Antioch Community Church - Sermon Audio

Conflict can be the fruit of us attempting to control our own lives. However, God alone is the One in control, and we get to be released into peace and freedom as we relinquish our lives to Him.

The key to resolving conflict is dying to yourself. Death is not the objective, but rather the call to live in greater spiritual and relational capacity through the life of Christ.

In our personal ever-changing circumstances and the shifting culture of the world, we need to have a towering vision of Jesus Christ. Regardless of whether or not our external circumstances change, meeting with Jesus changes our internal reality.

Marriage is not about us. The purpose of marriage is to reveal the Gospel story as a witness to the world by displaying God's perfect, never-ending love to each other. Wives and husbands have different roles to play in this, but ultimately both must be anchored in God and submitted to Him.

The only one who can define us is the One who made us, and God has defined and designed healthy family to display His glory. If it's of value to God then it's worth us protecting it.

It's only in Jesus that we can find true soul rest because His yoke is different from anything we could strive for or the world could create. The one task we're never fatigued by is surrender.

Being emotionally healthy doesn't mean you never experience negative emotions - it means you walk through them with the Lord, allowing Him to heal you and respond to God's Truth and invitation.

God is not looking for perfection, He's looking for faith. This is for all of us but is especially important for Dad's because of the impact they have on their home and the world. Faith and forgiveness produce life and grace for the whole household.

Identity is our key for growth. While we can't control what happens in our life, we can determine how we respond and live as people who are accepted, have authority and are anointed.

It's all about Jesus - His supremacy and His sufficiency. When we acknowledge Him for who He is, it's never too late for a reset because Jesus is the expert at resurrection.

The Church is called to be a sacrificial people, and just as it was true in the first century, it is true today. Sacrifice is painful, but the results are powerful. Where and who can we sacrifice for so that the Kingdom of God is expressed through us as a people?

Baptism is an outward demonstration of an inward reality. Similar to a wedding ring, it's a symbol that represents one's decision to honor God and acts as a declaration to the world. Because of the significance of baptism, we ask these questions: Is Jesus Christ the Lord of your life? Do you want to love and follow Him all the days of your life? It's an important decision, but it's never too late.

The Church has always faced obstacles, from the first century to now, but followers of Jesus are made to overcome. We are a part of a people, unified across differences and made into a family because we are sold out on one thing. The Church is a living fulfillment of what Jesus prophecied, and even the gates of hell cannot prevail against it.

Prayer is joining what is already happening in Heaven. Sharing the Good News comes from abiding with Jesus and following His prompting. When we understand the power and authority we have to partner with God to release His purposes on the earth, it's our natural response to pray and proclaim the Good News.

God has given us everything we need to win. And while we are still called to resist the enemy and to stand firm, we are called to do it by putting on the full armor of God. The enemy doesn't play fair, but we are fully equipped to fight from victory for victory.

Fasting is a weapon of warfare—and though it’s one of the most underused weapons, scripture says there are some strongholds that only fasting can break. Each of us is invited to set aside food or anything else that could distract us from God, and instead direct our hearts - and our appetites - towards Jesus, giving Him space and drawing near.

The Enemy will always try to steal, kill and destroy but he cannot stop the eternal life that followers of Jesus enter into now. The battlefront in this spiritual war so often takes place in our mind. But we have the ability to win as we exchange lies for Truth in all of our covenant relationships.

The Good News of Jesus starts with our heart, not our circumstances. It's when our hearts are healed that hope is alive. That's when we can see by truth and not our experiences. Through this great exchange, we are empowered to represent God's love to the world around us and participate in every believer's calling to the ministry of reconciliation.

The Church is the most unique thing on earth because it houses the grace of God within a community. His unconditional love, forgiveness and oneness are demonstrated specifically in marriage, family and ultimately the Church. The enemy wants to bring division in these relationships, but God gives us the power to be unified!

Simply put, spiritual warfare is seen and unseen attacks on God's divine design for all mankind. The enemy's goal is to break down our covenants with God, our families, the Church and our mission to the world. To discern lies we must be immersed in the Truth. We are surrounded by voices. The question is, what is the voice we're tuning into and living out of? Because that will determine our lives.