Doxa College Ministry Sermons

God's grace is unmerited favor that he bestows to save sinners and bring them into a relationship with him, but there is so much more to grace. It rescues us, causes us to anticipate Christ's glorious return, and it brings about transformation in our lives.Scripture: Titus 2:11–14

The truth of Scripture should have a powerful impact on our lifestyle. People in Crete were defined by sinful speech, broken families, beast-like behavior, and gluttony. Many claimed to know God but denied him by their deeds. Titus 2:1–5 provides exhortations for men and women to live a life that accords with sound doctrine. Scripture: Titus 2:1–5

We are easily led astray by the wrong kind of influencers, and we want to follow people only because of strength, success, and innovation. Scripture shows us that there is so much more to leadership than that. Anyone church that wants to call itself a church will have elders leading it who meet God's specific qualifications, and those who are led will seek to follow their example.Scriptures: Titus 1:5-9

Romans 9:19–29 continues Paul argument that God is merciful to whomever he chooses and that God hardens whomever he chooses. Human beings need to remember their lowly state before God and acknowledge that he is the one who holds us in his hands, shaping us as the potter shapes the clay. God's mercy shines gloriously against the backdrop human wickedness.Scriptures: Romans 9:19–29

Our total depravity makes it impossible for us to seek God and walk in his ways. We need God to make us alive spiritually through his grace. God chooses to make people alive, calling them to salvation in an effectual way.Passage: Ephesians 2:4–9

Sin has infected every single human being. It is important to know how our sin has broken a relationship with our sovereign God. No one seeks him, and as a result we make a mess of our lives. Only when we understand this bad news can the good news of God's grace have any appeal to us.Scripture: Romans 3:10-18

We often forget how transcendent God is, and try to think of him and related him as if he was on our level. We need to see God as high and lifted up and our hopelessness before him, unless he makes a way for our salvation. Scripture: Isaiah 6:1-7

The apostle Paul closes his letter to the Ephesians by explaining his faithful messenger and summarizing the message of the epistle. God calls all of the saints to do the work of ministry to encourage the hearts of their brothers and sisters.Scripture: Ephesians 6:21-24

Paul encourages the believers in Ephesus to take up the armor of God by praying constantly in the Spirit, making prayer and supplication for others. Pray for not only ourselves, but for others, helps supply, equip, and strengthen believers in the spiritual war and can unleash a great power in their lives to make them bold ambassadors for the gospel.Scripture: Ephesians 6:18-20

As Paul draws to the close of his letter to the Ephesians, he says, “Finally, be strong in the Lord.” Believers need to realize that they are in the midst of spiritual war and that they wrestle with a formidable enemy, the devil and his demons. More powerful, though, is the power that God offers to believers. Believers must do everything they can to make use of everything that God gives them to be able to stand and be strong in the war.Scripture: Ephesians 6:10-17

Josh Gilchrist and Jeremy Rainbow teach on Ephesians 6:1-9 covering what is looks like to walk worthy within families and workplaces. God has specific order that he has created, and he longs for people to ultimately honor one another. Authority is to be respected, and authority is to be respectful of those who are under it.Scripture: Ephesians 6:1-9

We see the contrasting results of Jesus' prayerful dependence in Gethsemane and the disciples spiritual lethargy. We need to realize that we are prone to temptation, and despite our best intentions, we are weak in and of ourselves, and we need to depend on the Lord.Scripture: Matthew 26:36-46

Marriage was instituted by God in the Garden where He joins a husband and wife together in a one flesh union. God has specific requirements for husbands and wives. Wives are to be submissive to their husbands as to the Lord, and husbands are to sacrificially and lovingly care for their wives as Christ loved the church. Marriage is to be a vivid picture of Christ's relationship to the church.Scriptures: Ephesians 5:22-33

Those called to belong to Christ should know their spiritual surroundings and step carefully in wisdom, seeking to do what pleases the Lord. Believers must also choose to be filled with the Holy Spirit and live worshipful lives with one another.Scriptures: Ephesians 5:15-21 

Those who are united in Christ are transformed into children of light, starkly contrasting the way they used to be. Those children of light are to live fruitful lives by not only avoiding the unfruitful works of darkness, but by also warning the world around them of the eternal consequences of those works. Scriptures: Ephesians 5:8-14

A person united with Christ will live in a drastically different manner than before that union took place. Believers must learn to be imitators of God, walking in His love, which was displayed in Christ's sacrifice. Believers must be sure that certain sins, so prevalent in the world, are non-existent in their lives. The sexual sin, impurity, and greed so common in the world are not fitting for those who walk worthy of their calling.Scripture: Ephesians 5:1-7

Dennis and Wendy Dougherty, Josh and Pam Gilchrist, and Tanya Cammack answered some student-generated questions related to sharing the gospel with unbelievers and people with different religious backgrounds. Questions also covered forgiveness and authority in male-female relationships.

The old self that we are to lay aside is drastically different from the new self we are to put on. The new life in Christ must be, and can be, marked by gracious speech, controlled passions, and the fear of God.Scripture: Ephesians 4:25-32

As believers, we are to walk worthily and consistently with our calling. However, we are still in the world and must lay our old ways aside, realizing their emptiness and the damage they do to our lives. Instead, we are to put on the new self, pursuing the renewal of our minds and spirits and displaying Christ's righteousness and holiness.Scripture: Ephesians 4:17–24

God wants his children to walk worthy while preserving the unity He has given. He has given them common ground and individual gifts to help them make His name known in the world as they corporately become more and more like Him.Scripture: Ephesians 4:4-16

As Paul begins talking about righteous living that flows from a believer's calling, he stresses the importance of a believer's character toward his brothers and sisters in Christ. Those character traits help believers to bear with one another and to preserve the unity of the Holy Spirit.Scripture: Ephesians 4:1-3

The epistle to the Ephesians transitions from talking about all of the things that Christ has done in unifying believers to Himself and to one another. If those blessings are true, and believers have been called to belong to Christ, that calling will result in conduct that is consistent with it. As believers, we need to walk worthy of God's calling in Christ Jesus.Passage: Ephesians 4:1

Paul ends the first half of his letter with a prayer. All of these blessings that he has explained in chapters 1–3 do not happen automatically. They are ours in Christ. But since they are from the Lord, we need to seek the Lord in laying hold of them. Scripture: Ephesians 3:14–21

We all need regular reminders of the bigger picture of our salvation... the bigger picture of the church. And 'bigger picture' doesn't mean 'something we should think about every once in a while for an interesting perspective,' it means the purpose of our faith!Passage: Ephesians 3:7–13

Truly good, God-honoring works flow from regeneration and are God's creation. God makes those who were formerly dead alive in him by grace, and he has prepared the good works that his new creations will walk in.Scripture: Ephesians 2:10

Believers can rejoice in the spiritual blessings in Christ because of God's commitment to his purposes. He blesses believers by making his master plan known to them, by making believers his possession, and by guaranteeing their inheritance by the sealing of the Holy Spirit.Passage: Ephesians 1:9-14

The last piece of Spiritual Armor Paul describes is the only piece of armor that is offensive. It helps us answer the question, “How do I attack?” Up to this point, every piece of armor has been a defensive tool against the enemy's tactics. This Sword of the Spirit is an offensive weapon against the Evil One himself. Fighting sin, fighting the flesh, and fighting off the devil's attacks requires the ability to use God's word with skilled precision. You must know when to use it, how to use it, and where to strike with it. Just as with a sword. Want to defeat sin in your life? You should. Then make learning how to use God's word with precision and accuracy a regular part of your spiritual growth. Resist the devil with the Sword of the Spirit, and he will flee from you.Passage: Ephesians 6:17Main Idea: Be learning how to make use of God's word with precision and accuracy.

The believer's confidence, strength, and hope for daily obedience is anchored in the eternal promise of their salvation. The realities of justification, sanctification, and glorification which are accomplished through the blood of Jesus Christ teach the believer what it means to live saved from the penalty of sin, the power of sin, and one day the presence of sin. To take up the helmet of salvation means to believe in these realities every day, and walk obediently as a new creation in them.Main idea: Taking up the helmet of salvation means living saved.Passage: Ephesians 6:17

The devil's arrows are dipped in the tar of deceit and lit by the flame of wickedness. Lies, deception, half-truths, doubts: These are what the flaming darts are made of. The shield of faith is the believer's only hope when it comes to defending against these attacks. The promises of God, assurance of salvation, eternal blessings in the Gospel of Christ: These are what the shield of faith are made of. The believer's hope is that, in all circumstances, the shield of faith will hold up against the schemes of the devil. Therefore, it is our duty to make faithful use of it.Main Idea: Take up the shield of faithPassage: Ephesians 6:16

The devil's arrows are dipped in the tar of deceit and lit by the flame of wickedness. Lies, deception, half-truths, doubts: These are what the flaming darts are made of. The shield of faith is the believer's only hope when it comes to defending against these attacks. The promises of God, assurance of salvation, eternal blessings in the Gospel of Christ: These are what the shield of faith are made of. The believer's hope is that, in all circumstances, the shield of faith will hold up against the schemes of the devil. Therefore, it is our duty to make faithful use of it.Main Idea: Take up the shield of faithPassage: Ephesians 6:16

What's the first thing you picture when you imagine a soldier prepared to fight? It probably wasn't their feet, was it? And yet, when faced with a charging enemy, among the first preparations anyone does before they engage is stagger their feet into a ready stance. But what good is a ready stance if their footwear is not adequate for stability and resistance? The Gospel of Peace is compared to the ‘readiness' given by a well-designed pair of battle shoes. Wake up and lace up. This is what the believer needs to do every day if they are going to be ready for the battles they will face.Main idea: The Gospel of Peace makes you ready to stand.Passage: Ephesians 6:16

This message continues our Walking and Warring series looking at the second and third pieces of the armor of God: the breastplate of righteousness and the shoes of the readiness given from the gospel of peace, from Ephesians 6:14b-15.

How can you tell the difference between a street fighter and a professional MMA fighter? Many things: Stance, strength, agility, body control, technique, and various evidence of training (or lack thereof). How can you tell the difference between someone equipped for spiritual fighting vs. someone not equipped? It all depends on if they're wearing a belt: The Belt of Truth. This message on Ephesians 6:13-14 will describe the design of this belt, the function of this belt, and the effect of this belt according to God's word. Be ready to observe your own life in light of these things to determine if you are doing everything necessary to withstand spiritual warfare.Main idea: Get ready to do all you can by putting on the belt of truth.

If we are going to stand against the schemes of the devil, we need to be aware of what he is like.In any feat of competition, battle, or contest, a contender is wise to be knowledgeable of their opponent. If Christians have an adversary, shouldn't we be so wise? Shouldn't we know the enemy's schemes and character? Scripture says so.Our adversary, the devil, is amazingly effective at making lies believable, sin desirable, temptation unavoidable, and error irresistible. In this message we seek to become more familiar with our enemy, so that we may stand in the evil day.More resources from Faith.

This section of Scripture shows us our natural state and that we desperately need new life in Christ, or regeneration. Out natural state is this: we are spiritually dead and unable to save ourselves, nor are we able to resist sin, the world, the Devil and his demons, or our passions and desires.More resources from Faith.

Ephesians 6:10-20 is the foundation which this series will be built on, and if verses 10-13 tell us anything, it's this: Scripture is crystal clear that spiritual warfare is real, and we're commanded to engage in it. This is a vital reminder to every Christian today. It has become too easy in our cultural moment, our own worldview, and in our sinful weaknesses to prefer ‘easy walking' over ‘Walking and Warring.' But the reality is God's word tells us that if we aren't warring, we really aren't even walking. This challenge is a humbling one, and it will call us to do more than we're capable of. But thanks be to God that in Christ we have all we need for the call. So, suit up. We're in for an exciting ride.

To wrap up this dating series, Jared Millican moderates a Q&A with five of our current College Ministry volunteer leaders. Combined, these five have almost 40 years of experience with serving in college ministry. They've been through these dating series before, and they love to help college students think about the important questions that surround dating and marriage. More importantly, each of these leaders comes from different backgrounds of experience in their own relationships, through which they've followed Christ faithfully. Enjoy listening to fellow believers in Christ who are seeking to walk humbly with the Lord and who desire to help others to the same.Questions include:How do you know if you're too picky?What is an appropriate way for a girl to pursue a guy with whom she has interest? How do you know when you are ready to date? How should a dating couple approach accountability with each other?How should a young couple practice building a relationship with God together? How should you deal with lusts and physical attraction within dating?

“Can I ______; can I ______? What's ok, what isn't? I can agree sex should be kept for marriage, but I still want to show physical affection while dating.” It is unavoidable that this tension will come up in a dating relationship. In this message we consider again what tension-causers in our thinking might exist regarding these questions. Then we look at some explicit commands in scripture regarding affection and sex. Finally, we observe a handful of biblical principles which urge us to make thoughtful, careful, humble decisions in this area. As always with ‘grey area' issues, we need to take what is clear in scripture to grow in wisdom for what is less clear. Such intentional thought in this area of discernment is necessary in a culture which equates sex with love and sinfully promotes the unreserved gratification of our sexual desires.

This message finishes where last week's left off: Biblical principles for addressing the tension some feel about Christians putting too much pressure on dating for marriage. The two principles proposed here are (1) The believer's first responsibility in any decision in life must be to please God; (2) The believer must remember that everything they have from God is a stewardship, including their relationships. Tune in to see how this relates to our dating questions.

It is a common claim in Christian circles that ‘dating should be for the purpose of marriage.' And yet, what is also a common claim among believers is that there can be ‘too much pressure for marriage' in dating. Do you feel the tension? Why is it that we agree on this first statement but are uncomfortable and frustrated with this second statement? This message seeks to address possible causes of this tension.

In this message, we pick up where we left off from the previous message. We address yet another tension in the dating conversation. The goal is to evaluate potential causes of these tensions, address them with Biblical principles, and then propose possible solutions. In this message, the tension we address is: ‘I want to know what essential standards I need to have for a significant other, but I hope I get more than just the essentials.' Tensions like these may give us unreasonable expectations, a prideful attitude toward others, and may very well stall our ability to have fruitful relationships. Thankfully, God's word provides the true essentials we can work from.

A survey of Christian college students and non-Christian Americans revealed some common tensions in the ‘dating' conversation. For example: ‘It feels weird to date a guy/gal that's one of my closest friends… and yet I want my future spouse to be my best friend.' Or: ‘I want to initiate, but I'm afraid if I initiate they'll think I'm initiating.' Ok everyone, lets address the elephants in the room. There's a lot of them, and it's getting tense. In this message, we begin addressing common tensions in the dating conversation. We evaluate possible causes of these tensions, we observe biblical principles which get to the heart of them, and then we propose some possible solutions.