Biblical Messages to Strengthen Your Faith

Is there a difference between getting ready and being ready for Jesus' coming? How does Jesus tell us to be ready for his coming? How can our lamp be burning bright and ready to welcome His return?

The greatest revival in ancient Judah took place when a forgotten book was discovered. Why did this book of the law get lost and forgotten? What is the meaning of this story for us today? Do we have a book that is lost and forgotten in our lives today? How can we re-discover this lost book of the law?

Many times we focus on Jesus' death and resurrection, but is there more? While Jesus' death and resurrection are essential for us, is his ascension significant to us, as well? What does Jesus' ascension mean for us today? What is the power of Jesus' ascension?

The fact of the empty tomb changed the world. Why is the resurrection so important? What is the meaning of the resurrection today? What is the power of Jesus' resurrection?

Nearly everyone is familiar with Jesus' death, but is there a deeper meaning that we sometimes miss? What is the power of Jesus' death?

Are there times that you find it hard to rejoice in the Lord? How can we be a happy and joyous Christian even with trials seem more than we can bear? Does the Bible really mean that we are to rejoice always? How can we learn to rejoice in the Lord always, in the good times and the bad?

Have you ever been plagued with doubt? Is it possible to overcome our doubts? Is there a biblical example of someone who transitioned from a doubter to one who boldly proclaimed the message of Jesus? What should we do we when doubt seems to overwhelm us? How can we move from doubt to assurance?

Jesus gives a parable of a widow who keeps asking for help from her adversary, yet the unjust judge refuses to listen. What does this parable teach us about prayer? What does it mean to persevere in prayer? How can we be among those that Jesus finds with faith when He comes?

Humanity seeks glory from all sorts of different sources: fame, money, strength, intellect, etc. None of these things, though, is true glory. What, according to the Bible, is true glory? Can we experience this glory even here on this earth? How is this glory connected with knowing God? How do we know God more today?

Once we have become a Christian, how does this affect our daily life? If we are born again, that means we have a new heart. With a new heart, that means that we should have a new heartbeat, as well. What should this new heartbeat be? What was Jesus' heartbeat? What is the heartbeat of heaven and how can it become our heartbeat?

The Bible is clear that we are to grow in our Christian experience. How are we to grow in the Lord? What does it mean to grow? How does growing in the Lord practically affect our lives?

How can we know if we are truly a disciple of Jesus or not? Is there a test that the Lord has given to reveal to us if we are truly walking with Jesus? How can we experience this and grow in our Savior more deeply?

Many times, we struggle with whether God will really accept us or not. It seems that we have made so many mistakes so many times that we question if we have gone too far for God to receive us. What illustrations has Jesus given us to assure us that He will accept us no matter how far we have drifted from Him? What is our part in receiving His acceptance? How can we have the assurance that we are indeed "accepted in the beloved"?

What does it mean to be consecrated? What does it mean to surrender to Jesus?What is Jesus call to His disciples and to us today? In this message, join two climbs up the mountain of surrender to discover what surrender means for us today. How do we surrender and what are the blessings that it brings?

After we see God's love for us, our need of Christ and repent, what is the next step? The Bible promises that if we "confess our sin, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sin" (1 John 1:9). Confession is one of the necessary steps in our Christian walk. Confession is never easy, but it comes with a great blessing. Why is confession important? What is the purpose of confession? What great example of confession do we have in the Bible?

One of the great calls of the New Testament is to repent. Both John the Baptist and Jesus' ministries began with the call to repentance. What does it mean to repent? How do we repent? Is there a false repentance? Should we continue to repent after we come to the Lord? Join us in this third sermon in the series "Knowing Him", as we look at this foundational biblical teaching.

In this second message in the series Knowing Him, we look at what is our natural condition because of sin. In order to know God, not only do we need to know God's love, but we need to recognize our great need of Him. As Cain left to the land of Nod, so we also through sin end up in the land of wandering, but Jesus calls us home. How can we come home from the Land of Nod to which we have all wandered through sin?

In this first message in the series Knowing Him based on the first chapter of the book Steps to Christ, we look at the foundational truth to Christianity. What is the character of God and how does this affect our lives today? What is the promise that God has made that He will not forget? What do the beautiful and classic words God is love truly mean to us today?

The book of Revelation is probably one of the best known but least understood books in the Bible. With its graphic symbols and signs, many times we get lost in the details. Is there a bigger message to Revelation than this apocalyptic imagery? What does Revelation reveal more than anything else? What do we learn from this great revelation of the Lamb?

The book of Jude is a short letter with some strong words for those who are departing from the true faith. Jude calls the believers to fight for the faith. Why are they to fight for the faith and why is false teaching so dangerous? How are they to fight for the faith? What does true faith do in the life of the believer and for those around him? What do the warnings regarding these first century false teachers teach us today?

The three epistles of John are all short, but powerful little books. John seems to pack so many practical and sublime thoughts into them. There is no doubt that the themes of the gospel of John run through these letters. Love, light and abide abound in these messages. What is John's great desire for the believers? How does he convey this message? How can we experience this great blessing of the fellowship of love?

Peter begins his first epistle addressed to the pilgrims or strangers. These theme runs throughout the epistle. The early Christians were facing persecution on multiple fronts and it was about to get worse. They were suffering and more suffering was coming, but they were to always remember that they were strangers. A stranger's life is different from those around them. How were they to live the life of a stranger? What is the message that things brings us today? Are we still strangers? When will we reach our true home? How are we to live the life a stranger today?

The book of James is full of very practical advice and commands. Is there a unifying theme in this fast-moving book? James is concerned that the believers not just intellectually believe, but that they live their faith as well. James explores the very practical dimensions of faith. How is faith made practical? What is practical faith? How can we have this practical faith in our lives today?

The book of Hebrews is rich in theological depth and practical application. Hebrews continues the story of Jesus ministry after his death and resurrection by taking us to the heavenly sanctuary where He ministers as our great High Priest. What is the journey in the book of Hebrews and what does this journey teach us about our life today? How is the theme of this pilgrim journey seen throughout the book of Hebrews?

The book of Philemon is a short personal letter to Philemon from the Apostle Paul. It presents no major theology nor does it warn about false teachers. Why then is this little book in our Bible? Is there a message in Philemon that is much more than what appears on the surface? What is the message of Philemon? What does it teach us about the attitudes that we are to have today?

The pastoral epistles are most likely the last letters written by the Apostle Paul that we have today. In these letters, he writes to the young workers of Timothy and Titus to carry on the work that he loved so dearly. Repeatedly, he urges them to fight the good fight. How do we fight the good fight of faith today? What is the message for us today from these epistles?

1 & 2 Thessalonians focus on the coming day of the Lord. Nearly every chapter in these epistles point the believers to this great day of Christ's soon return. How are we to live as we look forward to this great day? What are the practical ways that we are to "live for the day" of Jesus' soon coming?

In the book of Colossians, Paul presents the ultimate solution to the problems of this world. The solution is not more philosophy or requirements. The solution is a focus on the preeminence of Christ and what He has done for us. As we recognize that Christ is truly the "all and in all", Paul shows how it will change our lives. How does this message resonate down to our time today?

In the book of Philippians, Paul the church at Philippi to "rejoice always". As Paul is calling them to rejoice, he is, himself, in prison. Paul calls them to rejoice for many reasons, but the most compelling reason is Paul's own example. If Paul can rejoice in prison, cannot they rejoice in their circumstances, too? How can we learn to follow Paul's example of rejoicing always?

The book of Ephesians is one of the most uplifting books in the Bible. What is so special about Ephesians and why is Paul describing the lofty privilege of believers? What does this book tell us about our identity in Christ today?

In the book of Galatians, Paul is very concerned that the believers in Galatia are receiving a false gospel. In the book of Galatians, Paul lays out the differences between the true and the false gospel. What are the differences in these two gospels? Are we still in danger of receiving a false gospel today, as well?

In the books of 1 & 2 Corinthians, Paul is writing to the church that he had established at Corinth, but was enduring some difficulties. Paul is pastorally seeking to deal with issues and lead the church up higher. From these letters, we can see that first century churches were not always perfect, just like our churches today are not always perfect. What lessons do we learn from the church at Corinth and how can we apply them today? Are these principles applicable to us today, as well?

The book of Romans is one of the greatest systematic theologies of the gospel. What are the main points that Paul is trying to convey regarding the gospel? How does faith work and what is the importance of faith in our live? How do we truly live by faith?

The book of Acts carries the stories of the gospel beyond the cross into regions beyond. Acts is a triumphant book revealing the triumphs of the cross far and near. What was the catalyst that enabled the early church to receive the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and preach the gospel far and near? What is the key to the church today receiving this power and seeing God work as the early church did?

The gospel of John does not begin with Jesus' birth but begins in eternity past: "In the beginning was the Word..." (John 1:1). John reveals Jesus as the divine Word of God. Why was John portraying Jesus this way and what does it mean for us today? How does the gospel of John speak to our time?

The gospel of Luke has one of the fullest pictures of Jesus from his birth, boyhood and ministry. Luke records many unique teachings of Jesus and events in Jesus' life. What is unique seeking to convey through his gospel? What is the message of Luke that resounds down to our time today?

The gospel of Mark is the shortest and fastest moving of the gospels and frequently the most overlooked. What is the message that Mark is trying to convey to us regarding Jesus? What is the message from Mark for us today?

Matthew presents Jesus as the Messiah predicted in the Old Testament Scriptures and true King. What do we learn from Matthew's emphasis of Jesus life and ministry? What does it mean to us today that Jesus is our King?

The book of Ruth tells the story of the young Moabite girl whose life had fallen apart but was determined to follow the God of Israel none-the-less. Ruth's life is a story from tragedy to triumph. The book begins with Ruth as a young widow and ends with her taking an honored place in the royal line of David. What makes this story from tragedy to triumph possible? Who is your "next of kin" that enables God to turn your life from tragedy to triumph?

The book of Joshua reveals a triumphant people who experience the fulfillment of the promises of God. The book of Judges seems to go from bad to worse. Why the drastic change from Joshua to Judges? What is the factor that leads to ongoing disasters in the book of Judges? Are we in the same danger as they were?

As Moses stands at the borders of the promised land, he pours out his heart to the children of Israel for whom he has devoted his life. This final message of Moses is the book of Deuteronomy. What is Moses burden and desire for his people? What does this book teach us for today?

The book of Numbers begins with a people on the march to the promised land, but their journey doesn't materialize the way they had envisioned or the way that God had planned. Why were their hopes and desires not realized? Could we encounter the same issues on our journey to the heavenly promised land?

In the book of Leviticus, a holy God is calling an unholy people to holiness. It can seem like an impossible call, but throughout Leviticus the message is: "You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy." (Lev. 19:2). Leviticus assures us that the impossible can become the possible! What makes this seeming impossibility a reality?

The book of Exodus is about a people on the "way out" of slavery. What does this journey out of slavery teach us today? How is the construction of the sanctuary a part of this journey out of slavery?

This is the first message in a new series in which Pastor Cody goes through the Bible book-by-book. This message explores the book of Genesis and what it means for us today. Why does Genesis begin with the verse, "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth" (Gen. 1:1)? How is this verse seen throughout the entire book of Genesis? How does this verse and Genesis reveal the gospel?