Sermons

Peace is a subject mentioned over two hundred times in the Bible. God’s Son is even named the “Prince of Peace” in Isaiah 9:6. God gives us instructions on how to achieve peace, and the practices we should avoid that will prevent us from achieving peace.

How, and from what point in time, can Christ live within us? And what does this mean in practical terms? How can we examine ourselves to see if Christ is truly in us? This split sermon explores clear biblical statements that reveal whether Christ lives within us—or not. It also shows that one does not and cannot walk God’s Way unless Christ lives and works within that person.

God is in control, and for that we can be relieved. Our circumstances and the outcomes in our lives are a result of His will for us. When we have problems or concerns that weigh us down, we can be reassured that we have God on our side. He loves us and will work things out for our best interest, even if we might not understand what He is doing. By trusting in this process designed by God, we can release the burden of worry and concern, giving it all to God to carry the load. 

On August 6, and August 9, 1945, the US dropped atomic bombs on the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. While political and military pundits around the world have opinions as to the reasons and the responsibility for the bombings, true Christians understand that we must never justify the savagery that preceded the attacks, nor the acts themselves. In this Sermonette we will consider various scriptures that make clear how God see such actions.

This message explores what the Bible actually means by “the glory of God,” tracing the shift from kavod (weight, substance) in the Old Testament to doxa (glory made visible) in the New Testament. It considers how a person’s life gets tested over time, the way a foundation and building materials are tested by storm and fire. It closes by contrasting those who took credit for what God did with those who redirected glory back to Him.

Some reports point out that Russia is preparing an impending attack on NATO. We also quote from an inciteful article dealing with July 20, 1944—the assassination attempt on Hitler—and the duty of soldiers to refuse unlawful orders. We report on Trump’s renewed efforts to fight birthright citizenship; and we warn of the mostly unrealized dangers of AI. We address America’s desperate attempts to have Iran open the Strait of Hormuz; and speak of an alleged imminent threat of an Israeli takeover of the Al-Aqsa Mosque.

Several spectacular announcements by the White House sounded great at first sight, but did not pass muster on closer examination. This is especially true for an alleged America-Saudi-Arabia nuclear deal and the “great breakthrough” of “bringing peace to Gaza” by disarming Hamas. In other news, we discuss the Holy See’s support for Anthony Fauci; shocking allegations of Israel’s Finance Minister and incredible announcements of the Sanhedrin; America’s unclear position on the Ukrainian production of Patriot anti-missile interceptor factories; and the collapse of FIFA’s
 ill-advised plan to have Joshua Kushner sell a piece of FIFA’s business enterprise to outside investors.

Why doesn’t the world know the Truth about the Holy Spirit? What is the Holy Spirit? Did the Holy Spirit dwell in people of the Old Testament? What about Christians in the New Testament? Can one have and keep the Holy Spirit when sinning—even committing serious sins? What are the essential prerequisites for receiving the Holy Spirit? And how can we lose the Holy Spirit?

By using the analogy of chess and focusing on the pawn, we can see throughout the Bible how God chose “regular common” individuals to fulfill His purpose. At first glance, the pawn is considered the weakest piece, and it is only able to move forward; however, its significance increases as it reaches the other side of the chessboard, becoming more valuable by reaching its full potential. Just like us, we have a similar goal in life as we move forward, learning from mistakes along the way, so we can ultimately reach our goal of eternal life.

Spiritual growth can feel vague and hard to track. This sermonette examines what Christ teaches about pruning and bearing fruit in John 15, and asks whether our own growth is something we can actually see and measure, week by week.

As humans we continue to learn new information each day—some more than others, but the point is that there is always new information we can consume and utilize. As true Christians who have been called by the Father we should be eager to learn and be guided by God and by Jesus Christ in matters of our faith. There is nothing more important in our lives than preparing ourselves and serving God and His Son. In this Sermonette we will cover various scriptures that can assist us along the way.

The life of a Christian is definitively not for the faint of heart. It requires overcoming obstacles, dealing with difficult circumstances, and resisting temptations every single day. To be Christian is to become comfortable doing hard things. Through the examples in the Bible we will learn about those who have gone before us, having faced difficulty, and overcome. We will also learn why it is so important to actively choose to do the difficult things that God directs us to do, because the reward that comes from doing them is great.

In this sermon, we are looking at how the Church of God was persecuted throughout its history and emphasize the importance of enduring to the end by remaining close to God.

Gentleness or kindness is an important part of the fruit of the Spirit. It is mentioned a number of times in the epistles of the apostle Paul and elsewhere, and shows us one aspect of character that we need to apply in our relationships with both Church members and others we come across in our daily lives.

What major event brings nations from all over the world together, especially through the inspiring underdog story of a particular nation, showing how the world can briefly rally around courage, pride, and shared joy? This unity is short-lived, as conflict, division, and war will persist after the tournament ends. Only the return of Jesus Christ will bring true and permanent peace, when all nations will be unified under one divine rule with no more war, suffering, deception, or sorrow.

What parallels and similarities might exist between America’s independence 250 years ago and the history of the founding of the Church of the Eternal God in the USA? Does God have a very specific timeline involving nations, individuals, and momentous events? Can this plan be altered? And what warnings does the Bible contain for God’s Church?

The world is accelerating and nobody knows how to stop it. God told us this was coming. Underneath all the technology, capability, and noise, the same ancient problem is surfacing that has always surfaced when humanity gains more power, we want to be like God, on our own terms, without going through Him. 

While Jesus told His disciples to make peace and oppose war, America is doing the exact opposite. On the international scene, the Iran war is ongoing, and even “attempts” to end the fighting virtually guarantee their continuance. In the process, America’s “allies” are running away. True faith in God and His power are basically nonexistent in the USA. Domestically and internally, recent US Supreme Court decisions help destroy America from the inside.  

What makes us unique and sets us apart from those in the world who have not yet been called? What is required of us to remain clean—both physically and spiritually—in an unclean world, and what help do we have? How do we bear the fruits of righteousness?

This sermonette explores the tension between living in the present, learning from the past, and trusting God with the future. Through several scriptures we are reminded that God calls us to be intentional about the moments we are given. The challenge is to embrace each day with gratitude and purpose.