Lexington Baptist Temple

The Gospel is the most powerful message in human history. It has the power to bring the dead to life. It has the power to turn the world upside down. But, what do we do once we receive the Gospel? What then? In Romans 8, we see that the Holy Spirit empowers each believer, giving assurance of our faith and strength for the journey.

In Romans 8, the apostle Paul shifts the focus of the believers' relationship with sin and the law to a brand new relationship with the Holy Spirit who indwells, illuminates, empowers and guides. This new relationship is one that provides a great unshakeable freedom that rests "In Christ Jesus."

Do you ever feel like there's two people at war inside? The Apostle Paul felt the same way in Romans 7. In this message, Pastor Derek Holmes looks at how our perspective of victory over sin should change our perspective in the battle agains the sin nature.

In the last half of Romans 7, the Apostle Paul shows himself to be extremely vulnerable and transparent. He describes a spiritual war that rages in his spirit between the spirit and the flesh. Paul's transparent confession is something to which every believer can relate.

Have you ever been in a dead-end relationship? If you have, you know it. Maybe it's a relationship that's going nowhere... or it's a relationship that's going nowhere good. A lot of relationships are toxic. In Romans 7, Paul uses the analogy of the marriage relationship to talk about how the law was never meant to fulfill or sustain us. It is like a bad relationship that we are all stuck in and are dying to break free from.

As Paul starts applying the truth of the Gospel in chapter 6, He begins to examine what life looks like IN Christ. All things are made new. This new life in Christ gives us a totally new relationship with sin. It's a relationship where we are not longer enslaved to its grip, but must still be mindful of its power.

In Romans 6, the Apostle Paul shifts from a theological tone to practical application. Since we have been given new life in Christ through the Gospel, what should that new life actually look like? In this episode, Pastor Derek Holmes looks at the first two benefits of life IN Christ.

In Romans 6, the Apostle Paul shifts from a theological tone to practical application. Since we have been given new life in Christ through the Gospel, what should that new life actually look like? In this episode, Pastor Derek Holmes looks at the first two benefits of life IN Christ.

Each New Year comes with a fresh outlook and new hopes for new opportunity. We often make resolutions to lose weight, get healthy, start a new relationship, etc. But, have you ever considered what resolutions we should make for the soul? In this message, Pastor Derek Holmes looks at Psalm 16, one of the most often quoted Psalms of the Apostles in Acts, to see how our soul's need is best met and only met in the Eternal Savior, Jesus Christ.

"O come all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant." This beloved Christmas Carol is a call to worship for all believers to worship Christ. But, do you always feel faithful, joyful or triumphant? In this message, Pastor Derek Holmes looks at how Christ takes us faithless, broken and weary and makes us new in Him. Jesus is the difference.

The Christmas Story is very endearing to us. We immortalize it with nativity scenes and mangers and stables and plays, but in reality it was very chaotic and unsuspecting at the same time. Bethlehem is a place that no one would have chosen, but God did. In this message, Pastor Derek Holmes looks at how When Jesus is among the lowly, He lifts us up to Him.

From Luke 2:21-40. As kids, we get impatient waiting for Christmas. It seems like the longest night of the year is Christmas Eve, waiting for all the fun and presents the following morning. In Luke 2, we are introduced to two people -- Simeon and Anna -- who were both waiting for Christmas, but for very significant reasons. They teach us that all of us have the same spiritual longing. We are all Waiting for Christmas.

"God With Us." These three words sum up the miracle and glory of Christmas. The fact that God became a man and stepped down into our brokenness is the greatest gift the world will ever know. In the first message of the Christmas at Graceway Series, Pastor Derek Holmes looks at how the Incarnation of Christ makes the Christmas story personal to all of us.

In the closing verses of the opening act of the book of Romans, we shift from seeing why the Gospel is necessary, to see what makes the Gospel available to the world -- the unconditional, unreasonable, undeniable, unstoppable love of God.

We use the word "Blessing" quite often in church. WE almost use it so much, we lose the significance. Some blessings are good, while others may not feel so pleasant. Some come to teach us or refine us. And, other blessings come to us just because we know Christ. In Romans 5, Paul notes 5 vital blessings for knowing Christ for which we can be eternally grateful

Part 2 of a 2-part message from Romans 4. Looking at how the righteous can live by faith.

The entire book of Romans rests on the foundation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. In Chapter 4, Paul uses the example of two Old Testament Heroes to show us that salvation has always hinged on faith alone in the grace and mercy alone through Christ alone. While the saints of the Old Testament looked ahead to Jesus, we look back to Jesus and place the same saving faith in Him. But, what does it mean to "live by faith"? In this episode, Derek Holmes looks at two of the four ways Paul presents in chapter 4.

On October 31, 1517, Martin Luther nailed his famous 95 Theses to the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany. This sparked the Protestant Reformation. The reformation was built on "5 Solas" of the faith... Salvation by grace alone, through faith alone in Christ alone for the glory of God alone as found in Scripture alone. The text that launched reformation in Luther's own heart was Romans 3:21-26, the passage that Pastor Derek Holmes looks at on today's episode.

Romans 3:1-21. Pastor Derek Holmes continues to walk through the book of Romans by looking at how the only true way to salvation is to admit we are sinners in need of a Savior.

What happens when we turn our back on God? Nothing good, that's for sure. What happens when God turns His back on us? We'll never know, because He never has and never will. In Romans, Paul talks about the judgment that falls on all who disregard God. We see a tragic statement three times, "God gave them over." In other words, we tell God to leave us alone, and He respects us enough to do just that. But, thankfully, God loves us too much to let us go. He is always there, working to redeem us even from ourselves. This message looks at how rejecting the Creator results in chaos and all forms of pain.