Sermons on Sanctification
Jesus’ Achievements | Hebrews 2:5-18
Pastor Ron shared this message reminding us of Jesus’ achievements and how that relates to our faith journey. Discussion Questions 1. What are some signs of drifting? 2. What does “being careful” look like for you? 3. How does Jesus help us in our suffering?
Gracious | Colossians 1:11-22
Dave Astolfi shared a message called “Gracious” to wrap up our series on Grace. Watch Here Discussion Questions Can you recall a time when someone extended grace to you? (Not just mercy or forgiveness, but they went the extra mile?) Which of the salvation metaphors do you identify with? How does that impact the way you see yourself? What is in your spiritual diet that keeps you reminded of God’s love?
A Man Who Needed Grace | Ephesians 2:4-10
Sermon Ephesians 2:4-10 | A Man Who Needed Grace 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by…
Power Part 1. Religious Power | Acts 19:11-22 (The Sons of Sceva)
Anglican theologian N. T. Wright tells the story of one of Britain’s most promising political leaders in the 1960s, George Brown. When he was a young man, [George Brown] said, he knew that things had to be changed. British society was in a mess; someone needed to get to the levers of power and make things happen, make things different. So he went into politics. But in local politics, even once he’d been elected to council office, he discovered that…
Almost Christian | Acts 18:18-19:10
Amy and Mack are Christians. They grew up going to church with their parents, and they go on Easter, Christmas, and about once a month. They go every month because they want their two daughters to have good morals. They want them to have Christian values. It will give them their best chance of success in life, and isn’t that what God wants anyway? They send their daughters to Vacation Bible School (VBS) every summer for good measure. Amy’s sister…
The Heart | Proverbs 4:23
Have you ever had one of those moments where you’re listening to a teaching or reading or watching a documentary and something “clicks” in your mind? You finally “get it” and the way you think has changed? Maybe it’s a radical “paradigm shift” or just a “aha moment.” Something is different. I had one of moments this fall when I began reading Shepherding a Child’s Heart by Tedd Tripp. This is a book on parenting, but he starts with the…
Think Differently | Ephesians 4:17-32
Have you ever met your doppelgänger? A doppelgänger is someone who looks like you but isn’t related to you. This is an example of a doppelgänger. A wedding photographer met his doppelgänger flying from Ireland to Scotland. I met my doppelgänger when I lived in Falls Church VA. We attended the same church and people would walk up to him and say, “Hi Jonathan.” His name is Russell. In Ephesians Paul calls the church the body of Christ (Eph 4:15-16).…
A Sanctified People | Exodus 15:22-17:7
Have you ever watched a movie or read a book that begins with the opening line “Once upon a time”? Usually they’re fairy tales, or Disney movies. These stories often end with a very similar line, “and they all lived happily ever after.” The Hungarian equivalent is “They lived happily until they died.” I prefer the Bulgarian equivalent, “…and for three days they ate, drank, and had fun.” If you’re like me, you’re happy the main heroes of the story…