Southside Community Church - Sermons

Who was Revelation written to?

A continued introduction to the book of Revelation.

An introduction to the book of Revelation.

Our pursuit of holiness is a striving out of gratitude for what Jesus has already done for us. With what level of effort are we pursuing holiness?

Paul calls us to press on and grow in our Christian faith. Are we striving daily to know Christ more, or are we content to stay where we're at?

Do we look like Christ to the world? Or do we fit in so well that the world has no reason to believe that we're different?

Is knowing Christ worth more to us than any earthly thing we can cling to?

Paul's accomplishments meant everything to him until he came to know Christ, and now Paul wants the Philippians to treasure Christ alone too.

The Lord gives us the book of Revelation to encourage us by reminding us that He is ultimately in control of everything, and that in the end, Christ wins.

In this passage we see two human examples, Timothy and Epaphroditus, of what someone looks like when they fully understand what Christ has done for them.

Grumbling, complaining, and disputes expose our hearts and show a watching world that we are at the center of our universe. If Jesus is the most important thing to us, the details of the world won't bother us.

Paul desires for us to do what the Israelites did not - honor God in our hearts. True obedience flows from the heart.

If we want to see fruit in our lives, we must guard our hearts.

Why do we want to live rebelliously and self-indulgently when it leads to destruction? God gives us commands because he is all about us finding true joy.

Our good works have nothing to do with our salvation. They are simply the fruit and evidence that we know the Lord.

Since we have Christ as our mediator, interceding for us even now, we know that everything that comes to us has gone through the Father.

When we truly understand what Christ has done for us by taking on the punishment of our sins, we find true joy and peace.

If Christ could come and die the worst death imaginable, how can we not then put others before ourselves?

Paul emphasizes the importance of unity and of striving side by side for the Gospel.

Is Christ everything to us like he was to Paul? Is he our nourishment, our identity, our life?

Real life - real, true, abundant life - is found in knowing, glorifying and enjoying Christ.

Paul's eyes were fixed on the Lord Jesus Christ, not on his own comfort, ease, or circumstances. Can we say the same thing? Are we primarily concerned with the spread of the Gospel?

Paul sees the Philippians as living displays of God's grace. Can people look at us and say the same thing about us, or do we look too much like the world?

Our joy is not rooted in our circumstances, but in the unchangeable relationship we have with Christ.

As we pray that the Lord would "lead us not into temptation", we pray that He would give us hearts and minds to flee temptation. Do we wake up each day realizing we're in the midst of spiritual warfare?

When we pray "give us this day, our daily bread", how do we glorify God? Do we have an attitude of gratitude, contentment, and dependence when we pray this prayer?

Praying "Thy will be done" necessitates self denial. If we don't know how to deny our own will, we will never submit to God's.

The Lord's Prayer teaches us to put the needs of the Kingdom above our own. Are we willing to let the Lord have His way with us completely, or is there sin in our lives that we refuse to do away with?

The Lord's Prayer forces us to examine what it means to us that God is our Father. Do we hallow His name, or are we too busy focusing on ourselves?

We've heard the Gospel, but what will we do with it? Are there idols we need to renounce? Will we walk in the ways of the Lord?

To whom much is given, much is demanded. Are we living for Christ and His glory?

As the people of Israel head towards a time of exile, Hosea reminds them of their history in order to encourage them to wait on the Lord and His timing for restoration.

Despite the rebellion of God's people, God is committed to showing them grace and covenant love.

We live in an age of great prosperity. Are we using our prosperity for ourselves, or for God's glory?

We glorify God by being content in all circumstances, no matter how hot the fire, because he is in the fire with us.

Hosea 8 is the result of the people of Israel trying to save themselves instead of trusting in the Lord to do as he promised. Are we dependent on ourselves, or on Christ?

We tend to overly concern ourselves with our every day affairs in this fallen world, but our main concern should be whether we are right with God and serving Him faithfully.

The Israelites trusted in their schemes, alliances, and thoughts instead of in their God, and we do the same thing today.

As our soul is more and more troubled by sin, Christ becomes more precious to us.

We, like Israel, try to come up with our own solutions instead of repenting and turning back to God. Are we diligently pursuing God today?

The Israelites trusted in their idols for security which caused them to become desensitized to the wrath of God. What do our hearts prize above God?

When we stand before God on Judgment Day, our only plea before such a holy God is that Christ died for our sins, and therefore his righteousness is ours. The only thing that we contribute to our salvation is the sin that made it necessary.

The root of Israel's problem was that they did not know God. How hard are we working to know God, and to guard our hearts?

The Bible uses the analogy that we are spiritual prostitutes to shock us because we struggle to understand the magnitude of our idolatry.

When we love something more than God, we commit spiritual adultery. Despite our spiritual adultery, Jesus paid the price for us in full so that we would be his bride.

God frustrates His people as they chase after false gods in order to turn His people back to himself. No matter our circumstances, God is capable of restoring them.

Hosea is a picture of our own hearts - we commit spiritual adultery against God every time we break the First Commandment.

Paul found his identity as a bondservant to Christ. Where do we find ours? If our identity is found in anything other than Christ, we're headed in a bad direction.

God's grace is always greater than our sin, no matter how many time we go to Him seeking forgiveness.

Do we keep in step with the Spirit? We cannot sow bad seeds and expect to bear good fruit.