Sometimes, we struggle with reading God's word. But to get the most from it, we must first see it as something valuable, humbly seek God through it, and obey him through action learned from our reading.

At the end of this lesson, I present 4 simple steps by which we can begin growing spiritually as we read God's word.

Sermon: How to Grow Spiritually with God's Word

Sometimes, we struggle with reading God's word. But to get the most from it, we must first see it as something valuable, humbly seek God through it, and obey him through action learned from our reading.

At the end of the lesson, I present 4 simple steps by which we can begin growing spiritually as we read God's word.

Things changed over the weekend. I learned that there was going to be a "white pride march" in Jackson, put on by a questionable group known as Battalion 14. As I wrestled with the implications of this for our city, I woke up Sunday determined to speak about it. The result was this sermon, spoken mainly "off the cuff," from my heart, connecting ideas from Romans 12:1-3 and 15:7, Galatians 3:26-29, and especially Ephesians 2:11-22, about our unity and oneness in Christ.

I especially focused on the teaching in Ephesians that reminds us that Jesus destroyed the wall of hostility that existed between ethnicities. I reminded us that as followers of Jesus we are called to love and serve our neighbor. Racism, or the propagation of such by hiding behind "free speech" or silence, has no place among Christians. We are called to speak the truth about evil wherever we find, and in whatever form we find it.

I hope you enjoy this sermon and learn from it. Please leave some feedback.

Sermon: Mature Faith

Too often, church relationships contain conflict. In Philippians 2:1-11, the apostle Paul teaches us how to overcome conflict and live like Jesus by working for oneness with one another, looking to others' interests first, and becoming obedient through service.

Sermon: How to Have the Mind of Jesus

Update: Sermon MP3 added on 3/15/2010

Too often, church relationships contain conflict. Paul teaches us in Philippians 2:1-11 how to overcome our differences and live like Jesus by working for oneness with one another, looking to others' interests first, and becoming obedient through service.

Review the sermon outline and slides ahead of Sunday's worship service to begin thinking about how you can develop the mind of Jesus in your own life.

The church is "one heart" when everyone works together for the greater good and to glorify God. That heart is broken whenever someone acts selfishly for their own benefit. Are you mending the church's broken heart or breaking it?

Sermon: Broken Heart

The church is whole when is of one heart. We break God's heart--and the church's heart--when we practice deception within the church. Are you breaking the church's heart or working to mend it?

Please review these study notes on possession from Acts 4:32-5:11, Sunday's sermon outline, and the slides.

Are we a church that prays or a praying church? The difference is big. The former fits prayer in but ultimately focuses on itself first. The latter is focused on God and lives by prayer.

In Acts 4:23-31 we learn from the early church how to be a praying church. Listen to this sermon and share it with others. Check out the slides, the sermon outline, or the slidecast here.

Review the sermon outline and slides for Sunday. Pray through Acts 4:23-31 and consider how God may be calling you to more prayer.

Get ready! On Sunday, we'll tackle how to turn away temptation when we're confronted with it by studying how Jesus turned away temptation.  In the meantime, read the study notes and questions on Luke 4:1-13, view the slides, and study the sermon outline to help you prepare for Sunday.

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