Duane Sheriff Ministries - Messages

What happens after we're born again? God designed a spiritual growth track to take believers from conversion to maturity, and one of the keys is fellowship. Not casual Sunday handshakes, but genuine koinonia—the deep, meaningful relationships Scripture calls us to cultivate. Even Adam, living in a perfect garden with a perfect relationship with God, needed companionship. Something powerful happens...

Imagine 3,000 people being born again in a single day. That's what happened on the Day of Pentecost. But what happened next? God set a pattern for spiritual growth that takes believers from conversion to maturity in Christ, and this pattern still applies to us today. In Episode 5 of "Born Again, What Now?", Duane Sheriff teaches what he calls the four basic food groups of spiritual maturity. Using...

Salvation is the beginning of our spiritual journey, not the destination. But then what? What are the next steps, and how do we grow from being born again into mature disciples of Jesus Christ? In Episode 4 of "Born Again, What Now?", Duane Sheriff teaches why a good church is essential to spiritual growth and maturity. Drawing from Matthew 16, Matthew 28, Hebrews 10, and other key passages, he ex...

Are you born again but still feel discouraged? Many believers receive Christ, experience a genuine transformation, and yet never discover the growth, freedom, and maturity God intended for them. Salvation is only the beginning of the Christian journey. Without proper discipleship and a foundation in God's Word, spiritual hunger can turn into confusion, frustration, and defeat. In Episode 3 of “Bor...

What does it really mean to be born again? If we became a new creation in Christ, why do we still struggle with old thoughts, temptations, and weaknesses? Duane Sheriff explains, "When you get born again, you don't get a new body. You don't get a new soul or your mind, will, and emotions. You get a brand new spirit, and you're born of the Spirit." In Episode 2 of "Born Again, What Now?", Duane exp...

What does it mean to be born again? Does salvation secure our place in heaven, or is it the supernatural transformation of the human spirit? Too many believers receive Christ and then become stuck—never discovering the purpose, identity, and spiritual growth God intended for them. "In Born Again, What Now?", Duane Sheriff lays a biblical foundation for understanding what it truly means to be born...

This sermon explores the seventh Beatitude - "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God" - emphasizing that biblical peacemaking is fundamentally different from worldly concepts of peace. True peacemakers actively pursue reconciliation between God and humanity, and between warring parties, often at great personal cost. The message clarifies that peacemaking is not about app...

What if one of the most important leadership lessons is learning not to "spit into the wind" by repeating foolish decisions? In Episode 15 of "Essentials in Leadership," Duane Sheriff exposes the danger of Pharisaical thinking that can creep into our hearts and explains why leaders must "hate the Pharisee," especially the one within themselves. Jesus warned that the leaven of the Pharisees was hyp...

What happens when insecurity, comparison, and envy quietly keep leaders from growing into the fullness of who God created them to be? In Episode 14 of "Essentials in Leadership," Duane Sheriff teaches that spiritual maturity begins by seeing ourselves through the lens of who we are in Christ rather than through the limitations of the flesh. Christ in us is the hope of glory, and understanding our...

What happens when our confidence is rooted in ourselves instead of Christ in us? In Episode 13 of "Essentials in Leadership," Duane Sheriff teaches that believers are not called to build high self-esteem, but high Christ-esteem. True confidence is not found in pride, self-promotion, or positive thinking apart from God—it is found in discovering who we are in Christ and learning to live from our ne...

What if denying ourselves is mistaken for self-hatred instead of embracing our identity in Christ? In Episode 12 of "Essentials in Leadership," Duane Sheriff teaches that understanding healthy self-love is essential to loving others. He draws on the Golden Rule, the principle of sowing and reaping, and Jesus' command to love our neighbors as ourselves. Scripture makes it clear that God never inten...

What happens when hurt, disappointment, and unfair treatment begin poisoning our hearts and relationships? In Episode 11 of "Essentials in Leadership," Duane Sheriff explains why the Golden Rule is far more than a simple principle for children—it is a key to guarding our hearts, preserving our souls, and walking in the love of God. Drawing from Matthew 7, Leviticus 19, and Romans 13, Duane reveals...

What does it really mean to have a pure heart? Many believers assume Jesus was talking about moral perfection, leaving them discouraged by their own struggles. But His words reveal something far more freeing—and life-changing. In "Blessed Are the Pure in Heart", Duane Sheriff explores one of the most misunderstood Beatitudes and reveals that biblical purity is not sinless perfection but a single-m...

What happens when offense quietly poisons our hearts and destroys relationships, ministries, and even our walk with God? In Episode 10 of "Essentials in Leadership," Duane Sheriff teaches why refusing offense is essential for every believer who desires to lead effectively and live victoriously. Jesus warned that offenses are unavoidable in this life, but taking offense—and becoming a vessel that s...

What happens when a culture no longer fears God and begins celebrating what God calls evil? In Episode 9 of “Essentials in Leadership,” Duane Sheriff teaches that the fear of the Lord is not only reverencing God—it is about learning to hate evil and cling to what is good. Drawing from Proverbs, Romans, and Psalms, Duane explains that wisdom begins with the fear of God and that true leadership requ...

What happens when we lose the fear of God and begin letting culture, emotions, and human opinions shape our decisions instead of God's Word? In Episode 8 of "Essentials in Leadership," Duane Sheriff teaches why the fear of the Lord is one of the most essential foundations for effective leadership and spiritual growth. The fear of God is not a tormenting fear rooted in anxiety, rejection, or punish...

What happens when correction feels uncomfortable, conviction feels personal, and changing our thinking feels harder than staying the same? In Episode 7 of “Essentials in Leadership,” Duane Sheriff teaches that repentance is not merely about sorrow over sin, but about the continual renewal of the mind and the alignment of our thoughts with God’s Word. True transformation in the Christian life happe...

How do we stay on the Highway of Grace instead of drifting toward pride, distraction, and self-dependence? In Episode 6 of “Essentials in Leadership,” Duane Sheriff teaches that humility is the highway of God's grace in our lives, while pride—whether arrogant or falsely humble—is an off-ramp that leads to destruction. Humility means being God-centered rather than self-centered, agreeing with what...

We often think we understand pride—recognizing it easily in arrogant, boastful people—but how many realize that false humility can be just as destructive? Pride is not only thinking we are better than everyone else; it can also be thinking we are worse than everyone else. Both are self-centered, and both can keep us from God’s promotion, wisdom, and blessing. In Episode 5 of “Essentials in Leaders...

What happens when serving God becomes a source of stress, frustration, and distraction instead of joy and fulfillment? In Episode 4 of “Essentials in Leadership,” Duane Sheriff teaches why it’s important to maintain “the good part” in our relationship with Jesus. Through the story of Martha and Mary, Duane shows that while serving is important and necessary, it can become unhealthy when we neglect...

What happens when leaders become trapped by their past failures, distracted by yesterday’s successes, or discouraged by present opposition? In Episode 3 of “Essentials in Leadership,” Duane Sheriff teaches the “one thing” principle found in the apostle Paul’s words: forget those things which are behind, reach forward to those things ahead, and press toward the high calling of God in Christ Jesus....

What is the one thing that determines whether a leader finishes strong or becomes a needless casualty? In Episode 2 of “Essentials in Leadership,” Duane Sheriff shares that the greatest essential in leadership is not position, talent, or success—but maintaining an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ. Drawing from the apostle Paul’s words, “this one thing I do,” Duane affirms that every believe...

We are all leaders. Whether we're guiding our families, influencing our workplaces, or serving in our communities or churches, leadership is woven into the fabric of everyday life, and we all carry the mantle of leadership in some capacity. In "Essentials in Leadership", Duane Sheriff shares personal lessons he has learned through more than four decades of ministry and walking with the Lord. Leade...

What if the secret to living holy is not trying harder—but trusting God more? Many sincerely desire change, yet become discouraged trying to overcome sin and weakness through human effort alone. In Episode 15 of The Fear of the Lord, Duane Sheriff explains that holiness is not achieved through willpower, religious performance, or striving in the flesh. True transformation happens as we behold the...

Holiness is not about rules and performance, but about wisdom, love, and protecting your heart from deception. In Episode 14 of "The Fear of the Lord," Duane Sheriff teaches that true holiness flows from understanding God’s nature and recognizing the deadly and deceptive consequences of sin. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and that wisdom helps believers discern how sin slowly har...