Love Worth Finding | Audio Program

Sermon Overview

Scripture Passage: Acts 23

If you are criticized for standing for the Lord Jesus Christ, the Bible says, “Rejoice and be exceeding glad. Great is your reward in heaven.” (Matthew 5:12) This may seem easier said than done, however.

Scripture tells us that we will be criticized if we live for Jesus. How can we cope with criticism and have peace in times of persecution? Consider the apostle Paul, who was criticized for following the Lord Jesus Christ, and yet he went through it triumphantly.

First, he had a righteous life that came out of a good conscience.

Acts 23:1 says, “I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day…” Our conscience is that inner voice that accuses us or excuses us for our actions. It doesn’t make us good or bad, it simply defines for us what we truly believe is good or bad. However, if our conscience bothers us, then criticism will bother us. We must ensure that our conscience is free from defilement, searing, and evil. If we ever let our conscience get warped or burnt out, we will not be able to cope with criticism in a sound, biblical way.

The second thing that enabled Paul to stand as he did was his message of a resurrected Lord.

There is tension in the Gospel: the Son of God was crucified, killed, and rose from the dead three days later. When you truly preach the resurrection of Jesus Christ, it is a disturbing and dividing truth. Either Jesus rose from the grave, or He didn’t. Which side are you on?

Adrian Rogers says, “When you take a stand for truth you’re going to have a head-on collision with error.” This truth that disturbed and divided others is what delivered Paul. God gave him a reassuring lift, with a word of courage, commendation, and confidence in his time of need.

If we are morally clean and theologically pure, we will be spiritually close to Jesus in times of suffering.

When this happens, not only will we cope with criticism, we might just rejoice in it.

Apply it to your life

Have you been facing criticism for following the Lord Jesus Christ? Use the example of Paul in Acts 23 to face it triumphantly.

Sermon Overview

Scripture Passage: Acts 17:16-18

In Acts 17, Paul walks down the streets of Athens, Greece, and meets three challenges to the cross—to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The same three challenges that Paul met are ones we could meet tomorrow morning; the ones who opposed the Gospel in Acts 17 could believe the same things as the people we rub shoulders with today. We need to learn how Paul met these challenges so that we can meet them in a God-honoring way.

First, Paul met superstitious idolatry.

Acts 17:16 says, “Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry.” An idol is anything you love, serve, fear, or trust more than God. Paul saw idolatry everywhere he turned in Athens. Our city, even sometimes our churches, are filled with idolatry. We all worship something because mankind is incurably religious. Adrian Rogers says, “If man does not worship the true God, he will worship a false god, but he will worship.”

Secondly, Paul met stubborn bigotry.

When Paul entered the synagogue and presented the Gospel to the people, he was met with stubbornness; the people were so sure they were right and he was wrong. Adrian Rogers says, “The hardest man to win to Jesus Christ is the man who doesn’t see his need of the Lord Jesus Christ. Many times he has a religious bigotry.”

Thirdly, Paul met sophisticated philosophy.

A philosopher is a lover of wisdom, one who takes pride in his learning. In Paul’s day, he encountered two types of philosophers: the Epicures and the Stoics. Epicureans sought pleasure above anything else. Stoics believed they were victims of fate, that God is in everything and everything is God. We still encounter people who believe this way. Unfortunately, often times, their innate foolishness keeps them from knowing Jesus.

How did Paul deal with this opposition? He simply continued to preach, and reveal the character of God: that He created us, controls us, convicts and commands us. Some mocked, some laughed and some procrastinated. But, thank God, others believed.

We can’t make others believe, however, we have the opportunity to preach the Gospel anyway.

Apply it to your life

Do you have any idols in your life that need to be dealt with? Repent and follow God with a wholly devoted heart.

Sermon Overview

Scripture Passage: Acts 20:35-38

The world often measures a man by his intelligence, strength, or wealth. However, the world often forgets that when we pass away, we leave behind all that we have and take with us all that we are. What will you take with you? What truly matters in a man?

Consider what the Apostle Paul took with him. Acts 20:19 says, “Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations…”

A man’s life will be measured by his manner.

We must live a life of humility, and the mark of humility is service. Adrian Rogers says, “Humility is an honest estimation of yourself… based on what God says about you. It results primarily in serving others.”

Our manner of life should be marked by heartache.

"Serving the Lord... with many tears." The apostle Paul was a compassionate man. He knew how to weep. He knew how to enter into the sorrows and the hurts of other people.

Our manner of life must also include hardship.

There is no way to live a life that counts and make an impression on this world without making some enemies. That didn’t scare Paul, and it shouldn’t scare us.

A man's life will also be measured by his message.

We will be known for something when we are gone. Our lives will bear a message for others to remember when they think about us. Paul’s life message revolved around repentance toward God and faith in Jesus Christ.

Finally, a man’s life is measured by his motto.

Every man has a life motto; something that motivates, drives, and constrains him. Paul's life motto was: "Remembering the words of Jesus, it is more blessed to give than to receive.” (Acts 20:35) Paul spent his life, not primarily as a receiver, but as a giver. This motto freed Paul from covetousness, idleness, and selfishness. Therefore, his life was blessed.

There is no easy way to have a great life. But if we remember that a man’s life is measured by the manner, the message, and the motto of his life, we will find a life worth living.

Apply it to your life

If you based your life on Paul’s testimony in Acts 20:19, how would you measure up? When we pass away, we leave behind all that we have and take with us all that we are. What will you take with you?

Sermon Overview

Scripture Passage: Acts 16:23-31

The Gospel is meant to be told simply. God wants salvation to be made simple because it is His desire that anyone can understand and obtain it.

Acts 16:23-31 tells the story of Paul and Silas, who have been put in prison for preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They’ve been beaten and stuffed into a dungeon; yet, they are singing and praising God. Then came a great earthquake, and the prison doors and shackles came undone. They were free. When the jailor saw that the prisoners were freed, yet remained in their cell, he asked, “What must I do to be saved?” Paul and Silas’s answer reveals the beautiful simplicity of salvation.

First, we must consider the meaning of salvation.

To be saved means to be delivered from sin. Sin comes in three forms:

-The wrong we do

-The right we don’t do

-The good we do without God

So what does it mean to be saved from sin? We are saved from the penalty, the pollution, the power, and the presence of sin.

Second, we must consider the man of salvation.

The Lord Jesus Christ. Acts 16:30 says “...Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shall be saved.”

When these disciples said, “Lord” they meant He’s the Master of our lives.

When these disciples said, “Jesus” they meant He's the Mediator between us and God.

When these disciples said, “Christ” they meant He’s the Messiah, the one who saves.

Finally, remember the method of salvation.

Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved. What does it mean to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ? It is not mere intellectual belief. The demons believe and tremble (James 2:19), and they are certainly not saved. “Believe on” means “commit to”. Commit to the Lord Jesus Christ.

We believe that whosoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. (Rom. 10:13)

And whosoever means anybody, any time, any place, anywhere.

Apply it to your life

If someone asks you, “How can I be saved?” as the jailor asked Paul and Silas, would you know what to say?

Sermon Overview

Scripture Passage: Acts 4:36-37

The Book of Acts tells the story of a man called Barnabas. His name means “son of encouragement.” And there are five characteristics that make Barnabas the church member of any pastor’s dreams.

First, he was a load lifter.

In Acts 4:36, Barnabas meets a need by selling his property and giving the profits to the church. He saw a load and he decided to lift it. Encouragers understand that we all have something to give. Encouragers find out what it is that can be used to lift another’s burdens and offer it.

Encouragers are also friend finders.

After the Apostle Paul’s conversion, he was despised by his old colleagues, but feared by his new brothers and sisters in Christ. He was a man who needed a friend. Barnabas found him and became a friend to this very lonely new disciple. A lot of new Christians need somebody to find and friend them. An encourager finds the lonely and neglected, puts an arm around them, and brings them into the fold.

Encouragers are also bridge builders.

Barnabas knew the old and he saw the new; he was used to link the past to the future. Adrian Rogers says, “Barnabas believed in the tradition, but he believed in the frontier. And he was used by God to mold it all together. He was a bridge builder.”

Encouragers are disciple developers.

Barnabas often found buried gifts in new disciples and he brought these hidden talents out of them. There are people in our churches with gifts and abilities that need to be discovered and developed. But it takes a “Barnabas” to find them.

Finally, encouragers are failure fixers.

After the disciple Mark ran away from his calling, Barnabas sought him out and gave him another chance. This young disciple went on to write the Gospel of Mark.

Thank God for Barnabas, who strove to fix this failure with words of encouragement. And thank God for the encouragers in our churches, who see second chances in us when no one else does.

Apply it to your life

Would you consider yourself to be a church member of your pastor’s dreams? Are you an encourager like Barnabas — a load lifter, friend finder, bridge builder, disciple developer, and failure fixer?

Sermon Overview

Scripture Passage: Acts 10:33-42

Acts 10 tells the story of a Roman army officer named Cornelius. Cornelius was also a Gentile. Up until this time, the Gentiles had not been added to the Christian church (the early believers were Jewish). Yet, Cornelius was hungry to know God and he was hungry for faith in Jesus Christ. Supernaturally, God brought Cornelius and the apostle Peter together. As he is presenting the Gospel to Cornelius, Peter claims three indisputable witnesses who testify that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. By believing them, we, like Cornelius, can be sure of our salvation as well.

The first was a personal witness of the saints.

The apostles standing before Cornelius had literally walked with Jesus during his ministry. The disciples were a diverse group of young men who lived with Him, ate, and fellowshipped with Him. They personally witnessed His life, death, and resurrection. And though a wide mixture of characters, the disciples’ recollection of Jesus is unanimous: He is the resurrected Son of God.

The second was the prophetic witness of the Scriptures.

Every page of Scripture is about Jesus, if not explicitly, then prophetically. Even in the Old Testament, before Jesus walked the earth, prophecies the salvation He would bring to mankind. The Bible has one hero, which is Jesus; and it has one message: Jesus saves. Adrian Rogers says, “The Bible was not written primarily to give us the history of Israel. It's not written primarily to tell us about ceremonies and rituals; the Bible was written to tell us that Jesus saves.”

Lastly, the Holy Spirit acted as the third witness.

After he was saved, Cornelius immediately received the Holy Ghost and began to speak in tongues. This was the outward evidence of the internal work of God in the hearts of these new believers. God was expanding the church to include the Gentiles right before their eyes. Jew and Gentile became one body, by witness of the saints, the Scripture, and the Spirit.

Apply it to your life

Are you sure of your salvation and do you believe the three indisputable witnesses at hand?

Sermon Overview

Scripture Passage: Acts 9:17-22

2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore if any man be in Christ Jesus, he is a new creation; old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” Adrian Rogers says it this way, “A Christian is not just somebody who has become nice; he’s become new.”

Acts 9 tells the story of the conversion of the Apostle Paul. His early name was Saul and he was a persecutor of Christians. Yet, in this passage, he becomes Paul, the greatest missionary and evangelist the world has ever known. He was changed by the grace of God, so much so, he even changed his name! There are five markings of this man made new, found in Acts 9:17-22.

First, Saul had a new Lord.

The first question Saul asked when confronted by Jesus on the road to Damascus was, “Lord, what would you have me do?” Jesus had become his Lord; immediately, he was under new management. The Bible calls Jesus, Lord 433 times. And Adrian Rogers says, “You cannot have what He gives, salvation unless you receive what He is, and that is Lord.”

Second, Paul had a new life.

When you receive Jesus as Lord, you receive a new life and a new spiritual sight. You’re able to see things you’ve never seen before.

Third, Paul had a new liberty.

God put His power within Paul. The Christian life is what God does in us and through us. He’s the one who gives us that liberty.

Fourth, Paul had a new love.

A few days before his conversion, this man was threatening the church. His heart was filled with bitterness and malevolence toward those who were called Christians. And those he once loathed he now loves. If you love Jesus, you will love what He loves.

Finally, Paul had a new labor.

Saul’s mission was to destroy the church. Paul’s mission was to build the church. The marking of a new life in Christ is that he shares it with others.

And what God did for Saul, God wants to do for us, all.

Apply it to your life

Have you been made new in Christ? Does your life show that you have a new Lord, life, liberty, love, and labor?

Sermon Overview

Scripture Passage: Acts 8:5-24

Contrary to popular belief, the devil is very much for religion; in fact, he uses religion to oppose the Gospel of Jesus Christ. In the Book of Revelation, the Bible prophecies that in the Last Days, there will not be a lack of religion; there will be more than ever. Men will have religion without reality; they will not know God, and yet they will be very religious. It is vital that we recognize the warnings and refute the devil’s religion, lest we fall into its deception.

-Beware of the devilish power of false religion.

-Beware of the devilish pride of false religion.

-Beware of the devilish pretense of false religion.

-Beware of the devilish poison of false religion.

In Acts 8, a man named Simon was practicing what the Bible calls “sorcery.” He had tapped into a devilish, unholy, supernatural power so great, it left his city in awe.

We must remember that the devil is a deceiver, and he often uses miracles and signs to deceive even those who believe they are Christians.

Acts 8:9 says, “But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one.”

Simon was inflated with ego. The hallmark of false religion is pride. Remember: It was pride that made the devil, the devil.

There are two kinds of believers described in Acts 8:12-13: possessors and pretenders.

The difference is in the object of their belief. Simon the sorcerer was interested in power that he could get hold of. When he saw the apostles, filled with the Holy Spirit, laying their hands on people and giving healing and restoration, he wanted it.

Adrian Rogers says, “Because false religion is egocentric, it is always rooted in what I can get and not in what I can give.”

False religion poisons everything it touches. It can’t make a person free; you are ensnared and undelivered from sin and temptation, left unfulfilled and unsatisfied, bitter and in bondage.

The only remedy to false religion is repentance of sins of the spirit. Receive the Holy Spirit through a relationship with Christ.

Apply it to your life

Have you been ensnared by the dangers of false religion? Do you need to repent of the sins of the spirit? Repent; stand on the word of God.

Sermon Overview

Scripture Passage: Acts 8:26

We, as Christians, have been sent on a mission to share the Gospel anywhere and everywhere God calls us to go. Where is anywhere and everywhere for you? Have you ever said in your heart, "Wherever He leads, I'll go"? We should be able to say this and mean it, without fear or hesitation.

God has a plan for us and God will use us if we will let Him. How can we know where God wants us to go?

First, we must perceive the call of God.

God has many ways to speak to us, through prayer, the Holy Spirit, angels, and others. We must get rid of our selfishness, our pride, and our ambitions, and be ready to be filled by God. And what God fills, He uses.

We must preach the Gospel, simply and clearly, according to Jesus Christ.

Adrian Rogers says, “The Gospel is simply glorious and gloriously simple.” The Gospel, simply put, is three statements:

-“I am a sinner.”

-“Christ died for my sins.”

-“I am saved by grace, through faith.”

Finally, we must practice the commands of God.

The Great Commission in Matthew 28:19-20 says,

"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.”

Baptism is our way of showing our salvation. A true baptism follows true salvation. Adrian Rogers says, “If we are real missionaries, we're going to receive the call of God, preach the Christ of God, and practice the commands of God.”

Apply it to your life

Are you willing to say to God, “Wherever you lead, I’ll go”? If there was ever a time we ought to say it, it is now.

Sermon Overview

Scripture Passage: Acts 6:1-7

Being a Christian means seeing opportunities in every difficulty. In Acts 6, the early church was experiencing some growing pains. By understanding how they dealt with their difficulties, we can learn how to turn our problems into possibilities.

We know what it’s like to experience growing pains, physically, mentally, and spiritually. With that understanding, there are four things to keep in mind when our churches undergo this grueling process of maturity.

First, remember that where there is life, there is growth.

If your church is growing, it is important to remember this is a good thing. Anything that grows has pains. Growth is not easy or automatic. We have to plan, pray, and work for it; we have to cultivate and water something if we want it to grow. Even still, it is God alone who gives growth. Churches can be big or small, each one unique and designed to maintain different capacities. No matter what size the church may be, if it is surrounded by lost people and still not growing, there’s something wrong. Our mission is to reach souls for the Lord Jesus Christ. If we’re not reaching them, we’re not doing what we were told to do.

Where there is growth, there are problems.

Anything that moves makes friction. However, many times, churches divide moreover incidentals than fundamental things. Adrian Rogers says, “When God sets out to multiply, the devil sets out to divide.”

Where there are problems, there are solutions.

A mature Christian is going to be deeply spiritual and intensely practical. In Acts 6, there was murmuring over neglected widows in the congregation. So, God demonstrated His practical love through the church leaders as they, themselves, waited tables for widows. These high-powered spiritual men were willing to minister in the small and mundane things. As a result, the church began to grow and the murmuring stopped.

Where there are God-given solutions, there is even greater growth.

It seems that every time the devil attacked this early church, their problems simply became springboards for greater possibilities. Adrian Rogers says, “All hell can’t stop a church that’ll keep its eyes on the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Thank God for a growing church!

Apply it to your life

Are you or your church experiencing some growing pains? Embrace it; turn your problems into possibilities for growth. Acknowledge the issues and pray for God-given solutions.