Sermons About Courage
Facing Pain, Like Jesus
Jesus' experiences in the Garden of Gethsemane teach us how to handle trials and troubles in our lives. There are three parts to His experience that can help us.
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Hanley Road Campus - Joshua: Freedom From Fear (Joshua 1:1-9)
Many young leaders in our church are facing some of the most significant decisions of their lives. In this sermon, we look at what Joshua can teach us about what it means to grow as a young leader, and how we can overcome fear to live lives of courage.
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The Choice of a New Generation
In last week's episode, an entire generation chose safety and retired in the wastelands. This week we observe the choice of a new generation. Why does this generation succeed when the other failed? Could we do the same?
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Leading by Faith
Moses is an example of leading by faith. He led through identifying wiht God's people, self denial, courage and personal contact with God.
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2 Samuel 21:15-22 - Courage for Insurmountable Enemies
In the last half 2 Samuel 21 we find david gaining victory over 4 giant enemies. There is debate on whether the word "giant" is to be taken in its regualr sense as a big person, or as a god, but the evidence of the context would favor the first viewpoint. Another issue here is the identification of Goliath. Some see a corruption of the original text, but it is better to see this as a copies error which 1 Chronicles 20:5 correst and itentifies the giant as the "brother of Goliath." During battles David has grown weary and is not as stong physically as he use to be. His loyal leaders come to his aid and fight for him defeating all 4 giants. What we learn is that no what the physical ability of a man, he better not trash talk God people, because he will be silenced. We see the benefits of realistic humility, steadfast perseverance, proper praise, and developed character. The purpose of the passage is to elicit in you courage against insurmountable enemies as you live a persistent godly life that sustains you in the direction of God and his will.
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Prayer--God's Nuclear Missile
Prayer has always been a source of strength and power for the church, and it continues to be a vital part of church life today. We will explore four truths about God's people praying.
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Taking 2008
As we look into the new year and what the Lord is calling us to, let's apply what the Lord told Joshua to our lives today.
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Nehemiah 2:1-8 - Preportunity
This week we got back into the book of Nehemiah as Zac began in Chapter 2 talking about preportunity, where preparation meets opportunity.
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Capturing God's Vision
Vision is several things. First, it's the ability to see what God has for us, not necessarily what we want ourselves. Second, it's the faith to believe that God can do what He's leading us to do. Third, vision is the courage that leads to action. To capture God's vision we should listen for the thoughts of God, put His dreams into practice and then taste the goodness of God and enjoy His leading.
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A New Version of Success
Christ came to "his own" knowing He was going to be rejected. It isn't the first time we see people obeying God through commissions that were doomed from the beginning. In Christ's example we see a definition of success that is very different from our own. How does God define success for His followers?
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All Things Well
For the first time in Mark's Gospel, Jesus heads into Gentile territory. In these first 2 stories amongst the Gentiles, Mark teaches us how we are to relate to someone like Jesus, and why we can relate in that way. But Mark goes beyond that, too, and tells us more about the identity and purpose of Jesus. To relate to Jesus by faith is more than a ticket to heaven; rather, Mark wants us to see that in Jesus is wholeness and restoration, the complete and total healing of the world.
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Chase the Lion: (#2) Facing Fears
Lion chasers face fears. Do not run from fears. Do not bow before them. Do not submit to them. Our fears are ultimately as powerless as the false gods they represent. Fear the Lord--nothing else. Worship the Lord and no one else. Worship the Lord who is able. Worship the Lord who is worthy. Worship the Lord.
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The Lord of the Rings
What can we learn from some of the most recent movies that have hit the movie theaters? How do we choose what is good in this world? Kent looks at The Lord of the Rings and the story of Daniel for a couple great examples of choosing good instead of evil.
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Christianity Isn't For Cowards
There is deep comfort that comes through faith in Christ but it comes at a high cost because there is also opposition and sometimes hatred. You follow Christ not just for comfort but out of conviction. And if you follow him you will need the courage of your convictions because you will face conflict and hostility.
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Facing Down Your Fears
Guest speaker Dr. David Jackson is the Missionary for Church Multiplication of the Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware. In today's message he leads us through a practical discussion of the biblical examples of courage in the face of fear found in the Book of Daniel.
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Through Jesus... Only One Way?
The most politically incorrect passages in the New Testament may well be those exclusive passages that present Jesus Christ as the only means of salvation. To a world that revels in do-it-yourself religion and multiple-choice spirituality, Jesus' words, and those of the early apostles seem almost abrasive. To stand with courage and say that the "only way to the Father" was through Jesus Christ, brought early Christians under harsh persecution. The same is happening increasingly today. If Jesus' words are true - there are vast implications for our lives. Love would compel us to share this message of hope, this message of reconciliation, this message of restoration with as many as we possibly could. So the questions remains... do we REALLY believe that Jesus is the only way? Key Passage: Acts 4:1-22
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Acts 21:37-22:23 - Undeterred
Paul was overwhelmed by a mob at the temple in Jerusalem and would have been killed but was rescued by Roman soldiers and brought into custody. He was mistaken for a foreigner who was trying to lead a rebellion and desecrate the temple. Paul explained to the crowd that he was a Jew like them who had zealously followed the law and had persecuted the early followers of Jesus before Jesus came down and blinded him and told Paul to follow Him. Now he had a new commission from God to bring the Good News about the Messiah to non-Jewish people. The crowd was outraged when they heard this because they did not think that non-Jewish people were worthy to be included in God’s people. Paul showed tremendous courage and faith by sharing the truth about the Gospel with people who would be furious to hear it and want him to die for teaching it. We too should model Paul’s faith and boldly proclaim the Gospel in our community regardless of what it will cost us.
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The Blind Can See, But The Religious Can't
For many people, the greatest roadblock to faith; the lingering question that needs to be answered in order to trust God, has to do with the problem of pain. In his book of that title, C.S. Lewis said that “The possibility of pain is inherent in the very existence of a world where souls can meet.” Why does suffering happen? Whose fault is it? What role does God have in it? Why doesn’t God do something to stop the suffering we face? This is the very question that Jesus is asked here in John 9
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Acts 13:1-12 - Fighting Oversensitivity
Paul and Barnabas went out from the church in Antioch to spread the Gospel to other cities. They came to the island of Cyprus, where the work was opposed by a false prophet. Paul got right in the false prophet’s face, told him that he was full of lies and evil, and cured him with blindness. As we share the truth about Jesus we should not be oversensitive to offending people but we should have both compassion for the lost and the courage and boldness to call out sin and lies when we see them.
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Courage to be Nobody
Based off a quote from J.D. Salinger "I’m not afraid to compete. It’s just the opposite… I’m afraid I will compete… Just because I’m so horribly conditioned to accept everybody else’s values, and just because I like applause and people to rave about me, doesn’t make it right… I’m sick of not having the courage to be an absolute nobody.”
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Take A Step Of Faith
In this sermon, the message is that we can learn much from Joshua about taking risks, being courageous, being bold, and stepping out on faith to serve God. There is a fine line between living a life of purpose and adventure and living a life of missed opportunity.
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