Abundant Life Sermons

The Crucified Life, Part 1 - Romans 7Jesus said He came to give us life abundantly, yet most Christians live consistently in inconsistency if not complete captivity. This is the problem the Apostle Paul articulated in Romans 7:7-24.Romans 7 is the Apostle Paul’s personal story of futility in fighting his flesh—his sinnature. Paul’s story is the story of all of us. We all go through the same “stuff” because we’re all made of the same “stuff.”More religion, determination, and self-discipline cannot bring our sanctification—the victorious life in Christ. Colossians 2:20-23, Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations—"Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle,” which all concern things which perish with the using—according to the commandments and doctrines of men? These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in WILL WORSHIP (KJV), false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh.The flesh cannot be disciplined into submission. It must go through a crucifixion. The cross is the way grace, not works, overcomes the flesh—your sin nature. (See Galatians 2:20)Galatians 2:20, I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.Romans 7:1-6, Or do you not know, brethren (for I speak to those who know the law), that the law has dominion over a man as long as he lives? For the woman who has a husband is bound by the law to her husband as long as he lives. But if the husband dies, she is released from the law of her husband. So then if, while her husband lives, she marries another man, she will be called an adulteress; but if her husband dies, she is free from that law, so that she is no adulteress, though she has married another man. Therefore, my brethren, you also have become dead to the law through the body of Christ, that you may be married to another—to Him who was raised from the dead, that we should bear fruit to God. For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions which were aroused by the law were at work in our members to bear fruit to death. But now we have been delivered from the law, having died to what we were held by, so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter.To be delivered from sin’s penalty, Christ had to die. To be delivered from sin’s power, you must die. 1 Corinthians 15:31, “I die daily.”Romans 7:24-25, O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.Matthew 11:28-30, Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”The yoke of Christ is the cross. The invitation is to come and die. But in dying, you live. (See Matthew 11:28-30)

No Fear, Know Freedom - 1 Peter 3:13-17No fear is to know freedom. 2 Timothy 1:7 “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”How do you live in a world that is increasingly hostile toward the Gospel?1) Be Fearless. 1 Peter 3:13-14, And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. “And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.”God has called us to be more than bleating sheep. He has called us to be roaring lambs! Proverbs 28:1, The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion.The gospel should make us bold, courageous, and fearless. Acts 5:29, But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: “We ought to obey God rather than men.”Courage is not the absence of fear; it’s the absence of self. To the degree you are selfless, you will be fearless.2) Be Focused. 1 Peter 3:15, “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear.”The way to overcome a cowardly faith is to set your heart apart for God. 1 Peter 3:15, “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts…” When you live in the fear of God, you will fear no man.Your level of preparation reveals your level of expectation. 1 Peter 3:15, “…always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you…”3) Be Flawless. 1 Peter 3:16-17, “having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed. For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.”The most important part of our Christian witness is not what we say – it’s what people see.Philippians 1:27-29, Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel, and not in any way terrified by your adversaries, which is to them a proof of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that from God. For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake.This world is full of suffering. Choose to suffer because you live for Him instead of living for sin. 

Having Healthy Relationships – 1 Peter 3:8-12Humility is essential to have true, biblical community. Humility eliminates rivalry, and mutual submission eliminates competition and fighting for position.1 Peter 3:8-9, Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; 9 not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing.1. Humility leads to relationships lived in unity. 1 Peter 3:8 “Finally, all of you be of one mind…”Being of “one mind” doesn’t mean we can’t differ on personal convictions and opinions. Being of “one mind” means we are united in our vision and our mission. Being of “one mind” demands we are thinking with the mind of Christ! Philippians 2:5, “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.”2. Humility leads to relationships lived compassionately. 1 Peter 3:8 “having compassion one for another…”The Greek word translated as compassion is the same word in English for sympathy. Sympathy is the ability to feel the pain of others.3. Humility leads to relationships lived with loyalty. 1 Peter 3:8 “love as brothers…”Our loyalty comes from being born of the same Father. We are members of the same Family.4. Humility leads to relationships lived graciously and tenderly. 1 Peter 3:8 “be tender hearted, be courteous…”Tender-hearted, courteous people make others the priority.5. Humility leads to relationships lived with forgiveness and mercy. 1 Peter 3:9, “not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit blessing.” We should give away to others the same mercy that God has given us.6. Humility leads to relationships lived with honesty and integrity. 1 Peter 3:10-11, “For he who would love life and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips from speaking deceit. Let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it.”1 Peter 3:12, “For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their prayers; but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”Humility is the first step to a right relationship with God. Humility admits God is right and sin is wrong.

His Lead, Her Need, Part 2 – 1 Peter 3:71 Peter 3:7, Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered.Just as the wife is to submit to the husband’s lead, the husband is to submit to his wife’s need. 1 Peter 3:7, Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered.1. STUDY HER.To serve your wife’s needs well you must dwell with her and understand her. “Dwell with her”One of a wife’s greatest needs is affection. This is the feeling of togetherness and intimacy. “With understanding…”You cannot serve your wife when you have no knowledge of her need. 1 Peter 3:7, Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered.2. SALUTE HER.This has to do with exalting her and giving her a place of honor.1 Peter 3:7, Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered.3. SHIELD HER.Men and women are different but co-equal.1 Peter 3:7, Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered.4. SHARE WITH HER.Teamwork makes the dream work. 

His Lead, Her Need, Part 1- 1 Peter 3:1-61 Peter 3:1-2, Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives, when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear.1) In relationships, humility eliminates rivalry. Mutual submission eliminates competition and fighting for position. The key in marriage is mutual submission (Ephesians 5:21).In marriage, God’s desire is for the two to “become one flesh” (Genesis 2:24). The husband is the “head” (Ephesians 5:22-24); the wife is the “body” (Ephesians 5:25-28).Mutual submission is when the wife is submitting to her husband’s lead, and the husband is submitting to his wife’s need. His Lead, Her Need.1 Peter 3:3-4, Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel — rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.2) Men may fall in love with a woman because of her outer beauty, but they stay in love with a woman because of her inner beauty – humility. Ladies, what attracts a man is not what keeps a man!1 Peter 3:5-6, For in this manner, in former times, the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands, as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, whose daughters you are if you do good and are not afraid with any terror.3) God knows one of man’s deepest needs is for ADMIRATION, and a woman’s is for AFFECTION.Ephesians 5:33, “Let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.” The Marriage Cycle to “keep that lovin’ feelin’”The wife gives ADMIRATIONThe husband gives AFFECTION

Being a Contagious Christian - 1 Peter 2:18-251 Peter 2:9, “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.”1 Peter 2:11, “Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul.”What makes the Church relevant is that we are different. When we quit being different, we cease being relevant. The Scripture calls us “foreigners” and “strangers”—we are in the world but not of the world.1 Peter 2:12, “having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.”Contagious Christianity is when people might hate what we say, they still love what they see. It’s having the right “position” with the right “disposition.”Contagious Christianity is found in humility and submission in an age of “rights” and rebellion. Peter specifically says we are to be different in our attitude toward civil authority and workplace authority. (See 1 Peter 2:13-14, 18-20)1 Peter 2:18-20, Servants, be submissive to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh. For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully. For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God.Your vocation is your place of mission; it might also be a place of persecution.Christ suffered, and as Christians, we are called to suffer like Christ. 1 Peter 2:21, “For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps.”1)   Be willing to suffer in innocence. 1 Peter 2:22, “Who committed no sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth.”2)  Be willing to suffer in silence. 1 Peter 2:23, “who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously.”Isaiah 53:7, He was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so He opened not His mouth.3)  Be willing to suffer for others. 1 Peter 2:24-25, “who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed. For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.”You can bear the pain of others’ sin because Jesus bore the pain of yours.

Foreigner1 Peter 2:11, “Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims…”1. Be a resident stranger.Sojourners and pilgrims – strangers from a strange place.1 Peter 2:11-12, “…abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.”2. Be offensively attractive.To be offensive, it takes courage.To be attractive, it takes compassion.1 Peter 2:13-16, “Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, whether to the king as supreme, or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men – as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God.3. Be submissively free.Romans 13:1-2, “Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves.”Acts 5:29, But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: “We ought to obey God rather than men.”To be submissive, it takes humility.To be free, it takes responsibility.1 Peter 2:17, Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.

Transformation Nation – 1 Peter 2:4-10Like the Old Testament Temple, the New Testament Church is to be God’s light to the world. Our bodies individually (1 Corinthians 6:19) and the Church collectively (1 Corinthians 3:16) are now the Temple of God to shine forth the Light of God! 1 Corinthians 3:16, “Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” 1 Corinthians 6:19, “Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?” 1 Peter 2:4-5, Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.In the Old Testament, worshipers brought a sacrifice to a priest at a specific place. In the New Testament, we are the sacrifice, we are the priest, and we are the place! (See 1 Peter 2:5)1 Peter 2:5, you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.We individually are “living stones” God has used to build His Church, but Jesus alone is the cornerstone! 1 Peter 2:6, “Behold, I lay in Zion a chief cornerstone, elect, precious, and he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame.”Matthew 16:17-18, Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. And I also say to you that you are Peter, [petros] and on this rock [petra] I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.” 1 Peter 2:7-9, Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient, “The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone,” and “a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense.” They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed. But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.1)  As the Church, we are a chosen generation. In the sense Peter uses the word “generation,” it speaks of a group having come from the same source or same seed — the same family tree. “Generation” speaks of “regeneration” from having been “born again.”2)  As the Church, we are a royal priesthood. Revelation 5:10, He has “made us kings and priests to our God…”3)  As the Church, we are a holy nation. The word Peter uses for nation is “ethnos” as in “ethnic” group. We are part of a holy ethnic group having been born again (1 Peter 1:23) and have become “partakers of a divine nature” (2 Peter 1:4).4)  As the Church, we are God’s own special people. The word translated as “special” implies that of ownership or a “personal possession” or “private property.” We are God’s personal people and purchased possession.1 Peter 2:9, “…that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.”The Church is God’s only plan to impact culture, transform communities, and change eternal destinies. Colossians 1:27, “Christ in you, the hope of glory.”1 Peter 2:10, “who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.”As those who have obtained God’s mercy, our purpose is to take God’s Son to all people so they too might obtain God’s mercy.

A Legacy That Impacts Eternity (Exodus 20:4-6)Exodus 20:4-6, “You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; 5 you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, 6 but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.”As fathers, we pass on a legacy to our family—one that is godly or one of sin and idolatry. Fathers pass on God’s blessing or sin’s curse to their posterity in ways that will last for over a century!A father who refuses to live a godly life passes on to his children a life of sin, idolatry, and captivity. Often a father’s sin is reproduced generationally – the sins of the father are visited to third and fourth generations!A father will pass to his descendants the blessing of God or the curse of sin and control of Satan!  There is a direct tie between generational bondage and generational sin, which is why you find certain sins wreaking havoc on a family line generation after generation.A biblical example of the principle of Exodus 20:5:First generation: King Uzziah obeyed partially. (2 Chronicles 26:4, 16)Second generation: King Jotham compromised spiritually. (2 Chronicles 27:2)Third generation: King Ahaz embraced idolatry! (2 Chronicles 28:1-4) What began in the first generation of failing to take God seriously and obeying God completely was reproduced in the second generation with spiritual apathy and compromise with idolatry. It has now been reproduced in thethird generation with a rejection of God completely and full-blown idolatry. It ends with the fourth generation being sacrificed in the fires of Molech.Fourth generation: Destroyed completely! (2 Chronicles 28:3). Long before his children were offered to idols, those idols were accessible to the young and impressionable mind of Ahaz. But it began when Uzziah left them, and Jotham refused to tear them down. Consequently, the atrocity that Jotham chose to ignore was exactly the atrocity that would snare his own son and destroy his own grandsons.The penalty of a father’s sin on an entire family is great, BUT…God’s promise of blessing on a godly father’s family is even greater! (See Exodus 20:6) While the curse of a father’s sin can impact hundreds in his lineage, the blessing of God on fathers who love Him is multiplied to thousands!Proverbs 20:7 “The righteous man walks in his integrity; his children are blessed after him.”Regardless of your family history, as a godly father, you can begin a “legacy of blessing”!You can tear down the family idolatry, end the cycle of captivity, and pass on generational blessing!You can leave your children a “legacy of blessing” that will stretch clear into eternity!

1 Peter 1:23, “having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever.”Lasting change is not self-reformation but spirit transformation.Only once you’ve been “born again” inwardly does God begin to change you outwardly. Romans 8:29, “For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son…”1 Peter 2:1-3, Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, 2 as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, 3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.Everyone begins in spiritual infancy, but God wants us to grow to spiritual maturity. In 1 Peter 2:1-3, God is saying, “Grow up!” Many of God’s born-again children live forever as spiritual “toddlers.”How do you grow spiritually?1. Put away childish things.Spiritual immaturity leaves you in a life of mediocrity and inconsistency. 1 Peter 2:1 “Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking...”Physical and spiritual growth happen gradually. While your justification happens instantly, your sanctification happens gradually.2. Digest spiritual things.Get into God’s Word, so God’s Word gets into you! 1 Peter 2:2, “as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby.”You become what you consume physically and spiritually! God’s Word is the spiritual food needed to grow spiritually and to be healthy.Many have a soft “flabby” faith because they eat more of the world’s junk “food” than they do Jesus’ food! Stop allowing the things of this world to satisfy your soul and dull your hunger for God!3. Take your next step.1 Peter 2:2-3, “as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.”For God’s Word to change your life, it must be practical and experiential—not simply theoretical and intellectual. t. To become like God demands we obey God’s Word!As you grow in your relationship with God’s Word, you become more like God’s Son!