Advertise on podcast: Ben Smith: All for the Kingdom

Pastor Ben Smith preaches from Psalm 10.

Pastor Ben Smith preaches from Psalm 11 on the holiness of God.

Pastor Ben Smith preaches from Psalm 139 on the sanctity of human life.

Pastor Ben Smith preaches an expository sermon on the office of deacon.

Pastor Ben Smith preaches an expository sermon from 1 Timothy 3:14-16.

Pastor Ben Smith preaches an expository sermon from 1 Timothy 4:1-5.

A sermon for the new year.

Today you must choose. Surrender your life to Christ and receive salvation or reject Him and remain in the condemnation of sin. The opportunity is now.

Exercise has some benefits for the body, but it is temporary. However, when we develop lives of godliness through being nourished by the word and disciplining ourselves for God – these benefits are known for eternity. Give your minds to the word of God. Feed on it. Consume it. Let it penetrate and saturate every part of your mind and heart. Add to this a life of discipline. Be disciplined for godliness – rejecting what does not honor God and pursuing what the Lord loves. And never lose sight of the goal. Do not live for today alone. Live for eternity. That you may attaint the hope of salvation and that you might be a witness to many more for their salvation.

Being great is a desire that is common to every generation and every culture. In Matthew 18:1-4 the disciples revealed that their concern about the kingdom Jesus promised to establish was who among them would be the greatest. The disciples were not immune to this desire to convert their relationship with Jesus into positions of importance in the kingdom He was establishing. They hoped to enjoy the highest and most important positions in His kingdom. Their desire for greatness led them to ask Jesus who among them would be the greatest in the kingdom. However, the answer He gave was not what they expected. Jesus taught them to seek what matters and find greatness through repentance.

This year has been a momentous year for the defense of life in our country. On January 22, 1972, the United State Supreme Court invented a right to abortion not articulated in the constitution in the Roe v. Wade case. It was assumed that with this decision, the question of abortion and its legitimacy would be settled. Instead, it awakened the church and those who recognized the ruling's illegitimacy, injustice, and depravity. In June of this past year, the United States Supreme Court overturned this decision in the Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization. We must be very clear that the issue of abortion is not a right or left issue. In fact, it is not truly a political issue. The issue of honoring and protecting life is a pre-political issue. Something that is pre-political existed before government and politics. God gives life, and no man nor government has the right to take life away. In this passage, God declares the uniqueness and sacredness of life because man is an image bearer of God.

Suffering is unpleasant. We do all we can to avoid it. And when we experience suffering, we often attempt to minimize the knowledge of how much it affects us to others. We are tempted to look at others who seem not to have much suffering as more greatly blessed by God. And we often wonder when suffering comes to our lives if it is evidence of God's displeasure. Paul opens this letter to the Corinthian church with an honest word about suffering. From the passage, we can see three principles concerning suffering. 1. Suffering is real 2. Suffering prepares for ministry 3. Suffering binds us together