Sacred Mission Sermon Audio

Often our love for others is calculated by what will be reciprocated to us. This love is really rooted in self-interest and Jesus calls it a love that "even sinners" understand and operate in. We are called to love others in light of a different standard, not calculated, but perceivably reckless to our own good.

We all desire a sense of health, prosperity, and security. These are things we want, but rarely are they things we are willing to build and create. The Bible shows us that the path to obtaining them lies in the work to build them. In living to bless, we become receivers of blessing.

How will the world know that we belong to Jesus? It's not through how generous we are, how inclusive we become, or how humble we may be... Jesus told his disciples that it would be through there love for "one another".

The Bible promises us "inexpressible and glorious joy". A joy that surpasses our circumstances, that transcends happiness, and that has been fully obtained for us in the finished work of Jesus. Joy came to the world in the person and work of God's son.

What is the measure of real love? The biblical answer is not a ‘what’ but a ‘Who.’ Love took on flesh 2,000 years ago and selflessly gave himself for our sins. Our Father displayed unimaginable love towards us in sending His Son, Jesus, into our world to bring us back to God.

How do we obtain peace? The Bible shows us that we obtain it through righteous rulers who love, protect, and care for their people. Only the eternal rule of Jesus offers true peace to His people.

Hope in Christ, and in His coming, and in the victory of the truth. If the night darkens into a sevenfold blackness, believe the morning comes despite the darkening gloom. Do you have faith and trust in Him who lives, and was dead, and is alive for evermore? - C.H. Spurgeon

The oneness of the Trinity, one God eternally existing in three persons, seems impossible to get our minds around, yet this "oneness" is the desire Jesus has for his church. It is bigger than what we understand about unity, but it still entails distinction. Oneness is bigger than human comprehension, but it is the spiritual reality of the church.

Through His High Priestly prayer, Jesus reveals the deep love and care he has for his people.

Since the beginning of time, man has searched for the key to eternal life. Our efforts to escape death have been vanity and our search will never cease when left to our strength or intelligence. In John 17, Jesus prays for our souls. He prays to give us the eternal life that we have been searching for. But this eternal life is sure and true, because it is found in Him.

Many of us have probably heard the statement "doctrine divides" and received it as a call to reject doctrinal teaching at the aim of unity. What we fail to understand in this simplified statement is that sound doctrine is for the purpose of both creating true unity and proper division.

In the closing of his letter to Rome, Paul desires to send his love to certain people in the church. Women and men who were radical risk-takers for the purpose of the gospel. They were deacons, ministers, laborers, persecuted, saints, and more...

Too often we try to separate the spiritual from the material. We act as though they are completely independent of one another and neither have any impact on the other. But the Bible doesn't see them this way. In fact, they both communicate and demonstrate a lot about the other.

We are called to be conformed to the image of Jesus. As we mature in our spiritual life, we will see the fruit of the Spirit in our lives and reflect the righteousness and character of Jesus our savior. This maturity comes in the midst of gospel community where others are living out their ministry and gifts for the building up of one another.

Do you ever feel like you have disappointed God? Our relationship with God and one another can suffer from this feeling of disappointment. It can leave us isolated under a crushing weight. But Jesus comes to give us hope! How? By becoming the "disappointment" for us.

The freedom we have in Jesus is best realized, not in the service of self, but in the service of others. Preferring others over ourselves gives us the freedom to say "no" to certain liberties for the sake of the righteousness of our brother. No matter what we do in our freedom, it is still commanded to be done in love for God and neighbor.