The crucifixion is the once-for-all-time sacrifice for sin. The resurrection of Jesus is the defeat of death. Salvation - saved from sin and saved unto God - is only possible by Jesus finished work on the cross and the empty tomb. Romans 5:6-11; John 14:6

How will you prepare to tell what you know about Jesus and your faith in Him, so you are ready to tell others when the opportunity arises?

Thank You God for Your love demonstrated to me in the life, death and resurrection of Your Son Jesus. Help me to tell others what You have done and how it has changed my life.

A sermon from John 12:12-19

1. A desperate plea

Jesus came to earth to be the once-for-all sacrifice for sin. He came to be King over our lives, not a political king to rule a nation. Jesus’s mission is much greater than giving us freedom from human oppression found in governments. The freedom Jesus offers is from sin and death, and is only available to us because of His death on the cross. He died in our place, doing for us what we are incapable of doing. By grace through faith we are set free from the captivity of sin.

How will you honor and worship Jesus - be specific - with your life this week?

Help me to hail you as King of my life, 24 hours of every day, not only when it is convenient or I believe You can offer me something. You, Jesus, are the only One worthy of my allegiance, worship and praise.

A sermon from Matthew 13:44-46

1. Value of the kingdom

God gave His only Son for us. Jesus gave His life so we, by grace through faith, could have a relationship with our Creator: eternal, Holy God. “Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” Philippians 2:5-8 (ESV)

What items do you need to “sell” this week in order to follow Jesus

Give me a passion for seeking and desiring You, my Lord and my God, that is unrivaled by anything I seek and desire on this earth.

A sermon from Matthew 13:31-35

1. From minuscule to mighty

“I (the Apostle Paul) planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth. 7 So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth. 8 Now the one who plants and the one who waters are one; but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor. 9 For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building.” 1 Corinthians 3:6-9

What is one way you could quietly help the Gospel permeate your family, friends or workplace? What examples or stories can you share with someone this week to help him understand your faith in Christ?

Show me this week the opportunities you will provide to me to share my faith by telling what you have done in my life, and then strengthen me to be courageous to speak.

A sermon from Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43

1. Supernatural sowing

Our attitudes and actions reveal our relationship with Jesus.

A sermon from Matthew 13:10-17

1. The power of story

The Gospel message is not a buffet allowing each one to pick and choose what they like and are willing to do. The Gospel is set by God in Jesus, His life, death and resurrection. An individual comes to God on God’s terms, not on their own terms.

A sermon from Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23

Guest speaker: Paul Ewing

The good news of the Gospel is proclaimed so that, despite the variety of responses, some will bear fruit many times over.

A sermon on Matthew 12:46-50

An important moment

A significant response

The key decision

Righteousness comes by faith in Jesus Christ, God’s Son, who lived a sinless life and died on a cross as the payment of God’s wrath against sin (1 John 2:2), so by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9), a person can be forgiven of sin and be restored to a relationship with God, their Creator. Faith in Jesus brings about righteousness (Galatians 3:11; Habakkuk 2:4). There is no other way. As a result, our family of origin does not determine our righteousness; only a relationship with Jesus does that. Therefore, obedience to God takes precedence over responsibilities to family. 

A sermon on Matthew 12:43-45

1. Out with the old

Jesus came to change our affections, desires, tendencies and devotion. Removing sinful patterns and habits from our life does not make us disciples of Jesus; it makes us moral people. Jesus came for more than morality, He came to offer us abundant life, or life to the full. Abundant life is not only emptying our lives of sinful choices, that is only part of it. The totality of abundant life also includes filling our lives with devotion to living as Jesus lived, loving as Jesus loved and pursuing the things of God that Jesus pursued. 

A sermon from Matthew 12:38-42

1. The desire for more

To know who Jesus is one has to look at what He claimed and what He did. Jesus stated often that He was the Son of God; the Messiah who came to save people from their sins. When the Jewish religious leaders could take it no more, and in the fulfilled time of God’s plan, they put Him to death by crucifixion to a Roman cross. That was a Friday. On Sunday all prophecy was fulfilled when Jesus rose from the dead defeating sin and death. With the centurion we can say, “Truly this was the Son of God!” (Matthew 27:54)