In today’s world, you can’t escape being confronted with Halloween. Whether you’re shopping with your family, or driving past your neighbor’s lawn, you’ll find its ghoulish images on display. Using Scripture alone, how should Christians think about it, when the word “Halloween” doesn't appear in the Bible? God’s Word declares we’re not to “learn to follow the abominations of [pagan] nations (Deut. 18:9) or “walk in their ordinances” (Lev. 18:3). Because Halloween is an explicitly demonic and pagan practice, how should we think about its dark culture and walk in the light?

Scripture References: Psalm 106: 35-37; Deut. 18:9; Leviticus 18:3; Romans 12:2; 1 Peter 2:9

Too often, Christians view the Holy Spirit, narrowly, as the source to set them on fire for God and make them satisfied. Such a view shortchanges the Holy Spirit’s role. The truth is, the Spirit of God is working quietly in the background in every part of the believer’s life. In Romans 8, Paul gives five powerful ways the Spirit ministers to Christians. First, the Spirit makes us free from sin and death. Second, the Spirit changes the things we want to think about. Third, the Spirit puts to death the deeds of the body. Fourth, the Spirit bears witness to our adoption as sons. Fifth, the Spirit helps us in our suffering. And, sixth, the Spirit helps us in our weakness when we don’t know how to pray. What a blessing it is to have the Holy Spirit of God!

Scripture Reference: Romans 8

Sermon: https://churchandfamilylife.com/sermons/670cb41fd443d6ac8378cf8b

All throughout Scripture, we’re told to “Sing to the Lord.” The church is commanded to sing, and how a church sings is telling. It not only shapes the culture of a church, but it reveals what’s important to God’s people. When we sing together corporately, we’re declaring what kind of God we worship, what kind of gospel we’re proclaiming, and what the basis of our unity is. Remarkably, the very first instrument God created was the human body. He gave our vocal cords as a gift to vibrate and produce sounds like the strings of a guitar. And, barring some physical damage, everyone can learn to sing, so they can join other Christians in praising God.

Additional Scripture References: Colossians 3:16

God defines love by the things that He does, and what He does for His people spans the entire arc of history—from His predestinating love, in eternity past, to His ultimate glorification of the believer (Rom. 8:28-30). Nothing can separate God’s elect from His everlasting love: not tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, peril, or sword—nor the threats or accusations of any enemy (vs. 31-39). Thus, as His redeemed, God’s unfailing love for us should stir our hearts to love Him more!

Scripture: Romans 8:28

One of the greatest hardships of the human soul is dissatisfaction. It’s easy to get down about the state of your finances, your house, your spouse, your church, a child that you lost, a family feud, or a physical sickness such as cancer. None of these challenges are easy, yet God promises that “all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose” (Rom. 8:28). God has designed every step of your life, including the hard things. Just as He did with Joseph—who was hated by his brothers, thrown into a pit, sold into slavery, and then thrown into a prison after being falsely accused—God is working every trial you face for your good.

Additional Scripture References: Genesis 50:20, Ecclesiastes 3:1-11

Full Sermon: https://churchandfamilylife.com/sermons/66e7ca0261d6ad13516565bd

Have you ever had a Romans 8:26 moment when you didn’t know what to pray? It’s that moment in life when you need help, but you don’t know what to do—whether you should quit that job or take that job; if you should ask that girl to marry you or not. You don’t know what to pray about your cancer diagnosis—whether you should be crying out to God for patience or deliverance. Here’s the good news: when we don’t know what to pray, the “Spirit himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered” (Rom. 8:26). So, relax. Be patient, for God prays better than we do. His Spirit helps us in our weakness and pleads our cause.

As Christians, our role in the church amounts to more than just “follow your heart.” We have gospel duties to fulfill, and in Romans 1:8-17, the Apostle Paul gives us a powerful template to follow. First, he was thankful, despite the church in Rome being immature and imperfect. Second, he was prayerfully scheming of ways to minister to them more. Third, he was desirous to impart a spiritual blessing to them. Fourth, he was resolved to obtain fruit for their benefit. Fifth, he was large-hearted to all. Sixth, he was determined to preach the gospel. And, seventh, he wasn’t ashamed of the gospel. This window into Paul’s soul should compel us to pursue the Great Commission the way he did.

Justification by faith is not merely a judicial act, but it is a gift of God which brings great assurances and blessings: “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God” (Rom. 5:1-2). Peace with God. Access. Grace. Standing with Christ and hope in His glory. It’s present tense. It’s ongoing. It’s unstoppable. This is what justification by faith has accomplished in our lives!