Remember Your First Love

Remember Your First Love | Revelation 2: 1–7

Do you remember falling in love for the first time? What was it like? Earlier in ch. 1, when John saw the glorified vision of Jesus, he was told to write to the seven churches in Asia Minor. Here, the first letter was addressed to the church in Ephesus that had forsaken their first love. This church was still championing the truth of the gospel; they were still doing good works and enduring patiently. But Jesus is going to call this church to turn to her first love. So following in our passage, we’ll see: a) Jesus sees our patient endurance. b) Jesus sees what our hearts love most. c) Jesus promises us life in paradise.

Taught By God To Love

Taught By God To Love | 1 Thessalonians 4: 9-12

Where have you seen love for one another in our church? As we saw last week, Paul was encouraging the Thessalonians to grow in holiness. He now continues in the theme of a walk that pleases God (v. 1). And here, he affirms the Thessalonian believers for their love for one another. He sees that they had been clearly taught by God to love one another. And he encourages them to grow in love -even toward outsiders in the society. So, in our passage, we'll see: a) The love that is taught by God. b) The love that increases for others. c) The love that witnesses to outsiders.

Increasing And Abounding In Love

Increasing and Abounding in Love | 1 Thessalonians 3: 1–12

Do you have coworkers that you really love to work with? Who are the coworkers that are not a pain but a blessing to work with? As we saw last week, Paul was torn away from this church for a short time (v. 17). But he was deeply concerned about the believers in Thessalonica as they were suffering persecution. So, he sent his coworker Timothy to encourage them—though he really needed him. With that in mind, we’ll see in our passage:- a) The love that sacrifices for others. b) The love that longs for one another. c) The Lord who increases His love in us.

God's Word At Work

God’s Word At Work | 1 Thessalonians 2: 13–20

Where do you put your ultimate confidence in a world of suffering? As we saw last week, Paul had written about how he declared the gospel with integrity. Paul now gives thanks to God because the Thessalonians had received his preaching not as the word of men—but as the word of God. God’s word had worked powerfully in the lives of believers—in the midst of suffering. So, in our passage, we’ll see that: a) God’s word is at work in believers. b) God’s wrath is upon unbelievers. c) God’s grace brings joy at Jesus’ return.  

Declaring The Gospel With Boldness

Declaring The Gospel With Boldness | 1 Thessalonians 2: 1–12

Where does boldness to share the gospel come from? Do you need boldness in the absence of conflict or in the face of conflict? As we saw last week, Paul was writing to new believers who were joyfully enduring persecution. But Paul now focuses on how he and his team suffered as they brought the gospel to Thessalonica. Despite being shamefully treated, Paul and his team declared the gospel boldly. So, from our passage, we’ll see the importance of: a) Resting in God’s approval, not in man’s approval. b) Sharing our own selves, not self-preservation. c) Living in holiness, not in self-indulgence.

The Spirit of Holiness

The Spirit of Holiness | 1 Thessalonians 4: 1-8 | Joey Zorina

What shapes our understanding of holiness? Does the idea of "holier than thou" put you off? As we saw last week, Paul had heard a good report from Timothy about the faith of the Thessalonian church. He had just prayed for them to be "blameless in holiness" as they await Jesus' return (in ch. 3: 13). So, Paul here encourages them to grow in holiness in the pattern that they had received from him. Following in our passage, we'll see that: a) Holiness is pleasing to God. b) Holiness is lived from the heart. c) Holiness is from the Holy Spirit.

God's Electing Love

God’s Electing Love | 1 Thessalonians 1: 1–10 | JOEY ZORINA

How does waiting for Jesus’ return change how we live here and now? Paul had written this letter in AD 49–51 during his second missionary journey (Acts 17, 18). Here, Paul was writing to new believers who were grieving over deaths and enduring persecution. But in his opening prayer (in vv. 2-3), Paul is thankful to God for their work of faith, love and hope. He is thankful that their genuine faith is as a result of God’s electing love. So, in our passage, we’ll see: a) The joy of knowing God’s electing love. b) The joy of sharing God’s electing love. c) The joy of waiting for Jesus’ return.

God's Chosen People

God’s Chosen People | Deuteronomy 7:6-11 | Joey Zorina

What does it mean to be God’s chosen people? Deuteronomy is often called the “Gospel according to Moses.” Jesus quoted Deuteronomy more than any book of the O.T. Here in ch. 7, the Israelites were camping at Moab and were about to cross the Jordan River into Canaan. Moses begins by saying that God would remove the nations more numerous and stronger than Israel (v. 1). This was not because Israel had anything that impressed God. Rather, it was because God had set them apart for His sovereign purposes. So following in our passage, we’ll see: a) God chose us not on the basis of merit. b) God chose us on the basis of His love. c) God chose us so that we may love Him.

Seeing The Glorified Jesus

Seeing The Glorified Jesus | Revelation 1: 9–20 | Joey Zorina

What comes to your mind when you think about Jesus? As we saw last week, John had begun his first sentence with “the revelation of Jesus Christ” (v. 1). The whole book is a prophecy of unfolding events and what Jesus is saying to churches facing persecution, compromise and false teaching. Yet, Jesus is not only the revealer of the truths, but also the one being revealed as John said in vv. 4–8. And this grand vision of Jesus had come to John—not in a time of comfort and ease but in a time of great suffering. So, in our passage, we’ll look at: a) The patient endurance in our sufferings. b) The portrait of our warrior-King. c) The presence of Jesus in our fears.

Unveiling Jesus Christ

Unveiling Jesus Christ | Revelation 1: 1–8 | Pastor Joey Zorina

What is the book of Revelation mainly about? Revelation was recorded by the apostle John while he was in exile on the Island of Patmos (which is in present day Turkey)! John had received this revelation around the mid 90s AD at the time of the Roman Emperor Domitian. The book was written to first-century churches in Asia. But what is the book mainly about? Is it mainly about difficult symbols, dragon and end times? In our passage, we’ll see that:- a) It’s all about the revealing of Christ. b) It’s all about the grace of Christ. c) It’s all about the return of Christ.

Moving From Problems To Praise

Moving From Problems To Praise | Psalm 77 | Kyllum Lewis

In this stand alone sermon, Pastor Kyllum honestly shares how he struggled with depression and shows how the psalmist tells God his struggles and moves forward by remembering God's redemptive work resulting in praise. We see the psalmist:- a) Praying, b) Pondering, c) Preaching and c) Praising God.

Present Groanings To Future Glory

Present Groanings To Future Glory | Romans 8: 18–27 |

Where do you place your hope as you look at the sufferings of this world? Creation is both beautiful and violent! Earthquakes, tsunamis, hurricanes, typhoons and volcanoes remind us that creation is groaning. But why does creation groan? When will this groaning end? Writing in the 50s AD, Paul here talks about the groanings between the present sufferings and the hope of future glory. So in our passage, we’ll see:- a) The groanings of God’s creation. b) The groanings of God’s children. c) The groanings of God’s Spirit.

Resurrection and Future Judgement

THE GOSPEL IN ISAIAH | RESURRECTION & JUDGEMENT | Isaiah 26: 16–21 |

Isaiah saw a bright future of God’s people entering the strong city, singing songs of salvation (vv. 1-12). Meanwhile, God’s people are praying in distress as they wait for these promises to become a reality. Even as Christians, life is not smooth sailing. There is distress in trials and sufferings, and also in our own failures, as we wait for God’s future deliverance. So in our passage, we see: a) The distress of failure. b) The promise of resurrection. a) The refuge from fury.

A Vision of God's Glory

The Gospel in Isaiah | A Vision of God's Glory | Isaiah 6: 1-13

Isaiah prophesied during the times of four kings of Judah: Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah (787–697 BC). And here in ch. 6, Isaiah saw a vision, after King Uziah died. He saw a vision of another King so captivating and glorious. What sight would be more captivating than the sight of God’s glory? So following Isaiah’s vision, here are 3 insights from our passage:- a) Seeing God’s holiness and glory. b) Seeing our sin and atonement. c) Hearing and responding to God’s grace.

The Holy Spirit | Marks of A Spirit-Filled Church

The Holy Spirit | Marks of A Spirit-Filled Church | Acts 2: 41- 47 |

What are the marks of a Spirit-filled Church? When Jesus promised to build His church (in Matt. 16: 18), He did not promise to build a church based on our personal preferences. Rather, the church Jesus promised to build, while imperfect, is a Spirit-filled church. So we’re going to see that a Spirit-filled church is marked by: a) Bible teaching and loving fellowship. b) Gospel renewal and generous giving. c) Vibrant worship and gospel sharing.

The Holy Spirit | The Spirit-Led Jesus

The Holy Spirit | The Spirit-Led Jesus | Luke 4: 1–14 |

In v. 1 Luke says that Jesus is “led by the Spirit in the wilderness”—where He faced many temptations from the devil. How can we follow the Spirit instead of giving in to temptations? To answer that, we see:- a) Jesus is tempted with instant gratification. b) Jesus is tempted with power and glory. c) Jesus is tempted with self-serving identity. How does Jesus overcome His temptations?

The Holy Spirit | The Spirit of Prayer

The Holy Spirit | The Spirit of Prayer | Romans 8: 22–30 |

In this chapter, Paul uses the word ‘Spirit’ twenty-one times. Paul says in v. 26 the Spirit helps us in our weakness and prays for us. How does the Spirit help us? What does He pray for us? From our text, we see that:- a) The Spirit works patience in our groanings. b) The Spirit helps in our weakness and prayer. c) The Spirit shows our future glory with Christ.

The Holy Spirit | The Spirit-filled Church

The Holy Spirit | The Spirit-filled Church | Ephesians 5: 15-25 |

What are the marks of a Spirit-filled Church? Every Christian receives the Holy Spirit at the time of conversion. But to be “filled with the Spirit” is a command in v. 18. It’s a daily experience of the Spirit and not a one-time occurrence. So in our text, we see that:- a) Spirit-filled people walk in wisdom. b) Spirit-filled people live in community. c) Spirit-filled people look to Christ.

The Holy Spirit | The Spirit of Life

The Holy Spirit | The Spirit of Life | Romans 8: 1–13 |

Can Christians make progress by overcoming sin? In Romans 8, Paul focuses now on the power of the Spirit in bringing us to freedom. Until this point, the Holy Spirit is mentioned only twice (in ch. 1:4 and ch. 5:5). But in this chapter, the word ‘Spirit’ appears twenty-one times. So what does being freed by the Spirit look like? In this passage, we’re going to see that:- a) Freed people are not under condemnation. b) Freed people set their minds on the Spirit. c) Freed people live by the Spirit’s power.

The Holy Spirit | The Desires of The Spirit

The Holy Spirit | The Desires of The Spirit | Galatians 5: 16- 26 |

Paul had written this letter to a group of churches in Galatia (present-day Turkey). Some were teaching that Christians must add Jewish circumcision to be accepted by God. But in ch. 5–6 Paul shows that only the grace of Christ leads to freedom. So how does the Spirit help us walk in freedom? From our passage, we see:- a) The desires of the Spirit. b) The works of the flesh. c) The fruit of the Spirit.