Victory Church Providence Podcast Por Victory Church Providence RI arte de portada

Victory Church Providence

Victory Church Providence

De: Victory Church Providence RI
Escúchala gratis

Sunday Morning Sermons From Victory Church ProvidenceCopyright 2019 All rights reserved. Cristianismo Espiritualidad Ministerio y Evangelismo
Episodios
  • Don't Stop Believing. Part 2

    Don't Stop Believing. Part 2
    Jul 27 2025
    Don't Stop Believing, Part 2 A sermon by Pastor Richard Sfameni, Lead Pastor at Victory Church, in Providence, RI. Opening and Welcome Greeting and response (“Amen. You may be seated. Praise the Lord…”)Appreciation for worship and participation Importance of authentic worship regardless of personal trialYour worship may inspire others seeing you worship through struggles Introduction to the Message Continuation of last week’s sermon: “Don’t Stop Believing” Central theme: The importance of faith Church communications and resources Plan to distribute more tools (study notes, questions, etc.)Request for members’ contact information for improved communicationEmphasis: Church is not just about large attendance, but engagement and making disciples The Church’s Mission A. Contrast: Mere attendance vs. engagement and discipleship Mission to make disciples, not just fill seatsDesire for everyone to participate in the mission Illustration: “Church is not a show” Story of the complaining church family and the child’s remarkClarification: True purpose is the kingdom of God and being a church on mission Textual Foundation: Hebrews 12:1–4 Reading the passage: Call to run the race with endurance Surrounded by a “cloud of witnesses”Laying aside every weight and sinLooking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of faithEnduring hostility/persecution Context of Hebrews Audience: New Jewish believers facing persecution and discouragementEmphasis on Jesus’ supremacy (greater than Moses, angels, law, etc.)Faith as a central theme—challenge to keep believing despite opposition The Value and Battle for Faith The cost and value of faith Faith is precious and under attack by the enemyAnalogy: No one protects garbage; faith is worth guarding Scriptural support: 1 Peter 1:6–7 Faith tested by trials is more precious than goldFaith defined as taking God at His word, trusting His promises The devil’s strategy Destroy faith to win the war for your soulExample: Peter’s denial—Jesus prayed for his faith, not his flawless behavior Faith enables recovery from failure; without faith, all is lost Restoration possible in every area if faith remains Encouragement Against Discouragement Relating to listeners facing severe trials Message: Keep running, keep believing, keep trusting God Faith Lessons from Hebrews 12:1–4 Prompt: “I need to learn more about faith.” Faith as Armor and Protection Theme connection: VBS and the armor of God Shield of faith in spiritual warfareAttack of the enemy represented as “fiery darts” Practical reminder: The armor and shield are necessary for those following Christ Emphasis on being targeted by the enemy after choosing Christ Review of Main Points on Faith (from Hebrews 11 and 12) Examples of Faith Long-distance race imagery—a “cloud of witnesses”Heroes of faith in Hebrews 11: Overcame challenges through faithRomans 15:4—Scripture written for our learning and hope Hindrances of Faith Laying aside “every weight and sin” Illustration: Man with backpack in church = symbolic of carrying burdensEvery person has weights unique to them; these hinder the race Philippians 3:12–14—Forgetting the past, pressing to the future Weights may be past hurts, offenses, or nostalgia for “good old days”God grants “divine forgetfulness;” past loses its sting through graceWarning: Some people’s lives are diminished by holding onto the pastEveryone gets hurt—must let go of past to move forwardAnalogy of car: Rear view mirror vs. windshieldNot just bad things—even good things can keep you from the best Example from business literature: Jim Collins’ “stop doing list” Need for focus and discipline; not every opportunity is for you Living With Focus and Purpose Personal examples (Clergy Day, Black Hawk helicopter story) Temptation to take on too much, even good things, but must focus on God’s specific callingPastor’s personal callings—pastoring, discipling, international ministryNot every door is yours to walk through The Perseverance of Faith (Major Point) Key emphasis: Learning to persevere/endure Life of faith is a marathon, not a sprintEveryone must run their race for a lifetimeMany start but give up because of opposition/discouragementGreek word “hupomonē”—active, determined perseverance despite hardshipPerseverance needed in all areas: marriage, raising kids, ministry, career Illustrations: Father-son story—Elmer MacLurkin (a joke to show the importance of perseverance)Famous perseverance quote: Winston Churchill—“Never, never, never give up”Bible college anecdote: “Never, never, never quit”—words that rang true over time Practical encouragement Heroes like Noah and Abraham persevered over decades for God’s promiseBreakthroughs often come after the hardest trials—don’t quit before your breakthroughGod’s grace picks you up after you fall; faith enables you to keep going Closing Exhortation and Prayer ...
    Más Menos
    44 m
  • Don't Stop Believing

    Don't Stop Believing
    Jul 23 2025
    Don’t Stop Believing: A Reflection on Hebrews 12 A Sermon by Pastor Richard Sfameni, Lead Pastor at Victory Church in Providence, RI. The Power and Blessing of God’s Word The Word of God stands as a timeless, life-changing force. It is not just information, but revelation—a source of power and blessing. For the believer, Scripture isn’t just a traditional book; it is the living, inspired guide that shapes faith and anchors hope. The Christian Race: Endurance Over Speed Using the imagery from Hebrews 12, believers are reminded that following Jesus is not a sprint but a marathon. Life in Christ requires perseverance and a willingness to continue through battles, spiritual attacks, and moments of doubt. The encouragement is plain: Don’t stop believing. “Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith...” Faith as a Marathon The Christian journey is long and demanding, requiring perseverance, not a short burst of effort. Life brings seasons of spiritual honeymoon and also testing, but through faith, every hardship can be overcome. The Examples of Faith: A “Cloud of Witnesses” Hebrews 12 begins with a reminder that we are “surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses,” referring to the faith heroes listed in Hebrews 11. These individuals—Abraham, Moses, Samson, Gideon, and others—demonstrated faith amidst suffering, deprivation, and daunting obstacles. Their stories assure us: If they made it, we can too. Their testimonies cheer us on, encouraging us to keep running and believing despite all circumstances. Believers today have more resources—the full Bible, stories, and testimonies—than those early heroes did, yet the call is the same: keep the faith. Laying Aside Every Weight The Hindrances to Running the Race The passage urges us to “lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily entangles.” Like a runner shedding unnecessary gear, believers must let go of anything holding them back from wholeheartedly following Christ. Practical Weights to Lay Aside: Weight Description Laziness Neglecting spiritual discipline or commitments Lack of Commitment Merely being involved rather than truly devoted Distractions Allowing social media or worldly interests to replace time with God’s Word Unforgiveness Holding onto grudges, which hinders spiritual progress Critical Spirit Being harshly judgmental towards others within the faith community Bitterness Allowing wounds to fester into deep resentment These are not just bad habits, but actual spiritual weights that slow our progress and can keep us from finishing strong. The passage highlights personal responsibility: We must choose to lay these aside. The Sin That So Easily Entangles: Unbelief The passage distinguishes between “weights” (various hindrances) and “the sin”—which, in context, is unbelief. Unbelief is not a minor issue to God; it reflects a lack of trust in His promises and a turning away from His truth. The greatest obstacle to enduring faith is not hardship, but losing faith in the faithfulness of God. “See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God.” (Hebrews 3) Enduring with Encouragement Like athletes, we don’t compete against each other, but run our own race, in our own lane. The victory is not comparison, but completion. The faithful who went before us testify: hardships can be overcome, faith can triumph, and God remains true. Grace to Overcome Lay aside every weight: Make choices that honor God over comfort or distraction. Persevere through unbelief: Trust in God’s Word and His purposes, even when you cannot see the end. Closing Encouragement Let these truths settle in your heart: You are not running alone. The “crowd of witnesses” testifies to God’s faithfulness through all generations. It’s too soon to quit. Don’t let weights or unbelief keep you from the victory promised to all who finish. The prize is eternal. While runners in ancient games received crowns that faded, your reward in Christ is everlasting. Stay encouraged. Don’t stop believing. Lay aside whatever holds you back, and run with endurance—the Author and Finisher, Jesus, is waiting at the finish line.
    Más Menos
    46 m
  • Real Love

    Real Love
    Jul 13 2025
    Real Love A Sermon By Rev. Brenna Kate Simonds, Director of Alive in Christ, a ministry offering hope to individuals, families, and churches impacted by same sex attractions and gender dysphoria. INTRODUCTORY EXHORTATION Pastor Richard Sfameni sets the tone with a short exhortation focused on spiritual brokenness and the need for healing in Jesus: Message theme: God redeems human brokenness and transforms lives through Christ. Illustrative anecdote: People delay coming to church until they “get their life right,” likened to trying to fix a car before seeing a mechanic. Critique of religious pretense: Church attendees often “fake it,” pretending to have life figured out rather than seeking healing. Call to honesty and humility: Acknowledges that all are “in the process” of healing and need grace. Concludes by introducing guest speaker Brenna Kate Simonds, inviting her to speak. BRENNA KATE SIMONDS – TESTIMONY AND TEACHING Brenna is a missionary working with the LGBT community and directs the Alive in Christ ministry. She shares her personal testimony and views on sexuality, sanctification, and the church’s role in discipling people dealing with same-sex attraction. Alive in Christ Ministry Overview Mission: Christ-centered, interdenominational discipleship and mentoring for individuals dealing with same-sex attraction or gender dysphoria, including their families and churches. Methods: Zoom-based support groups for: Men with unwanted same-sex attraction Women with same-sex attraction Friends and family of LGBT-identified individuals Philosophy: Freedom is found in obedience to Christ, not necessarily the absence of temptation. Emphasizes discipleship over instant transformation, inspired by the Great Commission. Ministry Beliefs Includes a brief theology of sexuality rooted in a conservative Evangelical worldview: Sexual intimacy reserved for marriage between a man and woman. Transformation is a lifelong process guided by Romans 12:2 (“be transformed by the renewing of your mind”). Same-sex attraction is not chosen, but acting on it is considered sin — temptation itself is not sin. Comparison to other temptations: Parallels drawn with addiction (e.g., Teen Challenge), emphasizing obedience amid ongoing struggles. PERSONAL TESTIMONY Brenna shares her life story with vulnerability and detail: Childhood trauma: Born premature; alcoholic mother; relational neglect from parents. Bullying in junior high, leading to internalized lies of being “flawed” and “unlovable.” At age 15, fell in love for the first time—with a female best friend, leading to a romantic relationship. During that period, lacked support or guidance; identified herself as "homosexual" based on available information at the time. Built her identity around being gay for ten years, believing the message: “You were born this way, embrace it or you'll never be happy.” SCRIPTURAL REFLECTION – MARK 10:17–22 (Rich Young Ruler) Uses the story of the rich young ruler to highlight how individuals can: Base life decisions on prior experiences and external messages. Struggle to surrender things they believe define them. Message: Christ calls everyone to surrender what they cling to—whether wealth, identity markers, or cultural acceptance—for sake of full devotion to Him. ENGAGEMENT WITH LGBT COMMUNITY AND FAITH Simonds introduces data from the book Us Versus Us (by Andrew Marin) outlining how the LGBT community experiences faith and religion: Majority of LGBT individuals were raised in communities of faith. Highlights disconnect between how churches treat people who struggle with drugs/addiction (with grace and redemption paths) vs. those dealing with same-sex attraction (often judged based on whether they still experience temptation). OTHER DETAILS Brenna is an author of two books: Learning to Walk in Freedom – a discipleship resource. Lessons from Joshua – a devotional book. She has a speaking ministry and engages audiences often interactively with storytelling and questions. CENTRAL THEMES (Summarized) Healing and transformation require honesty, discipleship, and time. Jesus invites all people, including those with complex pasts and identities, into full relationship with Him. Same-sex attraction is viewed as a temptation, not sin, and transformation involves spiritual rather than sexual orientation change. The church must improve its witness and compassion to the LGBT community.
    Más Menos
    53 m
Todavía no hay opiniones