ARCC Sermons

Follow me. Those words sum up the true life of a Christian. To be "saved" is to follow Christ whole-heartedly, to obey Him, and to desire to become just like Him. The good news of the gospel of God is that forgiveness of sins, redemption, and eternal life are a gracious gift from God with a call to turn and follow Him. Additional Scripture References: Isaiah 53:6, Luke 17:20-21, 1 Corinthians 1:26...

Even the Son of God was fair game to the prince of this world. We have our righteousness from Jesus because He proved to be the perfect righteous lamb. He couldn’t just die. He had to “be” the spotless lamb. Because Jesus conquered we can conquer also!! Additional Scripture References: 1 John 2:16; Matthew 4:1-11; John 4:32; Titus 2:1; 1 Tim. 4:1-2; Matthew 12:38-39; James 4:7; 1 Cor. 10:13; Hebre...

Jesus comes onto the scene in a less than impressive fashion. Mark introduces us to Jesus, the servant king. We begin to see that Jesus was not concerned about His reputation with man as much as He was concerned about inviting us into and showing us the reality of what life was supposed to be like. Additional Scripture References: John 1:46; Matthew 3:14-15; 2 Kings 5:10-12; John 6:38; Isaiah 52:1...

One of the great dividers in the church today is the role and ministry of the Holy Spirit. John was clearly trying to make a point in distinguishing his baptism from the baptism of Christ with the Holy Spirit. To know what that means is to know that we should greatly desire it! Additional Scripture References: Romans 8:6-14; 1 Cor. 12:13; Titus 3:4-5; 1 Cor. 12:3; Eph. 1:13-14; 2 Cor. 1:21-22; 1 C...

John the Baptist confronts the Jewish people about their dependence upon their outward ethnic “calling” for forgiveness of sins and right standing before God. What a radical notion that an individual inward repentance was necessary for forgiveness of sins! Additional Scripture References: Acts 11:18, 2 Timothy 2:24-25, Jeremiah 13:23, 2 Corinthians 7:11, 1 John 1:7-9, 2 Kings 1:8, Luke 1:15, John...

The beginning of the gospel of Jesus is John the Baptist. His sole purpose was to make the world ready for the king. What was he crying from the wilderness? Additional Scripture References: Mark 2:17, Mark 10:45, Psalm 5:4-5, Psalm 11:5, Psalm 45:7, Habakkuk 1:13, Luke 3:7-8, Malachi 2:17-3:4

The Good Shepherd has given us His under-shepherds and we are blessed... Additional Scripture References: Ezekiel 34:23-24, Psalm 78:70-72, Psalm 23:4

Right before Christ would call His disciples to go into all the world making disciples, He would let them know that He now had all authority in heaven and on earth. What was the purpose for Christ telling His disciples this? As a disciple, what should run through our minds as we think of the "authority" that Christ has over everything as we take on the greatest calling in the world? Christ is call...

God's will is what brings value to our accomplishments. If we should have any part in accomplishing the perfect will and pleasure of God (which is His glory) this would bring the greatest value to the time we spend here on earth. I believe what we will find from scripture is that God's will was not meant for the "criss-road" in our lives, but rather, it is God's will that leads us to the "cross-ro...

As a new year rolls in, we seem to be confronted by two equal states of awareness. The first being the grace that comes with a new day and new mercies that invoke new inspiration, new passion, and new vitality to life. On the other hand, we can't help but feel the weight of the time we will never have back and the time that is quickly coming to an end. James gives us great insight as to how we are...

After Jesus was born and was being cared for in a house in Bethlehem, several "wise men" came to worship him bringing gifts with them. These astrologers from the east, most likely Mesopotamia, recognized God's sign that Christ had been born and responded. What do we learn about them in Scripture and what do they teach us doctrinally? Here we begin to see the significances and relationship between...

The first half of Paul's final chapter to the Philippians leads the believer down the rod to an honest look at his or her prayer life and time spent in the Word. This week Paul asks us to take an honest look at our giving. Like the first part of the chapter we have two great motivations to make givig a part of our lives as followers of Christ. The first is the disobedience that we walk in when we...

According to scripture, God's promises were meant to be a firm foundation on which we are to stand. Paul implies, however, that in order to stand firm on the promises of God our Savior we must toil and srive and passionately take hold of them. It is the very struggle that God allows us to go through that makes the promise so comforting and worthy. Holding firm to God's promises is holding firm to...

Something or someone will have our affections. If we aren't straining towards Godliness with the mind of Christ then something else will steal our affections away. Paul warns the believers of the consequences of being an "enemy of the cross of Christ". It would be of utmost importance for us to figure out what it looks like to be an enemy of the cross considering Paul said that those people would...

Something or someone WILL have our affections. If we aren't straining towards Godliness with the mind of Christ then something else will steal our affections away. Paul warns the believers of the consequences of being an "enemy of the cross of Christ." It would be of utmost importance for us to figure out what it looks like to be an enemy of the cross considering Paul said that those people would...

Paul continues to paint a picture for the believers at Philippi of a journey that we are on towards Christ-likeness. It is clear that Christ's purpose was not only to save us from hell, but also bring us back to reflecting the glory of God the way we were originally intended. Paul uses terms like "press on" and "strain forward" to describe the appropriate response for someone who has been claimed...

The predicament of the prophet Jonah continues to get worse as he finds himself in the belly of a fish in the Mediterranean. What we begin to hear is the prayer of a prophet who did not obey God. Then we see how even still the gospel is illustrated and carried out in a powerful way. Additional Scripture References: Matthew 12:38-40, 2 Timothy 3:16, Psalm 16:10

Paul has spoken many times thus far about joy and how it is to be a part of the believer's life. This time Paul commands us to rejoice "in the Lord." This little phrase, "in the Lord" changes everything for the believer. Paul speaks about the kind of joy, freedom, and power that we can walk in when we "glory in Christ and put no confidence in our own flesh." Additional Scripture References: Romans...

We really begin to see the inner workings of a relationship between a missionary and his church. What we need to begin to realize is that there is unity in the sending out and the bringing back in. The church at Philippi has been so inspired by the gospel in their own lives that they have a great interest in what impact the gospel is having on the lives of others around the world. This church is a...

It might be that a better question than "was there ever a time...?" is "what is your assurance?" Additional Scripture References: Ephesians 2:8-9, Ephesians 1:4, Ephesians 1:11-14, Hebrews 3:14, Isaiah 66:12, Jeremiah 32:40, 2 Peter 1:3-7, 2 Peter 1:9, Ephesians 2:10, Philippians 1:6, Job 23:10, Zecheriah 13:9-10, Malachi 3:3, Daniel 12:10, Proverbs 3:11-12, Hebrews 12:7-8, John 3:20

Paul's call to likemindedness stems from true humility and obedience over gifting. Additional Scripture References: Colossians 1:15-17, Deuteronomy 30:2-3

God wants to use us, like He did Shamgar, rather than lose us. Additional Scripture References: Judges 3:31

The gospel brings meaning, purpose, unity, and strength to us in any situation, including times of suffering. Additional Scripture References: 2 Thessalonians 3:13, Hebrews 13:5, 2 Corinthians 12:9, Romans 11:36, Hosea 6:1-3, Psalm 30:5, Romans 10:1, Romans 10:14-15, Romans 1:16

If it is our lives that are to be envied, we must search out the love that keeps us steadfast. Additional Scripture References: Philippians 1:6, Philippians 1:8-11, Hosea 6:4-6, Luke 9:23, 1 Corinthians 7:8, Revelation 12:10, Galatians 5:22-23, 2 Peter 1:5-8, Proverbs 24:16, Philippians 2:17

Jesus called the little ones to come and commanded not to hinder them. Additional Scripture References: Luke 2:25-38; Luke 1:57-80