Afleveringen
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Sermon Overview
Scripture Reference: 2 Corinthians 10:3-5
Whether we realize it or not, there is a battle raging in our minds at every moment: spiritual warfare between light and darkness, good and evil, Jesus Christ and Satan. We cannot afford to be ignorant, and we cannot possibly be neutral.
2 Corinthians 10 shares encouragement for us in this battle for our minds.
First, this passage warns us of the warfare of our foe.
There is a deadly array of demons dedicated to the destruction of our thought lives. They are under the authority of the prince of darknessâthe devil. He wants our minds, because it is through the mind that God communicates, changes, and controls us. When weâre saved, we receive the mind of Christ, and use our minds in different capacities than we once did. The devil wants to corrupt our minds so we fall out of fellowship with Christ.
Second, this passage addresses the weakness of our flesh.
âFor though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the fleshâ (2 Corinthians 10:3).
The spiritual battle is not in the flesh, but our flesh can be a point of weakness in our fight. We do not have what it takes to overcome on our own.
This passage also reminds us of the weapons of our fight.
âFor the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of ChristâŠâ (2 Corinthians 10:4-5).
One of our weapons is the sovereignty of God, who is our Commander-in-Chief in this fight.
We also have the authority of our commission, as 2 Corinthians 10:8 says: âFor even if I should boast somewhat more about our authority, which the Lord gave us for edification and not for your destruction, I shall not be ashamedâŠâ
Finally, remember, we have our certain courage.
Jesus Christ has already won the war. We win the battle each and every day by guarding our minds with all diligence (see Proverbs 4:23).
Apply it to your life
Adrian Rogers says, âCenter your mind upon Jesus. Donât let the devil take away your pure-hearted devotion to the Lord Jesus Christ. Stay in love with Him and there wonât be any room for those filthy, wicked, lustful, prideful thoughts that bombard us all.â
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Sermon Overview
Scripture Reference: Philippians 4:4-8
Even the strongest Christian can struggle with mental health. Many of us find ourselves shackled by the chains of disappointment, depression, anger, and fear. While in prison, weighed down by real chains, the Apostle Paul wrote about the freedom we can have in Christ. In Philippians 4, he reveals five steps to mental health.
Rejoice in the presence of the Lord.
âRejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at handâ (Philippians 4:4-5). Paul knew he was not alone in his prison cell; the Lord was with him. No matter our circumstance, the joy we have in the Lord is continuous, because Jesus is constant.
Adrian Rogers says, âNo matter where we are, how lonely the night, how dark the road, how dismal the prison, how big the problem, Jesus Christ is always there.â
Rely on the protection of God.
âBe anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplicationâŠâ (Philippians 4:6a).
Whatever problem we may face, we can talk to God about it. Worry hurts us so badly, because by definition, it is the idea of being pulled apart; it is useless, wasteful, and wicked. Rather, we can trust God in the big things and the little things.
Reflect on the provision of God.
â...with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to Godâ (Philippians 4:6b). Rather than praying with self-pity, we should be filled with thanksgiving, praying with gratitude for all the Lord has done, and all He will do.
Rest In the peace of the Lord.
â...and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesusâ (Philippians 4:7). The peace of God is what guards us and protects us. We donât keep this peaceâit keeps us.
Reflect on the purpose of God.
âFinallyâŠwhatever things are true⊠noble⊠just⊠pure⊠lovely⊠of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthyâmeditate on these thingsâ (Philippians 4:8).
We can be selective about what comes into our hearts and minds. We must keep our thoughts on the right things, so that we donât miss the purposes of God.
Apply it to your life
Consider these five steps to mental health today. Pray that you would remember the Lord is near, to rejoice in Him and not in our circumstances. He is our protection, our provision, our peace, and our purpose.
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Zijn er afleveringen die ontbreken?
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Sermon Overview
Scripture Reference: Philippians 4:4-8
Adrian Rogers says, âYou can choose your thoughts like you choose your friends.â
As Christians, we must have a standard regarding the kinds of thoughts we allow into our minds. Scripture shows us how and why we should control our thought lives.
Philippians 4:4-7 says, âRejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.â
Every Christian who is in control of his thoughts will have conscious, contagious joy in the Lord.
We will obtain healthy mental attitudes when we remember God is near, and we will recognize His presence continually.
We must refuse to worry about anything; Jesus Himself tells us that worrying is worthless, wasteful, and wicked. (See Matthew 6.) Instead, we must bring every need to Godâall the while, developing thankful spirits.
Philippians 4:8 says, âFinally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthyâmeditate on these things.â
This verse reveals exactly how we should screen our thoughts and what to admit into our minds:
1, Reliance Test: Is it true? Does it come from a reliable source?
2, Respect Test: Is it honest, honorable, and worthy of respect?
3. Rightness Test: Is it straight-line thinking or is it crooked thinking?
4. Reverence Test: Is it pure, free of contamination, worthy of being lifted up in worship?
5. Relationship Test: Does it cause you to love rather than criticize?
6. Refinement Test: Is it a good report, high-toned, refined, and beneficial?
We can win the war on our minds and control our thoughts, but it will not happen if we stay neutral. We must be intentional about thinking what is good. We will not overcome evil with anything other than what is good.
Apply it to your life
There is a correct standard for the thoughts we allow into our minds. Do you think about what is true, noble, just, pure, lovely, or of good report? Be intentional today, as you meditate on what is good.
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Sermon Overview
Scripture Reference: 2 Corinthians 4:3-6
Our thought lives are the root of many of our problems in this world gone wild. It is crucial that we have mastery over our minds and control over our thought lives.
First, we must be sure of our salvation.
2 Corinthians 4:3-4 says, âBut even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.â
The devil wants us to stay in the dark and blind our minds to the light of the Gospel.
Thereâs a difference between the mind and the brain; the devil does not come after our intelligence, rather he wants to distort our minds. We become what we think about. (See Proverbs 23:7.)
The carnal mind, which is at war with God, must be converted. There is no second step until we are sure we are saved.
Second, we must pursue single-minded, heart-felt devotion to God.
A converted mind can be corrupted; we can lose so much ground in the battle for our thought lives if we do not take action and give everything over to God.
Third, we must root out the strongholds in our thought lives.
A corrupt mind must be conquered. We must conquer compulsiveness, obsessions, fixations, and fears. We cannot let bitterness and resentment, uncontrollable lusts, phobias, criticisms, or distrust have a hold on us.
This warfare is not carnal, so our weapons arenât either. Education, psychology, nor positive thinking can help us take down these strongholds. Our fighting chance is the blood of Christ, the Word of God, and the authority in the name of Jesus.
Finally, we must surrender our conquered minds back to the Lord.
We cannot be neutral; we cannot merely dethrone the enemyâChrist must be enthroned in our thought lives.
Adrian Rogers says, âNo man can think two things at one time. If youâre thinking what is right, you cannot be thinking what is wrong. You can choose your thoughts like you can choose your friends.â
Our great hope is that the conquered mind can be controlled by bringing every thought to Jesus Christ.
Apply it to your life
Bring every thought to obedience, and let the Lord Jesus Christ screen your thought life today.
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Sermon Overview
Scripture Reference: Genesis 1; Ephesians 1
God made man and woman to have dominion, victory, and mastery; it is the very reason we were created. Once we understand this, we can come together as a conquering church and take back what was lost by Adam and was restored by Jesus Christ, the Second Adam.
According to Genesis 1:26, God gave dominion on earth to Adam.
But Satan, a fallen angel who became the father of the night, lost the battle in Heaven and hopes to win the battle on Earth.
He came to the Garden of Eden as a serpent and tempted Adam and Eve to sin; therefore, they turned dominion over to him and became his slaves.
But this dominion, legally lost by Adam, was righteously regained by Jesus Christ!
Adrian Rogers says, âGod owes Satan nothing, but God owes everything to His own justice. Jesus Christ came to this Earth as the second Adam, to gain back what the first Adam lost.â
It was lost by a man, and it was legally restored by a man: âFor since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made aliveâ (1 Corinthians 15:21-22).
Satan tried to tempt Jesus to sin as he had tempted Adam (Luke 4), but Jesus defeated Him by the Word of God. At Calvary, when Jesus died and was buried, the devil believed he had won. But three days later, Jesus walked out of the grave and brought back dominion that had been lost.
Finally, this dominion has been gloriously given to the Church.
Ephesians 1:22-23 says, âAnd He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.â
When God raised Jesus Christ from the dead, He raised us up as well. The devil wants to keep us in the dark so that we never see the incredible power weâve been given. But when we finally recognize it, all Heaven will break loose.
Apply it to your life
Adrian Rogers says, âThe same weapons that belonged to Adam in the Garden of Eden were the weapons that Jesus Christ used in the wilderness.â Spend some time in Scripture, dwell on the Word of God, exercising your dominion, rightfully restored by Jesus Christ.
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Sermon Overview
Scripture Passage: John 4:23-24
We were created to worship God; it is lifeâs greatest privilege and supreme duty to worship Him. It is the act of worship, and coming together as a worshiping Church that transforms our lives from monotonous to momentous.
First, we must understand the meaning of true worship.
John 4:23-24 says, âBut the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.â
In this passage, Jesus explained to a Samaritan woman what worship is, and how it differs from the religion she was accustomed to.
Adrian Rogers says, âWe donât have to have enthusiastic heresy, or lifeless orthodoxy. âŠItâll be a great day in any church when you stop enduring religion and start enjoying true worship.â
Worship is a response of gratitude to all that God has revealed Himself to be, through Jesus Christ.
Second, we must understand the motive of true worship, and why God is seeking worshippers.
We become like what we worship. This is why itâs important to know exactly who we are worshipping, because if we do not worship Almighty God, we will be susceptible to worship anything else.
Not only does God seek worshippers for what it does for us, but also for what it does for Him. Our praise gives Him pleasure as our Father; He yearns for our devotion and our honor.
Finally, we must understand the method of true worship: both in spirit and truth.
When Jesus says to worship God in spirit, He is referring to our innermost being. If our spirit is dead or warped, we canât truly worship. Our praise must come from an honest place.
But we must also remember to worship in truth; our emotions cannot dictate our praiseâthere must be an intelligent worship.
Adrian Rogers says, âYour worship will never rise higher than your knowledge of God.â
Spirit and truth go together; we honor God by actively praising with our spirit and seeking truth in His Word.
Apply it to your life
The ultimate privilege is to love God and worship Him in spirit and truth. Today, love Him passionately with all your heart, selflessly with all of your soul, and thoughtfully with your mind.
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Sermon Overview
Scripture Reference: Matthew 7:7-8
There is no substitute for prayer, and a church is only as useful as her prayer life. The devil cannot keep God from answering our prayers, so he tries to keep us from asking. But our Lord has commanded us to pray.
Adrian Rogers says, âThe greatest problem that you have in your life is not unanswered prayer; the greatest problem is unasked prayer.â
Matthew 7:7-8 says, âAsk, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.â
These are the words of Jesusâan undeniable, impeccable promise to a praying church.
God already knows our needs before we ask. We pray, not to impress or inform Him, but to invite Him into our circumstances. God wants us to abide in Him, and prayer teaches us to depend on Him.
This passage reminds us first to ask and express our desires to God.
There is no division between spiritual things we should ask for and secular things we shouldnât. We canât consider some things too big or too small for God to answer. Whatever our desires may be, if they are something we can ask Godâs help for, we should give them to God. Sometimes the answer is direct.
Secondly, weâre reminded to seek and expect direction from God.
Sometimes, Godâs ways are unknown to us, so His answers are different from what we expect. What we ask for is not what God wants us to have. As we seek God, He will direct our prayers over time so that we will ask for the right things.
Finally, this passage tells us to knock and exercise determination with God.
We cannot give up too easily; we must remember that sometimes, Godâs answers are delayed and we must be persistent. We should only stop knocking after we have an answer in hand or in our hearts, or if God says âno.â Until then, we must ask, seek, and continue knocking, inviting God into our lives, one prayer at a time.
Apply it to your life
Is there something in your heart and mind that youâve been afraid to pray for? Freely ask God, seek Him, and continue knocking. He is faithful to answer, whether directly, differently, or delayed.
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Sermon Overview
Scripture Reference: John 14:12
A Spirit-filled Church does not just organize and process membersâit empowers and equips believers to be transformed by Scripture.
John 14:12 says, âMost assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.â
The Exciting Program
This passage reveals that as a Church, we are not only to do the works of Jesus, but also to exceed the works of Jesus. We wonât walk on water, but we will multiply the kingdom by leading people to Jesus.
Adrian Rogers says, âBringing a soul to Jesus Christ is greater than raising a man from the dead.â There is no substitute for evangelism; the Church is to share the Gospel with others.
The Explicit Promise
We also remember our explicit promise: that God will answer our prayers. Prayer is not preliminary to our work; it is the work. To do the greater works that Jesus commands us to do, we must labor in prayer. This requires the right people praying, with the right power, for the right purpose.
The Expected Practice
Third, this passage reminds us that weâre expected to keep Godâs commandments. (See John 14:15.) We are expected to obey the Lord if we love Him. We are all called to be witnesses to what God has done for us; it is simple, but there is no cheap or easy way to do it.
The Exceeding Power
To do all of this, we need the exceeding power of the Holy Spirit.
John 14:16 says, âAnd I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you foreverâŠâ
Adrian Rogers says, âThe Holy Spirit is Christ in the Christian.â In the Holy Spirit, we have a Great Comforter who empowers and strengthens us. We are never left to do these greater works alone; He is with us and within us.
Each Christian life is a culmination of three miracles: salvation through Jesus, the hope of His Second Coming, and the Holy Spiritâs empowerment for daily living.
Apply it to your life
To be a Spirit-filled Church, each one of us must be filled with the Holy Spirit; are you being obedient to the Lord? Are you seeking to multiply the Kingdom by winning souls to Jesus?
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Sermon Overview
Scripture Reference: Nehemiah 4
Anyone who does something in the name of the Lord will face spiritual warfare. This is why a steadfast church is bound to be attacked by the enemy.
Our enemy is very methodical. But the Holy Spirit is our ally. Not only can we know the enemyâs methods, but we can also stand against them.
In the Book of Nehemiah, the walls of Jerusalem were rebuilt, despite spiritual opposition. We can clearly see the enemyâs tactics at work in Nehemiah 4.
First, he tries derision.
He mocked Nehemiah and his team, calling them feeble, futile, and foolish. The devil will try to laugh us away from our purpose.
If that doesnât work, heâll try discouragement.
About halfway through any big task, weâll find we are discouraged by fatigue or frustration. This is on purpose; we must stay on track.
Next, the devil tries dismay.
He will use physical intimidation to scare us. But when threatened, Nehemiah and his team remembered the Lord and resisted the enemy; they continued to build and stood ready to battle at the same time. (See Nehemiah 4:18.)
The devil will also attack with discord and division.
We cannot let Satan drive a wedge in our fellowship. Whenever we stand for things within the church body, they must be for the right purpose, in the right spirit, at the right time.
Adrian Rogers says, âIf you are wise, youâll always be a part of the solution, never a part of the problem.â
Next, he tries to distract us.
Satanâs motivation never changes; if he seems to be reasoning with us, itâs a diversion tactic. He is not our friend; we must keep our eyes on the Lord and continue serving Him.
Finally, as he did with Nehemiah, the enemy will defame us among our peers and criticize our motives.
When we live for Jesus, we will be slandered. We must never listen to any slander about another child of God. It is all garbage.
Isaiah 54:17 says, ââNo weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgment You shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is from Me,â says the Lord.â
Apply it to your life
Christians: donât be afraid of the enemyâs attacks. Commit to doing good workâa child of God is always building and battling at the same time.
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Sermon Overview
Scripture Passage: Acts 24:24-27
Many of us struggle with procrastination, but do we realize that is doing great damage to us? Do we ever grasp the true problem of procrastination? Adrian Rogers tells us, âProcrastination is more than the thief of time, it is the grave of opportunity and it may be the road to hell.â
There are a few reasons people reject the Gospel upon hearing it. Perhaps the most common reason is procrastination. They put it off, thinking that they will have plenty of time to receive Christ later on. Thatâs the case in Acts 24. In this passage, Paul is a prisoner of Caesarea and the Roman judge, Felix calls for him to answer questions he has about Jesus Christ. Paul preaches a Christ-centered message, and the conviction of the Holy Spirit is so strong, Felix trembles. Felix was at the threshold of salvation, but then he did something that so many people do: he said, âWhen I have a convenient season, I will call for you.â (Acts 24:25)
There are three things we can learn from Felixâs procrastination.
First, see the sermon that convicted Felix.
Here was a sinful man whose heart was in need of a Savior. Paul did not back down. He delivered a message, first concerning Godâs standard of righteousness. Then he discussed Felixâs self-control, and the judgment of God to come.
See, also the pressures that confronted him.
When the Holy Spirit convicted Felix, the devil moved in to confront him. There were three mighty forces that warred against this manâs soulâthe world, the flesh, and the devil. These are three enemies we all face, and sometimes, like Felix, they cause us to retreat.
Finally, see the presumption that condemned Felix.
Acts 24:27 reveals that Felix never received Christ. Felix made three tragic assumptions:
-that convenience will come,
-that conviction from the Holy Spirit would continue, and
-that conflicts would cease.
But he forgot as many of us do⊠tomorrow may never come.
Adrian Rogers says, âTomorrow you will have more sin to repent of. And tomorrow you will have a harder heart to repent with.â
Apply it to your life
Do you have trouble with procrastination? Is it harming you more than it should? Donât wait until tomorrow to repent of your sins; do it right now!
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Sermon Overview
Scripture Passage: Acts 23
If you are criticized for standing for the Lord Jesus Christ, the Bible says, âRejoice and be exceeding glad. Great is your reward in heaven.â (Matthew 5:12) This may seem easier said than done, however.
Scripture tells us that we will be criticized if we live for Jesus. How can we cope with criticism and have peace in times of persecution? Consider the apostle Paul, who was criticized for following the Lord Jesus Christ, and yet he went through it triumphantly.
First, he had a righteous life that came out of a good conscience.
Acts 23:1 says, âI have lived in all good conscience before God until this dayâŠâ Our conscience is that inner voice that accuses us or excuses us for our actions. It doesnât make us good or bad, it simply defines for us what we truly believe is good or bad. However, if our conscience bothers us, then criticism will bother us. We must ensure that our conscience is free from defilement, searing, and evil. If we ever let our conscience get warped or burnt out, we will not be able to cope with criticism in a sound, biblical way.
The second thing that enabled Paul to stand as he did was his message of a resurrected Lord.
There is tension in the Gospel: the Son of God was crucified, killed, and rose from the dead three days later. When you truly preach the resurrection of Jesus Christ, it is a disturbing and dividing truth. Either Jesus rose from the grave, or He didnât. Which side are you on?
Adrian Rogers says, âWhen you take a stand for truth youâre going to have a head-on collision with error.â This truth that disturbed and divided others is what delivered Paul. God gave him a reassuring lift, with a word of courage, commendation, and confidence in his time of need.
If we are morally clean and theologically pure, we will be spiritually close to Jesus in times of suffering.
When this happens, not only will we cope with criticism, we might just rejoice in it.
Apply it to your life
Have you been facing criticism for following the Lord Jesus Christ? Use the example of Paul in Acts 23 to face it triumphantly.
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Sermon Overview
Scripture Passage: Acts 17:16-18
In Acts 17, Paul walks down the streets of Athens, Greece, and meets three challenges to the crossâto the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The same three challenges that Paul met are ones we could meet tomorrow morning; the ones who opposed the Gospel in Acts 17 could believe the same things as the people we rub shoulders with today. We need to learn how Paul met these challenges so that we can meet them in a God-honoring way.
First, Paul met superstitious idolatry.
Acts 17:16 says, âNow while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry.â An idol is anything you love, serve, fear, or trust more than God. Paul saw idolatry everywhere he turned in Athens. Our city, even sometimes our churches, are filled with idolatry. We all worship something because mankind is incurably religious. Adrian Rogers says, âIf man does not worship the true God, he will worship a false god, but he will worship.â
Secondly, Paul met stubborn bigotry.
When Paul entered the synagogue and presented the Gospel to the people, he was met with stubbornness; the people were so sure they were right and he was wrong. Adrian Rogers says, âThe hardest man to win to Jesus Christ is the man who doesnât see his need of the Lord Jesus Christ. Many times he has a religious bigotry.â
Thirdly, Paul met sophisticated philosophy.
A philosopher is a lover of wisdom, one who takes pride in his learning. In Paulâs day, he encountered two types of philosophers: the Epicures and the Stoics. Epicureans sought pleasure above anything else. Stoics believed they were victims of fate, that God is in everything and everything is God. We still encounter people who believe this way. Unfortunately, often times, their innate foolishness keeps them from knowing Jesus.
How did Paul deal with this opposition? He simply continued to preach, and reveal the character of God: that He created us, controls us, convicts and commands us. Some mocked, some laughed and some procrastinated. But, thank God, others believed.
We canât make others believe, however, we have the opportunity to preach the Gospel anyway.
Apply it to your life
Do you have any idols in your life that need to be dealt with? Repent and follow God with a wholly devoted heart.
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Sermon Overview
Scripture Passage: Acts 20:35-38
The world often measures a man by his intelligence, strength, or wealth. However, the world often forgets that when we pass away, we leave behind all that we have and take with us all that we are. What will you take with you? What truly matters in a man?
Consider what the Apostle Paul took with him. Acts 20:19 says, âServing the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptationsâŠâ
A manâs life will be measured by his manner.
We must live a life of humility, and the mark of humility is service. Adrian Rogers says, âHumility is an honest estimation of yourself⊠based on what God says about you. It results primarily in serving others.â
Our manner of life should be marked by heartache.
"Serving the Lord... with many tears." The apostle Paul was a compassionate man. He knew how to weep. He knew how to enter into the sorrows and the hurts of other people.
Our manner of life must also include hardship.
There is no way to live a life that counts and make an impression on this world without making some enemies. That didnât scare Paul, and it shouldnât scare us.
A man's life will also be measured by his message.
We will be known for something when we are gone. Our lives will bear a message for others to remember when they think about us. Paulâs life message revolved around repentance toward God and faith in Jesus Christ.
Finally, a manâs life is measured by his motto.
Every man has a life motto; something that motivates, drives, and constrains him. Paul's life motto was: "Remembering the words of Jesus, it is more blessed to give than to receive.â (Acts 20:35) Paul spent his life, not primarily as a receiver, but as a giver. This motto freed Paul from covetousness, idleness, and selfishness. Therefore, his life was blessed.
There is no easy way to have a great life. But if we remember that a manâs life is measured by the manner, the message, and the motto of his life, we will find a life worth living.
Apply it to your life
If you based your life on Paulâs testimony in Acts 20:19, how would you measure up? When we pass away, we leave behind all that we have and take with us all that we are. What will you take with you?
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Sermon Overview
Scripture Passage: Acts 16:23-31
The Gospel is meant to be told simply. God wants salvation to be made simple because it is His desire that anyone can understand and obtain it.
Acts 16:23-31 tells the story of Paul and Silas, who have been put in prison for preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Theyâve been beaten and stuffed into a dungeon; yet, they are singing and praising God. Then came a great earthquake, and the prison doors and shackles came undone. They were free. When the jailor saw that the prisoners were freed, yet remained in their cell, he asked, âWhat must I do to be saved?â Paul and Silasâs answer reveals the beautiful simplicity of salvation.
First, we must consider the meaning of salvation.
To be saved means to be delivered from sin. Sin comes in three forms:
-The wrong we do
-The right we donât do
-The good we do without God
So what does it mean to be saved from sin? We are saved from the penalty, the pollution, the power, and the presence of sin.
Second, we must consider the man of salvation.
The Lord Jesus Christ. Acts 16:30 says â...Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shall be saved.â
When these disciples said, âLordâ they meant Heâs the Master of our lives.
When these disciples said, âJesusâ they meant He's the Mediator between us and God.
When these disciples said, âChristâ they meant Heâs the Messiah, the one who saves.
Finally, remember the method of salvation.
Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved. What does it mean to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ? It is not mere intellectual belief. The demons believe and tremble (James 2:19), and they are certainly not saved. âBelieve onâ means âcommit toâ. Commit to the Lord Jesus Christ.
We believe that whosoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. (Rom. 10:13)
And whosoever means anybody, any time, any place, anywhere.
Apply it to your life
If someone asks you, âHow can I be saved?â as the jailor asked Paul and Silas, would you know what to say?
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Sermon Overview
Scripture Passage: Acts 4:36-37
The Book of Acts tells the story of a man called Barnabas. His name means âson of encouragement.â And there are five characteristics that make Barnabas the church member of any pastorâs dreams.
First, he was a load lifter.
In Acts 4:36, Barnabas meets a need by selling his property and giving the profits to the church. He saw a load and he decided to lift it. Encouragers understand that we all have something to give. Encouragers find out what it is that can be used to lift anotherâs burdens and offer it.
Encouragers are also friend finders.
After the Apostle Paulâs conversion, he was despised by his old colleagues, but feared by his new brothers and sisters in Christ. He was a man who needed a friend. Barnabas found him and became a friend to this very lonely new disciple. A lot of new Christians need somebody to find and friend them. An encourager finds the lonely and neglected, puts an arm around them, and brings them into the fold.
Encouragers are also bridge builders.
Barnabas knew the old and he saw the new; he was used to link the past to the future. Adrian Rogers says, âBarnabas believed in the tradition, but he believed in the frontier. And he was used by God to mold it all together. He was a bridge builder.â
Encouragers are disciple developers.
Barnabas often found buried gifts in new disciples and he brought these hidden talents out of them. There are people in our churches with gifts and abilities that need to be discovered and developed. But it takes a âBarnabasâ to find them.
Finally, encouragers are failure fixers.
After the disciple Mark ran away from his calling, Barnabas sought him out and gave him another chance. This young disciple went on to write the Gospel of Mark.
Thank God for Barnabas, who strove to fix this failure with words of encouragement. And thank God for the encouragers in our churches, who see second chances in us when no one else does.
Apply it to your life
Would you consider yourself to be a church member of your pastorâs dreams? Are you an encourager like Barnabas â a load lifter, friend finder, bridge builder, disciple developer, and failure fixer?
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Sermon Overview
Scripture Passage: Acts 10:33-42
Acts 10 tells the story of a Roman army officer named Cornelius. Cornelius was also a Gentile. Up until this time, the Gentiles had not been added to the Christian church (the early believers were Jewish). Yet, Cornelius was hungry to know God and he was hungry for faith in Jesus Christ. Supernaturally, God brought Cornelius and the apostle Peter together. As he is presenting the Gospel to Cornelius, Peter claims three indisputable witnesses who testify that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. By believing them, we, like Cornelius, can be sure of our salvation as well.
The first was a personal witness of the saints.
The apostles standing before Cornelius had literally walked with Jesus during his ministry. The disciples were a diverse group of young men who lived with Him, ate, and fellowshipped with Him. They personally witnessed His life, death, and resurrection. And though a wide mixture of characters, the disciplesâ recollection of Jesus is unanimous: He is the resurrected Son of God.
The second was the prophetic witness of the Scriptures.
Every page of Scripture is about Jesus, if not explicitly, then prophetically. Even in the Old Testament, before Jesus walked the earth, prophecies the salvation He would bring to mankind. The Bible has one hero, which is Jesus; and it has one message: Jesus saves. Adrian Rogers says, âThe Bible was not written primarily to give us the history of Israel. It's not written primarily to tell us about ceremonies and rituals; the Bible was written to tell us that Jesus saves.â
Lastly, the Holy Spirit acted as the third witness.
After he was saved, Cornelius immediately received the Holy Ghost and began to speak in tongues. This was the outward evidence of the internal work of God in the hearts of these new believers. God was expanding the church to include the Gentiles right before their eyes. Jew and Gentile became one body, by witness of the saints, the Scripture, and the Spirit.
Apply it to your life
Are you sure of your salvation and do you believe the three indisputable witnesses at hand?
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Sermon Overview
Scripture Passage: Acts 9:17-22
2 Corinthians 5:17 says, âTherefore if any man be in Christ Jesus, he is a new creation; old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.â Adrian Rogers says it this way, âA Christian is not just somebody who has become nice; heâs become new.â
Acts 9 tells the story of the conversion of the Apostle Paul. His early name was Saul and he was a persecutor of Christians. Yet, in this passage, he becomes Paul, the greatest missionary and evangelist the world has ever known. He was changed by the grace of God, so much so, he even changed his name! There are five markings of this man made new, found in Acts 9:17-22.
First, Saul had a new Lord.
The first question Saul asked when confronted by Jesus on the road to Damascus was, âLord, what would you have me do?â Jesus had become his Lord; immediately, he was under new management. The Bible calls Jesus, Lord 433 times. And Adrian Rogers says, âYou cannot have what He gives, salvation unless you receive what He is, and that is Lord.â
Second, Paul had a new life.
When you receive Jesus as Lord, you receive a new life and a new spiritual sight. Youâre able to see things youâve never seen before.
Third, Paul had a new liberty.
God put His power within Paul. The Christian life is what God does in us and through us. Heâs the one who gives us that liberty.
Fourth, Paul had a new love.
A few days before his conversion, this man was threatening the church. His heart was filled with bitterness and malevolence toward those who were called Christians. And those he once loathed he now loves. If you love Jesus, you will love what He loves.
Finally, Paul had a new labor.
Saulâs mission was to destroy the church. Paulâs mission was to build the church. The marking of a new life in Christ is that he shares it with others.
And what God did for Saul, God wants to do for us, all.
Apply it to your life
Have you been made new in Christ? Does your life show that you have a new Lord, life, liberty, love, and labor?
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Sermon Overview
Scripture Passage: Acts 8:5-24
Contrary to popular belief, the devil is very much for religion; in fact, he uses religion to oppose the Gospel of Jesus Christ. In the Book of Revelation, the Bible prophecies that in the Last Days, there will not be a lack of religion; there will be more than ever. Men will have religion without reality; they will not know God, and yet they will be very religious. It is vital that we recognize the warnings and refute the devilâs religion, lest we fall into its deception.
-Beware of the devilish power of false religion.
-Beware of the devilish pride of false religion.
-Beware of the devilish pretense of false religion.
-Beware of the devilish poison of false religion.
In Acts 8, a man named Simon was practicing what the Bible calls âsorcery.â He had tapped into a devilish, unholy, supernatural power so great, it left his city in awe.
We must remember that the devil is a deceiver, and he often uses miracles and signs to deceive even those who believe they are Christians.
Acts 8:9 says, âBut there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one.â
Simon was inflated with ego. The hallmark of false religion is pride. Remember: It was pride that made the devil, the devil.
There are two kinds of believers described in Acts 8:12-13: possessors and pretenders.
The difference is in the object of their belief. Simon the sorcerer was interested in power that he could get hold of. When he saw the apostles, filled with the Holy Spirit, laying their hands on people and giving healing and restoration, he wanted it.
Adrian Rogers says, âBecause false religion is egocentric, it is always rooted in what I can get and not in what I can give.â
False religion poisons everything it touches. It canât make a person free; you are ensnared and undelivered from sin and temptation, left unfulfilled and unsatisfied, bitter and in bondage.
The only remedy to false religion is repentance of sins of the spirit. Receive the Holy Spirit through a relationship with Christ.
Apply it to your life
Have you been ensnared by the dangers of false religion? Do you need to repent of the sins of the spirit? Repent; stand on the word of God.
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Sermon Overview
Scripture Passage: Acts 8:26
We, as Christians, have been sent on a mission to share the Gospel anywhere and everywhere God calls us to go. Where is anywhere and everywhere for you? Have you ever said in your heart, "Wherever He leads, I'll go"? We should be able to say this and mean it, without fear or hesitation.
God has a plan for us and God will use us if we will let Him. How can we know where God wants us to go?
First, we must perceive the call of God.
God has many ways to speak to us, through prayer, the Holy Spirit, angels, and others. We must get rid of our selfishness, our pride, and our ambitions, and be ready to be filled by God. And what God fills, He uses.
We must preach the Gospel, simply and clearly, according to Jesus Christ.
Adrian Rogers says, âThe Gospel is simply glorious and gloriously simple.â The Gospel, simply put, is three statements:
-âI am a sinner.â
-âChrist died for my sins.â
-âI am saved by grace, through faith.â
Finally, we must practice the commands of God.
The Great Commission in Matthew 28:19-20 says,
"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.â
Baptism is our way of showing our salvation. A true baptism follows true salvation. Adrian Rogers says, âIf we are real missionaries, we're going to receive the call of God, preach the Christ of God, and practice the commands of God.â
Apply it to your life
Are you willing to say to God, âWherever you lead, Iâll goâ? If there was ever a time we ought to say it, it is now.
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Sermon Overview
Scripture Passage: Acts 6:1-7
Being a Christian means seeing opportunities in every difficulty. In Acts 6, the early church was experiencing some growing pains. By understanding how they dealt with their difficulties, we can learn how to turn our problems into possibilities.
We know what itâs like to experience growing pains, physically, mentally, and spiritually. With that understanding, there are four things to keep in mind when our churches undergo this grueling process of maturity.
First, remember that where there is life, there is growth.
If your church is growing, it is important to remember this is a good thing. Anything that grows has pains. Growth is not easy or automatic. We have to plan, pray, and work for it; we have to cultivate and water something if we want it to grow. Even still, it is God alone who gives growth. Churches can be big or small, each one unique and designed to maintain different capacities. No matter what size the church may be, if it is surrounded by lost people and still not growing, thereâs something wrong. Our mission is to reach souls for the Lord Jesus Christ. If weâre not reaching them, weâre not doing what we were told to do.
Where there is growth, there are problems.
Anything that moves makes friction. However, many times, churches divide moreover incidentals than fundamental things. Adrian Rogers says, âWhen God sets out to multiply, the devil sets out to divide.â
Where there are problems, there are solutions.
A mature Christian is going to be deeply spiritual and intensely practical. In Acts 6, there was murmuring over neglected widows in the congregation. So, God demonstrated His practical love through the church leaders as they, themselves, waited tables for widows. These high-powered spiritual men were willing to minister in the small and mundane things. As a result, the church began to grow and the murmuring stopped.
Where there are God-given solutions, there is even greater growth.
It seems that every time the devil attacked this early church, their problems simply became springboards for greater possibilities. Adrian Rogers says, âAll hell canât stop a church thatâll keep its eyes on the Lord Jesus Christ.â
Thank God for a growing church!
Apply it to your life
Are you or your church experiencing some growing pains? Embrace it; turn your problems into possibilities for growth. Acknowledge the issues and pray for God-given solutions.
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