✝️ Why do Christians celebrate someone's DEATH instead of mourning it? Discover the profound truth behind the Lord's Supper and why this simple act of remembrance holds eternal significance. 🗡️ This expository sermon was delivered at Pilgrim Baptist Church in Cookeville, TN on Sunday, December 21, 2025, at 6:00 pm. 🗡️ In this powerful message on the Lord's Supper, Pastor Fortunato unpacks the critical difference between viewing communion as a sacrament versus an ordinance. Many Christians participate in the Lord's Supper without fully understanding what makes it biblical—or why God commands us to remember His sacrifice in this specific way. This sermon explores essential Christian doctrine that every believer needs to understand: Is communion a means of receiving grace, or is it an act of obedience and remembrance? Pastor Fortunato shares his testimony of being saved out of Roman Catholicism and reveals how biblical baptism and the Lord's Supper are commanded ordinances, not sacraments that impart salvation. You'll discover why: The cross made room for our sin when the inn made no room for our Savior Water baptism and communion don't save us—but they matter tremendously to our Christian walk The gospel is an exclusive invitation that offends the world but offers the only path to eternal life. All doctrine is essential, but only one doctrine is essential for salvation We should glory in nothing except the cross of Jesus Christ This Bible teaching will ground you in what Scripture actually says about the ordinances of the church, help you approach the Lord's table with reverence and gratitude, and remind you of the Amazing Grace that saved us from spiritual death.

🚨 Why did Jesus' disciples walk away when He needed them most? This powerful sermon from John 6:64-67 exposes the uncomfortable truth about false disciples and what it really costs to follow Jesus. In this eye-opening message, Pastor Fortunato tackles one of the most challenging passages in Scripture—the moment when many of Jesus' followers abandoned Him. Discover why these disciples left, what separates true believers from fair-weather followers, and how modern theology often misses the mark when interpreting these crucial verses. What You'll Learn: ✓ The real meaning behind John 6:64-67 and "from the beginning" ✓ How Judas fulfilled prophecy while making his own wicked choices ✓ Biblical refutation of Calvinist interpretations of election ✓ Why God doesn't withhold salvation from anyone ✓ The connection between Zechariah's prophecy and Jesus' betrayal ✓ What happens when doctrine confronts our comfort zones ✓ How to recognize and avoid false discipleship patterns This verse-by-verse exposition confronts the popular teaching that God predetermined who would be saved and who would be lost. Through careful examination of the Greek text, cross-references with Zechariah 11 and Matthew 27, and sound biblical interpretation, you'll see how God's gift of salvation is offered to all—not withheld from some. If you've ever struggled with questions about election, predestination, or why people walk away from faith, this sermon provides clear, Bible-based answers. Pastor Fortunato doesn't shy away from hard truths, showing how Jesus refused to soften His message even when crowds left Him.

🔥 Why the Virgin Birth Isn't Optional - It's ESSENTIAL for Your Salvation 🔥 Most Christians know Jesus was virgin born, but do you know WHY it absolutely HAD to happen that way? Pastor Fortunato exposes three ancient curses that would have BLOCKED Jesus from being our Savior—and how the virgin birth was the only solution. What You'll Discover in This Powerful Message: This isn't just another Christmas sermon about baby Jesus—this is a deep biblical exposition that will transform how you understand the gospel message. Pastor Fortunato masterfully connects 2 Samuel 7, Jeremiah 22, Matthew 1, and Luke 3 to reveal why Jesus genealogy matters for YOUR salvation. You'll understand: ✝️ Adam's curse and why every human father passes on a sin nature ✝️ Jeconiah's curse that CLOSED the throne of David to all his descendants ✝️ How Matthew's genealogy proves Jesus had legal throne rights through Joseph ✝️ Why Luke's genealogy traces through Mary to bypass the Jeconiah curse ✝️ The law's curse and how Jesus became sin for us on the cross ✝️ Why believing in a virgin birth doctrine is non-negotiable for biblical salvation This message connects genealogies you've probably skipped over and shows how every name matters in God's redemptive plan. From Esther saving the Jewish people so Mary could be born, to the serpent on the pole foreshadowing Christ, you'll see how Scripture perfectly weaves together to give us our curse breaker—Jesus Christ, the sinless Savior.

📖 What happens when following Jesus stops being comfortable and starts being costly? In this powerful expository sermon from John 6:60-63, discover why many of Jesus's own disciples walked away when the truth got hard. Are you a true disciple or just a follower after the flesh? This biblical preaching from Pilgrim Baptist Church tackles the uncomfortable reality that hard truth reveals who the real disciples are. When Jesus set the terms of discipleship in John chapter 6, even His followers began to murmur and complain—not because they didn't understand, but because obedience would cost them something. Pastor Fortunato delivers a convicting message on Christian living that exposes why most people seek an exit from hard sayings rather than an explanation. Through careful Bible teaching, you'll understand: ✓ Why the greatest opposition to biblical truth comes from within the church ✓ The difference between honest questions from humble hearts and murmuring from pride ✓ How the flesh profits nothing, but the Spirit gives life ✓ Why spiritual understanding matters more than physical sight ✓ The power of God's living, breathing Word to transform your life This sermon on discipleship challenges comfortable Christianity and calls believers to stop serving God in the flesh and start living by the Spirit. If you've ever struggled with hard biblical truths or wondered why following Jesus feels costly, this expository preaching will speak directly to your heart. The Word of God is quick and powerful—are you ready to receive it? This Baptist preaching doesn't soften the message but presents scriptural truth that can change your spiritual life forever.

⚖️ Can a saved Christian be judged by God? Most believers miss the critical difference between the judgment of our SINS (settled at the cross) and the judgment of God's SONS (our daily walk with Him). This powerful message reveals why your eternal security is never at risk, but your earthly fellowship with your Heavenly Father absolutely can be broken. Pastor Fortunato unpacks the often-misunderstood truth about Christian discipline and God's chastening of believers. Using vivid object lessons and clear biblical teaching, you'll discover why God judges His children on earth—not to condemn, but to train us away from sin and restore sweet fellowship with Him. What You'll Learn: ✓ The crucial difference between your STANDING before God (eternally secure) and your STATE of fellowship (can be broken) ✓ Why Ephesians 4:30 says you're sealed "unto the day of redemption"—not until you sin again ✓ How chastening proves God's ownership and love for His sons and daughters ✓ The temporal consequences of sin for believers (Galatians 6:7—you reap what you sow) ✓ Why self-examination prevents painful church discipline ✓ The powerful object lesson about weights and sins that slow your Christian race Drawing from Hebrews 12, 1 Corinthians 11, John 1, and Galatians 6, this sermon confronts American Christianity's tendency to embrace eternal security while rejecting God's daily discipline. You'll understand why God allows consequences for believers who refuse to judge themselves—and why His chastening is always for your profit, never for condemnation.

🎁 What if the best gift exchange this season wasn't about presents under a tree—but about trading your pride for the fear of the Lord? In this powerful expository sermon on Proverbs 3:7, Pastor Fortunato delivers a spiritual checkup from the neck up that will challenge every believer. "Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil" isn't just good advice—it's God's prescription for both spiritual and physical wellness. Are you tired of being your own authority? Living in an age of life coaches, motivational gurus, and "follow your truth" philosophies, we desperately need biblical wisdom that cuts through the noise. This message exposes the symptoms of self-wisdom and reveals how pride keeps us spiritually constipated, unable to process God's truth or eliminate spiritual toxins from our lives. Discover the shocking connection between your spiritual state and physical health. Pastor Fortunato unpacks how fearing God and departing from evil literally affects your core strength, immune system, and structural integrity. From your naval (digestive health) to your marrow (life-producing blood cells) to your bones (structural strength), God's word promises healing from the inside out—but only when we exchange pride for reverence. This isn't prosperity gospel—it's biblical wellness straight from Proverbs. Learn why stress, bitterness, unforgiveness, and pride create physical health problems, and how repentance, prayer, faithful church attendance, and godly living correlate with longer, healthier lives. Medical science is finally catching up to what Solomon knew 3,000 years ago!

Is Luke 1:35's phrase "that holy thing" disrespectful to Christ, or does it reveal profound theological truth that modern translations miss? This powerful sermon tackles one of the most controversial KJV translation choices and demonstrates why the original wording perfectly captures both the nature and personhood of our Savior. In This Sermon You'll Discover: Pastor Fortunato addresses three major attacks against the KJV rendering of Luke 1:35 and systematically dismantles each argument using Scripture. Learn how Greek grammar reveals the distinction between Christ's holy nature and His divine personhood - a pattern repeated throughout the New Testament in passages like John 1:14 ("the Word became flesh") and Genesis 3:15 ("her seed"). Discover why the neuter gender in Greek isn't disrespectful but essential for understanding the virgin birth theology. This verse emphasizes that what was conceived in Mary's womb was fundamentally different - a sinless, holy nature without Adam's corruption. The Holy Ghost was the agent, not a human father, making this conception truly miraculous. This Bible study explores deep grammatical insights comparing how Scripture uses gender to distinguish between work and personhood (Romans 8:16 vs. John 14:26), and why the "therefore" in Luke 1:35 connects the divine conception to the holy result. You'll see how 1 Corinthians 1:27-28 uses similar language ("foolish things," "weak things") when emphasizing qualities over mere identification. Perfect for: ✓ KJV Bible defenders seeking scholarly backing ✓ Students of biblical Greek and Hebrew ✓ Anyone studying the doctrine of the virgin birth ✓ Those interested in translation philosophy

🎯 What if the worst day the enemy planned became your greatest celebration? Discover how God turned Haman's death decree into Israel's greatest victory celebration in this powerful exposition of Esther 9. Pastor Fortunato reveals why writing down your testimony isn't just important—it's essential for the next generation's faith. In this verse-by-verse study of the establishment of the Feast of Purim, you'll learn why Mordecai's first action after victory was to write it down, creating a memorial that Jewish people still celebrate thousands of years later. This isn't just ancient history—it's a blueprint for how believers today should preserve and pass down testimonies of God's deliverance. From Exodus 17's command to "write this for a memorial" through the fulfillment in Esther's day, see how God completes His promises across generations. Pastor Fortunato connects the dots between Old Testament feasts and New Testament ordinances like the Lord's Supper and baptism, showing how Christians memorialize spiritual deliverance just as the Jews memorialized physical deliverance. What you'll discover in this sermon: ✝️ Why written testimonies outlast oral traditions and prevent future generations from forgetting God's faithfulness 📖 How God flips the enemy's weapon into the name of your victory—from the bronze serpent to the cross of Christ 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Practical strategies for passing down faith to your children through personal testimony and family devotions 🔄 The biblical pattern of God reversing curses into blessings, addictions into ministries, and victimhood into victory ⚖️ Romans 14 principles on unity without uniformity in how believers celebrate God's goodness

🚨 SHOCKING TRUTH: What the Bible REALLY Says About Christmas & the Nativity Scene 🚨 Did you know the nativity scene you've seen your entire life is biblically inaccurate? Pastor Fortunato delivers a powerful message exposing the false idols and traditions that have replaced biblical truth during the Christmas season. What You'll Discover in This Message: Were there really three wise men at the manger? ❌ The Bible reveals a completely different story. Pastor Fortunato walks through Matthew 2 and Luke 2 to expose common Christmas myths that have shaped our understanding for generations—from the "three oriental kings" to the little drummer boy that never existed. Learn the biblical truth about when Jesus was actually born (hint: it wasn't December 25th), why angels don't have wings, and where the wise men really showed up. This sermon tackles tough questions about Christmas traditions, Santa Claus idolatry, and how modern Christianity has mixed pagan elements with biblical worship. Key Topics Covered: ✓ The wise men myth—how many were there really and when did they arrive? ✓ Biblical timeline proving Jesus wasn't born in winter ✓ Why angels in nativity scenes are portrayed incorrectly ✓ The little drummer boy deception and other unbiblical characters ✓ Santa Claus: America's greatest idol exposed ✓ How to worship God in spirit and truth without adding to Scripture ✓ Breaking free from traditions that make God's Word of no effect This isn't about being a "Grinch"—it's about putting Christ back in Christians.

🔥 In John 6:52-59, is Jesus Really Asking Us to EAT His Flesh? The SHOCKING Truth About John 6 That Religious People Don't Want You to Know What did Jesus REALLY mean when He told the crowds to "eat my flesh and drink my blood"? This verse in John 6 has confused believers and sparked heated debates for centuries—but the answer is clearer than you think when you understand the context. In this powerful expository sermon, Pastor Fortunato tackles one of the most controversial passages in Scripture: John 6:52-59, where Jesus declares Himself the "bread of life" and commands His followers to consume His flesh and blood. 📖 What You'll Discover: Many religious traditions teach that Jesus was speaking literally about the communion elements—but does that interpretation hold up against Scripture? This verse-by-verse Bible study reveals why John 6 CANNOT be about physical bread and wine, examining the Old Testament context that the Jewish audience would have immediately recognized. We'll explore the figure of speech Jesus was using, why the Jews were so offended, how Deuteronomy 28 and Leviticus 17 prove this is spiritual truth, and what it truly means to "dwell in Christ" and have Christ dwell in you. This is NOT about religious rituals or weekly ceremonies—it's about an eternal, spiritual union with Jesus Christ. If you've ever wondered about transubstantiation, the Catholic Mass, or what Jesus meant by eating His flesh and drinking His blood, this sermon provides biblical answers from Genesis to Revelation. Understanding the spiritual meaning of John 6 is essential to grasping how we receive eternal life through faith in Christ's sacrificial death.