Living Hope Family Church Marana Sermons

There are some key differences between children of the devil and children of God. Children of God have stepped out of death and into life whereas children of the Devil remain in death. Children of God love whereas the children of the devil hate. In addition, children of God abide in the Father, and the Father abides in them. As a result of this, we are different, and how we live our lives should b...

When you are born again, you have the right to say you are a child of God. This is more than an honorary title. It means we have been changed, and as such, we should live differently. No one who is born of God makes a practice of sinning.

John continues encouraging us in our devotion to the kingdom of God because the world is not permanent. He explains how to identify the "antichrist," reminding us of the promise of eternal life. We are to "abide in Him" in order to discern the truth.

As we study the first part of chapter 2, John is addressing something that all Christians need to understand. It is something that is just as relevant to us as it was to these believers 1900 years ago. Christians should not sin. We are to walk in the light and we are to obedient to Him.

John is writing a group of believers that have been assaulted with false teachings of claims contradicting the deity or humanity of Jesus. In addition some were claiming that they were not sinners or that sin didn't matter. John begins refuting these claims in this first chapter.

The world's idea of love is not the same as God's requirements. We can't produce it on our own. We need the Holy Spirit. The fruit produced is eternal and effective.

All too often, we limit who God is by our experiences. We think that God will be like our natural father or we think God behave like what we see on TV or in the movies. We limit what we think God can do by what “we” think is possible. But, His ways are not our ways. He may well, and often does, do things in ways that are totally different to how we would have or would like them done.

Today, particularly in the U.S., we are ruled by science. In other words, if it can't be sensed, understood, and explained by our natural senses, we are skeptical, or even downright negative towards it. However, we serve God who is in the business of the supernatural. If we want to see God move in spectacular ways, we have to be open to the supernatural working of God.

As we enter the new year, resolutions are on everyone’s mind. We are all focused on a new future. Turns out, Christianity is always looking towards the future. We let go of our past because it has already been paid for. We look towards the future, to who we are in Christ, and not who we were.

The same great power that raised Jesus from the dead drew us to God. His power surpasses the limits of nature for those who believe.

In light of world news God has a great plan and an eternal purpose which is working out as we head towards eternity. This really is an exciting time to be alive!

We have had a trying year between COVID-19 and the unruly elections. It's easy to get lost in despair. But as Christians, our joy is not tied to our circumstances. Rather, it is tied to our hope in the Lord.

Sometimes real love demands confrontation. Paul has spent the majority of this letter defending himself against the accusations of the false teachers and apostles, as well as those brought by the congregation. But as he ends this letter, it is time for Paul to confront the Corinthians. Paul reminds them that all they do is done in front of God, who is our judge. If they won’t listen to him, then P...

Paul has spent the last little bit engaging in foolish boasting in order to undermine the false teachers and apostles. But now, the tone changes, and he begins to challenge the Corinthians themselves. While he was with them, all the true signs of an apostle were evident, and they received the same care, love, and teaching that any church planted by one of the other apostles gave. Except he was not...

Paul now moves on to visions and revelations in his foolish boasting, almost like he is answering a check list of things the false apostle were boasting about. Even though Paul had experienced great visions and revelations, he quickly falls back to boasting in his weakness. It is in his weakness that he is strong in Christ and he is content in whatever hardship and suffering comes his way in order...

The false apostles had been doing their fair share of boasting. So, Paul, even though he would prefer not to, is required to act foolish and boast of his own accomplishments. But the purpose of this is not to build himself up, but rather with frequent exclamations of the foolishness for this exercise, it is to undermine the validity of the false apostles boasting. But even in his boasting, Paul bo...

The Corinthians had been easily deceived and led astray by false teachers. These teachers came in and boasted of their own abilities all the while cutting down Paul. But Paul is now going to take an aggressive stance with these false teachers. By the end of this message, we will know exactly what Paul thinks of these false apostles.

With the last couple of chapters dealing with gift the Corinthians had promised to prepare for the Saints in Jerusalem but had not yet, this chapter switches gears. Paul once again begins to defend his ministry from the false teachers who have infiltrated the Corinthian church and have relentlessly attacked him and his ministry.

Paul continues in chapter nine addressing the gift the Corinthians promised to give for the Saints in Jerusalem, Then, he begins to teach basic principles of giving. God loves a cheerful giver, and the result of our giving is thanksgivings towards God.

At some point, maybe when he delivered the first letter, maybe before, Titus had started a collection for the saints in Jerusalem. In this part of the letter, Paul is going to encourage them to finish what they started, completing this act of the grace of God.

The Corinthian church had caused Paul no shortage of heart aches. But, in spite of this, he loved them very much. The first part of this letter has been about defending his ministry and restoring his relationship with them, and today, we finish with Paul encouraging them once again to open their hearts to him. In addition, he spends a great deal of time encouraging and commending them on how they...

As we read 2 Corinthians, it seems the Corinthian church did not really appreciate Paul and what he had done for them. When they should have been defending Paul to his opposition, they were instead listening to them. Today, we are going to see a continuation of Paul's defense and proof of Paul’s love for the Corinthians. In addition, he will round out the chapter with a very important lesson about...

Paul continues in his thoughts on the eternal verses the temporal as we begin chapter 5. We live in earthly bodies, but we groan to be clothed in our heavenly bodies. But whether in this body or our heavenly body, our aim is to please God. And while we are here, we are ambassadors of Christ and we have been given the ministry of reconciliation. And our goal should be to share the gospel and persua...

Paul was no stranger to difficulties, hardship, and persecution, but, because of the importance of his ministry and the power and strength of God, he didn't lose heart. Instead of complaining about hardships and what he didn’t have, he keeps his focus on what He does have in Christ. We should do the same.

Moses came with the ministry of death carved in letters in stone, but Paul presents the ministry of the Spirit which brings life. And where once men were left with a veil over their heart, we, with unveiled face behold the glory of the Lord and are being transformed!