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The Always Life — Enriched by Grace, Equipped for His Glory This message emphasizes that genuine spiritual maturity is not measured merely by what we know about God, but by how what we believe is helping us become more like Jesus. Drawing from 1 and 2 Corinthians, it reveals how God has enriched His people through the grace of Christ, giving them everything necessary to comprehend His truth, communicate His goodness, and fulfill His purposes. Paul's repeated question, "Do you not know?" confronts the Corinthians' spiritual immaturity, reminding them that envy, division, pride, and misplaced confidence in human leaders hinder their growth. God's servants are gifts intended to help His people mature, never substitutes for the Lord Himself. The message identifies five "always" that characterize a life walking in personal revival: God always leads His people in triumph through Christ, making the fragrance of His knowledge evident through them; believers continually carry the dying of Jesus so that His life may be manifested through their mortal bodies; they are always confident as they walk by faith rather than sight; they can remain sorrowful yet always rejoicing because their joy is rooted in Jesus rather than their circumstances; and God is able to make all grace abound toward them, providing sufficient resources for every good work He has entrusted to them. Through personal testimony, practical illustrations, and the realities of suffering, the message demonstrates that God's sufficiency does not mean the absence of hardship, but the presence of His enabling grace in every circumstance. Personal revival involves continually receiving God's glorious light to reveal what

This sermon examines the biblical qualifications for a 'widow indeed' as outlined in 1 Timothy 5, contrasting her spiritual maturity with the carnal lifestyle of those who live for pleasure. The central message emphasizes that true godliness is demonstrated through a consistent walk of trust in God, persistent prayer, and the fulfillment of familial duties, particularly the obligation of children to care for their aging parents. The text warns against the spiritual deadness that results from prioritizing rest and self-indulgence over the work of the Spirit, citing the church at Sardis as a parallel example. It further instructs the congregation on the importance of maintaining good works, such as hospitality and charity, which serve as evidence of genuine faith and protect the church from being burdened by those who have family support. The tone is instructional and convicting, urging believers to examine their own lives for signs of idleness, gossip, or a lack of duty, and to instead cultivate a character that honors God through practical love and self-sacrifice.

Believing That Is Becoming 1 Corinthians 2–3 | Jeremiah 32:38–40 This message emphasizes that genuine faith in Jesus is more than believing something about Him; it is a believing that is continually becoming more like Him. Our believing affects our behavior, and our behavior reveals whether we're being led by the Spirit of God or governed by the desires of our flesh. Paul confronted the believers at Corinth because, although they had received the gospel and the wisdom of God, their jealousy, strife, and divisions exposed their spiritual immaturity. They were placing their confidence in gifted servants rather than recognizing that Paul, Apollos, and Peter were merely instruments through whom God was working. The servants planted and watered, but God gave the increase. The message reminds us that God has given us His Word and His Spirit, not merely to increase our knowledge, but to transform our lives. His wisdom teaches us to depend upon Him rather than our own understanding, producing humility, patience, purity, love, and a willingness to serve others without competition or offense. When we're Spirit-led, even life's difficulties and relationships become opportunities for God to accomplish His good purpose in us—conforming us to the image of Jesus. Drawing from Jeremiah 32:38–40, the message reveals God's desire to give His people one heart and one way, placing His fear within them so they will continually walk with Him. This reverence produces a lifestyle of dependence that blesses not only us but also those who come after us. Ultimately, the great evidence of our believing is who and what we're becoming. When we receive God's Word, yield to His Spirit, and trust Je

God declares sinners righteous by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. In this episode, Dave Jenkins explains the biblical doctrine of justification, the righteousness of Christ counted to believers, and the distinction between justification and sanctification. Working through Romans, Galatians, Ephesians, and James, Dave shows why good works are the fruit of saving faith and never the basis of our acceptance before God. Learn how sola fide protects the gospel, strengthens Christian assurance, and encourages a life of grateful obedience. For more from Contending for the Word, please visit: https://servantsofgrace.org/contending-for-the-word-podcast/

Argument: To persuade the Galatians that counterfeit gospel really was counterfeit, 1) he first appealed their own salvation experience wherein the they received the Spirit, accompanied with miracles. 2) He then appealed the Scripture (such as how Abraham was justified by faith). 3) Finally, he gave the example of human covenants. Beware: Of counterfeit gospels. Paul was not opposed to good works, but they have to be on the right side of the salvation equation. Counterfeit gospel: faith + works = saved Genuine gospel: faith = saved + works Who today teaches a counterfeit gospel? Roman Catholicism, Mormons, Jehovah's Witness, those who insist on baptismal regeneration.

This sermon examines the themes of anger and nostalgia through the narrative of Job, focusing on the introduction of Elihu in Job 32. The message argues that both anger and nostalgia are matters of the heart, requiring divine transformation rather than mere external compliance. By contrasting Elihu's imperfect, burning anger with God's holy wrath and Christ's righteous zeal, the sermon highlights the human tendency to justify oneself rather than God. It further explores Job's nostalgic reflection on his past righteousness, connecting it to the Christian call for good works that flow from genuine faith. Ultimately, the text invites listeners to submit their hearts to the scrutiny of Christ, who knows the true condition of the soul, ensuring that their belief is authentic and transformative.

This sermon explores Isaiah 40 written about 700 years before Christ. The central theme is the imminent arrival of the Lord, identified as the divine King and Christ, whose coming will reveal His glory to all flesh. The text contrasts the transient nature of humanity, described as withering grass, with the eternal stability of God's Word, which stands forever. The preacher highlights the paradox of God's immense cosmic power, who measures the heavens and weighs the mountains, with His tender intimacy as a shepherd who gathers and carries His lambs. Ultimately, the sermon calls for bold proclamation of this good news, affirming that God's redemptive work is accomplished in Jesus's work and His people are His secure inheritance. Unfortunately, the camera failed before the end of the message so this is just a portion of the message.

This sermon explores the theological reasons behind God's divine restraint in the lives of believers, illustrating how divine intervention often prevents human error or redirects passion toward a higher purpose. Through the narrative of David and Abigail in 1 Samuel, the text highlights how God protects individuals from the ungodly impulses of their own hearts, particularly when emotions cloud judgment. The discussion expands to John 11, where Jesus' delay in visiting Lazarus demonstrates that God often requires waiting rather than immediate knowledge to deepen faith and glorify Himself. Additionally, the sermon uses Acts 16 to show how closed doors serve to redirect believers' efforts toward the specific good works prepared by God, as referenced in Ephesians 2:10. Finally, the account of Jonah illustrates that God may restrain believers through correction to break their resistance, ensuring they become willing participants in His will rather than unwilling vessels.

Verse by verse exposition through the book of Hebrews. (Sermon also includes the reading and exhortation from the Lord's Table liturgy) Heb 13:5 Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." 6 So we may boldly say: "The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?" 1 Tim 6: 9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows..... 17 Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. 18 Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share...

I. Righteousness Apart From Works II. The Reward of Grace III. The Necessary Fruit

This sermon explores the call to Christian submission and righteous living as outlined in 1 Peter 2, emphasizing that believers are to honor human institutions and endure unjust suffering for the sake of Christ. The message clarifies that true freedom in Christ is not a license for sin but a mandate to serve God and demonstrate good works that silence the ignorance of others. By referencing the Suffering Servant in Isaiah 53, the text highlights how Jesus bore the world's sins on the cross, providing a model for believers to entrust themselves to God's justice rather than retaliating against revilement.

This sermon explores God's remedy for suffering by examining the command to sanctify Christ as Lord in the heart, shifting focus from external persecution to internal devotion. The teaching emphasizes the believer's responsibility to be perpetually ready to provide a verbal defense of their faith, known as apologia, when questioned about the hope within them. This defense must be delivered with gentleness, reverential fear, and a good conscience, which is rooted in the finished work of Christ. The passage highlights that while suffering for righteousness is a remote possibility, it is ultimately better to suffer for doing right than for doing wrong, as such endurance finds favor with God. The tone is instructional and pastoral, encouraging believers to rely on the Holy Spirit to embody these character traits while maintaining a secure hope in God's promises.

This sermon explores the comprehensive scope of salvation presented in Ephesians 2, moving from the believer's past state of spiritual death and depravity to their present position of grace and future glory. Using the analogy of the Chilean miners rescued by a capsule, the message illustrates that salvation is a gift of God's grace received through faith, rather than a result of human effort or works. The text emphasizes the theological reality that believers are quickened, raised, and seated with Christ in heavenly places, highlighting the substitutionary atonement of Jesus as the sole basis for redemption. The tone is both convicting regarding the seriousness of sin and comforting regarding the sufficiency of God's mercy, urging listeners to trust in Christ alone. The sermon concludes by affirming that believers are God's workmanship, created for good works as a response to grace, not as a means to earn it.

Are there comforts we would be willing to give up if we knew that giving them up would help lead a friend or family member to a saving faith in Jesus Christ? This sermon explores the concept of prioritizing eternal rewards over temporary comforts, using the Apostle Paul's example in 1 Corinthians as a model for Christian living. It argues that believers should be willing to sacrifice personal ease and cultural familiarity to effectively share the gospel, just as athletes discipline their bodies for a perishable prize. The message distinguishes between 'good' things, such as sports and cultural traditions, and 'great' things, identifying the salvation of others and the glory of God as the ultimate purpose. By examining Paul's refusal of financial support to maintain the integrity of his testimony, the sermon encourages the congregation to identify their specific spiritual gifts and run their unique race with intentionality. The tone is pastoral and encouraging, urging listeners to find meaning and satisfaction in serving God's kingdom rather than seeking fulfillment in worldly achievements.