Abundant Life Sermons

“Joy to the World” was written in 1719 as a musical interpretation of Psalm 98, a prophecy about the coming King. “JOY TO THE WORLD” LYRICS… “Joy to the earth, the Savior reigns. Let all their songs employ. While field and floods, rocks, hills, and plains, repeat the sounding joy…” “He rules the world with truth and grace and makes the nations prove. The glories of His righteousness, and wonders of His love…” PSALM 98 “Oh, sing to the Lord a new song! For He has done marvelous things; His right hand and His holy arm have gained Him the victory. The Lord has made known His salvation; His righteousness He has revealed in the sight of the nations. He has remembered His mercy and His faithfulness to the house of Israel; all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth; break forth in song, rejoice, and sing praises. Sing to the Lord with the harp, with the harp and the sound of a psalm, with trumpets and the sound of a horn; shout joyfully before the Lord, t

 How to Be Made Whole from AnxietyLuke 17:11-19Luke 17:11-14, Now it happened as He went to Jerusalem that He passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. 12 Then as He entered a certain village, there met Him ten men who were lepers, who stood afar off. 13 And they lifted up their voices and said, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” 14 So when He saw them, He said to them, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And so it was that as they went, they were cleansed.1) A Serious Sickness.“People who made money and possessions a priority generally experienced more unpleasant emotions, a greater incidence of physical ailments, such as headaches and stomachaches, and less satisfaction with their lives.” (“Materialism expert” Tim Kasser)“Entitlement creates a constant vulnerability to unmet expectations. Unmet expectations then lead to dissatisfaction and other volatile emotions.”  (Joshua Grubbs PhD, Psychological Bulletin)Lizard Brain — (limbic brain) — This is a nickname for the part of your brain that deals wi

In the parable of the Good Samaritan, Jesus taught what makes the gospel irresistible is God’s compassion for all people. Those that others find reprehensible God finds irresistible. There is no price too high that God would not pay for any of us. We matter to God. We are priceless to Him! THE CHARACTERS IN THE PARABLE OF THE GOOD SAMARITAN… A Certain Man “A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.”—Luke 10:30 The certain man represents us in our fallen condition—naked, wounded, and left for dead by sin and Satan. The Jewish Priest “Now by chance a certain priest came down that road. And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.”—Luke 10:31 The Jewish priest pictures the Law of God. Keeping the Law—a list of “righteous works” cannot save you. The Levites “Likewise a Levite, when he arrived at the place, came and looked, and passed by on the other side.”—Luke 10:32 The Levites were keepers

What does planting the kingdom of God look like today? Jeremiah 29:5-7 tells us… “Build houses and dwell in them, plant gardens and eat their fruit. Take wives and beget sons and daughters; and take wives for your sons and give your daughters to husbands, so that they may bear sons and daughters—that you may be increased there, and not diminished. And seek the peace of the city where I have caused you to be carried away captive, and pray to the Lord for it; for in its peace you will have peace.” PLANTING THE KINGDOM OF GOD… BUILD houses PLANT gardens BUILD families SEEK peace PRAY always God’s principles for planting His kingdom are the same yesterday, today, and forever. There will be obstacles we come up against, looking to deceive and cause division. But remember God’s promises as you plant His kingdom… THE PROMISE… Peace Future Hope Freedom Jeremiah 29:11-14… “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will

God is on the move and doing something new! Abundant Life Church Houses are multiplying the movement of God by gathering in small groups to… Worship together Grow spiritually Find biblical community Live missionally God always intended His temple to be a light to the nations. In the Old Testament, it was a BUILDING, but in the New Testament, it’s a BODY! First Corinthians 3:16 says, “Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” The church is not a building with stained glass and a steeple—THE CHURCH IS THE PEOPLE. Wherever the people gather, the church gathers. Join Pastor Phil Hopper at Abundant Life as he explains… The evolution of the American Church over the last 50 years Reasons not to start an Abundant Life Church House Reasons to start an Abundant Life Church House Don’t forget to click the “bell” to SUBSCRIBE to get more videos like this to grow your faith! Connect with us on Social Media ↴ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/abundantlifels/ Instagram: htt

Jesus said, “You are the salt of the earth…” (Matthew 5:13-16) What did He mean? Who was He talking to? What does it look like to be the salt of the earth? In Scripture, salt symbolizes the truth of God’s Word. We are to be “salty” with the truth of the gospel. Salt… Preserves Fights infections Makes people thirsty To be the salt of the earth means that… By the power of God, we—the Church—are to be a preservative in the world, slowing down the moral and spiritual decay that takes place every day. We are to present the gospel to those thirsty, so they might have everlasting life. If the Church “waters down” the truth of God’s Word, the salt can’t be tasted—and it is good for nothing. Jesus said, “… but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.” Church, this is a word for us today. Only when we are “salty” can we present the gospel “Irresistibly.” SALT OF THE EARTH AND THE GREAT COMMISSION This leads us to the Gre

How do you position yourself to see God do the impossible? You see Jesus’ invitation to be a part of it as irresistible. THE SAMARITAN WOMAN In John 4:3-7, Jesus sat beside Jacob’s well, tired and thirsty. He asked the woman, “Will you please give me a drink?” Jesus’ invitation to engage in a conversation with the Samaritan would have gone against cultural norms. However, He saw an opportunity. He extended an irresistible invitation to engage in conversation. After He spoke more with her, she came to believe He was the Messiah! Once again, we see Jesus’ invitation do the impossible… turn the heart of a broken woman into one that believed and received Him as the Savior of the world! Remember Zephaniah 3:17, “For the Lord your God is living among you and He is MIGHTY TO SAVE...” Whenever we’re willing to embrace the uncomfortable, we position ourselves to see God do the impossible. Join Abundant Life and be comforted and inspired in uncomfortable situations. You will be surprised how God will use you

Jesus found the church in Philadelphia in Revelation irresistible for 4 reasons… REASON 1. THEY FOCUSED ON ETERNITY Revelation 3:7-8 “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write, ‘These things says He who is holy, He who is true, He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens…” THE CHURCH TODAY THAT JESUS FINDS IRRESISTIBLE has a faith that is risky and gives sacrificially to redeem lives eternally. That is the church where Jesus will open doors of opportunity! REASON 2. THEY HAVE A HEART OF HUMILITY Revelation 3:8 “I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength…” THE CHURCH TODAY THAT JESUS FINDS IRRESISTIBLE recognizes its complete dependency on God. The church today always needs a vision that demands divine intervention that keeps us in a state of desperation. REASON 3. THEY STAND ON BIBLICAL AUTHORITY Revelation 3:8 “I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one

As parents who want to empower and equip according to the Bible in today’s culture, we must know how to develop children spiritually. DEVELOPMENT AND DISCIPLESHIP Developing children spiritually starts with discipling them. Discipleship is not the transfer of knowledge. It’s the transfer of life! God intends for faith to be passed on to the next generation in the home. He’s given parents the primary responsibility for the spiritual development and discipleship of their children. DEVELOPING A HEART FOR GOD The church can teach a child the knowledge of God, but it’s in the home where they develop a heart for God. Unless we take them beyond the knowledge of God to knowing Him, they will never develop a heart for Him! Join Abundant Life as we unpack practical ways and resources that will equip parents to be living proof of a loving God to a watching world—specifically to their children. Don’t forget to click the “bell” to SUBSCRIBE to get more videos like this to grow your faith! Connect with us on Social Me

You might not naturally allow God to change you in difficult circumstances, but there is a great blessing when you do. He wants you to receive peace in the midst of pain. Jesus said that He gives you peace, but not as the world gives. “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”—John 14:27 Often, we want peace according to how we think things ought to be. But this is a dangerous place to be. We can’t let our theology of God’s character be built off the floor of our situation. Jesus also tells us that we will face trials and tribulations but can have peace in and through them. “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”—John 16:33 Join Abundant Life this week as we discover the key to health, joy, and peace, no matter our circumstances. JOIN US! Join Pastor Toshaun Avery at Abundant Life as he pre

Suffering is never pleasant, but it does come with a promise. In fact, it comes with a number of promises. WHAT ARE THE PROMISES? They can be found in 2 Corinthians 1:2-11. God is the God of comfort and compassion. He wants us to know how to wield the weapons of spiritual warfare He gives us during suffering so we can embrace more of who He is and the promises released during suffering. GOD’S PROMISES… · Supernatural comfort · Healing · Deliverance But how are these promises released by Him and received by us? JOIN US! Join Pastor Phil at Abundant Life as he preaches from the Bible about how these three promises are released and two critical weapons of warfare you need to know in times of suffering. Don’t forget to click the “bell” to SUBSCRIBE to get more videos like this to grow your faith! Connect with us on Social Media · Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/abundantlifels/ · Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abundantlifels Get additional resources for a Scars series

God’s pathway to becoming spiritually mature and more Christ-like is through suffering—in other words, “No pain, no gain.” BIBLE VERSE 2 Corinthians 12:7-9 says, “And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.’” From these verses, we learn that God desires to use pain and suffering in our lives for a greater good. ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE PAIN IS A PRIZE. Becoming spiritually mature and being used greatly for God involves suffering deeply. 2 AGENDAS AT WORK WHEN WE SUFFER—GOD’S & SATAN’S God uses suffering for our sanctification. Satan uses suffering for our affliction. God wants to use suffering to… Develop our faith Refine your faith Satan wants to use suffering to…

What are the marks of following Jesus authentically? The Apostle Paul tells us in Galatians 6:17: “From now on let no one trouble me, for I bear in my body the marks [scars] of the Lord Jesus.” The Apostle Paul is teaching that authentic faith in Jesus will leave scars. The scars in our lives are to be visible to a watching world, allowing us to share the message of Jesus’ bearing scars for our sins. THE MARKS OF FOLLOWING JESUS… TAKE UP YOUR CROSS DAILY As a Christian, are you willing to sacrifice and suffer for the cause of Christ? The cross leaves scars. Living as an authentic Jesus follower will leave a mark. VERSE: In Luke 9:23, Jesus said, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.” LIVE CREDIBLY Paul’s credibility as an apostle and follower of Christ came not from what he said but from his scars! The world is watching what comes out of our lives, not merely from our lips, before they decide if they will follow Christ. VERSE: In 2 Corinthians

Scars (Part 2) | If God Is So Good, Why Do Bad Things Happen? [FULL SERMON] Description: If you’ve ever been through loss, suffering, or seasons of confusion, you’ve likely asked, “If God is so good, why do bad things happen?” HOW SHOULD WE LOOK AT SUFFERING? The Apostle Paul urged us to consider suffering in this life nothing compared to the glory to come. “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope…”—Romans 8:18-20 MAKING SENSE OF SUFFERING The Word of God helps us make sense of a world full of nonsense. Join Pastor Phil from Abundant Life as he answers tough questions such as… · Why is there so much suffering in today’s world? · If God knew Adam would sin, why did He give him a choice? · Does pain a

No more victim mentality, no more blaming others, and no more excuses–it is time to embrace the truth that you are more than a conqueror in Christ (Romans 8:37). Ready to move from victim to victor? Debbie Stiegler shares how she came to embrace a conqueror mentality as Jesus took her pain and suffering and used it for good. Jesus doesn’t always tell us where to talk in the midst of a painful circumstance and reveal our final destination. Instead, He often says, “Walk.” When we take one step of faith toward our breakthrough, God will show us the next. God doesn’t give us a map. Instead, He gives us a compass. He is in control, but He doesn’t always take control. We take a step, and little by little, our path becomes clear. When we start to journey forward, we will have scars. But God wants us to get beyond surviving and move into a conqueror mentality. “Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.”—Romans 8:37 Perhaps you’ve gone through circumstances and wonder how God c

Unforgiveness can hold you hostage. It keeps healing and restoration at bay, and as a result, you can’t walk in the freedom available to you through Jesus. When you know how to forgive, you can live victoriously. WHAT IS FORGIVENESS? Forgiveness is a decision to release the person of the obligation that resulted when they hurt you. This decision to release forgiveness is a process. Satan will try to keep you in bondage to unforgiveness by telling you…. The offense (either yours or others) is too big Time (not God) will heal it You can forgive when the other person says, “I’m sorry” You can’t forgive if you can’t forget If you forgive, they will do it again SO THEN, HOW DO YOU FORGIVE? Join Pastor Chad Glover from Abundant Life as he walks you through 3 steps to forgiveness… Know who you are in Christ. You are an elect of God, holy and beloved (Colossians 3:12). Put on the right stuff. Put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience (Colossians 3:12). Choose to forgive. Forgiveness is a

What’s the difference between guilt and shame and godly conviction? What do guilt and shame do to you emotionally, mentally, and physically? They are toxic to your soul and to your body! PSALM 38:3-4 says, “There is no soundness in my flesh because of Your anger, nor any health in my bones because of my sin. For my iniquities have gone over my head; like a heavy burden they are too heavy for me.” Guilt and shame are two things Satan uses to keep us from living an abundant life in Christ. Conviction of sin comes from God. But guilt and shame over past sins already forgiven are never from God. GET SET FREE FROM GUILT AND SHAME The key to removing guilt and shame is understanding forgiveness. You will fully forgive yourself and be free from guilt and shame when you fully believe God forgives you! PSALM 103:11-12 says, “For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward those who fear Him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.” Join Pasto

The life of Samson gives us a great insight into understanding and identifying spiritual strongholds. Like us, Samson was born for victory. Yet he was led into captivity. Do you feel like you are a slave to sin, living in captivity, and need to be set free to find victory? Take a look at Samson’s life. His story teaches us the high cost of low living. His sinful life mocked God. Eventually, his repeated sin became a spiritual stronghold. Identifying Spiritual Strongholds Can Help You Break Free before You Self-Destruct In this powerful message from Pastor Phil at Abundant Life, he reveals the 6 mistakes Samson made. You don’t have to follow in his footsteps. 6 Steps That Led Samson (and Can Lead You) into Slavery… Living on the border and playing on the fringe Find out how to make “no provision for the flesh” (Romans 13:14). Disobeying God’s command Know the commands of God so that you aren’t tempted “to serve other gods” (Deuteronomy 7:1-4). Breaking repeated commands Discover how repeated sin becomes a ha

August 14, 2022Hope Beyond the Scope of Impending Apocalypse - Daniel 12The Second Coming of Christ is one of the major themes of the Bible with over 2400 verses describing the events of Christ’s Second Coming. Compare that to the approximately 300 verses that pertain specifically to Christ’s first coming.As we get closer to the time of Christ’s return, many of the prophecies related to His Second Coming will be unsealedand their fulfillment revealed. Daniel 12:9, And he said, “Go your way, Daniel, for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.”As members of the Kingdom, we ought to be watching, ready, and anticipating the return of the King! 1 Thessalonians 5:4, But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief.What prophecies related to Christ’s return have recently been unsealed?1) The rebirth of Israel as a nation. Matthew 24:32-34, Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know tha

The books of Daniel and Revelation are God’s letters written to warn us of the coming troubles, the 7-year tribulation, that will occur before Jesus returns to reign in His kingdom. But what do we know about the 7-year tribulation? Daniel 12:1 says, “…and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation, even to that time.” The Bible gives us the information we need to know so that we can respond with wisdom and understanding in these last days. In this sermon, Pastor Chad Glover from Abundant Life takes you into the Word of God and answers questions about this 7-year period described as… · The great tribulation · The great and terrible Day of the Lord · Times of Jacob’s troubles You Will Discover… · Who the 7-year tribulation is for and who will escape it · How bad it is going to get · What happens at the halfway point · How you can respond to God’s letters and ready yourself for the coming day. The main thing you can do to