Sermons
Practicing Our Faith
This sermon explores the concept of devotion and abiding in Christ, emphasizing the importance of practicing faith through dedication to God’s word, fellowship, communion, and prayer. I draw parallels between devotion in daily life and spiritual commitment, and urge you to examine your priorities and deepen your relationship with Christ. The message underscores the transformative power of abiding in Christ’s love and the fruitfulness that results from this connection.
The Words Of My Mouth
Words have power. And I think they have the most power when they are words of prayer. Powerful prayers don’t have to be long and filled with Christianese. A prayer can simply be speaking the name of Jesus.
Body Building
Love must be the foundation that we build from. Spiritual gifts without love are worthless.
When love for each other is pursued, the Holy Spirit acts freely in our lives and spiritual gifts abound.
Love enables us to fully receive edification (even correction) from others.
Spiritual gifts are given by God to whom He chooses when He chooses.
The gifts are given to us to:
– equip each other for ministry
– build up the Body
– mature our faith
– grow us in the likeness of Christ
– serve others
– speak God’s words
– glorify God through Jesus Christ in everything
The spiritual growth and health of the Church is dependent on the whole Body, not just the pastors, elders, and ministry leaders.
Some spiritual gifts seem common among all believers but are given in extra measure to some (e.g. evangelism, faith, giving, hospitality, mercy, discernment).
A More Excellent Way
Paul’s lists of spiritual gifts are not exhaustive.
In His perfect sovereignty, God distributes spiritual gifts to the Church.
We don’t get to choose which gift(s) God gives us.
The Church is meant to be both diverse and unified as the Body of Christ.
It is good to desire spiritual gifts, but we are not meant to chase after them or their benefits.
Spiritual gifts are given to members of the Church for the edification of the Body.
Spiritual gifts are worthless without love.
We ought to chase after love and utilize the gifts that God gives us from a place of love for one another.
An inability to love your brother or sister is a symptom of not abiding in the love of the Father.
Marked To Tear Down Barriers
One story within another almost always points to parallel stories in the Bible.
The presence of God produces fruit.
Jesus cursed the fig tree because it did not produce fruit in the season of the coming of the Kingdom of God.
The tables of the money-changers were overturned to show that atonement is not something that can be bought with money.
The buyers and sellers of sacrificial animals were driven out to bring an end to sacrificing animals for forgiveness.
Jesus stopped people from carrying anything through the temple to usher in the end of cultic rituals for purification.
Jesus has been replacing the temple throughout His ministry: healing the sick, forgiving sins, and restoring people to society.
Jesus replaced the tables of the money-changers with the Lord’s Table, where remember that He alone atoned for our sins.
Jews thought that prayer was more effective in the temple, but Jesus tore down the barriers and invites all people to be a part of the new temple.
We can’t hide a lack of fruit behind fig leaves of rituals and church attendance.