Rev. Cyril A. Stevens – Sermon 0216AB recorded on September 3, 1980 teaching from Philippians 2:1-18 – Let this Mind be in You, Which was also in Christ Jesus.

Pastor Cyril A. Stevens explores the call for believers to embody the mind of Christ, which Stevens identifies as the apostle Paul’s greatest joy. The core message emphasizes a radical shift from worldly, self-centered ways to acting as God instructs, specifically by cultivating harmony within the Christian community and actively working against divisive forces like fractional motives, contention, strife, selfishness, unworthy ends, conceit, and empty arrogance. Ultimately, Pastor Stevens underscores that living with the mind of Christ, marked by humility, self-denial, obedience, and prioritizing others, is the path to glorifying God the Father.

Rev. Cyril A. Stevens – Sermon 0215A recorded on August 31, 1980 teaching from Philippians 1:1-24 – For to Me to Live is Christ, and to Die is Gain.

Pastor Cyril A. Stevens explores the profound Christian paradox that death is ultimate gain for those whose lives are centered on Christ. He structures his teaching around the preciousness of time, urging his audience to treat their fleeting days as a high-value investment that should be dedicated to divine service rather than self-interest. Stevens elegantly redefines “gain” as a spiritual accumulation of knowledge and character through repetition and devotion, contrasting the decay of the physical body with the eternal freedom found in the presence of God. By examining the apostle Paul’s inner tug-of-war between earthly ministry and the desire for heaven, the sermon serves to alleviate the fear of dying by framing it as a joyful release from the power of sin into a sinless, heavenly reality. Ultimately, Stevens presents an urgent call for listeners to reinvest their lives in a relationship with Jesus, ensuring that their earthly legacy yields an eternal reward.

Rev. Cyril A. Stevens – Sermon 0214A recorded on August 27, 1980 teaching from 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 – Something to Remind Us, Refresh Us, and Revive Us.

Pastor Cyril A. Stevens draws profound insights from 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17, emphasizing God’s boundless love and provision for believers. Stevens highlights three core aspects: remembrance, refreshment, and revival. First, he urges listeners to remember God’s enduring love, a love so vast it transcends human comprehension, like the immeasurable height of a towering tree or the depths of the ocean. Second, Pastor Stevens focuses on refreshment through everlasting consolation and good hope via grace, offering an unfailing source of cheer and comfort even amidst life’s struggles, symbolized by a guiding lighthouse in darkness. Finally, he emphasizes revival, achieved by allowing God to comfort and establish believers in every good word and work, fostering courage, stability, and a life that actively embodies Christ’s teachings.

Rev. Cyril A. Stevens – Sermon 0213A recorded on August 24, 1980 teaching from Ephesians 3:14-21 – The Christian’s Access to God.

Pastor Cyril A. Stevens explores the profound spiritual access granted to believers as described in the book of Ephesians. He characterizes the Christian community as a unified family that approaches God with boldness through the mediating presence of Jesus Christ. The teaching emphasizes the dual role of the Holy Spirit, who acts as both an internal reinforcement that prevents the soul from collapsing under pressure and an indwelling guest who must be made to feel at home within the heart. Ultimately, Stevens invites listeners to contemplate the unfathomable dimensions of divine love, suggesting that God’s capacity to bless and strengthen the faithful far exceeds any human request or imagination.

Rev. Cyril A. Stevens – Sermon 0212A recorded on August 24, 1980 teaching from Isaiah 41:1-14 – God’s Attitude Toward Us.

Pastor Cyril A. Stevens draws inspiration from Isaiah 41:1-14 to highlight the nature of God’s relationship with humanity. Pastor Stevens argues that God actively chooses and calls individuals to serve Him, offering them strength and help along the way. He emphasizes that God’s mercy and love are boundless, exemplified through Jesus Christ’s sacrifice. Stevens encourages us to surrender their lives fully to God, acknowledging that He demands our complete devotion, both spiritually and practically. Through this surrender, individuals experience reconciliation with God and receive the gift of a relationship built on trust and unwavering support.

Rev. Cyril A. Stevens – Sermon 0210A recorded on August 20, 1980 teaching from John 16:14 – He Shall Glorify Me.

Pastor Cyril A. Stevens examines the ministry of the Holy Spirit, drawing from John 16:14, as we see that the Holy Spirit’s primary role is to glorify Jesus Christ, and any discussion or teaching about the Spirit that fails to emphasize this is not aligned with God’s intent. Stevens also highlights how the Holy Spirit acts as a teacher, guides believers into truth, provides sanctification (being set apart for God’s work), offers comfort, bears witness to believers’ identity as children of God, and convicts of sin, ultimately leading to repentance and reconciliation within the Christian community. Finally, Pastor Stevens proclaims that God equips believers through the Holy Spirit for the specific calling they have received, and this divine equipment is unfailing.

Rev. Cyril A. Stevens – Sermon 0209A recorded on August 17, 1980 teaching from Luke 9:51-56 – Ye Know Not What Manner of Spirit Ye Are Of.

Pastor Cyril A. Stevens warns both young and seasoned Christians about the dangers of spiritual misalignment, where one serves God while being “out of whack” with His true character. He outlines several destructive attitudes—such as professionalism without heart, impulsive lack of discipline, and powerless prayerlessness—that often lead to ecclesiastical conflict and personal disillusionment. By highlighting the disciples’ own failures, Stevens emphasizes that even intimate followers of Christ can fall into sectarianism, pride, and vindictiveness if they lose touch with the Holy Spirit. Ultimately, the teaching serves as a call to unobstructed fellowship with God, urging believers to remove the “blockages” of bitterness and friction to make way for genuine revival.

Rev. Cyril A. Stevens – Sermon 0208A recorded on August 17, 1980 teaching from 1 Peter 2:1-16 – He is Precious – Is He Precious to You?

Pastor Cyril Stevens emphasizes the importance of recognizing the preciousness of Jesus Christ in this sermon. He begins by stating that acknowledging Jesus’ value is the cornerstone of a true Christian faith, moving from general statements about faith to specific points about Jesus’ divinity, sacrifice, resurrection, and role as hope of glory. Stevens repeatedly asks his listeners if Jesus is precious to them, reminding them that the answer reveals the true depth of their faith. He encourages us to move beyond focusing on outward appearances of faith and instead seek a personal and intimate relationship with Jesus. His sermon concludes with a call to prayer, asking God to make Jesus more precious in the lives of all present.

Rev. Cyril A. Stevens – Sermon 0207AB recorded on August 13, 1980 teaching from Psalm 140:12 – God Comforts.

Pastor Cyril A. Stevens explores the profound reality that God provides comfort to those burdened by past mistakes, depression, and life’s hardships. He structures his teaching around several scriptural promises, emphasizing that the Creator maintains the cause of the afflicted and actively lifts up those who are bowed down by the weight of their own anxieties. Using vivid personal anecdotes—such as a treacherous mountain rescue and the revival of dying house plants—Stevens illustrates how divine grace serves as a guiding light in the darkness and a source of refreshment for the weary soul. Ultimately, the message serves to transition the believer’s perspective from self-centered despair to a hopeful reliance on God’s mercy, urging the congregation to cast away their fears and trust in a Father who redeems lost time and fights their battles.

Rev. Cyril A. Stevens – Sermon 0206A recorded on August 10, 1980 teaching from John 10:27-30 – The Security of the Believer – Part 2.

Pastor Cyril A. Stevens focuses on the meaning and implications of Jesus’ words in John 10:27-30 by delving into the concept of generosity, emphasizing the unconditional nature of God’s love and grace. Stevens emphasizes that God’s generosity is boundless and eternal, contrasting it with the conditional giving often practiced by humans. He then uses this theme to highlight the security of believers in Christ. Stevens asserts that God’s gift of eternal life cannot be lost, nor can anyone separate believers from God’s love. He supports this point with scriptural references and by emphasizing the absolute power of Jesus Christ. Pastor Stevens aims to comfort believers with the assurance of their salvation and to encourage them to live generously in response to God’s immeasurable gift.