Saul’s confession in 1 Samuel 15 sounded spiritual—but it wasn’t repentance. Learn how fearing people replaces fearing God, why obedience is better than sacrifice, and how true confession brings mercy.




https://youtu.be/wCw0Fmarhk0




Table of contents* The Background to Saul’s Hollow Confession* A Confession With An Excuse Is An Excuse* We Obey What We Fear* Reject God and Be Rejected By God* We Should Submit To God’s Discipline* Saul’s Ongoing Rebellion* Saul’s Second Hollow Confession* Saul’s Concern with Appearances* We Shouldn’t Confess To Get Something* Why David Was Not “Better” Than Saul* David Was Better Than Saul Because He Repented* David Was Better Than Saul Because He Knew God



Maybe you’ve noticed that when public figures or large corporations apologize, their apologies sound, let’s say, strange. They say things like, “Mistakes were made,” or “If anyone was offended, we’re sorry.”



It’s the kind of apology that sounds good at first, until you realize nobody’s actually taking responsibility for anything. It’s carefully worded to protect image and reputation. The goal isn’t ownership of fault; instead, it’s damage control. There’s an appearance of humility without actually being humble. They want forgiveness without admitting guilt.



We might roll our eyes at these kinds of hollow apologies, but, if we’re honest, we can do the same thing spiritually. We say, “I’m sorry, Lord,” but what we really mean is, “I don’t like the consequences.”



This is precisely what happened with Saul. When he said, “I have sinned,” he didn’t mean, “I am broken over my sin.” He meant, “I’ve been caught, and I want to look good in front of the people.” His confession wasn’t repentance; it was reputation management.



The Background to Saul’s Hollow Confession



God commanded Saul to destroy the Amalekites and everything that belonged to them. He defeated the Amalekites, but allowed some to live and kept some of their valuable stuff. One of Saul’s most significant problems is that he didn’t understand that partial obedience is disobedience, and if I had more room in the sermon, I would have made that a lesson. God sent the prophet Samuel to confront Saul:




1 Samuel 15:12 And Samuel rose early to meet Saul in the morning. And it was told Samuel, “Saul came to Carmel, and behold, he set up a monument for himself and turned and passed on and went down to Gilgal.”




This is unbelievable: Saul was in the midst of disobeying God, yet he set up a monument for himself. Hopefully, I don’t have to tell you that even when we obey God, it is a bad idea to set up a monument for ourselves. Clearly, Saul is feeling pretty good about himself:




1 Samuel 15:13 And Samuel came to Saul, and Saul said to him, “Blessed be you to the Lord. I have performed the commandment of the Lord.”

Have you ever thought you could keep a sin hidden—something no one would ever find out about? That’s exactly what Achan believed in Joshua 7. He took what God had forbidden, buried it beneath his tent, and assumed it would remain secret. But what Achan tried to hide ended up destroying his family, weakening his nation, and separating him from God. The story of Achan’s hidden sin reveals a sobering truth: there is no such thing as private disobedience. Every hidden sin eventually comes to light, and the cost is always greater than we expect. Yet, this passage also reminds us of God’s mercy for those who confess and forsake their sin before it’s too late.






https://youtu.be/GhLgEMyzmLo




Table of contents* The Background: Israel’s Victory and Warning* Hidden Sin and Defeat at Ai* Unrepentant Sin Prevents Prosperity* Achan’s Opportunity to Repent* The Pattern of Sin: Seeing, Coveting, Taking* Sin Often Begins with the Eyes* Confess Sin Before It’s Exposed* Don’t Test God to Expose Your Sin* Sin Always Affects More Than Just the Sinner* The Tragedy and the Warning* Conclusion: Confess Early, Repent Fully, Walk Freely* Key Takeaway



Have you ever thought you could do something in private that wouldn’t affect anyone else? Maybe you told yourself, “Nobody will know, and nobody will get hurt.”



That’s what Achan thought. His story in Joshua 7 is one of the most sobering in the Bible—a reminder that sin is never private, and that confession is always better than concealment. Achan’s hidden sin didn’t just destroy him; it brought defeat to his nation and death to his family.







The Background: Israel’s Victory and Warning



After Israel conquered Jericho—the most fortified city in Canaan—Joshua gave a clear command:




Joshua 6:18“But you, keep yourselves from the things devoted to destruction, lest when you have devoted them you take any of the devoted things and make the camp of Israel a thing for destruction and bring trouble upon it.”




The wealth of Jericho was to be dedicated to God. But Achan disobeyed.




Joshua 7:1“But the people of Israel broke faith in regard to the devoted things, for Achan… took some of the devoted things. And the anger of the Lord burned against the people of Israel.”




Achan took what belonged to God and hid it under his tent. He thought no one would know—but his private rebellion brought public disaster.







Hidden Sin and Defeat at Ai



After their victory at Jericho, Israel attacked the small city of Ai, confident of another easy win. But instead, they were defeated—36 men died, and Israel’s courage melted away.



Joshua cried out to God, asking why. The Lord answered:

In Numbers 22, Balaam said, “I have sinned,” but he never truly repented. His story is one of the clearest examples in Scripture of a person who sounded spiritual while living in disobedience. Discover how Balaam’s words expose the danger of empty confession and reveal God’s call to genuine repentance and obedience through Christ.







Watch the Sermon:




https://youtu.be/9uql1s1Se-o




Table of contents* Balak’s Fear and Balaam’s Temptation* Asking God to Approve Sin* Rationalizing Disobedience* Leaving the Door Open to Temptation* When Temptation Appeals to Pride* When Words Sound Spiritual but Hearts Are Disobedient* Actions Must Match Words* When God Allows What We Demand* God’s Perfect vs. Permissive Will* A Prophet Rebuked by His Donkey* When Balaam Said, “I Have Sinned”* The Hebrew Meaning of “Turn Back” (šûḇ)* True Repentance Means Real Change* Balaam’s False Confession vs. Jesus’ True Compassion* Mean It When You Say “I Have Sinned”



Have you ever heard someone say, “I’m sorry,” but you knew they didn’t mean it? Maybe they were only sorry they got caught, not truly sorry for what they did.



Sadly, the same thing happens spiritually. Many people say to God, “I have sinned,” but their hearts never change. Their words sound right, but their repentance isn’t real.



That’s what we’ve been studying—people in Scripture who said, “I have sinned,” but never repented. We’ve already looked at Judas and Pharaoh. Today we’ll look at Balaam, a man who shows us how easy it is to sound spiritual while walking in disobedience. His story reminds us that repentance is not just what we say to God—it’s what we do in response to Him.







Balak’s Fear and Balaam’s Temptation



Numbers 22 introduces two main figures:




* Balak, king of Moab, who feared Israel after seeing their victories.



* Balaam, a prophet believed to have power to bless or curse.




Since Balak couldn’t defeat Israel militarily, he turned to spiritual warfare—hoping Balaam could curse them. Balak represents Satan’s strategy: when he can’t destroy God’s people through force, he tempts them through compromise.







Asking God to Approve Sin



When Balak’s messengers offered Balaam money to curse Israel, Balaam should have refused immediately. Instead, he entertained the offer:




“Lodge here tonight, and I will bring back word to you, as the Lord speaks to me.” – Numbers 22:8




He asked God a question he already knew the answer to.

When Pharaoh’s false repentance is compared with Abraham’s obedience, the midwives’ courage, and Moses’ intercession, we learn what genuine fear of God looks like—and why fear of God produces obedience. We should examine ourselves because repeated unrepentance can lead to a hardened heart, just as it did with Pharaoh.




https://youtu.be/a-ue7H8kTz8




Table of Contents




* Introduction: History and Pharaoh



* Judas, Pharaoh, and the Pattern of False Repentance



* Abraham and the Fear of God



* The Hebrew Midwives: Fear That Produces Obedience



* Pharaoh’s False Repentance: Exodus 9–10



* Lessons from Pharaoh’s Repentance



* Fear of God Produces Obedience



* Practical Takeaways




Introduction: History and Pharaoh



In 1938, Europe stood on the brink of war. Hitler demanded the Sudetenland, a German-speaking region of Czechoslovakia. Britain had promised to defend its ally, but Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain changed his mind. Instead of supporting Czechoslovakia, Chamberlain appeased Hitler, hoping to avoid war. The Munich Agreement allowed Hitler to take the Sudetenland.



Chamberlain returned to Britain declaring “peace for our time,” but the victory was hollow. Within months, Germany occupied the rest of Czechoslovakia, and a year later, Germany invaded Poland, beginning World War II.



Pharaoh in Exodus provides a striking biblical example of changing one’s mind wrongly. Pharaoh changed his mind 11 times—10 during the plagues and once afterward—and it ended tragically when he and his army were swallowed in the Red Sea.



Judas, Pharaoh, and the Pattern of False Repentance



Last week, we studied Judas’ betrayal, who said:




“I have sinned,”
—Matthew 27:3-5




without truly repenting. Pharaoh’s account illustrates false repentance, where words are spoken but the heart does not turn. Read more in our False Repentance Sermon Series.



Abraham and the Fear of God



Consider Abraham in Genesis 22. God commanded him to sacrifice Isaac, yet an angel stopped him at the last moment:




“Do not lay your hand on the boy…for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.”
—Genesis 22:12




Abraham’s obedience was rooted in his fear of God, which outweighed even his love for Isaac. James 2:23 calls Abraham a friend of God. For more examples of obedience, see Obedience to God Sermons.



The Hebrew Midwives: Fear That Produces Obedience



In Exodus 1,

Peter wept, Judas died—but what made the difference between repentance and regret? Explore the powerful contrast between Peter and Judas, understanding how godly grief leads to repentance and salvation, while worldly grief leads to death. When Peter wept bitterly, his sorrow led him back to Christ, but when Judas experienced regret, his grief without repentance ultimately led him to destruction. Understanding the difference between repentance and regret is essential for every believer.




https://youtu.be/GhpkEye1qS0




Table of contents* An X-Ray Machine for the Heart Would Be Needed for Peter and Judas* Two Kinds of Faith and Grief* Peter’s Godly Grief Produced Repentance* Worldly Grief (Unrepentance) Can Produce Multiple Deaths* Judas’s Worldly Grief Produced His Death* We Underestimate the Consequences of Sin* When Peter Pleased the Lord* Experiencing Regret Isn’t Repentance* What Made Peter Repentant But Judas Unrepentant?



Earlier this year, Charis was playing in her very first and last softball game. She was running around the bases, and when she slid into home, the catcher fell on the lower half of her leg. She screamed, “I broke my leg.” Turns out she was right. One of the most common conflicts in our marriage concerns how hurt our children truly are. Katie says I always say two words: “They’re fine.” I feel like she always thinks they’re about to die. Maybe other marriages experience the same.



The X-ray machine was invented on November 8, 1895. Thank God Katie and I were not married before that, because I can only imagine the arguments we would have about whether our children’s bones were broken or not.



Before the advent of the X-ray machine, doctors had to rely on observation, palpation, and patient symptoms to diagnose broken bones. Can you imagine having a broken bone and the doctor wants to diagnose it by pushing on the area to see if he can find the break?



An X-Ray Machine for the Heart Would Be Needed for Peter and Judas



Imagine there was an X-ray machine that allowed us to look into people, not to see their bones, but to see their hearts, and in particular, whether they are repentant:




Psalm 51:17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.




If I can push this analogy a little further, imagine that instead of seeing whether people had broken bones, we could see whether they had broken hearts. Without this, we are like doctors before the X-ray machine: we are forced to guess. The difficulty is that people may appear outwardly repentant without being truly repentant inwardly. Let me illustrate this by asking who I’m describing below:



A well-known man received one of the most unique opportunities in all of history when Jesus asked him to become one of the twelve disciples. In accepting the invitation, he was able to be with the Son of God day and night. He became a student of the world’s greatest Teacher. When Jesus’ enemies tried to trap Him with penetrating questions,

Peter wept bitterly because God turned his failure into repentance. Explore why Peter wept bitterly (Luke 22:61–62). A single, providential look from Jesus pierced his heart, and brokenness became the path to restoration (Psalm 51:17; John 21). If you’ve failed publicly or privately, there is hope: the same Savior who saw Peter sees you. Peter wept bitterly—and grace met him there.




https://youtu.be/RgcgFxbg4AM




Table of contents* We're All Unrecognizable At Times* When Peter Was Unrecognizable* God Works Providentially in Our Lives to Produce Repentance* Two Examples of God’s Providence in Scripture* Peter Wept Bitterly Because of God’s Providence* When Peter Wept Bitterly, God Was Pleased With His Broken and Contrite Heart* Our Greatest Ministry Might Be After Our Greatest Failure* Two Encouragements from When Peter Bitterly



I know some people can’t watch scary movies. Whenever there’s a scary part, they look away or put their hands over their eyes. My father-in-law, Rick, has a similar problem, but with movies with awkward scenes. When people are embarrassing themselves really badly, he can’t watch.



I learned this years ago when we were watching Mrs. Doubtfire at his house in Northern California, where Katie and I grew up. In the movie, Robin Williams loses custody of his children. Desperate to spend more time with them, he disguises himself as an elderly British nanny named Mrs. Doubtfire so he can be hired to care for them. At one moment in the movie, his prosthetic mask slips off, revealing his identity to his ex-wife and children. It’s humiliating, and when I looked over at my father-in-law on the couch, he had his hands over his face and said he couldn’t watch.



There’s a moment from David’s life that my father-in-law wouldn’t be able to watch because it’s so embarrassing. David was fleeing from Saul. No place in Israel felt safe, so he chose to hide in enemy territory with the Philistines, where he knew Saul wouldn’t chase after him:




1 Samuel 21:10 David rose and fled that day from Saul and went to Achish the king of Gath. 11 And the servants of Achish said to him, “Is not this David the king of the land? Did they not sing to one another of him in dances, ‘Saul has struck down his thousands, and David his ten thousands’?”




Gath is one of the Philistines’ principal cities, where Goliath was from. This was the song they sang about David, and the ten thousands he defeated were Philistines. So it didn’t take long for them to recognize him.




1 Samuel 21:12 And David took these words to heart and was much afraid of Achish the king of Gath. 13 So he changed his behavior before them and pretended to be insane in their hands and made marks on the doors of the gate and let his spittle run down his beard.




David is understandably afraid they’re going to kill him. This is the moment my father-in-law has to look away. He started clawing at the doors of the gates, acting like a madman, letting drool run down his beard. In Scripture, there are examples of people suffering or being punished,

When Peter denies Christ, Scripture exposes a sober path from pride to prayerlessness, to rash self-confidence, and finally to denial. Learn how Peter's three denials of Christ become a gracious warning for every disciple—so we “watch and pray” instead of falling. Drawing from the text and historical context, we can trace sin's downward spiral.




https://youtu.be/cerQpiF4JGI




Table of contents* The Groundwork Is Laid Before The Sin Is Committed.* Four Ways the Groundwork for Peter’s Denials Was Laid* First, Peter Denies Christ Because He Ignored Jesus’s Warning.* Second, Peter Denies Christ Because He Was Proud* Third, Peter Denies Christ Because He Failed To Pray.* Fourth, Peter Denies Christ Because He Acted Recklessly* The Context for Peter’s Denials* Sin Often Begets Worse Sin* Peter’s Example Should Make Us Sober, Not Proud* Four Ways to Learn from Peter* First, Peter didn’t listen to Jesus.* Second, Peter was proud.* Third, Peter was self-deceived.* Fourth, Peter was unprepared.



Soon after I became a Christian, I started reading the Bible regularly. The approach I took was to read a book in the Old Testament and then a book in the New Testament: Genesis, Matthew, Exodus, Mark, Leviticus, Luke. But then something happened: my friend Elwyn said, “Have you read about David?” I didn’t even know where to read about David. He told me I had to read 1 and 2 Samuel. I trusted Elwyn, so I interrupted my Bible reading plan and began these two books.



I reached 2 Samuel 11 when David committed adultery and murder, and I didn’t think I was reading about David anymore. I wondered who the imposter was. David hadn’t been perfect up to that point, but I sure didn’t think he was capable of these horrible sins.



As I reread about David over the following years, I saw the groundwork for his adultery. By the time David saw Bathsheba, he already had about twenty wives and concubines. There was no way this sort of compromise wouldn’t catch up to him. He was so used to taking women that didn’t belong to him that by the time he saw Bathsheba, she was just one more woman in that long list.



David's practice of adding wives showed a lack of restraint and an indulgence of his passions. Staying home from the battle just provided the opportunity for David’s indulgence to reveal itself.



The Groundwork Is Laid Before The Sin Is Committed.



Was there any groundwork for David’s sin of murder? No. I would say it was the opposite. David repeatedly resisted murdering Saul, even when it looked like it was something he should do. When Saul was in the cave:




1 Samuel 24:4 [David’s men] said to him, “Here is the day of which the Lord said to you, ‘Behold, I will give your enemy into your hand,

Jesus faced the power of darkness at Gethsemane—Judas’s betrayal, the arrest, and the cosmic clash of light vs. darkness—while showing that the power of darkness is limited to an “hour” under God’s sovereign plan.




https://youtu.be/6cCpZlgUQIg




Table of contents* Light and Darkness Are Metaphors for Good and Evil* Judas Went Out When “It Was Night”* Jesus Knew the Hour of Darkness Was Coming* A High Priest Who Sympathizes with Betrayal* Jesus’s Kindness to His Betrayer* Choosing the Physical Over the Spiritual* Acting Hastily Often Causes Problems* Misdirected Zeal with Peter, Josiah, and Maybe Us* Jesus’s Composure* Jesus’s Rebuke to the Religious Leaders* The Power of Darkness Is When Satan “Bruises Jesus’s Heel”* The Power of Darkness Is Limited to One Hour



Growing up, I read The Lord of the Rings and The Chronicles of Narnia. If you asked most people about popular fiction books with Christian themes, they would likely point to these stories. They are classic tales of good versus evil.



One thing I appreciate about them is that good always looks good, and evil always looks evil. You never have to guess who the good guys and bad guys are. Even when a good character like Boromir, in a moment of weakness, tries to take the ring from Frodo, or when Edmund denies Narnia’s existence to Peter and Susan to hide his relationship with the White Witch, their actions seem wrong. But I don’t think most media portrays this well, with sins like fornication and violence often being celebrated.



When Judas betrayed Jesus, there was no mistaking the distinction between good and evil. Ultimately, Jesus describes the people’s actions as "the power of darkness.”



Light and Darkness Are Metaphors for Good and Evil



Many verses in the Bible teach that light and darkness are metaphors for good and evil. Here are a few examples:




Isaiah 5:20 Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness!




Darkness is associated with evil, while light is associated with good.




John 3:19 The light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.




People don’t reject Jesus because they don’t believe in Him. They reject Him, the light of the world, because they love darkness, referring to their sins, more than Him.




Acts 26:18 Open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God.’




Paul associated salvation with turning from darkness to light.




Romans 13:12 Let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light.

Jesus as the Last Adam is one of the most powerful truths in Scripture, as Christ came to save us from the consequences of Adam's sin in the Garden of Eden. Unpack Jesus as the Last Adam from 1 Corinthians 15:45, Romans 5:12-20, and Luke 22:42–43, learning how the obedience of Christ brought redemption where the first Adam brought sin and death.




https://youtu.be/Tyi-1PlNKgE




Table of contents* Jesus Is the Last Adam* The Last Adam Had to Resist the Devil* God’s Wrath Builds Up Against Us* The Last Adam’s Agony in the Garden of Gethsemane* The Last Adam Had to Consume God’s Wrath* The Last Adam Wanted Us to Know There’s No Other Way for Man to Be Saved* Jesus Drinks the Cup of God's Wrath for Us or We Drink It



We forget things, so it’s good to be reminded. That’s why, throughout the New Testament, we are reminded of spiritual truths. Here are two examples of many I could give you:




1 Corinthians 15:1 I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand.




Paul wanted to remind us of the gospel, which I don’t think we could be reminded of too many times.




2 Peter 1:12 I intend always to remind you of these qualities, though you know them and are established in the truth that you have.




Peter’s referring to the qualities he mentioned earlier: virtue, knowledge, self-control, steadfastness, godliness, brotherly affection, and love. Then he says:




2 Peter 1:13 I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to stir you up by way of reminder.




As long as Peter’s alive, he’s going to keep reminding believers. So, when I preach, I like reminding people of truths that they’ve heard many times before. It is a joy for me to be reminded of truths in my studying, and then it is a joy for me to remind people of these truths when I preach. But I also hope I can help people see new things that they haven’t seen before. This is one of my other joys when studying.



Helping people see new things in the Gospels can be difficult because they are the most familiar area of Scripture. And beyond that, Jesus praying in the garden of Gethsemane is one of the most familiar accounts in the Gospels. But there is something deep and powerful in this account that I hope prevents people from reading this account the same. It requires looking past Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane to the first Adam in the garden of Eden. That’s where this account truly begins.



Jesus Is the Last Adam



Jesus has over 200 names in Scripture. We know Him as the Son of God, Son of Man, Lamb of God, and Prince of Peace. But a lesser-known title is the Last Adam:




1 Corinthians 15:45 Thus it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being”; the last Adam (referring to Jesus) became a life-giving spirit…47 The first man was from the earth, a man of dust; the second man (referring to Jesus) is from heaven.




The clearest passage contrasting Jesus and Adam is in Romans 5:




Romans 5:12 Therefore,

Spiritual warfare is not just a concept—it’s a daily reality for every believer. Unpack why Jesus instructed His disciples to carry swords, revealing deep biblical truths about preparing for spiritual warfare in a hostile world. Through Luke 22:37-38, we learn that spiritual warfare requires discernment, courage, and readiness—not physical weapons, but the armor of God. Spiritual warfare is not about attacking people but standing firm against the enemy’s schemes with the right weapons, such as prayer, God’s Word, and fellowship.




https://youtu.be/DBkrSarLOck




Table of contents* The Context for Jesus’s Words about Spiritual Warfare* New Testament Authors Don’t Ignore Old Testament Context* Jesus’s Followers Must Expect To Be Treated Like Him* Jesus’s Listeners Often Mistook The Spiritual For The Physical* The Disciples Mistook Spiritual Preparation for Physical Preparation* The Disciples' Problems Caused by Misunderstanding Jesus’s Words about Spiritual Warfare* The Irony with Peter and Us* Jesus Wants His Disciples To Prepare For Spiritual Warfare.* Two Questions We Should Ask Ourselves



The saying, “Don’t bring a knife to a gunfight,” originated in the American West during the late 19th century, when people carried guns for protection, and disputes were often settled with duels. Today, the phrase has become a figure of speech to describe someone being ill-equipped or unprepared to handle a difficult challenge or task.



We could adapt the saying for the disciples: “Don’t bring a physical sword to a spiritual fight.” They misunderstood Jesus’s words. He wanted them to prepare for spiritual warfare, but they thought He wanted them to prepare for physical combat.



The Context for Jesus’s Words about Spiritual Warfare



Jesus just celebrated the Last Supper with the disciples. He’s about to leave the upper room and head to the Garden of Gethsemane, where He will pray and be arrested, and He wants them to know that after that happens, things will change for them dramatically:




Luke 22:35 And he said to them, “When I sent you out with no moneybag or knapsack or sandals, did you lack anything?” They said, “Nothing.”




This refers to when Jesus earlier sent out the disciples to preach the kingdom of God when Jesus was at the height of His popularity. The disciples were His royal ambassadors preaching the kingdom for the King of Kings. Everyone loved them because everyone loved Jesus. Things were going to go so well for the disciples that they didn’t need to bring a moneybag, knapsack, or sandals. They could rely on people’s generosity and hospitality. But after the cross, things were going to be very different:




Luke 22:36 He said to them, “But now let the one who has a moneybag take it, and likewise a knapsack. And let the one who has no sword sell his cloak and buy one.




This is a radical shift.

Unpack some of Jesus’ final instructions to His disciples to live as pilgrims in hostile environments. As the world grows increasingly resistant to the Gospel, Christians today must understand their true citizenship and mission. From being royal ambassadors during Christ’s ministry to becoming pilgrims in hostile environments after His crucifixion, the disciples’ journey mirrors our own.




https://youtu.be/WDss9AeVwik




Table of contents* From Genesis to Malachi, the Gospel was, “The Messiah is coming!”* From Matthew to John, the Gospel was, “The Kingdom has come!”* From Matthew to John, Jesus’ Disciples Were Royal Ambassadors In Welcoming Environments* From Acts on the Gospel is Christ Crucified* From Acts On Jesus’ Disciples Are Pilgrims In Hostile Environments* Our Heavenly Citizenship* What Is Commendable About the Faith of Those in Hebrews 11?* We Must Be Born Again



When I was growing up, my parents made me feel thankful to be an American. It usually took place at the dinner table when they wanted me to finish my food. They would encourage me to eat by telling me how children in other countries didn’t have the same blessings, and I guess at that moment, the blessings I was supposed to be thankful for were peas, broccoli, cauliflower, and asparagus.



There are few people who, if asked where they would want to live, would say a country other than the United States. But no matter how good American citizenship is, we will see in some of Jesus’s last words to His disciples that He didn’t want any of His followers to see themselves as citizens of any earthly country. Instead, we’re to see ourselves as pilgrims.



To fully understand some of Jesus’s final words to the disciples, we must understand the mission of God’s people throughout human history.



From Genesis to Malachi, the Gospel was, “The Messiah is coming!”



Sometimes people mistakenly believe the Gospel is a New Testament invention; something Paul invented during the Church Age. The even worse situation is when people think man was saved differently in the Old Testament than in the New Testament. But man has always been saved the same: by grace through faith.



In the Old Testament, people were saved by believing God would send a Messiah. People looked forward in faith to the Messiah coming, like we look backward in faith, believing the Messiah has come:




Galatians 3:8 God…preached the gospel…to Abraham, saying, “In you shall all the nations be blessed.”




This shows that the gospel was preached in the Old Testament, as it was preached to Abraham. But it begs the question: How could the words “in you shall all the nations be blessed” be a gospel presentation? This is a prophecy that the Messiah will come as a descendant of Abraham. That’s how all the nations would be blessed in or through Abraham. As people believed this prophecy that the Messiah would come, they would be saved. That’s what happened with Abraham, the father of faith:

Naaman’s pride nearly cost him everything – don’t let it happen to you! In 2 Kings 5:1–14, we witness a powerful story of how Naaman’s pride nearly prevented him from receiving God’s healing and salvation. We, too, can be blinded by our own expectations. The story of Naaman’s pride is a warning for all of us: don’t let ego or expectations block the work God wants to do in your life. Recognize the signs of pride and discover how obedience and humility lead to transformation.




https://youtu.be/sIs9T1l8crA




Table of contents* Naaman Almost Missed Out On Salvation Because It Seemed Foolish to Him* Naaman Almost Missed Out on Salvation Because It’s Not How He Wanted to Be Saved* Naaman Almost Missed Out On Salvation Because It Wasn’t Glamorous Enough for Him* Naaman Almost Missed Out On Salvation Because He Wasn’t Required to Do Enough* Naaman Almost Missed Out On Salvation Because of His Pride* New Humility Shown* What the People of Nazareth Could Learn from a Gentile



Consider this familiar story:




A storm descends on a small town, and the downpour soon turns into a flood. As the waters rise, the local preacher kneels in prayer on the church porch, surrounded by water. One of the townsfolk comes up the street in a canoe.“Better get in, Preacher. The waters are rising fast.""No," says the preacher. "I have faith the Lord will save me."Still, the waters rise. Now the preacher is up on the balcony, when another guy arrives in a motorboat."Come on, Preacher. We need to get you out of here."Once again, the preacher is unmoved. "I shall remain. The Lord will see me through."After a while the flood rushes over the church until only the steeple remains above water. The preacher is clinging to the cross when a helicopter descends out of the clouds, and a state trooper calls down to him through a megaphone."Grab the ladder, Preacher. This is your last chance."Once again, the preacher insists the Lord will save him.Predictably, he drowns, but goes to heaven. He asks God, "Why didn't you save me?"God says, “ I sent you two boats and a helicopter."




The story is about a man who misses out on the ways God provided for him to be saved. I want to replace it with the better one found in God’s Word. God provided a way for Naaman to be saved, but he almost missed out on it, like the fictional preacher who drowned. The reasons Naaman almost missed out on being cleansed of physical leprosy are the same reasons we miss out on being cleansed of spiritual leprosy, or sin.




2 Kings 5:1 Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master and in high favor, because by him the Lord had given victory to Syria. He was a mighty man of valor, but he was a leper. He probably wore an impressive, well-decorated uniform, but beneath that uniform was a body being consumed by leprosy.




This is one of the most impressive descriptions of an individual in Scripture. He’s the commander of the Syrian army. He’s called a mighty man of valor, a title given to only four other people in Scripture, including men like Gideon and David. However,

What truly led to the fall of Gehazi? Dive into 2 Kings 5:15-27, unveiling the deeper spiritual truths behind Gehazi’s fall and how his actions became a tragic example of hypocrisy, greed, and divine judgment. Just like leprosy spreads through the body, Gehazi’s sin spread from the heart, leading to devastating consequences. Discover how Gehazi’s fall also serves as a poignant illustration of the dangers of spiritual compromise and the urgent need for repentance.




https://youtu.be/zbC01GX3EUc






Table of contents* Gehazi Was a Religious Hypocrite* God Faithfully Warns* When God Warned David* God Faithfully Warns Us* We Escape and Endure* Gehazi’s Deceptions* Sin Often Leads to More Sin* Elisha Saw What Gehazi Did as God Sees What We Do* Elisha Had a Heart for Elisha as God Has a Heart for Us* Gehazi Already Had Spiritual Leprosy* We Must Be Cleansed of Our Spiritual Leprosy* Gehazi Ruined a Picture of the Gospel* Leprosy Must Be Cleansed



On the fifteenth anniversary of Elvis Presley’s death, the record industry honored him as the best-selling singer of all time. He seemed to have many of the most common things people seek: wealth, fame, and success. But on August 16, 1977, at only forty-two years old, his fiancée, Ginger Alden, found him unresponsive on the bathroom floor of his Graceland mansion. Attempts to revive him failed, and he was pronounced dead.



Photos and videos of him at the end of his life show a bloated man with distorted features. Most people will say the years of drug use and careless living took their toll. But I would say the biggest cause of his death was covetousness. 



Here’s what I mean: even as his health deteriorated, he continued to tour intensively because he desired even more fame and success. In 1973, only a few years before his death, he had his busiest schedule with 168 concerts.1 The day he died, he was scheduled to fly out of Memphis to Portland, Maine, to begin another tour. No matter how successful and famous he became, he always wanted more.



We would be hard-pressed to find someone whose health was damaged by covetousness more than Elvis's. But we do with Elisha’s servant, Gehazi. His covetousness caused him to get leprosy!



Here’s the background to the account. The prophet Elisha told the Syrian general, Naaman, how to be cleansed of leprosy. After Naaman was cleansed:




2 Kings 5:15 Then [Naaman] returned to the man of God (Elisha), he and all his company, and he came and stood before him. And he said, “Behold, I know that there is no God in all the earth but in Israel; so accept now a present from your servant.”




Naaman was incredibly grateful and tried to repay Elisha:




2 Kings 5:16 But [Elisha]  said, “As the Lord lives, before whom I stand,

Perseverance of the saints is not just a theological idea—it’s a powerful reminder that true saving faith always endures. Learn what it means to persevere as a believer, even in the face of trials and failures. The perseverance of the saints is a work of Christ in us. Though we may stumble, true believers rise again and walk in repentance, proving the genuineness of their faith.




https://youtu.be/6iMawZ59C7o




Table of contents* Jesus Is the Founder and Perfecter of Our Faith* Jesus Already Prayed for Our Perseverance* Encouraged When We Doubt* Jesus Doesn’t Pray Exactly Like Us* A Saint’s Faith Perseveres* Eternal Security and Once Saved Always Saved* Trials Reveal the Genuineness of Our Faith* Job Is the Premier Example of a Persevering Saint* Peter and Job Demonstrate That Perseverance Does Not Require Perfection* Peter and Job Demonstrate That Perseverance Does Involve Repentance



A long-time friend of mine shared a testimony with me. He was one of my closest friends when we were in California, and I knew him to be a committed Christian. Around 2015, he relocated to Los Angeles and began working for a large, well-known company. He didn’t want me to mention the company’s name. I knew this friend as a responsible and hard worker, so I wasn’t surprised when he told me that he had advanced to upper management in the company.



He said he regularly worked 12 to 20-hour days. When I asked how you work 20-hour days consistently, he said, and I quote, “That’s what I want to talk to you about. A select group of senior-level management chose to use cocaine, and I started using it too, and became addicted. I would use it throughout the day to keep going, and when I returned home, I would drink half a gallon of whiskey and take sleeping pills to come off the cocaine so I could fall asleep. Then I would wake up four or five hours later and use more cocaine to have the energy to make it through the day. This went on for years.



I knew I was going to kill myself and leave my wife and children without a husband and father, so one night, God heavily convicted me, and I called a Christian rehab facility and said they had to come pick me up. My wife knew something was wrong with me, but she didn’t know what it was. She never gave up praying for me or loving me, and before I left the house, I confessed to her what was happening and informed her that she wouldn’t be able to communicate with me while I was in the facility. I also told her where she could find the stashes of cocaine around the house, because I didn’t want to stumble upon them when I returned home.



When I left the facility, I went to work one more time, and that was to quit. I didn’t give them two weeks' notice because I didn’t want to create further temptation. I have been sober since then. I moved my family to Wyoming, where we found healing, and the Lord redeemed our family. We experienced this victory because of the gospel of Jesus Christ. The cross can help us defeat anything.” End quote.

Work itself is not sinful—our relationship to work can become sinful when we make it an idol. Like other addictions, workaholism is characterized by an unhealthy obsession that crowds out relationships, rest, and spiritual life. Read or listen to this material from Work and Rest God’s Way to learn the best Bible verses for workaholics.





Table of contents* The Workaholic's Relationship to Work Becomes Sinful* “Physician, Heal Thyself!”* The Consequences for Workaholics* Physical Consequences* Emotional Consequences* Relationship Consequences* Performance Consequences* Spiritual Consequences* The Danger of Burnout for Workaholics* A Great Leader Who Was Also a Workaholic* Workaholics Should Expect Negative Responses* Workaholics Should Repent



The Workaholic's Relationship to Work Becomes Sinful




Their land is also full of idols; they worship the work of their own hands, that which their own fingers have made (Isaiah 2:8).




The people in Isaiah’s day worshiped their work, and we can worship our work too. Just as we can rest too much (laziness), we can work too much (workaholism). Work is moral. When we commit the sin of workaholism, work didn’t suddenly become immoral and sinful. Instead, our relationship to work became sinful.



Workaholics have the same relationship to their work that addicts have to alcohol, drugs, or pornography. Everything else in their lives—family, friends, church, health, and rest—takes a backseat to their jobs. Time and energy committed to anyone and anything else are always rushed or neglected.



In the past, people couldn’t begin working before the sun came up, and they stopped working when the sun went down. Now, electricity allows us to have our lights, computers, and cell phones on at any time. Our twenty-four-hour days seem restrictive because it’s harder to fit in everything we think we need to do. Since society promotes “bigger and better,” we feel the pressure to keep up, and we find ourselves busier than ever. Covetousness has never been a stronger temptation. The only solution seems to be more work. We can become like machines, moving from one task to the next. We end up overworked, under-rested, and spiritually undernourished.



It’s not wise, kind, humble, or impressive when we take on more than we can handle. It demonstrates a lack of wisdom due to the problems it causes. We recognize that our relationship with work has become sinful when it overshadows the areas of our lives that the Lord wants us to prioritize, such as our spouse, parents, children, friends, and church.



Answer these questions honestly to help determine whether you strugg...

Have you ever felt spiritually confident, only to be blindsided by weakness? Pastor Scott LaPierre unpacks the biblical warning in 1 Corinthians 10:12: “Let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.” This is a wake-up call for every believer, illustrating how spiritual pride and overconfidence can render us vulnerable to temptation, as seen in Peter's case in Luke 22:31-34, who denied Jesus despite his bold declarations.




https://youtu.be/A9BnHpeBV2I




Table of contents* Spiritual Injuries Occur Like Weightlifting Injuries* Take Heed Lest You Fall, Peter!* We Can’t Trust Ourselves* We Need New Hearts* The Way Godly Men Describe Disqualified Leaders* Take Heed Lest You Fall, Because We Fail Regarding Our Strengths* We Must Be Warned About Our Strengths* Many Men Failed Regarding Their Strengths* Noah Was Unrighteous* Abraham Lacked Faith* Moses Was Proud* Solomon Was Foolish* Repent and Then Help Others* Take Heed Lest You Fall



I want to discuss weightlifting injuries. First, I will tell you how I wish they occurred. And then I will tell you how they occur.



I wish they occurred very slowly, so you knew they were coming. I wish you were bench pressing and your rotator cuff said, “This is too heavy. I’m about to tear.” Or you’re squatting in your 20s and your lower back says, “You better not do this. You’re going to have lots of problems in your 40s.”



Instead, weightlifting injuries take place in one of two ways: first, and most obviously, when you’re working out. If you’re interested, you can go to YouTube and search for videos of people tearing their biceps and chest muscles. I decided against showing you any videos because they are gruesome to watch. But here’s what you’ll see: a man bench pressing and he lowers the weight, probably a weight he’s lifted many times before. Suddenly, a large gap develops around his armpit where his chest muscle detached from his shoulder. Or someone is bent over a preacher bench curling, they lower the weight, and suddenly their biceps tears and rolls up their arm.



The second way weightlifting injuries occur is when people are not working out. You shut the car door or drop something and quickly reach for it, and your shoulder tears. There’s only one time my lower back went out at the gym. Every other time I was at home, feeling fine, and I bent over or threw a kid in the air, and then suddenly felt the shoting pain.



What you notice with these injuries is that there’s no warning sign. Instead, we feel strong. We are confident nothing bad will happen. We are doing something that we have done many times before. Next thing you know, we are severely injured.



Spiritual Injuries Occur Like Weightlifting Injuries



I think sin often occurs in this manner, too. There’s no warning sign that we are going to have trouble. We feel strong.

Are you struggling with procrastination, lack of motivation, or a sluggish spiritual walk? Discover what the Bible really says about laziness and how to overcome it biblically. Proverbs 6:6-11 and other scriptures provide a biblical warning against laziness, and how it impacts our work, witness, and walk with Christ. Whether you’re looking for bible verses about laziness, searching for answers on how to stop being lazy as a Christian, or seeking a solid Bible study on laziness in Proverbs, this sermon delivers the truth with love, clarity, and conviction.




https://youtu.be/NCsbmBNQycw






Table of contents* God’s Work Brings Him Glory* Our Work Should Bring God Glory* Four Important Points About Serving Christ In Our Jobs* Laziness Is a Bad Testimony* Avoid laziness By Learning from the Ant* Avoid Laziness by Avoiding Oversleeping.* Avoid Laziness By Avoiding Excuses* Avoid Laziness by Avoiding Lazy People* Giving to the Lazy Does More Harm than Good* Laziness Leads to Other Sins* Laziness and Busybodies* The Solution to Laziness



In April 2025, approximately 7.2 million people in the United States were unemployed, representing a 4.2% unemployment rate. Additionally, nearly 20% of prime-age adults (25-54) were not working, with the vast majority (around 21 million) not seeking work.



What could help these people? I think the Bible’s teaching on laziness, because it is incredibly convicting.



God’s Work Brings Him Glory



Let’s begin by understanding a little more about God’s work:




Psalm 19:1 The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows the work of His hands.




God created the heavens and the earth, and they bring Him glory.



Isaiah 6 contains the incredible vision of God sitting on His throne, high and lifted up, with the train of His robe filling the temple. Angels fly around Him giving Him praise:




Isaiah 6:3 One cried to another and said: ‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory!”




Of all the things the angels could say to praise God, they mention His holiness and the earth, His workmanship, giving Him glory.



Think of it like this: We see a beautiful painting and praise the painter. We see an impressive building and praise the architect. Similarly, when we see creation, we should praise the Creator. The greatness of creation reveals the greatness of the Creator. The greatness of creation reveals the greatness of the Creator so well that people are condemned when they refuse to worship the Creator:




Romans 1:20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse.

What does the bible say about work? This sermon explores a biblical view on labor, sharing insights from my recent mission trip to Malawi and Uganda. Through firsthand stories, scriptural analysis, and spiritual reflection, the message unpacks what the Bible says about work, the spiritual causes of poverty, and how God created us to work as a form of worship and obedience.



From Genesis to Ecclesiastes, we see that work is not a curse, but a God-given gift. The sermon contrasts the productivity seen in Scripture with the cultural issues faced in parts of Africa, highlighting how laziness, unbiblical marriage roles, and entitlement contribute to poverty. Most importantly, this sermon is a wake-up call to view work as a spiritual calling and a platform for Gospel witness. Whether you're asking “What does the Bible say about work?” or wondering how to find purpose and fulfillment in your labor, this message will challenge and equip you with biblical truth.




https://youtu.be/Tc1kco1Spxw






Table of contents* The Poverty Problem Is Spiritual Versus Physical* Three Consequences of Disobeying the Bible* Ugandans Are Poor Because They Disobey What the Bible Says About Work* First, people have no concept of saving or planning for the future* Second, socialism is destroying the country* Third, there’s no shame about not working* What Does the Bible Say About Work?* The Bible Says God Is a Worker* The Bible Says God Created Us to Work* Our Motivations with Work* The Fall Brought a Curse on Work* We Work After the Curse Is Removed* The Bible Says Enjoying Our Work Is Good and Fitting



I was a business major in college. I’ve always enjoyed finance and economics. In 2024, I took a mission trip to Malawi, Africa, to teach at a Bible College and a Pastor's Conference. In 2025, I went to Malawi and Uganda to put on marriage conferences. I was very interested in the countries' economies on both trips, particularly why they are so poor.







This is Afghanistan. Out of almost 200 countries, Afghanistan is the 10th poorest, and Malawi is 20th. There are two reasons Afghanistan is poor. First, all the military conflicts that have occurred within their borders. Second, as you can tell from the picture, nothing grows there. There’s little farmable land.







Malawi is a beautiful and lush country. We ate well there because of the bananas and the largest avocados I’ve ever seen.







We broke down in front of this restaurant in Malawi. I have been trying to get Katie to come to Africa with me.

Learn how Jesus redefines greatness through humility and service in this sermon on Luke 22:24–30. Explore the surprising moment when the disciples begin to argue over who is the greatest only moments after Jesus washed their feet and revealed His betrayal and coming death. Instead of rebuking them harshly, Jesus offers a life-changing teaching on true greatness, humility, and servant leadership.



Instead of rebuking them harshly, Jesus offers a life-changing teaching on true greatness, humility, and servant leadership.




https://youtu.be/uyI4wm01DZQ




Table of contents* The Importance of Foot Washing* Jesus’s Passover Preparations* Jesus Washes the Disciples’ Feet* Jesus Was Teaching Service and Humility* The Disciples Wouldn’t Wash Each Other’s Feet Because of Pride* Humility Is Thinking of Ourselves Less Versus Less of Ourselves* Philippians 2: The Humility Chapter* The Disciples’ Sad Response to Jesus’s Statement About His Betrayal and Death* Three Things Making the Disciples’ Argument Even Worse* How Could This Argument Happen?* Jesus Used the Moment to Teach The Disciples About Leadership* Leaders Should Be Humble* Leaders Should Be Servants* The Greatest Are Servants* Pursue Rewards in God’s Kingdom



The Top Tens lists the top 10 of many things, such as songs, movies, albums, cell phones, workout programs, and mountain bikes. Here’s their list of the Top 10 Greatest People of All Time:




* Jesus



* Martin Luther King Jr.



* Albert Einstein



* Muhammad



* Buddha



* Gandhi



* Abraham Lincoln



* Moses



* Nelson Mandela



* Isaac Newton




If the disciples read this list, they would be upset because they thought they should be on it! They argued about who was the greatest, not once but at least twice, first in Luke 9 and again in Luke 22. These are just the recorded instances; maybe it happened more than this!



Context is always important, but sometimes it is especially important, and this is one of those instances. We will never fully appreciate this account without considering what occurred before it: Jesus washed their feet!



The Importance of Foot Washing



To understand Jesus washing the disciples' feet, let’s first look at a few verses in Luke 7. Beginning at Luke 7:36, we have the account of Jesus going to eat at the home of one of the Pharisees. During the meal, a woman,

Discover How God Uses Even Betrayal for His Glory. What do Ahithophel and Judas have in common? Both were trusted companions—both committed heartbreaking betrayals—and both served a purpose in God’s sovereign plan. Walk through the betrayal of King David by Ahithophel and how it foreshadows the betrayal of Jesus Christ by Judas Iscariot. See God's sovereignty over their betrayals and be encouraged God is sovereign over our betrayals.




https://youtu.be/iQB0t3lO6W4




Table of contents* David Is a Type of Christ* Ahithophel Is a Type of Judas* First, Ahithophel betrayed David, just as Judas betrayed Jesus.* Second, Ahithophel plotted David’s death to Absalom, just as Judas plotted Jesus's death to the religious leaders.* Third, Ahithophel hanged himself, just as Judas hanged himself* David wrote about Ahithophel’s Betrayal in the Psalms* Is This Old Testament Verse a Prophecy?* Jesus’s Two Shocking Statements* God Is Sovereign Over Betrayal* Is Judas Still Responsible?* God’s Sovereignty Over Our Betrayal* Three Points About the Disciples Questioning Themselves* Two Reasons the Disciples Didn’t Know It Was Judas* God Uses Betrayal for Good* God Uses Joseph’s Betrayal for Good* Jesus Could Say Joseph’s Words Even Better



The Sound of Music tells the story of the von Trapp family escaping the Nazi takeover of Austria before World War II. A young Austrian named Rolf, who had been pursuing the oldest von Trapp daughter, joined the Nazis. When the von Trapps were hiding from the Nazis, Rolf found them. While holding the family at gunpoint, he demanded that they surrender.



Captain von Trapp, the father of the family, confronted Rolf, and gave him a choice: join the von Trapps while they flee to Switzerland or remain with the Nazis. Even though Rolf was conflicted, he chose to betray the von Trapps to the Nazis.



At the Last Supper, Jesus declared that He would be betrayed by one of the disciples. We know Jesus was speaking of Judas. We might wonder if Judas was conflicted because he tried to return the money and then committed suicide. But he was an evil man, and we shouldn’t make any excuses for his actions.



David Is a Type of Christ



Jesus’s betrayal is so significant that God prefigured it or foreshadowed it in the Old Testament through another man’s betrayal, and that’s David’s. As far as types and shadows of Christ go, David is one of the most dramatic:




* David and Jesus were both born in Bethlehem



* David was a shepherd,