Adrian Rogers

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Psalm 23:1We can have all the things of this world and yet still be dissatisfied in our lives. Wealth, fame, and fortune do not fulfill a longing only God can satisfy.The secret of satisfaction is found in Psalm 23:1, which says, “The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want.” This short verse is packed full of promises that, when correctly understood, can change our perspectives. We can be satisfied no matter what material wealth we may or may not have.First, we notice what the Psalmist, David, calls God: The Lord, which translates to “Jehovah.”Jehovah is the most sacred name, for it claims God as self-existing, having neither a beginning nor an ending.When we claim God as Jehovah, we speak of His deity. But in the next phrase: “...is my Shepherd,” we speak of His humanity.Adrian Rogers says, “In the Lord Jesus, we have sovereignty and sympathy, a king and a shepherd. We have a God who is able and a shepherd who is available, a God in the heavens and a shepherd in our hearts.”In John 10, Jesus is called the Good Shepherd, who will lay down His life for the sheep (v. 11).But in Hebrews 13, He's called the great shepherd, who rose back to life for the sheep: “Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant…” (v. 20)He died to take care of the penalty of our sin, and He rose again to overthrow the power of our sin. And as the chief shepherd, He will one day take us from the presence of sin. Because He is sovereign, and He is our shepherd, the secret to satisfaction is the Lord, Himself. We must have a personal relationship with Him, as Jesus says in John 10:14: “I know My sheep and My sheep know Me.”A personal relationship with God means we are eternally secure in Him, permanently His, and protected by His grace.Apply it to your lifeThe Lord God is our Shepherd, our provider, our healer, our peace and righteousness; He is the ever-prese

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage:Ephesians 5:22-33Marriage ought to be a duet, not a duel; we sing the same song, but we take different parts. In the music of marriage, the man takes the lead and the woman takes the harmony; yet over time, our marriages may fall out of tune.Ephesians 5:22-33 reveals how to tune up a tired marriage. “For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body” (Ephesians 5:23).As head of the household, husbands must give their wives what Jesus gives the Church; he must assume responsibility and loving leadership. “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word…” (Ephesians 5:25-26).Husbands have the responsibility to love passionately and sacrificially; they are instructed to put their wives first, and love them in a way that makes them better Christians.Husbands must protect their wives emotionally and physically. A husband is also responsible for providing for his wife so she feels secure, to nourish and cherish her.He must remain loyal to her; his marriage should be his priority, because he remembers the permanence and purpose of it.Adrian Rogers says, “It is not your love that sustains your marriage, it is your marriage that sustains your love.”This passage also identifies the relationship of a wife to her husband: “Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord” (Ephesians 5:22). When wives are instructed to submit to their husbands, it means they are to look to them, not as servants, but as subjects to their leadership. Wives are not inferior to husbands; their duty to submit is a reflection of how the Church submits to Jesus Christ.A wife should support her husband, knowing she is not his competitor, but his completer. She must share with him emotionally, physically and financially.When we choose to assume the roles God has given us in our marriages, we will

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Proverbs 15:13-22When husbands and wives play the parts that God has equipped them to play in their marriages, there is not mere melody, but wonderful harmony.Perhaps one of the greatest obstacles to the music of marriage is tension in the home. Too much stress is dangerous to our homes, our health, and our happiness.Proverbs 15 reveals four things to relieve stress in our families when the string snaps.First, we must learn to laugh: “A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance, but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken” (Proverbs 15:13). Laughter is a gift from God, and sometimes it will take the tension out of the difficult circumstances we face.Adrian Rogers says, “A merry heart is the ability to capture and enjoy those wonderful times of life, then let it turn to laughter.”Second, we must cultivate contentment: “Better is a little with the fear of the Lord, than great treasure with trouble. Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a fatted calf with hatred” (Proverbs 15:16-17). We often think we have to have more, and that luxury will bring happiness. But many times, striving for luxury is what creates tension in the home. We must learn to be content with what we have, get our values in order. and beware of the tyranny of things.Third, we must alleviate anger: “A wrathful man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger allays contention” (Proverbs 15:18). Words, whether they be good or bad, build upon each other; we must learn to control our speech and how we speak to one another.Finally, we must walk in wisdom: “Folly is joy to him who is destitute of discernment, but a man of understanding walks uprightly. Without counsel, plans go awry, but in the multitude of counselors they are established” (Proverbs 15:21-22).It is good to know when it is time to bring counsel into the home. Every family has problems, but it is crucial to attack the problems, not each other. When stress and strife invade the home, the wisest t

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Ephesians 5:18God made men and women differently, so that He might make us one in marriage. Marriage ought to be a duet, not a duel; we sing the same song, but we take different parts. In the music of marriage, the man takes the lead and the woman takes the harmony.Ephesians 5 reveals how to have melody in the home: “...speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another in the fear of God” (Ephesians 5:19-21).In our divine design, we also see the definite differences between us. There are general differences between men and women designed to complement each other.In order to implement our differences, we need some dynamic direction: “Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body” (Ephesians 5:22-23).As head of the household, husbands must assume responsibility. They do not exist to have their needs met; rather, they exist to meet the needs of the family.When wives are instructed to submit to their husbands, it means they are to look to them, not as servants, but as subjects to their husbands’ leadership. Wives are not inferior to husbands; their duty to submit is a reflection of how the Church submits to Jesus Christ.Husbands may delegate authority, but they cannot escape their responsibility. They must let their wives know that they are number one in their lives, by treating them as Christ treated the Church: “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her…” (Ephesians 5:25).Husbands must also protect their wives from emotional trauma and be careful not to unload stress on them. A husband is responsible for making his wife feel secure—to nourish and cherish her.Adrian Rogers says, “The husband tak

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Genesis 1:27Adrian Rogers says, “Marriage ought to be a duet, not a duel.”In the music of marriage, husbands and wives sing different parts of the same song. Just as harmony can turn a monotonous piece into a symphony, it can also bring fresh life and excitement to the home.Scripture shows us how to have harmony in the home and use our differences to glorify God in our marriages. Genesis 1:27 says, “So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.”Marriage is the first institution that God created, and it was established in the Garden of Eden between Adam and Eve. In Genesis 2, we first see God’s divine design of male and female.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.’”We were created for companionship. 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 is no sweeter, deeper, more wonderful companionship than that of a husband and wife.We were also created for cooperation and completion. God gave Eve to Adam to make up for what was lacking in Adam’s nature, and vice versa. She was to be his completer, not his competitor.In God’s divine design, we also see the definite differences between us.There are general differences between men and women designed to complement each other. These differences are not necessarily strengths and weaknesses. Rather, they are traits to contribute to the partnership.God made us different, so that He might make us one in marriage. And in the truest sense, a Christian marriage is not even a duet, but a trio; the music of marriage is even sweeter when it becomes a union between a man, a woman and God.Apply it to your lifeDo you have harmony in the home? Consider God’s divine design, and the definite

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Genesis 1:27Adrian Rogers says, “Marriage ought to be a duet, not a duel.”In the music of marriage, husbands and wives sing different parts of the same song. Just as harmony can turn a monotonous piece into a symphony, it can also bring fresh life and excitement to the home.Scripture shows us how to have harmony in the home and use our differences to glorify God in our marriages. Genesis 1:27 says, “So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.”Marriage is the first institution that God created, and it was established in the Garden of Eden between Adam and Eve. In Genesis 2, we first see God’s divine design of male and female.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.’”We were created for companionship. 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 is no sweeter, deeper, more wonderful companionship than that of a husband and wife.We were also created for cooperation and completion. God gave Eve to Adam to make up for what was lacking in Adam’s nature, and vice versa. She was to be his completer, not his competitor.In God’s divine design, we also see the definite differences between us.There are general differences between men and women designed to complement each other. These differences are not necessarily strengths and weaknesses. Rather, they are traits to contribute to the partnership.God made us different, so that He might make us one in marriage. And in the truest sense, a Christian marriage is not even a duet, but a trio; the music of marriage is even sweeter when it becomes a union between a man, a woman and God.Apply it to your lifeDo you have harmony in the home? Consider God’s divine design, and the definite

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Psalm 128By God’s design, there's to be harmony in the home; the entire household is to be a symphony of praise and worship, and the father is the leader of the band.Perhaps the most difficult—and rewarding—role a man could ever commit to is being a good dad. In Psalm 128, God’s Word provides several ways we can be the dads we ought to be.Psalm 128:4 says, “Behold, thus shall the man be blessed who fears the Lord.”First, it is a good dad’s character; if he fears God, a godly father will walk in the way of God. Though we will inevitably make mistakes, we can be fathers who leave legacies of integrity.Second, we must learn contentment: “When you eat the labor of your hands, you shall be happy, and it shall be well with you” (Psalm 128:4). God has a way of taking care of the godly; though we are not guaranteed every desire or want, we can rely on God’s promise to provide for every need. A father who is content will lead a family that is also satisfied.A godly father also loves his companion—his faithful, fruitful wife—and leads his children.“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). In the Bible, olives symbolize fruitfulness and righteousness. This verse is a beautiful picture of how a godly father’s righteousness is reproduced through his children. And if the wife is the vine, a wise father 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 father leaves a legacy: “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).Adrian Rogers says, “You can’t do anything about your ancestors, but you can certainly do something about your descendants.”As fathers, we have an opportunity to make a lasting difference in the lives of our children, and our children’s children.

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: 1 Peter 3:1-7God designed the divine institution of marriage and has given us the tools to create blessed homes. In 1 Peter 3, there are seven words that can build a marriage and cultivate success in the home.One: Faith“For in this manner, in former times, the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands...” (1 Peter 3:5).A three-fold cord is not easily broken; likewise, a marriage made up of a man, a woman and God is difficult to break.Two: Acceptance“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).Man and woman are equal in worth before God, but they do not serve the same function. Once we accept our God-given roles, we will receive the blessing of a harmonious marriage.Three: Contentment“Do not let your adornment be merely outward… rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit...” (1 Peter 3:3-4).Like true character and beauty, contentment is inward. Both husbands and wives must learn contentment within the home, but even more, within themselves.Four: Forgiveness“Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous...” (1 Peter 3:8).We must learn to forgive one another, releasing the grudges and the burden of bitterness.Five: Communication“He who would love life and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips from speaking deceit” (1 Peter 3:10).Marriages function based on communication; it is crucial to learn how to communicate with your spouse.Six: Romance“Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife…” (1 Peter 3:7).The physical part of our marriages cannot grow cold; we must dwell together, showing consistent admir

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Matthew 19:1-6Adrian Rogers says, “Real marriage did not come from the swamps of immorality or by evolution, but marriages are made by heaven.”In Matthew 19, Jesus speaks of the sacredness of marriage.“Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate” (Matthew 19:4-6).First, we must remember that marriage is made by God. Marriage is a priority; it is permanent and it serves a wonderful purpose. It is a divine institution made by God Himself to be a picture of His love for the church. When we commit to another in marriage, we leave mother and father and unite with spouse, becoming one flesh.We are called to join together physically and multiply; we become one flesh psychologically, in spiritual union and communion.But marriage has been marred by divorce; God has said in His Word He hates divorce. It is a tragedy and a vicious cycle: divorce produces broken children, and broken children produce broken homes.Though God allows divorce in the case of fornication, He does not command it. When we are unfaithful in marriage, we are still encouraged by Scripture to forgive and restore that relationship.We are commanded to love continually; a marriage rooted in conditional love produces fear, guilt, and anger. There is no fear in perfect, unconditional love—only peace, security, and joy.Finally, marriage is always marked by hope; no matter our circumstances, there is always hope because the grace of God covers all of our sins.God does not hold grudges; His forgiveness is always available for those who seek to honor Him in their relationships.Apply it to your lifeA godly home is the greatest testimony we have in this world. If you are married, make certain that Christ is t

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Mark 10:13In Mark 10, Jesus revealed His great love for children, and their tremendous importance to His kingdom. Our children are blessed gifts and bundles of potentiality from God, which we are responsible for teaching and training up. Though it is not by any means easy, it is simple; the Bible offers insight on the care and maintenance of our children.Proverbs 22:6 says, “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.”We must communicate with our children, and we must begin early. Children have a God-given instinct to ask why—a beautiful curiosity that we must nurture. They believe our every word, and trust us until we give them reason not to. What an amazing opportunity to teach and train our children.We must see our children as unique; they are like no other, and they must know they were specifically designed by God. When we see our children as unique before God, we learn to communicate with them creatively.We must also be real with our children, letting them see our faults so that they learn, not only how to succeed, but how to fail.Adrian Rogers says, “Your kids don’t demand perfection, but they do demand reality.”There must also be correction; we discipline our children because we love them and because our human nature is foolish. Children need to understand morality and learn to fear God.When we discipline our children, we spare ourselves heartache and disgrace in the long run, and we may save them from further judgment. We must begin disciplining when a child is old enough to knowingly and willfully disobey. We should rebuke before we chastise, disciplining with love and patience, letting it be over once it’s over, and never holding grudges.Ultimately, we pray that there will be a conversion; our holy goal is to lead our children to Jesus. We should pray for their salvation and seek it out early. Our responsibility is not to block or shove our children into a relationship with Jesu

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: 1 Peter 3:7-9God’s plan for marriage is for husband and wife to become one flesh, totally together as one. In order to be this intimate, men and women must have constant, healthy communication. 1 Peter 3 offers four steps to total intimacy and total togetherness in marriage.Husbands must dwell with their wives thoughtfully: “Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel...” (1 Peter 3:7). Men and women are equal in worth before God, but they are quite different and do not serve the same function. Neither is better or worse—God put these differences in us to complement each other.Men are designed to be initiators, while women are designed to be responders.Men and women are also different in thought. Generally, men tend to think logically, while women tend to think emotionally. Men tend to be inward thinkers, while women tend to be outward talkers. Men tend to be more goal-oriented, while women are generally more relationship-oriented.We must understand our differences and give thought to the other in our communication.We must also dwell together thankfully; we should be in the habit of expressing appreciation for each other, to each other.Adrian Rogers says, “Happy is the man who learns how to express thanksgiving. Nothing will do more to intimacy in a marriage than for you to recognize those character traits and achievements in your wife and give honor to her.”Couples must also communicate their trust in each other, understanding they are “heirs together of the grace of life” (1 Peter 3:7).Husbands must value their wives’ opinions and transparency, so that their wives may speak into their circumstances without fear of retaliation. One way we do this is by praying for each other, with each other.Finally, we must express tenderness: “Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous…” (1 Peter 3:8).This pas

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: 1 Corinthians 7:1-11Sexual immorality completely disintegrates the foundation of a family; a culture that celebrates sexual immorality will result in the fall of a nation. God has given us boundaries, not to harm us, but rather to help and protect us. 1 Corinthians 7 gives a clear, biblical emphasis on safe sex.“Nevertheless, because of sexual immorality, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband” (1 Corinthians 7:2). This passage explains the way of happiness for the married person, by first recognizing the sanctity of safe sex. God’s plan for sex exists in the bounds of holy matrimony; it is part of becoming one flesh.There’s also an element of selflessness, as 1 Corinthians 7:4 says, “The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. And likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does.”Adrian Rogers says, “Lust is always marked by getting, but love is always marked by giving.”There is also security in safe sex; as verse 5 explains, a home that does not have a proper sexual attitude is a home that is open to an attack by the enemy.This passage also illustrates the way of helpfulness for the single life. There is nothing wrong or sinful about choosing singleness. It is a gifted life, as 1 Corinthians 7:7 states: “...But each one has his own gift from God, one in this manner and another in that.” But if we are not married, we cannot please God while engaging in sexual activity. If we remain guarded, our singleness leads to a godly life.Finally, this passage also explains the way of holiness for every person, married or single.There are several reasons to keep ourselves morally pure. Immorality is psychologically harmful. It kills true love and endangers future marital happiness.Immorality is one of the greatest dangers to any society; there’s always the danger of conception and of disease. But ultimately, we ought to refrain from sexual immoralit

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Genesis 2:21-25We live in a tragic and dangerous day of disposable marriages; the enemy strives to break up homes to create a vicious cycle of broken people. But marriage is the highest of all earthly relationships. The purpose of marriage is for a man and a woman to come together as one flesh, sharing in the closest bond and communion possible, permanently. Genesis 2 offers instructions to maintain a super-glued marriage—one that stands the test of time.“And Adam said: ‘This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.’ Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh” (Genesis 2:23-24).First, we see that marriage is a commitment meant to last a lifetime.All married couples essentially have the same problems; the difference is in their commitment.Adrian Rogers says, “It is your commitment that sustains your love and marriage, not vice versa.”Second, there must be loving communication.There are five basic levels of communication husbands and wives must learn in order to face difficulties together:Shallow: small talkFactual: factsIntellectual: ideas and opinionsEmotional: dreams, goals, and feelingsAbsolute openness: completely open, unashamed, uninhibited communication.Couples ought to strive to reach that deepest vulnerability of communication, as Genesis 2:25 relays, “And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.”Third, there must be loyal confrontation.When problems arise, we must be ready to confront one another in love.Some of the major conflicts couples face in marriage are selfishness, money, sex, nagging, in-laws, and substance abuse. In order to tackle these conflicts, couples must isolate the problem and learn to attack the problem, not each other. We must deal with problems one at a time as they come up and learn to negotiate with each other—both of us can win if we come to a g

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

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Proverbs 29:1In front of every unsaved person, there is a deadline. When crossed, you will be broken beyond repair.Proverbs 29:1 reads: “He, that being often reproved, hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.” There are four thoughts to draw from this passage, so that we may never know the hopelessness of being broken beyond repair.God deals with sinners over and over again, convicting us in loving patience. He speaks to us through the Holy Spirit and through sickness, through sorrow and heartache. God also speaks through His believers and through Scripture. But sometimes, when God convicts, we still rebel. (“He, that being often reproved, hardeneth his neck…”) A stiffened neck represents the refusal of God’s conviction.Sometimes people harden their necks to the Gospel by procrastination. Postponing salvation is detrimental for three reasons: If you wait until tomorrow, you’ll lose tonight; something worse may come tomorrow, or tomorrow may not come.Another way people harden their necks is by pride; many are afraid of what other people will think if they confess their sins.But, as Adrian Rogers says, “The church is nothing but a society of sinners who've finally realized it and banded themselves together to do something about it.”People also harden their necks because of worldly pleasures. They are afraid to give their hearts to Jesus because they are afraid of what they will have to give up. They forget that the only things God asks us to give up are things that hurt us.When man rebels against God’s convictions and reaches that deadline, he will face sudden destruction.His mind will be destroyed through strong delusion; because he has refused the truth, he will believe lies.His spirit will be destroyed through spiritual desertion; the Holy Spirit will withdraw Himself from a rebellious man.His body will be destroyed through sudden death.Then he will face a settled condition (“...and that without rem

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Nehemiah 4:1-6:16The Book of Nehemiah tells the story of the rebuilding of the fallen walls of Jerusalem. And at the end of the sixth chapter, the walls were completed. Despite the devil’s attempts to stop them, the people of God prevailed, and built as God instructed them. Nehemiah 7 begins: the job was completed. The people of God were secure, organized, housed, and fed.But there was something that needed to be done inside these freshly restored city walls: building their community on the Word of God. God blessed His people with a real, genuine revival; one that was rooted in a hunger for the Word of God.Nehemiah 8:1 says,"And all the people gathered themselves together as one man into the street that was before the water gate; and they spake unto Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of the Moses, which the Lord had commanded to Israel."There was a famine for the word of God. The people gathered and begged Ezra to preach to them. The revival came about by the hearing of the Word of God. Nehemiah 8:3 says, "And he read therein before the street that was, read therein before the street that was before the water gate from the morning until midday." Adrian Rogers says, “These people were attentive, not time conscious. They had revival because they were not clock watchers.”There was an honor given to the Word of God. Our greatest danger is indifference toward Scripture. If we believe the Bible to be true, we ought to honor it as these people did in Nehemiah 8.There was a proper handling of Scripture. It’s not just enough to read the Bible; someone has to explain it. Preaching Scripture is reading a passage of scripture, then analyzing, organizing, illustrating, and applying it.Finally, there was a heeding of the word of God. What took place when they began to heed the word of God?There was mourning over their own sin.There was joy.There was obedience.A church that is built on the Word of God is one that obeys His commands.Apply

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

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: 1 Corinthians 15The human condition is marked by a single, inherent problem of sin. Oftentimes, we try to explain away or excuse sin, but until we learn to deal with it, we will never know forgiveness. The Gospel Truth only becomes good news when we recognize the bad news, which is our own sin. In this message, we learn there are three things to know about the good news of the Gospel.The SourceThe reason for the Gospel is sin. We are all sinners. Our sin, whether confessed or ignored, comes with a penalty, pollution, and power over us. But because of the death of Jesus Christ, the penalty of our sin was paid in full. Jesus’ final words were, “It is finished” (John 19:30). By His death, we have been pardoned.Because of the burial of Jesus, the pollution of our sin can be purged. When we get saved, Jesus makes our hearts clean. The pollution of sin is put in the grave of God’s forgetfulness.And because of Christ’s resurrection, we have received Christ’s power over sin. It was sin that crucified Jesus and nailed Him to the cross. When Jesus rose from the grave, He demolished the power of sin.The ForceThe Gospel is a saving force. There is no other way to be saved but through Jesus. Adrian Rogers says, “If it’s new, it’s not true. There is only one Gospel, no other Gospel. It is gloriously simple; it is simply glorious.”It is also a sanctifying force. It is present tense. We are being made more and more like Jesus every day. We have been saved from the penalty of sin and are being saved from the power of sin.And it is a stabilizing force. When we get saved, we don’t keep our salvation… rather, it keeps us.The CourseThe course of the Gospel takes its toll on the whole world. It extends to every person, flows to every place, and covers every problem. The Gospel is the only answer to sin, sorrow, and death. This is the good news worth sharing.Apply it to your lifeHave you acknowledged the bad news of sin, that you might know the good news

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: 1 Kings 22:1-141 Kings 22 tells the story of a prophet with an unchanging message to a changing world. After receiving counsel from 400 pandering prophets, King Ahab and Jehoshaphat hear from Micaiah, a true prophet of God. And rather than saying what they wanted to hear, Micaiah proclaims, “...As the Lord lives, whatever the Lord says to me, that I will speak” (v. 14).There are five things we can learn from Micaiah’s bold response.1. It is better to be divided by truth than to be united in error. Devoted believer Jehoshaphat had made an unholy, political alliance with the wicked King Ahab. Unity is a wonderful thing; the Church is called to do everything we can to preserve unity. But it must only be unity in Christ, and Christ alone.2. It is better to speak the truth that hurts and then heals than to tell a lie that comforts and then kills.The 400 prophets before Micaiah lied to please the king, but Micaiah refused to be bought or intimidated. Adrian Rogers says, “Rough truth is better than polished falsehood.”3. It is better to be hated for telling the truth than to be loved for telling a lie.Sometimes, we assume those who tell us the truth are our enemies. King Ahab hated Micaiah; prophets and disciples all throughout Scripture faced persecution, including Jesus Himself. People of God will not be loved by this world.4. It is better to stand alone with the truth than to be wrong with a multitude.The King’s Council tried to soften Micaiah, begging him to agree with the other prophets. But he stood by his conviction from God. The majority is almost always wrong; men and women of God have always stood alone.5. It is better to ultimately succeed with the truth than to temporarily succeed with a lie.Eventually, Ahab’s rejection of the truth cost him his life. Micaiah’s dedication to the truth brought him to power. This world is in desperate need of the truth; we cannot be intimidated by momentary threats of failure. The truth of Jesus

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Ephesians 5:14If we’re not careful, we may spend the prime time of our lives chasing the wrong goals. This is why we have to learn how to use and maximize our time for God’s glory. Ephesians 5:14-16 says, “Therefore He says: 'Awake, you who sleep, arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light.' See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.”We must begin to see time as an incredible opportunity, so we may know how to live wisely in evil days. Time is a provided and present opportunity; it is a gift from God that we dare not let pass by. Adrian Rogers says, “There are two days that can steal the joy from today: one is yesterday and the other is tomorrow.”In Philippians 3:13-14, the Apostle Paul said, "...but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” We must forget the guilt, glory, grief, and grudges of the past.Time is a precious opportunity; the art of living is spending time wisely. Psalm 90:12 says, “So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”We can organize our days according to four principles:Prayer: it is the key that unlocks the door of the morning. Begin every day with prayer.Priority: understanding the difference between urgent and important, we must prioritize accordingly.Promptness: procrastination is a sin. We must cultivate the habit of instant obedience.Power: this means we do God’s will in the power of the Holy Spirit.Finally, time is a passing opportunity. Adrian Rogers says, “Time is such a strange commodity; all you can do is use it or lose it.”We will give an account for every passing day. Knowing this, we must cut ourselves loose from yesterday’s heartaches and failures and strain toward what’s ahead.Apply it to your lifeWhat do you intend to do with your day? Will you b

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Romans 1:16-22Jesus said in John 14:6, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”Therefore, we know God is righteous, and there is no other way to Heaven except through Jesus. Romans 1:16-22 offers four factors to help us better understand this truth.The Revelation Factor: all men have some light.God created us to serve and know Him. There are two witnesses all people have; one is the outward, objective witness called creation. The other is the inward, subjective witness called conscience.The Refusal Factor: light refused increases darkness.Adrian Rogers says, “The opposite of truth is not error; it is sin.” When creation and conscience speak to us, and we continue to refuse God, we regress. We lose even the little light we have; our foolish hearts are darkened. Romans 1:18 says, "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness." In this context, the word "suppress" means to resist the truth; not in error, but in unrighteousness. Because belief in God leads to an entire life change, unbelief is the baggage that comes with disobedience.The Reception Factor: light obeyed increases light.Romans 1:16-17 says, “...for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith.” The righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith. When we receive and believe the truth, we will be given more truth. When we surrender our will, God will speak to us; we can begin by obeying Scripture we understand.The Reckoning Factor: God will judge us by the light we’ve rejected.Many of us are fortunate to have immediate, easy access to the Bible. God will hold us accountable for this, more so than the person who’s never heard. This should encourage us to take advantage of the light we’ve been given, lest we

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Isaiah 50:10-11Sometimes, darkness falls upon even the most devout Christians. What can we do when the lights go out? What is the discipline of darkness? Isaiah 50:10 says, “Who among you fears the Lord? Who obeys the voice of His Servant? Who walks in darkness and has no light? Let him trust in the name of the Lord and rely upon his God.”First, those of greatest devotion may know the deepest darkness. There is a distorted idea that the Christian life is all joy and light. But Isaiah 50 speaks to those who revere God and respect His authority, yet face deep perplexity and anguish.Second, faith that is born in the light is developed in the dark. In order to develop our faith in the darkness, we must look and lean on the Lord. Adrian Rogers says, “It is better to be in a valley, leaning on God, than on a peak without Him.”Third, some things are seen in the dark that cannot be seen in the light. Adrian Rogers says, “You could not see the stars were it not for the darkness.”Fourth, it is better to lean on God in the darkness than stand alone in man-made light.One of the great dangers of darkness is the temptation to light our own fires. But if the darkness has been ordained of God, we cannot undo what God has done. Man-made fire is deceptive; we see this in the stories of Abraham, Moses, and Simon Peter. When these men of God took matters into their own hands, it resulted in bitter weeping and “lying down in sorrow.”Finally, if our sun has set, we must remember it will rise again. Isaiah 50:4 says, “The Lord God has given Me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him who is weary. He awakens Me morning by morning, He awakens My ear to hear as the learned."When we get to a better day, we will be equipped to teach the greatest treasure of the darkness: that in our deepest sorrow, our Heavenly Father’s eyes are upon us.Apply it to your lifeIf you’re in darkness right now, don’t light your own fire; l

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: 1 John 1:3-10As Christians, we can slip and fall into sin just like anyone else. What happens to our fellowship with God when we sin?1 John 1:5-7 says: "This is the message which we have heard from Him, and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin."The formula for fellowship is a cleansed life. Oftentimes, we would rather see our sins as mistakes that need to be fixed. In reality, we are sinners in need of forgiveness. Adrian Rogers says, “The problem with today's society is we all have a burden of guilt without a sense of sin.” If we are truly saved, our sin can no longer condemn us; but it can interrupt fellowship with God. Our “sonship” is fixed for eternity, but our fellowship is determined as to whether or not we obey our Father’s instructions.If we want to stay in fellowship with God, we must first expose our sins to the light. Hiding our sins is very dangerous; if we want to know if we have any unconfessed sin in our hearts, we have to shed light on our imperfections. We must be bold to ask the Holy Spirit to convict us legitimately, specifically, and redemptively.Second, our sin must be expressed to the Lord. A confession of sin is not just an admission; it is an agreement with God about it. To confess that sin means to name it and nail it; to agree with God immediately, specifically, and confidently. 1 John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”Because Jesus Christ died for our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us. If we only confess, we can be totally cleansed from all unrighteousness, and our fellowship with God can be restored.Apply it to your lifeDo you

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Isaiah 59:1-4Isaiah 59:1-2 says, “Behold the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; Nor is His ear heavy, that it cannot hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear.”Our beloved America is a nation in a crisis. The prophet, Isaiah, boldly pointed out the sins of his day; upon a closer look, we can see distinct parallels to the sins of our day.-Bloody hands: “For your hands are defiled with blood and your fingers with iniquity...” (v. 3)-Lying lips: “Your lips have spoken lies, your tongue has muttered perversity....” (v. 3)-Wicked hearts: “No one calls for justice, nor does any plead for truth. They trust in empty words and speak lies; They conceive evil and bring forth iniquity.” (v. 4)How did Isaiah’s people come to a place where God would not hear their prayers? What brought about bloody hands, lying lips, and wicked hearts?First, the people had been feeding on a diet of deception. Much like the day of Isaiah, poisonous philosophies are being swallowed down by our next generation.Second, the people were caught in a web of wickedness. Satan has a web of evil, and its most terrifying quality is that it is difficult to see. Our youth don’t understand that porn, alcohol, sexual immorality holds them captive by the enemy.Third, the people were trashing the truth. Isaiah 59:14-15 says, “Justice is turned back, and righteousness stands afar off; For truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter. So truth fails, and he who departs from evil makes himself a prey. Then the Lord saw it, and it displeased him that there was no justice.” In this illustration, truth lies prostrate on the ground. In America, truth has been knocked down by doctors of philosophy, dishonest politicians, and false preachers.Adrian Rogers says, “The job in America today is to put truth back on her feet.”Apply it to your lifeProverbs 23:23, “Buy the truth and do

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Exodus 13:17-18Exodus 13:18 says, “But God led the people about, through the way of the wilderness of the Red sea: and the children of Israel went up harnessed out of the land of Egypt.” As God leads us through life, we may find ourselves on back roads, dead-end alleys, or in dry places. What should we do when we face detours, dead ends, and dry holes?First, remember the discipline of detours. This passage clarifies God led His people on a divine detour. Further hardship would have met the Israelites if they had gone the shortest route.Sometimes, we aren’t ready for the blessings God has in store for us. If we are circling the wilderness, or feel “out” of the will of God, Adrian Rogers advises: “The important thing is not that you know; the important thing is that God knows and that you follow Him.”This passage also identifies the dilemma of dead ends. For the Israelites, the road ended at the vast Red Sea, with Pharaoh’s army closing in on them. They were between the sword and the sea; there was no way out. But God knew exactly what He was doing. God put them in this dead end to use their seemingly impossible circumstance to bring judgment on Pharaoh.When we come up against dead ends, we can remember: our place of desperation is an opportunity of dependency upon Him.There are four things to do when we come to a dead end: fear not, stand still, watch God work before you, and then go forward.Finally, this passage recognizes the disappointment of dry holes; this is the test of our faithfulness. The Israelites failed this test miserably. Merely three days after God miraculously parted the Red Sea, they murmured in doubt, which is an aggressive sin. There was no need for them to murmur, for their provision was in front of them. God already knew what He was going to do.God knows the way through the wilderness, all we have to do is follow.Apply it to your lifeAre you following God, yet facing a detour, a dead end, or a dry hole? Know that

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: John 6:66-69If you were given the chance to speak to someone who has never known the love of God, what would you say? If you knew it would be the first, and perhaps the only time he would ever hear a message from God, what would you tell him?Tell him why you believe in Jesus Christ.John 6:66-69 says, “From that time many of His disciples went back and walked no more with Him. Then said Jesus unto the twelve, ‘Will ye also go away?’ Then Simon Peter answered Him, ‘Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life, and we believe and are sure that Thou art the Christ, the Son of the Living God.’”Jesus’ disciples had the privilege of seeing Him work from an intimate vantage point. They were not like the crowds who watched Him perform miracles and turned away once His message became too radical. They believed that He alone is the answer. Through their testimonies, they gave us reasons to believe this, too.Jesus was a historical fact. Whether you are a Christian or not, a man named Jesus was here. Secular historians acknowledge Him as a fact regardless of what they believe about Him.And if you believe the Bible, the book that stands the test of time, you can believe in Him. Jesus’ life is the fulfillment of the prophecies foretold long before He stepped foot on this earth.The central theme of the Bible is Jesus. If you look long enough, every page of Scripture tells His story.Even though historians and theologians alike validate the life of Jesus Christ, you may need help believing in Him. This is where the Holy Spirit comes into the equation. Adrian Rogers says, “Anything I can talk you into; somebody else can talk you out of. You need the Holy Spirit of God to convict you and convince you.”A transformed life is the greatest witness of Jesus’ saving power. Just as the disciples gave their testimony of faith in Jesus in John 6, we can also testify to others when we come to know Him.Apply it to your lifeHow has Jesus changed

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Matthew 18:21One of God’s greatest gifts to us is forgiveness; He forgives us of our own sins, and He empowers us to forgive others who sin against us.Forgiveness is costly; the forgiveness of our sins cost the precious blood of Jesus. And sometimes, it costs something of us to forgive others. Yet, Scripture provides endless reasons to forgive, no matter the cost.First, we must forgive one another because God has so willingly forgiven us.Ephesians 4:32 says, “And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.”Second, if we do not forgive, we shut out the forgiveness of God.Matthew 18:35 says: “So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses.”Adrian Rogers says, “As long as you have an unforgiving spirit in your heart, you cannot get the forgiveness of God.”Third, if we don’t forgive, our unforgiving spirit will do us great emotional damage, namely, bitterness.We don’t just forgive an individual for their sake, but also for our own sake. So long as we keep our brother “on the hook” for something he’s done against us, we will also remain on the same hook.Adrian Rogers says, “When you forgive, you set a prisoner free, and discover that the prisoner was you.”Finally, forgiveness restores a broken fellowship.Matthew 18:15 says, “Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother.”We must forgive freely and quickly, taking the initiative and approaching offenders with a heart ready to receive them. We must forgive fully, not half-heartedly, and it must be final. Once we forgive, we must bury the offense in the grave of God’s forgetfulness and not bring it up again.As a result, we set ourselves free from the prison of bitterness, and set our brother free from his guilt. Once free, there can be reconciliation, which can lead to reviv

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Galatians 6:1-3Whether we are saved or lost, we will all carry burdens at points in our lives; but we do not have to bear them alone. Galatians 6 shows us what to do with our burdens.First, this passage addresses the burdens we take up, the ones we share.“Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:1-2).As believers, we are called to take up the burdens of another brother or sister who is hurting—to restore those who have backslidden. We must remember that a broken person doesn’t need a lecture; he needs to be brought back to fellowship with God. A backslidden Christian is like a broken place in our net of believers. He needs us to approach him gently, humbly, and sympathetically. To fulfill the law of Christ, we must love our brother back to fellowship with God and mend the broken place in the net.There are also burdens we bear, the ones we shoulder.“But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. For each one shall bear his own load” (Galatians 6:4-5).We are not called to lives of ease, but of discipline. God lays burdens upon us and expects us to shoulder them ourselves. It is our own responsibility to repent and be saved.Finally, there are burdens we give up, those we roll onto the Lord.Psalm 55:22 says, “Cast your burden on the Lord, and He shall sustain you...” Our loving Father urges us to lay brokenhearted burdens at His throne; our burdens can be used to bring us to our Master’s feet.Adrian Rogers says, “Burdens come to the high as well as to the low; they come to the rich as well as to the poor, to the saints and the sinners, the old and young. These are burdens we were never meant to carry alone.”Apply it to your lifeIf you are a believer, you are called to lift another’

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Leviticus 2:11Leviticus 2:11 says, “No grain offering which you bring to the Lord shall be made with leaven, for you shall burn no leaven nor any honey in any offering to the Lord made by fire.”Leaven in the Bible represents evil, sin, and corruption. Leaven ferments; it works quietly and stealthily in lukewarm conditions.Jesus warned us about three kinds of spiritual leaven in Matthew 16:-Leaven of the Pharisees, which is legalism-Leaven of the Sadducees, which is liberalism-Leaven of Herod, which is worldlinessThe absence of leaven in this offering reminds us that we must present the Lord Jesus Christ in His purity.The Bible also uses honey to represent excessive sweetness.The popular “honey gospel” tells us God is love: inexpressible, infinite, eternal love; but that’s only part of the truth. When this half-truth becomes the whole truth, it is entirely untrue. Yes, God is love, but He is also a holy God who will not acquit the wicked or condone sin.Adrian Rogers says, “Let us beware of loveless truth and truthless love.” The absence of honey in this offering reminds us that we must present the Lord Jesus Christ in His integrity.Leviticus 2:13 says, “And every offering of your grain offering you shall season with salt…” We are to present the Lord Jesus with much salt. Matthew 5:13 says, “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned?”Salt decontaminates, prevents decay, and restrains corruption. It activates, preserves taste, heals, stings, and penetrates. And if you’re not careful, it dissipates; when salt loses its savor, it has no other use but to be tossed out on the roads.The problem with our society is not the leaven, it is the salt-less saints. It’s time for salt to do its work.Adrian Rogers says, “When the message we preach is bloated with leaven and dripping with honey, rather than supercharged with salt, friend, we have become good for nothing, salt-less saints.”Apply it to y

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Hebrews 12:1-2Living the Christian life is much like running in a race, and Hebrews 12 shows us how to run like a champion.First, we must remember there is a purpose to pursue.“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses…” (Hebrews 12:1). We are in this race until our very last breath. There is no retiring or quitting from this race against ourselves.There is a person to prepare.“...let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us…” (Hebrews 12:1).Many of us lag behind because we are weighed down by excess baggage. Remember: we are free to enjoy our hobbies, treasures, and friendships until they keep us from running our race.Adrian Rogers says, “Good things become bad things when they keep you from the best things.”If we’re not careful, our baggage will cause us to stumble completely. When we find ourselves tripped up by sin, we must confess and repent so we can get back on track.Third, there is a price to pay.“...let us run with endurance the race that is set before us…” (Hebrews 12:1). No one strolls over the finish line; endurance is necessary in order to run a race well. We must get our hearts and minds right and finish the course.Fourth, there’s a promise to plead.“...looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith…” (Hebrews 12:2). The One who first calls us to the race will enable us to finish the race. We must keep our eyes on God, who gives us faith, because He is the One we are running toward.Finally, there is a prize to possess.“...who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2). As we run this race, living by faith, we know we are headed toward eternal victory. Because Jesus finished the race on Calvary, He has become our reward. The race will have been worth it when we see Him face-to-face.Apply it to your lifeAre you running with endurance today – setting

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Hebrews 11:30-34In this life, we will experience situations in which we’ve tried to trust in God and our faith seems to fail. What do we do when we face trials, tribulations, or heartaches, and faith doesn’t seem to remove them?Hebrews 11 gives us insight for those who struggle to endure when times get tough.First, this passage reminds us that mature faith believes in the supernatural power of God.“...who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong...” (Hebrews 11:33-34).Mature believers know that God can do anything but fail.Anyone who has walked with Jesus for a long time has had an experience that can’t be explained apart from His power.When reminded of the numerous miracles of God, we can be comforted to know that if God does not do something, it is not because He cannot.Second, mature faith bows to the sovereign purposes of God.“Women received their dead raised to life again. Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection” (Hebrews 11:35).Sometimes, God’s ways are mysterious, but that doesn’t mean they’re weak. Many of the early Christians were martyred for their faith; many Christians around the world still are.God has not promised a life without difficulty. He has simply promised Himself. He will never leave or forsake us, especially when we face difficulty. We must hold onto the promise that, through Him, we have the ultimate victory over death.Finally, mature faith is based on the settled promises of God.“And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us” (Hebrews 11:39-40).When faith seems to fail, it may be that we are asking for something that God never intended for us. We must remember th

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Hebrews 11:32-34Hebrews 11:32-34 lists several champions of faith, who exemplify tremendous character all throughout Scripture. One figure mentioned is Barak, a military leader, whose faith in God helped deliver Israel from a 20-year oppression of Canaan.Judges 5:20 explains, “They fought from the heavens; the stars from their courses fought against Sisera.”These passages reveal four reasons why the heavenlies sided with Barak and fought to bring him the victory.First, we identify the woman that God chose: Deborah.Deborah was a judge and prophetess in Israel. She was a godly woman who used her gifting and wisdom to minister to Barak. God still chooses women like Deborah to use their gifts and talents in ministry.Second, we see the warrior that God called: Barak.There was a battle to be fought to deliver the Israelites from their oppressors. God chose Barak to lead the charge because his faith was rooted in the God of Israel and he lived as he believed.Third, we recognize the warfare that God conducted.Barak and his army did not stand a chance against the Canaanites’ flashy weaponry and 900 iron chariots. But the fight was fixed, for the stars themselves fought the battle. Before the battle began, God sent a rainstorm to soften the ground. This rendered the chariots useless and weighed down the Canaanites’ heavy armor.Adrian Rogers says, “The God who created the Universe and flung those stars out into space, programmed everything against Sisera.” When we love and serve God, God is on our side and programs us for victory.Finally, we notice the wickedness that God cursed.Judges 5:23 says, “‘Curse Meroz,’ said the angel of the Lord, ‘Curse its inhabitants bitterly, because they did not come to the help of the Lord, to the help of the Lord against the mighty.’”In a time of crisis, the city of Meroz did not join the fight against the Canaanites. This is a crucial reminder to stand up for what is right and to fight alongside our brothers a

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Hebrews 11:32-34The champions of faith listed in Hebrews 11 give us an idea of the kind of people God uses to accomplish His mighty plans.Hebrews 11:32-34 says, “...For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon… who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle...”This passage reminds us of Gideon’s story in Judges 6-7 and shows five characteristics of people that God uses.First, God uses common people.By His Spirit, God turned Gideon, a once fearful farmer, into a valiant warrior.God does not rely on our abilities, but on our availability to Him to work through us in extraordinary ways.Second, God uses cleansed people.Before God could send Gideon to battle, Gideon had to do away with the idols in His life and surrender in worship.Adrian Rogers says, “An idol is anything you love, fear, serve or value more than God.” God will not use us if there is unconfessed sin in our lives. We must crush our idols, repent, and be cleansed from the inside out.Third, God uses courageous people.In Judges 7, God gives Gideon the command to send away soldiers who are afraid. This shows us that God can better use a smaller number of brave souls than a larger group of fearful ones.As children of God, we have been given a spirit of power and love. This does not mean we become naturally courageous—it means we are filled with His Spirit.Fourth, God uses cautious people.We are called to be on guard at all times, ready to fight against the temptation to sin.Adrian Rogers says, “Sin is a combination of an unexpected opportunity, an unprotected life and an undetected weakness.”Finally, God uses confident people.Gideon led the charge with confidence because He knew God was with Him.God gave them victory that day, and when we are confident that God is with us, we can be used in victorious

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Hebrews 11:31Faith has the incredible ability to radically and dramatically change people.In Joshua 2, Rahab the prostitute was transformed by faith. She was a Canaanite woman living in spiritual darkness, but after God saved her, she became part of the bloodline of Jesus Christ.Rahab’s transformation reveals four things about the power of faith.First, the providence of God confronted Rahab.In Joshua 2, two spies approached Rahab’s home with a message of Jericho’s imminent destruction. Rahab believed them and agreed to hide them in her home.God works on both sides of our circumstances; He will bring people together in order to save them. He finds tender, ready hearts and brings to them soul-winners to share their faith.Second, the Spirit of God convicted Rahab.As she helped the two spies in Joshua 2:9-10, Rahab confessed that she knew what God had done for their people. She had heard of God’s mighty, miraculous power, displayed through them.The Holy Spirit convicts others through people who are living and walking in victory. As Christians, the Holy Spirit uses our transformed lives to convict others of their sins.Third, the Word of God confirmed Rahab.By receiving these two messengers into her home, Rahab welcomed in the Word of God, spoken through them.Hebrews 11:31 says, “By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace.”Finally, the grace of God cleansed Rahab. The messengers instructed Rahab to hang a scarlet cord over her doorpost so that when they came to avenge Jericho, they would pass over her home and spare her. This act illustrates the principle of the Passover, in which God instructed the Israelites to paint their doorposts with the blood of sacrificial lambs, to spare them from the death angel.As a result, Rahab was delivered from destruction and her character changed; she was justified and made right in God’s sight.Adrian Rogers says, “There are none so

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Hebrews 11:30Sometimes, we may experience obstacles that stand between us and our most holy ambitions.Adrian Rogers says, “Faith is the link that binds our nothingness to His Almightiness.”In Joshua 5, the Israelites had left Egypt and were ready to capture the land of Canaan. However, the pagan city of Jericho stood in their way. This story shows what it means to overcome obstacles by faith.Hebrews 11:30 says, “By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they were encircled for seven days.”First, we should note the worship of faith.In Joshua 5:13-15, Joshua encounters the pre-incarnate Jesus Christ, and as a response, he falls to his face in worship.Worshiping Jesus always builds our faith; when we face Jericho-sized problems in our lives, we must remember to set our affections on things above—fix our eyes on Jesus, and let our faith grow.Second, we see the obedient work of faith.The Lord did not tell Joshua to dig a tunnel or build ladders to scale the impenetrable walls of Jericho. Instead, He told Joshua to march around the city’s perimeter.God’s plan for victory seemed very strange; however, it is not our job to understand our instruction from God, but to obey, living by faith. The Israelites obeyed God, and that was enough.Third, we see the wait of faith.The Israelites were completely dependent on God’s timing. Many obstacles we face are opportunities to learn patience. Waiting on God is never wasted time. Our faith in Him is meant to last—to be strengthened through endurance.Fourth, we see the word of faith.Joshua spoke the Word of God to his army because he had received it for himself. By its simplest definition, faith is agreeing with the Word of God. We can only believe God for something that already is so in His heart and mind.Finally, we must note the wonder of faith.Joshua 6 tells us that the walls of Jericho came falling down. God gave the victory to Israel and brought judgment to the people of Jericho. In a nation

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Hebrews 11:28The Passover is a Jewish tradition that should be interwoven with our celebration of Easter. We as Christians have reason to celebrate Passover because it prophecies our redeeming faith in Jesus Christ.Hebrews 11:28 says, “By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, lest he who destroyed the firstborn should touch them.”The Passover was first introduced in the Book of Exodus. The Israelites sacrificed lambs and painted blood on their doorposts. The sacrificial lambs had to be spotless in order to cause the death angel to pass over their homes.After the lambs were sacrificed, the families shared them, celebrating their atonement.Through this tradition, God taught His people one of the fundamental truths of His Word: without shedding of blood, there is no remission of sins.The Passover displays the prophetic anticipation of Calvary’s sacrifice. Jesus is the sacrificial lamb without spot or blemish. When we receive His saving power of salvation, we are nourished by Him. Further, we are called to share the feast with others.The Passover reminds us of the promised consummation of Calvary’s sacrifice.In the final week of His life, Jesus was examined and questioned by the religious leaders. This process mimicked how a Passover lamb was inspected. They could find no fault in Him, confirming to us that He was the promised one.John 1:29 confirms this promise: “The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, ‘Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!’”Finally, Passover calls for the perpetual celebration of Calvary’s sacrifice. 1 Corinthians 5:7 says, “Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us.”No longer do we recognize Passover to obtain redemption. As Christians, we celebrate Passover through the Lord’s Supper, to remember our redemption through Jesus Christ.Adrian Rogers says, “

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Hebrews 11:23-27It takes a family to raise a child, and it takes faith to make a family. The most powerful and influential people on Earth are mothers and fathers of faith.Hebrews 11 tells the prophet Moses’ divine origin story, which would not have existed if not for his parents, Amram and Jochebed.“By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king's commandment” (Hebrews 11:23).As we learn the importance of faith for the family, there are three principles to learn from these parents' indispensable faith.First, we note faith’s vision.Moses’ parents recognized that he was the special handiwork of God. It is our responsibility to see our children as specific, individual creations of God, and raise them accordingly.Second, we recognize faith’s valor.Amram and Jochebed hid Moses for three months because the King had commanded that baby boys be killed. By faith, they recognized this physical conflict as a spiritual conflict between the gods of Egypt and Almighty God, and “they were not afraid…”In these treacherous days, raising children is a spiritual battle and our only hope is a solid faith in Jesus Christ.Third, we see faith’s venture.Moses’ parents did not have a spirit of fatalism; rather, they did their part to protect their son, trusting God to do the rest. When facing challenges, we must do all we can do with a spirit of optimism. If it is God’s will, we can trust that He will move heaven and earth for our children.Finally, Amram and Jochebed displayed faith’s victory.Hebrews 11 notes that because Moses’ values were established in him by his parents, he valued his faith more than all the riches of Egypt. Moses embraced the virtues of knowing Christ eternally, and rejected the vices of this world, refusing to be called Pharaoh’s son. (See Hebrews 11:24.)Adrian Rogers says, “There are a lot of pressures on our kids today, and we’d bet

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Hebrews 11:22; Genesis 50:22-26As he reached the end of his life, Joseph gave instructions to his loved ones about what to do with the bones he left behind.Hebrews 11:22 says, “By faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel, and gave instructions concerning his bones.”Joseph had faith that God would deliver the Israelites out of Egypt, so much faith that he asked that the Israelites take his bones with them. When we understand the blessing in his box of bones, we will learn how to live confidently and die without fear.First, faith remembers the unbreakable promises of God.In Genesis 50:24, Joseph tells his loved ones, “I am dying; but God will surely visit you, and bring you out of this land to the land of which He swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.”Adrian Rogers says, “Faith is getting a promise from the Word of God.”Though Joseph was placed in a coffin in Egypt, he believed his bones would see this promised land, because his faith was rooted in God’s promises.Second, faith relies on the unshakeable power of God.At this point, the Israelites did not have reason to leave Egypt. There was a famine in Canaan, and they had made themselves comfortable in Egypt. Joseph’s faith was contrary to evidence; it was not shaken by fickle emotions or circumstances. Joseph knew time must pass and that what would be left of him would be bones. But centuries cannot erode away the promises of God.Finally, faith results in the unmistakable peace of God.Joseph reached the end of his life in perfect peace. The Book of Joshua tells us that Joseph’s bones did, in fact, make it to the promised land. Rather than building a monument of pride in Egypt, he chose his humble box of bones to be a monument of faith in Canaan. Joseph’s faith reminds us that our citizenship is in Heaven. We no longer have to fear death; we can make it our friend, if only we keep our eyes on Jesus all our days.Apply it to your lifeD

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Acts 12:1-11The Book of Acts shares numerous accounts of triumph over difficulty, as the first Christians experienced victory through prayer.In Acts 12, the Early Church faced persecution from Herod, who unleashed violence and put the Apostle Peter in prison (v. 1-4). Yet, in verse 5, we see that “constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church.”As we fight our battle against the world, the flesh, and the devil, it is fundamental that we learn how to pray as the Early Church did.First, we must recognize the freedom of their prayers.Our enemy doesn’t want us to understand this. But try as he might, the devil cannot stop us from praying to our God; we are free to pray anytime, anywhere.Second, we see their faithfulness; they never ceased to pray.Whether God answers swiftly or there is a season of waiting, our approach to prayer should be faithful, constant, and frequent.Their prayers were also fervent: charged with intensity.Prayer is warfare—we should expect some opposition from the enemy; but we must pray wholeheartedly with fervor, concentration, and effort.Their prayers also brought them together in fellowship.Churches, which are built upon prayer, should be in the habit of drawing near to God together.The Early Church’s prayer also revealed their faith.They recognized that they were entering the throne room of God. And as we speak to God, we must do so with the faith that He will answer.We should also note the focus of that prayer.This church prayed specifically for Peter, who was in prison and set to be beheaded in the coming days. When we pray, we should avoid generalized requests and focus on specific concerns.Finally, we must remember the force of their prayer.God miraculously delivered Peter from prison. In the dead of night, Peter’s chains were broken, and the prison door was open. Peter walked out, just in time.Adrian Rogers says, “When we depend upon planning, we see what planning can do. But when we depend upon

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: 1 John 4:17As Christians, we find our identification in Jesus Christ. He became as we are that we might become as He is.1 John 4:17 says, “Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world.”Our identification with Christ is a powerful truth; we are spiritually united with Jesus in His death, burial, and resurrection. As a result, we are also united with Jesus in His victory.Adrian Rogers says, “I’m not merely with Jesus on the cross; I have walked out of that empty tomb with Him.”The Bible also proclaims that our identification with Christ is very present and practical.His wisdom is our wisdom. “But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God…” (1 Corinthians 1:30).His joy is our joy. In John 15:11, Jesus says, “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.”His sorrow is our sorrow. “...that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death…” (Philippians 3:10).His friends are our friends. In Matthew 25:40, Jesus says, “...as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.”His enemies are our enemies. “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you” (John 15:18).His purpose is our purpose. In John 20:21, Jesus implores, “As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.”His authority is our authority. In Matthew 21:18-20, Jesus says, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations… teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you…”Finally, His future is our future. “When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory” (Colossians 3:4).When we took Jesus as a heavenly bridegroom, He became one with us, that we might become one with Him.Apply it to your lifeDo you find you

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Psalm 22:1-31The Old Testament and the New Testament tell the same story of Jesus Christ. The entire Bible expresses the fulfilled prophecy and united message that Jesus saves.Psalm 22 greatly details the crucifixion of Jesus Christ a thousand years before He was born.This Old Testament Calvary passage first shares the prophecy of the cross.“O My God, I cry in the daytime, but You do not hear; and in the night season, and am not silent” (Psalm 22:2). This verse mimics some of Jesus’ final moments on the cross recorded in Matthew 27. A great darkness came over the Earth at noonday, becoming both day and night; Jesus was mocked and scorned, a prophecy fulfilled not by Himself, but by His enemies.“I am poured out like water, and all My bones are out of joint; My heart is like wax; It has melted within Me” (Psalm 22:14). According to the Gospels, Jesus’s bones were never broken; rather, He was pierced, and blood and water spilled from His side. Even the small detail of His asking for a drink fulfilled the prophecy that the One crucified for our sins would cry out in thirst. (Read Psalm 22:15.)Second, this passage describes the agony of the cross.No one has suffered like Jesus did.To pay for our redemption and forgiveness, Jesus suffered at the hands of three.First, He suffered at the holy hand of God; in the moment Jesus bore our sins, God’s eyes were too pure to look upon Him. As He was dying, Jesus was forsaken by the Father. (Read Psalm 22:1.) He also suffered at the hateful hand of man, as Psalm 22:6 says, “But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised by the people.” And He suffered at the hellish hands of Satan; all of Hell’s demonic power was concentrated upon the cross.But thank God, Psalm 22 also tells of the victory of the cross.As a prophet, Jesus declares the Father; as our great High Priest, He delivers the faithful. And as the Prince of Heaven, He dominates the future.Adrian Rogers says, “People wonder what

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Hebrews 11:21; Genesis 32Hebrews 11:21 says, “By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff.”Many of us think self-sufficiency is a virtue, but truthfully, it is a vice. After deceiving his father to obtain his brother Esau’s birthright, Jacob was on the run for his life. God used this moment to cause Jacob to cease depending upon his own schemes. Jacob’s story reveals three principles to remember as we learn to lean on God.First, God will protect us, but He will not pamper us.In Genesis 32, Esau was pursuing Jacob with a vengeance. God appointed angels to protect Jacob on his journey, but Jacob needed to learn that his flattery and strategy would not work.Second, God will hurt us, but He will not harm us.Adrian Rogers explains, “God brought Jacob to realize that his only hope was God: not his scheming, but his surrendering; not his bargaining, but his begging.” As He loved Jacob, God loves us too much to leave us self-sufficient.Genesis 32:24-25 says, “Then Jacob was left alone; and a Man wrestled with him until the breaking of day. Now when He saw that He did not prevail against him, He touched the socket of his hip; and the socket of Jacob’s hip was out of joint as He wrestled with him.”Finally, God will break us, but He desires to bless us.Genesis 32:27-28 says, “So He said to him, “What is your name?” He said, “Jacob.” And He said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed.”God gave Jacob a new name: no longer was Jacob a schemer or conniver; when he learned to lean on God, he became a prince, Israel.Following this encounter, Jacob was left with a limp. All his life, Jacob leaned upon his staff—but he was stronger with a limp than he ever would have been on his own two feet.Adrian Rogers says, “Men throw broken things away, but God never uses anything until He first breaks it.”Ap

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Hebrews 11:20Family was first established by God in the Garden of Eden. Knowing family is a gift of God, the enemy has waged a war against the home. Hebrews 11 reveals lessons from a dysfunctional family, and offers hope for those who face unrest in the home.“By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come” (Hebrews 11:20).This passage looks back to the story of twin brothers Jacob and Esau in Genesis 25. They were the sons of Isaac and Rebekah, and together, they were a family plagued by favoritism, deception, and betrayal.Esau, the eldest, sold Jacob his birthright for a bowl of stew. This small act of foolishness propelled a lifetime of dysfunction.Genesis 27 goes on to reveal the failure of a dysfunctional family.Isaac, the sensual father on his deathbed, blessed the wrong son for the wrong reasons. He was a man who lived for the things of this world and ended his life in sorrow. He represents many fathers who live self-centered lives, giving in to their appetites.There is also Rebekah, the scheming mother who, favoring Jacob, helped him take the birthright from Esau. As a result, she lost the son she was trying to bless. Then there’s Jacob, the shady son, who connived his way to Esau’s birthright.Yet, God was at work in this family; there was still faith in the disciplined father. Shaken by what he had done, Isaac came to his senses and returned to the Word of God.Finally, this family reflects the forecast of a determined future.Having returned to his faith, Isaac blessed both sons in the name of God, on the authority of Scripture. Yet, he had the foresight to know the godly lineage would come from Jacob.Adrian Rogers says, “It is God who is moving history to a conclusion, and the kingdoms of this world will become the kingdoms of our Lord and His Christ.”Apply it to your lifeRemember these deeply convicting words from Adrian Rogers: “The best thing any father could do is give his heart to Jesus. The best thing

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Hebrews 11:17-19; Genesis 22:1-14Hebrews 11 recalls the story of Abraham and Isaac from Genesis 22 when God called a father to offer up his son as a sacrifice. This story was a dress rehearsal for Calvary, in which God the Father would send His Son, Jesus, to die on the cross for our sins.“By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, of whom it was said, ‘In Isaac your seed shall be called,’ concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense” (Hebrews 11:17-19).In the passages from Genesis and Hebrews, Isaac serves as an Old Testament illustration of Jesus Christ. His birth was prophesied and preset, and he was conceived miraculously. His mother Sarah had him after she “passed the age of childbearing” (Genesis 18:11).Isaac’s name was divinely given; he was very loved by his father. He was offered up as a sacrifice and raised from the dead, as Hebrews 11:19 says, in a figurative sense. In the same way, Jesus was miraculously born of a virgin, and was specifically named by the Father, who loved Him. God sent Him as a sacrifice for the sins of the world, and He was raised from the dead.Genesis 22:2 says, “...Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.”There was a purpose for this specific place: it speaks of the cross of Jesus Christ. As Isaac was led up a mountain to be sacrificed, Jesus also ascended a hill called Calvary, where He died.Just before Abraham was to sacrifice his son, God provided a ram to take Isaac’s place. Likewise, God kept His promise to us and provided a Lamb, His only Son Jesus Christ, whom He loved, to take our place and to die for our sins.Adrian Rogers says, “His name is Jehovah-Jireh (the God who provides), and the God who gave the

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Hebrews 11:8-13Hebrews 11:8 reminds us of the legacy of Abraham, who was called by God in his old age and became a champion of the faith. “By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance...”Abraham's example gives us six principles to fortify our faith.1. The Voice Principle: Abraham heard from the Lord.The Lord appeared to Abraham through a supernatural experience. We have a greater advantage, having the written Word of God, the mind of Jesus Christ, and the guidance of the Holy Spirit.2. The Venture Principle: we must obey what we know.Abraham heard and obeyed. If we are having a faith problem, it could actually be rooted in an obedience problem. Adrian Rogers says, "Our responsibility is not to totally understand, but to readily obey."3. The Value Principle: We must establish priorities.Abraham was a sojourner; he knew the land was not his home. (See Hebrews 11:9-10.) If we live for this world, we will eventually conform to it and become an enemy of God. Instead, we must have the mind of Christ and prioritize knowing God’s will.4. The Vision Principle: we must stay focused and remain disciplined.We must keep our eyes set on things above, and not on things of this Earth. When we see the promises of God, which are otherwise unseen by those without faith, we have a responsibility to live by them.5. The Vigilance Principle: our faith will be tested, through heartache and tears.We must remember that where God leads us, He will sustain us.6. The Victory Principle: we get to enjoy the blessings.Hebrews 11:12 says, “Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born as many as the stars of the sky in multitude—innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore.”Abraham and Sarah conceived a child in their old age, and from that child, Abraham’s descendants were innumerable as the sand. Their victory came by a fortified faith.Apply it to your lifeDo you want a faith like Abr

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Hebrews 11:7The Bible emphasizes the importance of household salvation. One of the greatest examples of this is Noah, whose unsinkable faith in God saved his family from the Great Flood.Hebrews 11:7 says, “By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.”This passage first describes the warning Noah’s faith believed.In the days of Noah, there was a tremendous lack of fear of our Holy God. Adrian Rogers says, “The mark of a society on its last legs is when there is no fear of God.” But Noah feared God and demonstrated it through his godly living, godly knowledge, and wisdom. If we fear God, it will also show through our godly contentment, worship, salvation, confidence, insight and deliverance.This passage also reveals the work that Noah’s faith achieved.Being a man of faith, Noah obeyed God’s instruction and began building the ark long before he saw the flood; as a result, Noah saved his family. Adrian Rogers says, “If you work without faith, it is presumption; if you have faith without work, it is pretense.”This passage also addresses the wickedness that Noah’s faith perceived.In Genesis 6, God was brokenhearted over the sins of the generation. They were days of scientific progress, social plagues, and sexual perversion. The same sins from Noah's day are being committed today; as God warned Noah’s generation, He has warned ours, as well.Finally, we see the wealth that Noah’s faith received.Noah left a legacy of righteousness; though he acted in obedience, Noah was not ultimately saved by his works, but by God’s grace.By following the demonstration of Noah’s faith in God in the midst of our rebellious generation, we can usher our families into the ark of safety, which is a picture of Jesus Christ.God sealed Noah into the ark, just as we are sealed by Jes

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Hebrews 11:5-6Hebrews 11 tells of the prophet Enoch, who so pleased God and walked so intimately with him, he never died. Enoch is an example for us as we learn to walk with God.Hebrews 11:5 says, “By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, ‘and was not found, because God had taken him’; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God.”Enoch is a champion of our faith who shows us that walking with God is a life of faith.“But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6).Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God. Adrian Rogers says, “Faith is not guessing at the will of God; faith is hearing from God and believing God.”Second, walking with God is also a life of fellowship.We can know all about God without actually knowing Him intimately. But God created us in His image so He could have fellowship with us.Walking with God is also living a life of faithfulness.In the days of wickedness and violence, Enoch walked with God consistently, in the good times and bad. When we are faithful to God, He supplies us with power through the Holy Spirit to walk the Christian life, day by day.Walking with God is also a life of fruitfulness.Enoch was blessed with a family and named his son Methuselah, which means, “when he is dead, it will be sent.” Methuselah had a son named Lamech, who had a son named Noah. It was only after Methuselah, son of Enoch, died, that God sent the flood to destroy the Earth, sparing only Noah’s family.Just as he is an example of walking with God, Enoch is also a picture of the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. God will rapture the Bride to escape the coming judgment.We must walk with God, to live a life of faith and fellowship, that we may know Him intimately in these Last Days.Apply it to your lifeDo you want to walk with God as closely as Enoch did? Fait

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Hebrews 11:4Adrian Rogers says, “Jesus’ redeeming work was in the heart and mind of God from the foundation of the world. Before He swung this world into space, God had redemption by blood in His mind.”Genesis 4 tells the story of two brothers: Cain and Abel, one a martyr, the other a murderer. In their story, we see a picture of the blood of Jesus Christ that makes a difference.Hebrews 11:4 says, “By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks.”After the Fall of Man, Cain and Abel both offered sacrifices to the Lord in an act of worship. In Genesis 4, we see the stark contrast in their worship.While Cain offered a half-hearted sacrifice of the fruit of the ground, Abel offered the first of his flock: a spotless lamb, which was a prophecy of Jesus who was to come and redeem.God saw Abel’s sacrifice as good because “...without shedding of blood there is no remission” (Hebrews 9:22).As a result, there was a conflict in their worship. Genesis 4:4-5 says, “…And the Lord respected Abel and his offering, but He did not respect Cain and his offering. And Cain was very angry...”Because his heart was not right with God and he was jealous of his brother’s favor, Cain murdered Abel. (See Genesis 4:8.)There are many who have the religion of Cain: who are not right with God and hurt others because of it. It is interesting to note that the first murder recorded in Scripture was over religion; it was also a religious crowd that crucified Jesus Christ.Adrian Rogers says, “Religion is what sinful people do for a holy God. The Gospel is the good news of what a holy God has already done for sinful man.”There are two religions in the world: the true and the false. If there were any other way to God, He wouldn’t have let His only Son die on the cross. Our only hope of salvation is by grace through faith, thr

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Hebrews 10:38The Book of Hebrews describes the heroes of our faith and explains how those heroes exemplified the only way to live.Hebrews 10:38 says, “Now the just shall live by faith; but if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him.”Many of us are plagued with worry, guilt, or loneliness; but there is not one problem that faith does not have an answer for. This is why it is crucial that we know what faith is, and how to have it.Faith is not blind superstition, positive thinking, or a feeling of optimism. Rather, it is confidence that rests in hope, conviction that sees the invisible, and communication that comes from Heaven.Hebrews 11:1-2 says, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good testimony.”Faith can’t be altered by appearances or fettered by feelings. Our emotions are the shallowest part of our nature, while faith is the deepest work of God. And in a world that must see to believe, the Bible instructs us to believe in order to see. Faith is not limited by logic; it simply goes beyond it and becomes its own best logic.We must also understand the dynamics of our faith. Adrian Rogers explains, “Faith is the heart’s response to the character of God.” Only after we accept God through faith will we receive the wisdom to understand His works and the ability to worship. Faith—not fame or fortune—is the medium of exchange in the kingdom of God.Finally, a life of faith is destined to find, follow, and finish the will of God.Hebrews 12:1-2 says, “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith…”To win this race, we must be motivated by the saints of old and separated from the weight of the world. Repenting of our sins, we run the race

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: John 16:7There are things we will never understand until we lay down our intellectual pride and let the Holy Spirit speak to us. Only when the Spirit speaks can we understand three truths regarding who we are and what God makes us.John 16:7 says, “Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.”First, the Holy Spirit teaches the truth about the sinner’s basic problem.A man is a sinner because of what he is and what he has done. Born into this fallen world, it is in our nature to give in to sin.A man is also a sinner because of what he has not done. God made us to know, love, and serve Him; when we do not do that, we are refusing Him the glory He deserves.But our ultimate problem is that we are sinners for not believing, because the greatest sin is unbelief. Unbelief is the parent sin, out of which all other sins come; it is proof of man’s wickedness, and it is what separates us from God forever.Second, the Holy Spirit shows the truth about the Savior’s bountiful provision.When we believe in Jesus Christ, He changes what we are at our very core and gives us a new nature. Adrian Rogers says, “Christians are not just nicer people; they’re new creatures.”He also forgives us for what we have done. Every stain, blot, or blemish of our past is washed whiter than snow, buried in the grave of God’s forgetfulness.He gives us the righteousness we need in order to be saved.Finally, the Holy Spirit proclaims the truth about Satan’s broken power.Jesus’s death on the cross was God’s greatest victory over evil. Satan’s kingdom was crushed; he now sails a sinking ship and rules a doomed domain.When we receive Christ, we become more like Him every day. That is what our faith is all about, and what the Holy Spirit is working within us.Apply it to your lifeHave you laid down your intellectual pride and allowed the Holy Spirit to

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: 1 Corinthians 2:1-14The way to be blessed is to obey God, which requires our trust in Him; and to trust Him is to love Him, and in order to love Him, we must know Him.1 Corinthians 2:1-14 shows us how to know God through the Bible.“And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God” (1 Corinthians 2:4-5).Heavenly wisdom is seeing life from God’s point of view; human wisdom is deficient, while heavenly wisdom is sufficient. Human wisdom is superficial, transitory, and limited, and can even be dangerous. We can only know the things of God through our spirits. When He wants to teach or reveal something to us, He imparts heavenly wisdom in our spirits.God has done three mighty acts that we might know Him; the first act is revelation, which is the communication of God's truth to man by God Himself. It takes the Holy Spirit revealing truth to us in order to really know that truth.Adrian Rogers says, “The natural can never know the supernatural until the infinite reveals Himself to the finite.”Secondly, God reveals Himself through supernatural inspiration, which is the very Word of God.“Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God” (1 Corinthians 2:12).Third, God reveals Himself through supernatural illumination. The Holy Spirit is the one who turns the spiritual light on so that you can understand the things of God.Adrian Rogers says, “I can never know the Bible as I ought to know the Bible until I have the mind of Christ.”This doesn’t mean that we can know everything about God; it means that the average person who is obedient and diligent can understand the Bible and have personal communion with God.Apply it to your lifeAdrian Rogers says, “There is no knowledge of God without reve

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Psalm 119:18, 27Adrian Rogers says, “The Bible is a wonderful book. I’m not finding hidden flaws; I’m finding hidden beauties.”The more we read the Word of God, the more it will reveal itself to be true. Psalm 119 reveals the seven wonders of the Word of God.First, the Bible is a supernatural book, divinely inspired by God; it is often called the very breath of God. Within the Scriptures, we see the prayers, praises, fears, and frustrations of the men who wrote them. The Bible is marked by their personalities, yet God, in and through these men, was the one who was speaking.Second, the Bible is a spiritual book; it was written by the Holy Spirit. We cannot casually rip the truth out of these pages: God will reveal its meaning to us or we won’t have it. Psalm 119:18 says, “Open my eyes, that I may see wondrous things from Your law.” We may have access to the Word of God, but until the Holy Spirit convicts or illumines us, it’ll not be real in our hearts.Third, it is the Savior’s book; Jesus is the hero of the Bible. Adrian Rogers says, “If you read the Bible and don’t find Jesus Christ somewhere, somehow standing in the shadows or presented in plain view, go back and read it again.”Fourth, the Bible is a sovereign book; it is the supreme authority in spiritual matters, not human reason. A man and his word may diverge in this dishonest world, but God and His Word are the same.Fifth, it is a surviving book. In a world that is ever-changing, God’s Word stays the same.The Bible is also a sustaining book. It not only survives but also enables us to survive. As we are physically sustained by physical nutrition, we are spiritually sustained by the Word of God. We always find help, comfort, and wisdom in the Bible.Finally, the Bible is a supercharged book; it has incredible power. It’s able to penetrate and scrutinize the innermost part of our personalities. We can stand in awe as we experience its power in our lives, changing us from the in

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

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Proverbs 3:5-6Man is a clever creature, but he has lost his way in the darkness. We live in a day of guided missiles and misguided men, which is a shame because God has cultivated wonderful plans for each of our lives.Proverbs 3:5-6 explains, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”In order to shed some light on the future, we must first let God choose the way. Every step we take is to be in His plan and for His purpose.It is difficult to trust in someone we don’t know; we must know and love the Lord in order to trust and obey Him. We must receive God’s wisdom rather than lean on our own understanding. When we search for God’s wisdom and get serious about knowing His will, He promises that we will find it. When we have complete confidence in God, we will faithfully comply with His plans. Only then will we receive His faithful direction.Second, we must let God confirm the way. God has promised to direct our paths, and He will do it through the Word of God.Psalm 119:105 confirms, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” The Word of God reveals God’s will concerning our salvation, the Holy Spirit, and sanctification. God often directs us through prayer; He speaks to our hearts directly as we pray to Him. He also guides through wisdom and directs us by His providence; He is the one who closes and opens doors.Finally, we must let God clear the way. After we receive faithful direction from God, the Lord clears the path for us.Adrian Rogers says, “God will go before you like a bulldozer, He will clear the way. God will open and no man will shut, and God will shut and no man will open. And God Himself will take away the obstacles that keep you from His will for your life.”Apply it to your lifeAre you serious about knowing God’s will for your life? Express your full dependence on Him and receive His faithful direction. Be

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Psalm 126:5-6No matter how generous we are, how active we are in church, or how eloquently we preach, there is no substitute for sharing our faith with other people. Psalm 126 reveals how to share Jesus: “Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy. He who continually goes forth weeping, bearing seed for sowing, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him” (Psalm 126:5-6).The soul is of great worth; Jesus died upon the cross, paying the price with blood and agony to show how much He desired our souls.Our souls are also valuable because of their durability. When God made the human soul, He made it in His own image, therefore, each soul is endless, timeless, dateless, and measureless.Every soul has the potential to be transformed into the likeness of Jesus Christ.We must be committed to sharing our faith because it is the command of our Savior.We are designed to go forth (Psalm 126:6); nothing takes the place of going. It’s not enough to “live good lives,” because our lives are not what save souls… salvation through Jesus’s death and resurrection saves souls.Second, we must be concerned when we share our faith. If we feel we’ve lost our broken hearts for the unsaved, we must beg God to break them again. We must ask God to give us the eyes of Jesus who, when He saw the multitudes, was moved with compassion (See Luke 19).Third, we must be consistent as we share our faith, for we bear seed for sowing. In this passage, the seed is the Word of God, and in that seed, there is life. Because there is power of life in the seed, there is power in the soul winner who scatters the seed.Finally, we must be confident in sharing our faith: if we keep sowing, we will see a harvest. We should not concern ourselves with the soil. We just sow the seed, asking God to give us open doors and increase.Apply it to your lifeAre you endeavoring to share Jesus with others? Are you committed, concerned, consistent and confident in shar

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: 2 Timothy 3:16There is an ongoing war over the Word of God. There are those who despise, dissect, and disregard it. But perhaps the greatest enemy of the Word of God is the one who believes in it but doesn’t know it.We will never be settled until we are settled over the Word of God. Our salvation and sanctification depend on it.Revelation 22:18 says, “For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book…”There are five reasons to consider in becoming certain that the Bible is the Word of God.First, consider the Bible’s scientific accuracy. There have been many occasions on which scientific theories have gone against the Word of God but have crumbled over time. Science changes direction, improves, and builds upon itself. But the Word of God remains unchanged and unmovable.Second, consider the Bible’s historical accuracy. Though it’s not primarily a history book, the Bible records many notable events verified by historians.And we also believe in the Bible because of its wonderful unity. It is penned by people from all kinds of backgrounds: shepherds, kings, soldiers, princes, priests, and fishermen. Yet, from Genesis to Revelation, it reads as one book because of its divine inspiration.Another reason we believe in the Bible is its fulfilled prophecy. The Old Testament contains more than 300 prophecies that deal with Jesus Christ, which He fulfilled in the New Testament.We believe in the Bible because of its ever-living qualities. The Bible has faced much opposition, yet it has survived; it still applies today.Adrian Rogers says, “The Bible is not the book of the month; it is the book of the ages.”But ultimately, we believe in this book because of its life-changing power.Adrian Rogers says, “The Gospel of Christ is the dynamite of God that saves.” It saves the sinners, sanctifies the saints, sustains the suffering, and satisfies the scholar. The Bible, in all its wonder and majesty, is summed up in this: “Jesus lo

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: 2 Timothy 3:16There is an ongoing war over the Word of God. There are those who despise, dissect, and disregard it. But perhaps the greatest enemy of the Word of God is the one who believes in it but doesn’t know it.We will never be settled until we are settled over the Word of God. Our salvation and sanctification depend on it.Revelation 22:18 says, “For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book…”There are five reasons to consider in becoming certain that the Bible is the Word of God.First, consider the Bible’s scientific accuracy.There have been many occasions on which scientific theories have gone against the Word of God but have crumbled over time. Science changes direction, improves, and builds upon itself. But the Word of God remains unchanged and unmovable.Second, consider the Bible’s historical accuracy.Though it’s not primarily a history book, the Bible records many notable events verified by historians.And we also believe in the Bible because of its wonderful unity.It is penned by people from all kinds of backgrounds: shepherds, kings, soldiers, princes, priests, and fishermen. Yet, from Genesis to Revelation, it reads as one book because of its divine inspiration.Another reason we believe in the Bible is its fulfilled prophecy.The Old Testament contains more than 300 prophecies that deal with Jesus Christ, which He fulfilled in the New Testament.We believe in the Bible because of its ever-living qualities.The Bible has faced much opposition, yet it has survived; it still applies today.Adrian Rogers says, “The Bible is not the book of the month; it is the book of the ages.”But ultimately, we believe in this book because of its life-changing power.Adrian Rogers says, “The Gospel of Christ is the dynamite of God that saves.” It saves the sinners, sanctifies the saints, sustains the suffering, and satisfies the scholar. The Bible, in all its wonder and majesty, is summed up in this: “Jesus loves m

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

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

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: James 1:22The Bible is so full of rich, variegated splendor that there are many emblems and symbols for the Word of God. The Book of James identifies God’s Word as a mirror.James 1:22-23 says, “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror…”In this passage, James has in his mind two imaginary people in front of a mirror. The first person takes a casual glance: “for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was” (James 1:24).There are some who casually scan the Bible, but God doesn’t reveal much truth to the people who just glance at His Word.On the contrary, the other person noted in this passage takes a concentrated gaze: “But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does” (James 1:25).We need to absorb the Word of God, look into it as a mirror that reveals who we truly are. When we study Scripture, it can reveal in us any sin we’re harboring, or have yet to confess, so that we can do something about it.Adrian Rogers says, “When you read the Bible, the Bible reads you. When the Word reveals something, whatever it is, take heed to it. Don’t just read it and forget it; if you do, you’re deceiving yourselves.”The first purpose Scripture serves is to show us what we are by nature, but it also shows us what we ought to be by grace. And the ultimate reason why we read Scripture is to become more like Jesus.This means we never stop growing: we simply go from one stage of glory to another stage of glory. (See 2 Corinthians 3:18.)Apply it to your lifeAdrian Rogers says, “Do you want to be a great Christian? God’s given you a mirror. Each morning, look in there and see what you look like. If you’ve got a dirty face, get clean and then continue to read: not only se

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Ephesians 6:10-20Whether we realize it or not, we are part of a war between light and darkness, good and evil, Heaven and Hell, Jesus Christ and Satan. We cannot afford to be ignorant, and we cannot possibly be neutral.Adrian Rogers says, “When you were born again, you were born from above. And you, being Heaven-born are Heaven-bound. You were born for the battle, and you were born to win.”We’re not wrestling against flesh and blood. We’re wrestling against principalities and powers of darkness.Ephesians 6:10-20 shows us how to prepare ourselves for this Christian Warfare.In preparing for the battle, we must first remember our adversary. Satan is a decided fact; never underestimate him or count him out. He is a destructive force; systematic, spiritual, strong, and sinister. Yet, he is our defeated foe.Adrian Rogers says, “Satan had his back crushed and broken at Calvary; soon his head is going to be crushed when Jesus comes again.”We must remember our armor, which is specifically outlined in Ephesians 6:The Belt of TruthThe Breastplate of RighteousnessFeet shod with the preparation of the Gospel of Peace, knowing nothing stands between our souls and the SaviorThe Shield of FaithThe Helmet of SalvationGod wants us to enter the battlefield armed with integrity, purity, tranquility, certainty, and sanity. Don’t leave off any piece of the armor of God in this battle. Christian warriors must understand their point of attack. We have the victory. God has equipped us with three things:The first is our stance.We are called to be strong, to stand against these dark forces of evil with the blessed assurance of victory in Jesus.Second, we recognize the power of our sword,which is the sword of the Spirit and the Word of God. We must also remember the power of our prayers when prayed in the Spirit.Finally, the Christian warrior must remember his allies.“...praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Ephesians 1:2-14As children of God, we have the privilege of knowing not only that we are saved but also that we can never lose our salvation. God has saved us by His grace, and He keeps us bound to Himself with a three-fold cord that cannot be broken.Ephesians 1:2-14 describes the three-fold cord of the Holy Trinity: God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.First, this passage reveals that our salvation was planned by God the Father.“...to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved” (Ephesians 1:6).We have been chosen to be saved. Adrian Rogers says, “You've been chosen in the past, predestined to the future, and accepted in the present.”This does not mean that God chose one sinner above another sinner; it means that God had us in His heart and in His mind before He laid the foundation of the world. God gives everyone an invitation to come to Christ; we can only choose Him because He first chose us.Our salvation was also purchased by God the Son.“In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace…” (Ephesians 1:7).In the Garden of Eden, Adam sinned and forfeited our inheritance to Satan; but at Calvary, Jesus redeemed us with His blood. We are freed by His blood and forgiven by His grace; we are filled with His wisdom and fixed with His wealth. We have fellowship and a full inheritance as we become like Jesus Christ.Adrian Rogers says, “The greatest miracle in the world is not walking on water or changing water into wine; it is taking a Hell-bound sinner and transforming him, making him holy and blameless.”Finally, our salvation is preserved by God the Holy Spirit.“...you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory” (Ephesians 1:13-14).Because of the Holy Spirit, our salvation is a finished transaction; our ownership h

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Luke 1:13The Bible instructs us to pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17). But so many times, we pray and seek God, ask according to His will; and yet our prayer seems unanswered.At the beginning of the Book of Luke, we meet Zacharias and his wife Elizabeth, both righteous before God, blameless, yet barren. They were well in their old age, and without any children, they had prayed for their whole lives. Verse 13 says, “But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son…” We can learn three things from Zacharias and Elizabeth when prayer seems unanswered.First, unanswered prayer could mean it has simply been denied.God will not grant prayers that aren’t according to His will. Sometimes, we pray with sin in our heart, outside of the will of God. Remember, God wants to meet every one of our personal needs, but He will not enable our lust, pride, or selfishness.An unanswered prayer could also mean it’s strategically delayed.Adrian Rogers says, “With God, timing is far more important than time.” Answered prayers could be delayed to display His glory. As we see in Zacharias and Elizabeth’s story, God could wait until the situation is so difficult, there's no way we, ourselves, get the glory from it.Or, our prayers could be delayed to dispense God’s grace.As interested as He is in His glory, God’s also interested in our joy. In Luke 1, God was about to bring Jesus into the world. God planned the arrival of Zacharias and Elizabeth’s son, John the Baptist, so he could prepare the way for this long-awaited Messiah. God knew what He was doing; He had a strategic plan to display his glory and to dispense his grace, in the fullness of time.Finally, the answer to your prayer may be strangely different.For Zacharias and Elizabeth, God gave them something better than they asked for; it was different. He was the forerunner of the Messiah. Their son filled with the Holy Spirit

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Matthew 19:1-6Adrian Rogers says, “A home is the sweetest place on earth, the nearest place to Heaven. It’s the only part of the Garden of Eden that we have left.”Matthew 19 discusses the importance of family faithfulness; first, by recognizing that marriage is made by Heaven.And He answered and said to them, "Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning 'made them male and female,' and said, ‘For this reason, a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’?" (v. 4-5).Marriage is the supreme commitment, overruling every other commitment we could ever make. The priority of marriage is to build a home, and we cannot build a home without God’s guidance. We raise children with the intention of them leaving home to build homes of their own.Marriage is also permanent, and its purpose is to be one flesh, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Adrian Rogers says, “Marriage is a romance in which both the hero and the heroine die in the first chapter, and a new person comes into being: one flesh.”But marriage can be marred by Hell; there is nothing wrong with romantic love, but we are deceived if we believe that is enough to sustain a marriage. We are commanded in Scripture to love our spouses unconditionally, as God has loved His church.There is no fear in perfect love, only peace, security, and joy. We must be careful not to allow guilt to fester in our marriages; guilt turns to anger, and anger into bitterness.When we experience trials, reconciliation and forgiveness are called for in order to put the family back together. If we seek restoration, we’ll find that the relationship can potentially be even stronger than before it was broken.Finally, marriage is always marked by hope. No matter our circumstances, there is always hope because the grace of God covers all of our sins. God does not hold grudges; His forgiveness is always available for those who seek to honor Him

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Deuteronomy 5:29The family was the first institution formed by God, created to meet the deepest physical, social, and spiritual needs of mankind. It is in the home that a child should learn who he is, what he can do, and what is expected of him.In the midst of this moral free fall, it is time we ask ourselves: what is the future of the family? Adrian Rogers says, “If there is no future for our families, there is no future for this nation.”Deuteronomy 5:29 says, “Oh, that they had such a heart in them that they would fear Me and always keep all My commandments, that it might be well with them and with their children forever!”Our homes are the universities of life.In these homes, we must train our children to abide by God’s law so that we can preserve the family’s future. God gave the Ten Commandments to the family. God’s priority plan for us is to pass our faith from parent to child.Parents are the professors of their homes.Deuteronomy 6:7 says, “You shall teach them diligently to your children...” Though we can’t control our children, we can guide and teach them in the way they should go. Our primary goal as parents should be that we love God with sincere, selfless, and strong love so that we can set an example for our children to love Him, too.The Ten Commandments are the curriculum.These commandments are the liberating laws of life and the tracks upon which our families run. We are to set boundaries for our kids around the parameter of God’s law.Our children are our students.It is not the church’s responsibility to raise our children in faith, it is ours. “You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.” (Deuteronomy 6:8-9).Finally, life is the laboratory.Life is where these things are taught. We must teach our children convictionally, consistently, creatively, conversationally, and conspicuously.Apply it to your li

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: 1 Corinthians 6:191 Corinthians 6:19-20 says, “Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore, glorify God in your body...”We have been commanded to treat our bodies as temples to maintain and dedicate to God for His glory. Our bodies are carefully crafted, finely tuned machines, and our maintenance manual is the Word of God.There are some reasons why we have physical ailments that are not in our control; but whatever we can control, we are responsible for maintaining.There are four principles to remember as we work on our family fitness.1. Family fitness is a matter of discipline.1 Corinthians 10:31 says, "Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God."We must be disciplined in our diet and exercise, which extends our life expectancy and improves our wellbeing. In a world of fad diets and quick fixes, we are called to consume natural, real foods, within the right portions. There needs to be discipline in how we rest. Psalm 127:2 warns us: “It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows; for He gives His beloved sleep.”2. Family fitness is a matter of disposition.Choosing to express positive emotions should be part of our family fitness regime. Adrian Rogers says, “Hardening of the attitudes is just as bad as hardening of the arteries.” Stress will derail us physically; it will cripple our thinking, weaken our bodies, and reduce our efficiency. We must guard our hearts and minds against hatefulness and stress.3. Family fitness is a matter of devotion.When we love God and serve Him in the church as we should, we can experience an increase in health.4. Family fitness is a matter of decision.We will not stumble across family fitness, physically, mentally, or spiritually. It takes work to gain and maintain, work that we decide to do intentio

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Psalm 128God created families to satisfy the deepest longings of our hearts—to give and receive love. Families were designed to provide a safe and secure environment in which to nurture, teach, and love our children.Psalm 128 gives us a description of the ideal family: “Blessed is everyone who fears the Lord; who walks in His ways. When you eat the labor of your hands, you shall be happy and it shall be well with you” (v. 1-2).One of the signs that God has blessed our homes is the presence of laughter, which is why we should get serious about having family fun.Adrian Rogers says, “Man is the only creature who can do three things: weep, blush, and laugh.”Family fun is not careless or irresponsible; in fact, fun and efficiency coincide perfectly. Leisure time is time we permit ourselves to enjoy without guilt, to make memories with our children while they are children.There are three reasons why family fun is crucial to the spiritual health and growth of our families.Family fun refreshes.Work is necessary, but we cannot be too busy making a living that we forget to live. Just as there is a time to work, there is also a time to rest as well. We cannot always be more interested in our finances than in our fun, nor put our labor over our laughter.Family fun repairs.There is so much stress in this stretched-thin society. Our attitudes and emotions can have some control over our physical health. A grim and solemn spirit doesn’t just break the health of an individual, but the family as well. Joy and happiness are incredible medicines, and laughter can release the tension from a broken home.Family fun remains.The laughter we create in our homes lingers and echoes throughout our lives; it goes on and on, even after we leave this earth. Adrian Rogers says, “We are building for our children a museum of memories, and memories are our landmarks—they keep us from getting lost.”Apply it to your lifeIs your home marked with laughter and your leisure

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: 1 Timothy 6:5-10, 17It could be said that money is the root of a majority of the problems in our homes. The enemy’s plan is to keep families in financial bondage, but 1 Timothy 6 provides wisdom regarding family finances.A lack of wealth cannot take away genuine contentment.“But godliness with contentment is great gain…” (v. 6). Contentment is an inner sufficiency that keeps us at peace in spite of outward circumstances. If we depend on natural and material things for contentment, we will never have it. Our basic needs consist of food and clothing (v. 8); our desire for more than the basics truly makes us unhappy.Personal value, virtue, and victory are measured not by money, but by godliness. Adrian Rogers says, “We need to add up everything that we own that money cannot buy and death cannot take away, and praise God for that.”The loss of wealth is inevitable.“We brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out” (v. 7). We will not take any of our earthly riches with us after death. We must consider what we will leave behind in the hearts and lives of our loved ones after we are gone.The love of wealth is dangerous.“But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows” (v. 9-10).If our desire is to be rich, we are headed for serious trouble. Though the Bible teaches productivity and making wise investments and warns against slothfulness, we cannot prioritize riches.The luxury of wealth brings responsibility.“Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not high-minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy…” (v. 17). We are stewards of our wealth, not owners; if we do not see our riches as a

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Hebrews 11:7The only way we can raise a family in a way that honors God is by faith. There is an urgent need to get our children on board the good ship of grace, and we do that through a solid, biblical family faith.Hebrews 11:7 says, “By faith, Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.”In Genesis, Noah exhibited an active faith, in which he both worked and waited for the Lord. Noah did not wait until it began to rain before he prepared an ark. He was willing to look foolish, to stand alone, and receive ridicule from others.Adrian Rogers says, “Faith is not sitting around doing nothing; it is belief with legs on it.”Having been warned of the future calamity, Noah’s fear caused him to obey God.Proverbs 9:10 says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.” The fear of God is recognizing His holiness and His awesome power, and loving Him in reverence.Because of Noah’s faith, God revealed three marks of calamity to Noah: indifference, immorality, and ignorance. Having the foresight and recognizing these markings, Noah went against the tide and prepared in advance to save his household.The Bible teaches about the beautiful prosperity of household faith. Though we can’t believe for our children, we can see that our children are presented with every opportunity to believe on their own.Finally, Hebrews declares Noah’s fortune: “...by faith, which he… became heir of the righteousness…”Because he obeyed the Lord, he received great fortune; as others bought, sold, traded, and married in vain, Noah put everything he had into the ark. This long-term investment saved his life, his family, and his future. He came out of the ark and inherited the world; yet, the things that truly mattered, he gained by faith.Apply it to your lifeAr

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Hebrews 11:23-27It takes a family to raise a child, and it takes faith to make a family. The most powerful and influential people on the earth are mothers and fathers of faith. Hebrews 11 tells the story of the prophet Moses’ divine appointment, which would not have existed if not for his parents, Amram and Jochebed.There are four principles to learn from their indispensable faith, as we learn the importance of our family faith.“By faith, Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents because they saw that he was a proper child…” (v. 23).First, faith sees every child as the special handiwork of God.It is our responsibility to raise our children specifically and individually, by God’s daily guidance.Second, faith sees every conflict as spiritual.Amram and Jochebed hid Moses for three months because the King had commanded that baby boys be killed. By faith, they recognized this physical conflict as a spiritual conflict between the gods of Egypt and Almighty God.In these treacherous days, raising children takes more than wit, wisdom, and good intentions. Raising children is a spiritual battle, and our only hope is a solid faith in Jesus Christ.Third, faith sees every challenge as solvable.As Adrian Rogers says, “faith doesn’t throw in the towel,” nor is it “intimidated by the sinister minister of fear.” We have the victory, because, “greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world” (1 John 4:4).When facing challenges, we must do all we can do with a spirit of optimism. If it is God’s will, we can trust that He will move heaven and earth for our children.Finally, faith sees every choice as significant.Hebrews 11 notes that because Moses’ values were established in him by his parents, he valued his faith more than all the riches of Egypt.Moses embraced the virtues of knowing Christ eternally, and rejected the vices of this world, refusing to be called Pharaoh’s son (v. 24).Because Moses’ parents raised him by fai

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: James 1:21-25We cannot grow as Christians if we are not actively studying the Word of God. It’s not enough to know facts about and within Scripture. When we go to the Bible to extract truth, we fail; rather, we must receive the truth and welcome it in.The Book of James shows us how to understand the Bible, and reveals four ways to welcome the Word of God.We first welcome the Word with a repentant spirit."Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls" (James 1:21). There is a moral qualification to hear from God; hangover sins and unrepentant hearts can keep us from understanding Scripture.When we study the Bible, it is crucial that we first make a full confession of sin and ask God to search our hearts for any trace of wickedness.We also welcome the Word with a receptive spirit, with meekness, which is a teachable spirit.James 3:3 says, "Indeed, we put bits in horses’ mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body." Likewise, God wants to break us and take us under His control, making us sensitive to His commands.Third, we welcome the Word with a responsive spirit."But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves" (James 1:22). Once we understand the Scripture we read, we must obey it; if we don’t, we are self-deceived.Adrian Rogers says, “A study of the Bible gives you knowledge about God. Obedience gives you knowledge of God.”Finally, we welcome the Word with a reflective spirit."But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does" (James 1:25). When we read the Bible with a reflective spirit, the Bible reads us in return. It gives us a new perspective of our lives and shows our truest selves. Rather than quickly glancing at Scripture, we must learn to gaze into it.Apply it to your lifeAre you a

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Romans 10:11-17It is not by fame, feelings, fortune, friends, or fate, but by our faith that we measure our accomplishments.Our belief is our greatest spiritual asset and richest currency. On the contrary, unbelief is our greatest stumbling block. This is why there is an immediate urgency to grow in a solid and exciting faith in God.Romans 10 reveals the intricacies of biblical faith, what it is, and how to have it."For the Scripture says, 'Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame'” (Romans 10:11).First, faith must be placed in the right object to be real.When we rely on the wrong things, it can be dangerous to our spiritual health.Adrian Rogers says, “Weak faith in the right object is better than misplaced faith in the wrong object.” We do not rely on positive thinking, or even in faith itself. True biblical faith is placed in Jesus Christ, alone.Once we understand the reality of biblical faith, we can see the root of it, which is the Word of God."How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard?" (Romans 10:14). In order to spiritually grow, we must hear from God; we cannot know the will of God by guessing at it. It cannot be generated; it is given, as Ephesians 2:8-9 says, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.”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.Adrian Rogers says, “The will of God is not something that you must do; it is something you get to do.” The purpose of faith is to get God’s will done on Earth. He 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.Apply it to your lifeHow are you going to release your faith today? True faith does m

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: 1 Corinthians 12When we are born again and become children of God, we receive spiritual gifts. Discovering, developing, and putting to work our spiritual gifts is how we find joy and fulfillment in the Christian life.1 Corinthians 12 explains how children of God can unwrap their spiritual gifts.“Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant…” (1 Corinthians 12:1).Our spiritual gifts are supernatural, graciously given to us by the Holy Spirit when we are born again. There is no room for pride or selfishness; we’ve received our spiritual gifts to serve each other. The Holy Spirit chooses our gifts; our responsibility is to discover what He has sovereignly imparted in us.Adrian Rogers says, “These spiritual gifts are not for evidence, they are equipment. They are not for your enjoyment, they are for your employment.”“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.” (1 Corinthians 12:4-6).Some of the diverse gifts listed in Scripture are:-Wisdom-Knowledge-Faith-Healing-Miracles: physical, mental, and spiritual-Prophecy: for edification, exhortation, and comfort-Discernment of the spirits-Speaking in tongues, or speaking in a language you have never learned-Interpreting tongues, or translating tongues so others can understand-Ministry, or serving within the church-Teaching-Exhortation, or leading others in worship-Giving-Ruling, or the ability to administrate-Mercy, or showing the love of Jesus ChristIt is our joy and responsibility to discover our gifts. We must first present ourselves to God’s lordship. Secondly, we must become good stewards of our gifts with renewed minds and good faith.Finally, we must stay in fellowship with other believers. We were meant to serve one another well, to operate as one fully-functioning body. Our spiritual gifts will be conf

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: 1 Corinthians 6:12The Bible is not a book of rules, but a book of principles. Rules can be manipulated and laws have loopholes, but principles are timeless and unchanging. Therefore, the Bible is a trusted source to cite when making daily decisions.There are six positive principles to live by, and questions to ask ourselves for a proper daily practice of the Christian faith.Expediency: Does this bring me to my appointed goal or does it hinder me?"All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful...” (1 Corinthians 6:12). We ought to have God-given goals for our lives and a holy ambition to accomplish them. Our decisions should honor the direction we are going.Enslavement: Am I brought under the power of anything other than Jesus Christ?“...all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any” (1 Corinthians 6:12).Jesus came to set us free from our addictions, vices, and bad habits. Under His sovereignty alone can we experience true freedom.Example: Even if this doesn’t hurt me, will it hurt somebody else?Even if we do not struggle with certain vices, our endorsement of it could lead others to stumble.Adrian Rogers says, “Don’t let your head run away with your heart; we are here to operate by love. Knowledge puffs you up, but love builds up.”Edification: Does this build me up or tear me down?"...all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify" (1 Corinthians 10:23). Everything we do will either build us up or tear us down; we should value friendships, conversations, and entertainment that refresh, renew and restore.Exaltation: Is God glorified by what I’m doing?Colossians 3:17 says, “Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus…” Every decision we make either honors or dishonors the Lord. We should strive to exalt God in everything we do.Evangelism: Is there anything that keeps me from bringing anybody else to Jesus Christ?When you study God’s Word, are you looking

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Acts 9:1-6Acts 9 tells the story of Saul’s conversion to becoming Paul. While on his way to persecute Christians, Saul came face-to-face with Jesus. And Saul’s first question to Jesus was:“Lord, what wilt thou have me to do” (Acts 9:6)?We are clever creatures who have lost our way and must relearn how we can know the will of God.First, remember that God has promised to guide.Psalm 32:8 says, "I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye."God has a moral plan for each of our lives. God’s will is sovereign; it is always done. There is no changing the fixed standard of right and wrong He has established.Though God’s will is particular for each of us, there are six universal truths about His plan:It is not a roadmap; it is a relationship.It is not the end of our joy, but the beginning.God does not speak only to certain people; He has a plan for everyone.Learning God’s will is not always a dramatic experience; oftentimes, it is spoken softly.God is not finished with us, whether we’re 9 or 99.God does not hide His will from us. He wants us to know it even more than we do.God’s guidance hinges on our willingness, meekness, and openness.He is willing to guide when we yield to His control. Sometimes, God will give visions, miracles, or dreams to reveal His plans, but many times, He speaks practically. He guides through Scripture, His people, and the Holy Spirit within us. We must be sensitive enough to hear and know His voice.God also leads with sheer wisdom, through the renewing of our minds.God opens and closes doors, and guides the meek through it all. Many times, we don’t even know it was the providence of God until afterward.We don’t have to be afraid of the will of God. Adrian Rogers says, “The will of God will not take you where the power of God cannot keep you.”Apply it to your lifeAre you trying to find the will of God for your life? How much time are you spending alone with God? If we wan

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: 1 Corinthians 2:14It’s important to know where we are in our spiritual maturity, in order to grow into what we could be. The Bible places men and women in three different categories: natural, spiritual, or carnal. As Christians, we want to be spiritual men and women, but in order to get there, we must begin to see the Bible as a roadmap to maturity.1 Corinthians 2:14 says, “But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him: nor can he know them because they are spiritually discerned."The natural man is born into the natural world, just like anybody else. But because he has not been born again through faith, he can’t appreciate or understand spiritual things; he is bound to the material world.Adrian Rogers says, “The natural man does what comes naturally; the spiritual man does what comes supernaturally.”The spiritual man has been born again, through salvation in Jesus Christ. He now lives by the Spirit, who inhabits his humanity. A Christian is not a natural person who decides to do better; he is someone who has been radically, dramatically, supernaturally changed. The spiritual things he once could not understand become apparent to Him. Now liberated through the Spirit, he sees with the mind of Christ, discerns everything with wisdom.Finally, the Bible warns us about becoming a carnal man. He is one who has been saved, yet he is defeated and dependent on others to decipher Scripture. He is spiritually immature because there has not been any growth. He cannot walk, war, or work spiritually. The carnal man is also very divisive. He likes to stir up debates, provoke fights, can’t get along with anyone. They are saved, but no one would ever know it.Unfortunately, the carnal Christian is a lot more common than we want to believe. In order for us to grow in truth and maturity, we must take an honest inventory of where we are, so that we may grow in Christ, and follow the roadmap of matu

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Acts 8:35-39There are two common misconceptions people have about baptism: that it is either necessary for our salvation, or that it is not important at all.In order to grow as Christians, we cannot minimize what the Bible has emphasized: starting right with believer’s baptism.In Acts 8, God gave his servant, Philip, the specific assignment to witness to a eunuch of great authority.“Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him. Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, “See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?” Then Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him. Now when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, so that the eunuch saw him no more; and he went on his way rejoicing” (Acts 8:35-39).The word, “baptizo” means, “to immerse.” The biblical method of baptism is by immersion: placing a person under water and bringing him out.Adrian Rogers says, “The method and the meaning are inextricably interwoven; you cannot change the method without destroying the meaning.”Romans 6:4 says, “Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.”Baptism symbolizes the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, as well as our death, burial, and resurrection with Him. There are three reasons to be baptized:It proclaims our commitment to Jesus.It portrays our conversion; it is our way of testifying.It is a command from God that we must obey.While baptism is not necessary for our salvation, it is necessary for our obedience. It shows that we belong to Jesus Christ.Apply it to your lifeBaptis

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Romans 8:28Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.”This is the chemistry of the cross: that God can work bad situations for our good and His glory.This verse reiterates the certainty and completeness of this ironclad, rock-ribbed promise of God. He works all things together for His glory and for our good. When we know this, we can appreciate the blessings we would otherwise mistake as burdens.Adrian Rogers says, “It takes a lot of faith to say it is good for me that I have been afflicted. But it’s then that we begin to look up into the face of God. A sick bed can often teach more than a sermon.”By the chemistry of the cross, the sweet, the sorrowful, and even the satanic and sinful things work together for good. The same God who rules in the affairs of this world can work the enemy’s attacks for our benefit.Romans 5:20 says, “where sin abounded, grace abounded much more."Because we are bound to sin, we are bound to suffer. But because of the cross, our suffering is met with God’s grace.The simple and the smallest things are in God’s master control; He is the cause of it all.Though this is a beautiful and big promise, it is not for everyone. There is a condition to Romans 8:28, which is, “to them that love God.”When we accept the condition of Romans 8:28, we can fully understand the consequence of it, found in Romans 8:29: “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.”The “good” that we receive is our sanctification; we are becoming more like Jesus. God is not finished with us; He will continue to use circumstances to make us look more like our Savior.Apply it to your lifeAre you the one who loves God and believes your circumstances are there to make you look more like Jesus? Spend time in Scripture today, so that you can gain persp

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Ephesians 5:18The Christian life is a blessing, but if we don’t understand the ministry of the Holy Spirit, it can feel more like a burden. The secret to a blessed Christian life is being filled with the Holy Spirit. It is important to know how to have a spirit-filled life.Ephesians 5:18 says, “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit...”Having a Spirit-filled life is a command from God to obey, as well as a blessing to enjoy. It is also our obligation as Christians, because on our own, we don’t have the strength to do what the Bible commands us to do.The only way to truly worship God is to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Our marriages and work relationships hinge on this as well. We serve our families and colleagues as we should when we first submit to the Holy Spirit.It is also how we win in this spiritual warfare we face every day. It is our only hope in ever witnessing to others. We are up against the organized, demonic forces of Hell.Ephesians 5:15-16 says, “See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.”Adrian Rogers says, “There has never been a greater day, a greater age, a greater opportunity to preach the Gospel of Jesus than right now.”What are the requirements of being filled with the Holy Spirit?There must first be a complete commitment to Christ. We must continually yield control to Him, consciously claiming our dependence on Him every moment. When we do this, we receive a spirit of adoration for God—a passionate, blazing love for Jesus Christ that doesn’t burn out.We also receive a spirit of appreciation for our circumstances. Ephesians 5:20 claims Christians are to be, “Giving thanks always for all things…”Finally, we receive a spirit of accommodation toward others. Every day, every place, we are learning to submit to and serve others.Apply it to your lifeAdrian Rogers says, “We need a generation of Spirit-filled peopl

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: 1 Corinthians 10:12-14As Christians, we have the power not only to overcome temptations but also to use them as a means to grow in our faith. 1 Corinthians 10 shows us how to turn temptations into triumphs.“Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.” (1 Corinthians 10:12-13).Being saved does not make us immune to temptation; everyone is subject to temptation.There are three common sources of temptation.The WorldIn this context, “world” means a system or order. This fallen world is entrenched in evil and we are not to fall for its schemes. The world wars against the soul: our minds, emotions and will, our ego, our psyche. We can’t let the world mold us, guide us, or control us.The FleshThe flesh is the “old nature,” the person the Christian used to be; it is the inclination to do evil.Adrian Rogers says, “Sin is an inside job that comes from your flesh.” The flesh wars against the body, tempting us in the areas of appetite, lust, laziness, and violence.The DevilThe devil wars against the spirit: we know God through our spirits. Our spirits are our vehicles of communication, worship, and spiritual knowledge. The devil wants to cut off that life source.There are three key ways to subdue temptation.Against the world: FAITHThrough faith, God is a bright, living reality that eclipses the temptation to squeeze into the world’s mold.Against the Flesh: FIGHTWe must avoid situations that will tempt us to sin in the flesh.Against the devil: FIGHTThe devil won’t leave us alone until we resist him. We fight by bringing the Word of God against him.Satan does not want us to understand the power we have to overcome temptation. We must be strong in the Lord. We must resist the devil, and he w

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Psalm 51King David, though a man after God’s own heart, was a great sinner. He committed adultery and, in covering it up, he committed murder. But David was also a great repenter, and Psalm 51 shows us how to come back when we’re down.Getting saved does not mean we lose our capacity to sin or minimize its gravity. The eternal security of salvation is not a license to sin without suffering. In fact, we will suffer all the more, because the Holy Spirit convicts believers of their sins until they confess them. Guilt is a dirty wound; it festers, and it will never heal until it is cleansed.This passage reveals the weighty consequences of sin. Sin soils the soul, saturates the mind, and stings the conscience. It saddens the heart and sickens the body, sours the spirit, and seals the lips.Adrian Rogers says, “The most miserable man on earth is not a lost man; It is a saved man out of fellowship with God.”When we find ourselves down in our sins, how do we come back?First, we must be confident that God still loves us.Psalm 51:1 says, "Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according to the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.” Even when he sinned, David had confidence in God’s lovingkindness. In spite of the enemy’s attempt to discredit God’s faithfulness, we must remember there is nothing we can do that will make God stop loving us.Second, we must confess our sins without any excuses or alibis.1 John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”Finally, God cleanses and forgives.He removes the penalty, blots it out, and buries it in the sea of His forgetfulness. He removes the pollution of sin, cleaning us whiter than snow. He removes the power of sin: God purges us so that we are clean on the inside.We don’t have to carry around our own condemnation anymore; we can be clean.Apply it to your lifeDo you have any unco

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: John 10:27It is good for our spiritual health and productivity as Christians to know we are eternally secure. This is why we must have a Scriptural defense for our eternal security. Following are four passages to reflect on regarding eternal security.1. 2 Peter 2:21: "For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.”Adrian Rogers says, “Reformation without transformation leads to greater degradation and final condemnation.” Reformation doesn't give us a new nature. Our sinful desires only hibernate and wake up stronger. Salvation, on the other hand, gives us a new nature and a desire to follow Jesus.2. Matthew 24:11-13: "And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved."Endurance is the mark of reality in the life of a human soul. We must endure in times of trial, so that our faith will not fail.3. John 15:5: “I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.”Those who abide in Him bear the fruit. Those who do not bear fruit, are not abiding in Him.4. Hebrews 6:4-6: “For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.”This passage refers to those who know the truth and turn from it, eyes wide open, having never repented to begin with. But we, who have accepted salvation and repented of our sins, are eternally secure.Adrian Rogers says, “Eternal security is like a strong rubber band

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: John 10:27When we, as Christians, are sure of our future, we can concentrate on the present. This is why John 10 is fundamental to the eternal security of the believer.“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand” (John 10:27-29).This passage reveals eight reasons we can be sure we are eternally secure.1. PromiseGod has promised us eternal security through His Word. Romans 8 claims that nothing can separate us from His love. (See Romans 8:38-39.)2. PerseveranceGod, who first began a good work in us, will complete what He has begun. The Holy Spirit of God is the Convictor, the Convertor, and the Completor. Adrian Rogers says, “The Holy Spirit has never started anything He’s not able to finish.”3. PredestinationGod has predetermined our destiny. Adrian Rogers says, “Your salvation did not begin with you. Your salvation began before this world was swung into space.” If you are called to a new birth in Christ, it is absolutely settled.4. PerfectionHebrews 10:14 says, "For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.” Being a Christian isn’t making monthly deposits to pay God back for His salvation. Jesus paid it all, therefore, we are made perfect forever in God’s sight. It is not a fresh start; it is a new nature.5. PositionAdrian Rogers says, “Security is not a place; it is a person, and His name is Jesus Christ.” We are positioned with the Lord Jesus Christ, part of His body, sealed with the Holy Spirit.6. PossessionIf we are saved, we already have eternal life. Adrian Rogers says, “Everlasting life is not something you get when you die. Everlasting life is something you get when you believe.”7. PrayerJesus is praying for us, not that we would escape tribulation, but that w

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: 1 John 5:11Every Christian ought to have the privilege of knowing, beyond any shadow of doubt, that he or she is saved. But having doubts doesn’t necessarily mean we are not saved.Adrian Rogers says, “Doubt is to your spirit what pain is to your body; it doesn't mean you're dead, it means something's wrong.”1 John 5 reveals how to be saved and know it, without hesitation.“And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God” (1 John 5:11-13).When doubts arise, we must remember, first, how we are saved: by grace, through faith (see Ephesians 2:8).Adrian Rogers says, “Grace is the unmerited favor and love that God shows to us. It's what made God love us when we were unlovely. God doesn't love us because we're valuable… we're valuable because He loves us.”Faith is not intellectual belief; it is trust and commitment to God. Think of grace as the hand of God reaching down to us, and faith is our hand reaching up to Him.Understanding this, we can find our assurance through three basic tests:Lordship TestIs Jesus Christ the Lord of my life?If we claim to love God, we will keep His commandments.Fellowship TestDo I love my brothers and sisters in Christ? Am I in fellowship with other believers?Fellowship is the nature of both the Christian and the Church.Relationship TestDo I have a vital relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ?The assurance of our salvation is ongoing; it is not a past event, stamped by a time and date, and place. It is a present decision to trust in Jesus, right now. We can trust in Him, for He alone is the assurance of our salvation.Apply it to your lifeDo you have doubts about your faith? Consider the lordship, fellowship, a

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Revelation 22There is an ongoing war over the Word of God. There are those who despise, dissect, and disregard it. But perhaps the greatest enemy of the Word of God is the one who believes in it but doesn’t know it.We will never be settled until we are settled about the Word of God. Our salvation and sanctification depend on it.Revelation 22:18 says, “For I testify unto every man who heareth the words of the prophecy of this book…”There are several reasons to consider in becoming certain that the Bible is the Word of God.First, consider the Bible’s scientific accuracy.There have been many instances in which scientific theories have gone against the Word of God, but those theories have crumbled over time. Science changes direction, improves, and builds upon itself. But the Word of God remains unchanged and unmovable.Second, consider the Bible’s historical accuracy.Though it’s not primarily a history book, the Bible records many notable events verified by historians.We also believe in the Bible because of its wonderful unity.It is penned by people from all kinds of backgrounds: shepherds, kings, soldiers, princes, priests, and fishermen. Yet, from Genesis to Revelation, it reads as one book because of its divine inspiration.Another reason we believe in the Bible is its fulfilled prophecy.The Old Testament contains more than 300 prophecies that deal with Jesus Christ that He fulfilled in the New Testament.We believe in the Bible because of its ever-living qualities. The Bible has faced much opposition, yet it has survived, and it still applies today. Adrian Rogers says, “The Bible is not the book of the month; it is the book of the ages.”Ultimately, we believe in this book because of its life-changing power.Adrian Rogers says, “The Gospel of Christ is the dynamite of God that saves.”It saves the sinners, sanctifies the saints, sustains the suffering, and satisfies the scholar.The Bible, in all its wonder and majesty, is summed up in th

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Acts 15:13-18In Acts 10, the Gospel was made available to Gentiles for the first time. Up until Acts 15, many in the church believed Christianity was exclusively for the Jews. Concerned, they met in Jerusalem to discuss God’s plan for the Jews.Acts 15:18 reads, “Known unto God are all His works from the beginning of the world.” God has a plan for this world, the church, for the Jew and the Gentile. And as we hear rumors of a new world order in these last days, we know the reasons why the world is out of sorts to begin with.The church is out of her rightful place.The church, which is the bride of Christ, belongs with the groom. Through the Holy Spirit, He is with us, but we are not by His side. Ephesians 1:13-14 explains that the Holy Spirit is “the earnest of our inheritance,” meaning He is a token of God’s love to His Bride while we wait to join His side.Second, there will never be world order until Israel is restored and there is peace in Jerusalem.God is not finished with the Jewish nation; they are still the chosen people. God gave the land of Israel to Abraham’s descendants in an everlasting covenant, yet, the Jews have been scattered across the earth. As God prophesied Israel's disobedience, dispersion, and disgrace, He also prophesied their resolve and return.Third, Satan is out of place, because the criminal belongs in prison.There will never be order as long as Satan’s spirit is working. The world stumbles in darkness orchestrated by Him. But Satan will not always have the run of this world. There’s coming a time when he will be cast into the prison of his own making: hell.Finally, there will be no world order until the King is on the throne.Jesus is the King of kings and Lord of lords; soon, His Will will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.Adrian Rogers says, “I cannot wait for the time our Lord comes and we have a new world order; when the church and Israel and Satan and Jesus are in their rightful place. It has a good e

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Genesis 1:26What’s wrong with animal rights? In simplest terms, the belief behind the Animal Rights Movement is that there is no difference between man and animal. But Scripture says otherwise.According to the Book of Genesis, both man and animal were created by God separately; neither evolved from the other. Though there are similarities, there is a stark contrast between man and animal as well.For one, man has a longing in his heart to know God.Man is created in God’s likeness —not in His physical image, but in His moral and spiritual image. When God created animals, in his mercy, He gave them instincts. But when God made man in His image, He gave them spirits.Adrian Rogers says, “The Holy Spirit is to man what instinct is to the animals. Now, if you were to take the instinct out of the beehive, what would happen? It'd be very much like our world today—men without the Holy Spirit.”Man has a capability for dominion, but he also has a capacity for depravity… one that animals don't have.Animals can't sin because animals don't have any choice. The reason they don't have any choice is they don't have any moral basis; but man does!Man also has a concern for his destiny that animals do not have.Man is the only creature who knows he's going to die, while animals never think about death. But the Bible says that God has put eternity in the hearts of men.Animals have a body and a soul (a soul being made up of a mind, emotions, and a will). But only man has a spirit. And the Holy Spirit molds us into what we're meant to be.Adrian Rogers also adds, “With your body you know the world beneath you. With your soul you know the world around you. But with your spirit, you know the world above you! And God made man with a spiritual capacity to know Him, to love Him, and to serve Him.”Apply it to your lifeWhat did God make you to do? God created you to know Him, to love Him, and to serve Him. The Bible says, "It is in him that we live, and move, and h

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Job 8:8Adrian Rogers tells us, “Truth is to your spirit what food is to your body, what light is to your eyes, and what sound is to your ears.” There is a famine in the world for truth; this is why, as Christians, we can never lose our burning ambition to discover, know and practice truth.In Job 8:8, Job’s friends respond to his suffering with an urge to appeal to look for answers from the philosophers of yesterday. And America has been shaped, molded, and skewed by a few philosophers of yesterday; their ghosts still haunt us, even now.The first is Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel, who rejected moral absolutes and alluded to the dangerous sentiment that the strongest idea wins, and therefore history is evolutionary and there cannot be any absolute.Ludwig Feuerbach built upon this theory by saying, “If there are no absolutes, then there can be no God,” coining what we now know as humanism.Karl Marx built upon Feuerbach’s theory by asking, “If there is no absolute and no God, what is the future and purpose of mankind?” As a result, Marx founded communism: a godless system that refutes the worth or dignity of an individual.Then came Charles Darwin, who asked, “If there is no God, then how do we explain our existence?” He concluded that man is simply a product of evolution.The final ghost that still haunts us is Sigmund Freud, who says our idea of God comes to us from our childhood fathers. The extreme permissiveness and perversion we see today is also a result of Freudian psychology.These ideas have been around for a long time but have resurged in recent days. We shouldn’t be discouraged; these theories do not have something readily available to us, as Christians: the truth, and the Holy Spirit. We, who see the Bible as the incorruptible, indestructible, and indispensable Word of God, must stand, anointed with the Holy Spirit and a heart full of love, and preach the absolute truth of the Gospel.Apply it to your lifeDo you know what you be

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: 1 Peter 3:10As Bible-believing Christians, our worldview affects everything in life. Yet we are living in a post-Christian society, hostile toward those who view the world as we do. As a result, we may be tempted to retreat; but in reality, there is no place to hide.Rather, we have to come together, united in our Christian worldview, and learn how to articulate it.We recognize five principles of our worldview in the Book of First Peter. This letter was essentially a handbook for survival for the early Christians in Rome.1 Peter 3:15 says, “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.” Here are the five principles:Lordship.We must make up our minds that nothing will stand in the way of obedience to the Lord Jesus Christ.Learning.Those who don’t know Jesus have some excellent questions; we must make a habit of learning all we can so we’re ready to give an account for what we believe and why.Lowliness.The Bible teaches that we are to have a lifestyle of meekness. Meekness is not weakness; it is strength that is channeled and under control.Lifestyle.The early Christians possessed a hope so real, vibrant, and incontrovertible, that they stood out. Our only chance against a world that bad-mouths and criticizes us is our ability to out-live, out-love and out-pray people. Our hope is our rock-ribbed assurance in Jesus Christ.Love.We live in a hurting society, with wounds desperate to be mended and questions desperate for answers.Adrian Rogers says, “Our job is not to save America; our first responsibility is not to preserve our freedoms. Our prime responsibility is to witness to this world of Jesus’ grace and power; to say it and mean it, “Jesus is Lord.’”As the days grow gloriously dark, we can find comfort in knowing the church will survive, for Jesus said, “Upon this rock I’ll build my church, and the gates of hell

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: EcclesiastesThe Book of Ecclesiastes is the journal of King Solomon. It is a record of some of the perplexities he had, as well as some of the mistakes he made. There are three themes from this book when considering the beauty of this life we get to live.First, this book reveals the complex mysteries of life.God does not want life to make sense to us. God, in His infinite wisdom, makes life a mystery to draw us to Him. God put eternity in our hearts; He gave us a desire to see life from an eternal perspective. The answer to life’s mystery is not in nature, history, or science. The answer is that apart from God, wisdom, wealth and work are all meaningless.Ecclesiastes also addresses the challenging adventure of life.In spite of its mystery, God urges us to live with enthusiasm and joy. We cannot let our problems make cynics out of us. There are going to be some hard times; we would be foolish to not enjoy the good times. Adrian Rogers says, “Since God is good, we should live joyfully. Since God is sovereign, we should live confidently. And since God is holy, live life reverently.”Finally, this book reveals that life is a comprehensive test.Everything is going to come to judgment. Because of this, we must learn to rejoice. Adrian Rogers says, “God’s laws do not restrict us; they liberate us.” We must learn, also, to rest and remember; to honor, to obey, to serve God in every season.Everything that King Solomon wrote is by divine inspiration. But we know some things he didn’t know because we have the New Testament. We have an understanding that even Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, did not have before he died, primarily, the answer to the age-old question: What is life all about?Glory to God, we know that Jesus said, “I’ve come that you might have life, and that you might have it abundantly.”(John 10:10)Life is about Jesus and only Jesus. Apart from Him, everything is meaningless.Apply it to your lifeLife is a complex mystery an

Sermon OverviewScripture Reference: Genesis 3Satan wants to bring death to our happiness, joy, and purity, and he accomplishes this through lies. Genesis 3:1 says, “Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field…”Satan cleverly crafts subtle lies about the biggest truths. We see this exemplified in his confrontation with Eve in the Garden of Eden, when he told her four lies that ruined the world.1. “God is not loving.”Satan’s first tactic was to convince Eve to think negatively about God. The devil wants us to think God is straight-laced and cruel, and that our relationship with Him would be filled with “don’t!” But Psalm 37:4 says, “Delight thyself also in the LORD, and he will give thee the desires of thine heart.” God does not take away joy; He gives it.2. “God is not truthful.”The devil’s second tactic was to get Eve to think skeptically about God. When Satan removes the truth of God’s Word, then he slips in other ideas to replace them. Many other religions, spiritual practices and New Age thoughts are simply substitutes from the enemy to divert us from the truth.3. “God is not righteous.”Satan’s next tactic is to make us think lightly of God. But God is holy, and He will punish sin. The Ten Commandments are not advice; they’re law.4. “God is not gracious.”Finally, Satan will try to convince us to think suspiciously of God. Scripture says that God had a wonderful plan for Adam and Eve. Many people think serving God cramps their style. Yet, the devil, who promises total freedom, keeps his victims in bondage.All the problems in the world today are rooted in these four ancient lies. How can we overcome them?Revelation 12:11 says, “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, by the word of their testimony, and they loved not their lives unto the death.” Adrian Rogers explains, “On the cross, Satan’s back was broken, and through the blood of the Lamb every lie that you believe can be forgiven. You can see through the lenses of the cross what the real

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: James 1:12-15We live in a world of victims; nobody wants to take the blame for anything. And when we run out of other people to blame for our sins, we can be tempted to blame God. But God’s Word heeds warning to those who would dare blame Him for their temptation to sin.James 1:13-15 says, “Let no man say when he is tempted, ‘I am tempted of God’ for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth He any man. But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.”It is impossible to tempt God with evil; He cannot be tempted and He cannot tempt us with evil. Adrian Rogers says, “God gives us tests to make us stand. Satan gives us temptations to make us stumble.” Sin is an inside job; it begins from within. How does the devil provoke our flawed appetites and fatal attractions?First, there is a courtship that leads to a consent.Satan has laid plans to sabotage us, but he cannot do it without our consent. He begins with a courtship: temptation comes our way to entice, entrap, ensnare, and allure. He flirts, baits, and draws us away.Second, the consent leads to conception.Adrian Rogers explains, “There comes an unholy union that brings an unholy child. There is a fatal attraction: the father. There is a flawed appetite: the mother. When these two come together, there is a conception of an unholy child of sin.”Third, conception leads to a consummation.The final result of sin is always death. We can play the blame game all day long, but we will ultimately lose.Adrian Rogers says, “First, sin fascinates; then it assassinates. First, it thrills; then it kills.”As long as we live, there will be temptation. The only thing we can possibly do is to have an inward change, beginning in our own hearts. James 1:18 says, “Of His own will He begets us with His word.” That is, when our hearts are changed, we are born again.Apply it to y

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Ezekiel 28:8Our war is not against flesh and blood. Rather, we wage war against the evil force behind it all: the devil. And Satan’s origin, found in Ezekiel 28, is one of riches to rags. It’s important to learn about his descent from the palace to the pit because we are pawns in this battle.God did not create a devil; God created a perfect being, who became the devil because God gave him a choice. He was first an angel named Lucifer (which means Son of Morning), surpassing in beauty, superlative in wisdom.But because of the pride in his heart, the Son of Morning was banished from heaven to earth, to be forever known as the Father of Night. The devil’s wisdom is corrupt, his beauty blemished.Now, he continues in power. 1 Peter 5:8 says, “Be sober, be vigilant, your adversary, the devil, goeth about as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour.”Adrian Rogers says, “Satan is a master of camouflage; he works through art, music, literature, and he certainly works through religion. Satan doesn’t want casualties as much as he wants converts.” The devil is the chief terrorist who divides, depresses, and destroys. Behind all wickedness and oppression is Satan, beating the drums of diversion to drown out the truth.But, never forget: God has done something about the devil.Hebrews 2:14 says, “Forasmuch, then, as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also (Jesus) likewise took part of the same, that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil.” The word “destroy” in this passage actually means “to render helpless.”Satan has been stripped, shamed, and subdued. His dominion over the earth has been taken from him and given to those who will put their trust in the Lord Jesus Christ.Adrian Rogers reminds us, “Satan sails a sinking ship; he rules a doomed domain. There’s coming that final, glorious day when Jesus will come and put His bruised heel upon Satan’s head; Satan is headed to the pit.”Apply

Sermon OverviewScripture Reference: Acts 17:16-18The opposition we, as Christians, face in this pagan world is nothing new. In Acts 17, Paul finds himself surrounded by a pagan society in Athens, Greece. Yet, the ones who opposed the Gospel in this passage are much like those who oppose the Gospel now. Paul’s response to this opposition is a picture of standing firm in a pagan world.First, Paul met superstitious idolatry.Acts 17:16 says, “Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry.” An idol is anything you love, serve, fear or trust more than God. Paul saw idolatry everywhere he turned in Athens.Our city and even sometimes our churches are filled with idolatry. There are gods of materialism, alcohol, sex, violence, and even gods of knowledge and wisdom. We all worship something because mankind is incurably religious.Second, Paul faced self-righteous orthodoxy.Verse 17 says, “Therefore disputed he in the synagogue with the Jews, and with the devout persons, and in the market daily with them that met with him.” These religious men had their sterile orthodoxy. They believed in one true God, but they did not know Him; they did not understand that the Old Testament prophecies were fulfilled through Jesus Christ. Adrian Rogers says, “It’ll be a great day in America when people stop enduring religion and start enjoying salvation.”Thirdly, Paul met sophisticated philosophy.Verse 18 says, “Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, encountered him...’” Paul encountered two types of philosophers: the Epicures and the Stoics. Epicureans sought pleasure above anything else. Stoics believed they were victims of fate, that God is in everything and everything is God. If this sounds familiar, it’s because we still encounter people who believe this way.How did Paul deal with this opposition? He expressed confidence in his faith. He simply continued to preach, and reveal that God is a God

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: 1 John 2:18-29The days are growing gloriously dark; the time is ripe for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.1 John 2:18-29 heeds three warnings to us as we near the rapture and Great Tribulation prophesied in the Book of Revelation.First, we are living in the last days, and we need to be awake.“Little children, it is the last time....” (v. 18)Ever since the ascension of Jesus Christ, we have been on the brink of His return. And because the signs of the revelation are here, we know the rapture must be very close.When He raptures His church, He will come secretly, like a thief in the night; we must be spiritually awake.Second, the antichrist is coming, and we need to be aware.“...and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.” (v. 18)There is a wicked, malevolent, ungodly person waiting to be revealed after the rapture of the church; he is called the antichrist. We must be aware that he is devilish, divisive, deceptive, and destructive.Third, our Lord is on His way, and we need to be abiding.“Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye shall also continue in the Son, and in the Father.” (v. 24)While living in the last days, we need to make ourselves at home in the word of God.Now more than ever, we need to appreciate, appropriate, and assimilate Scripture.We must make ourselves at home with the Spirit of God.Adrian Rogers says, “Anything I can talk you into, somebody else can talk you out of; the one who teaches you is the Holy Spirit of God.”Finally, we need to make ourselves at home with the very Son of God.When Jesus comes for us, we shouldn’t have to be formally introduced. Rather, when we see Him face-to-face, it should feel like uniting with someone we’ve known heart-to-heart.Apply it to your lifeThe signs of the upcoming revelation are all around us in these last days. Are you ready for Jesus to co

Sermon OverviewScripture reference: Matthew 24:1-3Mankind has always been fascinated with knowing the future; our only reliable source of prophecy is the Word of God. In Matthew 24, Jesus prophesied His literal, physical return to earth, offering signs of the times and the beginning of the end. “And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.” (v. 2)The temple was the center of Jewish life – spiritually and socially. No one could believe it would ever be desolated. Yet, Jesus had prophesied its destruction and it came to fruition. In response, the disciples ask Jesus three questions: When shall these things be? What shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? (v. 3) Jesus gives them seven marks of the beginning of the end.1. Deceptions of counterfeit christsOne of the marks of the last days will be a time of great deception, in which all the world will be deceived by the antichrist.2. Division of continuing conflictsThe generations to come will see more terrorism, hijackings, bombings, and assassinations than ever before.3. Disasters of cataclysmic consequenceJesus spoke candidly of famine, plagues, and earthquakes.4. Defamation of committed ChristiansReligious persecution will increase, particularly toward those who follow Jesus Christ.5. Distortion of christless cultsAdrian Rogers reiterates G.K. Chesterson’s statement: “When men choose not to believe in God, they do not thereafter believe in nothing, they then become capable of believing in anything.”6. Disposition of carnal coldnessAdrian Rogers says, “When you take away moral limits, you destroy the fire and the glow of true love and you substitute that with the false fire of lust, and theology turns to me-ology.”7. Discharge of Christ’s commissionBefore Jesus left this earth, He commissioned us to take the Gospel to all of the world.Jesus calls these marks “the beginning of sorrow

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Hebrews 13:5-6So many of us do not explore new territories because of our fear of potential opposition. But we can overcome fear when facing the unknown future, particularly a new year.There are four key principles from Hebrews 13:5-6 to help us face the new year without fear:“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?”The Contentment of His ProvisionWe must first be content with what we already possess. Adrian Rogers says, "Contentment is not getting what you want, but it is wanting what you already have."Material things cannot truly satisfy the heart's deepest needs (Ecclesiastes 5:10, Luke 12:15). True satisfaction and security are found in something that can't be tampered with, which is Jesus Christ.The Companionship of His PresenceGod promises not to leave us or forsake us. The Greek translation of this phrase is noted to contain five negatives: "I will never, no not ever, no never leave nor forsake you.”It is clear that God will not abandon, give up on, or leave even one believer as a "helpless orphan". God's presence is a source of solace when discouraged, lonely, or worried.The Confidence of His Promise“For He Himself has said" emphasizes the value of this promise by the identity of the one who makes it: the omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent God. This assurance addresses our fears of lacking strength, facing the unknown, or not knowing what to do. The God of all comfort will be faithful.The Comfort of His ProtectionThe final principle states that contentment, companionship, and confidence in Christ lead to the ability to boldly say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What man can do to me?” (Hebrews 13:6).Although the New Year may bring heartaches and trials, we can rely on God's promises. The original Hebrew Christians faced s

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: 1 Peter 2One of the chief weapons that God has given us is the principle of submission; it is the thing that closes the mouths of those who oppose us and allows us to exercise our kingdom authority.However, what if we experience the problem of unworthy authorities? 1 Peter 2-3 reveals how to submit to godless authority figures.Submission is simply getting under the authority that God has established, not for that authority’s sake, but for God’s sake. Being submissive does not demean us, it exalts us; it makes us like Jesus Christ.This passage recognizes three places in which our submission is needed: the government, the job, and the home.“Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake...” (1 Peter 2:13).We are called to demonstrate a spirit of submission in our social lives, in our churches, and in our politics, for 1 Peter 2:17 confirms, “Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.”We are also instructed to submit in the workforce. Anyone can gripe and rebel against a bad boss, but Christians are held to a higher standard.Adrian Rogers says, “There is no better place for you to demonstrate the power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ if you have an unfair or an ungodly boss.”Third, we’re to submit in the home: “Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands…” (1 Peter 3:1). Women are not inferior to men; however, when a wife voluntarily places herself under her husband, who is her equal, God is glorified.But we must understand that submission doesn’t always mean obedience. All human authority is limited because our ultimate loyalty belongs to God. If there comes a time when someone commands us to do something antithetical to the Word of God, we must obey God rather than men.Adrian Roger says, “Submission does not embolden tyranny, it destroys it. It was the spirit of these early Christians that brought the Roman Empire crashing down. They turned that world upside down because they le

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Luke 2:7-11The Book of Luke describes the beautiful moment Jesus Christ was born in Bethlehem.Luke 2:7 says, “And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.”How fitting that the Lamb of God was born in a stable, for the destiny of the world is wrapped up in Mary’s little lamb.When we think about this Lamb, we should first think of Him in prophecy.It is not incidental that Jesus was born near the fields where shepherds bred sacrificial Passover lambs. The Book of Exodus explains the origin of the Passover tradition, in which the Israelites sacrificed lambs and painted the doors of their homes in lambs’ blood. The lambs had to be spotless in order for the death angel to pass over their homes.After the special lambs were slain, the families would share in a feast, celebrating their atonement.The Passover is an historic portrayal of Jesus; John 1:29 confirms: “The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”” Being born of a virgin, Jesus was sinless, free from the curse of Adam. On our behalf, He became the sacrificial and saving lamb. When we receive salvation in Jesus Christ, we are called to share the feast with others.Jesus is also the victorious Lamb of Revelation 5.In these passages, the Apostle John sees a prophetic vision of the Lamb of God, who was slain for us. He, who was resurrected, now stands strong and omniscient, and He reigns forever.Lastly, Jesus is the majestic Lamb; He alone is worthy of our praise.Adrian Rogers says, “Mary had a little Lamb, His fleece was white as snow. That little Lamb was crucified to pay the debt you owe. If you will receive Him as your Lord and Savior, His scarlet red blood will take away your scarlet red sin and make you whiter than snow.”Apply it to your lifeAs we observe Christ’s birth, may we see Him as the Lamb in pr

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: John 1:1-9Luke 1:78-79 says, “Through the tender mercy of our God, with which the Dayspring from on high has visited us; to give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”Our world is in a desperately dark condition, but thanks be to God, who sent us His Son, Jesus, the Light of the World.There are five things to learn about the light of Jesus Christ:This light is pure.Jesus was in the world, but He was not of the world. Light can never be defiled, no matter what it passes through. Light can expose the vilest, corrupt darkness, but it’s not touched by it.Adrian Rogers says, “This is a wonderful picture of Jesus Christ. He exposes sin, but He is never touched by sin. Jesus could touch sinners, but sin never touched Jesus.”This light is constant.God is absolutely unchangeable. The only thing that is constant in our universe is light. Likewise, in the spiritual realm, Jesus is the one constant.Hebrews 13:8 says, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.”This light is victorious.John 1:5 says, “The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”This light is vital.Jesus is the one who gives life. Light and life are inextricably interwoven; you cannot have life without light.When God first initiated life in this universe, He first commanded, “Let there be light.” (Genesis 1:3) If the sunlight were to disappear, our world would become cold and dark and dead. Likewise, when Jesus came into the world, in Him was life, and that life was the light of Man!If we want to revive our lives, we need the light of Jesus Christ.Finally, this light is glorious.It is full of multifaceted splendors. Pure white light consists of a spectrum of colors, the most gorgeous bouquet in the world. If you take away the light, it has no color. Color is not in objects…it’s in light.Christ is the one who gives glory and joy, and victory. He’s the one who makes this world be