Faith Troy Sermons

All of us have a need and a desire to be known. All of us need a place to belong. A place where we can be known by a community of people who really know us and who accept us for who we really are. But who loves us far too much to just leave us that way. There are things that can happen face to face, that will never happen shoulder to shoulder. We drift away from everything that is holy wholesome. We have not been called to swim alone, we have been called to swim together. Hebrews 3:12 v.12 "See to it brothers (and sisters) that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God." In this verse is the solution to drifting. The drift always begins within, and nobody knows unless they have access to you. v.13 "But, encourage one another daily, as long as it is called today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness." The best defense against the deceitfulness of sin, isn't me. It's we. The drift that begins within, eventually makes its way into our l

Inside all of us, there is a need and desire to be known. It's a desire we all have to feel like we belong. When there's a gap between what I want to be known for and what's really going on with me, that's when we're tempted to filter, to crop, and to delete. We all have these things we want to be known for, but what we really need are people who know who we really are. We all want to be known for something. But what we need, is to be known by someone. What we all need, is a place to belong Who loves us too much to leave us that way. As followers of Jesus we should be incredible at this. James 5:16, Hebrews 10:24-25, Galatians 6:1-2 Who's praying for you specifically enough, to pray specifically for the thing that causes the gap? Who's helping you carry the thing that's causing the gap between what you want to be known for and who you really are? There is nothing in that gap that you should be trying to carry alone.

Most people wonder about the spiritual/unseen world. What do we learn about it from Mark 5? 1) It does exist 2) The devil is an actual being 3) Demons are still active today and the unseen battle does rage on. 4) Angels are also real On the one one hand we can't be too quick to say that the devil is the cause for every addiction and health ailment, but we also can't dismiss the unseen world and its effects. We can answer questions about the unseen world with solid Biblical answers and defend our faith and hope in Jesus.

In the first century, in the midst of terrible persecution and suffering people anchored their hope and their faith to an event in History: The resurrection of Jesus Christ. The reason why Christiasn believe and take the Old Testament seriously is because Jesus did. Aren't you using the Bible to justify or prove the Bible? Christians do not believe in the accuracy of the Gospels because they are contained in the Bible. The reason these four different ancient manuscripts ended up getting placed in the bible is because of their accuracy. All four Gospels as well as the Epistles of Paul and the events they record took place and were documented before 70 AD. The foundation of our faith is the resurrection of Jesus from the dead: That's why we have hope.

What do you say when you need to have something to say about what you believe that is simple and keeps the door open for future conversations? v.15 "But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord." v.15"Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reasons or the hope that you have." Each of us should have a single statement that encapsulates the answer to the question, "Why am I a follower of Jesus??" "In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead." 1 Peter 1:3 "Through Him you believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and glorified Him and so your faith and hope are in God." 1 Peter 1:21 Peter tells us this ins't about winning debates, but about being gentle like our Savior was gentle. The reason they're critical isn't because they think you're wrong. Selfless , generous, compassionate living cannot be dismissed. As a follower of Jesus, be ready to give an answer for why you follow Jesus and be rea

Ephesians 5:21-33 Your relationship with Jesus will determine the quality of your relationship with your spouse. Your relationship with your spouse also shapes your relationship with your children. Ephesians 6:1-4 We only give what we've been given. "We love because He first loved us." Our identity in Christ influences our relationships with one another. We can't change our kids. We can parent as though we are owners of our children or ambassadors. We can't change our family, but we can give to our family the thing that changes us.

White light is transformed through a prism - it is separated into a rainbow. Christians go through transformation too - with a different prism: the cross of Jesus. Ephesians 5:1-10 At one time we were darkness We have been transformed. Now, we are light in the Lord. Ephesians 5:11 As people of light, we are to have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness. Rather expose them. 1 Peter 2:9 says "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness and into His wonderful light." Ephesians 5:12-13 We use our light to expose sin so that sin can be confessed and forgiven. We use God's tools, His law and His Gospel. Ephesians 5:14-20 Praise God! He transformed us from darkness into light by the prism of the cross.

Ephesians answers the question "who are you?" Ephesians 4:1-16 The unity of the church is a better defense. Who are you? You are one. We have a lot in common even when we have nothing in common. Guilt: "in him we have redemption through his blood." (1:7) Shame "adopted as his sons through Jesus" (1.5) Fear: "above all rule and authority, power and dominion." (1:19-21) Our testimony isn't our own life change, our testimony is the work of God. WE are a part of one family and have been gifted to serve the family. v. 12-14 Gifted to unite and mature the body