Library
493 messages
53mZac Poonen · May 2
1h 25mZac Poonen · Mar 9
24mZac Poonen · Feb 5
1h 54mZac Poonen · Jan 21
26mZac Poonen · Aug 17
39mZac Poonen · Mar 6
42mZac Poonen · Mar 6
58mZac Poonen · Jan 31
18mZac Poonen · Jan 19
20mZac Poonen · Jan 18
1h 15mZac Poonen · Jan 14
1h 13mZac Poonen · Jan 14
17mZac Poonen · Jan 11
1h 17mZac Poonen · Jan 11
55mZac Poonen · Aug 16
1h 22mZac Poonen · Jul 21
1h 15mZac Poonen · Jul 21
1h 7mZac Poonen · Jul 20
1h 7mZac Poonen · Jul 20
25mZac Poonen · May 25
1h 30mZac Poonen · May 23
25mZac Poonen · May 20
1h 8mZac Poonen · May 9
1h 28mZac Poonen · Mar 24
Zac Poonen · 11m · CFC Daily Devotions
True blessing under the New Covenant is not measured by material wealth and health, but by spiritual transformation and union with Christ. The mark of God's blessing is internal holiness and a clear vision of Christ, not external prosperity.
53mNCCF Church
Zac Poonen · May 2, 2018 · 53m
The speaker emphasizes that the core goal of Christians is to reflect Jesus by growing in personal purity and functioning within the local church. He discusses the profound justice demonstrated by God on the cross, noting that Jesus paid the infinite price for sin's eternal separation from God. Furthermore, he argues that true faith is not difficult to achieve, citing the example of the humble Roman centurion, whose faith was rooted in humility, which is the necessary counterpart to faith.
1h 25mCFC India
Zac Poonen · Mar 9, 2018 · 1h 25m
The speaker uses the Israelites' failure to enter the Promised Land, despite experiencing many miracles, as a warning that spiritual gifts and experiences do not guarantee God's favor. He emphasizes that Christians must guard against carnal living, even while exercising spiritual gifts, and reminds the audience that every temptation they face is within their ability to overcome because God is faithful. The ultimate way of escape from temptation is through humility.
24mCFC India
Zac Poonen · Feb 5, 2018 · 24m
The sermon emphasizes that true greatness in the Kingdom of Heaven is found in the humility of a child, rather than the desire for fame within the church. The speaker urges the congregation to meditate on childlike thoughts while maintaining adult responsibility. Furthermore, he warns seriously against despising or causing little children to stumble, comparing such actions to the severe judgment described by Jesus.
1h 54mCFC Bangalore Live
Zac Poonen · Jan 21, 2018 · 1h 54m
The message centers on the profound lesson from Matthew 18 regarding the desire to be great, contrasting the worldly desire for recognition within the church with the humility of a little child. The speaker urges the congregation to meditate on the simple thoughts of a baby to achieve spiritual growth, while also balancing this with the maturity required for adult responsibilities within the church.
26mCFC India
Zac Poonen · Aug 17, 2017 · 26m
The speaker emphasizes that humility is foundational to receiving God's grace, which is necessary to overcome sin. He contrasts the condemnation shown by Jesus to sinners (like the woman caught in adultery or the thief on the cross) with the strong rebuke given to the proud Pharisees. God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble, suggesting that pride prevents the necessary spiritual rain for the fruit of the Spirit to grow.
39mCFC India
Zac Poonen · Mar 6, 2017 · 39m
The central message emphasizes that true unity in the church, and even within marriage, is achieved not through perfect agreement, but through a unified spirit and heart. The speaker draws from Philippians 2 and Ephesians 4, stressing that the greatest hindrances to unity are selfishness and pride. To maintain unity, believers must be diligent to consider others as more important than themselves, mirroring the humility of Christ.
42mCFC India
Zac Poonen · Mar 6, 2017 · 42m
The speaker emphasizes that true faith is rooted not in knowledge of scripture, but in a personal trust in Jesus, exemplified by the centurion's faith. He draws a strong parallel between faith and humility, arguing that a lack of faith often stems from underlying pride. The ability to live by faith, as stated in Habakkuk, is contrasted with pride, suggesting that humility is the prerequisite for genuine faith.
58mCFC India
Zac Poonen · Jan 31, 2017 · 58m
The speaker emphasizes that believers must actively put on virtues like compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, starting with their immediate relationships. A key test of spiritual maturity is being thankful for one another, which prepares the heart to receive God's word. Furthermore, he urges the congregation to move beyond elementary teachings, recognizing that true maturity involves repenting not just from sin, but also from the belief that one's own good works can earn acceptance from God.
18mCFC India
Zac Poonen · Jan 19, 2017 · 18m
The speaker emphasizes that true exaltation and promotion come solely from God, not from human effort or favoritism, citing Psalm 75:6-7. He warns against self-promotion, comparing it to the Pharisee, and stresses that the church's growth and vitality depend on God lifting up the humble, not the individual's own efforts. He also cautions against superficial religious language, noting that familiarity can lead to counterfeits.
20mCFC India
Zac Poonen · Jan 18, 2017 · 20m
The central message is that true church growth and spiritual health depend on shepherds who embody selfless service and humility, mirroring the selfless love of Christ. The speaker emphasizes that genuine leadership involves sacrificing for the flock, caring for members like one's own children, and possessing authority over sin, rather than seeking personal gain. He warns against false leadership that attempts to build the church on personal effort, contrasting it with the divine work of God.
1h 15mCFC Bangalore Live
Zac Poonen · Jan 14, 2017 · 1h 15m
The sermon argues that true wisdom requires confronting and overcoming known sins, using anger as a primary example. The speaker contrasts worldly self-control (like yoga) with true spiritual wisdom, noting that suppressing anger internally is dangerous. He emphasizes that anger dwells in the heart of a fool and that believers must emulate Jesus' non-retaliatory response, understanding that anger itself is a sin unless it concerns the glory of God.
1h 13mCFC Bangalore Live
Zac Poonen · Jan 14, 2017 · 1h 13m
True divine wisdom is fundamentally different from human cleverness, as illustrated by Jesus' words in Matthew 11:25. The Bible reveals profound truths not to the wise or intelligent, but to the humble, like little children. Therefore, accessing God's wisdom requires abandoning self-reliance and embracing a posture of deep humility and helpless dependence on Christ.
17mCFC India
Zac Poonen · Jan 11, 2017 · 17m
The sermon draws from Revelation 5 to illustrate that true worship in heaven is entirely centered on Jesus Christ, requiring believers to humble themselves and be small in their own eyes. The speaker emphasizes that sin is fundamentally rebellion against God's authority, and only Jesus, who was slain, was qualified to pay the price for humanity's redemption. Following Jesus means adopting a 'lion-lamb combination': being fearless against sin and the devil, yet meek and willing to endure suffering before people.
1h 17mCFC India
Zac Poonen · Jan 11, 2017 · 1h 17m
The speaker argues that while the Old Covenant was fulfilled in Christ, understanding the Old Testament is crucial for grasping the New Testament. He emphasizes that the greatest barrier to experiencing God's presence is not merely overcoming specific sins like anger or dirty thoughts, but conquering one's inherent self-will, which is symbolized by the veil. True victory comes from denying one's self-will daily, allowing God to enter deeply into the heart.
55mCFC India
Zac Poonen · Aug 16, 2016 · 55m
The central message is that human pride prevents us from understanding God's superior ways, which are vastly different from our own. True understanding of God's ways comes through humility, much like a child who asks questions without shame. The speaker emphasizes that humility leads to peace in relationships and life decisions, contrasting it with the pitfalls of pride.
1h 22mCFC India
Zac Poonen · Jul 21, 2016 · 1h 22m
The sermon emphasizes that to enter the Kingdom of God, one must approach it with the purity and simplicity of a child, rather than relying on intellectual knowledge or worldly status. Jesus taught that God looks at the heart, not the head, suggesting that our hearts become soiled by the world, regardless of our age or religious standing. True renewal requires a childlike humility and receptivity.
1h 15mCFC India
Zac Poonen · Jul 21, 2016 · 1h 15m
True freedom comes from recognizing and shedding the pride, preconceived notions, and cultural biases absorbed from childhood and local churches. To achieve this, one must study the Word of God with deep reverence, understanding that the full truth is found not just in isolated verses, but in the balance between scriptures. Furthermore, believers must resist the temptation to preach or live life based on the approval of people rather than the pure truth of Christ.
1h 7mAustin Christian Fellowship Church (ACFC)
Zac Poonen · Jul 20, 2016 · 1h 7m
The message emphasizes that the Church must function as a true body where every member, regardless of perceived gift or prominence, is necessary for the whole. It cautions against comparing oneself to others' gifts, warning that such envy often stems from a desire for personal honor rather than building up the body. Ultimately, the talk stresses recognizing that all our abilities—beauty, intelligence, position—are gifts from God's grace and must be approached with humility.
1h 7mAustin Christian Fellowship Church (ACFC)
Zac Poonen · Jul 20, 2016 · 1h 7m
The central message emphasizes that Christian growth is a continuous, daily process requiring humility before God. Drawing parallels between Genesis 1's creation and the believer's life, the speaker argues that just as the Earth had no choice but to follow God's word, believers have the free choice every day to respond to God's guidance through His Word. This constant reception of grace and daily obedience is necessary for spiritual progress.
25mCFC India
Zac Poonen · May 25, 2016 · 25m
The sermon emphasizes that peacemaking is a defining characteristic of a true son of God, citing Jesus' teaching and passages like Matthew 5 and Philippians 2. The speaker argues that pursuing peace requires a willingness to die to self, refusing to engage in quarrels or disputes, even when it means foregoing the chance to 'win' an argument. Ultimately, this pursuit of peace, trusting in God's sovereignty, leads to a life pleasing to the Lord.
1h 30mNCCF Church
Zac Poonen · May 23, 2016 · 1h 30m
The primary mark of spiritual growth is increasing humility, which must be before God, not merely for human reputation. True humility is evidenced by obedience to God's will, as God gives grace to the humble but resists the proud. The speaker emphasizes that sinning proves one is not under grace, and spiritual growth is a progression of overcoming sin in thought, word, deed, attitude, and motive.
25mCFC India
Zac Poonen · May 20, 2016 · 25m
The sermon focuses on the teachings of Jesus, particularly the Sermon on the Mount, emphasizing that these teachings are vital for true discipleship. The speaker highlights the concept of being 'poor in spirit,' illustrating it by comparing it to a beggar who is constantly aware of his daily physical needs. This spiritual poverty means approaching God daily, recognizing one's constant need for God's wisdom and grace to receive the blessings of the Kingdom of Heaven.
1h 8mNCCF Church
Zac Poonen · May 9, 2016 · 1h 8m
The central message is that true spiritual growth is measured by emulating the profound humility of Jesus Christ, rather than by worldly achievements or perceived status. The speaker uses Jesus' ancestry (which included figures from questionable backgrounds) and his humble birth in a stable to illustrate that God values the marginalized and the lowly. Therefore, believers must reject the tendency to boast in lineage or accomplishments, focusing instead on Christ's selfless humility.
1h 28mCFC India
Zac Poonen · Mar 24, 2016 · 1h 28m
The speaker warns against spiritual pride and hypocrisy, noting that many people wrongly believe God is with them despite their actions or outward piety. True assurance of God's presence comes from bearing visible fruit in both character and ministry, as exemplified by the contrast between self-reliance and trusting in the Lord. Furthermore, the speaker emphasizes that when blessed or famous, believers must imitate Jesus by withdrawing to pray privately to guard against pride.