Sermons – The Text Messages: Recent Episodes
None
One man reflecting on God desire wrote:
“For thousands of years God has had one desire—to have a people for himself. This longing has fueled his missionary endeavors: sending prophets to call back his straying people, sending his son to a wind-swept mountainside to call the poor, the mourning, the humble, merciful, peacemaking, and persecuted to come into his embrace (Matt. 5:1-12). In the kingdom of God his desire will finally be fulfilled: "I will be their God, and they will be my children" (Rev. 21:7).”
In my prayers over people I care about a few days ago it came upon my heart that God’s desire for our lives is so much greater than the desire we have for ourselves. Those outside of Christ are perfectly content to be in such a condition and that fact makes clear to me that while some people are never satisfied or content always wanting more – most are simply content with less.
They are content with less than best but Jesus came to grant abundant life now and forever more. Less than best is trying to earn what you can never have apart from a relationship with Jesus Christ. Less than best is a carnal life full of carnal pleasures and treasures which may last a life time but which will never last forever. God sent His Son to usher in better things…
What did Jesus mean when He said, "For many are called but few are chosen"? I'm sure that there are as many answers as there are denominations today but what does the parable He told in (Matthew 22:1-14) suggest He meant? Join me today as we consider that important question.
So often we live as if life is about us; this brief segment is about putting others ahead of ourselves and making others a priority.
A message to the followers of Christ to press on and press into Christ in pursuit of an ever deepening relationship with Him.
The value that individual believers put on baptism after they turn to Jesus has diminished in recent years even though the emphasis in most SBC churches is on that very thing.
So what is baptism?
Should we baptize infants?
Is it a regenerating act or is it a symbolic act?
These questions and more are addressed in today's thought provoking sermon titled: Baptism - The Second Step of Faith.
The value that individual believers put on baptism after they turn to Jesus has diminished in recent years even though the emphasis in most SBC churches is on that very thing.
So what is baptism?
Should we baptize infants?
Is it a regenerating act or is it a symbolic act?
These questions and more are addressed in today's thought provoking sermon titled: Baptism - The Second Step of Faith.
Happiness and meaning in life has been the pursuit of many a life over the ages. But where does one find joy and contentment?
Consider this question and more as we plunge into a study on the Letter of Paul to the Philippian Church.
The goal of Paul's life as a follower of Christ was to magnify Him in life or in death; life was not about Paul it was about Jesus.
The Apostles words in [v.21] echo in my mind as the attitude of one who has nothing to lose because he traded it all for Jesus - "For me, to live is Christ and to die, gain."
Consider those words with us today as we continue our look into the letter of Paul to the Church at Philippi.
The church at Philippi was an exemplary church but they still had issues - there is no such thing as a perfect church this side of heaven.
In this section Paul addresses the issue of Christian Unity offering us a few essentials which will both aid us in recognizing Satan's attack on the precious commodity of unity and offer us a few ways to counteract it.
The Lord bless the reading and teaching of His word to your hearts and minds today...
To preserve the unity of the local church takes patience, mutual submission and humility; using the example of the Lord Jesus, the Apostle Paul illustrates how unity is preserved and the work of spreading the gospel is unhindered when each of us can die to ourselves for the sake of others.
Consider the important need of humility with us today as we begin to study the second chapter of Paul's letter to the church at Philippi.