Trinity Bible Church Sermons

Make Every Effort | 2 Peter 1:5-11 | Kelly Abbott

Believers are to make every effort to reflect Christ’s divine nature, not by their own power but by his righteousness and divine provision, which increasingly result in the virtues in this passage. These are not steps that produce godliness, rather they evidence of change being wrought in the believer’s heart through obedience to Christ’s transforming power (2 Peter 1:3). Peter calls us to be diligent to confirm our calling and election by practicing these qualities.

The Light Burns Brighter | Acts 14:1-7 | Manny Pereira

When the light of Christ breaks into Iconium, it does not flicker timidly in the corner. It shines with saving power, drawing a great multitude to believe. Yet wherever the light of Christ shines, unbelief shadows. Poison pollutes minds and opposing pressures mount. The city itself begins to divide beneath the brightness of the truth. Still, the gracious light is not dimmed. Paul and Barnabas do not whisper in the shadows. They speak boldly, and the Lord Himself bears witness to His own light. Even when hardened hearts turn hostile and prudence sends the preachers down the road, the gospel is not retreating. It is too precious to be wasted, too true to be silenced, and too glorious to be contained. In this illuminating passage, opposition does not darken the light. Because it radiates grace, darkness only makes the light burn brighter.

Light for the Nations | Acts 13:44-52 | Manny Pereira

The scene set before us is situated in the wake of the word that Paul preached. Preaching Christ has produced a city-wide consequence. Now the word that saves is seen to sift as well. The result is the clearest and most explicit shift in Paul’s apostolic witness. A defining pattern for the rest of Acts 13-14 is forged. It is no coincidence that a massive undercurrent of divine sovereignty is felt at this very juncture. The entire drama of this scene centers on Christ, being revealed as light through His word for the nations.

Divine Provision | 2 Peter 1:1-4 | Kelly Abbott

Peter’s second letter is a charge to the church to guard against false teachers while steadfastly waiting for the Lord’s return. His readers faced scoffers who denied Christ’s return, and false teachers attempting to infiltrate and corrupt the church with error. Second Peter calls Christ’s church to be steadfast in guarding the church against these attacks, and it opens with a beautiful promise of God’s divine provision.

Paul Preaches Christ | Acts 13:13-43 | Manny Pereira

The words are still reverberating: “he was astonished at the teaching of the Lord.” Now, a new scene comes into view that unfolds and showcases this teaching. The apostle Paul is in a synagogue. He is invited to speak. The result is the very first sermon recorded in Acts that was preached by Paul. It is stunningly centered on Christ. In an impressive economy of words, Paul leads his hearers on a tour through God’s ancient promises. The tour leads to Jesus. Similar to the precision and power of Peter’s preaching at Pentecost, Paul preaches Christ.

The Church Christ Builds | Acts 13:1-12 | Manny Pereira

This passage opens the first great missionary movement in the history of the church. But it is not merely the record of the beginning of missions. It is a theological display of the risen Christ building His church, tacitly showing how He does it. Multiplication of worshiping, Word-shaped, and Spirit-directed local congregations is more to the point. The church that Christ builds is first realized in local fellowships that conform to His will, maintaining His priorities and appointed means, however unsuspecting they may appear. And when she is met with opposition, as featured in this passage, she does not see it as defeat but rather the theater in which Christ prevails in and through her. The church Christ builds prevails.

Ruling Words | Acts 12:18-25 | Manny Pereira

This passage completes the Herod episode and brings Acts 12 to its ironic climax. What calls for confidence in the unseen Christ is now punctuated with dramatic irony. The visible king who stretched out his hand against Christ’s church was overruled by Christ’s hand. Herod only appears powerful. Christ rules. His words prevail against all opposition. Whereas the words of apparent power will eventually perish. Words reveal their source. Here they reveal who really reigns and rules. This passage calls the church to see beyond the noise of earthly voices and take confidence in the reigning Christ, whose Word alone rules, endures, and advances.

Confidence in the Unseen Christ | Acts 12:1-17 | Manny Pereira

The church faces the fearful opposition of a visible king, yet learns to rest in the sovereign rule of the unseen Christ. This famous passage is presented in powerful irony. The whole chapter is an interlude of potentates and puppets, and powers misattributed. Here, irony betrays the illusion of power. This historical testimony is calculated to help the church throughout the ages to recognize who reigns and to take courage and comfort in the Lord and His invisible hand. It calls the church to a settled confidence—not in the things seen and felt, not in the strength of earthly powers, individuals, or even the church herself, but in the unseen Christ who rules and reigns over every detail according to His perfect will.

The Church in the Great Commission | Acts 14:21-23 | Manny Pereira

The Great Commission is not individualistic. From beginning to end, the church is central. Scripture reveals the vital place of the local church in Christ’s mission to the nations. The risen Lord sends His people not merely to secure decisions or scatter isolated disciples, but to make obedient followers who are baptized, taught, gathered, and established in healthy local churches. Thus, the church is both the ordinary sender of missionaries and the enduring goal of missionary labor. The ultimate end of the Great Commission is the glory of Christ among all peoples. The local church is His appointed means and enduring display of that glory—a gathered people who know Him, obey Him, worship Him, and make Him known until the day when the redeemed from every tribe, tongue, people, and nation stand before the Lamb.

A Christ-Centered Church | Acts 11:19-30 | Manny Pereira

Before the church can be a useful witness to the world, she must realize the grand significance of the New Covenant in Christ. What was taught in principle, Christ now sovereignly unfolds in practice. The hand of the Lord gathers a multitude of Gentiles, establishing a church in “The Queen of the East” that will prove to be instrumental to His purposes. In masterful strokes, attention is directed to a church formed, strengthened, identified, and united by Christ. It is the testimony of a Christ-centered church.