The Sovereign Became a Slave
Jesus washed men's feet. He touched lepers. He ate with tax collectors. He walked from place to place without material possessions. He was the Lord over all, yet became a servant to all. Are you following His example?
Crushing the "Kingdom of Me"
All our possessions are made of matter, which God created. All our talents and strengths come from our DNA, which God designed. Everything that sustains us from food, to air, to relationships, is a gift from God. Are you living in light of that today?
A Mount Everest of Truth
The only thing more baffling than the pride of man is the humility of God. Philippians 2:5-8 is a passage we will spend all eternity wrapping our minds around.
An Unnatural Way to Live
What is the cure for gossip and slander? What is the remedy for pride, envy, and vain ambition? Paul gives us the answer in Philippians 2:2-4.
The Vanishing Virtue
Paul is under house arrest. He is isolated from his friends. Church leaders in Rome have abandoned him. Yet, strangely, he isn't longing for freedom or praying for comforts. His sole desire is to see the Church of God being unified in humility.
Recovering the Gospel
Has the Gospel lost its power in the world today? It seems like we're always hearing things on the news about the rise of Islam in the East or the rise of secularism in the West. It's almost as if the salt of the Gospel has lost its savor. But as Stephen reminds us in this sermon, the issue isn't whether the Gospel is still changing the world.
Gripped by the Gospel
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.
Three Perspectives . . . One Passion
What made Paul's ministry so unique? Was it the numerous adventures he endured such as shipwrecks, snakebites, and escapes from prison? Was it the many miracles he performed? Was it the varied visions and revelations he received directly from God? No. It was his passion for the Gospel that set him apart. To Paul, all these things were worthless compared to the incomparable value of knowing Christ. He never forgot that he was only a messenger . . .and he was carrying the most powerful message in the world.
Resolution
Paul preached contentment in the midst of difficulty. He modeled the kind of faith that sees every obstacle as an opportunity. But he was also human. Like you and me, Paul had hopes and dreams that, at this point in his story, were unfulfilled. As we witness this great apostle deal openly with his most trying disappointment, Stephen helps us confront and deal with our own.
Beyond Christmas and Birthdays
Besides toys, jewelry, education, sports fees, food, clothing and shelter, are you giving your family the gift that matters most?