Brooklyn Tabernacle - Audio Sermons Feed

Jesus didn’t die so we could have organized religion. He died so we could belong to Him. So let’s not just go to church on Sundays. Instead, let’s do what Hebrews tells us to: profess Jesus’ name openly, do good, and share with others. We can praise the Lord today, and we can do good to someone today, and we can share with someone today. As we do, our Father will look down on us and say, “Well don...

Jesus has done so much for us! His blood has totally covered our sins. Now we don’t need incense. We don’t need rituals. Because of this, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise. Not just on Sundays but in the subway, on a bus, in a car, in the shower, in the morning, in the evening, on the street. Jesus deserves our praise.

Did your parents ever say to you, “Why don’t you listen?!” God says that to us too: “If my people would only listen to me!” (Psalm 81:13). Too often we’re distracted, and we miss God's voice. But if we will listen, the Lord will guide us, protect us, delight in us, and bless us abundantly. When the Lord whispers to our hearts, it changes everything. Let’s listen to Him today.

What makes God happy? According to Hebrews 13:16, God is pleased when we “do good” and “share with others.” We can do good, even to our enemies. And we can share with others, buying someone lunch or helping with a need. The more we do it, the more we’ll enjoy it, and God will be happy with our sacrifice to Him.

A lot of us praise God only in church. But Hebrews says that we should “continually” offer God a sacrifice of praise. Jesus gives us grace, blesses us, protects us 24/7, but we can praise Him only on Sunday for seventeen minutes? Let’s freely, openly, unashamedly praise Jesus today. He’s worthy of our praise.

How many Christians are “looking for the city that is to come”? Yes, we live in this world—we rent, we buy, we vote. But this world is not our home. Let’s not get entrenched here on earth, because everything we have will pass away in a millisecond. Let’s be looking for the city that Jesus is preparing for us in heaven.

Many denominational traditions make themselves the portal of salvation. “Join us. Go to our church. That’s where it’s at.” But true Christianity is not anywhere but outside the city gate, at the cross of Christ. Have we met Jesus there, or are we religious? Let’s go to Him, outside the gate, willing to bear the disgrace He bore for us.

Many religious groups say, “We are the way.” But Jesus isn’t found in any religious system. We have to experience Jesus personally, “outside the city gate” (Hebrews 13:12), where He died when He was totally rejected by the Jewish religious system. Praise God for the life we have in Jesus Christ alone.

Do you struggle with imperfections in your walk with the Lord? Paul likens the Christian life to a race, showing us the way to maturity in Jesus. As we focus on Jesus, God will help us drop the things that weigh us down. We will run in a way that will make us more and more like Christ, until we gain the ultimate prize: seeing Him face to face.

Christianity has nothing to do with pomp and ceremony. In the Old Testament, the worshipers had an altar of sacrifice. But in the New Testament, our altar is the old rugged cross. And the only one who can partake of this altar is the one who accepts Jesus as his or her Savior. Let’s rejoice in Him today.

Strange teachings have been around for a long time. That’s why the writer of Hebrews told us not to be “carried away” by teaching that’s not in the Bible. Supposed miracles or ceremonial rules don’t matter. We go by the Word of God. It’s not religious practices that strengthen our hearts—it’s the grace of God, which cleanses us from all our sin.

People can be moody. But Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. What Jesus has always been—loving, patient, forgiving—He will be today and for eternity. Let’s learn from Scripture how Jesus was yesterday so that we can count on Him always. Thank God for Jesus Christ and His unchanging love for us.

Faith rubs off on other people. When a godly leader follows Jesus, it can make us say, “I want to imitate how he carries himself, how happy she is in Jesus, how he has faith in hard times.” Let’s thank God for positive spiritual influences in our lives. Let’s also be conscious that we too will impact people today. Let’s influence them for Jesus.

Where would we be without anointed men and women of God who have spoken the Word into our lives? Hebrews tells us to remember them. Many leaders today are not teaching God’s Word but talking about dreams, psychology, or positive thinking. Let’s thank God for anyone who gave us His Word, and let’s pray that God will raise up more like them.

When does Satan tempt us? Often when we’re at our best. “You’ve got it made,” he says. “You’re in the union. You have a pension. People love you.” But the minute we take our eyes off God and start depending on His blessings, we sin. People, money, houses—these are not our security. God alone is our source of security.

Where do you need help? In your emotions? Your finances? An attack from the enemy? God is your helper. Not just was your helper or will be your helper. God is your helper today. Because of that, you can say with confidence, “I will not be afraid.” No matter what’s against you today, you’re not alone. The Lord is your helper. Praise His name.

Some people are always complaining—they’re never happy. But the Lord wants us to be content with what we have, whether it’s a little or a lot. Our money could forsake us; so could family or friends. But God will never leave or forsake us. Let’s be content and make the Lord happy with our testimony for Him.

Sex and money—so many people idolize these things. Even churches today wink at sexual immorality, and Christians become consumed with riches. But Hebrews tells us to avoid both sexual immorality and the love of money. May God help us to love Him first. Let’s choose Jesus today and stay close to Him.

What stubborn problem do you have that only Jesus can fix? Blind Bartimaeus had an impossible need, but it didn’t stop him from crying out to the Lord. The devil says, “Be quiet! It’ll never happen.” But Jesus hears our cry. He asks us what He asked Bartimaeus: “What do you want Me to do for you?” Nothing is too hard for God. Let’s take our mountains to Him today. Streamed on July 2, 2024

God is drawn to people who are vulnerable and in pain—the widow, the orphan, the stranger. That’s why the writer of Hebrews tells us to remember those who are mistreated as if we ourselves were suffering. Every day we should have our antenna up: is someone mistreated, down, discouraged? Oh, Lord, give us hearts to help them.

Do you know anyone in prison? How can you reach out to them? Hebrews reminds us to remember prisoners as if we ourselves were in their position. The apostle Paul always thanked God for those who visited him, helped him, cheered his spirits when he was in chains. Let’s remember those in prison and show God’s heart to those who are hurting.

Jesus tells us, “Come to me.” Praise the Lord! But after we come to Him, Jesus tells us, “Follow me.” Where do we follow Him? To the poor, the prisoners, the blind. Jesus is not with the high and mighty and popular people. He’s with the broken, wounded, and hurting. Let’s come to Jesus, and then let’s go to Him—outside the world’s value system—to serve others.

Isn’t it horrible when Christians say, “Church is so much fun”? It’s a joy to go to church, but we are to worship God “with reverence and awe” (Hebrews 12:28). Yes, we are to come to our loving, gracious Father, but that call is mixed with a warning: “Our God is a consuming fire.” May the Holy Spirit open our eyes to our heavenly Father who loves us but is also worthy of our reverence and awe.

What do we value—our stocks? Our houses? Our phones? Hebrews warns us that, as He once shook the earth at Mount Sinai, God’s going to shake the earth again so that everything that can be shaken will be obliterated. What will remain? Love, salvation, eternal rewards, Jesus, heaven. Since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful. What we have, nobody can take away.

How seriously do we take God’s new covenant? It’s a better covenant with better promises, offering us cleansing, freedom, and peace. But we’ve got to pay attention to it. Hebrews says, “If God punished people under the old covenant when they refused Moses’ warnings, how much more us if we refuse God calling us into fellowship?” Let’s enjoy fellowship with our Savior, Jesus Christ, today.