Life, Liberty, and Happiness

Introduction

A few years ago, I participated in a ceremony held at the National Archives in Washington, D.C. Following a mic-check before the ...

Through Love, Serve One Another

Introduction

Have you ever been loved in a way that really astounded you? Have you ever been served in a way that, when you sat back and thought about ...

The Jesus Alternative

Introduction

One of my favorite things about going to the grocery store is going down the cereal aisle. I love going down the cereal aisle. One, because ...

Courage to Sacrifice

Introduction

I have to say on a Sunday when I get to kick off a new study, it does feel a little bit like Christmas morning and I finally get to open that ...

Free!

I used to think I needed a personal trainer, someone who'd get me to the gym and make sure I exercised regularly, someone who would put me through ...

Repentance

Introduction

Benjamin Franklin was into virtue, as were many of the founding fathers of the United States. That 18th century was a society in which self-discipline ...

It's Not About Me

Introduction

"What is it, Doc? What do I have? What's wrong with me?"

It's a question we all ask ourselves from time to time. When we ...

Grace Alone

True North Backstory

One reason I enjoyed preaching the sermons in this series was the contrast between a "head" message and a "heart" message.

The message ...

Created with a Purpose

Introduction

This is the first of a six sessions in our Living Free series. We're going to cover some foundational truths about God's purpose for ...

Recovering God's Freedom

Introduction

Last week we looked at God's original design for creation and humanity. We also talked about how sin disrupted God's plan. When we ...

One World, Two Realms

Introduction

In our first session, we identified God's original design for humanity, and we looked at what was lost because of the Fall. How did God ...

Understanding Power and Authority

Introduction

In this session, we're going to deal with the subject of the power and authority of Jesus Christ that's been given to us and the significance ...

Strongholds

Introduction

In this message we'll look at strongholds, the enemy's access points that can compromise God's power and purposes in our lives. ...

Generational Sins, Soul Ties, Curses

Introduction

In this last session of our series, we're going to talk about three subjects that bring a lot of questions and even opposition: generational ...

Beyond Friends

Introduction

Where are you on your spiritual journey? And what would help you take the next step?

A couple of years ago we joined hundreds of churches across ...

True Friends

Introduction

Last week I tossed out a question and invited you to respond: is it possible to be spiritual friends with a non-believer? For the past six ...

Thinking Biblically About Government

On December 17, 2010, a young Tunisian named Mohammed Bouazizi walked up to a local government building and set himself on fire. Earlier that day, the ...

Deep Certainty

How do you feel about the future? What kind of world will our children and grandchildren, grow up in? What can we count on to give us any kind of confidence ...

The Greatest Invitation Ever Made

Introduction

All of us enjoy receiving invitations—to a meal, a wedding, or a concert. Usually, when the invitation is printed on a little card, there ...

Heart Burn

The man's name was Toby. He was the youngest son of a lawyer from Cleveland who'd struck it rich and moved his family to the upscale community of Rancho ...

Heart Attack

If I asked you to take your finger and point to yourself, where would you point? Most of us, I imagine, would not point to our heads. That's interesting ...

Heart Scan

I'm going to talk today about the most important thing there is about you or me or anyone else we are ever going to meet. To get there, I want to take ...

Heart Ache

More than 3,000 years ago, near the city of Shechem, in the land we know today as Israel, an unknown seeker began digging a hole in the crusty soil where ...

The Critical Transaction

Most Broadway musicals begin with something called an overture. The writer of the musical tries, in the early moments, to give us some sense of all the ...

Raw Ugliness

Introduction

On one level, this is a brilliant story handed down to us by a brilliant storyteller. This is a gripping, plot-twisting, edge-of-your seat ...

Total Freedom

From the editor:

Here's another great sermon from one of our featured preachers, John Ortberg. This is actually John's message from Palm Sunday (2009). ...

Just Say Yes

Introduction

Back in the 1980's, when drug use became epidemic among young people, and teen pregnancy and AIDS were on the rise, and gangs were turning ...

The Long Tomorrow

Introduction

An 85-year-old couple died in a car crash after having been married almost 60 years. They had been in good health the last ten years mainly ...

A Brand New You

Introduction

I've got hundreds of things around the house that I would like to see made new—sofa cushions that have begun to sag, kitchen cabinets ...

Focus

Introduction

There's good news and bad news about our gospel passage. First the bad news: this is one of the most difficult, disturbing, and surprising ...

Painting by Numbers

From the editor

If you've read or heard a sermon by Peter Hiett, chances are you've not forgotten it. Consider "Redneck Christmas"—a featured sermon ...

Wait for the Morning

Introduction

Right after the Virginia Tech University massacre, the worship leader at a community worship service turned to this text. On behalf of those ...

The Purpose of the Passion

From the editor

By the close of this sermon, Mac Brunson has masterfully explained complex theological concepts like condemnation, salvation, and justification ...

Herod the Great

Topic: Which king will you choose?
Text: Matthew 2:1–8

Introduction

If we look at facts and figures, "Herod the Great" had a pretty good administration. ...

All God Does Is Good

From the editor

Chuck's sermon is an excellent example of a sermon that sharpens the way we read the Bible. Notice how Chuck challenges us to take the ...

How to Live Beyond Yourself

Introduction

I don't know if you are like me, but I imagine you are. I imagine there are times in which you feel boxed in by life; not only by what others ...

The Story of Our Broken World

Introduction

When I was about ten years old, my dad, a medical doctor, received a special gift from one of his patients: a beautiful globe with shiny sequins. ...

I Struggle With a Certain Sin Often. Will God Forgive Me?

Introduction

Here is today's question in the complete words of the person who submitted it: "I struggle with a certain sin often. Will God forgive me? ...

Thanksgiving: The Truth About Thanksgiving

Introduction:

The first Thanksgiving dinner I ever ate outside of the United States was in Belgium. The people of Belgium are as thankful as any other ...

Hilarious Hupotasso

Introduction

This is a hot button issue: the woman's role in church and family. Feelings are running high, and we all bring a certain bias with us.

First, ...

Jesus' Vacation

Introduction

Many of us have recently returned from our summer holidays and are trying to adjust to normal life once again. There was a little blurb ...

Don't Let Your Doubts Hold You Back

As we continue in the Matthew series, we're coming up on a new section of messages in chapters 11 and 12 that introduce a new element to the ministry ...

I Can See Clearly Now

The book of Exodus tells a story about Moses going up Mount Sinai to meet with God, one-on-one. God descended on the mountain in a cloud and instructed ...

The Question Facing Us

"We, the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, ensure domestic tranquillity, provide for the common ...

Freedom

by John Stott

There are two reasons why I have chosen the topic of freedom. The first is that everybody is thinking and talking about freedom today, and ...

The Liberty of Obedience to God

Introduction: An architectural wonder.

My husband and I had the opportunity to go up into the top of that great arch in St. Louis. I was fascinated to ...