Love Worth Finding | Audio Program

Sermon Overview
Scripture Passage: Exodus 20:15

Exodus 20:15 reveals the eighth commandment: "You shall not steal."

It seems that we have forgotten the basic rules of honesty. Any time we take anything that belongs to someone else or keep from someone the thing that we owe to them, we are guilty of stealing. There are three grand principles found in Ephesians 4:28, that we are to etch into the consciousness of our children:

Integrity: "Let him who stole steal no longer..."
Stealing isn’t just burglary or embezzlement; it can also mean fraud. Lying is a form of stealing; half-hearted work is stealing. Gambling is another form of thievery; it is an attempt to get what belongs to someone else without giving him anything for it. We belong to God, whether we acknowledge it or not. When we live for ourselves and not for God, we are robbing God of what is His. When we fail to tithe to the church, we are stealing from God, as well. Adrian Rogers explains, “It pays to serve Jesus; it pays every step of the way. You have defrauded yourself: In seeking to get, you’re the one who loses.”

Industry: "...but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good..."
Work is not a curse; it is a gift from God, and absolutely imperative in our world. When someone receives something without working for it, someone else has to work for it without receiving it. We must begin instilling a good work ethic into our children early, so they grow up to become hard workers.

Generosity: "...that he may have something to give him who has need."
The opposite of stealing is giving. Just as we teach our children the importance of hard work, we must teach them the importance of charity. As Christians, we labor to meet our needs and give to others. It’s a sin to expect the government to care for our loved ones when we, ourselves, ought to do it.

Adrian Rogers says, “Misery comes from mirrors. Joy comes from windows when we’re beginning to pour out and give to others.”

Apply it to your life
Would you like to teach your children the importance of working with honesty, vigor, and the expectation to give it away? Adrian Rogers emphasizes this powerful advice from John Wesley: “Make all you can, save all you can, and give all you can.”

Sermon Overview
Scripture Passage: John 14:1-3

Here on earth, we’re limited in our knowledge about Heaven. But what the Bible does reveal about a place called Heaven leaves us in breathless wonder.

Heaven is a real place. Heaven is not a condition or state of mind; it is somewhere on God’s map, and one day we will be there in a resurrected body.

The saved go to Heaven immediately upon death. 2 Corinthians 5:6-8 says, “So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. For we walk by faith, not by sight. We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.”

We will know our loved ones in Heaven, face-to-face, heart-to-heart. In Matthew 8:11, Jesus claims Heaven will feel like a great family reunion. The ones we’ve read about in the Bible and the ones who served God before us will feel like family, as well.

There will be joyful activity in Heaven. Heaven will not be boring; quite the contrary. Our work in Heaven will be joyful and thrilling, blessed, and beloved.

Heaven is a place of absolute perfection. There will be no more tears, sighing, crying, or pain. Heaven is the presence of all that is good and the absence of all that is bad. Adrian Rogers tells us, “Heaven is all that the loving heart of God would desire. Heaven is all that the incredible mind of God can conceive. And Heaven is all the Almighty Hand of God can create.”

Jesus is the crowning glory of Heaven. Jesus said, "I go and prepare a place for you...that where I am, there you may be also" (John 14:3). The thrill of Heaven is not that we live there... It is that we will live there with Jesus.

Only the redeemed will go to Heaven. We can’t trust in honesty, charity, or even religion, itself. We can only trust in Jesus, who died for us and rose again, so that we may see a place called Heaven for ourselves.

Apply it to your life
Adrian Rogers says, “You have to be Heaven-born to be Heaven-bound.” Knowing the only way to the place called Heaven is through salvation in Jesus Christ, are you sure that you are saved? Does your family trust in Jesus Christ?

Sermon Overview
Scripture Passage: Proverbs 14:34

Proverbs 14:34 says, "Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people."

When it comes to politics, some believers have dropped out: either discouraged by the worldliness or intimidated by the great debate between church and state. Others, in their misguided zeal, have turned their churches into precincts and used our government to wage holy war against the nonbelievers. At this crucial time in our nation, we need to confess our sins, turn from our wicked ways, and understand what the Word of God says about government.

The Bible teaches us that God has ordained human government. Daniel 2:21 says, “And He changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and raises up kings...” Whether they be wicked or righteous, our government leaders are given authority by God, alone. By and large, nations receive the kind of government they deserve.

The Word of God also states that government serves two basic purposes: to restrain evil and to encourage good. Though it is impossible to legislate morality, the government is an instrument of God to legislate against immorality.

The Word of God teaches the responsibilities of the church to the government, and vice versa. Respectfully, we do not want the government infringing upon our religious affairs. Likewise, as Christian citizens, we have a civic duty to pray for our government leaders, pay our taxes, and express patriotism. When the government does what is right, we should let them know. We are also instructed to speak up when the government does wrong. We must use our votes to speak up for what is godly and righteous; when we don’t participate, we disobey the Lord.

Finally, the Bible claims there will come a time when we may have to disobey our government. In Acts, the apostles were told not to preach the Gospel, but they did anyway. In the Book of Daniel, Daniel was commanded by the government not to pray, but he did anyway. As Jesus instructed us in Matthew 22:21, render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, but not the things that are God’s.

Adrian Rogers says, “The only authority the government has is that which is granted ultimately by Almighty God; we ought to obey God rather than man.”

Apply it to your life
It’s not too late for America; one by one, we must get right with God; sing it, pray it and mean it: God bless America.

Sermon Overview
Scripture Passage: 2 Chronicles 7:14

It’s prayer time in America; this nation is ripe for God’s judgment, and in desperate need of His mercy. We are a proud nation, wallowing in materialism and rotting in sin, lost in the search for earthly pleasures and false freedoms. But there is hope!

2 Chronicles 7:14 is an ancient promise God made to Israel in times of calamity. It says, “If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from Heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land."

This passage recognizes the people God has: “If My people who are called by My name…” As God’s people, we must understand and accept that if America falls and fails, it will be our fault. Adrian Rogers says, “It is not our duty to persuade God to send revival; we must permit Him to do so.”

This passage also addresses the pride God hates: “...will humble themselves, and pray….” Pride is the root of all kinds of evil. This is why we are to humble ourselves before God. James 4:6 says, “But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: ‘God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.’”

This passage reveals the prayer God hears: “...and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways…” God is not just our only hope… He is our biggest threat; and to pray without repentance angers Him. Repentance is more than a conviction of sin. It’s more than a confession or contrition for sin. Repentance is a heart change. We must repent of our wicked ways and seek the face of God.

Finally, this passage reminds us of the promise God honors: “...then I will hear from Heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land." God would rather pardon than judge. He is angry at our sins, but He is full of compassion. If we humbly ask for forgiveness and repent of our sins, He is faithful to forgive.

Apply it to your life
If there was ever a time that we need to repent, this is it.

Adrian Rogers says, “When the church begins to do what we ought to do, then we’ll begin to deal with all of these other problems. Stop pointing fingers. Bow the knee before God; get right with God.”

Sermon Overview
Scripture Passage: 1 Corinthians 15

The human condition is marked by a single, inherent problem of sin. Oftentimes, we try to explain away or excuse sin, but until we learn to deal with it, we will never know forgiveness. The Gospel Truth only becomes good news when we recognize the bad news, which is our own sin. In this message, we learn there are three things to know about the good news of the Gospel.

The Source
The reason for the Gospel is sin. We are all sinners. Our sin, whether confessed or ignored, comes with a penalty, pollution, and power over us. But because of the death of Jesus Christ, the penalty of our sin was paid in full. Jesus’ final words were, “It is finished” (John 19:30). By His death, we have been pardoned.

Because of the burial of Jesus, the pollution of our sin can be purged. When we get saved, Jesus makes our hearts clean. The pollution of sin is put in the grave of God’s forgetfulness. And because of Christ’s resurrection, we have received Christ’s power over sin. It was sin that crucified Jesus and nailed Him to the cross. When Jesus rose from the grave, He demolished the power of sin.

The Force
The Gospel is a saving force. There is no other way to be saved but through Jesus. Adrian Rogers says, “If it’s new, it’s not true. There is only one Gospel, no other Gospel. It is gloriously simple, it is simply glorious.”

It is also a sanctifying force. It is present tense. We are being made more and more like Jesus every day. We have been saved from the penalty of sin, and are being saved from the power of sin.

And it is a stabilizing force. When we get saved, we don’t keep our salvation… rather, it keeps us.

The Course
The course of the Gospel takes its toll on the whole world. It extends to every person, flows to every place, and covers every problem. The Gospel is the only answer to sin, sorrow, and death. This is the good news worth sharing.

Apply it to your life
Have you acknowledged the bad news of sin, that you might know the good news of the Gospel?

Sermon Overview
Scripture Passage: 1 Kings 22:1-14

1 Kings 22 tells the story of a prophet with an unchanging message to a changing world. After receiving counsel from 400 pandering prophets, King Ahab and Jehoshaphat hear from Micaiah, a true prophet of God. And rather than saying what they wanted to hear, Micaiah proclaims, “...As the Lord lives, whatever the Lord says to me, that I will speak” (v. 14).

There are five things we can learn from Micaiah’s bold response.

1. It is better to be divided by truth than to be united in error.
Devoted believer Jehoshaphat had made an unholy, political alliance with the wicked King Ahab. Unity is a wonderful thing; the Church is called to do everything we can to preserve unity. But it must only be unity in Christ, and Christ alone.
2. It is better to speak the truth that hurts and then heals than to tell a lie that comforts and then kills.
The 400 prophets before Micaiah lied to please the king, but Micaiah refused to be bought or intimidated. Adrian Rogers says, “Rough truth is better than polished falsehood.”
3. It is better to be hated for telling the truth than to be loved for telling a lie.
Sometimes, we assume those who tell us the truth are our enemies. King Ahab hated Micaiah; prophets and disciples all throughout Scripture faced persecution, including Jesus Himself. People of God will not be loved by this world.
4. It is better to stand alone with the truth than to be wrong with a multitude.
The King’s Council tried to soften Micaiah, begging him to agree with the other prophets. But he stood by his conviction from God. The majority is almost always wrong; men and women of God have always stood alone.
5. It is better to ultimately succeed with the truth than to temporarily succeed with a lie.
Eventually, Ahab’s rejection of the truth cost him his life. Micaiah’s dedication to the truth brought him to power. This world is in desperate need of the truth; we cannot be intimidated by momentary threats of failure. The truth of Jesus Christ will outlast every lie this world could tell.

Apply it to your life
Are you sharing the unchanging message of the Gospel in this changing world? Remember the words of Micaiah: “As the Lord lives, whatever the Lord says to me, that I will speak."

Sermon Overview
Scripture Passage: Ephesians 5:14

If we’re not careful, we may spend the prime time of our lives chasing the wrong goals. This is why we have to learn how to use and maximize our time for God’s glory. Ephesians 5:14-16 says, “Therefore He says: 'Awake, you who sleep, arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light.' See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.”

We must begin to see time as an incredible opportunity, so we may know how to live wisely in evil days. Time is a provided and present opportunity; it is a gift from God that we dare not let pass by. Adrian Rogers says, “There are two days that can steal the joy from today: one is yesterday and the other is tomorrow.”

In Philippians 3:13-14, the Apostle Paul said, "...but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” We must forget the guilt, glory, grief, and grudges of the past.

Time is a precious opportunity; the art of living is spending time wisely. Psalm 90:12 says, “So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”

We can organize our days according to four principles:
-Prayer: it is the key that unlocks the door of the morning. Begin every day with prayer.
-Priority: understanding the difference between urgent and important, we must prioritize accordingly.
-Promptness: procrastination is a sin. We must cultivate the habit of instant obedience.
-Power: this means we do God’s will in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Finally, time is a passing opportunity. Adrian Rogers says, “Time is such a strange commodity; all you can do is use it or lose it.”

We will give an account for every passing day. Knowing this, we must cut ourselves loose from yesterday’s heartaches and failures and strain toward what’s ahead.

Apply it to your life
What do you intend to do with your day? Will you be a good steward of the time God has given you?

Sermon Overview
Scripture Passage: Proverbs 29:2

God has ordained our government and commanded us to get involved in the decisions made for the leadership of our country. Adrian Rogers says, “Leadership is really stewardship because the leader acts for God.”

Jesus taught us to participate in government when He said "We are to render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s. We’re to render to God the things that are God’s. (Matthew 22:21) There are four basic principles to consider when responding to the leadership crisis in America.

Think first about the character that God requires in leadership. God blesses good character over ability. When you go to vote, consider the following qualities that God requires:

Godliness: Nobody is fit for leadership who is ungodly or unrighteous.
Wisdom: Does your candidate have the wisdom that can only be given by God?
Honesty: Proverbs 20:28 says, “Mercy and truth preserve the king.”
Discernment: Someone who is able to distinguish between good and bad.
Sexual Morality: If a man has no moral standard of his own, he can’t set a moral standard for the nation.
Sober: Look for a leader who is not only sober-minded but simply sober.
Protective: A good leader protects the weak and defends those who cannot defend themselves.
Secondly, remember the choice that God respects. God allows us to choose against His will, and that is the reason we receive the poor leadership we deserve. Adrian Rogers says, “Wicked rulers are God’s reward for wicked people.”

Third, see the consequences that God reveals. It is deeply disturbing to consider that America doesn’t know the trouble she’s in on the path she’s currently walking. Proverbs 29:2 says, “When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; but when a wicked man rules, the people groan.”

But ultimately, remember the control that God reserves. Even if wicked men make wicked choices for wicked rulers, God has forsaken control. God is still the King of kings. Again, Adrian Rogers says, “If we do not allow God to rule in America, God will still overrule.”

Apply it to your life
What should we do about the leadership crisis in America?

Pray for revival.
Prepare for suffering.
Prepare for His arrival.
Let the voting polls be a reminder: Jesus is coming…soon!.

Sermon Overview
Scripture Passage: Isaiah 50:10-11

Sometimes, darkness falls upon even the most devout Christians. What can we do when the lights go out? What is the discipline of darkness? Isaiah 50:10 says, “Who among you fears the Lord? Who obeys the voice of His Servant? Who walks in darkness and has no light? Let him trust in the name of the Lord and rely upon his God.”

First, those of greatest devotion may know the deepest darkness. There is a distorted idea that the Christian life is all joy and light. But Isaiah 50 speaks to those who revere God and respect His authority, yet face deep perplexity and anguish.

Second, faith that is born in the light is developed in the dark. In order to develop our faith in the darkness, we must look and lean on the Lord. Adrian Rogers says, “It is better to be in a valley, leaning on God, than on a peak without Him.”

Third, some things are seen in the dark that cannot be seen in the light. Adrian Rogers says, “You could not see the stars were it not for the darkness.”

Fourth, it is better to lean on God in the darkness than stand alone in man-made light.

One of the great dangers of darkness is the temptation to light our own fires. But if the darkness has been ordained of God, we cannot undo what God has done. Man-made fire is deceptive; we see this in the stories of Abraham, Moses, and Simon Peter. When these men of God took matters into their own hands, it resulted in bitter weeping and “lying down in sorrow.”

Finally, if our sun has set, we must remember it will rise again. Isaiah 50:4 says, “The Lord God has given Me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him who is weary. He awakens Me morning by morning, He awakens My ear to hear as the learned."

When we get to a better day, we will be equipped to teach the greatest treasure of the darkness: that in our deepest sorrow, our Heavenly Father’s eyes are upon us.

Apply it to your life
If you’re in darkness right now, don’t light your own fire; look and lean on God. Remember these words from Adrian Rogers: “God will turn every tear to a pearl, every hurt to a hallelujah, every Calvary to an Easter; your morning will come.”

Sermon Overview
Scripture Passage: 1 John 1:3-10

As Christians, we can slip and fall into sin just like anyone else. What happens to our fellowship with God when we sin?

1 John 1:5-7 says: "This is the message which we have heard from Him, and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin."

The formula for fellowship is a cleansed life. Oftentimes, we would rather see our sins as mistakes that need to be fixed. In reality, we are sinners in need of forgiveness. Adrian Rogers says, “The problem with today's society is we all have a burden of guilt without a sense of sin.” If we are truly saved, our sin can no longer condemn us; but it can interrupt fellowship with God. Our “sonship” is fixed for eternity, but our fellowship is determined as to whether or not we obey our Father’s instructions.

If we want to stay in fellowship with God, we must first expose our sins to the light. Hiding our sins is very dangerous; if we want to know if we have any unconfessed sin in our hearts, we have to shed light on our imperfections. We must be bold to ask the Holy Spirit to convict us legitimately, specifically, and redemptively.

Second, our sin must be expressed to the Lord. A confession of sin is not just an admission; it is an agreement with God about it. To confess that sin means to name it and nail it; to agree with God immediately, specifically, and confidently. 1 John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Because Jesus Christ died for our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us. If we only confess, we can be totally cleansed from all unrighteousness, and our fellowship with God can be restored.

Apply it to your life
Do you have any unconfessed sin in your life? Bring it to the light and express it to the Lord.