Classic Sermons

...Bishop Shines uses Revelation 2:18-29 to discuss the apostate church of Thyatira. Thyatira was known for faith and service but had committed spiritual adultery. They allowed the spirit of Jezebel to live in the church. Are you faithful to God and returning to your hometown, or are you trying to control people?

Additional scriptures: Joshua 24:15, Acts 16:11-15

This 10-week series will explore what it means to disown the name of ...

...Bishop Shines uses Revelation 2:12-17 to discuss the apostate church of Pergamum. This church was placed in the seat of Satan. The leaders allowed idolatry and the culture of that time to be taught. They had gifts but used them for personal gain rather than for the glory of God. Will you compromise when confronted with challenges or cultural pressures?

Additional scriptures: Matthew 24, Nahum 1:3, Ecclesiastes 1:9, Jeremiah 20:9...

...Bishop Shines uses Revelation 2:8-11 to discuss the apostate church of Smyrna. They represent the persecuted church, yet Jesus says not to worry; He’s already there. During your tribulation, God will cause the very thing that started it to end it. Will you hold fast to your confession when you are under pressure, or will you change and begin to doubt?

Additional scriptures: Genesis 31:7, Nehemiah 4:12, Revelation 13:1, Joh...

...Bishop Shines uses Revelation 2:1-7 to discuss the Apostate Church of Ephesus. God noticed their labor, hardships, and toil for souls, and that they didn’t give up. Although they were working, they abandoned their first love. Are you still serving your first love, or are you just busy with activities?

Additional scriptures: Matthew 6:33, Malachi 3:10, Proverbs 16:7

This 10-week series will explore what it means to disown t...

...Bishop Shines uses Matthew 24:4-10 to continue discussing the Apostate Church. When a person separates from God’s original plan, they enter into apostasy. God allows persecution, which can lead to apostasy. Prayer and the Word of God are required to overcome it. Will the culture pull you away from God, or will you stand firm in what He intended you to be?

Additional scriptures: Revelation 2:6, Revelation 2:15, Matthew 6:33...

...Bishop Shines uses Jeremiah 5:1, 30-31, and 2 Peter 2:15-16 to discuss the Apostate Church. Apostasy begins in the house of God, where believers turn away from the things of truth. Areas of apostasy include seducing spirits, doctrines of demons, hypocrisy, a seared conscience, forbidding marriage, and having a form of godliness while denying its power. When these things are seen in places of worship, they don’t have to be ...

...Bishop Shines uses Ephesians 3:16-21 to conclude the discussion on overcoming offense. When an offense occurs, go directly to the person to discuss it. If they do not listen, take one or two others with you to resolve it. If you have done that and they still do not listen, discuss it with the church leadership. Finally, if all of that doesn’t work, begin to witness to them. Diminishing offense means walking in God’s ...

...Bishop Shines uses Ephesians 3:16-21 to explain how to overcome offense by walking in love. When you’re walking in the fullness of God, you don’t have time to take offense. There will be a test of your fullness. In that testing, can you pray for the offender? Love never changes; it’s not conditional on testing or emotions. When you’re offended, are you emotional or walking in the fullness of God?

Additiona...

...Bishop Shines uses Psalm 92:7-12 to discuss a cure for offense. The way to avoid offense is to be planted, and you will flourish. When you’re planted, you’re spiritually sound. As a spiritually sound person, you will have the heart of a servant, which will give you liberty, and through obedience, you will avoid offense.

Additional scriptures: Psalm 92:13, Romans 5:19, Psalm 119:130

This 12-week series will examine aspe...

....Bishop Shines uses 2 Samuel 13:1-14 to discuss when you are critical. A critical spirit begins when you start judging from the outside looking in. It always finds the weakest link. When you become a chameleon, you have a critical spirit and are walking in offense. Being critical causes spiritual death. Are you going to walk in offense or be free?

Additional scriptures: 2 Samuel 13:22, 1 Samuel 16, Hebrews 12:15, Hebrews 4:12

This...

...Bishop Shines uses Mark 11:24–26 to explain how to receive answers to your prayers. Holding unforgiveness against others can hinder your prayers. Forgiveness cancels the debt that binds you to others’ actions against you. Forgiveness is not optional; it’s a command. Will you continue to walk in unforgiveness or free yourself by following the command?

Additional scriptures: Colossians 2:13-14, Matthew 5:24, Matth...

...Bishop Shines cites 1 Peter 2:6-8 to discuss the rock of offense and how Jesus offended the religious leaders, family, and staff. When offense stems from truth, it reveals what’s in you. People will be offended by you when you don’t meet their standards. Are you offended by truth, or does it help you obey the Father?

Additional scriptures: Romans 9:10, James 2:19, Luke 2:34, Matthew 15:9-17, Matthew 13:55-57, Mark 3:...

...Bishop Shines refers to Luke 22:21-32 to ask whether you are anchored in pride or in love. What's in your heart will surface in a crisis. Just because the Lord uses you doesn’t mean you can’t walk in offense. If you don’t want to walk in offense, you cannot act like the culture around you. When you are in offense, will you be remorseful only in your words, or will you have true repentance?

Additional scriptures...

...Bishop Shines cites Mark 4:16-18 to explain how offense can move you out of position. God often uses uncomfortable environments to cultivate maturity, refinement, and strength in your life. A mature person can help others. Refinement teaches you how to handle situations. If you are not prepared, offense comes more easily and can lead to isolation. Will you allow offense to run from the problem, or prepare your heart to grow in G...

...Bishop Shines cites Genesis 50:19-20 and Matthew 24:10-11 to explain how the enemy will use those close to you to offend you and steal your dream. Offense arises when you do not understand what is going on, and it builds a fortified city around you. As a believer, don’t let offense in; destroy the atmosphere that creates it. Are you able to love beyond the offense, or will you hold on to your hurts?

Additional scriptures: ...

...Bishop Shines cites Revelation 3:14-20 to explain how offense and pride keep you from receiving from God. Pride keeps you from being forgiven because you feel justified. The believer is refined in the furnace of affliction. Will you allow God to show you who you are through the refining fire, or will you be full of pride and not receive?

Additional scriptures: 1 Corinthians 5:6, Hebrews 3:13, Isaiah 48:10, 1 Peter 1:6-7, Hebrews...

...Bishop Shines references 2 Timothy 2:24-26 to explain how offense can be a subtle snare. Offense typically falls into two types: feeling you were treated unfairly or believing you were mistreated. If these feelings trap you, it puts you in a position where the devil desires you to be. Will you choose freedom or fall into the trap?

Additional scriptures: Matthew 7, Matthew 18:22, John 3:11, 1 Corinthians 11, Matthew 5:24-26

This ...

.....Bishop Shines uses Luke 17:1-5 to explain how offense can affect the believer. From offense, several things can develop: hurt, anger, jealousy, resentment, strife, bitterness, hatred, and envy. Are you falling for the bait of offense? When you fall for it, you become wounded, divided, and feel betrayed, which can lead to backsliding. When offense comes, will you draw closer to the Father or withdraw?

Additional scriptures: Joh...

...Bishop Shines uses Ephesians 6:18-19 to talk about prayer as part of a believer’s authority. Praying all types of prayers, in the Spirit, is necessary to grow in authority. Sometimes, you will need to name something in prayer to bring it under the authority of Jesus. Are you willing to go into the secret place to receive what God wants you to have?

Additional scriptures: Ephesians 6:12, 1 Corinthians 2:10-16, Acts 19:1-5, ...