Crosstown OKC Sermons

Paul's purpose in writing Philemon is to intercede on behalf of Onesimus, who had recently become a Christian. Paul reminded Philemon of the partnership that he and Paul shared in the gospel. So now, as Onesimus returned to Philemon, Philemon would be compelled by the love he had received in Christ to receive Onesimus as a partner in Christ, just like he considered Paul to be.

Paul opens his letter to Philemon by expressing his gratitude to God for the genuineness of Philemon’s faith. Paul’s prayer for Philemon is that his faith will be put into practice in every situation, so that right there Christ and his kingdom will become visible. Paul has seen this happen before, and he expresses his confidence that he will see it again, especially in the matter that has caused h...

In Paul's letter to Philemon, the apostle makes an appeal on behalf of Philemon's slave, Onesimus. It is not just what the appeal is but how it is constructed that matters most. Here we see Christian theology in practice as Paul grounds his appeal for Onesimus in light of the reconciliation that Christ has won for his people.

The Christian life is not usually an easy life. We follow the crucified Savior so it should not be a surprise when our lives reflect a similar reality. But resurrection is our hope, keeping us encouraged to press onward in our discipleship.

The Christian community, the church of Jesus, is the place where God intends his glory to be visible today. Christian disciples are formed in this community, through the various ways in which God is made known to them. Everyone has an essential role to play for the benefit of the whole family of faith.

How quickly Christians can lose sight of the gospel! Paul was stunned to see how his converts in Galatia were drawing tighter boundaries around the people of God, limiting the freedom that Christ had won for them. He reminds Christian who they truly are: members of God's one family through whom he intends to manifest his blessings into the world.

Christians are to be disciples of Jesus more than anything else. Although we can learn much about Jesus from other Christians, it is Jesus we follow, and it is his fruit we are to manifest. Our task is to remain with Christ, abiding in his love, and joyfully obeying his commands.

Jesus promised that everyone who believed in him would be empowered by his Spirit to advance the blessings of his kingdom throughout the world. That promise was fulfilled when Jesus entered his glory in surprising fashion As the good news of his kingdom spread, his followers found that they were empowered by the Spirit of Christ to proclaim the same message of salvation through Jesus alone.

Christians have been given the Holy Spirit to make them witnesses of Jesus and his kingdom. We have been transferred out of the kingdom of death and brought into the kingdom of life. But we are often tempted to go back and to submit to the slavery from which we have been delivered. The only way forward is to discern the voice of the Spirit, and to go his way, wherever he might take us.

Jesus promised that when the Holy Spirit came upon his disciples, they would be his witnesses, representatives of his own presence in the world. To be Jesus’s witnesses, then, we must depend upon his Spirit whom he has given to us. We must learn how to rely upon the Spirit’s help so that everyone may know about God’s love.

A Christian is a person who possesses the Spirit of God. And to have God’s Holy Spirit is to be assured that God will transform a person, making him or her the image of God that they were always meant to be. Holiness is the Christian’s destiny, but it is also the Christian’s duty to prioritize and to cultivate over a lifetime of discipleship.

The Spirit of God unites believers together in one faith. Believers have the responsibility to maintain unity. The church has the privilege to practice this unity.

The Bible claims to be telling the true story of the world. The story it tells gives us hope that the God who created the world will also save the world from the destructive power of sin. This story is centered around Jesus, but it necessarily involves us who believe in him. Because of the promise of God’s Holy Spirit who has come to dwell among his people, God will empower us to fulfill the good...

At last, Paul arrived in Rome. The journey had not been easy, but Paul was reenergized by the other Christians he meet there. Calling for the Jewish authorities, he expounded to them faith in Jesus as the realization of Israel’s hope. Though his testimony was not accepted, Paul was undeterred. He knew that, regardless of his own fate, the good news of Jesus and his kingdom would never cease to be...

Paul and his travelling companions had an eventful journey to Rome. A relentless sea storm and a devastating shipwreck threatened to take away all hope for surviving the trip. Paul played no small part in keeping hope alive, his presence in the catastrophe signifying God's desire and power to save people from destruction.

The Roman governors tried to figure out why there was so much fuss about Paul. But even after putting him on trial, they remained puzzled. Though they could find no guilt in him, they sensed that he was motivated by a powerful conviction that they themselves would have to face one way or another.

Despite many warnings, Paul returns to Jerusalem at the end of his 3rd missionary journey. Plots stack against him, but he is eager to give a report on his ministry, willing to face persecution, ready to witness to the hope of the resurrection, and wise to use his Jewishness and his Roman citizenship for the gospel. The Lord is by his side encouraging him, as we witness how the Romans are now more...

The Apostle Paul wanted to get back to Jerusalem before Pentecost, but he first needed to complete his mission. He comforted the believers with the life-giving message of the kingdom of God. He entrusted the church to the sustaining power of God’s grace. And he remained resolute in his determination to complete what the Lord had called him to do, no matter the cost.

As disciples of Jesus, Christians join their Lord in the advance of his kingdom on earth. This mission, though guaranteed to succeed, will not be easy. All disciples will need to know the power of God's Holy Spirit as they confront the powers of darkness, who will do their best to discourage even the bravest among them.

Standing before the highest council in Athens, Paul made his case for the resurrection of Jesus as the hope that everyone is looking for. Traveling on to Corinth, Paul found dear friends who would partner with him in promoting this message. Encouraged by Jesus himself, Paul remained in Corinth for some time, establishing a church community who would bear witness to the power of the resurrection.