Sermons by Dr. Abidan Shah

In this message, we will examine the precursors to Samson’s life. His parents encountered the angel of the Lord, who is much more than just an angelic messenger. Throughout the Old Testament, we see glimpses of the pre-incarnate Christ interacting with God’s people. What does this mean for our understanding of Scripture? How does this affect our view of Jesus? We’ll unpack this and more in our mes...

This weekend, we will encounter the next judge in Israel’s history: Jephthah. An enigmatic character, it is difficult to look at the circumstances of his life and determine how he can be the good guy, as we have learned the judges are in this series. However, Scripture includes him in the hall of faith listed in Hebrews. What can we learn from Jephthah’s life? We’ll unpack this and more in our mes...

In this message, we learn about Gideon’s successor, Abimelech. He played the part of a leader of God’s people, but he was a power-hungry charlatan. God’s people disobeyed as a result of his leadership and suffered the consequences. The Holy Spirit of God wants to put us on to accomplish God’s work but will not work through someone who is faking their faith or going through the motions. The title o...

In this message, we will continue to look at the life of Gideon. He is often regarded as a coward or opportunist because of his asking God for a sign, disciplining some of his people, making an ephod, etc. However, Gideon is never condemned as a coward or opportunist by Scripture. In fact, he is praised as a faithful judge over God’s people. We will learn why this misconception takes place in our...

In this message, we are continuing the study of Gideon. Gideon was something of a reluctant, but God used him and his men in ways that surprised even him. When we are willing and obedient, God can lead us through whatever obstacles we might be facing. This message is titled “RAID." Are you facing challenges that seem impossible? Do you believe that God can help you overcome those difficulties...

In this message, we will enter into the transitional period between Deborah and the next judge, Gideon. The tribes of Israel all made excuses as to why they couldn’t show up to fight Sisera. After the time of Deborah, God called Gideon as the judge; however, he was very reluctant to step into the calling that God had for him. We often respond the same way to God’s call, full of excuses and trepida...

In this message, we will examine the story of Deborah. Her story is often presented as one of the examples of the Bible elevating women, and indeed, that is true. However, as we will learn this weekend, there is much more to her than just being an example of God working through women. This message is titled “CALAMITY”. Do you see God working in your life? Are you surrounding yourself with people w...

In this message, we will examine one of the first judges of Israel: Ehud. At first glance, Ehud did not have a lot going for him. He didn’t fit the picture of an imposing leader who would liberate his people. However, God used him in extraordinary ways. The Christian life isn’t about checking off all the boxes of prerequisites. It is about being willing to be used by God and being obedient when yo...

In this message, we are taking a look at the cyclical nature of sin in the book of Judges. Repeatedly, God’s people fell into sin, suffered the consequences, and were delivered, only to go right back to the same sin! Times may have changed, but God’s people still have this same problem of returning to the same sin over and over again. This weekend’s message is titled “BULL-HEADED”. Do you find you...

This is strikingly similar to the story of God’s people through the book of Judges. There is a cyclical nature to the narratives within the book that show God’s people failing to remember what God had done for them and what he had commanded them to do. The sinful cycle of disobedience has occurred in countries like England and, if we do not take action as believers, can occur here, too. The title...

God has gifted us life for more than just to survive or thrive. He wants us to face all the stages with the ups and downs, the good and the bad, in a way that brings the most glory to him. Ultimately, it’s not how we started or what we went through, but how we finished for Christ that matters.

Communion is something that is often misunderstood or dismissed as unimportant. Typically, this is because people are unaware of the significance of communion, especially as it relates to how we live the Christian life until Christ returns. We will examine this and more in this message titled “TILL HE COMES.” What significance does communion hold in your life? Are you worshipping in light of Chris...

In this message, we will pick up the account of Caleb promising his daughter, Achshah, to Othniel because he cleared the land of enemies. Achshah and Othniel came together and built something for the future, but there is a deeper truth about who Christ is for us to uncover in their story. The title of this message is “HOMESTEAD.” Do you believe that God is in control over your marriage? Do you und...

In this message, we will examine the beginning of the book of Judges. God’s people are tasked with driving out the enemy nations from the promised land. Through every battle, we are able to see God’s hand delivering enemies over to the children of Judah. The book of Judges reminds us that God is with us in fighting not just physical battles, but spiritual battles as well. The title of this message...

In this message, we will continue to examine God’s plan for our relationships. We have talked about the wisdom in searching for God’s will in our relationships as well as the criteria to look for in a future spouse. However, we must also understand the role we have to play in this process. How much is God responsible for and how much are we responsible for when it comes to looking for your signifi...

In this service, we are looking at an important step in finding and keeping a relationship, is knowing what matters, what doesn’t, and what can be worked on. When you are dating a person and you see something in them that you are not sure of, ask yourself, “Can I see myself living with that for the rest of my life?” Most importantly, ask yourself, “Can I see Christ in him/her?” We will examine the...

We are diving into a new series of messages from the book of Judges. This book is filled with stories of men and women who, like American cowboys, are bold, peculiar, and compelling characters who inspire or serve as cautionary tales. They are examples of God using men and women to change the lives of those around them. This is the calling God has placed on all of us! Our new series is titled &quo...

In this message, we will have a bonus message in our series. As we have been learning, many of you have expressed that you wish you had known this earlier. The same is true for me! However, we serve a God of mercy and second chances. There is hope even after making a wrong turn in life. We examine these issues and more in this weekend’s titled “GPS REROUTING”. Have you made a wrong turn and wound...

In this message, we will focus on the difference between being childlike and childish, between innocence and immaturity. Following Christ does not mean turning off our minds or dumbing down our reasoning. It means trusting Jesus and stepping out in faith. This is easy for children, but it often becomes difficult the older we get. We’ll cover this and more in this message titled “CHILDLIKE”. Do you...

In this message, we come to the end of our series. We will focus specifically on the relationship view of God’s will. How can we perceive God’s guidance in our everyday lives? The Bible clearly states that God leads us, but what does that look like, and how can we know we are listening to the right source? We will answer these questions in this weekend’s message titled “GPS DESTINATION: GUIDANCE”....

For this Easter message, it is fitting that we turn our attention to heaven. There are many misconceptions about heaven, with some people even taking Bible verses out of context or misinterpreting them. We have already learned about the bodily resurrection coming one day, but where will those bodies go and what will it be like there? We will answer these questions and more in this final message of...

In this message, we are setting our sights on eternity. We have talked about the promise of our resurrection one day. However, there is also a coming judgment. Those who are not believers will enter a terrible fate of torment and separation from God. There are those who would downplay or disagree with it, but the Bible is clear that hell is a real place and a real consequence of rejecting salvatio...

This message will examine how to determine God’s plan for us regarding relationships. This is a common question, especially among teenagers and young adults. Does God have a plan for who you date and eventually marry, or are there general principles to guide us? We will examine these questions and many more in this weekend’s message titled “GPS DESTINATION: RELATIONSHIPS PT. 1”. Are you seeking Go...

In this sermon, we will be taking a look at what happens after we die, specifically where we will go. What happens when we die? Do souls go to heaven or hell, or is there somewhere else that is a precursor to our eternal destination? We will answer these questions and more in this message titled “DEATH DETHRONED: INTERMEDIATE.” As we approach Easter, our minds naturally turn toward Christ’s death...