Displaying Christian Sermons by tag: rick warren

Rick Warren (March-29-2024) Daily Devotional: The Battle for Your Brain - Daily Hope.

“What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you?” - James 4:1 (NIV)

Every second of your life, there’s a battle in your brain. There’s a mental battle going on right now! It could be between right and wrong, between what’s easy and what’s hard, or what’s healthy and what’s unhealthy. 

All your negative emotions—stress, depression, anxiety, loneliness, fear, jealousy—are a mental struggle. All of your internal conflicts start in your mind. In fact, so do all of your external conflicts.

James 4:1 says, “What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you?” (NIV) That battle going on inside your mind between conflicting desires can continue even when you are sleeping, as you experience restless sleep and bad dreams. It’s a battle that rages 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

This battle in your brain is constant and intense because your mind is your greatest asset. You are your thoughts, your will, your emotions, your soul. Without your brain, you’re not you.

The Bible says in Romans 7:22-23, “I love to do God’s will so far as my new nature is concerned; but there is something else deep within me . . . that is at war with my mind and wins the fight and makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. In my mind I want to be God’s willing servant, but instead I find myself still enslaved to sin” (TLB).

If you follow Jesus, then God’s Spirit is in you. It’s part of your new nature. That means that Satan can’t control your mind, but he can make suggestions.

The only influence Satan has in the life of a Christian is that he can put thoughts in your mind. He can get your attention—and that’s a pretty big deal. Why? Because whatever gets your attention gets you. Once he puts a thought in your mind, you have to decide if you’re going to accept or reject his suggestion.

There’s a lot going on in your brain right now, and all of it will eventually show up in your attitude and your actions.

Ask God to help you choose right over wrong, healthy over destructive, and his truth over Satan’s lies. He is ready to give you the power you need through the Holy Spirit!

Talk It Over

  • How does the kind of information and entertainment you consume affect your choice of what is right over what is wrong?
  • Do you believe that the Holy Spirit is active in your life? Why or why not?
  • What are the things that get your attention the most? Think about how you can discipline yourself more in those areas so Satan cannot use them to cause you to sin.

Rick Warren (March-28-2024) Daily Devotional: Changing Starts With Choosing - Daily Hope.

“Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts.” - Proverbs 4:23 (GNT)

Are you looking for a fresh start? I don’t mean moving to a new town. I’m talking about a reset in any area of your life that is stuck. You will go through many resets in your life. That’s because God didn’t just create you. He also wants to transform you into what he’s always intended for you to become.

To reset and experience a transformation in your life, the first thing you need to work on is your mindset—how you see yourself, how you see others, how you see your problems, and, most importantly, how you see God.

If you don’t change your mindset first, a change in your location or a change in your scenery is not going to help much. Why? Because you could go to the ends of the Earth, but you will still take you with you wherever you go.

For example, let’s say you’re stressed, so you decide to go to Hawaii for relaxation. But you just end up taking the stress with you because it’s in your body. If you don’t deal with the mental stress first, then it’s going to continue to cause trouble in every other area.

Life change begins in your mind because your thoughts direct your life. Proverbs 4:23 says, “Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts” (GNT).

Every action and reaction in your life, everything you feel and do, starts as a thought. It all begins in your mind! If you don’t think it first, it doesn’t happen.

You can use this truth for good or for bad: Good thoughts lead to good habits and good choices; bad thoughts lead to unhealthy habits and behavior. 

The truth is, we don’t realize how often we sabotage our own success by the way we think and talk to ourselves. You’re talking to yourself all the time!

The Bible says, “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he” (Proverbs 23:7 NKJV).

Your relationship problem doesn’t start with the relationship. It starts in your brain. This is true for money, sex, a habit, food, your work, or anything else. You cannot reset any area of your life without first changing how you think.

Changing starts with choosing. You can choose what you think about. It’s time to make choices that reflect the kind of person God wants you to be.

Talk It Over

  • When you are stressed, what part of your body do you normally address first?
  • In what ways have you seen your mindset affect your attitude and your actions in a particularly tough situation?
  • Think of the people who most affect the way you think. How are they helping—or hurting—as you try to make wise choices about what you think about?

Rick Warren (March 27, 2024) Daily Devotional: Resurrection Truths That Will Shatter Fear.

“[Jesus] included everyone in his death so that everyone could also be included in his life, a resurrection life, a far better life than people ever lived on their own.” - 2 Corinthians 5:14-15 (MSG)

The Bible is full of commands. But do you know what the most common one is?

Don’t be afraid. You’ll find it 365 times in Scripture—including several times in the Easter story. “Don’t be afraid” were the first words the angel told those who showed up at the tomb on Easter morning. They were also the first words Jesus spoke after the resurrection.

It’s no wonder why it’s a common theme of the Bible and in the Easter story: Fear is humanity’s most common problem.

You might not think you’re a fearful person. But if you think about it, you may realize that many of your decisions are based on fear, such as the fear of what people think of you and the fear of failure.

But Easter brings good news! Because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, you can now live without fear. The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 5:14-15, “[Jesus] included everyone in his death so that everyone could also be included in his life, a resurrection life, a far better life than people ever lived on their own” (MSG).

When you live according to the resurrection of Christ, the Bible says you’re living a better life, a life where you’re free from fear.

In fact, there are five truths about the resurrection that will set you free from fear if you understand them. I’ll share these truths over the next two days.

First, you know Jesus tells you the truth. Throughout history many people have claimed to be God or the Messiah—but only one proved it. The Bible says, “[Jesus] was declared to be God’s Son with great power by rising from the dead” (Romans 1:4 NCV).

Without the resurrection, you couldn’t trust anything Jesus said. But you can trust what Jesus says about God, heaven, and everything else he taught because he rose from the dead like he said he would.

Second, you know death isn’t the end. Until Jesus rose from the dead, people didn’t know if there was life after death because there was no proof. Jesus changed that. The Bible tells us, “God raised the Lord Jesus from the dead, and we know that God will also raise us with Jesus” (2 Corinthians 4:14 NCV). You don’t need to fear death, because Jesus’ resurrection shows us that death isn’t the end of the story. It’s really the beginning of your best life—your eternal life in God’s presence.

Learning to live without fear will transform your life now! Tomorrow I’ll share with you three more Easter truths that will help you live in freedom from fear.

Talk It Over

  • What are some of the fears that have held you back from the better life God has planned for you?
  • Why do you think our lives are so often ruled by fear?
  • What would a life free of fear look like for you? How would it impact your daily interactions with other people?

Rick Warren (March-27-2024) Daily Devotional: You Need a Firm Foundation - Daily Hope.

“The mountains may move, and the hills may shake, but my kindness will never depart from you. My promise of peace will never change . . . I will rebuild your city with precious stones. I will reset your foundations with sapphires. I will rebuild your towers with rubies.” - Isaiah 54:10-12 (GW)

There is only one place in the Bible where the word “reset” is used. It’s found in Isaiah 54. The nation of Israel had lost a war to Babylon, where they were taken as captives and would remain for 70 years.

The Israelites were pretty discouraged—not just because they had lost but because their Holy City, Jerusalem, had been destroyed.

In the midst of all this, God did not want them to forget that he was still with them. He loved them, and he was going to rebuild—or reset—their lives. 

God says in Isaiah 54:10-12, “The mountains may move, and the hills may shake, but my kindness will never depart from you. My promise of peace will never change . . . I will rebuild your city with precious stones. I will reset your foundations with sapphires. I will rebuild your towers with rubies” (GW).

God was going to rebuild their city and their whole lives. But the foundation wouldn’t be made of clay or rock or cement. God said he would build Israel’s foundation with sapphires and rubies.

Why would God build a foundation with precious jewels? Because every other kind of foundation can rot or decay—but sapphires and rubies last forever. That’s why they’re so expensive!

God would build Israel’s foundation with the most precious things on Earth. That is how much he loved and cared for his people.

When Job was going through hard times, his friend said to him, “Put your heart right, Job. Reach out to God. Put away evil and wrong from your home. Then face the world again, firm and courageous. Then all your troubles will fade from your memory, like floods that are past and remembered no more. Your life will be brighter than sunshine at noon, and life’s darkest hours will shine like the dawn. You will live secure and full of hope” (Job 11:13-18 GNT). 

If you need to make a big change in your life, then you’re going to need a strong foundation. And you’re only going to find that foundation in God, who loves and cares for you.

Get rid of the sin and junk in your life that keeps you from focusing on God. Then you can live full of hope, moving forward with courage and shining brighter than the sun.

Talk It Over

  • What does it mean to “put your heart right” with God, as Job 11 says?
  • Why do you need a strong foundation when you’re making a big change in life?
  • How does building your life on God’s foundation give you courage?

Have you put your heart right with God?

The first step toward making peace with God is accepting Jesus as your Lord and Savior. You can start with this simple prayer:

“Dear God, I don’t want my sin to separate me from you any longer. You have promised that if I believe in Jesus, you’ll forgive me for everything I’ve ever done wrong, you’ll show me the purpose of my life, and you’ll accept me into your family and bring me to heaven one day to live with you for eternity.

“Jesus, I confess my sin, and I believe you are my Savior. I trust you when you say salvation comes by grace, through faith, and not by anything I do. I ask you to come into my life as my Lord. Today, I commit my life to you.

“I want to live the way you created me to live—at peace and rested—and to use the remainder of my life to serve you. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.”

Rick Warren (March 26, 2024) Daily Devotional: God’s Goodness Lasts Forever.

“I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.” - Psalm 23:6 (NIV)

Of all the benefits of God’s goodness, only one lasts beyond your life on earth. The final verse of Psalm 23 expresses the ultimate example of God’s goodness: “I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever” (Psalm 23:6 NIV).

That means you don’t have to fear death—because death is not the end. God saves the best for last. Even if you have a tough life here on earth, if you have asked Jesus Christ to save you, you will dwell forever in the house of the Lord, where there’s no more sorrow, no more suffering, no more sin, no more sickness, no more sadness, no more problems, no more pain, and no more pressure. Heaven is unbelievable. God’s glory is waiting there for you.

The Bible teaches, “It is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:5-7).

Everything you’ve seen in movies about heaven is probably wrong. First, heaven is not nirvana, a dream, or a metaphorical attitude. Heaven is a physical place, not a state of being. It’s a permanent place that will last forever. And it is reserved only for God’s family.

Heaven is also not boring! We see a glimpse of heaven in Revelation 21, where we learn that we won’t just kick back and do nothing for eternity. A lot of the stuff you do here on earth is what you’ll be able to do in heaven. You’ll be able to eat in heaven, you’ll be able to sleep in heaven, you’ll party in heaven, talk, fellowship, pray, and sing—just to name a few. Heaven was created for you.  

There are only two things that you do on earth that you won’t do in heaven. First, in heaven you can’t sin; second, you can’t witness to a nonbeliever about Christ’s love and forgiveness because only God’s children are there. That’s why, once you become a believer, God does not take you instantly to heaven. He wants you to pass on the Good News of salvation and grace. The only reason you’re going to heaven is because somebody told you about the Gospel. Now it’s your turn to tell others.

There is so much to look forward to in heaven. We will worship God forever. We will be reunited with those who love Jesus. We will be rewarded for our faith, hope, and love. We will be assigned work that we enjoy doing.

Talk It Over

  • Who shared God’s grace and mercy with you? With whom have you shared the Good News?
  • What has God given you in this life? What are your talents? How can you use them for his glory?
  • Do you have a bucket list? How do you think all those things will compare to what you will experience in heaven?

Rick Warren (March-26-2024) Daily Devotional: What’s Slowing You Down? - Daily Hope.

“We must get rid of everything that slows us down, especially the sin that just won't let go. And we must be determined to run the race that is ahead of us. We must keep our eyes on Jesus, who leads us and makes our faith complete.” - Hebrews 12:1-2 (CEV)

When you go on a diet, what’s the first thing you do? Many people go straight to the refrigerator and pantry, take out all the junk food, and get it out of the house. They want to eliminate the junk so that they are set up for success in their diet. 

When you realize you need a life reset, eliminating anything unhelpful or unhealthy is an important step.

Hebrews 12:1-2 says, “We must get rid of everything that slows us down, especially the sin that just won’t let go. And we must be determined to run the race that is ahead of us. We must keep our eyes on Jesus, who leads us and makes our faith complete” (CEV).

We often worry about junk food and what it does to us. But what about mental junk food?

If you want to change your life, maybe you need to unplug your TV for a few months or cancel your streaming service subscription. To really change your mind, you have to stop the junk that’s coming in over the Internet. You may need to take a break from the pressures and comparisons and useless information on social media.

Maybe you need to let go of a relationship that’s pulling you down—a friend that’s not really being a friend or a boyfriend or girlfriend that is leading you away from Jesus. They’re leading you in the wrong direction. If you’re trying to lift someone up and they’re trying to pull you down, who’s going to win? It’s almost always easier to get pulled down.

You may need to confess your sin. Are you doing that regularly? If not, then unconfessed sin is building up in your life. That’s going to affect your relationship with God, which means it affects every area of your life. To have a successful reset, you need to get rid of anything that has come between you and God. In other words, you need to get rid of your unconfessed sin.

Things in your life that are unhealthy and unhelpful may look like a bad attitude, certain books or movies or music, distractions, hobbies, or habits.

What do you need to get rid of or let go of to help you reset and focus on Jesus as you run your race in life?

Talk It Over

  • Think of your life as a race, where the goal is to become more like Jesus. What are the things that are slowing down your pace and distracting you from focusing on your goal of spiritual growth?
  • What are the unhealthy things in your life that you find most difficult to let go of? What has God made available to you to help with this?
  • How can you make confessing your sins a habit? Why is it important to do that?

Rick Warren (march 25, 2024) Daily Devotional: The Resurrection of Jesus Changed Everything.

“I am the one who raises the dead and gives them life again. Anyone who believes in me, even though he dies like anyone else, shall live again. He is given eternal life for believing in me and shall never perish.” - John 11:25-26 (TLB)

The resurrection of Jesus changed everything. It literally split history into A.D. and B.C. It’s the most important event in human history. And it proves three things.

First, the resurrection proves that Jesus is exactly who he claimed to be. He repeatedly said he was the Son of God who came to die for our sins. And he did just that. The resurrection of Jesus Christ is one of the most well-documented events in history. It would stand up in any court of law. In fact, it has many, many times throughout centuries.

The apostle Paul said, “For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me also” (1 Corinthians 15:3-8 NIV).

Second, the resurrection proves that Jesus keeps his promises. Jesus told his disciples that he would “be killed and on the third day be raised to life” (Matthew 16:21 NIV). Because Jesus kept that promise, you can trust the other promises in the Word of God. The Bible says, “For no matter how many promises God has made, they are ‘Yes’ in Christ. . . . [He] set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come” (2 Corinthians 1:20, 22 NIV).

Third, the resurrection proves that there is life after death. Because of Jesus Christ’s resurrection, we have hope for the future. And it is a hope that will not disappoint (see Romans 5:5). Jesus said, “I am the one who raises the dead and gives them life again. Anyone who believes in me, even though he dies like anyone else, shall live again. He is given eternal life for believing in me and shall never perish” (John 11:25-26 TLB).

Where else are you going to get a promise like that? Nowhere! Who else can give that to you? No one! If you don’t get it from Jesus, you won’t have it. That is an amazing benefit, and it’s available to you today. What’s the qualification? You must believe.

The Bible says, “This Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, ‘It is through faith that a righteous person has life’” (Romans 1:17 NLT). God’s Word also says, “It is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God — not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9 NIV).

The Good News is that the death and resurrection of Jesus give us access to God. In other words, we can only get to heaven by trusting in God through his Son, Jesus Christ. “God says he will accept and acquit us—declare us ‘not guilty’—if we trust Jesus Christ to take away our sins. And we all can be saved in this same way, by coming to Christ, no matter who we are or what we have been like” (Romans 3:22 TLB).

Talk It Over

  • What does it mean to you to know that Jesus’ resurrection is a well-documented historical fact?
  • Does Jesus’ resurrection help you trust the Bible’s promises more? Why or why not?
  • Have you committed your life to Christ? If so, what difference has that decision made for you? If not, what’s keeping you from making that commitment today?

Rick Warren (March-25-2024) Daily Devotional: Why You Need Community for a Reset.

“A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.” - Ecclesiastes 4:12 (NLT)

If you need God to do a reset in your life, you just have to ask him. And then you need to find people to support your reset. 

You can’t do something as big as a life change on your own! If you could, you would—but you can’t, so you won’t. That’s because God has wired us so that we don’t get healed and whole until we get other people involved in our lives. 

The Bible says in Ecclesiastes 4:10-12, “If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble . . . A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken” (NLT). 

In other words, when you have the support of another person, you won’t be easily defeated. And a whole group of supporters is even better!

Anytime you make a change in your life, you’re going to make mistakes. You’re not perfect—none of us are. In your desire to live with purpose and become the person that God wants you to be, you’re going to fall. You need people in your life who are going to help you get back up and love you through it.

Community is God’s antidote to discouragement. Your small group or group of Christian friends will help you keep a right perspective. They can see what you can’t see. They can remind you of God’s truth. 

Romans 12:5 says, “We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other” (NLT). In the family of God, you belong to me, and I belong to you. The people in your church and Christian community are your brothers and sisters. The family of God will last even longer than your biological family—it will last forever!

You’re going to need the encouragement of other believers as God does a reset on your life. Find your people. It will take courage and vulnerability, and if those feel in short supply right now, ask God for help. He will help you do all things that he has called you to do.

Talk It Over

  • What keeps you from being honest with others about your struggles and need for a reset?
  • Do you think we should love or treat our Christian brothers and sisters differently than we do anyone else? Why or why not?
  • If you think there are no opportunities for community in your life, you may just not have noticed them because you weren’t looking for them. Spend some time asking God to show you where he has already provided for you in this area.

Rick Warren (March 24, 2024) Daily Devotional: Standing Out at Work.

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as though you were working for the Lord and not for people.” Colossians 3:23 (GNT)

The Bible identifies five characteristics of people who excel at what they do.

They work with enthusiasm. Regardless of whether the job is big or small, give it your best. Great performers give their best effort, no matter what the size of the audience: “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as though you were working for the Lord and not for people” (Colossians 3:23 GNT).

They sharpen their skills. They never stop developing, growing, learning, and improving: “If your ax is dull and you don’t sharpen it, you have to work harder to use it. It is smarter to plan ahead” (Ecclesiastes 10:10 GNT). It takes more than desire to excel; it takes skill! Remember: You’re never wasting time when you’re “sharpening your ax.

They keep their word. They are reliable. They can be counted on to do what they say they’ll do. They excel because people of integrity are rare in our society: “Everyone talks about how loyal and faithful he is, but just try to find someone who really is!” (Proverbs 20:6 GNT).

They maintain a positive attitude. Even under the worst circumstances, they don’t become negative: “Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation. Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life” (Philippians 2:14-16 NIV). And remember: “If your boss is angry at you, don’t quit! A quiet spirit can overcome even great mistakes” (Ecclesiastes 10:4 NLT).

People who excel do more than is expected. This is a secret that every successful person has discovered. You’ll never excel by only doing what is required. Jesus said, “If someone takes unfair advantage of you, use the occasion to practice the servant life. No more tit-for-tat stuff. Live generously” (Matthew 5:40-42 MSG).

The Broadway lyricist Oscar Hammerstein once told the story of seeing the top of the Statue of Liberty from a helicopter. He was impressed because of the incredible detail the artist sculpted on an area that no one was expected to see. In fact, the Statue of Liberty was completed with no idea that man would someday be able to fly over the statue!

When you’re tempted to cut corners, thinking, “No one will ever know,” remember that God sees everything you do. Give him your best this week!

Talk It Over

  • In what ways do you excel at what you do? Why do you think God gave you those abilities?
  • Why does God want you to excel at work?
  • What’s one thing you can do at work this week to go above and beyond your required duties?

Rick Warren (March-24-2024) Daily Devotional: When You Ask God for a Reset, Be Specific.

“Look closely at yourselves. Test yourselves to see if you are living in the faith.” - 2 Corinthians 13:5 (NCV)

Nothing becomes transforming until it becomes specific. You can ask God anytime for a fresh start in your life. But you don’t just say, “God, I want you to change me.” He wants to know what you have in mind!

You cannot solve any problem until you first identify it as a problem—and that means you have to admit that there are problems in your life. The more specific you are about what you want God to change in your life, the sooner it’s going to happen.

The Bible says it like this: “Look closely at yourselves. Test yourselves to see if you are living in the faith” (2 Corinthians 13:5 NCV).

Where do you need a reset? What would you like God to change in your life to give you a fresh start?

How about in your connection to God? If there has ever been a time in your life when you felt closer to God than you do right now, then you need a reset.

How about in your body? Do you need help with your metabolism or your fitness or your chronic illness? You can ask God for that! 

Do you need a reset in your priorities? Have you started spending all your time doing things you know are not really important? You need a reset in your schedule.

What about a relationship? Do you need to reset a relationship that has grown stagnant or is deteriorating? You can ask God to help with that. 

How about in your career? If you’re out of work right now or if your job is keeping you from pursuing Christ, then you need a reset.

Do you need a reset in your thought life? If you’re having thoughts that you know are wrong, that you can’t control, or that scare you, then you need God to help you reset your thoughts and give you new ones.

Maybe you need a reset in your habits, your parenting, your schedule, your finances, or even your dream.

Whatever needs a reset in your life, just ask God for it—and be specific!

Talk It Over

  • Why do you think God wants you to identify for him what specifically needs a reset in your life even though he already knows about it?
  • How can a trusted, Christian friend help you identify what might need a reset in your life?
  • The areas of your life that need attention are not often identified in the everyday hustle of life. What do you need to do to get in a place where you can be thoughtful and intentional in naming the areas of your life that need a reset?
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