Revival is the natural result of an encounter with God. Whenever God's Word exposes us for who we truly are and we respond by confessing our sins to Him, our heart finds peace and restoration. As Stephen reminds us in this message, repentance is the road to reformation . . . and there is no alternate route.
The Church in America is losing her courage to communicate the message of Jesus. Many believers today are just as materialistic and promiscuous as unbelievers. At the moment when our generation is asking life's most important questions, Christians aren't standing up to give the answer. We, like the people in Nehemiah's day, need a revival.
A listing of names can often be a wearisome portion of scripture to wade through, but it is actually one of the most beautiful aspects of the Bible. Every time you come to a list of names, it is a reminder that God is keeping tabs. He doesn't overlook any of the details. He sees all and He will reward those who serve Him faithfully.
In the Garden of Eden Satan whispered a cunning lie to Eve that incited one of the most tragic events in human history. He didn't stop there, however. He is still whispering lies in our ears today, so we must learn how to tune him out.
The reason the Church often fails to reach the world is because the world has infiltrated the Church. Secular ideologies and marketing strategies inspire Church activities. Self-promotion and commerce inspires fellowship. There is only one cure for this selfishness, and it's found in Nehemiah's inspired memoirs.
The devil is relentless. He won't bring his attacks to an end until you're all the way to the tape. So learn from this setback in Nehemiah's ministry the importance of endurance . . . especially when you're only halfway there!
Words not only have the power to hurt us; they also have the power to cripple us. So how do we get to the point in our Christian lives where we aren't crippled by the verbal abuse of others? Stephen gives us a powerful answer from the life of Nehemiah.
Being a Christian is more than singing songs about the cross or wearing a cross around your neck. It's carrying a cross on a daily basis. Nehemiah gives us a powerful Old Testament example of what that looks like practically.
Some Christians today have the misconception that complete surrender to Christ is a command for pastors and missionaries . . . not for everyone. Nehemiah's testimony teaches us the exact opposite.
Have you ever witnessed a riot in the parking lot of your church or been threatened by an angry mob of civilians? For us, that would be extreme persecution. For Hudson Taylor, that was just another day at the office!
Hudson Taylor was a 19th century Protestant Christian missionary who is known for his work in China. He was born in England in 1832 and grew up in a devout Christian household. After a conversion experience at the age of 17, he felt called to serve as a missionary and spent much of his life working to spread the Gospel in China.
Taylor was the founder of the China Inland Mission, an organization that focused on sharing the Gospel with people in China. He faced numerous challenges and setbacks throughout his ministry, including persecution, illness, and financial difficulties, but he remained dedicated to his work and deeply loved by those he served.
Taylor is perhaps best known for his innovative approach to missionary work, which included living among the Chinese people, wearing traditional Chinese clothing, and learning the Chinese language and culture. He believed that by adopting these practices, he could more effectively share the Gospel with the Chinese people and demonstrate the love of Jesus to them.
Throughout his life, Taylor remained deeply committed to his faith and his calling to serve others. He is remembered as a courageous and selfless missionary who dedicated his life to spreading the Gospel and serving others. His legacy lives on through the many lives he touched and the ongoing work of missionaries in China and around the world.
The book of Romans has been considered by many scholars and theologians throughout the ages to be the magnum opus of all Paul's letters--as well as the pillar of Christian doctrine and practice. So in this message Stephen reveals to us why this book is not only essential for Christians . . . it is essential for Christianity.
When Paul says in Romans 1:16 that the Gospel is the power of God unto salvation for all who believe, did you know that the Greek word he uses for 'power' in that passage is translated 'dynamite' in English?! Paul is saying that the Gospel isn't just power . . . its explosive power! And he watched it explode in the lives of thousands of men and women throughout his ministry. So if you're feeling weak or ineffective today in your own outreach, this is a message you don't want to miss.
The relationship between faith and works has proved a confusing issue for centuries. But it didn't just begin in the protestant reformation under Martin Luther. No. It began during the time of the Apostles. So let's listen in now as Stephen takes us back to Romans 1:5 to discover not only why True Faith Works . . . but how it works.
