Christian Sermons from Calvary Chapel Greenmeadow, North Kingstown, RI

Sin and death are our two greatest enemies but Jesus defeated sin on the cross and death by His resurrection. The two are linked since the price of sin is death. Although all will face death, so all will rise again. For believers, the fear is removed.

While Jerusalem was focused on many other things, Jesus was focused on the cross. The people cried for this king to save them immediately from oppression, but first He had to come to be their spiritual savior, which meant He had to die.

We are to avoid evil, but we do not have to do it alone. The Holy Spirit is working in us and God will never give up on us; He is faithful to complete the work of sanctification, which began on the cross. Dwell not on past sin, but on Him who is able.

When Christians say no to God, it may be because they are afraid of the refining fire of the Spirit. Rather than resist, we should pray for that fire to burn ever hotter. We can feed it, and warm our cold hearts, with the fuel of His word.

God has given us the precious ability to be joyful always through obedience and by abiding in His love, to be prayerful continually as we have an ongoing conversation with God, and to be thankful in all things because the Lord is good.

Rather than bear a grudge, forgive those who have hurt you. Not only forgive, but also bless them from your heart. Though we cannot do this on our own, God will give us the ability. A life lived without forgiving is a prison.

Each of us as Christians has different struggles and different strengths. We should use our strengths to help our brothers in Christ. Today's verse gives four examples of how we can lift others up, but they require that we sacrifice our time.

How valuable is Jesus to you? The way we follow Jesus shows how much or little we value Him. The cost of following Jesus is to carry our cross daily. There will always be things that compete for our attention, but none more valuable than Him.

Godly leaders are recognized by their service. They lead by example and do not neglect their own time for God. We are instructed to love, respect and esteem those Christian leaders whom God has appointed. Most importantly, we must pray for them.

The Bible makes it clear that there is a terrible day of God's wrath coming, a necessary consequence of His justice. Jesus took that wrath upon himself and we are rescued from it. Such news should be a great encouragement to all believers!