25 Woods Lake Road, Building 8, Greenville, SC
When we read in the Bible that Jesus left heaven and came to earth to save us, do we have any idea just what that really means? The King of glory laid aside His royal robe and wrapped Himself in human flesh. He exchanged His home in heaven to have no place to lay His head on earth. He willingly endured mocking and slander, was abandoned by His closest friends, suffered an excruciating death on a cross, and He did it all for you!
Have you ever known someone who seemed to have it all, and yet it wasn’t enough? On the other hand, have you ever known someone who had very little, and they were bitter and resentful because others had more than they did? But the real question is, how content are you? Once you learn the secret of contentment, God’s power will be alive in you, and your life will be a blessing and an inspiration to others.
The economy, loss of jobs, our health, our finances, our children, the future — there are plenty of things in life that can fill us with worry and anxiety. In fact, if we allow it to, worry can become all-consuming and drain us of our joy and effectiveness. But we are not just helpless victims destined to live in the stranglehold of fear! The Bible shows us how we can rise above our anxious thoughts and find a supernatural peace that comes only from God.
The way a person lives their life, how they conduct themselves, how they determine right from wrong, can be summed up in the word ‘walk’. Which way are you walking?
“If God has forgiven me, why don’t I feel forgiven?” Have you ever asked that question? As Christians, we know that God has forgiven all our sin and He has promised to never remember it again. Why, then, do we so often still feel haunted and condemned by things in our past? If you’ve ever wrestled with this issue, today’s sermon will help you understand why that happens and how you can move beyond your past into the future God has for you! (Audio problems at the beginning will clear up within the first few minutes)
A bride on her wedding day would never dream of saying to her new husband, “Thanks for the ring and the lovely ceremony, but I’m leaving now to go live life on my own.” Many people can tell you the time and place they were saved, but they have never had a relationship with Jesus since then. The Bible says if we have truly been saved, our lives will be characterized by an ongoing desire to know Christ more and more. Is that your desire?
When the Titanic was sinking, many wealthy passengers left money, priceless jewels, and artwork behind as they fled to the lifeboats. What had been so valuable to them just minutes before was now worthless in comparison to saving their lives. There are things we sometimes place high values on that we think will make us right with God — good works, being a church member, etc. — but the Bible says all these are worthless compared to the surpassing value of knowing Christ. Discover the secret Paul knew and see why he could truly say that Christ was his greatest treasure.
There is a half-built highway bridge in Cape Town, South Africa that comes to an abrupt end and hangs perilously in midair. If you were to drive on this road, you would think it was taking you somewhere, but you would soon plunge off the end to your demise. The same is true with salvation. Many people follow patterns and lifestyles they think will take them to heaven, but when they reach the end of life, they will plunge into a godless eternity. What are you trusting in to make you right with God and take you to heaven when you die? Make absolutely sure it is not one of the false hopes for eternity the Bible warns us about!
There are people in the Bible whose names we know very well. Sermons are preached about them, Sunday School lessons are taught about them, even books have been written about them. But there is a hidden hero in the Bible who was highly praised by Paul for serving faithfully in the shadows and for simply being willing to do what he could. Are you serving the Lord without recognition or applause? Take heart! God sees your service, and He will reward you one day!
If we were asked to list destructive sins that stir God’s anger and hinder the light of the gospel from shining, complaining and grumbling would probably not even make it on the list. And yet God puts grumbling right alongside the sin of idol worship, paganism and sexual immorality! Why? Because grumbling is a sign of an ungrateful heart towards God’s goodness, and it severely damages the testimony of the gospel. Is your life characterized by a grateful spirit or an undercurrent of complaining?
What higher priority could there be in our lives than that of our own salvation? Yet, many are confused, deceived, or indifferent when it comes to this vital topic. Scripture teaches us how to avoid these errors, and we must be diligent in making sure our claim of salvation is in agreement with the description of salvation found in God’s Word.
When Christ gave His life for us, He also set an example for us to follow. It was an example of humble obedience to His Father’s will, even to the extent of death on a cross. Claiming faith in God without obedience to His commands is nothing more than wishful thinking. It’s a hollow claim. Scripture is very clear on this, and Jesus warned of many who will deceive themselves because they fail to understand this truth.
