The disciples are waiting anxiously in Jerusalem. Jesus has just ascended into heaven and promised that a Comforter would come. They would know Him when they saw Him. But what would His arrival be like? When would He come? How would He come? The disciples were about to find out!
When, where and how did the Church begin? What was the first church like? Did they have Pastors and Deacons like we have? Did they meet in Church buildings or houses? In this message Luke gives us a Church History lesson you won't want to miss.
Have you ever been to a revival meeting or a seminar where the worship music blew you away? Maybe you stood amongst hundreds or thousands of individuals singing at the top of their lungs to Jesus, and felt it was like a glimpse of Heaven? It was. Revelation 5:11-14 takes us into a heavenly worship service where thousands of Angels, men and animals are all singing praise to God! This is worship at its finest!
Jesus Christ is the Lamb of God. When He came to earth 2,000 years ago, He set His omnipotence and splendor aside to wear the garb of humanity. He lived in meekness and died in meekness. But here in Revelation 5:8-10, Jesus reveals that He is also the Lion of the tribe of Judah. All Heaven bows down before Him. Earth will soon follow...
There is a secret scroll in heaven and it is sealed with seven seals. An angel calls out, "Who is worthy to open the scroll?" No one comes forth. Abraham, Moses, and David are there but they aren't worthy to open it. Martin Luther and Charles Spurgeon are there, but they aren't worthy either. The tension is rising. Is anyone in heaven or on earth or under the earth worthy to open the scroll?
The vision of heaven that John gives us in Revelation 4 is nothing like those we see on television or perhaps imagine in our own minds. His poetic imagery is peculiar and almost fantastical at first sight. But as Stephen helps us envision this heavenly scene, our eyes will be opened to the incredible reality of it.
Books keep being written by people who have supposedly been to Heaven and back through near-death experiences. Are their accounts real? Do they agree with the Apostle John's account of his tour through the heavenly city? John is the only Divinely inspired witness we have . . . so let's put away the best sellers and see what John has to say about Heaven.
There are two kinds of prayers that will have dramatic effects on your walk of faith. The first is "God, make whatever You will of me." The second is, "God, take whatever you will out of me." Neither prayer comes easy.
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.
