Who Jesus is

The sermon focuses on recognizing God as our Father and Jesus Christ as our ultimate example. The speaker encourages the congregation to keep their focus on Jesus, the Lamb of God, who has washed away sin and deserves all praise. The message emphasizes Christ's supremacy, drawing from scripture to affirm that all things were created through Him and that He deserves the first place in everything.

The sermon explores 1 Timothy 3:16, focusing on the mystery of godliness, which involves Jesus being revealed in the flesh and vindicated in the spirit. The speaker emphasizes that Jesus was always the Son of God, even before becoming the 'Son of Man,' and that angels continually beheld and adored him. The core question posed is where the Son of Man is today, prompting reflection on Christ's ongoing presence and example for believers.

The central message is that merely believing in God is insufficient; one must fully believe, trust, and commit to the Lord Jesus Christ. The speaker emphasizes that the core issue is not whether God exists, but what one says about Jesus, as He is the only way to know God. Jesus Christ alone has the authority to reveal who God is.

The speaker draws from Romans 8:14, emphasizing that those led by the Spirit of God are the true sons of God. He distinguishes between being a 'child of God' by faith and being 'the Son of God,' suggesting the latter implies a maturity characterized by continuous growth in obedience to the Father's will. The central message is the necessity for believers to actively desire to hear God's voice daily and live in obedience to the Spirit's guidance, mirroring Christ's life of maturing devotion.

The speaker emphasizes that believers are adopted into God's family through Jesus Christ, becoming fellow citizens with the saints and members of God's household. He contrasts the idea of God as a distant taskmaster with the reality of God's immense love, demonstrated by sending Jesus while we were still sinners. The central call to action is to repent and accept Christ to become God's children.

The sermon emphasizes that the New Covenant empowers believers through the Holy Spirit to find rest in God, contrasting this with the turmoil of an 'Old Covenant Life.' Drawing from Psalm 116, the speaker argues that salvation is often found when one is brought low, suggesting that falling into sin can paradoxically lead to receiving God's salvation. Ultimately, the message points to Jesus' example of voluntary lowliness and piety as the model for believers to find God's saving grace.

The speaker discusses the theological understanding of Jesus Christ, drawing from Mark 6 and 1 John 4. The central message is that Jesus was fully God and fully man, a truth that the devil attempts to obscure today. The speaker warns against the deception of the antichrist, which tries to make people believe that because Jesus was God, they cannot follow him because he was not fully man. True belief requires acknowledging that Jesus was fully human and fully divine, making him a model for discipleship.

The speaker reflects on the profound mystery of salvation, drawing parallels between the hymn "Were You There" and key passages in Colossians 2 and Romans 8. He emphasizes that despite being the one who sinned against and even contributed to Christ's crucifixion, Christ died for him. The central message is that salvation is a gift, not something earned, leading to the assurance that if God provided His Son, He will provide all things.

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.

The speaker urges the congregation to individually and corporately 'cleave' or remain devoted to the Lord Jesus Christ with a single heart. He emphasizes that true faith requires more than just hearing doctrine; it demands personal, lived experience of Jesus' life and ministry. For the church body, the goal is to glorify God together with one mind and one mouth, avoiding division.

The sermon emphasizes the profound meaning of calling Jesus 'Lord' and 'Christ,' stressing that true acknowledgment means recognizing His supreme authority over every area of one's life. The speaker warns that merely uttering the words without genuine heart surrender is insufficient, urging listeners to hold God accountable to His promises, particularly that the name of Jesus saves from all sin. Ultimately, the message calls for a deep, lived surrender to Jesus's lordship.

The central message is that the goal of Christian life must be to live in a way that pleases God the Father, using Jesus Christ as the perfect model. The speaker emphasizes that our ultimate ambition should not be to please people, but to be found pleasing to God when we stand before the judgment seat of Christ. He draws parallels between Daniel's life and Jesus's life to illustrate this principle.

The central message is that the only true understanding of God comes through Jesus Christ, as He is the manifestation of God on earth. The speaker emphasizes that Jesus' life—His willingness to suffer, endure insults, and forgive those who crucified Him—reveals the true nature of God. This contrasts sharply with human sin and the limited understanding derived from worldly sources.

The central message is that Jesus Christ is the absolute crux of everything and what truly matters before God. The speaker emphasizes that mere profession of faith is insufficient; one's life, decisions, and actions must genuinely reflect that Jesus is Lord. He warns that denying Jesus can manifest not just through words, but through one's conduct, urging listeners to ensure their entire lives are centered on Him.

The sermon emphasizes that Jesus came not only to die for our sins but also to show us how to live every day of our lives. It draws heavily from 1 Timothy 3:15, stating that the church is the pillar and support of God, and that the 'mystery of godliness' is the secret to living a godly life. The speaker stresses that living this life requires understanding the depth of the sacrifice of Christ, which is far more valuable than any earthly possession, and that true forgiveness is a gift found in the New Testament.

The passage explains that John's Gospel establishes Christ's eternal existence as the Word, which is the visible expression of the invisible God. It emphasizes that humanity cannot fully comprehend God, but Christ reveals God as love. The sermon stresses that true understanding of God comes through Christ, who embodies the perfect balance of grace and truth, unlike the incomplete teachings of other religions or the Pharisees.

The message emphasizes that believers must embrace their new identity as sons and daughters of the Living God, recognizing that this new name and inheritance are secured through Jesus Christ. The speaker draws heavily on Hebrews 7, highlighting Jesus' permanent, eternal priesthood and His ongoing intercession for believers. Ultimately, the core message is to walk out of insecurity and bad moods by claiming this divine identity and relying on Christ's work.

The speaker addresses common struggles in faith, such as questioning God's love, justice, and care during trials. He uses Job and Psalm 73 as examples of righteous individuals who wrestled with these profound questions regarding suffering and the prosperity of the wicked. The central message is that true understanding comes not from our own limited perspective but through divine revelation, leading to repentance and acceptance of God's sovereignty.

Through worship and Scripture, the message emphasizes that God's Word sanctifies believers and reveals the glory of Jesus Christ. The service celebrates Jesus's love and redemption, affirming that He is the way, truth, and life, and calling believers to praise and rejoice in His grace and salvation.

The speaker explores themes related to names and identity in scripture, drawing parallels between naming conventions (like 'son of') and divine revelation. He highlights instances where a person's name reveals lineage or calling, such as Peter being Simon son of Jonah. The central point is illustrated by the passage from Matthew 27:17, which originally presented two men both named Jesus—one associated with Barabbas and one who was the Messiah—suggesting that identity can be complex and misunderstood.

God's love for believers is as complete and unconditional as His love for Jesus Christ Himself, establishing the foundation of the new covenant and our identity as beloved children of God. Zac Poonen emphasizes that understanding this truth transforms how we live and relate to God, moving us from fear-based religion to a relationship rooted in the Father's perfect love and acceptance.

The speaker explores the significance of names in scripture, noting how lineage is often emphasized (e.g., Simon Peter being 'son of Jonah'). He draws a parallel to the crucifixion narrative where Pilate offered two men: Jesus and Barabbas, pointing out that both figures were originally named Jesus. This leads him to question identity and divine calling, suggesting that understanding these naming conventions reveals deeper layers in scripture.

The message centers on the believer's calling to reign in life through Jesus Christ, drawing heavily from Romans 5. It emphasizes that receiving the abundance of grace requires humility. The speaker also warns against 'false grace' found in modern worship songs, urging the congregation, especially the youth, to understand the biblical picture of God's love as demonstrated by the father in the Prodigal Son parable, rather than a feeling of license to sin.

This message focuses on the theme of a life guided by the Holy Spirit, specifically addressing how believers can gain the glory of Jesus Christ. The teaching emphasizes that living in the Spirit's guidance is central to experiencing this divine glory.