There is a danger in thinking we are stronger, wiser, or more spiritual than we really are. In this challenging sermon, Elder Dustin Parks preaches from Luke 18:9-14 about humility, self-righteousness, and the sobering truth that we are all only one step away from backsliding.

The message begins with the Pharisee who thanked God that he was not like other people. Elder Parks warns against the same spirit taking root in our own hearts. Church attendance, positions, knowledge, wealth, appearance, or years of service do not make one person more valuable to God than another. Our righteousness is not something we can manufacture. We are dependent every day on the grace and mercy of God.

“We’re all one step from backsliding” is not a call to fear, but a call to humility and watchfulness. No matter our position in the church or how long we have served God, we are still capable of falling. Peter boldly declared that he would never deny Jesus, yet he denied Him three times. Elder Parks emphasizes the importance of crucifying the flesh daily and keeping our focus on where we stand with God rather than measuring ourselves against others.

The sermon also challenges the way Christians can judge people based on age, appearance, wealth, abilities, or background. God is no respecter of persons. A pastor is not better than a singer, an older saint is not better than a young believer, and someone who does not fit our idea of what a Christian should look like is not beyond God’s reach. God looks on the heart.

Jesus repeatedly showed compassion to people others might overlook. The man who had been lame for 38 years, blind Bartimaeus, and others who were considered insignificant were not rejected by Christ. Before salvation, we were all sinners in need of mercy. We were all lost, broken, and without hope apart from Jesus. That truth should produce humility, compassion, and a willingness to see others through the eyes of Christ.

Elder Parks reminds us that our lives are being watched by those who are lost. When Christians judge others over outward appearances or make people feel unwelcome, they can become a stumbling block. Instead, the church should demonstrate the love, forgiveness, humility, and grace of Jesus Christ. We all have mistakes. We all fall short. We all need the Lord.

This message is a call to examine our own hearts before examining someone else’s life. Instead of asking, “How are they doing?” we should ask, “Where am I with God?” Instead of comparing ourselves with others, we should humble ourselves before Christ, confess our failures, and keep walking in His grace.

No one is too young, too old, too broken, too different, or too far gone for God to save. The same Jesus who saved us can save anyone. Let us stop acting as though we are different from everyone else and start showing the world the love of the One who saved us all.

What happens when we stop trying to be seen and start making sure Jesus is seen? In this powerful sermon, Pastor Tommy Boring preaches from John 3:22-30 and John 12:32 on the life-changing truth, “He must increase, but I must decrease.”

John the Baptist gives us a powerful example of what it means to live for the glory of Christ. He understood that everything good comes from God, that his purpose was to point people to Jesus, and that his joy was found in seeing Christ increase. John refused to take the place of the Bridegroom. Instead, he faithfully served, stood for truth, and directed attention away from himself and toward Jesus.

Pastor Tommy reminds us that every gift, ability, blessing, opportunity, and breath comes from God. We have nothing to boast in except Jesus Christ and His finished work on the cross. The flesh wants recognition, praise, and glory, but the Christian life calls us to surrender ourselves so that Christ can be lifted higher.

The message also points back to Moses lifting up the brazen serpent in the wilderness. Those who looked upon it lived. Jesus would later explain that He must be lifted up, and that when He is lifted up, He will draw people unto Himself. Our responsibility is not to manufacture salvation, manipulate people, or draw attention to ourselves. We are called to lift up Jesus and allow His power to work on hearts.

To truly lift Jesus up, we must get low. Humility is not weakness. It is the place where God can work through us. When we decrease, Christ becomes more visible. When we get out of the way, people can see their need for Him. When our lives point away from ourselves and toward Jesus, His glory becomes the focus.

John’s example challenges us to point up, set Christ above ourselves, stand for Him even when it costs us, and continually decrease so He can increase. We may be called old-fashioned, different, or out of touch, but our calling is to remain faithful to Jesus regardless of the world’s opinion.

This sermon is a challenge to examine our hearts and ask: Am I lifting up Jesus, or am I lifting up myself? Am I seeking His glory, or my own? Am I willing to surrender my plans, pride, and desires so that Christ can be seen more clearly through my life?

There is hope in Christ alone. Not in ourselves, not in a preacher, and not in a church. The answer is Jesus.

“He must increase, but I must decrease.”

The promise of resurrection gives believers a hope that reaches beyond this present life. In “Corruptible to Incorruptible,” Pastor Tommy Boring opens 1 Corinthians 15 and focuses on the great change that is coming when Jesus Christ returns.

Paul revealed the mystery that “we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed.” In a moment, at the sound of the trumpet, the dead in Christ will be raised and those who are alive and remain will be transformed. This corruptible body will put on incorruption, and this mortal body will put on immortality. The worn-out, temporary body we have today will be replaced with a glorified body prepared for eternity.

The message explains why this change is necessary. Flesh and mortality cannot enter a place where there is no corruption or sin. Our present bodies are wearing out, but God has promised something far greater. When the change comes, death will finally be swallowed up in victory. Jesus Christ defeated death through His death, burial, and resurrection, and the day is coming when death will have no power over the people of God.

Pastor Boring also emphasizes the urgency of being born again. No one knows the day or hour when Christ will return, so the time to be ready is today. Salvation is found in Jesus Christ alone. The heart must be changed, and those who have trusted Christ can look forward to the day when they will be changed physically and made like Him.

For the believer, death does not have the final word. There is a longing for heaven, a hope of Christ’s return, and the promise of a place where there will be no more sin, sorrow, suffering, or death. The saints who have gone on before are waiting for the resurrection, when the dead in Christ will rise first and God’s people will receive their glorified bodies.

This sermon closes with a powerful call to be ready. “Thanks be to God which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” If you are saved, rejoice in the promise that one day you will be changed. If you are not saved, there is still hope and an opportunity to say yes to Christ. The trumpet will sound, the dead will rise, the living will be changed, and God’s people will finally declare that death is swallowed up in victory.

A subtle compromise can lead to devastating consequences, and in this message, Brother Danny Buchanan, Jr. challenges believers to recognize the danger of allowing even the smallest foothold for the enemy. In “Give Him an Inch, He’ll Take Ten Miles,” he reminds us that Satan rarely begins with obvious rebellion. Instead, he works through small compromises, distractions, and seemingly harmless choices that gradually pull hearts away from God.

Using Scripture along with personal testimony and practical application, this sermon emphasizes the importance of guarding your heart, resisting temptation, and staying close to Christ. Every believer faces spiritual battles, but God has provided the strength, wisdom, and grace needed to overcome. The message calls Christians to examine their lives, remove anything that weakens their walk with God, and remain faithful before small compromises become life-altering consequences.

This sermon is a powerful reminder that victory begins with daily obedience. Don’t give the enemy any place in your life. Stand firm in the truth of God’s Word, rely on the Holy Spirit, and trust Christ to keep you grounded in faith.

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From the image of an orchard to the truth of the Gospel, this message reveals what it truly means to be grafted into Christ. In “Grafted In,” Elder Ronnie Blair explores the rich teaching of Romans 11, reminding believers that salvation is entirely by God’s grace and that those who are in Christ are called to bear fruit that reflects Him.

Beginning with a personal testimony of unwavering assurance in Jesus Christ, Elder Blair shares how the Lord redirected his message just moments before preaching. Reflecting on over five decades since preaching his first sermon, he points listeners to the unchanging truth of God’s Word and the incredible privilege Gentile believers have been given through Christ.

Drawing from Romans 11:13-24, this sermon explains how the Gentiles, once like wild olive branches, have been grafted into God’s family through faith. While Israel’s unbelief opened the door for the Gospel to reach the nations, God has not forgotten His promises and remains able to graft the natural branches back in. The message is both a celebration of God’s mercy and a warning to remain humble, faithful, and dependent upon Him.

Using the practical example of grafting apple trees, Elder Blair illustrates how the health of the root determines the fruit. Just as a tree must remain connected to the proper rootstock, believers must remain rooted in Christ. Sin, like unwanted suckers growing from a tree, drains spiritual strength and hinders growth if left unchecked. Through daily repentance, obedience, and the power of the Holy Ghost, Christians can continue bearing fruit that glorifies God.

This sermon also offers encouragement for anyone who feels broken or unworthy. Through the finished work of Christ, God is able to restore damaged lives, remake broken vessels, and use them for His glory. The transforming testimony of salvation reminds us that when Jesus truly changes a heart, the evidence is seen in a changed life.

Whether you are seeking assurance, encouragement, or a deeper understanding of your identity in Christ, this message is a powerful reminder that those who are grafted into the True Vine have hope, purpose, and eternal security through Jesus Christ.

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What if the problem was never God’s provision, but our response to it? In this thought-provoking message, Elder Steven Howard explores Isaiah 5 and reveals the powerful truth that God has already done everything necessary for mankind to know Him, walk with Him, and experience His grace.

Using the parable of the vineyard in Isaiah 5:1-4, this sermon examines how God carefully prepared His vineyard, expecting good fruit, only to find wild grapes instead. The question God asks is still relevant today: “What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it?”

Throughout this message, Elder Howard reminds us that God’s ways are perfect, even when our limited perspective causes us to question His goodness. While we often focus on pain, suffering, disappointment, and unanswered questions, God sees the complete picture from beginning to end. Our struggles are not evidence that God has failed us, but opportunities to trust the One whose plans are always right.

This sermon also points to the finished work of Jesus Christ. At Calvary, God’s perfect plan of redemption was completed forever. When Jesus declared, “It is finished,” every provision for salvation, forgiveness, hope, and reconciliation was fully accomplished. Nothing needs to be added to Christ’s work because everything necessary has already been done.

Elder Howard contrasts humanity’s tendency to blame God with the truth that sin entered the world through man’s rebellion, not through any failure in God’s design. Even so, God’s grace continues to reach every sinner, offering forgiveness and calling all people to repentance through Jesus Christ.

If you’ve struggled to understand suffering, questioned God’s goodness, or needed reassurance that Christ’s sacrifice is sufficient, this message offers a biblical reminder that God has never failed His people. His vineyard was planted perfectly. His salvation is complete. The question that remains is how each of us will respond to His finished work.

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In a time when prayer is often neglected, this message is a powerful reminder that God is still searching for people who will stand in the gap for others. In “God Is Looking for Someone: Will You Stand in the Gap?”, Pastor Tommy Boring challenges believers to answer God’s call to become faithful intercessors for their families, churches, communities, and nation.

Drawing from Ezekiel 22:30-31, Pastor Tommy explains God’s heartbreaking search for someone willing to “make up the hedge” and pray on behalf of the people. He also examines Abraham’s intercession for Sodom in Genesis 18, showing how persistent prayer reveals God’s mercy and His desire to spare rather than judge.

This sermon emphasizes that prayer is not a passive activity but a vital ministry. Through examples like Moses, Aaron, Abraham, and Isaiah, listeners are reminded that God has always worked through men and women willing to seek Him on behalf of others. The message also confronts the spiritual complacency of our day, urging Christians to move beyond recognizing the problems in our nation and instead become people who earnestly pray for revival, repentance, and God’s intervention.

Pastor Tommy encourages every believer to examine their own prayer life and consider whether they are investing more time in temporary distractions than in eternal matters. Rather than waiting for someone else to pray, he calls the church to accept personal responsibility, asking God for a burden for lost souls, future generations, and a nation desperately in need of His mercy.

If you’ve ever wondered what it truly means to “stand in the gap,” this sermon offers both biblical insight and a heartfelt challenge to become the kind of person God is seeking.

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Discover what Romans 8:28 really means in this powerful message from Pastor Tommy Boring. While this verse is often quoted as a blanket promise that “everything will work out,” this sermon carefully explains that God’s promise is not a blank check. Instead, it is a promise with clear biblical conditions for those who love God and are walking according to His purpose.

Preaching from Romans 8:28, Pastor Tommy explores one of the most treasured promises in Scripture and shows how easily it can be misunderstood when taken out of context. He explains that God is able to work all things together for good, including failures, heartbreaks, disappointments, and even the mistakes we have made. Nothing is beyond His ability to redeem. However, this promise belongs specifically to those who genuinely love the Lord and are called according to His purpose.

This message challenges believers to examine what it truly means to love God. Is Christ first in our lives? Do our actions reflect our devotion? Is our affection fixed on Him above everything else? Loving God is more than attending church or making a profession. It is a life of obedience, worship, surrender, and placing Him above every earthly priority.

Pastor Tommy also reminds us that every child of God has a purpose. Whether serving through ministry, witnessing, worshiping, or faithfully following God’s will in everyday life, believers are called to live with intentionality. Rather than settling into comfort or spiritual complacency, God continues to lead His people into deeper obedience and greater usefulness for His kingdom.

Throughout the sermon, listeners are encouraged to trust God’s providence instead of fear. When we love Him, follow His Word, and pursue His purpose, we can rest in the certainty that God is working behind the scenes for our eternal good. His promises never fail, and His faithfulness never changes.

If you’ve ever questioned Romans 8:28 or wondered how God can bring good from life’s hardest moments, this message offers biblical clarity, practical encouragement, and renewed confidence in the sovereign care of God.

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From the storms we never expected to the hope we could never create on our own, this powerful message from Pastor Tommy Boring reminds us that God has never abandoned His people in the middle of life’s fiercest battles. In “He’s Never Lost a Ship to a Storm,” Pastor Tommy opens Psalm 107 to reveal God’s faithfulness through every season of hardship, showing that while storms are unavoidable, God’s mercy, power, and presence remain unchanging.

This sermon walks through the four pictures of distress found in Psalm 107: the lost soul wandering without hope, the prisoner bound by sin, the suffering brought on by transgression, and the sailor caught in an overwhelming storm. In every situation, the answer is the same: “Then they cried unto the Lord in their trouble, and He delivered them out of their distresses.”

Pastor Tommy reminds us that we cannot escape trials, grief, sickness, loss, or uncertainty, but we never have to face them alone. God is still in control when life feels out of control. The Captain of our salvation has never lost one of His children to the storms of life, and nothing can separate those who belong to Christ from His love.

Through heartfelt personal testimony, biblical truth, and encouragement for both believers and those seeking salvation, this message points listeners back to the goodness of God. Whether you feel trapped in the bondage of sin, overwhelmed by suffering, or tossed by life’s waves, Jesus is still able to rescue, restore, and establish your feet upon the Rock.

If you’ve been carrying burdens that seem too heavy to bear, this sermon is a reminder that God’s mercy is new every morning, His compassion never fails, and He still hears those who cry out to Him. Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, because He is always good.

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Living for Christ is about more than what we say. It is about the example we leave behind. In “The Importance of Being a Role Model,” Elder Dustin Parks challenges every believer to consider how their daily life influences their family, church, workplace, school, and community.

Drawing from the lives of Barnabas, Noah, Daniel, Joshua, and the disciples, this message reminds us that God calls His people to encourage others, stand for truth, and faithfully follow Him even when it is difficult. Barnabas, known as the “Son of Consolation,” exemplified a life of encouragement, while Noah obeyed God despite ridicule, Daniel refused to compromise with the world, and Joshua stepped into leadership with courage after Moses’ death.

Elder Dustin emphasizes that every Christian is a role model to someone. Whether we realize it or not, children, coworkers, friends, and even strangers are watching how we respond to life’s challenges. Our actions often speak louder than our words, making it essential to live in a way that reflects Jesus Christ.

The sermon also contrasts earthly role models with the perfect example found in Christ. While even admired people can disappoint us, Jesus never fails. His life remains the perfect pattern for every believer to follow. Rather than chasing popularity or worldly approval, Christians are called to pursue holiness, integrity, and unwavering obedience to God.

This message encourages believers to resist compromise in a culture that constantly pressures people to conform. Just as Daniel purposed in his heart not to defile himself, Christians today must be willing to say “no” to sin and remain faithful to God’s Word. The call is not only for pastors and church leaders, but for every believer who desires to leave a legacy that points others to Christ.

Elder Dustin also reminds listeners that not everyone is called to lead, but everyone is called to faithfully follow God’s direction and support godly leadership. Whether leading or serving, each member of the body of Christ has an important role in strengthening the church and encouraging others in their walk with God.

Recognizing that no one is perfect, the sermon closes with a challenge to seek forgiveness when we fail, remain humble, and continually strive to magnify Christ in every area of life. The goal is not to make our own name known, but to live so faithfully that others see Jesus through us.

May this message encourage you to examine your own testimony and ask: What kind of example am I leaving for those who are watching?