The Greatest Christmas Gift: Finding a Lost Lamb
LOOKING INTO THE HEART OF GOD LUKE 15 S-1720 A small boy was writing a letter to God about the Christmas presents he badly wanted. “I’ve been good for six…
LOOKING INTO THE HEART OF GOD LUKE 15 S-1720 A small boy was writing a letter to God about the Christmas presents he badly wanted. “I’ve been good for six…
So we would love to have you… no matter where you are out in the globe, to relocate your life to beautiful northwest Montana and take part in what God…
Jesus humbled Himself. He went from commanding angels to sleeping in the straw. From holding stars to clutching Mary’s finger. The Palm that held the universe took the nail of…
Genesis 37:18-24 They saw him from afar, and before he came near to them they conspired against him to kill him. 19 They said to one another, “Here comes this dreamer. 20 Come now, let us…
The Prodigal Son: A Story of Grace UNPLUGGED S-1809 Andy and Me: Picture of Grace Mrs. Crosley got me in. My performance wasn’t good enough. My performance doesn’t get me…
The will of God is a lot less circumstantial and a lot more attitudinal than we imagine. The circumstances we are asking God to change may be the circumstances God…
Levi Lusko shares how we can get to know God’s plan for us by understanding the things that Satan hates and fears. By keeping our attention on Christ and worshipping…
WHAT HAPPENS to the CHRISTIANS? Jesus’ Olivet Discourse #3 Matthew 24:26-41 S-1745 Pray for Julie and me as we go to the Middle East to minister to missionaries there. We…
AT THE FEET OF JESUS Luke 10: 38-39; John 11:32; John 12:3 S-1759 ·BACKGROUND SLIDE #1: Turn to Luke 10 ·SLIDE #2: Apologize for dog and cat comments from last…
Imagine four people on four different street corners who simultaneously witness the same automobile accident. We know that their descriptions will not match, because each one saw from a different…
King David knew that he had sinned against the Lord, but he hadn’t completely dealt with the ramifications of broken lives that surrounded his choice. One aspect of repentance is…
Our harried, hurried lives prevent us from knowing God, enjoying life and loving others well. We must learn to slow our pace to experience genuine joy. S-1790 Julie breast…
The Lord Is My Shepherd PSALM 23 November 5, 2006 S-746 Psalm 23 is often referred to as the “Shepherd’s Psalm”. This Psalm is used more often in hospitals, prison…
Roger and Scott GO sermon #2 Matthew 28:19-20 S-1752 SLIDE #1: background passport slide ROGER SLIDE #2: Introduce video #1 of Roger and Julie teaching in Mongolia We have the…
tHE END TIMES FRAMEWORK: “LET THE READER UNDERSTAND” Jesus’ Olivet Discourse #2 Matthew 24:15-29 S-1744 TITLE SLIDE #1: Today we continue a four-Sunday emphasis on Jesus discussion concerning future events…
GOD WILL USE SEVEN PRINCIPLES OF JUDGMENT AT THE GREAT WHITE THRONE. GOD WILL JUDGE: 1. With Truth (Romans 2:2) 2. According To His Kindness (Romans 2:4) 3. On The…
GOD’S WILL AND GRACE Romans 1:24-32 S-1699 ●SLIDE: Will and Grace is a television sitcom glorifying the homosexual lifestyle. According to Romans 1, God is not nearly so impressed with…
Paul sent numerous greetings to the Christians at Rome as he concluded his letter. No doubt behind each of these names is a story of romance with Christ. The number…
This study is the culmination of kingdom living, which is the future kingdom itself. There are four distinct experiences that sum up the announcement and inauguration of the coming future…
Jesus’ perplexing story of the dishonest manager teaches us that non-Christians are often more diligent and wise in preparing for their futures than Christians. We must use earthly wealth to…
FINDING foundationS FOR CONTENTMENT AND joy Romans 5:1-11 S-1706 Turn to Romans 5 and Philippians. This morning we are talking about rejoicing from Romans 5. Paul mentions several reasons to…
Jesus’ perplexing story of the dishonest manager teaches us that non-Christians are often more diligent and wise in preparing for their futures than Christians. We must use earthly wealth to build…
People have all sorts of opinions about heaven and hell and what happens when we die. Some children were asked to share their ideas of what happened after we die.…
Esther’s story is a powerful glimpse of how God used a poor Jewish teenager turned queen to save the Jewish nation. From her life we can learn many things-to whom…
Matthew4:1-11; Luke 4:1-13 S-1735 SLIDE # Read Luke 4:1-13 from The Message. OK. There was this overweight man who was so serious about his new diet that he even changed…
Jesus teaches how to evaluate where you are in your spiritual walk. Soils testing MATTHEW 13:1-9, 18-23; MARK 4:1-8, 14-20; LUKE 8:4-8, 12-15 S-1739 In Matthew 13 (teaching sections in…
Andy Stanley discusses how our behavior will eventually reflect the condition of our hearts. Hey, growing up in our home, and I bet your home was similar, there were certain…
Drs. Roger and Julie Barrier teach on the dilemma of dealing with fear and Satanic intimidation instead of trusting in God. WHEN FEARS COME TRUE S-1729 ROGER ·SLIDE #: Turn…
Pastor Levi Lusko shares how we can get to know God’s plan for us by understanding the things that Satan hates and fears. By keeping our attention on Christ and…
Pastors Roger Barrier and Scott Brendan recount healings from leprosy, appearances of jesus and powerful stories from around the globe as ordinary people from Casaas Church surrendered to mission work…
Sometimes an option we’re considering creates tension inside of us. When that happens, it can be tempting to ignore the discomfort or brush by it. But instead of doing that,…
We can pray to God using His many names: God, mighty and majestic, God our Helper, God our Righteousness, God our Sanctifier, God our Peace and Indwelling Presence, God our…
Let’s examine some Biblical principles to keep in mind during a bear market (a recession; “lean financial times”). The Bible carefully lays out a financial plan of money management that…
Spiritual gifts are given by God to build up the church and impact the Kingdom of God. The Holy Spirit empowers each believer with distinctive gifts and ministries. Before Christ…
We don’t have to be confused about signs of the times. The prophet Daniel outlines the kingdoms of the world in his vision of the multi-metallic man and the seventy…
Paul learns how to survive in the darkest circumstances not only by the “grace power” of God, but by the support system of saints around him. When times get really…
Hosea was asked by God to marry an unfaithful woman and love her unconditionally. In doing so, he demonstrated the kind of amazing love God has for his children. THE…
If these are the Endtimes, We need encouragement and direction. What should a Christian do? Read the Book of Revelation. Receive a blessing. Consider God’s perspective on materialism. Handle your…
The Roots and Rise of Antisemitism – Revelation 12:1-12 – Skip Heitzig [MUSIC PLAYING] Turn in your Bibles, please, to Revelation, chapter 12, the book of Revelation, chapter 12. I…
Solomon heard these words from his father: “Fear God and keep His commandments.” Godly reverence and obedience are the keys to success and happiness!
Paul thanks God for the power of unified Christians on a mission to evangelize the world. He believes in them, prays positively for them and continually shows his gratitude for…
Jesus healed in many ways, but in the case of the leper, Jesus reached out and touched him. The very essence of Christianity is to touch the untouchable, love the…
Keep doing what you done, you’ll keep getting what you got. And if you want something new, we’re going to need to try something different. I say, we think different.…
Would you turn in your Bibles, please, to the book of 1 Samuel chapter 1, 1 Samuel chapter 1. It’s in the Old Testament. If you’re at Genesis, keep going.…
How God sees you. God never calls you to earn his love. He gives you lavishly his love. And then in telling you who you are in Christ, he calls…
Jesus invites you to follow him into a whole new life, a new path. That’s what you do when you follow someone. You don’t go down your path anymore, but…
Andy Stanley discusses how our behavior will eventually reflect the condition of our hearts. Hey, growing up in our home, and I bet your home was similar, there were certain…
In this message, we learn that the depth of our relationship with God determines the depth of our endurance and faith when facing difficult situations where it feels like our…
Solomon observes that there are two sides to wealth: God-blessed abundance and the insatiable grasping for riches. God has laid out a solid plan to manage our resources. Tithe the…
Spiritual Discernment – 1 John 4:1-6 In this short, yet powerful book written by the the disciple John, we can prepare to be challenged to live out our faith in…
God is positioning me. Say, “I’m positioned for a miracle”. And that means that we have to learn how to see in our spirit what we cannot sense. And this…
We learn in the Psalms that it is alright to be honest with God and to express our doubts openly. As we commune with Him, He will give us peace…
On Good Friday, and on Easter Sunday, we consider events that occurred while on the road. As Jesus approached the city of Jerusalem for His atoning death and glorious resurrection, He…
God has the power to fix the world, and He does care the suffering. He is working out an eternal plan to redeem and restore it all. Genesis describes how…
S1788 Hope and Memory Memory is strong. Hope is stronger. Take away people’s memories and they become anxious. Take away people’s hope and they become terrified. Live for the future.…
Shame is a story you tell yourself about yourself. Like a news ticker thatruns in the background of our minds, we have shame scripts that say: “I am unworthy, I…
We believe whoever finds God, finds life. Because of You, more people are experiencing the love, hope, and healing only found in Him. Let’s celebrate what God has done and…
“From What If To What Is,” Pastor Steven Furtick encourages us to stop worrying about what could be and start trusting who God is.
The best predictor of success in life, in love, and in leadership is your proficiency at please, sorry, and thanks. Those three words are the foundation of all healthy relationships…
We do these practices like (slowing, simplicity, silence, solitude, sabbath and more) in order to grow the fruit of the Spirit within us and cultivate compassion like Christ within our…
Do you ever wonder why you make certain choices? Maybe you wanted to make a change in your life but just couldn’t stick to it. In this message, we’re getting…
Have you heard from Heaven a calling for your marriage? It’s not a one-size-fits-all. God has a plan cut out just for you! With principles from the Marriage Devotional and…
We often define our lives by the big moments. But most of our lives consist of ordinary chapters. They may not feel significant, but ultimately end up changing everything. In…
The book of Psalms is a collection of songs by human writers who poured out their hearts – and their emotions – into expressing their joy, pain, and praise.…
The heart, in biblical terms, is not part of who we are, but rather the center and core of who we are. So when it comes to Jesus describing who…
“War in Heaven Brings Wrath on Earth!” That could be the headline of Revelation 12. The ongoing battle of the ages that began in heaven and has played out…
God alone is the author and definer of human sexuality and the context in which sexual intimacy is to occur. Sex, sexual identity, and sexuality were created for His purpose…
In Peace of Mind, we will look at how some familiar names in scripture dealt with many of the same struggles we face today. We’ll learn how they overcame those struggles…
Can you imagine what could happen if we gave control of our life to God? It’s scary, but the benefits are world-altering. The story of Elisha challenges your congregation to answer…
We are each building a life. We’re building on a foundation. We each get to choose what that foundation is and at the end of the Sermon on the Mount,…
For better or worse, our words function as self-fulfilling prophecies and create worlds. If you want to change the world, change your words. Just as ships are steered with a…
https://youtu.be/3rXDRl1dQeU?si=mPB_CEP-HpQu4ObP A lie is an enemy of the truth, and Satan is the father of lies. He originated lies, and he has children, since he’s the father, who perpetuate his…
Rebuild your confidence in God and His church. Another day, another pastor or a church in the news headlines. You had your doubts, but now those doubts feel a little…
David and Jonathan, son of King Saul, formed a deep bond of friendship despite the attempts of a raging father to destroy David. Their friendship is legendary. The protection of…
Tests and trials are unavoidable, but the way we respond to them is up to us. Join us for the next talk in our series Far from Perfect as we take a…
The Apostle Paul writes back to a church that he began to encourage them about remaining faithful amidst opposition and persecution. He celebrates what he’s hearing about indicators that mark…
When Jesus was crucified, the disciples wondered what was next. The Man they had followed for over three years, the Man they believed would save Israel and the world, had…
In psychology, mental health has a scale from FLOURISHING to DEPRESSION. FLOURISHING is evidenced by things like optimism and empathy and authenticity. DEPRESSION is evidenced by things like hopelessness and…
Feelings of spiritual inadequacy can make us fearful of God, but not in the healthy way. This series explores how knowing the loving, gracious God of Scripture can overcome our…
Our thoughts are powerful. They change our perspective, impact our decisions, and influence our habits. But what do we do when we become trapped by our thoughts, unable to escape…
Blood and Thunder is about a recipe for revival. It’s about seeing more of God. In this series, Pastor Levi will show how a move of God takes power from above…
During the earth’s greatest trial and tribulation will also come its greatest opportunity for salvation. Even after the church is raptured off the earth and ensconced in heaven, there will…
Every new year, we make decisions about who we want to be. We make resolutions; we set goals. But often these goals are focused on ourselves. Losing weight, saving money…
Welcome to this first message on the life of David, but we have to warn you that if you grew up just hearing about his stories in Sunday School, then…
Pandemics and crises feels a little bit like the GRINCH that stole Christmas for some of us, but we made a decision at the beginning of this ADVENT series—CHOOSE HOPE.…
Christmas is stressful because we all want to give the perfect gift. But gifts are temporal. A godly home, integrity, love and a good marriage are precious gifts. The gifts…
We need to put on Christ. Holiday apparel will come and go. But the beautiful qualities of gentleness and purity will show to be the most enduring beauty. www.northcoastchurch.org
The Advent Season is a time of reflection as we prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus! This year at Hope, we’ll also have weekly artwork that helps us immerse…
The Hebrew word for peace is SHALOM. Shalom is RELATIONAL HARMONY and it’s four-dimensional. It’s right relationship with God, Self, Others, and Creation. How do we experience the peace…
Mary, the mother of Jesus, is central to the story of Christmas. Unfortunately, people are greatly divided about her importance and her role. Some magnify her too much, making her…
Leave your baggage behind. In a crowded, busy holiday season, it’s common for people to feel weighed down by family relationships, financial pressure, regret, or failure. This series will help…
As we shop, look up, seek out or ask for gifts in this season of the year — let’s do ourselves a favor and REMEMBER the GIFT of the Savior…
There are two things that can get us down in life: our own sin and the actions of others. This chapter is going to give us a detailed account of…
Doubt is both a common and shared experience for many of us in the Beloved community. Although doubt can be a disorientating and a confusing experience, Christ walked through a…
We learn the danger of pride in the story of Gideon. Preached by Pastors Greg Lavine and John Beeson. www.newlifefellowshiptucson.com
Forgiving someone who wronged you can be hard—it might even seem impossible. We’re learning what can happen when we unlock the power of forgiveness. From the latest headline to social…
Paul faced many kinds of trauma throughout his ministry. Here are just a few: Acute: a response from a one-time traumatic event Chronic: a long-term response from prolonged or repeated…
Will you lift your eyes for a moment? You’ve been looking in the wrong places for your joy, for your peace. You didn’t lose it. You just need somebody to…
All of us realize that we live in a broken world that is not getting any better, yet few of us are doing something ahead of time to prepare for…
Week Four of “Substitute Identities.” God’s purposes for us are to have our identity rooted in his calling for us to be saints and to trust our sexual lives to…
“Earth has no sorrow that heaven cannot heal,” said Thomas Moore. But if that is true, why don’t we think more about heaven? Why do we only think and talk…
Let’s talk about sharing our faith at work. The big point of our series is that our work itself matters to God and is part of his creation and redemption…
How will you ever be happy? Content in your own skin? The world tells us we will be happy once we and others accept who we are. And who are…
Believe your big risks will be rewarded. Believe what you ask for is possible. If you’re ready to see a spark in your life, pray boldly. Pray daringly. Pray with…
Lessons from the life of King David. Here’s a blueprint for how to survive when we walk through the lowest parts of our lives. www.northcoastchurch.com.
We have all heard the famous Benjamin Franklin quip, “In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.” Given death’s sure nature, why is it…
When it comes to repairing relationships, no one responds well to being convinced, coerced, convicted or controlled. Yet we try those approaches over and over again. www.northpointcommunitychurch.com.
Preparing your kids to spread their wings requires patience, humility, creativity, uniqueness, and parenting with the end in mind. Discover 7 tips that will grow you as a parent while…
Another day, another pastor or a church in the news headlines. You had your doubts, but now those doubts feel a little more like fractures. You believe God is real,…
Paul mentions Oneisiphorus in the book of 2 Timothy. He was a loyal man, an encourager to Paul. He was an unsung hero of the Bible who exemplified friendship! www.kevindeyoung.org.
Humility is not thinking less of yourself or having low self-esteem, it is thinking of yourself less, by thinking of others and God more. As the Spirit of God dwells…
Dark Times Are Permitted by God. They enhance the presence of God. They are a pathway for God and include perks from God. skipheitzig.com.
At the end of the day, I want to be famous in my home. Success is when those who know you best respect you most. It starts with the last…
In this sermon series, “Tell Me What You Want,” we learn that God sees and cares about our brokenness, hurt, and need. He invites us to turn to Him for…
How much do you value eternal treasures. Jesus’ simple parable reveals what’s in our hearts. Can you leave behind the things of this world to find your heavenly rewards? www.newlifetucson.org.
The search for purpose can lead you to some unexpected places. Learn to embrace the moment in time God has placed you in: you’re there for a reason. www.lifechurch.tv/open. Used…
In this message, we’re digging into a subject that hits close to home for many people. In fact, it’s one of the biggest reasons people leave the church. We’re talking…
Pastors Greg Lavine and John Beeson teach a series on “40-Day-Prayer Challenge.” This week’s teaching is on “lead us not into temptation.” Sermon begins at 21 minutes on the video.…
When you see God Is _____ what comes to mind? How can any of us really know what God’s like? Too often, we view Him from our limited perspective, but it doesn’t…
Do you ever wish you knew how to make decisions that would help you reach your goals? What if becoming the person you want to be starts before you make…
Your sins don’t define you, and shame has no power over you. Learn about how your identity is found in Jesus’ sacrifice, not in your failures. Main Scripture: Psalms 34:1-10,…
One of the darkest rooms anyone can enter is dealing with a broken family. To be part of a family that is fragmented and malfunctioning feels bleak and miserable. The…
We live at the intersection of two theologies, two realities. The faithfulness of God is pursuing from the past—SO FAR SO GOD. And the sovereignty of God is setting us…
Luke writes a story of Jesus that highlights how Jesus was an outsider who came for outsiders. From the very first chapters of Luke, where Luke shows us a child…
As we have seen in this series, some of the Bible’s greatest heroes had darkroom experiences. They were developed by those painful experiences and used by God to impact their…
God wants to bless you beyond your ability to ask or imagine! The very first thing God does, after creating us in His image, is to bless us. Blessing is…
When you read Genesis in entirety, you see what a master stroke God is doing, very deliberately, to repeat these stories. They tell us something very important, they tell us…
Judges is a book concluding with the words, Judges 21:25: “In those days, Israel had no king. Everyone did what was right in their own eyes.” Gideon was an unlikely…
James tells us that we can find joy in suffering because it causes us to be conformed to the image of Jesus. www.newlifebiblefellowship.org
Easter is relevant because Jesus was and is who He claimed to be: God in the flesh. No one expected for Jesus to rise from the dead! Until He stepped…
With the Global Peace Index the lowest it’s been in a decade and the Misery Index at a high, it’s hard to believe that peace is within reach in today’s…
Dead air is a period of silence in radio or television in which the broadcast signal is interrupted and there’s no transmission. Throughout history, God has broadcast His truth to…
Every culture ebbs and flows as it marches toward extinction. The great Roman Empire, the Mayan civilization, Bronze Age Greece—every complex society in history has eventually collapsed. Daniel was in…
Queen Esther faced insurmountable odds as she courageously approached King Xerxes to save her people. God gave her favor and freedom for the Jews. Team sermon with Kim Parrish. Sermon…
It can be hard to maintain hope in the middle of chaos. But our hope isn’t anchored to circumstances, theological opinions, or a book. Our hope is anchored to an…
prophecyThe Book of Revelation has a two-fold purpose. But contrary to what many Christians assume, it’s not a book of riddles and cryptic clues to see who’s smart enough to…
Philippians makes clear that our stories are living expressions of Jesus’ story.” As Christ-followers, we’re called to emulate Jesus by living a life of joy, prayer, and perseverance through hardship.…
To be a conqueror is to rejoice when the battle is over. To be more than a conqueror is to rejoice before the battles start. And that’s Gideon. He goes,…
God uses suffering for his glory and our growth. Sermon begins at 19:00 Preached at New Life Bible Fellowship, Tucson, Arizona. Team sermon by Greg Lavine and John Beeson
Time is measured in MINUTES, but life is measured in MOMENTS. You don’t FIND TIME, you have to MAKE TIME. How? For starters, curse the barren fig trees. These are…
Do you follow God or run ahead of Him? You may have heard the story of Deborah and Barak, but have you ever stopped and thought about their impact? Where…
It’s been said that our decisions and responses determine our destiny. As we explore the rise of David and the sad demise of King Saul, we’ll see why one of…
Caleb and Joshua showed great faith in the midst of “giant” obstacles. When you are in the desert, you let the Devil tempt you to ask the wrong questions. “Who…
Our prayers aren’t meant to be rehearsed, but a reflection of our real life circumstances. Get honest with God with these 7 keys to a powerful prayer life. Preached at…
No one knows more about a creation than its creator. We see this with mothers and children, architects and buildings, and painters and their art. But is it true for miracles too? In…
What do you do when life gets confusing and hard? Or when things don’t seem to fit into a bigger, better plan? Joseph, the father of Jesus, wrestled with those…
As we continue in the Advent season, we look at John the Baptist preparing the way for Christ to come. We also learn what it means to live in the…
Even when they’ve been on the calendar all year, the holidays can sometimes take us by surprise. In fact, even the first Christmas started with a change of plans. No…
Lots of people make a lot of fuss about Christmas. Some love this time of year (myself included). Others hate it or are opposed to its celebration. Some couch their…
Advent is a time of expectancy and preparation to celebrate the birth of Jesus. Historically, it is a season rich with meaning and symbolism for Christian believers all over the…
If you find yourself in a dark place, Pastor Mark shares four helpful hacks:1) It’s always darkest before dawn2) Widen your aperture3) Live in day-tight compartments4) Let your light shine…
By now you have discovered that we who are Christians are surrounded! There seems to always be more who are against us than who are for us. We face the…
Our passions and desires are at war within us, and we must fight against them. While pride, boasting and divisiveness mark worldly people, humility, obedience and repentance mark the godly.…
Have you ever walked into a room and felt out of place; like there was a chasm standing between you and everyone else? Maybe it was the way you dressed,…
One of the greatest gifts God can give us is letting us get to the end of our rope! That’s often when and where and how we discover that there…
As the people of God, we live COUNTERCULTURE. When we love our enemies, heaven invades earth. When we pray for those who persecute us, heaven invades earth. When we bless…
As Jude called his readers to fight for the faith, he wanted them to know that turning from the truth was not new, nor was it novel. The battle for truth…
What is the full effect of steadfastness? That we lack nothing. When we are discontent, we think that we lack something. “If only I had…” James tells us that when…
God has big plans for you. He plants dreams in your heart—and they can bloom when the soil is fertile. Set your sights on what’s ahead and prepare your soul to…
In the family, God calls us to pass on wisdom and receive wisdom. God uses family to help us establish boundaries. God makes the path of family bigger. Team Sermon…
It takes moral courage to STAND AGAINST what is WRONG and STAND FOR what is RIGHT. It takes moral courage to SPEAK TRUTH TO POWER, to SPEAK THE TRUTH IN…
“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.” Matthew 6:34. Why don’t we live in the moment? Lack of faith. The only way you can be…
Do you ever wonder if you’re praying the right way? Maybe you keep praying, but it feels like your prayers aren’t effective. In this message, we’re learning how to unlock…
We think forwards, but God is working backwards. God begins with the end in mind. Occasionally, he pulls back the curtain of time and reveals His plans and His purposes…
We all have struggles: fear, self-image, managing money, addiction, loneliness – the list goes on and on. What if there was a new way to walk through our struggles? God…
The Oxford Dictionary defines apathy as “lack of interest, enthusiasm, or concern.” It’s the state of being indifferent to something that should otherwise arouse, provoke, or motivate you. It has been noted…
Hurting someone because they hurt you doesn’t end the cycle. It perpetuates it. And it makes you look like the person you dislike. www.sermons.love. www.northpointchurch.com.
Because sin grows best when it’s left unaddressed. And when we’ll address it, we won’t be lethargic. We will be hungry. We won’t be lenient. We will be disciplined. When…
People have been going to war for centuries. Conflicts and clashes are part of our history both as a civilization and as a nation. But there are three wars that…
It’s been a turbulent season. What has caused some to stay anchored during the storms and stresses of life, while others have lost their bearings under the same conditions? It…
You’ve probably heard me refer to the book of Jude as the Acts of the Apostates. Apostasy is turning away from Christ by leaning on the rationale of worldly philosophy…
In the midst of the swirling fears of this world, God invites us to release the fear of the world and fear him. Fear doesn’t just change our actions, it…
What do you do when you feel like you’re slipping? Discover four handles for when what you are holding feels too heavy and how to carry on when what you…
Paul writes that we should refrain from quenching the Holy Spirit as He works to make us look more like Jesus. Preached at the Village Church.
Life is infinitely uncertain and God is infinitely complex. The net result? Doubt. We think of doubt in negative terms, but it’s a key catalyst when it comes to faith.…
Joy. It’s not getting what you want. It’s appreciating what you have. Joy isn’t always the easiest choice or the obvious choice, but joy is a choice. The Apostle Paul…
If you have ever tried to walk straight while aboard a ship being tossed by the ocean’s waves, you know how hard that is. The motion around you challenges the…
Wise speech is the right word spoken at the right time with the right intentions in the right to the right person from the right person. Team sermon preached by…
The book of Proverbs provides us with great advice about the importance of family and the responsibility to pass on wisdom, good character and integrity to the next generation. God…
Hebrews 12:27 moment—everything that can be shaken will be shaken. God is shaking false securities and false identities, false assumptions, and false narratives, false idols, and false ideologies. But we…
Rest is not passive, it’s active. We must accept his grace and strength and rest upon Him. Give your burdens to Christ and experience His peace. Team sermon preached at…
God is called Almighty fifty-seven times in Scripture. It means that the resources of His power are boundless. He is unlimited in His ability and unconstrained in His capacity. God’s attribute of…
When it comes to having healthy relationships we must get out of our comfort zones and do the hard things. Just because something is unpleasant doesn’t mean it’s unprofitable. Preached…
Esther had the courage to risk her life to save her people, the Jews. We can learn to have faith in the midst of tremendous obstacles. Preached at New Life…
The unseen war behind all wars is won as the sower of deceit is thrown from heaven. A desperate and defeated Enemy turns his attention to the people of God.…
King Solomon advises to pursue wisdom with your heart and your head. Wisdom is so much more than knowledge or cleverness. Wisdom is spiritual discernment that comes from God. Wisdom…
Standing for God’s truth is a serious thing. Standing against it carries major repercussions. In this series, Skip Heitzig presents Jude’s call to get in the ring—a call that is…
If there is a being up in heaven right now that spoke the world into existence.. If there really is a creator, then why would I value my own opinion…
“Whoever has ears, let them hear.” It’s only six words, but it’s an urgent exhortation with exponential implications. The word “obey” in Latin means “to give ear.” God speaks in…
God has big plans for you. He plants dreams in your heart—and they can bloom when the soil is fertile. Set your sights on what’s ahead and prepare your soul to…
It may feel like the end, but it’s always too soon to give up. With the power and perspective of the resurrection, we can find blessing when things feel broken,…
When Christ died on the cross, everything changed. Three things that have changed for you as a Jesus person because of what happened as Christ died at the hill shaped…
Can we not acknowledge that although there may be good and positive things in many different religions, they’re absolutely and completely not the same? Fair enough? Here is what I…
The resurrection of Jesus is either a fairy tale or the most wonderful and hopeful event in history. A resurrection from the dead may sound ridiculous to some, but for…
The story of David and King Saul teaches us how God can intervene in any situation to deliver us. www.skipheitzig.com.
The person on this planet most suited to deceit is you. The person on this planet more capable of harming yourself is you. You and I are, in fact, able…
Roger Barrier began preaching at the age of thirteen. This evangelistic message is his very first semon. Be blessed. Preached at Northway Baptist Church on May 15, 1963, Dallas, Texas.
Do we choose to be Herod, cling to our power, and our glory, and our sin, and ourselves? Or do we willingly humble ourselves before Jesus and find that in…
This classic sermon from 1986 reminds us that God is still preparing us to meet Him. We can know much about His return and the end of the age from…
God’s glory shows us who we are in relation to a glorious God. His glory drives out fear and replaces it with joy. God’s glory reassures us of the power…
Many of Jesus’ blessings were spontaneous. The wind of the Holy Spirit Jesus described in John 3, the fire by night in the desert in Exodus, the miracles of Jesus…
Like Paul praying for the church in Ephesus, we should earnestly seek the things that God has promised to those who are in Christ. www.thevillagechurch.net.
You have no idea what God might set into motion with one word of encouragement. Words have power! One encouraging word could be the catalyst for change in your life.…
Hiram Johnson said, “The first casualty in war is truth.” God’s people have been in a cosmic battle since the fall. Satan’s first allegation against truth was in Genesis 3:1:…
No matter what, God is ultimately in control of this and every other election in history. As Proverbs 16:33 reminds us: man can cast lots, but God decides. His sovereignty…
“Heavenly places” means the “spiritual realm.” When you are under assault, when your life is being shattered, when you are trying to be in the will of God, you have…
What does the Bible teach about political issues from both party sides? How do we understand our behavior as believers and our responsibility as citizens. God has a lot to…
Our highest calling, our mission is to go into all the world and make disciples. Jesus, didn’t say above all else, be right with all your heart, mind, and soul,…
The story of Joseph is one of the Bible’s most compelling tales. And the most gripping feature is the difference between Joseph’s outlook and that of his eleven brothers. After…
If you feel disconnected, hopeless, or you just know something is missing—it’s not the end of your story. It’s an opportunity to reconnect. To find hope. And to rediscover what…
Conversations about race are hard, but they need to happen. How can we handle those talks—and our relationships, too—in a way that infuses them both with understanding and hope? Join…
When you what God gives you to do, He surrounds you with all of the people that you need to do what you can’t do. You have everything you need…
We tend to view marriage through the lenses of consumerism. We live in a day and age where individual happiness is the ultimate value, so marriage becomes primarily an experience…
Noah’s legendary faith allowed him to look to the future as he refused to be “conformed to this world” in the present (see Romans 12:2). It takes enormous faith to…
When Christians are at the center of cultural and political power, we don’t quite understand the Lord as a Warrior, but when Christians are marginalized, seeing that the Lord wars…
The 3 P’s: Presence, Prayer, Practical Help are just the few ways you can be there for others. But more important than coming up with the 3 p’s for a…
When leading through uncertainty, you must display your humanity. You have to be vulnerable, transparent, real. The people who are looking to you need to experience your empathy because they…
We all know how easy it is for friends to show up when times are good. But, all of us need people in our lives that show up and who…
God has a house. It’s called his kingdom. That’s his house. And he not only owns the house, he owns everything in the house. Psalm 24, verse 1 says, “The…
Is a lifetime commitment to a spouse even reasonable? Does permanence have to become a goal if it means a couple just has to grin and bear it? What if a…
Through the years, I have observed that most people (even Christians) have ideas about what heaven will be like that are vastly different from how Scripture describes heaven. In this…
This remarkable sermon is tremendous! Commitment to God is essential to develop any successful relationship. Joshua challenged Israel, “Choose you this day whom you will serve. As for me and…
Every one of us has something we would give anything to get. Right now, many of us would give anything to get back to normal. But, as Steven Furtick asks…
Everything visible and physical is preceded by something invisible and spiritual. The consequences we are dealing with in our lives, in our homes, in our culture, we are dealing with…
We all have a place we want to go, a goal we want to achieve. But one of the biggest challenges in getting to where we want to go is…
What lessons do we learn from the families in Genesis? Most consequences don’t come with an expiration date. Love your wife, love your kids, but put God first. Live a…
Jesus never seemed to be in a hurry. He lived and interacted with others at the speed of walking. He had time for people. He was relaxed. However, for most…
We’ve all heard the verse, “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old is gone, the new has come.” The new creation, however, is not just…
The world needs leaders, especially during times of uncertainty. But not just any leaders. King Nebuchadnezzar was humbled by God in a drastic way, but learned from his suffering to…
Young Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego had to choose between God and facing the fury of one of the most powerful kings in history. They chose to face death rather than…
How do you seek God? You pursue a relationship while simultaneously submitting to his rule, his authority, where he has the last word over your word, over your thoughts, over…
How would someone in your trials respond if they were confident? God was with them. If they were absolutely confident that it was more to their circumstances than meets the…
Renewed | Part 2 | “A New Heart” Text: Ezekiel 36:22-27, Philippians 1:6 This is literal regeneration. Jesus is right in front of me, waiting for me to be ready…
When life gets turned upside down, we might try to solve our problems on our own or turn to food, shopping, or an addiction for comfort and strength. But those…
The command “don’t worry” comes from Jesus. In Matthew chapter 6, verses 25 to 34, Jesus says “Stop worrying”, in verse 25, 31, and 34. Stop it. Now you say,…
How long till we get back to normal? You keep waiting all you want. Or you can worship. You could keep resisting, or you can receive. I love what God…
The story of the fearful disciples facing imminent drowning or shipwreck called out for Jesus. Peter saw Jesus walking on the waves and stepped out of the boat to reach…
We need to build our faith on a strong foundation that will protect us when the storms rage. Because a man is the foundation of our society, anything a spiritually-strong…
God’s rule had now entered history through Jesus the King – being both human and divine; He was to rule over all. It is critical for believers to understand the…
Why did God institute the Sabbath? The good news here is that Jesus is our Sabbath rest, that you and I have the opportunity to walk in centeredness, presence, and…
So what’s needed to have stronger faith, the faith of Paul? What’s needed is that tenacity. What’s needed is that spirit that says, hold on a second. I’m not going…
We are different. We are not of this world. Our minds are transforms so we can do the will of God. We live by faith, not by fear. We are…
We’re being told to wash our hands, and to wash our hands a lot. Well, as you wash your hands, I want you to wash somebody else’s feet. I want…
Encounter | Week 2: God seeks a loving union with you. The better the relationship the deeper the union. Join Matt as he uses Exodus to explain this in more…
Encounter | Week 1: The sooner you realize God has a plan for everything the better. And it’s His world. We’re just living in it.
Hope is contagious. When the fear of the unknown spreads, our hope in Christ can spread even faster. Replace panic with peace. Replace anxiety with comfort. Replace the “what-ifs” with…
Jesus went into the grave to bring you out of it. It wasn’t nails that held Him to the cross, it was love. freshlife.church
What do you do when you feel that the world has gathered against you? The hardest thing you ever do is to wait in God’s promises and rest. That’s where…
The story of Abraham inspires us to believe God for His provision. We can trust Him if we believe, obey and listen. Be inspired to meditate on this powerful story…
Without the Holy Spirit, we’re ordinary in every way. With the Holy Spirit, all things all possible. His anointing is the X Factor—it helps us do what we do better…
Surprisingly, the key to power is in humility and sacrifice. Compassion is God’s secret weapon to storm the gates of hell. www.crazylove.org.
Forgiving others is hard, but forgiving yourself can be even more difficult. When guilt and regret fill your past, believing in your future seems impossible. But God wants you to…
In the Bible, Jesus tells us a story about two men who built their houses on two very different foundations. While one was built upon the sand with little difficulty,…
Paul teaches the importance of waiting for the right person, to maintain your sexual purity and to not be afraid to be single when He calls you to be. He…
This is God’s universe and God does things His way. You may have a better way, but you don’t have a universe. God commands us to be courageous because we…
When we feel anger, our emotions tell us it’s 100 percent someone else’s fault. But James, the brother of Jesus, has something different to say. When we take a step…
Some of you are losing sleep over what you don’t understand about God. Habakkuk gives you the answers and a way to process your doubts and discouragement. www.sermons.love.
God knows your need (and He’s the only one who can meet it). Instead of focusing on what I need, what I think, what I want, I’m changing my prayer.…
Worship through singing is our response to God’s glory, love and holiness. In the story of David dancing before the Ark of the Covenant, we learn that Michal, his wife,…
josafat parte 2 from Pibnogales Josue on Vimeo. Los conflictos y las amenazas de muerte y de invasión al pueblo de A Dios, se dieron cuando Josafat habia hecho lo…
Padres necesitan orar estas cosas:para reciban Jesu Cristo al senor en su vida, crezcan vidas sanos y puros, para que entienden y aprendan la disciplina y la novezca. Finalmente, El…
La historia del joven rico nos enseña una gran lección; él se afanó por el presente y cuando vino a Cristo la demanda del Señor para tener la vida eterna…
Asi que no depende del que quiere ni del que corre, sino de Dios que tiene misericodia.
Hay una tremenda bendicion en la adoracion a nuestros Dios, por lo cual tenemos que tener conciencia de lo que esto conlleva, asi que pongamos atencion a lo que el…
La piedra angular y el punto centrifico. Amor-atesta a la unidad-es la marca que Cristo les dio a lost Cristianos para que exhibieran ante todo el mundo. Solament con esta…
Pocas cosas en la vida son más difíciles de superar que el ser malentendido. Sin embargo, el ser malentendido es una experiencia humana muy común. Todo puede estar yendo muy…
La naturaleza pecaminosa o carnal, todo lo que hacemos fuera de Cristo, vale nada, y hay una gran posibilidad que si no realizamos esta verdad, podemos vivir una vida completa…
Un santo no es una persona que es libre de pecado, no es un luchado. Nunca en su vida tampoco no es persona que murio para las cosas de Dios.…
Que gigantes tienes en tu vida? Somos mas que vencedores en Jesu Cristo!
Abraham esta buscando una novia por su hijo Isaac. Con quien voy a pasar el resto de su vida? Tiene que ser creente, que vive una vida pura.
Lucas 15, se encuentras 3 parabolas que tienen comun denominador, älgo se perdio pero tambien algo se encontro ya que el quiere tener un acercamiento con nosotros. Ahora hemos entrado…
Es importante organizar la iglesia con lideres espirituales.
2 Samuel cap 6:1-11 en donde nos habla de ver si en realidad, estamos en la voluntad del señor, muchas veces, creemos que estamos haciendo las cosas, pero no es…
“El hermano Josue Cuamba trae una predicacion hacerca de las personas ancianas de la Iglesia, que es lo que la Biblia dice al respecto, lo conoceran cuando vean esta predicacion.”
When you’re wondering how to overcome anxiety, one of the best things you can do is shift your perspective. In this message, we’ll learn from the story of Paul and…
Egypt suffered horribly when God sent the plague of the frogs. Frogs were everywhere, but Pharaoh waited to call for Moses. In the same way, we tolerate sin in our…
God used a highly unlikely widow-pagan and impoverished, to richly provide for God’s prophet Elijah. Never underestimate. So often we think God cannot use us because we are unlikely. But…
When our dreams are shattered, can we actually experience the grace of God in the midst of our humanity, watch God’s spirit move in a powerful way, in a vibrant…
How do you truly live a life filled with the Holy Spirit? Paul teaches to speak truth, make melody, always be grateful and yield in obedience. Preached at Chase Oaks…
We all struggle with evil. David expressed his sorrow and frustration in this psalm. “How Long, O God?” David struggled – and then he prayed fervently. When pain, heartache, injustice and…
God wants you to know which one is more important, the traditions of men, or the truth of God. And it’s about time for some of us to decide, are…
The series “Where Are They Now?” is concluded at Elevation Church with Judah Smith’s message about the story of Jacob and his grandsons. Joseph brought his eldest son to receive…
Proverbs 14:30: “A tranquil heart gives life to the flesh, but envy makes the bones rot.” Envy causes us to compare and compete with others in an unhealthy way. It…
Dishonesty begins when you avoid conflict and intimacy. Dishonesty is based on the fear of revealing your weaknesses. Be authentic and give grace. Allow others to extend grace and acceptance…
Jesus assured His mother at the wedding feast that there’s always enough when He is in charge. Do you trust Christ’s provision in your own life? Here’s how you can.
Anxiety will always try to stop you from chasing God’s calling. Join Pastor Craig Groeschel to see how to start coping with anxiety by adopting a perspective of praise, even…
Paul teaches in Galatians 5:24 through 6:10 that true spirituality is manifested in a loving concern for others. The crucified life is a life of love and self-sacrifice. Help those…
To take back your mind, you have to humble your heart. Preached at Elevation Church. Sermon notes by sermons.love.
What myths do you believe about money? If we follow God’s plan, He’ll do more through us together than we could ever do on our own. Message entitled, “Camels and…
We must declare war on the version of ourselves we don’t like, we are encouraged to be intentional with our thoughts. Negative thinking cannot lead to a positive life. Preached…
In a world dominated by social media, it is easy to compare ourselves to others and to become discontent with our lives. It is also easy for us to judge…
Everyone is chained by something. Allow God to set you free! Preached at Elevation Church. Used by permission. Notes by sermons.love.com
There is only one being created in the image of God, in all of creation, and that being is the human being, and that being is the object of God’s…
Daniel the prophet was a great man. He was dedicated, disciplined, excellent of spirit and a mighty leader. How do we develop good habits? Small, consistent changes transform us. We…
A time is coming to the church where “people will be lovers of self.” Do you feel like this time has already come? The Bible says that in the end…
Joy is triumphant elation in the face of great loss. Joy is not getting what you want, it’s appreciating what you already have. You are God’s workmanship! Preached…
What happens when you close your eyes in death? The questions you have about life after death can leave you wondering, but they don’t mean you have to live in fear.…
Sex can be really beautiful or really dangerous because it brings the body and soul into a kind of wholeness not otherwise known. It is a good gift of God…
The Book of Revelation recounts the events of the End Times, weaving God’s plan at the creation to the wrath of God, the final judgment, and the eternal reign of…
Some might have experienced the forgiveness of Christ but you are still living as though you are in debt. You feel as though you need to add onto the cost…
It was a Red Letter Day. Bloody, beaten, and nailed to a cross, a dying Jesus looked at those around Him and spoke His final words as a man. What…
All religions: Hinduism, Islam, New Age, Mormonism, Scientology-have some truth and beauty but are not the same. Christianity is far different because a holy, mighty God freely gives the gift…
Did Christ rise from the dead? How do we really know? Many scholars refute the resurrection because they say the gospels were written much later in time. So where in…
All the best stories have it. The right setting. The climactic action. The memorable characters. And the greatest story forever told is no exception. Steven Furtick surveys the panorama of…
Expect evil, hate evil, endure evil for God’s purposes. Pray for escape from evil. Give thanks for its refining effects, overcome evil with good. Remember that God is in control…
When Jesus paid the ultimate price on the cross to extend mercy, He never intended for us to keep it to ourselves. Discover the freedom found in forgiveness and the…
The idea of a resurrection demands our faith and absolute surrender. If Christ did not rise, there is no hope. There is no meaning apart from God. Because of what…
In the beginning, God created humankind in His image. We have been creating God in our image ever since. But what you end up with is a god who looks…
So many people never receive what God has promised because they don’t persevere. The first reason is because our perspective gets blocked. Secondly, I think a lot of us stop short…
History’s most spectacular sin was the murder of Jesus. Satan’s power in Judas’ sinful passions, Satan’s role in His own destruction, God’s role in the murder of His Son and…
Pastor Levi uses 2 Timothy 1:10 to show how Jesus turned off the darkness and brought life through the Gospel. Pastor Levi gives four ways to make it through grief, from remembering…
The false prophet in Revelation is the mouthpiece for the Antichrist and brings the world to its knees to worship this false Savior. Who is he and what does he…
Oftentimes, it feels like marriage is an expectation society has for each of us—as if marriage will make our lives complete. What happens when marriage doesn’t come quickly for us?…
Fifty-four percent of American couples are choosing to live together rather than to be married. We must ask ourselves: Which “benefits” of cohabitating are you most tempted to believe? How…
Most times the reason we don’t let go of worldly things is that we don’t seem to realize that there is something better and more important than what the world…
King David had no reason to invite Saul’s crippled grandson, Mephibosheth, to sit at his royal table. But David had made a covenant with Jonathan. Jesus has made a permanent…
The Advent Conspiracy calls us toward some beautiful, simple and significantly life-giving truths. Lean in with us. Here are 4 key expressions that enable us to “worship fully” in this…
It’s rather shocking to examine the history of Jesus’ family tree- a lineage of prostitutes, scandal, adultery, murder, and idolatry– but all to prove that it doesn’t matter who you…
Grace really is, relationally speaking, it really is the unsettling solution for just about everything. Jesus was full of grace. He extended it to people who were nothing like him,…
In an instant…God spoke creation into existence. God began to prepare a plan to reconcile us back to Himself. But Christmas is free, but not cheap; fast, but not hurried;…
Andy Stanley and comedian Jeff Foxworthy discuss life issues and the importance of making a difference in our community. “When the church does good, God’s name is made great. This…
Revelation 6 is an unfolding of God’s judgment in the Tribulation. Discover the antichrist and afterlife. What will these times look like? Man, who has rejected his Creator, will suddenly…
Peter We are citizens and strangers upon this earth. But in Revelation 21, John the Apostle gives us a glimpse of God’s Kingdom at the end of time. Preached at…
John the Apostle gives us a glimpse of God’s Throne Room in Heaven and the throng around the throne. Who are the beasts and the elders? What can we learn…
The reality gap is this. Our God is an utterly amazing, incredible God. So we think – What does a God-believer look like? Every one of us comes up with…
God’s name, YAHWEH, is spoken without the vowels. In fact, when a Jew spoke the Hebrew words, it was a whisper-a breath. God gave us our first breath and we…
When is the rapture of the church? When is Armageddon? Does the Millennial Reign of Christ really happen? Why the urgency of sharing the Gospel? Because Jesus is coming back!…
The good news about a single Savior who provides abundant life for all who die with him… Jesus didn’t view his celibacy as a no…no to joy, no to sex,…
Focus on being ungrateful. Compare what you have to people who have more. Pursue temporary possessions over eternal treasures. Develop and attitude of entitlement. Preached at LifeChurch.tv/open. Used by permission.
Words are powerful. They can beat us down and lift us up. They wound and they heal. And the right words at the right time can be exactly what we…
Elijah called fire down from heaven. But in a moment of weakness, he doubted God and lost his way. How did God speak to him, and how does He speak…
Most of us have been hurt by someone we know or someone we love. Sometimes, our reaction is to disconnect from that person and hold a grudge or to hurt…
‘God is not silent. His Word is clear, sufficient and authoritative. He continues to perform the miraculous and to intervene for His people.
God wants us to be addicted to Him. We can fall in love with doing good things, with resisting sin, with caring for the poor, with memorizing Scripture, but it’s…
God is above but He is not pushed up; He is beneath but He is not pressed down. He is outside but He is not excluded. He is inside but…
Grace is almost incomprehensible to the human mind, because we believe we have something to offer God apart from Christ. Grace is free and cannot be earned or bought. Francis…
Rejoice. Refuse to resent. Recognize God’s Hand at work. Appreciate all seasons of life. Don’t confuse the supply with the Source. Recognize. Release. Receive. Remain. Preached at Elevation Church. Used…
We often trade what we’ve decided and what we know is most important for a bowl of stew. What’s true of Esau is true of you. You have no idea…
According a University of Massachusetts study, 60% people cannot have a 10-min conversation without lying.We lie to impress, avoid conflict, get away w/something, shift blame, or to be nice. Satan,…
Paul teaches in Philippians 2 that God’s children are to be positive, not grumbling or doubting so that they shine like lights in the midst of a wicked, dark world.…
The Gadarene demoniac was desperate and destroyed. Even in his deranged state, he ran to Jesus and knelt at his feet. No one is too far from God to worship…
False teachers are often hard to spot. They appear to be righteous, but pander lies of relativism, subjective morality, social gospel, and universalism. Christ wants us to base our beliefs…
Three marriage myths may hinder the relationship between husband and wife: Unrealistic expectations, that we can change our spouse, and that a love relationship is easy. Learn that relational pain…
Jesus embodied compassion. What can we learn from how He treated others? True compassion demands action. It interrupts our daily routine. Caring costs. But compassion changes lives! Preached at LifeChurch.tv.…
Know your Enemy’s strategy: temptation, lies and condemnation. Overcome by being tethered to the truth, led by the Holy Spirit and understanding the compassion of God. Only those who know…
The resurrection of Jesus provides us with complete victory in life. He conquered death for us, He rules the universe and He places Satan underneath His feet. We don’t have…
The second ALL IN sermon deals with the tension, wisdom and calling that flows out of Matthew 6:24. We learn how to have money work for us and not make…
Money is not the root of all evil, the love of money destroys us. The richest are not those who have the most, but those who need the least. Money…
God has blessings for you in categories that you don’t even know exist. Preached at National Community Church.
The Book of Zephaniah contains a wonderful and moving description of God’s love. We don’t deserve God’s love, but He offers it to us in the gift of Jesus Christ.…
Christ has created us to put off our old sinful natures and to become compassionate, kind, gentle, humble, grateful people. We must demonstrate patience toward others, because Jesus reigns in…
End-times Christians will be lovers of themselves, greedy, boastful, proud, abusive and disobedient to parents. We can stand out from the crowd by failing to conform to the decadence of…
God has plans for a hope and a future for us. But the real message is that life isn’t easy. Often His best plan is not ours, but protects us…
We learn from Paul’s bout with the stormy Mediterranean Sea that all of us occasionally face “the perfect storm.” When a sequence of catastrophic events rock our world, Paul reminds…
Individual rights assume individual responsibility. We are a nation of laws, but we can do better. We as Christians are commanded to love our neighbors as ourselves, and to do…
It’s often our times of greatest struggle that we can gain the most strength and increase our faith. Jacob renamed his son Benjamin. This compelling Bible story shows us that, though…
You are an investigative reporter. Every day you are collecting evidence. Your future story has already been written based upon the nature of God and His plan for you. Future…
Could be God preparing us for the future, so that we are ready to share our faith in a post-Christian culture, under persecution? Or are we so complacent that we…
There’s no place for this nonsense in the church, no place for this nonsense in the kingdom of God.We can celebrate our unique cultural backgrounds. The book of Revelation says…
Racism isn’t just the presence of hatred-it’s the absence of love. How do we “neighbor” others? By recognizing our own prejudices, seeking to understand others, and by loving those different…
Dr. Chet Weld speaks on identifying anxiety in your life and recognizing the patterns of automatic negative thinking and faulty assumptions. By understanding these key issues, we can find great…
Francis Chan teaches this simple message on the prayer of faith and Jesus’ power to heal. The concluding video of God’s angelic protection is riveting. Don’t miss it. www.crazylove.org.
We often get so caught up thinking about where we’d rather be and what we’d rather be doing, that we forget all the places God has already been with us.…
We can learn to see through our enemies to see God’s presence. When troubles like fear, depression, or anxiety seem right on top of us, we can look through them…
“Once Upon a Marriage, Part Two” is the story of a passive husband, King Ahab, and his controlling wife, Queen Jezebel. A truly bad romance, both partners were self-centered and…
Satan’s tactics are subtle. He masquerades as an angel of light so that the things he tempts us with look beautiful. However the only good and perfect gifts come from…
Our lives are filled with white noise: the expectations of others that distract us from God’s calling for our lives. How do we tune out “white noise.” hear God speak…
We completely underestimate the power of Jesus. What often happens when you hear the name “Jesus”? Is He namby-pamby or the God of the Universe? Pastor Francis Chan takes a…
What is the point of Jesus’ parables? We must learn the context, the question and the hinge moment (the outlandish surprise element). The legal experts only wanted to call other…
How do you know if you are a lukewarm Christian? You crave acceptance from others rather than from God. You rarely share your faith in Christ. You think more about…
Mark 9 allows us an eyewitness account of a mountain top experience Jesus has with some of his early followers. It’s known as the ‘transfiguration’ – which is a fancy…
Pastor Francis Chan deals with the moral failure of a church leader in a wise, compassionate, godly fashion. Sin must be dealt with, but our focus in facing the issue…
Our God stands unchanging through time as the source of our strength. The power of same is the culmination of our consistency with Him. If you resist the monotonous, you’ll…
Pastor Chan teaches that after the fall, God promises to restore the world to Himself. All of our lives should be lived in light of the new Heaven and Earth.
Kneel in pursuit of God’s presence. Don’t bow down to something else. Kneel in repentance. Jesus never turns away from a sinner with a repentant heart. Kneel in submission. You can…
The Prince of Peace (Shar Shalom) declared that his mission was to restore shalom — to bring freedom to the prisoner, recovery of sight to the blind. And how did…
Wise Men followed the star. They jumped for joy, and they came bringing gifts. Mary and Joseph needed a miracle and it was provided by someone that God sent from…
Children swarm the stage as Francis Chan teaches about the Creator and His creation in a humorous, profound and engaging way. He teaches about the fullness of the God-man residing…
Francis Chan addresses greed in the lives of believers. He explains that while we live life it easy to be captured by money and things, missing out on our fulfillment…
Casas Church devotes a day to honor First Responders. In a culture filled with fear, we must trust God and pray for those who protect us. Remember who you are, where…
Peter teaches how deeply Jesus values you and showers you with unconditional love, grace, joy and blessing for the good purpose of blessing others. Imagine the audience in 1 Peter.…
The Greek word for “royal” translates as “support of/to the people”. It’s a title of service and humility. Not how we typically think of royalty. This is then tied to…
Hearing God’s voice is essential to your walk with God. There are several basic questions you must ask yourself. Have you trusted Christ? Do you have the Holy Spirit? Have…
When Jesus was crucified, the curtain in the temple dividing the Holy of Holies from everything else, was ripped from top to bottom. God said, “That which divided us is…
Peter teaches that we are a “People Belonging to God.” The Greek word is best translated “possession.” We are God’s treasured possession. If you can view yourself as God’s treasure, you…
God directed you to this sermon, I believe, so that you would know, first, that you don’t have to die, and, second, so that you would know that Jesus, who…
A Christian atheist believes in God, but lives his/her life like He does not exist. Therefore, there is no transformation or expression of faith in God. They live worldly lives.…
We, the church, are the bridge God created to impart grace to the world. We must appropriate the grace God has given us. We don’t go to church, we are…
Sermon begins at 32:05. We can listen to the voices of rage and anger in our lives. We can hear the shouts of the world around us, or we can…
Francis teaches on the importance of trusting in God to lead us towards what is best for us. Planning, while not always a bad thing, can be counterproductive if planning…
We spend so much time trying to impress God that we forget He is crazy in love with us. Rest in His love and not in your works. The God…
When will we dare to trust that Jesus is who he says He is, and will do what He said he will do? Self-dependence and fear can become daunting apart…
The classic story of David and Goliath answers the question, “What does real courage look like?” David’s heart surfaces in this story of fear and faith. “David showed us that…
Daring to befriend someone takes courage. Jonathan humbly protected and encouraged David. We are capable of loving others because we are loved by God. Part Two of the Daring Greatly…
There’s no limit to the good thoughts God wants us to have. So, why do we waste so much time preoccupied with our doubts and fears? How are we supposed…
What is the secret to life, according to Solomon: the fear of God. Fear is not terror. Rather it means, “I am going to bend to God’s better way. I…
CLICK ON VIMEO ICON OR WATCH HERE. The Bible says that the nation of Israel followed God faithfully throughout the life of Joshua and the elders who succeeded him. But…
King David’s affair shows us that we all are vulnerable. Remember that you are weaker than you think you are. Run. Avoid tempting situations and redirect your energies, especially if…
Caleb modeled radical faith into his later years. King Asa, in contrast, trusted in his allies rather than God. Instead of getting comfortable and complacent as we age, we should…
“Teach us to number our days that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” Number your days, seize opportunities to love and mold your children. When you see how much…
This is one of the most common and most important questions people ask about God. The answer is bigger than we sometimes think, and, while it is not always easy,…
We know that Christ is powerful in us as individuals. When we gather together it is strong and vibrant. We are the church – a gathering of people whose lives…
Paul teaches that we are God’s poema-His “masterpiece” designed to reflect His character on the earth. Grace is God’s means for our transformation. Preached at Bent Tree Bible Fellowship. YouTube link…
Velcro love sticks and stays. God’s HESED love causes us to act on commitment, not feelings first. Suffering is the context where true love begins. Christ’s sacrifice is the embodiment…
Satan caused Eve to doubt God’s goodness and to twist His words. In doing so, we also are tripped up by his lies and doubts. Remember, your sin will find…
Why do so many Christians love Jesus but not the church? Perhaps they have experienced hurt and disappointment. Are you happy with your church? Love for the church comes from…
Courageous commitment doesn’t make sense and it never will. It didn’t in Daniel’s day and it doesn’t in ours-but as we learn in the unusual suspect of Daniel, because of…
God is the God of the nations. Egypt’s pharoah, Persia’s Cyrus, Artaxerxes of Persia among others were guided by the hand of God to carry out His plan. God protects…
Josiah, the child king, began his reign at eight and died at thirty-nine. His grandfather and father were wicked, idolatrous monarchs. While re-building the temple, Hilkiah the priest found the…
Caleb, on the brink of the Promised Land, at 85 years old said, I was 45 years old when God sent me to survey the land, and at 85 I’m…
In an unbelieving culture, Mordecai held an integrity that was used by God to deliver the Jewish people. Mordecai’s role as a peacemaker points forward to the complete peace and…
Deep transformation is always connected to our deepest desires. In Christ we find the quenching of our thirsty souls. Just like the Samaritan woman, you can embrace the grace of…
We learn much about deep faith when we examine the temptation of Christ. Deep faith begins when we stop trying to prove who we are and by what we do…
The miracle of Lazarus’ resurrection doesn’t just foreshadow the resurrection of Christ, it foreshadows yours! When we sin, our soul is wrapped in grave clothes. Sin buries us alive. Sin…
The Apostle Paul commended the Colossian believers for their faith, their love for the saints and their hope of heaven. Paul prayed for them to live a life worthy of…
This moving sermon by John Piper was preached at Watermark Church and was titled “A Tender Word for Pharisees.” Jesus shows God’s love for Pharisees in his parable of the…
Jesus engages people as souls. He engages all of them, not just one aspect of them. A deep life is living as the whole person Jesus redeemed you to be.…
The conclusion of a story reveals the transformation of the characters. To really live the spiritual life, we must die to those things that keep us from fulfilling God’s grand…
God sent His perfect love in Jesus, His Son. God’s love seeks to dig deep within our souls, He unearths those fears, and casts them out. Like Peter, when Jesus…
Engage the world. Some Christians are hostile to entertaining questions about science and the Bible, or controversial Scriptural issues. Don’t try to make the Bible provide answers to questions it…
What do we learn from Cain? Don’t play the comparison game. Jealousy and pride will kill you. Pray for the people you want to kill. Love someone you don’t like.…
God knows everything. He knows what we do before we do it, what we think before we think it, what we say before we say it, what we need before…
To set the tone in your home, be sure you change the rules, believe the best, and keep on loving. Defy logic. Defy gravity. Defy entropy. Let Paul’s “love chapter”…
What do you do when storms crash around you? Stay in the boat, hold onto Jesus. When life becomes difficult, you deepen your roots in faith. Watch the sermon “Planted…
The unbeliever is looking for something deeper and meaningful. He wants to know he matters. Jesus revealed that to reach the seeker we must not crowd people out with dogma…
The beautiful love poem of Solomon to his bride teaches much about the passion, permanence, power and procreative purpose of marriage. Marriage is a holy covenant based on sacrifice and…
The unbelieving world sees Christians as “guardians of morality,” placing standards upon others that we can’t live up to ourselves. Instead, we are privileged to be living expressions of God’s…
In this series from Acts, the church struggles from within when Ananias and Sapphira bring gifts and lie about their generosity. They also experience persecution from the Sanhedrin and some…
We all face giants in our lives. Don’t be caught off guard. You have a God-given advantage. The Jewish soldiers said of Goliath, “He’s too big to kill.” David, full…
Jesus, our High Priest, made the way into God’s presence. Priests had compassion for you, they are able to deal gently with you because they understand the temptation and consequences…
Bad religion is decried by Jesus in Matthew 29 when He condemns the Pharisees on their hypocrisy. But we can easily commit the same sins. Here are seven ways you…
The Bible tells us in Hebrews 9:27 that “man is destined to die once and after that the judgment.” We will all stand before the Lord. The the unbeliever, it…
Two stories are juxtaposed here: the story of a nation of people whom God liberates and the story of Moses the deliverer. Israel and Moses, their leader, learned the unfathomable…
What comprises your identity? A sense of relationship with God, an awareness of God’s call on your life and a deeper understanding of who He created you to be. Compare…
In this study of 1 Peter, Peter promises that we have everything we need for life and godliness. God wants to replace ordinary living for an extraordinary adventure with Him.…
Technology can elevate us, causing us to be proud, self-centered or self-promoting. Technology can hurt and humiliate. It can also suffocate you, emptying your life of quiet, solitude and rest.…
The truth about temptation is that it’s not a sin to be tempted, only to give in. Don’t blame God, others or the bait. When tempted run, don’t try to…
The greatest seasons of faith in our lives don’t occur when we’re on the mountain top, when life is going as planned and God’s favor is most tangible. In reality,…
Faith is relational, not formulaic. If you are frustrated or confused by seeming inconsistencies in Scripture, the God of the Bible longs to meet you where you are, to be…
Whether you are a control freak like Augustus, panicking because your plans aren’t coming together like you had hoped, or whether you are confused by life circumstances that don’t make…
God made both men and women in His image with equal worth and value. He also made them distinctive-equally different, and gave them the responsibility of ruling over creation. Gender…
Churchgoers can listen to a sermon and never apply it. If they trusted Christ when they were young, they often trust that one-time decision to keep them out of hell…
Jesus teaches the Bible is not a rule book. Jesus didn’t live in a set way. He lived out His love in a consistent way with His character as the…
Psalm 37 teaches us to enjoy God, to trust He will give us right desires. We don’t need to be anxious. Just walk in faith and do good. Preached at…
God has made everything and that everything is the Lord’s and that God has decreed and declared that you and I, made in his image, are the viceroys or stewards…
Hebrews 12 is a key passage in perseverance in the faith. Heaven is cheering us on. Jesus is the pioneer who inspires us to run the race without giving up.…
Francis Chan preaches at Passion Conference about the importance of reading the Word, discerning the lies caused by our own sinful desires to compromise and the power of literal obedience.…
Have you ever felt that God was using circumstances in your life, especially difficult ones, to get your attention, or to teach you some sort of lesson? Why would God…
These words of encouragement to Elevation Church were preached by Pastor Craig Groeschel as he told his own story of LifeChurch.tv. In Acts 5:18, Peter and John healed the lame…
Jesus didn’t heal the blind man in Mark 8 the same way He healed the blind man in John 9. The blind man had to take a step of faith,…
Hebrews 12 teaches that systems will be shaken, but in God’s power we will remain stable. Relationships will be shaken, but in God’s presence, we will remain secure. Hope will…
God loves us. He has rescued us and He has a plan for us. These are some of the foundational statements our faith found in scripture. And when we read…
The unmerciful servant was forgiven a huge debt, and, in return, showed no mercy for the small debt he was owed. Unforgiveness is holding onto a hurt or injustice. It…
One of the hardest sayings of Jesus has to do with a camel, a needle, and money. It causes us to consider closely the materialistic way we live. God wants…
Jesus asked Jesus to follow Him immediately. What a bold request! How do you recognize and respond to God’s call for your life? Expect it to be clear, progressive and…
We are inspired to persevere, to protect each other and to live with strong values and strong faith from the builder generation. From them, we can be inspired to press…
The Master held a great banquet. When he issued invitations, everyone made excuses not to come. Francis Chan talks about the importance of honoring God, entering His Throne Room, and…
“Bless” is the most frequently used word in the Old Testament. Don’t fail to bless God and honor Him. To fail to bless Him is to rob Him of His…
God wrote two New Testament poems: one in Romans, “the creation is His masterpiece;” one in Ephesians, “WE are His masterpiece.” We are uniquely formed and unconditionally loved by God.…
Jesus was a change agent. He redefined the spiritual life, from a religious construct to a relationship with God. He elevated the value of people, even people who seemed to…
David’s darkest hour running from King Saul was the day he returned home to Ziklag to find his family, flocks, and food cruelly ripped away. How did David deal with…
The Feast of Booths is all about this homecoming – the journey the Israelites would make and the disappointments they would have to face . It is the feast of…
You have value because God values you. It has nothing to do with being worthy of it. Rely on God. The Feast of Weeks celebrates His unconditional love and grace.
Jesus was a master at developing leaders. He not only taught the twelve to lead, He taught them how to mentor leaders themselves. For example: James, the teacher; John, the…
I live who I believe I am. Our identity causes our tendencies which lead to our actions that have consequences that shape our reality. Preached at Bent Tree Bible Fellowship.…
Revelation 21 and 22 give us a glorious picture of how God will bring renewal to all things. Pastor Tim Chaddick preaches on the incredible comfort this truth brings and…
Psalms of joy and consolation are read by Pastor Roger Barrier with the piano stylings of Julie Barrier. Meditate and worship as you hear the shepherd’s voice!
Our ‘Me-First’ culture may seem like a modern problem, but since the beginning of time, we have been consumed by the internal struggle between who we really are and who…
One of the most important aspects of a successful life is knowing where to go. An eagle has eight times more visual cells per cubic centimeter than a human. It…
Jesus commanded us to be baptized in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit just before ascending into heaven. The word baptizo literally means “to immerse.” It was…
Adam, Esther, David, Solomon and Peter were all summoned by God to do seemingly impossible things. God’s call can be an exciting, life-giving task that fills you with energy and…
Peter is a great example of how adventure involves mystery and danger to bring insight & growth into our lives. Even with all Peter experienced with Christ, he struggled to…
Jesus said you can overcome, even though you are overwhelmed, out-matched, incapable, and hated by the world. You can be confident because of Christ in you and in this world. …
The human spirit longs for freedom. It is the cornerstone of the American way of life and the yearning of people the world over. True freedom, though, is freedom to…
Bless. Pray. Don’t retaliate. Give without expecting in return. Love unconditionally. That’s what Jesus would do. Preached at Bent Tree Bible Fellowship. Used by permission. Featured at Telling the Truth…
Preached at Elevation Church as part five of the Mr. and Mrs. Better Half series, Craig Groeschel emphasizes the importance of commitment and unconditional love to navigate the difficulties of…
Parents, not the school or the church, should be the primary teachers of respect and obedience to their children. Meal times, travel times and bed times are key opportunities to…
No matter what age we are, the Bible tells us that there is still an incredible prize that awaits us. I can celebrate victory because I can celebrate Christ. 1…
Pig business: The story of Jesus and the Gadarene demoniac poses many questions regarding demonization. Is demonization for real? What might a demonic attack look like? Can Christians be demon…
Resurrection is more than being set free from guilt-it’s about being free to live. It’s a story about lives forgiven, lives made new. It isn’t just mercy…it is love…it is…
How do we live fruitful lives within healthy limits? Pastor Tim Chaddick preaches from 2 Corinthians 10:11-18 on the ways in which God intends us to function within wise and…
Galatians is different than other letters written by Paul. In every other epistle, he finds something for which to praise the young churches before giving them advice. However, he’s so…
In his second letter to Timothy, the Apostle Paul placed his “signature” at the beginning, as was customary at that time. Alistair Begg’s message on these opening verses guides us…
Humans have a traitor within. When the truth hurts, most prefer a lie. The three marks of the accountable life are taking responsibility, accepting correction and living transparently. Preached at…
The Israelites discovered that between the rescue from Egypt and the Promised Land lay the wilderness. We all must face that wilderness in our lives. We must learn to embrace…
God’s yes in salvation is found in Jesus Christ. God’s hearing of your prayers is found yes in Jesus Christ. God’s ability to sustain you in suffering finds its yes…
Betrayal comes from those closest to you, striking at a crucial time. It is fueled by jealousy and envy, and can lead to a total breakdown or breakthrough. The story…
The spectacular sin of those who built the Tower of Babel was used by God in spite of the pride of the wicked people. Where do all the languages in…
1. Public beliefs: Public beliefs are things we espouse because they help us fit in, or navigate our human environment. 2. Private beliefs are things that we sincerely believe or…
If we do not battle our sinful desires, Satan wins. Victorious Christian living will silence our critics, point people to God and bring others into the family. We all fight…
Overpower the lies of insecurity, fear, condemnation and discouragement with the promises of God. Discover how to hear God’s voice above all others. We must put the mind of Christ…
When we talk about life, we are talking about a deep belief that God has created all of us to be exactly what He envisions for us to be. Our…
God calls us to gaze at Him in prayer and only glance at our problems. If we reverse the two, we can allow circumstances to dictate our view of God,…
You can beat temptation. Satan’s tests us to meet our needs in an illegitimate way, to use power for personal gain, and to de-throne the Lord of our lives. From…
What if your clock ran out today? Time is an earnest laborer, precision is his neighbor. Be wise, be aware of your season of life. Invest in your key priorities.…
God knows we are made of dust and our lives our muddy. The muddy mess-the challenges, struggles, sin and pain in our lives make meaning. In the stories where Jesus…
Covenant marriage involves: personal commitment, public commitment, permanent commitment and private consummation. In Matthew 5, Jesus warns of the damage consumeristic sexuality has on our relationships with people and with…
The message of Jesus was hard. He demanded that His followers take up their cross, leave everything behind and follow Him. He didn’t cultivate the crowds, He weeded them out…
God knows your name. Like Jacob, God does not name him for what he would accomplish. He names him for the internal character and values that are to be the…
Who is the Christ Child? Paul in Philippians 2 teaches the amazing condescension of God coming in human form to die. Secondly, Isaiah teaches the baby would be Messiah, the…
The Kingdom of God sits above and judges the conservative and liberal orientations of men, because God is concerned about accomplishing His agenda, not mine or yours or anyone else.…
Where do we turn for help? The church should be the answer. But, fewer and fewer people turn to church for help with the spiritual questions they wrestle with. So…
Francis Chan teaches on Galatians 2:11-31 where the apostle Paul confronts Peter with the sin of hypocrisy. Peter separated himself from the Gentiles because they were uncircumcised and Paul reminded…
Two lenses predominate our life-focus, fear and faith. We can view life through the lens of scarcity and worry about what we might lose. We can view life through the…
The presence of Christ in our darkest times should give us boldness and confidence. The whole passage is about peace in the midst of the storms, the threats in our…
Francis Chan uses the television show “24” as an illustration to remind us that we must live for eternity. God is in control, and we must not be complacently. Many…
We find our meaning in life through our life’s story in God. We have a glorious past. We have a beautiful future, a New Heaven, a New Earth and New…
Is debt inevitable or is it often incurred to buy things we want rather than need? Three lies credit card companies tell us are as follows: debt is a tool…
Is Jesus’ command “Judge not, lest you be judged” mean that we should not have moral judgments and accountability for others? Pastor Tim Chaddick teaches from Matthew 7:1-12 and explains…
Nobody can take what you already have given away. Never write anybody off but always watch your balance sheet. Real love doesn’t leak, it overflows. Don’t look for people to…
The conclusion of Joseph’s story is a lesson about moving through pain and finding God’s peace. God knows what each of Joseph’s brothers need to face so they can grow…
The good life defined, is life with God. The good life isn’t determined by what you from from, but Who you run towards. To those who run, find rest and…
We all have vampires in our lives. They’re not the ones with pale skin and blood-thirsty fangs – but they do suck the life out of us. They live in…
Joseph faced insurmountable obstacles in his life. Sold into slavery by his brothers, falsely accused by Potiphar’s wife, wrongly imprisoned and yet filled with faith, Joseph rose above his adversity…
James indicts the rich for using their wealth as a false sense of security. They oppressed the poor by their hoarding and lived in luxury and self-indulgence. He warns of…
In the series “So Worth It,” describing life lessons learned from the bride and groom in the book of Song of Solomon, we discover that there is trouble in paradise.…
Words can inspire us, transform us, help us because words are so powerful. Proverbs 18:21 teaches that our words have the power of life and death. When God created the…
Need a little help with contaminants that quietly compromise our well-being? How can we learn to recognize and remove the hidden dangers in our lives? Identify, reject and replace are…
We need to quit living as if the purpose of life is to arrive safely at death. Instead, we need to start playing offense with our lives. The world needs…
This is a plenary session for Gospel Coalition. Can our Christian faith penetrate the workplace? Absolutely! Here are four ways your faith can shape your work. The story we have…
No one wants their garbage revealed. You have this picture of this big God. Jesus said to the church at Sardis, “Recognize who I am, and that you are dead…
Jesus created a model for a new society in Matthew 5. Anger was no longer about retribution, but reconciliation. To refuse to forgive is self-destructive and receives God’s judgment. Preached…
God’s covenants are irrevocable promises that He will love, rescue and protect His people. The rainbow, the atoning sacrifices, the Ark of the Covenant, the Law, and the cross are…
My identity is not in what I see. “My identity is not in my future accomplishments or my past failures.” “I do not live a life of fear or anxiety.”…
God’s Word calls Christians to practice corporate singing. We are a community of transformed children of God and we are united together by His Spirit. We sing to unite, to…
The Mosaic Covenant, of the Law, taught the Israelites the truth about their sinful motives and that they couldn’t do enough works to earn heaven. The law stirred within them…
The Jews go into captivity after years of sin and idolatry. Surprisingly, the prophetic message changes. God promises them His new covenant. Jeremiah proclaims that God will write His laws…
What is the difference between necessary judgments of probability and sinful prejudice? How did Jesus respond in these situations? In a reflective look of Martin Luther King’s life and Roe…
The book of Titus was written to a church living in moral and doctrinal confusion. Paul charged Titus to set things in order by teaching sound doctrine and instructing his…
Paul wrote to Titus as a servant of God, appointed by grace, with a clear purpose in mind: to see people come to faith and grow in the faith to…
Cain didn’t understand that pleasing God meant obeying Him. In a jealous rage, Cain murdered his brother. Jesus’ decried the Pharisees for the same sin: self-styled religion.
As we conclude our study of the introduction to Titus, we are reminded that God, who never lies, gives us knowledge of the truth and the promise of eternal life.…
God declared to Noah that man was so sinful He had to destroy the earth: not just people, but all of the creatures and land He had entrusted to their…
An elder, according to Paul, should be a man of integrity, loyal to his wife and wise as a father. He should be humble, generous, holy and disciplined. From truthforlife.org.…
No matter what stage of life we are in, every believer needs to understand the link between the faith that we profess and the lifestyle that should characterize us. The…
God‘s sovereignty in salvation, justice in condemnation, His grace through Christ, His power through the Holy Spirit and His wisdom in committing such a vital task of preaching the Gospel…
As they do in all human institutions, disagreements and conflicts sometimes arise in the local church. When that happens, how should church leaders respond? In Titus 3:9-11, Paul teaches that…
King Solomon’s son, Rehoboam, lost his throne by listening to bad advice, by leading with fear and intimidation and by selfishness and greed. Good, godly leaders humbly put the needs…
Fear and arrogance caused men in ancient time to build the Tower of Babel. They wanted to build a tower to heaven to be with God, but He had to…
Joseph’s brothers had to come to terms with the sins of their past when they were forced to go to Egypt for food. Filled with remorse over their brother’s mistreatment,…
In the third sermon of the series “Blueprint,” Pastor Glenn Barteau makes the following observations about entering into the joy of God. Stop seeking a precise formula for the spiritual…
Ed Young Jr. describes why God allows us to suffer, and how pain shapes us into the people God wants us to be. Pain is purposeful, building our faith. Pain…
God wants us to pray specifically. Pray for your enemies, for the unsaved, for national and spiritual leaders, for your neighbors, co-workers and family. In praying for them, God will…
Romans 8 is a powerful picture of victory in Christ. Because we are unconditionally loved and freed from condemnation, we can be completely honest and vulnerable before God. We are…
Plenary session for Passion Conference, Campbridge. What thing, if you lost it, would cause you to lose the will to live? Harsh economic realities are casting new light on the…
Driven to the sea, overwhelmed by a fish, and motivated to finally obey, Jonah has done what God asked. But now, Jonah is Fueled by Anger at God’s compassion and…
The greatest moments in human history have been those of Christian revival-moments marked by great swelling crowds who flock to hear the preaching of the Gospel. Those are moments in…
We must be “plugged into God” in order to successfully live the Christian life! Spiritual disciplines like Bible reading/meditation, prayer, solitude, fasting, service, worship, generosity and simplicity all deepen our…
In Psalm 127, we are encouraged to allow God to “build our house,” or build our lives. We can rest because He is in charge and nothing can be done…
How do you experience healing for the shame wounds in your life? Confess your sin. change your lifestyle. God believes in you. Don’t be afraid to pray simple, honest prayers.…
Society has its notion of what makes dating, relationships and marriage thrive. But a quick look under the hood reveals a longing to get back on the right track-a longing…
God interacts with us through His Word. He does not catalog practical advice like a technical manual, but instead teaches us of His love and interactions with mankind through a…
The problem with a living sacrifice is the tendency to crawl off the altar. When we fail to allow God to be magnified by complete surrender to Him, we lose…
Nothing is more difficult to tame than the tongue, but this message will teach you how to listen longer, brag differently, criticize wisely and encourage more.
Every person is created in the image of God Himself. Jesus loved the most unlikely people- God. In one way or another all human beings reflect God himself. Jesus served…
The simple message of the cross is a stumbling block to nonbelievers. The formula for a divine transaction is found in Romans 4: faith plus nothing equals the righteousness of…
One day we will know just how much God has blessed us. God has made us to be His hands and feet-to touch the hurting and feed the poor. We…
Jesus teaches us that we are to serve Him boldly, without reservation. We can learn to take our eyes off of ourselves and our limitations and positively focus on Him.…
We are all afraid of something. And for most of us, these fears are preventing us from reaching our greatest potential. Fear of acceptance. Fear of failure. Fear of not…
Because of Jesus, we have been washed completely clean, set apart for God’s purposes, and declared just before God. All of these blessings come at the huge price of Jesus’…
John 9 tells the story of Jesus’ healing a man born blind. The miracle was so powerful the religious leaders tried to trap him by accusing Jesus. Instead, he testified…
God is a covenant-keeping God, and he consistently reveals it in Scripture as he loves, pursues, and delights in people who don’t show a lot of reciprocity toward that love,…
The story of Ananias and Sapphira teaches the gravity of allowing Satan to gain a foothold in God’s church through lying and deception. The passage connects pretense, divided self, lack…
God has gone before us to work in the hearts of people who don’t know Christ.
God is serious about our commitment to Him. Our prayers must be carefully crafted and come from an obedient heart and an expectant faith. Chan summarizes examples from Scripture where…
Elisha had a defining moment with Elijah when Elijah asked him to leave his life as a farmer and to follow him. We all have defining moments in our lives.…
Abraham learned that half-truths that deceive are still lies. Don’t be surprised when our children copy our actions, not our boundaries. Abraham’s deceiving ways were passed down to his son,…
The people of Judah wanted to re-build the Temple in Jerusalem, but faced great opposition and had to abandon the task. The Jews were accused of being rebellious, and wanted…
In Exodus 25, God commanded his people to design a massive lamp stand that we know as the menorah. The huge menorah would burn all night long in the wilderness,…
The brutal battle Jesus fought to obtain our freedom from sin is described. Adam left us a death sentence: We are separated from God as a result of sin. Sin…
What are the implications of the resurrection for our lives? How will the Good News of Jesus impact the way you live?
Jesus cried to the crowd, “All who are thirsty, come!” Christ, the Living Water offered to quench the thirst of people who were broken and hopeless that their Messiah would…
Paul gives practical relationship advice in 1 Corinthians 7. To singles, he advises to stay single if you can. Marriage undercuts your ability to serve God wholly. Get married if…
God’s favorite posture is kneeling. Humility is the key to knowing God.Miriam, Moses’ sister and Aaron, Moses’ brother, questioned God’s leadership. Miriam was punished by God and contracted leprosy. Although…
Jesus loves the disabled and uses them in a mighty way for His kingdom work. Like Paul, He uses weakness to build spiritual strength and great faith. Nancy Guthrie relates…
The prophet Elijah experienced great victories and great trials in his life. Calling fire down from heaven was a miraculous triumph. But lonely days of starvation at the Brook Kerith,…
Jesus launched his public ministry in Nazareth, a very small, very poor community. The people who lived in Nazareth knew what need really was.. We are facing life
When you are dealing with someone, be sensitive to the Holy Spirit. Differentiate between the Holy Spirit’s revelation and your manipulation. Don’t ignore red flags. Don’t internalize, verbalize. And finally,…
Fighting fair as a couple will preserve your unity as a couple and deepen your love. Don’t use words to wound. Re-frame your language away from judgment. Be compassionate and…
A loop is a repeating cycle of acting and reacting… and reacting from an unbiblical image of marriage. Pursuer-Distancer is a loop where one partner is smothering the relationship, while…
When your marriage is losing altitude, your relationship devolves from fascination to boredom to contempt. When your marriage is gaining altitude, your relationship goes from intimacy to connectedness to fascination.…
Finding faith can transform us. Hebrews 11 teaches us that because we belong to Christ, we can have confidence with God that He will guide our lives, forgive our sins…
Four great discoveries are revealed in Romans 6. We have evil natures and have committed sins against a Holy God. While we desire to do well, we always struggle with…
True freedom doesn’t come from doing what we want to do but from living out the will of God, then let’s choose to be people who submit to God, who…
God is looking for faith that trusts Him enough to do what He says. He’s not looking for intellectual assent, positive thinking or risky living.
The explosion of the early church demonstrates what happens when men and women surrender to Christ and boldly declare the message of salvation.
We don’t want the changed life, we want the exchanged life. For this God has given us His Holy Spirit. The Christian life becomes practical through the life and ministry…
Francis Chan teaches that in order to live the Christian life you must follow Jesus and not give up. He will strengthen you to make the journey with Him. Though…
God gave us three kinds of glimpses of Jesus in the Old Testament that illustrate His ministry to us. PROPHETS: A prophet speaks for God. HIGH PRIESTS: A high priest…
Your values are what you want to stand for, what you want to do, or how you want to behave. You can take a fixed approach or a principled approach.…
Who shall separate us from God’s love? Not God. He already has too much invested in us. Not others. God has already sealed His decision in concrete. Not Jesus. He…
So many of God’s people missed God’s heart for everyone. They missed the purpose of the law and how God wanted them to live. In the New Testament, the scholars…
God has the power to fix the world, and He does care about the suffering. He is working out an eternal plan to redeem and restore it all. Genesis describes…
The Apostle Paul tells his story about how he turned from being proud and religious to being humble and trusting God for his salvation as a free gift. Jesus died…
Twice the Apostle John tells us that Christmas happened: the Son of God became a human being to take away sin, or to destroy the works of the devil, namely,…
Man’s condition before Christ came was hopeless. Jesus, Son of Man and Son of God came to save mankind. Nicodemus, the curious Jewish leader, was told by Christ to be…
Why shouldn’t we worry? Because if we knew the big picture like Jesus does, we’d realize that worry is not rational. God really has promised to take care of us,…
The unusual passage in Genesis 6 teaches that the culture was defined by its fallen heroes, sexual perversion, widespread corruption and violent headlines, just like today. God’s grace was given a…
There are four stages to the human response to God: 1) Neither fear nor love of God 2) Fear of God 3) Fear and love of God 4) Love of…
Luke teaches in Acts that listening to the Holy Spirit requires that we are surrendered to God’s will, know Scripture and receive wise counsel from mature believers. We must be…
We can pray to God using His many names: God, Mighty and Majestic, God our Helper, God our Righteousness, God our Sanctifier, God our Peace and Indwelling Presence, God our…
We are born with a sense of justice. But because of this tendency, we tend to want to retaliate when we are unjustly treated. Walk in wisdom. Walk in community.…
Paul teaches in his first letter to Timothy that we should be humble toward others, cling to the truth and avoid materialism. We should always try to do what is…
Loving God implies obedience. The person who follows God completely will know Him in an intimate way, and God will manifest Himself through the Holy Spirit. The depth of God’s…
Glenn Barteau points us toward 6 financial principles that will be a part of this series. Biblical principles are different than promises, but the blessed life is found in pursuing…
What is your legacy? As Christians, we must be intentional about reminding the generations to come of God’s provision in the past and his promise for the future. In this…
When we go to the movies we love happy endings. We want the right guy to get the girl. We want the world saved from extinction. We want the hero…
Jesus teaches about the angels separating the sheep (the true followers of Christ) from the goats (the God-rejecters). The sheep were compassionate-feeding the hungry and thirsty, living compassionate, generous lives.…
The American Dream can be a curse when we are driven by greed, futile pursuits, and broken relationships. There are four keys to avoiding the “American Nightmare.” We must value…
King Solomon began his reign well, but stumbled in the second half of his life. What can we learn from his mistakes? Don’t confuse your aspirations, accomplishments, skills or roles…
We often reduce prayer to a chore or transaction. Prayer is supposed to be the most natural expression of our love for God. Preached at Cornerstone Church, Simi Valley, California.…
“When Jesus was preparing to return to his father, he commissioned his friends to go—to astronomically expand the impact of their lives. He called them to action in Acts 1:8; …
The older brothers, or “self-righteous” and “faithful sons and daughters” can often resent the irresponsible behavior of their younger, more selfish counterparts. When the younger prodigal son asked for his…
Solomon took on a great building project during his reign as king. As he built the Temple to honor God and oversaw that project, there are some insights for us…
James 4 teaches this: “Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister or judges them speaks against the law and judges it.…
Solomon’s early reign was fraught with power struggles and intrigue. We must be courageous in adversity and in facing conflict. Sometimes the best course of action is simply to wait…
In Message 19 of Max Lucado’s “Outlive Your Life” series, Pastor Lucado discusses how God allows us to move on from the mistakes of our past to find our hope…
We are called to be a light of the world kind of community – as the Church. We must maintain a focus and a relevancy that allows the movement of…
Growth is a reality for all living things. When it comes to growing spiritually: is it just simply knowing more about God? It’s more than that. Growth is about having…
Keys to a genuine love relationship requires that we speak the truth in love and authentic humility, talk directly to the person rather than about the person and do so…
Strong Christian marriages have Christ-centered relationships that are grounded by individual relationships with the Lord. Many who have joyous homes that are filled with love and laughter find their strength…
Why do we lie? Perhaps it is to make ourselves look better. Perhaps we lie for personal gain or to avoid negative consequences. Why shouldn’t we lie? God hates it,…
When you are in a difficult relationship, you have an opportunity to better understand where your identity and strength come from, and once you do, you realize that they can’t…
Some of you are holding on to something that is killing you. Some of you that are Christian have this sin that you are holding on to. You are not…
Francis Chan teaches on God’s heart revealed through David’s Psalm 32, a psalm of confession. This wall between us and God is either from a faulty understanding of forgiveness, or…
In a marriage ceremony, you are saying “I want to spend the rest of my life with my spouse”. In baptism, you are saying “I want to be in union…
Nehemiah was a faithful servant of the Lord that knew of the importance to protect God’s cities after His people finally returned from exile. He knew that it was only…
Do you ever become tempted to give up on God? The Gadarene demoniac was not beyond Jesus’ help. Jairus’ daughter was already dead, but Jesus’ raised her. People matter. If…
Andy Thomas, Casas Church worship pastor, shares about how worship is a 168 hour a week adventure. He shares some insights and principles that can influence your experience. We are…
Jesus’ message – the gospel – changes everything and invites us into the story He’s been writing throughout history. How did Jesus frame out the gospel? And how the message…
God is our boss and our work is our calling. Pursue greatness while avoiding pride, ego, and selfishness. Embrace last as your first choice. Be committed to: Outserve your team.…
Work is a calling from God. Every job stinks. There is no perfect job. God is in control of who is in control.. If you can’t find a better job,…
Work like God assigned you a job because He did. Work like you are on a mission because you are. Work like it is your worship to God because it…
Stunning videos of the universe from the Hubble telescope confirm the picture of a giant incomprehensible God. How could we view ourselves as important when we see His majesty. The…
Every church or organization that wants to be effective and healthy must stay focused on its mission. Today, Glenn walks us through the mission God has given Casas Church: To…
This dynamite sermon shows the foreshadowing of Jesus in the book of Ruth. Begg shows how we can interpret the Old Testament in light of the revelation of Christ in…
When Jesus began the church – it was so much more than an institution, it was a movement of His followers. It centers around a relational connection with our Savior,…
Esther was a great example of God working up stream. Little did she know when she became the Queen of Persia, that God was positioning her so that she could…
Paul’s model for handling conflict is outlined in Ephesians 4. Speak the truth in a loving way. Deal with the offense quickly. Fight fair. Remember the goal.
When we allow God to do His work in us we mature in our faith. As we grow from being spiritual infants to spiritual parents we submit to God’s process…
Louie Giglio shares his understanding of God’s compassionate heart for all of the peoples of the world at the Desiring God National Conference. We can’t be myopic, thinking only of…
Jesus begins his ministry with a proclamation of incredible grace. His early sermon even harkens back to the Old Testament practice of the year of Jubilee. This incredible lavish love…
The godly person stays apart from worldly influences, reverences God supremely and feeds on His Word continually. He will weather any storms. from Cornerstone Church archives, Cornerstone Church, Simi Valley,…
In the beginning God created the heavens and earth (Genesis 1:1 NIV ®). This is the beginning of life as we know it. From here God went on the build…
As parents, grandparents, extended family and friends we’re given a calling to hand-off the faith to the next generation. A faith that isn’t merely externalized and covering over a life,…
Deepening your relationship with someone else includes sharing hurts, revealing true feelings, confessing failures, acknowledging weaknesses, expressing doubts and asking for help and prayer.
Parents have the calling to help the next generation discover their identity and unique gifts from God. It’s also helping our children learn how to own their own struggles/problems enabling…
We can stand in good conscience before God and others because of God’s grace. Regardless of viewpoints expressed in the Galatian church about circumcision, all believers in Christ receive God’s…
There’s a genesis moment when we begin to pray, then we need to keep praying and believe that God is contending for us if it is in the will of…
Pastor Glenn Barteau and his wife Angie share some practical wisdom on how to help our kids navigate their ‘will’ and train it. As parents we can help our children…
Galatians attacks the two false ideas about fullness that have Jesus’ name on them. Galatians is going to deconstruct legalism, the idea that, I can control God’s affection for me…
Jude, the tiny little Bible book before Revelation, concludes with instructions on how to come back to God after backsliding. Jude teaches us to reflect and discover how we departed…
Differences in personality and theology can divide us and weaken our ability to face the challenges before us as Christ-followers. Unity occurs in our common experience of an uncommon God.…
All of us have been delivered by the grace of God at one point or another in our lives. When Moses and the Israelites were suffering and enslaved in Egypt,…
The apostle John, in this short letter, warns of the traits that cause spiritual leaders to lose their spirituality and influence. Five characteristics of a dangerous spiritual leader are t…
The letter to the church in Laodicea calls us to let Jesus in – to let Him help us live that larger life and not settle for a lukewarm life.…
Christians are called to be surrendered to the leadership of the Holy Spirit and bring glory to Christ. We are no longer able to live according to what we want.…
False teachers like Cain, Balaam and Korah compromised the truth of God and led people to destruction. Cain was trying to reach God on his own terms. Balaam was trying…
Just Be AWAKE. The letter to the church in Sardis (Revelation 3) – Allow God to shape you to become an encourager of those around you that need it. Also…
We live on hope, not memory. When we focus on our hopes for the future, not the memories of our past, we realize what it means to truly experience joy…
Francis Chan continues his series on how the Holy Spirit operates in our lives and the life of the church. In this sermon from Galatians 5:16-26, he encourages to live…
Staying married is not about staying in love. It is about keeping covenant. “Till death do us part,” or, “As long as we both shall live” is sacred covenant promise:…
The Holy Spirit helps us to live out the character of Jesus, loving each other with patience, kindness, endurance, encouragement and sacrifice. We should lay down our lives to love…
The key to facing that which drags you down is to live in the present – not the guilt of the past or the fear of the future. Live in…
Just Be GROWING. The letter to the church in Pergamum (Rev. 2) challenges us to grow spiritually and as a person. Safe and certain lives are small lives of denial…
The little letter of 2 John was critical in preserving the integrity of God’s message. John encourages and warns the church at the same time to know the truth, walk…
Larry Osborne gives a solid Biblical answer to the question: Does the Bible endorse slavery? Philemon also teaches much about righteous living. God is in control of who is in…
In a sermon inspired by The Circle Maker, Pastor Batterson teaches about the desperate prayer in Luke 11. Desperate prayers mean you are going to pray and pray through until…
Francis Chan teaches that complete obedience to the Bible and the Holy Spirit’s leading produces unexpected joy in your life. Following Jesus half-way is not an option.
Be REIGNITED. The letter to the church in Ephesus calls us to remember our desire for God and to choose Him again. First love isn’t lost because it goes away,…
Jeff Jones and Joy Cruse, mother of Conner Cruse teach on “All things work together for good to those who love God.” All things happen to Christians. God is the…
Minor prophet books were shorter, but definitely just as important as the major prophet books like Isaiah and Jeremiah. The problem with prophets…then and now is that you can always…
As Solomon begins Ecclesiastes, he observes that in nature what goes around comes around. Man’s existence is fleeting, and he is not as important as he thinks. Therefore, we must…
Jesus’ parable of Lazarus and Dives is a glimpse into the afterlife. We learn from Jesus that hell is real and that we can be certain of our eternal destination. Hell…
The Blessing is something we all crave and long for in life. The approval, appreciation, and affirmation is what we need to keep moving forward. The Blessing flows from God…
God wants to be treated like God. He desires that we obey all of His commands. He asks to be at the center of our marriages and families. He insists…
Paul gives five commands to be a model Christian, husband and father. Be on your guard, stand firm in your faith. Be courageous. Be strong. Do everything in love.
Every trial in life is an opportunity to discover what God wants us to see and to experience His hope-giving presence. Jesus, according to Peter, is our Living Hope. He…
Marriage isn’t easy or fair. Love is a choice, not an emotion. Master the marriage cycle: joy, disillusionment, misery, understanding, mature love. Submission is putting the needs and interests of…
God speaks to His prophet, “Ezekiel, you will be like a person with a beautiful voice, that they love to hear but not obey the words. Do they do anything…
Grace is God’s power enacted in a human life. We need grace when we feel we are going to fail, when we experience pain, anger, and hurt in a relationship,…
Jonah’s book reveals what we can expect when we say “no” to God’s clear instructions. We head into a “storm” in our lives, we put others in danger. We face…
Jesus may come at any moment. We should live with such urgency and purity that we will focus our lives in the light of that truth. Scoffers like Thomas Huxley…
Fairness is only fair. It’s not life-changing or life-giving. Fairness is good, but ultimately fairness is powerless. Fairness will not heal your soul or set you free. Forgiveness, releasing the…
We can’t know the will of God, without knowing the Word of God. We can’t be in the will of God, without obeying the Word of God. Satan sees our…
What does Jesus teach about politics? Remember our primary identity and allegiance as God’s people. Be good citizens of the state. Influence the common good by being a positive part…
Haggai’s message, unlike the other minor prophets’ sermons, was readily received by God’s people. Haggai taught to put God’s house before their own, to commit to live within their means,…
Jesus teaches us what real faith is: staying in with God even when we do not feel Him. Even though God is silent, He is still working powerfully. Even though…
Jude describes the earmarks of falling away: stubbornness, complaining, fault-finding, dishonesty, boasting and manipulating. The antidote for falling away is a repentant heart and uncompromising honesty with God, self and…
Press Play and get “unpaused” in living the life Jesus has for us. Examining Matthew 6:25-34, Glenn unpacks some truths for us to activate our faith. Be a person who…
God our Father often uses a description of an earthly father to bring His teaching home. Dad’s kids (Israel) weren’t obedient, accepting correction, trusting God or even in a relationship…
Habakkuk asks “God, why are you tolerating wickedness? Why would you use wicked people to judge Israel? They are worse than we are. God explains how His judgment works. Faith…
How do you live your life in a way that’s worthy of Jesus? What kind of spiritual service is “fruitful labor” for God? Why did Paul want to go to…
What happened to all your joy? Galatians 5 encourages us to stop working for God’s favor and start resting in what He has already given us-the love and grace of…
Paul teaches that our sin nature doesn’t just operate in one small part of our conscience mind. Our sin nature permeates our soul and heart; it’s in operation throughout our…
Getting old to the glory of God means resolutely resisting the typical American dream of retirement. It means being so satisfied with all that God promises to be for us…
King Solomon teaches in Ecclesiastes that the time to surrender to God and serve Him well is in our youth, when we are strong and visionary. God can maximize our…
Marriage and sexuality point to our deep longing for union with God. The way God loves us is the way that romantic love should be expressed among us:free-God chose you;…
The importance of leaving a church well is loving them deeply, hearing God’s call and being sure you have spoken all God has given you to say to that body…
Many people perceive God as unfair and unpleasable. God delights in mercy, grace and forgiveness. Micah in encourages us to use our power in a fair and just way, to…
The parable of the prodigal son illustrates the difference between living the Christian life by law and by grace. The question is: Will I set the course of my life…
We cannot afford to be lukewarm Christians. Paul teaches in Romans 12:11 that serving the Lord means 1) seeing the Lord as worth more than what the appetites offer; and…
Protect yourself from lying preachers. Check their message with all of Scripture. Check the fruit before you buy the tree. The majority can be dead wrong. Never confuse God’s patience…
Have you ever grown or tended a garden? There is strategy involved. Within Matthew chapter 13 – Jesus launches into several parables that focus on this concept of Kingdom growth.…
How do we survive worst case scenarios? Be prepared. Learn that God is able. Hold your outcomes loosely. Sometime god doesn’t deliver us from the furnace, He meets us in…
Francis Chan teaches from Ephesians 3 about how the Holy Spirit alone can reveal to us the love of Jesus and how knowing that in a deep way will change…
The book of Hosea teaches many lessons for the family. Hosea’s bride (symbol for Israel) forgot that God defines what marriage looks like, we do not. The children forgot that…
In the last generation, the rise of existentialism says that there are fixed, closed natural laws, that make the world understandable and scientifically manageable, and these laws do not allow…
All hell had broken loose in Israel because of their sin. When God brings justice, He also brings judgment. God always prefers forgiveness over judgment. www.northcoast.org.
Amos, the unpopular prophet, taught us four practical lessons. If we are not right with others, we can’t be right with God. Social justice matters. We are blessed to be…
Obadiah warned Edom of pride, indifference, personal gain and boasting. He encourages us to develop humility, compassion and generosity.
What exactly did Jesus do the week before He died? As we enter into His suffering, we grow in our compassion and understanding of our Savior. THE PROOF OF THE…
Francis Chan discusses how Christians should be distinctive from those who don’t know Christ by their holy, God-honoring behavior. But he also explains how we must relate effectively to those…
We all fight the three-headed dragon: the god of Me, Mine and More. In 1 Peter 5, Paul teaches us how to be humble and place Christ first in our…
John’s gospel describes the stories of disciples who discovered and followed Jesus because someone invited them. Andrew and Peter, Phillip and Nathaniel are two examples. We share those things that…
We must watch for the “danger of the drift” or slowly falling away from God. What is the power of hidden sin? It kills good judgment causing a downward spiral…
Translating beliefs into our lifestyle and relationships hinges dramatically on Romans 12. When we see God’s mercy, it causes us to respond to temptation in surrender and worship. Once and…
The prophet Haggai explains that God is very meticulous about worship. Must of the Torah is devoted to how to make sacrifices in worship. We must not compare our holiness…
In Haggai 2, the Israelites begin to re-build the Temple after the foundation had lain desolate for fifteen years. God’s people start to repent and obey God, but their circumstances…
We can see people – but totally miss the person – their story. The woman bent over with scoliosis was ignored by the crowd. But Jesus called her a valued…
What a great picture of the Christian life: Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 15 “if there’s no life after death, then I’m the stupidest person on earth, because I’ve given…
The battle for the mind of God’s servants is continual and intense. Five principles for guarding your thoughts are 1. Don’t believe everything you hear. 2. Guard your minds from…
After sharing a brief but engaging history of God and His people, Francis Chan relates the central message of Haggai. We must put Him first or our lives become unsuccessful…
Jesus’ own brothers and countrymen doubted His deity and Messiahship because He wouldn’t claim an earthly kingdom and take His country by storm. ?Many of the Jewish people in Jerusalem…
One of the things we see in the life of Jesus – is that he lived life WITH those that thought life with God may not have been available. Proximity…
God’s amazing love for us is not given because of what we deserve, He actually adopts us as His very own children when we give our lives to Christ. Francis…
Paul teaches there are three types of people: those who don’t know God, those who do and those who know God but act like they don’t. Two key indicators of…
Samson was one of the most gifted heroes in the Book of Judges. Samson had a code that he lived by, but his story shows us a life that cracks…
Paul discussed questions of religious freedom with the Corinthian believers. He related that an idol was powerless, and that true worship of God is more than religious formality. Love and…
God has a habit of picking differently than we do. The narrative of Deborah in Judges 4 & 5 seems an unlikely story, given the scenario of the time –…
Hosea was asked by God to marry an unfaithful woman and love her unconditionally. In doing so, he demonstrated the kind of amazing love God has for his children.
Francis Chan gives his testimony of how God reignited the fire of love and dedication in his heart. We can learn how to “regain” our first love for Jesus as…
We learn much about misguided faith and a skewed view of God from reading the story of Jephthah, who made a foolish vow to God and murdered his only daughter.…
Five principles should be considered when approaching the topic of Christianity and politics: blood is thicker than water, our Kingdom is spiritual, don’t pass judgment on disputable matters, if you…
Raising children in a corrupt society has its challenges. Hold on tight: commit to the tough process, provide clear direction, encourage more than discourage and release them when it’s time…
Peter’s take on God’s plan for the church includes how effectively it relates to the community, how genuine Christians are in loving and accepting others. Peter writes, “But you are…
God has a great love for His creatures. He knows His sheep-He knows you well. He wants you to experience abundant life, hope and meaning. This is the true vision…
The prophet Habakkuk prophesied during the Babylonian occupation and questioned God about why the nation suffered so. At the end of the book, the prophet comes to faith and proclaims…
The setbacks that Joseph faced assure us that God has not forgotten us, no matter how difficult our life has become. Seeing God’s hand at work in Joseph’s life gives…
John Piper affirms the use of “the miracle gifts” mentioned in 1 Corinthians 12-14, but believes that the most effective forum is in the context of a small group where…
“Brain Cramps” refers to how religious leaders from the Old and New Testament completely missed the heart of God and the teachings of Jesus. Old Testament leaders missed the purpose…
As we dive into the story of Gideon, we see in Gideon this cycle from a fragile faith, to a forged and strong faith and then one that fractures a…
Pastor Chan uses pop icon Oprah Winfrey to teach lessons from James 2 about how to treat people. Message begins at 23 mins. 15 seconds. Preached at Cornerstone Church, Simi…
We must discern between negative circumstances in our lives that are “frontal assaults” from the Devil or circumstances in which God is calling us to grow up and “stand”. The…
Ruth’s story in the time of the Judges was a miraculous one. From a human perspective all was lost. But even when all seems lost we don’t have to give…
The Book of Judges in the Old Testament – contains cycles of crisis management among God’s people. Their pattern is to follow God closely after God delivers them, and then…
Singleness and marriage are both gifts from God. Intimacy is indispensable to marriage. When we deny sexual intimacy, we are cheating the marriage.
Fear is a universal experience. Jeremiah is a young prophet called to prophesy against his own people. He was suicidal at times because of the pressure. Despite his challenges and…
Francis and Lisa Chan discuss how to have undivided devotion to God in a marriage and as a single person. A person who is not married has freedom and time…
Paul in his letter to the Corinthian church wants Christians to consider the claims of Christ and ponder our choice to receive Him as Lord and Savior even in the…
The biblical concept of submission in a marriage relationship is applied as it models the relationship of Jesus and His bride, the church. Negative connotations of submission are dispelled, and…
Paul explains that this marriage and this union of a man and a woman coming together and becoming one flesh was just a picture of something far greater. It is…
Paul, in prison, pleads to keep his new convert, the slave Onesimus, to minister to him. Paul writes to his Christian brother Philemon that the reason his slave was separated…
Jesus was unrecognizable to his world because He had a simple birth to a poor family, a scary sojourn in a foreign land and a quiet upbringing in an obscure…
The Christmas classic, “Elf”is a perfect picture of reconciliation. God’s love always allows us to choose. God is passionate to find you. God’s will is that no one would be…
Overflow with hope, the word overflow means to super-abound, to be filled to the brim, it would speak of a container that is filled where you can’t pick it up,…
The Apostle Paul (in 1 Cor. 13) challenges a couple of different paths where the believers have gotten sideways and are missing the “most excellent way” of living. It’s a…
Why do we become tight-fisted during the holidays? The whole message of God is about generosity and grace. He showed unconditional grace to the laborers in the field, regardless of…
We subconsciously feel like we need to bribe or blackmail God, that somehow for us to get what we want, we need to manipulate God into it. We employ the…
The man with the withered hand had to step out on faith and trust Jesus amidst great opposition. When we take that simple step of faith, Christ can radically transform…
Francis Chan speaks of his travels around the world and discovers what is truly important. We must live a life that makes sense. We must live in a manner worthy…
Pete Briscoe teaches on the application of Scripture and what it means to be a “doer of the Word” instead of merely hearing it. When reading Scripture, Pete encourages us…
The Apostle Paul unpacks in (ch. 10) some insights to what true freedom for believers entails. It’s a “guided freedom” – a freedom that exercises constraints at times – that…
In this passage about Elizabeth’s unborn child, John the Baptist, the word “baby” is used to describe Jesus while He was still in His mother’s womb. What Luke is doing…
What do you do when a member of your church body falls into sin? How do you help them, rescue them, and not fall into the same temptation yourself. Grace…
Having money to spend is power and the way we spend it impacts people’s lives. The prophet Micah teaches that we must live a life in submission to God’s will,…
Pastor Glenn Barteau preaches on Roger Barrier’s ministry over the past 35 years. Get a look at the godly values that have helped shape Casas Church to become an enduring…
Getting the gospel right matters. We must see God correctly, and teach the right view of God. When we model the Christian faith, our sheep see what a true believer…
Altars are markers that remind us of God’s work in our lives. Four altars we can construct are for remembering God’s revelations, for remembering decisions we have made, for giving…
Christ set us free to be part of His life-giving community-God is the source and strength of all we produce and we’re invited to do something constructive with our freedom.
King David experiences rejection, grief, abandonment, guilt, humiliation and disappointment during his lifetime. In his psalms, David examines the darkness in his life only to discover victory with God. These…
The image of God on the earth should show in the lives of Christ’s followers. Others should be surprised to see the love, forgiveness and spiritual power in our lives.…
Being a good parent begins by loving God with all our hearts, souls, minds and strength. Listen for God’s voice to guide children need to hear you pray. Make bedtime…
We find unlikely women in Christ’s family tree: Tamar (the deceiver), Rahab (the prostitute), Ruth (the pagan Moabitess) and Bathsheba (the adulteress). Each woman was redeemed by her faith in…
When Jesus was preparing to return to his father, He commissioned his friends to go—to astronomically expand the impact of their lives. He called them to action in Acts 1:8;…
We learn much about life from watching impoverished widow Ruth come to the fields of her kinsman Boaz. First of all, God has answers that we don’t know about. Faithfulness…
“Paul warns the Galatian church not to disparage God’s lavish gift of grace in the Salvation of Jesus Christ. To set aside such a gift and replace it with a…
Keys to overcoming temptations, according to James, are taking responsibility for one’s actions, avoiding deception, changing direction, getting help. The four stages of temptation are desire, deception, disobedience and death.
In the opening of Ruth’s story, we hear of the tragic loss of her husband and brother-in-law. We can learn from this passage that the wrong direction always equals the…
Our lives must be lived in complete surrender to Jesus, constantly from and eternal perspective. Our daily work and ministry will be fruitful as we obey Him. Even though heaven…
Maturity is marked more by a weight on relational indicators than performance indicators. Maturity is also marked by our love for God and our understanding of our Kingdom role. We…
Jesus’ disciples couldn’t comprehend why Jesus could sleep in the midst of the storm. We must remember to relinquish control, fear not and trust. Dr. Lucado lends his valuable insights at…
We must love people but also love the truth. (1 Corinthians 13:4). Paul teaches we need purity for the sake of unity. We must watch out for those who cause…
The picture of Ruth asking Boaz to marry her and become her “kinsman-redeemer” is a picture of how Christ became our “kinsman-redeemer.” he became our kinsman by choice. He paid…
The Judgment of God is all about worthiness before God. It’s about discerning the deepest motives of the human spirit. It is about having the right to condemn a person.…
Hebrews 12 is a marvelous guideline to lovingly discipline and mentor your children. Always discipline your kids with the big purpose in mind. Don’t fall into traps of poor discipline…
The colorful church with unique problems relates to our present day churches and how we grow in Christ.
Jesus asked this penetrating question to three seekers and His response forever transformed their lives.• A blind spiritual zero (the blind beggar) – became a blazing light of God’s power• …
The value of women is discussed from the scriptural, cultural, historical, traditional and contemporary lenses. Women blessed, encouraged and helped Jesus throughout His ministry. They accompanied Him on His ministry…
Craig Groeschel discusses the schemes of Satan to separate the older and younger generations in Christian ministry. Older generations are encouraged to invest in the younger generation, and fight a…
We learn from the life of the patriarch Jacob that God’s will has a what and a when — and both are important. We should never do the wrong thing…
The mysterious, magnificence of God as Father, Son and Holy Spirit is discussed through a number of Scriptures and segments of prayer and video are also included. God is one,…
Heaven, according to Scripture, will be a place of continual discovery, meaningful work, perfect rest, loving relationships, unequalled pleasures and awesome worship.
The miracle of the talking donkey is about obedience to Christ. When Balaam refused to listen to God’s commands, God used a donkey to prevent him from blessing God’s enemies.…
Plenary Session for Desiring God. Rev. Tim Keller, pastor of Redeemer Church in downtown New York city, inspires us to evangelize urban areas. They are ripe for the gospel, ready…
God’s nature is kind. Kindness surprises; it lingers and people remember it – it changes things… Kindness draws you closer, (isn’t that what Paul says in Romans 2:4? it’s God’s…
King David doubts God because his life is falling apart. He doesn’t think God cares. Asaph doubts God because his world is falling apart. He doesn’t think God is fair.…
The service begins with a video of the “Children’s Hunger Fund” which received one million dollars from Cornerstone Church. The video is followed by a powerful message from Psalm 100.…
The life of John the Baptist expressed how Christ can be reflected powerfully in our lives by being unconventional, uncompromising, bold and truly humble. So John sums up God’s work…
In light of what we have learned from this great tragedy, as a nation we have greater clarity of our values, clarity on what makes America great, and clarity that…
The service begins with the baptism of a young girl who was supposed to be dead in the womb after a DNC. Instead, she survived and became a powerful testimony…
Are there tears in heaven for believers? Of course, we are saved by faith, but Scripture teaches that God “will wipe away” every tear. Certain passages teach that our judgment…
We’re looking into the 1st crime scene of the Bible – pulling out another theological foundation God has for us from the early chapters of Genesis. God designed us for…
Getting out of debt takes discipline, commitment and intensity. Work at a plan to remove debt. Stop borrowing money, live within your means, set aside an emergency fund, pay off…
Jesus deals with the judgmental way we often try to control those closest to us. Instead of blaming others for their problems and forcing upon them our “wonderful solutions,” Jesus…
God takes human life very seriously. God is much better than an earthly father. He is rich in mercy. The key is: You have a Father in heaven. He loved…
“Choose Your Own Adventure” part three encourages us to not be mastered by sin, but instead to master it. We must tell ourselves the truth, change our focus and fight…
Many people in our society are blind to spiritual things, especially to the unconditional love of Jesus and His free gift of salvation. A woman, an outcast in her land…
The church at Laodecia was called lukewarm by Christ because they were apathetic, materialistic, and self-sufficient. We must not be satisfied with our spiritual condition. We must be humble and…
God promises spectacular blessings to those of you who remain single in Christ, and he gives you an extraordinary calling for your life. To be single in Christ is, therefore,…
An idol is usually a good thing that becomes a god thing. We worship what we love and pursue most with our hearts and our actions. God says it is…
Genesis 4 is a study in contrast between the worship of Cain and Abel. Why should we call upon the sacred name of God (YAHWEH)? Because He is inviting us…
We have received all things by the grace, the unmerited favor of God, but all our work is done in the light of that truth and in the strength of…
The psalms are inspired by God and are meant to instruct us how to think about God, man and the world. Zeal for God’s glory, pleading for rescue and crying…
Worship gives our adventure Perspective – It draws me away from selfishness. Worship draws us closer to God in this adventure called life. Worship cultivates a grateful heart as we…
Worship draws us closer to God in this adventure called life. Worship cultivates a grateful heart and draws us away from selfishness to be closer to God. We gain a…
Jesus teaches that we live under great stress when we worship the rival god, Money. We must learn to walk in faith in the present and run to Jesus when…
Paul gives us a picture of loving restoration in Galatians 6:1-10. We must restore people who have fallen into sin by gently counseling them and bearing their burdens. As a…
The light of Christ that shines in us should reflect His love and magnificence to those around us. When we show genuine compassion to spiritually disconnected people, we fulfill the…
Trying to explain God’s thoughts on hell must be approached with humility-not with heartlessness, arrogance, or carelessness. People’s eternal destiny is at stake. We must never put God’s actions in…
We often lose our desire to grow because of apathy, bad spiritual experiences, unconfessed sin and unforgiveness. Healing can take place by worship, connecting, taking a step forward to forgive…
The “you” you are created to be is God’s idea. God is a custom builder, not an assembly line operator. We all have a “shadow side” of fear, anger or…
We need to suffer in order to reign with Christ. When you are in the middle of suffering and you doubt that Jesus cares for you, picture Him stretching His…
How do you deal with a rebellious child? When they insist on leaving, let them leave. When things get tough-don’t run to the rescue. If they come back, run to…
We’ve got mail… and it’s a love letter from God. With a world swimming in communication, we must value God’s voice above all others. His relational and transformational words come…
Invest with the right team. Pray now or pay later. Past obedience guarantees future usefulness. Real discipleship affects our wealth, comfort, power and fame. For the disciple, this world is…
We all want to hear from God. A frantic life with no margins prevents us from hearing God clearly. Margin is having space to do something. We need space with…
As followers of The Way fled persecution in Jerusalem, they carried the message of salvation with them to places previously unreached by the Gospel (Acts 8:1-4). But it was in…
Believe in the God of power. Cry out, He’ll answer. Stay with God and stay in his presence? That’s what this verse is about—just gazing upon his beauty and spending…
When we see and experience God’s glory, we receive grace. Our task is to help people to see Him. Beholding the glory of God (according to 2 Corinthians 3:18) is…
Paul teaches us that we can know that we are buried with Christ, and raised to new life with Him. We can count ourselves dead to sin and alive to…
Technology is part of who we are. We should embrace it. But there is also value in “unplugging” occasionally. Jesus unplugged from the crowds and learned to know His Father…
We can experience God’s joy in two ways. At the macro level, we stand in awe of the vastness of God. God enjoys creation, and His creation in us. At…
Does God answer prayer? We should make legitimate requests offered with respect and kindness, like a child to a father, and fitting into the scope of what God wants…
Watch out for the “dogs” who teach works instead of faith by grace alone. We must count everything as loss for the sake of Christ, and always boast in Him.
False prophets tried to lie to Israel about the coming judgment upon their nation. Ezekiel the prophet was trying to help them with their blind spots by telling them truth.…
Faith is not about an impressive spiritual resume. Faith always asks us to reflect more deeply on God and ourselves. Listen, reflect and trust God.
Brain cancer survivor Matt Chandler talks about making the most of every moment by rejoicing in God and remembering His goodness, His redemption and His sovereignty. Every day, we are…
Honesty is not something that can simply be taught in a sermon. It is revealed by the light of God’s truth and the conviction of the Holy Spirit. Only then…
Give the gift of reflection. Tell Dad his place in your story. Dad’s can share what they reflect from their Dad. Young families without kids can look forward to the…
True humility is not self-focused, but filled with thoughts of God and compassion for others. How can we build them up? Do you want to brag about something? Brag about…
Pete Briscoe teaches on the application of Scripture and what it means to be a “doer of the Word” instead of merely hearing it. When reading Scripture, Pete encourages us…
Often when God calls us forward, He will first stretch us backward. God is always calling us forward in partnership with Him.
If we have a restoration mindset we’ll realize our job is to not state the Good News but to show up and be the Good News.Isaiah 58 says:…we will be…
n Psalm 127, Solomon encourages parents to establish a stable home environment, to set appropriate boundaries, to practice the art of being “with” and to meet the children’s primary intimacy…
Sexuality is designed by God as a way to know Him more fully. Knowing God is designed by God as a way of guarding and guiding our sexuality. By John…
Our world becomes chaotic when our relationships are out of order. We must relate wisely to those above us, beside us and below us. Many of us disqualify ourselves from…
The concept of loving submission for the wife and gentle protection of the husband is discussed in Paul’s letters. Why use this model? Because it deepens love and friendship between…
If you are parenting in the worst of times, or want to get ready for parenting in the worst of times, or simply want hope in the worst of times,…
11As we face key moments in life, we’re called to live with an integrity of heart. It was a marker of David’s life and one we can have as we…
Paul gives us a glimpse of man from God’s perspective. Without Christ, mankind is misguided, wounded and marred by sin. Suppressing the truth invites God’s tough love. Embracing the truth…
We are to be bridge-builders to the world and learn to relate to those over us, next to us, and under us (in our care.) Submit yourselves to one another.…
Satan has been decisively defeated in the death and resurrection of Christ through Christians who believe and speak the Word of God and wear His armor. Satan will finally be…
God’s big heart is passion-filled with love for His creatures. He’s called us to be an integral part of His redemptive plan. what fences do you need to jump to…
Passing the torch is part of a parent’s job description. Many things are better “caught” than “taught.” Strong marriages teach your children how to love and feel secure. When parents…
Key moments in our lives are always about growth, an element of risk, an element of choice and an opportunity to trust God.
Furnaces come in all shapes and sizes. Some are the fires fueled by pain and suffering. Some fires are caused by our broken world. Some fires are heated for God’s…
What is commonly known as DNA today was originally called “so pretty!” When DNA was discovered years ago, this divine design also informs Gods blueprint for the church. In this…
The story of the complaining Israelites in the wilderness teach us many lessons. God gives us salvation and freedom, but often, God’s people are impatient and complain. God disciplines us…
We can look at Thomas and label him the doubter – he has unfairly been labeled…this is a Bible snapshot of a time of questioning, wondering, searching for him…rightly so.…
Ungodly companions offer bad advice, encourage us to make unwise decisions and lower our ethical standards. Who advises me? To whom do I look for approval of my choices? What…
Gideon is a man with a major inferiority complex, as we learn right away. We see early in the story that he considers himself a loser of all losers. He…
Sujo John tells his story of his journey to Christ and his experience during 9/11.
Peter and John encountered a man over 40 years old, begging outside a Temple gate. He was lame from birth and probably excluded from full access to the Temple all…
Samson: what a sad end to such a promising start! He had taken for granted all that he had going for him, and used it only for himself. He never…
The torn curtain in the Temple reveals the amazing power and grace of God to breach the chasm between God and man. Because the curtain is torn, we have full…
There’s a vast difference between legalism and holiness. There is also a great difference between asceticism and suffering. Colossians 2:16-23 talks about true spirituality and identifying its substitutes.
Everything God does begins with surrender and worship, not activity. God prepared Moses in the backside of the desert to position him to receive from God. Learn to worship and…
S1807 Encouraging Love This practical explanation of what real love looks like from 1 Corinthians 13 will provide you with ways to meet the needs of those around you with…
Is temptation the work of God, Satan or self? God’s free gift of salvation frees us to live pure lives in intimacy with God.
Ignorance, especially passionate ignorance is a dangerous thing. Jephthah made a tragic mistake by making a vow God never asked him to make. He killed his daughter in the process.…
We must have a God-centered, not man-centered theology. Therefore, it is our obligation to keep Christ’s Bride, the Church, pure. If we do not judge and discipline perpetual sin inside…
The three parables of the lost sheep, the lost son, and the lost coin all involve something or someone lost, found, rejoicing and celebration in being found. Jesus is the…
Financial freedom starts with how we think. Money is not an accurate measure of God’s favor. We mustn’t equate net worth with self-worth. Money does not equal security. Get the…
In the beginning God designed man to be decision-makers, creators, givers and contributors. Work was joy until man rebelled against God, his boss. Redeem work God’s way by cultivating an…
James teaches that being a servant of God is a joyful life. Great servants like Moses, Joshua and David are described. We are encouraged to serve God willingly and gladly.
Jesus describes His return in Matthew 24. Other passages in Thessalonians, Daniel’s prophecies and John’s vision in Revelation teach that Christ will come twice. He will come in secret for…
What are the benefits of sonship, according to Christ’s parable of the prodigal son? Security: we have greater security because we are sons and not hired hands. Access: we don’t…
Daniel lived fearlessly in the midst of the hostile, pagan Babylonian culture. Living a “gutsy” life doesn’t mean we deny the reality of darkness and fear, but it does mean…
In the Last Days, people will be greedy, godless, boastful, self-absorbed, rebellious, abusive, unholy, treacherous and destructive. As Christians we must persevere in the faith in spite of persecution and…
How does the psalmist respond to discouragement? He asks God why. He affirms God’s sovereign love. He sings. He preaches to his own soul. He remembers past experiences. He thirsts…
Deborah was both a prophetess and a civic judge, one of the few godly leaders from the book of Judges. Her boldness and faith encourages us to pray big, dream…
You are loved and admired by God the Father. Your hope for joy and fulfillment is not in running away. It’s not acting stupidly. It’s not found in simply doing…
Jesus redefines greatness as servanthood. We must be called away from the allure of living on the ladder toward the life of carrying the towel.
We live in a tired society, a weary generation. Will you choose to go back to the slavery of Egypt like the faithless Israelites? God had delivered them. Will you…
Christ modeled humility for us by laying aside His heavenly glory, living on earth and dying for our sins. There are several ways we can model His example in selflessly…
The local church is a powerful force to be reckoned with as they show together, grow together and go together. Engaging the local church is more significant than we realize.…
Moses led the people, fed the people, and carried the people to freedom. Sometimes we don’t want to let go of our captivity and step out in bold faith. …
Grace leaves no room for superiority. Grace makes Christianity the most inclusive religion in the world. Jesus’ claim requires faith, and so does relativism. Our job as Christ-followers is to…
People hide behind fear, shame, denial and failure. Hiding seems so natural and appears to promise escape. However, it never brings lasting security and freedom. Returning to God is the…
In a sermon preached at Water of Life Community Church, Lee Strobel gives insight into what will be significant in our last moments of life. The “hour glass” reminds us…
The problem of racism hasn’t disappeared. What is our response to racism and bigotry? We aren’t just racially equal; we are joined together. The Holy Spirit empowers us to cross…
When Paul said his last good-byes to the churches he had planted on the three missionary journeys, he considered his work finished in that part of the world (Rom. 15:23).…
When we sin, we need to come clean with God — without the attitude. Instead of wallowing in guilt. we should confess, change our ways and move on. God walks…
Temptation pushes us to fulfill a legitimate desire in an illegitimate way. Temptation attacks our belief that God can be trusted. It empowers us to be the sole owner of…
Elijah’s crash after fighting the prophets of Baal is natural. Disappointment comes from difficult people, physical and emotional exhaustion, isolation, unrealistic goals and after an adrenaline rush. So how do…
How do we discover God’s will? By personally interacting with Scripture, by praying for and acting upon received wisdom and by seeking counsel from those living Christ-honoring lives. Excerpts taken…
Ask God to help you prioritize loving others who need Christ by increasing your awareness of their needs, by praying for them and by listening.
Hanan, the Ammonite king, has bad advisors who arrogantly reject King David’s peace treaty and support. In contrast, Joab, David’s general, surrounds himself with wise and brave men. Like Joab,…
Words like “submit” and “do as you are told” are foreign to our culture. But Jesus said that He did nothing on His own-only what His Father told Him to…
Selecting a marriage partner should be a divine appointment. We should seek God for the partner He has for us. We must be spiritually compatible, start with the end in…
The health and the maturity of our relationship with God is determined by the health and maturity of the relationships with people God has put in our lives. We can…
The will of God often sends us to meet needs and into danger. It is hard to remember that Jesus did not come to make us safe, but rather to…
Psalm 51 is a great pattern for confession and repentance. After visiting a church in the midst of a great revival, Pastor Chan believes the key to revival and spiritual…
Why is the love of human glory, rather than God’s glory, so contradictory to faith? One is that true faith in Jesus gives all glory to God and none to…
Our heavenly body, according to Paul, is built for heaven, not for earth. It is perfect, powerful and spiritual. Our life here on earth is like a “job interview” for…
God has passions and dreams for our lives. As we know Him, we know ourselves better and see what He created us to be.
Paul learns how to survive in the darkest circumstances not only by the “grace power” of God, but by the support system of saints around him. When times get really tough, we…
God has a great desire for a genuine relationship of trust and love with humanity. The greatest tragedy in life is not death, but a life that never pursues its…
The first part of the message deals with the passion and compassion a church should have. The second part of the message deals with the topic of the Holy Spirit.…
Why does God allow a financial recession? He intends for a recession to expose hidden sin and so bring us to repentance and cleansing. He intends to wake us up…
The Israelites didn’t want to be facing the Red Sea with the Egyptian Army breathing down their necks. They thought God made a mistake. But it’s because we are totally…
Lot’s selfishness, misplaced priorities and spiritual dullness cause disaster. He and his family barely escape certain death because of God’s amazing acts of mercy and grace. The lesson for us…
As you reflect upon last year, what has become your “place of residence”? For Matthew, his choice was to step away from the tax table and follow Jesus. What is…
The parting words of Peter were urgent pleas to seek the Lord in His Word and live life from an eternal perspective. Pastor Chan concurs and challenges us to study…
Intentionality in the discipline of private prayer where no one else can hear us is a fruit of the gospel. We must obey our Savior, desire to receive more and…
Jesus did not live a conventional life. He chided the religious leaders and ate with tax collectors and sinners. Christ came to do transplants, not cosmetic surgery. This is good…
Choosing not to be afraid or not to lose heart is less about the feeling and more about about how we open our hearts and minds. This happens in a…
What is the difference between the baptism and filling of the Holy Spirit? How do you interpret the momentous events of Pentecost in Acts chapter 2? Pastor Chan gives his…
Faith has two parts-belief combined with choice. Belief is that the pain of your life is not an indicator that God has abandoned you. The choice is an act of…
Mary of Bethany truly learns to worship at the feet of Jesus. Mary receives her blessings at His feet, and she lays her burdens at the feet of Jesus. Too…
Help the children believe in God’s sovereign wisdom and goodness in creating them with the body that they have, to believe in God’s sovereign wisdom and goodness in making other…
God encourages us with His grace: promise, pardon and power. Because of the encouragement of God and others, we can live abundant lives.
Self-examination is a lost spiritual art. This message will help you learn to discern and make sure you are “in the faith.” Preached at National Community Church. Please wait for…
This dynamic service features a newspaper reporter’s observation of revival among the college students in their service. A powerful testimony of Clayton, an 18-year-old boy dying of leukemia, is preaching…
Unsafe people can sabotage relationships by dishonesty, selfishness, control, condemnation, codependence, betrayal and secrecy. Learn how to discern the relationships in your life that are healthy and productive.
It’s important to let the right people into our personal lives. Some people we should let into our personal lives and others just aren’t safe because we must guard our…
Pastors Jack Schull and Scott B. commission 19 global workers from around the world. They share their stories, and how the church can be involved. Casas has sent 7,000 members…
Sermon begins with commissioning missionaries to Indonesia, followed by a teaching on complete surrender to Christ from Philippians 4. Voltaire once said, “God created man in his own image and…
Christ calls us to be grace-filled, humble people. We are to love others and pray for them rather than nagging and trying to change them. Self-awareness and self-righteousness are contrasted.
Knowing and meditating on the Word of God empowers us to face the hardship and deception of the end times. The Word is like a scalpel that discerns our own…
God’s seventh day is our first day. Pattern your spiritual life on the rhythm of rest first, then work. Night is about giving all over to God, morning is about…
Sometimes God needs to break us out of our comfort zones to see what we can truly be if we surrender our lives to Him. God still stirs hearts –…
Missionary-commissioning, grieving with loved ones because of a tragic accident, testimony of a bereaved widow are all demonstrated in this service. At the conclusion, Pastor Chan goes to 2 Timothy.…
Priorities are fueled by our resources, time, skills and energies. We only have so much. God mus be our top pursuit.
Are Christians narrow-minded? Since Christianity is about God’s grace, it is the most inclusive religion in the world. However, because of that same grace, we have ho room to feel…
God gave Adam and Eve dominion in the Garden. His plan for intimacy was reflected in the communion between man and woman in procreation.
Nehemiah, the king’s waiter turned national leader, mobilized the Jews and rebuilt the walls around Jerusalem. He was a leader of power, passion, and limitless faith. We can also be…
Male and female are co-reflectors of God’s image. Sexuality is the human derive toward intimate communion.
In life and in love, timing is everything. Beauty and bliss can occur in every stage of the marriage relationship because God intends each day to be sweeter. As we…
God did not create man as an inferior or powerless creature. His design was to give man authority to manage, rule, and control. He also gave man the powerful capacity…
Paul describes his own religious credentials in Acts 22, and Philippians 3. However, when we read the story of his conversion, we know him only as a leader in a…
The “ready” position is the stance that an athlete takes to be prepared to take on any challenge. If you’re ready, you are not afraid. Don’t be afraid of tyrants,…
Joseph’s model for reconciling with his brothers and father are illustrated in this story. To reconcile a broken relationship, your much rebuild trust with truth, repentance and time.
God felt joy and delight for His creation. Our deepest pleasure comes from enjoying Him. Our identity should be based in who we are, not what we do. God made…
The Holy Spirit sent from God glorifies Jesus, guides us into all truth, brings God’s Word and work to our memories, and tells us of things to come.
When it comes to measuring spiritual maturity, it’s about the fruit of the Spirit. If you plant yourself in the right place and let your roots grow deep, your impact…
Those of us who are Christ-followers are tethered to the Trinity. God the Father planned the work, god the Son worked the plan and God the Holy spirit actualized the…
God’s grand design for man in the garden was “very good.” His plan was to lead man as rulers in the Garden to become kings and queens in eternity. The…
The world is waiting for the witness and presence of God. Billions of people live below the poverty line, millions of children go hungry around the globe, and preventable disease…
The promised land landmines include unrealistic expectations that lead to disappointment with God, amnesia that leads to fear and arrogance, and partial obedience that leads to compromise and presumption. Only…
God’s Word spoke universes into being. He speaks to us Holy Spirit to human spirit. His revealed Word must be handled carefully with accuracy, background and context. The Word is…
What is the source of your joy? Why do you get anxious? God reveals through Paul His plan for inner peace and strength. WATCH CLAYTON’S STORY
The apostle Paul wrote the letter to the Philippians from a dark prison cell in Rome. We learn much about inner joy and contentment from his story.The prisons of loneliness,…
When we face life’s floods, our way through is obedience to God. Obedience puts God in the front, shows where our faith is. Blessings are not always measured by success…
Heaven is the place where God will bring good from bad. The greatest stories have powerful beginnings and triumphant endings. In the middle, things go wrong. Jesus is the God-Man…
God make us all to be dreamers, and He placed within us deep desires to achieve, to express uniqueness and to make a contribution. Joseph was a dreamer-one whose dreams…
God promised Joshua and the Israelites that they would take the land. But God’s promises also come with conditions. Cowards, who refuse to follow God’s plan, get angry with Him…
Idolatry is leashing yourself to something other than God. It arises out of the human need to have intrinsic value and control of life. Idolatry is attempting to meet that…
The poetry of Genesis is drawing us in… showing us that Elohim is different from the gods of Mesapotamia and Sumer. Elohim is a present God. When I feel alone,…
People who are searching for Christ are frustrated by feeling they have to keep a set of rules to please God. The concept of receiving unconditional love is foreign to…
When a Jericho (a seemingly insurmountable obstacle) blocks your path, never confuse God’s patience with weakness or approval. in yesterday’s (or someone else’s battle plan. God will go before you.…
We learn from the misunderstanding between the twelve tribes of Israel that conflicts must be handled appropriately. We should be proactive about the things of God. Clarify the issues before…
When you need to make a big decision, don’t be hasty. Get the facts, inquire of the Lord. Once you’ve make a commitment, keep it no matter what the cost.…
There are three ways to look at someone. The first is superficial.They are just a fleshly object. The second way to look at someone is indifference. We see them, but…
Coming into God’s presence for worship requires us to humble ourselves, listen, and put away any uncleanness that can scar our lives. God’s revelation of His holiness and glory will…
The society of Moses when he penned Genesis came out of Sumerian culture and beliefs. Sumerians believed that the physical realm had always existed. There was no beginning of the…
The parable of the prodigal son illustrates the heart of God for His wayward children. The younger brother broke all the rules, felt he didn’t deserve his father’s love and…
Our self images come from the reflective mirrors around us. Right self-image comes from God who made us. High self-esteem energizes us, deepens our relationships and develops our Christian service.…
If we lack anything, we can bring our request to Him. He is a giving God and is eager to respond to His children. We must learn to believe God…
We yearn for unity, have a drive for diversity and are eager for equality. The church is the ultimate reflection of the Trinity.
The story of Paul and Ananias teaches us much about healing relational scars. Take your hurt and be honest in the presence of God. Articulate your pain and anger to…
Jesus had much to say about divorce and remarriage. The sermon deals with what Jesus said about marriage and divorce, whether or not Jesus was a liberal or conservative when…
The Trinity refines our relationship with God. It aligns our understanding of the gospel It defines the uniqueness of Christianity.
God uses troubles to purify us and mature us spiritually. If we respond to His discipline, He teaches us to persevere in the faith. Satan tempts us in order to…
What should we continually pray? Should we just pray for the ordinary needs of our lives-safety, security and happiness? Paul encourages the Ephesian Christians to continually pray for a deeper…
Mary and Martha both loved Jesus. But Martha worked hard for Jesus’ approval, fearing failure and rejection. Am I working against God, apart from God or with God?
The story of the Rich Man and Lazarus gives us a glimpse of heaven and hell. What’s heaven really like? Will we recognize our loved ones? Do they see us…
Paul the apostle teaches that if we know who we are and believe who we are, then we must live who we are-walking worthy of Jesus Christ. We reflect His…
The tighter we hold onto life, the harder it will be to let go. The believer sees death as a graduation, not the end!
Refusing to deal with the past robs us of our future. We must face and accept the truth and receive grace instead of guilt. Our “skeletons” from the past can…