Death on SermonAudio

Five Always of the Revived — Part 2 Delivered to Death, Yet Always Confident | 2 Corinthians 4:7–12; 5:1–8 This message continues exploring the five always of a revived life, concentrating on two essential realities: believers are always being delivered to death so that the life of Jesus may be manifested through them, and they can always be confident because their lives and eternal future are secured in Christ. Drawing from 2 Corinthians 4, the message emphasizes that God has entrusted the glorious treasure of the gospel to frail earthen vessels so that the excellence of the power will be recognized as His and not ours. Through difficulties, weaknesses, persecution, and circumstances beyond our control, God graciously brings us to the end of ourselves so that the character, sufficiency, and life of Jesus become evident. Our trials are not necessarily evidence of God's absence; they may be the very means He uses to refine us, remove our independence, and prepare us to minister life to others. Paul's declaration, "Death is working in us, but life in you," reveals how God transforms personal suffering into testimonies that strengthen, encourage, and help others see His faithfulness. Through personal experiences with leukemia, encounters with others facing similar struggles, and the illustration of David's smooth stones, the message demonstrates how God uses what He brings us through to smooth our rough edges and place something valuable into another person's life. Our testimonies become songs of deliverance, giving glory to God, encouraging His people, and silencing the enemy through praise. The message then turns to 2 Corinthians 5, where Paul declares that we are alw

Joab kills Abner in revenge for Asahel's death, and David condemns the murder and its guilt. Study and transcript: https://sharonrpc.org/devotions/2-samuel-3-22-30-reject-revenge-pursue-gods-justice

Behind the world's most famous allegorical journey lies a dramatic, centuries-long saga of prison-bound genius, theological firepower, and heart-stopping historical survival. Long before John Bunyan's *The Pilgrim's Progress* captured the global imagination—or became a forgotten classic among modern readers—it was championed by Oxford scholars, published by daring Dissenter booksellers on sixpence budgets, and fiercely defended through works like *The Barren Fig-Tree*, *Come and Welcome to Jesus*, *The Fear of God*, and *The Water of Life*. Yet Bunyan's complete pastoral voice almost vanished forever: it took the fanatical, lifelong obsession of 19th-century book collector George Offor to strip away two centuries of corrupted printings and restore Bunyan's authentic words—only for Offor's irreplaceable library of original 17th-century manuscripts to be consumed in a catastrophic 1865 London warehouse fire just months after his death. The complete three-volume set resting on church library shelves today isn't just a monument to Puritan theology; it is a miracle of literary salvation that survived against all odds.

This sermon examines the specific judgment pronounced upon Adam in Genesis 3, highlighting the curse of unrewarding toil and the reality of death as consequences of sin. The speaker contrasts Adam's evasion of responsibility with the biblical mandate for men to serve as providers and decision-makers, emphasizing that this role is a divine design rather than a cultural construct. By analyzing the transition from the Garden of Eden to a life of labor, the message underscores the fallen nature of humanity and the necessity of God's grace. The narrative culminates in the first shedding of blood for clothing, which is presented as a prophetic foreshadowing of the ultimate sacrifice of Christ. Ultimately, the sermon calls for a recognition of human limitations and a reliance on God's redemption plan amidst the ongoing struggle with sin.

The Bible tells of Mary Magdalene & the other Mary sitting by Jesus' grave. Their Savior was dead. Their hopes were dashed. Their hearts broken. Death can do that. We've been there. Yet early in the morning on the first day of the week, resurrection fixed everything.

This sermon examines the doctrine of effectual calling as presented in the Westminster Confession of Faith, emphasizing that salvation is entirely the work of God's free grace rather than human foresight or effort. The central argument asserts that regeneration must precede faith, as the natural human state is one of spiritual death and hostility toward God, rendering individuals passive until the Holy Spirit renews their hearts. The teaching addresses three key objections: the role of God's foreknowledge, the salvation of elect infants who cannot respond to the preached Word, and the distinction between those who merely exhibit common operations of the Spirit and those who are truly effectually called. By contrasting the Arminian view of conditional election with the Reformed perspective of unconditional grace, the sermon highlights that God's eternal decree rests solely on His purpose and love, not on anticipated human response. Ultimately, this doctrine provides assurance to believers that their salvation is secure because it is grounded in God's almighty power to draw them to Christ and preserve them until the end.

This sermon provides an expository walkthrough of Revelation chapters 21 and 22, focusing on the description of the New Jerusalem and the eternal state. The central message emphasizes the removal of all suffering, death, and pain, replaced by the direct presence of God and the Lamb, who serve as the temple and light of the city. Key theological themes include the fulfillment of God's promises, the distinction between those whose names are in the Lamb's book of life and those who are excluded, and the restoration of access to the tree of life. The tone is encouraging and instructional, urging believers to find joy in these assurances while maintaining a sense of urgency to share the gospel, as Christ's return is imminent. The passage concludes with a call to remain faithful and to eagerly anticipate the final reward of reigning with God forever.

An overall evaluation of the pros and cons of NDEs