Abundant Life Sermons

What is the purpose of law in human society? God instituted civil authority for the peace and prosperity of society, apart from which there would be anarchy. God’s primary purpose for human government is to protect its citizens from violent offenders. The purpose of law is to maintain order and peace in society. Religion shapes culture, and culture shapes laws. A nation’s legislation always reflec...

Every society needs a higher moral authority, or it falls into moral anarchy. Moral destruction leads to the collapse of civilization. Apart from internal morality that comes from a higher authority, humans abuse their personal liberty, turning it into self-idolatry leading to the collapse of society (Romans 1:21-28). When a society embraces moral anarchy, God judges that culture by allowing colla...

Romans 1 reveals how the truth sets us free from the lies of the culture and the captivity of our feelings.   As Christians, our allegiance must be to the Kingdom of God and the multi-ethnic family of God. Faith in God is the reason for our salvation, and people with faith in God can never be controlled by another.   Religion shapes culture and culture shapes laws. What happens when a civilization...

Hebrews 13:1 gives practical next steps for believers to take so that they can become more like Jesus. 1.) Next steps at home: a. Love more (v. 1) • Host people (v. 2) • Help people (v. 3) • Honor marriage (v. 4) The Gospel should impact the most intimate places in your home. b. Live content (v. 5) • You have God’s presence (v. 5b) • You have God’s help (v. 6) 2.) Next steps at church: a. Learn th...

Jesus is the only way to God. No one can come to the Father except through Him. In Hebrews 12, the author invites his audience to choose Jesus and the freedom and grace offered under the New Covenant. There is a better way for us to come to God. Hebrews 12:18-29 contrasts the old way with the better way… 1.) The old way. We all fall short of God's glory. No one can reach His standard in their own...

The author of the Book of Hebrews encourages his audience to run with endurance like the cloud of witnesses before us. Jesus will chasten us to help us lighten our load so we can run with endurance. If you want to lighten your load, you need to do 3 things: 1.) Change your perspective. Christ’s working in your life will bring about refinement and renewal as you look to Jesus. 2.) Pursue peace and...

Jesus will chasten you until you lay down that weight or sin you refuse to lay down. His chastening is not because He’s against you but rather because He’s for you. He wants you to run your “faith race” with endurance. The chastening of the Lord is not the same as punishment. It’s a word that means discipline and correction. As God’s children, Jesus took all our punishment for all our sins. As a b...

Faith is seeing the invisible, but not the nonexistent. Hebrews 12:1-2 calls believers to run the faith race with endurance. We can be encouraged as we run because we are surrounded by a cloud of witnesses who have gone before us. How to run the race with endurance: 1.) Run with faith. Like others before us have run their race of faith, this is our time to run our race of faith. 2.) Run with forti...

Faith is believing and obeying God even when it seems impossible. Our faith in God produces eternal impact. How does faith produce eternal impact? 1.) Our faith in God tears down strongholds. Don’t tell God about the impossible. Tell the impossible about God and watch Him give you victory. 2.) Our faith in God redeems our stories. God can take our broken pieces and make masterpieces. He can redeem...

Faith is believing something is so, even when it isn’t so, so it will be so, because God says it’s so! Faith that IS something is a faith that DOES something! We are all running the race of faith. In Hebrews 11, Moses teaches us how to run the race of faith. 3 Ways Faith Runs: 1.) Faith runs to God’s promises. 2.) Faith runs to heaven’s rewards. 3.) Faith runs to Kingdom risk. Moses’ parents chose...

Being faithful doesn’t mean life won’t be painful. All the faithful people listed in Hebrews 11 lived lives of profound pain and suffering. Real faith cannot be ruined by suffering. It’s refined by suffering. Faith is believing something is so, when it isn’t so, so it will be so, because God said it’s so. Faith is believing God will perform all that He’s promised. It’s trusting in what God has sai...

We know Christ’s return is near because He and His apostles gave us signs to look for! The examples of Enoch and Noah in Hebrews 11 teach us how to live by faith in these last days. While the world rebelled against God, Noah and Enoch worshiped God. Because of their faith in God, they escaped His judgment. Noah and Enoch lived by faith as they obeyed God. Their lives and stories are prophetic pict...

Hebrews 11 is commonly called the “Hebrews Hall of Faith.” The author illustrates what faith is using stories associated with some of the greatest names in Hebrew history. The way to God is never based on our works for God! The way to Him is always by putting our faith in Christ’s work for us. What faith is not: • Faith is not a feeling. It’s more than an emotion. • Faith is not empty religion or...

Hebrews 10:19-39 emphasizes both the blessings of salvation and the dangers of apostasy. It calls believers to draw near to God, hold fast to their confession, and consider one another in love. Key points to consider: 1.) What Every Christian Should Do: Draw near to God with a true heart and full assurance of faith (vs. 22). Hold fast to the confession of hope without wavering (vs. 23). Consider o...

Under the Old Covenant, worshippers had only shadows that pointed to Christ—the substance of our salvation. The “shadow” of Christ and His blood—the blood of bulls and goats—could not take away sin! Christ’s victory over death and sin was made final on the cross. His sacrifice was better than any other sacrifice offered under the Levitical Law. Why is Christ the Better Sacrifice? 1.) The sacrifice...

Religion is a distortion of redemption. Religion always turns the symbols of our salvation into the substance and the sources. The message of Hebrews is to stop putting your hope in the rituals and symbols and start putting your hope in the true sources of salvation—the reality of what Jesus did at Calvary! What did both the Old and New Covenants have in common? 1.) Both the Old and New Covenants...

All the elements of the earthly tabernacle are a “shadow” of heavenly realities. The implements of worship under the Old Covenant were shadows pointing to Christ. Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross ushered in the New Covenant. There are several symbols in the Old Covenant that foreshadow the New Covenant. Shadows of the New Covenant as pictured by the Old Covenant: 1.) The Old Sanctuary. 2.) The Old Sa...

The Jewish followers of Jesus tried to embrace the New Covenant (Grace) while still hanging on to the Old Covenant (Law). Elements of the Old Covenant were merely “shadows” of the reality of the New Covenant. The contrasts between the Old Covenant and the New Covenant: 1.) We have a better Priest. 2.) We have a better Tabernacle. 3.) We have a better Mediator. 4.) We have better promises. How does...

Hebrews 6:9-20 reminds us that Christ is the anchor for our souls. His character is immutable, and His promises are true because He cannot lie.  3 questions to ask yourself as you read this passage:  1.What am I anchoring my soul to?  If you are anchored to Christ, your life will produce this fruit:  Labor in love (vs. 10a)  Minister to the saints (vs. 10b)  Diligence and rejection of laziness (vs...

Hebrews 6:4-6 contains some of the most controversial verses in the Bible. Many Christians interpret the text to mean that Christians can lose their salvation. However, that’s not what the author of Hebrews is saying. If we could lose our salvation because of our works, we would lose it every time we sinned. This is why our salvation is secured by God’s Son and sealed by God’s Spirit. Our salvatio...

Hebrews 5:11-12 is written as a warning to “baby” believers not to stay in spiritual infancy but to “grow up” to spiritual maturity. Everyone begins spiritually where they began physically—infancy. But where there is a new birth, growth should follow. What are the marks of spiritual maturity? 1.) A heart of humility. When your heart is humble before God, it will be shaped by the Word in you, not t...

To rest is to trust. Trust in Christ’s Word and trust in His Work. We are accepted by God only through Christ’s work and not our work. You cannot rest in who God is unless He reveals who you are. Resting in God’s Word allows Him to reveal our spiritual condition. Hebrews 4:12-13 reveals 3 things about God’s Word: 1.) God’s Word is a scalpel. 2.) God’s Word is a sword. 3.) God’s Word is a spotlight...

Many Christians live at peace with God but never learn how to rest in God. Instead of resting in God, we work, wrestle, and worry over things that are not in our control. In Hebrews 4, the author of Hebrews warns his audience about this fruitless striving. Work is about trying to earn God’s love and favor. Worship is done in response to God’s love and favor. When we rest in God, our response is no...

Ryan Kwon is the lead pastor at Resonate Church in Fremont California. He joins us for Live Sent weekend to talk about living on mission and how sharing the gospel with others is vital for our walk with Christ. 3 Components of Living on Mission: 1. Missional theology shapes the mind. 2. Missional compassion shapes the heart. 3. Missional discipleship shapes our practice. • Call the saints. • Call...

Hebrews 3 contains another warning about the consequences of disobeying God. The author warns the Hebrews not to disregard the sufficiency of Christ. This came from the generation of Israelites who left Egypt but never entered the Promised Land because of disbelief and disobedience. The Israelites disbelieved God, so they disobeyed God, forfeiting the promises of God! They had enough faith to get...