Pure Life Ministries Sermons

In the 23rd message of our “Unveiling Yahweh” series, Steve Gallagher shares God's pathway for victory over sexual sin. Every professing Christian who is constantly losing the battle against sexual sin has developed a distorted view of God. As a result, they question God and His ways. In today's sermon, Steve Gallagher answers some of these questions with biblical answers to prove that God is not only trustworthy, but He is also the only source for lasting victory over sexual sin.   Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

It is a spiritual law that a life which is dominated by sin can only breed death. But it is also a spiritual law that a life dominated by righteousness can only breed life. So what hope can the habitual sinner ever have to live that kind of life? In our recent chapel service, Nate Danser & Steve Gallagher shared about how it wasn't the American church system which enabled them to do so, but it was a radical encounter with the living God, and then an ongoing pursuit of Him.   Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

In the 22nd message of our "Unveiling Yahweh" series, we will be looking at God's plans for us.   We have a way of interfering with God's plans for our lives when we make sinful choices. When we reap the negative consequences of those decisions, it's easy to despair about the future. But even when we sin, God still has a plan to do good in each of our lives. And as Dustin Renz shares out of Jeremiah 29, if we will submit to His plan, He will work good for us, even when we are facing the worst of circumstances.   Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Each year after our Annual Conference, a guest speaker will share a special, conference-themed message in our Sunday chapel service. This year's theme was, “Watch and Pray,” and Faith Homes minister Dave Leopold joined us, encouraging us to wait for the Lord's appearing with eager anticipation, just like those who awaited His first coming.   Scripture quotations marked CSB have been taken from the Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible® and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.

In the 22nd message of our "Unveiling Yahweh" series, we will be looking at the Wisdom of God. Man's wisdom and God's wisdom couldn't be more different from one another. We see wisdom as simply intellect, but God's wisdom is a life of goodness and righteousness – two things which we, in our sinful state, desperately need. Thankfully, God provided the way to come into this kind of wisdom: through the Cross of Jesus Christ. In today's sermon, we dive deep into the wisdom of the Cross as revealed in 1 Corinthians 1.   Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations taken from the Amplified Bible Copyright 2015 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™

In the 21st message of our "Unveiling Yahweh" series, we look at how God redeems us. The Bible testifies to the fact that we are all sinners in need of redemption, and it also testifies to how God fulfills that need. But unfortunately there are many attending church today who, while claiming to be redeemed, still live a sinful lifestyle. This is not God's plan, and there is only one way to come into the true redemption God has for His people. Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

In the 20th message of our "Unveiling Yahweh" series, we will be looking at how God breaks the power of sin. Anyone who has given themselves over to sexual sin for any length of time can attest to the strong grip it possesses once given over to. But in today's sermon, Steve Gallagher shares how the Lord has helped break the power of sin in his life through unexpected means: through trials and challenges and a constant call to submit to God's will.   Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

In the 19th message of our "Unveiling Yahweh" series, we will be looking at the Purposes of the Lord. When we ask God what His purpose is for our lives, we're often thinking of one thing: ourselves. But God's purposes go far beyond what we can see – they aim at glorifying His name and working good in our lives. In today's sermon, Nate Danser helps unveil just how glorious God's plans and purposes are for all of mankind.   Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

In the 18th message of our "Unveiling Yahweh" series, we will be looking at the Justice of the Lord.   If you follow the biblical narrative of one of Israel's ancient enemies, Nineveh, you will discover the sobering truth that, although at one time they received great mercy from God, they chose to reject that mercy and were ultimately destroyed by Him. Why was that?   In today's sermon, Dustin Renz speaks on the patience, justice and mercy of God as we examine the judgment of Nineveh recorded in Nahum 1.       Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.   Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.   Scripture quotations taken from the NASB (New American Standard Bible) Copyright 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

In the 17th message of our "Unveiling Yahweh" series, we will be looking at the Day of the Lord.   Are you ready for the Day of the Lord? Descriptions of that day permeate the Bible. It is described in the prophetic books and is made most clear to us in the book of Revelation. In today's sermon, Steve Gallagher surveys these passages and challenges us to be ready for Jesus' appearing, which is much closer than we think!     Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

In the 16th message of our "Unveiling Yahweh" series, we will be looking at the Humility of God. The humility displayed by Jesus in His earthly life is not just something He ‘put on' while He walked among us. It is foundational to the character of Yahweh. And when we look at the beautiful, humble way Jesus interacted with those around Him, we see how God works in our lives today. But our hearts should also be enraptured by His lowly character. As we behold the wonder of His lowliness, it should compel us to be lowly like He is.   Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

In the 15th message of our "Unveiling Yahweh" series, we will be learning about God's strength in our spiritual battles. The history of Israel shows us something crucial about living the Christian life. When we trust and obey the Lord, He will help us conquer our spiritual enemies. But when we don't rely on Him, we are bound to continue in one failure after another. This week, Luke Imperato provides three lessons from Israel's history to instruct us in our spiritual battles today.   Scripture quotations taken from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com Scripture quotations marked (TLB) are taken from The Living Bible, copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

In the 14th message of our "Unveiling Yahweh" series, we will be learning about God's name as “Rapha”. Pain, sickness and suffering are all part of the human condition. When we dig into what the Bible says about them, we realize that the reasons for suffering in this life are complex and diverse. However, one thing that stands out is that God wants our trials to reveal His identity as Rapha, our healer. This week, Dustin Renz shares four revelations of God's character and His healing power.   Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

In the 13th message of our "Unveiling Yahweh" series, we will be looking at the Goodness of God.   God's goodness should impact the way we live our lives. But such a life is sadly uncommon within the church. Instead, many professing Christians are driven by selfish desires rather than godly ones. For this to change, we must encounter God's goodness in our hearts. So in this week's sermon, Steve Gallagher looks at Galatians 6 to explain how God's goodness can make an impact on our hearts and lives.   Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

In the 12th message of our "Unveiling Yahweh" series, we will be looking at the Righteousness of God. In Psalm 119, David wrote, “in Your righteousness give me life!” What did he see about God's righteousness that caused this desperate cry? In today's sermon, we not only learn about what God's righteousness is, but take a special look at it in God's law, learning about the effect it should have on us and the cry it should produce in our hearts.    Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

In the 11th message of our "Unveiling Yahweh" series, we will learn about the benefits of having Yahweh as our Shepherd. Psalm 23 is one of the most beloved psalms of the Bible. Yet many Christians who know it by heart live lives which refuse to treat God like He really is their shepherd. It's no wonder then that addictions are common in churches, and worldliness abounds even among pastors and leaders. In today's sermon, Nate Danser expounds on 3 lines from this beloved psalm to help us see what our life should look like when Yahweh is our Shepherd. Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

In the 10th message of our "Unveiling Yahweh" series, we will learn how to truly claim Yahweh as our portion. Everyone spends their lives trying to fulfill their perceived needs, whether it's the need for security, intimacy, pleasure, or anything else. But Psalm 16 reveals something very important about our Creator: that He is the true fulfillment we all truly need. Unfortunately, most in the church still seek to fulfill their needs just like the world does: apart from God. In today's message, Nate Danser looks at Psalm 16, and how it reveals how God is the ultimate portion for our souls.  Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

In the 9th message of our "Unveiling Yahweh" series, we will be looking at God as a giver.  Our fallen nature makes us quick to malign God's character. When life doesn't give us what we want, we call God a killjoy. If providence steals a cherished person or possession from us, we see Him a taker.

In the 8th message of our “Unveiling Yahweh” series, we will be learning about God's name as Jireh. This week, Dustin Renz walks through Genesis 22: God's testing of Abraham. Through this narrative, we see Abraham's strong faith that God would be true to His covenant. And through it, we also see the powerful truth that in our need, Yahweh will see to it. Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. Scripture taken from the New Century Version®. Copyright © 2005 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

In the 7th message of our Unveiling Yahweh series, we will be learning about the Voice of God.  The way God speaks to us has become a divisive topic due to misuse in some circles. Yet the vital importance of understanding how to hear God in our lives hasn't changed.

In the 6th message of our "Unveiling Yahweh" series, we will be looking at the Wrath of God. This attribute of God, perhaps more than any other, can be hard to swallow. Many Christians choose to deemphasize the reality of God's wrath and overemphasize His love and mercy. Yet the truth is that God's wrath and His mercy are displayed with equal importance and clarity in Scripture. Both are part of who He is, and both are needful for us to know if we are to walk rightly before Him.

In the 5th message of our Unveiling Yahweh series, we will be looking at the Faithfulness of God. Our lives can be full of circumstances and people which will let us down. This is inevitable in a fallen world. But God, who is not like us, is good, unchanging and perfect. He is a Being fully worthy of our trust, because His character, and His track record, prove that He is faithful.

In the 4th message of our Unveiling Yahweh series, we will be looking at the Mercy of God. This week, Dustin Renz turns to the Old Testament to look at the mercy at work during a pivotal time in the prophet Elijah's life. We hope this unique look at a familiar biblical account brings you a fresh sight of how God loves to pour out mercy into our lives.

In this message, Steve Gallagher encourages us to seek a deeper revelation of God's greatness. Seeing more of His grandeur should impact our daily lives and cause us to walk more closely to Him.

Throughout history God has displayed His patience towards mankind again and again. When a person or a nation sins, He does not always display His judgment immediately. Instead, He often holds back for a time. And sometimes that can be decades or even centuries. Why does He wait? What is the reason for such extravagant patience? Today in our latest sermon series, Unveiling Yahweh, Luke Imperato unpacks God's patience and reveals its intended purpose for us.

Eternal life comes from an intimate relationship with the Lord. But since The Fall, mankind has lost that intimacy and developed wrong views of God and His character. This has caused a host of pain, suffering and sin, as we see all around us each day. The solution each of us needs to find peace and freedom is to return to a true, intimate knowledge of God.   Join us for our new sermon series, Unveiling Yahweh, as we seek to magnify the true beauty and wonder of God's nature.

The love of Christ for us is one of the most powerful motivations we have for leading a holy life. Yet love, for many Christians, has been shaped by our culture and is often based on superficial characteristics or fleeting feelings. That kind of love can quickly dissolve and change. So to experience a love for Christ that will truly control our actions, we must understand what Christ's love for us truly means, and the kind of effect it should have in our lives.

The message of Christ's death, resurrection and second coming is powerful! It has cost missionaries to give their lives, and even sell themselves into slavery, to spread the good news! It elicits praise from the church below and the saints and angels above. And Christ's accomplishments should have a profound impact on our lives as well. Join us as Dustin Renz looks at all Christ has done for us, and seeks in this message to magnify the worthiness of Jesus Christ!

When Jesus gave the Great Commission, He was describing a kind of lifestyle all believers should have. But many American Christians are stuck in lifestyles of sin and self. Why is this? Steve Gallagher shares his thoughts in this final message in our “Come Unto Me” series. Scripture quotations taken from the NASB (New American Standard Bible) Copyright 1995 by ⁠The Lockman Foundation⁠. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Days after Peter denied Jesus three times, the Lord chose to meet him in a very personal and profound way. This encounter would set the stage for the rest of Peter's life. For anyone who has fallen or struggled in your walk with God, we hope this message is an encouragement that the place of your greatest failure could be the place where you find God's abundant mercy!

There are many who profess to believe in Jesus and His resurrection power, yet their lives make it seem like He never rose from the dead. What is keeping them from living in the power of God? Nate Danser shares the answer in today's sermon from Luke 24.    Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

The resurrection of Christ is more than an historical fact. To the church throughout the ages, it has been a profound revelation of God's work among men. In today's message, Luke Imperato examines 1 Corinthians 15, and helps us see this central component of the Good News in a greater light.   Scripture quotations taken from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com

Our “Come Unto Me” series has been leading up to this very moment. Whether you are currently bound in sexual sin or have been living in victory for some time, we pray that this message would give you a greater sight of Jesus at the Cross and what He has done for you.   Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Most Americans believe they will go to Heaven when they die. Yet Jesus Himself said that on Judgment Day, He would reject many who professed to know Him. So how can a person know whether or not they are in right standing with God? Steve Gallagher shares on this today in “The Word of the Cross”, and what it means to truly enter in, and live out, the Christian life.   Scripture quotations taken from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com Scripture quotations taken from the NASB (New American Standard Bible) Copyright 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

In Jesus' final hours, He was put on trial before Herod Antipas and Pontius Pilate. As we learn in today's sermon, these interactions shed light on different ways we may resist God's will in our lives.  Along with Luke 23:1-12, please consider reviewing Matthew 27:11-14, Mark 15:1-5, John 18:28-38 and Psalms 1-2 to get the fuller context for today's message.

How did Judas end up in a place where he could betray the Son of God? While we don't know anything about Judas' life from before he met Jesus, the Bible does give us glimpses into the kind of character he exhibited during the years he followed Jesus. And as we examine this time in his life, we find subtle ways he left doors open to the enemy. It was these “open doors” which allowed Satan to eventually have his way in Judas' life.   Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Self-confidence is highly praised in our culture. But it was the apostle Peter's belief in self that led to his greatest failure. He boldly proclaimed he would die for his Lord, yet ended up denying Jesus three times. This is recorded in the Bible, not to shame Peter, but to teach us hard truths about the pathway of self-denial. Join Steve Gallagher as he expounds on this topic in this week's message. Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

There are times in our lives when God seems to be silent. During these seasons, we must not lose heart for God is trying to increase our faith. In this week's sermon, Nate Danser explains God's purpose in His silence, and shows us the right ways we can respond to it. Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Jesus was shockingly calm and merciful when He was betrayed and arrested. This confidence and power did not come by chance. It was established by His lifestyle, and struggling Christians must establish this same lifestyle to begin living victoriously in trials and temptations. This week, Luke Imperato breaks down four aspects of Jesus' victorious lifestyle and how they can help a man battling sexual sin. Scripture quotations taken from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com

Jesus didn't promise that the Christian life would be easy. In fact, He promised that trials would come. But He also showed us a way to go through suffering triumphantly, and demonstrated this in the Garden of Gethsemane. If you are in a season of trial or suffering, we hope this sermon will strengthen and encourage you.

Are you weary and troubled by the consequences of sin and of a selfish lifestyle? Are you having a hard time believing that Jesus can set you free or keep you free? In today's sermon, Dustin Renz goes through John 17 to explain who Jesus really is and what He does for those who believe in Him. We pray that this sermon inspires you to have faith in Jesus in the midst of your battles. Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

In Scripture, we see the same pattern repeating in many different stories. Someone is spiritually dead, which lands them in a dangerous situation. This threat leads them to cry out for deliverance. And when someone sincerely lets out that cry, God always answers. The Holy Spirit is that answer. This week, Steve Gallagher shares about why we must be filled with the Holy Spirit, and why many don't see their need for His infilling. Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

When Christ returns, some will respond with indescribable joy while others will hide themselves in unprecedented terror. Our decisions today determine our response on that day. Are we letting Him refine us in our daily lives, or are we insisting on having our own way? Reverend Dave Leopold highlights key moments in Peter's life to show us how to allow God to work in our daily lives.

Jesus' statements in John 15 about “abiding” are a common source of comfort for Christians today. But that wasn't their only intended purpose when Jesus spoke them to His disciples. In context, they also represent a call to action for all true believers; a call to be kept from our destructive natures by yielding ourselves to the true spiritual life that is in Jesus. Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Whenever Jesus used the phrase, “I am,” He was purposely identifying Himself with God. And when He said that He was “the way,” He was giving us one way of understanding the power and manner of His work for mankind. And in this sermon, Pure Life Residential Program Director, Luke Imperato, connects these great statements about Jesus to the great need of the man or woman struggling with pornography addiction and other forms of sexual sin. Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Tens of thousands of Christians take communion every week, yet many fail to see the true beauty of this ancient practice. What about you? As you listen to today's message by Dustin Renz, we hope you will be challenged to consider the true wonder and significance of communion. Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

As Jesus' time with His disciples was ending, He did the last thing they expected: He humiliated Himself by washing their feet, even of the traitor, Judas. Have you experienced the love of Jesus like this? We hope this message helps you come into a true sight of the Savior's love.

Judas Iscariot is infamous for betraying Jesus Christ. But how could a man who walked with God for 3.5 years get to the place where he would willingly betray the Messiah? Steve Gallagher explores the heart-issues at work in Judas and warns us not to succumb to that same fatal logic. Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

It's easy for people who are repenting of sin to focus on what they shouldn't do. But just as important as putting off wrong behavior is to begin walking in Christlike virtues. If no effort is made to put on this new nature, then we're at risk of becoming a “do-nothing Christian.”  Scripture quotations taken from the NASB (New American Standard Bible) Copyright 1995 by ⁠The Lockman Foundation⁠. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations taken from the Amplified Bible Copyright 2015 by The Lockman Foundation.

Matthew 24 contains many confusing and controversial statements about the end times. This week, Nate Danser helps us see what Jesus' words in this passage mean for us today, and what vital commands we must know about the last days. Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

In Matthew 23, we come to the climax of the confrontation between the Pharisees and the Messiah. From Jesus' powerfully strong rebukes in this passage, we gain key insights into the kind of devilish spirit that will keep us from a genuine faith which is pleasing to the Lord. Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.