Sermons

Battling Betrayers (Part 2)

This passage reminds Christians of their responsibility to engage in the battle for purity. This fight for purity is not merely for the right beliefs of Christianity but for the right behaviors. We must diligently care for what other Christians preach and what they practice!

Battling Betrayers (Part 1)

This passage reminds Christians of their responsibility to engage in the battle for purity. This fight for purity is not merely for the right beliefs of Christianity but for the right behaviors. We must diligently care for what other Christians preach and what they practice!

The Grandeur of a God Who Saves

This passage continues Paul’s personal testimony. He continues to compare the true gospel and its impact on sinners such as himself with the gospel of the false teachers in Ephesus. The gospel of the false teachers produces immorality, but the true gospel saves and sanctifies sinners for the glory of God. This passage teaches us two truths about the true gospel.

Services and Offerings: The Dangers of Cheap Worship

In light of God’s love for His people, Malachi is confronting and rebuking the priests, who were supposed to be God’s representative and worship leaders of Israel, in their lack of honor and reverence towards God. Evidenced by their complacency which resulted to the desecration of the altar and apathy towards God.

The First Faithful Saying

This text reminds Christians of the unmovable truths of the gospel that gave Paul his thanksgiving (1 Tim 1:12-14) and strengthens our confidence in Christ’s forgiveness (1 Tim 1:16-17). This passage contains two unmovable truths that glorify Christ and encourage our souls.

Gospel Gratitude For Gospel Change

Paul shows the difference between the true gospel and the errant gospels of the false teachers in Ephesus. This passage teaches Christians that the true gospel is not just about the mind, it is about the genuine change of heart that leads to a change in lifestyle. God’s love expressed in the gospel leads Paul to express true gratitude.

The Lawful Use of the Law

The false teachers in Ephesus were inappropriately using the Law to skew basic gospel truths. Here, Paul sets the record straight by reminding the readers that the Law could not provide the righteousness necessary to stand before God. Instead, readers are reminded that our righteousness must come from Christ. These truths are important because they protect the church’s pursuit of holiness

Character vs. Corruption

This passage teaches today’s Christians that the growth and development of Christian love is the genuine result of God’s work in the life and service of the saint. Those who make a departure from the path that leads to love are exposed by their confident arrogance.

The Battle for Beliefs

This passage describes Paul’s instructions to Timothy for the church in Ephesus. Timothy is called to act on behalf of Paul in order to protect the church from opponents of His gospel.

By God’s People, For God’s People

This passage provides us the truths regarding the manner in which Christ protects and builds up the church which is the place of a Christian’s spiritual nourishment. In it, we see God building the church through faithful servants (Paul), committed disciples (Timothy), and His spiritual empowerment Outline I. Paul the Apostle (1 Tim 1:1) A. […]

Saints Who Stand: The Christian’s Spiritual Warfare

How believers can stand against Satanic struggles in everyday life. Outline I. Stand in the Strength of the Lord (Eph 6:10-11) II. Stand Against the Right Enemy (Eph 6:11-12) III. Stand in the Armor of God A. Stand Perfectly Prepared (Eph 6:13) B. Stand Strapped with Truth (Eph 6:14) C. Stand by Revealing Righteousness (Eph […]

By God’s People For God’s People

Today, we’re going to consider the background of the book of 1 Timothy. We will consider the author (Paul), the recipient (Timothy), and the situation in Ephesus that prompted the writing of this epistle. Here, we will learn valuable lessons about faithful Christian living and the importance of the local church for the growth and […]

What God Gives

This text reminds readers of the glories of the gospel.  The Word become flesh is the Christian’s joy and motivation for godly living. This text reminds Christians of three gospel truths that foster love and service to Christ the Lord.

A Diety Who Dwells

For the Christian, the holiday season is truly celebrated when we understand the doctrine of the incarnation of God the Son. This is a key doctrine that Christians have always believed. Today, we look at one passage that informs our understanding of the incarnation and will therefore help us celebrate Christmas in a God-honoring way.

What’s the Big Deal?

This passage teaches readers that eternal life is rooted in a biblical understanding of the person of Jesus Christ. In this passage, we learn that Christ alone can offer eternal life for three reasons.  Christ offers eternal life because of who He is, what He’s done, and what He offers.

United Saints of Authority

Today, we will consider the biblical belief that the congregation does bear a form authority in the Christian’s life and in the life of the church. We will see that the Bible teaches that the congregation has parameters of authority. We will also see that the Bible teaches us the proper character that accompanies congregational authority.

The Chief End of Man

The epilogue of Ecclesiastes provides readers with four takeaways from the entire book. These takeaways help bring clarity to some of the complex situations that Ecclesiastes represents

Steadfast in the Rollercoaster of Life

There are many things in life that we cannot control, but in this passage God is calling us to remain faithful to Him despite our earthly circumstances. While many things around us can change, we must never change in our resolve to joyfully live for God. This passage reminds us to live for God no matter the situation. First, we are called to live for God when life is uncertain. Second, we are called to live for God until He calls us home.

When Wisdom Turns Rancid

Solomon’s series of proverbs in Ecclesiastes 9:13-10:20 instructs readers that our fallen practice of wisdom can often turn rancid. As sinners, our attempts to apply wisdom will often turn sour. This text reminds us of the deficiencies of our wisdom and the destruction of foolishness. These truths remind us of our constant need for the Gospel of grace in our Lord Jesus Christ.

Delighting Before Death

This passage instructs Christians that our beliefs should not be based on emotions, but on truth. Our beliefs matter because they shape the way we approach and live life. This passage teaches us four beliefs that shape the Christian life into a God-centered, God-glorifying, and God-satisfying life.

The Danger of Indifference

The passage teaches us five truths to embrace when we struggle with spiritual indifference or complacency. These truths encourage us to renew our love and devotion to Christ. We need to pursue spiritual devotion to God because an indifferent faith is a false faith. A complacent faith is not the mark of a true believer.

Sovereignty Over Suffering

Christ’s message to the Church of Smyrna teaches the believer today to remain faithful throughout suffering in difficulties. In this passage we find Christ encouraging His Church by reminding them of His sovereignty over life’s difficulties. As a result the believer is encouraged to know they will be triumphant and will become more like Christ, because all trials are under His sovereign control.

Cold-Hearted Christianity

Christ’s message to the Ephesian church teaches believers today to maintain the priority of exemplifying Christian love. In this passage, we find Christ assessing the church’s strengths and weaknesses. As a result, He provides a call to repent lest He bring judgment. Heeding to His call brings life to the church and the success of the Gospel.

Christ’s Evaluation of His Church

Revelation 2-3 provides Christ’s evaluation of seven real life churches from the 1st century. These churches share many commonalities of modern-day churches, including our own. While Revelation is a difficult book to study, we will consider four compelling reasons to study Revelation 2-3 over the course of the next seven weeks.

Only the Sanctified Survive

This passage provides Christians with a five-fold description of a believer’s trust in God. It displays true values of Christians before a holy and sovereign God. These characteristics are provided as contrasts between the wicked and the righteous, the sanctified and unsanctified.

Wisdom Among Authorities

This passage teaches readers that godly wisdom is beneficial in the public square. Despite what many may think, applying godly wisdom to the world is useful in the highest parts of society. This passage teaches us that godly wisdom is beneficial when dealing with authorities. Godly wisdom, in the face of authority, will manifest in four ways.

Searching For Wisdom

The entire passage is about pursuing the rare prize of wisdom. The rarity of wisdom exposes our human weaknesses and vulnerability to sinfulness. It is for this reason that we can see several obstacles in the Christian’s search for wisdom.

Living the Balanced Life

This passage teaches Christians about having biblical expectations about life and godliness. We must realize that a disproportionate view of life is unbiblical; therefore, we must set our standard and expectations to God’s in order to get the most out of life.

Getting the Most Out of the Limited Life Part 1

This section marks the halfway point of Ecclesiastes. Here, Solomon summarizes his observations by reminding his readers of life’s limitations. He also marks the end of the first half and the beginning of the second half with a poem on how to think through life’s limitations. In this poem, he identifies several principles that lead readers to getting the most out of this fallen world.

The Dollar and Divinity Part 1

Believers need to realize that an improper approach towards God and money leads to a complicated and ultimately wasted life. These passages include the pursuit of money, the priority of money, and the possession of money.