Del Cerro Baptist Church: Recent Episodes
Del Cerro Baptist Church: La Mesa, CA
Weekly expository sermons from the pulpit of Del Cerro Baptist Church. In union with Christ, we exist to glorify God by living New Creation lives and making disciples.
The Lord fulfills his promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in Joseph and He is present with Joseph. Joseph's righteousness points us forward to a greater righteousness.
Why are elders often called shepherds? Why are God's people often called his flock? What are the responsibilities of shepherds/elders/pastors in the church?
The Bible often talks about "freedom," especially with regards to the Gospel. What does it mean that Christians are free? What is Christian Freedom?
The Bible makes a thorough case for the reality that those who follow God in Christ will suffer for Christ. How is it that Christians in the west seem to avoid this?
We are to have the mind of Christ in our approach to suffering. But what does this mean? And what does it have to do with sin and temptation?
Through a bit of an unexpected path, Peter moves from a discussion about Jesus' declaration of victory over the watchers to baptism. What is the connection between these seemingly unrelated topics?
How are we to understand the imperatives of 1 Peter? Why should we obey the commands of the New Testament?
With the use of an old story from Genesis, Paul reframes the debate about the law. What does it me to be born of the Spirit?
The Spirit, through Peter, instructs Christian men to live with our wives "in an understanding way". What does he mean by this? Understanding what?
Peter gives instruction to slaves to "suffer for doing good". How does this apply to the rest of us?
Pastor Dustin Saunders wraps up our series on missions by pointing us to the church's role in missions: sending. Why and how should churches send missionaries?
If God's Mission in Christ is the gathering in of the elect, why is it that he uses us to do that? Wouldn't it be better if the Great Commission could be completed with out us?
When we speak of the subject of missions and reaching the lost, we often think of it primarily as "going". But there is something more fundamental than going and it is God's promise to gather.
The Spirit through Peter, commands Christians to be subject to the earthly rulers wherever they live. What does that mean for people who live in a Constitutional Republic?
Living in the in between isn't as clear as we'd like to imagine. We're already with Christ in heaven and yet we still live on earth. We've already been freed from sin and yet we still have indwelling sin. The world is certain to hate the church and yet the church is to seek the salvation of the world.
Who is always delighting in the Word of God? Who is it who prospers planted by streams of water? Christian Vincze walks us through Psalm 1 to point us to Christ.
Peter takes a number of titles originally meant for Israel and he gives them to the church. What does this mean for the church?
How does the Old Testament point to Jesus as the new temple? What does that mean for us?
Christians are often exhorted to "love one another". What does this mean? What is the significance of "brotherly love" in the life of a Christian?
The churches in Galatia had begun to think that Christ alone wasn't enough for salvation. Were they right? Pastor Saunders walks us through this passage and shows us where we can be tempted in the same ways.
The first two verses of 1 Peter introduce the author, the recipients and the God who saved them both.
This long section of Genesis deals with a somewhat out of place story (Reuben's sin) and Esau's really long genealogy. Why is this sort of thing in the Bible? What does it even matter? What does this have to do with me? As we study this passage we seek to grow in our understanding of how to read the Bible.
After Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection he ascended into the heavens to sit at God's right hand. What is the significance of this event?
In Genesis 35 we get a repeat of a lot that God has already done for Jacob. Why is this necessary? Because God's grace is dispensed liberally and repeatedly. In Genesis 35 we see four characteristics of God's grace that never change.
Jacob is a new Adam, but he's not THE new Adam, he's just another Adam. Jacob's sinful passivity and wrongful resting led to disaster for his family.
Jacob's growth in the faith, his sanctification, was incremental, not complete. Our growth as Christians is similar.
What does it mean that all who belong to Christ are "one" in Christ? How should we think about race and gender and rank within the body of Christ? Additionally, Pastor Saunders helps us to consider our inheritance in Christ.
God's protection of Jacob's family, in spite of Laban's pursuit, reveals to us that God protects those who belong to him. We see in this passage the roots of the doctrine of the preservation of the saints.
The Bible is a series of "Exodus-es," from Abraham, to Isaac, to Jacob, to Israel, to the church the way the Lord works in redeeming us follows a Gospel pattern.
The nature of the believer's union with Christ and its relation to the ordinance of baptism
By the end of Jacob's time in Paddan Aram it seems as if he has abandoned the faith, but has he really? Jacob helps us see how faith may express itself in folks with really messy lives.
The births of 11 sons and 1 daughter to Jacob and his 4 wives is an interesting story but what is it about? In this sermon we'll see the narrative arc from Rachel's barrenness to Rachel's birth of Joseph and what exactly the LORD was teaching this young woman. Through this "humiliation of Rachel" we learn a little more about how God brings us to trust in Him and not ourselves.
God uses Laban to show Jacob what a sinner he is. God uses Jacob's sin to bring the son of the promise.
Esau shows us what unbelief looks like. Rebekah shows us what it means to be as wise as a serpent and innocent as a dove. Isaac teaches us about repentance. Christians have much to learn about Christian doctrine from Old Covenant Saints and Sinners
Jacob tricked Esau out of his birthright but the Bible says Esau despised his birthright. How come? What even is the birthright?
Paul continues his argument that Justification is by Faith using examples from the Old Testament
What does it mean to be prayerful in suffering? Why are songs of praise the right response to a happy heart? What are songs of praise? What should we sing?
Watching what we say is like carrying around a flaming hellfire torch in one hand and a rattlesnake that never sleeps in the other and we can't control either one. What hope is there?!
If I'm forgiven by Christ no matter what, then can I do whatever I want? If I am saved by faith, then do my works matter? What is saving faith anyway?
James says that wealth and poverty are trials. What does he mean by this? And how do we apply wisdom to these "trials"?
In the opening greeting from the letter of James we are met with a few questions. Who is James? Who are the twelve tribes?
How does the church maintain the integrity of her identity? How do we think about church discipline when it seems so "mean"?
In the first of our mini-series on the Church, Pastor Josh answers the question, Who or what is the church?
Abraham died but he lived according to God's promises. So too ought you. But what does that mean?
Abraham's faithful servant goes on a quest to find a bride for Isaac. What can we learn from his faithfulness? His prayerfulness? And how does this point us to Christ?
At the end of Genesis 21, God begins to fulfill the land promise to Abraham with a well. In Genesis 23 God fulfills the promise with a tomb.
The LORD is faithful to Abraham despite all of Abraham's foibles. The LORD is also faithful to Ishmael
The end of the story of Lot is a tragedy that is hard to even read. What befell Lot's family? Why did it happen? Are we that different?
The LORD includes Abraham in on his plans. Why does he do this? How does Abraham respond?
Is God's Covenant with Abraham conditional upon Abraham's blamelessness? Is out salvation dependent upon our sinlessness?
We saw Abram's miserable failure in Egypt in chapter 12, here we see the failure of Sarai, Abram, and even the servant Hagar. What are we to make of this? Will God's plan end with human sin? How will God respond?
Genesis 15 is perhaps the most important chapter in the Old Testament because it lays the foundation for the Gospel. What's going on in this crucial chapter?
What is the significance of Abram's tithe to Melchizedek? How are we to understand this in Abram's historical context? How are we to understand such a tithe in the story of redemption?
what's with all the babies in the Bible? And what does all the talk about babies and promises have to do with Isaiah 7-9?
Who is the Angel of the LORD in the Old Testament? Why doesn't he show up in the New Testament?
The conflict between Lot's herdsmen and Abram's herdsmen led to a parting of ways between Abram and Lot, what does this episode teach us about faith?
What is in the heart of the people who rebel against God? Why does God respond the way he does?
What's the big deal about Ham seeing his father drunk and passed out? Or is that even the issue?
In God's promise not to destroy all flesh because of human wickedness it seems like he is going to ignore human sin. Is He?
God remembered Noah and then began the work of Re-Creation. Meanwhile, Noah waited patiently and obediently. How ought we to understand this? How long would you have waited to get off that stinking ark?
Pastor Saunders walks us through what the scripture teaches about the value of human life and what that means for the abortion issue.
The Bible says Noah was righteous- was he really? How can one be a sinner and be righteous?
What happened to humanity before the flood? How did mankind become so wicked that God resolved to destroy all living beings except the 8?
Genesis chapter 5 tells the story of 10 generations of faithful worshippers of the LORD. What does that look like?
What is worldliness? What happens when a family departs from the Lord? What happens when a civilization forms apart from the Lord? Bonus questions: Where did Cain get his wife? and Is polygamy moral?
The Cain and Abel story brings up several important questions: why did God accept Abel's sacrifice and not Cain's? Why did Cain not listen to God? What was Abel's blood saying from the ground?
Adam responds to the judgments of God with faith. God responds to Adam's faith with a renewed covenant but also exile. Is the exile final?
In Genesis 3:16 God judges the bride of Adam for her disobedience. What exactly is this judgment?
God seeks out the man and woman in the garden. God condemns the serpent. God restores hope.
We examine the means through which the serpent deceived the woman and the passivity of Adam through which sin was able to flourish.
Paul gives the church six distinct ways of living amongst one another in the body of Christ. These are the ways we are to love one another..
Paul instructs the Thessalonians to be at peace with one another. How does this happen? When the pastors fulfill their responsibility and the church fulfills hers.
God has devoted an entire chapter of the Bible to marriage. What's so important about this institution?
Paul's prayer for the Ephesian church is a plea that the Lord would grow them in three ways. What are those?
God created humanity as the crown jewel of creation and set them up as rulers over all the earth.
Jesus commissions his disciples to proclaim the kingdom but his message has some interesting Bible echoes. Why has Matthew recorded this conversation the way he has?
Why does the resurrection account seem so sparse and mundane? Because the resurrection was expected. Why was the resurrection expected? Because God is faithful.
Throughout church history Christ's burial has been a central part of our message. Why? And who saw him buried and why is their story included in Matthew?
Paul in 1 Corinthians says Christ died in fulfillment of the scriptures. In Acts 13 he says that Jesus' killers carried out all that had been written. John speaks of Jesus' death fulfilling scriptures, so does Luke. What's happening at the cross that is so important? Matthew shows us.
Judas and the priests, Pilate and the crowds, Jesus and Barabbas- what's going on in this passage?
Matthew's telling of Peter at Jesus' sham trial reveals what our hearts are like, desperately needy for Jesus.
Jesus teaches us from three different angles that God is sovereign over the death of Christ.
Paul instructs the Thessalonian church to love one another and to work. What does that mean for us?
Jesus teaches his disciples that even their temporary falling away is a fulfillment of prophecy. Peter rejects this teaching but fulfills it anyway.
Even though the Lord's Supper is on Passover and Jesus is our passover lamb, Jesus says the bread is his body. Why? And why is the wine his blood? What's he getting at?
Jesus tells the disciples "one of you will betray me" when he already knows the one. Why did he do this? And what does this have to do with our assurance?
Chapter 26 marks the narrative of events that lead to the cross. We find two things happening in verses 1-16: 1. Matthew makes it clear that Jesus is in control of the situation, 2. Various parties "evaluate" Jesus' Worth.
On Judgement day King Jesus will be the one who sorts out those who are kingdom citizens by God's Grace and those who are not. What will he be looking for to make this determination?
Why did the third servant bury the talents the master had given him? Why did the first two servants joyfully invest theirs?
Jesus makes it clear to us that not all who believe themselves to be Christians truly are in Christ. We should hear this as a merciful warning from him, but we should also question our assurance. Is our assurance in the right things?
The Resurrection of the Body and life everlasting have been secured by Christ- but how?
What part does the Holy Spirit play in God's big story of redemption? What does it mean that the Spirit was creating a dwelling place for God?
What does it mean that Jesus ascended into heaven? Why is that important to Christianity? Is it a doctrine we can do without?
Why is the resurrection important to Christianity? What does the resurrection of Christ have to do with our salvation?
What does it mean that Jesus descended to the dead? Is this a necessary part of our Creed? What even is the place of the dead?
Does the Bible really teach that Jesus was born of a virgin by the Holy Spirit? Does it even matter?
What does it mean that God is Almighty? Does it just mean that he's really powerful? And in what ways should God's being Creator affect us?
The first confession of the Apostles Creed is "I believe in God the Father, Almighty, Maker of Heaven and Earth." This week we'll talk about how it is we know that God is Father.
Jesus' return will be unexpected and no one knows when it's coming (save the Father alone!). Therefore we as Christ's followers must be alert, we must be ready, and we must be faithful to him while we wait.
Jesus prophesies of a difficult trial that his disciples will endure, and at the same time he promises that God will protect his elect. Christ's final word is that His Word is sure.
Jesus teaches about the birth pains of what he calls "the end." What are these birth pains that the world will go through? How can Christians endure?
Jesus pronounces judgment over the hypocrisy of the Pharisees. How can we avoid the same
Why are Christians commanded to baptize new disciples? In this sermon we'll examine two images the bible gives of conversion to help us better understand the ordinance of baptism.
Jesus challenges the Pharisees on their understanding of who the Christ is. How is he Son of God and Son of David? Is he more than a human?
The Sadducees ask Jesus a question about the Resurrection. Jesus answers by pointing to the authority of the Bible.
Jesus answers a hard question with a hard answer. Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's and to God the things that are His. But what exactly do we owe to who?
Jesus illustrates the destruction of Jerusalem and then justifies his indictment against the city and her leaders.
Jesus heals the blind and lame in the temple and receives praise from children. How are these two events connected?
Jesus uses to Old Testament passages to strongly condemn Israel's idolatry of the temple. What does this mean for the church?
Jesus intentionally rode into Jerusalem "humble, riding on a donkey". Why? What was he doing? What promises did this fulfill?
Martin Luther's last words were "We are beggars, this is true." Those words define the Christian faith nearly as well as anything else Luther ever said. We see this clearly in Matthew 20:29-34 in which Jesus heals two roadside beggars.
Peter wants to know what he "gets" for leaving it all behind to follow Jesus. Jesus teaches him (and us!) about grace through an interesting parable.
James instructs his readers to be patient in suffering. What is the grounding of their patience? The hope of Christ's return.
How does Peter teach the Christians "in exile" to wait? Through hoping in Christ, growing in holiness, and living in a reverent fear of the Lord.
Pastor Saunders walks us through Paul's encouragement to Titus: Because Jesus, the grace of God has appeared, our lives should be marked by His transforming grace. And because God's work isn't complete, we eagerly wait.
The disciples obstruct families from bringing children to Jesus. Jesus stops them and welcomes the children. Do we obstruct kids from coming to Jesus today? How so?
Jesus fulfills the promises of Messiah by including eunuchs in the kingdom. But what do eunuchs have to do with the church today? Singleness. In Matthew 19, Jesus teaches us about singleness and devotion to Christ.
What does Jesus teach about marriage? What does Jesus consider the authoritative text when it comes to what marriage is?
In a passage we typically think of as "the church discipline text", Jesus shows his disciples the means through which the Father rescues straying sinners. Christ's Church!
Pastor Tim Cain of Kaleo Church exposits Jesus' Parable of the Good Samaritan as it relates to loving the unborn, their mothers, and those who have had abortions.
In light of Jesus' teaching about the Son of the King giving up his rights, the disciples struggle to understand what the kingdom of heaven is like. Jesus teaches them about the humiliation required for the world's citizens to enter in to the kingdom of heaven.
What does it mean that Jesus wasn't required to pay the temple tax? What does it mean that he paid it anyway? In these four short verses, Jesus introduces for us a massive paradigm shift in the story of redemption- the old temple of God's presence is becoming obsolete and Jesus himself is replacing it!
The disciples' expectations of what Messiah would do were far less than what Jesus came to accomplish. In this sermon we examine and compare faithlessness, a deficient faith, and the true faith that God gives.
Live a life loyal to Christ or live a life loyal to yourself? There are consequences to your choice.
Peter doesn't understand that the Messiah must go to the cross. Jesus reveals where Peter's misunderstanding comes from
At the climax to part one of Matthew's Gospel, Matthew tells us how Peter confesses that Jesus is the Christ. Perhaps more importantly, he also shows us howJesus unveils his plan to establish the church.
Jesus confronts the religious leaders in their unbelief and warns his disciples not to be misled by false teaching.
Jesus heals a Canaanite's daughter. Jesus heals hundreds of Gentiles. Jesus feeds the Gentiles. What does all this mean for the age of the Messiah?
Where does our sin come from? Is it external to us? Or does it come from within us? And where does our true cleansing come from? From within us? Or from outside?
The Pharisaical tradition had the surface level appearance of obedience to God. Jesus exposed it for what it was, rules made by men whose hearts were far from God. In this sermon we take the time to examine where are own hearts are.
Jesus came to a world of brokenness. Jesus was filled with compassion. Jesus was the promised Messiah. What were the people responding to when they went to him to be healed? Did they want more from Jesus than comfort? Do you?
When Jesus walked on water he was showing us something about himself, not just who he was (God) but what he's like. Open Matthew 14:22-33 with us and discover that this event wasn't really about Peter- it was about Jesus. It wasn't really Peter's faith that was in picture, but Christ's saving hand.
Jesus, the heavenly king, is contrasted to Herod, the earthly king. Jesus spreads a feast for 5000 men. What does this tell us about our savior?
King Herod's decadent feast ended in the death of John the Baptist. What sort of King was this man anyway? And how does he compare to the heavenly king Jesus?
The people in Nazareth rejected Jesus as Messiah. Why? Why might you reject him as well?
Jesus teaches us that the kingdom is like a treasure in a field or a pearl of great value. In other words, there is nothing that compares to the value of living under Christ's Lordship. Pastor Dustin tells us why that is so.
Pastor Dustin R. teaches us what the Bible has to say about sickness, death, and God's sovereignty. A fitting message during this season of pandemic.
Guest speaker Austin Blanton explains the parable of the Wheat and the Tares, along with the parable of the leaven and mustard seed
Why did Jesus speak in parables? Was it to teach a lesson? Was it to harden the hearts of unbelievers? Was it both?
Jesus is greater than the prophets, greater than the wisest of kings, and he's greater than the temple and the presence of God that preceded him. Why then do we not cherish him as we should?
Jesus teaches us that our words reveal our heart's treasures. But James tells us that the tongue is "un-tamable". This is a predicament that only the Gospel can speak to.