Courage on SermonAudio

When life gets loud with lies, accusations, and well‑intentioned but misguided voices, Scripture becomes the steady place our hearts can breathe again. God's Word cuts through the noise—replacing fear with truth, doubt with clarity, and discouragement with the courage Joshua, Caleb, Nehemiah, and David all clung to. As we meditate on what God says, we learn to recognize the Shepherd's voice and silence every other one that tries to pull us off course.

Ashamed of the Gospel is John MacArthur's full-throated defense of biblical preaching against the rising tide of market-driven ministry that swept evangelical churches in the early 1990s. Written in the tradition of Charles Spurgeon—whose "Down-Grade Controversy" of 1887–1892 serves as the book's historical spine—MacArthur argues that the modern church has traded its prophetic calling for the applause of consumers. The culprit is pragmatism: the philosophy that whatever draws a crowd must be right, whatever grows a church must be blessed, and whatever offends the seeker must be silenced. MacArthur is not against innovation, large churches, or relevance. He is against the systematic subordination of God's Word to human technique, the removal of the gospel's offense, and the replacement of divine sovereignty with marketing wisdom. The book is simultaneously a historical warning, a biblical theology of ministry, a call to courageous preaching, and an urgent plea to the evangelical church to return to the unadulterated gospel—before it is too late.

Every Christian man is engaged in a real spiritual battle. Scripture neither encourages an unhealthy obsession with demons nor permits believers to ignore spiritual opposition. Instead, the Lord commands His people to be strong in Him and to stand firm with the armor He provides. In this episode of Warriors of Grace, Dave Jenkins explains Ephesians 6:10–18 and shows how Christian men can face sin, temptation, fear, discouragement, pride, anger, passivity, and spiritual opposition with biblical courage. Victory does not come through human ingenuity, willpower, or self-confidence. Christian men fight from the finished victory of Jesus Christ. Through truth, righteousness, the gospel, faith, salvation, Scripture, prayer, and fellowship in the local church, God supplies everything His people need to remain faithful. Stand firm in Christ, remain vigilant, and fight with the armor God provides. For more from Warriors of Grace, please visit: https://servantsofgrace.org/warriors-of-grace-podcast/

After John's disciples left to confirm to him that Jesus was indeed the Expected One, Jesus went on to point out the value and purpose of John and his ministry. He was the greatest born of a woman. He was the faithful servant. He was the courageous prophet. He was the way-preparer.

The sermon examines Joshua chapters 16 and 17 to expose the spiritual danger of treating God's blessings as entitlements rather than responsibilities. The tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh misuse their strength by retaining Canaanites for forced labor instead of obeying God's command to drive them out, thereby substituting profitable compromise for faithful obedience. When these tribes demand more land based on their numerical growth, Joshua redirects their focus from entitlement to active stewardship, challenging them to utilize their existing resources for difficult obedience. The preacher contrasts this earthly failure with the gospel, where Jesus demonstrates true greatness through service and sacrifice rather than self-advancement. Ultimately, the message calls believers to reject discontent and pride, urging them to rest in Christ's righteousness while faithfully stewarding all God-given gifts for His glory.

The sermon explores the transformative power of Jesus Christ to liberate individuals from various forms of bondage, drawing primarily on the narrative in Acts 16. It highlights three key aspects of this freedom: deliverance from spiritual and worldly slavery, finding joy and peace amidst suffering through faith, and the unifying strength of the church family that transcends social and cultural divides. The preacher emphasizes that true freedom is found only in believing in Jesus, which leads to lasting joy and a community where all are accepted as siblings in Christ. This message serves as both an invitation to salvation and a call to live out this liberated identity with kindness and courage. Ultimately, the gospel is presented as the ultimate force for personal liberation and communal unity.

In Part 3 of our journey through Psalm 23, David takes us from green pastures and still waters into the valley of the shadow of death. The path of the Shepherd does not always lead around hardship. Sometimes, it leads directly through it. Yet David's confidence remains: "I will fear no evil, for you are with me." His comfort is not found in the absence of danger, but in the presence of the Shepherd. Even in the darkest valley, God has not abandoned His people. His rod protects, His staff guides, and His presence gives us courage to keep walking. This message explores what it means to trust God when the path becomes difficult, to find peace when fear surrounds us, and to remember that no valley is walked alone. The same Shepherd who leads us beside still waters is the One who faithfully leads us through the darkness.

Live like a Christian! Live with the same mind! Live courageously for Christ!