Sermons from 2016 (Page 4)
The Endurance of Love
This passage is typically a battleground for debating when the gift of tongues will cease. Will it be just after the apostolic age or will it be at the return of Christ. Dwelling on this battle can cause us to miss the important truth this passage teaches. We ought to long for love. Love will outlast any supernatural gift. Let us not be content with the appetizer of bread and butter but crave the main course–a face to face encounter…
Fathers, This Is Your Command
What does it mean to be a father and raise your children for the Lord? What does it mean not to provoke them to anger but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord? Is there practical ways to help? In this sermon, many practical suggestions are made on how we can fulfill this command. In all cases, we must never assume the gospel but keep it front and center as we bring up our children for…
Total Depravity
In this lesson we look at the doctrine of total depravity. It’s an exploration of what it means to inherit a sinful nature. After a clarification of what this doctrine is not, we explore what it is. While often denied and much maligned in today’s culture, this doctrine exalts the glory of God and the beauty of his salvation from first to last.
The Greatness of Love
Christian love is the highest of all virtues. Without, we have nothing. It should be desired above all other virtues or gifts. Considering this text should give us an earnest desire to love like our God loves.
The Origin of Sin
Where did sin come from? How could sin enter into God’s good creation? Didn’t God make everything good? If God doesn’t sin, does that mean that he permitted sin? Or did he plan it or ordain it? We explore these important questions and we seek to understand the beginnings of sin in God’s universe and the purpose sin has in God’s eternal, wise plan.
One Body, Many Members
The unity and diversity in the church is God’s ordained plan to see us all conformed into Christ-like character. This is not diversity in beliefs, it’s diversity in gifts, service, activities, ethnicities, gender, social status and so on. If you’re a Christian, you belong to the church and God has chosen to use you in the body of Christ to care for one another.
The Fall and its Effect
Most understand that we inherit a sinful nature from Adam, but the Scriptures also teach that we’ve been imputed with Adam’s guilt. That is, the whole human race stands condemned because of Adam’s one sin. Rather than this being a depressing doctrine it rather lays the necessary foundation for salvation in Christ. For it is Christ, called the last and second Adam, who imputes to us righteousness, justification and life. This is possible because of imputation. There are two representatives…
Defining the Gifts of 1 Corinthians 12
What exactly are the gifts mentioned in 1 Corinthians 12? Are they the same gifts that people claim to have today? It’s important to understand what the Scriptures say about these gifts then evaluate our experience in modern church culture. Much time is spend on the gift “word of knowledge” and “tongues” since these are very common in the church today.
Male and Female
With such gender confusion it’s important to realize that male and female is part of what it means to be made in the image of God. Male and female are an important reflection of who God is and to distort or destroy what God has made in his image is a serious display of rebellion.
Variety of Gifts, One Spirit
The first message looking at the important section on spiritual or charismatic gifts in 1 Corinthians 12 through 14. What needs to be clarified right off the start is that all believers (those who profess Jesus as Lord) have the Holy Spirit. Not only that, but the Holy Spirit has gifted each and every single believer with a gift to build up the body of Christ. Let us remember God’s gracious gift to each one as we deal with this…
The Image of God
God made man in his image and likeness. What does this mean and what is the significance of this? As seen in this sermon, this is an important doctrine that when denied leaves the dignity and value of a human being without foundation.
On the Lord’s Supper
The Lord’s Supper is one of the two ordinances given to the church. It’s importance is seen in this text as the church is Corinth is partaking in an unworthy manner. What is the Lord’s Supper? What does it signify? This sermon looks at the theology of the Lord’s Supper and the problem that was going on in the Corinthian church. The second sermon in this series looks at other practical and historical matters surrounding this ordinance.