As we unpack Pluslife's mission to reflect the love of Christ, we examine the kind of love we are to show as described by Paul in Romans 12. We were reminded that the love we show is meant to be sacrificial and in service of others, reflecting the love of Christ for His Church. This kind of sincere love is what ultimately bears the most fruit in our community.
In this sermon we unpack the Great Commission and look at practical ways to better reach people with the Gospel. We find the method in Scripture is that of discipleship; communicating the Gospel through our words and through our lives. With these practical tools in hand, may we bear much fruit in reaching unbelievers with the Gospel.
As we celebrate the Thanksgiving season we remind ourselves of the privilege of being part of the family of God. We unpack 1 Corinthians 12 and Paul’s exhortation to the church, reminding ourselves that regardless of our differences God unites us by His Spirit in the local church. In this season of thanksgiving, let us be grateful that we belong to the body of Christ.
In this first part of our "You Belong" series, we examine spiritual gifts and how they are meant for the building up and edification of the local church. We unpack 1 Corinthians 12 and see how every believer is empowered by the Holy Spirit with a spiritual gift, and the utilization of that spiritual gift is part of belonging to the Church. We are given spiritual gifts to steward and serve the family God, we must therefore use them to the glory of God!
In this sermon we continue to unpack the story of the blind man healed by Jesus in John chapter 9. From the conclusion of this story, we are reminded of Christ’s purpose to bring sight to those who are spiritually blind, and save those who are sincerely seeking Him. It is from these truths do we get a BIblical understanding of what it means to be a “seeker sensitive” church. Unlike modern day churches who use worldly tactics to attract the lost, we are reminded that what truly attracts the regen...
As we continue our study in the Gospel of John, we begin to look at the aftermath of the miracle that takes place in chapter 9–the healing of the man born blind. We once again see the hardness of hearts that unbelievers have towards the truth, and are reminded of what to expect when approaching the world with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Yet despite the persecution we experience from unbelievers, we are reminded to cling to the living hope that we have in Jesus.
As we begin the 9th chapter of John’s Gospel, we look at the healing of a blind man and discuss whether or not the idea of “karma” is compatible with the Christian worldview. In this sermon, we look at why the philosophy behind karma is actually contradictory to the teachings of Scripture, and why the Gospel of Jesus Christ is far more hopeful than any other worldview.
As we conclude our study in chapter 8 of John's Gospel, we see once again Jesus explicitly declaring Himself as the God of the Old Testament--the Great I Am. In this sermon, we take a closer look at examples of Christ's appearance in the Old Testament and why its important to connect Jesus with that portion of the Bible. Ultimately, when we understand that Jesus does not change from yesterday to today, it reassures us that He will be faithful to keep His promises for tomorrow.
As we continue our study into the Gospel of John, we look at the Jews claims of being children of God, and Christ's rebuke of such a notion. We saw how Christ explicitly tells his opponents that they are sons of the devil, because they imitate him in his work, submit to his will and follow his word. In contrast, Jesus paints a picture of how the true children of God behave and believe. In the end, the passage leaves us with the same question, "who is our Father: The devil or God?"
The phrase “the truth shall set you free” has become so popularised in our society that it is often taken to mean “any truth” will grant freedom. But as we see from the origins of this phrase, there is only one truth that actually brings true freedom–the truth of Jesus Christ. In this continuation of our study into the Gospel of John we look at how real truth sets sinners free, and what that freedom entails.
As we continue our study in the Gospel of John, we answer a crucial question of the faith, is the deity of Christ necessary for our salvation? Picking up in John chapter 8, we looked at how the Pharisee’s rejection of Christ’s deity is what ultimately condemns them. Similarly, our salvation as believers depends on Christ being God because this truth guarantees our forgiveness and governs our lives. Ultimately, the reality of Christ being God in human flesh, guards our salvation.
In this second part in our study on the second greatest commandment, we look at how to be a neighbour. From the example of the good samaritan, we learn some practical ways to help others, and reflect the love of Christ.
One of the core tenants of the faith is to love our neighbours as ourselves. Jesus in order to illustrate this principle, tells the story of the good samaritan in Luke 10. In this study we look to define who is our neighbour and how to be a better neighbour to those around us. Our goal in this mini-series is to become more missional as a church and better communicate Christ's love to our neighbours.
“Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom”. This phrase has been so often quoted and claimed by Christians to express the liberty we have in Christ. But what does this freedom in Christ actually mean for the saint? In this stand alone sermon we look at the liberty that Christ truly brings and how it differs from the freedom that the world has to offer.
In the sermon titled "Blessed Assurance" we learned the importance of wholeheartedly trusting in God and finding security in His unwavering faithfulness. Drawing from Psalm 91, the sermon explores the invitation to trust by dwelling in the secret place of God's presence. It emphasizes that trusting God is not simply a mental exercise but involves an intimate relationship with Him. The sermon examines the assurance of God's protection, highlighting His unwavering faithfulness in safeguarding thos...
In this sermon, we looked at Ephesians 1:18-19 to learn about the three ways Paul prayed for the Ephesus church to know God deeply. We learned that the Holy Spirit, through Paul’s prayer, desires that we know the hope of God’s calling for us, the riches of God’s glorious inheritance in the saints and the greatness of God’s power towards us. As Christians, we are to pursue the study of Scripture to mature our knowledge about God so that we can deepen in our affection and devotion to the Lord. M...
Do you ever find yourself grumbling about your circumstances in life? In this stand alone sermon we look at how to avoid grumbling and a negative outlook in life. We do this by maintaining a healthy fear of God, living lives worthy of the Gospel, and regularly celebrating the good that God has blessed us with. As believers who have the hope of God, we must display our joy only found in the Savior.
The apostle Paul under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit wrote this letter with the aim of instructing believers to live out orderly and godly lives as people of the truth and as the household of God. As the apostle concludes the letter, he sought to provide some final instructions for Christians who possess the temporal riches of this world. He gives three ways believers can glorify God with the earthly riches they own in this world: First, resist the temptations that comes from being rich. Se...
In this stand alone sermon we looked at Jame's call to real faith; a faith that produces fruit. We saw how this often controversial passage is actually consistent with the rest of the Bible in calling followers of Christ to a sincere faith in Him, that produces external fruit. We also saw how real faith permeates throughout every aspect of the believer and not just lip service or mere knowledge; real faith changes the believer completely. Finally, from the examples that James gives us, we saw ho...
The end goal of a believer's life is to be more like the Savior in how we think, and how we live. But to live out this call is easier said than done while living in the flesh. For this reason, the apostle Paul instructs believers to do away with earthly practices and mentalities in order to become more like Christ in this life. In the letter to the Colossians, Paul instructs us to put to death earthly cravings, put off the old heart conditions and put on the new self which is Christ. Only when w...
In the final session of our Refocus Retreat, we looked at the One Thing and the kind of heart we ought to have in order to remain in the presence of God. We are to depend on the power of God to help us endure trials, desire after His presence above everything else and declare His praises to be reminded of who He is. As believers, God's presence in our lives is a sign of our relationship with Him. We must therefore strive to abide in Him in order to remain focused on the One Thing.
In the second session of our refocus retreat, we discussed the anxiety that plagues us when we become overwhelmed by the "many things" in our lives. We looked at Matthew 6 and Christ's remedy to worry, and how we can apply the same principles whenever we face the trials of life. We were reminded to recall our identity as image bearers of God, and children of God, as well as to rely on the sovereignty of God. Finally we were reminded to rearrange our priorities as citizens of heaven, no longer ci...
In the first session of our retreat, we looked at the story of Martha and Mary and discussed what Christ meant by the "one thing necessary". We were reminded how God cares for the many things on our plate, but even more our condition as we try to deal with them. We discovered that the one thing that Christ was inviting Martha to was to be present in His presence, for His being in His presence denotes a personal relationship with Him. Finally, we saw how the one thing necessary is never out of re...
Based on Matthew 7:15-20, the sermon “Sheep & Wolves” warns the church against false teachers. The sermon emphasizes the importance of knowing the Word, discerning the Spirit, and evaluating the fruit of a teacher's ministry in order to avoid being led astray. False prophets often appear to be harmless but can lead people down a destructive path. The passage challenges believers to study the Bible, pray for discernment, and evaluate the fruit of false teachers. By following these three ways ...
To what degree do those living in darkness can come to know God? In this continuation of our study in the Gospel of John, we looked at the degree in which humanity is seeped in the darkness of sin. From the Pharisee’s example we saw how humanity replace the good of God for things of the world. Humanity also rejects the truth and love of God for love of the world. Yet it is in this context that Christ brings and offers His light, and His light is not overcome.
What does it mean that Jesus is the light of the world? As we continue our study in the Gospel of John, we see the second I AM statement of Christ, declaring Himself as the Light of the World. We saw how this statement is a fulfilment of many Old Testament prophecies, namely one that promises God’s presence with His people, protection from death and direction towards eternal life. Christ’s declaration as the light of the world is hope for all who follow Him that those who once walked in darkness...
The story of the woman caught in adultery is one full of controversy, both in a textual sense and in content. It has often been weaponized against Christians who talk about sin, claiming that “Jesus never judged”. However, what we see in the passage is the contrary; Christ indeed calls out sin and even elevates the degree of judgement. Yet in the midst of the condemnation we see the Savior demonstrate mercy to sinners, not because He affirms sin, but ultimately He is the one who has paid the pri...
God has given us the gift of solitude to encounter Him and receive sustenance and strength by His Spirit and the Word, but we are surrounded by many challenges and responsibilities in life that distract us from diligently seeking our time with God. As Christians we must abide in Jesus and fight for the necessary times of solitude to be strengthened in the Lord.
Forgiveness is what the Easter season is all about. In this Easter sermon we were reminded of the forgiveness that Christ's death afforded and what that forgiveness encompasses. Ultimately, the forgiveness that Christ demonstrated on the cross to those who crucified Him, is what saves sinners today. In a world where it is more convenient to cancel someone than to release them of wrong, Christ’s death demonstrates what real forgiveness is.
As we concluded our study in the seventh chapter of John, we saw Christ's invitation to receive the waters of life and the response of the people. This passage gave us examples of the heart condition the lost can have upon hearing the gospel, and the kind of heart that we can sometimes have even as believers. Ultimately, the kind of heart that we are all to have, is the heart that thirsts for the righteousness of God; the living waters that only the Saviour can bring.
