Love Worth Finding | Audio Program

Sermon Overview

Scripture Passage: Psalm 128

By God’s design, there's to be harmony in the home; the entire household is to be a symphony of praise and worship, and the father is the leader of the band.

Perhaps the most difficult—and rewarding—role a man could ever commit to is being a good dad. In Psalm 128, God’s Word provides several ways we can be the dads we ought to be.

Psalm 128:4 says, “Behold, thus shall the man be blessed who fears the Lord.”

First, it is a good dad’s character; if he fears God, a godly father will walk in the way of God. Though we will inevitably make mistakes, we can be fathers who leave legacies of integrity.

Second, we must learn contentment: “When you eat the labor of your hands, you shall be happy, and it shall be well with you” (Psalm 128:4). God has a way of taking care of the godly; though we are not guaranteed every desire or want, we can rely on God’s promise to provide for every need. A father who is content will lead a family that is also satisfied.

A godly father also loves his companion—his faithful, fruitful wife—and leads his children.

“Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine in the very heart of your house, your children like olive plants all around your table” (Psalm 128:3). In the Bible, olives symbolize fruitfulness and righteousness. This verse is a beautiful picture of how a godly father’s righteousness is reproduced through his children. And if the wife is the vine, a wise father understands it is his job to cultivate his wife’s love and needs, so she may meet the needs of their children.

Finally, a godly father leaves a legacy: “The Lord bless you out of Zion, and may you see the good of Jerusalem all the days of your life. Yes, may you see your children’s children” (Psalm 128:5-6).

Adrian Rogers says, “You can’t do anything about your ancestors, but you can certainly do something about your descendants.”

As fathers, we have an opportunity to make a lasting difference in the lives of our children, and our children’s children.

Apply it to your life

Are you leading your family with character and contentment? Do you love your wife and lead your children on the path of righteousness? Consider the legacy you are leaving behind, as the leader of the band.

Sermon Overview

Scripture Passage: 1 Peter 3:1-7

God designed the divine institution of marriage and has given us the tools to create blessed homes. In 1 Peter 3, there are seven words that can build a marriage and cultivate success in the home.

One: Faith

“For in this manner, in former times, the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands...” (1 Peter 3:5).

A three-fold cord is not easily broken; likewise, a marriage made up of a man, a woman and God is difficult to break.

Two: Acceptance

“Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives, when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear” (1 Peter 3:1-2).

Man and woman are equal in worth before God, but they do not serve the same function. Once we accept our God-given roles, we will receive the blessing of a harmonious marriage.

Three: Contentment

“Do not let your adornment be merely outward… rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit...” (1 Peter 3:3-4).

Like true character and beauty, contentment is inward. Both husbands and wives must learn contentment within the home, but even more, within themselves.

Four: Forgiveness

“Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous...” (1 Peter 3:8).

We must learn to forgive one another, releasing the grudges and the burden of bitterness.

Five: Communication

“He who would love life and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips from speaking deceit” (1 Peter 3:10).

Marriages function based on communication; it is crucial to learn how to communicate with your spouse.

Six: Romance

“Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife…” (1 Peter 3:7).

The physical part of our marriages cannot grow cold; we must dwell together, showing consistent admiration and honor to one another.

Seven: Prayer

“...and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered” (1 Peter 3:7).

Spouses must learn to pray with and for each other. Adrian Rogers often repeated the adage, “The family that prays together, stays together.”

Apply it to your life

We are not perfect people, and we will not have perfect marriages. But if we build our homes upon these seven words, our love will flourish.

It is good to desire contentment for our families, and peace despite circumstances. But if money can’t buy it, how can we have it? In this message, Adrian Rogers uses the family described in Psalm 128 to show how to cultivate contentment in the home.

Sermon Overview

Scripture Passage: Matthew 19:1-6

Adrian Rogers says, “Real marriage did not come from the swamps of immorality or by evolution, but marriages are made by heaven.”

In Matthew 19, Jesus speaks of the sacredness of marriage.

“Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate” (Matthew 19:4-6).

First, we must remember that marriage is made by God. Marriage is a priority; it is permanent and it serves a wonderful purpose. It is a divine institution made by God Himself to be a picture of His love for the church. When we commit to another in marriage, we leave mother and father and unite with spouse, becoming one flesh.

We are called to join together physically and multiply; we become one flesh psychologically, in spiritual union and communion.

But marriage has been marred by divorce; God has said in His Word He hates divorce. It is a tragedy and a vicious cycle: divorce produces broken children, and broken children produce broken homes.

Though God allows divorce in the case of fornication, He does not command it. When we are unfaithful in marriage, we are still encouraged by Scripture to forgive and restore that relationship.

We are commanded to love continually; a marriage rooted in conditional love produces fear, guilt, and anger. There is no fear in perfect, unconditional love—only peace, security, and joy.

Finally, marriage is always marked by hope; no matter our circumstances, there is always hope because the grace of God covers all of our sins.

God does not hold grudges; His forgiveness is always available for those who seek to honor Him in their relationships.

Apply it to your life

A godly home is the greatest testimony we have in this world. If you are married, make certain that Christ is the head of your home and continue to feed your love day by day. Adrian Rogers says, “We have to learn to love as Jesus loved, and that’s the reason it takes Christ to make a marriage.”

Sermon Overview
Scripture Passage: Acts 4:9-33

If there was ever a time for courage, it is now. In a world of cowardly Christians who are afraid of being criticized or disliked, we are called to be bold in our faith.

Adrian Rogers says, “Boldness is having the courage to stand for the Lord Jesus Christ in the face of opposition.”

We need the same holy boldness Peter and John had in Acts 4. Acts 4:13 says, “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus.”

There are three principles that are the basis of our courage.

The first principle is to keep company with God the Son.

Boldness comes from knowing that Jesus Christ is with us and in us. We must make certain that Jesus is real to us and that we are walking with Him daily.

Second, we must have confidence in God the Father.

“So when they heard that, they raised their voice to God with one accord and said: ‘Lord, You are God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them…’” (Acts 4:24).

We need to see God for who He really is. God the Father is the Creator of all things, Controller of all things, and Conqueror of all things.

Adrian Rogers says, “The man who can kneel before God can stand before anyone else.”

Finally, we must receive courage from God the Spirit.

“And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness” (Acts 4:31).

If only we ask, the Holy Spirit of God will give us courage. The apostles did not ask for safety; they asked for courage, for the ability to do more of what got them in trouble in the first place. As a result of the disciples’ boldness, multitudes of new believers were swept into the kingdom of Heaven.

Likewise, we are made bold by the Holy Spirit to express God’s Word, extend God’s Hand and exalt God’s Son.

Apply it to your life
Are you a bold believer or a cowardly Christian? Take your eyes off your problems and focus your eyes upon Almighty God, the Creator, Controller, and Conqueror of all things.

Sermon Overview
Scripture Passage: Acts 2:1-4

The Day of Pentecost in Acts 2 marked the birth of the Church, and the burst of the Holy Flame that is the Holy Spirit. In Acts 2:1-4, the Holy Spirit was symbolized by fire and wind; it was vocalized by the speaking of tongues. This power was actualized in the disciples, as the Holy Spirit inhabited them and filled them.

We must remember the principles of power, first given to us that Day of Pentecost.

The Holy Spirit is a promise to be received. “For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call” (Acts 2:39). The Holy Spirit is the one who communicates the things of God. Our human spirits are the instruments of spiritual knowledge. The Holy Spirit of God speaks to your human spirit that you belong to God. God’s promise to us is clear: When we receive the Lord Jesus Christ and obey Him, the Holy Spirit lives in us.

Second, the Holy Spirit is a power to be released. God wants us to live with power. We cannot depend on ourselves to be holy; we can’t earn it and we are not worthy of it. But if we repent of our sins, this power is gifted to us. Adrian Rogers says, “Holiness is not the way to Christ; Christ is the way to holiness.”

Finally, the Holy Spirit is a Person to be recognized. The Third Person of the Trinity works in us. If we try to take credit for what the Holy Spirit of God is doing, we are taking praise under false pretenses. We need to constantly give God the praise and glory for what He is doing.

When we do this, some will be amazed. Others will be amused, mocking us, for they don’t understand the Holy Spirit. But most importantly, there will be those who acknowledge Jesus as their Lord and Savior: “Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them” (Acts 2:41).

Apply it to your life
Are you consciously, conspicuously filled with the Spirit of God? If not, you’re not just missing a blessing; you’re guilty of rebellion and sin. Consider your faith today; meditate on these principles of power.

Sermon Overview
Scripture Passage: James 4:13-17

James 4:15-16 says, “Instead you ought to say, ‘If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.’ But now you boast in your arrogance...”

If we’re honest, we all want to know what the future holds; we believe if we know what lies ahead, we can set ourselves up for success and avoid failure. But the Book of James offers three warnings for us in planning our future.

First, beware of self-centered planning: “Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit” (James 4:13).

This businessman had planned the period of time, the place, procedures, and profits. The problem is he left God out of the plan altogether; he did not consult with God or seek His will.

Psalm 32:8 says, “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye.” God has a plan for every area of our lives. If we confess our sins, acknowledge Him as Lord and listen closely to Him, He promises to guide us.

We must also beware of self-confident presumption: “...whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away” (James 4:14).

Our lives are like vapors -- here for a moment, quickly gone; we don’t know what the future holds, so we must not be frivolous with our time.

Finally, beware of self-complacent procrastination. “Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin” (James 4:17). Procrastination is a very deceptive and dangerous sin. The sins of omission are greater than the sins of commission.

Adrian Rogers says, “It is a greater sin to fail to do what you ought to do than to do what you ought not to do.”

It is good to plan, but we must commit our plans to God and actively pursue His will for our future.

Apply it to your life
Would you like for God to guide you this coming year?

Adrian Rogers says, “Face your future by giving your heart to Jesus Christ. Let the Holy Spirit of God be in you to guide you and give you a hope that is wonderful and glorious.”

Sermon Overview
Scripture Passage: 2 Thessalonians 1:7-11

At Christmas, we celebrate the birth of Jesus, who came to this Earth to save us from our sins. But the story of Christmas is not complete without the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. The best is yet to be; the story is not finished until Jesus comes again.

There are three things about the unfinished story of Christmas that ought to give us great cheer.

First, we don’t need to be disturbed.

2 Thessalonians 1:7 says “...and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven…” In these gloriously dark days, our hope is not in politics, sociology, or science. Our hope is in Jesus Christ, who is coming again. When we see Him, we will wonder at His transforming love, His amazing grace, and His keeping power.

Second, we should not be deceived.

2 Thessalonians 2:3 says, “Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed…” From the time Jesus Christ came into this world, Satan has been moving against Him. And in the Last Days, Satan will fling his final insult into the face of God: the antichrist.

There is unbelievable wickedness in the world today, but its evil is restrained by the Church, which is the salt and the light of the world. When Jesus raptures the Church, corruption will begin, and the antichrist will be revealed. Those who do not receive the truth when it is preached now will believe the antichrist in his reign.

Finally, we will not be disappointed.

The first time Jesus came, there was no room for Him in the inn; when He comes again, He’s coming as King of kings and Lord and lords. Jesus came the first Christmas to die in the sinner’s place. Jesus is coming the second Christmas to receive the sinner to Himself.

Adrian Rogers says, “Our faith looks backward to a crucified Savior. Our love looks upward to a crowned Savior. And our hope looks forward to a coming Savior.”

Apply it to your life
Do you know Jesus and believe in His First and Second Coming? Do not be disturbed, deceived, or disappointed. Adrian Rogers says, “The one sure hope of this jittery old world is the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.”

Sermon Overview
Scripture Passage: Luke 1:35

Many who don’t believe in Jesus will call Him a great moral teacher. But when we look closely at His teachings, we find that He left no room for interpretation: Jesus Christ was the Son of God and God the Son.

Luke 1:35 says, “And the angel answered and said to her, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.’”

The doctrine of the Trinity is what makes our faith different from all other faiths.

First, we must recognize the sublime mystery of the Trinity.

We will never understand the Holy Trinity by human investigation, logic, or science. The only way we can know about the Holy Trinity is by divine revelation. There is one God, and He is a triune God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. If we try to understand it on our own, we will lose our minds; if we deny it, we may lose our souls.

Adrian Rogers says, “It ought to give us comfort that we don’t understand the Trinity; it means that God is bigger and greater than we are.”

Second, we recognize the sacred history of the Trinity.

John 1:1-3 says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him, nothing was made that was made.”

There is no contradiction between the three persons of the Trinity because they are One. The Trinity, together, created the world, composed the Scriptures, and commissioned the Church.

Finally, we recognize the saving ministry of the Trinity.

Through the Holy Trinity, we have our salvation. We have been selected by the Father, saved by the Son, and sealed by the Spirit.

Apply it to your life
It’s not enough to simply accept the intellectual premise of the Holy Trinity. Give your heart to Jesus, the Son of God and God the Son. Adrian Rogers says, “Before God swung this planet into space, He had you in His heart and in His mind.”

Sermon Overview
Scripture Passage: Colossians 1:12-21

Adrian Rogers says, “To explain Jesus Christ is impossible, to ignore Jesus Christ is disastrous, and to reject Him is fatal.”

It is crucial we understand who Jesus Christ is. If we know Him, we will love Him; and if we love Him, we will trust Him. To trust Him is to be radically, dramatically, and eternally transformed.

Colossians 1:15 explains how Jesus reveals the Father: “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.”

God is Spirit—invisible, unfathomable, unapproachable. We will only know God by revelation, and Jesus Christ came to reveal Him to us. We will never know the Father except through the Son; the visible Jesus makes the invisible God known.

Colossians 1:18 explains how Jesus rules the future: “And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.” Jesus is the power and preserver of creation: “And He is before all things, and in Him, all things consist” (Colossians 1:17).

Adrian Rogers says, “The little baby in Matthew 1 is the Mighty God of Genesis 1; there was nothing made without Him.”

Jesus Christ is the glue of the galaxies; He is the one who feeds the sun with its fuel, sets out all the stars, and guides the planets in their orbit. He is the purpose of creation—all things were created by Him, for Him (See Colossians 1:16.).

Finally, Colossians 1:21 explains how Jesus reconciles the fallen: “And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled.”

Jesus reconciled God and man to a right relationship through His death on the cross. When Jesus created the universes, He did it with His Word. But when He saved us, it took every drop of His blood.

We could not make peace with God, so Jesus made peace with the blood of His cross. We need to enter into that peace by faith and trust the Lord Jesus.

Apply it to your life
Do you know Jesus—who reveals the Father, rules the future, and reconciles the fallen? Does He have preeminence in your life?