Pastor Joseph Ondu: Lit & Lifted - Inspiring Minds through Sermons, Books, and Stories

  Sermon Title: “Building a Powerful Prayer Life” Theme Scripture: James 5:16 (NKJV) “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.”   Introduction: The Power and Purpose of Prayer Prayer is the believer’s lifeline to God. It is not merely a religious duty or a formality; it is a relationship, a conversation, a connection with the Father. Jesus prayed. The early church prayed. The apostles prayed. And every revival in history has been birthed in prayer. Without prayer, we are powerless. With prayer, we partner with God to bring His will to earth I. What Is Prayer? Prayer is communication with God (Jeremiah 33:3): “Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things…” Prayer is spiritual intimacy (Psalm 42:1): “As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for You, O God.” Prayer is surrender and alignment (Luke 22:42): “Not my will, but Yours be done.” II. Common Hindrances to Prayer Understanding what hinders ou...

  Sermon Title: Dealing with Toxic Relationships Text: Proverbs 13:20 – “He who walks with the wise becomes wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm.” Speaker: Pastor Joseph Ondu Introduction Relationships are God’s idea. He created us to thrive in healthy, loving, and supportive connections. But unfortunately, not all relationships are from God. Some relationships come to drain, distract, derail, and even destroy your God-given purpose. These are what we call toxic relationships —relationships that poison your peace, weaken your walk with God, and damage your self-worth. This sermon is about identifying, confronting, and healing from toxic connections so that you can walk freely and wholly in God’s will for your life. What is a Toxic Relationship? A toxic relationship is any relationship that continually harms you emotionally, spiritually, mentally, or even physically. It could be with a friend, a colleague, a leader, a partner, or even a family member. Some signs ...

  SERMON TITLE: We Are Called to Encourage, Not Destroy Main Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:11 – “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” Introduction: The Power of Words and Attitudes In a world filled with criticism, rejection, and emotional wounds, the Church must rise as a community of builders , not breakers . God never designed us to tear each other down with gossip, jealousy, or neglect. Instead, we are called to encourage , to lift , and to restore . "Death and life are in the power of the tongue..." – Proverbs 18:21 Question for Reflection: Are my words building others up or slowly breaking them down? I. We Are All Builders in God's House Ephesians 4:29 – “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up…” God has entrusted us with influence . Whether you’re a pastor, a parent, a colleague, or a friend, your presence and words have the power to ei...