Brian Jones Sermons

The goal of Christianity has never been about following a set of rules. It’s about having what Dallas Willard called, ‘a conversational relationship with God.’ Here’s WHY this distinction is so important, especially if you’re a relatively new Christian, as we wrap up our teaching series, “Stop At Nothing.”

What stops you from authentically sharing your faith with others? Is it not knowing what to say? Is it embarrassment? Maybe it’s a genuine fear of what the other person might say back to you? If any of these reasons are barriers to having faith conversations with other people, here’s what the Apostle Paul would say you should do.

It’s easy to view hard times through the lens of the things they take away from us. Experienced ruined. Plans changed. Expectations shattered. But what if instead of viewing these times as all bad, you looked at the opportunities these seasons gave us to share the hope of Jesus with the people God puts in our paths?

The Apostle Paul knew that when times got tough, he could always count on the church in Philippi to pray for him and help him during his times of deepest need. Is there someone you are connected to now, someone you’re investing in spiritually, that ten years from now will be able to look back and thank God for your influence in their lives? If not, you’ve got work to do.

Jesus’ resurrection means that our sins can be forgiven, our present problems get smaller and smaller, and our future can be sure. The resurrection means we can have hope, both now and for eternity. That hope come through the sacrifice of Jesus, and is available to anyone who would seek and accept it. Do you believe that?

2 Corinthians 4:18 reminds us to, “…fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” When there’s nowhere else to turn, where do you put your focus? On yourself and what you can do and what you can control? Or do you fix your eyes and attention on the One who can actually save you, the One who promises to always be there when we call?

Oswald Chambers wrote, “It is not true to say that God wants to teach us something in our trials. Through every cloud He brings our way, He wants us to unlearn something.” What’s the main thing that God is wanting you to “unlearn” in the midst of your current difficulties? And better yet, are you taking the necessary steps to unlearn those things and replace them with new habits and ideas?

Worry is nothing more than losing sight of the fact that God is in control. God never promised that everything would be perfect, but He did promise to always be with us. If worry is your default mode in times like these, this message is for you.

In times of trouble and uncertainty, where do you turn? Psalm 46 gives us the road map to follow, each and every time we are afraid.

Throughout his journeys, the apostle Paul faced opposition in every single place he went. But he kept going because he knew – even in a place like Corinth – when the power of God is at work, people respond to the gospel.

When you find yourself in a difficult spot, what’s your natural reaction? Do you shrink back, do you lash out, or do you…approach God in worship? We look at the example of how the Apostle Paul reacted in the face of hardship, and what that means for us in 2020, during week one of, “This Is How I Fight My Battles.”

A lot of marital heartbreak can be avoided if, before you say “I do,” you consider what the Bible says are four “musts” your future spouse ought to be. If you’re single or dating, and hoping to get married at some point (or if you know someone in this situation), this message is for you.

Anyone can build a great marriage. As those of us who are married know, that’s way easier said than done. For marriages that last, there’s ONE choice that couples make that makes all the difference. Not making this choice results in bitterness and in most cases, leads to divorce. I share that one thing in week two of our teaching series, “Love, Dates and Heartbreaks.”

Whether you’re in a romantic relationship, want to be in one, hope to be and are trying to figure things out, you know this to be true: relationships can be complicated. The ones that last, though, are the ones where the people in them practice not quitting.

How to uncover the real meaning of Christmas so we can approach this season the way Jesus would want us to.

To be the kind of parent God wants you to be - and that your children need you to be - requires you to learn to handle (and express) your anger the right way. I talk about what that looks like through the words of James in week two of our series, “Deal With It.”

When we get to the end of our lives, what will matter? Will the car we drove or the house we lived in or the things we bought for ourselves be what matters? Or will it only be the people that we reached for God’s Kingdom that will last for eternity? Jesus challenges us to use our resources and ‘make a splash’ with our lives as we conclude our series “Cannonball.”