Love Worth Finding | Audio Program

Sermon Overview

Scripture Passage: Ephesians 6:5-8

As Christians, we have the chance to put joy, zest, and dignity into the most mundane jobs. God can turn our Monday mornings into a thing of beauty and joy. There are three principles to draw from Ephesians 6:5-8 as we begin turning the rat race into a pilgrimage.

One, we need to see our jobs as an opportunity and be grateful.

There are three wrong ways to look at work: a necessary evil, a cruel master, or a god itself. But when we see our work for what it truly is, a gift from God, we will begin to feel grateful.

Two, we need to see our jobs as a responsibility and be helpful.

When we work, we join a partnership with God, even in the secular workforce. We can draw parallels from Jeremiah 29, where God instructs Israel, captives of Babylon, to get into the work world and seek the welfare of Babylon. (See v. 4.) Your job is a part of a greater plan; we must be helpful to others.

Three, we need to see our jobs as a ministry and be faithful. 

Our jobs are our greatest ministry opportunity. We serve God full-time wherever we work no matter how mundane the job might be. Ephesians 6:6-7 says to approach our work, “not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, with goodwill doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men.”

Adrian Rogers says, “We’ve been saved out of the world, sent back into the world to witness to the world, and that’s the only business in the world we have until we’re taken out of the world when Jesus comes. We’re in this world, but not of this world. And Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount, ‘You are the light of the world’.”

Apply it to your life

Understanding that we are not called to a rat race, but a pilgrimage, there are four things to remember when you go to work tomorrow:

1. Don’t brag; do away with self-righteousness. Your light is to glow, not to glare.

2. Don't nag; no one has ever been talked down into a relationship with Jesus.

3. Don’t lag; carry your part of the load… in fact, work harder than anybody else.

4. Don’t sag; uphold your Christian faith in the workplace.

Sermon Overview

Scripture Passage: 1 John 2:12-14

A growing Christian is a maturing Christian because spiritual maturity is becoming more like Jesus. Some Christians are saved but aren’t growing. We will never know true victory and joy unless we learn how to be growing Christians.

In 1 John 2, the Apostle John compares spiritual maturity to three stages in our physical lives.

“I write unto you, little children, because you have known the Father. I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known Him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the Word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one” (1 John 2:14).

New Christians experience the thrilling wonders of spiritual childhood. They are “all tomorrows; no yesterdays.” However, children live in the realm of their feelings. They can be selfish and self-centered; uncooperative.

We are only young once; but if we aren’t careful, we can be spiritually immature for a long time.

If we grow, we’ll experience the triumphant warfare of manhood.

Abiding in the Word of God strengthens us for warfare. Obeying God and serving others transforms us into workers and warriors, equipped to combat the enemy.

Next comes the tested wisdom of fatherhood.

Adrian Rogers says, “When we spend time with someone, we become like that someone.”

Because we view God as our Father, the goal of spiritual maturity is to become spiritual fathers (and mothers). Mature Christians reproduce through soul-winning and discipleship.

What are the means of maturity?

-There must be the miracle of life; we must be saved.

-It takes time. There is no instant maturity; we experience growth through time spent with Jesus Christ.

-Growth requires nourishment; we have to feed on the Word of God.

-Growth demands discipline and exercise; we serve God and others.

Remember: we don’t substitute fatherhood for young manhood, nor young manhood for childhood.

In a father, there ought to be the vision and zeal of a young man. In a young man, there ought to be the wonder of childhood. All three stages are legitimate; a mature Christian is a composite of them all.

Apply it to your life

It takes life, time, nourishment, and exercise to grow.

Adrian Rogers offers this advice: “Don’t worry about what you can’t do. Find out what you can do and begin to do it, and you will grow.”

Sermon Overview

Scripture Passage: John 11

The Book of John shares Jesus’ glorious miracles with great messages and spiritual truths. In John 11, Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, revealing that He is God’s answer to Man’s death.

“Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die’” (John 11:25-26).

Many of us are alive but simply exist, fighting to live, while living to fight; but Jesus came, so that we may have life abundantly.

Therefore, the only way to live abundantly is to first experience life in Jesus.

In this passage, Lazarus had been physically dead for days; spiritually, he represents many of us who are dead in our sins. No amount of examples, encouragement, environment, or education can bring a spiritually dead man back to life. He is resurrected the same way Jesus resurrected Lazarus: by His Word. Those who know Jesus Christ never truly die; instead, they have everlasting life.

Second, living abundantly means exercising liberty through Jesus.

We can be saved, and still not live in victory, caught up somewhere between the powers of Calvary and Pentecost.

As Lazarus was taken out of his grave clothes, we must also discard our old lives and step into new lives of liberty. As the Church, we minister to each other by calling forth the spiritually dead and unwrapping the saints.

Abundant life also means enjoying our love for Jesus.

Lazarus dined with Jesus after he was resurrected, reminding us that fellowship with Jesus Christ is a reward in itself.

Finally, abundant life means expressing loyalty to Jesus.

After all he’d experienced, Lazarus was no longer afraid of death; He was loyal to Jesus, even when there was a threat made against him by the Pharisees.

Adrian Rogers says, “No man is ready to live until he is no longer afraid to die.”

When we experience life in Jesus, as well as liberty, love, and loyalty to Him, we begin to live the abundant life He promised us.

Apply it to your life

Do you have the abundant life Jesus promised those who live in Him? Consider your spiritual condition today, and step into a life of liberty, love, and loyalty to Christ.

Sermon Overview

Scripture Passage: John 6:15

Trouble is what draws us closer to Jesus and strengthens us to face life’s storms.

In John 6, Jesus’ disciples were caught up in a treacherous storm, when suddenly they saw Jesus walking on the Sea of Galilee. This passage reminds us that Jesus is God’s answer to Man’s despair.

When we find ourselves tossed about by the storms of life, there are six anchors for the soul we can hold onto.

“I am governed by His providence.”

The storm the disciples faced did not take Jesus by surprise; nor were the disciples there by mistake. When we face unexpected storms, we must remember that even though it seems contrary to us, we are exactly where God has placed us and His providence is there, too.

“I am growing by His plan.”

When we look back on our lives, we will see that we grew the most in times of trouble; God engineers problems for our development.

Adrian Rogers says, “Faith, like film, is developed best in the dark.”

“I am graced by His prayers.”

Before Jesus appeared to the disciples on the waves, He was alone on the mountain top, praying for them. From His vantage point, He could see the storm they were entering. Though the disciples did not see Him, He did not take His eyes off of them. Jesus sees us and prays for us, especially when we are in the midst of a storm.

“I am gladdened by His presence.”

John 6:20-21 says “But He said to them, ‘It is I; do not be afraid.’ Then they willingly received Him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land where they were going.” More than miracles, we need Jesus. Many times, we are positioned to cry out to Him, so that we may know a deeper glory and grace when He arrives.

“I am guarded by His power.”

God’s will does not take us where His grace cannot keep us. Anything over our heads is already under His feet. He has overcome the world; the Great I AM will always be.

“I am guided by His purpose.”

We are predestined to be like Jesus; God has a purpose for every storm. He gets in the boat with us and sees us to the shore.

Apply it to your life

Are you going through a storm right now? Remember these six truths and trust in Jesus.

Sermon Overview

Scripture Passage: John 20:30

Adrian Rogers says, “Man’s greatest need is to see his own spiritual blindness.”

When He healed the man born blind in John 9, Jesus revealed that He is God’s answer to Man’s darkness.

First, this miracle shows us that spiritual blindness makes beggars of us all.

“Now as Jesus passed by, He saw a man who was blind from birth…” (John 9:1). This man, who was a born-blind beggar, represents all of us. We were once created to be spiritual kings and queens, to have dominion on Earth and unhindered fellowship with God. But when sin entered the world, it marred the human race. Now, we are born spiritually blind and desperate for the Light.

Second, the spiritually blind need more than light to see.

“I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world” (John 9:4-5). A blind man may not see the light, but he cannot deny the light simply because he can’t see it.

Satan blinds the heart and the mind; this is why it takes more than preaching to convict the hearts of men. We are dependent on the Holy Spirit to open blinded eyes to the Gospel.

As Jesus was sent to be the Light of the World, he sent the blind man to a pool (called Sent) in order to receive his sight (see John 9:6-7).

Third, eyes once open must learn to see.

“Whether He is a sinner or not I do not know. One thing I know: that though I was blind, now I see” (John 9:25).

When questioned by the Pharisees about his restored sight, the man testified to what Jesus had done for him. The more he spoke, the more refined his answers became.

When we receive Christ, we must progress in our faith and train our opened eyes to see. The Holy Spirit gives insight, but it is our responsibility to grow in knowledge and faith. Once the heart and mind are opened to the Gospel, we must live up to the light we have received.

Apply it to your life

Have your spiritual eyes been opened to a relationship with God? Have you trained your eyes to see so that you can progress in your faith and refine your testimony?

Sermon Overview

Scripture Passage: John 6:1

John 6 tells the miraculous story of when Jesus used a little boy’s lunch to feed more than 5,000 people. We must look beyond the miracle and into its message: Jesus is God’s answer to Man’s desires.

First, this story reminds us that there is never a problem too big for Jesus to solve.

“Then Jesus lifted up His eyes, and seeing a great multitude coming toward Him, He said to Philip, ‘Where shall we buy bread, that these may eat?’ But this He said to test him, for He Himself knew what He would do” (John 6:5-6).

When tested, Philip figured the numbers in front of him and saw the impossibility of the situation, because He left Jesus out of the equation.

When we face improbable circumstances, we don’t need figurations or feelings. We need faith.

This world is not out of God’s control, and nothing in it takes Him by surprise; He knows what He is going to do.

Second, there is no person too small for God to use.

“There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two small fish, but what are they among so many” (John 6:9)? A boy gave his total lunch to Jesus, and that was enough for Jesus to feed the crowd. God can use anything and anyone; He wants to use the smallest things to accomplish the biggest things for His glory. But in order for Christ to use us, we must give Christ all we have.

Adrian Rogers says, “It is not your ability; it is your availability. It is not your fame; it is your faith. It is not who you are; it is who you know, whose you are.”

Finally, there is no hunger too deep for Jesus to satisfy.

In John 6:35, Jesus confirms that He is the Bread of Life that satisfies our hungry souls. He is the spiritual, supernatural, satisfying bread that we must feed upon for life. We were created to know and love Him and receive our daily nourishment from Him. We will never be satisfied until we know Jesus, Heaven’s Bread. He is necessary, and He is enough.

Apply it to your life

Miracles cannot satisfy what only the Son of Man can. Seek Jesus preeminently, as a hungry man searches for food. Seek Him purposefully, as a man eats to be nourished and strengthened. Seek Him perpetually, continually, every single day.

Sermon Overview

Scripture Passage: John 5:1

One of the great questions of life is not what will happen to our bodies, but rather, do we have that inner strength that God wants us to have?

The miracle recorded in John 5:1-9 reveals that Jesus is God’s answer to Man’s disability.

“Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew, Bethesda, having five porches. In these lay a great multitude of sick people, blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water… Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years…” (John 5:2-3, 5).

When Jesus came to Bethesda, He miraculously healed just one man. The healing of this man’s body attested to a greater unseen miracle: we are spiritually paralyzed, but in Christ we have supernatural strength for living.

If we want spiritual strength in Jesus, we must first admit our weakness.

The primary source of spiritual weakness is sin; if we allow it to, sin can paralyze us from being what God wants us to be. Our condition will only worsen if we let the course of sin persist.

This is why we must activate our will.

“When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, ‘Do you want to be made well?’” (John 5:6).

This man couldn’t have said “yes” if Jesus hadn’t first initiated the question. Likewise, God will enable our will, but He will not force us into a relationship with Him.

Man’s free will does not negate God’s sovereignty.

Adrian Rogers says, “We could never choose Him, if He had not first chosen us.” Whosoever may come to the Father, but we must make that decision ourselves.

Finally, we must initiate our walk.

“Jesus said to him, ‘Rise, take up your bed and walk.’ And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked” (John 5:8-9).

If we want to walk in Christ’s liberty and victory, we must put one foot in front of the other, knowing He strengthens each step.

Apply it to your life

Our outward bodies will get sick and die, but if we’re following Jesus, our inward selves can be renewed day by day.

Adrian Rogers says, “John did not write the Gospel of John that paralyzed people might be healed; He wrote it so that lost people might be saved.”

Sermon Overview

Scripture Passage: John 4:46-54

The Book of John tells us about Jesus’ parade of miracles, seven extraordinary and deeply significant events that tell us more about Him.

His wondrous work in John 4:46-54 reveals that Jesus is God’s answer to Man’s doubt.

“...And there was a certain nobleman whose son was sick at Capernaum. When he heard that Jesus had come out of Judea into Galilee, he went to Him and implored Him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death” (John 4:46-47).

First, this story tells us the obstacles to strong faith.

The nobleman’s second-hand faith was weak, revealing that we cannot use someone else’s faith as our own.

Jesus also rebuked the notion that these people needed miracles in order to have faith in Him:

“Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will by no means believe” (John 4:48). Demanding signs from God dishonors Him, because it means that we don’t take Him at His Word.

Weak faith can also be self-centered and strong-willed, too set in its own ways. There’s nothing wrong with asking God to bless us; but strong faith is primarily interested in the glory of God.

Adrian Rogers says, “Faith is not so much receiving from God the things that you want as it is accepting from God the things that He gives.”

Second, this passage also reveals the operation of a strong faith.

“Jesus said to him, ‘Go your way; your son lives.’ So the man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him, and he went his way. And as he was now going down, his servants met him and told him, saying, ‘Your son lives!’” (John 4:50-51).

If we want to strengthen our faith, we must hear from Him through Scripture, believe Him, and obey what He tells us to do. Then, we can find rest in His Word, the assurance of our salvation.

Finally, this miracle reminds us of the objective of strong faith.

Jesus did not come to perform miracles; He came to save souls. These miracles were recorded so that we may trust in Him and have strong faith.

Adrian Rogers says, “Believe in miracles, but trust in Jesus.”

Apply it to your life

If you want to have strong faith in God, seek to hear Him in Scripture today. Believe, obey, and find rest in the Word of God, the assurance of your salvation.

Sermon Overview

Scripture Passage: John 2:1

John 2 tells the story of Jesus turning water into wine. This marked the first of Jesus’ parade of miracles, each being considered a sign with significance. This first miracle revealed that Jesus is God’s answer to Man’s disappointment.

We must remember the setting of this miracle: “Now both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding” (John 2:2).

Jesus attending this wedding tells us that He is not a cosmic killjoy; rather, He came that we might have abounding joy. He involves Himself with ordinary people experiencing everyday issues.

John 2: 6-7 is loaded with the symbolism of this miracle. Wine is a symbol of joy, and the six waterpots symbolize ritual cleansing, or further, empty religion. Filling the pots to the brim represents Jesus’ ability to fulfill the law of righteousness, to the last drop.

Not only was the wine Jesus made plentiful—John 2:10 states that it was also better than the wine they had before. When the Lord saves us, He does more than deliver us from Hell; He abundantly pardons and provides for us. With Jesus, it keeps getting better and better.

Adrian Rogers says, “Jesus takes these stony hearts and, like with these vessels of clay filled with meaningless ritual and religion, He gives Himself as the well of joy.”

We also see the secret of this miracle: “His mother said to the servants, ‘Whatever He says to you, do it’” (John 2:5).

As John 2:9 reiterates, servants know secrets others do not know. Likewise, as servants of Jesus, we know that our obedience to Him is for our own good, for others’ gladness, and for His glory. If Jesus tells you to do something, do it.

We must also note the significance of this miracle; Jesus is in the transformation business. As He turned water into wine, He turns us into new creatures.

Finally, we must note the sequel to this miracle. This wedding in John 2 prefigures another wedding to come. One of these days, we will attend the marriage supper of the Lamb.

The wine of joy will run freely, and His glory will be manifested at that wedding feast.

Apply it to your life

Have you been transformed by Jesus Christ? Seeing the symbolism and significance of this first miracle, are you living with expectancy for the second wedding?

Sermon Overview

Scripture Passage: 1 Peter 3:18

The cross of Jesus Christ is the cure for sin. 1 Peter 3:18 points out three truths about how God forgives and deals with sin through the cross.

The very first truth is the vicarious suffering of the cross. The word vicarious means “in the place of another”. 1 Peter 3:18 says, “For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust....” Jesus, who is the just, sinless Son of God, died for the unjust, us. He became our substitute. He faced emotional and bodily suffering unlike anything we could possibly imagine.

In the Old Testament, God instituted the ritual of the Passover Lamb. There was judgment upon the land because of sin, but God told His people to kill a perfect, spotless lamb. They were to take the blood of that lamb and put it upon the doorpost of their houses. 1 Peter 1:18-19 says, “For as much as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot...” Jesus' crucifixion bears symbolism of that of a Passover Lamb. Even then, God was using the Passover Lamb as a prophecy and a picture of the cross of Jesus Christ.

Notice also the vital satisfaction of the cross. “For Christ also hath once suffered for sin....” Once; once for all. The debt has been paid in full. To say that there needs to be another sacrifice for sin is blasphemy. It is finished.

We see also the victorious salvation of the cross. “He hath suffered for sin, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God.” Sin separates us from a Holy God. The cross reconciles us a Holy God. Adrian Rogers says, “On that cross, Jesus took Holy God with one hand, sinful man with the other hand and by the blood of His cross, He hath reconciled God and man.”

God has a way of bringing us back.

“Oh the love that thought it; oh the grace that brought it.”

Apply it to your life

Do you believe in the cross of Jesus Christ? The vicarious suffering, the vital satisfaction, the victorious salvation? Thank God for the sacrifice He made through Jesus Christ to bring us back to Him.