Pride on SermonAudio

The Path to the Path — Seeking, Surrendering, Submitting, and Serving the Lord Primary Scriptures: Zephaniah 3:1–7; Proverbs 16:3; Proverbs 3:5–6; Matthew 6:33; John 15:1–8 This message emphasizes the necessity of living every day in complete dependence upon Jesus rather than relying on our own understanding, abilities, or desires. Drawing from Zephaniah 3, it reveals how God's people rose early and corrupted their deeds because they neglected His presence, rejected His correction, and pursued their own ways. The central truth is that there is a path to the path—before we can faithfully walk in God's assignments, we must first come through the Lord Himself. We cannot do the King's work independently of the King. The message identifies four essential characteristics of a revived and fruitful life: seeking, surrendering, submitting, and serving. We seek the Lord because we treasure His presence and don't want to miss His instruction. We surrender because we trust His wisdom above our understanding. We submit because we recognize His authority and welcome His correction. And we serve because genuine faith produces obedience. These four principles stand in direct contrast to the pride and independence that corrupted the lives of God's people in Zephaniah's day. Using the illustrations of Isaac uncovering Abraham's wells, Israel's unbelief at Kadesh-barnea, and the prodigal son's return to his father, the message demonstrates how spiritual fruitfulness comes through humility, repentance, and continued fellowship with God. The believer is called to be a worshiper, witness, and well digger, allowing the living water of Christ to flow freely through a life surrendered to Hi

Becoming Like Jesus Christ-Centered Faith: Becoming Like the One We Believe Scripture References: 1 Corinthians 8–10; Philippians 1:9–11; 1 Corinthians 13 This message emphasizes that authentic, Christ-centered faith is more than believing something about Jesus; it is believing Him in such a way that we are continually becoming more like Him. Everyone is becoming who and what they believe, and what they are becoming is eventually revealed in their behavior. Our believing should affect our becoming, and our becoming should manifest the fruit of the Spirit rather than the folly of a self-governed life. Drawing from 1 Corinthians 8, the message contrasts knowledge that puffs up with love that builds others up. Knowledge separated from love produces pride, frustration, and an exaggerated confidence in our own understanding. However, knowledge governed by love becomes a means of encouraging, strengthening, and helping others. Since no one knows everything about anything, believers must remain humble, teachable, and willing to grow. Philippians 1:9–11 provides the central prayer of the message: that our love would abound more and more in knowledge and discernment. The goal is not merely to know more but to love more wisely, recognize what is excellent, and live sincerely before the Lord. As our love matures, we become increasingly sensitive to what pleases the Holy Spirit and what grieves Him. When the Lord reveals attitudes, motives, or behaviors that are contrary to His character, we should respond with repentance and renewed dependence upon His mercy rather than defending ourselves. Through illustrations of overflowing water and balloons exposed to a flame, the message

This sermon explores the Book of Jonah as a profound illustration of God's sovereign mercy extending even to Israel's enemies, specifically the Ninevites. By contrasting Jonah's disobedience and spiritual pride with the rapid repentance of the Assyrians, the message highlights that God's grace is not limited by national boundaries or human prejudice. The teaching emphasizes that true faith requires bold obedience to God's commands, even when facing hostile or fearful circumstances, rather than relying on comfort or cultural superiority. Drawing on historical context and theological commentary, the sermon urges believers to examine their own hearts for hidden idols and to embrace the call to share the gospel with compassion and courage. Ultimately, it presents a clear invitation to repentance, asserting that salvation is available to all who turn from sin and trust in Jesus Christ alone.

The fear of the Lord is the foundation of knowledge, wisdom, and understanding, and all three are necessary for a life that pleases God. Knowledge is learning what is true from His Word, understanding is discerning what that truth means and how it all fits together, and wisdom is putting that truth into practice through obedience. Simply knowing Scripture without obeying it produces no spiritual growth and can lead to pride and self-deception. Wisdom is the principal thing because it directs our choices, while obedience leads to greater understanding and a desire for more knowledge. God gives these things to those who humbly seek Him, carefully study His Word, pray for wisdom, and willingly obey what they learn. The evidence is a changed life that departs from evil and reflects Christ in our speech, decisions, relationships, and daily conduct.

Found Faithful — Servants, Stewards, and the God Who Gives the Increase 1 Corinthians 3:5–23; 4:1–21 This message emphasizes the believer's calling to live as a humble servant and faithful steward of Jesus Christ, recognizing that everything we have, everything we know, and every opportunity to serve comes from God's grace. Using Paul's correction of the Corinthian church, we see the danger of elevating human personalities, seeking personal recognition, and allowing pride to divide God's people. Paul reminds us that servants are not competitors but fellow laborers in God's kingdom. One may plant and another may water, but God alone gives the increase. The message highlights the distinction between a servant and a steward. A servant understands whom he belongs to, while a steward faithfully manages what has been entrusted to him. Both require humility, surrender, and an unwavering commitment to the interests of Jesus above personal ambitions. Timothy serves as a beautiful example of this faithfulness. Having learned Paul's ways in Christ, he demonstrated proven character, genuine concern for others, and consistency in communicating God's truth wherever he served. Drawing from Philippians 2 and Colossians 4, the message stresses that effective ministry requires more than knowledge or ability. It demands continual dependence upon the Lord, prayer for open doors, and a commitment to communicating His Word with accuracy, authority, affection, and grace. God's servants must not merely explain His truth but allow that truth to transform their own lives, enabling them to faithfully represent Jesus to others. Ultimately, this message calls every believer to stop measuring use

The Always Life — Enriched by Grace, Equipped for His Glory This message emphasizes that genuine spiritual maturity is not measured merely by what we know about God, but by how what we believe is helping us become more like Jesus. Drawing from 1 and 2 Corinthians, it reveals how God has enriched His people through the grace of Christ, giving them everything necessary to comprehend His truth, communicate His goodness, and fulfill His purposes. Paul's repeated question, "Do you not know?" confronts the Corinthians' spiritual immaturity, reminding them that envy, division, pride, and misplaced confidence in human leaders hinder their growth. God's servants are gifts intended to help His people mature, never substitutes for the Lord Himself. The message identifies five "always" that characterize a life walking in personal revival: God always leads His people in triumph through Christ, making the fragrance of His knowledge evident through them; believers continually carry the dying of Jesus so that His life may be manifested through their mortal bodies; they are always confident as they walk by faith rather than sight; they can remain sorrowful yet always rejoicing because their joy is rooted in Jesus rather than their circumstances; and God is able to make all grace abound toward them, providing sufficient resources for every good work He has entrusted to them. Through personal testimony, practical illustrations, and the realities of suffering, the message demonstrates that God's sufficiency does not mean the absence of hardship, but the presence of His enabling grace in every circumstance. Personal revival involves continually receiving God's glorious light to reveal what

Dr. Schmidt examines the apostle Paul's admonition for Christian's to guard against getting caught up in useless legalism and false pride in a false attempt to impress God.