Wawasee Bible Sermon Audio

Message #5 of 6 - SERIES: Ruth - A Story of Redemption Redemption is costly. Thankfully Boaz and Jesus were redeemers willing to pay the price of redemption. Redemption is a legal transaction. Thankfully both Boaz and Jesus meet the requirements of a redeemer. Redemption is transformational. After being redeemed by Jesus, we're never the same.

Message #4 of 6 – SERIES: Ruth – A Story of Redemption Jesus is the one who initiates, accomplishes, and finishes our redemption. He is our redemption. Our only part in redemption is active faith. It's believing God's word and acting upon it, not matter how I feel, because God promises a good result.

Message #3 of 6 – SERIES: Ruth – A Story of Redemption God intricately planned not only Naomi and Ruth's redemption, but our own. He provided for us the perfect redeemer in Jesus, who is a better Boaz. As we see his plan and his grace to us in the past, it gives us hope for greater grace in the future.

Message #2 of 6 – SERIES: Ruth – A Story of Redemption Naomi and Ruth have both suffered the loss of their husbands, and Naomi has also suffered the loss of her two sons. Each respond differently to their trial. Naomi places her identity in her suffering, whereas Ruth's identity brings her through her suffering. It's ok if externals explain you, but they do not define you. Find your identity in Jesus, not your suffering.

Message #1 of 6 – SERIES: Ruth – A Story of Redemption The opening verses of Ruth give us the background to Naomi’s bitterness. Because of her husband’s choices, she was now left alone in a foreign land, widowed and childless. It sets the stage for God to reverse Naomi’s fortunes (to redeem her) in his kindness. Bitter trials and consequences prepare the way for the Lord’s kindness to us.

Message #17 of 17 – SERIES: Ephesians – Who Do You Think You Are? We’re in a war and there are two sides: Jesus’ and the Enemy’s. Which are you on? If you’re in Christ, you’re on Jesus’ team. You were born on Satan’s team, but you’re born again to Jesus’ team. To win the war you must know your enemy, your King, and your weapons.

Message #16 of 17 – SERIES: Ephesians – Who Do You Think You Are? Fathers have more influence for good and for evil than anyone else in their children's lives. As Paul speaks about authority in Ephesians, he gives strong instruction to Fathers in the home.

Message #14 of 17 - SERIES: Ephesians – Who Do You Think You Are? Once we understand how Jesus loves us, it frees us to live the life God calls us to. One of the ways God intends for this to be demonstrated is in Christian marriage, which is between one man and one woman for one lifetime, where the man takes the greater responsibility in the home and in the church. You are loved.

Message #13 of 17 – SERIES: Ephesians – Who Do You Think You Are? In Ephesians 5:1-21 Paul dishes out a "Do This" and a "Don't Do This" list to the church in Ephesus. The question becomes not what should I do, but how do I do it? It begins with understanding your identity in Jesus Christ as an adopted child of God.

Message #12 of 17 – SERIES: Ephesians – Who Do You Think You Are? Are you bitter? If you’ve been sinned against, you have two choices: to remain bitter or to forgive. Paul gives six commands that help to end the cycle of bitterness. Who do you need to forgive, and who needs to forgive you? Forgive, because God in Christ forgave you.

Message #11 of 17 – SERIES: Ephesians – Who Do You Think You Are? In Jesus Christ you are new. No longer are you alienated from God and walking in the futility of a darkened mind. The old is gone; the new has come. Put off the old self and put on the new self.

Message #10 of 17 – SERIES: Ephesians – Who Do You Think You Are? Jesus is in heaven, serving the church and giving gifts. He gives us himself, the Holy Spirit, and other people. To each Christian he also gives spiritual gifts to be cultivated (1 Cor. 12; Rom. 12; Eph. 4; 1 Pet. 4). Some have multiple gifts and different levels of a gift. God gives gifts to equip the saints and build up the body of Christ. Your gift is not your identity, but how are you gifted?

Message #9 of 17 – SERIES: Ephesians – Who Do You Think You Are? In Christ you are heard. From Paul's prayer for the church in Ephesus, we learn that prayer is personal, relational, asking, yearning, expecting, and revealing.

Message #8 of 17 – SERIES: Ephesians – Who Do You Think You Are? Being in Christ means you will suffer. You will suffer trials that God allows and consequences for foolish choices. How will you respond? Don't lose heart. Look to Jesus in your afflictions. God has three primary purposes for your suffering: Jesus' glory, others' good, and your growth and joy.

Message #7 of 17 – SERIES: Ephesians – Who Do You Think You Are? In Christ you are reconciled. Hostility is replaced with friendship. Jew and Gentile are reconciled, you and God are reconciled, and you and others are reconciled.

Message #6 of 17 – SERIES: Ephesians – Who Do You Think You Are? In Christ you are saved from eternal danger. From your sin, death, worldly living, Satan, yourself, and God's eternal wrath. This salvation is accomplished by Jesus alone, not by your own works. It's a gift of grace that results in good works for Jesus' glory, others' good, and your joy.

Message #5 of 17 – SERIES: Ephesians – Who Do You Think You Are?

Message #4 of 17 – SERIES: Ephesians – Who Do You Think You Are? In Jesus Christ you are immeasurably blessed. Blessed with holiness, obedience, predestination, adoption, redemption, salvation, forgiveness, grace, an inheritance, being sealed, and the Holy Spirit. And all of God's blessing is fully in, through, and about Jesus.

Message #3 of 17 – SERIES: Ephesians – Who Do You Think You Are? If you are in Jesus Christ, your primary identity is "saint", not "sinner". Saint is your constant identity, sin is only your occasional activity. If you're a Christian, God says you're a saint.

Message #2 of 17 – SERIES: Ephesians – Who Do You Think You Are? Every aspect of your God-given identity is rooted entirely in Jesus Christ.