Surviving Vanity Fair
At one point in John Bunyan's famous work, "A Pilgrim's Progress," Pilgrim and his friend travel through a town called "Vanity Fair." The town is a lot like yours and mine: materialistic, self-absorbed, pleasure-seeking, and God-rejecting. Temptation was lurking around every corner. In this message, Stephen asks us to consider how well we are surviving the onslaught of temptation that surrounds us every day in our own Vanity Fair. In Bunyan's allegory, Pilgrim's friend didn't make it out alive. Will you?
We Interrupt This Letter ...
In Romans 16:17-18, the Apostle Paul interrupts his letter of commendation to warn the Church about false teachers. It's a warning as relevant to us today as it was to those Christians in Rome. So let's join Stephen in this message as he gives us the marks of a false teacher.
The Hall of Faith
There's a hall of fame for just about everything nowadays. There's a basketball hall of fame, a bicycling hall of fame, a nurses hall of fame, an aviation hall of fame, a quilters hall of fame; and the list goes on and on! In Romans chapter 16, however, we discover that God has a hall of fame as well. But unlike our worldly displays, the heroes in God's hall are not praised for great feats of strength, brilliance, or artistry. They are honored for their service and humility. So let's join Stephen now as he shows us a few of the people on display.
Choosing Third Class
Have you ever heard the saying, "No man is an island?" Well the Apostle Paul, spiritual and energetic as he was, would have said the same thing. In Romans 16:3-5, he introduces us to a Godly couple who poured into him as much as he poured into others. Were it not for their persistent ministry, Paul would not have been the Apostle he was.
Make Room for My Sister!
God knows Your name and He knows everything about you. You might walk down the street or walk down the aisle of your Church and feel like just a face in the crowd. But there is coming a day when God will call you by name. He will embrace you as His child . . . and He will reward you for all the things you did for his glory that no one else saw. What a day that will be!
Inviting God's Searchlight
There are two kinds of prayers that will have dramatic effects on your walk of faith. The first is "God, make whatever You will of me." The second is, "God, take whatever You will out of me." Neither prayer comes easy.
Designer Made
Before sonograms, ultrasounds, 3D imaging, and years of scientific research, King David gives us an unparalleled glimpse into humanity's true womb.
Reveling in the Omnipresence and Omnipotence of God
Isn't it an amazing thought that God can't lose you? No matter where you are in the world – whether lost in a crowd of tourists or alone on some secluded mountain – God is already there. Stephen takes us further in his study of Psalm 139 to show us why that is cause for rejoicing.
Rejoicing in the Omniscience of God
The thought that God knows everything about us is often a disconcerting thought. But it is a thought we should rejoice in every day. David's unforgettable lyrics in Psalm 139 provide the reason for our rejoicing.
The End of the Story
The beginning of Psalm 73 marked Asaph's darkest hour. The ending of the Psalm 73 marks his finest.