Courage on SermonAudio

Beloved in the Lord Jesus: Jacob made the mess he was in and he had to clean it up… and he needed help to clean it up! Because he was afraid of his brother Esau, he sent his servants with 550 animals to bribe his brother back into friendship. In doing this, he endangered himself, his wife, children, and his future work of establishing himself in Canaan and wait for Messiah to come to save the world. But Jacob met with Jesus! At first, he wrestled with Jesus in his own stubbornness, but then when Jesus humbled him, he moved from wrestling to clinging to Jesus. Jacob then pleaded for blessings and Jesus reassured him of help to occupy the land and wait for Messiah. It was a reminder Jacob did not need Esau's help. See today how Jacob had to dig his way out…with help – help from his Covenant God! Our headings are: 1. Jacob's Actions to Pacify Esau 2. Esau's Acceptance of Jacob's family 3. Esau's Acceptance of Jacob's gift Our goals are: That you will be warned not to think you are wiser than God, but you will submit to his guidance as you work to establish Jesus' kingdom throughout the world.

This sermon explores the theological depth of Jesus's question, "Do you want to be healed?" as found in John chapter 5. It argues that while humans often develop coping mechanisms to survive pain, these strategies can become rigid patterns that prevent true spiritual and emotional growth. The message contrasts the man at the pool of Bethesda, who relied on a futile routine, with the invitation to trust in Jesus's power for transformation. It emphasizes that healing is a gift of grace that requires active participation, urging listeners to surrender their self-reliant coping methods. The sermon concludes with a pastoral invitation to embrace wholeness, acknowledging that while God does not promise a pain-free life, He promises His presence and power to redeem brokenness.

This whole episode becomes a case-study in conflict AND what often results from conflict i.e., discouragement. It's the loss of courage (dis-courage) and it can sap a person of energy, vitality, motivation and joy. It's one symptom of what Augustin and later, Martin Luther called "incurvatus in se" -- we curve IN on ourselves - like an ingrown soul. We can ALL relate to it. There's a good possibility you found yourself discouraged THIS very week. Some of us were perhaps discouraged for the whole week and it's exhausting. So how will our man at the front deal with this conflict that's leading to group discouragement - what magic trick or motivational spell will he conjure to get the people up and running in the face of threats and dangers? Let's look at: 1) When the Rubble Piles Up 2) Practicing the Presence 3) The Both-And Response

This sermon addresses the paralysis of fear that often inhibits believers from fulfilling their God-given missions, using the example of Titus in Crete. It argues that the solution to overwhelming tasks and cultural opposition is not human strength but a clear understanding who we are, why we're here, and what we have. The text emphasizes that apostolic authority and the mandate to preach the truth are derived from God's command, not from lived experience or cultural approval. By anchoring ourselves in the unshakable hope of eternal life promised by the never-lying God, we can choose courage over cowardice, doing the work entrusted to us regardless of the outcome.

A Christian has or will go through seasons where they begin to question if following God is truly worth it. These seasons reach to the core of human nature which wrestles with living for God or living for self. Asaph, though a leader in the temple, still went through a season like this. Through his raw honesty, we can learn how to grow through seasons like this. What he discovers about God is there to encourage and strengthen our faith.

Please forgive the brief silence mid-sermon & poor audio quality due to technical difficulties. VaultAI Summary: This sermon explores the biblical concept of true liberty, arguing that freedom is not the ability to do what one desires, but the power to obey God's law. Drawing from Psalm 119, the text distinguishes between the bondage of sin and the liberation found in Christ, who frees believers from both the guilt and the power of sin. The preacher emphasizes that God's Word is a 'perfect law of liberty' that enables believers to walk in holiness with confidence and delight. Key themes include the necessity of God's mercy for salvation, the joy of meditating on divine commandments, and the courage to speak truth without fear of man. The message concludes by urging believers to embrace this freedom as a gift of the gospel, rejecting the false liberty of the flesh in favor of the joyous obedience that characterizes a life set free by Jesus.

This Bible Study begins to examine the character of Haman in the book of Esther, tracing his rise to power and his intense hatred toward Mordecai and the Jewish people. The teaching highlights the theological consequence of King Saul's disobedience in 1 Samuel 15, which allowed the Amalekite lineage to survive and eventually produce Haman, a direct threat to Israel. It details how Haman's personal grievance escalated into a national plot for genocide, secured through a royal decree and significant financial bribery. The narrative concludes with the profound grief of the Jewish community and Esther's courageous decision to risk her life to intercede before the king, framed by Mordecai's assertion that she was placed in the kingdom for such a time as this.