New Beginnings Church, Lynnwood: Recent Episodes
This sermon explores the certainty of death and the mystery of God's sovereign providence through a continuous exposition of Ecclesiastes 8:16 to 9:12. The preacher emphasizes that human knowledge is limited and that life outcomes are often unpredictable, yet God remains in complete control. Recognizing death as an inevitable consequence of sin, the text urges believers not to despair but to find joy in the good gifts God provides, such as food, work, and relationships. By anchoring hope in Christ's victory over death, Christians are called to live gratefully and faithfully, using their remaining time to glorify God and enjoy His blessings until they are called home.
This sermon explores the biblical mandate for Christians to submit to earthly authorities while maintaining a reverent fear of God. Drawing primarily from Ecclesiastes 8, the preacher argues that godly wisdom transforms believers' dispositions, enabling them to yield to civil and familial leadership without rebellion. The message emphasizes that all authority is ordained by God, who sovereignly controls the rise and fall of rulers, ensuring that justice will ultimately prevail. Believers are called to navigate a fallen world not through political activism or defiance, but through faithful obedience and joyful gratitude for God's daily gifts. The central theme is that true nonconformity is found in trusting God's providence and finding joy in Christ despite the injustices of the present age.
In a world that constantly encourages us to boast in ourselves—our accomplishments, our morality, our reputation, or our success—Paul says there is only one thing worth boasting in: "But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ..." (Galatians 6:14). Why would anyone boast in a degrading and humiliating instrument of execution? Because the gospel of free justification through faith alone produces something the world cannot explain: a radical, self-denying life that finds its confidence, identity, and hope in Christ alone. If you've ever wondered what the cross has to do with your everyday life, or why the gospel is far more than simply the way we begin the Christian life, take a few moments to listen.
The sermon exhorts believers to embrace a long-term perspective in their Christian walk, countering the cultural obsession with instant gratification. Drawing from Galatians 6:9-10, it emphasizes that spiritual growth and sanctification are slow processes requiring diligence and patience, much like agriculture. The preacher warns against discouragement when immediate results are absent, reminding listeners that God alone controls the harvest of their faithful labor. By citing historical examples like Elijah and missionaries, the message encourages steadfastness in doing good to all people, especially within the church family. Ultimately, Christians are called to trust in God's sovereign timing and promise to reap eternal life if they do not grow weary in well-doing.
A lesson on the correlation between actions and consequences, sowing and harvesting, knowing that this is a principle that God built into the world to illustrate this spiritual truth.
This sermon examines Ecclesiastes 7 to reveal that the world's apparent injustices and paradoxes stem from human sin rather than divine failure. The preacher explains that both the righteous suffering and the wicked prospering demonstrate the limits of human wisdom and the danger of self-righteous legalism or lawlessness. By highlighting the universal corruption of the human heart, the text argues that no one can achieve true uprightness through their own efforts. True wisdom is found not in controlling outcomes but in fearing God and trusting His sovereign providence regardless of circumstances. Ultimately, the passage points to Jesus Christ as the only perfectly righteous man who provides salvation and hope for fallen humanity.
This sermon explores the biblical concept of spiritual rest found in Christ, contrasting it with the peril of unbelief illustrated by the Israelites' wilderness wanderings. Drawing primarily from Hebrews chapters 3 and 4, the message warns against hardening hearts through anxiety, self-reliance, and a works-based righteousness. It emphasizes that true faith is a persevering trust in Jesus alone, which grants believers present peace and eternal security. The preacher urges the congregation to examine their own hearts daily, encourage one another in love, and fix their hope solely on Christ's completed work rather than worldly pursuits or legalistic observance.
This sermon, drawn from Galatians 6:1–5, presents a gospel-centered vision of Christian community rooted in mutual accountability, humility, and love. It emphasizes that spiritual maturity flourishes not in isolation but within the local church, where believers restore one another gently when caught in sin, bear one another's burdens in love, and guard against pride through continual self-examination. The passage underscores that such practices are not moralistic works but the natural fruit of justification by faith, fulfilling the law of Christ through love. The preacher highlights the necessity of church membership and submission to elders, portraying the church as the body of Christ where each member, though flawed, is called to serve and be served, reflecting Christ's humility and sacrificial love. Ultimately, the sermon calls believers to live in constant dependence on God's grace, examining themselves by His Word, and serving others not out of self-righteousness but out of gratitude for the cross, where Christ made Himself nothing to restore sinners and bear their heaviest burdens.
The sermon, drawn from Galatians 5:24–26, centers on the Christian's dual response to God's work in sanctification: mortification and vivification. It emphasizes that true spiritual growth arises not from human effort or legalistic rules, nor from reckless freedom, but from walking in step with the Holy Spirit, who empowers believers to crucify the flesh—its passions and desires—while nurturing the new life in Christ. Rooted in the Reformed understanding of monergistic sanctification, the message affirms that God alone initiates, sustains, and completes sanctification, yet believers are called to actively cooperate by resisting sin and embracing the ordinary means of grace. The passage warns against both legalism and licentiousness, urging Christians to live in the freedom of Christ by aligning their lives with the Spirit's leading, which produces unity, humility, and fruitfulness in the church. Ultimately, the Christian life is defined by belonging to Christ, surrendering to His lordship, and pursuing holiness through dependence on the Spirit, not self-effort.
A lesson on submitting to the goodness and wisdom of God in both His "light and dark providences," realizing He ordained both for our good and His glory. This sermon, drawn from Ecclesiastes 6:10–7:14, confronts the human illusion of control by exposing the futility of seeking meaning in wealth, power, or predictability, affirming instead that true wisdom lies in recognizing God's sovereignty over all things. It emphasizes that humans, finite and fallen, cannot know what is ultimately good for them or what lies beyond their lives, making futile any attempt to manipulate circumstances or judge divine providence. Through a series of counterintuitive proverbs, the passage contrasts the fleeting comfort of folly with the enduring value of sorrow, mourning, and the rebuke of wisdom, illustrating how adversity and hardship—though painful—are divinely ordained for spiritual growth and deeper reliance on God. The sermon culminates in the call to submit to God's unchangeable will, trusting that both prosperity and adversity are part of His good design to prepare believers for eternal life, and that the only proper response is reverent trust, humility, and joyful submission to the Father who ordains all things for His glory.
The sermon, drawn from Galatians 5:22–23, centers on the fruit of the Spirit—faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control—as supernatural evidence of genuine salvation, produced not by human effort but by the indwelling Holy Spirit. It contrasts the moral decay of contemporary culture, marked by broken relationships, rampant immorality, and the erosion of virtue, with the Christian's hope rooted in Christ's perfect faithfulness, humility, and self-mastery. The preacher emphasizes that true transformation begins not in political or legal reform but in the heart through the Spirit's work, calling believers to reject worldly standards of strength and self-expression in favor of Christlike character. As the world crumbles under moral relativism, the righteous are urged to fix their eyes on God's sovereign throne, trusting His faithfulness while living as counter-cultural witnesses whose lives reflect the unchanging nature of God. Ultimately, the fruit of the Spirit is not a checklist of moral achievements but a living testimony of grace, assuring believers that their growth in Christ-likeness is both possible and promised by God.
A lesson on how the Holy Spirit supernaturally produces patience, kindness, and goodness within us so that we can reflect God's radical grace to others amidst the chaotic messiness of human relationships. The sermon centers on the Holy Spirit's work in producing patience, kindness, and goodness in believers as evidence of genuine faith and spiritual transformation. Drawing from Galatians 5:22–23, it emphasizes that these virtues are not self-generated but are supernatural fruits of the Spirit, essential for navigating the messiness of human relationships, especially within the church. The preacher underscores that these characteristics—rooted in God's own long-suffering, merciful, and righteous nature—are counter-cultural in a world marked by impatience, anger, and retaliation, and are demonstrated most fully in Christ's life and sacrifice. Rather than self-improvement, the response to their absence is faith in Christ, whose perfect righteousness is credited to believers, and whose Spirit empowers ongoing sanctification. Ultimately, the Spirit's fruit in the believer's life confirms salvation, strengthens assurance, and calls for humble, Christ-like living for God's glory.
The sermon centers on the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22–23, emphasizing that these qualities—love, joy, and peace—are not moral achievements but supernatural graces produced by the Holy Spirit in every believer, serving as evidence of genuine salvation and spiritual assurance. Rooted in the contrast between the deeds of the flesh and the Spirit's work, the sermon argues that these fruits are inseparable, foundational, and inherently present in all Christians, not as a result of human effort but as a divine transformation from within. Love, defined as agape—self-giving, sacrificial, and holy—is presented as the greatest virtue, reflecting God's own nature and motivating righteous action even in difficult circumstances. Joy is portrayed not as fleeting happiness dependent on circumstances, but as a deep, abiding contentment rooted in God's unchanging character, sovereignty, and the certainty of salvation. Peace is understood as an objective reality of reconciliation with God, not merely the absence of conflict, enabling believers to face trials with confidence, knowing they are secure in Christ's victory. Ultimately, the message calls believers to abide in Christ, trusting the Spirit to cultivate these fruits, which together form the foundation of a life that glorifies God and bears lasting fruit.
The sermon centers on the transformative power of the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer, emphasizing that the fruit of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control—is not a product of human effort or moral striving, but the inevitable and invariable result of regeneration and the indwelling presence of the Spirit. Rooted in Galatians 5:22–23 and contrasted with the deeds of the flesh, this fruit is presented as a unified, holistic evidence of genuine salvation, not a checklist of achievements, and stands in stark contrast to the world's counterfeit versions of these virtues. The sermon underscores that while Christians still struggle with sin, their lives are fundamentally changed by grace, and good works are the natural outflow of justification, not its basis, thereby affirming the biblical doctrine of salvation by faith alone. It warns against confusing spiritual gifts with the fruit of the Spirit and rejects any notion that final salvation depends on human performance, instead affirming that true transformation is God's work, sustained by His grace and evidenced in a life increasingly conformed to Christ's likeness.
This sermon, drawn from Ecclesiastes 5:8–6:9, confronts the futility of pursuing earthly riches as a source of lasting satisfaction, revealing how the love of money leads to anxiety, moral decay, and spiritual emptiness, even among the wealthy. Through a chiastic structure, it contrasts the restless dissatisfaction of the rich with the peaceful rest of the laboring poor, emphasizing that material abundance cannot fulfill the soul and that true contentment is not found in possessions but in God's sovereign gift. The central message affirms that joy and peace come only when believers recognize all good things as divine gifts, trust in God's provision, and find their ultimate satisfaction in Him rather than in the created world. The sermon calls for a transformed heart—one that fears God, rejects idolatry, and rejoices in the present blessings as part of a greater, eternal purpose, ultimately pointing to Christ as the only source of true and lasting contentment.
This sermon, the third in a three-part study of Galatians 5:19–21, confronts the serious sin of drunkenness and carousing as manifestations of the 'deeds of the flesh,' emphasizing that such practices are not minor infractions but evidence of a life unaligned with the Spirit. It refutes the myth that ancient cultures avoided drunkenness, citing historical and biblical evidence that drunkenness was widespread and deeply condemned in Scripture as a rebellion against God's design, a silencing of conscience, and a form of enslavement contrary to the fruit of the Spirit. The preacher clarifies that while moderate use of alcohol is biblically permissible, habitual drunkenness and revelry are incompatible with genuine faith, serving as indicators of unrepentant sin and spiritual unregeneracy, not merely occasional failure. The message calls believers to repentance, reliance on the Holy Spirit's power, and the pursuit of holiness through the ordinary means of grace, urging a life of joyful obedience that reflects Christ's character and glorifies God, while warning that those who persist in such sins demonstrate they have not truly been transformed by grace.
The sermon centers on the transformative power of the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer, emphasizing that true Christian identity is marked not by the deeds of the flesh—including relational sins such as enmity, strife, jealousy, anger, selfish ambition, dissensions, and envy—but by the fruit of the Spirit. Drawing from Galatians 5:19–21, it underscores that these sins, when practiced unrepentantly, reveal a life not aligned with Christ and exclude one from the kingdom of God. The preacher connects this warning to Jesus' prayer in John 17 for the unity of believers, arguing that such unity is not natural but is a divine gift rooted in union with Christ and empowered by the Spirit. The message calls Christians to active spiritual warfare, mortifying sin through repentance and reliance on grace, while cultivating humility, love, and peace as evidence of genuine faith. Ultimately, the sermon affirms that justification by faith alone produces a life of moral transformation and relational harmony, reflecting the gospel's power to preserve unity and glorify God.
This sermon, drawn from Ecclesiastes 5:1–7, delivers a powerful call to authentic worship by confronting the modern church's tendency toward casual, performance-driven spirituality. It challenges the cultural obsession with 'safe spaces' and entertainment-driven services, arguing that true worship requires a radical shift from human-centered convenience to reverent silence and submission before God's holiness. The passage warns against hasty speech, empty vows, and half-hearted devotion, emphasizing that God, who is in heaven and fully present on earth, demands worship according to His revealed will, not human preference. Rooted in the fear of the Lord—a posture of awe, humility, and faithfulness—the sermon calls believers to prepare their hearts before entering God's presence, to listen more than they speak, and to honor their commitments with integrity. Ultimately, it affirms that fearing God and worshiping Him rightly are not vain pursuits, but the very foundation of wisdom, life, and true fellowship with the Creator.
The sermon centers on the resurrection of Jesus Christ as the historical and theological cornerstone of the Christian faith, presenting it not merely as a miraculous event but as God the Father's divine vindication of His Son's atoning work. Drawing from Paul's first recorded sermon in Acts 13:26–39, it emphasizes that Christ's death and resurrection fulfill Old Testament prophecy, particularly in Psalm 2 and Psalm 16, and that His bodily resurrection—attested by hundreds of eyewitnesses—confirms His identity as the promised Messiah and the only sufficient sacrifice for sin. The message underscores that justification before God is not achieved through adherence to the law, which fails to justify, but solely through faith in Christ, who alone lived a perfect life, bore the penalty for sin, and was raised to demonstrate God's acceptance of His work. The sermon calls for a decisive response: repentance and faith in the risen Christ, warning that unbelief amounts to calling God a liar, while affirming that the same power that raised Jesus from the dead sustains believers and guarantees their future resurrection. Ultimately, the resurrection is presented as the foundation of hope, assurance, and evangelistic urgency, transforming despair into joy and calling all to believe in the living Savior.
The sermon, drawn from Galatians 5:19–21, confronts the dangerous misconception that Christian freedom permits lawless living, clarifying that true freedom in Christ is not liberty to sin but deliverance from sin's dominion. It emphasizes that the 'deeds of the flesh'—including sexual immorality, impurity, idolatry, and sorcery—are not merely external actions but reveal deeper spiritual realities: disordered desires and false worship rooted in the human heart's rebellion against God's design. The passage serves as a diagnostic tool, exposing the corruption of fallen nature and warning that habitual, unrepentant engagement in such sins excludes one from the kingdom of God, while affirming that genuine believers, though tempted, do not persist in such lifestyles. The preacher underscores that the Holy Spirit empowers believers to resist the flesh, not through self-effort but through grace, repentance, and the renewing of the mind, ultimately calling Christians to live in joyful obedience to Christ, whose sacrifice has set them free to glorify and enjoy God forever.
The sermon centers on the biblical doctrine of Christian liberty, emphasizing that true freedom in Christ is not license to sin nor a burden of legalistic rules, but the Spirit-empowered ability to love God and neighbor rightly. Drawing from Galatians 5:11–18, it warns against the twin dangers of legalism and licentiousness, showing how both distort the gospel—legalism adds human works to faith, while licentiousness misuses grace as a justification for sin. The preacher underscores that the cross remains offensive because it declares human effort insufficient, and that genuine freedom is liberation from sin's power, not permission to indulge in it. The key to living this freedom is walking by the Spirit, which produces obedience not out of fear, but out of love, as the Spirit enables believers to fulfill the law through love. Ultimately, Christian liberty is not self-fulfillment, but a life of service, sanctification, and hope, grounded in Christ's righteousness and empowered by the Holy Spirit, leading to a joyful, Spirit-led obedience that delights in God's law and anticipates the final eradication of sin.
The sermon centers on the transformative power of saving faith in Christ, emphasizing that while salvation is by grace alone through faith alone, true faith is never alone—it actively expresses itself through love, obedience, and perseverance in the Christian life. Drawing from Galatians 5:6–10, it underscores that faith working through love is the essential fruit of justification, rejecting any addition of works or legalism that undermines the gospel. The preacher illustrates the Christian life as a race requiring discipline and endurance, warning that even a small compromise on the doctrine of justification—symbolized by 'a little leaven'—can corrupt the entire gospel and hinder spiritual progress. Ultimately, the message calls believers to examine their faith for genuine love and obedience, resist the subtle hindrances of sin, the world, and false teaching, and to trust in God's faithfulness to sustain them to the end, so that they may glorify God and enjoy Him forever.
The sermon, drawn from Galatians 5, centers on the vital truth that Christian freedom—secured by Christ's sacrifice—is not a license for immoral conduct but a liberation from the law's condemnation and the bondage of self-justification. It emphasizes that this freedom must be actively defended, as any attempt to add human works—such as circumcision or moral performance—to faith in Christ nullifies grace, severs one from Christ, and re-entangles the believer in spiritual slavery. The passage affirms that true faith, while not earning salvation, is never alone but inevitably produces love and obedience as the Spirit empowers believers to live in accordance with God's moral law. The ultimate purpose of this freedom is not self-fulfillment but joyful service to God and neighbor, rooted in the assurance that justification is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone, a truth that must be upheld at all costs.
This chapter of Ecclesiastes presents a stark portrayal of human despair under the sun, exposing the futility of life devoid of God—marked by pervasive oppression, envious toil, and isolating loneliness—yet it serves as a divine warning against seeking meaning in worldly achievements, political power, or self-sustaining effort. The preacher underscores the total depravity of humanity, revealing how sin distorts relationships, fuels jealousy, and leads to spiritual and emotional isolation, all while highlighting the absence of God as the root of such darkness. Nevertheless, the chapter points beyond itself to the ultimate solution: Christ, the true King, Comforter, and Companion, who alone provides lasting contentment, rest, and a community of believers that reflects God's sovereign design. Through this sobering lens, the message becomes clear: true meaning, justice, and fulfillment are found not in the world's systems, but in Christ and His body, where love, humility, and shared purpose replace envy, oppression, and pride.
The passage from Galatians 4:21–31 presents a profound theological argument rooted in the story of Abraham's two sons, Ishmael and Isaac, to illustrate the fundamental distinction between life under the law and life in grace. Paul uses this narrative allegorically to show that spiritual identity is not determined by physical descent or human effort, but by faith in God's promise—making believers children of the free woman, Sarah, and heirs of the covenant of grace, not of the covenant of works represented by Hagar and Mount Sinai. The contrast between the two covenants underscores that true freedom comes not through adherence to religious rituals or moral performance, but through faith in Christ alone, and those who seek to add works to salvation are spiritually aligned with Ishmael, the son of the flesh, and thus remain in bondage. The passage warns that such legalism inevitably leads to persecution of those who live by faith, and calls for decisive separation from false teachings, emphasizing that the church must uphold doctrinal purity and that all believers, regardless of background, are citizens of the heavenly Jerusalem, called to live in the confidence of God's finished work, not their own. This message is both a call to stand firm in gospel freedom and a solemn reminder that eternal inheritance belongs only to those born of the Spirit through faith in Christ.
A powerful call to uphold the gospel of grace while embodying Christ-like affection in pastoral ministry. This passage emphasizes that true gospel ministry is not merely doctrinally-precise but is also deeply personal, marked by sacrificial love and spiritual labor akin to a mother in childbirth, as Paul longs for Christ to be formed in the Galatians. The passage confronts the danger of legalism, exposing how the Judaizers' zeal was self-serving and divisive, while Paul's motivation was rooted in genuine care and a desire for the Galatians' spiritual maturity. The sermon underscores the painful reality that truth, when faithfully proclaimed, can provoke hostility, especially when it challenges sin and pride, yet faithful shepherds must endure such opposition without compromising biblical truth. Ultimately, it calls believers to cherish the liberty of grace, reject any attempt to add works to salvation, and pursue Christlikeness with both doctrinal fidelity and pastoral tenderness, all for the exaltation of Christ and the unity of His church.
This sermon, drawn from Galatians 4:8–11, delivers a sobering yet pastoral warning against the peril of apostasy—returning to a religion of works and legalistic observance after experiencing the liberating grace of faith in Christ alone. It emphasizes that true conversion is not a mere religious shift but a radical transfer from slavery to false gods into intimate, relational knowledge of the living God, secured by His sovereign, electing love. The preacher underscores that any attempt to add human effort, ritual, or religious duty to justification by faith alone is not merely a mistake but a form of spiritual slavery, a return to the very bondage from which Christ has redeemed believers. By contrasting the sufficiency of Christ's finished work with the futility of legalism, the sermon calls Christians to stand firm in gospel liberty, rooted not in performance but in God's unchanging faithfulness, and to guard against the subtle temptation to exchange grace for works, which ultimately undermines the very foundation of salvation.
In Ecclesiastes 3:16–22, the reality of pervasive corruption in both civil and religious institutions is acknowledged as a reflection of humanity's fallen condition, yet the response is not despair or social activism, but a profound trust in God's ultimate justice and sovereign providence. The passage confronts the tension between present injustice and the certainty of divine judgment, affirming that while death equalizes all—beast and human alike—true contentment is found not in this world's fleeting things, but in fearing God, embracing life as a gift, and rejoicing in one's labor as part of God's ordained order. The believer's hope is anchored not in temporal reform, but in the eschatological promise of final justice, where God will right every wrong, and where faith will become sight. This perspective, rooted in the Reformation doctrine of providence and the assurance of salvation in Christ, enables Christians to live with joy and peace amid corruption and mortality, trusting that God's delays are not denials, but expressions of His patience and grace for the salvation of His people.
The sermon, drawn from Galatians 4:1–7, unfolds the profound theological shift from slavery to sonship made possible by Christ's redemptive work, emphasizing that justification by faith alone is not merely a legal declaration but the foundation of a transformed identity. It contrasts the believer's former state—enslaved under the law and treated like a child without inheritance—with the present reality of being adopted as a son through the Spirit's indwelling presence, which enables the intimate cry of 'Abba, Father.' The passage highlights Christ's incarnation as the perfect fulfillment of God's sovereign timing, where the Son, born of a woman and under the law, fulfilled both the law's demands and its curse, securing redemption not by human effort but by divine grace. This adoption is not earned by works, circumcision, or moral performance, but received through faith alone, with the Holy Spirit testifying to our sonship and enabling a relational intimacy with God that transcends legalism. The sermon concludes with a call to live as heirs, not in fear or striving, but in joyful confidence, pursuing holiness as a result of our identity in Christ, not as a means to attain it.
This sermon, drawn from Galatians 3:26–29, centers on the transformative identity of every believer in Christ, emphasizing that salvation is by grace alone through faith alone, apart from ethnic, social, or gender distinctions. It unfolds the profound truth that all who are in Christ are adopted as sons of God, spiritually baptized into Christ, and clothed in His righteousness, thereby transcending every earthly marker of identity. The passage dismantles the illusion of spiritual privilege—whether ethnic (Jew/Greek), social (slave/free), or gender-based—by affirming that all believers are united in Christ and share equally in the inheritance promised to Abraham. The sermon underscores that this new identity, rooted in union with Christ, is not earned but received, and it calls believers to live in humble confidence, rejecting pride and division while embracing the gospel's power to unify all of God's people across every human boundary.
The central message of this sermon is that the Mosaic Law, while good and divinely ordained, was never intended to justify or save humanity, but rather served as a temporary tutor to reveal sin, expose human failure, and drive people to Christ. Paul's argument in Galatians 3:19–25 underscores that the law was added because of transgressions, not to provide salvation, and functions primarily to diagnose spiritual death by revealing God's holy standards—thereby provoking sin rather than curing it. Though the law was given through angels and mediated by Moses, it was inherently limited, pointing beyond itself to the promised Seed, Jesus Christ, whose righteousness alone justifies. Once faith in Christ has come, believers are no longer under the law's condemnation or tutelage, as their standing before God is secured by grace through faith alone, not by works or obedience. The sermon warns against legalism, emphasizing that any attempt to use the law as a means of maintaining or earning justification contradicts the gospel and returns believers to spiritual bondage, while affirming that Christ's work is fully sufficient for salvation and sanctification.
Our responsibility is to steward the time we've been given by God, and that stsrts with seeing that every season of life has been appointed by God as a blessing from His hand to that end. The sermon, drawn from Ecclesiastes 3:1–15, presents a profound meditation on God's sovereign ordering of time and life's seasons, emphasizing that every moment—whether marked by joy or sorrow, gain or loss—is appointed by a loving and wise God. It calls believers to embrace divine sovereignty not with fatalism, but with joyful stewardship, recognizing that God has set eternity in the human heart, creating a longing for meaning beyond the temporal. The passage challenges the illusion of control, urging a life of contentment, holiness, and happiness rooted in trust, as all things are made beautiful in their time and ultimately for God's glory. The sermon concludes with a call to redeem time through worship, obedience, and evangelism, grounded in the fear of God and the hope of Christ, who entered history to redeem sinners and fulfill God's eternal purposes.
The sermon centers on the unchanging faithfulness of God, illustrated through the Abrahamic covenant and its fulfillment in Christ, emphasizing that salvation is by grace alone through faith alone, not by law or works. Drawing from Galatians 3:15–18, it argues that God's covenant promises, once ratified, are irrevocable and unconditional, with Christ as the singular seed through whom all blessings are fulfilled. The passage dismantles the idea that the Mosaic law nullifies or supplements God's prior promise to Abraham, affirming that justification and the reception of the Spirit are rooted in divine promise, not human performance. The sermon underscores that Christmas is not merely a celebration of Christ's birth but the fulfillment of centuries-old covenantal faithfulness, where God's unchanging nature guarantees the security of His promises. Ultimately, it calls believers to rest in God's faithfulness, finding assurance not in personal merit or effort, but in the eternal, unchangeable character of God who keeps His word.
A lesson on the impossibility of upholding the Law, the curse of sin, and the means that God has provided for our redemption: faith alone in Christ alone. The sermon presents a powerful exposition of Galatians 3:10–14, emphasizing that all humanity is born under the curse of sin and incapable of achieving righteousness through the law, which demands perfect, perpetual obedience that no one can fulfill. Drawing on the imagery of Mount Gerizim and Mount Ebal, it contrasts the fatal curse of the law with the life-giving blessing of faith in Christ, who bore the curse on the cross to redeem sinners. The central message is that justification is not by works of the law, which only condemn, but by faith alone in Christ, whose perfect righteousness is imputed to believers. The sermon calls the audience to abandon all confidence in their own obedience, rest in Christ's finished work, and live daily by faith, trusting in His substitutionary sacrifice and the gift of the Holy Spirit promised to all who believe.
A lesson on the way that Abraham's story both proves and illustrates the doctrine of justification by faith alone, apart from works. The sermon, drawn from Galatians 3:6–9, powerfully affirms that salvation has always been by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone, as exemplified in Abraham's life, whose faith was credited to him as righteousness long before the law or circumcision existed. Paul uses Abraham's story to dismantle the heresy of justification by faith plus works, showing that true spiritual descendants of Abraham are not defined by ethnic lineage or obedience to the law, but by faith in God's promise—faith that looks forward to Christ and rests in His finished work. The passage reveals that the gospel was preached to Abraham centuries before Christ, and that all who believe in Christ, whether Jew or Gentile, are blessed with Abraham through the same faith that credited him with righteousness. The sermon underscores that faith does not earn righteousness but receives it as a gift imputed by God, and that any addition of human effort or merit nullifies grace and undermines the sufficiency of Christ's work. Ultimately, it calls believers to rest entirely in Christ's perfect righteousness, recognizing that our standing before God is not based on our performance, but on His grace, and that this eternal truth remains the foundation of the church's identity and mission.
The sermon, drawn from Ecclesiastes 2:12–26, explores the futility of human wisdom and effort apart from God, illustrating how even the wisest man, Solomon, found life's pursuits—pleasure, wealth, labor, and knowledge—ultimately vain and devoid of lasting meaning. Through a vivid metaphor of reverse engineering life, the preacher shows that while human intellect can dissect existence into its components, it cannot explain the origin of life, the purpose of suffering, or the inevitability of death. Despite wisdom's practical advantages, it cannot prevent death, guarantee a wise successor, or provide enduring significance, leading Solomon to despair. The turning point comes when the preacher reveals that true meaning and joy are found not in human achievement but in recognizing all things as gifts from God's hand, where even toil and suffering become meaningful when viewed through the lens of divine sovereignty and grace. In Christ, life's components are transformed from empty vanities into opportunities for worship, hope, and eternal purpose, as all things work together for the good of those who love God, making faith in Jesus Christ the only foundation for lasting joy and meaning.
The sermon centers on the profound truth that God's generosity in Christ is infinite and unmatchable, culminating in the ultimate gift of His Son on the cross, which secures our salvation and adoption as His children. Drawing from Scripture, especially Romans 8:28–32, Psalm 84, and the story of Abraham and Isaac, it emphasizes that God's faithfulness to His promises—seen in the resurrection of the dead and the provision of a substitute—guarantees that He will never withhold any good thing from those who walk uprightly. The Christmas celebration, when rightly understood, is not merely a commemoration of Christ's birth but a revelation of His sacrificial death and resurrection, through which believers are united to Him, declared righteous, and given access to God as Father. This reality, rooted in God's sovereign, cheerful, and inexhaustible grace, frees believers to live with contentment, generosity, and hope, knowing that all things—past, present, and future—are held in the Father's loving, providential hand, and that the ultimate fulfillment of all longing will come in the new creation where Christ is our all and our very great reward.
A lesson that reminds us that from beginning to end, we need the Gospel; we need to behold Christ and Him crucified, knowing that the grace that saved us also sustains us on the journey to glory. The sermon centers on the enduring truth of justification by faith alone in Christ alone, emphasizing that salvation is a gift of grace entirely dependent on Christ's finished work, not human effort. Drawing from Galatians 3, it confronts the persistent temptation to add works or self-reliance to faith, warning that such deviation—whether from external false teachers or internal pride—amounts to spiritual foolishness and a betrayal of the gospel. The preacher underscores that the Christian life begins and continues by the Spirit through faith, illustrated through the Galatians' own experience of receiving the Spirit, enduring persecution, and witnessing miracles—all by hearing with faith, not by law-keeping. Ultimately, the message calls believers to daily fix their eyes on Christ crucified, recognizing that the same grace that justifies also sanctifies, and that the gospel is not only for the beginning of faith but for the entire journey of life.
"A lesson about how our union with Christ frees us from sin's dominion and empowers us to live a new life of obedience by the grace of God." The sermon, drawn from Galatians 2:17–21, powerfully defends the gospel of justification by faith alone against the charge that it promotes sinfulness, clarifying that true freedom in Christ is not license to sin but liberation from the law's condemnation and the power of sin. It emphasizes that believers are united with Christ in His death and resurrection, resulting in a new nature that hates sin and delights in God's will, making holy living not a legalistic obligation but the natural outflow of faith and love. The passage dismantles the misconception that grace encourages lawlessness, showing instead that grace both forgives sin's penalty and destroys its dominion through the transformative power of union with Christ, who now lives in the believer. The sermon concludes with a solemn warning: to add works to faith is to nullify Christ's sacrifice, making His death unnecessary and blaspheming the Gospel, and thus calls all to live not under fear of the law, but in joyful, loving obedience to the One who died for them.
A lesson on the absolute sufficiency of Christ's righteousness for our justification, received by faith alone apart from works of the law. The sermon centers on the foundational Christian doctrine of justification by faith alone, emphasizing that no human effort, law-keeping, or moral achievement can make a person right with God. Drawing from Galatians 2:15–16, it argues that salvation is not earned through works of the law—such as obedience to Jewish ceremonial or moral codes—but is received solely through faith in Jesus Christ, whose perfect righteousness is imputed to believers. The preacher underscores the impossibility of achieving righteousness through human effort, highlighting the fallen nature of humanity and the holiness of God, which demands perfect conformity to His law. In contrast, the gospel offers freedom: Christ's active and passive obedience are credited to sinners, enabling them to stand justified before God not by their own merit but by grace alone. The sermon warns against any addition of works or obedience to faith as a means of justification, affirming that such additions undermine Christ's finished work and distort the true gospel, which is the cornerstone of the Church's existence and the source of lasting assurance and joy.
a lesson on seeing the good things in life as gifts from God to be enjoyed in the proper context and as things that point our hearts to Him. The sermon, drawn from Ecclesiastes 2:1–11, presents a sobering exploration of the futility of seeking lasting meaning and fulfillment in worldly pleasures, possessions, and accomplishments, as exemplified by King Solomon's exhaustive yet ultimately empty pursuit of hedonism. Through a vivid recounting of Solomon's experiments with laughter, wine, grand building projects, wealth, and sensual indulgence, the preacher illustrates how every earthly endeavor—however noble in itself—fails to satisfy the deep longing of the human heart when pursued apart from God. The central message is that while these things are good gifts from God, they become idols when they are elevated above Him, leading only to emptiness and a deeper sense of dissatisfaction. The sermon calls listeners to recognize the vanity of life under the sun and to redirect their hearts toward the eternal joy found only in a relationship with Christ, who alone satisfies the soul's deepest longings. Ultimately, it is a call to reorient life around God as the true source of meaning, contentment, and lasting joy.
This sermon, from Galatians 2:11–16, emphasizes that the doctrine of justification by faith alone—central to the Reformation and the very heart of the gospel—must be defended with unwavering courage, even against prominent figures like Peter. Drawing on the historical confrontation between Paul and Peter in Antioch, the preacher illustrates how fear of man, even among true believers, can lead to hypocrisy and compromise, undermining the gospel's unity and purity. The message is clear: while Christian love and peace are vital, they must not come at the cost of doctrinal integrity, especially when the gospel itself is at stake. The sermon calls believers to emulate Paul and Luther by standing firm in truth, even when unpopular, recognizing that such stands are not divisive but essential for preserving the gospel's integrity. Ultimately, it affirms that salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone, and that any deviation from this truth distorts the very foundation of Christian faith.
A lesson on prioritizing the truth of the Gospel over unity, knowing that if we prioritize unity over truth, we'll have neither truth nor unity. The sermon centers on the necessity of preserving the purity of the gospel, drawing from Galatians 2 to affirm that salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone—never compromised by human works or traditions. It uses the collapse of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge as a metaphor for how unity without truth leads to spiritual ruin, illustrating how Paul's journey to Jerusalem with Titus—his uncircumcised Gentile companion—proved that the gospel must not be altered, even for the sake of harmony. The passage underscores that true fellowship is rooted in shared allegiance to the apostolic gospel, not human agreement, and warns against modern distortions like legalism, easy believism, or works-based justification, all of which undermine the cross. The sermon calls believers to guard the gospel with vigilance, rejecting any addition to Christ's finished work, and to cherish unity only when grounded in the unchanging truth of grace, for it is the power of God unto salvation.
A lesson on the way that the Gospel redirects our life in Christ, transforming us from sinners into saints who desire above all to obey and glorify God in Christ Jesus. The sermon centers on the divine origin and unchangeable nature of the gospel, as defended by Paul in Galatians 1:11–24, emphasizing that the gospel is not a human invention but a revelation from Jesus Christ, authenticated by Paul's radical transformation from persecutor to apostle. It contrasts the true gospel—rooted in God's sovereign grace and received through divine revelation—with man-made religions and cults that distort salvation by adding human works, thereby undermining the sufficiency of Christ's atonement. Paul's testimony, from his zealous persecution of the church to his Damascus Road encounter and subsequent three-year preparation in Arabia, illustrates how genuine faith results in a complete inward transformation that inevitably produces outward obedience and a life devoted to glorifying God. The sermon underscores that salvation is entirely God's work—from election before creation to final glorification—highlighting the believer's identity not in past failures but in Christ's righteousness, and calls both unbelievers and believers to rest wholly in the gospel's power to redeem and transform.
A lesson on the futility of searching for meaning or significance in the things of life without God. The sermon, drawn from Ecclesiastes 1:12–18, centers on the futility of seeking life's meaning apart from God, using King Solomon's exhaustive pursuit of wisdom as a profound illustration. Despite possessing unparalleled wisdom, wealth, and power, Solomon concludes that all human endeavors under the sun—without divine revelation and grace—are ultimately 'vanity and striving after wind,' revealing the inherent brokenness of creation and the limits of human reason. The passage underscores that wisdom, without God, increases sorrow rather than alleviating it, as it only heightens awareness of life's suffering and disorder. The preacher emphasizes that this despair is not a call to despair, but a necessary confrontation with the reality of sin's curse, which only Christ's redemptive work can overcome. Ultimately, the message is one of grace: true meaning, joy, and restoration are found not in human effort, but in Christ, who alone straightens what sin has bent and fulfills the longing for purpose that all humanity instinctively feels.
A lesson on the offensive nature of the Gospel, and the temptation to change the message for the sake of pleasing men. The sermon emphasizes the critical importance of prioritizing God's approval over the consensus of the world, particularly when it comes to upholding the purity of the gospel. Drawing from Galatians 1:10, the message highlights the exclusivity of allegiance—either serving God or serving man—and cautions against the temptation to compromise biblical truth to gain acceptance. It underscores that true servanthood demands unwavering faithfulness to Christ, rejecting the notion that works or human consensus can contribute to justification, and instead embracing the grace and righteousness secured through faith alone in Jesus Christ.
A lesson on the danger of false teachers infiltrating the church, who distort the gospel, and whose end is the condemnation of their own soul and any who would follow them. The sermon emphasizes the critical importance of adhering to the true gospel of Jesus Christ, warning against even slight deviations that can lead to eternal condemnation. It cautions against being swayed by charismatic teachers or seemingly orthodox messages that add works or other requirements to faith alone, highlighting the danger of embracing false gospels that distort the message of salvation through grace. The preacher underscores that the gospel is a non-negotiable truth, and any departure from it, even if presented by an angel, is a grave error, urging listeners to steadfastly believe in Christ alone as the sole basis for justification and to reject any alternative message.
A lesson on what the Gospel is and why it must never be tampered with or altered. The sermon emphasizes the centrality of the gospel of grace, highlighting Jesus' willing sacrifice and resurrection as the foundation for salvation, not human effort or adherence to the law. It warns against the dangers of compromising this message with philosophies that blend faith and works, particularly those that undermine the complete sufficiency of Christ's atonement. The speaker underscores the importance of recognizing the gospel as God's initiative, a message that liberates believers from sin's power and ultimately glorifies God, urging vigilance against subtle deviations that threaten the purity of this essential truth and the Gospel message, which alone has the power to save.
A lesson on finding true lasting meaning, fulfillment, significance, and joy in life. The sermon explores the inherent vanity of earthly pursuits, drawing from Ecclesiastes to highlight the fleeting nature of life and the ultimate futility of seeking fulfillment in material possessions, achievements, or even legacy. It emphasizes that while human experience is marked by cyclical patterns and a constant desire for novelty, true meaning and lasting satisfaction are found not in chasing worldly things, but in turning to God and embracing the promise of a new creation through Christ, who offers a perspective that transcends the limitations of the temporal world and provides a foundation for genuine contentment and purpose.
A lesson on living a life that leads to life and salvation, and a warning against the things that would lure a person to the broad road. The sermon emphasizes the critical importance of discerning truth and aligning one's life with Christ's teachings, warning against the allure of false prophets and the deceptive promise of self-righteousness. It underscores that true salvation is found solely through faith in Christ, not through works or worldly wisdom, illustrating this with the analogy of a house built on rock versus sand. Ultimately, the message calls for a commitment to the narrow path of obedience, recognizing that eternity hinges on making the right choice between the broad way of lawlessness and the life-giving path of faith in Christ alone.
A lesson on the importance of prayer as a means of receiving the sustaining, nourishing grace that we need for the Christian life. The sermon emphasizes the centrality of prayer in the Christian life, drawing from the Sermon on the Mount and the teachings of historical figures like Martin Luther and Thomas Watson. It highlights the importance of approaching God with confidence, recognizing His sovereignty and willingness to provide grace, not as a means of manipulating outcomes, but as a pathway to aligning with His will and growing in Christ-likeness. The message underscores that persistent prayer, rooted in a humble understanding of human dependence and God's boundless generosity, ultimately leads to a life of love and service to others, reflecting the divine character revealed in Jesus.
A lesson on confronting a brother or sister who is in sin in a way that leads to restoration of fellowship. This sermon emphasizes the importance of self-examination and discernment in Christian life, warning against hypocritical judgment and urging believers to prioritize personal holiness before attempting to correct others. Drawing from Matthew 7, the message highlights the absurdity of focusing on minor faults in others while ignoring significant sins in ourselves, advocating for a balanced approach to confronting sin with gentleness and wisdom, and ultimately protecting the integrity of the gospel by strategically engaging with those receptive to its message while withdrawing from those who persistently reject it.
The sermon addresses the pervasive issue of anxiety in contemporary society, tracing its roots to a cultural shift away from God and a loss of confidence in reason, exacerbated by technology. It refutes the notion that worry can add anything to one's life, instead emphasizing the importance of trusting in God's providential care and seeking His kingdom above all else. Drawing from nature and Scripture, the message encourages listeners to relinquish control and find solace in God's sovereignty, recognizing that He faithfully provides for all needs, ultimately freeing them to live a life that glorifies Christ.
The sermon examines the dangers of prioritizing earthly possessions and anxieties over a steadfast devotion to God, drawing from Matthew 6. It cautions against storing up treasures on earth, vulnerable to loss and corruption, and instead encourages investing in heavenly treasures—righteous deeds and spiritual growth—that endure eternally. Through the illustration of a sports card collector and the parable of the rich young ruler, the message underscores that true wealth lies not in material accumulation but in aligning one's heart and priorities with God's will, ultimately warning against the illusion of treasure and the necessity of single-minded devotion to Christ.
A lesson on the effects of sin, and God's mercy to cleanse and turn us from it, for His glory. As we conclude our study through 2nd Samuel today, the book ends with a fitting message: the cost of sin is great, but God's mercy is greater. His judgement reveals our sin, but His mercy invites our repentance, worship, and praise. The sermon concludes a study of 2 Samuel, emphasizing the importance of trusting in God rather than relying on human understanding, echoing Proverbs 3:5-6. It highlights David's example, acknowledging his imperfections while showcasing his reliance on God, and contrasts this with Saul's disobedience. The narrative underscores God's sovereignty, even in judgment, and celebrates His mercy, offering forgiveness and reconciliation through a mediator, ultimately pointing to Christ's atoning sacrifice and inviting listeners to embrace God's grace and find joy in fellowship with Him.
The sermon explores the consequences of misplaced trust, using the story of King David to illustrate the importance of relying on God rather than human understanding or statistics. Drawing parallels to historical events like the Protestant Reformation and Bloody Mary's persecution, it emphasizes that even in judgment, God reveals mercy and sovereignty, calling believers to entrust themselves to His promises. The message highlights the necessity of humility and repentance, acknowledging that while sin may bring temporal consequences, God's grace and the sacrifice of Christ offer forgiveness and restoration, ultimately urging listeners to seek God's will and live in light of His unwavering love and faithfulness.
A lesson on trusting in God's faithfulness to His covenant promises, and finding our hope in that rather than anything else. The sermon explores David's final words, emphasizing the importance of hope and trust in God amidst life's uncertainties, particularly when facing mortality. It highlights David's humble beginnings and God's sovereign choice of him, ultimately pointing to Jesus Christ as the fulfillment of God's covenant promises and the ultimate source of hope and righteousness. The message underscores the necessity of faith in Christ alone for salvation, contrasting the secure hope of those in covenant with God with the impending judgment faced by those who rely on their own works, urging listeners to embrace God's grace and find assurance in His unwavering faithfulness.
A lesson on our need to look to Christ for salvation, and how God provides all that we need to live the Christian life.
a lesson on seeing God as a Savior and Deliverer who rescues His people in Christ Jesus in accordance with His steadfast love.
A lesson on God's faithfulness to providentially accomplish His purposes through His servants, even against giants that seem overwhelming. As we continue in our study through 2nd Samuel today, we continue observing the epilogue which highlights David's life of continual warfare. In a period of weariness for himself and his men, they had to face multiple incursions against literal giants in some cases. Recall how Goliath, just one giant, struck such fear into the hearts of Israel. Nevertheless, God provided the grace, strength, and skill for victory through His servants. In the very same way, we live our Christian walk by grace as well. In and of ourselves we are utterly unable to win the battle against the flesh, the world, and the devil. But even against such mighty foes, God's grace is greater. And because His Son has overcome them all, we have victory through Him by faith. So keep your eyes on Him, and you will walk in victory.
A lesson on the seriousness of covenants, and the high cost of atonement. As we continue in our study through 2nd Samuel today, we encounter an epilogue which takes place outside the main account, wherein we witness the effects of a covenant Saul broke between Israel and the Gibeonites, which brought God's reproach upon Israel. It was up to David to settle the account; the cost of atonement being the death of seven of Saul's descendants. The lesson to gleam from this difficult passage is that God takes covenants seriously, and that the cost of sin and breaking of oaths is very high. But unlike us, God keeps His covenants perfectly and faithfully. And He Himself restores mercy through costly atonement, by the blood of His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.
A lesson on our need for God to protect us from the snares and temptations of the evil one.
A lesson on the importance of humility in the Christian walk, particularly when differences and conflicts arise, and the importance of living out the peace that we have in Christ.
a lesson on the way that Christ reconciles sinners to God: by seeking them out and pouring out His grace upon them.
A lesson on managing our lives wisely by obeying God's commands, entrusting all things into His hands, and treasuring His word in our hearts that we might feel and reason rightly.
A lesson on the sure hope we have to obtain an eternal inheritance and resurrection because of the finished work our Lord Jesus Christ, who died and rose again to save sinners like us.
A lesson that reminds us that God is sovereign over our trials, able to confound, influence, and even over-ride the decisions of man as a means of carrying forth His sovereign plans.
A lesson that reminds us of our need to come to God in daily prayer, looking to Him and relying on Him to provide our daily sustenance - both physically and spiritually.
A lesson on trusting in God to work out His glory and our good, even amidst the most tumultuous circumstances.
A lesson on trusting in God's sovereignty over our trials, and leaning on Him by faith to see us through the storms of life, according to His will.
A lesson on the dangers of pursuing greatness by the world's standards, and a reminder of Christ's words: "It is not this way among you" (Matt. 20:26).
A lesson that warns us about acting in haste to reconcile and restore in the absence of true repentance.
A lesson on praying to God as a Father who loves to bless us, in eager anticipation of the fulfilling of His plans and purposes for human history.
A lesson on trusting in God's promise to vindicate His people, rather than taking matters of justice into our own hands.
a lesson on the foolishness and the consequences of neglecting to train our children in the ways of God.
A lesson on praying with the right motivation: to God, for God, through Jesus Christ as our Mediator, by the Holy Spirit.
A lesson on the way that God's grace toward us sometimes means being disciplined as a means of bringing about true repentance.
A lesson on the way that sin always takes us further than we initially think that it will. While it often initially gives the illusion of being something we can control, it has the ability to draw us deeper and further into sin than we ever could have predicted if our pride isn't kept in check.
a lesson on the deceitfulness of sin, the sinful desires that remain within us, and the God's means that God has ordained for forgiving those who sin against Him.
A lesson on giving unto God in a way that results in God being pleased and in the unbelieving world giving glory to God.
a lesson on desiring and pursuing God as our top priority in life, knowing that only His love for us in Christ Jesus is worth more than life itself.
a story that illustrates the foolishness and the consequences of rejecting God's kindness, which is intended to provoke our repentance, in Christ Jesus.
A lesson in which the Gospel is clearly illustrated and foreshadowed by the story of a king who was faithful to his covenant promises and a crippled man who was born at enmity with the king and could do nothing to change his condition.
a lesson on looking to Christ our conquering Warrior-King who has defeated death and sin for every helpless sinner who believes on Him.
A lesson on what we have to be thankful unto God for, and how to pray with thanksgiving.
A systematic study of the Davidic Covenant, how it fits into the history of God's Covenants, and what that means for us and the assurance those in Christ Jesus have in Him.
A lesson on the importance of not only having the right motivation to please and glorify God, but for our worship and all of our good deeds, as Christians, to be shaped by what His word instructs.
A lesson that teaches us to be good and generous stewards who aren't bent on vengeance or retaliation.
A lesson on how Christians are to live their lives coram Deo: in the presence of God, under the authority of God, for the glory of God.
A lesson on the spiritual warfare to which every Christian is called, and the armor and weapons we must be equipped with.
A lesson that reminds us that what man is unable to do by his own strength or reasoning, God is perfectly capable of doing. For this reason, nothing can stand in the way of His plans and purposes being fulfilled.
a lesson on finding contentment in the Lord Himself and in His promises, particularly in times when we're tempted to overlook sin that gives us some kind of gain.
A lesson on the way that the peace and unity of the church was foreshadowed by Israel under David's kingship.
A lesson on the importance of speaking truthfully, and speaking without trivializing God's name or the trustworthiness of our words.
A lesson on the importance of speaking truthfully, and speaking without trivializing God's name or the trustworthiness of our words.
A lesson on the importance of waiting on the Lord, the consequences of growing impatient, and the way that God mysteriously works through people and circumstances to accomplish His purposes.
A lesson on the comparative differences between the way that God's Kingdom and man's kingdoms are established, maintained, and grow.
A lesson on the way that God's Kingdom advances in small steps, often with small beginnings, by the world's standards, and how God is glorified by doing much with small, seemingly ordinary things.
A lesson on dealing Biblically with the grief that often accompanies the death of a loved one, and the importance of clinging to the living hope that Christians have in Christ when we do grieve.
A lesson on how we, as Christians, should respond to the death of the wicked and other instances in which God's just judgment has certainly been rendered.
A lesson on what adultery is in God's eyes, God's good gift of sexual intimacy, and the importance of sexual purity in the Christian life.
A lesson on the importance of living for things that matter, and the vanity of gaining the whole world and yet losing one's soul.
A lesson on the difference it makes when we set our minds upon the Lord and His promises, grasping them by faith and walking in obedience to Him.
A lesson on the wisdom of God that He would have ordained that there be an enmity - an incompatibility - between His people and the world.
A lesson on the religion that pleases God- the religion that is primarily concerned with the heart of man, and only secondarily on external behaviors.
A lesson on the foolishness of not trusting in God's covenant promises and of leaning on our own understanding.
A lesson on trusting God to deal with the wicked. While we don't know how God will deal with them, He's promised that He will, and while His ways might not be clear to us, our way - trusting and obeying the Lord - is clear.
A lesson on God's promise to take vengeance on evildoers, which frees us to show mercy rather than taking matters into our own hands.
The Pharisees and Scribes represented the best and most moral that humanity has to offer. But Jesus said that entry into heaven requires a greater righteousness than even they have. This is a lesson on the hope that Christ gives us for heaven.
A lesson on intercession, forgiveness, and the importance of keeping ourselves humble before the Lord, especially after moments in which we've seen or experienced spiritual victory.
A lesson on the importance of having a conscience that is governed by God's will as revealed in God's word.
A lesson on the role that Christians play in encouraging one another to persevere in the faith and to continue acting in faith that God's promises will all be fulfilled.
A lesson on the significance of the resurrection of Christ and its implications for the mission of the church.
A lesson on knowing God's will as it is revealed in the all-sufficient Scriptures as a means of navigating life and minimizing troubles without compromising our faith.
A lesson on the importance of upkeeping a healthy walk with the Lord, and the consequences of allowing one's heart to harden instead of returning from backsliding.
A lesson on the cause and consequences of not nurturing a steady and faithful walk with the Lord.
A lesson on living our lives with zeal for the Lord, shining the light of Christ, in the midst of a morally- and intellectually-dark world.
A lesson on the unshakable covenant promises of God, who is worthy of our highest allegiance, love, and trust, regardless of our circumstances.
Guest preacher, Alex Nelson. A lesson on the believer's need to keep the Gospel in focus.
A lesson on the way that God's covenant promises to His people not only give us comfort and hope in times of distress, but also how they prevent us from being controlled by fear.
A lesson on the means by which God's purposes in the world advance, and His people are protected from their enemies.
A lesson on the kind of irrational hatred and persecution that the world has for God's people, and how we can find contentment in God regardless of how the world feels about us or God.
A lesson on the Christian's ability to rejoice in the blessings and successes of his fellow brothers and sisters in Christ.
A lesson on what it means to be persecuted for the sake of Christ, and why we can rejoice in it.
A lesson in the way that David's victory over Goliath foreshadows the victory that Christ gained for His people against their worst enemies.
A lesson on zeal for the glory of God being the Christian's primary motivation in every aspect of life.
A lesson on standing firmly on God's covenant promises during times of trial and affliction in our lives.
A lesson on the way that our positional peace with God flows out in a practical peace in our lives.
A lesson that warns us against judging by outward appearances, and a reminder that God calls us to His service as we are.
A lesson on the dangers of legalism, which includes having a form of godliness that denies the power thereof.
A lesson on what God is capable of doing when our confidence in what God can do is greater than our fear of failing.
A lesson on the importance of immediate obedience, and not using difficult circumstances as an excuse for sinning. Includes a look at the Regulative Principle of Worship.
A lesson on the importance of reflecting the mercy that God has shown us in the way we relate to others - especially those who have sinned against us.
As Israel is invaded and goes to battle against a wicked king, we learn some important principles for spiritual battle.
A lesson on the civil government's limitations, which are defined by God's word, and the attitude that the Christian should have toward those in positions of authority.
A lesson on our lack of righteousness, and Christ's abundant supply of righteousness unto all who believe on Him.
A lesson on God's sovereignty, man's free will, and the foolishness of trusting in man rather than God.
A lesson on the place that repentance has in the Christian life. We're constantly tempted to be double-minded- to allow -things- in our lives to compete with God for our hearts. But repentance involves being sorry for sin, and renewing a commitment to single-minded devotion to the Lord.
A lesson on the failure of worldly wisdom and godless spirituality, and the need for the grace that is found in Christ alone.
A sermon that shows us that the cost of carnal, godless religiosity is ultimately that we live without purpose or direction, and that it leads us to a state of misery.
A lesson on the importance of yielding our will to God's will, rather than trying to use Him to fulfill our carnal aspirations.
A lesson on the importance of hearing the word of the Lord. Where people do not hear God, they will not fear God. And where people do not fear God, moral chaos rises.
A lesson on honoring God, and the importance of knowing who the Scriptures reveal God to be.
A lesson on the importance of being emptied of self, in order that we may be filled by God, and how pride is antithetical to the Christian life.
A lesson on God's faithfulness to accomplish all of His purposes and promises, despite the corruption of human institutions.
A lesson on praising God for His salvation, His sovereignty, and for the sureness of His promises and plans being fulfilled.
A lesson on the way that prayer changes things - starting with the way that it changes us.
An introductory lesson to the book of Samuel, showing us the responses to spiritual barrenness and suffering through trials.
A lesson on serving and glorifying Christ in all of life and unto death, regardless of what the future for our country looks like, and regardless of what happens.
A lesson on the central point of the Sermon on the Mount- that we would build our lives upon the word of God, and thereby shine the light of Christ into the darkness of the world around us.
A lesson on serving the Lord in His ways, by His power, in thanksgiving for His grace, and for His glory and our enjoyment.
A lesson on the reason that John wrote his Gospel testimony, and a review of 2 themes that have been present throughout- believing in Jesus and telling others about Him.
A lesson on dealing with fear in a Biblical manner - a manner that honors the Lord and which allows us to live for the glory of Christ.
A lesson on our reliance on God to convert lost sinners through our faithful proclamation of the Gospel.
A lesson on the great commission to proclaim the gospel faithfully, openly, and in love toward God, and toward the souls of the lost. As we continue in our study of the Gospel of John today, we see now the risen Christ appearing to the disciples collectively for the first time. This initiates a series of seven final words of admonition and encouragement He gives to them, and to the church at large. These first two may be summed up as this- 'go, and rejoice.' We have been given good news to proclaim, not as the world understands it, but according to the unfathomable riches of God's grace in sending His Son, the Lord Jesus, to die on behalf of sinners. Only in understanding the reality of our sin and guilt before God does the good news become 'good'. The natural man is opposed to the things of God, for he is indeed at enmity with Him, and cannot in his own will or capacity receive it. But by the Spirit regenerating and indwelling us, we understand who Christ is, who we really are, and why we must deliver this message of hope and life to a world that is dead in its trespasses and sins.
A lesson on dealing with troubles like betrayal in a way that honors God and works for our greatest good.
A lesson on the significance of two details that followed the death of Christ- His legs not being broken by the guards, and His being pierced with a guard's spear.
A lesson on prayer- one of the means by which God communicates His grace. Prayer is efficacious in aligning our will with God's will, and a means by which God carries out His decree. He desires for us to communicate with Him in prayer, in order that it would become the means by which He fulfills His purposes- glorifying Himself in our offering up of our will to Him, being sanctified to the effect that we desire to obey His commands, and with joy and thankfulness in our hearts, genuinely seeking to glorify Him in our requests. And so, in today's passage, Jesus models for His disciples, and by extension all Christians, how we ought to pray.
A lesson on the gifts of God in Christ, for the equipping of the saints in His Church. We glean from today's passage that the gifts are not so much abilities in and of themselves, as they are the people God provides to serve a calling and purpose. By the grace which we are supplied, we are to fulfill a particular ministry within the Body of Christ. However, not everyone is gifted in the same way, nor is anyone saved without any purpose at all- first and foremost, we are saved to glorify God. Second, we are saved in order to love and serve one-another.
A lesson on baptism, one of the means by which God confers sanctifying grace to believers in Christ. It is important to begin by understanding that baptism is not a mere show or performance. Nor does it confer justifying grace -ie. baptism in itself does not cause anyone to be made right with God.- While Baptism certainly is an act of identifying with Christ's death, burial, and resurrection - more specifically, it is the external sign of the Covenant of Grace, whereby believers are conferred real and true spiritual benefits- that being the sanctifying grace it confers.
A lesson on the Lord's Supper as one of the ordinary means of grace God has instituted for our sanctification, and for His glory. The Lord's Supper is a time of both celebration, as well as solemn reflection. It is an opportunity for the body of Christ to come, hold, and consume a picture of the gospel. To place into our bodies the reality of what has been accomplished and plied to us spiritually. The body of Christ was broken so that we may obtain His perfect obedient life and resurrection. His innocent blood was shed so that the wrath against sin we incurred would be paid in full, thereby receiving His life everlasting.
A lesson on God's judgement against the wicked, who will surely be uprooted, and His steadfast love towards those who trust in Him- they will be planted forever. Today we come to a psalm which highlights the end result of the person who would not trust in God, but instead boasts in cheap, opportunistic, selfish gain by a destructive and deceitful tongue. The end result of such a person's life is that they will be uprooted - separated from the grace of God forever. Even what they think they have would be permanently taken away from them. But those that trust in the Lord, in His lovingkindness found chiefly in His Son Jesus Christ, will be firmly planted and nourished forever under His own care.
A lesson on Christ's suffering thirst, and how it helps us to understand and respond to questions about the problem of suffering and evil in the world.
A lesson on the family of God, founded upon the atoning death of Christ. As we continue in our study of the Gospel of John, we see that Jesus, now hanging on the cross, exchanges words with His mother Mary, and John - the disciple whom He loved. Jesus commends into John's hands the task of caring for His mother. In doing this, we learn of the sweet tenderness Christ still holds toward His disciples, even though they had abandoned Him. But it also signifies and reflects to us a greater spiritual reality- that through the death of Christ, we have been reconciled not only to God, but also to one another.
A lesson on the faithfulness of God to His promises, and our need to trust in Him. Resuming our study of John's gospel, we read of how the Roman soldiers, who were delivering Christ up to Calvary for the crucifixion at this point, mocked and vilified Him. We're told of how they divided up His garments, and cast lots for His tunic. At first glance this may appear to be a fleeting detail, but it is in fact of incredible prophetic significance. John points that out for us in the text, noting that it was to fulfill a specific prophecy given through David in Psalm 22.--The more we cross-reference the account of Jesus' crucifixion with Psalm 22, the more it becomes obvious it was on Jesus' mind during the crucifixion. Far beyond that though, the psalm found it's true and ultimate fulfillment in Christ and the surrounding event of the crucifixion itself. For the Son of David, the psalm foretold with flawless detail the shame and sufferings He would endure that day. Despising the shame set before Him, Christ pressed onward to complete His mission and accomplish the will of the Father- namely, to bear our sin, guilt, and shame on the cross, so that we would be made perfect, holy, and blameless in the sight of God.
A lesson on Christ as King and Savior for all peoples, from all nations. Continuing in John's account of Christ's crucifixion, we pause to make note of the inscription Pilate had written and mounted above Jesus' head. What Pilate didn't realize was that his words served a sort of prophetic purpose. While Jesus was a Jew, and came though the ethnic lineage of the Jewish people, He is Savior and Redeemer for not just the Jews only, but all people of the world. Not in the sense that every soul will be saved, since salvation comes solely on the basis of faith in Christ. But rather, the good news is that Christ's deliverance from the bondage of sin, death, and judgement is available to all people everywhere who repent and trust in Him.
A lesson on the folly of being a friend of the world, and the surpassing excellence of following and being a friend of Jesus. As we come to today's passage, we see Pilate's rejection of the truth about Christ, in order to get the world's approval. Likewise Israel, who had so thoroughly rejected God, outright denies Jesus as their King in favor of Caesar. It is a most sad state of affairs that in both instances, it would lead to the most wicked act humanity has committed in Christ's crucifixion. And furthermore, their rejection of Him for the world's approval would end in their own destruction. --It is absolute foolishness to pursue the world with its enticements- they never fulfill, they never last, and they always bring forth judgement. Jesus on the other hand is the Sovereign God, Creator, and Sustainer of all things. Moreover, He died in the place of guilty sinners, so that we would not have to face the wrath we were owed, but instead can be reconciled to God, and have peace that will last for eternity. There is no greater hope than that.
The fear of man is the result of not properly fearing God. And make no mistake, you will serve the one you fear the most. Yet even many Christians, though they mean well and desire to serve God, are ensnared by the fear of man. Peter, in his denial of the Lord, was a perfect example of this. The cure for being controlled by the fear of man is to rightly fear God. That requires setting aside all pride and self-sufficiency, and humbly entrusting yourself to God's sovereign purposes. He is omnipotent, omniscient, completely good, and entirely willing to demonstrate His lovingkindness unto His children. While man may indeed do much evil, God's will -including the demolition of evil- is accomplished most often not by its outright removal, but by His sovereign power being displayed through it, and in our faithfulness and obedience to Him in spite of it. Therefore it is necessary that as we follow Christ, we entrust ourselves to the sovereign hand of God. Wherever He leads and whatever He ordains is right- we are called simply to trust Him, and to obey His Word.
The total depravity of man is one of the core Biblical doctrines recovered in the Protestant Reformation, and is among the doctrines of grace. They are so named because they frame and demonstrate our absolute need for God's grace, as revealed in Scripture. Apart from it, we are exactly as those that demanded Jesus' crucifixion, scourged Him, and nailed Him to the cross. And because we are still sinners who are at war with God because of our old sinful nature -even while we may be positionally at peace with Him- we are constantly in need of His grace every moment of every day to kill it. Whenever we sin, we essentially yield ourselves back to that god of -self- which continually demands the death of our Lord. Praise be to Him that though we were rebels, the grace to be both forgiven of our sins and freed from its power are completely ours, found entirely in Christ alone. We are no longer utterly held captive by it, and one day we will be totally removed from its presence. This is what every Christ-follower patiently longs for.
There is only way to to be rid of the guilt of your sin, and be reconciled to God, and that is through trusting in the perfect sacrifice of the sinless Lamb of God - the Lord Jesus Christ. How else do you suppose you will be right with Him-- Through your obedience or 'trying your best'-- Even your very best is nothing but filth in God's sight, because He is holy, spotless, and perfect in all His being. And if you seek to be in His presence, you must be holy as well. Thanks be to Him that He has made a way- He gave His Son to bear our guilt and shame so that the record of our transgressions would be blotted out completely- Are you in a season of sin now-- How lightly do you esteem His lovingkindness-- Repent and turn from your evil, and don't leave any provision for it. Cut it off at the root, whatever it is that enslaves you to it. Draw near to God on the basis of His mercy and lovingkindness. What a marvelous thing it is that God loves to forgive even more than we love to sin- Come to Him confessing your sin and guiltiness before Him, and plead for mercy on the basis of His Son. He wills not that you would perish in your sin, but that you would have your life and peace and joy in Him.
A lesson on the release of the criminal Barabbas, in place of the only perfect, guiltless, and sinless man, the Lord Jesus Christ. In God's sovereignty over the narrative of redemption, we see pictured in today's passage a mirror image as it were of our own escape from death. On the one hand, Barabbas was a criminal and an insurrectionist who was due for crucifixion because of his rebellion against the Roman government. On the other hand our Lord had done no wrong whatsoever, yet stood in the place of Barabbas, and was put to death at the demand of the mob. We likewise were due to receive the just wages for our sins -that being death-, and were mercifully released because the only innocent man who has ever lived took our place.-Like Barabbas who was released from the shackles of physical death at the expense of Christ and allowed to go free, we too were criminals held captative under sin and the power of the Law, awaiting the sentence of death. Our only hope is to yield ourselves to complete reliance upon the innocent man Christ Jesus, who stands in our stead and bears our guilt upon Himself. Are you relying on Him--
A lesson on the contrast and conflict of two kingdoms- one heavenly, and the other earthly.--The kingdom of this world -encompassing all earthly nations and peoples- has a disposition of animosity toward God their Creator. They will all fail and fall in the end. But Jesus reigns as King over a kingdom that will never be shaken- a heavenly kingdom established by God, and ruled by God, where His glory is not hidden, nor His lovingkindness obscured. For those who have placed their trust in Jesus Christ alone for salvation, we have become partakers and inheritors of this heavenly kingdom. As such, while we live in this world we are ambassadors of another. Our hope and longing is not only to be rescued from the penalty of sin -which we have been, for those who trust in Christ-. Nor even merely from the external effects of the fall, such as pain, sorrow, and ultimately death. But we long to be free from the presence of sin altogether. --What offends God should offend us. What is criminal against our King is criminal to us as well- That is the Spirit abiding in us, causing us to live in the reality of our true home. Since we are of Christ's heavenly kingdom, and will be joined together with Him in glory in a short time to come, let us therefore make the most of the time God has entrusted with us here. We live not for earthly pleasures, but for God's glory. That is manifested in our preaching, our worship, our discipling, our evangelism, and all other means by which God's attributes are put on display. In so doing, our hearts are lifted up in praise and adoration of our marvelous God and King, Jesus Christ.
A lesson on two trials, and their contrasting outcomes. One is of our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself up willingly to be delivered up before the Jewish leaders. He stood faithfully to do the will of the Father. And though no accusation could be justly brought against Him, the leaders slanderously and falsely indicted Him. Peter meanwhile was under a trial of his own- the bystanders outside accused him of being a disciple of Jesus, which was of course true. Yet Peter feared man more than God, and having overestimated his own ability, he faltered in his tri-fold denial of the Lord.--While you have failed the Lord countless times, even as Peter did, if you have placed your faith in Christ alone for salvation, you have a High Priest who has never, and will never fail. We are saved not by our ability to cling to Him, but by His faithfulness to execute His sovereign will and promises, including our being held fast through the fiery trials we face. God uses such tests to humble us and grow us ultimately in Christ-likeness. Since Jesus obeyed the Father perfectly, the judgement we incurred and continue to incur has been laid on His shoulders at the cross. Even the sin of our own denial of Him in our thoughts, words, and deeds, have been paid for. --In light of that truth we can be confident and reassured even through seasons of serious and humiliating failure and backsliding. We fail Him more than we realize, but He never fails us. While we may hide our failures, or even foolishly convince ourselves that they aren't so, God knows all. Sometimes we must be shown our failure in an undeniably way to be humbled to the point where we can finally see what sinners we are.
A lesson on Christ's sovereignty over evil, including the evil that was committed against Him in the Garden of Gethsemane. He wasn't arrested against His will- rather, the only reason the authorities could arrest Him is because He allowed them to-but not without demonstrating His supremacy over them-
A lesson on knowing God, and being known by Him. Since the revelation of Himself is found chiefly in the Person of Jesus Christ -communicated to us through Scripture, with understanding given by the illumination of the Holy Spirit- our Lord's seventh and final petition in His High Priestly prayer is that we would know Him. This is how we can be sure that all who are His will come to saving faith, and remain there. Because Christ Himself asked the Father that we would know Him, and love Him, and Christ's will and the Father's will are one. So we can be 100- certain that it will be accomplished. God's purposes cannot be thwarted, and this should cause us to rejoice- Rejoice in the fact that we know the Lord, and more importantly, that He knows us.--A couple questions arise- what does it mean to know God-- Or in what sense does God know us-- Is it mere intellectual assent-- No certainly not, for that knowing has no love- To be known by God is this- that Christ has come to seek and save the lost. In spite of our sin, those whom the Father chose before the foundation of the world would be conformed to the image of His Son, by beholding His glory. This starts when we have been born again by God's sovereign decree, and it continuously flows on in an ever increasing knowledge, love, and enjoyment of Himself which lasts for eternity. And this is the essence of eternal life- that we know God, and Jesus Christ whom He has sent, by beholding Him in all His splendor, which we can never exhaust the awe of. In light of this lesson, we can be assured that all who Christ knows will come to know Him. Not just by being saved from sin, but know Him as He is. What a wonderful God is our God-
A lesson in the mystery of the brevity of life, the certainty of death, and the foolish pursuit of things that we're guaranteed to lose eventually.
A lesson on Christ's will that we - those for whom He died and whom He purchased with the high cost of His own blood - would be with Him where He is, that we may behold His eternal glory.
A lesson on the church's mission- to faithfully proclaim the Gospel to those who are lost in darkness, knowing that this is the means that Christ has ordained to building His church.
A lesson on the nature of truth, what that means for us as it relates to Scripture, and living our lives as a people who know, love, pursue, and yield ourselves to the truth of God's word.
A lesson on God's sovereign care for His dwelling place- Zion. We can live confidently moving into the future because of what God has done in the past and continues to do in the present.
a lesson on what the term -eternal life- entails- that it's not just a quantity of time, but it is also a quality of life that distinguishes Christians from the world around them.
a lesson on the counsel God has provided to us for dealing with depression- to look to Him, hoping in Him more fully, believing in Him, and worshiping Him.
A lesson on what the glory of God is, and what it means to glorify Him. What is the glory of God- It's the manifestation or demonstration of His attributes. How do I glorify God in my life- By reflecting His attributes to the world around us.
A lesson on the church's need to continually be Reforming by testing the spirits and contending for the faith once and for all handed down to the saints.
A lesson about the Lord's sovereign power and authority over life and death, as illustrated in the resurrection of Lazarus and even moreso in Christ's resurrection.
A lesson on how to see the glory of God in the Person and work of Christ-and what prevents people from seeing it.
Do Christians have an obligation to obey -Caesar,- no matter what lengths Caesar may push us to- The answer is no, and this sermon was written and preached to demonstrate that the Bible clearly teaches that Christians are to defy tyrannical earthly leaders.
A lesson on salvation, illustrated in the healing of a man who was blind from birth, and the responsibility of those God saves to glorify Christ by telling others about Him.
An open-air sermon preached in the parking lot of New Beginnings Church in Lynnwood, Washington. This was an incredible occasion for our church - it was our first -service- in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, and the parking lot was packed with people sitting in their cars, listening. Strangers driving by stopped to listen. Men riding their bikes down the road our church is on also stopped to listen. People walking by were stopping to listen. And the local NBC news station was there to cover it- It was a unique, joyous moment in time for our little church-
A lesson on keeping our hearts and minds focused on God, rather than the things of this world or the circumstances we face.
Finding peace in the midst of a global pandemic requires that we look to Christ and cling to His promises.
Where is God in the midst of a global pandemic like the coronavirus-COVID-19- Psalm 46 is one of many passages that helps to give us a Biblical perspective on issues like this.
Please pardon the audio difficulties. We had a glitch with our audio equipment on this particular Lord's Day.