Sermon Overview
Scripture Passage: Hebrews 11:23-27

It takes a family to raise a child, and it takes faith to make a family. The most powerful and influential people on the earth are mothers and fathers of faith.

Hebrews 11 tells the story of the prophet Moses’ divine appointment, which would not have existed if not for his parents, Amram and Jochebed.

There are four principles to learn from their indispensable faith, as we learn the importance of our family faith.

“By faith, Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents because they saw that he was a proper child…” (v. 23).

First, faith sees every child as the special handiwork of God.

It is our responsibility to raise our children specifically and individually, by God’s daily guidance.

Second, faith sees every conflict as spiritual.

Amram and Jochebed hid Moses for three months because the King had commanded that baby boys be killed. By faith, they recognized this physical conflict as a spiritual conflict between the gods of Egypt and Almighty God.

In these treacherous days, raising children takes more than wit, wisdom, and good intentions. Raising children is a spiritual battle, and our only hope is a solid faith in Jesus Christ.

Third, faith sees every challenge as solvable.

As Adrian Rogers says, “faith doesn’t throw in the towel,” nor is it “intimidated by the sinister minister of fear.” We have the victory, because, “greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world” (1 John 4:4).

When facing challenges, we must do all we can do with a spirit of optimism. If it is God’s will, we can trust that He will move heaven and earth for our children.

Finally, faith sees every choice as significant.

Hebrews 11 notes that because Moses’ values were established in him by his parents, he valued his faith more than all the riches of Egypt.

Moses embraced the virtues of knowing Christ eternally, and rejected the vices of this world, refusing to be called Pharaoh’s son (v. 24).

Because Moses’ parents raised him by faith, he became an example of Psalm 112:2: "…the generation of the upright shall be blessed.”

Apply it to your life
Are you raising your children by faith, recognizing the spiritual conflict? Do you see every challenge as solvable and every choice as significant?

Sermon Overview

Scripture Passage: James 1:21-25

We cannot grow as Christians if we are not actively studying the Word of God. It’s not enough to know facts about and within Scripture. When we go to the Bible to extract truth, we fail; rather, we must receive the truth and welcome it in.

The Book of James shows us how to understand the Bible, and reveals four ways to welcome the Word of God.

We first welcome the Word with a repentant spirit.

"Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls" (James 1:21). There is a moral qualification to hear from God; hangover sins and unrepentant hearts can keep us from understanding Scripture.

When we study the Bible, it is crucial that we first make a full confession of sin and ask God to search our hearts for any trace of wickedness.

We also welcome the Word with a receptive spirit, with meekness, which is a teachable spirit.

James 3:3 says, "Indeed, we put bits in horses’ mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body." Likewise, God wants to break us and take us under His control, making us sensitive to His commands.

Third, we welcome the Word with a responsive spirit.

"But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves" (James 1:22). Once we understand the Scripture we read, we must obey it; if we don’t, we are self-deceived.

Adrian Rogers says, “A study of the Bible gives you knowledge about God. Obedience gives you knowledge of God.”

Finally, we welcome the Word with a reflective spirit.

"But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does" (James 1:25). When we read the Bible with a reflective spirit, the Bible reads us in return. It gives us a new perspective of our lives and shows our truest selves. Rather than quickly glancing at Scripture, we must learn to gaze into it.

Apply it to your life

Are you actively receiving the Word of God with a repentant heart and a receptive, responsive spirit? Remember, as Adrian Rogers says, “The best way to understand the part of the Bible you don’t understand, is to obey the part you do understand.”

Sermon Overview
Scripture Passage: Romans 10:11-17

It is not by fame, feelings, fortune, friends, or fate, but by our faith that we measure our accomplishments.

Our belief is our greatest spiritual asset and richest currency. On the contrary, unbelief is our greatest stumbling block. This is why there is an immediate urgency to grow in a solid and exciting faith in God.

Romans 10 reveals the intricacies of biblical faith, what it is, and how to have it.

"For the Scripture says, 'Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame'” (Romans 10:11).

First, faith must be placed in the right object to be real.
When we rely on the wrong things, it can be dangerous to our spiritual health.

Adrian Rogers says, “Weak faith in the right object is better than misplaced faith in the wrong object.” We do not rely on positive thinking, or even in faith itself. True biblical faith is placed in Jesus Christ, alone.

Once we understand the reality of biblical faith, we can see the root of it, which is the Word of God.
"How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard?" (Romans 10:14). In order to spiritually grow, we must hear from God; we cannot know the will of God by guessing at it. It cannot be generated; it is given, as Ephesians 2:8-9 says, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.”

When God speaks to us through His Word and Jesus Christ, we will see the result of our faith, which is the will of God.
Adrian Rogers says, “The will of God is not something that you must do; it is something you get to do.” The purpose of faith is to get God’s will done on Earth. He is sovereign; He remains in control at all times. What He says He will do, He will accomplish. We have the beautiful opportunity to take part in His will, through faith.



Apply it to your life
How are you going to release your faith today? True faith does more than merely believe; it translates into action. When you pray and ask God what to do, and how to accomplish His will for your life today, trust and obey Him.

Sermon Overview
Scripture Passage: 1 Corinthians 12
When we are born again and become children of God, we receive spiritual gifts. Discovering, developing, and putting to work our spiritual gifts is how we find joy and fulfillment in the Christian life.

1 Corinthians 12 explains how children of God can unwrap their spiritual gifts.
“Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant…” (1 Corinthians 12:1).

Our spiritual gifts are supernatural, graciously given to us by the Holy Spirit when we are born again. There is no room for pride or selfishness; we’ve received our spiritual gifts to serve each other. The Holy Spirit chooses our gifts; our responsibility is to discover what He has sovereignly imparted in us.

Adrian Rogers says, “These spiritual gifts are not for evidence, they are equipment. They are not for your enjoyment, they are for your employment.”

“There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all.” (1 Corinthians 12:4-6).

Some of the diverse gifts listed in Scripture are:

-Wisdom
-Knowledge
-Faith
-Healing
-Miracles: physical, mental, and spiritual
-Prophecy: for edification, exhortation, and comfort
-Discernment of the spirits
-Speaking in tongues, or speaking in a language you have never learned
-Interpreting tongues, or translating tongues so others can understand
-Ministry, or serving within the church
-Teaching
-Exhortation, or leading others in worship
-Giving
-Ruling, or the ability to administrate
-Mercy, or showing the love of Jesus Christ

It is our joy and responsibility to discover our gifts. We must first present ourselves to God’s lordship. Secondly, we must become good stewards of our gifts with renewed minds and good faith.

Finally, we must stay in fellowship with other believers. We were meant to serve one another well, to operate as one fully-functioning body. Our spiritual gifts will be confirmed as we begin serving each other however we can.

Apply it to your life
If you haven’t discovered your spiritual gifts, ask yourself: Have I presented myself to the Lord? Have I decided to be a good steward of whatever the Holy Spirit has confirmed in me? Am I serving faithfully in my church?

Sermon Overview
Scripture Passage: 1 Corinthians 6:12

The Bible is not a book of rules, but a book of principles. Rules can be manipulated and laws have loopholes, but principles are timeless and unchanging. Therefore, the Bible is a trusted source to cite when making daily decisions.

There are six positive principles to live by, and questions to ask ourselves for a proper daily practice of the Christian faith.

Expediency: Does this bring me to my appointed goal or does it hinder me?
"All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful...” (1 Corinthians 6:12). We ought to have God-given goals for our lives and a holy ambition to accomplish them. Our decisions should honor the direction we are going.

Enslavement: Am I brought under the power of anything other than Jesus Christ?
“...all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any” (1 Corinthians 6:12).

Jesus came to set us free from our addictions, vices, and bad habits. Under His sovereignty alone can we experience true freedom.

Example: Even if this doesn’t hurt me, will it hurt somebody else?
Even if we do not struggle with certain vices, our endorsement of it could lead others to stumble.

Adrian Rogers says, “Don’t let your head run away with your heart; we are here to operate by love. Knowledge puffs you up, but love builds up.”

Edification: Does this build me up or tear me down?
"...all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify" (1 Corinthians 10:23). Everything we do will either build us up or tear us down; we should value friendships, conversations, and entertainment that refresh, renew and restore.

Exaltation: Is God glorified by what I’m doing?
Colossians 3:17 says, “Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus…” Every decision we make either honors or dishonors the Lord. We should strive to exalt God in everything we do.

Evangelism: Is there anything that keeps me from bringing anybody else to Jesus Christ?
When you study God’s Word, are you looking for rules to follow or for principles to live by? Consider the principles above; ask yourself the questions presented.

Apply it to your life
When you study God’s Word, are you looking for rules to follow or principles to live by? Consider the principles above and ask yourself the questions presented.

Sermon Overview

Scripture Passage: Acts 9:1-6

Acts 9 tells the story of Saul’s conversion to becoming Paul. While on his way to persecute Christians, Saul came face-to-face with Jesus. And Saul’s first question to Jesus was:

“Lord, what wilt thou have me to do” (Acts 9:6)?

We are clever creatures who have lost our way and must relearn how we can know the will of God.

First, remember that God has promised to guide.

Psalm 32:8 says, "I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye."

God has a moral plan for each of our lives. God’s will is sovereign; it is always done. There is no changing the fixed standard of right and wrong He has established.

Though God’s will is particular for each of us, there are six universal truths about His plan:

It is not a roadmap; it is a relationship.

It is not the end of our joy, but the beginning.

God does not speak only to certain people; He has a plan for everyone.

Learning God’s will is not always a dramatic experience; oftentimes, it is spoken softly.

God is not finished with us, whether we’re 9 or 99.

God does not hide His will from us. He wants us to know it even more than we do.

God’s guidance hinges on our willingness, meekness, and openness.

He is willing to guide when we yield to His control. Sometimes, God will give visions, miracles, or dreams to reveal His plans, but many times, He speaks practically. He guides through Scripture, His people, and the Holy Spirit within us. We must be sensitive enough to hear and know His voice.

God also leads with sheer wisdom, through the renewing of our minds.

God opens and closes doors, and guides the meek through it all. Many times, we don’t even know it was the providence of God until afterward.

We don’t have to be afraid of the will of God. Adrian Rogers says, “The will of God will not take you where the power of God cannot keep you.”

Apply it to your life

Are you trying to find the will of God for your life? How much time are you spending alone with God? If we want to understand God’s particular will for our lives, we must begin to obey the Scriptures we understand.

Sermon Overview
Scripture Passage: 1 Corinthians 2:14

It’s important to know where we are in our spiritual maturity, in order to grow into what we could be. The Bible places men and women in three different categories: natural, spiritual, or carnal. As Christians, we want to be spiritual men and women, but in order to get there, we must begin to see the Bible as a roadmap to maturity.

1 Corinthians 2:14 says, “But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him: nor can he know them because they are spiritually discerned."

The natural man is born into the natural world, just like anybody else. But because he has not been born again through faith, he can’t appreciate or understand spiritual things; he is bound to the material world.

Adrian Rogers says, “The natural man does what comes naturally; the spiritual man does what comes supernaturally.”

The spiritual man has been born again, through salvation in Jesus Christ. He now lives by the Spirit, who inhabits his humanity. A Christian is not a natural person who decides to do better; he is someone who has been radically, dramatically, supernaturally changed. The spiritual things he once could not understand become apparent to Him. Now liberated through the Spirit, he sees with the mind of Christ, discerns everything with wisdom.

Finally, the Bible warns us about becoming a carnal man. He is one who has been saved, yet he is defeated and dependent on others to decipher Scripture. He is spiritually immature because there has not been any growth. He cannot walk, war, or work spiritually. The carnal man is also very divisive. He likes to stir up debates, provoke fights, can’t get along with anyone. They are saved, but no one would ever know it.

Unfortunately, the carnal Christian is a lot more common than we want to believe. In order for us to grow in truth and maturity, we must take an honest inventory of where we are, so that we may grow in Christ, and follow the roadmap of maturity.

Apply it to your life
Take time today to prayerfully figure out where you are in your relationship with Christ. Do you have the markings of a natural man, a spiritual man, or a carnal man? Live by the Spirit, learn, and be liberated by Him.

Sermon Overview
Scripture Passage: Acts 8:35-39

There are two common misconceptions people have about baptism: that it is either necessary for our salvation, or that it is not important at all.

In order to grow as Christians, we cannot minimize what the Bible has emphasized: starting right with believer’s baptism.

In Acts 8, God gave his servant, Philip, the specific assignment to witness to a eunuch of great authority.

“Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him. Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, “See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?” Then Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him. Now when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, so that the eunuch saw him no more; and he went on his way rejoicing” (Acts 8:35-39).

The word, “baptizo” means, “to immerse.” The biblical method of baptism is by immersion: placing a person under water and bringing him out.

Adrian Rogers says, “The method and the meaning are inextricably interwoven; you cannot change the method without destroying the meaning.”

Romans 6:4 says, “Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.”

Baptism symbolizes the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, as well as our death, burial, and resurrection with Him. There are three reasons to be baptized:

It proclaims our commitment to Jesus.
It portrays our conversion; it is our way of testifying.
It is a command from God that we must obey.
While baptism is not necessary for our salvation, it is necessary for our obedience. It shows that we belong to Jesus Christ.

Apply it to your life
Baptism is not a suggestion; it is a command from Scripture. Have you come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ? Have you been baptized?