Love Worth Finding | Audio Program

The Church Triumphant

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Matthew 16:13In Matthew 16:13-20, Simon Peter declares Jesus is the Messiah they’ve long waited for. As a result of his bold faith, Jesus changed his name to Peter (which means “rock”). Jesus then declared He would build His church upon Himself. This radical exchange reveals several things about the church triumphant.First, we learn that it relies on personal conviction from Jesus, Himself. Jesus asks, “Who do you say I am?” (Matt. 13:15) We must personally believe in Jesus Christ; not by our mind or intellect, but by divine revelation.After conviction from God comes confession: Simon Peter answered, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” (v. 16)A powerful conversion follows: “That thou art Peter...” (v. 18)And as a result, the church is sovereignly constructed. Jesus said, “...upon this rock I will build my church...” (v. 18) Jesus is the architect, the builder, and the very foundation of the church. He is the one that builds it out of us, living stones (1 Peter 2:5), a group of people redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ.Notice the singular commission of the church. In verse 19, Jesus said, “And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” Understand what this actually means: Jesus is saying that Heaven’s will will be done on earth when you use the keys of the kingdom, which is the truth of the Gospel.Our unchanging responsibility as the church triumphant is to win souls to Jesus Christ.“...and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” (v. 18) Remember: Hell is not on the offense and the church on the defense. What Jesus is saying is the very gates of hell, the very domain of the dead, cannot stop the church of the Lord Jesus Christ.Adrian Rogers says, “If you say that you’re saved, you will love the church and attend the church. If you say you love Jesus Christ, you will defend, commend, and extend the church.”Apply it to your lifeThe profound insight from Matthew 16 can be simplified into two practical instructions for us today: be saved, and be an active member of your church.

How to Be the Father of a Wise Child

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Proverbs 1:20-22These days, our nation is in troubled waters, and the problem is rooted in fathers who fail to accept their responsibility. The Book of Proverbs reveals how to be the father of a wise child.Proverbs 1:22 says, “How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity? For scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge.”When our children are young, they are simple, ignorant, and careless, which is to be expected. However, some children are never taught to grow in wisdom and remain simple in their adulthood. They may have knowledge, but they lack spiritual wisdom and understanding. They are easily led into error, ready to believe anything.If a child remains naive and has not been led by his father, he becomes a scorner. He defies instruction and despises the good and godly. Because of this, he is destined for destruction.The scorner’s very hard to reach, but there is still hope for him. If the scorner is not reclaimed, he becomes a fool; the scorner is insolent, but the fool is immovable. The fool rejects wisdom, ridicules righteousness, and rejoices in iniquity. His moral sense has been so perverted, he thinks good is evil and evil is good.As parents, there are four things we must keep in mind in order to raise wise children.First, we need to expound truth to our children; saturate them in the Proverbs, emblazon the Ten Commandments into their consciousness, teach them the Beatitudes, that they might learn these simple, basic truths.Second, expose sin: children need to see the repercussions of sin to understand their weight. We must pull away the veil and show them the ugly truth of sin and its consequences.We must also expel scorners, as Proverbs 13:20 instructs, “He who walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion of fools will be destroyed.” We cannot let our young, impressionable children hang around scorners and fools; we must be firm with who we allow them to be friends with.Finally, we must express love; be gentle fathers, transparent and available.Adrian Rogers says, “Words can hurt your children more than an open hand and a slap in the face. Love your children and delight in them.”Apply it to your lifeAre you raising your children to be wise or foolish? Remember your instructions from Proverbs: expound truth, expose sin, expel scorners, and express love.

Raising Kids That Count

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Proverbs 1:7-9Psalm 112:2 says, “His descendants will be mighty on earth; the generation of the upright will be blessed.”As parents, our chief desire for our children should be that they love God and honor Him with their lives. The Book of Proverbs is full of wisdom for those who want to raise kids that count in the cause of Christ.We must first give them an example.“My son, hear the instruction of your father, and do not forsake the law of your mother…” (Proverbs 1:8). Our children will learn more from our lifestyle than they will learn from our words. Good character is not so much taught as it is caught; it must be demonstrated through us.Second, we should give our children unconditional love, regardless of their misbehavior.This doesn’t mean we give them everything they want. True love is not giving children what they want, but rather, what they need.We must give our children constant encouragement.There’s a difference between praise and encouragement. Praise focuses on the accomplishments of the child, while encouragement focuses on the actual child.Our children need to know they are not a sum of their achievements, and that we love them for who they are.We must also give them wise instruction.Proverbs 22:6 says, “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.” When we teach our children Scripture, it should be joined with training, so they can learn how to apply it for themselves when they are grown.We should also give them reasonable restrictions.Adrian Rogers says, “Limitations don’t bind the child; really they set him free.” When we establish restrictions, our children will naturally push against them. If the restrictions give, our children will lack confidence in themselves. This is the reason so many children are conquered by the things of this world.We must also give them a listening ear.Be ready when they’re ready to talk, and make time for it.Finally, give them a happy environment.Our homes should be full of laughter, fun, joy, and silliness. Adrian Rogers says, “A vegetable plate is better than a steak dinner if you have love, joy, and happiness.”Apply it to your lifeIf you want to raise kids that count for the cause of Christ, remember to be firm, fair, and fun.

How to Raise Godly Children

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: 1 Samuel 1It's well been said that the head of the home is the husband, but the heart of the home is the mother. Perhaps the most powerful and influential class of people in the world today are mothers.1 Samuel 1 tells the story of Hannah, a barren woman who wanted more than anything else to have a son. After much prayer, God gave Hannah a son named Samuel, who was considered one of the greatest prophets of the Old Testament.Hannah’s story offers five powerful principles for raising godly children.The first is the Principle of Proper Priority.“And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed to the Lord and wept in anguish” (1 Samuel 1:10). Hannah had a God-given instinct to be a mother. She recognized that there is no greater earthly blessing than children.The second principle is the Power of Prayer.Adrian Rogers says, “The time to begin to raise godly children is before they're born, and even before they're conceived.”Hannah is one of several women in the Bible who were considered barren and were later given children by God; other examples are Sarah, Rachel, Ruth, and Elizabeth. Their children went on to bless the world and glorify God. Understanding this, we should begin praying for our children before they are ever conceived.The third principle of raising godly children is the Principle of Purpose.Hannah’s reason for wanting a child was to dedicate him back to God. She wanted to glorify God through her child. Our prayers for our children should not regard their wealth or power, but how they will glorify God.The fourth is the Principle of Persistence."Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition which you have asked of Him” (1 Samuel 1:17). Hannah was a woman of prayer, but not just prayer easily uttered and soon forgotten. She continued to pray before and after this child was born. By her example, we learn to never waver in our prayers, no matter how dark the circumstances.Finally, there’s the Principle of Persuasion.A mother makes the deepest impression on a child; her chief weapon in her arsenal is the influence she has over her children.Apply it to your lifeAre you raising your children for the glory of God? Remember, those who will take that priority, make that prayer, own that purpose, commit to that persistence and persuasion, by the grace of God, will raise godly children.

How to Make a Home Beautiful

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Titus 2:3-5God is in favor of beautiful homes; yet these days, our families face many enemies that threaten to drain us of our splendor. The key to a beautiful home is the wife and mother.Titus 2 shows us what it means to be a godly mother and how to make a home beautiful.“…the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things…” (Titus 2:3).This passage first addresses the legacy the godly woman is to leave.She teaches younger women how to be homemakers and how to instill values in their own families by example. She has the perfume of God in her life, marked by holiness, godly in her speech. She is not to be a false accuser, scandalmonger, or slanderer, nor does she indulge in addictive behaviors.Secondly, this passage tells of the love the godly woman is to learn.“...that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children…” (Titus 2:4). Some look at children as burdens rather than blessings. Older women are instructed to teach the younger women how to love their families.Adrian Rogers says, “Being a homemaker is not easy, not glamorous, but there is no higher calling. Fathers have influence on their children, but mothers make the greatest impression.”Finally, this passage teaches us the lifestyle the godly woman is to live.“...to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed” (Titus 2:5).Here are some descriptions regarding a godly woman:-Discreet: She is sober-minded, sensible, using good judgment in her shopping, bookkeeping, decorating, and physical culture.-Chaste: She is pure and sexually moral.-Homemakers: A woman’s primary responsibility is to keep the home.-Good: She is kind-hearted.-Obedient to her husband: Submission is not subjugation; wives are instructed to submit to their husbands’ loving leadership in the home.Adrian Rogers says, “When is a train more free: on the train tracks or running through the meadow? When you get on God’s plan and begin to obey the Word, you’ll find that God will give you incredible liberty.”Apply it to your lifeThese verses have inspired us to make a home beautiful and adorn the doctrine of God. A woman is to learn these three things: The legacy she is to leave, the love she’s to learn and the lifestyle she is to live.