In Romans 12, Paul looks at the Gospel and then exhorts us as to how we should live in the light of what Christ has done. He urges us to give up control over our lives and become “living sacrifices” for God. Unfortunately, the problem with a living sacrifice is that it keeps moving off the altar. Unless we stare deeply at Christ’s sacrifice on our behalf, we will never trust God enough to become the living sacrifices that he calls us to be.

Naturally we’re inclined to spend our money on ourselves and if we have any left over, we will give it to ministry and charity. However, Jesus shows us how our priorities need to change. Giving to ministry and charity must come first. Only then should we figure out how to spend the rest of our money. Yet, it is only through the Gospel that we can give so much away. It is only when we are spiritually rich that we can stop looking at money as our real wealth and security.

When Paul prays for the Ephesian church, he does not pray for an improvement in their external circumstances. Rather, Paul prays for God to grant the members of the Ephesians church a profound internal knowledge of the depths of God’s love. Paul prays that the doctrines that the Christians intellectually believe would become experientially real to their hearts.

Additional scriptural references made in this sermon are: Colossians 2; 1 Samuel 16:7; Psalm 139; Philippians 2:6.

We yearn for a truth outside of ourselves. We yearn for a God who speaks to us. Christianity differs from all other religions because Jesus Christ not only brings us the truth, but He IS the truth. When we acknowledge Jesus as Lord and put ourselves under His truth, then we will know true freedom.

Additional scriptural references made in this sermon are: Luke 6:46; Luke 9:35; Exodus 7: 1-2; Galatians 1:8; Hebrews 1: 1-2; John 1:1; John 8: 31-32, Matthew 6: 25-30; Colossians 3:16

What was it about early Christianity that made it spread like wildfire through the Mediterranean world? There was something astonishingly attractive in the inclusiveness of a religion that drew people from across all racial, cultural, economic, intellectual and philosophical divides.

Isaiah shows the way the riches of the world glorify God through the cultural activity in the new Jerusalem. God has saved this city from sadness, war, and darkness. In order to use our lives and our professions to cultivate a rich and godly culture, we must consider the goodness that God intends for culture, the brokenness of our culture, the diversity of culture, and how culture can be renewed.

The Apostle Paul examines the concept of grace and the reason why our lives must follow Christ's example. Only through God's grace and accepting Christ into our lives will we ever find true freedom and our true selves.

Seasons of spiritual dryness and disillusionment are inevitable in life, and may derail your faith. They don’t seem to fit with a just and holy God. Psalm 42 offers a prescription for your soul when it seems impossible to feel close to God and sense his lovingkindness.

God has an infinite willingness to forgive, but forgiveness is not easy and comes at infinite cost. If we resist the work of the Holy Spirit, showing us where we're wrong and leading us to repentance, it is possible for us to deny God and put ourselves outside of his power to forgive. Only through an understanding of the gospel can we come to confession and repentance.