A list of all the audio only sermons available on the site.

Video courtesy The ZOE Group.

Video courtesy Discovery.com

What produces maturity is being mature. Imitating Christ leads to being transformed into Christ.
Primary text(s): Matthew 28:16-20; Colossians 1:28-29; Romans 5:1-5

In the conclusion of this series in Galatians, Paul makes his final plea against those who are insistent on teaching circumcision. Paul's final appeal takes us to the core of the gospel message - the Cross of Christ. It is the Cross that makes us new creatures, not circumcision (or any other ceremony).

In all of Paul?s letters, Paul commits time and space to speak to the relationship Christians have with one another. In Galatians, he urges the disciples to use their freedom to deal with the hardships of others. Freedom in Christ is not freedom to disregard brothers and sisters. It is all the more the reason to engage and help carry loads that were never meant for one person to bear.
Primary text(s): Galatians 6:1-10

Being heirs of God is the ultimate declaration of freedom. By comparing Old Testament figures Sarah and Hagar, Paul again compels the Galatians to choose freedom over bondage.

To many, this dichotomy is the core message of Paul's letter. He marvels that the Galatians have seemingly made preference to the Law (Rules and Regulations) over God's extravagant Grace. Paul makes a compelling case and puts the recipients of this letter in the position to make the better choice.

The Galatians church was inundated with teaching that tried to syncretize Christianity with Judaism. As such, the Christians believed that their salvation would be the result of their performance of rituals and rules and not God?s work of Justification. Paul will make the strong case using the story of Abraham that salvation is a matter of Justification in Christ.

God's roadmap for mankind includes everyone even those who the Jews saw as unfit for God's love. Paul explains that his calling was from God to minister to the Gentiles and even opposed one the earliest and most prominent leaders of the early church, the apostle Peter. It also sets the stage for Paul's discussion of the yoke that Jews desired to place on Gentile believers.

Who were the Christians of Galatia and why did Paul start his letter off with such a stern warning against those who preach counterfeit gospels? In this introductory sermon, we will set forth the occasion of Paul's letter to Galatia and his attempt to convince the Galatians to celebrate their life of freedom in Christ.

Video courtesy MovieClips.com

Grace is not a new thing or a new phenomenon or a New Testament innovation. It is the very nature of God.

"Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour." ? 1 Peter 5:8 (NASB)

No one is immune to sin. The Bible states clearly in Romans 3:23 that all people have sinned and fall short of God's standard. There's no escaping that we all are imperfect.

There's also no escaping the fact that we are susceptible to sin in two ways:

1. We have an enemy that is out to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10a); and
2. Our flesh is weak and is lured by the things of this world. (Matthew 26:41)

Separated from Christ, our defenses are too weak and we will succumb to our struggles. Separated from community, we are isolated and are unable to be sharpened by our fellow believers.

Thus, we must readily prepare our defenses. We must rely on God's strength, read God's Word, and participate in Christian community. We cannot live apart from these safeguards without falling victim to a life controlled by sin.

The second part of John 10:10 encourages us that Christ came to give us an abundant life. Even though we may not be immune to sin, we do not have to live in bondage to our sin. We can live as new creations as we daily renew our minds and are increasingly transformed into the likeness of Christ.

Primary text(s): 1 Peter 5:6-9, John 10:1-10

This is the Truth - upside down

"He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper, But he who confesses and forsakes them will find compassion." ? Proverbs 28:13 (NASB)

It's easy to believe that our sins are unique to only us. Pair that with the competing thought that we are the worst of all sinners, and we begin to feel trapped. A vicious cycle then ensues:

1. We continue to commit the sin.
2. We desire to stop committing the sin.
3. We feel like what we've done is unforgivable by God and/or people.
4. We hide our sin from others, spurning community and its healing accountability.
5. Repeat steps 1-4.

Sound familiar? There are many reasons that we become a slave to this cycle. Often, we become ensnared in consistent sin because we hope to avoid the consequences that we know we deserve. Or, we might be afraid to disappoint God, our friends, our family, and others. Even worse, sometimes we become content with our sin patterns and reach a point in which we don?t desire change.

Proverbs 28:13 makes it clear?if we continue to hide our sins, we isolate ourselves and create a barrier between us and God. But, if we confess our sins, we receive mercy and healing.

Mercy and healing are truly what we least expect when we confess. We expect to be hated. We expect others to look down at us and be disappointed. We expect that others will never trust us again.

Yet, 1 John 1:9 promises us that if we confess our sins, God is faithful to forgive us. So when we expect judgment, we receive grace. People can surprise us, too. They are quick to love and forgive, and they desire to help us overcome our struggles.

The greatest danger to the epidemic of sin is confession and revelation. It's scary and unpredictable and that's what keeps many of us from full disclosure.

Primary text(s): Proverbs 28:13

"But like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, 'You shall be holy, for I am holy'"
? 1 Peter 1:15-16 (NASB)

When you think about the word "sin," what comes to mind? Often, we think of the big stuff, and with good reason. When celebrities, politicians, and even prominent church leaders are caught in scandals it's because they've stolen money, used drugs, or cheated on their spouse. At church, we often focus on avoiding these "big sins" ? adultery, addiction, sexual impurity, and any activity that could land us in jail. And let's be clear, we absolutely should avoid these things. None of these destructive behaviors are consistent with the life God intends for us.

The only problem with focusing on this list is that it allows us to minimize other sins. We think the "little stuff" ? a white lie or a lustful glance, for example ? is OK every now and then, as long as we don't go too far. When we rank sins in order of their seriousness, our little slip-ups don't seem so bad in comparison. Obviously, this is a trap. Why? Because we've based our understanding of sin, character, and integrity on our culture's sliding scale. Rather than pursuing God's standard for our lives as portrayed in Scripture, we compare ourselves to others. We draw arbitrary lines signifying what is "good enough" and then we try to stay on the right side of the line. As the passage above from 1 Peter states, we're called to lead lives that are holy in all we do.

In Ephesians 4:27, Paul the Apostle warns us not to "give the devil an opportunity." As Paul teaches the church at Ephesus about following Christ, his implication is that seemingly minor lapses can be exploited by Satan. Satan desires distraction and destruction in our lives, so it's wise to deny him even the slightest bit of leverage. Seemingly small compromises allow the devil to get his foot in the door of our lives. Therefore, as men and women who want to live fully surrendered to God and His kingdom, let us be wary of the temptation to compromise. When "little stuff" arises, let's slam the door shut.

Primary text(s): 1 Peter 1:1-25

"Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need."
? Hebrews 4:16 (NASB)

Temptation is everywhere. From food to television, what starts as an innocent moment in which the Lord delights can quickly turn into an ugly cycle that is not of God. When we are surrounded by both obvious and subtle seduction, sin that once seemed unthinkable loses its sting and begins to feel comfortable. Advertisements that assault us with their less-than-modest images become so familiar that we don't even think to turn our heads. A means of nutrition can easily turn into a pattern of inappropriate proportions. Our senses are so overwhelmed from moment to moment that taking a step back to reconnect with God becomes less of a priority.

We know that Christ promises that we are not alone in temptation. In some circumstances we hold tight to that promise, but in others we make excuses. We say, "It's just too much. There is no where I can go without being tempted."

The truth in 1 Corinthians 10:13 is encouraging: "No temptation has overtaken you, but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also so that you may be able to endure it."

There is an escape from daily temptations and it is always available. Philippians 4:6-7 says that as we talk to Jesus, his peace will guard our hearts and minds. Each day we can ask for protection from our struggles and when we fall we can receive mercy and grace.

Primary text(s): Hebrews 4:12-16

The Marshmallow Test video courtesy Igniter Media