Anderson Sermons

God's presence with His people is one of the most consistent and powerful themes throughout the entire Bible. We frequently feel alone, surrounded, and under attack in a world turned against God, but we are never alone. As we remember with David in Psalm 139 God's omniscience (He knows all things) and omnipresence (He is everywhere at all times), our confidence is restored that God is with us and...

Our identity is gift from our Creator, and that identity includes the gift of our sexuality – male and female. But the blessings of this gift can only be fully enjoyed inside the boundaries established by God. Therefore, God's word prohibits homosexual behavior, along with every other form of sexual sin. For those who struggle with attractions and behaviors outside of those boundaries, i...

In the beginning, God created us in His image, male and female. His image is reflected in and through our bodies, male and female. His original design and intent remain unchanged, and reflect His desire for men and women to experience the most fulfilling life possible. Knowing God's word on the subjects of sexuality, gender and identity will guide us to accept ourselves and to respond with both tr...

We are fearfully and wonderfully made in the image of God, but we are also fatally flawed. Only the work of God's Son can restore in us God's beautiful design and purpose – physically and spiritually – both now and forever.

What are the marks of a healthy church? We drive by big, shiny buildings with a cross on top and assume they must be the home of a healthy church. But the New Testament says nothing about buildings, budgets or even the size of churches. Instead the focus is on things like serving together, guarding the truth and relying actively and humbly on God's power. So the question for us is simple? Are we a...

All people could be characterized as falling in one of two categories: the self-indulgent, and the self-righteous. Both are lost and need to be found by a gracious heavenly Father. Which of the two are you? Will you allow yourself to be found? Will you receive God's extravagant grace extended to you through His Son, Jesus?

Our identity, our purpose and our destiny are all determined by the gospel. Until Jesus returns, our mission remains the same: live out and live for the gospel – the good news of forgiveness of sins and eternal life through Jesus Christ for everyone who believes.

How do we live in a way that honors Jesus in a world that does not? Every follower of Jesus has faced this challenge. The problem is not unique to our generation. Even in the Apostle Paul's day, Christians in Rome were surrounded by a pagan, sensual, hedonistic culture. Paul instructed them, and he instructs us, to honor Jesus publicly by submitting to governing authorities, privately by loving ou...

We all make excuses. It's just a natural human tendency to shift the blame when things don't work out as planned or desired. But in Romans 10, Paul makes it clear that there is no legitimate excuse for failing or refusing to believe in Jesus. Specifically, Paul addresses the Jewish people, but his point applies to all. No one will be able to stand before God and offer an acceptable excuse. Everyon...

If the Jews are God's chosen people, then why are there so few of them experiencing His grace through Jesus their Messiah? Has God failed to keep His promises to Israel? And if He has failed to keep His promises to Israel, how can we, non-Jews, trust that He will keep His promises to us – namely, "nothing can separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord"?! Paul argu...

Some churches shrivel and die. Other churches thrive and flourish. What about our church? Will we fade, or will we flourish for generations to come? And more specifically, what can you do to help your church become or remain a vibrant, growing community of faith?

In the year of Jesus' birth, shepherds were not at the top of the socioeconomic ladder! They lived on the margins of Ancient Near Eastern culture, and yet the good news of Jesus' birth was announced to them first! Why? Because they were eager for good news. And when they heard, they believed the good news, they shared it with others, and they worshipped God for the gift of His incarnate Son. Are y...

When the Spirit leads our lives, we are changed. The moment we trusted in Jesus for forgvienss of sins and eternal life, the Holy Spirit began to live in us. As we listen to the Spirit and follow His leadership, we begin to experience freedom from sin, an ever deepening sense of the love of our heavenly Father, and hope that gives us strength to endure and overcome the challenges of this broken wo...

The gospel is good news because the Holy Spirit changes us permanently from the inside out. We can't change ourselves, and following a list of rules won't transform our character, but the Holy Spirit has the power to reorient our entire lives to love and live for righteousness.

If I am in Christ (Romans 6), why do I still battle temptation and sin…all the time?! Why do I do the things I know I shouldn't do, and why can't I consistently do the things I know I should do? In Romans 7, Paul describes and explains the intense battle each and every follower of Jesus experiences as a part of the normal Christian life. This constant battle could lead us to despair, bu...

If God's grace covers all of our sin, then why should we even bother to avoid sin and pursue holiness? In Romans 6, Paul answers this question by reminding us that sin is completely inconsistent with our new identity in Christ. Sin is a destructive, evil master, and Jesus died and rose again to set us free sin's tyranny! We don't have to say “yes” to sin any longer. Instead, we...

At this very moment, each member of humanity is represented before God by one of two men – Adam or Jesus Christ. Adam's one sin in the Garden brought death to himself and to all of humanity. No one can escape the verdict of condemnation because we are related to Adam. It may not seem fair, but because we were represented by one man, Adam, in death, we can also be represented by one man,...

Having believed in the faithful work of Jesus Christ, God has declared us to be in right relationship with him...we are justified! And that is not just a legal declaration. Our justification changes our lives right now. We were God's enemies, but now we are at peace. We were without hope, but now we have hope that endures forever, even when we are experiencing suffering in this life. We were desti...

Paul tells us unambiguously that we are justified by God through faith alone, apart from our own best efforts. That's easy to understand, but so hard to accept! We are tempted to add our own good works and religious practices back into the equation to earn, keep, or prove our righteous standing before God. But God gives us Jesus Christ's righteousness for free, so let's learn to enjoy God's extrav...

Our sin has created a rift between us and God, and there is nothing we can do to make things right again. But God, in His immeasurable grace, refused to abandon us. Instead, He intervened with a solution: His Son. Everyone who believes in Jesus receives His righteousness in place of his or her own sin. We are saved by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. We add nothing to the equation;...

God is right – in all that He is and all that He does. God's “right-ness” is revealed in the gospel of Jesus Christ, which is the fulfillment of His covenant promises through Abraham to the entire world. And God is also right in His condemnation of mankind's active rejection of God and of His self-revelation. Our rejection of God proves our need for God and His saving...

The gospel is good news. In fact, the gospel (a Greek word that actually means “good news”) is the very best news ever! In the book of Romans, the Apostle Paul explains in great depth and clarity why the gospel is such great news. Through Jesus' death and resurrection, He has the power to make us right with God. He has the power to remove our debt of sin and separation from God...

In the busyness of day to day life, it is so easy for us to become distracted and discouraged from the things that really matter. What is the mission of the Church, and of each and every man and woman who comprises the Church? We help people find and follow Jesus.

Someday soon there will be a cosmic reversal of fortunes. The proud will be humbled, and the humble will be exalted. Which will you choose – humility or pride? Will you descend into pride, or will you ascend, like Jesus, through humility? Choose wisely!

More than intellect, knowledge or education, “wisdom” describes skillful living. Wisdom is God's to give, and He loves to give it lavishly. Wisdom blesses; wisdom beautifies; wisdom protects. Will you seek wisdom and receive wisdom from the Lord, or will you choose your own way?