Gratitude on SermonAudio

As Christians we all have a place to serve and a purpose to fulfill. Be encouraged to serve faithfully and earnestly.

Sermon | Hebrews 10:19-25 | Sunday Evening Service, September 6, 2026. Preacher: Jamey Smuts This sermon examines Hebrews 10:19-25 to outline three essential responses for believers based on the finished work of Jesus Christ. It emphasizes that through Christ's sacrifice, believers have confidence to enter God's presence and are called to draw near with sincerity and faith. The message urges holding fast to the confession of hope without wavering, grounded in the faithfulness of God who guarantees salvation. Additionally, it stresses the importance of mutual encouragement within the church body, urging members not to neglect gathering together as they anticipate Christ's return. Ultimately, the text calls for a life of active love and good deeds fueled by gratitude for redemption. Visit Benoni Bible Church: www.benonibiblechurch.co.za Address: 149 President Brand Rd, Rynfield, Benoni - view on Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/oag383xq3U2b7RQN6 Copyright © 2026, Benoni Bible Church. All rights reserved.

The Pharisees' demand for a sign in Mark 8 stems from willful rebellion rather than genuine inquiry. God has provided sufficient revelation through creation, scripture, and the resurrection of Christ to make belief obligatory. Unbelief is defined not as innocent doubt but as active resistance to clear truth, carrying moral guilt before God. There is a stark contrast between this obstinate rejection and the comfort available to those who bring honest questions to Jesus in humility. Believers are called to repentance, gratitude for grace. All listeners are called to believe the gospel.

This sermon explores the Apostle Paul's call for sober judgment and humility within the diverse body of Christ, drawing primarily from Romans 12. It challenges believers to reject prideful self-comparison and instead evaluate themselves according to the measure of faith God has assigned. The message emphasizes that spiritual gifts are not personal possessions but resources given by grace for the mutual benefit of the church community. By recognizing their interdependence as members of one body, Christians are urged to exercise their unique callings with humility and to receive others' gifts with gratitude. Ultimately, true unity and effective service flow from a renewed mind focused on Christ's selfless example rather than individual ambition.

This devotional explores the concept of "striving to enter God's rest" based on Hebrews 4:1-11. Pastor Jason highlights that while Christians are called to enter this rest, it is possible to "try too hard" in the wrong way, much like a golfer or baseball player whose excessive, misplaced effort leads to failure. The video presents the following key themes and points: The Example of the Exodus Generation: The speaker uses the Exodus generation as a primary warning. Despite witnessing God's powerful deliverance and miracles, they failed to enter God's rest because they did not believe the gospel they heard. Their failure was rooted in a lack of faith, not in a lack of miracles. The Nature of True Rest: True rest is achieved when individuals believe in the promises of God and accept that the work of salvation is already finished by Jesus Christ. To "rest" means to stop trying to earn salvation through one's own works. How to "Strive": The call to "strive to enter" is not a call to work for salvation. Instead, it is a call to: 1. Place faith alone in Christ alone. 2. Embrace and believe what God has accomplished. 3. Obey God out of love and gratitude for the salvation He has already provided, rather than as a means to earn it. The speaker concludes that any attempt to earn rest through good works is an abandonment of faith and a rejection of the gospel.

Shaping The Arrow This message is a family dedication built around the truth that raising children requires more than good intentions—it requires daily dependence on the Lord. Using 2 Timothy 1:7 and 1 Thessalonians 5, the message emphasizes that God gives us power for our problems, love for people, and a sound mind for ourselves. Brody and Adri are encouraged to let Waylon see them run to the Lord first, love and forgive one another, deal honestly with their own hearts, and remain connected to a faithful church family that can warn, comfort, support, pray, and walk with them. The central picture is that children are arrows being shaped for God's purposes. Parents, grandparents, and the church all have a part in smoothing rough places, straightening what is bent, and preparing a child to one day go places they themselves may never go. The goal is not merely to raise a successful or well-behaved child, but to prayerfully prepare Waylon to become a "polished shaft" in the Lord's hands—while trusting that only God can bring about the new birth and make Jesus known to him. The message also stresses that bitterness, pride, unforgiveness, and self-centeredness can poison a home, while repentance, patience, truth, reconciliation, gratitude, and prayer create an atmosphere where grace can flourish. Grandparents are reminded to guide with wisdom without controlling, and the church is called to actively undergird the family through spiritual warfare and every season of life. The heart of the dedication is this: we are going to fail at times, but our confidence is not in our perfection—it is in God's faithfulness. As 1 Thessalonians 5:24 says, "Faithful is he that calleth you, w

The sermon explores the miracle of feeding the five thousand and Jesus walking on water, emphasizing His compassion for physical needs alongside His spiritual authority. It contrasts the crowd's desire for material sustenance with the call to seek eternal life through faith in Christ. The preacher highlights how Jesus uses small offerings to accomplish great works and guides believers through life's storms when they remain obedient. Key themes include the danger of seeking only earthly benefits and the importance of gratitude as a measure of true spirituality. Ultimately, the message urges listeners to hunger for spiritual truth rather than merely temporary relief.

Imaginary or Exaggerated Sufferings Some suffering is very real. But how often do pride, self-pity, fear, and ingratitude cause us to imagine suffering that isn't there, or exaggerate the trials that are? Eve focused on the one thing withheld instead of God's abundance. She imagined herself deprived and abused. Elijah believed he alone was left. Jacob cried, "All these things are against me," when God was actually working for his deliverance. And there are many other examples. Modern culture can make this worse: correction becomes "abuse," disagreement becomes "gaslighting," discomfort becomes "unsafe," and ordinary hardships become "trauma." The Bible gives another way: humility, sobriety, faith, and thanksgiving. In earlier generations, many Christian families regularly read the Bible together, along with accounts of the sufferings and sacrifices of Christians found in works such as "Foxe's Book of Martyrs." Such examples helped put ordinary trials into perspective and guarded against whining, self-pity, and imaginary or exaggerated sufferings. But today's modern religion of psychology and self-help - so often encouraging or increasing a victimhood mentality - can pour gas on the flames of pride and self-pity!