Century Baptist Church Sermons

A Little Faith | 8.13.23

A sermon from Matthew 17:14-20
It's about trust
It's about power
It's about time
Gospel Connection
"I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing." (John 15:5)
Application
In which relationship, situation, or difficulty do you need to exhibit a greater faith in God to help you walk in and through it?  What will you do to rely on God for help in the relationship, situation, or difficulty?
Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father, I want to grow in my faith.  Strengthen my belief in You.  Remind me to always pray about all things.

Adventures in Missing the Point | 8.6.23

A sermon from Matthew 17: 9-13
Avoiding chaos
Resurrection confusion
Reorienting the disoriented
Gospel Connection
"For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself." (John 5:26).Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25-26)
Application
With whom will you share what you  have learned about Jesus from this text?  When will you share it?
Prayer
Dear God, give me courage and boldness to tell others Jesus is your Son and He is the only sacrifice for the sins of all mankind.
 

So Much More | 7.30.23

A sermon from Matthew 17:1-8
More than a person
More than a personality
More than a personification
Gospel Connection
"...but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked." (1 John 2:5-6)
 
Application
What will you do this week to give Jesus the glory He deserves?
 

Following the King | 7.23.23

A sermon from Matthew 16:24-28
Say farewell
Pack what is necessary
Go
GOSPEL CONNECTION
Jesus has done everything He asks us to do: He denied Himself (Philippians 2:5-8), took up the cross (Romans 5:6-8, Ephesians 2:13-18), and obediently followed God's plan (Matthew 26:36-46)
 
APPLICATION
What needs to change in your daily life to live according to Jesus' command to follow Him by denying self and taking up your cross?
 
PRAYER
Lord, we praise You for who You are.  Thank You for revealing Yourself to us.  Grant us the strength to be obedient to our calling as Christians so that we can bear witness to Your faithfulness, even in the midst of life's trials. Amen.
 

Good Intentions | 7.16.23

A sermon from Matthew 16:21-23
What Jesus did
What Peter felt he had to do
What we must do
Gospel Connection
There is no forgiveness of sin without Jesus’ suffering, death, and resurrection. He is the perfect sacrifice for man’s sin; there is no other way (1 John 2:2; John 14:6).
Application
What will you intentionally and specifically do this week to keep your mind on God’s interests while at work? with your family? with friends?

Our Cornerstone | 7.9.23

A sermon from Matthew 16:13-20
Location
Foundation
Dominion
Gospel Connection
Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah. Jesus is the once-for-all sacrifice for sin and, as such, the foundation of the church (Greek term: ecclesia or the assembly of those who believe in Him).
Application
What will you do this week to help a friend overcome an erroneous idea about Jesus?
Prayer
Thank You, God, for Jesus, the true and only foundation of the church.

The King’s Decree | 7.2.23

A sermon from Matthew 16:5-12
Live aware
Live on purpose
Live with confidence
Gospel Connection
While physical food is vital to daily living, spiritual food determines our eternity. Jesus’ disciples were so focused on the need for physical sustenance, they missed Jesus’ teaching on the spiritual. The Pharisees’ and Sadducees’ doctrine concentrated on duty and dogmatic diligence in an effort to earn eternal life. Jesus’ teaching was God’s grace given in Himself, the Messiah (John 6:32-40).
Application
What nonjudgmental and nonthreatening step can you take this week to warn a friend who is being led astray by unsound teaching?
Prayer
My God and Savior, to you I call, asking that You grant me passion to follow You closely, a yearning to know Your Word, and discernment to differentiate Your truth from the enemy’s deception and lies.

Of Fern Seeds and Elephants | 6.25.23

A sermon from Matthew 16:1-4
A dangerous combination
An inadequate endeavor
A colossal affirmation
Gospel Connection
Two signs of God’s love for all humanity have been revealed 2,000 years ago. The first is Jesus coming to earth as a baby. Divinity took on flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:14). The second sign is Jesus’ crucifixion, death, and resurrection. Jesus is our advocate as the satisfaction for sins, once for all (1 John 2:1-2). Another sign will not make any difference in a person’s willingness to believe in Jesus.
Application
What has God done in your life that you can use as a sign to others?
How will you show your faith in Jesus this week that He is the Savior for your sins?
Prayer
You, eternal God, are worthy of my praise, adoration, and obedience because of who You are. I choose to follow You based on Your faithfulness, love, mercy, and forgiveness. Thank You for giving me eternal life in Jesus, Your only Son.

Beyond Belief | 6.18.23

A sermon from Matthew Matthew 15:29-39
Greater than miracles
Deeper than care
More than enough
Gospel Connection
Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” 34 They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.” 35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. 36 But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe. 37 All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. 38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. 39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. 40 For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.” John 6:32-40
Application
What will you do this week to feed someone spiritually?
How does God want you to meet the physical needs of someone currently in your life?

Doggedness Unleashed | 6.11.23

A sermon from Matthew 15:21-28
Persistent in plea
Steady on mission
Unbroken in spirit
Gospel Connection
Jesus came to make us spiritually healthy, not personally happy. From a baby in a feeding trough, to a teaching Rabbi, to the Son of God dying on the cross for our sin, Jesus’ interest in our lives is centrally focused on our understanding of who He is, what He has done and our need for Him as the satisfaction to God’s wrath toward our sin.
Application
What principle from this passage can you apply to your life this week?
How will you use that principle to encourage another believer in their faith?
Prayer
God, I praise You for providing all I need, for Your faithfulness and interest in my life. Help me to trust You in all situations, answering my persistent pleas according to Your sovereign plan for my life.