Sermons

Biblical unity is a precious thing to Jesus. So much so, that Jesus prayed to the Father asking Him to make the church one as He and the Father are one. Jesus’ goal for such unity is so that the world may know that He is the Son of God. So, the church must seek doctrinal, missional, philosophical, relational and organizational unity. This is so important for us as a body. We must fight hard for unity, believe in it and pray as Jesus did for it.Biblical unity is a precious thing to Jesus. So much so, that Jesus prayed to the Father asking Him to make the church one as He and the Father are one. Jesus’ goal for such unity is so that the world may know that He is the Son of God. So, the church must seek doctrinal, missional, philosophical, relational and organizational unity. This is so important for us as a body. We must fight hard for unity, believe in it and pray as Jesus did for it.

What human beings need most is the glory of God. This week, as we continue through Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus pauses from rebuking the responses of His generation to glorifying the Father. Jesus praises the Father for who He is and for the revelation of His glory. Jesus reveals the glory of God to the poor, broken, hungry, thirsty, meek, and lowly and invites them to receive the glory of God. This is truly love. Jesus offers and gives to mankind what they need the most. He is willing to do whatever it takes, even die, to show people the great need they have to treasure the glory of God as their supreme joy and satisfaction. Let’s join in the praise of our great God today and give glory to the Father, Son and Spirit.

When moving to our current location in North Carrollton the Lord led us to connect and engage with the community around us. This included our neighbors at Gospel for Asia. They are committed to sharing Good News of Jesus Christ with lost men, women and children throughout Asia who have still not heard His precious name. It has been a joy to get to know the ministry and staff of GFA. It is our desire to continue to partner with GFA as the Lord leads. Today you will hear from Danny Punose, the son of K.P. Yohannan. Be encouraged and challenged as Danny shares today.

Preached at Trinity Valley Church: So, there will be a song that the righteous, the church, will sing in the age to come, but not just then, but now. That was Isaiah’s desire too and that is the message of the kingdom of God – not just something that is to come, but something that is now – for our prayer is Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven (Matthew 6.10). So, a song will be sung, a prayer prayed, a passionate cry, but not just in the future, for God is looking for a generation to take its stand and passionately cry out. And I want to encourage us to cry out what I believe to be the heart of this cry this morning: Yes, Lord, walking in the way of your truth, we eagerly wait for You; for Your name, and renown is the desire of our soul (Isaiah 26.8).

Have you ever met somebody that criticizes everything? They are not the greatest people to be around. This is what Jesus came face to face with in His earthly ministry. There were those who didn’t want anything to do with John, the forerunner of Jesus, nor Jesus Himself. They criticized everything. They were not satisfied with their message. They didn’t want to listen to truth. Today, we see Jesus in a gentle spirit address this, but then we see a change in His response. We see the wrath of God flow from Jesus, as He addresses not merely the response of what people did, but what they didn’t do. Not doing anything in response to the truth of the gospel will bring the most severe condemnation. We don’t like to hear that, but that is the truth. Be encouraged today to lose the critical spirit and repent!

Do you ever struggle with doubt? Have you ever doubted God’s love for you? Have you ever doubted who God says He is? Jesus says the greatest human to ever live, John, the Baptist, even doubted. Doubt is surely a response at times to Jesus and the things of God, but we should not seek to just simply be ok with that. As we continue our journey through Matthew’s Gospel today, we see John seeking assurance to whether Jesus is the true Messiah or not. In John’s questioning of Jesus we see why doubt sets in and also what to do when it does. Be encouraged today, with the humble example of John the Baptist to know Jesus, but also to keep on knowing Him, so that your faith will continue to grow.

The disciple of Jesus has been called to prepare people for the coming kingdom. As they engage the world with the gospel, divisions will occur. Rejection, opposition and potential persecution is promised as they urge people to believe in Christ. Jesus definitely came to bring peace to the hearts of those who will believe in him, but while in this age ultimate peace is not here yet. So, disciples of Christ must know that the call to follow Christ includes social divisions, which could even be in one’s family. Today we look at Jesus’ closing words of instruction in Matthew 10 and see the cost of discipleship. The cost of following Jesus is great, but the gain is greater.

So many today are looking for the easy path. We love the path of least resistance with quick fixes, instant gratification and overnight gains. When you look at Christianity you don’t see such things. Christianity is far from being an easy path. In fact, it is a hard road with the promise of suffering and persecution. In our day, so many are making Christianity palatable for people. Jesus never tried to make the way of the kingdom of God palatable. In fact, He told those who desired to follow Him that they would be thrown into a pack of wolves. Christianity is costly. There is pain in living pure and different. Today we will see what the response of the world is to Christianity and how we should respond to such pressures and pains. May you know that the cost is great, but the gain is greater.

So many today are looking for the easy path. We love the path of least resistance with quick fixes, instant gratification and overnight gains. When you look at Christianity you don’t see such things. Christianity is far from being an easy path. In fact, it is a hard road with the promise of suffering and persecution. In our day, so many are making Christianity palatable for people. Jesus never tried to make the way of the kingdom of God palatable. In fact, He told those who desired to follow Him that they would be thrown into a pack of wolves. Christianity is costly. There is pain in living pure and different. Today we will see what the response of the world is to Christianity and how we should respond to such pressures and pains. May you know that the cost is great, but the gain is greater.

Is the news about Jesus spreading in our city? Is the reality of who He is and what He has done made it to the ears of your neighbors? The fame of Jesus was spreading throughout the land of Galilee and throughout the region of Galilee while He was on earth. Jesus was teaching in the synagogues, preaching everywhere at anytime, and healing people. News about Him spread all over and now He is looking to twelve of His disciples to go and represent Him. Jesus asked them to pray for workers to go and gather people into the kingdom of God and God made them the answer to their own prayers. Today He is looking for those among us who will represent Him and carry the name of Jesus into their cities and villages.