Christ Church Katy Sermons: Recent Episodes
Christ Church: Katy, TX
The mercy of God is rooted in the finished work of Jesus Christ. We must remember that Jesus came to save us from the wrath of God, the due judgment for our sins.
The Lord Jesus speaks about the inheritance of the meek and the fulfillment of those who hunger and thirst for righteousness.
In Isaiah 60:1, we are reminded to “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.” This shining marks the dawning of the gospel and the appearing of our Lord Jesus. Throughout Isaiah 60, we find the glorious promise of a future where God shines upon all His people—drawing in His elect, beautifying His house, and securing us forever.
God calls us in His word to delight in Him and to seek Him alone. Isaiah reminds us of the danger of false, performative religion. We are always to choose God over our own desires and instead be “Delighting in the Lord” (Isaiah 58:1-14).
We see the “the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is holy” (57:15). It is a prophecy that contrasts those who dwell with God, and those who are children of idolaters. God’s message through the prophet challenges us to see the horror of idolatry, but also the peace that belongs to all God’s children. For the wicked, there is no peace, but for those who repent and follow Christ, there is everlasting peace!
Now Isaiah starts to describe what that will look like: foreigners and eunuchs will come into the presence of the Lord and will have an everlasting name. What a blessing that we can hear about the God who gathers to Himself the outcasts! This is God’s “Salvation for the World” (Isaiah 56:1-8).
The Lord issues a call to come to Him. It is a call that is compassionate, compelling, and confident.
We begin to see the beauty of the Lord’s work of redemption. Where once we had strife and grief, now we have “The Lord’s Peace” (Isaiah 54:1-17).
Isaiah brings us the third of the Servant Songs in chapter 50, in which he contrasts the people of God who will not listen with the Servant, who is awakened daily to listen and learn. He then tells us that the only way to find comfort is to listen to the Lord. We are called to “Hear the Servant” (Isaiah 50:1-51:23)
In one of the greatest passages of the Old Testament, Isaiah sets forth for us the Lord Jesus Christ as the Servant who suffered in our place. (Isaiah 52-53)
God does not give up on His people, but instead He redeems them from their sin and misery. He does this through the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ. He is “The Restorer of Israel”
It is beneficial for us as we live in this world to never confuse the City of Man with the City of God. Isaiah helps us to see this with “The Ruin of Those Who Reject God.”
Isaiah speaks for the only true and living God when he writes, “I am the first and I am the last; besides me there is no god.” This is strikingly familiar to what Jesus tells us about Himself in Revelation chapter 1. The prophet wants us to know that there is “No God but God.”
We can “fear not” because the Lord has redeemed us and is with us through the trials of life. Isaiah tells you to put your trust in “The Lord Our Savior”
Isaiah turns to tell us of the Lord’s Chosen Servant, who has been sent to bring salvation and peace. In the first of four “Servant Songs” Isaiah introduces us to God’s Servant, the Lord Jesus Christ. He gentle, patient, powerful, and brings God’s people to praise the Lord. Listen to Isaiah when he brings God’s message, “Behold My Servant!” (Isaiah 42:1-25)
Matthew opens his gospel with the genealogy of Christ, going all the way back to Abraham.
God is sovereign over all creation and He has set His covenant love on His people. Because of that, we can hear God’s call to “Fear Not” (Isaiah 41:1-29).
At just the right time, the Bible tells us, Jesus came into the world, sent by the Father to redeem for Himself a people. When we think of Christmas, we cannot forget the cross. For it is because of the cross that Jesus was born a man, born under the law.
One of the hardest things about life is the feeling that God has forgotten us when we are in the midst of suffering. Is the Lord too busy to regard our situation? Or is it that He just doesn’t care? Isaiah continues to press his point that the Lord is not only all powerful, but He is all wise and all caring
There is no one like the Lord; no one can compare to Him. The Lord needs no counsel or advice. The nations are nothing before Him. When we realize how great the Lord is, all of our problems and difficulties are put into perspective. We are called to look to “The God of All Comfort: God the Creator” (Isaiah 40:12-26).
Our hope is in the Lord, who is ever faithful and true, ever able and mighty, ever tender and gracious. This is a word that we all need to hear. Life is hard, and we are all too aware of our sins and shortcomings. We need to hear that there is “The God of All Comfort: God the Redeemer” (Isaiah 40:1-11).
This chapter introduces the major characters, and especially Ruth, who puts her faith in the God of Israel
Sometimes we think that the Lord will rescue us because of our great faith. However, the Bible is clear in explaining that while we must trust the Lord and have faith, our faith is weak and unworthy of merit. At the best of times, we fumble and fail.
Hezekiah seeks Isaiah’s help and goes before the Lord in prayer. There, he finds the hope that was always available.
One of the great messages of the Bible is that there are only two destinies for every single person on earth. Isaiah gives us the picture of a way of wilderness and waste and a way of holiness and joy.
Isaiah expresses the plea of the people of God as they see danger beyond their ability to handle. Their only hope is to wait upon the Lord. The Lord answers their prayer and shows His power and authority.
God promises to restore the land, dwell with his people, and not let them be put to shame!
Joel speaks of the Day of the Lord, and how our only hope is full and complete repentance.
Where the ungodly are under judgment, repentance is their path to hope. The Lord is not merely the One who sits in the heavens in judgment; He is the great King who preserves His people.
Isaiah warns us about the dangers of such stubbornness and highlights the great blessing of seeking the One who “waits to be gracious to you.”
A terrible plague of locusts has struck Israel! The solution is to call upon the Lord and repent.
As we conclude the series on Stewardship, we look at what the Scriptures have to tell us about our “Attitudes in Stewardship.”
We would be wise to look at our “Investment in Stewardship” (Luke 19:11-27) in such a way as to bring the greatest glory to our God and Savior.
See how God addresses each member of the family, and how he calls us to honor Christ in the home.
Paul moves to “The Gospel in Stewardship” (2 Cor. 8:6-15), linking the work of God in the hearts of believers to their abounding in good works, including stewardship and generosity.
We are encouraged to think about our possessions and what we have with a perspective of how we can benefit others in need. When we look to the Lord Jesus Christ, we will see the “Blessings in Stewardship.”
The Apostle Paul, in writing to the congregation at Corinth, reminds us that God’s grace is found in the generosity that flows from God’s people. God gives grace to His people, which results in joy and an eagerness to bless others.
The Apostle Paul urges us to keep our hearts and minds on Heaven, where Christ is seated.
Isaiah tells Judah that the Lord is about to show them that He does not take kindly to being ignored. Following those warnings, Isaiah then begins to set forth “The Lord’s Wondrous Works” that He will perform for His people (Isaiah 29:1-24).
The Lord is the one who has laid the foundation for safety and blessing, and whoever looks to him will be saved. This passage was often used by the New Testament authors to point to Jesus Christ, who is “The Precious Cornerstone.” (Isaiah 28:1-29)
Paul addresses false teaching in Colossian church, and their sinful emphasis on rituals over grace.
There are those who experience the discipline of God and are brought to repentance, faith, and trust in Him. For them, the suffering they experience is but a “light momentary affliction” (2 Cor. 4:17) that is “not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed” (Romans 8:13).
What is real purpose and meaning of Christian Baptism? See how Baptism relates to the Covenant of God.
Those who reject the Lord are blind to His blessing and the hope He brings, but those who trust in Him have “Perfect Peace” (Isaiah 26:1-21)
Isaiah describes the end of all history and the end prepared for everyone: either judgment and disaster that awaits those who reject the Lord, or salvation and joy that awaits those who rest in Him. We would do well to consider the “Final Destinies” (Isaiah 24:1-25:12).
The Lord will not allow anyone to steal His glory. So, through the prophet, once again, He declares “The End of Pride” (Isaiah 23:1-18)
“The Valley of Vision” (Isaiah 22) was the name given to the area around Jerusalem. Isaiah provides a prophetic vision as he records the sad spectacle of God’s people not only failing to trust in the Lord but also being careless about the consequences of that.
Jesus is the organic and authoritative head of the church. Listen and hear why this is so important.
Christians have been marvelously delivered from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of the beloved Son!
That day would be a glorious day, when “the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord.” We can look forward to that day, as we await the consummation of the kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ. We look forward to Jesus, “The Righteous Branch” (Isaiah 11:1-16).
God will use whatever He wants to purify His people and bring them to Himself. That is why God also promises that a remnant will return to Him and “lean on the Holy One of Israel.” This is a prophecy of “Sovereignty and Salvation” (Isaiah 10:5-34).
One of the most terrifying things the Bible teaches us is that sinners ignore the warnings that a gracious God gives to them. The Lord is calling on us to humble ourselves and to see the truth that “God Hates Oppression” (Isaiah 9:8-10:4).
Paul is off to Rome, but before he gets there he faces a massive storm and a shipwreck!
The Lord promised a Savior to lead His people out of darkness into light, and to bring joy out of sorrow. His names reveal His greatness and our hope.
What do you do when events in the world seem to be crashing in on you? The temptation is to put all your energy and focus on the circumstances and try and come up with a solution. But that is a recipe for disaster when it makes us forget the Lord.
The Lord tells Ahaz to ask for a sign, but Ahaz refuses because he has no faith in God. But God is ever-gracious! He gives a sign, a sign that we need today: the sign of the One who will be born and who will save His people.
Even with Paul being held captive, there is a still a plot against his life! See how God delivers him and even uses this to bring him one step closer to Rome.
This vision is meant to break down our warm and fuzzy preconceptions of God, but it also shows us the grace of God. Isaiah’s sin is atoned for, and He is sent on a mission with a message. It is important for us to see “Isaiah’s Vision” (Isaiah 6:1-13).
The Apostle Paul gives the account of his conversion and calling in order to defend his ministry in Jerusalem.
The prophet Isaiah was sent with a message of warning and condemnation to Judah. Unless Judah repented, she would experience the judgment of the Lord. Isaiah’s message fell on deaf ears, but the Lord kept reaching out to His people. Now Isaiah sings a love song – a song in which the Lord’s love is unreturned by His people. The Lord had done everything possible to care for and show grace to His people, and they responded with self-centered rebellion. And so the Lord tells them that destruction is about to come upon “The Vineyard of the Lord” (Isaiah 5:1-30)
One of the most essential parts of Isaiah’s message to Judah was the warning that their abandonment of the Lord would inevitably lead to an unjust and wicked society. And such a society was harmful to them! If they thought that was the only consequence of their sin, the Lord further describes how He will bring judgment upon them to shake them free of their idolatry and sin. The description is comprehensive and terrifying. But as He always does, the Lord also brings a word of hope: there will come “The Branch of the Lord” (Isaiah 3:1-4:6) to redeem and set all things right.
As chapter 2 opens, Isaiah looks into the future and sees a glorious picture: the nations coming to the mountain of the Lord to worship God. But that picture was still some time off. Isaiah then looks at present-day Judah and Jerusalem and warns them against trusting in themselves and feeding their pride. (Isaiah 2:1-22)
What do we do when we realize we are lost and need help? When we look at our past and recognize that we are guilty and need restoration? The prophet brings a word of restoration to Judah (and us). (Isaiah 1:21-31)
There are two great spiritual dangers for mankind. First, we can believe that we are much better than we indeed are, that we are either without sin or that God does not care about our sin. Second, we can believe that we are without hope and that there is no way to find forgiveness and a path to God. (Isaiah 1:1-20)
This Christmas, it is essential that we set our thoughts on the Lord, who has come to make His salvation known and judge the world with righteousness.
So often, the message of the Bible concerning the coming into the world of God’s Messiah, at this time of the year, is buried beneath a mirage of secular concerns, as well as the many “humanistic good will” wishes and expressions for world peace; all of which only serve to obscure the true message for the reason of our Lord’s incarnation.
The Messiah would come to reign and establish His kingdom, and David also reveals something very important about Him: He would be a priest.
The world is a place of rebellion and conflict. Nations fight and war against each other, but underlying it all is the rage of the nations against the Lord and His Anointed. But resistance to God Almighty is in vain
The long journey through the gospel of John has concluded. Now, on the beach after a meal and the restoration of Peter, Jesus calls on Peter and John to follow Him.
Jesus had told the disciples to go to Galilee and wait for Him. In the number of His disciples were fishermen, including Peter. So the disciples set out onto the sea of Galilee, where many of our Lord’s miracles were performed.
The darkest day has arrived. After all the unjust accusations, mockery, and abuse, Jesus begins the walk to Calvary, Golgotha, the Place of the Skull. The very purpose for which Christ came, the profound sacrifice of His life for our sins, is about to be fulfilled.
The spotless lamb of God stands before Pilate, who can find no guilt in Him – not once, not twice, but three times! Yet the Jews, spurred on by the chief priests and officers, declare that they do not want Pilate to free Jesus.
Jesus prays for the unity of His people so that the world will believe that the Father has sent the Son. In this, Jesus is praying not just for the disciples around Him but for all who will believe in the future as the gospel goes forward.
It is through holiness, that is, being set apart to God, and through truth, that is, the Word of God, that the Church will fulfill the mission that the Lord Jesus has for it.
One of the great promises that Christ’s people have from Him is that our “sorrow will turn to joy.”
The Holy Spirit speaks the things that belong to the Son, and the Son has all that belongs to the Father. There is no separation of purpose or will in the Father, Son, and Spirit.
The resurrection shows the power of God over sin, the devil, and death itself. It is important for us to know and profess “The Essential Resurrection”
The world system hates Jesus because of the words that He spoke and the deeds that He did. In His ministry on earth, Jesus pointed out the foolishness of sin and called people to repentance and faith.
Sometimes, we can try to explain our salvation in terms that leave out our relationship with Jesus. That is a grave mistake. Jesus has given to us the great and powerful cause of our salvation – His love for us.
Jesus is the true source of life and holiness; when we abide in Christ, we will bear much fruit; and we are unable to do anything without Christ.
Peace is more than the absence of conflict – it is the sense of wholeness and calm that comes from knowing we are safe and blessed. Jesus tells us that He gives that kind of peace, a peace that the world can never give.
The Holy Spirit is the One who gives us the ability to obey Jesus’ commands and who is the assurance of the love of the Father and the Son. We must grasp and be thankful for “The Promise of the Spirit”
Who is God? What is He like? What things does He love and what does He hate? These and similar questions have been asked by mankind throughout the ages
What did Jesus really claim about Himself? Many people are willing to admit that Jesus was a good teacher, a kind man, someone to emulate. But Jesus never described Himself in that way
We can get a true sense of our Lord and Savior from looking at the story of His names. The prophet Isaiah and the angel tell us that the Savior is Immanuel, “God with us,” and Jesus, “the Lord is salvation.”
As the time approaches when we remember the incarnation – how the Son of God became man to redeem His people – it is appropriate to see how the Scriptures looked forward to this event.
We often think that we can do things that are beyond our capabilities. This is bad enough when we attempt a project beyond our expertise or take on more work than we have hours in the day, but in the spiritual realm, the consequences can be devastating.
Jesus gives his “Farewell Discourse” to the disciples, giving them their marching orders for the Kingdom. It is unsurprising that the very first thing Jesus emphasizes is that love should be the hallmark of his disciples.
Judas was not the “odd one” of the disciples. He was not the one voted “most likely to betray Jesus.” In fact, he was respectable; he was the one who kept the moneybag. But Jesus knew everything.
Jesus gives His disciples a vivid picture of what it means to serve, and in that, shows them an example to follow.
Jesus is “The Savior of the World” (John 12:44-50). There is no other. He calls on you today to believe in Him, and by believing in Him, to believe in the one who sent Him – the Father.
“Why is there unbelief?” (John 12:37-43) That is a question that puzzles us. If we know that all who do not believe in Jesus will suffer eternally, why would anyone not believe? It would be one thing if someone had not yet heard of Jesus Christ, but why would anyone reject the Savior and all the blessings He brings?
As Jesus approaches the cross, two things are sure: He is focused on the work He must finish and what it will cost, and the time for deciding what to think of Jesus is growing short. Even now, after Jesus has died and risen from the grave, we are faced with the decision of what to make of Jesus.
The cross is Jesus’ glory – it is there that Jesus finished His work of redemption. And we find glory in following Jesus, the One who brought eternal life.
Jesus is preparing for His final week of ministry, which will culminate in His going to the cross and His resurrection. But before that, Jesus will enter Jerusalem as “The Coming King.”
ohn describes a remarkable scene in which Mary anoints Jesus with expensive ointment. Her actions, as well as the response from Judas, give us insight into the different types of hearts of mankind.
Our hope is in the Lord, who redeems His people and gives them strength. We neglect the power of prayer to our detriment. In the account of the Canaanite woman who comes to Jesus, we see a mother who knows that she can’t save her daughter, only Jesus can.
The Bible teaches us that children are a blessing from the Lord. Parents are to point them to the Lord Jesus Christ and to build a home that is loving and nurturing.
The Scriptures describe how mothers disciple their children in the knowledge of the Lord. Not every day is Mother’s Day, but we can be thankful to the Lord every day for mothers.
Jesus wants us to know that He cares for His people and laid down His life to save them.
Throughout the world today, people are trying to find hope in all sorts of places except in Jesus Christ. Many promise life and salvation – only to be unable to satisfy. Jesus tells us that He is the One who knows us and our need.
One of the most important things for us to recognize about the Lord Jesus Christ is that in Him, mercy and justice meet perfectly. It is through Jesus’ work that God can be “just and the justifier of the ungodly.”
Jesus gave a clear gospel message at the pinnacle of the Feast of Booths. He called all who thirst to come to Him. This produces several reactions - from both the people and the leaders. Some were close to Jesus, some even closer, and others were very far away.
Jesus comes to the Feast of Booths, and as He begins to teach, several different groups express their opinions about who He was. But Jesus is never satisfied with allowing people to define Him. On the last day of the feast, He publicly cried out for all to hear that He was the One in whom all must believe.
When John spoke, those who heard Him marveled at His wisdom. Even so, that did not stop the Jewish leaders from continuing their hatred of Him. Jesus reminds them that they are inconsistent in their beliefs.
Jesus speaks of the need to “feed on my flesh and drink my blood,” and it scandalized both the Jews He was speaking to and also many today. What does that mean?
In this passage in John 6, Jesus clarifies that all that the Father gives to the Son will come to Him and that their coming will be by believing in the Son.
Luke records for us the birth of our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, and the reaction of the heavenly angels and humble shepherds.
It is the Father’s will that a people will come to the Son, and not one of them will be turned away or cast out. And how will that people come to Jesus? He tells us –they will look on the Son and believe.
Jesus reminds us that we must believe in Him to have eternal life. We must listen when He says, “I Am the Bread of Life”
When we see the Lord Jesus Christ and trust in Him, our fear of the world’s troubles melts away. Jesus is the one who remakes creation by His grace and His work of redemption.
After Jesus healed the invalid in Jerusalem and the Jewish leaders criticized Him, He took that occasion to show that "The Son's Authority" was divine.
Our Lord Jesus Christ is full of compassion and mercy. He showed that to a man who had suffered for decades with a condition that left him an invalid.
One of the most fascinating things about John’s gospel is that he shows us Jesus in all His power and glory. He sovereignly chooses one man with whom to initiate a conversation and then proceeds to say things that we do not expect.
John reports to us the story of a royal official whose circumstances have focused him on what is important – his son is dying and needs Jesus. This provides the occasion for a miracle and for the man to have faith in the Savior.
The effect that Jesus has on people is that He meets them, and they are changed forever. We see what that change looks like, as the Samaritan woman cannot wait to tell others about Jesus.
John 4:16-26 contains perhaps the lengthiest statement from our Lord about worship. He said that the Father is the One who is seeking worshippers; that worship must be in spirit; and that worship must be in truth.
Jesus comes to a well in the middle of a hot day and meets a Samaritan woman. As He so often does, Jesus initiates the conversation and brings spiritual things to bear, even when the woman finds it hard to understand.
Our default condition is to be condemned in our sins, but when we believe the testimony of Jesus, we will have eternal life.
John shows us that the way of the Christian is to exalt the Lord Jesus Christ rather than to have concern for one’s own fame.
Too often leadership in the Church follows the same principles and falls into the same patterns as leadership in other organizations. The Church is tempted to look to men as leaders because they display the kind of characteristics valued in the business world.
Officers in the Church are not chosen primarily for their skills or their ability to bring about results. They are chosen primarily for their character.
Jesus has chosen to shepherd His people through men. Men who are qualified and equipped to lead the Church. These men are called elders.
What Jesus tells Nicodemus and us is that without the new birth, we are hopelessly lost. He tells us to look to Him.
Jesus teaches us that the new birth from above is necessary to enter the Kingdom of God.
While we may be surprised to see Jesus going through the temple area with a whip driving out the merchants and money-changers, we must realize that He was entirely correct in doing so and did so with righteous anger.
With the transformation of water into wine (the best wine!) Jesus shows that He is the “Lord of Creation”
A wonderful picture of how evangelism works: we follow Jesus and call others to follow Him.
As our Lord Jesus began to walk the earth, John testified that He was exactly what a world full of sinners needed.
This is the remarkable miracle of the gospel, that the One who made all things entered the world and dwelt among us and that He did that to bring grace and truth.
There are those who reject the Light and those who embrace the Light. How we respond to the Light says a great deal about how the Lord works in our lives. If you believe in Him, He gives you the right to become a child of God.
After examining Jesus as The Divine Word, we see in verses 3 through 5 Jesus as The Life Giving Word and The Light Bringing Word.
John tells us of the eternal Word who was, is, and ever will be very God; the One who is the Creator of all things. There is no one like Jesus. There can never be anyone like Jesus.
John tells us of the eternal Word who was, is, and ever will be very God; the One who is the Creator of all things. There is no one like Jesus. There can never be anyone like Jesus.
2 Samuel ends not with the story of David’s death (that is left to 1 Kings) but with an account of sin, mercy, and sacrifice.
The curse that is rightly and justly ours, has instead fallen upon Christ! Christ became a curse for us in His sacrificial death upon a tree!
David reminds us of what the Lord has done for him and what that means for the future of the kingdom of Israel.
David praises the Lord for delivering him from the hand of his enemies and describes the Lord in terms that show us His might and power.
There is a famine in the land – not an ordinary famine, but one of three years. David inquires of the Lord why this occurs and is told that it is a covenant curse because of Saul’s breaking Israel’s covenant with the Gibeonites
One of the most deceptive aspects of sin is that it tricks us into thinking it is original. We may believe that the Word of God does not direct our actions, or that we have found a loophole in God’s Law, or that our situation is unique.
The apostle Paul sets for the central doctrine of the Christian faith: we are not saved by who we are or by our works, but by the work of Jesus Christ, received by faith (Galatians 2:15-16)
David has won the war. He has survived a rebellion by his son Absalom and now begins to return to Jerusalem.
The scene as David learns of Absalom’s death reminds us of two great truths about sin: first, that sin brings misery and destruction in its wake; and second, that the grace of God can bring hope and restoration.
This is a story about the preparation for a battle, a battle, and the aftermath of the battle, but more than that, it is a reminder that God finishes what He starts.
How often do you think about God? Or perhaps a better question is, how often do you think God thinks about you?
We see three enemies come into the picture: Ziba, Shimei, and Ahithophel. But before we speak too quickly about what is happening, we need to look closely at how the Lord continues to stand by David.
The gospel is the work of God, not man. Paul sets forth the true gospel and warns the Galatians about a false gospel in their midst.
Absalom makes his play for the throne – a plan that was years in the making and months in the execution. Absalom puts on a show intended to impress Israel that he is a most fair-minded man of the people.
Absalom murdered his brother and then fled to Geshur. Now Joab begins to plot a way for Absalom to return.
Chapter 13 starts David’s downward spiral under God’s judgment. That judgment will come to a climax in the rebellion of David’s son Absalom, and we are introduced to that son here.
The resurrection is the glorious truth upon which we base our religion and our very lives!
We have two choices when we sin: try to cover it up with even more sin or confess and repent.
The account of our Lord’s death from the Gospel of Mark gives us much to consider- what happened in the moments of Christ’s death, and what do they mean for us as believers today?
James reminds us of The Importance of Confession (James 5:16) as he calls us to confess our sins to one another.
We should shed that kind of improper fear, but that does not mean there is not a proper kind of fear. The Israelites learned this at the foot of Mt. Sinai.
Before we pass over this chapter, we would do well to linger for a while. We would see that we are called to show kindness even to those who oppose us.
The Lord is not only One who shows mercy, but He has bound Himself to mercy through His covenant.
The Tenth Commandment shows us how impossible it is to keep the Law of God and our need for the Lord Jesus Christ.
There is nothing that can stand against the establishment of the kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus is David’s greater son; He is the one who reigns forever and ever.
The greatest aid that we can have for trusting the Lord is to recount what the Lord has already done for us. The history of God’s faithfulness in His promises assures us that He will keep His Word.
After God had given David and Israel rest from all their enemies, David purposed in his heart to bless God by building Him a “house” so He would not have to “dwell in a tent.”
We cannot presume that God is like us, nor can we treat Him casually. At the same time, our response should not be to keep God at a distance. The Lord is the source of life and blessing for His people.
We would do well to remember the “Holiness of the Lord." God is not to be trifled with. We can approach God not because we are worthy but only because our Lord Jesus Christ has paid a costly price.
The Old Testament gives us a picture of the spiritual battle that has raged since the days of the seed of the serpent in Eden. Now that David is king over all Israel, the Philistines waste no time in trying to destroy him and his kingdom.
A lone prophet against the powerful religious dominance of Baalism. It is a story we are likely familiar with. A story where the LORD gives an exhilarating show of his power
Waiting is especially hard when we anticipate a blessing to come our way. David had waited a very long time for the day of his coronation as king of Israel. But now the waiting is over.
David shows himself to be a king who values justice and righteousness, the forerunner of the Lord of righteousness, Jesus Christ.
Peter’s faith is sometime weak, and he often misunderstands Christ’s mission, but Peter knows the Lord, and his tears show a heart that is eager to repent and be restored.
The life and reign of David give us insight into how we should think about God’s Kingdom. Even when it looks unlikely for God’s promises to be fulfilled, God is at work, using His means and His timing to bring them about.
In this chapter, we see the kingdom of God made visible and the world’s opposition that inevitably arises against the Lord
The gathering storm of conflict between Jesus and the Jewish Leaders has grown and is now near full strength. The High Priest and the Sanhedrin bring Jesus to trial.
We can learn much from grief. Grief is not wrong, and it gives us an opportunity to remember and to show our love.
The Eighth Commandment forbids stealing, but what does that prohibition cover? The brief nature of the commandment highlights its broad application - covering obvious and subtle violations. We also must understand why we break the commandment, by failing to trust God's provision and having an inflated sense of self-importance.
James places our eyes on the return of Christ to show us the ‘precious fruit’, the harvest of our trials on this earth. God is at work in all our trials to conform us to the image of His Son.
In Philippians 3, the Apostle Paul draws a sharp distinction between those who fixate on the state of the world and all it pretends to offer and those who know that their “Citizenship is in Heaven.”
In the 6th Commandment, the Lord calls us to promote a culture of life and to acknowledge that He is the sovereign Lord of life and death.
It is easy to live our lives as if God is nowhere to be found. We do this because the Lord is not visible (it seems) in the places we choose to look, and He does not act in the ways that we want Him to act.
The Fifth Commandment is God's provision for us to respect authority and to honor our parents.
This prayer should orient our thinking about God’s sovereign rule in the world and our lives.
We must remember that our Lord Jesus Christ did not come to earth and become man so that we would have better governments, more efficient economic systems, or even a more united society. He came to redeem sinners and to establish His Kingdom.
Jesus is the one who defeated death – He rose from the grave and lives forever. And His risen life has an explicit purpose, even as His life of ministry did.
Mark 14:43-52 shows us Christ; betrayed, deserted, and alone, as his disciples forsake him in the hour of his arrest.
One of the most mysterious and powerful scenes in the New Testament is our Lord Jesus Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane. The mystery of Jesus, being fully God and fully man, is on display before us.
Instead of trusting in riches and taking advantage of others, as the men in James 5 do, we are called to live lives of bold faith in God and cheerful generosity to others.
At the close of his second letter to the church at Corinth, Paul gives a final statement of encouragement and blessing.
It is not enough that we grow as individual believers; we must seek the growth and health of the church as a whole
The Fourth Commandment is the first positive command given in the Decalogue. God has given it to us for our good.
The gospel tells us that we are weaker than we think we are, and we must rejoice in our weakness.
The Third Commandment is about more than avoiding "off-color" language. It instructs us how we are to speak and to regard the majesty of the Lord.
How do we tell a faithful church from a false one? How does a church know that it needs radical reformation?
The Lord humbled Paul so that Paul could delight in God’s mercy and his own humility. One of the greatest statements in all of Scripture is, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
Christians need to be discerning about what they are taught. This does not produce an aloof skepticism of pastors and teachers, but it should create in us a desire to know our Bibles so well that we will not be drawn astray by clever, spiritual-sounding words.
This is perhaps the least understood of the commandments, so much so that some Christian traditions count it as a part of the First Commandment
The first of the Ten Commandments lays the foundation for all the others. It tells us that the Lord alone is God and that we are to worship only Him.
One of the great tactics of the enemy of our souls is to counterfeit the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ with a false gospel. Often, this false gospel will have just enough of the elements of the real gospel so that it deceives even true believers.
How can we tell which are the true servants of God, and which are false? The Corinthians faced this very question because people in their midst attacked the Apostle Paul as being a weak, corrupt, and false teacher.
The Apostle Paul tells believers that they are in a war - but it may not be the kind of war in which they think they are.
God promised His Son as the only remedy for sin, and in all these years God’s antidote for fallen humanity has never changed. Christ Crucified is our only hope.