Know the Truth with Todd D McDonald

In this week's sermon podcast, we look at Jeremiah 18:1-6, "Clay in the Potter's Hands." A lump of clay is not impressive. Its uses are limited. A lump of clay is not attractive. But with the creativity and skill of a master potter, a lump of clay can be transformed into an impressive, useful, and beautiful vessel. The Lord is able to transform our lives in this same way if we are willing to be clay in the potter's hands.

Man is limited, but God is unlimited. We sometimes put God in a box, ignoring this reality: God does impossible things. Where our resourcefulness ends, God's is just beginning. His Spirit reaches to the ends of the earth. His Spirit is powerful, and he searches the hearts of men. His Spirit is able to do far beyond all we can ask or imagine. We can do all things, not by our own might,or by our own power, but by the Spirit of the Lord. The Holy Ghost is our power.

Attitude is everything. We need to approach life with an optimistic spirit. We can choose to look at the negative side of any situation, or we can choose to be hopeful in the promises of God. No matter how bad our circumstances become, we still have Jesus Christ and our hope in the Lord.

This sermon is a followup message to the previous sermon, "Soul-winners." Todd will continue to look at the priority of being a witness and sharing our faith in Christ.

Am I a soul winner? This is a question we should ask ourselves from time to time. Our primary responsibility as Christians is to make disciples. Someone shared the gospel with us and led us to Jesus. We have the same compelling call to share Christ with others. This week's sermon considers our Christian witness and the call to make disciples.

The United States remains a somewhat religious society. Religious telecasts and podcasts are replete. Nevertheless, the morality of the nation has continued to decline. Bottom line: the U.S. is religious and godless at the same time. We are experiencing apostasy. Christianity lacks conviction and relationship with Christ. It has become a religious designation only. Today's message looks at this dilemma, and calls for something deeper.

We are free in Jesus. In fact, he came for this very purpose - to save us from the power of sin and death. Moreover, our liberty is not freedom to live as we please, but to serve the Lord and please him.

Human beings want control. They desire control over their own lives. They often try to control circumstances, and even other people. When they feel like they are losing control, they become anxious and angry. Only one person is truly in control: Jesus Christ. We need to learn to surrender complete control to him.

The desire of ones heart is the single greatest factor influencing the direction of ones life. God sees the inmost desires of our heart. We all need a heart for God.

We live in a society that has rejected the Word of God. In fact, most people do not know the truths of God's Word. Even professing Christians lack the knowledge of the truth. In this present falling away, more than ever, God's people need to know and follow the words of Christ.

Greed, the love of money, influences many people and their decisions, impacting the others and outcomes. We should guard ourselves against the evils of greed.

Today's message is a story of extravagant waste from a human perspective. But from a spiritual perspective, the actions of a humble woman display the immeasurable worth of Christ and his sacrifice.

Jesus warned his disciples to be watchful. The last days will lull people to sleep - to become spiritually apathetic and lethargic. Immorality, the cares of life, persecutions, and worldliness will influence Christians, turning many away from the truth. We must take heed, and remain watchful, lest he come and find us sleeping on the job.

This sermon is one of the most important themes in the New Testament: Jesus Is Coming. Indeed, he is coming, and we must be ready when he comes. For those who are ready, his coming brings salvation; but for those who are not ready his coming brings judgment. Let's be ready!

This message continues the Gospel of Mark series. As followers of Christ, we must ensure we remain firmly established in the truth. Many have unwittingly fallen prey to the spirit of error. We should be careful to remain humble before God, and try the spirits.

This message is the second part of the sermon: "The Responsibility of the Church."

It's a privilege to be a child of God and to know Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. Moreover, being a member of God's church is an honor. We are a purchased people. Think about it: being the body of Christ makes us a peculiar treasure to God. Although we are indeed blessed, we should remember that tremendous responsibility comes with such honor.

Jesus taught his disciples to persevere, and he showed us how to persevere in the face of opposition. If we faithfully follow in his footsteps, we will overcome this world and reap everlasting life.

Many people are quick to protect and defend themselves. They avoid making themselves vulnerable at all cost. However, we should remember that God is in control of our lives. When we follow Christ faithfully, we can be confident that he will be our defense.

We are living in the last days unto the coming of the Lord. Jesus taught "the end." One day, everything we have become accustomed to will change - this life as we know it will reach an end. When Jesus comes he will usher in a new day. In today's message, we will consider the events leading up to his soon coming.

The last days are filled with many perils for Christians. God's people will faced heightened opposition in various ways: e.g. spiritually, socially, morally, and physically. Jesus taught about the circumstances of the last days unto his coming. We need to take heed.

As Christians, we are not all the same, but we are unique. Jesus knows us through and through. He knows all we are capable of doing, and he knows our limitations. Although we are not all the same, we are all individually responsible to use all we are given to honor and glorify the Lord. Let's be faithful because Jesus is watching.

This message is a continuation of "Christ, the Son of God." The doctrine and authority of Jesus Christ is based on his being the Son of God. His doctrine is unique because he comes from above, descending from the Father in heaven. Let's explore the doctrine of Jesus Christ.

Knowing Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, comes by divine revelation in the heart of every believer. Flesh and blood cannot reveal him, but the Father convinces by his Word and Spirit. This divine revelation is the basis of our salvation.

This sermon is a continuation of the last message, "The Love of God," lifting up one of the most important truths of the Scriptures. Of course, Jesus Christ is the greatest revelation of God's love toward mankind. God's love of us and our love of him impacts and shapes our relationships with others.

This sermon lifts up one of the most important truths of the Scriptures: the love of God. Of course, Jesus Christ is the greatest revelation of God's love toward mankind. God's love of us and our love of him impacts and shapes our relationships with others.

As followers of Jesus Christ, we serve a living God, even the God of life. Indeed, Christ is risen from the dead. We are not only saved by his death but we have eternal life, even the resurrection of life, through his bodily resurrection, for he is the firstfruits of the sons of God. Through faith in Christ, we live -- we have conquered death. Our God is the God of the living; he gives life, even abundant life to all who come to him through faith in Jesus Christ.

God has blessed his people in so many ways. He has provided for our daily needs. We should honor God in our finances, being faithful stewards of his blessings in our lives.

The gospel of the kingdom does not permit people to be indifferent to what they hear. Jesus does not allow that prerogative. When people hear the truth of the gospel, they must make a choice - to accept or to reject Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. For those who accept Jesus by faith, he is Savior; for those who reject him, he is a stumbling stone.

This message is a continuation of the sermon, "The Authority of Christ." Jesus has all power and authority in heaven and in earth. We can trust and rest in the authority of Christ. He has everything under control.

Christ has all authority in heaven and earth. Being followers of Christ, God has given authority to the church by his Word and Spirit. In this sermon, we begin to look at Christ's authority.

This message calls us to place our faith in Jesus Christ. In life, we are faced by challenges that put our faith to the test. Christ is trustworthy; he will not fail. No matter what we go through in this life, we can safely trust in the Lord because he is faithful. We will overcome and accomplish great things through faith in God.

This sermon is part two of "His Church Can Do No Less," a sermon from the Gospel of Mark series.

This sermon is a continuation of the Mark Series.

This week's sermon, "Get into the Procession," looks at Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem. He came to fulfill his Father's will and purpose. The crowds celebrated him as the anointed One. For some, Jesus was the healer, for others the deliverer, and even others the prophet of God. The crowds had such great expectations. But the people did not realize he came to give his life. Healer, deliverer, and prophet -- Jesus is indeed all of these, and so much more -- Jesus is the Son of God, the lamb of God, our Lord and Savior. He's coming again, and he's worthy of celebration: let's get into the procession.

As followers of Christ, we all have a part to play in fulfilling the plan of God in the world. All of us are unique -- different -- yet all of us serve the same Christ in our unique roles. None of us are more important than others. Christ values us for who we are in him according to his unique purpose in our lives. He desires to use each one of us, and get glory out of our lives.

Jesus Christ came to radically change the course of our lives. When we receive him as Lord and Saviour, we then follow him in a new path - in a whole new way of life. Jesus demonstrated through his life, his teachings, and his works the pattern we should follow. Follow his way.

God hears our cry, and he knows our heart. In "A Beggar's Faith," we look at the transforming power of faith in Jesus Christ.

To be like Jesus: this is a high calling. Jesus is our Lord and master, but he came as the servant of all. He was willing to deny himself and even suffer the death of the cross for our salvation. We, as followers of Christ, are called to walk in his footsteps.

Jesus knew suffering and death awaited him in Jerusalem, yet he was determined to fulfill his purpose in giving his life. As Jesus and his disciples approached Jerusalem, his disciples were amazed!

This sermon concludes the series, Contending with the Enemy. Whether we want it or not, we are fighting against a real enemy. So we must be willing to engage in the fight and contend, in order to overcome and experience spiritual victory. In this sermon, we will explore what it means to fight the good fight of faith.

We are combatting a real enemy. The impact of satan's influences can be seen in not only the rebellion of individuals but also in systemic evil affecting society. Christians must not become passive in our witness, but should understand the need to be proactive in our mission.

We are contending with an enemy we do not physically see, but we see the devastating effects of his deception and wicked works. We must therefore contend with satan and his demonic forces spiritually. We must be armed with the Spirit to be victorious in our fight for truth and righteousness. This fight is greater than ourselves; we are also contending for the souls of those around us, especially our family and friends. Let's explore what it means to be armed with the Spirit.

We are contending with a real spiritual enemy. In order to contend, we must be spiritually prepared to face satan's attack. In this sermon, we will consider our preparation.

We are in a spiritual battle against satanic forces of evil. We need to understand satan's strategy of attack in order to recognize him when he comes at us and to overcome him by faith.

We are fighting an unseen enemy that should not be underestimated. He is the master of temptation and deception. As followers of Jesus Christ, we need to be spiritually savvy - knowing his tactics - in order to resist and overcome his schemes.

Christians live in a world that conflicts with principles of righteousness and holiness. Pressures to conform to the world are all around us in literally every system in which we live, work, and play. We must have a made-up mind, going against the flow, and resisting the spirit of compromise.

This message is a continuation of last week's sermon -- Cost of Living in Sodom -- based on the story of Lot. As Christians, we must maintain a clear separation between sin and righteousness. The cost is too great to compromise ourselves.

This sermon series is a politically incorrect message - nevertheless, it's the truth from God's Word. This series is counter-cultural; and it focuses on a loving God's response to a rebellious, unrepentant people. Sin is deceptive; and flirting with sin comes with a great cost. Christians must therefore flee the appearance of evil.

How important is our faith in Christ? In this sermon, we look at the significance of faith in Christ's resurrection. Through faith, we are victorious in the Lord. We overcome because we believe Jesus died and arose from the dead triumphantly.

In this Easter message, we continue to look at the events surrounding Jesus' death and resurrection. When the women came to the tomb, the stone was rolled away and the tomb was empty. Let's consider the impact of these events and the hope it brings.