Abundant Life Sermons

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...

Do you wonder if God has a plan for mankind despite sin? In Hebrews 2, the author draws people’s attention to why God created humans. God’s plan for man is to reflect His image. God doesn’t make broken things. He designed us to be crowned with glory, beauty, and splendor. However, that image is broken because of sin. The Bible doesn’t waste any time in telling us why we are in the predicament we’r...

Hebrews 2 begins with a warning for those who are drifting from God. These ancient Hebrews had heard the good news that Jesus died for their sins and rose again. They hadn’t entirely rejected the gospel but hadn’t yet responded to it. They were drifting from God and in danger of drifting past their opportunity for salvation.     The currents of the world will carry you away from God if you are not...

Title: How Do You Know You Are a Christian? | Clayton King How do you know you are a Christian? The world would look at your actions and possessions to determine your status as a Christian. According to the world’s standards, you know you are a Christian when you fit criteria like… Being a good person. Being raised in a Christian family. Loving everyone. Being baptized. Going to church.  According...

Angels worship Jesus because they are mere servants while He is Sovereign. They are messengers and ministers, but Jesus is the Messiah. Jesus is better than angels because while they live to serve, Jesus lives to save! 3 reasons why Jesus is better than the angels: 1.) Jesus is better because of His excellent name. Christ’s name deserves better acclaim because He died for our sins, rose again, and...

The theme of Hebrews is the complete sufficiency and the absolute supremacy of Jesus Christ. It was written to strengthen the Hebrews’ wavering faith and prove that Jesus is the One! Jesus is the perfect sacrifice because He was completely sinless. He became a Man to become our sacrificial lamb. The Son of God became flesh for three reasons: 1.) To express God’s Word. God said it. The prophets wro...

People claim that Jesus’ resurrection didn’t happen, that maybe Jesus didn’t die, and that He couldn’t be fully man and God. However, an eyewitness account of Jesus’ crucifixion is recorded in the gospels, proving the validity of His death and resurrection. This eyewitness of Jesus’ crucifixion is from the perspective of a Roman centurion who presided over the crucifixion. This man had crucified c...

The Bible goes to great lengths to expose our need for a Savior. We are sentenced to spiritual death, but Jesus took our place when He died on the cross. We see our need for a Savior illustrated through Barabbas. Three steps to recognize our need for a Savior: 1. We need a substitute. Barabbas is a picture of all of us spiritually. We are dead in our sin apart from Christ. 2. Jesus is the substitu...

Love is not something we merely say; it’s something we must do! Learning how to love like Jesus requires humility and selflessness as we imitate the example He set for us. The 3 characteristics that teach us how to love like Jesus: 1.) Christ’s love was unselfish. The Creator of the Universe got down on his knees and did the work of the “lowliest” of servants—washing the feet of His disciples. 2.)...

We were created to worship our Creator, and our worship does not find its fulfillment in anything other than Jesus. Acts of worship can be costly. They can cost us time, money, and other resources, but these sacrifices fulfill the definition of worship: to give all of yourself for all of Jesus. 3 examples of acts of worship: 1.) Serving Jesus is an act of worship. 2.) Sitting with Jesus is an act...

Apart from Christ, we are born spiritually stone dead. It’s Christ who makes us spiritually alive—living stones! 1 Peter 2:5, “…you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” As living stones, we can worship God in 2 ways: 1.) We put His love on display through giving generously. 2.) We...

Why should Christians be involved in government? Godly people engaged in government influence godly outcomes. Examples of Christians in government abound, including Joseph, Daniel, and Nehemiah, who brought godly outcomes even in ungodly governing systems.   In Matthew 5:13, Jesus calls us to be the salt of the earth. Because the Church is no longer “salty,” our society is decaying morally and spi...

Matt Carter is the vice president of mobilization for Send Network, a partnership of people planting churches everywhere for everyone. Before joining Send Network, Matt founded The Austin Stone Community Church, which sent over 300 full-time missionaries to unreached people groups around the world during his time there.     The Great Commission is a call for all believers. Send Network exists to h...