This message, given at Christian Baptist Church in Decatur, IL, focuses on the three biggest areas of temptation in the lives of Christians.
Eve was enticed, Jesus suffered temptation, and John the apostle warned his readers in 1 John 2:16 about the same three things.
The Trifecta of Temptation. The lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life.
How can we fight temptation? The same way Jesus did! With TRUTH!!!
This morning, I finished reading (actually listening while commuting) through the Old Testament.
I find it deeply saddening. Over and over God has kept his promises to Abraham’s descendants. Over and over he promised, if you will only keep me first, keep my commandments and decrees, I will bless and protect you. If you don’t, then I will remove my hand of protection and I will send other nations to discipline you and drive you back to me. He promised blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience. He kept ALL his promises!
The nation of Israel faced hardship time and again because of their disobedience. The nation was scattered and exiled because of their disobedience. The nation was also blessed and restored when they would repent. However, even within the same generation, they would then turn from God again.
I find it heartbreaking!
In this age, God has sent his one and only Son, who died as an atoning sacrifice so that we don’t have to live under condemnation, but can live under mercy, grace, and forgiveness.
However, we still live in disobedience. We still rebel against God. God still keeps his promises and the world still suffers from it’s own disobedience.
Therefore, the answer is abundantly clear. Agree with God that sin is still sin (confess), turn from disobedience (repent), have faith, ask forgiveness, accept grace, and obey.
Have a blessed week!
The Spirit of the Lord really spoke today at Mt. Pleasant COG.
Buckle up, today’s sermon is 57 minutes… However, this is a topic God himself is passionate about, and so am I, worshipping him in all we do!
“Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ!” Colossians 3:23-24 NLT
We were made to worship, and we will worship something… God wants all our worship!
Please note, 1 Peter 4:16 is referenced during the sermon… However, that is a typo in my notes. The verse is 1 Peter 4:11.
This week’s sermon was given at Mt. Pleasant Church of God in Assumption, IL.
John 1:12 says, “But to all who have received him – those who believe in his name – he has given the right to become God’s children.” –New English Translation
What does it really mean to be a child of God? Who are the children of God? What does it look like to be adopted into the family of God? How should life look as the family of God?
These questions and more are answered in this morning’s sermon.
Click here for audio only:
Sermon given at Casey White Oak Church of God on 09/22/19.
The world is watching and wants to know if we, as Christians, can authentically live out our faith. They are quick to point out our hypocrisy and the abundance of media and social media makes it very easy to spin doctor our words and actions to point out that hypocrisy.
In light of this, knowing we are sinners in need of a savior, flawed people trying to serve a perfect God, how can we live as salt, light, and leaven to the glory of our God?
Have faith, do good, show love, and do the next right thing!
Listen to see how this plays out in our Christian walk.
One of the great questions we, as humans, always have in regards to God, is this…
If there is a loving God, why is there some much pain and suffering in the world?
One answer is obvious, free will and sin. We are free to make any choice we want and our choices affect others in good ways and bad ways.
There is another answer we don’t talk about a lot… growth.
As human beings, we usually hate change. For better or worse, we are happy not to have to change. We will not change unless our current circumstance becomes unbearable. It is said, pain is the great motivator to change.
Pain, suffering, trials, tribulations, sickness, death, and temptation; all these spur us to change. God’s great purpose is to change us to be conformed to the image of his son, Jesus.
Sometimes, the negative situations we go through are motivation for us to change. Sometimes, it is our responses to these situations that are examples to others of how great our God is, to bring us through the change and to work all things for good.
God, in his sovereignty, allows us to go through all kinds of pain to bring us, and those around us, closer to him.
See also, Romans 8:28-30 and Romans 5:3.
Read also,
C.S. Lewis, The Problem of Pain
John Piper, Suffering and the Sovereignty of God
The greatest aspects of our relationship with Jesus are Jesus as Savior and Jesus as Lord. But, spoiler alert, if he isn’t both in our lives, we won’t find all the joy, peace, and contentment that God has in store for us.It’s time to choose a new master!
Audio Only:
Under Construction is my most recent sermon, given at Casey White Oak Church of God in Casey, IL.
Jesus is still building his church. Are we going to remain in step with him, and allow him to grow the congregations we are a part of?
This article is absolutely right on!
Every church leader should be using this as a metric of potential for the congregation God has entrusted to them.
https://churchleaders.com/outreach-missions/outreach-missions-articles/176826-great-church.html
