RUF at TCU (Reformed University Fellowship): Recent Episodes
Bradford Green
Gen 3:8-24 | After the Fall, Gen 3:15 gives us the first word of the gospel and points us to a greater marriage between Jesus and his Church.
Gen 3:1-7 | Because of the Fall, sin has entered the world and death through sin-- leading to shame, fear, and our desperate need to hide from God.
Part two of a three part series on justification from this year's Ranchopalooza youth retreat.
Gen 2:4-25 | God uses covenants to order his relationship with humans, but the fall of Adam creates a need for a new and greater covenant representative: Jesus.
Part three of a three part series on justification from this year's Ranchopalooza youth retreat.
Part one of a three part series on justification from this year's Ranchopalooza youth retreat.
Gen 2:1-3 | In creation, God models work and rest for us, and gives us a special kind of rest in the Sabbath.
A preview of our Spring '23 series in Genesis, based on Gen 1:1-- "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth."
Gen 1:1-31 | In the first chapter of Genesis, God makes promises-- and he never makes promises that he doesn't intend to keep.
Luke 18:1-8 | Guest Preacher Rev. Brian Davis of Trinity Pres in Fort Worth opens up the story of the unjust judge and the persistent widow.
Luke 18:9-14 | Through repentance and faith in Jesus, God gives us the verdict of "Justified" for all time.
Luke 15:11-32 | The Prodigal Son and his older brother both find different ways to run from their father.
Rev. 22: 1-5, 14-21 | Jesus has not forgotten us. He will come for us soon, swallowing up Death forever.
Rev. 21:1-5, 16, 22-27 | God work, all along, has been to put back together "all things."
Rev. 19:6-10 | Heaven itself is imaged/put on display as a great feast, a wedding feast even. But, we're not just there as participants, the people of God are there as Bride. How does seeing this about our future shape the way we live now?
James 1:26-2:7 | Rev. Ryan Moore shares with us about what lies at the heart of True Religion.
Rev. 14:6-13 | John "presses into" his readers by encouraging them, no matter what they are facing – threats from without or boredom from within – to persevere. He does this by warning of Judgment and promising Blessing.
Rev. 17:1-6, 15-18; 18:1-4, 9, 11, 13 | In this selection of verses, we learn of the Symbolic City-Prostitute: Babylon...what she means and where she is headed.
Rev. 12 | Every Christian is engaged in a war they can't avoid...and, yet, one they can't lose.
Rev 6 & 8:1-5 | The slain Lamb on the Throne begins to open the scroll. The seven seals which He breaks set into action God's redemptive plan for His people. These texts show us that God is utterly sovereign in His rule. And, even through suffering and (apparent) chaos, God is governing all thing for the good of His beloved people and the judgment of His enemies.
For more information about and ways you can support RUF at TCU, please click here.
Rev. 5 | At the center of the Throne, we are show a Lion who is a slain Lamb. John is showing us that Jesus and His work stands at the center of reality itself. This gives our lives profound meaning (as well as all of history), but it also shows us the way that following him will be like.
Rev. 4:1-11 | John's next vision takes us to the heart of Reality itself. At the center, we find an occupied Throne. The Throne reminds us that God is in control of all things and this is meant to bring all of creation to its knees in worship.
Rev. 2:1-7 | Jesus addresses, through John, a church that has much going for it! Right teaching, moral living, and confronting false teachers. In all of this, however, they had lost something critical: Their love for Jesus. Listen in as we learn how Christ confronts this situation and the good news offered, not only to the church at Ephesus, but for us as well.
Rev. 1: 9-20 | John gives his readers, and us, a picture of Christ as He presently is. Seeing Him, how would this change the way we live our lives in the present?
Rev. 1:1-8 | The book of Revelation is meant to show us Jesus. It does so by giving us images to engage our imaginations so that we might see Him.
1Cor 6:12-7:5 | In an over-sexualize culture, how does the Bible speak on the topic of Sex? Listen in to how we learn to "Follow Jesus with our bodies."
If you would like to learn more about the ministry of RUF at TCU, including ways to support it, please click here.
Eph 5:21-33 | The Christian vision/picture of marriage is one that points to a greater reality — Christ's love for the Church. Learn, here, where we get the power for marriage and how it shapes us as well.
If you would like to learn more about the ministry of RUF at TCU, including ways to support it, please click here.
In the wake of tragedy/death on campus last week, we take a break from our relationship series to look at how God meets us in our sorrow and sadness.
Mark 12:28-32 | The Great Command to love God and Neighbor apply to all areas of life. Here, we explore their application to the topic of Dating.
1Cor. 7:1, 6-9, 25-28, 32-35 | Paul highlight singleness as a fully human expression of being human. Our singleness is not a less-than-ideal way of being human in God's world. Rather, being a gift, we are to continue to love God and love others even if we are not married.
Proverbs 18:24, 27:6, 9, 17; John 15:12-16 | Good friendships are necessary to live well and wisely in this world. In order to make, keep, and be good friends, we'll need to see how we have a Friend "who sticks closer than a brother."
Matt. 18:21-35 | Here in this parable, Jesus teaches us that those who follow Him must have their lives characterized by forgiveness. Not only TO us, but THROUGH us. This, in turn, gives us profound resources to bring healing to our relationships.
1 Jn 4:7-12 | The healing/mending of all our relationships begins with God first reconciling us to Himself through Jesus, an act that John calls a demonstration of Love.
Genesis 1:26-28, 31; 2:18-25; John 17:3 | From the beginning, the we were made for relationships. We bear the image of a communal God who has made us and therefore we too were made for relationships!
Mark 2:1-12 | Here we see how Jesus makes us whole, in community with others, for the good of the world around us.
Prov 14:25; 15:1, 18; 16:32; 19:11, 19; 22:24; 25:21-22; 29:9, 22 | Is there a more disintegrating (to our relationship, ourselves, and the way we see the world) emotion than anger? While created as emotional persons, the Proverbs tells us that we'll never become wise unless we learn to understand and get a handle on our anger.
Proverbs 3:35, 4:8, 15:33, 21:21, 22:4, 25:27, 27:2, 29:23 | Vainglory. Not a word we use much these days. Yet, the reality (the empty praise of others) is something very much present in our lives. What is vainglory and what do the Proverbs tells us about its dangers and healing? Listen here for more.
Proverbs 6:6-9, 12:11, 13:4, 21:5, 26:15, 28:19 | Man was made to work and to work well. The Proverbs move us from sluggardliness to diligence and wisdom.
Proverbs 3:31, 14:30, 19:23, 23:17, 24:1, 27:4, 27:20 | Most of us downplay the vice of Envy in our lives. But Proverbs holds it out as something terribly destructive to us and our relationships. Even still, it is not beyond being healed by the Gospel.
Proverbs 10:11, 18, 19; 12:17-18; 13:3; 15:1, 23; 18:2, 21; 24:26; 27:19; 29:11 | Nearly 13% of all the Proverbs deal with our words. In other 'words' (sorry), the Proverbs talk a lot about talking. Listen here to what our words are for and practical ways to use them in light of the gospel.
(NOTE: Poor audio quality halfway through) Proverbs 5:21; 15:22; 16:1,3,9,25,33; 19:21; 20:24; 21:2; 21:30 | Proverbs seeks to give us an understanding about how our choices and God's plan co-exist at the same time.
Proverbs 3:34; 11:2; 13:10; 15:25; 16:18-19; 18:12, 21:4; 22:4; 29:23; 30:13 | Here, we take a look at what author Dorothy Sayers calls "the sin of trying to be...God." What is pride and how do we find healing for our pride before Jesus?
Prov 3:5; 4:20-23; 12:20, 25; 15:13-14; 15:30; 16:1; 17:3; 20:9 | The book of Proverbs understands human beings in a unique way. It says that our hearts shape our entire lives. And even though they direct the "springs of life", the heart, too, is directed. We are most wise when we understand our hearts.
Prov. 2 | Wisdom is gift to us from God himself. Even so, it must be sought out. How do we gain it and what the promises it gives us?
Pv. 1:1-7, 22-23, 32-33; 4:7 | In this introductory sermon, we see that the book of Proverbs puts on offer something we desperately need. It seeks to give us wisdom that we might become wise, from Him who is the Wisdom of God.
1 Pt. 4:12-19 | Peter tells Christians that they will share in both Christ's suffering and in Christ's glory.
1 Pt. 4:1-11 | One of the staggering implications of the Good News is that it is oriented toward the future, yet lived out in the present. For Christians, their Future is meant to come crashing into the present...for the good of the world.
1 Pt. 3:18-22 | In this admittedly difficult (even, strange!) text, Peter is telling us that Jesus secures a victory for us over all powers —seen and unseen.
Heb. 4:14-5:6 | Guest Preacher, Rev. Ryan Moore, shows us how Jesus is the "Better High Priest" that the OT sacrificial system pointed toward.
1 Pt. 3:8-17 | For Peter, Christians are called to seek the good of those around them...even it means suffering themselves. To do so IS the path to "Good Days".
1 Pt. 3:1-7 | One of the ways that Peter envisions the good news of Christ 'spilling over into the world' will be through marriages that are attractive. In other words, marriages themselves are missional and Peter encourages his readers to think, and live them out, as such.
1 Peter 2:18-25 | Peter highlights that to live as a Christian in this world will likely bring suffering. He doesn't bemoan this, rather gives us resources to be able to stand in the midst of it.
1 Peter 2:11-17 | Peter reminds us that though we have been set free in Christ, they are to use that freedom in radical service to others.
1 Pt. 2:4-10 | Peter shows us here what happens to our Identity when we come to Christ by faith.
1 Peter 1:22-2:3 | When the gospel comes into our hearts, it provides the resource to do life faithfully unto the Lord.
1 Peter 1: 13-21 | All humans are inherently Hope-Oriented people. Peter shows us how Christians have been set free to set their hope fully on God's grace and how this changes them.
1 Pt. 1:1-12 | Peter opens his letter by reminding us who we are and the staggering news of what has happened to us. By calling us "Exiles," Peter is reminding us that our true home in not here (yet!), and that we have a better country coming.
Judges 19:1-4, 14-30; 21:25 | The books ends on the low note. This is the nadir of the book. After finishing the book, the reader is left wondering, "When will a king come who can finally put this mess back together?" Come learn about this horrible, gruesome episode in the life of God's people...and the surprising grace found there.
Judges 17:1-13 | In this obscure passage we learn about what all of us are prone to – bargaining with God. But, God, in His kindness, refuses to relate to us this way. Come learn why...
Judges 16:15-31 | The 'downward spiral' of the Judges comes to an end with this text. The scene is dire and God's people have turned far from Him. Yet, in his amazing love for them, He continues to pursue and continues to rescue in the face of their own rebellion. Samson's (life and) death shows us this.
Judges 13:1-5; 14:1-20 | Samson was Israel's last Judge. Through his life we learn about a Greater Deliverer who is to come.
Judges 11:29-40 | In an incredibly sad and dark text, we learn of the deliverer-judge Jephthah. Listen to how his failures show us the mercy and grace found only in Christ.
Judges 9 | NOTE: Poor audio quality. The book of Judges makes a decidedly downward turn in the story of Abimelech. The evil he commits is unconscionable. And yet, God's grace prevails. God himself made a promise to make a people for himself, and evil - in all its forms - will not thwart that purpose.
Judges 7:1-7, 16-22 | The judge-deliver, Gideon, was a fascinating character. In chapter 7 we see a highlight in his leadership. God works through him to deliver Israel from the Midianites. But, not with power and strength. Listen in to learn about the real Hero of this Story of Rescue.
Judges 6:7-16, 36-40 | Listen as our intern, Charles Marchman, teaches us about God's constant faithfulness to us...even in spite of our doubts and insecurities.
Judges 4:1-24 | In this amazing story of deliverance, God continues to rescue His people from their rebellion. Additionally, there is an invitation to risk with God to serve alongside Him to further His purposes in the world.
Judges 3:12-31 | God's people had turned their backs on Him by worshipping idols. Having turned away from them, would God now turn away from them? No. He continues to be faithful to His people.
Judges 2:11-19 | This portion of Judges acts as a second introduction of the Book. It show us that God's people had given their hearts to idols. But, because of God's great covenant faithfulness to His people, He rescues them.
Rom. 8:26-29 | Christians believe that God not only starts the work of Salvation, but that He finishes it too. This future promise is meant to be a profound encouragement and a present help for us along the way. The Triune God gives us a Groaning Spirit, The Son's Likeness, and The Father's Love to carry us home.
Rom. 8:14-25 | One Christ has done a work FOR us, the Holy Spirit takes up residence IN us, enabling us to become more like Christ and experience real freedom. Paul shows us two primary benefits that God gives us, enabling us to live for Him: Internal Help an Eternal Hope.
Rom. 8:1-13 | The great encouragement of the gospel is that God doesn't merely save us and leave us alone. Rather, He comes and dwells within us by His Holy Spirit. What does a Spirit-empowered life look like for the Christian?
Rom. 6:1-14 | If grace is so free, why shouldn't we go on sinning so that we may receive more of it? In light of all that Paul has just said, Paul anticipates this question in our minds. He answers with some staggering news: you've been remade because you've been united with Christ.
Rom. 5:1-11 | God want us to know, not just intellectually, but with our 'guts' that He really does love us. The objective, outside of us, work of Jesus for us, is always meant to bring joy in our hearts. This is a wonderful privilege of our Peace with God.
Rom. 4 | For three chapters Paul has been laying out how there is a great need for all people AND how that need is met in the righteousness which in Christ. How do we get that righteousness? Do we work for it? Do we have to prove ourselves worthy? Paul says it comes in an entirely different way.
Rom. 3:21-31 | After laying out the bad news about us, Paul now turns to explain the best news in the world: that there is a way to be righteous before God apart from works of the law.
Rom. 3:9-20 | Paul tells us that all of us – no matter who we are – are bent against God and are in desperate need of rescue. This unflattering news of our great need of a Savior, points forward to a Great Savior for our Need.
Rom. 2:1-5, 17ff | Paul shows us, here, why Morality (as good as it may be) can never save anyone. The belief that good behavior saves, ironically, condemns precisely because it makes us judged-judges. The hope of the Good News is that Christ has died for judged-judges too!
Rom. 1:1-18-32 | The cure is sweet because the diagnosis is bitter! Paul has just written of the Righteousness of God being revealed. But, there is something else being revealed: The Wrath of God. Certainly and unpopular topic, but we need to hear the bad news about us before the Good News changes us. Here Paul shows us what the wrath of God is, why, and how it is being revealed.
Rom. 1:1-17 | Paul opens his letter to the Romans by stating that there is NEWS (gospel) that reveals something that changes everything. The News is that, through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, God has decisively intervened in His great rescue project of the whole cosmos.
John 20:24-31 | Thomas was a man of profound faith...and doubt. At the same time. What do we do with the doubts that seem to exist in the midst of faith? Jesus, as we'll hear, not only invites them, but seeks to minister to them.
John 19:28-37 | Something cosmic, something utterly transformative happened when Jesus breathed His last. What was it? We learn that BOTH Forgiveness and Righteousness were given to those who trust in Jesus and His death on the Cross.
John 18:28-40 | John shows us two worlds, two kingdoms clashing: Rome and Heaven. Here, we see the interchange between Pontius Pilate and Jesus of Nazareth. We learn what Jesus's death, and Barabbas's release, means for us.
John 17:1-5, 20-26 | In the last hours of His life, Jesus was praying for his disciples (both present and future). And it is by seeing him praying for us that we (the church) have the power to be on mission, revealing the heart of the Father to the watching world.
John 14:15-17, 25-26; 16:5-15 | There is much confusion surrounding the third Person of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit. Learn about who is, what he has come to do, and why he matters.
2 Cor. 1:15-2:4 | Ryan Moore shows us how the Cross changes and shapes us to live a life following Jesus.
John 15:1-8 | Jesus reminds us that those who are in him will bear fruit for the Father's glory.
John 14: 1-7 | Jesus, soon to leave his disciples, offers up final words of comfort to calm their sad, anxious hearts.
John 13:31-35 | Genuine love for others is a profoundly hard thing to do. Where will we find the ability to do such a thing? John reminds us that Loved People, Love People. Those who know the deep love that Christ offers are able to love others well.
John 13:1-17 | Here, we see that "Life" that comes as we serve others and where we get the power to do so.
John 12:37-50 | Not everyone believed in Jesus. Here, we see John explaining why; and, we see Jesus coming as the one who mends our unbelief.
John 12:1-8 | Mary comes and brings her devotion to Christ. She models and embodies the "death of self" that is required to follow Jesus.
John 11: 17-27, 38-44 | The last of Jesus's 'Signs' was the raising of Lazarus from the dead. Learn how this sign point forward to Resurrection Life that Jesus brings.
John 10:7-18 | Jesus is the One who knows all the way down and brings us all the way in.
John 8:12-20 | RUF Intern, Charles Marchman, teaches us about Jesus coming into the world to teach us about Himself.
John 7: 25-31, 37-39 | When Jesus comes, He brings a lasting joy with Him. How can we have access to that joy? Come, listen as Jesus teaches us.
John 6:22-40 | Jesus feeds us with Himself. He alone is the one that will satisfy all our deepest longings.
John 5:1-18 | Jesus heals a man paralyzed for 38 years. Come learn about the question He poses to the invalid, "Do you want to be healed?" and what it means for us too.
John 4:1-26 | Jesus doesn't only interact with religious insiders. Here, we see Him speaking with an outsider. See (!) how He gives grace to this very famous "woman at the well".
John 3:16-21 | What has God done to rescue the world turned against Him? God gives. Listen, here, about this Gift.
John 3:1-15 | To a religious insider, Jesus says, "You must be born again." We see, here, what must happen to someone if they want to see the kingdom of God.
John 2:13-22 | Jesus has come to make sure the worship of His Father exists forever. He shows us how he does this and how we are to respond.
John 2:1-12 | (Audio is bad at spots. We're trying to fix this! So sorry.) Come and see what happens when Jesus shows up to a Wedding. What does this "sign" reveal about who He is and what He has come to do?
John 1:1-18 | John tells us about how a relationship with God begins and is sustained: He comes to us. We also learn of the incredibly high privilege of being sought by Him.
John 1:35-51 | NOTE: Poor audio quality. So sorry about that...What does it mean to see with spiritual eyes and how do we know we are seeing rightly? John opens his gospel with an invitation to come and see Jesus to find the answers to these questions.
Lev 26 | All relationships have their rules. They are there to protect and cause the relationship to flourish. Here, we learn how God designs to cause His relationship with His People to flourish.
Lev 23 | God invites his people to rest. He provides both body and soul rest. Real rest is meant to be seen as enjoyable, something that renews us, and ultimately about freedom.
Lev. 19 | Grace is never meant to stay (only) with us. It is meant to be put on display through us as well. The popular saying, "Love your neighbor as your self" has its origin right here in Lev. 19. Listen here where we learn what neighbor love looks like and where it comes from
Lev 18 | Leviticus reminds us that all areas of our personhood are broken. This certainly includes (all of) our sexualities. Even here there is grace! Listen, here, for what God has to say to us about our broken-ness, sinfulness, and His grace as it relates to our sexualities. This sermon devotes most of its time to the topic of homosexuality.
Lev. 16 | What do we do with our guilt? Not just the feeling of guilt, but the nagging sense that we've done something wrong? Lev. 16 shows us how we can do nothing with our guilt, but that doesn't mean were hopeless.
Lev. 11-15 (Various selections) | When God calls a people to HImself, he promises to change their character. The Clean Laws show us the sort of people God makes us and how we are to live based on who we are.
Lev. 9-10 | The Bible claims that everyone makes something supreme in their lives. In Lev 9-10, we see what happens (and what doesn't happen) when God is made that supreme object.
Lev. 8 | The priests primary role was to ensure that worship happened. What does this mean for us today? Listen, too, to how Christians today are referred to as the priesthood of all believers.
Lev. 3 | The Peace offering reminded the worshipper that peace/fellowship can now be had between God and man. How was this pictured? How was this shown forth? Listen, here, as we see that God celebrates by having a meal with sinners.
Lev. 1 | Here, we examine the Burnt offering and how essential it is to understanding a Better Sacrifice, Jesus.
The book of Leviticus is not easy to understand. Existing a cultural world far away from ours, it poses several problems for the modern reader. But, as we'll see, the book of Leviticus is profoundly relevant as Christian Scripture (yes!) even today. Come listen as we introduce the series and see what we need to understand to make sense of this gospel-dense book.
1 Cor. 6:12-7:5 | The Bible holds out a view of sexuality that altogether different than a traditional or progressive view. The Bible says that sex is loaded with meaning that points to an incredibly wonderful thing!
Eph. 5:21-33 | Marriage is wonderful...and marriage is hard. That's because it points to a greater reality: God in Christ loving US! Here, we see what marriage is, what it points to, and the power contained in it.
Mk. 12:28-32 | "Growing up in Christ" is the aim for Christians. What does maturity look like then as we date? This question gets tackled as practical advise is covered.
Mk. 12:28-32 | The goal of the Christian life is love for God and love for people. Dating, therefore, must be about these things too. See how the Greatest Commandment has a bearing on why and how we date.
1Cor. 7: 1-9, 25-28, 32-38 | The Bible holds out both marriage and singleness as equally dignified ways to be human. Here, Ryan looks at what the Bible says about Singleness.
Isa. 44:9-23; Rom. 1:21-25 | Here, Brian Davis reminds us that anything can become an idol...including relationships. Listen to how the gospel frees us to love each other rightly.
Pv. 31:1, 10-31 | What does the bible say about what it means to be a woman, created in God's image? The Bible gives us a glorious picture of where real worth, beauty, and sacrifice come from.
Gen. 1:26-28 | God made man in his image. Tonight we look at a particular set of questions that (most) men have about themselves. Who am I? What is my purpose? And, Do I have what it takes to get it done?
Matt. 18:21-35 | One of the hardest things about relationships is learning how to mend them. Forgiveness is the fuel for repairing what is broken between us. Ultimately, we're able to forgive because God in Christ has forgiven us!
Proverbs, Eccl, John 15 | We are made for relationships, but relationships are made for us. Friends are hard to come by, but necessary. Here, Ryan takes an in-depth look at Friendships.
1Jn 4:7-12 | Are relationship doomed to despair and brokenness? The apostle John reminds us that God is in the process of redeeming even the most difficult of relationships. He does this by first restoring relationship between us and Him (and this through love).
Gen. 3:1-21. Despite their glorious beginnings, Relationships are busted. Listen as we learn what lies behind the brokenness, how it affects us, and how the brokenness is made right.
Gen. 1: 26-28, 31; 2: 18-25. From the beginning, man was created to be in relationship with God and other people. Relationships are inherently good because God himself made them.
Exodus 12:1-13, 21-42 | In this sermon, hear Ryan teach of the true and better Passover Lamb.
1 Kings 18:20-40 | In this sermon, Ryan talks about what true worship is and looks like.
Genesis 6:5-8; 9:1-17 In this sermon, see that we are secure because of God's promises, not our own.
Samuel 17: 1-12, 16, 32-52: In this sermon, come hear of the Deliverer God gives us and how through His death and resurrection has conquered our real enemy.
Exodus 19:16-20; 2:18-21: In this sermon we learn that there is always a person that stands between God and man. Learn about who that mediator is, what he does and why it is so important.
Eze. 16: 3-43, 59-63. The bible depicts God's relationship with His people in several ways, none more intimate than that of a Husband and a Wife. In this stark text, we see how the love and grace of God outlasts and outdoes the sin of man.
Gen 22:1-19. In this troubling account of Abraham and Isaac, God asks Abraham to sacrifice his son. See how, in the end, God provides for what He requires.
Gen 1:24-31. Human Beings have been referred to as "Glorious Ruins". Gen. 1 shows us that Man is the crown of all Creation because he reflects God, though not perfectly. How will man be 'fixed'? And, what does it mean to be "Truly Human"? LIsten to find out more...
Luke 24:13-27; Gen 3:6-15. Ryan looks at how the Bible is one story, about one person, who is the one and only hero.
In this passage, we see that everyone puts their identity in something. Paul urges us to put our identity in the cross of Christ.
In this passage, Paul shows us that the gospel sets us free to live with other free people.
In this passage, Paul speaks hard truths, but follows those hard truths with God's great grace.
In this passage, Paul shows us that real freedom isn't just being freed from something, but being freed to something.
In this passage, Jesus calls us to stop living as who we aren't and to start living as who we are.
In this passage, Paul calls us to genuine love for one another, to pursue our brothers and to groan with them as we live life together.
Paul shows us that one of richest, highest privileges that we have as Christians is to be called 'sons and daughters'.
Paul tells us here that there is a problem with the thing we most want. We want to be able to save ourselves by law (i.e., a list of dos and don'ts). Paul tells us, however, that the law is inherently flawed in that it doesn't have the power to save.
How do people access the righteousness that is from Christ? Paul notes that it is not bound up in anything that we do, but is, instead, received. In fact, it is received by trusting in Christ. Give a listen, here, to the importance of receiving righteousness by faith.
Paul highlights the real need that all of us have for not only forgiveness, but for righteousness as well. In Christ, comes a righteousness that can never be earned...and can never be lost.
A huge moment in history happened in Church history in this text. How so? There was unanimous agreement that the way that one finds acceptance before God is by faith in the finished work of Jesus alone.
The Apostle Paul opens up his life and lets us in on how the gospel of God free, radical grace changes people and one's orientation in life. Paul, a 'hater' of the Christian faith, was upended when this gospel invaded his life. How did this happen? Listen, here, to find out...
One of Paul's major concerns in the book of Galatians is that his readers would know and experience freedom. In this sermon, we look at how the good news of Jesus fuels that freedom.
Jesus is arguably one of the most polarizing figures in history. He infuriated some while comforting others. What happens when people get near to Jesus? LIsten, here, to see how his words and actions leave an indelible mark on those whom He is around.
Every person, at some point in their lives, has wrestled with the question, "Why am I here?". In Ps. 145 David invites us to consider that our singular purpose is not for ourselves, but for God alone. And, contrary to the belief that this brings misery, it actually brings great joy for life to not be about 'you.'
Many of believe that if there is a God, He can't be bothered with the affairs of our everyday lives. Psalm 139 shows us how involved God is without lives and why He would want to do so
Here the psalmist asserts that everyone, everywhere makes something supreme in their lives. The Bible calls this posture 'worship'. How do we fix our 'worship disorders' such that Life is given to us? NOTE: Poor recording quality. Bummer, we know. Sorry.
In God's being in love (among other things, to be sure). But His goodness, doesn't 'stay' there; it gets expressed to his creation...and especially his people. This sort of love is uncomfortable, at times, but is the very thing that makes our hearts sing.
The Psalms give us a range of human emotions. Most of us, however, never really explore the sorrow and pain that are often in our lives. This leads to burying or denying what is really there. Psalm 88 gives us language so that we might express our darkest of moments before God.
It is easy to believe that when the 'bad guys' are winning, God must not be involved (at best) or he doesn't care at all (at worst). Psalm 72 reminds us of what is REAL and how this gives us the ability to face the dark side of life in the world.
What do you do when you're 'busted', when you've been found out? The 51st Psalm is a confession (of sorts) of a man who was found out by God. In it we see the inner workings of repentance that ultimately lead to real freedom.
Ps. 34 invites us to examine the ways that God gives us His grace in times of difficulty. This psalm invites us to sing in the midst of our difficulties.
In this classic Psalm, David models singing our weakness before God. Instead of burying them or denying them, he is able to name them honestly. Only a God who has first become weak for us can free us to do this.
Every heart longs to be happy. It motivates everything we do. And happiness is only had by loving something. David says our hearts are happiest when the love God alone.
Every human culture has some vision of what human flourishing looks like. Psalm 1 show us that every heart is shaped by something and that something will direct the course for that individual's life. "What will you love?" the Psalms asks and provides a future for the answering of that question.
To be a human being means to be dependent and limited. Yet, the lure of our culture and own hearts is to pursue independency and power. What does have to say about Power--it's glory and ruin? Here, we learn that power, rightly expressed, is to give up independence and love others by serving them.
What do we make of a good God and the notion of Hell? Listen here to hear about how a God of justice and a God of love are not opposites. Rather we see that love is always just...and how God has made a way for those deserving justice.
What do we do when the spiritual "high" wears off? Ryan talks about the importance--and problems of trusting in--our spiritual states...and how Jesus is better than the best of our states.
The Christian Scriptures teach that there is no such thing as a solo-Christian. When God rescues us, He puts us in community with others...and this is for our, and their, good.
Perhaps you perceive religion as morally constraining. Or, have you thought about following a religious code as a means for ultimate moral freedom? This sermon shows how in Christianity one gets something utterly unique: Real Freedom within Real Limits.
Does God really help those who help themselves? Here we learn that God doesn't save morally good people (no matter how squeaky-clean they may be). Rather, God's grace comes to people who are needy, realizing that they are helpless without Him.
All of us are people-pleasers to some degree or another. We want to be liked and esteemed. Christianity asserts that all of the opinions of all the people in the world don't hold a candle to the approval that comes from God himself to those who are in Christ.
What are we to make of the claim that not all religions can be equally true? Is our culture now now forced to deal with the subjective value of religion alone. Christianity is unique in what it affirms. It says that God as a person has come and to do so that He might be with men. Listen here for a sermon on the challenge of exclusivity.
Nobody likes being out of control. This leads many of us to want to have a god that we can easily manage and control. Listen in to hear how we can have the Jesus as he really is and not as we wish He could be.
Christians claim that the Bible is the word of God. But, doesn't it have errors? Wasn't it just written by men? If these things are true, why should anyone trust the bible? Listen, here, for a case as to why the Bible can be trusted as reliable.
Paul knows the Christian life will be anything but easy. In fact, Paul assumes that simply living out the Christian life is to engage in a spiritual battle. There is a real enemy, but God has not left us unaided as we engage with him. Here, Paul spells out the great benefits given to believers as they "stand against," and at last "to stand."
Paul realizes that once the gospel takes hold of a heart, it never leaves the inner-workings of that heart the same. In this sermon, we listen in as Paul describes the dynamics of Christian Change.
Paul realized there are essentially two ways to live out (or 'walk') life. Those for whom Jesus died are called to imitate him and walk in love.
Paul, moving from the themes Christian identity, now begins to encourage his readers to life with one another. In this sermon, we hear about Paul's exhortation to unity, diversity within unity, and th point of unity, namely, maturity in the body.
Paul closes the first half of his letter with a prayer, so that his readers would be equipped for what he has to say next. In short, Paul knows that the Christian Life is impossible apart from the resources that only God can give.
Paul tells he readers that, at one time or another, all of us have been outsiders with respect to fellowship with God. Through Christ, our deepest longing--what C.S. Lewis calls "Our Inconsolable Secret"--is both out and answered.
Paul tells his readers that something which has been hidden for ages is now revealed in the Church. And now, this new body, is the vehicle to display the gospel to the entire cosmos.
Paul highlights the Grand Scheme of salvation: Man is dead in his sin, made alive by Christ-and this by grace-unto the end that good works would mark the followers of Jesus.
Paul uses the institution of marriage to highlight a greater reality: Christ's love for his Bride, the Church.
Paul explains to the Ephesians who they are and what they have as Christians. When they recognize these central truths, their lives begin to look radically different.
Paul opens his letter to the churches in Ephesus with a sweeping look at the point of everything, namely that one day all things will be summed up in Christ.