When we think of cherubs, we think of the fat, little Angel-babies which have been popularized by famous works of art and sculpture. But did you realize that the chief cherub is actually Satan himself? In this message Stephen clears up our misconceptions about these mysterious creatures and warns us not to take the angelic world lightly.
From Shakespeare to Hollywood, the public has always been fascinated by the prospect of an angelic encounter. Is there such a thing as a guardian angel? Find out in this message as Stephen tests common held beliefs against the Scriptures.
Interest in angels, demons, and the spiritual world is nothing new. Humans have long substituted worship of God for worship of angels. They try to solve the mystery of the angelic world and many become obsessed with it. But this infatuation is not biblical. God may have told us very little about the unseen world of angels, but He told us everything we needed to know.
People are obsessed with the spiritual world in our day and age. There are books about angels, angel clubs, angel jewelry, and angels on television. But in this message Stephen takes a look at the Biblical accounts of angels and contrasts them with our modern-day accounts to come to a true knowledge of who they are and what they actually do.
J. I. Packer wrote, "Disregard the study of God, and you sentence yourself to stumble and blunder through life blindfolded, as it were, with no sense of direction." There is little doubt that the one thing most needed for the church and every believer today is the study of God. In the closing words of the Book of Romans, Paul directs our attention once again to the glory of God. He sharpens our perspective and exalts our eminent Lord. Stephen's exposition of this great text leads us to proclaim--even to sing--with joy and wonder the greatness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ. Get ready to sing along . . . to our magnificent Master and King!
J. I. Packer wrote, "Disregard the study of God, and you sentence yourself to stumble and blunder through life blindfolded, as it were, with no sense of direction." There is little doubt that the one thing most needed for the church and every believer today is the study of God. In the closing words of the Book of Romans, Paul directs our attention once again to the glory of God. He sharpens our perspective and exalts our eminent Lord. Stephen's exposition of this great text leads us to proclaim--even to sing--with joy and wonder the greatness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ. Get ready to sing along . . . to our magnificent Master and King!
As the Apostle John closes his brief letter in which he was just describing a godly man for us to emulate, his inspired words also reveal why he, John, is also worthy of imitation. Pastor Davey expounds upon these character traits of personal investment, personal influence, and personal interest in others, and why they matter. And he reminds us that when we treat our brothers and sisters in Christ like this, we become a beautiful reflection of our Lord's regard for us.
What kind of influence do we have as Christians today? Do we merely have a widespread presence but make no significant impact? The depth of our Christian impact depends on our action--and our actions are learned by imitation. Throughout the Bible, we are encouraged to emulate godly people and virtues, and we're warned against imitating evil. Here, the Apostle John introduces us to a specific role model who exemplifies qualities worth imitating, so we ourselves can be worthy of imitation, ultimately deepening the impact we have on the world.
Before the creation of the earth, the sin of pride caused separation from God. And since he was cast out of heaven, the prince of this world--Satan--has been using this insidious offense to establish a wedge between us and the Lord. In these verses from his short letter to a friend, the Apostle John warns us of a prideful church leader, describing five symptoms of pride so we can recognize this soul disease in others . . . and in ourselves.
In Extravagant Grace, Part 2 (Philippians 4:4–5), Stephen Davey teaches that believers are called to display grace in a disappointed and self-centered world through two qualities—a resolution to be joyful and a reputation for gentleness. Joy, he explains, is not dependent on circumstances but flows from the Holy Spirit, the gospel, and trust in God’s sovereignty—even in suffering. Gentleness, often misunderstood as weakness, is strength under control—a willingness to yield, be courteous, and respond to hostility with grace. Using vivid examples from history, culture, and personal experience, Davey challenges believers to demonstrate joy and gentleness as living testimonies of Christ’s presence. Because “the Lord is near,” Christians can embody supernatural calm and kindness, showing a frustrated world the reality of God’s transforming grace.
In Extravagant Grace, Part 3 (Philippians 4:6–7), Stephen Davey teaches believers how to conquer anxiety through prayer and trust in God. He compares worry to a deadly anaconda that strangles faith, urging Christians to “be anxious for nothing.” Instead of allowing fear to consume them, they are to replace worry with prayer—bringing every concern to God with gratitude. Davey explains that worry pulls believers apart, while thankful prayer realigns their hearts toward God’s power and presence. The result is a supernatural peace that “guards hearts and minds in Christ Jesus,” a peace flowing directly from God’s own character. This peace doesn’t come from understanding circumstances but from trusting the God who controls them all. Through continual, thankful prayer, believers display the extravagant grace of God by living free from fear and full of peace.
Stephen Davey’s sermon “Reconcilable Differences” (Philippians 4:2–3) explains that real church and family life are messy, which is exactly where extravagant grace must be practiced. Using humorous and honest stories, he shows that grace is more than a doctrine we receive from God—it’s a costly, deliberate way of stooping low in attitude and action toward difficult people. Paul’s appeal to Euodia and Syntyche models gracious confrontation: he names them, refuses to take sides, reminds them of their shared labor in the gospel, and urges them to “live in harmony in the Lord,” enlisting a trusted “true companion” to help them reconcile. Stephen Davey draws out principles that disagreements are inevitable, even mature believers don’t always disagree agreeably, and small conflicts—if unchecked—can damage an entire church. Instead of taking sides, spiritually mature believers should step in to untangle issues and protect the unity of the body, remembering that everyone’s name is written in the book of life. He concludes with the example of a Christian bus driver whose daily, practical kindness creates a community of grace, urging believers to let that same grace characterize their relationships in the church.
In Father Abraham, Part I (Romans 4:1–3), Stephen Davey introduces Abraham as Paul’s prime example of justification by faith, not works. He explains that Abraham lived 2,000 years before Paul, proving that salvation by faith is not new but has always been God’s plan. Abraham, the forefather of Israel and “friend of God,” was revered for righteousness, yet Scripture reveals his flaws—fear, deceit, and unbelief—showing that his justification came by faith alone. Davey warns against relying on human reasoning or cultural religion, urging believers to ask, “What does the Bible say?” Like Abraham, sinners are declared righteous not by merit but by trusting God’s promise of redemption through Christ. God credited righteousness to Abraham’s account by grace, illustrating the same salvation available to every believer today.
In his sermon on Ecclesiastes 7:1–14, Stephen Davey explains how Solomon shifts from raising life’s troubling questions to offering God-given wisdom for living well. Davey highlights four truths Solomon teaches: contemplate your mortality, because facing death cultivates serious thinking and a life of purpose rather than pretense; choose wise companions, since the rebuke of the godly is far more valuable than the shallow laughter of fools; cultivate godly character, resisting the pull of anger, corruption, impatience, and nostalgic fantasies about “the good old days”; and consider your Creator with humility, recognizing that God ordains both prosperity and adversity, the straight paths and the crooked ones, to deepen trust in Him. Davey concludes that Solomon’s inspired counsel urges believers to live with sober perspective, intentional relationships, steadfast integrity, and humble dependence on the God who shapes every season of life.
