“Am I really saved?” is a question that haunts many believers. But that’s not all – we often battle the doubt that creeps in when we stumble, wondering why we aren’t more like Jesus. These two issues are areas all believers will need encouragement in from time to time. But we can be certain that…
Sermons on Spiritual Growth
Today’s text shows us a handful of Christ followers who in their own small way, contributed greatly to God’s redemptive plan. They stood for Jesus when it was the most unpopular thing they could’ve done, and glorified God by doing what they could do with what they had. Truth is often hard to stand up…
Christians struggle with feelings of shame, guilt, and even condemnation for any number of reasons. Many feel as if they can’t approach God as a child in good standing too, leading to a relationship with Him that always feels as if it hinges on how well we have performed. While those things are a reality…
Virtue signaling is what we do when we value other people’s approval too much. We will even change our beliefs (at least publicly) if it means that others will applaud us. When a Christian looks to the world for our definitions, values, identity and approval though – we’ve lost the plot. Paul understood how tempting…
When the church misses the point, the power of God is absent. We can try to make it seem that His power is on display with large crowds, expensive buildings & interactive music times but those are only imitations of the real thing. According to scripture, the power of God isn’t where people would expect…
As Jesus is suffering the most agonizing ordeal imaginable, His heart for His enemies shines forth with the words “Father forgive them…” Jesus understood that those who were out for His harm did so in ignorance of the big picture. They didn’t know just how grievous their sins were, and they didn’t really know who…
If we call ourselves a follower of Christ, we’ll have to carry a cross. Just like Simon from Cyrene, we are chosen and called to followin the footsteps of Christ. While there may be a great deal of pain to our flesh – the spiritual benefits far outweigh any discomfort that comes from God’s discipline.…
When Jesus was betrayed, the situation in gethsemane escalated to the point of violence. But even when Jesus was the target of an angry mob, His concern was for His disciples. This point hits home with His healing of a servants ear after having had it cut off by one of the disciples. By healing…
As Jesus’s time with His disciples neared an end, He gave them some parting instructions that would help them in the days to come. They were about to head out on their own, and this time they wouldn’t be coming back to what had become familiar. Their new normal would seem impossible at first, but…