Killing Anxiety
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Philippians 4:6-7
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Ladies and Gentlemen
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.
Reconcilable Differences
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.
Finding the Fountain of Youth
This message beautifully explores humanity’s age-old search for longevity and the true “Fountain of Youth” found only in Jesus Christ. Using humor and vivid imagination, Stephen Davey contrasts society’s endless quest to stay young with the believer’s discovery of eternal life in Christ—the Living Water. Just as Andrew joyfully told Peter, “We have found the Messiah,” Christians are called to share the gospel—the true Fountain of Life—with the same enthusiasm. Through examples like D. L. Moody’s compassion for the poor and Clara Williams’s hymn “Jesus Satisfies,” the sermon urges believers to proclaim that eternal life is freely offered through Christ alone, who forever quenches the soul’s deepest thirst.
What the Cross of Christ Destroys
This sermon, Sola Fide: Justification by Faith Alone – Part VI (Romans 3:29–31), explores how the cross of Christ not only builds faith but destroys pride, prejudice, and presumption. Stephen Davey illustrates the nature of true faith through vivid stories that highlight trust in the right object—Christ alone. He teaches that the cross destroys personal pride by excluding all boasting in human effort, personal prejudice by leveling Jew and Gentile before God, and personal presumption by upholding and fulfilling the Law through Christ’s sacrifice. The message concludes that salvation is entirely by grace through faith, exalting not faith itself but its perfect object—Jesus Christ, the Lamb who died and reigns.
The Gospel War: Paul vs. James
In this sermon, Stephen Davey examines the great “gospel war” between Paul and James, showing that their teachings on justification perfectly complement rather than contradict each other. Paul insists that salvation is by faith alone, apart from works, while James argues that true faith will inevitably produce good works. Paul defines justification before God—being declared righteous through faith—whereas James illustrates justification before people, where faith is evidenced by action. Davey explains that Paul fought against the false gospel of “faith plus works,” while James confronted the counterfeit of “faith that does not work.” Using the historical backdrop of the Reformation, he reminds listeners that the same debate over faith and works has existed since the first century and continues today. Ultimately, the message is clear: we are justified by faith alone, but the faith that justifies is never alone—it bears the fruit of obedience and service to Christ.
Going to Heaven … Old Testament Style
In this message, Stephen Davey answers one of Scripture’s most profound questions: How were Old Testament believers saved before the cross? The answer lies in the unchanging plan of God—salvation has always been by faith in a substitute. Using Romans 3:25–26, Davey explains that the cross of Christ was both a demonstration of God’s righteousness and a resolution of divine tension—God could forgive sinners in the Old Testament without compromising His holiness because the ultimate payment was still to come. Animal sacrifices never removed sin permanently; they merely covered it. Old Testament saints, therefore, were saved “on credit,” their faith placed in God’s promise of a coming Redeemer. When Christ died, He fully paid their debt and ours—once for all. Davey shows how figures like Abraham, Moses, and David—all sinners—found forgiveness not through works, but through faith in God’s appointed substitute. The cross proves that God is both just (sin was punished) and the justifier (the sinner is forgiven through Christ). The same Redeemer who saved Abraham by promise saves believers today by fulfillment. As Davey powerfully concludes, “Because of God’s justice, no sin will ever go unpunished; yet because of God’s grace, no sin is beyond forgiveness.” The gospel unites all believers—past, present, and future—at the foot of the same cross.
The Great Divide
Stephen Davey continues his exposition on Sola Fide—faith alone—as Paul declares the universal human condition in Romans 3:23: “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Humanity’s deepest struggles—guilt, fear, emptiness, and the desire for peace—stem from this truth written on every heart. Across history, people have sought salvation through religious rituals, moral acts, and self-sacrifice, yet every attempt is as futile as a mouse burying a sleeping snake under sawdust to escape danger. True deliverance, Davey teaches, can only come from outside ourselves—from Christ alone. Paul’s phrase “all have sinned” reveals both a universal verdict and an irrevocable condition: every human inherits Adam’s sinful nature. Like birds instinctively chirping or flying, humans sin instinctively—by nature, not merely by choice. The result is an irrefutable offense—we have violated God’s holiness—and an impassable chasm separating us from His glory. The Greek term husterountai (“fall short”) portrays mankind as missing the season, being spiritually bankrupt, and utterly unable to reach God’s presence—the Shekinah glory. But Paul also proclaims the good news: the great divide has been bridged by the cross. Justification—being declared righteous before God—is a gift received through faith in Jesus Christ. Salvation is not achieved by religion or ritual but by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. Davey closes with the story of D. James Kennedy’s conversion after hearing Donald Grey Barnhouse ask, “If God were to ask why He should let you into heaven, what would you say?” Kennedy’s answer became his life’s message—salvation is found only in the Redeemer who bridges the chasm between sin and glory.
But … Now!
Stephen Davey opens this message by recalling his visit to Reformation Park in Geneva, where towering statues of Calvin, Luther, and other reformers stand beneath the words “After darkness… light.” That phrase captures the central truth rediscovered during the Reformation—Sola Fide, or justification by faith alone. Davey explains that this doctrine answers life’s greatest questions: How can a person be right with God? How can one be sure of heaven? Martin Luther called it the article by which the church stands or falls, and John Calvin said it is the foundation of salvation itself. Turning to Romans 3:21–22, Paul’s words “But now…” mark a turning point in human history. After exposing universal sin and guilt, Paul proclaims the light of God’s righteousness revealed apart from the Law. Salvation is not earned through obedience or moral effort—it is entirely “apart from the Law” and based solely on faith in Jesus Christ. Davey shows how this message was foreshadowed in the Old Testament: Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice Isaac, the prophetic declaration that “the Lord will provide,” and David’s vivid portrayal of the crucified Messiah all pointed to God’s coming Lamb who would take away sin. The sermon concludes with a touching story of a mother’s unconditional love for her wayward daughter—a picture of divine grace calling sinners home. Against the darkness of sin, the light of forgiveness shines brightly. Humanity stands condemned, but now—through faith in Christ—there is pardon, righteousness, and the assurance of eternal life.
Beyond Puppy Love
In this final sermon of the “Will True Love Please Stand Up” series, Stephen Davey describes agape love as something far beyond fleeting affection or “puppy love.” Whereas worldly love gives up when relationships become difficult, agape adjusts, endures, and remains steadfast even when challenges arise. Paul’s five descriptions of love in 1 Corinthians 13:7–8 reveal its enduring qualities: The Support of Love – Love “bears all things,” standing strong under the weight of hardship, disappointment, and responsibility. True love doesn’t run from pressure; it lifts burdens alongside others. The Simplicity of Love – Love “believes all things,” choosing to trust and give others the benefit of the doubt rather than assume the worst. The Sweetness of Love – Love “hopes all things,” never giving up on people. It sees potential even in failure and reflects God’s redemptive optimism. The Steadfastness of Love – Love “endures all things,” holding firm through suffering and difficulty. Like a soldier who refuses to desert, agape persists when others would retreat. The Supremacy of Love – “Love never fails.” Spiritual gifts and accomplishments fade, but love alone endures eternally because it mirrors the very nature of God. Davey concludes that agape love is divine in origin and demands supernatural strength. It is patient, believing, hopeful, and enduring—an everlasting reflection of Christ’s own love, which never gives up, never runs out, and never falls to the ground.
Capturing Love's Attention
In this message, Stephen Davey explains that true agape love is revealed by what captures our emotions—what makes us rejoice or grieve. Unlike a culture fascinated by gossip, scandal, and sin, godly love refuses to delight in wrongdoing and instead rejoices in truth. Paul’s command that love “does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth” challenges believers to examine their hearts and habits. True love does not enjoy sin in others, applaud sinful behavior, or repeat others’ faults through gossip. Instead, it celebrates righteousness, purity, and the advancement of truth. Davey warns that modern entertainment often dulls our sensitivity to sin, making believers comfortable with what grieves God. In contrast, genuine love is grieved by sin and gladdened by holiness—it delights when people walk in the truth. He concludes with the powerful example of a wife who remained faithful to her imprisoned husband for decades, living out covenant love rooted in faith and truth. Her story embodies the essence of divine love: steadfast, righteous, and captivated not by sin, but by the God of truth.