Love Worth Finding | Audio Program

Sermon Overview
Scripture Passage: Hebrews 4:12
Adrian Rogers says, “The Bible is not like any other book: it breathes, sings, and weeps; it is alive in the power that it possesses.”

Whether penned by the Apostles, spoken by the mouth of Jesus, or recorded on scrolls by the Old Testament prophets, God calls these inspired utterances the Word of God.

The Word of God is absolute perfection; though the Scriptures were written by men, the words were inspired by God, declared completely infallible.

2 Peter 1:21 says, “...for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.”

The Bible also speaks of God’s wonderful character. Jesus is called the Word of God in John 1:1-3; this comparison links together the character of Jesus and the character of the Bible.

Both Jesus Christ in His humanity and the Bible have come from God. They both live for eternity, absolutely unchanging lights for dark places. They bear elements of humanity and are given authority by God.

Hebrews 4:12 says, “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

The Word of God is quick, pulsating with life, because it presents a living person: Jesus.

The Bible is like a sword, dividing our innermost beings, between soul and spirit. The Bible discerns and criticizes; it searches us so that it may sanctify the saints. It works with sinners to convict and convert us; and if we do not adhere to its power, it can condemn us.

Adrian Rogers says, “The Gospel is a saver of life unto life or death unto death. If the Bible does not cut you to heal you, the Bible will cut you to kill you.”

The Bible works against Satan himself. When we face spiritual warfare, our only strategy should be pointing the enemy to Scripture. When we go to battle, we must not forget our sword: the Word of God.

Apply it to your life
When you read the Bible, does it divide, discern, search and sanctify you? Let the Bible work on your life, revealing what you need to cut out or let go of in order to become more like Jesus.

Sermon Overview
Scripture Passage: Proverbs 23:23
In this day, it is not values that we desperately need, but virtue.

We must be able to differentiate truth and fact: we acquire facts but learn truth. Facts deal with knowledge, and knowledge can double, but truth never changes and is settled for eternity. We must make a habit of treasuring truth.

Proverbs 23:23 says, “Buy the truth, and do not sell it, also wisdom and instruction and understanding.”

We must prize the truth, for it is indispensable, absolute, and attainable through the Word of God. It is not enough just to know it; knowledge without transformation avails nothing. We must see the transforming power behind it, through the Holy Spirit.

We must also purchase the truth. Adrian Rogers says, “Salvation is free, but truth is costly; you pay a price to have truth.”

John 8:31-32 says, “Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

Believing in Jesus is the first step in attaining truth; we must also abide in His Word through discipleship. Discipleship is costly—it costs time, discipline, and obedience; but ignorance is far more costly. We must study the Bible for enlightenment. If we grow in knowledge but not in grace, we will be dangerous to ourselves and others.

Adrian Rogers says, “Truth is to your spirit what good is to your body, what light is to your eyes, what melody is to your ears.”

We also study Scripture for our enjoyment; reading the Bible should not be perceived as a punishment but as a privilege. We read for our personal enrichment, to sharpen our minds and strengthen our wills. We read Scripture for our enablement, to grow in our faith and fellowship with others.

Finally, we must preserve the truth, guarding it against those who will deny, distort, dilute and defile the Bible. We do this by proclaiming the Gospel truth: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

Apply it to your life
Do you treasure truth—prize, purchase, preserve, and proclaim it? Do you read Scripture for your enlightenment, enjoyment, enrichment, and enablement?

Sermon Overview
Scripture Passage: Romans 4:16-25
As children of God, faith is the stamp on our lives that pleases our Father. It is faith alone that enables us to live this Christian life.

Romans 4 reminds us that in spite of Abraham’s sins, God remembers him for his faith, not his failures. By his example, we can learn how to be strong in the faith.

“Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be sure to all the seed, not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all...” (Romans 4:16).

Faith is not a hunch, nor is it positive thinking; faith is our response to the promises of God, taking Him at His word. Strong faith is received as a gift of God: “according to grace.” Grace is not a reward for our faith; it takes the initiative to give us that faith. We cannot generate faith, for we are totally depraved by nature. The only reason we could have faith is that God takes the initiative and puts that faith in our own hearts.

Unbelief holds grace a prisoner; strong faith releases the grace of God. The only way that grace can ever operate in us is through faith.

Abraham was faced with two impossibilities: having a child in spite of being barren, or believing God, who raises the dead and makes something out of nothing, could break His promises.

Abraham respected the greatness of God, and he experienced the miracle of having a child in his old age.

Strong faith regards God’s guidance, and as a result, reflects His glory.

“He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform” (Romans 4:20-21).

Abraham obeyed God, knowing that He would work through him; his story reflects the glory of God.

Adrian Rogers says, “The greatest thing you could do to glorify God is to believe God.”

Apply it to your life
Adrian Rogers says, “You cannot please God without faith; if you please God, it doesn’t matter whom you displease, and if you displease God, it doesn’t matter whom you please.” Do you have strong faith, believing in Him, taking Him at His word?

Sermon Overview
Scripture Passage: Romans 1:18-31

In Romans 1:18-31, the Apostle Paul reveals that this fallen world is without excuse: “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness…” (Romans 1:18).

God is a God of love, but He is also righteous; He is the Chief Judge, holy in His wrath. This passage reveals three reasons why this lost world is to be judged.

Man’s Willful Self-Determination
“...what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them...” (Romans 1:19). God has created two witnesses to testify of His existence: creation and conscience. The inner subjective witness is conscience, and the outward witness is creation—both reveal the truth of His existence and His Word.

However, this passage also identifies the haunting human resistance to God’s truth; they didn’t want to know, so they were determined not to know.

Man’s Wicked Self-Deception
“...because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts...” (Romans 1:21).

Adrian Rogers says, “Truth is not given to satisfy your curiosity; truth is given to cause your worship and thankfulness.”

“Professing to be wise, they became fools…” (Romans 1:22).

What’s worse than refusing to see, is refusing and still believing we see perfectly clear—to believe we are wise in our foolishness.

Those Paul is describing, “…changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man…” (Romans 1:23). Their shameful idolatry magnified the worst parts of their flesh.

Man’s Woeful Self-Destruction
“Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator...” (Romans 1:24-25).

They were sexually, socially, and spiritually perverted, turning from God to indulge in their lusts, their hatred, and their spiritual indifference.

Ultimately, this passage should act as an urgent warning to us, living in wicked days, to repent of our ways and follow God.

Apply it to your life
Romans 1:18-31 warns us three times: “God gave them up.”

Adrian Rogers reiterates, “The worst thing God could do for you would be to leave you alone in your sin.” If you have any sin in your life, any self-determination, deception, or destruction, repent of your ways and turn to God.

Sermon Overview
Scripture Passage: 1 Corinthians 5:7-8

The Passover, also called Palm Sunday, is a Jewish tradition that should be inextricably interwoven with our celebration of Easter.

1 Corinthians 5:7 says, “Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us.”

Though historically a Jewish tradition, Passover is an event we as Christians have reason to celebrate because it is a prophecy of our redemption through Jesus Christ.

In the Book of Exodus, the Passover was a tradition in which the Israelites sacrificed lambs and painted the doors of their homes in the blood of those lambs; the lambs had to be spotless in order to cause the death angel to “pass over” the homes.

After the lamb was sacrificed, each family would share it in a feast, celebrating the atonement. Through this, God was teaching His people one of the fundamental truths of His Word: without shedding of blood, there is no remission.

As Christians, we celebrate Passover because it speaks of how God provided our redemption. The Old Testament feast was a prophetic portrayal of Jesus, who was yet to come. In Jeremiah 31, God prophesied a new testament, and told of a different Passover lamb to come: His very Son, Jesus Christ.

John 1:29 confirms this promise: “The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, ‘Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!’”

Jesus is the lamb without spot or blemish. (See 1 Peter 1:19.) The last week of His life, Jesus was examined and questioned by His enemies, and they found no fault in Him.

He became the sacrificial and saving lamb, as He explains during The Last Supper: “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me” (Luke 22:19).

When we receive the saving power of salvation in Jesus Christ, we are nourished by Him and called to share the feast with others.

Adrian Rogers says, “Salvation is not learning lessons from the life of Christ; salvation is receiving life from the death of Christ.”

Apply it to your life
As we near the Passover celebration, remember the spotless, sacrificial, saving, shared lamb of God: Jesus Christ. As Adrian Rogers says, “In His blood, we are safe; in His Word, we are sure.”

Sermon Overview
Scripture Passage: 2 Chronicles 20:1-30

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

A story from 2 Chronicles 20:1-30 shows us the power of praise when facing opposition. King Jehoshaphat was a God-fearing King, facing opposition from Ammon, Moab, and Seir. Likewise, we have three mighty kings that come against us on a regular basis – sin, sorrow, and death. Every Christian will meet these, and sometimes, the opposition will be fierce.

In the case of King Jehoshaphat, powerful foes caused the king to focus on God through fasting. Fasting does not earn God’s blessings (which are given solely through God’s grace), but it does sharpen our focus on God.

As a result, the nation came together in purposeful fellowship: “So Judah gathered together to ask help from the Lord, and from all the cities of Judah they came to seek the Lord” (v. 4).

When we seek God together, He shows up and reveals His true nature. This passage shows us that God is:

1. Sovereign: There is no problem too big for Him.
2. Steadfast: God has worked miracles in the past, and He will never run out of them.
3. Sympathetic: If we cry out to God, He will hear and He will help. He is touched with the feeling of our infirmity.
4. Seeing: God knows our situations, our enemies, and our danger. There’s nothing that escapes His notice.
5. Saving: “O our God, will You not judge them? For we have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You” (v. 12).

The people of Judah learned that the battle was never theirs to win, but God’s; their part was to join the fight with praise.

Adrian Rogers says, “Praise infuses the energy of God and it confuses the enemy of God. Praise fractures the unity of the enemy and formulates the unity of the believer.”

As a result of the praise and obedience of the people, there was a provided fortune and peaceful future.

Proverbs 16:7 says, “When a man’s ways please the Lord, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.”

Apply it to your life
Have you learned to praise God in your problems? Pray, and consider fasting, as you ask God for His guidance. Remember: the battle is the Lord’s; your part is to praise.

Sermon Overview
Scripture Passage: Matthew 19:1-6

Adrian Rogers says, “A home is the sweetest place on earth, the nearest place to Heaven. It’s the only part of the Garden of Eden that we have left.”

Matthew 19 discusses the importance of family faithfulness; first, by recognizing that marriage is made by Heaven.

And He answered and said to them, "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’?" (v. 4-5).

Marriage is the supreme commitment, overruling every other commitment we could ever make. The priority of marriage is to build a home, and we cannot build a home without God’s guidance. We raise children with the intention of them leaving home to build homes of their own.

Marriage is also permanent, and its purpose is to be one flesh, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Adrian Rogers says, “Marriage is a romance in which both the hero and the heroine die in the first chapter, and a new person comes into being: one flesh.”

But marriage can be marred by Hell; there is nothing wrong with romantic love, but we are deceived if we believe that is enough to sustain a marriage. We are commanded in Scripture to love our spouses unconditionally, as God has loved His church.

There is no fear in perfect love, only peace, security, and joy. We must be careful not to allow guilt to fester in our marriages; guilt turns to anger, and anger into bitterness.

When we experience trials, reconciliation and forgiveness are called for in order to put the family back together. If we seek restoration, we’ll find that the relationship can potentially be even stronger than before it was broken.

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.

Sermon Overview
Scripture Passage: Deuteronomy 5:29
The family was the first institution formed by God, created to meet the deepest physical, social, and spiritual needs of mankind. It is in the home that a child should learn who he is, what he can do, and what is expected of him.

In the midst of this moral free fall, it is time we ask ourselves: what is the future of the family? Adrian Rogers says, “If there is no future for our families, there is no future for this nation.”

Deuteronomy 5:29 says, “Oh, that they had such a heart in them that they would fear Me and always keep all My commandments, that it might be well with them and with their children forever!”

Our homes are the universities of life.

In these homes, we must train our children to abide by God’s law so that we can preserve the family’s future. God gave the Ten Commandments to the family. God’s priority plan for us is to pass our faith from parent to child.

Parents are the professors of their homes.

Deuteronomy 6:7 says, “You shall teach them diligently to your children...” Though we can’t control our children, we can guide and teach them in the way they should go. Our primary goal as parents should be that we love God with sincere, selfless, and strong love so that we can set an example for our children to love Him, too.

The Ten Commandments are the curriculum.

These commandments are the liberating laws of life and the tracks upon which our families run. We are to set boundaries for our kids around the parameter of God’s law.

Our children are our students.

It is not the church’s responsibility to raise our children in faith, it is ours. “You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.” (Deuteronomy 6:8-9).

Finally, life is the laboratory.

Life is where these things are taught. We must teach our children convictionally, consistently, creatively, conversationally, and conspicuously.

Apply it to your life
Our homes are where our children learn everything they need to know about life. Have you established your home as a university, yourself as a professor, and God’s law as the curriculum? Are your children your students, viewing life as the laboratory?

Sermon Overview
Scripture Passage: 1 Corinthians 6:19

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 says, “Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore, glorify God in your body...”

We have been commanded to treat our bodies as temples to maintain and dedicate to God for His glory. Our bodies are carefully crafted, finely tuned machines, and our maintenance manual is the Word of God.

There are some reasons why we have physical ailments that are not in our control; but whatever we can control, we are responsible for maintaining.

There are four principles to remember as we work on our family fitness.

1. Family fitness is a matter of discipline.
1 Corinthians 10:31 says, "Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God."

We must be disciplined in our diet and exercise, which extends our life expectancy and improves our wellbeing. In a world of fad diets and quick fixes, we are called to consume natural, real foods, within the right portions. There needs to be discipline in how we rest. Psalm 127:2 warns us: “It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows; for He gives His beloved sleep.”

2. Family fitness is a matter of disposition.
Choosing to express positive emotions should be part of our family fitness regime. Adrian Rogers says, “Hardening of the attitudes is just as bad as hardening of the arteries.” Stress will derail us physically; it will cripple our thinking, weaken our bodies, and reduce our efficiency. We must guard our hearts and minds against hatefulness and stress.

3. Family fitness is a matter of devotion.
When we love God and serve Him in the church as we should, we can experience an increase in health.

4. Family fitness is a matter of decision.
We will not stumble across family fitness, physically, mentally, or spiritually. It takes work to gain and maintain, work that we decide to do intentionally. Our families should stand out by our faith and our fitness, recognizing our responsibility to maintain our bodies as unto the Lord.

Apply it to your life
Do you recognize any areas in your health, or your family’s health, that could improve? Make the decision to maintain your family’s health, physically and spiritually.

Sermon Overview
Scripture Passage: Psalm 128

God created families to satisfy the deepest longings of our hearts—to give and receive love. Families were designed to provide a safe and secure environment in which to nurture, teach, and love our children.

Psalm 128 gives us a description of the ideal family: “Blessed is everyone who fears the Lord; who walks in His ways. When you eat the labor of your hands, you shall be happy and it shall be well with you” (v. 1-2).

One of the signs that God has blessed our homes is the presence of laughter, which is why we should get serious about having family fun.

Adrian Rogers says, “Man is the only creature who can do three things: weep, blush, and laugh.”

Family fun is not careless or irresponsible; in fact, fun and efficiency coincide perfectly. Leisure time is time we permit ourselves to enjoy without guilt, to make memories with our children while they are children.

There are three reasons why family fun is crucial to the spiritual health and growth of our families.

Family fun refreshes.
Work is necessary, but we cannot be too busy making a living that we forget to live. Just as there is a time to work, there is also a time to rest as well. We cannot always be more interested in our finances than in our fun, nor put our labor over our laughter.

Family fun repairs.
There is so much stress in this stretched-thin society. Our attitudes and emotions can have some control over our physical health. A grim and solemn spirit doesn’t just break the health of an individual, but the family as well. Joy and happiness are incredible medicines, and laughter can release the tension from a broken home.

Family fun remains.
The laughter we create in our homes lingers and echoes throughout our lives; it goes on and on, even after we leave this earth. Adrian Rogers says, “We are building for our children a museum of memories, and memories are our landmarks—they keep us from getting lost.”

Apply it to your life
Is your home marked with laughter and your leisure time full of family fun? Remember: family fun refreshes us when we’re weary, repairs us when we’re broken, and remains after we’re gone.