Sermons on Justin Martyr:

Prioritizing The Eternal: Letting Go To Receive More

Contributed by Justin Dietel on Jul 12, 2024

I want to start today with a story that might sound familiar to many of you. Picture this: I’m at home, trying to get my kids’ attention. They’re completely absorbed in their tablets, watching videos or playing games. I call out, “Jack, Jack, Jacqueline!” And… nothing. Not even a glance

Good morning, everyone. I want to start today with a story that might sound familiar to many of you. Picture this: I’m at home, trying to get my kids’ attention. They’re completely absorbed in their tablets, watching videos or playing games. I call out, “Jack, Jack, Jacqueline!” And… nothing. Not ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:19-34

Embracing Humility: Walking In The Footsteps Of Christ

Contributed by Justin Dietel on Jul 12, 2024

Today, we’re going to delve into a topic that many of us have wrestled with throughout our lives: pride. Growing up, I was taught to take pride in everything I did. Whether it was on the sports field or in the classroom

Philippians 2:3-4 (NIV): "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. Proverbs 16:18-19 "18 Pride comes before disaster, and arrogance before a ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 16:18-19, Philippians 2:3-4

Embracing Uncertainty: Finding Joy In Life's Twists And Turns

Contributed by Justin Dietel on Jul 12, 2024

Today, as we gather in worship, I want to share with you a reflection on the journey of life—its challenges, its uncertainties, and the profound lessons it teaches us about trust and faith.

Good morning, beloved congregation. Today, as we gather in worship, I want to share with you a reflection on the journey of life—its challenges, its uncertainties, and the profound lessons it teaches us about trust and faith. As many of you may be aware, I'm still relatively new to the Zion ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 3:5-6, James 1:2-4

Unity In The Church: And The Boundaries Of Unity Series

Contributed by Justin Steckbauer on Jun 6, 2024

We have a perfect example from Jesus about what it means to walk in unity. On Earth, Jesus sought to do the perfect will of God the Father.

You can tell when you walk into a church, and spend any amount of time there, whether that church is united or not. What is Christian unity? We know it when we see it. We can feel it. You can feel the peace around the table. You can sense the peace and unity in the service, the bible studies, the ...read more

Scripture: John 17:1-5, John 17:13-19

Denomination: Salvation Army

Christ In The Heart: It's Just That Simple Series

Contributed by Justin Steckbauer on Jun 6, 2024

You can sit in church your whole life and never let Christ into your heart. You can try very hard to adjust your outward behaviors but never let His love into yourself.

In all this deep discussion of prayer and God’s presence and turning ourselves toward Him, we must always return to the basic, simple understanding of who Jesus Christ is to us. You can sit in church your whole life and never let Christ into your heart. You can try very hard to adjust your outward ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 11:25, Proverbs 9:4-5

Denomination: Salvation Army

Jesus Asks: Do You Love Me? Series

Contributed by Justin Steckbauer on Jun 19, 2024

Let’s examine ourselves. How was our conduct over the last few years? Did we keep Jesus first in everything?

On February 8th of 2023 a revival broke out at Asbury University and lasted for 144 hours. It started with a simple chapel service where a message was given that led students to seek God. This revival led to thousands and thousands of people descending on the small town to experience the revival. ...read more

Scripture: John 18:15-17, John 21:15-17

Denomination: Salvation Army

The Ultimate Christian Attainment: Union With God Series

Contributed by Justin Steckbauer on Jun 19, 2024

We do not easily submit to all this burning up of dross within us. We do not want to be buried with Christ in his cross and alive with Christ in His resurrection. We naturally resist the death of self. Yet God helps us submit to the refiner's fire.

Many great saints I’ve known, even in the Salvation army, many are retiring now, and they say that when they retire, they are grateful that God did not show them the entire path all the ups and downs because they would not have been able to handle the thought of it. But step by step, along the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:7, John 6:63, 1 Peter 1:7

Denomination: Salvation Army

The Illusion Of Success

Contributed by Justin Dietel on Jul 24, 2024

Good morning, everyone. Today, I want to talk about something that I believe touches all of us at some point in our lives: the pursuit of worldly pleasures and success

Ephesians 2:11-22 Common English Bible The reconciliation of God’s people 11 So remember that once you were Gentiles by physical descent, who were called “uncircumcised” by Jews who are ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:11-22

We're Missing The God Behind The Word: Who Are You Really God?

Contributed by Justin Steckbauer on Jan 13, 2023

It's astonishing how we can miss this simple connection. We can get so focused on belief in scripture, a worldview, a depiction of reality, which is all good stuff, that we can all together miss that the goal is to know the real God who behind all this information.

The thing we need to discover is this: Who is God, really? That is the chief question. Nothing else really matters. We've been in evangelical Christianity, and the apologetics movement, ever focused on a list of things we ought to believe. It's very informational. This is all exceedingly ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:37

Denomination: Salvation Army

The Letters To The Seven Churches In Revelation: The Church In Ephesus Series

Contributed by Justin Steckbauer on Jan 16, 2023

Encouragement and correction for the ancient church as Ephesus in the shadow of the temple of Artemis

What are the authoritative sources in your life? What are they? This is way more important than we might realize. What do we trust for information on how we should successfully live our lives? We could list some out. Most would say their parents, information from the education system, television, ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 1:1-3, Revelation 2:1-7

Denomination: Salvation Army

A Man After God's Own Heart: David's Early Life As A Shepherd Series

Contributed by Justin Steckbauer on Jan 16, 2023

David was anointed as the king of Israel as a young man, and that would define his life for many years. He was a young king in exile. Because technically Saul was still king. But Saul had displeased God. And so God would slowly work in David’s life to bring him to the seat of the throne.

We’re going to examine the life of the one of the great historical figures, a man named David. If there’s one person I want to mimic in my devotion to Christ it’s David. He is the prime example from the Old Testament of a godly man, a man the Bible says, was a man after God’s own heart. There are ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 16:11-13

Denomination: Salvation Army

Repentance Is The Seed Of Revival: Letter To The Church Of Laodicea Series

Contributed by Justin Steckbauer on Feb 27, 2023

This was the banking center of Asia minor, working with money, and power and influence, business and jobs and industry, manufacturing, and goods and products. Reminds one of the United States of America, so much money, so many goods and services, and so much abundance.

“We have been the recipients of the choicest bounties of heaven. We have been preserved, the many years, in peace and prosperity. We have grown in numbers, wealth and power, as no other nation has ever grown. But we have forgotten God. We have forgotten the gracious hand which preserved us in peace ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 3:14-22

Denomination: Salvation Army

David Gathers A Band Of Outcasts In The Cave Stronghold Series

Contributed by Justin Steckbauer on Feb 27, 2023

Two houses are being built, one is solid, the other is brittle, and caving in on itself. These are the two paths, one of David, the man of God, and Saul, the man in rebellion.

Two roads are beginning to form, two roads in two starkly different directions. We’ve both been on these roads. Maybe not to this extreme, but we have. We’ve seen where God’s path leads, to hope, to challenges, to victory, and yes, the valley of the shadow of death too, dark times, but, we’ve also ...read more

Denomination: Salvation Army

Encouragement For God's Weary Soldiers

Contributed by Justin Steckbauer on Mar 2, 2023

We need to adjust our entire mindset on this battlefield. We need to focus on Jesus Christ our glorious, victorious, perfect savior full of perfect love and grace and truth, and find refreshment for our souls.

Soldiers gather on the outskirts of a city. There are about two hundred of them gathered there, though other groups of faithful fighters are gathered in other places, some out in the woods encamped around fires, others in facilities deep within the cities. These soldiers are beat up, bruised, ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 40:31, Psalm 123:1, Romans 5:3-5

Denomination: Salvation Army

The Uniqueness Of Mark's Gospel: John The Baptist In The Wilderness Series

Contributed by Justin Steckbauer on Mar 19, 2023

Focusing in on Mark chapter one verses 1-20, and we’ll be reflecting on three key events in this first portion of Mark. We’ll be looking at the ministry of John the Baptist as he prepared for the coming of Jesus, then the baptism of Jesus, and Jesus’ calling his first disciples.

Last night I was listening to some beautiful music. And I was just thinking, this music is a gift from God. It really is. Who is this creator who made everything? How are we to understand who he is? Of course, we know we understand from his word, but I was thinking, and I wondered: What can we ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:1-20

Denomination: Salvation Army