Midwest Bible Church : Recent Episodes
Midwest Bible Church
Follow along with Midwest Bible Church's current and past sermons.
We exist to glorify God in fulfilling the mission of Jesus Christ by seeking His face in worship, serving his family in love, and spreading his fame through discipleship.
Located at 3441 N. Cicero Ave. Chicago, IL, 60641 Sunday Gatherings start at 10:45am
When you honor Christ in your heart, it will show on the outside and give people reasons to talk to you about Jesus. The gospel has spread throughout church history not because the church figured out what methods for evangelism worked best, but because their gospel message and their manner of life resisted conformity to the culture. There lives were convincing proof before their adversaries of the saving hope and love of Jesus. (1 Peter 3:13-16)
In the Bible, you will find instructional examples of believers sharing the good news with unbelievers, one on one. Here is some insight from John 4:1-10 on how Jesus, in a one to one, encounter brought an obscure Samaritan woman to Himself. "One by one and two by two we can win our world for Jesus Christ." -Babbie Mason
How can christians today capture the evangelistic zeal that must be prevalent in the life of the church to be faithful to its Christ given mission to make disciples who spread His fame? The bible has much to say about the principle of sowing and reaping. Before reaping a physical harvest, a farmer must sow seeds. “Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy. He who goes out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves with him.” (Psalm 126:5-6)
Jesus is sovereign over suffering and is able to deliver us from the storm or through the storm. Even when things seem to go from bad to worse, Jesus is still in control and we can trust Him to fulfill His redemptive plans in and through our lives.
Fruit-bearing disciples cultivate a resilient faith in the knowledge of Christ and are convinced that it’s always too soon to quit. (Luke 8:40-56)
Jesus' authority over the spirits and swine demonstrate that He is the Sovereign Messiah, the One who has power over all forces, both natural and supernatural. (Luke 8:26-39)
Although a person getting on a roller coaster ride may be a little fearful, they get on it anyway, because they know that a very smart engineer designed the roller coaster to scare you, but not to kill you. They designed it to give you the experience of chaos, but it’s a controlled chaos.
Likewise, when we find ourselves in a roller coaster season of life, when we are faced with situations that seem beyond our control, we can find refuge knowing there’s a sovereign God in heaven who is always in control.
Because Jesus is Lord, all who love and obey Him can find the calm assurance that He will see them through every season of life. (Luke 8:22-26)
The mark of spiritual maturity and growth in a believer’s life is not perfection, “but that you are striving against the tide, even if you are standing still, as it may feel sometimes” (Piper). We must progress in the Word or we will regress with the World. (Luke 8:16-21)
What makes it possible for people to be in the know—to have access to insider information? Often it has to do with the people you know and have close relationships with. Believers, especially those who have a close and intimate relationship with God, have access to the ultimate insider information. They know the secrets of the Kingdom of God. (Luke 8:1-15)
From our text we are going to look at a woman whose relationship with Jesus meant more to her than the most precious thing she possessed. She loved and worshiped Jesus extravagantly—she lavished him with expressions of love and gratitude for who He is and what He did for her.
In contrast to her extravagant worship, we will also examine the attitude of a religious man who was cold and indifferent to Jesus. We are going to consider not only why he was cold and indifferent, but why he also had no grace for the woman who deeply loved Jesus. (Luke 7:36-50)
Doubt, if we don’t deal with it correctly, can enslave us and keep us from growing in faith through the trials of life. When in a prison of doubt, go to Jesus and rest in His promises, which is the key that will set you free. (Luke 7:18-35)
This morning, we will see the compassion, authority, and power of Jesus. The main idea from the text is that Luke provides evidence that Jesus is truly Lord through His compassion, authority, and power, so that we will worship and submit to Him as more than just a prophet, but as Lord of Lords. (Luke 7:11-17)
In this sermon, we will examine the faith of the Centurion and see that faith values others, hears the word of Jesus and does them, loves other, even our enemies, is generous, humble, submits to the authority of Jesus, and recognizes Jesus as Lord. (Luke7:1-10)
As crucial as it is for buildings to have a deep and solid foundation, especially those that stand tall, what we as spiritual beings are building our lives on has far greater implication in this life and in the life to come. A newly constructed house can look great from the outside and it might even look beautiful on the inside. But it’s what you can’t see that will determine the stability of the structure and its ability to withstand outside forces, like a storm.
The deeper our foundation in Christ, the higher we will climb for Christ. (Luke 6:46-49)
A good judge of Christian character looks for the fruit that is produced from being rooted in Christ. To unfold this theme, we are going to consider what it takes to discern and develop the character of one who represents God’s kingdom and why it matters infinitely more than your looks, money you have in the bank, or exceptional talents. (Luke 6:43-45)
Do you know God’s transforming grace? What’s the measure that you do? As we will see from our text, when you apprehend and appreciate the transforming grace of Christ in your life, you will more readily extend grace to others. Recipients of God’s transforming grace are compelled to extend His grace in a world starving for kindness and mercy. (Luke 6:37-42)
Do our lives look distinctively different from the world around us or do we just blend in to the rest of society? To make a supernatural difference for Christ in our self-centered, and self-absorbed society, we must not only live supernaturally different, there must be something radically different about the way we show love. Only when our love resembles the indiscriminate love of Christ can we as Christians effect positive change for God’s kingdom. (Luke 6:27-36)
A blessed life according to the Author of life is totally upside down from the point of view of most people in our world. It’s the inverted way of life in the kingdom that will not only allow us to experience the truly good life, but it’s through embracing it that we, as representatives of God’s kingdom, can make an eternal difference in this world. (Luke 6:17-26)
How do you discern your calling in life? In this sermon, we are going to learn some lessons from Jesus and His appointment of the twelve apostles about discerning and living out the call of God upon our lives. (Luke 6:12-16)
The unified parables of weddings, rags, and wineskins show that the kingdom of Jesus is here now, and is marked by both feasting and fasting. We will learn how the imagery in these parables are nothing new, but the ancient hope of renewal and revival that is spoken of all throughout the old testament. (Luke 5:33-39)
We are going to learn from the example of Jesus what it means to be a friend of sinners and why in His upside-down kingdom it is essential to fulfilling His redemptive purposes.
Biblical faith is not faith in faith, it’s not positive thinking, it’s not name it and claim it or believe it and you can achieve it. The key to possessing overcoming faith is not the size of your faith, but where you place your faith. Little faith is better than misplaced faith because faith is as good as its object.
Faith that pleases God is focused on Christ and functions to fulfill His will in the power of the Holy Spirit. (Luke 5:17-26)
What's unique about a first responder is that in addition to being specially trained, they are called upon to do the opposite of what the average person will instinctively do in an emergency. When gun shots are heard or a house is on fire, the average person will run away from the danger, whereas a first responder will run to the danger to rescue people. Like a first responder serves society, God has ordained believers to be His first responders of mercy to a world in spiritual crisis. (Luke 5:12-16)
Followers of Christ become fishers of men. This is what all Christians have been called to do. We haven’t been called to be keepers of a Christian aquarium. We’ve been called to be fishers of men. And to do so we need the heart of Christ. To unfold this theme, we are going to examine some attributes and actions that must be evident in our lives through the work of the Spirit if we are to catch souls for Christ. (Luke 5:1-11)
Kingdom authority is released in and through those under the King’s rule so that they could fulfill His Kingdom agenda. As Adrian Rogers put it, "The paradoxical truth is that the freedom and authority we have in Jesus is because we are under authority.” (Luke 4:31-44)
Jesus Himself modeled for us all, what faithfulness to the calling of preaching looks like. And because of His faithfulness and resurrection power, all who have been called to preach can trust that He supplies all that’s needed to be faithful to the task. Faithful preachers are tethered to the Spirit and true to the scriptures as they seek to advance the Kingdom of Christ. (Luke 4:14-30)
The most fearful, sorrowful, and insecure state to be in is not knowing who you are; not knowing your identity because you don’t know where you are, where you came from or who you belong to. This can happen through spiritual neglect or deception. Satan’s primary strategy for weakening our faith is to attack our identity in Christ. To defeat him we must maintain our intimacy with Christ. (Luke 4:1-13)
Christ the Son of God obeyed His Father as the Son of man, even to the point of death, so that sons and daughters of men can share in His divine Sonship. Through Him, we also have access to and approval of the Father. (Luke 3:21-38)
Like John the Baptist, believers are called to be transformational voices to our generation. Because of the transforming power of the gospel, Christians have something eternally significant to say that the world desperately needs to hear. You have a voice; it’s a gift from God. How are you using it? How are you developing it? (Luke 3:1-20)
Growing believers increase in wisdom and the favor of God and people by sitting, listening, and asking, by focusing on their relationship with Jesus, by submitting to Him, and by treasuring the works of God in their lives. (Luke 2:39-52)
God’s peace comes to us when the Prince of Peace is held up before our eyes by the Spirit, and in response He’s given His rightful place on the throne of our hearts. (Luke 2:22-38)
God became flesh to dwell among us so that we can taste, treasure, and tell of the riches of His glory and grace. (Luke 2:1-20)
Twice-born believers are regenerated by the Spirit to bear witness to the light of life. We are going to look at what Zechariah, John the Baptist’s father, said about John after Elizabeth gave birth to him. From his prophetic words, we will consider some key factors that enabled John to succeed at what matters most, namely to be a witness to the light of the world. (Luke 1:57-80)
In Mary's anthem, The Magnificat, her reflections on the word of God and the women of God lead her to worship in humility and hope.
God works in unexpected ways through the lives of ordinary people to fulfill His extraordinary plans. We are going to learn some truths from the birth announcement of Jesus about how God works in unexpected ways to fulfill His purposes in our lives.
Luke gives a detailed account of the birth announcement of both John the Baptist and of Jesus. Both of these birth announcements, starting with John, came at unexpected times and were given to unexpected people in unexpected places which led to unexpected blessings. Unexpected blessings of God’s kingdom are encountered on the long road of faithfulness and obedience.
What do you know? How certain are you of the hope of the gospel? To have greater certainty we need to see Jesus with greater clarity. Our certain hope as Christians is not based on wishful thinking but on the life of the incarnate Son of God. In the message today, we are going to look at 3 main sources of the certainty that enables us to be dynamic representatives of the upside down-ness of life under Christ’s rule on earth.
The word of God, not our emotions, should be our ultimate guide in life. But though our emotions are not always a reliable guide, they serve as a vital gauge to our spiritual health.
When it comes to the ministry of the Holy Spirit, it seems there’s a greater fascination with the gifts of the Spirit than with the fruit of the Spirit. In this message, we are going to examine the nine qualities Paul called the fruit of the Spirit. These qualities are the real marks of maturity in Christ, of what it truly means to live a Spirit-filled life. As we examine these virtues, we will also learn how they are produced in our lives so that we might live an abundant christian life. (Galatians 5:22-26)
Under the New Covenant, the Holy Spirit, who makes Christ’s presence known, doesn’t change lives by filling a room, but by filling the lives of surrendered believers. As we will see from our text, the New Covenant command is not for believers to seek the Spirit to fill a room. The New Covenant command is for believers to be filled with the Spirit.
The Holy Spirit isn’t hiding somewhere else inside or outside the building, waiting for someone to invite Him to show up. The Holy Spirit makes Christ known in and through our surrendered lives. God shows up when Spirit-filled Christians show up to be a blessing to others. In our message, we are going to see some key principles about the way spiritual gifts function in the church so that Christ is seen, heard, and glorified and believers are edified.
We walk around with a jug of water so that we can stay physically hydrated, but we do little to stay spiritually hydrated. Consequently, our souls are not only spiritually parched, but we have nothing to give to refresh the souls of others. When we drink deeply from the well of His love, our hearts become springs of living water for thirsty souls. (John 7:37-39)
I don’t think any of us have arrived when it comes to taming the tongue. But if you’re a Christian, who is filled with the Spirit, you ought to be making significant progress. And if you're making progress, you’ve discovered that your tongue problem is not the main problem. The heart of the matter is a matter of the heart. Your mouth doesn’t need to be washed out with soap, like some of us may have experienced when we were kids. We don’t need our mouths to be washed, we need our hearts to be cleansed.
When we fail to recognize that our number one opponent is within, the focus that we need to live the Christian life will be in the wrong place. And sadly, many believers are not only failing to identify their greatest opponent, they are unfamiliar with the only person who can conquer the rebel, namely the Holy Spirit.
To accomplish the greater works that Jesus said believers will do in His physical absence, we must become intimately acquainted with the Holy Spirit, sensitive to His leading, and familiar with how He works in our lives. (John 14:12-14)
In this series that we titled "Inside Out," we are going to consider some of the dangerous implications of the pseudo spirituality that comes from a distorted view of the Holy Spirit. And more importantly, we are going to discover how the New Covenant promise of the indwelling Spirit changes everything from the inside out.
The reason you may feel like it’s hard to live the Christian life is because you’ve been trying to live it in your own strength. The Christian life is nothing less than the risen Christ living HIS life through our surrendered lives.
The good news of Jesus is too good to keep to ourselves. Our Christianity ought to be contagious. But for it to be contagious, great joy must characterize our lives as followers of Jesus. Living joyfully in Jesus is enhanced by humbly serving others in His name.
Joy is the great promise of Christ’s Kingdom. But, joy isn’t passive. It must be active, and sometimes, we must often battle for our happiness in Christ. There are three practices that we must hold fast to both in maintaining and possibly reclaiming our joy: Celebrate, Cultivate, and Communicate.
Christian forgiveness does not minimize the pain caused by an offender, but instead receives God’s grace to deal with the hurt and turn away from the pursuit of personal vengeance or retribution. (2 Corinthians 2:5-11)
As believers who have been restored, we are called to see people, not as they appear right now, but for what and who they can become in Christ. The heart of a restorer is transfixed on Jesus and their aim is to serve others for their joy from the outflow of their love relationship with Jesus. (2 Corinthians 1:23-24, 2:1-4)
Since all of God’s promises are yes in Jesus, we must say yes to everything in His yes to us, so that we might live for His glory. (2 Corinthians 1:12-22)
God gives us more than we can handle so that we learn to trust Him to handle it. (2 Corinthians 1:8-11)
We are going learn a doctrine of suffering that can not only prepare us to share in the suffering of Christ, but to also share in the consolation of Christ—a consolation that will enable us to bring comfort to others who suffer in this fallen world. When we share in Christ’s sufferings, we will also share in His comfort, which will compel us to share His comfort with others. (2 Corinthians 1:3-11)
Disclaimer: There were technical difficulties, so the ending of this message is missing. Please refer to the notes starting at point 3, Release His Grace. As we start a new series in 2 Corinthians titled, Aim for Restoration, let's take a look at Paul's greeting, which often includes grace. The main idea is this: God pours out His restorative grace so that we become more than reservoirs, but instruments through whom He can display His grace to others.
From the extraordinary friendship that David shared with Jonathan, we are going to learn five characteristics for being a true, faithful, and life-giving friend. A faithful friend meets our essential need for intimacy and helps us find our ultimate strength and satisfaction in God.
In 1 Samuel 17, the story of David and Goliath, David's victory over the seed of the Serpent was a foreshadowing of Jesus' ultimate victory over the Serpent.
In this sermon, we are going to examine the rivalry that took place for the throne of David. From this rivalry, we can glean some lessons about dealing with the rival within our own hearts. The reigning king defeats the rival king when the rightful king takes his place on the throne.
David, who was a man after God’s own heart, has much to teach us. He not only knew the blessings of waiting on the Lord, but he also knew the heartaches of not waiting on the Lord and getting ahead of God. When we are waiting on God, we are waiting with God and He makes the waiting worth it all. (Psalm 40:1-3)
Kingdom patrons give selfless and sacrificial support to each other so that they can be all they are called to be in Christ. They serve with committed lives, courageous loyalty, and costly love. (1 Chronicles 11:10)
When we know the restoring grace of God we become instruments of His restoring grace in the lives of others. To unfold this theme we are going to examine the source, signs, and solution of bitterness. (1 Samuel 30)
Mature believers build each other up in the faith by persistently praying for opportunities to serve, personally participating in outreach, and patiently persevering through opposition and obstacles
Guest Speaker & friend of MBC, Pastor Bob Moeller, joins us to give biblical principals on being a good father. It's never too late to start now, even if your child is 50 years old.
People who know their God stand firm in faith even in dark times. We are going to consider some essential ways our faith must operate so that when the lights go out we can stand firm in hope in the midst of the darkness. (Daniel 11)
In this sermon, we're going to consider what believers in exile must receive from the divine realm to light up the darkness and fulfill their kingdom assignments. (Daniel 10)
Men and women of prayer abide in the word of God in order to know the will of God so that they can prayerfully advance the work of God. (Daniel 9:20-27)
Effectual prayer is anchored in the purposes of God, is in awe of the person of God, and seeks the praise of God. (Daniel 9)
God’s ultimate triumph over all things evil is our basis for shining His light until the day dawns. (Daniel 8)
The courtroom of heaven where the Ancient of Days presides rules over the kingdoms of earth (Daniel 7)
When we, as followers of Jesus, set our minds on heaven and seek the things of heaven where Christ is, the Spirit empowers us to put to death our old sinful selves and grow in Christlikeness. (Colossians 3:1-17)
Just as God rescued Daniel in Babylon, He continues to rescue us from the pit today (Daniel 6)
Even when evil men rule, truth is suppressed and circumstances test our faith, God is in charge, judgment is coming and the gospel still saves. In this sermon, we'll examine Belshazzar’s and Daniel’s responses to the writing on the wall and the sovereignty of God behind it all and learn some lessons about shining brightly in our Babylon. (Daniel 5)
God, who rules in the heavens, opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. (Daniel 4)
As exiles in a world that is not our final home, we should not think it strange when we are ridiculed for our Christian values or experience hardship. Rather we can take heart knowing that because God is sovereign over all things, the fiery trials that we go through are superintended by Him to test us. The fiery trials prove what we are made of. They not only refine our faith, but they reveal our hope in Christ before a watching world. (Daniel 3)
Amidst the nightmare of exile in Babylon, God provides the dream of future hope in His kingdom. (Daniel 2)
We too are living in exile—living in a Babylon world which is becoming increasingly opposed to biblical Christianity and is also seeking to conform Christians, and especially children, into its mold. Depending on God’s faithfulness in this world enables believers to persevere in faith as lights in the darkness of this age. (Daniel 1)
Sheep are prone to wander from the Shepherd, but the Shepherd will pursue His wandering sheep. Jesus knew His disciples would abandon Him yet He set up an appointment to meet them in Galilee. Jesus wants you to know that you may have failed Him, but He will not fail you, you may have denied Him, but He will not deny, you, you may have even forsaken Him when it mattered most, but He hasn’t forsaken you and He never will.
God Himself provides the way for us to be forgiven and restored. Psalm 51, David's prayer of repentance, points to the cross and the wrath four our sins paid in full by Jesus.
When we know the love of Jesus, we will do more than weep over the lost state of humanity; our anguish will move us to action.
Healthy Christians, who make up healthy churches, devote themselves to the service of the saints. To unfold this theme, we are going to examine 5 characteristics of a healthy Christian who builds up the church by serving others to the glory of Christ; be watchful, be warlike, be warm, be workers, and be welcoming. 1 Corinthians 16:12-24
Accomplishing God's purpose for our lives requires intentional planning to make the best use of our times, talents, and treasures to serve the kingdom of God. 1 Corinthians 16:1-11
Do you know what season you're in? Listen as Roy Patterson from Moody Radio unpacks Esther 4 into seasons of favor, fear, fasting, and fashion. Despite whichever season you are in, God loves you, He cares about you, He will never leave you. That knowledge will leave you with a peace that surpasses all understanding.
Looking to the already and not yet power of the resurrection encourages us to persevere in the work of the Lord no matter the cost. 1 Corinthians 15:50-58
The seeds of resurrection hope planted throughout the Scriptures point us to a future, forever life in the new creation. 1 Corinthians 15:35-49
Do you really believe God is good? It’s easy to say yes intellectually, but does your heart know that God is good? When we truly believe that He is good, we can go through hardships with real joy.
The entirety of the Christian faith and the power to live it out hinges on the bodily resurrection of Jesus. 1 Corinthians 15:12-34
The gospel of the grace of God is not only the grounds for our salvation but the basis of our sanctification and service. 1 Corinthians 15:1-11
When God’s presence and power is manifested in His house, there is liberty to exercise our spiritual gifts in an orderly fashion to the glory of Jesus. 1 Corinthians 14:26-40
Speaking gifts function as God intended when they are governed by love and exercised to build up the body of Christ. 1 Corinthians 14:1-25
Because God is the source of love, demonstrates the sacrifice of love, and is completing the story of love, we can love others. 1 Corinthians 13
When a church body is healthy, all of its members function in his or her area of giftedness by the power of the Spirit and in cooperation with one another. 1 Corinthians 12:12-31
EVERY believer has been entrusted with gifts of the Spirit to employ in the church for the edification of the body of Christ. We are going to examine the purpose of the gifts of the Spirit and how they ought to be practiced in the church by every believer for the good of all and to the glory of Christ. 1 Corinthians 12:1-11
Spiritual progress is achieved by those who resolve in the Spirit to fulfill God's specific purpose in their lives. Acts 19:21-22, 2 Thessalonians 1:11
When churches are devoted to growing the roots of revival they can hope to experience the fruit of supernatural gospel impact
Hospitality is at the heart of why Jesus came into the world. He left His place in heaven and came to earth to take our place on a cross so that we can have a place in His Father house. We incarnate the love of Christ by making room for others as Christ has made room for us.
Do you know that the reason many professing believers do not know the fullness of Christ in their lives is because something or somebody is occupying the place in their hearts that should only belong to Him? When Christ has the primary affection of our hearts we will make room for Him in our lives and live to the glory of His name.
At the Father’s Table, our past, present, and future are united through the body and blood of Christ. 1 Corinthians 11:17-34
Whatever the culture is doing around us, the church must honor God’s order of things and reflect the culture of His kingdom. 1 Corinthians 11:1-16
It truly is good to give thanks to the Lord. And not just during the holidays or when we perceive that things are going well, but all the time and especially in difficult times.
Counter-cultural Christians are governed by the love of God at all times in every area of their lives. 1 Corinthians 10:23-33
Soul ties are the invisible, but powerful emotional and spiritual bonds formed between two people that engage in sexual activity. Positive soul ties were created by God to bring lasting intimacy and bonding to a marriage "uniting" and "becoming one flesh." Negative soul ties are formed when we physically attach ourselves to someone outside of marriage.
Christians must live in the grace of God's presence and lean on His power to be led away from the temptation of idolatry. 1 Corinthians 10:1-22
The measure of a true minister is seen in how they serve to build others up in Christ, especially people who cannot give them anything in return. 1 Corinthians 9:1-18
Knowledge of God's word, although essential, can inflate the ego, but love builds up the church. 1 Corinthians 8:1-13
Christians must strive to minimize distractions to maximize devotion to Christ and His Kingdom agenda. 1 Corinthians 7:25-39
A damaged heart leads to damaged relationships, but a healed heart leads to healed relationships
Counter cultural Christians don’t languish until their circumstances change for the better, but instead seek to flourish in faith where they are planted. 1 Corinthians 7:17-24
Demonstrating committed love, especially in a difficult relationship, has sanctifying power to bring others to a saving knowledge of Jesus. 1 Corinthians 7:10-16
Singleness & marriage are more than a status to be endured. They are gifts designed by God that have a divine purpose. 1 Corinthians 7:1-8
Our bodies have been set free from sin not to live for ourselves, but to live for Him who loves us and gave Himself for us. 1 Corinthians 6:12-20
Christians are to settle disputes among themselves according to the law of Christ rather than the law of the courts. 1 Corinthians 6:1-11
A growing and mature Christian will not push back on biblical discipline, but instead will welcome it and embrace it with appreciation. 1 Corinthians 5
Spiritual fathers and mothers assume responsibility for the spiritual development of others. 1 Corinthians 4:14-21
Servants of Christ do not judge by outward appearances; instead they use righteous standards to judge themselves and others. 1 Corinthians 4:1-13
Christians are content with being perceived as foolish in the sight of the world because of a confidence and trust that all things belong to them in Christ. 1 Corinthians 3:16-23
We must build on Christ's foundation by His grace and for His glory. 1 Corinthians 3:10-15
The Spirit works to impart the mind of Christ to believers, enabling them to be focused on on the values of Christ and bring God's perspective on every aspect of live. 1 Corinthians 2:1-16
The cross is not only a means of salvation; it is the model for our service to God and each other. 1 Corinthians 1:18-31
Understanding our position in Christ is a necessity in order to live counter-culturally. 1 Corinthians 1:1-9
How many of you, like me, hate to be stuck? We’ve been stuck in traffic, in airports, and long lines. As Chicagoans, you’ve likely been stuck in the snow. How many of you had to dig your car out of the snow this year? It’s no fun to be stuck.
In this message, we want to encourage and challenge you, especially those who feel stuck, that although there is often no easy solution, there is a certain and freeing hope for us all in the resurrection of Christ. As Christians, we need to learn how to effectively remind ourselves of the hope of the resurrection in such a way that we get freed from the chains that are keeping us from living the abundant Christian life.
Main idea: Remembering Jesus, risen from the dead, unbinds us from the chains that would keep us from the abundant life we were saved for.
To unfold this theme, we consider 3 ways that remembering the resurrection releases us from the strongholds in our lives to be all that God saved us to be.
When we come to crossroads in life—or life-defining moments, the decisions we make will determine our destinies. The two primary motivations in those decisions are self or love. How we make choices, and the motives behind them will determine the trajectory of our lives.
As in the lives of Naomi, Ruth, and Boaz, we are all traveling through life on paths that we have chosen to take for one reason or another. Is the path you’re on characterized by love or self?
The message's main idea is as follows: Only on the path of committed love will we find life and leave a legacy of love that blesses generations to come.
To unfold this theme, we consider three blessings that Naomi and Ruth found on the path of love –blessings that are characteristic of God’s covenantal love and faithfulness.
So far in our series, we’ve learned that Naomi’s family’s road to Moab was a dead-end road. The road they traveled was a road of expedience, not obedience. They left Bethlehem full of family and their own plans, and ten years later, Naomi came back empty.
But when Naomi made a faith decision to leave Moab for Bethlehem, she left empty and ended up full. When Naomi accompanied by Ruth left Moab for Bethlehem, they walked by faith, not by sight. And they discovered along the way that where God guides, He provides.
The main theme of the message is as follows: When we choose the path of obedience to God, we can trust the providence of God to be at work in our lives to accomplish His good plan.
To unfold this theme, we examine 3 ways that Naomi and Ruth experienced the providence of God at work in their lives to accomplish His redemptive purposes.
In the first message in the series on the book of Ruth, we learned about Elimelech’s wrong decision to leave home—to leave the Promise Land with his family in a time of famine because in his eye’s things look more promising in the land of Moab. And at the end of the road they discovered that there’s no bread in Moab.
Oh, they found physical bread away from home, but they did not find the bread their soul’s needed the most—namely to be in right relationship with God—to be at home with the Lord. But after losing everything in the land of Moab, Naomi heard in the fields of Moab that God had` visited His people and given them bread (Ruth 1:6).
After hearing the good news, Naomi decided to return home. Naomi, who left Bethlehem full, and came back empty, would come to find more than physical bread. Naomi, whose name means pleasantness, but whose soul was in bitterness, would come to find rest for her weary soul and redemption for her daughter-in-law Ruth.
In this message we glean 3 lessons from Naomi and Ruth’s road home that we can apply to our lives to find rest for our souls.
In these dark times, how do we keep from being corrupted by the unfruitful works of darkness but instead expose and expel them (Eph. 5:12)? The book of Ruth, which we will be exploring for the next few weeks, gives us answers to these questions and so much more. In this book, we see a picture of purity, faithfulness, loyalty, duty, and love, and yet it is all set in dark times.
The closing verse of the book of Judges, which comes immediately before Ruth in our Bibles, gives us the reason behind these dark times. It reads, “In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes” (Judges 21:25).
It is against this backdrop of contempt and chaos that the events of the book of Ruth unfold. And it is during this dark period that the lives of Ruth, Naomi, and Boaz shine like beacons of light, bringing hope in desperate times.
Have you ever doubted if God could ever use you, especially in difficult times? The book of Ruth encourages us by demonstrating that even in extraordinary times, God’s hand of providence is working out His plan through the lives of ordinary people. In this first message in the series, we learn that we must, by God’s grace, choose the road of persistence over the road of least resistance so that we might come to know the Bread that only heaven can provide.
In this final message in the series we’ve entitled, “Lord, Teach Us to Pray,” we will be considering the fourth movement of prayer derived from the Lord’s model prayer. Thus far, we covered the first three movements of REVERENCE, RESPONSE, and REQUEST. In this final message, we are going to cover the fourth movement of READINESS.
When we reverence God first for who He is, particularly His Sovereignty, and respond with surrendered hearts ready to do His will, we are in the best place to offer our requests to God. Furthermore, the spiritual activity of prayer before a Sovereign God should remind us that we need His activated power to overcome our spiritual foe.
Therefore, as the last line in the Lord’s Prayer teaches us, we must pray to be battle-ready to overcome the devil's schemes and temptations. Hence, the last movement of prayer, derived from the Lord’s Prayer, is READINESS.
In light of this theme, we consider 3 ways that prayer equips us to overcome temptation.
In this series of messages, we are cover the four movements of prayer derived from the Lord’s model prayer that we use in our corporate prayer meetings. The four movements are reverence, response, request, and readiness. This tried and proven worship-centered pattern of prayer gives us a biblical and united focus in our public prayer gatherings, and can also enhance our private prayer lives.
In the first two messages in the series, we covered the first two movements of REVERENCE and RESPONSE. In this message, we explain the third movement of REQUEST. When we reverence God first for who He is and respond to His unveiled glory with surrendered hearts ready to do His will, we are in the best place to offer our requests and petitions to God.
In this series of messages, we cover the four movements of prayer derived from the Lord’s model prayer that we use in our corporate prayer meetings. The four movements are reverence, response, request, and readiness. We believe that this tried and proven worship-based pattern of prayer gives us a biblical and united focus in our public prayer gatherings, and can also enhance our private prayer lives.
In the first message in the series, we covered the first movement of REVERENCE. In this second message, we explain the second movement of RESPONSE. When the name of the Lord is held in honor in our hearts, (REVERENCE) the proper RESPONSE is to humbly surrender to His kingdom (rule) and earnestly seek His will to be done in our lives.
In 2 Timothy 1:6, Paul encouraged Timothy to fan into flame the gift of God. For a fire to start and grow, it needs fuel. And one vital source of fuel is oxygen. Hence Paul exhorts Timothy to fan into flame the gift of God.
If our flame is being snuffed out, if our love for God has grown cold if our holy ambition from God has diminished, what do we do to fan it back into flame?
In this message, we consider how God unveils His gifts and callings to give us holy ambitions, which are set ablaze by His grace so that we might fulfill the ministry He has entrusted to us.
In Jesus, the incarnate Son of God, not only is God’s glory unveiled but in Him, the veil over our sinful heart is removed so that we no longer need to hide. We don’t need to feel the need to run away and hide from God and one another anymore. Instead, we can run to the Father and bask in the glory of His grace again and again.
In this first message in the series, we examine how through the unveiling of the glory of the incarnation, we can become unveiled worshipers.
Main theme: The Word became flesh and unveiled God's glory so that saved sinners can become unveiled worshippers.
When confronted by danger, there are times when the wisest thing to do is to run for cover and shelter in place. But like those essential workers, who are running into burning buildings and caring for people infected with the virus, there’s a time for believers to take great risks to deliver the eternal hope of the gospel to those who will otherwise be eternally lost if they don’t hear it and believe.
In an age of lockdown, where does that kind of launch out faith come from? In our text this morning about the events in the life of the godly King Jehoshaphat, we will seek to answer that question.
Sermon in a sentence: Our fears can be replaced with faith when our worries are replaced with worship.
In this message, we hear from the letter, known as the book of Revelation, which Jesus wrote, through John, to the seven churches in Asia. More specifically, we are going to be hearing what Jesus said to the church in Sardis.
If we received a letter from Jesus today, what would it say? Would He caution us to wake up before it’s too late? Would He command us? Would He command us? Would He tell us that things are better than they really are so as not to offend us? What would He say?
I want to suggest to you that through the text of this sermon, Jesus has something specific to say to each of our lives. Here’s the sermon in a sentence: When continuous spiritual renewal isn’t the church's normative experience, spiritual decline is the inevitable result. To unfold this theme, we examine what Jesus spoke to a dying church.
In his closing salutation, Peter sums up the vital lessons he learned from his personal experience with Christ. His closing words serve as a summary of Peter’s letter, which he wrote to be a means of grace to strengthen his brothers and sisters in Christ for the challenges ahead.
The main theme of the message is this: Christian exiles must lay hold of God's grace in solidarity to stand for Christ in a culture opposed to Him. As we unpacked this theme, we consider four vital means of grace for standing firm for Christ in a hostile age.
In this message from 1 Peter 5:1-4, we examine that what God is looking for in a shepherd of His church is not marketing or management skills. As Robert Murray M’Cheyne said, “it’s not great talents that God blesses, but great likeness to Jesus.” A theological degree can serve a Pastor well. But a godly leader is not made in a seminary; he’s made through Fire.
To unfold this theme, we will learn from our text about the making, motivations, and manners of a godly leader.
Robert Murray M’Cheyne, who gave himself sacrificially to the work of God, shared the following about the need for personal holiness in life and ministry:
“It is not great talents God blesses so much as great likeness to Jesus. A holy minister is an awful weapon in the hand of God.”
This need for personal holiness in ministry is not only true of Pastors but all believers. In this message, we learn from 1 Peter 4:12-19 how Christians are fashioned through fiery trials into holy weapons fit for the Master's use.
In this message, we consider how the mindset of Christ, and in particular their perspective on the judgment to come, propelled Christians in exile into a life of sacrificial and life-giving ministry.
Main idea: A mindset of expectancy about Christ’s return propels exile Christians into LIFE-GIVING ministry.
Where does the motivation and endurance come from to live a countercultural life to the glory of Christ? It comes from looking unto both the suffering that Jesus endured and the victory that He achieved through it on our behalf. In this message, we also deal with some verses that most respected Bible teachers agree are difficult to interpret. However, the main point of the message is not derived from the controversial parts of our text, but from the text's main point, which is Christ is the victory that overcomes the world.
In this message from 1 Peter 3:13-16, we consider the subject of evangelism. The gospel has spread throughout church history, not because the church figured out what evangelism methods worked best.
Instead, it’s spread because the message of the gospel, coupled with their manners as exile evangelist, resisted the culture and became convincing proof before their adversaries of the saving hope and grace of Jesus. We encourage you to listen to the message to learn more about the ways of an exile evangelist.
In this message, we examine the actions and heart attitudes of a person that, as the Psalmist puts it, “loves life and sees good days” (1 Peter 3:10). Christians are saved, equipped, and called to live the good life in a world that is not our home. But this good life is much different than the good life that is exalted in our society through beer commercials and reality T.V. The good life will not be overcome by evil but overcomes evil with good.
How do we live such a counter-cultural life in our world that calls evil good and good evil? In this message, you will learn from 1 Peter 3:8-12 what the good life is and some keys to living it out.
Contrary to the false prosperity gospel, God's word calls Christians to submission. These topics are certainly not popular in a day and age of lawlessness, injustice, and were seeking "personal fulfillment" reigns—however, they are vital themes to our witness for Christ.
Our witness for Christ in this world will often have more to do with the suffering we endure for Christ than the suffering we escape through Christ. And this willingness to endure suffering comes from a heavenly-mindedness that brings about much earthly good.
In this message from 1 Peter 2:18-25, we consider the heavenly mindset of believers that enables them to do a lot of earthly good for Jesus' sake even if they have to suffer to do so.
We are living an age of increasing contempt. The way the country is divided over politics, pandemics, and issues concerning social justice is destructive. It's one thing to have a different view over these issues, but it's another thing to have contempt for someone that doesn't agree with you. It seems like our society has lost the ability to honor and respect others with whom they disagree. Instead, they feel contempt. As Christians, who are called to live counter-cultural lives for Jesus' sake, we must guard against getting caught up in all the ugliness of our culture.
Instead, we are to show the world another way—a redemptive and restorative way. In this message, we examine from 1 Peter 2:13-17 how to cultivate a culture of honor to bring gospel transformation to a culture of contempt.
Guest speaker Dave Broome shares what it looks like to have a personal relationship with God.
Do you long for the word of God, to read it, hear it, and live according to the full intentions of God’s living Word? In this message from 1 Peter, we learn how and why we must live in the Word of God to live the life of love we were born again to live to the glory of Jesus.
In his letter to the persecuted believers of his day, the apostle Peter encourages them to see their lives and identities as a continuation of God’s grand story of salvation.
This is just as true for us today: when we are born again to the living hope of Christ, we are part of a living story. We live out that story every day in a community of hope, holiness, redemption, and love.
We are living in a time of great unrest and uncertainty. As a result, many today are emotionally, mentally, and physically worn out. More than that, they are soul-weary. To be soul-weary is to be beyond tired. There’s no joy, no zeal, no will to keep on keeping on. You just want to give up. Are you soul-weary? There’s goodness. Jesus invites those who are burdened down by life to take on His yoke and find rest in Him. Listen to this vital message and learn from Jesus, who promised that His yoke is easy and His burden is light.
In this message, we examine the life of Samson. Samson, who was born during a dark time of Israel’s history, was indeed a man of his times. He was a mirror of what was wrong with his decaying society, namely that everyone did that which was right in their own eyes. In this message, we look at three aspects of Samson’s life that were inconsistent with the call of God upon his life, which resulted in not living up to his full potential in the Lord. We learn from Samson’s life what to avoid so that you might be all that Jesus saved you to be.
We are all prone to wander. In this message, we look at a time in the life of the great prophet Elijah. God used him to oppose a wicked King named Ahab and to bring revival to the land. But there was a season in his life where Elijah became discouraged and drifted into isolation and despair. In the message, we examine what contributed to Elijah’s spiritual drift and how God worked to bring him back.
“Our culture seems to be inflamed in controversy. There’s not a lack of tense situations shaping our current moment in human history, from politics to pandemics, from racial injustice to righteous indignation. How do we manage this in our own homes, across opinions, across cultural divides, among our friendships? How [do we] have tough conversations that reflect the character of Christ?” Chris Brooks
The only answer to the vital questions that Chris Brooks raises is the wisdom from above that God promises to give in answer to prayer.
In part two of the message we titled “Sowing Seeds of Peace,” we unpacked from James 3:17-18 the Christ-exalting description of wisdom from above that we desperately need to sow seeds of peace in this divided world.
Ministry doesn't consist only of pastors and missionaries. Every Christian is an ambassador in Christ's ministry. All members of the Church can serve with their individual God-given gifts. Paul understood this well.
In this passage, we see the various other members of the Church who worked alongside Paul. Through their examples and stories, we will dissect how the Church can be more effective and unified in one Spirit.
As we continue our Colossians series, let's talk about communication. Regardless of circumstance, place, and who we speak to, what we speak about gives a peak to what is truly in our hearts.
In this passage, we see Paul's priority -- even in prison -- was to preach the Gospel. Through this passage, we will unpack how we can prayerfully consider how we interact with others in our daily lives in order to exalt Jesus.
In the third part of the series, we see Paul continue in instructions for bondservants and masters. Although slavery in Colossae is culturally different from America's attitude and experience towards slavery, we can find applications from Paul's address to bondservants and masters to the professional relationship between employers and employees.
Here we can see how we can show the fame of Jesus through our work. We will be looking at how we can turn our workspaces into places of worship for God.
In Colosassian 3:18-4:1, Paul addresses how Christians ought to live at home. The first relationship that Paul addresses is the husband and wife relationship. In part one of The Preeminence of Christ in the Home, we see how Paul emphasizes the importance of love and loyalty between spouses.
Are you aware that God, the designer, and creator of the universe, has a line of clothing that He designed for Christians to wear?
Jesus modeled the wardrobe that Christians are called to wear to dress their best for the glory of God. This wardrobe is not physical, but spiritual, namely the virtues of a Christ-like character. Putting on these virtues is an essential mark of a healthy church.
In this message, we examine how our position (identity) in Christ motivates our practice as Christians.
Apart from receiving Christ by faith as Lord and savior, the bible says that we are dead in sin (Ephesian 2:1). But to be alive in Christ is to be empowered by the Spirit to kill sin in your life so that you might live to the glory of Christ.
How do we kill sin in our lives? Sinful desires are overcome through superior delight in the glories of Christ. In this message, we examine how our minds and hearts must be engaged to overcome the deceitful and destructive nature of sin.
In Colossians 1:24 - 2:5, the apostle Paul transitions from the hymn of Christ’s preeminence into a personal contention of his servant ministry to the churches in Colossae and Laodicea.
His goal is clear and is the same for the church today: to nurture a mature faith in all believers. Mature faith comes by rejoicing in suffering, by being equipped with God’s wisdom, and by toiling with God’s power. And as individual believers grow into maturity, the Body will be further knit together in love, in good order, and with a firm and steadfast faith.
As we continue our series examining the vision of our church, we see how “Serving His Family in Love” is a direct result of “Seeking His Face in Worship.”
This is so beautifully illustrated in Romans 11:33 through all of chapter 12, where Paul ends a section of his letter with a hymn of worship, and continues on that adoration by giving practical ways the community of believers can serve one another in Christ’s love.
Later, in Romans 15:5-7, we see a magnificent cycle taking shape: united service leads to united worship, and united worship leads to united service. Our love for Christ and to each other ultimately forms a witness to a watching and weary world.
Our mission statement that we will be unpacking more fully in later messages is: Midwest Bible Church exists to glorify God by making disciples that spread the fame of Jesus.
But before we unpack this mission statement, we want you to see that it won’t have much value to you, and neither will you care to fulfill it in 2020 and beyond unless you are pursuing a 20/20 vision of Jesus.
Long hours or lack of sleep can make you tired. This kind of physical weariness can often be remedied by a good night's sleep or extended time of rest. But there is more profound exhaustion that goes beyond the physical. There is an emotional depletion that comes from carrying heavy burdens and experiencing severe crises.
When the weariness is deep within, you can go on a vacation, but your soul will not be restored. This kind of weariness, which can lead to unhealthy attitudes and behaviors, can only be remedied by learning to rest in Christ.
In the middle of Isaiah chapter 50, we find the third of the Servant Songs of Isaiah. Although it’s clear that this passage points to Jesus as the ideal representative of Israel, and not merely Isaiah, it is certainly applicable to all servants of God today.
Main idea: God trains the tongues of His servants to bring rest to weary souls.
To unfold this theme, we are going to look at three characteristics of the Servant of God. We must apply these to our lives not only to find rest for our own souls but to bring rest to the weary souls of others.
Jesus commissioned every believer to "go make disciples." However, for Christians to obey our Lord's command to make disciples, we must first do the work of an evangelist and share the good news with a hurting world. In this sermon, we learn about the importance of evangelism in the life of the believer.
Every believer saved by grace is God's master plan for winning the lost and making disciples of all nations. Every believer is to be a worker in God’s harvest field of souls.
In this message, we want to learn from the example of Jesus; how He, in a one and one encounter, brought the Samaritan woman to Himself. What moved Jesus to go after one? What moved Jesus ought to be in us and move us too.
Main idea: One lost soul means everything to Jesus.
There’s no doubt that when it comes to the ministry of the Holy Spirit today, there are charismatic abuses that we should watch out for. However, if we are going to be the church that God wants us to be, we must focus not on what the Holy Spirit doesn’t do today, but on what He does do and will do in and through the one actively dependent upon Him. We need to rediscover the magnificence and indispensable ministry of the Holy Spirit. The Church’s call to show and spread the beauty of Christ’s redeeming love is impossible apart from the ministry of the Holy Spirit.
In this message, we examine how the Holy Spirit gets involved in the church and in our lives, especially as it relates to missions.
We live in a world where we have to watch out for counterfeits. There’s counterfeit money, counterfeit brand name merchandise, counterfeit art, counterfeit jewelry. Counterfeits not only deceive us but can be very dangerous.
There’s another more dangerous kind of counterfeit that the scriptures warn us about, and that is Counterfeit Christianity. Counterfeit Christianity is not only detrimental to one’s life here and now, but it can lead a person to hell. Yet many churches are offering it, and many Christians are falling for it.
Counterfeit Christianity has a form of beauty, but it’s powerless to bring real, lasting, and eternal change. In this message, we contrast from the text the marks of a faithful ambassador with the marks of a false professor.
Other than someone getting saved, there’s nothing more beautiful in heaven than the site of a church mobilized and engaged in reaching the lost with the good news. Paul writes, "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!" (Romans 10:15)
It has been rightly said that the greatest joy is knowing Christ, and the second greatest is making Him known.
In this message, you will learn about the Spirit-led evangelistic encounter that Philip had with the Ethiopian eunuch. Our prayer is for you to discover and take on the divine qualities that made Philip’s feet beautiful—that made him wonderfully useable in the fulfillment of God’s redemptive purposes.
In the unfolding story of the early Church, we read in Acts 6:1-7 about a conflict that is affecting the growing community of diverse Jesus followers. As we seek to rediscover the beauty of the Church, how does this story help us as a template in our present-day? We see that through the filling of the Holy Spirit, prayer, and wisdom, the Church in Jerusalem ultimately IMITATED Jesus, INSTITUTED offices, and IMPACTED the world as a result. A beautiful Church is one filled with servant-leaders who imitate Jesus, one that cares for the spiritual and physical needs of others, one that is diverse while operating in unity, one that overcomes conflicts together, and one that has a tangible impact on an unbelieving world. Our prayer is that this sermon would help you see the beauty of servant-leadership.
Frequently, the reason people give for not wanting to be part of the church is, "there's too much hypocrisy in the church."
Often it's just an excuse. But the church today needs to own up to some of those claims.
We began last week to examine the disguise and deception of hypocrisy. We conclude the message by discussing the destruction and deliverance from hypocrisy.
Main idea: To display the beauty of Christ, the church doesn't have to be perfect, but we do have to be real.
In Acts chapter 5, we are going to see how two professing believers, Ananias and Sapphira, who were husband and wife, were influenced by the enemy to mimic in the flesh, what can only be done through the Spirit.
They wanted to appear to be something they were not for their own glory and not the glory of Christ. They were spiritual pretenders masquerading as devoted followers of Jesus.
Main idea: To display the beauty of Christ, the church doesn’t have to be perfect, but we do have to be real.
In this sermon, we are going to examine the first inside threat to the developing beauty of the early church, namely hypocrisy. And why God dealt with it so severely. We pray this sermon would encourage you to walk humbly before the Lord.
The church is not simply a place where people go to hear about God. It’s supposed to be a place where they see the beauty of God in the unity of the church in a way that causes people to believe in Jesus.
In this message, Pastor Marco unfolds from Acts 4:32-35 three elements to the compelling unity that existed in the early church, which ought to be evident in the church today through the Holy Spirit.
Main idea: The church is to display a supernatural kind of love and unity that makes the gospel believable.
In this message, Shawn Procter shares how devotion to Jesus Christ was the heartbeat of the early church. Join us as we Look at the early church in Acts 2, examining what it means for us to be devoted to the teachings of Jesus, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayers. We pray this message would help you rediscover the beauty of the church.
In this message, Pastor Marco shares how the church is to respond to an increasingly hostile culture. The great need today is not to redefine or reinvent the church, but to rediscover the church. And we are not talking about buildings. We are talking about a body of believers (a called-out assembly) where God’s power and presence dwell so that God’s plan of redemption is spread to all the world.
Big Idea: God designed the church to display the beauty of His Holiness and saving grace in a lost world.
Have you ever felt like you were in "The Twilight Zone"? Have you ever asked yourself what's going on? What's happening in my life? In this message, guest speaker Roy Patterson shares how God is big enough to help us through our "Twilight Zone." Join us as we dig into 2 Kings 7. Our prayer is that this message would minister to your heart.
- There's a reason for pain and adversity.
- There's a relationship that provides the answer.
Have you heard the adage, "You can't pick your family?" Many have desired to change their family origin for a reason beyond their control. However, it isn't possible. Likewise, when it comes to the family of God, our choice of belonging is beyond our control. So, who how do we become me apart of the family of God? We look at Ephesians 1:1-14 to find out.
BIG IDEA: God supplies our needs so that we might meet the needs of others to the glory of Christ.
Today, the church needs both strong leadership and good followers. The church's development grows when the people follow who they ought to follow: first Jesus, and then, any believer who follows Jesus well. The goal of finding a good spiritual leader in this life does not come from finding a perfect Christian (because you won't find one). It comes from finding someone who has a bleeding heart for others to seek Jesus, who are broken over their own sin, and who have their eyes on a heavenly prize. The most impactful believers are the ones who are working towards expanding God's kingdom.
Main Idea: The Pursuit of Christ-like examples is essential to spiritual development.
Today we focus on the obedience in working out our salvation. This is not to say we are trying to earn salvation as if Jesus' death and resurrection were not enough to pay for our sins and take away the wrath of God from us; no, this is so that we as believers grow in our sanctification process. We are to be in the sin-killing business, within ourselves and united as the church. We should not be like the world in their sin. This putting sin to death can only be done by, thru, and with God. We may not always understand the "why" to a command, but inevitably if God calls us to obey, we must.
Big Idea: When we work out our salvation in obedience, it confirms that we are children of God.
This sermon was inspired by Eddy Rodriguez, who recently went to be with the Lord. While studying Philippians 1, Eddy uttered these words, "I'm in a win-win situation". He understood - like Paul that it was a win to live for Jesus Christ even thru trials, and it was a win to die and be with Jesus Christ. While we are on this side of heaven, we can know how our wins come: thru prayerful dependence on God, God's promised presence, and progressing alongside other believers.
The book of Philippians is about how the joy of salvation can give us the strength to courageously advance the Good News of Jesus, even at a high cost. We see how this joy can be found thru Paul's example. In the Lord, Paul found purpose. Even while incarcerated, Paul knew wherever he was a position to proclaim the Gospel. His testimony is a reminder that any Christian focused upon the Lord, and the Gospel can find joy even in suffering.
When asked to give an account for his success in ministry, Charles Spurgeon said without hesitation, "my people pray for me." The key to spiritual growth is through God's people interceding with prayer. So, pray. It is important that your prayer is done with the right mindset, assured in and seeking after God. When you pray, pray in the Spirit.
Big Idea: Spirit-filled intercession seeks the fruits of righteousness which come from and through Jesus for the glory and praise of God.
Believers are God's stewards. All believers have a gift or gifts as given by God. These gifts are not meant for personal use but to fulfill and honor God's purposes and to serve others. To not live in a way that best redeems our time, talents, and treasures for God's kingdom is wasting this life.
MAIN IDEA: God rewards the work that we do for His eyes only.
Summary: Hiram from Tyre, a man who worked with bronze, made pillars for the Tabernacle. He made intricate pillars, even all the way to the top of the pillar with lily-work, where no one could visibly see. It is thru this example we learn the importance of working for God, not man.
There were two disciples of Jesus: Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus. They were religious leaders and men of influence in Israel. They followed Jesus is private. It was not until Jesus' death that they decided to show they were his followers boldly. Death has a way of changing our perspectives on life. However, we cannot afford to not live for God, in the present all the way to eternity.
After his religious trial with the priests, Jesus is brought before Pilate in a civil trial. Even though Pilate discerns Jesus is innocent, Jesus is sent to the cross. We learn that every action; is a display of God's sovereign will being fulfilled. Jesus' silence is not a sign of weakness but a sign of trust in God's control. In this sermon, we learn about Jesus' trust in the Father and love for us through his substitutionary sacrifice.
After His arrest at Gethsemane, Jesus is brought before the priests for a trial. The council charges Jesus with blasphemy and sentence Him to death. During this trial, we learn how much of a sham Jesus’ arrest and trial is. But even then in the midst of injustice, God executes justice the priests could not foresee.
Summary: In life, there are many interruptions that disrupt our original plans. Everyone is going thru their own issues; and, God is at work in each of them. We explore some extents of how God works thru the lives of Jairus, Jairus’ daughter, and a bleeding woman.
Judas’ betrayal towards Jesus was no accident. It was one overlooked temptation, undetected weakness, and unexpected opportunity after another. When we entertain the wrong thoughts, we become vulnerable to sin. If you have blown it, do not believe the lies of the enemy. Run to Jesus all the harder. Do not delay.
All people are prone to wander from God. We must address our pride in such a way that it does not bring us further away. And yet, even if we may fail Jesus in this process, take heart in that Jesus will never fail You.
Nothing can surprise Jesus. He knew the betrayal and the trial and the upcoming death that would come upon Him in the wake of Passover. Even still, Jesus prepared the way towards His death. We can trust that whatever Jesus allows to happen are not a reason to lose hope but to look forward to the destiny God has ordained.
Jesus gives us a preview of what the end times would be like. Although no one on earth may have a full grasp of what it would be like, we can know truths that will bring comfort to the believer. We must be prepared when He does come. Those who are not saved are not ready for when that time comes. We must all be ready. Trust in Jesus.
As Jesus ends His public ministry to speak privately to His disciples, He leaves the people with a warning: to beware the Scribes. The Scribes were professional writers concerned with the Torah and were meant to shepherd God’s people. In this passage, we see how these leaders have failed in their mission. Even if we are exposed to God’s Word, we can still miss God and His intentions entirely. Be careful to not do this, as the Scribes have done.
The Kingdom of Heaven is not marked by positions of power or supremacy, but by postures of humility and servanthood.
Big Idea: As the love relationship between Christ and His redeemed people must be cultivated to flourish, so too must the love of marriage.
Main Idea: Marriage was designed by God to picture the self-giving love relationship between Christ and His redeemed people.
Marriage was designed by God to picture the self-giving love relationship between Christ and His redeemed people.
Main Idea: When you know Jesus and what he came to do, you will willingly pay the cost of discipleship.
Our global partner from Romania, Daniel Petrut, reminds us to humbly look to Jesus in the midst of life's storms.
Main Idea: Spirit-filled Christians live with an inspired sense of accountability to God.