All for the Kingdom with Ben Smith

I have found that there are some common traps that ensnare and bring great damage to families. To be sure there are more than three, but I believe that most of the traps that threaten families fall under these three categories. 1.    Sexual immorality (Proverbs 7)  2.    Worldly entanglements (Proverbs 22:7, Romans 13:5-8) 3.    Fals...

This past Sunday, my friend Freddie Smith preached for me thus there is not a new sermon for the podcast this week. So I am posting a sermon I preached in 2017 on the occasion of the recognition Sunday for our high school graduates. The sermon is from 2 Timothy 4 on the spiritual dangers we face today. Of course, these concerns are not unique to our day. The spiritual dangers we face are not new t...

Our purpose is not to raise children that stay safe and never face difficulty. We are called to raise children who will obey the call of God even if that takes them into danger or away from our ability to protect and provide. We are called to entrust them into to care of the Lord.

The Bible does not teach that we are subject to the random whim of an impersonal universe. The Bible teaches that God created the world and is actively involved in the working out of His enteral will in the world and among His creation. This is the idea of divine providence – that is that God is for us. Paul, in Romans 8:28, declares this amazing truth that God is actively working out all things f...

Pastor Ben preaches from the parable of the minas from Luke 19:11-27 on the difference between true and false servants of Jesus.

Pastor Ben preaches from Luke 18:9-14 the parable of the Pharisee and tax collector. With this parable, Jesus exposes the foolishness of our arrogance and our desperate need for God's mercy.

Christians are not people who have not sinned. Christians are sinners who have been made clean in Christ. Pastor Ben preaches from 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 on the transforming work of the gospel.

Preaching from Luke 18:1-8 pastor Ben points to the reality of the broken world. Though evil and injustice are part of this world we hope because of God’s awareness and response to our needs and the promise that Jesus will return to make all things right.

Pastor Ben preaches from the parable of the rich man and Lazarus and calls us to see with an eternal perspective the present opportunity of salvation.

Pastor Ben preaches from two parables about things that are lost and found. From this text we see both how God responds to our lostness and His heart's joy over our repentance.

The simple truth of this passage is a call to repent. This was the singular message of John the Baptist’s preaching. This was the theme of Jesus’ preaching. And this is the call of every faithful preacher of the gospel to this day.

We live in a world that values things. The sales pitch is always the same, “more things equal more happiness.” We like to hear that we “need” more things, or we “deserve” more things. So often, the temptation to judge our own value or success by the number of things we have collected overwhelms us. And as a result, we pursue an unattainable goal to have enough. The tragedy of all this striving for...

We are to approach the Lord like children – unafraid to seek His help and ask for His provision. But we too often we ask for the temporal and worthless things of this world when what the Lord has provided is eternal riches found only in salvation.

Justification come not by the standards we set for ourselves but by the perfect rightness of God. Through the story of the Good Samaritan we see the what true righteousness is how our righteousness comes only through the great mercy of God.

Encountering the resurrected Jesus commands our worship, calms all fear, and compels our witness.

Pastor Ben preaches from John 13 on the betrayal of Jesus by Judus. Judas was close and intimate with Jesus but he did not know the grace of salvation. Many people assumes Judas was truly one of Jesus' faithful disciples but he in fact was plotting against Jesus. From this text pastor Ben points again to the simple truth that salvation comes only through grace.

In this passage we have witness of the last words of Jesus on the cross. They are words of despair and agony. But in this very dark and sad moment there is a display of amazing grace – Jesus is giving His whole life and bearing the whole weight of sin so sinners might be totally redeemed.

When Peter denied Jesus the third time it was the lowest moment in his life and ministry. But in this moment to total failure, he would learn a truth that changed the course of his life and allowed him to be used greatly for the gospel and God’s kingdom.

The events of this passage begin the night of trials before the Jewish religious leaders who would then turn Jesus over to the civil authorities to be crucified. These events would not go as either side had thought they would. Jesus does not resist. He surrenders Himself. He is surrenders willingly because He is fulfilling His mission of being the suffering servant obedient to the will of God for...

When the cost of following Christ comes to bear some will choose the comforts of the world over obedience to truth. Faithful Christians must preach Jesus in every season.

The question of “lawfulness” is not the only question faithful Christians must ask. Certainly, this is important – and if something is unlawful then no Christian should even consider it.  But lawfulness is only the basic question – for one to grow in spiritual maturity and faithfulness you must ask is it helpful and dose it distract from faithful obedience.

The Bible teaches that God owns everything and that He has and will provide abundantly for us. In response to God’s provision, Christains are to give out of obedience, recognition that we do not own what we possess, and faith in God’s provision.

This sermons calls us to consider David’s worship after bringing the Ark of the covenant to the capital city Jerusalem. The occasion was filled with many public acts of offering and worship. From these verses we will learn these three truths: 1)worship recognizes God’s glory, 2) worship is for all of creation, and 3) worship is forever.

This passage is part of Paul’s teaching on the armor of God – that you may be familiar with. As he describes all the “equipment” a Christian needs – belt of truth, breastplate of righteousness, sandals of the gospel of peace, shield of faith, helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit – he gives the most attention to prayer (three verses 18-20). Let us consider what Paul teaches us about pra...