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Using Ezekiel 22:30 as the central text, this message is a passionate call for men to answer God's search for someone willing to "stand in the gap" and make a difference in a generation marked by moral decline, spiritual apathy, and compromise. The preacher explains that in Ezekiel's day, political leaders, prophets, priests, and the people had all failed in their responsibilities, leaving a nation under the threat of God's judgment because no one was willing to stand courageously for truth. Throughout the sermon, he traces a biblical pattern showing how God repeatedly sought and found individuals such as Noah, Mordecai, Peter, Philip, Isaiah, Samuel, and Paul who were willing to obey Him when others would not. The message challenges believers to recognize that God still looks for men today who will stand in the gap for their homes, churches, communities, nation, and the world. Whether through soul winning, church service, missions, leadership, public service, or simple obedience, each man is urged to answer God's call by saying, "Here am I, send me." The sermon concludes with an earnest appeal for believers to surrender their lives to God's purpose and to develop a burden for the millions who have never heard the gospel, emphasizing that God's work advances whenever one person is willing to become the answer to His search for a faithful servant.

Drawing from the book of Titus and his personal experience serving as a deacon during a pastoral transition, the speaker challenges men to take responsibility for the future of their churches. He argues that pastors, missionaries, and church leaders are not primarily produced by Bible colleges but by healthy local churches that intentionally develop godly men. Using Titus's assignment in Crete as a model, he highlights the biblical qualifications for church leaders and emphasizes that every Christian man should strive toward spiritual maturity, sobriety, faithfulness, sound doctrine, love, patience, and integrity. The message calls men not to view ministry as something reserved only for young Bible college graduates but to consider how God might use them, regardless of age or occupation, in teaching, discipling, preaching, and serving. The speaker also stresses that spiritual growth flows from a close walk with God rather than self-improvement alone. In the latter part of the message, he challenges churches to honor, support, protect, and pray for their pastors and their families, recognizing the unique burdens they carry. Ultimately, the sermon is a call for men to become spiritually mature servants who actively participate in raising the next generation of Christian leaders while strengthening and encouraging the pastors God has given them.

The sermon examines the theological reality of spiritual death and total depravity, asserting that unsaved humanity is under the control of Satan and incapable of seeking God without divine intervention. It contrasts this state with the supernatural act of regeneration, where God quickens the dead and raises them to sit in heavenly places with Christ, emphasizing that salvation is entirely a gift of grace rather than a human achievement. The exposition challenges common views of evangelism and free will, arguing that true conversion is initiated by God's sovereign love and mercy, not by human decision or works. Furthermore, it addresses the nature of faith and good works, presenting them as the result of God's workmanship rather than the basis for salvation. The tone is instructional and convicting, urging believers to recognize their dependence on God's unmerited favor and to live holy lives in response to this grace.

This message centers on the importance of living a life marked by continual praise to God, based on Psalm 34:1: "I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth." Using the example of Job, who continued to worship and praise God despite devastating loss, suffering, and personal tragedy, the preacher challenges believers to become "fountains of praise" rather than people characterized by complaining, fear, or negativity. He emphasizes that praise should be a deliberate commitment, not merely an emotional response to favorable circumstances. The sermon highlights the promise of praise (a personal decision to praise God), the person of praise (God Himself and His attributes), the pattern of praise (praising God at all times, in prosperity and adversity alike), and the place of praise (not just in church but continually from the heart and through the mouth wherever believers go). The speaker argues that praise transforms attitudes, relationships, prayer lives, and spiritual effectiveness, urging believers to intentionally cultivate gratitude and worship in daily life. Ultimately, the message teaches that God remains worthy of praise regardless of circumstances, and that a heart filled with praise is one of the clearest marks of spiritual maturity, faith, and trust in God's sovereignty.

Using the example of Benaiah, one of David's mighty men in 2 Samuel 23, this message challenges Christian men to become the kind of leaders their churches desperately need. The preacher emphasizes that while churches are often blessed with faithful women, God has called men to step forward as spiritual leaders who strengthen and support the ministry. Benaiah's life illustrates three key qualities. First, he showed initiative, seeing needs and taking responsibility rather than merely pointing them out. Second, he refused to make excuses, willingly doing difficult and uncomfortable tasks even when circumstances were unfavorable, symbolized by fighting a lion in a pit on a snowy day. Third, he was faithful, consistently serving his king and remaining dependable over the long term. The message urges men to stop avoiding hard things, stop waiting for someone else to act, and become reliable servants in their local churches. Whether through attendance, service, soul-winning, helping with practical needs, or supporting their pastor, men are called to be courageous, dependable leaders. Ultimately, the sermon teaches that every church needs "mighty men" who are available, faithful, and willing to do the difficult work that advances God's kingdom.

Biblical humility begins with seeing God rightly and remembering His grace in Jesus Christ. In this episode of Contending for the Word Q&A, Dave Jenkins examines Philippians 2:3–8 and 1 Peter 5:5 to explain how Christ's humility shapes our everyday relationships. Learn to receive biblical correction, acknowledge and use your God-given gifts without boasting, confess sin, forgive others, and serve faithfully. Humility grows as we recognize our dependence on the Lord and look to the Savior who humbled Himself for sinners. Part of our November series on gratitude and Christian character. For more from Contending for the Word Q&A, please visit: https://servantsofgrace.org/contending-for-the-word-qa/

If you have ever been helped by someone during a difficult time, you probably still have a feeling of thankfulness to the person who helped you. As I look back on my life, I can think of several people who were especially helpful to me at different periods of my life. I am still thankful to what they did for me and my family. In today's message, we will look at the responses of three people who were helped by God. To help us focus on thankfulness, we will ask three questions about each person: (1) What was his condition beforehand? (2) What did God do for him? (3) How did he respond afterward?

🌎 How do we raise children who love God, embrace biblical truth, and remain faithful to Jesus Christ in a world increasingly opposed to biblical values? Raising godly children has never been more challenging. Today's children are surrounded by powerful cultural influences, social media, secular philosophies, peer pressure, and messages that often contradict the Word of God. As Christian parents and grandparents, how can we protect their hearts, establish a lasting spiritual foundation, and prepare them to stand firm in their faith? In this Bible study, we examine the biblical responsibility and privilege of raising children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Drawing from Scripture, we explore God's instructions to parents, the importance of a consistent Christian example, the dangers of worldly influences, and the necessity of teaching our children to discern truth from error. 📖 Key Scriptures include: - Deuteronomy 6:6–9 – Teaching God's Word diligently to our children. - Proverbs 22:6 – Training a child in the way he should go. - Proverbs 4:23 – Keeping the heart with all diligence. - Ephesians 6:4 – Bringing children up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. - Romans 12:2 – Not conforming to this world. - Psalm 78:4–7 – Passing the truth of God from one generation to the next. - Judges 2:10 – The sobering consequences when a generation fails to know the Lord. In this study, we consider: ✓ The biblical foundation for raising godly children. ✓ Why parents must be the primary spiritual influence in the home. ✓ How to guard children's hearts against worldly influences. ✓ The importance of biblical discipline, instruction, and godly example.