Lessons of Liberty

How should we respond when God speaks? Pastor Rory explains from Amos 3:1-15 that when God's speaks, we must listen and believe especially when He reveals the reality of coming judgment on sin. When we listen to God we'll believe that sin is evil and it's punishment is horrible moving us to turn to Him.

How do we evaluate the growth of the church? Pastor Nate explains from Ephesians 4:11-16 that church growth is less about average attendance and more about spiritual ability. We grow as we use our equipping to help each other grow.

What is the point of gathering together week-in-and-week-out as the church? Pastor Nate explains from Acts 2:42-47 that the church can only grow as it ought to if it is gathered together. There is no such thing as a lone ranger Christian; we grow by gathering.

How does the church become what God created it to be? Pastor Nate Wagner explains from 1 Peter 2:4-10 that what the church is defines what the church does. When remember who we are, we will function as God intended us to function.

How does Jonah fit into the overall story of Scripture? Pastor Nate explains in this biblical theology of Jonah that the book highlights the compassionate, merciful, and gracious heart of God in saving sinners from destruction. It points to us to the saving work of Jesus Christ for even the worst of sinners.

What can we do about the self-righteousness that comes naturally to all of us? Pastor Nate explains from Jonah 4:5-11 that a renewed focus on God's grace toward us will turn our focus off of ourselves and how good we are, and turn it to dependence on God.

What happens when we let pride rule in our hearts? Pastor Nate explains from Jonah 4:1-4 that pride develops into bitter resentment and anger that destroys our relationships. Instead we need a steady of diet of God's mercy to help us think rightly of ourselves and others.

How should we respond to the fact that our hearts are "factories of idols"? Pastor Rory explains from Amos 2:6-16 that the if we do nothing, we will face God's judgment. But if we recognize God's goodness and reject our self-sufficiency our idolatrous hearts can be transformed.

What kind of hope and confidence does Easter provide? Pastor Nate explains from Romans 8:31-39 that our confidence rests completely in Jesus Christ. He is the one who delivers us from opposition, abomination, condemnation, and separation. All of God's promises are guaranteed because of the love shown in the resurrection of Jesus from the dead.

Does Palm Sunday and the triumphal entry have any impact our daily lives? Pastor Nate explains from Romans 8:1-11 that Palm Sunday reminds us that as the King, Jesus has a right to each of our hearts and lives. His reign in our hearts is even more significant than His reign on a throne.

Many people don't like to think about or consider the judgment of God. But assuming it's real, how can we prepare? Pastor Rory explains from Amos 1:3-2:5 how God's oracles of wrath to the nations teach us to respond to God's judgment with awareness, fear, and humility. These attitudes will lead us to the gospel and repentance.

How should repentance impact our lives? Pastor Nate explains from Jonah 3:1-10 that the repentance both drives and demands a lifestyle change that will make the gospel's impact clear to those around us.

How does God's relentless mercy impact us? Pastor Nate explains from Jonah 2:1-10 that God's mercy invites us to whole-hearted surrender as Jonah's example shows us what genuine surrender looks like.

How can we think rightly about the trials and storms that arise in our lives? Pastor Nate explains from Jonah 1:4-17 how the storm in which Jonah found himself was evidence of God's relentless mercy. The storms aren't sent to ruin us, but to rescue our souls.

How should we respond to God? Pastor Rory explains from the opening verses of Amos (Amos 1:1-2) that God is God, we are not, and how that reality should change our lives.

What is it that makes people resistant to obey God and His Word? Pastor Nate explains from Jonah 1:1-3 that only faith that God is who He says He is can move us to obey Him.

How does Luke present Jesus Christ in his gospel? In this, the last sermon in our Luke series, Pastor Nate recaps the entire gospel to show that Luke presents Jesus as the Son of the Most High who will sit on the throne of David.

Jesus's last few days with His disciples were transformative for them. Pastor Nate explains from Luke 24:36-53 how the transformation of the disciples reveals the resurrection's power to change everything including our own lives.

Jesus's resurrection from the dead had a huge impact on the world. Pastor Nate explains from Luke 24:13-35 that Jesus's resurrection revealed His power to transform everything even our fears and doubts into life-giving hope.

Jesus is alive. Three days after He died, He was raised from the dead. But what difference does it make? Pastor Rory explains from Luke 23:50-24:12 that the resurrection gives us more hope than any New Year resolution and it lasts forever.

In a world that is longing for peace, where can we find it? Pastor Nate explains from Ephesians 2:13-18 that Jesus Christ is our peace. Peace became flesh and dwelt among us, a reality that begins with Christmas and the incarnation. Our only hope for peace within ourselves and with each other is for Christ to create it.

Our expectations of Christmas often leave us restless and dissatisfied when the holiday is past. Pastor Nate explains from Haggai 2:6-9 that peace and satisfaction are found not in the gifts or the experiences, but in the Jesus who was promised to come and bring peace with Him.

We can't end up neutral after the cross of Christ confronts us. Pastor Rory explains from Luke 23:26-49 that Luke uses the people around the cross to show his expectation that we will respond in faith and repentance when we see the cross rather than in mere tears or scorn.

Jesus Christ stands in stark contrast to the rest of humanity. Pastor Nate explains from Luke 22:66-23:25 that we, like Barabas, are the guilty who get to go free because Jesus, the innocent, was condemned in our place.

When we fail, we might be tempted to give up. Pastor Nate explains from Luke 22:54-65 that even when we fail, God's compassion lasts forever. We ought not think God's love is like ours, that changes when someone lets us down.

It is common for people to fear and dread when we think about trials. This affects even Christians. But Dr. Lee Ormiston explains from Isaiah 43:1-7 how God's sovereignty can help us trust Him even when circumstances aren't what we would expect or want.

When our way in dark, we can struggle with where to turn. Pastor Nate explains from Luke 22:39-53 that Jesus committed Himself to God even in the dark days before His death. As we consider His example, we can trust God confidently when we face darkness ourselves.

What is the right attitude to have as we pursue faithful discipleship? Pastor Nate explains from Luke 22:21-38 that we must resist our hearts' urge toward being served and lording over others. Faithful disciples requires an attitude of service and humility that imitates Christ.

How does Luke want the Jesus's last supper to impact us? Pastor Rory explains from Luke 22:7-20 that Jesus's last supper helps us trust God's plan in the details of our world and our lives as we see the wisdom in His path and His plan for the future, and remember Christ's sacrifice on the cross.

What is God's plan to save people? Missionary Roberto Coelho explains from Acts 16:5-40 that God sends, saves, and knows what is best as He uses His people to share the good news of the gospel. We must be a part of His plan to share this good news.

What was behind Judas's betrayal of Jesus? Pastor Nate explains from Luke 22:1-6 that Judas's betrayal wasn't so much different from our own unfaithfulness when we are lured by the world to follow our own agenda rather than remain true to Christ.

Does the future return of Christ impact our lives today? Pastor Nate explains from Luke 21:5-38 that Christ's return drives us to live faithful lives today because only faithfulness will have us ready to meet Him when He returns.

Where can we find true satisfaction in this life? Pastor Seth explains from Psalm 84 that we are truly satisfied by drawing near to God in Christ Jesus. Only by dwelling with Him can we find the meaning we are searching for.

What is the heart of true worship? Pastor Nate explains from Luke 20:41-20:4 how Jesus taught us that true worship is not about our religious rituals and practices, but about a heart of piety.

What is the purpose and importance of the church? As part of Liberty Baptist Church's 35th anniversary Sunday, Pastor Nate Wagner explains from Ephesians 2:19-22 that the God's transforming work begins with unifying change in the church.

How does the hope of the resurrection impact our lives? Pastor Nate Wagner explains from Luke 20:27-40 how God guarantees our hope and impacts our lives with the resurrection of Christ and our own resurrection.

What is the Christians relationship to government? Pastor Nate explains from Luke 20:20-26 that Christians owe their ultimate allegiance to God more than to any government, but that we must also submit ourselves to the authorities God has placed over us.

How can we counteract the fear that leads to rebellion against God? Pastor Rory explains from Luke 19:47-20:19 that rather than fear, we must submit to God by believing what He says and accepting who He is.

What is our hope for peace in a world of chaos? Pastor Nate explains from Luke 19:28-46 and the triumphal entry that we will find lasting peace only if we rest and submit to the true king, Jesus.

How can we ready ourselves for a kingdom that will be delayed longer than we expect? Pastor Rory explains from Luke 19:11-27 and Jesus's parable that we can ready ourselves by submitting to God, investing wisely, fearing God, and standing in faith.

Jesus came to seek and save the lost, but how should we respond to His seeking of us? Pastor Rory explains from Luke 19:1-10 how Zacchaeus's example shows us what it looks like to respond to God in faith when He comes seeking us.

How should we understand both the good and the bad in our lives? Ron Gotzman from Central Seminary explains from Romans 8:28 that God takes all of our circumstances together and turns them for good in our lives.

What does it look like to love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength? Pastor Rory explains from Luke 18:35-43 and the example of a seeing blind man that pursuing God with all you have takes regular habits of crying in desperation, trusting with confidence, and leading in worship.

What is the impact of following Jesus? Pastor Nate explains from Luke 18:15-34 that following Jesus brings a complete transformation of our thinking. He moves us from an orientation of self-dependence to complete dependence and from idol worshipping to idol forsaking.

What is the posture of those who are justified and redeemed? Pastor Nate explains from Luke 18:9-14 that those who seek to justify themselves only condemn themselves, but sinners who plead for mercy find justification.

What is the Christian's responsibility as we wait for Christ's return? Pastor Nate explains from Luke 18:1-8 that one of the responsibilities that Christian's have is to pray for the kingdom to come. When we ask God to bring the justice of the kingdom our hope in that day is strengthened.