A Journey of Promise
Genesis 37-38 has sinful actions on full display, but God's plan to...
The resurrection of Jesus Christ isn’t just a historical event. The world is filled with brokenness because of sin, and left to ourselves we’ll simply follow along, chasing after things that ultimately will simply lead to death. But through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, we can be made alive! Because Jesus died for our sin and overcame death, we can be set free from sin and welcomed into God’s family for eternity. When we live for Jesus, that’s when we truly find life.
Jesus has a heart for lost people. While the self-righteous religious leaders of his day looked down on sinners, Jesus revealed the true heart of God that rejoices when someone repents of sin and believes in Him. We’re constantly surrounded by people who are lost - do you share God’s heart to see them come to know and follow Jesus?
Following Jesus will cost us. The free gift of salvation in Jesus comes with an understanding that he is the Lord of our lives - that includes all of our possessions, relationships and ambitions. Jesus calls us to follow him in all things, even when the world around us is doing the opposite. While that’s hard to do, the resulting transformation in our lives leads to a joy that only comes from growing more and more like Jesus, and impacting the world around us to grow his Kingdom instead of our own.
What does it look like to put others first? We can easily fall into the trap of thinking our own priorities are more important than the needs of others. We can also be so wrapped up in our own pursuits that we don’t recognize our own need for a Savior. In both cases, Jesus calls us to humility. In humility we’re called to put others before ourselves as we recognize, in humility, our own deep need for a Savior. Only Jesus can truly transform our hearts and help us turn away from selfishness.
How do you get to heaven? People have asked that question for centuries, and Jesus gives us a clear answer: through him. Because of Jesus’ sacrifice for our sins and his resurrection to new life, we can be made right with God and enter into eternal life in His perfect presence forever. Why does Jesus call this the ‘narrow door’? Because only Jesus’ sacrifice has the power to save. No amount of our good works will achieve God’s perfect standard. The good news of the gospel is that though the way to heaven is Jesus Christ alone, that gift of grace through faith is available to everyone, no matter who you are, where you’re from, or your past. Salvation is in Christ alone, by grace alone, through faith in him alone.
Jesus constantly preached about the Kingdom of God, and his message was one of both hope and urgency. As God’s Kingdom has expanded like a mustard seed across the earth through the process of evangelism and discipleship, Jesus’ encouragement is to look at the people around us with a Kingdom focus and heart for the lost. Who in your life can you point toward the good news of God’s ever-expanding Kingdom?
No other person in all of history presents as big of a dividing line than Jesus. While the gospel is clear that the gift of grace through Jesus Christ is free to all, Jesus himself was also clear that not everyone would receive that gift. Because Jesus doesn’t leave any room to remain ‘neutral’ toward him, the most important question we can ask ourselves is this: what do you do with Jesus?
Jesus’ promise is that one day he will return for final judgement to rule and reign forever, bringing the fulness of God’s Kingdom. Are you ready for him to come back? Jesus’ parable of the wise and faithful manager is a strong reminder of his desire to see his followers be faithful with that which they’ve been entrusted by God.
The pursuit of money and possessions can often lead to lots of anxiety, but Jesus encourages us to have a completely different mindset. When we remember that God is our provider who cares for us, and that everything we have is from Him, our perspective about how we use the things we have starts to shift. Generosity comes from knowing God has provided the things we have so that we might be a blessing to others, keeping our focus fixed on eternity instead of living only for the here and now.
An authentic faith is one that understands the character of God in a way that also provides the right perspective of who we are in relation to Him. A heart that trusts and surrenders to God will result in a confidence in His provision, a healthy reverence for who He is, and a boldness to tell others the good news of God’s salvation through Jesus Christ.
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Sermons by: Jeff Stevens
Preservation of Promise
In the story of Jacob and Esau, we meet both a master manipulator and a...
Promise Made, Promise Fulfilled
God was faithful to Abraham and Sarah in fulfilling His promise of a...
The Model of Grace
God reveals His plan of grace to Abraham and demonstrates that His...
Insanity
The tower of Babel represents mankind's attempt to live apart from God...
The Fall
God created people with the ability to choose to obey His Word and...
Living in Sacred Space
God placed Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden to enjoy and be in...
The Divine Conversation
God spoke all of creation into existence. Reflecting on the simplicity...
Terms of Peace
Jesus stands before the city as a king who in a matter of days will be...