Why So Few?

This sermon explores the biblical theology of work, leisure, and laziness through the lens of Proverbs, contrasting the diligence of the ant with the idleness of the sluggard. It argues that while work is cursed by toil, it remains a divine mandate for the glory of God, as exemplified by Christ's completed work. The teaching uses honey as a metaphor for lawful pleasures, urging believers to enjoy God's gifts with self-control rather than indulging in addictive excess. By examining the consequences of procrastination and the rewards of skill, the message calls for a balanced life of productive labor and restful enjoyment. Ultimately, it grounds this ethic in the gospel, urging listeners to rest in Christ's finished work for salvation while actively pursuing the good works prepared for them.

Where we spend our time affects our mental health. Too many of us live in the past or live in the future which hurts our relationship with Jesus. Reading God's word and praying are not past or future. They are present. How do we learn to live in the present? Why do we procrastinate and push the present into the future? It is still gonna become present at some point. Worry and regret are dangerous adversaries.

This sermon draws a parallel between Paul's urgent plea for Timothy to visit him before winter and the gospel invitation for sinners to come to Christ immediately. The central message emphasizes that salvation is simple, requiring only faith and repentance rather than prior moral reform, yet it demands decisive action and the prioritization of God above all other concerns. The preacher uses the imagery of the approaching winter and the fleeting nature of life to highlight the urgency of the hour, warning against the danger of procrastination and the assumption that future opportunities will always be available. By referencing the simplicity of the brazen serpent and the sincerity of Paul's loneliness, the message assures listeners that God's invitation is genuine and sufficient for their salvation. The tone is convicting yet comforting, urging the audience to seize the present moment to receive the peace and rest that Christ offers before the door of opportunity closes.

This sermon examines the character of Gideon in Judges 6, highlighting how God chooses reluctant and unlikely individuals to fulfill His purposes. The speaker identifies four specific marks of reluctancy in Gideon's response to God's call: complaining about circumstances, offering false humility as an excuse, procrastinating in obedience, and maintaining an unbelieving attitude. Through these examples, the message contrasts human doubt with divine grace, emphasizing that God's power is perfected in human weakness. The sermon encourages believers to stop trusting in their own ability or questioning God's goodness, but rather to rely on the object of their faith. It concludes by affirming that even a small amount of faith is sufficient when placed in the right person, urging the audience to pray for help with unbelief rather than attempting to manufacture faith through willpower.

This sermon explores the character of Gideon in Judges 6, highlighting how God chooses reluctant and unlikely individuals to fulfill His purposes. The speaker identifies four common attitudes of resistance found in Gideon: complaining against God's character, offering false humility as an excuse, procrastinating in obedience, and maintaining an unbelieving stance. Through these examples, the message emphasizes that God's power is not dependent on human capability or the quantity of faith, but rather on the object of that faith. The sermon encourages believers to stop trusting in their own strength or questioning God's goodness, and instead to rely on His grace and sovereignty. It concludes with an invitation to pray for help with unbelief, affirming that God is good and capable of using even the weakest vessels for His glory.

This sermon centers on the prophetic call in Haggai for God's people to prioritize their obedience to Him over personal comfort and selfish ambitions. The message confronts the spiritual lethargy and fear of man that caused the rebuilding of the temple to stall, urging believers to stop making excuses and act in the present moment. It emphasizes that true revival is not a sensational event but a daily surrender of the heart to the Holy Spirit's control, leading to a renewed sense of purpose and mission. The preacher encourages the congregation to recognize that God is with them when they respond in faith, stirring their spirits to serve, pray, and share the gospel with urgency. Ultimately, the call is for immediate, wholehearted commitment to Christ, rejecting the delay of spiritual duties in favor of active, present-day devotion.

The sermon explores the biblical command to give one's heart to God by examining various negative heart conditions and their corresponding spiritual remedies. It identifies deceit, despising, dying, delaying, double, and despairing hearts as obstacles to a godly life, offering specific scriptural countermeasures such as diligence, devotion, generosity, immediate obedience, singleness of mind, and dependence on God. The teaching emphasizes the urgency of acting on God's will without procrastination and the danger of dividing one's loyalty between worldly pursuits and divine service. Additionally, it addresses the pastoral responsibility of parents to avoid provoking bitterness in their children and encourages believers to trust in God's past, present, and future faithfulness rather than relying on self-sufficiency. The overall tone is instructive and convicting, urging listeners to align their inner dispositions with God's statutes.

Be there few that be saved? Many are called, but few are chosen. Why is it that so few people actually repent and believe to salvation? Remember, salvation is a choice! People must choose NOT to be saved! It is not God who is doing the choosing, but man!

Proverbs 27:1 Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.