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What does it really mean to be great? On the night before His crucifixion, Jesus Christ knelt before His disciples and washed their feet. The King of Kings took the position of the lowest servant, giving us an unforgettable lesson in humility. In John 13, we discover that greatness in God's kingdom isn't measured by position or authority. It's measured by service. We also learn five important ways that serving Christ changes our lives: it strengthens discipleship, creates empathy, develops humility, demonstrates love, and leads to happiness. Jesus said, "If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them." (John 13:17) The challenge is simple: Are we merely learning about Christian service, or are we actually serving? Part of the Believe and Live series, a study of the Gospel of John from Florence Baptist Temple.

What happens when God's people see danger approaching but remain silent? In Ezekiel 3, God appointed His prophet to be a watchman, responsible for warning the people and calling them to repentance. Today, we face serious spiritual and moral challenges in America. What responsibility do we have as Christians to recognize those dangers, speak the truth, and stand faithfully for Christ? We must understand the threat, heed the warning, and answer the call. There is still hope, but we cannot surrender to fear, indifference, or the desire for comfort and convenience. We must repent, pray, and faithfully share the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We may not be able to change the entire world, but we can make a difference in the world around us. Scripture: Ezekiel 3:4–5, 17–19, 21 (KJV)

Seven times in the Gospel of John, Jesus made this remarkable declaration, each time revealing another wonderful truth about Himself. He is the Bread of Life who satisfies our deepest hunger, the Light who guides us through darkness, the Door to salvation, and the Good Shepherd who leads, knows, and loves His sheep. He is the Resurrection and the Life, the only Way to the Father, and the True Vine who gives us strength to live fruitful Christian lives. These statements are more than beautiful illustrations. They reveal the deity of Jesus Christ and remind us that everything our souls truly need is found in Him. As we continue our study of John's Gospel, may we gain a fresh appreciation for our Savior and a greater desire to love and follow Him. Scripture: John 20:30–31; John 6–15Series: Believe and Live — The Gospel of John Florence Baptist Temple | Florence, SChttps://billmonroesermons.org

What does it really mean to be born again? Nicodemus was a man who seemed to have everything. He was respected, educated, religious, and morally upright. Yet Jesus told him that without the new birth, he could not enter the kingdom of God. In this message from John 3, we discover the difference between religion and regeneration, why good works cannot produce spiritual life, and how God's Word and the Holy Spirit bring about the new birth. Most importantly, we discover the basis of our salvation: the crucified and risen Savior. Jesus did not tell Nicodemus to work harder or become more religious. He pointed him to the cross. The question is not how much religion we have, but whether we have truly been born again. Scripture: John 3:1–9, 14–18Series: Believe and Live — The Gospel of John Florence Baptist Temple | Florence, South Carolina

What do we do when the storm is beyond our control, darkness surrounds us, death confronts us, or discouragement sets in? John selected eight signs to demonstrate that Jesus Christ is God in the flesh. In Part 2, we consider the final four and discover that Jesus is the answer to despair, darkness, death, and discouragement. John tells us exactly why these signs were recorded: that we might believe—and believing, have life through His name.

Why did John choose the miracles he recorded? He tells us: they were written so that we might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing we might have life through His name. In Message 1 of Believe and Live: The Gospel of John, four signs reveal Jesus as the answer to disappointment, doubt, helplessness, and the hunger of the human heart.

What is the church? Jesus said, “I will build my church.” In Matthew 16, we discover that the church belongs to Christ and is built upon the foundational truth that Jesus is the Son of the living God. This message examines the church's membership and five-fold purpose—worship, evangelism, discipleship, ministry, and fellowship—and challenges every believer to recognize that when we leave the meeting house, the church has not stopped. The church has scattered to carry the Gospel into the world.

He was rich, young, respected, moral, sincere, zealous, and concerned about eternity. Yet something was missing. In Mark 10:17–22, the rich young ruler comes to Jesus with the right question: “What shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?” Jesus' answer exposes not merely what the man possessed, but what possessed his heart. This message asks us to examine our own hearts: Is there anything we love, trust, or value more than God?

We need God's grace after salvation just as much as we needed it before salvation. Sanctifying grace gives us the desire and ability to do God's will as He molds us into Christlikeness. Sustaining grace carries us through suffering, grief, disappointment and the trials we cannot handle in our own strength. In the final message of our Revelation series, we reach Revelation 22:21 and God's wonderful closing benediction: “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.”

After the judgments, warnings, promises, and prophecies of Revelation, the Bible closes with grace. What is God's grace? Why can salvation never be earned by our works? And if salvation is completely free, what place do good works have in the Christian life? Revelation 22:21 and Ephesians 2:8–9 bring us to the heart of the Gospel: Jesus Christ has completely paid the sinner's debt. Salvation is the gift of God. The message closes with the remarkable testimony of John Newton—a man whose life demonstrated that where sin abounds, grace can abound much more.

Is Revelation really too mysterious for ordinary Christians to understand? Revelation 22:10 says, “Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book.” This is an open book—given to be read, studied, understood, and applied. We look at the contrast between Daniel's sealed prophecy and John's instruction not to seal Revelation, how unfolding events can make prophecy clearer, and why we need the illumination of the Holy Spirit when we study God's Word. Our study of Revelation shouldn't end when the sermon series does. Make it a lifelong study.

What would God choose to warn us about in the closing words of Scripture? Revelation 22:18–19 warns us not to add to God's Word or take from it. This message examines why the words themselves matter, why Scripture must remain our final authority, and why discernment is essential when so many other voices compete for our attention. God's Word is complete, perfect, and powerful—and at its heart is the Gospel, the power of God unto salvation.

Why would John fall down and worship an angel—and why does Revelation record that he did it twice? Revelation 22 exposes the human tendency toward misplaced worship. An idol does not have to be a statue; it can be anything we allow to occupy the place in our hearts that belongs to God. The angel's correction gives us the central truth of the message: “Worship God.”

Before the Bible closes, God gives one final invitation: “Come.” In Revelation 22:17, that invitation reaches the spiritually thirsty: “And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” There is a thirst in the human soul that the things of this world cannot satisfy. Money, position, recognition, love, success, and possessions may satisfy temporarily, but eventually we discover an empty place that only Christ can fill. Jesus offers living water—and His invitation is remarkably simple: Come. Then there is that wonderful word: “whosoever.” Any age. Any race. Any status. Any culture. The moral unbeliever may come. The immoral unbeliever may come. Whatever our past, the invitation remains open. And the water of life is offered freely. But this message also speaks to those of us who already know Christ. Perhaps there was a time when Jesus was not only our Savior but the satisfaction of our lives. We loved Him, found our meaning in Him, and enjoyed the closeness of walking with Him. Then somewhere along the way, we began to drift. The invitation has not changed. Unbelieving sinner—come.Wandering Christian—come.Thirsty soul—come. Before the final benediction, before Revelation ends, and before the Bible closes, God asks us to respond to His final invitation. Are you thirsty today? Scripture: Revelation 22:12–21Message: The Last InvitationFlorence Baptist Temple

The promise that Jesus Christ will return is one of the greatest themes in all of Scripture. Yet many sincere believers ask important questions: Is the Rapture different from the Second Coming? What does the Bible mean when it says Christ will come "as a thief"? How can "every eye" see Him? In this message from Revelation 1 and Revelation 22, we carefully compare the Scriptures describing Christ's return. We examine the resurrection of believers, the catching away of the Church, the Tribulation, and the visible return of Christ to establish His Kingdom. Throughout the study, we discover that Bible prophecy is not intended to produce fear but faithful living, confident hope, and joyful expectation. No matter what is happening in our world, the believer has every reason to look forward with confidence because Jesus Christ has promised, "Surely I come quickly." Scripture:Revelation 1:7; Revelation 22:7, 12, 20