Sermon catalog

Zac Poonen contrasts God's earthly goals for man under the Old Covenant with His spiritual goal under the New Covenant—to make believers like Jesus Christ. He challenges listeners to test whether they have truly entered the New Covenant by asking if they are more disturbed by sin than sickness and whether they value and pursue heavenly riches over earthly ones. He emphasizes that God controls circumstances, wealth, and temptation to keep believers on track toward Christlikeness, empowered by the Holy Spirit.

The sermon emphasizes that before the harvest of revival, there is a necessary season of 'sewing,' which requires diligent effort and preparation. Drawing from scripture, the speaker urges the congregation to sow bountifully, recognizing that every member must participate actively, like rowing a boat in unison. Ultimately, the message stresses that every individual in the church body is vital and must function in their calling to move the church forward.

A Sunday church service featuring congregational worship through hymns and contemporary Christian songs, focusing on the majesty and lordship of Jesus Christ, His redemption, comfort in sorrow, and eternal praise. The service emphasizes devotion to Christ as Savior, the lifting up of His name above all others, and the believer's security and assurance in Him.

Zac Poonen explains that Christ's suffering on the cross was not primarily physical but spiritual—the breaking of His eternal fellowship with God the Father as He bore the guilt of humanity's sin. Jesus faced the punishment for sin, which is separation from God (hell), during the final three hours of darkness on the cross, a spiritual agony infinitely greater than physical torture. Poonen challenges believers to understand that fellowship with God is the most precious thing, yet most Christians carelessly break it through sin and never grasp what Jesus truly endured for them.

This video features a worship song encouraging believers to maintain courage and not stumble, regardless of how dark their path may seem. The central message is to trust in God and always do what is right, ignoring the fluctuating opinions of others. The song emphasizes finding guidance and strength through faith in God.

The sermon emphasizes that honoring God is achieved by offering a sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving, which requires aligning our hearts with God and with each other. True salvation is found only in Jesus Christ, not in earthly possessions or human effort. Believers are called to turn their focus away from the passing things of earth and fix their hearts on the eternal joy found in Christ.

Grace is not unmerited favor but rather God's help in our time of need, particularly to overcome temptation and sin. Throughout scripture, from Jesus's birth to death, grace is presented as the power that enables us to resist our sinful nature and live in obedience, just as Jesus overcame through grace and never sinned despite being tempted in all things as we are.

Zac Poonen teaches that true grace, revealed through Jesus Christ, enables believers to live in complete honesty where their inner life corresponds with their outer life, rejecting pretense and hypocrisy. Living the truth means being honest about oneself before God—not confessing sins publicly, but never pretending to be something you're not—which requires both grace and the humility to admit failure rather than maintain a false reputation.

Zac Poonen urges Christians to live simply, avoid debt, and be faithful with money as a prerequisite for God's anointing. Drawing from his own marriage, he shares how he and his wife lived frugally—standing in ration queues, reusing items, refusing credit card debt—to stay free from financial bondage, warning that carelessness with money forfeits the true riches of revelation and the Holy Spirit's anointing. He calls couples to work together financially, care for the poor, and reject the devil's tactic of comparison with those who have more.

The speaker contrasts the Old Covenant with the New Covenant established through Christ, noting that while many commandments from the Old Testament can be kept by non-Christians, the tenth commandment—not desiring what belongs to a neighbor—was impossible to keep. He emphasizes that true understanding of scripture requires meditation, using the encounter with the rich young ruler as an example where Jesus pointed beyond mere adherence to law toward a deeper commitment.

Zac Poonen teaches that meditating on Scripture is more important than merely reading it. He emphasizes that meditation—like digestion of food—allows God's Word to truly strengthen us spiritually, and promises that those who delight in God's law and meditate on it day and night will prosper in all they do, as stated in Psalm 1.

Zac Poonen teaches believers to run the Christian race with humility and mutual support, using David's repentance and a video of two brothers in a triathlon as examples. He emphasizes honest confession of sin, dependence on the Holy Spirit, and prioritizing helping fellow believers finish their course over personal advancement or recognition.

Zac Poonen teaches that remaining humble and small in your own eyes is essential to finishing the Christian race well. Using Saul's example from 1 Samuel, he shows how Saul started with obedience and received great victories, but pride caused him to disobey God and ultimately lose the kingdom. The key difference between Saul and David was not the severity of their sins, but their response to correction—humility and brokenness keep us dependent on God's grace and able to persevere to the end.

Zac Poonen encourages believers not to abandon the Christian race, using Paul's example of wasting 30 years before conversion yet still finishing strong to show that past failures need not prevent future victory. He emphasizes that God does not condemn wasted years but calls Christians to run seriously from today forward, warns against backsliding through immorality and compromise despite spiritual privileges, and assures that God calibrates tests to each believer's capacity for growth—calling them to progress in maturity rather than drop out of faith.

Sunil Poonen teaches that Christians should reflect Jesus's heart, using the example of a mother's love as revealed in Scripture. He explores how God demonstrates maternal love toward His people—constant remembrance, comfort, and redemptive care—and calls believers to embody this same compassionate, building love within their families and church communities.

Zac Poonen teaches mothers that the three greatest dangers children face are worldly honor, money, and sinful pleasure, using Moses' mother as an example of how parental instruction in the formative years can equip children to reject these temptations throughout their lives. He emphasizes that mothers have a critical window in a child's early years to instill godly values that will protect them decades later when they encounter worldly allures.

Annie Poonen reflects on motherhood, celebrating mothers' vital role in their children's lives and drawing parallels to God's protective, nurturing love. Through personal stories and biblical examples, she emphasizes how mothers embody Christ-like qualities and teach their children to depend on God, while encouraging gratitude toward mothers both living and deceased.

The speaker emphasizes that receiving from God must be balanced by giving, drawing parallels between the biblical principle of giving and the spiritual danger of hoarding blessings. He challenges the congregation to be givers, not just takers, suggesting that true membership is demonstrated by investing in others outside of one's immediate family. The message concludes by highlighting mothers as prime examples of selfless giving.

The message draws from Isaiah 40, highlighting that while all human life is fleeting like grass, the word of God endures forever. The central call is for believers to proclaim this eternal Word by lifting up their voices and proclaiming comfort and truth. Furthermore, the speaker emphasizes that speaking words of encouragement, edification, and comfort—whether to family or friends—is a form of prophesying and fulfilling a divine calling.

The message centers on restoring broken relationships, drawing from Malachi 4:6 regarding fathers and children. The speaker emphasizes that while physical provision is important, God desires deeper elements like love, humility, time, and patience in family life. He connects this to the cross of Christ (Ephesians 2), arguing that just as Christ broke down barriers between groups, His love can reconcile all relationships—including those within the church—by bringing us near to God.

To win the Christian race, believers must exercise self-control and discipline themselves daily, dying to selfish desires and carnal impulses. Self-control is a fruit of the Holy Spirit that enables us to respond with Christ-likeness in all situations—whether provoked, tempted, or offended—and the mark of true spiritual progress is becoming increasingly Christ-like over time, reflected in how we conduct ourselves at home, work, and in relationships.

The sermon explores the meaning of 'keeping one's garments' using passages from Revelation, concluding that the garments symbolize the purity and righteousness of the believer, which is cleansed by the blood of the Lamb. The speaker warns that failing to maintain this purity leads to compromise and shame, urging the congregation to remain watchful and spotless through Christ's righteousness. The message emphasizes examining oneself to avoid defiling the spiritual life given by God.