Josh McGuire

The speaker discusses how Jesus frequently uses scripture to point back to himself, which left him with greater confidence in God despite unanswered questions. He contrasts the common interpretation of Lot's wife—that looking back leads to destruction—with a deeper understanding derived from James: God tests us not to tempt us into falling, but to strengthen us to look forward. Ultimately, he argues that Jesus’ command to 'remember' requires remembering God's heart and focusing on moving forward rather than dwelling on past mistakes.

The message explores gentleness as a key characteristic of true wisdom, drawing from James 3:17 and Galatians 5:23. The speaker emphasizes that genuine understanding is demonstrated not just by knowledge, but by gentle good behavior. Ultimately, he connects this to Jesus' invitation to the weary, suggesting that learning gentleness—a quality modeled by Christ—is a necessary part of finding rest and discipleship.

The speaker emphasizes adopting an attitude of unworthiness before God, mirroring Paul's self-description as a bondservant. He uses the story of Eliezer from Genesis 24 to illustrate this point, meticulously tracing potential timelines and suggesting that Eliezer served Abraham for many years, implying a lifetime of humble service without expecting recognition or credit.

The speaker discusses John's writings, noting that while Revelation was written on Patmos, First John is believed to be his last letter penned in Ephesus. He emphasizes the importance of remembering one's 'first love' for Christ, drawing parallels between this spiritual neglect and a need for childlike trust in God. The message centers on understanding the proper order of Christian doctrine—that we first approach God through His grace before contemplating His justice.

The speaker discusses the persistent human tendency to 'grab' for things, using the analogy of a child fighting over a toy car. He connects this impulse to spiritual life, noting that while we are taught restraint, our flesh still has a tendency to grasp. Drawing from scripture, he suggests that the Bible exposes these hidden tendencies, urging self-examination regarding what we cling to in life.

The speaker uses illustrations—such as viewing an object from multiple angles or the story of Pinocchio—to argue that no single perspective provides a complete picture. He emphasizes that understanding scripture, like Ephesians, requires looking at it from various viewpoints to grasp the full truth revealed by God. The central message is the necessity of diverse perspectives to achieve enlightenment.

This message continues a series on money, emphasizing that while money is a tool for storing resources, the ultimate goal must be loving God more than money itself. The speaker stresses that discipline, which is linked to self-control (a fruit of the Spirit), is necessary in this area. Ultimately, true stewardship requires both relying on the Holy Spirit and actively disciplining oneself to ensure one's love remains fixed on what is truly valuable.

The sermon explores the concept of changing one's mind, drawing heavily from Romans. The speaker emphasizes that after presenting our bodies as living sacrifices, we must allow the Holy Spirit to change our thinking rather than just trying to force a mental shift. He stresses humility and warns against spiritual pride, urging believers to take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.

The speaker encourages deep, personal study of scripture, noting how books like the Bible remain fresh upon repeated reading. He focuses on the character Demas, who appears three times in different New Testament books, suggesting this repetition is significant. The initial analysis centers on Philemon, revealing that Paul and Timothy co-authored the letter to Philemon, which concerns a runaway slave being returned to his owner as a brother.

The sermon emphasizes that forgiveness is central to our relationship with God, drawing heavily from Matthew 6:12-15. Jesus taught that we must ask for forgiveness in the same measure that we forgive others; failing to forgive others means our Heavenly Father will not forgive us. The speaker uses parables and scripture passages (Matthew 18) to stress that unforgiveness can bring a person's past sins back before God.

The speaker continues a series on money, focusing this session on possessions. He emphasizes that true discipleship requires giving up all earthly possessions, referencing Luke 14:33. The message urges listeners not to treat high biblical standards lightly but to seriously consider what it means to surrender everything, echoing the principle from 1 Corinthians 10:26 that everything ultimately belongs to the Lord.

The speaker discusses money, drawing from scripture to define its true nature beyond worldly definitions. He uses the parable of the rich fool in Luke 12 to illustrate that accumulating earthly treasure leads to spiritual folly because life and possessions are temporary. The central message is that one must prioritize being 'rich toward God' rather than storing up material wealth for a comfortable, prolonged existence.

The message emphasizes that Christians must anchor their focus on God rather than money, recognizing that possessions are ultimately God's. Drawing from examples like the Good Samaritan and scripture, the speaker urges listeners to be willing to share what they have generously with others. The ultimate goal of being faithful with earthly resources is to receive from God 'that which is really valuable.'

The message explores biblical principles regarding money, emphasizing that while money is a useful store (a 'silo'), our attitude toward it must be rich toward God. Key takeaways include being ready and willing to share resources, giving in secret, and ensuring that the ultimate goal of handling finances is to glorify God, not money itself.

The message explores how one becomes ready to minister, drawing lessons from Moses, Joseph, and Peter. Key requirements for readiness include experiencing profound brokenness, recognizing personal sinfulness (like leprosy), and understanding that the very gifts or resources given to help others can become idols if relied upon more than God. Ultimately, Paul's letter to Timothy emphasizes being willing to suffer through trials as one serves Christ.

The speaker continues the series on money, emphasizing that a person's heart will ultimately choose between God and money. He references Matthew 6:24, stating that increasing hatred of money increases love for God. Furthermore, he stresses that faithfulness with earthly resources (money) is how God tests us to entrust us with truly valuable things, urging the audience to desire what is eternally valuable.

The speaker emphasizes that 'ministering' means attending to the needs of someone, rather than holding a specific position. He draws parallels between Moses ministering to Israel and Jesus teaching that serving the least among us is equivalent to serving Christ. The message encourages the congregation to consider how they can serve or attend to the needs of God.

The sermon reviews the biblical understanding of money, defining it as a storeable object and emphasizing that its form does not matter. Key teachings covered include giving correctly, avoiding debt, maintaining an attitude of open hands regarding possessions, and recognizing that 'enough' is defined by God, not accumulation. The central message warns that humanity must choose between loving God or loving money, referencing Matthew 6:24.

The speaker emphasizes the biblical principle that believers are commanded not to be anxious, pointing to First Peter 5:6-7 as a remedy. The core message is that overcoming anxiety requires actively humbling oneself and casting all burdens onto God because He is powerful enough to handle everything. The sermon also uses the analogy of labor pains to describe the process leading up to spiritual rebirth.

The message uses military analogies, particularly the role of the quartermaster, to illustrate that every believer has been entrusted with gifts and resources from God. The central theme is maintaining a state of readiness for Christ's return, emphasizing that all service—whether on the front lines or in support roles—yields the same reward before Jesus. Unreadiness can be examined by looking at what might cause one to be 'red' rather than 'green.'

The speaker discusses the biblical understanding of money, emphasizing that true wealth lies in loving God rather than accumulating possessions or being indebted. He stresses the importance of discipline and faithfulness in handling finances, drawing parallels between stewardship of money and spiritual gifts. Ultimately, the message encourages listeners to prioritize a deep love for God above all earthly attachments.

The message emphasizes the continuous state of readiness required for Christ's return or service, detailing four things that render one unready: sin, unresolved conflict with others, unforgiveness, and lacking an inner life in Christ. For each deficiency, a corresponding solution is provided—confession/repentance, reconciliation, forgiveness, and seeking the Holy Spirit. The speaker concludes by contrasting the perceived 'heaviness' of Christian commands with the actual weight of sin.

The speaker recounts a period of financial and personal strain after moving to Austin, detailing how his income sources dried up due to receiving a 'no pay no points' letter from the Air Force. This sudden loss of expected income and status triggered deep doubts about his place in the church community. The message uses this experience to illustrate that when life circumstances create uncertainty, one must rely on God rather than external stability.

The speaker reviews previous lessons on money, emphasizing that money is fundamentally a storage method and that Christian discipleship requires relinquishing possessiveness. He challenges modern assumptions about wealth by pointing to scripture's concept of 'enough,' suggesting life should be viewed as a bell curve rather than a linear progression toward more. The central message uses the story of Joseph during a famine to illustrate that God can work good even out of circumstances intended for evil, applying this principle to financial management.