Sermons Archive

Sermons Archive

GETTING RID OF STUMBLING BLOCKS

GETTING RID OF STUMBLING BLOCKSRomans 14.13-23Romans: The People Grace Creates – Part 9 of 11 v. 1 “… don’t argue about disputed matters.” (csb)    v. 13a “Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer …” (esv) v. 13b “… decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother.” (esv) WE REMOVE STUMBLING BLOCKS BECAUSE …  WE VALUE MORE THAN Just Actions v. 14 “… nothing is unclean in itself, but it is unclean for anyone who thinks it unclean.” (esv) v. 15 “For if your brother is…

WHAT MAKES A CHURCH WELCOMING?

WHAT MAKES A CHURCH WELCOMING?Romans 14.1-12Romans: The People Grace Creates – Part 8 of 11 v. 1 “Accept him whose faith is weak …” (niv)                  Mark 7.19 “… he declared all foods clean.” (esv) Colossians 2.16–17 “… a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath … are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ.” (esv) v. 6 “The one who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord. The one who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God, while…

When God Leads His Church

When God Leads His ChurchExodus 11-15 Reading through that lens led me to observe some steps by Israel that we may very well see in our church when we decide to get serious about letting go of our agendas, and letting God lead us in His; and where that begins is in the leadership… Throughout history, one observes that when a need in God’s people arises, God raises up a human instrument to perform His will.  When honest biographies are written, it’s clear that all of these men and women…

LEARNING TO LAMENT

LEARNING TO LAMENTLamentations 3.16-24 1 Thessalonians 4.13 “But we do not want you to … grieve as others do who have no hope.” (esv) Acts 8.2 “Devout men buried Stephen and made great lamentation over him.” vv. 17-18 “… my soul is bereft of peace; I have forgotten what happiness is; so I say, ‘My endurance has perished; so has my hope from the LORD.’” (esv) LAMENT IS IMPORTANT … WHEN OUR Anguish IS Insistent                     vv. 19-20 “Remember my affliction and my wanderings, the wormwood and the gall!  My soul continually remembers it…

DO WE KNOW WHAT TIME IT IS?

DO WE KNOW WHAT TIME IT IS?Romans 13.11-14Romans: The People Grace Creates – Part 7 of 11 v. 10 “… love is the fulfilling of the law.” (esv) Mark 1.15 “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” (esv)                       1 Corinthians 7.31 “For the present form of this world is passing away.” (esv) AWARENESS OF OUR PRESENT TIME INSPIRES US … TO Wake Up v. 11b “… the hour has come for you to wake from sleep.” (esv)…

GRACE CREATES LOVING PEOPLE

GRACE CREATES LOVING PEOPLERomans 13.8-10Romans: The People Grace Creates – Part 6 of 11 Romans 1.16 “… the gospel … is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes …” (esv) Romans 12.9 “Let love be genuine.” (esv)  Romans 5.5 “… God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.” (esv) GOD WANTS US TO BE LOVING PEOPLE …  WHO FEEL Compelled By Love …             v. 8 “Do not owe anyone anything, except to love one another …” (csb)    1 Corinthians 13.2–3 “… if I have…

THE CHRISTIAN ATTITUDE TOWARD GOVERNMENT

THE CHRISTIAN ATTITUDE TOWARD GOVERNMENTRomans 13.1-7Romans: The People Grace Creates – Part 5 of 11 Romans 12.19 “Do not take revenge … but leave room for God’s wrath …” (niv) v. 1a “Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God hasestablished.” (niv)                GOD Ordains ALL Governing Authority …   Daniel 4.17 “… the Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone he wishes …” (niv)     v. 2 “… whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed …” (esv) TO BE…

LOVE YOUR ENEMY

LOVE YOUR ENEMYRomans 12.17-21Romans: The People Grace Creates – Part 4 of 11 v. 14 “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.” (esv)  Matthew 5.43–44 “You have heard … Love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you …” (csb) v. 9 “Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.” (niv)  v. 21 “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” (esv)  GOOD OVERCOMES EVIL WHEN WE ……

LET LOVE BE GENUINE

LET LOVE BE GENUINERomans 12.9-16Romans: The People Grace Creates – Part 3 of 11 John 13.35 “… everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (csb) v. 9 “Let love be genuine.” (esv) GENUINE LOVE MOTIVATES US TO …      FEEL The Truth    v. 9b “Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.” (esv)                        1 Corinthians 13.6 “Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.” HONOR God’s Family  v. 10 “Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one…

THE CHRISTIAN SELF-IMAGE

THE CHRISTIAN SELF-IMAGERomans 12.3-8Romans: The People Grace Creates – Part 2 of 11 v. 2b “… be transformed by the renewing of your mind …” (nas) v. 3 “… to think of himself …” (esv)          THE RENEWED MIND SEES OURSELVES AS … DIVINELY Defined By Faith                     v. 3 “Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.” (niv)                       Ephesians 2.8 “… you have been saved through faith. And this is not…

AN ARMY BROUGHT TO LIFE

AN ARMY BROUGHT TO LIFERomans 12.1-2Romans: The People Grace Creates – Part 1 of 11 SPIRITUAL FIGHTERS WHO … CAN’T FORGET The Mercy That Brought Us To HIM                        v. 1a “… in view of the mercies of God …” (csb) v. 1 “… offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God …” (niv) Galatians 2.20 “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I…

A Life of Faith… and Hard Work

A Life of Faith… and Hard WorkJoshua 17-21 by Pastor Chuck Henderson I love to sing and speak about grace – that salvation is all of God and His incredible, unmerited deliverance of us from all our sins.  It’s just so freeing.  But perhaps you have joined me in praying at times: “Lord, I thank You for Your salvation and the promise of heaven.  But… couldn’t you have made things a little easier for me on earth?”  It’s like that scene from Fiddler on the Roof when Tevia is talking to God and…