Doing Christianity

One of the most powerful verses in the Bible is Paul's statement that he has been crucified with Christ (Galatians 2:20). When we grasp the spiritual truth he was trying to convey, it can transform our lives. Recorded in 2021

As soldiers of God, prayer is our means of requisitioning supplies and calling in help. God wants us to succeed in our mission, and he will provide what we need to do that, when we ask him. Here's how to ask. Message 7 of 7 on the Armor of God, recorded live in 2012.

Jesus overcame the devil's temptations, not by divine power, but by quoting the Bible. You can do the same. The more you read the Bible, think about the Bible, and follow the Bible, the less the devil can deceive or side-track you. The Bible is your key to succeeding in God's plan for your life. Message 6 of 7 on the Armor of God, recorded live in 2012.

What could you do for God if you knew you couldn't be killed? The devil attacks our thoughts with deception, temptation, accusation, and fear — especially fear of death. The truths of salvation are like a helmet that protects our mind from all these, and allows us to stand victorious in Christ. Message 5 of 7 on the Armor of God, recorded live in 2012.

When the devil flings flaming arrows at you, faith in God's love extinguishes doubt, faith in God's truth deflects deception, faith in God's goodness douses temptation, faith in God's grace silences accusation, faith in God's power overcomes fear; faith in God's plan conquers your circumstances. Message 4 of 7 on the Armor of God, recorded live in 2012.

Spiritual preparation is spiritual protection. The Christian's combat boots are the preparation of the gospel of peace. Understanding, experiencing, and being prepared to explain the good news gives us peace, and protects us from stumbling or stubbing our spiritual toes. Message 3 of 7 on the Armor of God, recorded live in 2012.

Living right protects us from temptation, accusation, pressure, and stress. It's never too late to choose it, and it's never too late to lose it. Righteousness is a gift from God, but we have to receive it and live it out. Message 2 of 7 on the Armor of God, recorded live in 2012.

Truth is your first protection, because the devil's first weapon is deception. Where is truth found? In God and the Bible. "You will know the truth, and the truth will make you free." Message 1 of 7 on the Armor of God, recorded live in 2012.

When everything else has ended, God's church will go on, as a joyful crowd around God's throne in heaven. If your local church doesn't look like some of these 21 pictures, don't complain about it, and don't wait for the pastor to fix it. Do something! Sermon 21 of 21 on how God sees us together as his church.

Remember when Dorothy first saw the Emerald City in “The Wizard of Oz?” That's what the church should look like. When we love each other forgivingly, unconditionally, sacrificially, and without limit, we just shine - and people notice. Sermon 20 of 21 on how God sees us together as his church.

The church doesn't reflect God's light from heaven, we radiate it from within. But it doesn't come from doing religious stuff. It comes from doing Jesus stuff: proclaiming forgiveness and freedom, caring for widows and orphans, showing God's love to the world. Sermon 19 of 21 on how God sees us together as his church.

Jesus said when salt loses what makes it salt, it's just dirt. When a church loses what makes it a church, it's just a club. What is that essential element that makes church church? The Holy Spirit. If we don't demonstrate his guidance, gifts, and power, we're just another bunch of people. Sermon 18 of 21 on how God sees us together as his church.

Some say, “Who am I to tell other people how to live?” But God says, “If I announce that some wicked people are sure to die and you fail to tell them to change their ways, then they will die in their sins, and I will hold you responsible for their deaths.” God placed your church where it is for a reason: not only to do good, but to warn of danger. It's not fun, but it's our job, and it's deadly serious. Know the danger signs, stay alert, and when necessary, clearly sound a warning. Sermon 17 of 21 on how God sees us together as his church.

How did kings communicate with their subjects before newspapers and electricity? They sent heralds to proclaim their message. That old reliable method still works today. Christians are heralds, and the church is herald headquarters. Do you know God's message? Can you tell it? Does your life demonstrate it? Sermon 16 of 21 on how God sees us together as his church.

Every local church is a branch office of God's embassy, a sovereign territory of the Kingdom of Heaven in a rebellious world, bringing God's offer of reconciliation and peace. Every Christian is an ambassador and an example. Sermon 15 of 21 on how God sees us together as his church.

Grapes grow on the branches that remain attached to the vine and keep growing. Those that don't get cut off. Every branch of Christianity - every denomination, every congregation, every Christian - is the same way. Stay in Jesus, grow in Jesus, bear fruit for God, or we're on our own! Sermon 14 of 21 on how God sees us together as his church.

Did you know the description of the heavenly city at the end of the Bible is actually a picture of us? Like the Golden City, God wants his church shining, open, welcoming, and free. But he also wants us to know what we are and what we are not, because that's the only way we can bring life to the world. Sermon 13 of 21 on how God sees us together as his church.

How is a church like a flock of sheep? It's not exactly a compliment! But when the Lord is our shepherd, it sure can be a comfort. Psalm 23 and John 10 give a beautiful picture of care and protection, if we'll just follow the shepherd. Sermon 12 of 21 on how God sees us together as his church.

What do you treasure more than anything else in this world? Multiply that by a million and you approach how God treasures his people. Like Eliza Doolittle in “My Fair Lady,” God called us out of darkness into his marvelous light. How can we show that incredible goodness to others? Sermon 11 of 21 on how God sees us together as his church.

This sermon was preached in early June, 2020, as people across America began to demonstrate for racial justice. One Biblical picture of God's church is “a holy nation.” How do we live up to that in the midst of racial conflict? Not by denial or finger-pointing, but by deep prayer, humble listening, and faithful action. Sermon 10 of 21 on how God sees us together as his church.

“Holy nation” could be translated, “set-apart people group.” God calls us to set ourselves apart as a different kind of people, a nation within our earthly nation, a colony of the Kingdom of God, so we can demonstrate to the world the blessings of being citizens of heaven. That means seeking to know God, to be led by his Holy Spirit, and to step out in faith. Sermon 9 of 21 on how God sees us together as his church.

In most religions, priests stand between a people and their god, representing each to the other. In Christianity, all of us who know Jesus act together as priests. We represent God to the world in proclamation and demonstration, and we represent the world to God in prayer. Sermon 8 of 21 on how God sees us together as his church.

Theologians don't agree about how God chooses us, but we're all chosen for the same mission: to show others God's goodness. When we demonstrate God's love and justice and mercy and care, we make God glad he chose us. Sermon 7 of 21 on how God sees us together as his church.

We live in a spiritual battle. The enemy is not other people, it's the spiritual forces of darkness. And we are not just the army; we are the battleground and the prize. But I read the back of the book: Jesus wins! Sermon 6 of 21 on how God sees us together as his church.

God has always wanted to live among his people. In the Old Testament that was in a temple made of stone. In the church age, we are the temple. Are we giving him an inviting place to live? Sermon 5 of 21 on how God sees us together as his church.

In Bible times, betrothal was a year-long process. The bride set herself apart for her beloved, soaking in oils, making herself lovely. The church is Jesus' bride, set apart for him, soaking in the Holy Spirit, reading his love letters in the Bible, preparing ourselves for the marriage feast. Sermon 4 of 21 on how God sees us together as his church.

When your head wants to do something, what does it? Your body. It's the same with Jesus. We, the church, are his body – his way of getting things done on earth. A healthy body lives, grows, reproduces, interacts, and does work. Sermon 3 of 21 on how God sees us together as his church.

If God is our father, we are God's family. We share our father's love, and use the freedom and guidance he gives to try to be like him. Sometimes there's a cost to being in God's family. But it also means we stand to inherit! Sermon 2 of 21 on how God sees us together as his church.

One of the first things I was told as a new Christian is, "Christians are like bananas: separate one from the bunch and it's sure to get peeled.” Being part of a church is much more than a religious hoop you jump through to earn Brownie points with God. The Bible knows nothing of Lone Ranger Christians, and for good reason. The benefits of Christians meeting together are incalculable. Sermon 1 of 21 on how God sees us together as his church.

The Bible ends with the fascinating, cinematic book of Revelations. Any way you read it, four things are for sure: 1) in this world you will have trouble; 2) you have to take some things on faith; 3) in the end, God wins; 4) until then, be sure to drink freely from the River of Life. Sermon 16 of 16 tracing God's River of Life through the Bible.

The epistles, or letters to the churches, are the part of the Bible that most directly address Christians. They give advice and encouragement about knowing God, marriage and other relationships, hope for heaven, even getting along with the government, all based in solid explanations of spiritual truth. Sermon 15 of 16 tracing God's River of Life through the Bible.

When Jesus went to heaven he sent back his Holy Spirit, and his followers started doing amazing things. Every Christian should be a spring of the River of Life. How is your spring flowing? Sermon 14 of 16 tracing God's River of Life through the Bible.

The resurrection of Jesus is the power that applies all the blessings he bought for us by his death. Because of the resurrection we can be forgiven, we can be free, we can triumph over sin, we don't need to fear death, and we can sit with Christ in heaven. When we trust God and receive what he has done for us, because of the resurrection these things become ours. Sermon 13 of 16 tracing God's River of Life through the Bible.

Why did Jesus have to die? Why did all those sacrificial animals have to die? What is “atonement,” anyway? Sermon 12 of 16 tracing God's River of Life through the Bible.

Jesus' number one message was about the Kingdom of Heaven. What is that? What does it mean to be a citizen of that Kingdom while we're living in this world? Sermon 11 of 16 tracing God's River of Life through the Bible.

Who do you say Jesus is? A prophet, like Isaiah? A teacher of ethics and morals, like Confucius? A role model, like Mother Teresa? An important religious leader, like Buddha or Mohammed? Jesus didn't say any of those things. What Jesus said about himself was of a different order altogether. Sermon 10 of 16 tracing God's River of Life through the Bible.

“Everything will be alright in the end. If everything is not alright, it's not the end!” God keeps his promises, even in a spiritual battle zone. When it seems like he's silent, he's just getting things ready – as he did in the 400 “silent years” between the Old and New Testaments. Don't try to force things; let God's Spirit move. Sermon 9 of 16 tracing God's River of Life through the Bible.

“This world is not my home, I'm only passing through.” As Israel was exiled from the Promised Land for a time, the human race has been exiled from the River of Life – but only for a time. Here's how to get through while we wait. Sermon 8 of 16 tracing God's River of Life through the Bible.

Prophecy brings God's words to speak truth to power, warn the rebellious, and encourage the faithful – because God loves us all, and he wants to give us every chance. Sermon 7 of 16 tracing God's River of Life through the Bible.

Don't get complacent; Solomon proved you're never too old or too wise to become a fool. When bad things happen – and they will – will you blame God or write him off? Or will you trust God and praise him in spite of it? Sermon 6 of 16 tracing God's River of Life through the Bible.

Everybody messes up. What do you do when you do? Deny and rationalize, like King Saul? Or ask God to help you never do it again, like King David? Hint: guess which one God called “a man after my own heart?” Sermon 5 of 16 tracing God's River of Life through the Bible.

Even in the Promised Land, you can be miserable if you don't follow God. But everyone who wants to follow him is welcome. Some of the most unlikely people did. Sermon 4 of 16 tracing God's River of Life through the Bible.

God's chosen people spent 400 years in slavery. When God set them free, what did he give them? A bunch of laws! Sermon 3 of 16 tracing God's River of Life through the Bible.

Dealing with the whole human race didn't work, so God chose Abraham to father a family that would demonstrate God's love and invite everyone else to him. Sermon 2 of 16 tracing God's River of Life through the Bible.

God created us to share love, but our first ancestors had their own ideas. Will we follow Adam, Eve and Cain to the confusion of Babel, or Abel, Enoch and Noah to the River of Life? Sermon 1 of 16 tracing God's River of Life through the Bible.

God promises to provide all we need, but we have to know how to receive it, because God's love is unconditional, but most of his promises are not. Here are five steps to praying a Bible promise. Sermon 6 of 6 in the Lockdown Faith series.

Prayer doesn't just change you, it can change your circumstances. God knows what you need, and he longs to give it to you. Do you know how to put yourself in position to receive the good things God has promised? Sermon 5 of 6 in the Lockdown Faith series.

Coronavirus or cancer, injury or old age or even martyrdom, Christians know the end result: heaven! Preached Easter Sunday during the coronavirus/COVID-19 lockdown, this is sermon 4 of 6 in the Lockdown Faith series.

The LORD says, “I will rescue those who love me. I will protect those who trust in my name." - Psalm 91:14. Here's practical advice on making that real in your life. God's promises are armor and protection, but you have to put on armor and use it right, and it won't protect you from carelessness or stupidity. Preached early in the coronavirus/COVID-19 lockdown, this is sermon 3 of 6 in the Lockdown Faith series.

The Bible contains some amazing promises of God's protection against all kinds of evils, including disease. Psalm 91 is one of the most powerful. Here's practical advice on how to make them real in your life. Preached early in the Coronavirus/COVID-19 lockdown, this is sermon 2 of 6 in the Lockdown Faith series.

How do you pray God's protection for yourself or loved ones? Here's how I do it, and why I believe it works - always remembering that most of God's promises are conditional. Ending with the famous St. Patrick's Breastplate prayer, this is the first sermon I preached in the Coronavirus/COVID-19 lockdown. Sermon 1 of 6 in the Lockdown Faith series.