Sermons By Chad Wagner

Limbus Patrum I. What is "Limbus Patrum"? A. "In the New Testament, Christ refers by various names and figures to the place or state which Catholic tradition has agreed to call the limbus patrum. In Matthew 8:11, it is spoken of under the figure of a banquet "with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of Heaven" (cf. Luke 8:29; 14:15), and in Matthew 25:10 under the figure of a marriage feast to which the prudent virgins are admitted, while in the parable of Lazarus and Dives it is called "Abraham's...

Thoughts on Ordination I. How do you know you're called to the ministry? 1. The standard answers: A. I just feel God calling me. B. God told me. C. I have always wanted to be a preacher. D. My mom/dad/grandma told me that they knew from the time I was a boy that I was going to be a preacher. 2. A desire to be a pastor is a good thing (1Ti 3:1), but the desire alone is not sufficient to make a man called of God. A. There are many who desire to be teachers of the law who know not what they are talki...

Finding Contentment Being Single I. Marriage: God's design for most people. 1. When God created Adam, God Himself said that it was not good that man should be alone and he made him a companion (Gen 2:18). A. From the beginning of time, it was God's design that men and women would marry and be fruitful and multiply (Gen 2:24 c/w Gen 1:28). B. Jesus affirmed this principle (Mar 10:6-8). C. The institution of marriage was a picture of the mystery of Christ and the church (Eph 5:31-32). D. Marriage, alo...

Happiness Happiness - The quality or condition of being happy. Happy - adj. Having a feeling of great pleasure or content of mind, arising from satisfaction with one's circumstances or condition; also in weakened sense: Glad, pleased. Joy - 1. a. A vivid emotion of pleasure arising from a sense of well-being or satisfaction; the feeling or state of being highly pleased or delighted; exultation of spirit; gladness, delight. I. Happiness is a good thing and as Christians it is something we ought t...

Adultery and Church Membership I. The covenant of marriage. 1. Marriage is a covenant (Mal 2:14). 2. Covenant - 1. A mutual agreement between two or more persons to do or refrain from doing certain acts; a compact, contract, bargain; sometimes, the undertaking, pledge, or promise of one of the parties. 3. The covenant of marriage is different from any other covenant that men can establish. a. It is life-long (Rom 7:2). b. It is made between husband and wife, but it is enforced by God and His law (Ro...

Alive Without the Law (Rom 7:9) I. The purpose of this study is to provide a proper Biblical understanding of Rom 7:7-13 and to answer the following questions: 1. Was Paul referring to being spiritually alive (in possession of eternal life) when he said that he was "alive without the law once"? 2. Was Paul referring to living in sinless innocence prior to the law coming to him when he wrote "without the law sin was dead"? 3. Did Paul die spiritually when the commandment came and sin revived and slew h...

Alive Without the Law (Rom 7:9) I. The purpose of this study is to provide a proper Biblical understanding of Rom 7:7-13 and to answer the following questions: 1. Was Paul referring to being spiritually alive (in possession of eternal life) when he said that he was "alive without the law once"? 2. Was Paul referring to living in sinless innocence prior to the law coming to him when he wrote "without the law sin was dead"? 3. Did Paul die spiritually when the commandment came and sin revived and slew h...

Aliens I. Abraham the alien. 1. Abraham was a man of faith (Rom 4:3). 2. Abraham is the prototypical man of faith in the Bible. A. Prototypical - Of the nature of or serving as a prototype; prototypal. B. Prototype - 1. a. The first or primary type of anything; the original (thing or person) of which another is a copy, imitation, representation, or derivative, or to which it conforms or is required to conform; a pattern, model, standard, exemplar, archetype. C. Abraham was strong in faith, who again...

"The Husband of One Wife" (1Ti 3:2; Tit 1:6) I. One of the qualifications a man must meet to be ordained and hold the office of a pastor/bishop/elder/overseer is that he must be "the husband of one wife" (1Ti 3:2; Tit 1:6). A. Does this mean that a pastor must be married? B. Does this mean that a pastor cannot be a widower? C. Does this mean that a pastor who is a widower cannot remarry? D. Does this mean that a pastor cannot be divorced? E. Does this mean that a pastor that is divorced cannot remar...

Partaking of the Divine Nature (2 Peter 1:1-11) I. This study should accomplish the following: 1. Learn how to know Jesus more intimately. 2. Learn what it means to partake of the divine nature and how to do it. 3. Learn how to gain the assurance of eternal life. II. The importance of the knowledge of God and Jesus Christ. 1. Grace and peace are multiplied unto us through the knowledge of Jesus Christ (2Pe 1:2). A. Knowing God brings us peace (Job 22:21). B. The knowledge of God comes through d...

Flattering Titles “Let me not, I pray you, accept any man's person, neither let me give flattering titles unto man. 22) For I know not to give flattering titles; in so doing my maker would soon take me away.” (Job 32:21-22) I. The reason for this study. 1. Flattery is condemned in the scripture (Pro 26:28; Pro 29:5) 2. It is clear from Job 32:21-22 that it is wrong to give someone a flattering title. 3. Some have concluded from this that it is wrong to call a pastor "Pastor So-and-so" because to ...

Offending the Little Ones (Mat 18:1-14) I. This study should be both convicting and edifying. The following should be accomplished: 1. Understand what is meant by “offending” and “despising” little children. 2. Learn how to not offend and despise little children. 3. Learn how Mat 18:8-9 fits with the rest of Mat 18:1-14. II. The reason for Jesus’ discourse. 1. The disciples asked who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven (Mat 18:1). A. They had been reasoning among themselves about who sho...

The Hidden Gospel (Part 2) The Hidden Gospel “And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables: 12 That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them.” (Mar 4:11-12). I. Defining the terms. Mystery- A religious truth known only from divine revelation; usually (cf. s...

The Hidden Gospel (Part 1) The Hidden Gospel “And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables: 12 That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them.” (Mar 4:11-12). I. Defining the terms. Mystery- A religious truth known only from divine revelation; usually (cf. s...

Paul on Mars’ Hill (Acts 17:16-34) I. This study should accomplish 4 primary things: 1. Show that many times God’s people are no different from the heathen. 2. Observe and relate to the nature and thinking of unconverted men. 3. Demonstrate how to successfully preach the gospel to heathen, unchurched men. 4. Demonstrate how preaching the gospel will sort out men and reveal what manner of spirit they are. II. God’s people are often times no different than the heathen (v. 16-17). 1. Prior to P...

Paul on Mars' Hill (Part 1) Paul on Mars’ Hill (Acts 17:16-34) I. This study should accomplish 4 primary things: 1. Show that many times God’s people are no different from the heathen. 2. Observe and relate to the nature and thinking of unconverted men. 3. Demonstrate how to successfully preach the gospel to heathen, unchurched men. 4. Demonstrate how preaching the gospel will sort out men and reveal what manner of spirit they are. II. God’s people are often times no different than the heath...

Contending for the Faith - Some Personal Examples I. The mandate to contend for the faith. 1. God has commanded us in the scripture to contend for the faith (Jud 3). Contend - 1. intr. To strive earnestly; to make vigorous efforts; to endeavour, to struggle. Earnestly - 1. In an earnest manner; in a manner indicating earnestness. Earnest - (adj) 1. Of persons: Serious, as opposed to trifling; usually in emphatic sense, intensely serious, gravely impassioned, in any purpose, feeling, conviction...

Psalm 65:4 “Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even of thy holy temple.” (Psa 65:4). Choose- (v.) 1. To take by preference out off all that are available; to select; to take as that which one prefers, or in accordance with one’s free will and preference. b) Of God: to elect for eternal happiness; to predestinate to life. Elect- (n) 1. Picked out, chosen; also, chosen for e...

Walking by Faith, Not by Sight I. The example of John the Baptist. John the Baptist knew that Jesus, of whom he was the forerunner, was the Christ from O.T. prophesies (Joh 1:23 c/w Isa 40:3-5). John was told by God that he would know that Jesus was the Messiah by the Spirit descending on Him (Joh 1:33). John knew certainly that Jesus was the Christ the first time he saw Him (Joh 1:29). After Jesus’ baptism, there was no doubt in John’s mind that Jesus was the Messiah of promise (Mat 3:13-17), so m...

Jesus Christ in Hebrews 11 Faith- I. Belief, trust, confidence 1.Confidence, reliance, trust (in the ability, goodness, etc, of a person; in the efficacy or worth of a thing; or in the truth of a statement or doctrine). I. Jesus was a man of faith (Heb 11:6 c/w Joh 8:29 c/w Mat 3:17). A. Jesus was both man (1Ti 2:5) and God (Joh 1:1, 14). B. Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen (Heb 11:1). 1. As God, Jesus did not exercise this kind of faith, i...

Peace- I. 1. Freedom from, or cessation of, war or hostilities; that condition of a nation or community in which it is not at war with another. 4. Freedom from quarrels or dissention between individuals; a state of friendliness, concord, amity (Eph 4:3). 4b. trans. An author or maintainer of concord (Eph 2:14). 5. Freedom form mental or spiritual disturbance or conflict arising from passion, sense of guilt, etc.; peace of mind, soul, or conscience (Phi 4:7). I. The origin if true peace. 1. Our God...