Sermons by Phil Pike

A True Disciple is Filled with the Spirit

Date: October 14, 2018

When we are saved, the Holy Spirit comes to live inside of us. His role in our lives is indispensable, and yet He is the least acknowledged and least appreciated person of the Trinity. If we truly understood all that He does for us every moment of every day, and the devastation our lives would be in without His convicting, teaching, guiding and empowering, we would appreciate Him far more, and we would long to be filled with Him continuously. Today we learn how we can be filled with the Spirit, and what that actually means.

A True Disciple is Obedient and Loving

Date: October 7, 2018

We all have our own ideas of what love is, but the Bible provides the only true definition. It tells us that we cannot just say we love God and love others; our actions must back up our words. We prove our love for God, not by talking about it, but by obeying His commands. And we prove our love for others, not through words, but by serving them and sacrificing ourselves for them, just as Jesus did for us. If we don’t obey God, we don’t love Him. If we’re not serving others, we don’t love them. So, how is your love?

A True Disciple is Saved and Surrendered

Date: September 30, 2018

The first mark of a true disciple is that he is saved. Jesus said there are many people doing religious things in His name, yet they will be turned away from heaven because they were never really born again. But salvation is just the first step. Once we’re saved, we cannot continue to run our own lives. We must turn over the throne of our heart to Him, surrendering everything to His leadership. It is difficult to give up control, but the truth is, our lives will never make sense or be fulfilling until the One who made us is completely in charge.

You are the Light of the World

Date: September 23, 2018

If you light a candle in a room that is already filled with light, the candle will not make any difference. But light that same candle in a totally dark room, and the darkness will disappear. The Bible tells us that we live in a world of spiritual darkness, and that we are to be a light in that darkness. Our light was never meant to be kept inside the church. It was meant to be taken into the dark world. Is there anyone in your circle of influence who could use your light right now?

You are the Salt of the Earth

Date: September 16, 2018

The next time you reach for the salt, stop and think about something. Salt doesn’t do any good if it is left inside the salt shaker. It has to be poured out to be of any use. The same is true of us. As followers of Christ, He has called us to be salt to the world around us, which means we need to actually come in contact with unsaved people. And when we do, what affect should “our salt” have on them? Today’s message explores some of the powerful ways Christ can influence others through us.

Proclaiming the Lord’s Death

Date: September 9, 2018

No one ever celebrates when someone they love dies. Yet the Bible tells us to proclaim, to give thanks for, even to rejoice in the death of Christ. Why? Because it was His death on the cross that paid the penalty for our sin and made us righteous before God. His death gives salvation and eternal life to all those who put their faith in Him. Whenever we take the Lord’s Supper, we are proclaiming His death — we are preaching the Gospel — and that is the greatest message we could ever share.

Blessed are Those Who are Persecuted

Date: August 26, 2018

There are many wonderful promises in the Bible that we should all become familiar with, but there is one promise that none of us really want to think about. Jesus promised that everyone who followed Him would be hated and persecuted by the world. While most of us have never been subjected to any kind of physical persecution, if we are truly living for righteousness, we will most certainly experience rejection, slander, and even hatred at times for our faith. This is one of the marks of a true believer. Is it evident in your life?

Blessed are the Pure in Heart

Date: August 12, 2018

What are the requirements for gaining entrance into the kingdom of heaven? Church attendance won’t get you there, nor will giving money or being a good person. The only way we will ever be accepted by God is to have a pure heart, but the bad news is, none of us can attain a pure heart through our own efforts. We must have our hearts washed clean by the blood of Jesus. That alone will put us in a right standing before Him. Have you ever believed in Jesus for the forgiveness of your sins, or are you trying to earn it yourself?

Blessed are the Merciful

Date: August 5, 2018

Deeply ingrained in every human heart is a desire for justice. This is part of the image of God that has been imprinted on our nature, but because of sin, our desire for justice has been distorted. It now lurks inside us, keeping track of all the ways other people have offended us, and constantly demanding that they pay for what they’ve done. But rather than seeking revenge, Jesus said His followers should be quick to show mercy by forgiving the debts of others, even if they don’t deserve it. After all, God forgave us of all our sin, and we did nothing to deserve it!

Blessed are Those Who Hunger and Thirst

Date: July 29, 2018

Imagine being lost alone in a vast desert with no food or water. After several days your body loses all strength and you know that you can’t survive much longer. You would give everything you own for even a sip of water or a small bite of food. This is the kind of intense hunger and thirst Jesus said we should have for righteousness. It should be our first desire and a lifelong pursuit so that our lives will bring Him glory. What are you pursuing above everything else?

Blessed are the Meek

Date: July 22, 2018

Of all the virtues people aspire to in life, meekness is rarely one of them. We don’t elect politicians who are meek. Corporations don’t look for meek CEO’s. Yet Jesus, the greatest leader who ever lived, was described as “meek and lowly in heart.” The Bible says that meekness will be one of the identifying marks of a follower of Christ. But what exactly is it, how does one obtain it, and how is it displayed in the life of a true believer?

Blessed are Those Who Mourn

Date: July 15, 2018

We do everything we can in life to avoid sorrow and grief, but there is a certain kind of mourning the Bible tells us we ought to do. We are called to take the reality and wickedness of sin seriously and mourn over it. Our hearts should be broken over our sin, knowing that it grieves the heart of God. This kind of godly sorrow is good and right because it leads us to repentance, which in turn, leads us to joy and comfort and peace with God.