Topical Sermons
2025-05-16 | Matthew 7:1-5 | The Path from Judgment to Joy | Brett Dabe
I want to begin today by asking a question. How many of you have ever watched a mother struggle with her crying toddler who gets out of control? What was your first thought? “If that were my child, I would handle this so differently?” Almost immediately? I have had that happen countless times, however, I also began to feel the gentle nudge of the Holy Spirit—that reminder that I had just done exactly what we’re going to talk about today: I had judged someone without knowing their story.
Have you ever caught yourself doing something similar? Maybe it was something small. Or perhaps it was something more significant—watching a friend make a decision you strongly disagreed with, or seeing a family member handle a situation in a way you would never choose. That quick internal commentary that whispers, “I would never do it that way.” That subtle pride that says, “My approach is better.” We live in a culture that encourages judgment. Social media platforms are designed for quick opinions and hot takes. News outlets invite us to form immediate judgments on complex situations we know little about. Even our entertainment often revolves around judging others—from reality TV competitions to comment sections filled with harsh criticisms. But this evening, I want us to consider what God’s Word has to say about this very human tendency to judge others, and how releasing judgment can lead us to experience a depth of joy in Christ that many of us have never known.
Turn with me to Matthew chapter 7, where Jesus gives us these powerful words beginning in verse 1: “Don’t judge, so that you won’t be judged. For with whatever judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with whatever measure you measure, it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but don’t consider the beam that is in your own eye? Or how will you tell your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye;’ and behold, the beam is in your own eye? You hypocrite! First remove the beam out of your own eye, and then you can see clearly to remove the speck out of your brother’s eye.” (Matthew 7:1-5 WEBUS)
These are challenging words from our Savior—words that go against our natural inclinations, against our culture, and against our pride. Today, we’re going to explore how breaking free from judgment opens the door to a joy-filled life in Christ. I believe this message is timely for the body of believers, particularly as we navigate a world filled with division and quick judgments. My prayer is that by the end of our time together, each of us will have a practical path forward to release judgment and embrace the fullness of joy Jesus promises.
2025-05-02 | Abiding In Christ Amid Deception | Manny Fernandez
KEM Topical Sermon Series: 1 John 2:18-23
“Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour. They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us. But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge. I write to you, not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and because no lie is of the truth. Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son. No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also.” – 1 John 2:18-23 ESV
2025-04-25 | A World Worthy Of Hate! | Manny Fernandez
KEM Topical Sermon Series: 1 John 2:15-17
“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.” 1 John 2:15-17 ESV
2025-02-21 | Categorically Developed | Manny Fernandez
KEM Topical Sermon Series: 1 John 2:12-14
“I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven for his name’s sake. I am writing to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I write to you, children, because you know the Father. I write to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.” 1 John 2:12-14 ESV
2025-01-10 | Love: The Supreme Ethic | 1 John 2:7-11 | Manny Fernandez
“Beloved, I am writing you no new commandment, but an old commandment that you had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word that you have heard. At the same time, it is a new commandment that I am writing to you, which is true in him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining. Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness. Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling. But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.” 1 John 2:7-11 ESV
2024-11-29 | Imposter Syndrome | Walking in Assurance – The Evidence of Truth | Manny Fernandez
“And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.” 1 John 2:3-6 ESV