The Bridge Austin

Remember the irresistible smell of warm cookies as a kid? Temptation may look different now, but the struggle is still real. On this episode of Know The Truth, Pastor Philip De Courcy delivers a powerful message on standing firm against sin.

Sermon Overview

Scripture Passage: 1 Peter 3

As Christians, we are instructed to keep the faith and give it away. We must be ready to give an account for what makes us different. We must learn how to answer a skeptic.

1 Peter 3:15 says, “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear…”

There are four basic propositions that can help us when giving an account for our faith.

First, forego the folly of fools.

Foolishness isn’t a lack of knowledge, rather it is evidence of moral depravity. A fool is not an honest doubter, he is simply hostile toward the truth. When someone shows himself to be a fool, we should not argue with him; we should tell him what God says and go our way.

Second, we need to learn the limits of logic.

To give a defense for our faith does not mean to apologize; it means to give an answer as one would give in a court of law. We know creation’s complex design speaks of God’s existence, as does the moral law of the universe. But we must keep in mind that while logic is a very valuable tool, it can only take us so far in answering a skeptic.

We must also remember the resource of revelation.

If we want to know God, He must reveal Himself to us.

2 Peter 1:19 says, “And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts…” God knows we need help understanding Scripture, so the Holy Spirit shines it into our dark hearts, giving us the light to see.

Adrian Rogers says, “The Holy Spirit takes the curtain of your skepticism and He pulls it aside, pins it with a star of hope, and floods your heart with Gospel light.”

Finally, fortify the force of faith.

We are witnesses of His existence because of what He has done in our lives.

Apply it to your life

Are you prepared to give an answer for the hope in you? When Jesus is real to us and is sanctified in our hearts, we can answer skeptics with meekness and fear.

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Many of us were taught to mind our own business and keep a low profile, but what happens when our voices are silenced? In today’s message, Pastor Chris shares the story of Esther from the Bible. Instead of remaining silent, Esther bravely advocated for her people, trusting in God's guidance. Her courage inspires us to speak out boldly for our beliefs, especially when they are threatened. Most importantly, it reminds us to seek God's help when we need to stand up for ourselves.

As we get closer to finishing this series, Rabbi encapsulates how we should respond to our dreams and the necessary steps we must take to receive interpretation from the Lord.

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Today, Pastor Jack teaches that this parable is concerned about the heart of God within us. We are not told who the man was that was in such desperate need, meaning it doesn’t matter. We’re to care for others as God cares regardless of the situation or circumstance.

The post Parable Of The Good Samaritan – B first appeared on Pastor Jack Hibbs.

From social media to tricky relationships – how can parents help their teens bring clarity to a world of confusion? Professor and apologist Dr. Sean McDowell brings hope to a lonely, spiritually hungry generation – and you can too!  

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Some people think that being a Christian is supposed to be easy. But in reality, Christians aren’t exempt from suffering. In fact, our suffering is actually guaranteed! Dr. Robert Jeffress describes the rising level of persecution that Christians around the world can expect to see.

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