David Henneke's Podcast

Our Identity in Christ - Heirs

Ephesians 1:11-12 We have been predestined not only to adoption and to holiness, but also to “an inheritance” Our Inheritance is, in a word…..heaven.  It is the sum total of all God has promised to us in and thru salvation. God gives us this inheritance so that we will live forever in the new heavens and earth as a perfect demonstration of His glory. There we will give praise to the glory of His grace, love and mercy extended to those who are in Christ. Even now…we are enabled to give thank...

Our Identity in Christ - Forgiven

Ephesians 1:7-10 Because we are FORGIVEN we (1) have been Justified, (2) are being Sanctified and (3) will be Glorified. Our Justification is behind us. In Christ, we are saved from the PENALTY of sin. Our Sanctification is ongoing. In Christ, we are being saved from the POWER of sin. Our Glorification is coming. In Christ, we will be saved from the PRESENCE of sin. God’s offer of forgiveness and redemption is available to everyone but it is only effective for those who actually repent and r...

Our Identity in Christ - Chosen

Ephesians 1:3-6 We have turned Christianity into a ME THING: I get to go to Heaven, I get to be with Jesus, I get to walk the streets of gold,I get to reunite with lost loved ones, etc. Our Faith is not about us and it is  ALL about Him! He CHOSE us…in Him, before the foundation of the world, that we should be HOLY and BLAMELESS…before Him. You will note that all three Persons of the Godhead are involved in our salvation: As far as God the Father is concerned, salvation BEGAN when He chose y...

Our Identity in Christ - Saints

Ephesians 1:1-2 As Believers, we have been SET APART…MADE HOLY…and, therefore, we are called a SAINT. This is true both positionally and experientially. Positionally, we are holy in Christ and experientially we are called to be holy like Christ.

James Pt. 15

James 5:13-20 James has had a great deal to say about the tongue, and this chapter is no exception. He mentioned some of the lowest uses of the tongue: complaining (vs. 9) and swearing (vs. 12), but he also named some of the highest uses of the tongue: proclaiming God’s Word (vs. 10) and praying and praising God (vs. 13). Prayer is certainly a high and holy privilege. Just think, as God’s Children, we can come freely & boldly to His throne and share with Him our needs. Seven times in this se...

James Pt. 14

James 5:8-12

James Pt. 13

James 5:1-6 James never said it was a sin to be rich. After all, Abraham was a wealthy man, yet he walked with God and was greatly used by God to bless the whole world. James was concerned about the selfishness of the rich. What James condemned was the wrong use of wealth, James condemned the ones who use their wealth as a weapon and not as a tool with which to build up the Kingdom of God. May we all realize that what we have is because of who He is. We have been blessed….so now let’s be a b...

James Pt. 12

James 4:13-17 In this final section of Chapter 4, James addresses three sins that we need to guard ourselves against: I. Sin of Presumption (making plans without including God in the planning process), II. Sin of Boasting (to brag or boast about our life and accomplishments) and III.  Sin of Omission (failure to do what the Lord instructs us to do).

James Pt. 11

James 4:11-12 James is not afraid to call sin by its name and condemn it strongly. Neither should we be afraid to stand for the truth even if we are condemned as being narrow-minded. However, such speaking out against sin must be made in love. When we speak out about sin in our brothers and neighbors our goal should be to move them to repentance, not to make us feel superior to them. James is going to unpack all of this in this section.

James Pt. 10

James 4:5-10 Will you humble yourselves before the Lord today? Notice that we are not to wait passively for this to somehow happen, we are not to wait for someone else to humble us neither are we are not to wait for the circumstances of life to do it. Rather, self-humbling is our Christian duty. We must take inventory of our sinfulness and weakness. When we do, we must bow in total submission to God. Will you give Him your life…..your dreams…..your future…..your everything? If so, GET READY...

James Pt. 9

James 4:1-4 Many Christians, pursue their pleasures and desperately chase after the wrong things, things that are clearly hostile to God. Any person who is a friend of this world stands against Go because they stand against all that God is. An IMPURE person is an enemy of God’s PURITY.  An UNHOLY person is an enemy of God’s HOLINESS.  A DECEPTIVE person is an enemy of God’s TRUTHFULNESS. A GREEDY person is an enemy of God’s CHARACTER that GIVES generously & sacrificially. James’ writing sugg...

James Pt. 8

James 3:13-18 The Kind of wisdom a person possesses will be revealed by how they live their lives. Those who possess Wisdom of MAN will demonstrate by their actions that they have NO saving relationship with Jesus. They have NO desire to WORSHIP Him FULLY, to SERVE Him FAITHFULLY, to FOLLOW Him CONSISTENTLY and/or to OBEY Him COMPLETELY. Those who are Children of God will possess the Wisdom of God. That Wisdom will manifest itself in their lives

James Pt. 7

James 3:1-12 James’ description of the evils of the tongue seems relentlessly gloomy. The small tongue controls the whole person. It is a fire from hell. Unlike nature, it is inconsistent. It cannot be tamed. If all this is true, why should we even try to control the tongue? The answer is found in a brief phrase in 3:8, “No human can tame the tongue.” No man can, but God can. If the tongue is set on fire by hell, Take comfort in knowing that there is One who is greater than hell. One who has...

James Pt. 6

James 2:14-26 One of the greatest tragedies of the church today is that it is often filled with those who profess Christ and yet live nothing for Him. Millions of people profess faith in Christ and yet they do not live for Him. They live for the world and themselves. The only difference between their lives and the lives of unbelievers is that they sometimes get up on Sunday mornings and attend church. Scripture is clear…If you claim to have faith….and there is no evidence of it in your life…...

James Pt. 4

James 1:19-27 Ultimately, the key to BOTH….RESPONDING to TRIALS and RESISTING TEMPTATION is found in our reaction to the Word of God. In this final section of Chapter 1, James states that we have three responsibilities toward God’s Word: RECEIVE IT (vs. 19-21), OBEY IT (22-25) and PROCLAIM IT (26-27)

James Pt. 3

James 1:12-18 After dealing with the subject of wisdom, James returns to his central theme of this chapter—Testing of our Faith. The Testing of our Faith occurs thru TRIALS and TEMPTATIONS. In verses 12-18 James tells us “how to overcome temptations”. We tend to think of sin as a single act but God sees it as a process. James describes this process in FOUR STAGES: Stage One DESIRE Stage Two DECEPTION Stage Three DISOBEDIENCE Stage Four  DEATH

James Pt. 2

James 1:5-12 Why do we need to ask for wisdom when we are going through a trial? Why not ask for strength, grace or even for the trial to be removed? Here’s the reason….and it’s connected to what we learned LAST WEEK…we need wisdom so that we will not waste the opportunity God is giving us to grow in Christlike maturity. Wisdom helps us understand how to use our trials for our good and God’s glory. 

James Pt. 1

James 1:2-4 Sermon in a sentence: Attitude determines action

Repent

Repentance is more than having a conviction of sin (Felix, Acts 24) and it is more than giving a confession of sin (Pharaoh, Ex 9; Balaam, Numbers 22; Saul, 1 Samuel 15; Achan, Joshua 7). The Greek word for Repentance is metanoia and it is a change of mind AND and change of heart that LEADS TO a change in action. If Repentance does not lead to a change of action then it is not true (Biblical) repentance.

Twisted - Part 2

Jeremiah 29:11promised that the nation of Israel would be restored, but very few of the exiles lived to see the fulfillment of that prophecy. Most of them died without seeing the “future” that God had planned for them. A future that wasn’t fulfilled until 70 years later. Likewise, the future & hope we have in Christ are not a guarantee that things will go well in this life. For most believers throughout history and in the world today, the world is a cold and dangerous place. In fact, the pro...

Twisted - Part 1

1 Corinthians 10:13 The statement “God won’t give you more than you can handle”  is both untrue and unhelpful. Quite simply the Bible does not teach this. In fact, the Bible actually teaches the opposite truth. Understanding this will enable us to to give better encouragement to those who are suffering. 

Blessed - Persecuted

Matthew 5:10 The Beatitude does not say, “Blessed are the persecuted, PERIOD!” Unfortunately, this is the way it is sometimes interpreted. Those who read it like this delude themselves into thinking that any time they experience conflict they are bearing the reproach of Christ. Sadly, Christians are very often persecuted not for their Christianity, but for a lack of it. Sometimes they are rejected simply because they have unpleasing personalities. Know that EVERYONE who seeks to live like Je...

Blessed - Peacemakers

Matthew 5:9, This divine pronouncement…understood…taken to heart…and applied by the Holy Spirit, can not only bring inner peace to our own troubled hearts but it can also make us instruments of peace to those that are troubled. In other words….It has the potential to give us peace within and to make us mediators of peace in the lives of those around us. may we all be both Recipients and Distributors of the Peace of God

Blessed - Pure in Heart

Matthew 5:8 The pure in heart are marked by transparency & an uncompromising desire to please God in all things. It is more than an external purity of behavior; it is an internal purity of soul. Imagine having a heart that is totally focused on God. FOUR THINGS YOU CAN DO TO ENHANCE THE FOCUS OF YOUR HEART (1) Be honest (2) Acknowledge that only God can make your heart pure (3) Fill yourself with God’s Word and (4) Think about what you will be in eternity. 

Blessed - Merciful

The greatest thing in all the world is to be forgiven of our sins. When we are…we are absolved and released from ALL guilt and condemnation, We ARE accepted and restored by God and assured of seeing Jesus Face-to-Face. When we receive forgiveness from God…We ARE freed from the PENALTY of sin, we are BEING SET FREE from the PRACTICE of sin and we WILL BE SET FREE from the PRESENCE of sin. The Believer that prays for Forgiveness and then refuses to grant forgiveness is a hypocrite. They are g...

Blessed - Hunger & Thirst

Matthew 5:6

Blessed - Meek

Matthew 5:5 This word (Meek) is much misunderstood. It does NOT denote cowardice or spinelessness or timidity. It does NOT suggest indecisiveness or a lack of confidence.  It does NOT imply shyness or having a withdrawn personality. Make no mistake…Meekness is not weakness. Quite the opposite; Meekness is “strength under control.” A meek person reacts, then, with emotions appropriate to the occasion.  A meek person EXERCISES  self-control and self-control implies strength.  So we might say,...

Blessed - Mourn

Matthew 5:4 Do you ache with the guilt of your sin before a holy and righteous God? 

Blessed - Poor in Spirit

The supreme lesson of the First Beatitude is that without the poverty of spirit, no one enters the kingdom of heaven.

Make Disciples

WHAT DOES THE GREAT COMMISSION LOOK LIKE IN YOUR LIFE? HOW ARE YOU CARRYING OUT THE TASK ASSIGNED TO US ALL BY OUR KING?

Jesus on Trial - Resurrection

Jesus on Trial - Execution

Matthew 27:50-53

Jesus on Trial - Sentence

Jesus on Trial - Trial

Jesus on Trial - Witness

Jesus on Trial - Resistance

Jesus on Trial - Arrest

Last week we talked about how the execution of Christ all began with a conspiracy. The “chief priests” (religious leaders) and the “elders of the people” (political leaders) conspired together to kill Jesus.  This conspiracy led to the ARREST of Jesus. Before you can have a trial and sentencing you must first have the incarceration. Jesus was conscious of all the events that He was about to face.  He knew He would be UNLAWFULLY arrested.  He knew He would be UNFAIRLY tried.  He knew He wo...

Jesus on Trial - Conspiracy

7 Letters - Laodicea

Revelation 3:14-22

7 Letters - Philadelphia

Revelation 3:7-13

7 Letters - Sardis

Have you lost the interest & zeal for witnessing, for serving others and for seeing others grow in Christ? Have you become formal in worship instead of being alive in Christ? Do you attend worship services or Bible studies out of religious obligation instead of hungering and thirsting after righteousness? Do you sit in church half asleep or consistently allowing your mind to wonder instead of focusing upon the life changing power of the Word of God? If so, hear and head the command our Lord ...

7 Letters - Thyatira

People will often compromise what they know is right, in order to get what they want. Worldly Compromise damages the testimony of the church. The Church of Thyatira is a perfect example of this reality. Christ said that the judgment would only happen if they failed to repent. No matter what we have done…No matter how terrible it is….Christ calls us to repentance. If we repent, then God will forgive us our sins, save us from destruction and deliver us from judgment. 

7 Letters - Pergamum

The Christians at Pergamum had been true to God under severe testing  The Christians at Pergamum had been true to God under severe testing 
but they had compromised their testimony in other ways. Compromise (1) never occurs quickly, (2)always lowers the original standard, (3) is seldom offensive and (4) is often the first step to total disobedience. Present judgment comes to a church when it compromises the Word of God.

7 Letters - Smyrna

Rev. 2:7-10 The church at Smyrna, unlike Ephesus, was facing persecution, poverty, imprisonment & even death. The heart of the message was not “repent,” but be faithful, even to the point of death, and the COMMAND was reinforced, not by a threat, but by a promise: I will give you the crown of life and you will not be hurt by the second death. It costs to be a dedicated Christian…..in some places more than others. As end-time pressures increase, persecution will also increase; and we, as God’...

7 Letters - Ephesus

Revelation 2:1-7 What we do for the Lord is important. However, why we do what we DO…is equally important! Today’s church needs to pay attention to this warning: orthodoxy and service are not enough. Labor is no substitute for love, neither is purity a substitute for passion. The church must have both if it is to please God.

03 His Name Shall Be Called...Everlasting Father

02 His Name Shall Be Called...Mighty God

ALL of God’s wonderful plans will be carried out with ALL of God’s infinite might because…Jesus is….the MIGHTY GOD! As the Mighty God,  (1)  He has the Power to Protect us, (2)  He has the power to FINISH HIS WORK in us, (3)  He has the Power to Provide for us and (4) He has the Power to Take us Home.

01 His Name Shall Be Called...Wonderful Counselor

GOD has an amazing plan for your life It will be an incredible journey. That journey will not always make sense, if it did then there would be no need for faith. As Wonderful Counselor, our Lord is the one who makes plans and rules. Our Lord goes to no one for advice. When anyone comes to Him, He gives them the perfect counsel that they need. You can trust in the Wonderful Counselor. The more you know Him the better equipped you will be to trust Him. May you discover that our Lord is “A Wond...

False Teachers

Romans 16:17-18:  “I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery, they deceive the minds of naive people.” 

The Truth About Suffering

At some point in life, you can expect to find yourself in the midst of some serious trials. If you are not prepared you will struggle to make sense of the suffering. When our world is turned upside down we tend to focus on the problem and not on the One who can overcome them. Discover 5 foundational truths about suffering: TRUTH #1 God is not the creator of evil and suffering. TRUTH #2 God allows suffering to accomplish something good. TRUTH #3 One day ALL suffering will end. (for those who ...