Maranatha Baptist Church Sermon Podcast

Download a copy of the handout Here.

Download a copy of the handout here.

Who are you? Some say roles don't define us as much as what we do. But that leaves us hopeless, stuck with terms like "failure" and "sinner" as our identity! Thankfully, Romans 8 teaches that through salvation, God gives a new identity. He redefines us. We are no longer slaves of sin, but children of God. We no longer walk in the flesh but in the Spirit. We have God's Spirit - it's who we are.

Download a copy of the handout here.

Download a copy of the handout here.

"Sin shall not have dominion over you..." Yes, but how? Romans 6:14 is triumphant but leaves us wondering why we still feel ruled by sin and how we can overcome it. Paul clarifies in Romans 7 that we cannot conquer sin by keeping the law in our strength. To live for God, we sever our former ties to the law. In Romans 8, Paul explains what God has done to empower us to live in victory over sin.

Download a copy of the handout here .

Download a copy of the handout here .

In the struggle with sin, we can feel exhausted or defeated. You may be told to "try harder” only to fail again. We relate with Paul in Romans 7, "The good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice." It’s a believer’s relationship with the law. Living by the law in our strength, we will fail. Only Jesus can save and sanctify us, empowering us to live for Him.

Download a copy of the class notes here.

Download a copy of the class notes here.

No one likes being told what to do or forced to follow rules. We love our liberty and fight for freedom. When the Bible says, "You are not under law, but under grace," we get excited! We can conclude, "I'm free to live how I want!" However, Paul points out that the only way to live free of sin is to live for God. True freedom is not found in living how I want, but in freely choosing to obey God.

Download a copy of the class notes Here.

Download a copy of the class notes here.

Is it actually possible to experience victory over sin? Sometimes we get so entrenched in a sin we wonder if we will ever make progress. Will we ever be free of it? Can we win? Paul's answer in Romans 6:12-14 is not only that we can have victory over it, but that we must! Having just described the truths that make us dead to sin and alive to God, he tells us how to live that way.

Download a copy of the class notes here.

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Listen to learn not only why it's so crucial to rid sin from our lives, but also how we can begin living this way. There's good news - it's all accomplished through the work of Christ!

Fear stalks us in the night. Just when something gives us some sense of security, we find ourselves fleeing to something else. Where can we find safety? Not in politics, money, doomsday prepping, or in people. Psalm 91 teaches us that we'll only feel safe when we take refuge in the Lord. The more we draw near to Him in faith, the more we experience assurance of safety and security with Him.

Life is short. Someone we love passes away. Someone younger than us is given a terminal diagnosis. Our own health takes a turn for the worse. The curse of death is all around us. In Psalm 90, Moses laments the curse of death. In a time when he was surrounded by the passing away of his own generation, he takes refuge in his eternal God. Psalm 90 teaches us how to live in light of our brief lives.

On any day, a brief glance at the news proves the presence of evil in the world. As believers in Jesus, we know that He will one day make everything right, but it can be difficult to stay encouraged while we wait. Psalm 89 reviews God's promise to David of an eternal Kingdom with an eternal King. While it doesn't mention Jesus by name, it looks forward to the reign of God's promised Messiah.

"Darkness is my only friend." If you’ve felt that way, Psalm 88 will help you. The Psalmist finds himself in such a dark place of discouragement that he despairs even of life itself. He feels alone and hopeless. And yet, amid all his trouble, he makes the right choice: he turns to God. Psalm 88 is a testimony of faith-based persistence. In the darkness of despair, keep crying out to God.

There are places we love to go to but returning home feels comforting. But no place on earth can compare to God's home, the home He has prepared for His children. Psalm 87 is about that home: Zion, the City of God. This joyful Psalm tells us about that City and helps us get excited about our true home. Believers live as strangers, travelers. Learn to delight in your home - the City of God.

Certain things in life shake us to our core and leave us feeling unstable. It can even be difficult to pray in those times, not knowing what to say or where to begin. In Psalm 86, David found stability in the unchanging nature of God. He prayed to God based on His mercy, grace, and love. This rich prayer teaches us how to regain stability in our souls, even when we are troubled.

Everyone and everything feels the brokenness caused by sin. Sometimes we are broken by our sins or by the sins of others. In our brokenness, we need restoration. Psalm 85 is a prayer for restoration. After experiencing decline and distance from God, Israel asks for renewal and revival, "Restore us, O God!" It's a Psalm filled with hope and help for all of us who feel the brokenness of sin.