Sermon Podcast

Real joy comes when Christ is your life, not when life is perfect. What does it look like when Christ is your life? When Christ is your life, your perspective of difficult problems changes, people become partners not competitors, death becomes a gift, and your purpose never ends.

First, why do our words matter? What we say is powerful, untamable, and revealing, and we are accountable for what we say. Then, how do we clean up our words? We must guard our hearts, speak life-giving words often, and be led by the Holy Spirit.

Envy can be defined as discontentment with what I have and resentment with what you have. The truth about envy is it ruins our relationships, robs us of enjoyment, and rots our bodies. How can we get rid of envy? We avoid the temptation to compare and celebrate God’s goodness to others and to us.

Uncontrolled anger is the result of being unwilling to deal with sin fully and immediately. What is the key to controlling anger? We must put on our new nature. What does that look like? We refuse to let the actions of others damage our relationships, remember our own sin first and how Jesus forgives us, resign our position as judge, and recognize that God can use our pain for His greater purpose.

Greed is a liar: It says life would be more secure if we just had a little bit more. We must beware of greed. It is never satisfied. It is only temporary. And, it is always destructive. How do we get rid of greed? We learn to be content and live with generosity.

What is the evidence of pride in our lives? We rely on ourselves and look down on others. What's the key to getting rid of pride? Humility looks to the mercy and sacrifice of Jesus. And humility is the joy and freedom of not being preoccupied with self.

Because the tomb is empty, the statements of Jesus are 100% validated, the sins of humanity are 100% acquitted, and the sting of death is 100% defeated.

What are the essentials of being a disciple? A disciple will listen to Jesus even when it doesn’t make sense. A disciple will be quick to confess. A disciple will never lose the awe. And a disciple will completely surrender to a new assignment.

When we're in need of a miracle, what lessons can we learn from the life of an outcast? Jesus meets us right where we are. The miracle doesn't begin until we obey. We must seek the healer more than the healing. And remember, gratitude is the secret to the real blessing. The bottom line: Let's be like the one who went back to thank the One who is able to do the impossible.

The longer you have to wait for the miracle, the easier it is to believe it will never happen. When you need a miracle, remember that Jesus is all you need, ignore the critics and their customs, and walk in holiness.