Love Worth Finding | Audio Program

Sermon Overview

Scripture Passage: 1 John 2:3-11

When we got saved, God put some indelible marks upon us. 1 John 2:3-10 reveals three traits of those who are born again—birthmarks of the believer.

First, a true believer submits to the Lordship of Jesus Christ.

“Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him” (1 John 2:3-4). Nobody can be saved without receiving Jesus Christ as Lord. If we say He is Lord, we must keep His commandments. The commands of the Lord are something to guard, to treasure. We don’t do this in order to be saved; we do it because we are saved and we love the Lord.

Second, a true believer seeks the lifestyle of Jesus.

“But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked” (1 John 2:5-6). The purpose of being saved is to be made like Jesus; as we follow His example, we become like Him. He lived a life of honesty, purity, and righteousness. He didn’t merely abstain from doing what is wrong, He went about doing good.

If we want to live like Jesus, we must also fully rely on Him, live with relinquishment as a branch abides in a vine. Adrian Rogers says, “There’s only one person who has ever lived the Christian life, and His name is Jesus. We walk as He walked because we abide in Him.”

Finally, a true believer shows the love of Jesus.

“He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him” (1 John 2:10). Love is the first and greatest commandment; Jesus doesn’t love us because we’re lovely... He just loves us. One of the birthmarks of believers is that they love others as Jesus has loved them.

Apply it to your life

Do you have the birthmarks of a believer?

Adrian Rogers says, “If a person is saved, it’s going to show in his life. You’re not saved by keeping the commandments, by walking as Jesus walked, or by loving your brother. But if you are saved, you will do these things.”

Sermon Overview

Scripture Passage: 1 John 1:5-2:6

If we feel distant from God, it could be because of sin. Adrian Rogers says, “Our sins are the secret faults that cause moral earthquakes.”

When we were born again, God dealt with our sins judicially: they were forgiven under the blood of Jesus Christ when we were “saved by grace, through faith” (Ephesians 2:8). Our sonship does not change based on our sins, but our fellowship with God can be strained if we do not deal with our day-to-day sins. 1 John 1-2 addresses the things that hinder our fellowship with God.

First, we need to understand how God convicts us of our sin: “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us” (1 John 1:8).

No matter if the sin is big or small, our sin is still there; and if we deny it long enough, we might even begin to believe our own lies. If we stay in darkness, there will be no conviction of our sins. But when we expose ourselves to the light once more, the Holy Spirit of God will convict us legitimately, specifically, and redemptively.

After we’ve been convicted of our sins, God is faithful to cleanse us of them.

1 John 1:9 assures us, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” When we confess our sins, we must do so immediately and specifically: remaining sensitive to sin, calling it by name. But we must also confess our sins confidently, knowing He is faithful to forgive us and cleanse us of every sin-stain.

Finally, remember the conquest of sin. 1 John 2:1 says, “My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” Jesus Christ has satisfied the demands of a righteous and holy God. We are encouraged to live holy lives, yet when we sin and fall out of fellowship with God, there is hope that it can be restored.

Apply it to your life

Has God convicted you of any sins in your life? Obey the Holy Spirit, and confess your sins immediately, specifically, and confidently; He is faithful to forgive and cleanse you so that your fellowship with God can be restored.

Sermon Overview

Scripture Passage: 1 John 1:1-4

1 John 1 speaks of our fellowship as Christians, which comes through the life that we have in Jesus Christ. In order to experience and enjoy the sweetest fellowship this side of Heaven, the Apostle John identifies three things we must know beyond any doubt.

First, there is a fact established.

“That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life…” (1 John 1:1).

Many false teachers and deceivers will claim Jesus was not a physical, literal, bodily human who walked the Earth, or that He was not who He said He was. But in 1 John 1:2, John confirms that Jesus is an eternal, physical, spiritual fact: “...the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us…”

Jesus was fully God, fully man, and apart from His humanity, we cannot be saved. And as a man, He depended upon the same power that we can depend upon: the Holy Spirit.

Second, there is a fellowship experienced.

“...that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ” (1 John 1:3).

Fellowship means, “to hold things in common”; those of us who have experienced the saving grace of God have much in common. We have become partakers of the divine nature; not only do we have fellowship with God, but we must also have fellowship with one another. We have the same new nature, re-born from the same womb of grace.

Finally, there is fullness enjoyed.

“And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.” (1 John 1:4).

There is no joy like the joy of knowing one another in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Adrian Rogers says, “Happiness depends upon what happens, joy depends upon the Lord.”

Happiness is at its fullest when it is mingled with joy, and that joy in the Lord is made full by our fellowship with one another.

Apply it to your life

Are you in sweet fellowship with other believers? Consider the fact of Jesus established in the Gospel, the fellowship experienced and the fullness enjoyed when in the presence of other believers.

Sermon Overview

Scripture Passage: 2 Chronicles 20:1

Praise is a powerful thing in times of joy and in times of help, but especially in times of trouble.

2 Chronicles 20:1-25 shows us how to praise our way to victory in times of opposition.

In this passage, King Jehoshaphat faced fierce opposition on all sides. Likewise, every Christian will encounter problems in the form of sin, sorrow, or death.

As King Jehoshaphat brought his people together to focus on God through fasting, we must also establish our purpose in times of opposition and seek Him.

The king examined his past.

In verse 7, he asked God, “Are You not our God, who drove out the inhabitants of this land before Your people Israel, and gave it to the descendants of Abraham Your friend forever?”

In times of trouble, we must look back at the times when God was with us. He will never fail; what He has done before, He will do again.

The king embraced God’s promise.

King Jehoshaphat understood that this land was given to Abraham before him as a dwelling place for God’s people. God has given us something better than the land of Canaan; He has given us victory in Jesus. We have that promise to stand on in times of defeat.

The king kept his focus.

In humility, Jehoshaphat kept his eyes fixed on God and not himself. The battle belonged to God; the King’s only responsibility was to depend upon Him. To prepare for battle, King Jehoshaphat worshiped God and expressed his praise.

Adrian Rogers says, “Praise infuses the energy of God and praise confuses the enemies of God.”

Because of their praise, the king had victory over his enemies and inherited all their possessions; his people enjoyed the provision of God.

Adrian Rogers says, “God brings us these problems to bring us to Him; the very things we dread are those things that break with blessings on our heads.”

Apply it to your life

Learn to see opposition as opportunity. Seek God before taking action and consider fasting. Remember that God has been faithful in the past; go to His Word, stand on a promise, then ask the Holy Spirit to make that promise a reality in your heart. Refuse to act in the flesh, and instead worship and praise God. Expect Him to send confusion to the enemy, and get ready for a blessing.

Sermon Overview

Scripture Passage: John 15:11

The life of a Christian is to be a life of continual, contagious joy; Adrian Rogers says, “Joy is not a nicety in the Christian life; it is an absolute necessity.” The fullness of joy is essential to winning the lost to Jesus Christ and bearing life’s burdens. The joy of the Lord is our strength. It is how we are able to face the heartaches and trials of life.

John 15:11 says, “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.”

The joy of Jesus Christ is abounding and supernatural.

When we put our faith in Him, we don’t just get a cheap imitation of His joy—we get all of it. Remember, joy is not happiness; it does not depend on outward circumstances, but on Jesus Christ, who never changes. Joy does not remove the pain, but it helps us bear it.

Adrian Rogers says, “Joy is not the subtraction of problems from life; joy is the addition of power to meet those problems.”

Second, the joy of Jesus is an abiding joy; it doesn’t come and go—it stays.

We are able to rejoice always, as Scripture implores us to, because the joy of the Lord will not leave in the dark times. This joy is steadfast in sorrow, triumphant in tribulation, lasting in losses, and abundant in affliction.

The joy of Jesus is abundant joy.

John 15:5 reveals the secret to joy is abiding in Jesus, living a life of surrender and dependence upon Him. Like a branch relies on a vine for its life and fruit, we rely on Jesus for this joy. John 15:9 says, “As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love.”

The joy of the Lord is a life of restfulness and obedience.

We can rest in knowing that His love and His power are continuous. And when we obey Him, our obedience will be made manifest by the fruit we bear.

Finally, it is a life of rejoicing.

The joy of Jesus gives our lives meaning. When we abide in Him, we experience the fullness of joy.

Apply it to your life

Do you abide in the Lord Jesus Christ? Do you rely on and rest in Him? Consider the joy in your heart today; is it evidence of a life of obedience?

Sermon Overview

Scripture Passage: John 14:12, 16-18

In John 14:12, Jesus says, “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.”

It seems impossible to think we could not only equal but also exceed the works of Jesus Christ. But if we understand the ministry of the Holy Spirit, we will know that the impossible is exactly what we are called to do.

John 14:16-17 says, “And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever—the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.”

Adrian Rogers says, “The Holy Spirit is Christ in the Christian.”

The promise to do the impossible is made possible by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit has come to produce the works of Jesus. We are not our own; we belong to Christ.

When the Holy Spirit comes to live in us, He abides in us; He stays, living the Christian life through us.

Second, the Holy Spirit has come to protect the will of Jesus. The Spirit pleads the cause of Jesus, to guard His name and protect His interest in our hearts. He advocates for Jesus, representing Jesus’ rights in our lives. He does this by convicting us of our sins.

Third, through the Holy Spirit, we can perceive the words of Jesus. He opens the eyes of our hearts to understand spiritual truths we could not comprehend without Him.

Finally, the Holy Spirit is given to us to promote the worship of Jesus. The Spirit within us glorifies Jesus Christ.

Adrian Rogers says, “The mark of a Spirit-filled man is that he glorifies Jesus. A Spirit-filled man, a Spirit-filled church will make much of Jesus Christ.”

When we are filled with the Holy Spirit, we will lift Jesus high, not through miracles and signs, but through soul-winning and living holy lives.

Apply it to your life

Do you recognize the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in you? Ask the Holy Spirit to do a fresh work in you, that you would glorify Jesus by living a holy life, seeking to bring others to Him.

Sermon Overview

Scripture Passage: Joshua 3:3

In Joshua 3, the children of Israel were approaching the Promised Land of opportunity and mystery. To get there, they faced a raging river of difficulty. However, they had with them the Ark of the Covenant, a reminder of God’s presence with His people.

“And Joshua said to the people, ‘Sanctify yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you’” (Joshua 3:5).

Joshua instructed his people to keep their eyes on the ark, to move only when it moves, to follow its lead. This instruction reveals lessons about how to arrive at our destination without a map.

When we keep our eyes on Jesus, He will guide us with His presence.

We don’t have to know the future to walk victoriously, so long as God’s presence leads us. We must be sure not to run out in front of God’s plans; timing is more important than time. We don’t have to know when, where, or why; when the ark moves, we move.

Second, as we keep our eyes on Jesus, He will gladden us with His promises.

Jesus is our Ark of the Covenant; He is proof that God keeps His promises to us. Those promises are good for all saints, all seasons, and all situations. His Word is settled in Heaven, unfading, even today.

Finally, when He guides us, Jesus will also guard us with His power.

The children of Israel passed through the Jordan River on dry ground because they were guarded by the God of power. If we believe in God’s unfailing ability as the Israelites did, there’s no telling what blessings we’ll experience.

Adrian Rogers says, “If God commands you to cross Jordan, He will command Jordan to get out of the way.”

The Israelites’ crossing the Jordan River is a picture of the Gospel, in which Jesus went into the river of death and stopped it from flowing so that we may pass through.

As the Lord God, He is sovereign; as the living God, He is alive in us. And as liberating God, He is making a way for us to pass through into the Promised Land.

Apply it to your life

Are you facing a new season of life or uncharted territory? Don’t get ahead of your Guide; follow God through the great unknown today.

Sermon Overview

Scripture Passage: John 11:25-26

In John 11, Jesus raises His friend, Lazarus, from the dead; this miracle is an illustration of the abundant life we can have in Jesus Christ, before and after death.

First, we must exercise faith in Jesus.

John 11:25-26 says, “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…’”

There are many walking about with beating hearts, yet they are dead because they’re alienated from God. They have existence but don’t have life.

Our society will try to raise us from our spiritual death by pushing examples for us to follow. People suggest we change our environment or get a good education. But death is still death; the secret of abundant life is salvation by faith in Jesus Christ.

We can experience freedom through Jesus.

After Lazarus was raised, Jesus instructed Lazarus’ friends to loosen him from his graveclothes. (See John 11:43.) When we come out of the tomb, there are some things about our former life that we must shake off: old loves, sinful language, lusts. It may not happen immediately, but as we grow in grace, we will be unwrapped from our former ways.

We can enjoy fellowship with Jesus.

After Lazarus was raised from the dead, he sat down for a meal with Jesus. Once we put our faith in Jesus and experience freedom from sin, we can have fellowship with Him; He calls us friends.

Adrian Rogers says, “Being saved is not some sort of penalty that you pay to get to Heaven. When I invite you to come to Jesus, I’m not inviting you to a funeral; I’m inviting you to a feast.”

Finally, we must express our faithfulness to Jesus.

After Lazarus’s resurrection, he received death threats from those who wanted to deny Jesus’ power. But Lazarus could not be intimidated because he was no longer afraid of death.

Realizing our souls are forever alive in Jesus Christ is the way to an abundant life.

Apply it to your life

Do you exhibit abundant life in Jesus Christ? Is there something about you that cannot be explained apart from a miracle? Realize your witness today; be the example and evidence of abundant life in Jesus Christ.

Sermon Overview

Scripture Passage: 1 Corinthians 15

Some people think it is scientifically impossible to resurrect a human body. Fortunately, the power of Almighty God is not shackled by science.

Adrian Rogers said, “If God can make the heavens and the Earth out of nothing, certainly He can raise a human body out of something.”

1 Corinthians 15 tells us more about the resurrection body, first that it is illustrated with grain:

“Foolish one, what you sow is not made alive unless it dies. And what you sow, you do not sow that body that shall be, but mere grain...” (1 Corinthians 15:36-37).

Like grain, our bodies must be placed in the ground before we can be fructified and brought back to life.

Our bodies are constantly changing—adding particles, leaving particles—a cycle of dying and creating cells. However, there is a spiritual nature in us that will never die.

Our resurrected bodies are individualized with uniqueness and infused with perfection. In Heaven, we will be made new and perfect creatures of glory. (See 1 Corinthians 15:42-44.)

Our resurrected bodies will be liberated from soulish principles and instead will be motivated by spiritual principles.

These new bodies of ours will also be identified with Jesus. Though still being fully ourselves, God will conform us to the image of Jesus Christ. (See 1 Corinthians 15:49.)

Finally, this resurrection body is immortalized with victory: “So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: ‘Death is swallowed up in victory’” (1 Corinthians 15:54).

Easter morning, Jesus rose from the grave; He beat death, removed its sting, and reversed the finality of the grave. When we die, our spirits will be present with the Lord; but one day soon, the body will be raised and given new life.

Adrian Rogers said, “Jesus has taken the pain out of parting, the dread out of dying, and the gloom out of the grave. Jesus has given us a hope that is steadfast and sure.”

Apply it to your life

Thinking about what happens after our earthly deaths can be difficult, even with the promise of the new life we have been given. Though we may not know the exact logistics behind the resurrection of our bodies, we can trust that we will be made like Jesus.

Today, dive into Scripture and cling to its wisdom and instruction; use what you have today to be more like Jesus.

Sermon Overview

Scripture Passage: John 6:53

As the classic hymns so eloquently remind us, only the blood of Jesus can wash away our sin. Only the blood of Jesus can make us whole again.

But this is only the beginning of the power in the blood. The sacred, shed blood continues its mighty work in our lives even after our sins are washed away and we are whole again.

In John 6:53-54, Jesus said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.”

Using spiritual language, Jesus tells us that our spirits must feed on Him in order to live. Adrian Rogers said, “Jesus is to your spirit what blood is to your body.”

First, we must appropriate the constant provision of the blood.

Everything we need to live the Christian life is in Jesus. Just as the bloodstream is the source of our physical life, Jesus is the source of our spiritual life. By His power in us, we have been given all things that pertain to life. We must learn how to possess the power that is already in our possession.

Second, we must rely on the cleansing properties of the blood.

The blood of Jesus not only supplies every need, but it also continually cleanses us. We are purified day by day, so long as we let His blood flow through us.

Finally, we must claim the conquering power of the blood.

Throughout history, disease has been a greater threat to mankind than any war or wild beast. Yet, one who was immunized was said to have had “wise blood.”

In the same way, anything Jesus has overcome, we can overcome, by His powerful wise blood, flowing through our veins.

Apply it to your life

Do you feel weak in your spirit—like there’s a disconnect between the power that was promised and the power you feel in your life? There is a remedy: the blood of Jesus mends the gap. It transforms the source of strength into strength of your own.

Jesus said in John 6:57, “As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me.”