Christian Sermons from Calvary Chapel Greenmeadow, North Kingstown, RI

If we seriously want to know what God is saying, we must ask for understanding. If we are calloused, we will close our eyes to his word. Satan is at power in our understanding of the word and commitment to reading it. It is up to us to prepare out hearts.

Jesus spent time with sinners. The sinful woman assigned the task of a slave to herself, deprecating her glory to Jesus. She lost herself in her worship and felt no condemnation from Jesus. Why not realize the extent of his love for you and accept it?

Jesus did not just hang around sinners to fit in. He was on a mission. Do you realize that you are on a mission too? You were not put here just to hang around waiting to go to heaven. Jesus' message of repentance is offensive to some but may we spread it!

When you offer the little you do have, Jesus uses it. Be available and ask what you can do and listen for His voice. He may have to break you in order to multiply your gifts. When you serve others, God blesses you also. Be a server for Jesus.

Jesus is the one who conquers death. He has repeatedly demonstrated his deep compassion for us, even paying the price for our sin by dying for us. Given all this, it is a simple thing to tell people about our story of faith, but first we need to have one.

In this passage we see that the centurion loved his servant, was humble enough to ask for help, and had tremendous faith, believing Jesus could heal with just a word. Jesus is the same today as He was then and so we should submit to His authority.

To obtain peace in the church we must respect its leadership by accepting their authority, be mindful of one another and correct those who live in an unruly manner, be obedient to God's will for us, and be cautious when fellow believers give us advice.

Our character and conduct are our spiritual “fruit.” What we store up in our hearts governs how we act. If he is our Lord, we belong to him and we will make him the very foundation of our lives. This means knowing his word and putting it into practice.

We are generally far more tolerant to our own failures than those of our brothers. We need to examine ourselves and correct our faults so that we might be able to help others. When we do help, we are to restore them gently and care about their burdens.

Praying for those with whom we disagree or have conflict helps change our attitude towards them. We are blessed when we give of our time and treasure to those who are difficult and even those who hate us. We can only do this through the strength of Jesus.

Blessings come from being aware of our spiritual poverty, our hunger to live a holy life, our sorrow over our sinfulness, and our offensiveness when we stand for Christ. These spiritual needs help to lead us to Jesus, the source of our comfort.

Our individualality may seem to set us apart but although the apostles were all different, they were all in a relationship with Jesus. This is what made them great. Still, our uniqueness is important to God. To Him we are all rare and beautiful treasures!

Becoming a servant requires us to lay something aside, but most people are selfish. In this passage, everyone saw the need, but Jesus sets the example by taking action. Humble yourself and follow His teaching. When you serve, it will lead to joy.

Jesus is the head over every power and authority, including the sabbath. Traditions about it (or anything) must never be more important than people or Jesus. God made the sabbath for man. The principle is that we set time apart for rest in Him.

Some traditions and routines are good, but we need to remain flexible. Jesus was often challenged by the Pharisees because he brought new ideas about the high priest and other sacred topics. Stagnation is a problem and we need to let God shake us up.

Following Jesus is something that is done in public even though there is a cost to doing so. Followers must deny themselves. We have as an example, Matthew, who followed immediately and enthusiastically.

Sickness did not come into the world until after the fall showing that forgiveness is more important than physical healing. We need to be persistent in praying for the salvation of specific people in our lives and diligent in praying for the sick also.

Even Jesus submitted His will to the Father. How often do we fall on our faces in humility before Him? We learn from this passage that following Him includes finding secluded places to pray regularly and being bold in sharing our testimony with others.

The reward of deep water obedience is a recognition that Jesus is in charge and is able to provide beyond our abilities. Deep waters bring greater risks and bigger rewards. What is it that you might have to let go of to follow Him?

While religious leaders at the time repeated what others had said, Jesus spoke with authority. He has power over the spiritual and physical world, so keep your eyes on Him and serve Him with thankfulness. He has power over sin, so receive His forgiveness.

As Christians, we need to trust in the power of the Holy Spirit who is the wind in our sails that pushes us towards Christ. When He shows favor to us, we should accept it, for without it we can do nothing. Do not reject Him. There is nothing better.

Jesus was tempted by our enemy just like we are. Knowing that the devil is the father of lies helps us to resist. He attacks when our flesh is vulnerable. Jesus did not debate with Satan in His flesh, but He quoted scripture and submitted to the Father.

What obstacle is standing between you and Jesus today? Just like the stone was not too heavy for Him, so nothing is too difficult for Jesus to clear the way for you. He didn't need the stone moved away so he could get out. He moved it so we could see in.

As a man of sorrows, Jesus wept over the city because they did not recognize Him. As we spend time with Jesus, we should be grieved by what grieves Him, mostly that people do not know Christ. He chooses to need us to be a part of bringing the good news.

When Jesus revealed himself to the world, He was publicly baptized, showing that He identified with humanity. We see the trinity in this passage as Jesus prays, receives the Holy Spirit and God the Father speaks. This should remind us to be prayerful.

This passage teaches us what we must do to prepare the way for Jesus to come into our lives and how we should live to bear good fruit for Him. This includes being generous and honest. We can only do this if we are continually refilled by the Holy Spirit.

Young Jesus still has lessons for us. For example, when we lose sight of Him, we need to turn back and find where we have left Him. Jesus demonstrates submission to His Heavenly Father and His earthly parents yet Jesus must be about His Father's business.

Lessons from this passage include that we should dedicate our children to the Lord, that God's Spirit does not stop working just because we get old, and that we need to be at peace with God to be able to give ourselves to Him in death.

Jesus came to save us from our sins. His name means, “the Lord saves.” He is Christ Messiah meaning “the anointed one.” He is Lord (King and God) and we humble ourselves before him. He is the Prince of Peace who brings His peace to our hearts.

God wants something from each one of us. It takes time to figure it out, but we have to be listening and that means being quiet. In that quietness, let Him fill your heart with the song He has for you so that you may be a blessing to those in your life.

Mary accepted certain ridicule and scandal to make herself available to God. Are you willing to take the steps necessary to see God's plans fulfilled in your life? What is your part in the plan of salvation? Who can you serve by saying 'yes' to the Lord?

No matter how old we are, our calling is to be faithful to God. No matter how old we are, we are never too old for God to bless us with something special. No matter how long we have been praying, God can still answer.

The gospel of Luke focuses on Jesus as the Son of Man who came to seek and save the lost.

God gives us what we need to do what he calls us to do. We are all called to follow and to serve him in unique ways. Train your replacement and make good use of your time before you die. Know that when you die you will be called home to heaven.

The image of God holding our hand conveys power and strength. Although we do not know what the future may bring, we know that nothing can snatch us from His hand. Even if it brings struggles, we need not despair because we can rely on His sovereignty.

Fear sometimes causes us to go places God has not called us to go. God wants to show us His will but He sometimes speaks softly to get us to be quiet and listen. We can hear Him if we are in a relationship with Him. Trials often cause us to listen better.

Jesus is the most important gift.

We need to recognize when the devil is sending us thoughts to discourage us and then bring our fears to God. We have to be willing to take on the yoke Jesus provides us. More time in His Word and less time in the world will allow us to prevail.

Our private prayer life says more about us than what we do in the public eye. We must be diligent in our prayers and continue to lift them to Him--for years if necessary. When we pray in harmony with His will, God uses our prayers for His purposes.

The false prophets were both sincere and devoted. You can have zeal, but there will be no answer from a false god. When the true God answers prayer it is to let everyone know that he is God and to turn hearts back towards him. He will show himself to you.

Thankfulness should be continual and therefore, in all circumstances. Be grateful even for the things that God is doing that you cannot see and the things that he has not yet done. In the midst of grief, being grateful will help you to see his goodness.

Whenever we get away from God's commands and follow false voices, we find trouble. The distractions of life become false gods and they are a poor substitution for the real one, never delivering what they promise. A choice is needed. We cannot serve both.

When God calls his people to serve under pagan kings, our fear of the Lord must be greater than our fear of man. We sometimes forget about God's faithfulness and panic, but if we knew God's plans for the future, we would rejoice. Worry is shameful. Trust!

Like a garden, a relationship with God must be cultivated. It is a process that begins with removing that which hinders growth. A healthy relationship with him leads to good decisions and wisdom. Seek silence and solitude, listen to his voice, and pray.

When we ask God for something, the idea is not to do it once, but continually. Do not give up on praying. Our prayer life should be evident to those around us by the work God is doing in our lives. We should not be afraid to be seen as people of prayer.

God's math is not our math. Small provisions from him are multiplied to meet the need. He provides for us daily rather than give us everything we will ever need all at once. This leads us to learn to trust him consistently. God can use even small gifts.

The best person to learn patience from is the Lord Jesus. We must heed the command to be patient, worship Christ the all-patient one, and grow in patience. Patience is a fruit of the Spirit. When we do not display it we are not being loving, which is sin.

We cannot trust in the resources around us or in our own strength, but in God alone. He guides us through his word, his peace, and our circumstances. His leadings are intensely personal but to understand them, we first we have to be quiet and listen.

God looks at time different from us. While we can plan for the future, it is more important to decide how we will live today. Since we do not know how much life we have, spend time in devotion to God each day. Serving Him is the only thing that will last.

Spend time with God. It is best to do it both in the morning and at night but make it a regular custom in your life. The spiritual battle will fight against you but a healthy devotional life will lead to a heart that is increasingly devoted to Christ.

Elijah knew that when the world threatens, God is still on the throne. Even when under attack, we are meant to show the world who the real God is. We need to spend time alone with him every day. Be encouraged. God will not leave us to fend for ourselves.