Can the Bible still be trusted in a skeptical, secular age? In this powerful conversation with homicide detective and Christian apologist J. Warner Wallace, we explore the evidence for the trustworthiness of Scripture, the reliability of the Gospel eyewitness accounts, the prophetic case for Jesus as the Jewish Messiah, and the extra-biblical and archaeological support for the life of Christ.

https://coldcasechristianity.com/videos/stop-saying-the-bibles-broken-the-evidence-shreds-modern-skepticism-video/

#ChristianApologetics #ColdCaseChristianity #JWarnerWallace #ChristianWorldview

Gods Creation, 100 / evolution, 0
WHY DID T. REX HAVE TINY ARMS?

Few animals capture the imagination quite like Tyrannosaurus rex. It's one of the most recognizable dinosaurs in the world. Towering over the landscape with a massive skull and bone-crushing jaws, one feature has puzzled scientists for decades: those tiny little arms.

A new study claims to have solved the mystery.

After examining the skulls and forelimbs of dozens of meat-eating dinosaurs, researchers found that species with larger, more robust skulls generally had smaller arms. From that relationship, they proposed that as these dinosaurs supposedly changed over millions of years, the head gradually became the primary weapon while the forelimbs became less important.

It's an interesting observation, but does that explanation really follow?

The study identified a relationship between skull size and arm size. It didn't discover how that relationship came to be. Instead, the evolutionary story is added afterward because that's the framework through which the evidence is being interpreted.

But there's another explanation that's much simpler.

Think about a playground teeter-totter. If one side becomes much heavier, the other side has to compensate or everything falls out of balance. A two-legged dinosaur faces the same engineering challenge. Its head, neck, torso, hips, legs, tail, and forelimbs all have to work together to keep its center of gravity exactly where it belongs.

A massive skull combined with equally massive forelimbs would place tremendous weight toward the front of the animal. Something else would have to compensate. The tail would need to become larger, the hips would need to change, or the body would become increasingly unstable. Suddenly those tiny arms don't seem strange at all. They make perfect engineering sense as part of a balanced, integrated body.

The researchers also describe the arms as "reduced" or "vestigial," yet they still don't know exactly what purpose those arms served. History has shown why we should be cautious with that conclusion. Again and again, structures once dismissed as evolutionary leftovers have later been found to perform important functions.

The difference ultimately comes down to where we begin.

If evolution is the starting point, then every feature must somehow be explained through millions of years of gradual change. But if we begin where Scripture begins, with God as Creator, then coordinated engineering is exactly what we should expect. The Bible tells us God created every creature according to its kind during Creation Week. From that perspective, T. rex wasn't a work in progress. It was created as a complete, fully functional animal whose skull, arms, legs, hips, and tail all worked together from the very beginning.

The word "dinosaur" wasn't even invented until 1842. Before that, these incredible creatures would simply have been known as dragons, great beasts, or perhaps even among the kinds of magnificent animals described in passages like Behemoth in the book of Job. Whatever name people used, they were part of the "very good" creation God made during Creation Week.

The tiny arms of Tyrannosaurus rex aren't evidence of a failed evolutionary experiment. They are another reminder that God's creation displays remarkable engineering, thoughtful design, and purpose, even in places where scientists are still searching for answers.

THE ADVENT TRUTH
The debate over Junia has become one of the most common arguments used to justify women serving as pastors. But before anyone builds an entire doctrine on Romans 16:7, we should slow down and ask: What does the text actually say?

First, we don’t even know with absolute certainty that Junia was female. The earliest Greek manuscripts were written in all capital letters without accent marks. Those manuscripts do not distinguish between the feminine Junia and the masculine Junias. The accents that identify the name as feminine were added centuries later. Many scholars believe the name is feminine, while others argue it could be masculine. The point is simple: the evidence isn’t so clear that this verse should overturn the broader testimony of Scripture.

Second, even if Junia was a woman, Romans 16:7 still does not prove she held the office of pastor or elder. The Greek phrase can legitimately be translated either as “well known to the apostles” or “outstanding among the apostles.” Both renderings have scholarly support.

Third, the word apostolos simply means “one who is sent.” In the New Testament it is used in more than one way. Jesus is called an Apostle (Hebrews 3:1). The Twelve were apostles. Paul was an apostle. Barnabas is called an apostle (Acts 14:14), and Epaphroditus is literally called “your apostle” in Philippians 2:25 (though many English versions translate it “messenger”). The word does not always refer to the governing office established by Christ.

Finally, Romans 16 never calls her an elder, overseer, bishop, or pastor. When Scripture specifically gives the qualifications for those offices in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1, it lays out a consistent pattern.

A single debated name, a debated translation, and a debated use of the word “apostle” are not enough to overturn the clear pattern of Scripture. Sound doctrine is built by harmonizing all the evidence—not by allowing one difficult verse to reinterpret the rest of the Bible.

Are You an Intentional Christian?

By Pastor Joseph Clark

Life does not simply happen to us. At least, it should not. There are circumstances we cannot control. There are things that happen to us that we never anticipated, and there are seasons when we have little choice over what comes our way. But within all of that, God has given us something extraordinarily important:

The freedom to choose how we will live before Him.

We should never be content merely to hope that our faith is genuine. We are called to deliberately follow Christ, deliberately obey His Word, deliberately love others, deliberately serve, deliberately grow—and deliberately bear fruit. The Christian life is not a spectator sport.

Let me be absolutely clear: we are not saved by our good works. The Bible teaches that salvation is by grace through faith, not something we earn through religious accomplishments or our own efforts. We cannot purchase forgiveness by doing enough good deeds. We cannot impress God into saving us.

Paul writes:

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works.”

Ephesians 2:8–9

Amen.

But sometimes Christians stop reading there. The very next verse says:

“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

Ephesians 2:10

Notice the order. We are not saved by good works. We are saved for good works. Works are not the root of our salvation; they are supposed to be the fruit of our salvation.

That distinction is absolutely essential. A person does not become a Christian because he produces fruit. Rather, because he has been brought into Christ, his life should increasingly begin to produce fruit.

I have observed that some Christians use the “by faith, not works” argument as a cop-out to justify a lazy, fruitless walk.

Jesus Himself said:

“By their fruit you will recognize them.”

Matthew 7:16

He did not say, “Don’t worry about fruit because you believe.” He said:

“Every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.”

Matthew 7:17

There is a dangerous misunderstanding that can sometimes enter Christian thinking. A person says, “I am saved by faith and not works.” That statement is true. But then he concludes, “Therefore, it doesn’t matter whether my life produces anything.”

That conclusion is not biblical.

James puts the matter bluntly:

“Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.”

James 2:17

James isn’t teaching that we purchase salvation by our deeds. He is teaching that genuine faith is living faith.

If I tell you that I have a fire burning in my house, but you enter the house and find no heat, no light, no flame, and no evidence whatsoever of fire, you would have good reason to question my claim.

In the same way, if someone claims to belong to Christ but deliberately refuses to grow, refuses to obey, refuses to serve, refuses to love, refuses to forgive, and refuses to bear any spiritual fruit, we should not simply congratulate that person by saying, “Well, you’re saved by faith, so none of that matters.”

Jesus never taught such complacency.

Consider one of the most sobering statements Jesus ever made. In Matthew 7:21–23, Jesus describes people who will stand before Him on the day of judgment. They will say that they did things in His name. And Jesus will say:

“I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!”

Matthew 7:23

That should cause every professing Christian to pause.

Jesus did not say, “You weren’t sincere enough.” He did not say, “You didn’t perform enough religious deeds.” He said, “I never knew you.”

The issue is ultimately relationship with Christ.

Likewise, Jesus gives a similar warning in the Parable of the Ten Virgins. Some of the virgins were complacent and unprepared for the bridegroom. When he arrived, they were shut out of the wedding feast. The warning is unmistakable: we must not live carelessly or presume upon the grace of God.

A person can say the right things, use Christian vocabulary, attend church, perform religious activities, and even speak about Jesus—and yet not actually belong to Him.

This is why we should never merely sit back and say, “I hope my faith is genuine.” We should examine our lives. We should pursue Christ. We should repent when we sin. We should seek holiness. We should love our neighbor. We should forgive. We should serve. We should pray. We should study God’s Word. We should proclaim the Gospel. We should bear fruit.

Not because these things purchase our salvation—but because Christ has saved us and called us to live differently.

Our fruitfulness should also be expressed through obedience to Christ’s Great Commission.

Jesus said:

“I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last.”

John 15:16

That is not passive language.

Go. Bear fruit.

Christ did not save us so that we could sit comfortably on the sidelines of Christianity. He called us into a life of purpose.

Jesus also said:

“This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.”

John 15:8

There is that word again: fruit.

Fruit is evidence of life.

Wake Up and Bear Fruit

Do you see what is happening in this fallen world today?

Paganism. False religions.

They are boldly, deliberately, and intentionally seeking to influence and claim the hearts and minds of people throughout the world.

Our answer should be bold, fruitful evangelism!

Wake up!

Use your God-given gifts in any way you can to share His Gospel.

An apple tree doesn’t produce apples in order to become an apple tree. It produces apples because it is an apple tree.

Likewise, Christians don’t perform good works in order to become God’s children. We bear fruit because, through faith in Christ, God has made us His children.

This brings us back to our central question:

What are you going to do with the life God has given you?

You cannot choose every circumstance. But you can choose whether you will trust God in those circumstances.

You can choose whether you will forgive.

You can choose whether you will serve.

You can choose whether you will encourage someone who is discouraged.

You can choose whether you will open your Bible.

You can choose whether you will pray.

You can choose whether you will share your faith.

You can choose whether you will repent.

You can choose whether you will obey Christ when obedience is difficult.

You can choose whether your Christianity will be merely something you claim—or something you deliberately live.

Paul told the Philippians:

“Work out your salvation with fear and trembling.”

Philippians 2:12

Paul did not mean, “Work for your salvation.” He was writing to people who were already Christians. The meaning is that the salvation God has worked into your life should be worked out in the way you live.

Your faith should become visible.

Your character should change.

Your priorities should change.

Your relationships should change.

Your choices should change.

Your life should increasingly resemble the Christ you profess to follow.

There is a difference between saying, “I hope I’m a faithful Christian,” and saying, “By the grace of God, I will deliberately seek to become a faithful Christian.”

The first can become passive.

The second is intentional.

What Will You Do With What God Has Given You?

Do you remember the Parable of the Talents in Matthew 25:14–30?

Are you the servant who was given one talent and buried it in the ground rather than using it?

To that servant, the master said:

“You wicked, lazy servant!”

Matthew 25:26

The judgment concludes:

“And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

Matthew 25:30

Or are you the servant to whom the Lord will say:

“Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!”

Matthew 25:21

Let me pause and ask you right now:

Is this message off-putting to you? Does this message offend you?

If so, ask yourself: Why?

Why does God’s Word—and a message consistent with His Word—bother you?

And don’t misunderstand me: you cannot manufacture spiritual fruit through human strength.

Jesus said:

“Apart from me you can do nothing.”

John 15:5

Fruit comes from abiding in Christ.

But abiding in Christ is not passive indifference.

We choose to remain close to Him.

We choose obedience.

We choose repentance.

We choose prayer.

We choose service.

We choose faithfulness.

We choose to say yes when Christ calls.

In the Parable of the Talents, one servant received one talent and buried it. He did not steal it. He did not destroy it. He simply did nothing with it.

When the master returned, the servant had an excuse. But the master condemned him.

Why?

Because what had been entrusted to him was intended to be used.

There is a warning here for Christians who have been given time, abilities, opportunities, spiritual gifts, knowledge, and resources but deliberately refuse to use them for God’s purposes.

God did not give you your life merely to consume it.

He gave you a life that can be offered back to Him.

Jesus also told of a fig tree that was not producing fruit. The owner came looking for fruit and found none. The tree was occupying valuable ground, but it was not fulfilling the purpose for which it existed.

That should make us think.

What is your Christian life producing?

Are people encouraged because you know Christ?

Are people helped because you serve?

Are people forgiven because you have learned to forgive?

Are people hearing the Gospel because you are willing to speak?

Are people seeing Christ in your conduct?

Are you becoming more patient?

More loving?

More humble?

More truthful?

More generous?

More courageous?

More obedient?

Has God given you talents or resources such as public influence, good oratory, conversational skills, a good computer, social media, or other online tools?

Use them for Christ.

Do you enjoy Christian podcasts, Christian articles, or Christian music?

Share them online with others.

Do you know someone who is in need or grieving?

Be present to them.

Let them know you are praying for them.

Pray for them!

Make a prayer list and pray daily.

Pray for this fallen world.

Reassure others of the coming of Christ.

Use whatever God has entrusted to you to advance His Kingdom and proclaim His Gospel.

What fruit is your life producing?

You Don’t Have to Be Famous to Be Fruitful

You don’t have to be famous to be fruitful.

You don’t have to preach to thousands.

You don’t have to write books.

You don’t have to stand behind a pulpit.

A mother raising her children in the faith can be fruitful.

A man encouraging a discouraged neighbor can be fruitful.

A Christian visiting the lonely can be fruitful.

Someone praying faithfully for another person can be fruitful.

A believer forgiving an enemy can be fruitful.

A Christian refusing to participate in gossip can be fruitful.

Someone quietly giving to help another person can be fruitful.

Fruitfulness isn’t necessarily spectacular.

Sometimes the greatest Christian fruit is produced quietly, where only God sees it.

Jesus said:

“Your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”

Matthew 6:4

Your life will not be perfect.

You will fail.

You will sin.

You will sometimes become discouraged.

You will occasionally make terrible decisions.

But don’t confuse failure with fruitlessness.

A fruitful Christian is not a perfect Christian. A fruitful Christian is an obedient Christian who keeps turning toward Christ.

When he falls, he gets back up.

When he sins, he repents.

When he fails, he seeks God’s grace.

When he becomes discouraged, he keeps walking.

When God opens a door, he walks through it.

When Christ calls, he responds.

That is deliberate Christianity.

So don’t merely sit back and hope that your faith is genuine.

Pursue Christ.

Don’t use salvation by faith as an excuse for spiritual laziness.

Bear fruit.

Don’t try to earn God’s love through good works.

Serve because you have already received His grace.

Don’t live as though your life is something that merely happens to you.

By the grace of God, choose to make it count.

Jesus said:

“By their fruit you will recognize them.”

And He also said:

“I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last.”

The Christian life is not about earning salvation.

It is about living out the salvation you have received.

So get up.

Pray. Believe. Repent. Obey. Serve. Love. Forgive. Speak. Give. Go.

Create content.

Share content.

Practice charity.

Use your talents in any way you can to share the Kingdom of Christ and reach pagans, non-believers, and those who do not yet know Jesus Christ.

Bear fruit.

You have been given one life.

Don’t merely wait to see what happens to it.

With Christ, deliberately choose what you will do with it.

And may your life bear fruit—not for your own glory, but for the glory of the One who saved you.

In Jesus’ name, I pray.

AMEN. AMEN. AMEN!

Temple period wooden beams connected to the Temple Mount, 2,000-year-old Roman artifacts, Crusader reliefs from the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, ancient Hebrew inscriptions, biblical-era finds, and evidence of a mysterious prehistoric civilization that suddenly vanished.

Can we be active in church and still be ignoring what God is asking us to change?

https://patrickryanlewis.com/2026/08/15/when-leadership-becomes-corrupt-the-warning-of-micah-39-12/

Micah 3:9–12 gives us a sobering picture of leaders who had the right religious language but the wrong priorities.

Rulers were influenced by bribes. Priests allowed money to shape their ministry. Prophets pursued personal gain. Yet they still confidently believed that because the Lord was among them, judgment could never come.

They confused God’s presence with God’s approval.

That warning still matters today.

Church attendance, ministry involvement, biblical knowledge, giving, leadership positions, and years of Christian service are all valuable—but none of them can replace genuine obedience to God.

Micah forces us to ask some difficult questions:

Where has money, comfort, approval, or influence begun affecting our decisions?

Are we willing to obey God when obedience becomes costly?

Are we using religious activity as evidence that everything in our spiritual lives must be okay?

And perhaps most importantly:

What has God entrusted to me, and am I handling it faithfully?

Read the full study of Micah 3:9–12: “When Leadership Becomes Corrupt” on PatrickRyanLewis.com.

#Micah #BookOfMicah #BibleStudy #BiblicalLeadership #ChristianLeadership #Integrity #Accountability #ChristianLiving #Obedience #Repentance #ChurchLeadership #SpiritualGrowth #AGuyAndHisBible

God Is Faithful, Even While You Wait (Lamentations 3:22–23)

Waiting is not easy.

We live in a world where we want everything immediately.

Instant messages.

Instant information.

Instant results.

But God doesn't always work according to our timetable.

Sometimes you pray, and the answer doesn't come when you expect it.

You ask God for an opportunity, but the door remains closed.

You pray for healing, direction, provision, or a breakthrough, yet you continue waiting.

And eventually you may begin asking:

“God, have You forgotten me?”

No.

He hasn't.

The Bible reminds us:

“Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.”

God's faithfulness doesn't depend on how quickly He answers.

He is faithful while you wait.

Think about the people in Scripture who had to wait.

Abraham waited for God's promise.

Joseph endured years of hardship before seeing God's plan unfold.

David was anointed king but still had to wait for the right time.

The Israelites waited for deliverance.

Even Jesus' disciples had seasons where they didn't understand what God was doing.

Waiting doesn't always mean God is doing nothing.

Sometimes God is preparing you.

Sometimes He is preparing the situation.

Sometimes He is protecting you from something you cannot see.

Sometimes He is teaching you to trust Him rather than the outcome.

And sometimes, we simply have to accept that God's wisdom is greater than ours.

That can be difficult.

We want answers.

God may give us peace before He gives us explanations.

We want the destination.

God may teach us something important on the journey.

We want the door to open.

God may be asking us to trust Him while it remains closed.

Don't allow waiting to make you forget God's past faithfulness.

Look back.

Remember the prayers He has answered.

Remember the doors He opened.

Remember the times He protected you.

Remember the moments when you thought you couldn't make it, yet somehow God carried you through.

Those memories can strengthen your faith for today's waiting season.

And while you wait, keep doing what God has already called you to do.

Keep praying.

Keep serving.

Keep learning.

Keep working with integrity.

Keep loving people.

Keep reading His Word.

Keep trusting Him.

Don't put your entire life on hold while waiting for one prayer to be answered.

God can work in your life right now.

There is purpose in today's season too.

Maybe your waiting season is developing patience.

Maybe it is deepening your faith.

Maybe it is preparing you for an opportunity you aren't ready for yet.

Maybe God is teaching you that your identity is found in Him—not in what you receive from Him.

Whatever the reason, don't give up.

Your situation may change tomorrow.

It may take months.

It may take years.

But God's character doesn't change.

He remains faithful.

And the greatest evidence of His faithfulness is Jesus Christ.

God did not leave humanity without hope.

He sent His Son to make a way for us to be reconciled to Him.

If God was faithful enough to provide salvation through Christ, you can trust Him with the rest of your journey.

So if you're waiting today, take a deep breath.

Pray again.

Trust again.

And remember:

God has not forgotten you.

Your waiting season is not wasted when you place it in God's hands.

What are you waiting for God to do, and how can you choose to trust Him while you wait?

#GodIsFaithful #Lamentations3 #TrustGod #WaitingOnGod #FaithOverFear #GodsTiming #ChristianYouth #JesusSaves #ShareJesus #DailyFaith #Lordsbook #JMSM #KNKA

*TODAY'S PROPHETIC DECLARATION - SUNDAY, 16TH AUGUST, 2026.*

*PRAISE GOD FOR HIS MIGHTY ACTS.*

*(11th Sunday after Trinity)*

Scripture:
“Praise ye the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power. Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness.” — Psalm 150:1–2 (KJV).

*Reflection – Let Everything Within You Praise the Lord.*

Psalm 150 is a powerful call to wholehearted worship. The Psalmist does not merely tell us to praise God; he tells us why we should praise Him: because of His mighty acts and His excellent greatness.

Today, as we celebrate the 11th Sunday after Trinity, we are reminded that praise should not depend on our circumstances. God deserves our worship because of who He is and because of what He has done.

There are blessings we can see and others we may never know about. There are prayers God has already answered and others for which we are still waiting. Yet, through every season, God's greatness remains unchanged.

When we praise God, we acknowledge His sovereignty, celebrate His faithfulness, and declare our confidence in His power. Praise shifts our attention from the size of our problems to the greatness of our God.

*Prophetic Declaration:*
Today, I declare that my life shall continually be an instrument of praise to Almighty God. I will praise Him in good times and difficult seasons, in abundance and in times of waiting, because He is always worthy of my worship.

I declare that I will not allow temporary challenges to silence my praise. My circumstances may change, but my God does not change. His faithfulness remains constant, His mercy endures forever, and His greatness is beyond measure.

Today, I praise God for His mighty acts in my life. I praise Him for the battles He has fought, the dangers He has prevented, the doors He has opened, the prayers He has answered, and the blessings He has given me.

I declare that every spirit of discouragement, heaviness, fear, and hopelessness shall lose its influence over me. The garment of praise shall replace every garment of heaviness, and joy shall rise within my heart.

I proclaim God's greatness over my family, ministry, work, business, studies, relationships, and destiny. The Lord shall continue to demonstrate His mighty power in every area of my life according to His perfect will.

I declare that where I see limitations, I shall remember God's greatness. Where I see impossibilities, I shall remember His mighty acts. Where I face uncertainty, I shall remember His faithfulness.

Today, I receive fresh grace to worship God wholeheartedly. My mouth shall testify of His goodness, my heart shall overflow with gratitude, and my life shall demonstrate His love.

I declare that the Lord shall put a new song in my mouth. He shall turn my mourning into dancing, my sorrow into joy, my trials into testimonies, and my waiting into opportunities to experience His faithfulness.

I proclaim that my testimony shall encourage others to trust in God. Through my words, worship, conduct, and service, people shall see evidence of God's goodness and be drawn closer to Him.

Today, I choose praise over complaint, faith over fear, gratitude over murmuring, and worship over worry.

I will praise the Lord for His mighty acts.
I will praise Him for His excellent greatness.
I will praise Him because He is good.
I will praise Him because He is faithful.
I will praise Him because He alone is worthy!

Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen!

*Action Steps for today:*
Begin with praise: Before making your requests this morning, spend time thanking God for who He is.

Read Psalm 150: Meditate on God's greatness and His mighty acts.

Declare: “I will praise the Lord for His mighty acts and according to His excellent greatness.”

Count your blessings: Mention at least five things for which you are grateful to God.

Turn your concern into praise: Whatever challenge you are facing, commit it to God and worship Him while trusting His power.

Be a source of encouragement: Share a testimony, Scripture, or encouraging message with someone today.

End with thanksgiving: Before going to bed, remember God's faithfulness throughout the day and give Him all the glory.

*Prayer:*
Almighty and Everlasting God,
I praise You because You are great, mighty, faithful, holy, and worthy of all praise. Thank You for Your countless blessings and for the mighty acts You have performed in my life.

Forgive me for every time I have allowed my circumstances to become greater in my eyes than Your greatness. Give me a heart that continually remembers Your goodness.

Put a new song in my mouth. Let praise rise from my heart even when I am waiting for answers. Turn every difficult season into a testimony of Your faithfulness.

Lord, manifest Your mighty power in my family, ministry, work, business, studies, and every area of my life. Establish the work of my hands and let everything concerning me bring glory to Your holy name.

Make my life a living testimony of Your excellent greatness. Let my worship encourage others, my testimony strengthen the weak, and my service advance Your Kingdom.

I will praise You, Lord, for Your mighty acts. I will praise You according to Your excellent greatness.

Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

*Sunday Blessing:*
May the Lord fill your heart with an unquenchable spirit of praise today. May He give you countless reasons to rejoice and continually remind you of His mighty acts.

May every difficult situation become a testimony, every season of waiting produce deeper faith, and every blessing become a reason to give God glory.

May the Lord bless your family, strengthen your ministry, establish the work of your hands, guide your steps, and surround you with His favor.

May your mouth never lack a testimony and your heart never lack a reason to praise God.

Praise Him for His mighty acts!
Praise Him for His excellent greatness!
Praise Him for His unfailing love!
Praise Him because He alone is worthy!

Good morning beloved and Happy 11th Sunday after Trinity and 3rd Sunday in August!
May your Sunday be filled with worship, joy, divine encounters, thanksgiving, and glorious testimonies. In Jesus' mighty name. Amen!
Shalom!

*Remember: Your confession is your possession.*

* Postulant C. O. Oyadosu.*

_Please share with others, thank you and God bless you _

For counseling, prayers and partnership or you want to share your testimonies with us; please call or Whatsapp: +2348063128703
Or
Email: clementoyadosuAnderson Mwila.com

GLORIOUS SUNDAY SERMON OF
16TH AUGUST 2026

Beloved of God, welcome to this amazing gathering of God's children. As we are about to hear from the throne of mercy, I declared that you will not come in vain, and you will not go empty handed.
But before we share the word of God, let us pray

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LESSON:
Matthew 7:16-20

As a matter of fact, today's message is a self reflection, that's why it's topic is:

TOPIC:
WHAT KIND OF CHRISTIAN AM I?

TEXT:
You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles?
Matthew 7:16–20 (NKJV)

INTRODUCTION:
It is easy to ask, “What kind of church do I attend?” or “What kind of Christians are around me?” But today, God is asking a more personal question:
What kind of Christian am I?
Christianity is more than attending church, carrying a Bible, singing worship songs, or being known as a believer. Jesus wants our faith to be visible in the way we live, speak, love, forgive, serve and represent Him.
The real test of Christianity is not simply what we profess with our lips, but what our lives produce.
Be immensely blessed by the word in Jesus name.

EXPOSITION:
With a sincere mind, let's examine and consider these 3 basic important points.

1. WHAT KIND OF FRUIT IS MY LIFE PRODUCING?
Matthew 7:16–20; Galatians 5:22–23; John 15:4–5
Jesus said, “You will know them by their fruits.”
Notice that Jesus did not say people would be known merely by their appearance, religious vocabulary, church position or spiritual title. He said they would be known by their fruit. Fruit is evidence of what is happening inside a tree. In the same way, our daily conduct reveals what is happening in our hearts.

A Christian may speak about love, but how do I treat people who offend me? I may talk about forgiveness, but can I forgive those who hurt me? I may preach holiness, but what happens when nobody is watching? I may say that I trust God, but what happens when I face disappointment? These are the moments when our fruit becomes visible.
Galatians 5:22–23 describes the fruit of the Spirit as love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

This gives us something practical to examine.
Is there love in me? Is there patience in me?
Is there self-control in me? Can people see Christ in the way I respond under pressure?
Because sometimes, the greatest testimony we preach is not from the pulpit. It is through our behaviour when life does not go according to our expectations. Jesus also said in John 15:5, “He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit.”

Fruitfulness is therefore connected to our relationship with Christ. We cannot consistently produce Christlike character while living far from Christ. The question is not whether we once produced good fruit. The question is: What is my life producing now?

EXPOSITION:
2. AM I A LIGHT THAT LEADS PEOPLE TO CHRIST OR A STUMBLING BLOCK?
Matthew 5:14–16; Romans 14:13; 1 Peter 2:12
Jesus said, “You are the light of the world.”
That means our Christianity is not supposed to remain inside the church building. People are watching us.
Our neighbours are watching. Our colleagues are watching. Our family members are watching. Young people are watching. Even people who disagree with Christianity are watching.

Sometimes, before they read the Bible, they read our lives. This is why we must ask ourselves a difficult question: Does my lifestyle make people desire to know Jesus, or does it give them another reason to reject Him? A Christian can become a stumbling block through bitterness, dishonesty, hypocrisy, arrogance, unforgiveness, gossip, immoral behaviour or an abusive attitude. Imagine telling someone that Jesus changes lives, while that person consistently sees anger, hatred and dishonesty in our own life.
What message are we communicating?

Romans 14:13 tells believers not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in another believer’s way.
This does not mean that we live our lives based on people's opinions. It means we recognize that Christian freedom carries Christian responsibility.
Our lives should make the Gospel attractive, not contradictory. Jesus said in Matthew 5:16:
“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”

The purpose of our light is not to make people admire us. It is to make them glorify God. So, when people encounter me, what do they encounter? Christ or character problems? Grace or hostility? Truth or hypocrisy? Love or bitterness? We cannot preach the Gospel effectively with our mouths while preaching a different gospel with our lifestyle.

EXPOSITION:
3. AM I OBEYING CHRIST OR AM I ONLY PRACTISING RELIGION?
John 14:15; James 1:22–25; Matthew 28:19–20
Jesus said plainly: “If you love Me, keep My commandments.” That means genuine Christianity must eventually produce obedience. It is possible to become very familiar with church activities while becoming unfamiliar with obedience to Christ.
We can attend services, participate in programmes, sing loudly, pray publicly and even hold positions in church, yet still ignore the simple commands of Jesus.

Jesus commanded us to love one another.
He commanded us to forgive.
He commanded us to serve.
He commanded us to make disciples.
He commanded us to preach the Gospel.
He commanded us to live as lights in a dark world.
The question therefore becomes:
Am I doing what Jesus asked me to do?

James 1:22 warns us not to be merely hearers of the Word, but doers. Hearing God's Word without obeying it can create the illusion of spiritual maturity.
Knowledge is not the same as obedience.
Knowing that we should forgive is not forgiveness.
Knowing that we should evangelize is not evangelism.
Knowing that we should love is not love.
Knowing that we should live holy is not holiness.
At some point, the Word we hear must become the life we live. And this includes the Great Commission.

Jesus said in Matthew 28:19–20, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations.” Every Christian may not stand behind a pulpit, but every Christian has a responsibility to represent Christ. There is somebody around us who needs encouragement.
Somebody needs to hear the Gospel.
Somebody needs to see forgiveness.
Somebody needs to see genuine Christian love.
Somebody may be watching our life and wondering whether Jesus is truly real.

So the question is not merely:
“Am I a Christian?” The deeper question is:
“What kind of Christian am I?”
Am I a Christian by name, or by transformation?
Am I only a church member, or am I a disciple of Jesus? Am I carrying the name of Christ while refusing to carry His character?
This brings us to the conclusion of the message.

CONCLUSION:
Today, the mirror is before us.
Not before our neighbour.
Not before another church member.
Not before society. Before me.
What kind of Christian am I?
May our Christianity be more than words, titles and religious activities. May our lives produce good fruit, shine as lights, and demonstrate obedience to Christ.
Let people encounter us and see something that points them back to Jesus.

CLOSING PRAYER:
Let us pray!
Lord Jesus, make us genuine representatives of Your kingdom. Let our lives produce good fruit, let our character reflect You, and let our actions never become a stumbling block to others. Help us to love, forgive, serve and obey You faithfully. May our lives point people to Christ. In Jesus’ mighty name, Amen.

GOODWILL MESSAGE:
This is my goodwill message for you this week:
May your life become a living testimony of the transforming power of Jesus Christ. May your words carry grace, your character reveal Christ, and your actions draw others closer to God. May your faith remain fruitful, your light continue to shine, and your life bring glory to your Father in heaven. Amen.

HAPPY WONDERFUL SUNDAY,
HAVE AN AMAZING WEEK.

LIKE IT OR NOT!
JESUS IS COMING BACK AGAIN SOON!!
REPENT AND BE READY FOR HIM!!!

This wonderful message is brought to you
With Love from Pastor M O Glorious,
CHRIST APOSTOLIC CHURCH ,
Palace of Mercy, Royal District, Restoration Zone. Damolapa, Laketu, Lucky Fibre, Ikorodu Lagos Nigeria. For prayer or counseling, pls contact us@
08055646358: 09018952081
or
peganmireAnderson Mwila.com

#WhatKindOfChristianAmI #ChristianCharacter
#ChristLikeLiving #FruitOfTheSpirit
#BeTheLight #ChristianFaith
#WalkWithChrist #ObeyChrist
#LiveForJesus l#LetYourLightShine
#KingdomLiving #JesusChrist

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