Responsibility on SermonAudio

Point 1: The Reason (Colossians 1: 9) Point 2: The Petition (Colossians 1: 9c) Point 3: The Purpose (Colossians 1: 10 - 14) This sermon examines Paul's prayer for the Colossian believers, emphasizing that earnest, unceasing prayer is a vital response to the faith and love of the church. The central petition is for God to fill believers with the knowledge of His will through spiritual wisdom and understanding, enabling them to live lives worthy of the Lord. The message highlights that this divine knowledge produces fruit in good deeds and growth in the knowledge of God, rather than relying on natural intellectual capacity. Furthermore, the sermon explains that God's power strengthens believers not to remove trouble, but to display patience and steadfastness during trials. Ultimately, the purpose of this prayer is to cultivate a life of joyful thanksgiving, rooted in the assurance of sharing in the saints' inheritance in the light.

Dave Jenkins reflects on four lessons Christians can learn from faithful believers throughout church history: commitment to Scripture, perseverance through trials, learning from imperfect examples, and confidence in God's faithfulness. Drawing on Hebrews 11 and Hebrews 13:7, this episode encourages believers to appreciate the saints who went before us while keeping their eyes fixed on Christ and His Word. For more from Contending for the Word Q&A, please visit: https://servantsofgrace.org/contending-for-the-word-qa/

The devotional addresses the biblical mandate for giving by examining the warning against covetousness found in Luke 12. It distinguishes between prudent financial planning and the sinful accumulation of wealth, emphasizing that believers must be rich toward God rather than hoarding resources. The speaker encourages a posture of generosity, suggesting that tithing and offerings are foundational acts of honoring God with one's substance. By sharing personal experiences of financial struggle and divine provision, the message illustrates that God meets the needs of those who trust Him, contrasting this with the consequences of robbing God of His due. The central call is to view finances as a stewardship responsibility, investing in eternal purposes and local ministry rather than building one's life around unstable material security.

~~~~~ No 34 in the series - The Epistles of Peter. ~~~~~ **Considering 2 Peter 3:11-14** Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, **Looking for** and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, ......Nevertheless we, according to his promise, **look for** new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye **look for** such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. *1/ What kind of people we should be. 2/ That the day of God is to be looked for and wanted. 3/ That the new heavens and the new earth is to be looked for. 4/ Exhortation seeing we look for such things.* **Sermon Summary:** This sermon explores the believer's proper response to the approaching end of the world, emphasizing that the Day of God is to be anticipated with joy rather than fear. The central message urges Christians to live in holy conversation and godliness, recognizing that true faith produces practical works and a distinct lifestyle separate from the world. The exposition highlights the theological assurance that God's people are redeemed and will be gathered to a new heaven and earth where righteousness dwells, grounded in the imputed righteousness of Christ. The tone is pastoral and exhortative, calling for diligence in maintaining a spotless and blameless character through union with Christ. Ultimately, the sermon directs the audience to trust solely in Christ's finished work for salvation, ensuring they are found in peace when He returns.

This sermon examines the doctrine of effectual calling as presented in the Westminster Confession of Faith, emphasizing that salvation is entirely the work of God's free grace rather than human foresight or effort. The central argument asserts that regeneration must precede faith, as the natural human state is one of spiritual death and hostility toward God, rendering individuals passive until the Holy Spirit renews their hearts. The teaching addresses three key objections: the role of God's foreknowledge, the salvation of elect infants who cannot respond to the preached Word, and the distinction between those who merely exhibit common operations of the Spirit and those who are truly effectually called. By contrasting the Arminian view of conditional election with the Reformed perspective of unconditional grace, the sermon highlights that God's eternal decree rests solely on His purpose and love, not on anticipated human response. Ultimately, this doctrine provides assurance to believers that their salvation is secure because it is grounded in God's almighty power to draw them to Christ and preserve them until the end.

This sermon examines the specific judgment pronounced upon Adam in Genesis 3, highlighting the curse of unrewarding toil and the reality of death as consequences of sin. The speaker contrasts Adam's evasion of responsibility with the biblical mandate for men to serve as providers and decision-makers, emphasizing that this role is a divine design rather than a cultural construct. By analyzing the transition from the Garden of Eden to a life of labor, the message underscores the fallen nature of humanity and the necessity of God's grace. The narrative culminates in the first shedding of blood for clothing, which is presented as a prophetic foreshadowing of the ultimate sacrifice of Christ. Ultimately, the sermon calls for a recognition of human limitations and a reliance on God's redemption plan amidst the ongoing struggle with sin.

This sermon examines the character of Gideon in Judges 6, highlighting how God chooses reluctant and unlikely individuals to fulfill His purposes. The speaker identifies four specific marks of reluctancy in Gideon's response to God's call: complaining about circumstances, offering false humility as an excuse, procrastinating in obedience, and maintaining an unbelieving attitude. Through these examples, the message contrasts human doubt with divine grace, emphasizing that God's power is perfected in human weakness. The sermon encourages believers to stop trusting in their own ability or questioning God's goodness, but rather to rely on the object of their faith. It concludes by affirming that even a small amount of faith is sufficient when placed in the right person, urging the audience to pray for help with unbelief rather than attempting to manufacture faith through willpower.