Library
912 messages
1h 16mZac Poonen · Sep 3
57mZac Poonen · Aug 30
57mSantosh Poonen · Aug 1
51mSantosh Poonen · Jul 31
24mAjay Chakravarthy · Jul 29
51mSantosh Poonen · Jul 13
1h 3mSantosh Poonen · Jun 8
54mSantosh Poonen · May 26
1h 30mZac Poonen · May 26
1h 19mZac Poonen · May 26
1h 10mZac Poonen · May 24
57mZac Poonen · May 24
1h 5mZac Poonen · May 24
56mSantosh Poonen · Apr 13
54mSantosh Poonen · Mar 22
49mSantosh Poonen · Mar 15
52mSantosh Poonen · Feb 8
53mSantosh Poonen · Jan 18
1h 0mSantosh Poonen · Dec 8
51mSantosh Poonen · Oct 20
46mSantosh Poonen · Sep 22
51mZac Poonen · Sep 13
59mZac Poonen · Sep 13
1h 2mZac Poonen · Sep 13
Zac Poonen · 10m · CFC Daily Devotions
Zac Poonen teaches that idolatry constitutes spiritual adultery against God, drawing a parallel between unfaithfulness in marriage and unfaithfulness in our devotion to God. The message calls believers to recognize idolatry in their lives and turn from it in repentance to restore their relationship with God.
1h 16mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Sep 3, 2015 · 1h 16m
The speaker discusses the two parts of the Great Commission: preaching the gospel to all creation and the subsequent discipleship. He emphasizes that in unreached areas, preaching the gospel requires supernatural manifestations of God's power to convince people of Jesus's resurrection and divinity. Furthermore, he stresses the necessity of publicly reading scripture to teach people who have never encountered the Bible in their language.
57mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Aug 30, 2015 · 57m
The speaker urges believers to take their spiritual inheritance seriously, comparing their lack of focus on God to treating money. He emphasizes that spiritual progress requires diligently seeking God with all one's heart, as God is not partial. Furthermore, he warns that believers will face judgment for their earthly conduct, and at Christ's return, some will be bold while others will shrink away in shame.
57mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Santosh Poonen · Aug 1, 2015 · 57m
The speaker encourages young people to understand that true Christian power and faith are proven not in times of constant spiritual excitement, but in the mundane, lonely circumstances of daily life. Drawing from Jesus' words to the disciples, he asserts that it is actually to the believers' advantage when the 'youth conference' ends, because the genuine power of God is revealed in the darkness and solitude of everyday life. He urges the audience to test the reality of their faith when all the 'lights' of external support are turned off.
51mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Santosh Poonen · Jul 31, 2015 · 51m
The central message is that God is on the side of the young people, encouraging them not to compare themselves to others or feel discouraged by their current level of passion. The core call is to follow Jesus by heart, trusting that God desires to transform them internally, making them useful for His kingdom regardless of their current feelings or outward appearance. This transformation is rooted in embracing the nature of God, which is love.
24mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Ajay Chakravarthy · Jul 29, 2015 · 24m
The speaker emphasizes that the true body of Christ is not merely a Sunday service but a living, God-built community, contrasting it with self-made endeavors like the Tower of Babel. He stresses that every member is a precious, living stone, and true fellowship requires denying self, overcoming jealousy, and actively seeking to live out the preached word in daily life. Ultimately, the message calls for genuine transformation that permeates one's entire existence.
51mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Santosh Poonen · Jul 13, 2015 · 51m
The speaker emphasizes that the fullness of the Holy Spirit is necessary to truly build a foundation in Jesus Christ; otherwise, religious efforts are merely human work without divine power. He cautions that seeking the Holy Spirit's baptism should not become merely about gifts like tongues, but must instead make Jesus Christ more glorious in the hearer's sight. Furthermore, he addresses the need for believers to be sober-minded in all areas, using the warning against getting drunk with wine as an analogy for spiritual sobriety.
1h 3mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Santosh Poonen · Jun 8, 2015 · 1h 3m
The message emphasizes that true discipleship requires a 'Shepherd mentality,' meaning one must be willing to lay down one's life and risk personal safety for the benefit of others, much like Jesus. The speaker warns against the 'ravenous wolf' mentality—a self-serving, biting disposition—and contrasts it with the selfless care of the Good Shepherd. Following Jesus must result in a visible desire to lead others to be disciples.
54mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Santosh Poonen · May 26, 2015 · 54m
The central message is that Christian life requires a passion to run hard after God until death, mirroring Paul's testimony. The speaker emphasizes that true spiritual maturity involves opening the 'eyes of the heart' to see beyond mere intellectual understanding. Ultimately, believers are called not just to experience faith, but to be instrumental in opening the eyes of others, serving the body of Christ.
1h 30mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · May 26, 2015 · 1h 30m
The central message is that the Christian life must accurately reflect the true nature of Jesus, focusing on internal transformation rather than merely external works or social programs. The speaker warns against equating Christian activity with worldly compassion or visible charity, arguing that the true focus must be on building the 'True Church'—a quality-based community—as opposed to the 'great Babylon' of mere quantity. True discipleship requires internal holiness, as exemplified by Jesus' teachings on anger, which addressed the root of sin.
1h 19mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · May 26, 2015 · 1h 19m
The sermon emphasizes that the church's calling is to fulfill the ministry Jesus performed on Earth, which involves showing people how God wants them to live. A critical component of this ministry, beyond evangelism, is making disciples—teaching them to obey everything Jesus taught. The speaker urges listeners to diligently study Scripture to ensure that all necessary teachings, which form a complete picture of Christ, are being preached, warning that missing doctrines leave the church 'out of tune.'
1h 10mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · May 24, 2015 · 1h 10m
The central message emphasizes that living by God's Word is paramount, drawing parallels from Jesus' temptation response and the story of Mary and Martha. The speaker advises believers to prioritize deep study and meditation on scripture, recognizing that true spiritual life requires devotion to hearing and absorbing God's word above all other lawful activities. This devotion is presented not as a strain, but as the most joyful and necessary focus for a Christian life.
57mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · May 24, 2015 · 57m
The central message is that the ultimate goal for a true disciple is to press toward becoming more Christlike every single day, as exemplified by Paul's pursuit of knowing Christ. This personal spiritual progress must be evident to others and is more crucial than ministry achievements like evangelism. Furthermore, believers must be men who understand the times, recognizing that the current era mirrors the days of Noah, requiring them to stand for God amidst widespread compromise and evil.
1h 5mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · May 24, 2015 · 1h 5m
The speaker emphasizes that true spiritual knowledge comes not from merely knowing doctrine or scripture, but from developing an intimate, personal knowledge of God through Jesus Christ. He warns against valuing earthly things, including one's own ministry or knowledge, above Christ, comparing them to rubbish. The ultimate goal of Christian life and ministry should be that people hear the message but ultimately follow Jesus, not the messenger.
56mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Santosh Poonen · Apr 13, 2015 · 56m
The sermon warns against being like those who bear leaves without fruit, referencing Matthew 7 where Jesus teaches that people will be known by their actual fruit, not just their claims. The speaker emphasizes that true sustenance comes only from the 'Tree of Life' and the 'River of Life,' cautioning that mere intellectual or emotional understanding of God is insufficient without this deep, secret relationship. The incident of Jesus cursing the fig tree illustrates that outward appearance (leaves) cannot substitute for true, fruitful reality.
54mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Santosh Poonen · Mar 22, 2015 · 54m
The speaker contrasts the temporary joys of worldly pursuits with the enduring joy found in dwelling in God's presence. He emphasizes that the Christian life is not just about initial forgiveness but a continuous, progressive journey of drawing closer to Christ. This process involves becoming more like Jesus step-by-step, which is the true, exciting reality of the believer's life.
49mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Santosh Poonen · Mar 15, 2015 · 49m
Jesus taught that there is a narrow gate leading to life, contrasting it with a broad way leading to destruction. The speaker warns against false prophets who will dilute this message by promoting tolerance, which can lead to widening the gate. True salvation requires adhering strictly to the narrow path Jesus established, as deviating from it leads away from abundant life.
52mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Santosh Poonen · Feb 8, 2015 · 52m
The sermon emphasizes that genuine Christian love must be outwardly manifest, moving beyond mere belief to tangible actions within the community. Drawing from Matthew 7:11-12, the speaker argues that understanding Scripture is summed up in loving God and neighbor, and that God's goodness far surpasses any earthly standard of goodness. He concludes by asserting that God is intentional in every word of Scripture, even when apparent inconsistencies are pointed out, because He intends to reveal Himself to those who approach Him with childlike faith.
53mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Santosh Poonen · Jan 18, 2015 · 53m
The speaker emphasizes that deep intimacy within a local church community inevitably exposes our faults, which should not cause fear but rather be embraced for transformation. He draws parallels to Paul's experience with the law, noting that vulnerability in fellowship reveals unChristlike aspects that the Holy Spirit can then address. The discussion transitions to Matthew 7:1, cautioning against judging others, suggesting that while the immediate penalty may not be physical, we will ultimately have to give account before God.
1h 0mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Santosh Poonen · Dec 8, 2014 · 1h 0m
The speaker expresses profound gratitude for the experience of knowing Christ, acknowledging the danger of taking spiritual blessings for granted. The message centers on maintaining a sense of wonder regarding God's love, calling for a deep, overflowing experience of the Holy Spirit. It concludes with a plea to focus on the spiritual feast provided by God rather than the temporary attractions of the world.
51mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Santosh Poonen · Oct 20, 2014 · 51m
The speaker encourages the congregation to move beyond simply being saved from sin to actively
46mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Santosh Poonen · Sep 22, 2014 · 46m
The central message emphasizes that God sees in secret, contrasting this with the world's tendency to broadcast everything on social media. The speaker argues that true discipleship, like Jesus' life, involves internal, secret obedience rather than only outward, visible acts. Furthermore, the Holy Spirit's primary purpose is not just for gifts, but to guide believers into deeper truths that were not publicly revealed, mirroring Jesus' private life.
51mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Sep 13, 2014 · 51m
The speaker discusses finding balance in Christian life, using analogies like the body of Christ and the balance between spiritual gifts and the fruit of the Spirit. Key areas needing balance include dependence on God versus dependence on other believers, and the relationship between loving God and loving neighbor. He emphasizes that while one must heed the Spirit's guidance (1 John 2:27), one must also value the teaching authority set by Christ (Ephesians 4:11).
59mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Sep 13, 2014 · 59m
The central message emphasizes that a secure foundation in God's love is necessary for healthy relationships in marriage, family, and the church. The speaker draws heavily on Philippians 2:5, urging believers to adopt the attitude of Christ in all relationships—with spouses, children, and enemies. He also discusses the biblical model of headship, comparing the husband and wife relationship to the head and body, stressing mutual dependence and the seriousness of commitment, especially regarding divorce.
1h 2mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Sep 13, 2014 · 1h 2m
The central message is that Christian life should be lived in alignment with God's specific, pre-planned will, rather than making self-directed plans. This requires a life of inner rest and dependence on the Holy Spirit, mirroring Jesus' focused ministry. True fulfillment comes from completing the work God has specifically assigned, rather than accumulating worldly experience or activity.