Sermon Shorts with Ben Smith

It is not that a Christian no longer struggles with sin and temptation, but those who are in Christ no longer welcome, make plans for, invite, or love sin. It is impossible to love Jesus, be transformed by grace, and willfully remain in sin.

From the sermon, Better: Jesus is Greater, 2 Corinthians 3

Over twenty years ago, I purchased a Maglite flashlight. At the time, I was impressed with its ability to put out 45 lumens. However, the 45 lumens of the incandescent bulb of my Maglite loses all its charm compared to the brilliance of modern flashlights. It is not that the Maglite lost its glory; rather, something better and more powerful has overshadowed and outshined its glory.

Such it is with the law of God. When the law was given to Moses, it was glorious, but compared to the glory of Christ and the salvation He brings, it cannot compare. The glory of Christ never dims, never fades, and never ends. The glory of Christ is brighter and more glorious than anything else.

If you have been saved by the blood of Jesus, you are the aroma of Christ Jesus in this world. And being the aroma of Christ, you will bring joy to those who know Him and condemnation to those who have rejected Him.

From the sermon: Delight in God’s Word, Psalm 119:9-16,

There was recent news coverage of the promised lottery jackpot of $1.28 billion. Thinking about how you would spend a large amount of money is easy to contemplate because money is such a dominant force in our lives. We often delight in riches and the things that riches bring. And yet, the riches of this world are fading. The gold and silver of this world will one day lose their value, but the word of God will never return void.

Discover the truth of God’s word. Find your delight in knowing God’s word. And be forever transformed by God’s word.

From the sermon Put on the armor of God, Ephesians 6:10-18

Putting on the right equipment requires a correct understanding of the present dangers. The right equipment does not remove the danger but allows you to endure it.

We are in a spiritual battle. Ignoring this truth will lead to forgoing the spiritual resources needed to stand firm in the Lord. But rightly recognizing the threats leads to employing the right equipment that will allow you to stand firm against the assaults of the evil one.

You may also be interested in: Giving a church member a black eye and learning the importance of having the right equipment

From the sermon Think on these things, Philippians 4:8-9

The peace of God is connected to our obedience to God. More than any previous generation in the history of the world, we have more trinkets, entertainment, and devices that vie for our attention. It seems that as the things that seek our attention have grown, so has the amount of our anxiety and worry. We live in a culture that is consumed with anxiety. The peace of God is known when you turn your attention away from the things of this world and turn to the Lord.

What motivates you to obey Jesus? Are you motivated by love for Jesus, or are you motivated by legal obligation? The freedom from the law that salvation provides sets you free to obey out of joy and not obligation.

Everything is for God's glory. The last statement of Isaiah 61:3 testifies to the unifying motivation of all that God does, that is, that He may be glorified.

One of the unique items that the Queen of England always travels with is mourning clothes. Knowing that the news of a death can come at any time, she is always prepared to wear the appropriate attire. The gospel promises that one-day mourning clothes will no longer be needed. By the saving grace of Jesus, we will one day trade in our mourning clothes and put on the garments of praise.