin puts our hearts in a place where it is impossible to be saved. This is why we must honor even the slightest desire or conviction to follow Jesus now, before it is too late. Apply it to your lifeDon’t sin against redemption, reason, or revelation. Come to Jesus, following the conviction of the Holy Spirit, before you cross a line you can’t uncross.

Jan 13, 2023

Five Minutes After Death

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Luke 16:19-31There was a time when we did not exist, but there will never be a time when we will not be. Death is unavoidable, but it is not the end. Our eternal destiny waits for us five minutes after death. In Luke 16:19-31, Jesus shares a parable full of contrasts. This story stresses the importance of settling our relationship with Jesus Christ on this side of death. First, Jesus points out the contrast in two men’s lives: one was rich, the other poor. (See Luke 16:19-21.) They were born into different classes and were part of different social hierarchies; one had much and the other had little. Jesus also spoke of the contrast in their deaths. When the rich man and the beggar died, they were buried according to their manner of life. Yet, this passage also shares the contrast of their eternities. “So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom” (Luke 16: 22-23). Jesus pulls back the curtain to reveal the other side of death. The beggar was ushered to Heaven, while the rich man watched from Hell. Describing the glories of Heaven, Jesus shares that the man who once begged for crumbs was now seated at the highest place of honor. Adrian Rogers says, “Heaven is all that the all-beneficent loving heart of God would desire for you. Heaven is all that the omniscient mind of God could design for you. Heaven is all that the omnipotent hand of God could prepare for you.” But Jesus also taught the agony of Hell and demonstrated it with His own death. The justice of God demands it, therefore, we cannot discard the doctrine of Hell. Jesus reveals Hell to be a place of sensual, emotional, and spiritual misery; and because our spirits are eternal, the torments of Hell are eternal. (See Luke 16:24-29.) But if we come to Jesus in repentance and faith, we can know, without a doubt, that He will save us and keep us for all eternity. Apply it to your lifeYou don’t have to gamble with your destiny; come to Jesus today and be saved. Pray for your loved ones and share the Gospel with them before it is too late.

Jan 11, 2023

The Days of Noah

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Matthew 24:35-39 Though we don’t know the exact day or hour, the Bible shares what the Last Days will look like, when Jesus Christ returns, and history reaches its climax. Matthew 24:37 says, “But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be…” Understanding the days of Noah reveals why this day and age is ripe for Jesus Christ to come again. According to Genesis 6, the days of Noah were days of secular philosophy.New Age beliefs are so prevalent in our day, some have infiltrated some churches. Fearful of the threat of being called bigots, once great denominations have strayed away from sound doctrine. Noah’s days were full of scientific progress.They were days of great knowledge, prestigious intellects, and great cities. Likewise, the technological achievements we see today are awesome and frightening. Noah’s days were also marked by social plagues—by violence and vengeance.We, ourselves, live in troubling times, full of crime, revenge, and corruption. They were days of sexual perversion and sick imaginations.These same sinful urges are being celebrated today, made fashionable rather than shameful. They were days of selfish prosperity.No matter the state of our wealth, we cannot allow comfort to lull us to sleep. The days of Noah were also full of solemn preaching.Noah was a preacher of righteousness who proclaimed the wrath of God as he built the ark. Adrian Rogers says, “God never sends judgment without first sending warning.” The final mark of those days was sudden panic:“For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be” (Matthew 24:38-39). The flood came when everything seemed to be going fine. When they least expected it, God ushered Noah and his family into the ark and shut the others out. Adrian Rogers says, “When Noah drove that last nail into the ark, he may have had nothing left. When he came out of the ark, he had inherited the Earth. He went in a minority and came out a majority.” Apply it to your lifeIt pays to serve Jesus, the ark of safety, who saves us from our sins. Put your faith in Him today.

Jan 9, 2023

The Final Judgment

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Revelation 20:11-15The Book of Revelation prophecies that at the end of the Great Tribulation, Jesus will come with His saints in power and great glory to rule and reign and judge the sins of the world.Revelation 20 sets the scene of the final judgment, when God settles the score and judges the sins of those who are not in Christ Jesus.“Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away…And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened…” (Revelation 20:11-12).Whether we believe in Him or not, we will all meet Jesus Christ. He is unavoidable; He cannot be deceived, disputed, or discredited.Adrian Rogers says, “If you don’t meet Him as Savior, you will meet Him as Judge.”This passage also describes those who are called to the judgment:The out and out sinner who hates GodThe self-righteous who thinks he is too good for judgmentThe procrastinator who intended to be saved but never confirmed his salvationThe unsaved church member who has religion, but not the LordThe one who has never heard the Gospel of Jesus ChristNot one sin has escaped God’s knowledge; every sin will be accounted for—secrets that have been repressed will be revealed.“And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books” (Revelation 20:12).Like any earthly courtroom, the evidence and the defense will be presented, and then the verdict will be handed down. And what waits at the end of a Christless life is a sure and severe eternity in Hell.But Romans 8:1 says, “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus…”Adrian Rogers says, “I’m not going to stand before the great white throne, and I’ll tell you why: I settled out of court. I have given my heart to Jesus Christ and, on that cross, He took my sin and my judgment.”Through the blood of Jesus, our sins can be buried in the grave of God’s forgetfulness, never to be brought up against us again.Apply it to your lifeHave you settled out of court? Choose to follow Him today, lest you stand before the throne of God in judgment.

Jan 5, 2023

The Value of a Soul

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Mark 8:35 When God made the human soul, He made it in His own image; therefore, human souls are endless, timeless, dateless, and measureless. The soul is the most valuable part of each of us and, so often, the first thing we sacrifice for the things of this world. Mark 8:35-36 says, “For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?” Our souls are priceless treasures of infinite worth; each one was created by God. Every soul has the potential to be transformed into the likeness of Jesus Christ. Our souls are also valuable because of their durability; they last for all eternity. Adrian Rogers says, “Your soul will be in existence somewhere when the sun, moon, and stars have grown cold—either in Heaven or in Hell. You could never cease to exist any more than God Himself could cease to exist.” Souls are also extremely rare; each is unique. We must also remember that Jesus died upon the cross, paying the price with His blood and agony to show how much He desired our souls. Therefore, we must be extremely careful with our souls. To exchange them for the things of this world would be a foolish transaction. No one ever gains the whole world, and whatever part of the world you would gain, you cannot keep forever. The world cannot meet your deepest longings—neither pleasure, nor possession, nor philosophy could ever satisfy, because God made us for Himself. To lose your soul would be a tragic, irreversible loss—after death, we don’t get a second chance. It’s an immeasurable and irreplaceable loss. All the wealth of this world cannot compare to the value of a soul. It’s an inexcusable loss—completely avoidable. Finally, to lose our souls is a fatal tragedy; our souls are worth billions of worlds like ours. Adrian Rogers says, “If I had a thousand souls, I would give every one of them to Jesus.” Apply it to your lifeAre you playing games, gambling with your soul? To lose it to this world would be a foolish, fatal tragedy. Give it to Jesus, who saves it and keeps it for all of eternity.

Jan 3, 2023

How to Deal with Depression

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Psalm 42 Depression is a passive, continual feeling of sadness that seems to linger. It is an attitude that nothing feels good or is worth feeling good about; it is compounded by a state of constant hopelessness. Depression is a valid and dangerous health crisis. Christians can struggle with depression. King David was a man after God’s own heart. Yet, in Psalm 42, he admits to a spiritual dryness, endless tears, and feeling shame and defeat. He lingers over the memories of what once was, and he admits he’s overwhelmed by his circumstances. This honest and unfortunately familiar prayer reminds us that we can’t ignore this severe problem. We must learn how to deal with depression and realize our spiritual provision. First, we must look inward and honestly, firmly, ask ourselves why we’re cast down. “Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? (Psalm 42:5). We must close the door, figure out what happened. Whether it is circumstantial or clinical, we must get it out in the open so we can look at it and understand its effect. Then, we can look upward in faith. “The Lord will command His lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night His song shall be with me—a prayer to the God of my life” (Psalm 42:8). Whether we understand it or not, whether we’ve analyzed it correctly or not, we must keep our eyes on Jesus and continue to trust in Him. He is our Rock, strong and tender, who named every star in the sky and binds up every wound. Finally, we must look onward and focus on the future. “Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him for the help of His countenance” (Psalm 42:5). No matter what’s happening to us, it is not God’s final plan. Adrian Rogers says, “God is too good to be unkind and too wise to make a mistake. When we cannot trace His hand, we can trust His heart.” This is the sure promise in the midst of our depression: Our God will see us through. God has not forsaken us; He never has and He never will. Apply it to your lifeAre you down, feeling hopeless, or battling depression? Look inward, upward, and onward. There is hope, and it begins with trusting Jesus, even when things don’t make sense. Choose to praise Him, even when it hurts.

Jan 2, 2023

Love Worth Finding | Audio Program