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Weekly sermons from Gateway Community Church.
Let the Word of God dwell in you richly as you hear these sermons on the go. Stay up to date with current series and the most recent Sunday morning Sermons. Regular contributions from Pastor Justin Carruthers, as well as occasional guest preachers.
Let the Word of God dwell in you richly as you hear these sermons on the go. Stay up to date with current series and the most recent Sunday morning Sermons. Regular contributions from Pastor Justin Carruthers, as well as occasional guest preachers.
272 Episodes
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Jesus addressed the gathering crowds with a stark message: to "hate" those whom we most naturally love—parents, spouse, children and siblings. This calling of Christ also includes taking up one's cross and following Him (Luke 14:27). How are we to receive, understand and follow this hard saying of Jesus? The answer is found as we answer, "What is ultimate in your life?"
"As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. ‘Good teacher,’ he asked, ‘what must I do to inherit eternal life?’ Jesus looked at him and loved him. ‘One thing you lack,’ He said. ‘Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.’" (Mark 10:17, 21 NIV)
"And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one." (Matthew 5:36-37 NIV)
"Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. And so I tell you, every kind of sin and slander can be forgiven, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven." (Matthew 12:30-31 NIV)
Jesus said: “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven." (Luke 10:18-20)
The exchanges between Jesus and the three men in this passage highlight that there is a cost to following Him. On the surface level, we might wonder, Why does Jesus seem to be so stern with these men? As we dig a little deeper, we see that Jesus was calling them to something far bigger than they imagined—the very kingdom of God.
So [Jesus] made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle; He scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. To those who sold doves He said, “Get these out of here! Stop turning my Father’s house into a market!” His disciples remembered that it is written: “Zeal for your house will consume me.” (Jn. 2:15-17)
Jesus said, "Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours." (Mark 11:23-24 )
As we close out the ALL IN series, we recognize that God has set His people apart for His glory, and He has directed us to follow Him—to deny ourselves, to take up our cross and to follow Him day by day.
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” (Colossians 3:23-24 NIV)
Work. Rest. Repeat. This pattern is remarkably common in our time. God established it in Creation, when He rested on the seventh day after creating all things. Our knowledge of this biblical pattern for God's image-bearers to work and rest paves the way for us to answer a very important question: How can Christians today practice Sabbath?
Jesus' memorable words about laying up treasures in heaven presents us with choices about how to view our lives and possessions—to be oriented to the here and now (earthly), or to eternity (heavenly). A kingdom vision sets us on a right footing, toward the heart of the right Master.
A common myth in our time is the idea that work is a "necessary evil" to endure and try to escape from. However, the creation narrative in Genesis 1 points us in a different direction. How should our thinking change about the work we do? What is God's design for us, His people, in relation to work and our lives of service to Him?
In Luke 6:39-42, Jesus uses two very short parables to teach His disciples that they must follow Him face to face. How does the example of one blind person leading another blind person go together with the command to remove the plank from one's own eye rather than pointing at the speck in another's? What does this mean for His people today?
Jesus said, "I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing" (John 15:5 NIV). What does it mean to remain in Christ and to bear much fruit? How does this calling apply to our lives today, as we seek to be attentive to Jesus' presence in our lives?
When Martha complained that her sister was not helping carry the load of hosting guests in their home, Jesus used the opportunity to steer Martha away from her anxieties and cares of the moment. Along with Martha, Jesus invites us to become attentive to His very presence in our lives, here and now.
When the rich young man came asking, "Good teacher . . . what must I do to inherit eternal life?" (Mark 10:17), Jesus' response pointed him in a new direction. Instead of moral uprightness and religious observance, Jesus invited the man to submit his whole heart and his whole life to God.
Jesus' famous words in the Great Commission, "Go and make disciples of all nations" (Matthew 28:19) stand as the church's ongoing mandate. How should we do this? Is "making disciples" a calling for church leaders only, or is it for everyone that makes up the church?
What does it mean to be a disciple of Jesus? Why do so many Christians get bored with their faith?
Have we settled for mere belief in Jesus rather than walking with Him? As we begin the "All In" series, we will start to see that Jesus calls us not simply to believe, but to follow.
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