Solid Rock Church Sermons

In this sermon, we explored the Apostle John's transition to a familiar focus, emphasizing that love should be more than just words—it must be demonstrated through actions and truth. John reassures his audience that genuine love for others is a clear sign of belonging to Jesus. We then examined John's encouragement for believers to trust in God's greater knowledge and compassion, rather than being swayed by our own doubts or condemnation. Through scripture, we studied that confidence before God comes from living according to His commandments and doing what pleases Him. We concluded by highlighting that the central command is to believe in Jesus Christ, and that those who keep His commandments remain in Him. Through this obedience, it is evident that God abides in us through His Spirit.

In this sermon, we explored the familiar command to love one another, contrasting it with Cain's example of hatred toward his brother Abel in Genesis 4. We examined the Apostle John's warning to believers in 1 John 3:13, which tells us to expect hatred from the world but emphasizes that genuine love among Christians is a true mark of faith. In this passage, John calls us to examine ourselves and practice forgiveness to prevent bitterness. Ultimately, love should be demonstrated through actions, not just words. As believers, we are called to reflect Christ's sacrificial love by meeting the needs of others and showing God's love.

In this sermon, we explored the Apostle John's advice on how our actions reveal the true state of our hearts. Although all believers struggle with sin, John warns that those who persist in sin are not abiding in Christ; instead, they are children of Satan. By studying 1 John 3:4-8, we learned that the sin John refers to is unrepentant, ongoing sin that stands in complete opposition to God, which he describes as "lawlessness." We also learned that persistent, unrepentant sin aligns a person with the works of Satan, which is contrary to following Jesus, who came to destroy Satan's works. As children of God, our actions should reflect our identity if we are truly abiding in Christ. Even when we sin habitually, our response should include recognizing our wrongdoing, repenting, and relying on God's grace.

In this sermon, we looked at the Apostle John's encouragement about abiding in Christ. 1 John 2:28 explains that by believing in Christ, we gain confidence and will not be ashamed when Jesus returns to earth. Through scripture, we studied that upon being born again, Christians immediately become children of God. We later examined John’s warning from 1 John 3, reminding his readers that we live in a world that doesn't know us because it doesn't know Christ. Believers then and now can be encouraged, knowing we will be transformed when Jesus returns and that our hope in Him motivates us to pursue purity in this life, following Christ's ultimate example of purity.

In this sermon, we examined the Apostle John's warning against being led astray by false teachers who proclaim a different message than the gospel. While the early church was on the lookout for a specific antichrist figure, John wanted them to understand that anyone who denies Christ is against Him and should be considered an antichrist. Additionally, we learned about John's specific warning against Gnosticism, a prevalent heresy in the early church. All believers, both then and now, need to recognize the significance of not only focusing on large, obvious lies but also remaining vigilant against smaller deceptions that can creep into our minds daily. We are encouraged to abide in Christ and to have assurance of our salvation, clinging to the promise of eternal life that it brings. This assurance does not stem from our own special knowledge or actions but from the finished work of Jesus on the cross.

In this sermon, we explored the Apostle John's warning against loving the world and its desires, which oppose God's will. Instead, we are encouraged to focus on our eternal relationship with the Father, made possible through Jesus' sacrifice on the cross and the forgiveness of sins. John explains that loving the world involves embracing its sinful desires—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—all of which contradict God's will. Through scripture, we examined the need for spiritual discipline to guard us from the distractions of worldly affection and to fully experience God's love. Believers are reminded that worldly pursuits are fleeting, whereas obedience to God's will leads to eternal life.

In this sermon, we studied the Apostle John's poetic encouragement to believers, whom he consistently addresses as 'little children'. John offers specific encouragement to both older and younger members, highlighting each distinct role and contribution within the community. Through scripture, we explored how the Bible values children, young people, and older individuals in the Kingdom of God. Regardless of the season we're in, we each have a calling in accordance with our stage of life and something to learn from everyone.

In this sermon, we studied an old message in a new context: the command to love one another. This has been a hallmark of how God's people are called to interact with one another. In 1 John 2:7-11, the Apostle John reminds his readers of this timeless truth. John contrasts loving one another versus hating one another, explaining that those who hate their brothers in Christ are in darkness, while those who love their brothers walk in the light. In our lives, we can easily stray into unresolved conflict and division with other believers. This leads us into potential for sin and disobedience to God. As the church, we are called to love one another, even when it's not easy, so we can pursue righteousness together.

In this sermon, we looked at how the Apostle John encourages believers to avoid sin, while reassuring us that even when we do sin, Jesus will advocate for us as the ultimate propitiation for all sins. John emphasizes that truly knowing God is shown through obedience to His commandments and a transformed relationship with sin. Habitual sin damages relationship with God, others, and oneself, but Jesus' advocacy offers a way to restore these relationships. Believers are encouraged to walk as Jesus walked, demonstrating our intimate relationship with God through obedience and love.

In this sermon, we looked at 1 John 1 to see what it means to walk in the light instead of darkness. The Apostle John tells us that God is light, so anyone who has fellowship with God cannot walk in darkness—to do so is to live in denial of the truth. The word "walk" in Scripture often refers to our lifestyle and the actions that define our character. To walk in the light doesn't mean we don't struggle with sin; verses 8 and 10 tell us that denial of our sin is another way we walk in self-deception. When we walk in the light, we have fellowship with God and one another, we confess and are forgiven for our sins, and we are continually made righteous by Jesus' redeeming work. When we walk in darkness, we are separated from God and others, we conceal our sin, and are apathetic to righteousness. The call for all believers is to walk in the light, not to be perfect but to experience fellowship, grace, and righteousness in Christ.