Adrian Rogers

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Luke 22:39-47In Luke 22, Jesus told His disciples about His coming crucifixion at the Last Supper. When He later came to the garden of Gethsemane, He prayed three times: Lord, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me.This wasn’t a literal cup; rather, a symbolic cup, meaning to experience something fully. Was He afraid of His coming crucifixion? Did the cup symbolize the physical pain He would soon feel? What was it that caused Jesus to dread the drinking of that cup? It was sin; every sin through all the ages polluted the cup, as well as the punishment of that sin. It was not the physical pain He would feel that caused Him to plead for another way. No; it was the vileness and filth of sin He would soon take on that caused Him agony. And the silence from heaven said, there is no other way.God will never overlook sin, for He is holy. By His holiness, He has sworn that sin will be punished. So, when Jesus took on our sins, God the Father, in holy justice, treated Jesus as if He were a sinner, and punished Him as such. Jesus knew this, yet He consumed the contents of the cup anyway. He chose it.In His holy humanity, Jesus shrank back. But in His divine love, He said, “Thy will be done.”Jesus wrestled between His holy humanity and His divine love. His love won. Adrian Rogers says, “The cross is God’s way to punish sin and forgive the sinner at the same time.”There is one more cup, one that we drink. Just before Jesus went into Gethsemane, Jesus was at last supper with his disciples. He told them: this is the New Testament in my blood. Drink it.This is the cup of communion, and it is ours to drink.He drank the cup of sin that we might have the cup of redemption.Apply it to your lifeHave you accepted the cup of communion? Have you wrestled with submitting your will to the Father? Can you truly say, “Not my will, but Yours be done?”Adrian Rogers says, “As I look at dark Gethsemane, there are two things it tells me. Number one, I want t

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Luke 22:39-47In Luke 22, Jesus told His disciples about His coming crucifixion at the Last Supper. When He later came to the garden of Gethsemane, He prayed three times: Lord, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me.This wasn’t a literal cup; rather, a symbolic cup, meaning to experience something fully. Was He afraid of His coming crucifixion? Did the cup symbolize the physical pain He would soon feel? What was it that caused Jesus to dread the drinking of that cup? It was sin; every sin through all the ages polluted the cup, as well as the punishment of that sin. It was not the physical pain He would feel that caused Him to plead for another way. No; it was the vileness and filth of sin He would soon take on that caused Him agony. And the silence from heaven said, there is no other way.God will never overlook sin, for He is holy. By His holiness, He has sworn that sin will be punished. So, when Jesus took on our sins, God the Father, in holy justice, treated Jesus as if He were a sinner, and punished Him as such. Jesus knew this, yet He consumed the contents of the cup anyway. He chose it.In His holy humanity, Jesus shrank back. But in His divine love, He said, “Thy will be done.”Jesus wrestled between His holy humanity and His divine love. His love won. Adrian Rogers says, “The cross is God’s way to punish sin and forgive the sinner at the same time.”There is one more cup, one that we drink. Just before Jesus went into Gethsemane, Jesus was at last supper with his disciples. He told them: this is the New Testament in my blood. Drink it.This is the cup of communion, and it is ours to drink.He drank the cup of sin that we might have the cup of redemption.Apply it to your lifeHave you accepted the cup of communion? Have you wrestled with submitting your will to the Father? Can you truly say, “Not my will, but Yours be done?”Adrian Rogers says, “As I look at dark Gethsemane, there are two things it tells me. Number one, I want t

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Ruth 4The story of Ruth begins with a funeral and ends with a wedding; it begins with weeping but ends with joy. Ruth and Boaz’s story is a beautiful picture of Jesus Christ’s redeeming love for the Church. Ruth 4 shares a picture of our salvation in Jesus Christ, our kinsman Redeemer.First, this passage gives an illustration of our redeeming Lord.Ruth 4:4 explains the law in the land: Following her first husband’s death, Ruth’s estate had been sold and she was left in a dire circumstance. As a near relative of her deceased husband, Boaz assumed Ruth as his wife and bought back the estate that was sold, becoming what’s called a “kinsman redeemer.”Jesus Christ became our near kinsman when He stepped out of eternity and into our world to assume responsibility over us. Legally worthy, He bought back what was lost when sin entered the world. A man of wealth, Boaz was able to sufficiently buy back the estate. Jesus paid an even greater price for us than Boaz paid for Ruth: His own life.Boaz also displays a loving willingness to redeem Ruth, as Jesus was willing to redeem us.Adrian Rogers says, “He does not love us because we’re valuable; we’re valuable because He loves us.”This passage also gives a picture of our renewed life.Ruth was a woman from a pagan land, hopelessly stuck in a terrible circumstance; she is a picture of us all, plagued by sin, sorrow, and death.Boaz’s willingness to redeem her changed everything; even more so, Jesus took on our sin and shame and changed everything for us.Finally, the passage reminds us of our restored legacy.Ruth received a new family, great fortune, and fame in the land of Bethlehem. She was fruitful, noted as the grandmother of King David, becoming part of the ancestry of Jesus Christ.Without Jesus, we are strangers to the covenants of promise, without hope. But because Jesus has redeemed us, we have a new family, fortune, and fame.With the Holy Spirit, we are fruitful and have a bright future ah

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Ruth 3In the Book of Ruth, Ruth and Boaz’s love story is an illustration of Jesus Christ and the Church, His Bride. The advice Ruth received from her mother-in-law in chapter 3 reveals five ways to draw closer to Jesus.“Therefore wash yourself and anoint yourself, put on your best garment and go down to the threshing floor…” (Ruth 3:3).First, if we want to draw near to God, we must be freshly cleansed.We’re cleansed by the Word of God, which shows us what we are and reveals the defilement and dirt within us. We’re also cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ, who is faithful to forgive us of our sins when we confess them.Second, we must be fragrantly consecrated.Ruth’s anointing was a sweet perfume; our anointing is the Holy Spirit, who makes our lives like incense to God.Third, we must be fitly clothed.Ruth was instructed to wear her best garments. Likewise, we are instructed to put on garments of salvation we’ve received through Christ.Fourth, we must be fully committed.“Then it shall be, when he lies down, that you shall notice the place where he lies; and you shall go in, uncover his feet, and lie down; and he will tell you what you should do” (Ruth 3:4).By placing herself at Boaz’s feet, Ruth told Boaz that if he is willing, she will accept him as her Redeemer husband. In the same way, we must sit at the feet of Jesus and fully commit our lives to Him.Finally, we must be faithfully compliant.As Naomi told Ruth to obey Boaz, we are called to not only hear the Word of God but obey it. Boaz received Ruth, reassured her, and replenished her with more barley than she could carry.When we draw near to our Redeemer, we’ll find ourselves received and reassured by His love, and see that He will replenish us with abundantly more than we could ask for.Apply it to your lifeIf you want to draw near to Jesus, be cleansed and surrender to the Holy Spirit. Clothe yourself in salvation, commit and comply with whatever He tells you to do.

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Ruth 2After losing her husband in a pagan land, Ruth made the wise choice to stay with her mother-in-law and continue worshiping the one true God. God honored her choice and lavished His amazing grace upon her by way of Boaz.Ruth 2:1 says, “There was a relative of Naomi’s husband, a man of great wealth, of the family of Elimelech. His name was Boaz…”The love story of Ruth and Boaz is a beautiful portrait of Jesus Christ’s love for the Church.First, this story reminds us of God’s saving grace.Because of her husband’s death, the law of the land claimed a curse upon Ruth. Boaz, a mighty man of great wealth, was a close kinsman of Ruth’s family. If willing, he could redeem her from financial bankruptcy and provide for Ruth in her weakened condition.Adrian Rogers says, “The law excluded her, but grace included her.”In the same way, Jesus is our near kinsman who willingly took on flesh and blood to be made like us in order to redeem us.Second, this grace is sovereign: the unseen hand of God brought Ruth to Himself.As a young, penniless widow, Ruth went to work in Boaz’s fields just in time for the barley harvest. Ruth showed up in the fields at the exact right time because God is sovereign, and He has a plan.Third, this grace was a seeking grace; once he saw her in the fields, Boaz took the initiative.God has taken the initiative with us, and continues to seek us through Scripture, our sufferings, and His servants.This was also a satisfying grace; throughout Ruth 2, we see Boaz looking out for Ruth’s needs as she worked the fields.This mimics how God satisfies our every need and provides for His children to further His kingdom.Finally, this was a securing grace; Boaz charged the other men of the field not to touch her.Ruth was now safe and secure under the watchful protection of her kinsman redeemer. And in Jesus Christ, we are not only saved and satisfied; we are forever secure.Apply it to your lifeRuth was not placed in the fields of Bo

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Ruth 1In the midst of some of the darkest days recorded in Scripture, we are given a love story: Ruth’s love story, one which counts for all of eternity. The Book of Ruth is a beautiful example of how decisions determine destiny.First, this story reveals the principle of willing choice.Ruth 1:1-2 states that in the midst of a famine in Bethlehem, Elimelech led his family (including Ruth) into the pagan land Moab, which proved to be a deadly decision. We are the sum total of our decisions: we are free to choose, but we are not free not to choose; nor are we free to choose the consequences of our choices.Adrian Rogers says, “First you make your choice, and then your choice chooses for you.”Second, this story reveals the problems of a wrong choice.Elimelech made the wrong choice because he had the wrong motive. He was physically motivated rather than spiritually motivated: seeking refuge from famine in a cursed land.He also chose the wrong method: walking by sight and not by faith. And to his demise, he served the wrong master by dwelling in enemy territory. This wrong choice resulted in tragic consequences, as Elimelech and his two sons died, leaving Naomi, Orpha, and Ruth as vulnerable widows.But this story also reveals the power of a wise choice.After Naomi urged her daughters-in-law to return to their homelands, Ruth’s decision changed the entire trajectory of her life.“But Ruth said: ‘Entreat me not to leave you, or to turn back from following after you; for wherever you go, I will go; and wherever you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God, my God’” (Ruth 1:16).Ruth was a cursed, crushed, and condemned woman. But she was given a new hope because she decided to hold onto the God of her late husband’s family—even in their disobedience and their doubt. She was given new direction, dependence, and desires. Her wise choice brought on new devotion to God, a new dedication to Naomi, and a new destiny.As a resu

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: John 13:34The greatest need of mankind is to love and to be loved. Yet, it’s getting harder to do so than ever before. As Christians, we have been instructed to love as Jesus loved.John 13:34 says, "A new commandment I give unto you that ye love one another as I have loved you that ye also love one another." This commandment is easy to consider for those who are easy to love… but what about the ones who have hurt us, misused us or wronged us?Not only was Jesus the great teacher, He was the great example.As Jesus gave this commandment, He washed His disciples’ feet: a timely custom performed by slaves. He washed Judas’s feet, who would later betray Him. He washed Peter’s feet, the disciple who would later deny Him. And He washed Thomas’s feet, who would later doubt Him.Here is the Lord of glory doing slave labor… unto the very people who would let Him down.By doing this, He exemplified selfless love. He exemplified humility. Adrian Rogers says, “Real humility is not thinking lowly of yourself; it is not thinking of yourself.” God the Father had put everything into Jesus’ hands, yet he laid aside his garments, took a towel and washed fishermen’s feet.Jesus also exemplified steadfast love; He loves unto the end. If you want to love as Jesus loves, you’ll never stop. We love sometimes, but we only do so when everything is just right. Under pressure, we excuse ourselves from it. But even the unsaved can love that way! Adrian Rogers says, “Your character that cannot stand up under pressure and under testing is not real.”Jesus exemplified serving love. He met injury with service. Love does not give people what they deserve; it gives people what they need. Love is willing to serve at the lowest of tasks.Jesus exemplified sanctifying love.Those of us who are saved walk in a dirty world. Sometimes, we need to let Jesus wash our feet, to remind us of His love. Then, we may go and wash the feet of others.Apply it to your lifeAre you willing to

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Acts 2:1-4The Day of Pentecost in Acts 2 marked the birth of the Church, and the burst of the Holy Flame that is the Holy Spirit. One of the most important things we can do is learn how to keep our spiritual fire burning.Acts 2:1-4 says, “When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”In this passage, the Holy Spirit was symbolized by sound, fire, and the speaking of tongues. These miracles illustrated the mighty power and the filling of the Spirit of God.Adrian Rogers says, “Bethlehem is God with us, Calvary is God for us, Pentecost is God in us.”Pentecost teaches us that as children of God, we are baptized and sealed into the Body of Christ as the Spirit dwells in us. And when we are filled with the Spirit, it acts as a Holy Flame: it illumines, consumes, transforms, empowers, and attracts us.There are four ways to keep this fire burning.First, don’t lie to the Spirit; the example of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5 shows that lying to Him is like playing with fire: we will get burned.Second, don’t grieve the Spirit. The Holy Spirit loves us so much that His heart is broken by our unconfessed sin. We grieve Him when we allow unrepented sin to remain in our lives.Third, don’t quench the Spirit; we must be sensitive to this guiding, God-sent Spirit because it is so easily quenched when we aren’t obedient. When God’s Spirit speaks to us, we should be quick to answer Him.Finally, we must be completely committed to Him. We must give Him continual control, constantly claiming Him as Lord.Adrian Rogers says, “Where the Spirit is Lord, there’s liberty.”Apply it to your li

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Genesis 12:1Faith is the distinguishing mark of the Christian. The way to live the Christian life is by faith. In fact, before followers of Jesus were ever called “Christians,” they were called “Believers.” It is our chief duty to exercise our belief in Jesus.But it is not enough to simply believe. Faith is believing the word of God and acting on it.We are reminded of this through the faith of Abraham. Abraham received a word from God and acted upon it. He left his home and followed God to a new land.So when our faith seems to be broken, how do we repair it? It begins with Repentance.Adrian Rogers said, “You cannot live in your old way of life and think at the same time you can live by faith.”Is there something you are still holding onto from your life before Jesus? Something you idolize? Anything you love more, serve more, fear more, trust more than God is an idol. Repent. Crush the idols in your life. Turn your hearts back to God.After repentance comes remembrance, remembering…-the One who brought you to the new land-the One who saves you is powerful enough to keep you-the One who meets every spiritual need will meet every material need-the One who holds eternity, holds next week, too.The God of the big things is the God of the small details, too.Finally, there is restoration. Once Abraham repented, God did not remember Abraham’s sin. God remembered his faith. When we live in faith, God will not remember our iniquities.Following the restoration of our faith comes the opportunity to be a blessing to others. We cannot abhor the blessings in our lives, we are meant to pour them out. Adrian Rogers said, “God wants you to be a river of revival, not a reservoir of blessings.”We should pray to be used as a blessing in other people’s lives. That’s the reward of faith.Apply it to your lifeFaith isn’t just believing. It is acting on your belief. So, if you want to be blessed in your faith, pray today for an opportunity to be a blessing in s

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

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Hebrews 11:1-2If there is ever a time that we need faith in Almighty God, it is now. However, we don’t just need to possess faith, we need faith to possess us.Adrian Rogers said, “The law says run, but it gives us no legs; faith says fly, and it gives us wings.Hebrews 11 and 12 are great faith chapters.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.”This passage first explains the demands of faith.Faith is not positive thinking or a feeling of optimism. It is an agreement with God that becomes an attitude of trust, which leads to action. It is the substance of things hoped for, and evidence of things not seen.Adrian Rogers said, “Faith is your ability to make present substance out of future reality. Faith reaches out into the future and brings the future into the present. It takes the unseen and makes it real in your heart and life.”This passage also reveals the dynamics of our faith.“By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible” (Hebrews 11:3).Only after we accept God through faith will we receive the spiritual wisdom to understand His works. Faith is necessary for our ability to worship; the heart will respond to the character of God when it is made right by faith.Faith is also the source of our spiritual wealth; it is the medium of exchange in the kingdom of God—not fame or fortune.Finally, this passage reveals how to develop our faith.It cannot be manufactured or worked up; rather, it must be imparted.Hebrews 12:1-2 explains that we must be saturated with Scripture, reading the Bible daily, because God gave it to us to build our faith.We must also get rid of the things that ensnare us and repent of our unconfessed sins, completely dedicating ourselves to Jesus Christ.Finally, as we run the spiritual race set before us, we must

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Romans 15-16We are saved to serve the Body of Christ; each of us is called to be ministers and servants of the Lord Jesus. Romans 15-16 reveals six ministries each believer is called to undertake.The first ministry is encouragement.“Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus, that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 15:5-6).We are instructed to encourage one another, to patiently lift each other up. We must fix our eyes on God and begin to love and serve one another.We’ve also been called to evangelism.Jesus came to seek and save what was lost. Romans 15:16, reiterates, “that I might be a minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God...”We’re called to the ministry of giving.We’re called to invest in things that count, which are the souls of men. We are debtors to the Apostles, to the martyrs of the faith, to the blood of Jesus Christ. It should bring us joy to give back to the Church that has lavished spiritual blessings upon us.We’re called to the ministry of prayer.In Romans 15:30, Paul asked the believers to pray for his protection, because he knew how crucial prayer is to anything we do.Adrian Rogers says, “You can do more than pray after you’ve prayed, but you can’t do much more than pray until you’ve prayed.”We’re called to the ministry of fellowship.Romans 16 shows how Believers minister by receiving and greeting people. We minister by loving, helping, and honoring people.We guard the fellowship against false doctrine to keep it pure. How sweet it is when brothers and sisters dwell together in fellowship.Finally, we are each called to the ministry of worship.“...to God, alone wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever. Amen” (Romans 16:27).We rejoice knowing there’s never been a better day to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Think of what could happen if we began to

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Romans 14:19The Book of Romans offers a sure word for an unsure age and calls for unity in a divided world. Jesus wants unity in His Church because togetherness is to our great advantage as believers and the thing our enemy dreads most.When we are anointed by the Holy Spirit as one body, pursuing the things that make for peace among us, the Church is unstoppable.Romans 14:19 says, “Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another.”Unity is a matter of lordship.Earlier in Romans 14, Paul addresses disputes within the Roman church over diets and holy days. Paul urges believers not to divide over incidentals, but to devote themselves to one another. Paul tells them to receive their weaker brothers or sisters because their salvation is from God. Their service, security, and stewardship are found in Him alone. Rather than judging one another, Paul reminds them that we all answer to God, and only He is able to make us stand.Unity is also a matter of liberty.As Romans 14:17 says, “...for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” Liberty has its rights, but it also bears its responsibilities.Adrian Rogers says, “It is wrong for people in church to take their liberties and try to make such rights out of them that they wound the fellowship.” Many things we consider fundamental in church are in fact incidental. We must recognize them as such and choose to love each other over our own preferences.Finally, unity is a matter of love.Unity ignites love within the Church, and love will do many things for our fellowship. Love keeps our brothers from stumbling; it does not give reason for sorrow or separation. Love maintains unity in the Church and dispels reason for suspicion.Romans 14:22 says, “Do you have faith? Have it to yourself before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves.”Love covers all offenses, and

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Romans 13:11-14In Romans 13:11-14, the Apostle Paul sounds the alarm to let us know that the enemy is near.As we see anarchy in this world, apostasy in the church and apathy in our pews, this wake-up call for the Church is as urgent today as it was when Paul first wrote it.“And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light” (Romans 13:11-12).It’s later in this age than we may think. We only have so many more days and hours yet to serve Jesus. There are unparalleled opportunities to preach the Gospel today that we will not get back. We cannot roll over and yawn in the face of God; it's time to wake up.It’s also time to clean up. Romans 13:13 says, “Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy.”This passage tells us to put off carousing, sexual immorality, shamelessness, and covetousness. In an un-blushable generation that boasts in its sin, we are called to a higher standard of clean living.Finally, it’s time to dress up: “But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts” (Romans 13:14).Lord means Master: when we put Him on, He will give us direction in the way we should go.Jesus means Savior: in this vile world, Jesus is the only one who can deliver us from evil.Christ means King: He rules over us, and when we wear Him, He teaches us how to rule in this life.In this world, we must wear Jesus like a robe of righteousness, making no provision for the flesh. If we let Him, He will cover our sorrows and tears, our failures and shame.Apply it to your lifeThe hour is late; don’t pull the cover over your head and press snooze; it’s time to wake up, clean up, and dress up.Adrian Rogers says, “Life is too short,

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Romans 13:1-7What does the Bible say about Christian citizenship? What are our responsibilities, duties, and rights? What are Christians to do, to think, and how are we instructed to behave?Many Christian citizens shy away from political involvement for various reasons. Some are discouraged, and others are intimidated or annoyed. But Romans 13:1-7 encourages us first to look at the reasons for human government.The Bible tells us that human government is ordained by God. Daniel 2:21 says, “He [the Lord] removes kings and raises up kings." God ordains human government for two reasons: to restrain evil and to reward good.Romans 13 also outlines the requirements for human government. And in Matthew 22, Jesus tells the people, “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s” (Matthew 22:21).As Christians, our responsibility is, first and foremost, to God; but we do have a responsibility to human government. Adrian Rogers says, “Separation of church and state does not mean the separation of God and government.” The government is here to restrain evil. The church is here to preach the Gospel. The state is not the master of the church, and the church is not the master of the state. The church is the conscience of the state. We are here to hold up a standard of truth.There are six duties Christian citizens have concerning our government.Pay our government: Jesus paid His taxes; we ought to do likewise.Pray for our government: Adrian Rogers says, “The greatest responsibility in America is not in the White House but in the church house.”Praise our government: We are to give honor to whom honor is due.Preach to our country: Adrian Rogers says, “We dare not identify the Christian faith with the Democrat or the Republican Party. We need to be free to tell both parties to repent and get right with God.”Participate in our government: Christians are to participate, not on the basis of parties, but princ

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: James 1:19Adrian Rogers says, “We’re in the business of serving the Lord, and God has given to every one of us a ministry.”As we mature in our faith, we are called to find our place of service. The days we’re living are desperate; it’s time we discover our individual ministry to serve the Body of Christ.Romans 12 offers four principles to remember when discovering our ministry.The first principle is lordship.Romans 12:1 says, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.”Before we ask God for answers about our ministry, we must present ourselves for His service. We must remember that He has shown tremendous mercy, that when we were rebels, God saved and secured us. We are required to present ourselves to Him as living sacrifices. As a result, we will be transformed. When we present ourselves as living sacrifices, our inner nature, which is Jesus, comes to the surface and people see Him through us. With our minds renewed to look like Christ’s, we are able to make assessments that we could never make before. We are able to think, not with human rationality, nor human intellect or intuition, but with divine guidance.The second principle is membership.“…so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another…” (Romans 12:5).Many of us don’t know our ministry, because we’ve looked for it outside of the Body of Christ. We need each other, and to say otherwise is sheer pride and arrogance.The third principle is stewardship.“Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them…” (Romans 12:6).We are stewards over the gifts God has given us; we must use them wherever and however God guides us.The final principle is fellowship.“Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another...” (Romans 12:10).If we abide by th

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Romans 11:36Everything begins with God. He is the source of all things, and everything leads back to Him. Everywhere we look, we see that Jesus is the power, preserver, and purpose of creation. Romans 11:36 says, “For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.”When we understand that prayer is a cycle—that, like everything else in this world, it revolves around Jesus—we will learn the secret of effectual prayer.The origin of prayer is rooted in the purposes of God.God has given us the privilege of working with Him. Prayer creates a special bond with our Creator, who designed us to depend upon Him.Prayer is also God’s way of disciplining us; any prayer that is not rooted in God’s will does not come to fruition.Adrian Rogers says, “Prayer does not bend God’s will to fit our will; prayer finds the will of God and gets in on it.”The operation of prayer relies on the power of God.God gives us the desire to pray; as sinful creatures, we have a natural inclination not to pray. Once we are saved, God puts His Spirit in our hearts which stirs up the desire to pray.He also gives us direction in our prayers: guiding us in what we should ask for and leading us to know the will of God.We can’t conjure up faith, or make ourselves believe by our own strength. The dynamic of faith comes by hearing the Word of God; when He speaks in our alone time with Him, our faith grows.Finally, the objective of prayer is the praise of God.The purpose of prayer is to glorify God. When we become interested in His glory over our own personal glory, we’ll see our prayers answered.Adrian Rogers says, “Prayer goes into God’s presence to carry something away. Praise goes into God’s presence just to stay there forever and ever.”Apply it to your lifeThe secret of effectual prayer is that it happens by God, through God, and to God. Spend some time in prayer today and ask God to direct your prayers, so that you may know His Will. Spen

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Romans 11:1Because Israel is God’s chosen nation, it is the center of prophecy, of the approaching storm, of peace and glory.No matter how bleak it may seem for Israel in these gloriously dark days, God does not break His promises or alter His Word. He has not forgotten His covenant with Israel.In Romans 11, Paul recognizes five reasons God is not through with the Jews.First, there is coming a day when Israel will see Jesus as Paul did on His way to Damascus. As Paul became a witness to the nations of the world, so will the Jews.Adrian Rogers says, “If you don’t think that Israel can come to Christ, you don’t understand the power of God. The same power that convicted the apostle Paul is the power that will bring the Jews to Jesus.”Second, God always has a remnant according to His grace; He is the One who preserves Israel, nationally and personally. Because of God’s promises, the Jewish faith is indestructible.Third, God has a magnificent plan to bring back Israel, which has fallen away. By providing their salvation and allowing them to live godly lives, God uses the Gentiles to show the Jews the joy, love, faith, and victory we have in Christ.Romans 11:11 says, “I say then, have they stumbled that they should fall? Certainly not! But through their fall, to provoke them to jealousy, salvation has come to the Gentiles.”Israel is not simply a reservoir into which God pours His blessings; Israel is His pipeline through which God dispersed His blessings.Fourth, God will continue to keep His promises to Abraham, in whom the Jewish race is rooted. Romans 11:16 says, “For if the firstfruit is holy, the lump is also holy; and if the root is holy, so are the branches.”Finally, God will consummate His purpose with the Jews in His time, through His Son, and according to His Word. His plan will be enacted by His grace, for His glory. Jews who trust in God are the true Israel and they will be saved.Apply it to your lifeThese are exciting days, as

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

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

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Romans 9As followers of Jesus, our greatest mission in this life is the pursuit of lost souls. Adrian Rogers says, “We are to evangelize or we will fossilize.”In the Book of Romans, the Apostle Paul expresses sincere, steadfast, and sacrificial concern for lost souls. In Romans 9:1-2, he says, “I tell the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit, that I have great sorrow and continual grief in my heart.”Are some predestined for Hell? Absolutely not! There are three things we need to know about the character and nature of God that will bring our theology into sharp focus.We first need to recognize God’s sovereign choices. In this passage, Paul uses the Jewish nation to explain the concept of God’s sovereignty. Jews are God’s chosen people; they have been given a name of honor, adoption, glory, covenants, law, service, promises, and the coming Messiah. The purpose of God’s choice is not for salvation, but for service. His choice also deals with preference. God has preferences for nations, but He does not predestine individuals for Hell.Second, we need to know God’s spotless character: “What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? Certainly not!” (Romans 9:14) Despite what we may feel about His sovereign choices, God answers to no one and He owes us nothing but judgment.Yet, God pardons according to His sovereign will; He has decided to show us mercy when we don’t deserve it. It is not rooted in our merit but in His mercy. Punishment is according to man’s stubborn wickedness.God has every right to punish sin because He is God. But God does not create people in order to destroy them. If we want mercy, God will give us mercy. But if we harden our hearts, God will further harden our hearts.Finally, we need to be certain of God’s steadfast concern. He wants us to have salvation. If we want to be saved, He will save us, and keep us and present us spotless before His throne.Apply

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Romans 8:28-39The Bible says there is no good person, not one. (See Romans 3:10.) Every good thing we have is due to the grace of God, in spite of our sins. Romans 8 explains why good things happen to bad people, to sinners like us.First, we are graced by His purpose.Romans 8:28-29 says, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.” God’s eternal purpose is to make us more like Jesus, and we can rest assured that His purpose will be fulfilled. God will complete the work He begins.Second, we are guided by His providence.God does not will evil, but even when man does evil, God is still in control and will use it for good.Third, we are guarded by His power.Romans 8:31-35 shows that because God is for us, the enemy cannot intimidate us. And because God loved us so much that He sacrificed His own Son, He will not deprive us of anything we need.Adrian Rogers says, “If He would give the great gift of Jesus while we were sinners, what’s He going to do for us now that we’re His children? If He gave the greatest gift when we didn’t even ask, what will He give for asking? If He gave Jesus, would He withhold anything else?”The devil will try to incriminate and condemn us for our sins, but God has already paid our debt in full; now, we can never be separated from His love.Finally, we are gladdened by His presence.Romans 8:38-39 says, “For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”Because of God’s purposes, providence, power, and presence, good things can happen to bad people like us.Apply it to your lifeAs you study

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

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

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Romans 8:11, 18The resurrection of Jesus Christ is what turns every hurt into a hallelujah. And that same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead now dwells in us.Adrian Rogers says, “It is Easter that turns every tear to a pearl. It is Easter that turns every midnight to a sunrise. It is Easter that turns every Calvary to a resurrection.”If we want to turn our hurts into hallelujahs, we must first consider our guilt. In His love for us, God gave us free will. Because we choose to sin, we are condemned according to the law of the Bible.But through Christ’s death and resurrection, we experience grace instead. Romans 8:1 says, “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.” Jesus has freed us from the law of sin and death. There is no more condemnation for our sin, nor can it control us.However, though we have been freed from the curse of sin, we can still feel the hurt of it.Romans 8:18 says, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”All of creation groans as a symptom that there is something wrong with this fallen world. Christians groan, for we are not immune to suffering, and there is a lot of it in our world today. We live in a cursed world with other sinners, in bodies that have the curse of sin upon them. And even though we have been saved, we still choose to do wrong and God must chastise us in love.But there is comfort in knowing the Comforter groans, too. God sees our pain, and the Holy Spirit intercedes for us when we hurt so badly, we don’t know what to pray for.Finally, we must remember that we’ve been prepared, predestined, and preserved for glory—that is the Gospel.Because of Easter, no foe or fault can condemn us, and no fear can conquer us.Apply it to your lifeAre you facing suffering of any kind, or a hurt you want to turn into a hall

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Romans 8:9The distinguishing mark of a Christian is the Holy Spirit in him. We can know a person has been saved if the Holy Spirit dwells in him. Romans 8:9 says, “But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.”This passage describes the Holy Spirit as the Spirit of life, of Christ, and of adoption. And if we want to get to know our best friend, the Holy Spirit, we must understand the ways He ministers to us.As the Spirit of life, He gives us life. The people who are truly saved live by the impartation of life, while the unsaved live a mere imitation of life. Our spirit is the part of our nature that enables us to know God. We are spiritual corpses until God breathes His Spirit into us. From that moment on, God’s Spirit bears witness to ours that we are children of God.Second, the Holy Spirit in us glorifies the Lord. His Spirit is called the Spirit of Christ. It is Jesus in us who is the Holy Spirit; His presence in us glorifies God.Adrian Rogers says, “If you want to know whether a person has the Holy Spirit, don’t ask him to speak with tongues, ask if he is like Jesus.”Third, He is called the Spirit of adoption. When we get saved, we are spiritually adopted into the family of God. Romans 8:15 says, “For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.”The Holy Spirit guarantees our legacy as children of God. He is there to attest to and make real what legally transpired when we became sons and daughters of God. By law, a man could disinherit a natural son, but he could not legally disinherit an adopted son.By adopting us into His family, God has locked himself into this new relationship with us. We not only have a new relationship, but we also have a new assurance and a new certainty of our riches as co-heirs with Christ.Apply it to your lif

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Romans 7:1-4There seems to be a gap between what the Bible says we are in Christ and what we are in reality. We are called to be victors, yet so many of us live as victims.Adrian Rogers says, “We need not to make the Bible match our lives but to make our lives match the Bible.” We must appropriate what God has already provided for us and learn to possess our possessions.Romans 7:4 says, “Therefore, my brethren, you also have become dead to the law through the body of Christ, that you may be married to another—to Him who was raised from the dead, that we should bear fruit to God.”By nature, we're married to the law, and it makes demands upon us that we cannot meet, no matter how hard we try. But when Jesus Christ died, we died with Him and became dead to the law. His death, burial, and resurrection had our name on it, and now we have a new life as the Bride of Christ.The first step is to learn how to die and start living. We will never possess our possessions until we come to the end of ourselves.Adrian Rogers says, “The reason that so many of us are not filled with the Spirit is we're so stuffed full of ourselves, there's not room for the Spirit.” We must go through something to get to something; we must go through death to ourselves to get to the victorious life.The second step is to stop trying and start trusting. Even after we are saved, we cannot keep the law of God in our own strength. We will fail over and over again, because it is in our nature to sin. But because we are the Bride of Christ, every demand upon our life is a demand upon Jesus, who lives in us. He is able to cover the multitude of our sins and deliver us from the law of sin and death. We can quit crying and start praising, for now in Jesus, we have the law of the Spirit.Apply it to your lifeWhat would your life look like if you learned to possess your possessions—to appropriate what God has already provided? Learn dying and begin to live; stop trying and start t

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

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

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Matthew 7:24-27Life, in its very nature, is tragic; sooner or later, we all must weather the storms of life. The difference between a life built on the Word of God, and one that isn’t, lies underground.Before the bottom falls out of life, we must examine the foundation.In Matthew 7, Jesus describes two houses: one built on a rock, and the other built on sand. We do not see the differences between the houses until the storm comes. The results remind us why we must build our lives on the solid rock of Jesus Christ.Matthew 7:24 says, “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock…”This passage reminds us to make sure our spiritual house is a sturdy building.There are two things necessary to have a firm foundation: hearing and heeding to the Word of God.The grace of God alone is what saves us; but someone who truly believes that will obey the Word of God. If they do not, their faith is a profitless profession and a barren belief.Adrian Rogers says, “While we are saved by faith alone, the faith that saves is never alone.”Once we hear the Word, we must do what it says, otherwise, our faith is dead. (See James 1:22.) Living by the Word of God is what sets the rock-builders apart from the sand-builders.After we’ve established a sturdy building, we must expect a stormy blast.Matthew 7:25 says, “...and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.”Storms come to every life, saved or lost. But we must remember that God has not abandoned us in the storm. Remember Peter and Judas, two of Jesus’ disciples? Both were entrusted with responsibilities in Jesus’ ministry—but their differences run deep.When the storm came, both disciples caved in different ways. However, Peter—despite his failings—had a foundation that Judas did not have. Peter experienced the steadfast blessing of a solid

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Matthew 7:15-23Wolves are the most dreaded and hated enemy of the shepherd because of their danger and deception.Matthew 7:15-16a says, “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits…”It is wise to heed to the Lord’s warning about false prophets and to beware of wolves that come to us in sheep’s clothing.First, we must remember the fleece they wear.Wolves come disguised in sheep’s clothing, appearing to be part of the flock. Jude 11 mentions three wolves found in Scripture: Cain, Balaam, and Korah.Cain represents those who pervert the Gospel.In Genesis 4, Cain murdered his brother Abel out of jealousy. Abel, who understood the things of God, pleased Him with a blood sacrifice. Cain did not understand the things of God, and instead, brought the fruit of the ground (his own efforts).Balaam represents those who prostitute the Gospel.In Numbers 22-25, the very gifted prophet Balaam exploited the message of God for his personal advantage. This story isn’t about paying vocational ministers; rather it is a warning to those who will do anything for personal gain.Korah represents those who protest the Gospel.In Numbers 1, Korah did not respect the authority of God’s appointed prophet and priest. He rallied others to defy the prophetic message and priestly mediator. False prophets seek to replace the truth with false religion, but like Korah, they stand on shaky ground; God is not pleased and will not be replaced.We must also identify false prophets by the fruit they bear.No matter how beautiful the tree is, there is no hiding bad fruit. Likewise, a false prophet can only deceive for so long before the fruits of his life reveal what’s inside.Adrian Rogers says, “It is the root that determines the fruit, but it’s the fruit that reveals the root.”Finally, a wolf can be revealed by the faith he shares.Miraculous performances and good works do not replace s

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Matthew 7:13-14The Holy Highway is the straight and narrow path we are called to journey on.Matthew 7:13-14 says, “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.”First, these verses show us there is a decision to face.Out of all the paths we could choose in life, there are really only two ways we can go: the broad way or the narrow way.God does not categorize us according to our status or economic class—He divides us up by the path we’ve chosen. He sees whether or not we are following Jesus on the narrow pathway.Because of God’s great love, we have the freedom to choose. But there’s no such thing as not making a decision—even the decision not to decide is a decision (and not a good one). We cannot choose the consequences of our choice. We will all face the good or bad outcomes of our decisions, so we must choose carefully.Once we’ve decided to walk on the straight and narrow, there is a direction to follow.The narrow way is a disciplined way. There is no easy, cheap, or lazy way to serve Jesus.While salvation is free, discipleship is costly; but without discipline, there is no power. It is a different way; don’t expect crowds to be on the straight and narrow.Adrian Rogers says, “It starts at a different source, it follows a different course, and it ends at a different conclusion.”Though it goes against the tide most times, it is a delightful way. Only those who are living clean and certain lives can experience the joy of walking with Jesus Christ; on the journey, we become even more cheerful and confident in our faith.Finally, there is a destiny to find at the end of the way.No matter fearful or fabulous—life or death—it is final. It all depends on which path we chose today.Apply it to your lifeHave you made your decision to walk the straight and n

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Matthew 7:7-11Adrian Rogers says, “There is no substitute for prayer.” The key to the vault of all of God’s treasure is prayer. The power of prevailing prayer is the greatest unused and untapped resource on Earth.In Matthew 7:7-8, Jesus says, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.”First, there is a promise to claim.Our Heavenly Father knows our needs before we can even ask. We do not pray to impress God, or inform Him of anything He does not already know. We pray to invite God to work in our hearts and in our lives. God can do anything He wants without us, but we can’t do anything without Him. He wants our participation, and enjoys it when we delight in working and abiding in Him as well. (See John 15:4-5.)Prayer also develops us and causes growth.When we pray and it doesn’t seem to come, we turn to Scripture and seek the face of God like never before. God doesn’t want us to live independently of Him. Dependence on God leads to intimacy and a stronger bond than ever before.This passage shows us the process to follow in prayer: Ask, seek, knock.Our responsibility is the asking; God’s responsibility is the giving. Any desire that concerns us can be brought to God in prayer. When praying, we are on a quest to discover what the Lord wants for us. We must seek the purposes of God and discern whether we are asking for the right things.We must be determined: prayer is knocking on closed doors. God’s answers are direct, different, or denied; but they could also be delayed for our own growth and good. If that is the case, we have to keep knocking. We cannot stop until we have the answer, and God has given us that assurance.So, we can enjoy His provision. We are assured that God will answer our prayers, because God is good, He is wise, and He is able.Apply it to your lifeAre you waiting for

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Matthew 7:1-6It is in our nature to judge others and see how we measure up. We all have our tape measures and yardsticks, but in Matthew 7:1-6, Jesus says that a yardstick will become a boomerang.“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you” (Matthew 7:1-2).How you judge someone else is how you will be judged—it will all come back around. How do we avoid unhealthy judgment?We must apply wise discrimination between right and wrong.Before it became such a heated word, at its core, discrimination simply means evaluation. It is not unloving to call out sin. The Bible urges us to wisely discern what is good and bad. Judgment based on Scripture is considered righteous, but unloving, unmerciful judgment measured out of our own hearts and minds is wrong.We must avoid condemning others.When we are tempted to play prosecuting attorney toward a fellow believer, we must remember: we don’t have the power to redeem anyone, so we don’t have the authority to condemn anyone either.Often, our own iniquity will act as a filter through which we see everyone else. Our own self-righteousness makes us feel justified when we see someone else’s sin. But this will do more damage to our spiritual lives than we realize.Adrian Rogers says, “It is the hypocritical that are hyper-critical.”Our own insecurity will also cause us to judge others harshly, because we believe that if we can get others to look more like us, it will make us feel better.We also judge out of ignorance, assuming we know enough about others to hold them to a certain standard. None of us is wise enough to judge another person; only God is all-knowing, so He alone is the Judge.Where we judge others with insensitivity, our Lord is full of compassion. While we must know the difference between right and wrong and uphold that standard in our lives, we must choose to show mercy to those who fa

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Matthew 5:38-42There is nothing more destabilizing than worry, yet all of us worry more than we should. In Matthew 6:31-32, Jesus says, “Therefore do not worry… For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.”It’s important to recognize the cause of our worry.Matthew 6 addresses things we all tend to worry about: food and fashion (v. 25), fitness (v. 27), and the future (v. 34).We must also understand the cost of worry.Worrying never solves the problem or lifts the burden. But perhaps most importantly, our worry is a wound in the heart of God; we insult Him if we do not consider Him to be trustworthy.Adrian Rogers says, “We’re not to reach out into tomorrow and borrow trouble. We’re not to pull tomorrow’s clouds over today’s sunshine.”We can win the war with worry, if we learn to fully trust in God.God is a Good Father, and He provides for His children; He does not bring a child into this world that He is not prepared to care for.We must resolve to focus on the will of God.“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you” (Matthew 6:33).Worry can be a signal to us that we are not focusing on what we ought to. God will not work in second place to our other concerns. He knows what we need and He can take care of the things in our lives better than we can; we must put Him first and put our trust in Him.We must surrender our concerns about the future.“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble” (Matthew 6:34).God is in complete control over our lives. He has engineered difficulty for each day—enough trouble to cause us to turn to Him and receive His grace. But if we borrow tomorrow’s trouble by worrying, we’ll find that it buries our blessings, steals our strength, and produces problems.God knows our frame, and He promises strength for what we will carry today.Apply it to your lifeIf you

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Matthew 6:19-24In this plastic world we live in, many of us sell out too cheaply and end up with the wrong thing. Many people think they are wealthy and are not, because they do not have what truly matters. Jesus warns us to make sure we get the real thing, for that is where true satisfaction lies.Matthew 6:19-20 says, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven…”First, we must understand what true riches are, so we can possess real wealth.A man is poor, no matter how much he has, when he seeks satisfaction in his money. Our lives are not a sum of our possessions; when we act as if they are, we’ll be empty.A man is also poor when his money increases his trouble; there comes a point when all that we think we need is actually a burden rather than a blessing.A man is poor when the goal of his life is making money; this consuming drive will control his character and distort his values.A man is poor when he has no treasure in Heaven; we will not bring our earthly riches with us into Heaven. Anything of real value is of lasting value; the more we give of it, the more we have of it.Second, we must perceive real wisdom, which is not intelligence or knowledge; it is seeing things in the correct light.“The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is [a]good, your whole body will be full of light” (Matthew 6:22).Wisdom is found in focusing, single-mindedly, on Jesus and living in the light of that knowledge.Adrian Rogers says, “You can go deeper into Christ, but you’ll never go beyond Christ.”Finally, we must make sure we practice real worship.Worship is not just for church on Sundays—it is an entire heart posture. It is bowing to the Lord every day. No one can serve two masters; we serve God alone, or not at all. He is Lord of all—there is no rival, refusal or rebuttal—and He is worthy of all of our worship.Apply it

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Matthew 5:38-42We live in a very self-centered world—a society tightly wrapped up in itself. But there is joy waiting for those who step outside of themselves, go the miraculous mile, and find selfless, Christ-filled living.Matthew 5:41-42 says, “And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away.”In Jesus’ day, a Roman soldier could, by law, force a Jew to carry his burdens one mile for him. This was a very humiliating act, and though this law is no longer in effect, the practice of the second mile transcends time and place.Jesus commands us to do more than what is required by law. There are times when our dignity is degraded, but we are called to go a second mile.When someone has and expresses a need to us, we are expected to help. While we are not called to enable lawlessness or fraudulence, we are called to act out of love, not just out of obedience.Adrian Rogers says, “We do not simply pay what we owe; we look beyond what we owe to see what they need and what we can do with that which God has put in our hand.”When we begin to live this way, it transforms us and gives us joy we’d never have any other way. It changes our attitude; we go from thinking ‘I have to’ to ‘I want to, because my Lord has taught me to.’Adrian Rogers says, “The first mile is the slave mile; the second mile is the smile mile. The first mile, you are the victim, but in the second mile, you are the victor.”Second-mile living also breeds ground for success. The bare minimum has never made anyone happy or wealthy; understanding this transforms our work ethic.Going the second mile routinely is the key to better relationships and it strengthens our witness. People can see the difference. Living this way will open doors to conversations we wouldn’t otherwise have.Apply it to your lifeWhat does the miracle mile look like in your daily life? Are you willing to put in some extr

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Matthew 5:31-32; 7:24We are living in a time of national tragedy, rooted in homes built on throw-away marriages. The American way has created a vicious cycle: divorce produces broken children, and broken children produce broken homes.Marriage is made in Heaven and is to be worked out here on Earth. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus tells us how important a foundation for the family is.Matthew 7:24 says, “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock…”First, we must remember God’s designed plan for marriage.Marriage is a divine institution made by God to meet the deepest needs of humankind. Second to our relationship with God, it is our highest priority. When we commit to another in marriage, we leave our mother and father and unite with our spouse, becoming one flesh—physically, psychologically, and spiritually.Together, as husband and wife, we are to raise children to the best of our abilities, so they can be independent followers of Christ.Adrian Rogers says, “Your job (as a parent) is to work yourself out of a job. A parent is successful when children no longer need them. But you don’t work yourself out of a relationship.”We also see God’s desire for permanent marriages.God has said in His Word He hates divorce; He has permitted divorce for the specific occasion of adultery, but He doesn’t command it. Instead, we are commanded to love continually.Adrian Rogers says, “It is not love that sustains your marriage; it is your marriage that sustains your love.” We must vow to attack the problems rather than one another and steer a broken marriage in the right direction.Finally, this passage shares that God has declared a pardon for failed marriages.If you’ve experienced divorce and remarriage, there’s no going backward—but this is not an unpardonable sin. God’s forgiveness is always available; we need only ask for it.We must be sure, going forward, that we a

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Matthew 5:27-28The great pollution problem is not in the air—it is in our own hearts and minds. To be happy and useful in the kingdom of God, we must be clean and pure in heart, and that comes from developing a clean thought life.In Matthew 5:28, Jesus says, “But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” There is a battle for the mind; isolation and insulation can only keep us from the enemy’s pollution for so long. Purity comes from Jesus Christ alone.Psalm 119:9 asks and answers, “How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word.”There are three steps to developing a clean thought life.Admit your problem and get clean.We can’t fix a problem we don’t acknowledge. We must examine our hearts and own up to what unconfessed sins we’ve accumulated.Adrian Rogers says, “God will never cleanse an excuse or an alibi, but God will always cleanse a sin.” Through Jesus Christ, we can be totally and perfectly clean. If we confess our sins, He will forgive us. (See 1 John 1:9.)Affirm your purpose to stay clean.This is too important to be half-hearted about it. We have to prioritize purity and commit to cleanliness; no one else can make the decision for us.Apply your protection to keep clean.Our protection is the Word of God. It is the antidote against lust, because Jesus sanctifies us through it. We must commit Scripture to memory and personalize it, realizing He wants to teach us something through it. We must also verbalize it and use it in our praise and testimony. As we give it away, we’ll find that it sticks to us and comes to life.A pure mind is one that is satisfied in the Word of God; it belongs to someone who has found joy and fulfillment in the Lord. When we internalize Scripture—meditate on it and ruminate over it with time, quiet, and concentration—it takes us over from the inside out.Apply it to your lifeDo you struggle with your thought

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Matthew 5:27-28The home is the fabric of our society, and we are at a crisis point. It is a matter of moral purity and the sanctity of the home. Our enemy knows that if he can destroy the home, he can dominate our society.Proverbs 5 identifies five factors for the maintenance of sexual purity and building a strong family, so we can win the battle for the home.The Instruction FactorProverbs 5:1-2 says, “My son, pay attention to my wisdom; lend your ear to my understanding, that you may preserve discretion, and your lips may keep knowledge.” Families often fail due to a lack of wisdom, discretion, and understanding. Our only hope for true wisdom is turning our ears to God’s instruction. He has given us a book—His Word.The Deception FactorWe must beware of Satan’s snares. Proverbs 5:3-4 says, “For the lips of an immoral woman drip honey, and her mouth is smoother than oil; but in the end she is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword.” In the moment, immorality seems so good, but it’s mere frivolity, flattery, and vitality.Adrian Rogers says, “Sin fascinates and then it assassinates; it thrills and then it kills.”The Protection FactorProverbs 5:8 says, “Remove your way far from her, and do not go near the door of her house…”We aren’t told to fight off sexual immorality… we’re told to flee and stay away from it. We must be careful with what we put in our minds and what comes out of our mouths.The Destruction FactorThere are deadly consequences of immorality: dissipating our reputations, bodily disease, and disappointment in what we actually get from it. We could also face public disgrace, and sin having dominion over us. If we don’t break the chains of sin and repent, it can lead to moral, spiritual, and eternal death.The Intention FactorGod wants us to enjoy lasting and loving marriages, but the only way to have that is if we do it His way. It is crucial that we pursue purity and win the battle for our homes.Apply it to your lif

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Matthew 5:20-22There is no fooling anyone. The golden facades and outer appearances we put on cannot hide a decaying spiritual life. It’s what’s inside that counts.The Pharisees had an outward, external, and superficial form of religion that was ultimately hypocritical. They were careful with how they looked to others, careful to live straight-edge lives, but their hearts were still crooked.Matthew 5:20 says, “For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven…”Jesus ripped away the facade of self-righteousness and showed the Pharisees what was truly deep down in their hearts.Jesus first addressed the malice of murder.“’You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’ But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire’” (Matthew 5:21:22).God’s law states we shall not murder (see Exodus 20:13). But to have hate in your heart toward another person is considered murder in God’s eyes, because God goes beyond the act and looks at the attitude behind it, and anger is behind murder.Second, Jesus addressed the acid of anger.This passage in Matthew explores different kinds of anger. Caustic is the natural feeling of being wronged by a brother. But when undealt with, caustic anger can turn quickly into contemptuous anger. Treating someone with contempt means you feel you are better than others.Contemptuous anger then turns into condemning anger, which is always harmful for everyone involved.Ephesians 4:31 says, “Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice.”Adrian Rogers says, “Bitterness is a feeling of resentment that

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Matthew 5:17-18The Lord Jesus Christ is the One our hearts long for, the One who can fulfill our deepest need. He did not come to destroy—rather, He came to fulfill. Jesus is the secret of fulfillment.Adrian Rogers says, “Jesus is the One who can take the pain out of parting, the sorrow out of suffering, the sting out of death, the gloom out of the grave, and can give you a hope that is steadfast and sure.”In Matthew 5:17-18, Jesus says, “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.”First, Jesus prophetically fulfills the Word of God.Jesus appears in every book of the Old Testament, one way or another.Adrian Rogers says, “(If you) read the prophecies and try to find the meaning… and don’t see Jesus, you’ve missed it all.”Old Testament Scripture also identifies the Savior as the Son of a mother from a specific family, belonging to a certain tribe, of a designated nation, of a specific section of the human race. Jesus meets the exact criteria; He is the fulfillment of every prophecy. He is in all of the Bible, cover to cover.Second, Jesus practically fulfills the Word of God.God has no plan or purpose that does not ultimately center on Jesus Christ. Jesus kept every moral, ceremonial, and judicial law laid out in the Word of God, because He, Himself, was the Word.Finally, Jesus perfectly fulfills the Word of God.Through the law, God demands perfection. Jesus Christ met every standard and requirement.Jesus believed and affirmed the inerrancy, infallibility, and immutability of the Word of God. Jesus and the Scriptures rise and fall together, inextricably woven together for all of time.Apply it to your lifeJesus came to save sinners; He suffered, bled, and died to pay every debt we owe, to fulfill the law, prophetically, practically, and pe

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Matthew 5:14; 16In Matthew 5, Jesus calls us the salt and light of the world. When salt is applied, it goes inward; but light comes from within, and appears outwardly. Salt speaks of character while light speaks of testimony.This means that, as bright lights in a dark world, we are meant to be people of character and confession.Matthew 5:14-16 says, “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”Who is the light of the world? You.Adrian Rogers says, “God’s plan is to take ordinary people and do extraordinary things.”This world is the darkest it’s ever been—deepest in difficulty and lowest in enlightenment. We have substituted intelligence for wisdom. But we, as children of God, have the wisdom of His Word. Though the world considers us foolish, we have learned the mysteries of life and death, through Jesus Christ.What is the light of the world for? It is meant to shine.We cannot hide our testimonies or be ashamed of our faith—hiding our light is foolish. We need to tell others what Jesus Christ has done for us. When we are courageous enough to share our faith, we are proving ourselves faithful to God. And when we as Christians come together, our collective light becomes a force of nature, ever more powerful together—a city on a hill. (See Matthew 5:14,)How are we going to be the light of the world?We let the light of Christ shine, and we keep feeding the flame that burns within us. Education, science, culture, and the world’s religions cannot save us. It is Christ alone. The life we live is Jesus within us; we have to let the world see it.Apply it to your lifeIf we don’t shine, who is going to? It is our privilege, our duty, and our responsibility to shine for the Lord Jesus Chri

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Matthew 5:13Salt is necessary for both physical and spiritual life. Only God could design the chemical makeup of salt: sodium (deadly and explosive) combined with chlorine (noxious and also deadly) make something necessary for life, preservation, and purity.Likewise, by God’s divine chemistry of the cross, we as Christians have become new creatures with significant importance to the world around us.Matthew 5:13 says, “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.”In this passage, Jesus calls His followers “salt of the earth.” Once we understand the importance of salt in Jesus’ time and in our own, we’ll better understand our role as salt and light to this desperate world.This passage first clarifies the dynamics of pure salt.Salt seasons, preserves, and heals; likewise, we are called to preserve truth and to have a zest about our lives that heals this sick world.But salt also burns and penetrates; it is an irritant that permeates everything it touches. We cannot fear our nature to irritate this corrupt world and permeate Jesus Christ with everything we touch.This passage also warns us about the dissipation of polluted salt.Salt that is filled with impurities is worthless and harmful. It kills crops and poisons water. The only safe place for polluted salt is the roadway—it makes for good cement and nothing more.Finally, there is a demand for preserving salt.If there were ever a need, a time, and age for salt to work, it is now. Things once considered sin are now considered sickness, and socially acceptable practice. Banning prayer in public schools, legalizing abortion, an increase in suicide rates and drug use in teens… this world—specifically our country—is in desperate need of some salt.Adrian Rogers says, “Not only is God America’s biggest, and only, hope. God is America’s biggest threat.”The only hope to k

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Isaiah 9:6The greatest event in human history is when Almighty God stepped out of Heaven, put His feet upon this Earth, and saved us from our sins. Seven centuries before the first Christmas, the prophet Isaiah wrote about the coming Savior, and expressed how His name is wonderful.Isaiah 9:6 says, “For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder…”We must understand His supernatural nature. The baby of Bethlehem was not an ordinary child. He is not part-God, part-man; He is fully God in human flesh and there has never been another like Him. The Bible clearly and plainly states that He was born of a virgin, but His beginning was not at Bethlehem. There was never a time when Jesus was not, and there will never be a time when Jesus is not. He is everlasting, forever God.This passage also reveals Jesus’ sovereign nobility. Isaiah 9:7 says, “Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever.” God has already declared that Jesus is King of kings and Lord of lords.Adrian Rogers says, “You have to take the cradle and the cross and the crown and put them together, or you don’t have the true story of Christmas.”Finally, this passage shares with us the meaning of Jesus’ saving name. “And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6).-Wonderful: There is wonder in His name, if only our spiritual eyes can begin to see it.-Counselor: There is wisdom in His name, the One we rely on to guide and advise us.-Mighty God: There is wealth in His name, the One to whom everything belongs.-Everlasting Father: There is worship in His name, for He alone is worthy of worship.-Prince of Peace: There is welfare in His name; He is the only One who can satisfy the yearning for peace in our hearts.Apply

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Luke 1:35Many who don’t believe in Jesus will call Him a great moral teacher. But when we look closely at His teachings, we find that He left no room for interpretation. Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and the story of Christmas is a tribute to the Trinity: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.Luke 1:35 says, “And the angel answered and said to her, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.’”The doctrine of the Trinity is what makes our faith different from all other faiths.First, we must recognize the sublime mystery of the Trinity.We will never understand the Holy Trinity by human investigation, logic, or science. The only way we can know about the Holy Trinity is by divine revelation.There is one God, and He is a triune God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. If we try to understand it on our own, we will lose our minds; if we deny it, we may lose our souls.Adrian Rogers says, “I wouldn’t have any confidence in a God that I could understand.”Second, we recognize the sacred history of the Trinity.John 1:1-3 says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.”There is no contradiction between the three, because they are One. The Trinity, together, created the world, composed the Scriptures, conceived the Christ, and commissioned the Church.Finally, we recognize the saving ministry of the Trinity.Through the Holy Trinity, we have our salvation. Salvation has been in the heart and mind of God before we were ever born. The Father thought it, the Son bought it, and the Holy Spirit wrought it.Adrian Rogers says, “You have been selected by the Father, saved by the Son, and sealed by the Spirit.”Because of the mystery of the manger, the blessing of Bethlehem

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Micah 5:2Jesus was born in Bethlehem, but His existence did not begin in Bethlehem; He has been from everlasting. The Book of Micah offers us a clear picture of Christmas to come in the Old Testament.Micah 5:2 says, “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall come forth to Me the One to be Ruler in Israel, whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting.”Adrian Rogers says, “Without the Lord Jesus, the Old Testament is simply a bundle of unfulfilled prophecies, of unexplained ceremonies, of unattainable laws. But when you bring Jesus into it, it unlocks the whole thing.”First, there are portraits of Jesus in the Old Testament.In Luke 24:44, Jesus says, “These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.”Jesus is who all the Old Testament prophets have given witness to. He is portrayed as the Prophet, Priest, and King of every story from Genesis to Malachi. He is in every ceremony, and even in the design of biblical architecture such as the Tabernacle and the Ark of the Covenant. When we read the New Testament, we find the fulfillment of each law and prophecy.Second, there are prophecies of Jesus in the Old Testament.There are more than 300 prophecies concerning the Messiah in the Old Testament. Throughout the Books of Law and Prophecy, God narrows the focus to a specific man from the nation of Israel.He would come from the Tribe of Judah, specifically the family of Jesse, and the household of David. He would be born of a virgin in Bethlehem, betrayed for 30 pieces of silver, crucified, and then raised from the dead.Jesus fulfilled each of these prophecies, and many more. Mathematically, when we speak of the laws of probability, there is no doubt He is the Messiah.Finally, Jesus is presented in the Old Testament.We must decide how we

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: John 3Birth is, perhaps, the greatest miracle each of us has ever experienced. But John 3 mentions an even greater second birth for those who are born again in Jesus Christ.In John 3, the Pharisee Nicodemus represents the problem of the sinner’s birth.“Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God’” (John 3:3).Because Nicodemus was born into the natural world, he was bound to the sinful world. Those of us once-born have a sinful nature. There is no “cleaning up” our nature before we get saved.Our sinful nature also blinds us to the spiritual world. Adrian Rogers says, “I can preach truth, but only the Holy Spirit can impart truth. They may get the words, but they’ll never get the music unless the Holy Spirit of God turns the light on in their soul.”But this passage also reveals the purpose of the Savior’s birth.“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).Jesus came, being born of a virgin, to redeem us, to reveal the truth of God to us, and to restore us to be what God made us to be.Then, we experience the second birth.God breathes new life into us, and we become completely new creations. The Word of God and the Holy Spirit are the “parents” of our new birth. As a result, our new character mimics that of our spiritual parents. (See John 3:5.)We love the Lord Jesus Christ and have the witness of the Spirit. We have the nature of our Father and desire to share Jesus with others.Just like there is a finality in our natural birth, once we are saved, we are always saved; we receive a fresh start and begin to grow with the certainty of our miraculous rebirth.Adrian Rogers says, “A newborn child has no yesterdays; he’s all tomorrows. So it is with the new birth: we receive a brand new future; our past is in the grave of God’s forgetfulness.”Apply it to your lif

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Acts 10:43In Acts 10, Simon Peter testifies to the household of Cornelius, and reveals that Jesus is the Christ of the Old Testament. “To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins” (Acts 10:43).Adrian Rogers says, “Jesus is the master key that unlocks the mysteries of the Old Testament.”First, the Old Testament is a portrait of Jesus, who was to come.In Luke 24:44, Jesus says, “These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.”Jesus is who all the Old Testament prophets have given witness to. He is portrayed as the Prophet, Priest and King of every story, from Genesis to Malachi. And when we read the New Testament, we find the fulfillment of each law and prophecy.Adrian Roger says, “The Old Testament, without the Lord Jesus Christ, would be a dead-end road leading to nowhere, and yet, as you look at the Bible and back off and see it, you see Jesus everywhere—Prophet, Priest, and King.”Second, the Old Testament reveals the prophecies of Jesus Christ, who has come.There are more than 300 prophecies concerning the Messiah in the Old Testament. Throughout the Books of Law and Prophecy, God narrows the focus on a specific man from God’s chosen race, the nation of Israel. He was to come from the tribe of Judah, specifically from the family of Jesse and the household of David. The Messiah would be born of a virgin in Bethlehem, betrayed for 30 pieces of silver, crucified by the piercing of His hands, and then raised from the dead.Jesus fulfilled each of these prophecies, and many more. According to the law of mathematical probability, there is no doubt He is the Messiah. And according to the Book of Revelation, He will come again.Apply it to your lifeDo you trust in the Word of God, and the God of that Word? You don’t have to understand h

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Acts 10:34Would you be prepared to share your faith the moment someone asks about it?Adrian Rogers says, “We tell people to keep the faith; not only should you keep it, but you ought also to give it away.” Winning souls is not only a command of God but also a great privilege. God doesn’t send angels to win souls, He sends us.In Acts 10, Simon Peter is invited into the home of Cornelius, a Roman officer, to share his faith with him and his household.In response, Peter gives a three-fold testimony that reveals how we can share our faith.Acts 10:34-35 says, “Then Peter opened his mouth and said: ‘In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him.’” Peter, a Jew, preached the message of salvation to the first Gentile, claiming that the door of salvation is wide: anyone who wants to enter may come. But the way is very narrow: Jesus is the only way to Heaven. If we are not saved by Jesus alone, we are not saved at all.First, Peter has a personal confidence as a soul-winner.Having walked with Jesus and witnessed Him firsthand, Peter has unmatched confidence in the virtuous life, vicarious death, and victorious resurrection of Christ. Likewise, despite our differences in opinions, what holds us together as believers is our united confidence in Jesus Christ.Second, Peter has the powerful confirmation of the Scriptures.The Old Testament bears witness that every prophecy is fulfilled by Jesus Christ.Finally, Peter bears the persuasive conviction of the Spirit.The Holy Spirit of God anoints Peter, so that his words may convince and convict Cornelius and his family.Peter’s confidence, Scripture’s confirmation, and the Spirit’s conviction form a three-fold cord that is not easily broken.Remember, as believers, we are not waiting on the Holy Spirit. God has already sent Him to strengthen and empower us to witness to others.Apply it to your lifeAre you confident in Jes

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Acts 12:1Troubles come and go every day, but every so often we come up against an unexpected, ferocious crisis. In all the confusion, when we’re unsure where to turn, we can turn to the Christ of every crisis.In Acts 12, the Early Church was facing a genuine crisis as Herod unleashed violence on its members.“Now about that time Herod the king stretched out his hand to harass some from the church. Then he killed James the brother of John with the sword. And because he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to seize Peter also...” (Acts 12:1-3).When we’re in the middle of a crisis, we must respect the mystery of God’s providence.Just because things don’t make sense to us at the moment doesn’t mean they do not make sense. Life is not a problem to be solved; it is a mystery to be lived. Life isn’t a series of good, then bad; the good and bad run parallel, happening simultaneously and working together.Second, we should request the ministry of God’s people.“Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church” (Acts 12:5). As God’s people, we must pray to God without ceasing, intensely and specifically. God is pleased when His children pray, but He is even more pleased when His children pray together.Adrian Rogers says, “The devil mocks at our schemes, laughs at our organizations, ridicules our talents, but he fears our prayers.”Third, we can rest in the mastery of God’s peace.Because he was no longer afraid of death and he knew that God’s people were praying for him, Peter slept in prison. Even in the crisis, God was still on His throne; as a result of the church’s prayers, an angel of the Lord broke Peter out of prison.We must remember that if God is not working according to what we can see, it doesn’t mean God is not working. We can rejoice in the majesty of God’s power, because even if evil seems to succeed, it is temporary. The Christ of every crisis is eternal.Apply it to your

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Acts 8:5-24Satan is not against religion; in fact, it is one of his chief tools and most deceptive tricks.Adrian Rogers says, “When God opens the windows of Heaven to bless us, the devil opens the doors of Hell to blast us. Whenever there is revival, you can expect satanic opposition.”In Acts 8, on the heels of a great revival, a sorcerer named Simon exhibited a counterfeit Christianity that posed a threat to the Early Church. There are three warnings in this passage to help us spot Satan’s counterfeit religion.First, don’t be dazzled by the Satanic force of false religion.“But there was a certain man called Simon, who previously practiced sorcery in the city and astonished the people of Samaria, claiming that he was someone great…” (Acts 8:9). Witchcraft is not mere superstition; it is superficial power from the devil, and it is alive and well today. Don’t be dazzled by the power of false religion; there is something to it, and it is very real and very dangerous.Second, don’t be deceived by the superficial faith of false religion.Not all false religion is in the occult; sometimes it moves right into the church.“Then Simon himself also believed; and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and was amazed, seeing the miracles and signs which were done” (Acts 8:13).Adrian Rogers says, “Simon believed not in the Master; He believed in the miracles.” Simon followed Philip for the miracles’ sake. His shallow faith reminds us that not all belief is saving belief. We can believe the facts of the Gospel without ever truly knowing and believing in Jesus Christ.Finally, do not be destroyed by the selfish focus of false religion.Selfishness is what drives false religion; Simon himself claimed he was “the great one” (see Acts 8:9). He wanted the power of the Holy Spirit for his own glory.Adrian Rogers says, “There are people who are bitter and in bondage. They have met religion, but they’ve never met Jesus.”If we want a faith that is rea

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Acts 5:1-11In Acts 5, the Early Church was in the blaze of revival. However, the devil crafted a new attack from within the church, through Ananias and Sapphira.After seeing another church member receive praise for selling his property and giving everything to the church, Ananias, and his wife Sapphira, lied about their own offering to receive the same praise. Right on the spot, God struck them both dead. Considering this grave warning, each of us must ask ourselves if we are living supernaturally or superficially.Filled with pride, Ananias and Sapphira pretended to have a devotion to Jesus they did not have; they became hypocrites. The Holy Spirit gave Peter the gift of discernment and exposed the lie through him. Peter then revealed that this couple didn’t just lie to men, they lied to the Spirit of God. It is unspeakably serious to lie to the Holy Spirit; we could never fool Him.As Christians, we will be judged as sinners, servants, and sons.Our judgment as sinners was settled at the cross of Jesus Christ. The judgment for our service will be dealt with at the judgment seat of Christ. The judgment of sons is the way God the Father disciplines us and grows us day by day.What happened to Ananias and Sapphira was their judgment as children of God. This punishment can sometimes be very severe.But the judgment of God can save us, too. God doesn’t take vengeance on his own children. God, in mercy, took Ananias and Sapphira to keep them from further sin. It was a saving judgment for the church, as well. Through this example, the church saw how God felt about sin.Adrian Rogers says, “God will do certain things as an example in the physical world to show how He feels in the spiritual world.”Their hypocrisy did not stop the Early Church; hypocrisy shouldn’t stop us today. Hypocrites come and go, but the church of the Lord Jesus marches on.Apply it to your lifeWe are saved by grace, but one of these days we will face the judgment seat of Ch

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Acts 8:26-39Every believer is called, ordained, equipped, and given opportunity to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Every Christian is called to be an evangelist. If you are not witnessing, you are disobeying God.In Acts 8, God used the Apostle Philip to share the Gospel with an Ethiopian man. There are three things in this chapter that help clarify our specific call to evangelism.First, we must be sensitive to the direction of the Spirit.“Now an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, ‘Arise and go toward the south along the road which goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.’ This is desert. So he arose and went…” (Acts 8:26-27). As we see in this passage, God’s Spirit finds sinners whose hearts are open to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He also works on soul-winners as well, prompting their hearts with the conviction to share. When the Holy Spirit leads, we must be prepared to listen and obey. God will lead us to someone who needs Jesus.Secondly, we must be swift for the demands of the Spirit.“Then the Spirit said to Philip, ‘Go near and overtake this chariot.’ So Philip ran to him...’” (Acts 8:29-30). Philip had to run to catch this Ethiopian man. Many of us can recount times when God has prompted our hearts with an opportunity to witness and we waited until it passed. May we be more like Philip, running to witness to others, not letting a single opportunity pass by.Finally, we must be steadfast in the desire of the Spirit, which is to share Jesus.“Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him” (Acts 8:35). We are all sinners and need to be saved; if the Holy Spirit resides in us, we will have a desire for others to understand this and receive salvation.Adrian Rogers says, “What a privilege God has given to us—one that angels don’t have, one that we will not have in the world to come—to bring souls to Jesus Christ.”Apply it to your lifeAre you sensitive to the spirit, swift to obey, and desire to

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Acts 5:27-32Being a Christian is a joyous thing; the reason we are not filled with joy in this Christian life could be a matter of disobedience.Adrian Rogers says, “Obedience is the missing ingredient in so many Christians’ lives.”What does it mean to truly obey Christ? What is the expedience of obedience?In Acts 5, Peter and the other apostles have caused quite a stir by preaching about Jesus Christ. The religious authorities are trying to stop a revival the apostles began. They command the apostles to stop preaching.“Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, ‘We ought to obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him’” (Acts 5:29-32).In this text, we are first given the reason for obedience.When God tells us to do something, our obedience is our duty and delight. We are indebted to God, our Lord and Savior, so we must decide to obey Him over men. Just as God cannot fail, act unjustly or deny Himself, He cannot force our loving obedience. It is not because His power is limited—it’s because of His very nature; He gives us a choice.We can’t obey God unless we first know what it is that He wants us to do.Once we know God’s will, we must be intentional about obeying it, and do so immediately. We will be held accountable for what we know, no matter what the cost. When He speaks, we must answer Him, regardless of circumstances. Only then can we see the supernatural rewards of our obedience:-We receive the Holy Spirit.-There is joy in our hearts.-The Gospel is shared and believed.When we obey God rather than men, we will see great multitudes of people come to Jesus Christ.Apply it to your lifeWould you like to have victory in your lif

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

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Ephesians 5:20Perhaps the most difficult thing we’ll ever do is give thanks in tough times. It requires true maturity in the faith to see that God is good, even when things are not good.Ephesians 5:20 instructs us, “...giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ…”Our ability to choose thankfulness in times of trouble will reap maturity like never before. There are seven ways that trouble may minister to us.First, trouble may bring correction.Hebrews 12:6 says, “For whom the Lord loves He chastens…” God cares for us, so if our trouble is caused by our sin, He will lovingly correct us as a parent corrects their child.Second, trouble may deepen our dependency on Christ.Heartaches crowd us toward Jesus and cause us to depend on Him, who is our greatest strength.Third, trouble may confirm our testimony to others.It may be through deep sorrow and pain that, knowing and praising God, we become great witnesses. The God of all comfort promises to comfort us in tribulation; once we’ve experienced it, we can show that comfort to others.Trouble can also increase our maturity.God’s plan for His children is to mature in their faith and become more like Jesus Christ.Adrian Rogers says, “God had only one son without sin, but He’s never had a son without suffering.”When we endure trials fashioned by the devil and engineered by wicked people, we can thank God that He is using them to make us more like Jesus.Trouble can bring excelling glory.Faith that can’t be tested can’t be trusted. We can be thankful that the fiery trials bring the Spirit of glory upon us.Trouble can also bring baffling mystery.As exemplified in Scripture, sometimes troubles don’t make sense. We don’t live by explanations, but by God’s promises. We must obey Him.Finally, trouble will bring eternal victory.Romans 8 reminds us that current suffering doesn’t compare to future glory. There is victory in Jesus Christ; if we hold onto this

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Isaiah 64No military power, economic upturn, or presidential election can bring the revival we so desperately need. Transformation happens when, by holy boldness, one person seeks the face of God; revival can happen in one person, in a family, in a church, in a country.Isaiah 64 shows us what happens when God shows up and revival breaks out.First, this passage tells us about the presence that produces revival.“Oh, that You would rend the heavens! That You would come down! That the mountains might shake at Your presence—as fire burns brushwood, as fire causes water to boil—to make Your name known to Your adversaries, that the nations may tremble at Your presence!” (Isaiah 64:1-2). When God comes down, mountains melt and sinners shake. His presence cannot be explained away or mocked. His presence makes the righteous rejoice (see Isaiah 64:4-5), because we know that God wants to meet with us.To experience His presence in this way, we must recognize the problems that prevent revival.“But we are all like an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags; we all fade as a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away” (Isaiah 64:6).We are corrupted by our sins; our self-righteousness is like filthy rags. We try to cover ourselves with the thing that defiles and condemns us.We can also be complacent in our sins (see Isaiah 64:7). We need to stir up our hearts—shake up and shake off the comfort of habitual sin.We cannot let sin consume us; it cannot eat us alive. If we are serious about revival, we must get right with God and put ourselves at His disposal.Lastly, prayer precedes revival; seeking His face means fervent prayer.This type of prayer recognizes God’s sovereignty, remembers God’s mercy, and respects God’s glory (see Isaiah 64:8-9).Adrian Rogers says, “The problem with so many of our prayers is we’re not willing to repent. We want God’s mercy, but seek no repentance; and prayer without repentance is a

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Acts 3:1-6In Acts 3, Peter and John came across a beggar lying outside the temple gates. He had been lame from his youth, and begged the apostles for money. Through them, God performed a special miracle to authenticate their authority, given by the Holy Spirit.Acts 3:6-7 says, “Then Peter said, ‘Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.’ And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.”This was a miracle that could not be reasonably denied, humanly explained or lightly dismissed.There are four things about the name of Jesus, which caused this man to rise and walk.First, He is the risen Lord.Because the disciples knew that Jesus was alive, there was no way they could be daunted or intimidated by the world. They were absolutely certain that He had been raised from the dead. If we have a living Savior, then what have we to fear?Second, Jesus is the residing Lord.“And His name, through faith in His name, has made this man strong, whom you see and know. Yes, the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all” (Acts 3:16).Peter confessed that they did not perform the miracle themselves; instead, it came from Christ in them. He is alive and well in us.Third, He is the redeeming Lord.“Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord…” (Acts 3:19).Through the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ, God has overruled our wickedness with His righteousness, if we will repent and convert.Finally, He is the returning Lord; He is coming again.Adrian Rogers says, “What’s the world coming to? It’s coming to Jesus, because Jesus is coming to the world. Heaven has received Him until the time of restitution. He is coming to restore all things.”Apply it to your lifeIf you are down

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Acts 4:36-37 The Book of Acts tells the story of a man called Barnabas, which translates to, “son of consolation.” Barnabas’ gift for encouragement shows us five ways we can encourage others.First, Barnabas encouraged others by practicing stewardship.In Acts 4:36, Barnabas sold his property and gave the profits to the Church. He decided to meet the needs of others with the resources God had given him, no matter what it cost him. Encouragers understand that we all have something to give. Encouragers find needy people and enrich them, whether it’s by their money, time, or service.Second, Barnabas encouraged others by extending friendship.After the Apostle Paul’s conversion, he was despised by his old colleagues, but feared by his new brothers and sisters in Christ. He was a man who needed a friend; Barnabas found him and became a friend to this very lonely new disciple. A lot of new Christians need somebody to find and friend them. We must find the lonely and neglected, put an arm around them, and bring them into the fold.Barnabas encouraged others by building partnerships.In Acts 11, the Gospel was spreading quickly, and new believers were sprouting up everywhere. There were some concerns that some of them were not sincere. But Barnabas’s encouragement validated and affirmed those who were misunderstood.Barnabas encouraged others by developing leaders in the church.He found buried gifts in new disciples and helped them develop their talents. Our churches are full of talented people with abilities waiting to be discovered and developed. But it takes a “Barnabas” to find them.Finally, Barnabas encouraged others by rebuilding relationships.After the disciple Mark ran away from his calling, Barnabas sought him out and gave him another chance. This young disciple went on to write the Gospel of Mark. Thank God for the encouragers in our churches, who see second chances in us when no one else does.Apply it to your lifeAdrian Rogers says, “

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Acts 4:9-33If there was ever a time for courage, it is now. In a world of cowardly Christians who are afraid of being criticized or disliked, we are called to be bold in our faith.Adrian Rogers says, “Boldness is having the courage to stand for the Lord Jesus Christ in the face of opposition.”We need the same holy boldness Peter and John had in Acts 4. Acts 4:13 says, “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus.”There are three principles that are the basis of our courage.The first principle is to keep company with God the Son.Boldness comes from knowing that Jesus Christ is with us and in us. We must make certain that Jesus is real to us and that we are walking with Him daily.Second, we must have confidence in God the Father.“So when they heard that, they raised their voice to God with one accord and said: ‘Lord, You are God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them…’” (Acts 4:24).We need to see God for who He really is. God the Father is the Creator of all things, Controller of all things, and Conqueror of all things.Adrian Rogers says, “The man who can kneel before God can stand before anyone else.”Finally, we must receive courage from God the Spirit.“And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness” (Acts 4:31).If only we ask, the Holy Spirit of God will give us courage. The apostles did not ask for safety; they asked for courage, for the ability to do more of what got them in trouble in the first place. As a result of the disciples’ boldness, multitudes of new believers were swept into the kingdom of Heaven.Likewise, we are made bold by the Holy Spirit to express God’s Word, extend God’s Hand, and exalt God’s Son.Apply it to your lifeAre you a bold believe

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Acts 2:22-26Adrian Rogers says, “A New Testament, Spirit-filled, Bible-believing, Christ-honoring church is a mighty weapon in the hands of a holy God.”As the Body and Bride of Christ, the Church is the world’s first idea of Jesus. How do we exhibit the same power as the amazing first-century Church which turned the world upside down with the Gospel?First, we must remember that the Church exists to exalt the Savior.Acts 2:23-24 says, “Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death; whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it.” In this passage, Peter proclaims the manner of Jesus’ life, the meaning of His death, and the miracle of His resurrection.Later in the same chapter, Peter proclaims the magnificence of Christ’s reign: “Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear” (Acts 2:33).One day, whether we believe in Jesus in this life or not, we will confess that He is Lord.Second, our purpose as the Church is to evangelize to sinners.True salvation begins with conviction by the Holy Spirit: “Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart…” (Acts 2:37). Once convicted, a sinner must repent, changing his mind about sin and self. This conversion leads to a confession that Jesus is Lord.Finally, the Church exists to enlist the saints.The Holy Spirit resides in believers; we must urge each other to continue in His Spirit. We depend on each other to mature in the faith, through Bible study, fellowship and worship. We are bound together by stewardship, in tithes and offerings. And we are joined together through evangelism. We must be in the business of making Jesus known by living supernaturally. We cannot do it naturally, and we cannot do it alone. But if togethe

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Acts 2:1-4The Day of Pentecost in Acts 2 marked the birth of the Church, and the burst of the Holy Flame that is the Holy Spirit. In Acts 2:1-4, the Holy Spirit was symbolized by fire and wind; it was vocalized by the speaking of tongues. This power was actualized in the disciples, as the Holy Spirit inhabited them and filled them.We must remember the principles of power, first given to us that Day of Pentecost.The Holy Spirit is a promise to be received.“For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call” (Acts 2:39). The Holy Spirit is the one who communicates the things of God. Our human spirits are the instruments of spiritual knowledge. The Holy Spirit of God speaks to your human spirit that you belong to God. God’s promise to us is clear: When we receive the Lord Jesus Christ and obey Him, the Holy Spirit lives in us.Second, the Holy Spirit is a power to be released.God wants us to live with power. We cannot depend on ourselves to be holy; we can’t earn it and we are not worthy of it. But if we repent of our sins, this power is gifted to us. Adrian Rogers says, “Holiness is not the way to Christ; Christ is the way to holiness.”Finally, the Holy Spirit is a Person to be recognized.The Third Person of the Trinity works in us. If we try to take credit for what the Holy Spirit of God is doing, we are taking praise under false pretenses. We need to constantly give God the praise and glory for what He is doing.When we do this, some will be amazed. Others will be amused, mocking us, for they don’t understand the Holy Spirit. But most importantly, there will be those who acknowledge Jesus as their Lord and Savior: “Then those who gladly received his word were baptized, and that day about three thousand souls were added to them” (Acts 2:41).Apply it to your lifeAre you consciously, conspicuously filled with the Spirit of God? If not, you’re not just missing a blessing; you

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Acts 1:1-3Our greatest need in this world is Jesus; as believers, it is our greatest privilege to make Jesus known to our neighbors and nation.If we want to make Jesus known, we must first recognize His presence in us.Acts 1:1-2 says, “The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, until the day in which He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen…” The Book of Acts takes place after Jesus’ resurrection and ascension into Heaven. Yet, His work had only just begun, as He continued it through His disciples.Adrian Rogers says, “In the Gospel, Jesus began; in Acts, Jesus continues. In the Gospel, He did that through His literal body, in the Book of Acts, He does that through His mystical body.”We are now His Body; He wants to live and work through His Church, supernaturally, not superficially.Secondly, we need to rely upon His promise to us, which is the Holy Spirit.Jesus has commanded us to make disciples through evangelism, mark them through baptism, and mature them in ministry. (See Acts 1:8.) Yet, in Acts 1:4-5, Jesus instructs His disciples to wait in the city until they have received the Spirit to begin. The promise was fulfilled at Pentecost, and the disciples carried out this impossible mission. We are not waiting for the Spirit anymore. If we are saved, He has equipped and anointed us with the Holy Spirit to accomplish His work.Third, we need to respond to His program through us.As Believers, we are witnesses of Jesus, having seen and heard His power in our lives; we don’t have to know all the answers in order to share the Gospel with others.If we only recognize His presence in us, remember His promise to us, and rely upon His program for us to make disciples, we will see Jesus do something wonderful through us.Apply it to your lifeThere are no barriers: no matter our age, education, or social status, God can use you right no

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Genesis 24:56God takes pleasure in the prosperity of His servants. To prosper means that God’s hand is upon us, helping us do the things He wants us to do.In Genesis 24, Abraham chose his most trusted servant, Eliezer, to find a bride for his son. In the same way, God has commissioned the Holy Spirit to call out the Bride of Christ, so that we may prosper.This passage reveals five principles of prosperity.First, we must establish our cause. Each of us needs a purpose—something that drives and motivates us. It must be specific, clear, and balanced. A worthy goal is God-given; it creates enough motivation in us to accomplish it and demands our very best. To test the worthiness of our goals, we must ask: If we accomplish our goals, where will we be and what will we have? Are the things we are living for worth Jesus dying for?Second, we must examine our condition. We need to determine where we are now in order to know where to go and in order to plan for the obstacles in between. But remember, problems do not mean that God is not with us. 1 Corinthians 16:9 says, “For a great and effective door has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.”Adrian Rogers says, “Opportunity swings on the hinges of opposition.”We must encourage our confidence by remaining in the Word of God. Scripture reminds us of the reward of our work: our Master will be pleased, there will be a Bride for Jesus and God will be glorified. Then we must pray. Eliezer asked God to prosper him in his purpose: “Then he said, ‘O Lord God of my master Abraham, please give me success this day, and show kindness to my master Abraham’” (Genesis 24:12).We must enforce our character. We will not drift into success; we need to be disciplined in our decisions, appetites, and time. We will pay a price for prosperity, but God gives us everything we need to fulfill our purpose for Him.Finally, we must enlist our comrades. We cannot accomplish our goals by ourselves; God designed us t

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: 1 Kings 18:1-39In 1 Kings 18, there were dark days of apostasy in Israel. The people had forgotten God and begun worshiping a false god named Baal in obscene and immoral ways. Then God sent the prophet Elijah to challenge them.1 King 18:24 says, “Then you call on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the Lord; and the God who answers by fire, He is God.In our own troublesome days, this story offers hope for those of us waiting for fire to fall again and ignite a church revival.First, there are some enemies of revival we must be aware of.There are the compromisers, represented by a man named Obadiah. (See 1 Kings 18:5-6) Like Obadiah, there are believers who have compromised and backslidden in their beliefs. In an attempt to befriend the world, they have become salt that’s lost its savor, and stumbling blocks to the saved.There are the corrupt, represented by Ahab and Jezebel. King Ahab was deeply religious, praying to idols and gods that fed his own pride and lust. But praise God—no king, court, or president can hold back revival.There are the confused, who are on the fence, represented by the crowd in 1 Kings 18: 19-21. The crowd will be swept into the Kingdom of God if there’s true revival in the Church.And there is the competition, the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel. But as we see, the competition was not even close. No amount of praying and praising from Baal’s prophets could make fire rain down.This passage also reveals the elements of revival:The solidarity of God’s people, coming together in unity for an altar fellowship.-The separation of God’s people from the world.-The sacrifice of Jesus Christ, whose powerful blood is our only hope.-The supernatural power of God, which shines even brighter through odds stacked against Him.-The strength of believing prayer.-The evidence of revival was immediate.Once Elijah called upon the Lord in prayer, God answered by fire. The worshipful response from the crowds reveal

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Ezekiel 47:1-12John 7:38 says, “He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.”As we ask God to do something supernatural in our desperate world, we must pray to become like the rivers of revival pictured in Ezekiel 47.“Then he brought me back to the door of the temple, and there was water, flowing from under the threshold of the temple toward the east, for the front of the temple faced east; the water was flowing from under the right side of the temple, south of the altar.” (v. 1)The Mysterious Source of the RiverIt is a humble source; it flows from under the threshold. Adrian Rogers says, “Revival never begins without God’s people humbling themselves.” It is a holy source; it flows past the altar, the holiest of holy places. It is a heated source; it flows out towards the east, where the sun rises.The Marked Course of the RiverIt flows into the depressed, deserted, and deadly places. There are people who are fearful and perplexed, unsatisfied, and spiritually dead. They don’t know the joy that we know or have the answers to life that we have. They need the rivers of revival to flow out of us.Ezekiel explains the mighty force of this river, declaring that where the water flows:Trees will grow: “When I had returned, there, along the bank of the river, were very many trees on one side and the other” (v. 7). Ezekiel is talking about Christians who have strength and life, becoming trees that will not wither. (See Psalm 1:2-3.)Fish will go: In Matthew 4:19, Jesus said that we’re to be fishers of men. Evangelism is a by-product of revival; when the church gets right with God, others will come to Jesus.Fruit will show: Galatians 5:22-23 reveals the fruit of the Spirit: “love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.”Health will glow: When the rivers of revival flow through, the result is spiritual health: for us and those around us.Apply it

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: 1 Kings 18:1-61 Kings 18:1-6 tells the story of revival in dark days. After a severe drought, God told Elijah that He would send rain upon the earth. This story is a reminder to us that what God has done before, He can do, and will do, again.But there are some enemies of revival we must be aware of, many of whom belong to the Body of Christ.“So Elijah went to present himself to Ahab; and there was a severe famine in Samaria. And Ahab had called Obadiah, who was in charge of his house. (Now Obadiah feared the Lord greatly…)” (1 Kings 18:2-3).Obadiah feared God. However, when it came time to obey God or King Ahab, he chose Ahab, and sought out other solutions to the problem instead of God’s promise. (See 1 Kings 18:5-6.)There are many in our churches today who would, for some reason, rather line up with the enemy than stand with God. They are believers who have compromised and backslidden in their beliefs. In an attempt to befriend the world, they have become salt that’s lost its savor, and stumbling blocks to the saved.King Ahab was deeply religious, praying to idols and gods that fed his own pride and lust. No king, court, or president can thwart the power and plan of God. True corruption comes when the people of God refuse to take a stand.Enemies of revival are confused, and don’t want to understand. The ones who are on the fence will hold back revival.1 Kings 18:22-29 tells the story of the competition on Mount Carmel—God vs. Baal, a false god. But the competition was not even close. No amount of praying and praising from Baal’s prophets could make fire rain down.Adrian Rogers says, “The great danger in America is not that the people of Baal pray; the great danger in America today is the people of God don’t.”Once Elijah called upon the Lord, fire rained down; God answered by fire. This reminds us that revival fire from Heaven is all-consuming, convicting, and converting.Apply it to your lifeIf we want to see revival happen like it

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: 2 Chronicles 20:1-30Praise is a powerful thing, in times of joy and in times of help, but especially in times of trouble.A story from 2 Chronicles 20:1-30 shows us the power of praise when facing opposition. King Jehoshaphat was a God-fearing King, facing opposition from Ammon, Moab, and Seir. Likewise, we have three mighty kings that come against us on a regular basis – sin, sorrow, and death. Every Christian will meet these, and sometimes, the opposition will be fierce.In the case of King Jehoshaphat, powerful foes caused the king to focus on God through fasting. Fasting does not earn God’s blessings (which are given solely through God’s grace), but it does sharpen our focus on God.As a result, the nation came together in purposeful fellowship: “So Judah gathered together to ask help from the Lord, and from all the cities of Judah they came to seek the Lord” (v. 4).When we seek God together, He shows up and reveals His true nature. This passage shows us that God is:-Sovereign: There is no problem too big for Him.-Steadfast: God has worked miracles in the past, and He will never run out of them.-Sympathetic: If we cry out to God, He will hear and He will help. He is touched with the feeling of our infirmity.Seeing: God knows our situations, our enemies, and our danger. There’s nothing that escapes His notice.Saving: “O our God, will You not judge them? For we have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You” (v. 12).The people of Judah learned that the battle was never theirs to win, but God’s; their part was to join the fight with praise.Adrian Rogers says, “Praise infuses the energy of God and it confuses the enemy of God. Praise fractures the unity of the enemy and formulates the unity of the believer.”As a result of the praise and obedience of the people, there was a provided fortune and peaceful future.Proverbs 16:7 says, “When a man’s ways please the Lo

Sermon OverviewScripture Reference: Matthew 25:21God preserves the faithful (see Psalm 31:23). Faithfulness is God’s measurement for our blessing. One day, our reward, or lack of it, will be according to our faithfulness.Faithfulness means integrity, loyalty, and steadfastness. In Matthew 23, we see what, why, and how to be faithful men and women of God.Matthew 23:21 says, “His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’”A man of God is faithful to family.He keeps his promises. He is faithful in his finances. He knows that how he handles money is an indication of how he handles spiritual treasure. He gives proportionally, as God prospers him.He is faithful in his friendships. Friends are bound to fail us, stumble, and do us wrong; but a faithful man is a good friend, who gives the benefit of the doubt and overlooks offenses.He is faithful to attend church.The Body of Christ owes each other fearful loyalty; for the Lord’s sake, a faithful man does not forsake the assembly (see Hebrews 10:25).He is faithful to the Word of God.To pass truth onto the next generation, a faithful man understands he has to be firmly rooted in Scripture.We ought to be faithful in these areas because Jesus is faithful to us. He is faithful to us in our failure, our temptation, and our falling. He is faithful to us to the very end, so we can be faithful to the end.We must be faithful in the small things because that is where success or failure truly lie.Adrian Rogers says, “Do you know what the big things In life are made up of? Little acts, little words, little thoughts.”We must be faithful in the secret things; Adrian Rogers says, “What you are in secret is what you are, nothing more or nothing less.”And we must be faithful in the sacred things; meet with God daily, fully committed, abiding in Him.Apply it to your lifeYield to God, and ask Him to make you faithful in e

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

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Malachi 3:7-12At its core definition, stewardship is our relationship with money: how we obtain, save, invest, spend, and give our wealth. God is interested in this relationship, as is Satan—our enemy who would love to keep us in financial bondage.If money increases our worries, or if we have plenty in the bank, but we have no treasure in Heaven, we are in financial bondage. We all want to be free from the curse of debt, but freedom is only found when we are faithful in stewardship.Malachi 3:7 says, “Yet from the days of your fathers, you have gone away from My ordinances and have not kept them. Return to Me, and I will return to you,” Says the Lord of hosts. “But you said, ‘In what way shall we return?’”In order to obtain financial freedom, we must first personally return to God.He does not need our money, but He wants our fellowship. When we remember tithing is God’s way of revealing our priorities to ourselves, we will see tithing as a great blessing. It is our privilege to show God that He is first in our lives and everything else is secondary.Adrian Rogers says, “God is not raising money; God is growing Christians. God wants us to grow in grace and knowledge and to love Him.”After our personal return, there is a financial release.“Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and try Me now in this,” Says the Lord of hosts, “If I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it” (Malachi 3:8).By biblical definition, tithing is ten percent given to the temple of God (church), for the work of the temple. Giving to charities or ministries is good, but it is not a replacement for our tithes.When we learn to give back to God freely, there will be a spiritual renewal.God will renew our faith, rebuke our foes, and restore our fruitfulness. Our offerings are like seeds for a crop: when we sow bountifully, we will reap bountifu

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Psalm 126:5-6The wisest thing we could do in the eyes of God is to remain faithful in evangelism. Psalm 126:5-6 reveals the soul winner’s promise: “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.”The soul is of great worth; Jesus died upon the cross, paying the price with His 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, it is endless, timeless, dateless, and measureless.Every soul has the potential to be transformed into the likeness of Jesus Christ or to spend eternity in the pits of Hell.We would be wise to evangelize because it is the command of Christ. We remember that we are programmed 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 is what saves souls.Adrian Rogers says, “We are to be spiritually distinct, but not socially segregated.”We cannot lose our passion. 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.)We must ignite our power, for we bear seed for sowing (Psalm 125:6). 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 hold fast to our promise: 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 faithful in evangelism, recognizing your program, passion, power, and promise?Adrian Ro

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

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

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

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: 2 Timothy 2:15If we want to live holy lives, to be sanctified and powerful in the Lord, we must learn how to be faithful in studying God’s Word.2 Timothy 2:15 says, “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”First, if you want to understand the Bible, you must receive the saving Author of the Bible.Without Christ, we are spiritually blind, as 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.”An unsaved man can read the Bible and appreciate its beauty, history, and moral precepts; yet he will never know the deep meaning of God’s Word until he’s born again. When Christ is in our hearts, our eyes are opened, our hearts are stirred and our minds are enlightened to the things of Scripture. Only then can we learn His statutes.Secondly, we must recognize the sovereign authority of the Bible.All Scripture is the breath of God, inspired by Him. The Bible interpreted by the Holy Spirit is the final authority—not human reason or conscience.Third, we must resolve to make a serious analysis of the Bible.It’s not enough to say that God is the author of the Bible or that the Bible is absolutely authoritative. We must rightly divide the Word of God, laying aside our intellectual pride and bringing our open minds. We must analyze it in context, with common sense and deep concentration. Read poetry as poetry, prophecy as prophecy, promises as promises, and precepts as precepts.Lastly, we must respond with a steadfast application of the Bible.To love God is to keep His commandments. Inspiration without obedience will cause the Word of God to sour within us rather than energize us. We must put these things into practice.Adrian Rogers says, “Bible study gives you knowledge about God. Obedience gives you knowledge of God. You can st

Sermon OverviewScripture Reference: Acts 10:34Would you be prepared to share the light of the Gospel the moment someone asks about it?In Acts 10, Simon Peter was invited into the home of Cornelius, a Roman officer, to share his faith with him and his household.Acts 10:34-35 says, “Then Peter opened his mouth and said: ‘In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him.’”Peter, a Jew, preached the message of salvation to the first Gentile, claiming that the door of salvation is wide: anyone who wants to enter may come. But the way is very narrow: Jesus is the only way to Heaven. If we are not saved by Jesus alone, we are not saved at all.The evidence of Jesus Christ has not changed over time. The same testimony Peter gave to Cornelius is our testimony today. Peter’s threefold testimony reveals how we can share the light of Jesus with others.First, Peter gave his personal witness account as a saint.Having walked with Jesus and witnessed Him firsthand, Peter had unmatched confidence in the virtuous life, vicarious death, and victorious resurrection of Christ.Adrian Rogers says, “A Christian with a glowing witness is worth a library full of arguments.”Peter’s second line of evidence was the prophetic witness of the Scriptures.Acts 10:43 says, “To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins.”The Old Testament also bore witness that every prophecy about the Messiah—more than 300—was fulfilled in the person of Jesus Christ. It is an absolute mathematical impossibility that these Scriptures could be fulfilled apart from divine inspiration and the deity of Jesus Christ.Finally, Peter had the persuasive witness of the Spirit.The Holy Spirit of God anointed Peter, so that his words would convince and convict Cornelius and his family.We are not waiting on the Holy Spirit—as Believers, God has already sent Him to strengthen and empower

Sermon OverviewScripture Reference: Mark 8:34Our souls are of infinite worth. When God made the human soul, He made it in His own image, therefore, our souls are endless, timeless, dateless, and measureless. The soul is the most valuable part of each of us, and so often, the first thing we sacrifice for the things of this world.Mark 8:35-36 says, “For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?”No one ever gains the whole world, and whatever part of the world you would gain, you cannot keep forever. The world cannot satisfy our deepest longings—neither pleasure, possession, nor philosophy could ever satisfy because God made us for Himself.Our souls are priceless treasures of tremendous worth; each one was formed with incredible creativity. Every soul has the potential to be transformed into the likeness of Jesus Christ. Our souls are also valuable because of their durability; they last for all eternity.Adrian Rogers says, “God never makes duplicates. You are the handiwork, the crafting, of Almighty God.”Our souls are also extremely rare; each is unique. Our souls are of inestimable worth. Jesus died upon the cross, paying the price with His blood and agony to show how much He desired our souls. Therefore, we must be extremely careful with our souls. Any one soul not given to the Lord is a waste of a soul. It is a foolish transaction.Adrian Rogers says, “Your soul was made for God and until your soul finds its rest in God, your soul will never find satisfaction. You’re His poem—His masterpiece.”To lose your soul would be a tragic, immeasurable loss—all the wealth of this world cannot compare to the value of a soul. It is an irreplaceable and irreversible loss—after death, we don’t get a second chance.It’s an inexcusable loss—completely avoidable. Because of Jesus Christ, our sin has been atoned for. And if we belo

Sermon OverviewScripture Reference: 2 Corinthians 10:3-5Whether we realize it or not, there is a battle raging in our minds at every moment: spiritual warfare between light and darkness, good and evil, Jesus Christ and Satan. We cannot afford to be ignorant, and we cannot possibly be neutral.2 Corinthians 10 shares encouragement for us in this battle for our minds.First, this passage warns us of the warfare of our foe.There is a deadly array of demons dedicated to the destruction of our thought lives. They are under the authority of the prince of darkness—the devil. He wants our minds, because it is through the mind that God communicates, changes, and controls us. When we’re saved, we receive the mind of Christ, and use our minds in different capacities than we once did. The devil wants to corrupt our minds so we fall out of fellowship with Christ.Second, this passage addresses the weakness of our flesh.“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh” (2 Corinthians 10:3).The spiritual battle is not in the flesh, but our flesh can be a point of weakness in our fight. We do not have what it takes to overcome on our own.This passage also reminds us of the weapons of our fight.“For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ…” (2 Corinthians 10:4-5).One of our weapons is the sovereignty of God, who is our Commander-in-Chief in this fight.We also have the authority of our commission, as 2 Corinthians 10:8 says: “For even if I should boast somewhat more about our authority, which the Lord gave us for edification and not for your destruction, I shall not be ashamed…”Finally, remember, we have our certain courage.Jesus Christ has already won the war. We win the battle each and every day by guarding our minds with all diligence (see Proverbs 4:23).App

Sermon OverviewScripture Reference: Philippians 4:4-8Even the strongest Christian can struggle with mental health. Many of us find ourselves shackled by the chains of disappointment, depression, anger, and fear. While in prison, weighed down by real chains, the Apostle Paul wrote about the freedom we can have in Christ. In Philippians 4, he reveals five steps to mental health.Rejoice in the presence of the Lord.“Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand” (Philippians 4:4-5). Paul knew he was not alone in his prison cell; the Lord was with him. No matter our circumstance, the joy we have in the Lord is continuous, because Jesus is constant.Adrian Rogers says, “No matter where we are, how lonely the night, how dark the road, how dismal the prison, how big the problem, Jesus Christ is always there.”Rely on the protection of God.“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication…” (Philippians 4:6a).Whatever problem we may face, we can talk to God about it. Worry hurts us so badly, because by definition, it is the idea of being pulled apart; it is useless, wasteful, and wicked. Rather, we can trust God in the big things and the little things.Reflect on the provision of God.“...with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God” (Philippians 4:6b). Rather than praying with self-pity, we should be filled with thanksgiving, praying with gratitude for all the Lord has done, and all He will do.Rest In the peace of the Lord.“...and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7). The peace of God is what guards us and protects us. We don’t keep this peace—it keeps us.Reflect on the purpose of God.“Finally…whatever things are true… noble… just… pure… lovely… of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things” (Philippians 4:8).We can be selective about

Sermon OverviewScripture Reference: Philippians 4:4-8Adrian Rogers says, “You can choose your thoughts like you choose your friends.”As Christians, we must have a standard regarding the kinds of thoughts we allow into our minds. Scripture shows us how and why we should control our thought lives.Philippians 4:4-7 says, “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”Every Christian who is in control of his thoughts will have conscious, contagious joy in the Lord.We will obtain healthy mental attitudes when we remember God is near, and we will recognize His presence continually.We must refuse to worry about anything; Jesus Himself tells us that worrying is worthless, wasteful, and wicked. (See Matthew 6.) Instead, we must bring every need to God—all the while, developing thankful spirits.Philippians 4:8 says, “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.”This verse reveals exactly how we should screen our thoughts and what to admit into our minds:1, Reliance Test: Is it true? Does it come from a reliable source?2, Respect Test: Is it honest, honorable, and worthy of respect?3. Rightness Test: Is it straight-line thinking or is it crooked thinking?4. Reverence Test: Is it pure, free of contamination, worthy of being lifted up in worship?5. Relationship Test: Does it cause you to love rather than criticize?6. Refinement Test: Is it a good report, high-toned, refined, and beneficial?We can win the war on our minds and control our thoughts,

Sermon OverviewScripture Reference: 2 Corinthians 4:3-6Our thought lives are the root of many of our problems in this world gone wild. It is crucial that we have mastery over our minds and control over our thought lives.First, we must be sure of our salvation.2 Corinthians 4:3-4 says, “But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.”The devil wants us to stay in the dark and blind our minds to the light of the Gospel.There’s a difference between the mind and the brain; the devil does not come after our intelligence, rather he wants to distort our minds. We become what we think about. (See Proverbs 23:7.)The carnal mind, which is at war with God, must be converted. There is no second step until we are sure we are saved.Second, we must pursue single-minded, heart-felt devotion to God.A converted mind can be corrupted; we can lose so much ground in the battle for our thought lives if we do not take action and give everything over to God.Third, we must root out the strongholds in our thought lives.A corrupt mind must be conquered. We must conquer compulsiveness, obsessions, fixations, and fears. We cannot let bitterness and resentment, uncontrollable lusts, phobias, criticisms, or distrust have a hold on us.This warfare is not carnal, so our weapons aren’t either. Education, psychology, nor positive thinking can help us take down these strongholds. Our fighting chance is the blood of Christ, the Word of God, and the authority in the name of Jesus.Finally, we must surrender our conquered minds back to the Lord.We cannot be neutral; we cannot merely dethrone the enemy—Christ must be enthroned in our thought lives.Adrian Rogers says, “No man can think two things at one time. If you’re thinking what is right, you cannot be thinking what is wrong. You can choose your thoughts like you c

Sermon OverviewScripture Reference: Genesis 1; Ephesians 1God made man and woman to have dominion, victory, and mastery; it is the very reason we were created. Once we understand this, we can come together as a conquering church and take back what was lost by Adam and was restored by Jesus Christ, the Second Adam.According to Genesis 1:26, God gave dominion on earth to Adam.But Satan, a fallen angel who became the father of the night, lost the battle in Heaven and hopes to win the battle on Earth.He came to the Garden of Eden as a serpent and tempted Adam and Eve to sin; therefore, they turned dominion over to him and became his slaves.But this dominion, legally lost by Adam, was righteously regained by Jesus Christ!Adrian Rogers says, “God owes Satan nothing, but God owes everything to His own justice. Jesus Christ came to this Earth as the second Adam, to gain back what the first Adam lost.”It was lost by a man, and it was legally restored by a man: “For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive” (1 Corinthians 15:21-22).Satan tried to tempt Jesus to sin as he had tempted Adam (Luke 4), but Jesus defeated Him by the Word of God. At Calvary, when Jesus died and was buried, the devil believed he had won. But three days later, Jesus walked out of the grave and brought back dominion that had been lost.Finally, this dominion has been gloriously given to the Church.Ephesians 1:22-23 says, “And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.”When God raised Jesus Christ from the dead, He raised us up as well. The devil wants to keep us in the dark so that we never see the incredible power we’ve been given. But when we finally recognize it, all Heaven will break loose.Apply it to your lifeAdrian Rogers says, “The same weapons that belonged to Adam in the Garden of Eden were the

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: John 4:23-24We were created to worship God; it is life’s greatest privilege and supreme duty to worship Him. It is the act of worship, and coming together as a worshiping Church that transforms our lives from monotonous to momentous.First, we must understand the meaning of true worship.John 4:23-24 says, “But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”In this passage, Jesus explained to a Samaritan woman what worship is, and how it differs from the religion she was accustomed to.Adrian Rogers says, “We don’t have to have enthusiastic heresy, or lifeless orthodoxy. …It’ll be a great day in any church when you stop enduring religion and start enjoying true worship.”Worship is a response of gratitude to all that God has revealed Himself to be, through Jesus Christ.Second, we must understand the motive of true worship, and why God is seeking worshippers.We become like what we worship. This is why it’s important to know exactly who we are worshipping, because if we do not worship Almighty God, we will be susceptible to worship anything else.Not only does God seek worshippers for what it does for us, but also for what it does for Him. Our praise gives Him pleasure as our Father; He yearns for our devotion and our honor.Finally, we must understand the method of true worship: both in spirit and truth.When Jesus says to worship God in spirit, He is referring to our innermost being. If our spirit is dead or warped, we can’t truly worship. Our praise must come from an honest place.But we must also remember to worship in truth; our emotions cannot dictate our praise—there must be an intelligent worship.Adrian Rogers says, “Your worship will never rise higher than your knowledge of God.”Spirit and truth go together; we honor God by actively praising with our spirit an

Sermon OverviewScripture Reference: Matthew 7:7-8There is no substitute for prayer, and a church is only as useful as her prayer life. The devil cannot keep God from answering our prayers, so he tries to keep us from asking. But our Lord has commanded us to pray.Adrian Rogers says, “The greatest problem that you have in your life is not unanswered prayer; the greatest problem is unasked prayer.”Matthew 7:7-8 says, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.”These are the words of Jesus—an undeniable, impeccable promise to a praying church.God already knows our needs before we ask. We pray, not to impress or inform Him, but to invite Him into our circumstances. God wants us to abide in Him, and prayer teaches us to depend on Him.This passage reminds us first to ask and express our desires to God.There is no division between spiritual things we should ask for and secular things we shouldn’t. We can’t consider some things too big or too small for God to answer. Whatever our desires may be, if they are something we can ask God’s help for, we should give them to God. Sometimes the answer is direct.Secondly, we’re reminded to seek and expect direction from God.Sometimes, God’s ways are unknown to us, so His answers are different from what we expect. What we ask for is not what God wants us to have. As we seek God, He will direct our prayers over time so that we will ask for the right things.Finally, this passage tells us to knock and exercise determination with God.We cannot give up too easily; we must remember that sometimes, God’s answers are delayed and we must be persistent. We should only stop knocking after we have an answer in hand or in our hearts, or if God says “no.” Until then, we must ask, seek, and continue knocking, inviting God into our lives, one prayer at a time.Apply it to your lifeIs there something in you

Sermon OverviewScripture Reference: John 14:12A Spirit-filled Church does not just organize and process members—it empowers and equips believers to be transformed by Scripture.John 14:12 says, “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.”The Exciting ProgramThis passage reveals that as a Church, we are not only to do the works of Jesus, but also to exceed the works of Jesus. We won’t walk on water, but we will multiply the kingdom by leading people to Jesus.Adrian Rogers says, “Bringing a soul to Jesus Christ is greater than raising a man from the dead.” There is no substitute for evangelism; the Church is to share the Gospel with others.The Explicit PromiseWe also remember our explicit promise: that God will answer our prayers. Prayer is not preliminary to our work; it is the work. To do the greater works that Jesus commands us to do, we must labor in prayer. This requires the right people praying, with the right power, for the right purpose.The Expected PracticeThird, this passage reminds us that we’re expected to keep God’s commandments. (See John 14:15.) We are expected to obey the Lord if we love Him. We are all called to be witnesses to what God has done for us; it is simple, but there is no cheap or easy way to do it.The Exceeding PowerTo do all of this, we need the exceeding power of the Holy Spirit.John 14:16 says, “And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever…”Adrian Rogers says, “The Holy Spirit is Christ in the Christian.” In the Holy Spirit, we have a Great Comforter who empowers and strengthens us. We are never left to do these greater works alone; He is with us and within us.Each Christian life is a culmination of three miracles: salvation through Jesus, the hope of His Second Coming, and the Holy Spirit’s empowerment for daily living.Apply it to your lifeTo be a Spirit-filled Church,

Sermon OverviewScripture Reference: Nehemiah 4Anyone who does something in the name of the Lord will face spiritual warfare. This is why a steadfast church is bound to be attacked by the enemy.Our enemy is very methodical. But the Holy Spirit is our ally. Not only can we know the enemy’s methods, but we can also stand against them.In the Book of Nehemiah, the walls of Jerusalem were rebuilt, despite spiritual opposition. We can clearly see the enemy’s tactics at work in Nehemiah 4.First, he tries derision.He mocked Nehemiah and his team, calling them feeble, futile, and foolish. The devil will try to laugh us away from our purpose.If that doesn’t work, he’ll try discouragement.About halfway through any big task, we’ll find we are discouraged by fatigue or frustration. This is on purpose; we must stay on track.Next, the devil tries dismay.He will use physical intimidation to scare us. But when threatened, Nehemiah and his team remembered the Lord and resisted the enemy; they continued to build and stood ready to battle at the same time. (See Nehemiah 4:18.)The devil will also attack with discord and division.We cannot let Satan drive a wedge in our fellowship. Whenever we stand for things within the church body, they must be for the right purpose, in the right spirit, at the right time.Adrian Rogers says, “If you are wise, you’ll always be a part of the solution, never a part of the problem.”Next, he tries to distract us.Satan’s motivation never changes; if he seems to be reasoning with us, it’s a diversion tactic. He is not our friend; we must keep our eyes on the Lord and continue serving Him.Finally, as he did with Nehemiah, the enemy will defame us among our peers and criticize our motives.When we live for Jesus, we will be slandered. We must never listen to any slander about another child of God. It is all garbage.Isaiah 54:17 says, “’No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgment You shall condemn. This is the h

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Matthew 21:12Adrian Rogers says, “Salvation is not getting Man out of Earth into Heaven; it is getting God out of Heaven into Man.”When we were saved, we became temples of the living God. God has come to dwell within us forever. But while God will not move out, He will clean house. If we are truly His, God will do a cleansing work on our hearts.Matthew 21:12 says, “Then Jesus went into the temple of God and drove out all those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers...”In this passage, we can clearly see the temple had been profaned. The money-changers were dishonest in their dealings, stealing from the people in God’s house.Our bodies are now the temple of God (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). We were saved to bring Him glory. We must ask ourselves: are we glorifying God with what we watch, listen to, consume, say, and do?Matthew 21 also shows how Jesus purged the temple. Jesus will not live in a dirty house. As He drove the money-changers out with a whip, He will purge the junk out of our lives through chastisement.This is not a joyful process, but it is necessary for our holiness. Sometimes rather than chastisement, God will cause disruption. When He overturns tables, pay attention.Finally, this passage brings us back to the purpose of the temple. The temple is a place of prayer. In Matthew 21:13 Jesus says: “My house shall be called the house of prayer, but you’ve made it a den of thieves.”We must be in the habit of praying without ceasing; the incense in our hearts should be rising all the time, praying about everything.The temple is also a place of power; the blind and broken came for healing at the temple. God performed miracles in the temple, and this is merely an illustration of the greater things God wants to do through us: win souls for Him.Finally, as day follows night, a place of prayer becomes a place of praise. Not only do we praise Him, but others will see His work in our lives and p

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: 1 Kings 18:39-45Revival is when God shows Himself to be present in the midst of His people. Revival is often visualized as fire falling down, but after the cleansing fire comes the cooling flood.In 1 Kings, the prophet Elijah prayed earnestly for drought in the land in judgment of sin. After God cast His judgment on the land through a three-year drought, Elijah prayed again, this time for rain.1 Kings 18:39-41 says, “Then Elijah said to Ahab, “‘Go up, eat and drink; for there is the sound of abundance of rain.’”The position of Elijah’s prayer was integrity and sincerity.The person behind the prayer was a man of integrity; his heart was clean and pure. Sometimes, sin in our lives can prevent us from getting answers to our prayers. We must each strive to be people of integrity.Elijah also prayed with a sincere heart. He did not pray to be seen by others; he got alone with God to pray. (Se 1 Kings 18:41.) We must be careful not to put our prayer life on display; it is not a show for all to see. Sincerity comes when we get alone with God.We also see the posture of Elijah’s prayer.Though he was bold as a lion, Elijah did not strut in the presence of God. He humbly bowed before the Lord. Elijah’s passionate prayer also revealed his fervency. He didn’t settle for little platitudes; he recognized the labor of true, fervent prayer. It takes work; in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus prayed until He sweated blood.Note the persistence of Elijah’s prayer.Elijah’s persistence revealed a character of consistency. In 1 Kings 18:43, Elijah sends his servant to the mountaintop to look for rain: “And seven times he said, ‘Go again.’”Sometimes the Lord, in His wisdom, waits; we must keep praying as we wait. As we are waiting and praying, these characteristics will begin to take root, and God will give us the victory.Adrian Rogers said, “If we pray like Elijah, who prayed down fire from Heaven, then we can pray down the floods.”But we will not have the f

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Acts 24:24-27Many of us struggle with procrastination, but do we realize that is doing great damage to us? Do we ever grasp the true problem of procrastination? Adrian Rogers tells us, “Procrastination is more than the thief of time, it is the grave of opportunity and it may be the road to hell.”There are a few reasons people reject the Gospel upon hearing it. Perhaps the most common reason is procrastination. They put it off, thinking that they will have plenty of time to receive Christ later on. That’s the case in Acts 24. In this passage, Paul is a prisoner of Caesarea and the Roman judge, Felix calls for him to answer questions he has about Jesus Christ. Paul preaches a Christ-centered message, and the conviction of the Holy Spirit is so strong, Felix trembles. Felix was at the threshold of salvation, but then he did something that so many people do: he said, “When I have a convenient season, I will call for you.” (Acts 24:25)There are three things we can learn from Felix’s procrastination.First, see the sermon that convicted Felix.Here was a sinful man whose heart was in need of a Savior. Paul did not back down. He delivered a message, first concerning God’s standard of righteousness. Then he discussed Felix’s self-control, and the judgment of God to come.See, also the pressures that confronted him.When the Holy Spirit convicted Felix, the devil moved in to confront him. There were three mighty forces that warred against this man’s soul—the world, the flesh, and the devil. These are three enemies we all face, and sometimes, like Felix, they cause us to retreat.Finally, see the presumption that condemned Felix.Acts 24:27 reveals that Felix never received Christ. Felix made three tragic assumptions:-that convenience will come,-that conviction from the Holy Spirit would continue, and-that conflicts would cease.But he forgot as many of us do… tomorrow may never come.Adrian Rogers says, “Tomorrow you will have more sin to repent of.

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

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

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

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

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Acts 4:36-37The Book of Acts tells the story of a man called Barnabas. His name means “son of encouragement.” And there are five characteristics that make Barnabas the church member of any pastor’s dreams.First, he was a load lifter.In Acts 4:36, Barnabas meets a need by selling his property and giving the profits to the church. He saw a load and he decided to lift it. Encouragers understand that we all have something to give. Encouragers find out what it is that can be used to lift another’s burdens and offer it.Encouragers are also friend finders.After the Apostle Paul’s conversion, he was despised by his old colleagues, but feared by his new brothers and sisters in Christ. He was a man who needed a friend. Barnabas found him and became a friend to this very lonely new disciple. A lot of new Christians need somebody to find and friend them. An encourager finds the lonely and neglected, puts an arm around them, and brings them into the fold.Encouragers are also bridge builders.Barnabas knew the old and he saw the new; he was used to link the past to the future. Adrian Rogers says, “Barnabas believed in the tradition, but he believed in the frontier. And he was used by God to mold it all together. He was a bridge builder.”Encouragers are disciple developers.Barnabas often found buried gifts in new disciples and he brought these hidden talents out of them. There are people in our churches with gifts and abilities that need to be discovered and developed. But it takes a “Barnabas” to find them.Finally, encouragers are failure fixers.After the disciple Mark ran away from his calling, Barnabas sought him out and gave him another chance. This young disciple went on to write the Gospel of Mark.Thank God for Barnabas, who strove to fix this failure with words of encouragement. And thank God for the encouragers in our churches, who see second chances in us when no one else does.Apply it to your lifeWould you consider yourself to be a church

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

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Acts 9:17-222 Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore if any man be in Christ Jesus, he is a new creation; old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” Adrian Rogers says it this way, “A Christian is not just somebody who has become nice; he’s become new.”Acts 9 tells the story of the conversion of the Apostle Paul. His early name was Saul and he was a persecutor of Christians. Yet, in this passage, he becomes Paul, the greatest missionary and evangelist the world has ever known. He was changed by the grace of God, so much so, he even changed his name! There are five markings of this man made new, found in Acts 9:17-22.First, Saul had a new Lord.The first question Saul asked when confronted by Jesus on the road to Damascus was, “Lord, what would you have me do?” Jesus had become his Lord; immediately, he was under new management. The Bible calls Jesus, Lord 433 times. And Adrian Rogers says, “You cannot have what He gives, salvation unless you receive what He is, and that is Lord.”Second, Paul had a new life.When you receive Jesus as Lord, you receive a new life and a new spiritual sight. You’re able to see things you’ve never seen before.Third, Paul had a new liberty.God put His power within Paul. The Christian life is what God does in us and through us. He’s the one who gives us that liberty.Fourth, Paul had a new love.A few days before his conversion, this man was threatening the church. His heart was filled with bitterness and malevolence toward those who were called Christians. And those he once loathed he now loves. If you love Jesus, you will love what He loves.Finally, Paul had a new labor.Saul’s mission was to destroy the church. Paul’s mission was to build the church. The marking of a new life in Christ is that he shares it with others.And what God did for Saul, God wants to do for us, all.Apply it to your lifeHave you been made new in Christ? Does your life show that you have a new Lord, life, liberty, love,

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

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