The cost

The speaker distinguishes between three states of being: natural (unbeliever), carnal (believer living by the flesh/soul), and spiritual (believer living by the Spirit). He emphasizes that true spiritual maturity requires understanding the distinction between the soul and the spirit, which the Word of God reveals. The ultimate goal is to move beyond merely 'drinking milk' of basic doctrine to 'eating meat' of deeper spiritual truth, exemplified by Jesus tabernacling among us.

The speaker argues that a true Christian life, exemplified by Jesus' baptism, requires three continuous elements: living with 'heavens open,' being filled with the Holy Spirit, and hearing God's voice affirming pleasure. He critiques modern Christianity for replacing this genuine walk with mere titles, rituals like tithing, or prosperity gospel. True discipleship involves daily submission to self-denial, mirroring Christ's willingness to be buried and raised.

The speaker continues the study of suffering, using the example of Job, who endured suffering not only from loss but also from being misunderstood by his friends. He then shifts to 2 Timothy 3:10-11, emphasizing that following Christ's path requires enduring persecution and suffering, which Paul lists alongside positive virtues like faith and perseverance. The central message is that believers must embrace the full reality of Christian life, including its inevitable hardships, as part of discipleship.

The speaker urges the audience to continuously press toward spiritual maturity, using the analogy of moving from milk to solid food. He emphasizes that while struggling with sin is normal, remaining stuck in the same old sins indicates a lack of seriousness about spiritual growth. True discipleship requires moving beyond basic forgiveness and embracing the deeper truths of righteousness.

The central message is that true discipleship requires living out one's faith in daily life, particularly within one's family, rather than merely accumulating academic knowledge of scripture. The speaker contrasts the 'scribe,' who is knowledgeable but lacks practical application, with the 'disciple,' who prioritizes their heart and actions before God. Discipleship must begin at home, and one's life must precede one's teaching.

The sermon uses Malachi's critique of Israel's poor offerings to warn Christians against giving God what costs them nothing. The speaker argues that accepting Christ and making small, easy offerings can lead to a dangerous complacency, suggesting that true devotion requires giving sacrifices that represent a genuine cost or sacrifice. The message concludes with the promise that God's name will be great through a people who offer pure, acceptable worship.

The speaker contrasts the 'destructible life' inherited from Adam with the 'indestructible life' of Jesus Christ. He emphasizes that true Christian living requires rejecting the world's pursuits—such as comfort, popularity, and material gain—and instead seeking God's kingdom and righteousness. While spiritual gifts and forgiveness are free, the speaker warns that commitment to Christ's way often requires paying a significant price, as illustrated by the cost of obtaining precious things or the call to buy gold from the Lord.

The sermon emphasizes that true discipleship requires a willingness to sacrifice and prioritize Christ's calling above all personal desires or commitments. The speaker uses examples from scripture to illustrate that when the Lord calls, we cannot delay or postpone our obedience for other priorities. Ultimately, discipleship demands a complete surrender, recognizing that one cannot be a disciple without being ready to sacrifice.

The speaker emphasizes that the Great Commission requires two parts: preaching the gospel and making disciples. True discipleship demands a total commitment to Christ, far beyond mere forgiveness or baptism. Baptism is only meaningful if the individual has first understood and accepted the absolute claims of discipleship—the willingness to die to one's own will. Furthermore, baptism must correctly acknowledge the Triune God: the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

The central message is that true spiritual fullness comes not from our own strength or achievements, but from embracing our brokenness, as exemplified by Paul's reminder that the Lord's power is perfected in weakness. The speaker contrasts the temporary high of a spiritual experience (like a retreat) with the need for sustained, flowing life from God, urging listeners to move beyond merely acknowledging God's presence to actively yielding control of all areas of life—even those sources of pride—to Him. This surrender allows God's power to manifest in a way that is truly His, not ours.

The speaker argues that many believers have missed the true scope of the New Covenant gospel, which goes beyond mere forgiveness of sins. He contrasts the Old Testament focus on written law with the New Covenant emphasis on Jesus Christ—the Word becoming flesh—who offers salvation (being saved) rather than just pardon (being forgiven). True discipleship requires handling the Word accurately and ensuring one's inner life matches outward teaching, avoiding hypocrisy.

The speaker argues that popular understanding of the crucifixion focuses only on the physical suffering, missing the true price paid for sin. He asserts that the punishment for sin is eternal separation from God, not physical torment. Therefore, only a suffering that covers this infinite debt—which he argues was not fully accomplished by the physical crucifixion—is sufficient. The message encourages deep meditation on the truth of sin's cost, drawing parallels to Jesus' profound grief in Gethsemane.

The speaker contrasts the ritual of communion with the ultimate sacrifice of Calvary, emphasizing that Jesus's giving of himself was an invitation for others to draw from his brokenness. He teaches that receiving Christ's life should compel believers not just to be thankful, but to actively take up their own cross and become giving, mirroring Christ's self-emptying nature. The goal is to move beyond mere gratitude to actively becoming like Christ through a willingness to suffer and give.

The central message is that God accepts offerings based on the heart's attitude, not the offering itself. Drawing from the story of Cain and Abel, the speaker emphasizes that giving God one's very best—whether it's time, energy, or material goods—stems from a heart that recognizes God's prior bestowment. Furthermore, the sermon warns that even a perfect offering will be rejected if the individual is unreconciled with their brother, citing Matthew 5.

Jesus's mission, according to John 6:38, was not merely to atone for sin but to live out the will of the Father by denying his own will, which is symbolized by taking up the cross. True spiritual power to deny the flesh and follow God's will comes only through the Holy Spirit. Furthermore, the true mark of God's blessing is not prosperity or longevity, but the continuous transformation of one's character to become more like Christ.

Jesus taught that true discipleship requires more than just hearing or understanding His words; it demands obedience. The analogy of building a house illustrates this: building on sand represents intellectual understanding or emotional excitement without action, while building on rock requires yielding one's will to God's will. True worship, therefore, is defined by the denial of self-will, exemplified by Abraham's willingness to sacrifice Isaac.

The central message emphasizes that Christian life requires constant awareness of speaking to God, not just going through religious motions. Drawing from scripture, the speaker stresses that life comes not from mere knowledge or ritual, but from hearing and living by every word proceeding from God in the present tense. True fellowship with God requires walking in the light—meaning honesty—which allows the blood of Jesus to cleanse us from sin.

The speaker argues that a balanced understanding of the Great Commission requires recognizing both sides: preaching the gospel to all creation (Frontier evangelism) and making disciples. He emphasizes that after bringing people to Christ, the focus must shift to teaching and following Christ's way, as Paul did by building up new converts. True ministry requires this balance between evangelism and discipleship.

The speaker emphasizes that Christians should focus on living the narrow way, following the path of the cross, rather than just listening to sermons. Drawing from Paul's ministry in Ephesus, he argues that people should judge a preacher not by the volume of their sermons, but by the consistency and integrity of their lived life. True discipleship requires observing both the teaching and the character of the messenger.

The sermon is largely a worship service, focusing on praising God's majesty, faithfulness, and enduring love. The speaker encourages the congregation to dedicate their lives and hearts to God, acknowledging that God cares for them and desires them to be a testimony through their lives. The message concludes with a commitment to hearing God's voice and responding to Him with a humble heart.

The message emphasizes that true Christian discipleship involves setting a visible example for others, particularly those younger in the faith. Following Christ's example means not only speaking the truth but also living it out so that others can emulate that pattern of life. This responsibility is key to building a community that reflects the New Covenant.

The speaker discusses various aspects of Christian living, including the necessity of humble service, using the example of foot washing as a non-ritualistic act of service. He advises that for fellowship, starting small in a home is ideal, with online participation being a good second option. Regarding fasting and prayer, announcing these times is acceptable as long as the motive is pleasing to God, not seeking human honor. Finally, he clarifies that New Testament prophecy is not about predicting the future but about building up, challenging, and comforting the hearers.

The speaker argues that many Christians have missed the 'overcoming life,' confusing mere forgiveness of sins with the deeper reality of partaking in the glory of Christ. He emphasizes that true discipleship requires moving beyond a comfortable, defeated state to actively seeking God with all one's heart, which necessitates a second repentance—turning away from a lazy, complacent Christian life. The ultimate goal is not just escaping hell, but achieving abundant life by overcoming sin through persistent seeking.

The speaker emphasizes that people are often slaves to worldly things like money, pleasure, and bad habits, rather than to Christ. He stresses the importance of seeking Jesus as a personal Lord and Savior, warning against spiritual deception and the danger of neglecting one's relationship with God. The central message is a call to repentance and a return to Christ.