Summary

As Christmas approaches, Dr. Michael Easley invites us to look beyond familiar traditions—food, travel, gifts, family rhythms—and consider a deeper anticipation: the divine visitation of God. Drawing from Genesis 50, Dr. Easley traces Joseph’s final words and the Hebrew term pachad, a rich word describing God “visiting” His people in judgment, blessing, discipline, or deliverance. Joseph, at 110 years old, stands as a man who endured betrayal, injustice, imprisonment, and loss, yet he dies full of hope—insisting his bones be carried to the Promised Land because God will keep His word.

Dr. Easley contrasts God’s sovereign plan with human evil, reminding us that even the darkest chapters of Joseph’s life were woven into God’s purposes. He also emphasizes that death does not break God’s promises; Joseph died without seeing the deliverance he believed in, yet he trusted the God who brings the dead to life. As we prepare for Christmas, this sermon invites us to consider the greatest visitation of all—the arrival of the divine Deliverer—and to rest in the certainty that God keeps His promises, even when our circumstances say otherwise.

Takeaways

God’s sovereign plan operates even through the evil intentions and injustices of people.

The Hebrew word pachad shows that God “visits” His people in discipline, blessing, and deliverance.

Joseph believed God’s promises even though he never saw their fulfillment in his lifetime.

Death does not—and cannot—break the promises of God.

The anticipation we feel around birth reflects a deeper longing wired into our souls for God’s divine visitation.

The birth of Christ is the ultimate visitation of God, bringing redemption exactly as He promised.

To read the book of Genesis, click here.

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Summary

In this sermon from 1 Corinthians 10, Dr. Michael Easley unpacks the sobering contrast between God’s supernatural provisions for Israel and Israel’s repeated failures in the wilderness. He begins with a relatable observation: we often want the benefits of something without paying the cost. The Christian life, however, comes with a clear cost of discipleship—an intentional, obedient walk with Christ. Paul reminds the Corinthians of five divine provisions God gave Israel: supernatural guidance and protection through the cloud, supernatural deliverance through the Red Sea, identification with Moses through baptism, supernatural food from heaven, and supernatural water from the rock—ultimately pointing to Christ Himself. Yet despite these blessings, Israel fell into five destructive patterns: craving evil things, idolatry, immorality, testing God, and constant grumbling.

Paul calls these events examples and instruction for believers today. We, too, are prone to drift even after receiving God’s grace. Dr. Easley presses five reflective questions: What are you craving? What idols have crept in? Are you living immorally? Are you trying God? What are you grumbling about? The passage assures believers that God always provides a way of escape from temptation—and calls us to stand firm, repent, and walk faithfully with the One who guides, provides, and sustains.

Takeaways

God provides supernatural guidance, protection, and sustenance, yet our hearts can still drift toward sin.

Israel’s story is given as an example and instruction, warning believers not to repeat the same patterns.

Craving anything more than Christ reveals a deeper spiritual problem beneath the surface.

Idolatry arises whenever the “stuff” of life demands more of our time and devotion than our walk with God.

God always provides a way of escape from temptation, but standing firm requires humility and vigilance.

Honest self-examination before Christ transforms grumbling hearts into grateful, obedient disciples.

To read the book of 1 Corinthians, click here.

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Summary

In this message from Romans 8, Dr. Michael Easley walks through Paul’s rich transition from talking about “putting to death the deeds of the flesh” to embracing our identity as sons and daughters of God. Building on the assurance that there is now no condemnation for those in Christ, Dr. Easley emphasizes that the Christian life is not self-powered moral improvement—it is life led, empowered, and sustained by the Holy Spirit. When we place our faith in Christ, the Spirit becomes our permanent resident, the One who enables us to resist sin and live in cooperation with God’s will.

Paul’s shift to familial language—sons, daughters, children, heirs—reveals that believers are not merely forgiven; we are adopted. Dr. Easley unpacks Paul’s contrast between the “spirit of slavery” and the “spirit of adoption,” reminding us that adoption is rooted in God’s kindness, redemption through Christ’s blood, and His intentional choice of us. This adoption enables us to cry out, with profound emotion, “Abba, Father,” just as Christ did.

Finally, Dr. Easley highlights the Spirit’s testimony within us: He confirms we are God’s children, assures us of our inheritance, strengthens us in present suffering, and anchors us in the future glory that outweighs every earthly hardship.

Takeaways

The Christian life is not powered by our will but by the indwelling Holy Spirit who leads and enables us.

Believers are adopted into God’s family, moving from slavery and fear to sonship and intimacy.

The Spirit Himself testifies within us that we are God’s beloved children.

Adoption is rooted in God’s sovereign kindness and Christ’s redemptive work—not our merit.

Our ability to call God Father reflects the deep emotional reality of belonging fully to God.

As children and heirs, we share both in Christ’s sufferings now and His glory to come.

To read the book of Romans, click here.

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Summary

Romans 8:12–13 sits at the center of Paul’s teaching on life in the Spirit, and in this sermon Dr. Michael Easley draws attention to the decisive shift that takes place when a person trusts Christ. Salvation is not merely forgiveness—it's a complete reorientation of our spiritual starting point. When the Spirit of God takes up residence in a believer, everything changes. We are no longer obligated to obey the flesh, no longer bound to its impulses, and no longer defined by its demands.

Dr. Easley explains that many Christians continue living as though the flesh still holds authority, when Scripture says the opposite. The flesh is not neutral; it is hostile to God and must be confronted. Paul calls believers to put sin to death, but he also makes clear that this cannot be accomplished through willpower or personal resolve. It is the Spirit who enables us to kill the deeds of the body and to live in the freedom God intends.

This passage invites believers to acknowledge sin honestly, take responsibility for their choices, and actively depend on the Spirit for transformation. Life in Christ begins—and continues—with the power of the Spirit making us alive, responsive, and obedient to God.

Takeaways

Trusting Christ moves your point of departure from the flesh to the indwelling Spirit.

The believer does not have to follow the flesh—its pull is a lie, not an obligation.

Only the Holy Spirit empowers us to put sin to death; the flesh cannot improve.

Sin behaves like bamboo—relentless and invasive—requiring continual Spirit-empowered resistance.

To mortify sin, believers must first acknowledge its true evil without minimizing or excusing it.

Life in the Spirit is not passive; it is a daily, intentional dependence on the One who empowers obedience.

To read the book of Romans, click here.

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Summary

In this sermon, Dr. Michael Easley illustrates the power of sin with a vivid analogy: a commercial floor buffer so strong that no person—not even the strongest among us—can control it. Like that machine, sin isn’t something we manage, tame, or muscle through. Sin seeks to control us. Paul has already shown in Romans 6–7 that human effort cannot free us from sin’s grip. But God has given us something far greater—His own Spirit.

Dr. Easley explains Paul’s sharp contrast: the mindset on the flesh is death; the mindset on the Spirit is life and peace. There is no neutral ground. The flesh is hostile toward God, unable to please Him, bent toward self, and spiritually dead. Before Christ, our minds were fixed on ourselves, our desires, and our autonomy, even if we didn’t realize it.

But the good news is stunning. Those who belong to Christ have the very Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead dwelling in them. The Spirit empowers us to live differently, to resist sin’s control, and to pursue God’s desires instead of our own. Through the Spirit, believers move from death to life, from hostility to peace, and from self-rule to the power of God at work within them.

Takeaways

Sin is not something we manage — it is a power that seeks to control us.

A mind set fixed on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace.

There is no spiritual neutrality; the flesh is hostile toward God and cannot please Him.

Before Christ, our minds are bent entirely toward ourselves and opposed to God’s will.

The Holy Spirit indwells every believer with the same power that raised Jesus from the dead.

Through the Spirit, believers move from death to life and are empowered to live in obedience.

To read the book of Romans, click here.

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Summary

Every believer knows the sting of regret and the weight of guilt that can linger long after coming to Christ. In this powerful sermon on Romans 8:1–4, Dr. Michael Easley unpacks one of the most freeing truths in all of Scripture: “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” We all live with memories of past failures, yet in Christ, those sins are not just forgiven—they’re washed away in Him. 

Dr. Easley walks through Paul’s rich theological argument to show that our freedom from condemnation isn’t based on self-improvement or keeping the law. It’s entirely rooted in the work of Christ and the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit. The same Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead now empowers believers to overcome sin and live righteously. Because God did what the law could never do—He sent His Son to deal with sin once and for all—we can live free from shame and confident in His grace. This message invites listeners to walk not in guilt, but in gratitude, boldly declaring, “I am in Christ.”

Takeaways

Every believer wrestles with guilt and regret, but the gospel declares us free from condemnation.

God’s righteousness demands perfection, yet Christ meets that standard on our behalf.

Jesus condemned sin in His own flesh, taking our punishment once and for all.

The Holy Spirit empowers believers to overcome the power of sin and live righteously.

What the law could never accomplish, God accomplished through His Son.

To be “in Christ” means to live with confidence, freedom, and no fear of condemnation.

To read the book of Romans, click here.
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Summary

Romans 7 reveals one of the most honest confessions in Scripture: Paul’s ongoing struggle with sin even after trusting Christ. Dr. Michael Easley unpacks this tension between knowing what’s right and still doing what’s wrong—the spiritual “finger trap” every believer experiences. Paul’s transparency isn’t weakness; it’s maturity. The more we grow in Christ, the more aware we become of our sin and our desperate need for His grace. 

Legalism, Dr. Easley warns, distorts this truth by pretending righteousness can be earned. Instead, Paul’s self-portrait mirrors that of every believer. We are sinners saved by grace, constantly at war with the flesh yet secure in Christ’s victory. Sanctification is not smooth progress but a lifelong conflict between the Spirit and sin’s lingering power. Our hope is not in moral perfection but in dependence on Jesus. “Wretched man that I am—who will deliver me?” Paul cries. And the answer is the heart of the gospel: “Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Takeaways

The law exposes sin but cannot save—it condemns, not redeems.

Paul’s struggle in Romans 7 reflects every believer’s battle with sin.

True maturity begins with admitting our sinful nature and need for grace.

Sanctification is a lifelong conflict, not a straight line of progress.

Evil still dwells within us, but sin no longer controls us.

Our only deliverance from sin’s power is through Jesus Christ alone.

To read the book of Romans, click here.

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Summary

In this sermon from Romans 7:7–13, Dr. Michael Easley unpacks one of Scripture’s most complex questions: If God’s law is good, why does it seem to lead us into sin? Paul reminds us that the problem isn’t the law—it’s the sin within us. God’s law is holy, righteous, and good, but sin twists what is good into an opportunity for rebellion. Dr. Easley outlines seven functions of the law, revealing that while the law defines and exposes sin, it cannot save us from it. The law condemns, provokes, and reveals the depth of our sinfulness, pointing us instead to our desperate need for Christ. No set of rules or moral codes can make us good; only intimacy with Jesus transforms the heart. 

When we seek fulfillment in Him rather than in the false promises of the world—whether through lust, greed, or pride—sin loses its grip. Dr. Easley reminds us that the Christian life isn’t about trying harder to stop sinning; it’s about walking more closely with Christ. Only when He becomes our “all in all” can we find the true freedom the law could never provide.

Takeaways

God’s law is holy, righteous, and good—but sin twists it into an opportunity for rebellion.

The law reveals sin’s power but cannot save us from it.

No number of rules can make us righteous; only Christ can transform the heart.

Sin deceives and provokes, taking what is good and turning it against us.

True freedom comes not from resisting sin but from pursuing intimacy with Jesus Christ.

When Christ becomes our all in all, the world’s temptations lose their hold.

To read the book of Romans, click here.

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Summary

In this sermon from Romans 7, Dr. Michael Easley explores what it means to die to the law and live in the Spirit through Jesus Christ. Using Paul’s illustration of marriage, Dr. Easley explains that the law only has authority over the living—once a person dies, they are free from its jurisdiction. Likewise, believers who have died with Christ are no longer bound to the law’s condemnation but are joined to Him to bear fruit for God.

Dr. Easley takes time to address divorce and remarriage, acknowledging the pain, complexity, and lifelong consequences that often accompany them. While God hates divorce, it is not an unforgivable sin, and believers are called to respond with grace and mercy toward those who have suffered through it. Ultimately, he reminds listeners that reconciliation, humility, and forgiveness are essential for any marriage to thrive.

The sermon concludes with a clear call: the law cannot save, but it can warn. Righteousness comes not through rules but through relationships—being joined to Christ in His death and resurrection. Freed from the condemnation of the law, believers are empowered by the Spirit to live in obedience and holiness that bear lasting fruit for God.

Takeaways

The law only has jurisdiction over the living; death in Christ frees believers from its condemnation.

Romans 7 teaches that we are joined to Christ to bear fruit for God, not bound to the old law.

Divorce grieves God but is not beyond His forgiveness or grace.

The church must show mercy and compassion to those who have experienced brokenness.

Obedience to God’s moral law, empowered by the Spirit, sanctifies believers, conforming them to Christ’s image.

The same resurrection power that saves us empowers us to live holy, Spirit-filled lives.

To read the book of Romans, click here.

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Summary

In this sermon, Dr. Michael Easley unpacks one of the most misunderstood truths in the Christian life: freedom in Christ does not mean freedom to sin. If salvation is truly a gift—something we did not earn and cannot lose—then why does how we live still matter? Paul’s answer in Romans 6 is both simple and profound: because we are no longer slaves to sin, we are now slaves to righteousness.

Dr. Easley reminds us that everyone serves a master—either sin or God. Before Christ, we were bound to sin, chasing desires that only led to death. But in Christ, we’ve been set free—not to live as we please, but to live as His. This new kind of slavery is not oppressive; it’s liberating. To be “enslaved to righteousness” means willingly submitting our lives to the One who saved us.

Obedience born from gratitude, not guilt, marks the heart of a true believer. As Dr. Easley explains, the wages of sin are still death—but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ. True freedom is not doing whatever we want—it’s wanting to obey the One who freed us.

Takeaways

True freedom in Christ means choosing to serve righteousness, not indulging in sin.

Everyone serves a master—either sin that leads to death or Christ who gives life.

Salvation frees us from sin’s power but binds us joyfully to obedience.

Obedience from the heart reflects genuine transformation, not mere duty.

The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ.

Living under grace means wanting to obey, not feeling forced to obey.

To read the book of Romans, click here.

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