Wisdom on SermonAudio

Pastor Brian challenges and encourages us to press on and fight the Spiritual battle waging in each of our lives.

This sermon examines the character and conflict surrounding Stephen in Acts chapter 6, highlighting his spiritual maturity as a man full of wisdom, faith, the Holy Spirit, grace, and power. The preacher contrasts Stephen's godly countenance with the violent opposition from religious leaders who accused him of blasphemy against Moses and God. By drawing parallels between Stephen's trial and that of Jesus Christ, the message emphasizes that persecution is an inevitable result of living a godly life in a hostile world. The text underscores the necessity of prayer and the ministry of the word as the foundation for developing such spiritual strength. Ultimately, the sermon calls believers to trust God with the consequences of their witness, following Stephen's example of unwavering faith even unto death.

The sermon explores the biblical principles of personal, family, and church responsibility in caring for the elderly and widows, drawing primarily from 1 Timothy 5. It addresses modern challenges such as the welfare state, professionalization of domestic roles, and retirement planning, urging believers to navigate these systems ethically without shirking their primary duties. While participating in government programs like Social Security is permissible, it never replaces the obligation of family members to provide care and be present. Additionally, the church retains a vital role in supporting those without familial support. Go will give us wisdom to balance present cultural realities with scriptural commands to build strong, loving community connections.

Wisdom requires that we are amenable to reproof by the word of God.

The God who claimed you for Himself is working Christlikeness in you through His lowly ministers as they lead you to live for God every day. - God gives you His lowly ministers to help you glorify God with your body by leading you away from worldliness to wisdom (7:25). - God gives you His lowly ministers to help you glorify God with your body by leading you away from falling away to faithfulness (7:26–28). - God gives you His lowly ministers to help you glorify God with your body by leading you away from earthly purposes to eternal purposes (7:29–31).

This sermon examines James 4:13-17 to challenge the human tendency toward presumptuous planning and arrogance. The preacher illustrates how individuals often make confident future plans while ignoring the fleeting nature of life and God's ultimate control over time and circumstances. By contrasting human ambition with divine sovereignty, the text emphasizes that true wisdom requires submitting personal agendas to God's will. The message identifies the failure to acknowledge this dependence as a form of sinful arrogance and omission. Ultimately, it calls for a posture of humility, faith, and readiness for death through reliance on Christ.