Dominion Covenant Church Podcast: Recent Episodes
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We should rejoice in the doctrine of the love of God for us, and experience it as well as know of it. We should declare it, and rejoice that it is personal, intimate, generous, eternal and unbreakable. It is unconditional, sacrificial, holy, sovereign, and free. It is powerful, rational, heartfelt, and reliable. He has loved us with an everlasting love!
Our Lord is omniscient and knows all things. His knowledge has no limit and is never frustrated or forgotten. He knows all things present and in the future, and all things that could happen. There are no unplanned contingencies. His omniscience gives meaning to life, and guidance and assurance.
Paul encouraged and motivated Timothy in seven ways to be courageous and faithful to the Lord in difficult times of persecution, heresy, and apostasy.
Joshua pointed the people to examples of the power of God in God-connected worship, and in the testimonies of God’s grace in the past and in other people’s lives. He breaks down the work into achievable steps and doesn’t allow the division of labor to discourage. He moves them from vision to action.
Every word of Scripture is important and we must live by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God (Matt. 4:4). Cities and the countryside are both important and they need each other. Both can be good or bad places to live. Judah's land was divided into counties (mishpacha). Judah failed to drive the Philistines out of their coastal cities and the Jebusites out of Jerusalem. This was a failure of faith and action. We must not give Satan a foothold but drive the enemy out of our lives completely.
Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God. He was born in weakness in human flesh and raised with power in the Spirit. We have life — with power — in Christ.
Othniel is a model man of faith, a model soldier and suitor. He patiently waited for a helpmeet. He led and sacrificed for his bride. And his faith rejected the wisdom of the world. Achsah is a model woman of faith. She was a woman who took initiative. She knew how to express her ideas in a way that honored others. And she was future oriented.
Caleb's faith helped him not to be a slave of the past, and was based on God's word and promises. He trusted God to use the share that he got, to make the most pf what he had. Faith often has to reconquer what has been conquered before. Caleb trusted God by possessing all his possessions. He also groomed leaders to walk by faith, and his faith was passed on to his daughter Achsah.
Our God is a promise-keeping God with a long-term perspective. He is sovereign over the lot. Borders are useful for tribes/states and clans/counties. Judah received the best portion because the Lord Jesus Christ would come from the tribe of Judah (Gen. 49:8-12).
"Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." (1 Thess. 5:16-18)
Jesus' incarnation is a fulfillment of gospel promises made by prophets in Holy Scripture. There is none other like Jesus Christ our Lord: eternal, born of a woman, tempted in every way we are, yet without sin; He took the curse upon Himself and sets captives free.
Caleb was a godly leader with a God-sized vision. His outward achievements flowed from his inward character. Joshua blessed Caleb. Our blessings can actually impart grace to others. Caleb's inheritance was tangible. Hebron was a place of honor. Keeping a God-sized vision requires consistent pressing into the Lord, and believing that God can change culture. We should not measure the giants by our strength, but by God's strength.
The gospel was promised through the prophets in the Holy Scriptures, and fulfilled in the Lord Jesus Christ's incarnation and advent.
Caleb was a godly leader with a God-sized vision like William Carey. His outward achievements flowed from his inward character. He pressed into the Lord and had a multi-generational vision. He was humble, patient, enduring, and tenacious. He didn't allow the faithlessness and hopelessness of others to discourage or disillusion him. Believing and hoping in God's promises, He confidently and courageously claimed His inheritance.
Caleb was a godly leader with a God-sized vision like William Carey. His outward achievements flowed from his inward character. That inward character helps to explain his phenomenal leadership.
This sermon explains how to be thankful and pray with thanksgiving in the midst of suffering.
God in the person of Jesus Christ, is the glorious Gospel. The Gospel is good news because while God is holy and we were born in sin, Jesus died for our sins. And God is fixing everything that was broken so that we can behold His glory and enjoy His presence.
All Christians are to be witnesses for the Lord Jesus, who has all authority in heaven and on earth. He sends us out and we're not to be afraid or ashamed of Him.
We are to know, worship, and serve the Lord with gladness because of His unchanging, loving, faithful character.
Joshua 12 is not simply a random listing of cities and kings conquered by Joshua. It teaches about God's faithfulness to His promises and the importance of strategic planning.
Joshua had a giant killing faith; a faith that believed God's promises; a faith that not only received what God promised but passed it on to the next generation.
This passage highlights God's right to extend mercy or withhold mercy; to soften or to harden human hearts. It explains what happens when He withdraws His restraining hand. God is sovereign over all and men are responsible.
Joshua and the Israelites faced overwhelming odds from the Northern Canaanite coalition army with fearsome iron chariots. But they didn't look at the odds. They looked to the Lord and overcame the enemy in His strength. We are to do the same in our spiritual warfare with the world, the flesh, and the devil.
This sermon applies one of the more troubling passages in Joshua to God's character and judgments.
God's enemies can't escape His judgments. Christians should never slacken in spritiual warfare against the world, the flesh, and the devil. Each of us has only two choices. Bear God's curse yourself forever in hell. Or believe in Jesus to bear God's curse for you and give you eternal life.
This sermon introduces us to yet another benefit of leaving the world and joining the church - the power of God in our midst.
In showing how the Israelites helped the newly-converted Gibeonites, this Scripture passage outlines some of the benefits and responsibilities of body life.
This sermon looks at Paul's calling as an Apostle and the significance of apostleship for us.
When people first become Christian they are often puzzled why their friends and family show resistance and even hostility to their new-found faith. This passage gives us some hints as to why.
This passage perfectly illustrates that our God of grace and patience is also a God of wrath and judgment.
This sermon gives a challenge to not be naive about the snares that Satan's kingdom lays for us, but it is also an encouragement that God knows how to make the enemy fall into their own traps.
Prayer is the privilege of those who know the one true God. Prayer also helps us know the one true God better. We should be humble, hopeful, patient, and confident in prayer, knowing the character of God.
This sermon finishes off the discussion on the sin of Achan. We should confess our sins voluntarily before we're caught. We must not minimize our sins but treat them as seriously as God does.
This sermon focuses on some subsidiary problems that enabled the curse of Achan to fall on all the Israelites.
This sermon looks at the embarrassing moments that Joshua and Israel faced and seeks to help us grow by God's grace through our own embarrassing moments.
It may not seem fair for all of Israel to suffer because of the sin of one person, but Achan illustrates the reality that God deals with us covenantally.
This sermon digs into the theology and practical outworking of blessings and curses. Certainly God pronounces both, but so do demons. It is critical to spiritual warfare to know this subject.
Many people, including many Christians, are scandalized by God's judgment on Jericho. This sermon answers objections and shows how we must not be ashamed of any part of God's Word. Instead of being embarrassed by God's judgments, we should rejoice in them.
This sermon examines the importance of faith showing itself in obedience. Warns against pragmatic compromises in the area of politics.
Jesus Christ is the Good Shepherd. His sheep hear His voice. He knows them. They follow Him. And He gives them eternal life.
This sermon contrast fake faith with genuine faith by examining the need, foundation, tests, and results of faith.
This sermon examines the nature, source, means, and purpose of God's comfort in suffering.
Why do pagans often view Christians as a threat? This sermon introduces the ideas that may be behind an answer.
This sermon finishes off chapter 4 by showing how God opens new doors of ministry when He closes doors.
This sermon continues to dig into the remarkable characteristics of the people of faith who crossed the Jordan. Faith in God leads to faithfulness. Joshua 4:10-14 gives us a great picture of what faithfulness looks like.
This sermon gives both a philosophy of memorials and many practical ways of introducing memorials into your family.
This sermon from Romans 12 explains how to minister to one another, especially in times of grief and loss.
This sermon explains the additional 6 Biblical leadership principles from the prologue to the book of Joshua.
This sermon explains eight Biblical leadership principles from the prologue to the book of Joshua.
This sermon outlines the book of Joshua and then focuses on the seven inescapable concepts of servanthood, eschatology, dominion, antithesis or boundaries, the presence of God, covenantal inheritance, infallibility or authority.
This sermon examines one issue of medical ethics through the lens of the four parts of Biblical ethics: rules, outcomes, situations, and the people involved. Using this tool of quadperspectivalism, one can resolve difficult conundrums in medical ethics.
This sermon shows the revolutionary implications of Christ's resurrection for our day-to-day living.
This sermon deals with the nature, conditions, and outcome of the blessings that God pronounces upon men.
This sermons gives numerous applications and lessons from the life of Sarah. In the process, it teaches us the Biblical principles for knowing how to apply biographies using Biblical doctrine and ethics. As 1 Corinthians 10 teaches us, we can learn from history by avoiding disastrous actions of Biblical characters and as Hebrews 11 teaches us, we can learn from history by imitating the faith of the saints of old and learn how to expect great things from God and attempt great things for Him. Sarah's life has both lessons.
Tabitha models how anything and everything we do can count for eternity if it is done in faith to God's glory and by the Holy Spirit's power.
This sermon shows how God met the deepest longings of the nameless woman by the well. In the process it teaches us much about evangelism, relational wisdom, heart issues, the nature of the true Gospel, etc.
This nameless woman was a model peacemaker. But she also modeled many other graces to modern women.
Showing the connections between the sexual perversions of Leviticus 18, abortion, and statism.
This sermon compares the mission the Father sent the Son on with the mission the Son sends us on.
This sermon examines the good, the bad, and the ugly of Hannah's parenting, and in the process shows that Hannah can teach us a lot about processing the pain of abuse.
This sermon makes numerous applications for today from the lives of these remarkable women of faith.
This sermon weaves the stories of ancient and modern persecuted Christians together with Paul's testimony of God's treasure in clay pots.
This sermon focuses on Reformation Hermeneutics, but also highlights many other ways in which the Evangelical Church has abandoned the Protestant Reformation. It is a call to go back to the "old paths" (Jer. 6:16).
This practical sermon shows the things that can turn a pleasant Naomi into a bitter Mara, and the grace and actions needed to reverse that. It also gives other practical applications from this woman of faith.
This sermons builds on the Mary Magdalene sermon and shows how Priscilla breaks all kinds of stereotypes related to women. Priscilla and Aquila were a remarkable couple.
God has given us powerful spiritual weapons with which to fight the world, the flesh, and the devil.
This sermon gives the contours within which biblical preparedness can avoid the problems of humanistic prepping and make people face the future with faith and vision rather than self-absorption and fear.
Mary was a leader of women who had tremendous characteristics. This sermons opens up her life and makes applications to men and women today.
This sermon clears away the errors propagated by Rome and Eastern Orthodoxy concerning Mary, and then demonstrates how Mary is a role model for us in several areas of life.
This sermon focuses on two things illustrated in Lydia's life: how God used civics and business to advance His kingdom in Europe and the Sovereignty of God in salvation and all of life.
Avoiding the extremes of feminism and hyperpatriarchalism, this sermon shows how Deborah can be an example to modern women on how to be supportive in bringing reform to a backslidden nation.
Many women have husbands who are very uninvolved in the faith of the family. This sermon addresses those tough situations and what can be done to ensure covenant succession still happens. It also addresses the difficult situation of families that have no local church.
This story of redemption shows that God can produce great things out of horrible beginnings. Little by little God weaned Leah from finding security in man and helped her to find security in God. Over time even Jacob recognized what a gem she had become by God's grace.
Seen within an Old Covenant context of God's treatment of Canaanites, Christ's behavior with this woman is perfectly understandable. This sermon shows how she went from a seeking dog to a found sheep in the house of Israel.
A biographical sermon on a remarkable woman of faith who lived in a suffocating and miserable marriage.
This sermon shows the ways this woman is a model for women and the ways in which she is not. She was a wealthy woman who did not allow her wealth to keep her from being a woman of faith who walked in the fear of God. Seeing the poem through the lens of is structure gives added meaning to each verse.
A biographical sermon on the widow of Zarephath showing numerous applications to the present
A Jewish girl was kidnapped and became the slave of Naaman the Syrian's wife. Instead of becoming bitter, she loved her captors and told them about the God of Israel. This girl gives ten challenges to our faith that can get us out of our “prison” of feelings and into an overcoming faith.
This summary of Revelation follows the chiastic structure of the book to illustrate how its powerful message of God's grace and judgments on Rome and Israel continues to be relevant. It teaches us practical lessons about Christ's Lordship over all of life, how He uses us in spiritual warfare, and how Christ's victory will extend to the Christianization of the entire world.
This sermon focuses on the Postmillennial hope that follows the resurrection - a nonstop advancement of Christ's kingdom until all enemies are put under His feet
An encouraging meditation on God's supernatural strength that enables us to engage in supernatural aspirations for His kingdom
Tradition says that Psalm 24 was composed for the entry of the ark of the covenant into Jerusalem. If this is true, there are fascinating connections to Palm Sunday.
The message of Jude calls us to contend earnestly for the faith against false teachings and false teachers. Only believers who are spiritually in shape can answer this call adequately. The introduction and conclusion show us how to be in shape. The rest of the book shows us how to resist apostates and why we must resist them
Though 3 John also deals with abusive leadership and other issues, the central theme is the nature of faithful hospitality.
This book shows elders how to integrate single moms with broken families into our church. In the process it also beautifully illustrates the Biblical balance between self-government, family government, and church government. It takes on hyper-patriarchy, anarchy, and other issues of our time. An appendix to the transcript has 97 applications that go verse by verse through the book.
This sermon exposes heresies old and new. But it also shows us how to discern the difference between fake and true Christians. In the process it spurs us to greater consistency in holiness, love, and doctrinal purity.
2 Peter outlines the difference between a consistently God-centered Christianity (chapter 1), a consistently man-centered false Christianity (chapter 2), and then applies it to the doctrine of eschatology. Modern churches fall all along the continuum between God-centered and man-centered Christianity. This sermon challenges us to be as God-centered in all our thoughts, words, and actions as possible.
This sermon gives an overview of the world of demons and the victory that every believer has over them.
This overview of James focuses upon the heart of the chiasm (2:14-26) and shows how every point reinforces the true interpretation and shows how the interpretations of Rome, Federal Vision, and even the Carnal Christian Theory all fail to take the structure of the book into account.
This book was a written sermon. It teaches us much about homiletics, apologetics, covenant, eschatology, and other topics. But it's primary focus is on the supremacy of Christ over everything.
This sermon shows how the two typical interpretations of Philemon with respect to slavery fail to account for all the facts of the book. Philemon does not present a new ethic, but neither does it justify the unbiblical slavery of the Antebellum South. This fabulous book on freedom properly interprets the Old Testament law.
This sermon shows how ecclesiology, discipleship, leadership, and all the other issues in this book are tightly tied to Paul's correction of false views of grace in chapter 2:11-15.
This sermon shows 20 ways in which American politics is worse than Israel's politics under Ahab.
Both the content and the chiastic structure of this book show this to be part two of Paul's pastoral advice to Timothy. This book is a powerful antidote to the apostasy we are seeing all around us.
This sermon shows why understanding the chiastic structure of the book impacts out understanding of the book.
This sermon seeks to resolve tensions that have plagued interpretations of the eschatology portions of 2 Thessalonians. In the process Pastor Kayser shows how the book is a very logically tight argument when it is seen in its first century context. It also makes the book much more applicable for today.
This sermon covers a philosophy of pastoral ministry, Paul's guidance for romance, eschatology, and other issues.
This sermon shows how Galatianism is very much alive in the modern Evangelical church. It shows the water-tight logic of Paul's argument against all counterfeits to the Gospel.
This sermon contrasts the popular leadership style of the super apostles with the biblical leadership style of Paul that does not depend upon the wisdom of man.
This sermon shows the magnificence of the true God-centered Gospel of Romans and then shows the profound ways the Gospel is designed to impact every area of life.
This sermon shows the magnificence of the true God-centered Gospel of Romans and then shows the profound ways the Gospel is designed to impact every area of life.
This sermon finishes the thesis that Luke-Acts was written to defend Christians in Jewish courts. In the process it proves that the kingdom of Christ has begun and that the church is the new Israel.
This sermon shows how the whole book is opened up in a new way when it is understood that Luke was a Levite writing to a former high priest by the name of Theophilus and giving a defense of Christianity that could be used in the Jewish courts.
This sermon shows how Mark is crafted to reflect Jesus as fulfilling the Servant of the Lord songs in Isaiah 40-53.
This sermon gives seven essential principles for handling conflicts or disagreements in a godly way.
This sermon shows how the contrast between Esau and Jacob at the beginning of the book is a theme woven throughout the rest of the theological discourse.
The Hebrew structure helps to explain a lot of the passages that have puzzled people in the past.
This book teaches us a great deal about God's character. It also teaches us that Assyrian like empires will not last forever. God's plans cannot be thwarted.
God alone receives the glory as Micah unveils God's amazing plan for planet earth. Christ's kingdom will start in weakness and obscurity but will eventually vanquish the earth. The applications to our own life are encouraging for those who feel weak and insignificant. God loves to use the weak things of this earth to confound the mighty.
This sermon shows how the grace of God can gently bring those who have been horribly abused out of their bitterness and into having supernatural compassion.
Amos has been abused and turned on its head by the Social Justice Warriors of our day. This sermon outlines what true justice, mercy, righteousness, and love looks like in our social relationships.
This sermon shows a straightforward interpretation of chapters 1-2 as being two locust plagues, followed by a time of prosperity where God restores what the locusts have eaten, followed by Pentecost, followed by AD 70 judgment and captivity of Jews among the nations, followed by the growth and prosperity of Christ's kingdom.
This sermon explores the redemptive themes of Hosea and applies the book to the broken and messed up family situations we face in the modern church.
This communion meditation focuses upon the confusion people face when God allows them to face persecution.
This sermon delves into the overall message of the book as well as controversial details like the battle of Gog and Magog and the strange temple in chapters 40-46.
Lamentations teaches us the difference between godly sorrow that leads to healing and ungodly sorrow that leads to despair. This encouraging book shows how God empathizes with us in our pain and helps us to process our pain.
This sermon shows how the book of Jeremiah is a masterful chiasm, with the New Covenant passage (31:31-34) being at the heart of the book. In the process it seeks to settle a major controversy in eschatology by using this inspired structure.
This marvelous book displays not only the depravity of man in need of grace, and the Gospel of Jesus Christ, but virtually every doctrine found in the Bible. It's eschatology gives faith and hope to persevere. It's judgments motivate us to influence culture with grace and law. In sum, it is a book needed for transformation.
Though marriage does indeed image the relationship of Christ to the Church, Song of Solomon primarily teaches us how the grace of Christ should transform our literal marriages and even our sexual life. Pastor Kayser takes the view that the book progresses chronologically from the first day of the wedding through seven days of royal wedding celebration, each night ending with sexual union. The eighth day is a visit to her family, with an open ended invitation that hints that the love cycle will continue indefinitely. He argues that this book strongly teaches monogamy, and describes Solomon's marriage to his first love, Naamah, to whom he was faithful from 7-13 years. Though there is forward time progression in the book, it does so beautifully through a thematically parallel chiastic structure.
This sermon starts with the epistemology of Proverbs, which is not only practical for apologetics, but for all of Christianity. It then proves that this is a book for all ages and sexes, not just for young boys. It also shows how Proverbs has been abused and misused when people fail to understand its structure, and gives other practical implications of the structure of the book.
This sermon shows how understanding the relationship of Esther to Ezra, Nehemiah, and the post-exilic prophets opens up the book in a whole new way. The feast of Purim foreshadows a future period in New Covenant history.
This sermon shows how the establishment chronology of Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, and the Post-exilic prophets contains numerous problems and outright contradictions. It presents a revisionist chronology that is Biblically consistent and that weaves these Biblical books into a coherent narrative. It also shows how it is a much more satisfactory explanation of the secular history than the establishment's position. Where Nehemiah focuses on the reformation of society, Ezra focuses on the reformation of the church.
This sermon explores the tricky issues that flow from God's prohibition of preferential treatment to anyone in court (v. 15) and God's command for preferential treatment of classes of people in society at large (v. 32).
This sermon analyzes the history, literature, theology, and practical applications of the book of Ruth
A sermon that draws sharp contrasts between the kingdom of heaven and the kingdom of man. It then draws practical applications for daily living.
Along with an overview of the book of Joshua, this sermon gives practical applications of this book to modern life.
This sermon shows that the forty years of wandering was God's boot camp to prepare one of the most impressive armies in Israel's history. Lessons from this book are applied to all four governments: self-government and family, church, and civil governments
Application of the Gospel and Law found in Leviticus. Having been redeemed as a people (book of Exodus) God shows Israel how to be holy by His grace (Leviticus).
This sermon demonstrates the myriad ways in which Genesis must be foundational to our thinking.
This is the first sermon in the Bible Survey series. It seeks to give the essence of what the Bible is about in one sermon.
This sermon analyzes the songs of Revelation and shows how they are a paradigm for the church today
This sermon shows how these verses are a dividing line between the Reformation and Roman Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy, Islam, Mormonism, and other modern errors
This sermon seeks to apply a very controversial verse on thanksgiving to everyday living. How can we thank God for all things, including bad things that have happened to us while still opposing those bad things? This sermon explains how there is no dilemma, and if the principles of this sermon are lived out, a person will be free of bitterness, anxiety, and other negative emotions.
This sermon deals with the controversy over the passages promising an imminent judgment and those that promise one after a long time. Both aspects must be maintained to adequately defend orthodoxy.
This sermon tackles the interesting and practical issues of the first part of the Epilogue
This is the third snapshot of the New Jerusalem. Pastor Kayser carefully develops each verse and shows how it applies to both eternity and the present.
This sermon goes through the materials that make up the New Jerusalem and shows how they symbolize the bide of Christ.
This sermon explores the incredible glory of the New Jerusalem, and through that, the incredible destiny for the church. It appears that vast numbers must yet be saved before history ends.
A very practical application of this powerful description of the final judgment. How should the Book of Works, the Book of Life, and our judgment based on the Bible affect the way we live right now?
This sermon challenges the establishment view that Revelation 20:7-10 is describing a final apostasy of living nations and defends the view that the final rebellion is being engaged in by the non-elect who have just been released from Hades with Satan and resurrected. It all occurs on the last day of history.
This sermon gives twelve principles for covenant succession within the family. But it also shows how anyone can pass on a legacy for the future.
This sermon takes on the typical Amil, Postmil, and Premil interpretations of this passage and shows how the two resurrections are two literal resurrections of bodies from the grave, the first being in the first century and the second being at the end of history.
This sermon sets the stage for chapter 20 by ruling out all other interpretations of the 1000 years, the binding of Satan, and the timing of these events. It also gives the practical ramifications of this view of eschatology
The parable of the Prodigal Son teaches many lessons about God's grace. This sermon uses one phrase in verse 17 to give a glimpse at the lavish grace of God that is highlighted in this parable.
God's guidance can sometimes be confusing - especially when He guides us to do something, and then puts roadblocks, detours, and obstacles in the way. This sermon gives practical Christ-centered advice one how to handle the detours, slow-downs, and disappointments of life.
This sermon outlines some of the implications of the massive body count in August of AD 70.
This sermon looks at the first of two snapshots that give the trajectory of Christ's kingdom between AD 70 and the end of time. This snapshot shows image after image guaranteeing the total victory of Christ's kingdom in time and space.
This sermon deals with several controversies that swirl around the marriage supper of the Lamb.
This passage shows the saints of heaven and earth worshiping and adoring God for His judgments. Even the judgment of hell is the subject of praise. This sermon shows why these judgments are praiseworthy.
This sermon digs into archeology and history and shows the literal fulfillment of this prophecy. Not only was the temple leveled, but all of Jerusalem was leveled to the ground. What we see now on Haram esh-Sharif is either the Roman Fort Antonia or was built by Hadrian using Herodian stones.
This sermon uses the empire-wide economic meltdown in AD 70 to teach Biblical principles for handling a potential economic meltdown in our future.
There has been much confusion on the issues surrounding ecclesiastical separation. Is it a violation of Christ's prayer for unity in John 17, or is it a means of achieving Christ's goal? What are legitimate and illegitimate reasons for separation? Why does God consider membership in apostate denominations to be dangerous and why does it constitute rebellion against Christ? This sermon answers these and other questions.
This sermon goes through the reasons for the fall of Jerusalem and seeks to demonstrate that America is progressing fast down the same road.
This sermon gives a Biblical philosophy of conspiracies. It deals with three first century conspiracies that God frustrated.
Isaiah 26:19 is a particularly powerful verse in countering the arguments of Full Preterism on the nature of the resurrection.
This chapter analyzes the seductive nature of politics and the specific sins of the Whore of Revelation 17.
This sermon shows how easy it is for Christians to become part of the political prostitution within the system. It is a call for Reformation in preaching and in politics.
Most of this sermon outlines the various views on the Whore of Babylon and the internal clues given by John that rule out all competing theories except for one - that she is the city of Jerusalem.
This sermon deals with both the historical and the symbolic meaning of every detail of this remarkable bowl. Was there hail weighing more than 100 pounds? Was there an earthquake that made islands move so fast that it felt like they were fleeing? Were there mountains that disappeared? Pastor Kayser says "Yes." This sermon examines these and other intriguing questions. It also explains how each bowl landed on a unique festival day in actual history.
This sermon anchors the great battle of Armageddon clearly in AD 70. It also makes practical applications to life.
This sermon begins the process of working backwards in the book's chiasm. It shows how the grouping of the first three bowls relates to the end of Israel in AD 136. In the process it deals with issues of the problem of evil, God's justice, depravity, pollution, curses, covenant, etc.
This sermon seeks to clear up a number of issues that have been confusing in commentaries. Pastor Kayser shows how the God-given structure of the book (a chiasm) gives us the clue that resolves them perfectly.
This sermon looks at the controversy surrounding the "quote" from the prophets in Matthew 2:23. In the process, it makes several practical applications from the fact that prophecy required Jesus to grow up in Nazareth.
This sermon analyzes yet another vignette on New Covenant worship which points to the need for reform. If heaven is the pattern for all that we do (as Colossians 3:1-2 says that it should be), then the worship of earth should be patterned after the worship of heaven.
This sermon analyzes why discouragement is a sin and gives seven Biblical remedies for discouragement.
The sermon shows how this amazing prophesied judgment was fulfilled very literally in the Bar Kochba rebellion of AD 132-136
This sermon discusses the supernatural way in which Jesus Christ reaps a harvest of souls through His evangelists.
This Reformation Day sermon outlines several ways in which the church desperately needs reformation in missions. Pastors do not take advantage of God's preparatory work of national judgment. Nor do they preach on hell, the wrath of God, or the Biblical mandate of perseverance. The modern truncated Gospel makes for many more false conversions.
This addresses a much neglected topic related to angels - their critical role in the advancement of missions
Why do some missionaries fail? What makes for transformational missions? Why are so many missions man-centered? How can studying this first century group of missionaries benefit the modern missions movement?
This sermon gives a description of the 144,000 first century missionaries that formed the shock troops for a reboot of the church that had almost been exterminated in the Gentile world by the Great Tribulation. In the process it takes on the opposite errors of Dispensationalism and Replacement Theology.
This sermon clears up one of the most perplexing symbols in the book of Revelation - the identity of the land beast, its head, and its two symbolic horns.
This sermon resolves several conundrums related to the beast of revelation and makes applications for today.
This sermon digs deeper into the identity and characteristics of the beast. It applies the issues of statism to modern nations.
This sermon introduces the identity of the beast and the main features of statism. Though the beast was a demon that controlled Rome in the first century, the characteristics of the beast can be clearly seen in modern statist governments.
When the remnant of the Jewish church fled to the wilderness, God miraculously protected them, and even turned the heart of the king of Israel to protect them. The fury of Rome that Satan had hoped to unleash upon the church ended up being 100% diverted to destroying Israel. These and many other facts show the wonderful way in which God's providence preserved a church under intense attack. This sermon also has some practical applications for the present.
This second meditation on Isaiah 54 examines how faith can have "unreasonable" expectations of fruitfulness.
This meditation focuses on faith's ability to lay claim to what is not seen and not possible in our own strength.
This sermon settles debates on the timing of the event. It also shows how both angels and men must apply the redemption, power, kingdom, and authority of Christ in their spiritual battles. They do so through the blood of the Lamb, the Scriptures personalized, and dying to self and living for Christ. This sermon shows God's paradigm for the church regaining victory in Jesus.
This sermon answers five puzzles found in Revelation 11:15-19 by demonstrating that both the beginning and end of Christ's Conquering stage of the Kingdom (sometimes called the Mediatorial Kingdom) has judgment. Without this key insight it is difficult to answer some of the Full Preterist's strongest arguments. This sermon also shows the New Covenant fulfillment of the Festivals of Israel, with the Festival of Trumpets forming the background to chapters 8-11.
This sermon answers five puzzles found in Revelation 11:15-19 by demonstrating that both the beginning and end of Christ's Conquering stage of the Kingdom (sometimes called the Mediatorial Kingdom) has judgment. Without this key insight it is difficult to answer some of the Full Preterist's strongest arguments. This sermon also shows the New Covenant fulfillment of the Festivals of Israel, with the Festival of Trumpets forming the background to chapters 8-11.
This sermon seeks to solve several conundrums in the book of Revelation by exploring the two grain harvests and the two resurrections that they foreshadowed.
This sermon examines the death of the two prophets, the exact position of the Roman and Jewish armies, the timing, and the circumstances of verses 9-10. It also makes practical applications to our living and dying in Christ.
This sermon seeks to settle the controversy of the identity of "the great city" in the book of Revelation.
This sermon examines the nature of New Testament prophecy and shows that it is identical to Old Testament prophecy and on a par with Scripture as to its nature and authority. These last two prophets of the New Testament era are a case study on the true nature of New Testament prophecy and demonstrate that the charismatic interpretations of today are faulty.
Corrupt words should come out of our mouths less and less, and edifying words more and more, that we might impart grace and build up the body of Christ and glorify the Lord.
Covers nearly all of the book of Joshua highlighting aspects of Joshua's leadership such as dealing with pitfalls of both success and failure.
Joshua's character as a faithful follower of Moses from the war with the Amalekites (Ex 17) to the death of Moses (Deu 34)
This sermon deals with the identity of the Two Witnesses. Using clues from the text, pastor Kayser systematically eliminates most of the 37 theories. He also makes some practical applications.
This sermon shows the steps needed to find true happiness and fulfillment and to leave behind the vanity and emptiness of life that characterized Solomon during his backslidden years. In the process it exposes the errors of Stoicism and ascetics on the one side and of Hedonists and Epicureans on the other.
Paul used the metaphor of a tent to explain the difference between our present bodies and our future glorified bodies.
This sermon systematically eliminates over twenty theories commentators have developed for the first two verses of Revelation 11 and shows how it is a straightforward prophecy of the imminent destruction of the temple and everything explicitly related to the ceremonial law, while sparing the outlying walls and towers that were not directly related to the ceremonial law. Those outer courts would be occupied for exactly 42 months (AD 70-74) before the Romans handed the temple grounds and city back to rabbinic authorities that had negotiated with them. It is a foundational sermon for understanding the relationship of the temple to Biblical prophecy.
This sermon shows the role of the Holy Spirit in the First Advent, and the importance of the Holy Spirit in our daily lives.
This sermon shows the role of the Holy Spirit in the First Advent, and the importance of the Holy Spirit in our daily lives.
This is the second in the Advent series on the Trinity. Those who advocate putting Christ back into Christmas often have a soft politically correct Christ who does not cause trouble. But the true Christ of the Incarnation was a Christ who troubled Herod and continues to trouble all who refuse to bow in unconditional surrender to Him. This sermon is a call for Christians to rejoice in the very things that trouble the Herods of this world.
This sermon delves into the importance of mission and purpose in our lives. Since Christ sends us into the world as the Father sent Him into the world (v. 18), there will be parallels. This sermon explores those parallels.
This sermon shows how each symbol connected with this angel's communication of God's Word showcases the divine characteristics of God's Word. This is part 1 of a two part analysis of how God's Word is powerfully transformational when we approach it by faith. Key words: prophecy, prophet, prophesy, Bible, Scripture, divine, sovereign, promise, penetrating, pure, perspicuous, universal, powerful, transformational, orderly, infallible
This sermon finishes the subject of the fifth trumpet, focusing upon the power, character, and activities of demons. The applications made to modern ecology and politics are just two of many practical applications.
Where the last sermon dealt with the symbols in Titus' armies, this one looks at the demons that were symbolized. In the process, the sermon tackles several controversies, including: origin of demons, the meaning of the Abyss and Hades.
This sermon looks at the symbolism of the demons that come out of the bottomless pit. The totems or emblems of Titus' Fifteenth Legion and their supporting Legions and auxiliaries were representations of their "gods," what we would call demons. This sermon looks at the timing, the historical underpinnings of the symbols, and how they would have been instantly recognized by the first century audience. Part 2 will dig much deeper into the theology of demonology.
The fourth trumpet deals with the disastrous losses suffered by both the Romans and the Jews in the first part of the war under Cestius. Once again we see a literal fulfillment of the symbols (signs in the sun, moon, and stars) and then discuss the specifics of how those symbols foreshadowed this disastrous part of the war.
This trumpet has brought a lot of confusion to commentaries. This sermon is an attempt to show the literal historical fulfillment of the sign and to show what that sign symbolized. In the process it gives a great deal of historical background that will prove helpful for understanding the second half of the book.
This sermon deals with the second trumpet judgment, which describes an asteroid striking the Mediterranean Ocean and turning 1/3 of it to blood, killing one third of the larger sea creatures, and destroying 1/3 of the Roman ships. These events symbolized God's judgments on Israel (total destruction) and Rome (one third destruction). Though this all occurred in the AD 66, it still has relevance to our age since we live in a similar period of national rebellion against Christ.
This sermon deals with the amazing fulfillment of the hail, fire, and blood that fell from heaven in AD 66. It also describes the horrific events that these portents gave warning of. This sermon also tentatively suggests that the modern "blood rains" that have fallen since 2001 may indicate warnings from God. While the pastor is not dogmatic on the significance of the modern phenomena, he does show how the first century signs were immediately followed by a first wave of death and destruction under Cestius, the Legate of Syria who commanded Rome's 12th Legion.
This sermon focuses on the subject of corporate prayer and its place in God's sovereign plan. It also deals with a very specific kind of prayer - the covenant lawsuit brought against Israel and Rome by the early church. As such it has a lot to teach the modern persecuted church. The church is not helpless before its persecutors since it has access to the Judge of the universe. Where there is faith to engage in imprecatory prayers, the same awesome power that was unleashed in the judgments of Revelation 8 can be unleashed once again in our own day.
This sermon lifts the heart in worship to God as it gives every reason to be joyful. If you lack joy in the Lord, prayerfully examine the steps to joy in this sermon.
The greatest tribulation of the church ushered countless people around the globe into heaven. This sermon examines some of the remaining issues surrounding this passage, such as why there was so much joy in heaven, how heaven should be the pattern for our worship on earth, etc.
The greatest tribulation of the church to ever happen also presupposes a great ingathering of new believers around the globe within forty years of Christ's death. This message deals with the eschatology of the passage and the next week will deal with the way heaven patterns earth.
By process of elimination this sermon rules out all interpretations of the 144,000 but one, identifying this group as a literal 144,000 Jewish believers preserved by God during the first century. These were a dedicated spiritual army mustered by God to restore the church in every nation - a church that had just previously been almost wiped off the face of the map by the Jews and by Nero. This sermon also gives four practical applications that can bring comfort to believers in any age.
This sermon looks at the the detailed fulfillment of each these remarkable prophecies and then show what was symbolized by the literal events.
This sermon introduces the Great Tribulation and distinguishes it from the Great Wrath. It also demonstrates how the Jewish leaders exerted huge influence over Nero in the persecution of Christians. It also gives some principles that provide comfort, faith, and hope for the persecuted church of today.
This sermon introduces us to the character of Nero and the two demons that influenced him early in his reign. Though the message is sobering, it gives us hope that even in dire circumstances Jesus is sovereign and demons have limitations.
This sermon identifies the third horseman of the apocalypse as the demonized Claudius. The Claudian coins clearly show these symbols of horse and hand holding scales. And the reign of Claudius is identified by the New Testament as the period of empire-wide famine. So Claudius is a fantastic case study for understanding the laws of economics and how God's providence enforces those laws. There is much that America could learn from this passage.
This sermon starts with a review of where we have been in the book of Revelation and how this passage fits into the overall picture that Revelation paints. It then looks at how the demonic Caligula (the second horseman) was a judgment of Christ upon both Rome and Israel. In the process, several principles of civics come to light.
This sermon gives the reasons why the first horseman is not Christ, but rather the counterfeit messianic state. It clearly identifies the rider as Caesar Tiberias and applies the passage to the situations we currently face.
This sermon seeks to sort through the numerous interpretations of this controversial passage using inductive and deductive reasoning. In the process it narrows the options down to the first century and gives practical applications.
This is the second cameo on worship in the book of Revelation. It settles various controversies over worship in the modern evangelical church.
This short paragraph gives 1) a profound Christology and 2) an apologetic against Judaism. Jesus alone can be invested with regal authority because Jesus alone fulfills all the Messianic prophecies.
This sermon works through the controversies related to the identity of the scroll of Revelation 5. It uses clues imbedded in the text to rule out various theories and to identify the scroll as the Old Testament canon and shows how this relates to the doctrine of the imminently closing canon that is developed in the rest of the book of Revelation. The implications of this are huge - the Old Testament is the foundation upon which Christ's kingdom is built. Jesus takes the canon in His hands, but He does not throw away the Old Testament. He opens it, explains it, and fulfills it.
This cameo picture of what the worship of heaven looks like gives us several principles that should guide our worship services.
This sermon wrestles with the controversies surrounding chapter 4:6-8 and comes to the conclusion that these living creatures are the cherubim of Ezekiel 1 and 10. The sermon applies Calvin's understanding of how Cherubim angels carry out many of God's providences and play a vital role in helping the church militant advance Christ's kingdom.
This passage sets the tone for the rest of the book by showing how heaven rules earth. The throne room of heaven is God's command central.
The Laodicean church had succumbed to the status quo rather than aggressively advancing the kingdom of heaven on earth. What does it mean to seek those things which are above? How should a proper approach to that subject be transformational of everything we do on earth? This sermon wrestles with the issues of the new creation versus the old creation and in what ways the new heavens and new earth are already here and in what sense they are still future. In the process it shows the unique approach of postmillennialism to the "already/not yet" paradigm found in the Scripture. This sermon is both challenging and encouraging.
The central problem with Sardis was a satisfaction with a form of godliness even when the power was gone.
Last week's sermon dealt with the problem of the Jezebel spirit. This one deals with the solution.
The bulk of this sermon deals in depth with the troubling phenomenon known as the spirit of Jezebel.
This war Psalm teaches the persecuted church how to take its enemies to the court room of heaven for justice.
This sermon looks at the way the church of Pergamos had penetrated the heart of Satan's kingdom, and had done so faithfully. It also examines the external and internal backlash the church experienced. In the process, it teaches us a great deal about the church, the Great Commission, spiritual warfare, Satan's kingdom, angelology, etc.
When things are going tough it is very easy to get fearful or have other inappropriate responses. John's letter to the church of Smyrna gives seven perspective changes that help Christians face tribulation with joy.
This sermon shows how even an outstanding church like that in Ephesus can drift in its love away from the Lord. How is first love lost and how can it be regained?
This passage focuses on the priestly, prophetic, kingly, and supernatural work that Jesus does each "Lord's Day."
While this sermon deals with the remaining principles of interpretation laid down by the apostle John, the main focus is upon the practical implications of union with Christ Jesus.
This sermon deals with the nature, beginning, and growth of the kingdom.
*We apologize for the poor audio quality in this sermon, the recording went particularly bad this week.
This sermon shows how John shared the experience of "the tribulation" with the seven churches. This deals with most of the controversies surrounding the great tribulation and the great wrath. In the process it also gives us a Biblical philosophy for facing tribulation by the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ.
This sermon deals with perhaps the most controversial verse in the chapter - the imminent coming of Christ in judgment (66 AD) contrasted with the distant Second Coming. In the process, this sermon opens up a lot of background material that is critical to understanding the book as a whole.
This communion meditation delves further into the incredible love of God for His people.
This sermon covers hermeneutical principles 21-24. It shows how the principles of grace, peace, kingdom, God's power, and Christ's offices of prophet, priest, and king are woven tightly throughout the book of Revelation. The book begins with grace and peace being pronounced by Almighty God and the book ends with the pervasive results of that grace and peace. In between are chapters showing man's attempts to resist Christ's grace and peace. But as the last chapters will show, such resistance is futile. What God has pronounced will be achieved.
This short communion meditation looks at the meaning of the phrase, "comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height" of God's love.
This sermon deals with principle #20 - the importance of original audience relevance. It shows the impact on interpretation when we understand who John was, what the seven churches of Asia were, and how geography fits into the interpretation of the book. Original audience relevance (the meaning to the original audience) needs to be understood before we can properly apply the book.
This sermon covers the Biblical hermeneutics for interpreting prophetic literature. In the process it introduces what this book says about the nature and termination of New Testament prophecy.
This encouraging message gives an overview of why John pronounces a blessing on those who read, understand, and keep the message of Revelation. Revelation is not a book to discourage or frighten. When rightly understood, it brings encouragement, hope, and faith. The sermon also shows the connection of the book to liturgics and to ethics.
This sermon shows the different ways that Premillennialism, Amillennialism, and Postmillennnialism handle the "already/not yet" paradigm. Almost everyone now believes in some sort of inaugurated kingdom where we are already in the kingdom in some sense but not yet experiencing all kingdom realities. But Postmillennialism has the most helpful approach to resolving the tensions in this paradigm.
This sermon shows how foundational the Old Testament Scriptures and the Gospels are in understanding the book of Revelation
This sermon deals with two more presuppositions that help us to understand Revelation: the role of angels and authorial intention. In the process the sermon also covers issues related to providence, inspiration, Hebraic grammar of the Greek in this book, relationship of Revelation to Old Testament books, rules for discovering original intent, how to profit from reading the Bible, etc.
This sermon continues examining the thirty clues given in the first eleven verses of Revelation that show how the book ought to be read. This sermon focuses on the proper approach to understanding symbols.
This sermon deals with the first 8 of 30 interpretive clues that God has given in the first eleven verses of Revelation 1. These 8 principles quickly narrow the focus of the book by ruling out several approaches to the book of Revelation that are violated.
This introduction to the book of Revelation deals with the tight connection between the first and last books of the Bible. In the process, it deals with the trajectory of the book and controversies that will be faced in the book.
This sermon explores the implications of the grave clothes. Why did John conclude that Jesus had risen, when the women saw the same evidence and concluded that His body had been taken away?
What are the differences between the Dispensational and Covenantal views of Palm Sunday? And what difference does it make? This sermon shows the enormous ramifications of your view of the relationship of Palm Sunday to the Kingdom. Was the Kingdom that all acknowledge was presented on Palm Sunday withdrawn or was it inaugurated exactly as anticipated in the Old Testament?
This sermon outlines the intricately interwoven events of the Passion week in a way that helps us to stand in awe of God's providence, wisdom, grace, and power. In the process it also helps to settle a number of controversial issues related to the chronology of that week that atheists have claimed were "contradictions."
It's not enough to begin the Christian life well; we must also end it well. But what does that mean? This sermon covers ten issues from the life of David that enabled God's evaluation to be, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant."
This sermon on stewardship looks into the heart of a transformed Christian through fifteen windows. It is a motivating call to be joyful stewards.
This last sermon on the military within the life of David ties in the theme of the military with the trajectory of eschatology in history.
Really? A sermon on administration for Sunday morning? Yes. This sermon shows that there are many fascinating issues buried in the text of 1 Chronicles 23-27 that are relevant to everyday issues.
Too frequently Christians become discouraged and even paralyzed when they see the extent to which humanists have taken over our country. This sermon is not only a realistic appraisal of the political dangers we face but also an encouragement to have faith and hope. It encourages us to approach conspiracies with the paradigm found in Psalm 2.
When both outward sins and inward root issues can be camouflaged and hidden, it makes it difficult to deal with sin in our children's lives. This sermon applies the issue of camouflaged sin to both personal sanctification and the discipleship of our children.
Many people are perplexed at the casualness with which David embraced the unethical medical solution presented by his advisors in this passage. But this sermon demonstrates ways in which modern Christians are not that much different in how they handle modern ethical decisions in medicine.
This chapter gives twelve principles that can be of help to families as they seek to pass on a multi-generational legacy.
This sermon explores the powerful grace of thanksgiving, especially focusing upon the way thanksgiving cleanses us of negative emotions. But it takes spiritual eyes to even begin to enjoy the benefits of true thanksgiving.
All true love involves risks. This sermon looks at the risks and rewards involved in the three commands to brotherly love in Hebrews 13:1-3.
When we recite the creeds that claim a belief in the “holy catholic church” and the “holy catholic faith” we do not mean the Roman Catholic Church or the Roman Catholic faith. Indeed, all of the Reformers taught that Rome had abandoned the catholic faith on their view of authority, Scripture, Mary, justification, the Lord’s Supper, church government, officers, prayer, the dead, sola Scriptura, sola fide, sola gratia, solus Christus, and other things. If the Reformers were right, then Rome does not have the right to use the term “catholic" and cannot truthfully confess the ecumenical creeds that affirm belief in a catholic church and a catholic faith. This sermon exams the counter-claims of both sides and concludes that the Reformers were correct. It demonstrates how the early church fathers would likely have characterized the modern Roman Catholic Church as the “ Roman Gnostic Church and as a cult that had left the catholic faith. The Protestant reformers were the true catholics who were defending the “faith once for all delivered to the saints” and defending the “common salvation” spoken of in Jude 3.
This passage shows how all of life (including politics) should be viewed through the lens of the Gospel and how the Gospel should impact everything that we do.
How are Christians to react to plagues and other national disasters? This sermon gives concrete guidance.
Much controversy surrounds the American Community Survey. This sermon gives a detailed analysis of what the Bible teaches on the subject of a census and demonstrates that the ACS is both unbiblical and unconstitutional. But more than that, this sermon shows why God treated even David’s more minimal census as a great evil that needed to be resisted. This passage adds to our general understanding of Biblical civics as calling for very limited government.
Though God does not expect everyone to be a hero warrior like David and his 36 leaders, there are principles of followership and leadership that can be learned from these amazing men.
The Bible gives minimum requirements for imperfect rulers. This is contrasted with the minimum requirements that most Christians have. This sermon serves as a shocking paradigm for the 21rst Century.
This sermon seeks to show the importance of spiritual gifts for the advancement of Christ’s kingdom. In the process it gives us ten lessons about spiritual gifts and also provides some correction to controversies related to this subject.
This sermon is seeking to cast a Biblical philosophy of work and rest for a less-than-Christian holiday, Labor Day.
This sermon was given at the ordination of a deacon at DCC. It gives both a philosophy of mercy ministries as well as practical guidelines.
This sermon gives the practical ramifications of the Reformation doctrine of Soli Deo Gloria, or “To the Glory of God Alone.”
This sermon traces the I AM statements in the Gospel of John and shows how each one emphasizes both the sufficiency of Christ and the exclusivity of His provision. It adds to the previous sermons in this series on the Five Reformation Solas and shows how they are all tightly knit together.
This is the third in the series of sermons on the “Five Solas” of the Reformation. Sola Fide, or Faith Alone, is the crown jewel of the Reformation, yet it is being systematically eroded in the evangelical church. This sermon hits the controversy head on as it discusses the historic doctrines of forensic justification and demonstrative justification.
When people think of “grace,” they often think of the beginning of our Christian walk (regeneration, conversion, justification). This sermon deals with the comprehensive scope of God’s grace and calls us to live by grace in all that we do. This is the second in the series of “sola” slogans from the Reformation.
Protestants often give lip service to the fact that the Bible gives the answers to all of life. But what exactly does that mean? If the Bible is not a textbook, in what way does it give the foundation for all thinking? This sermon unpacks the meaning of Christ’s revolutionary paradigm for life.
This sermon is a call for men to rise up and take on the giants of our day. Key words: enemy, persevere, culture wars, pacifism, weakness, prayerlessness, carnality, intimidating, giants,
How does God want us to treat the bodies of those who are deceased? Is cremation ever an option? What about donating bodies to science? This sermon gives the historic understanding of burial and cremation and in the process addresses some other practical issues, such as how to relate to a relative who is either convicted as a criminal or is under church discipline.
Christology is a critically important doctrine to understand. While Jesus is fully human and fully divine, this sermon focuses on His divinity.
This passage has a great deal to say about being promise keepers - on both the individual and the national level. The issues surrounding the broken treaty with the Gibeonites have many parallels with the issues surrounding America’s broken treaties with American Indian tribes.
It is hard for us to fathom getting our nation back to the kind of limited government that it enjoyed for most of its first century, but this sermon seeks to show that it is not only possible but is also morally imperative. While examining the cabinet of David, the departments implied in that list, and comparing David’s executive branch with the agencies, boards, committees, and commissions under our current administration’s executive branch, this sermon seeks to give a Biblical philosophy of civics. In advocating the Regulative Principle of Government, this sermon stands on the shoulders of Augustine, the Puritans, the Scottish Reformers, Patrick Henry, and many others.
This portrait of the wise woman of Abel not only gives great insights into peacemaking, but is a corrective to hyper patriarchy and elevates the role of women.
Rebellion always results in negative consequences. Understanding these disastrous consequences can be a strong motivator to put off our own rebellion and deal with the rebellion of others with Biblical principles.
In an age of culture wars, it is easy for those who are trying to resist ungodliness to get caught up in ungodly rebellions. Too frequently godly resistance to tyranny is lumped in with rebellion against tyranny, but the two are quite different. This passage gives ten telltale signs of rebellion that ought to be avoided by every Christian. Resistance yes, rebellion no.
This resurrection Psalm promises pleasures at God’s right hand in heaven, but it also promises that we can have joy in God’s presence even now on earth. This sermon seeks to show you how to learn to enjoy God in all circumstances - or as John Piper worded it, “How to Fight For Joy” when your joy is being robbed.
Even the best attempts at peacemaking can be ruined or undermined by others. This sermon deals with some of the most common obstructions to reconciliation and the peacemaking process and what can be done about them.
This sermon use the portrait of Barzillai to give a philosophy of aging. Key words: old, age, elderly, retire, risk, health, opportunities, time, limits, health, relationships, death, medical directive, legacy, friendship, balance, relaxation
Jesus calls us to pursue reconciliation whether we are in the wrong or in the right. This passage illustrates how difficult that can be, and in the process introduces us to more principles of reconciliation. Each of these principles are also illustrated in Romans 12, a passage that calls us to step outside the realm of what is possible and into the realm of the supernatural. Ultimately reconciliation is God working through us the same grace that He gave to us.
There are many things that can make it difficult for us to be willing to repent of our sins and there are equally many things that can make it difficult to forgive. This sermon not only examines those difficulties, but in the process gives a theology of repentance and forgiveness and distinguishes it from worldly counterfeits.
Christ died to reconcile sinners to God and to give the foundation for reconciliation in our human relationships. This sermon shows what frequently goes wrong in attempted reconciliations and specific steps to reconcile in a God-glorifying manner.
Though Scripture teaches us how to weep for others (Lamentations) and shows the godly weeping of Jeremiah, Jesus, and others, it also makes clear that some weeping is ungodly. This sermon shows how to sanctify our emotions and specifically how to be sanctified in our weeping. Too many Christians fail to think about this subject and as a result sin against God and others with their tears.
Pride is one of the worst enemies of our soul. This sermon examines the pride of Absalom and Joab and makes extensive application to individuals, families, and churches.
This sermon deals with the far reaching implications of a God-given inward call to duty. General Douglas MacArthur considered this to be one of the key foundations for Christian civilization. This sermon not only examines the disastrous consequences of failing to pass on to the next generation this sense of duty , but also illustrates the wonderful things that can flow from this grace.
Feelings of loneliness and isolation afflict some Christians more than others. And there are times when Christians truly do have everyone against them. Such pressures can make us lie awake at night or have other unhelpful reactions. This sermon probes the principles that enabled David to have a sound night's rest the night before a battle when he was vastly outnumbered.
David's situation in 2 Samuel 17 seemed pretty hopeless, yet rather than throwing up his hands in despair, David turned to prayer, and having trusted the God for whom nothing is impossible, David committed himself to making a difference. Psalm 12 gives us similar lessons for faith, hope, and commitment to reverse the downward slide in America.
David had disappointments galore as he fled from Absalom. Most people would have focused on those crushing disappointments and been overwhelmed with sadness, but David mysteriously experienced joy and a "river" of God's pleasures while aggressively taking his disappointments to the God who cares. This sermon shows how we too can "rejoice in the Lord always" (even in the midst of numerous disappointments) without adopting an unrealistic Pollyanna Christianity.
This sermon brings ten challenges to conform our worship to the desires of Jesus, the King of Worship.
This sermon gives a clear understanding of what the Bible says about suicide. It also gives clear instructions on how to handle suicidal thoughts in yourself or in others.
While this sermon does give an interesting discussion of two military strategies, most of is focus is on the relationship between wise planning and trust in providence.
In our culture wars it is easy to fall into the ditch of lawless revolutionaries on the one side or into the ditch of a passive slave-mentality on the other side. This sermon examines the difference between revolution and lawful resistance to tyranny.
This sermon explores the difference between legitimate escape and irresponsible escapism.
The irrational rage between Shimei and Abishai and the great self-control exhibited by David (also exhibited in the Psalms written during this period) is the framework for a unique discussion of anger, lack of sportsmanship, lack of self-control, slander, cheating, unfair critiques, and other sins.
This sermon describes the many faces of false loyalty. It can be manifested as false generosity and false compassion (for example socialism). It can give the impression of loyalty while destroying loyalty (Oliver Wendell Holmes book, The Common Law, is an example). It can destroy covenant relationships while giving the illusion of faithfulness (eg., no divorce, but no passion to fulfill the marriage vows). It can be blind to its own deceitfulness while accusing others of disloyalty. Once false loyalty is recognized in its many disguises, we can more effectively guard our hearts against it. This sermon is yet another call to God-centeredness in all our covenant relationships.
This sermon continues to look at eight more tests of loyalty. It is a challenge to leaders and followers alike.
The Biblical concept of loyalty is summed up in the Hebrew words hemeth and chesed. Loyalty must be defined by the covenant and limited by the covenant or it can easily become an idolatrous loyalty. And since it is a covenant grace, it is not something that humans can produce in their own strength. It is supernatural. This sermon begins to look at several tests of the character of our loyalty. It is a radical call to step out of the ordinary and into the realm of the supernatural in all of our covenant relationships.
This sermon continues to list characteristics of an Absalom and to make applications to modern family, business, church, and state.
People are often mystified by the politics, manipulation, undermining of authority, criticism, and endless fires that need to be put out in organizations. Though this sermon mainly applies the principles of the Absalom Syndrome to the church, you will immediately recognize the same principles at work in politics, military, business, and elsewhere. For those who are praying for revival and reformation in the church, it is important that they recognize and pray against the three main demonic spirits that are hindering that work: those behind Ahab, Jezebel, and Absalom. This sermon briefly discusses all three, but focuses upon those who undermine authority behind the scenes.
Due to technical difficulties the second half of this recording was lost. Sorry about the cliffhanger that will most likely never be concluded.
Bitterness is a destructive force. No Christian should allow it to grow in his heart. This is a sermon that not only dissects the characteristics and fruits of bitterness, but shows how to put it off.
Why is it that so many Christian families have messed up children who are as bad as Eli and Phinehas? Is there anything that can be done to prevent this tragedy? Without excusing the behavior of the children, this sermon isolates seven significant ways that Eli contributed to the evil conduct of his children. It is a call to fathers to put off the Eli-isms that are rampant in modern Christian families.
Due to an unknown error, the second half of the sermon was lost. Sorry for the inconvenience.
This passage (and the Psalm written on this occasion) illustrate eleven more lessons on the military and war. Pastor Kayser shows how these principles were enshrined in our constitution, but are no longer being followed in America. He outlines the fascinating story of how the military and war have been consistently used down through history to erode liberty and to centralize government. It is critically important that every citizen once again understand these principles of civics.
This passage shows the amazing way in which God's grace can make beauty out of our ugly stains of the past.
This sermon focuses upon the needless losses that we have when we fail to confess our sins.
It can be very discouraging when many of our prayers seem to go unanswered. Our unbelieving hearts easily latch onto these unanswered prayers as reasons to doubt God. This sermon shows the blessings of unanswered prayers.
This sermon explores the problem of pain, suffering, and death for infants. The sermon has a number of purposes, but one is to give help and hope to people who suffer from post-abortion trauma.
Though Scripture calls us to have a persevering love that "covers a multitude of sins," there are some sins that may not lawfully be covered over. This sermon gives hints from the text to show what situations would warrant a "Nathan moment" of confrontation, and then gives several principles that show the best way to engage a person in a "Nathan moment."
This remarkable text addresses the controversies raging in Reformed circles revolving around legalism and antinomianism. Both of those errors need to be opposed, but traditional Protestant theology does a much better job of doing so than either the modern "Grace Movement" or than Auburn Avenue Theology. This sermon upholds historic Reformed doctrine and seeks to bring Biblical balance on some very important issues facing the Reformed church.
When we expose our sin through Biblical confession, God brings incredible relief, joy, liberty, and peace. But when we cover our sin with the "fig leaves" of humanistic substitutes, we bring ourselves misery. When God guarantees that the consequences of hiding our sins are always greater than the consequences of confessing our sins, why is it that so frequently we desperately use every means at our disposal to hide? This sermon explores this strange phenomenon and applies it in various areas of life, including apologetics, child rearing, finances, discipline, and politics.
Whereas the previous sermon addressed key issues facing men, this sermon addresses the unique sexual temptations of women. In the process it also boldly addresses issues of modesty, thought life, hedges, and the practical steps that should be taken to tuneup a marriage.
It is a truism that males struggle with sexual temptations. This sermon seeks to give practical help for gaining the victory.
One of the earliest references to both the resurrection of Jesus and the resurrection of our own bodies, this 4000 year old passage gives us great comfort and hope.
Rather than giving up hope because of the darkness, this sermon gives seven reasons why the church should rise up and press the claims of Christ upon all of life. Rather than hopelessly cursing the darkness, it calls upon us to walk while we have the light. It is convicting but also encouraging.
This sermon steers a path between the errors of man-centered revivalism on the one hand and rationalistic rejection of revival on the other. What is the essence of true revival? Revival is a Biblical term, and this unusual sermon not only gives a Biblical worldview of revival, but also periodically pauses to passionately cry out to God for revival through prayer and song.
If you need encouragement for the troubled times we are facing in the 21rst century, listen to this sermon. It looks at the seven discouraging observations made by the ten spies about the land of Canaan, but it looks at those accurate observations through the eyes of Joshua and Caleb. We live in similar times that are perilous, but it is critical that we not destroy the church's faith like the ten spies did. This sermon avoids the Pollyanna Christianity with its false optimism but it also avoids being so preoccupied with the dark side that we forget God's promises of victory. The focus of this sermon is on the faith building responses that God gave to the ten spies' seven observations.
This sermon digs deeply into the covenant concept of God's chesed. Though the word has been variously translated as steadfast love, kindness, mercy, loyalty, and faithfulness, the rich meaning of the term is beautifully illustrated in the chesed that David showed toward Mephibosheth.
This sermon uses David's reign to portray eight images of the Messianic Kingdom of Jesus.
Gypsie Smith said that he had never lost the wonder of his salvation. But that sense of wonder has been lost for many Christians. Familiarity breeds contempt. This third sermon on the Davidic Covenant is an attempt to reignite a sense of wonder and awe in God's people over who Jesus is and over God's story of salvation. It is a call to respond to God's covenant provisions with praise and adoration.
How do you handle dreams that have been dashed to the ground? While this is an amazing passage for teaching principles of prayer, it is also a passage that shows the specific character issues that need to be addressed to handle disappointments in a godly manner.
This is a pivotal passage in understanding the practical character of covenant theology. Christ's grace and rule impacts every area of life.
This chapter is a classic text on the Regulative Principle of Worship. But this sermon is anything but a simple rehash of the old arguments. It is a refreshing exposition of the sufficiency of Scripture for every portion of worship, whether that be the elements, the order, or even the circumstances of worship. There is no need to appeal to human wisdom, and there is no excuse for ignoring clear statements of Scripture as so many traditional Reformed churches have done. Whether you agree or disagree with his conclusions, you will find that he takes the Regulative Principle of Worship to its logical conclusion, even when that might be uncomfortable.
This passage not only gives wonderful help for Christians in military service, but it also gives wonderful help for any Christian involved in spiritual warfare. These twelve Christian characteristics are foundations for successful battle.
This sermon tackles the marvelous theology of Zion. In the process it gives us lessons on the nature of the kingdom, the difference between faith and presumption, human inability, walking in the supernatural, the place of Jew and Gentile in the church, and the warning that Satan sows his seeds at the very time that we are having our greatest Gospel victories.
This communion meditation focuses on amazing spiritual truth that the barren is fruitful and the weak experiences God's strength when he or she learns to walk by faith. In Galatians, Paul uses this passage to teach Christians how to stop living their Christian life in their own strength and to step into the realm of the supernatural.
When Jesus preached so much on politics and when so much of the Bible deals with the subject, it is surprising that so few American pastors are willing to preach on the topic. But this sermon tackles politics head on, using nine principles from 2 Samuel 5:1-5 to show how far America has drifted from its roots. If you want one sermon that gives civics in a nutshell, this sermon is it.
The same principles that led to the French Revolution are principles that flow very naturally from our children's hearts and are constantly at work in church and in society – unless God's grace subdues them. This sermon examines ten revolutionary principles illustrated in 2 Samuel 4, and uses them to show the stark contrast between the American War for Independence and the French Revolution. It also shows how modern American politics resembles the evil French Revolution much more than it resembles the principles adopted by our founding fathers. But this sermon is a call for every area of life to put off revolution and to put on Reformation.
What is a person to do when he is faced with two lousy choices in politics? How polite do we need to be with our political opponents? Is there a place for strong language in politics? What about displaying people's dirty laundry? How effective is public opinion in restraining tyrants? How can we take advantage of that? These and other issues are addressed in this encouraging sermon that gives reason to not give up even when change seems frustratingly impossible.
This sermon contrasts the remarkable grace of Biblical contentment with its insipid counterfeits. Thomas Watson rightly observed that "Discontentment keeps a man from enjoying what he doth possess." In contrast, Biblical contentment gives a person a heightened capacity to enjoy the good things of life. This sermon digs deep in analyzing the nature of Biblical contentment and it uncovers the simple secret for finding contentment in all circumstances.
This sermon gives a Biblical philosophy of conspiracy theories. Using Psalm 2 as a theological foundation, and using 2 Samuel 3 as a historical backdrop, it analyses how conspiracies work and how God has routinely frustrated them over the past several thousand years. In the process it not only corrects mistaken ideas about history, politics, and worldview, but it also stirs up hope, faith, and action. If you have ever been tempted to think that conspiracies are invincible, this is a sermon for you. In the process you might realize that we Christians have unfortunately adopted some of the sinful methodologies spawned by conspiracy.
You've heard the expression, "You can't change City Hall." It expresses a degree of discouragement about local politics. People are even more discouraged about the fact that we can't seem to change Washington, DC no matter which party controls the Executive and Legislative branches. Power politics seems to be the name of the game. This sermon not only examines the dynamics of power politics, but also what we as Christians should do about it.
This sermon discusses ten underlying issues related to conflict. The more we can understand the dynamics of conflict, the better prepared we will be to be true peacemakers.
Developing a clear understanding of loyalty to God can help us navigate the treacherous waters of loyalty to man. But loyalty is a characteristic that Christians must put on if we are to imitate and glorify God.
Based on the Apostle’ Creed, with an explanation from Q&A #9 of the Westminster Shorter Catechism.
This passage gives us detailed instruction on how we should honor soldiers who have died in the defense of their country.
Communion doesn't call us into a love that is achievable by human abilities. It calls us to love just as Christ loved us. How can we do that? By abiding in Christ. May the love of the Father be shed abroad in our hearts, as we are united to Jesus, by the power of the Spirit.
Strong ambition is a distinguishing characteristic of leadership. But it can also be dangerous if it is not grace-driven, government by God's law, and focused on God's glory. This sermon is not only a call to have strong ambition to fulfill one's calling in a way that pleases God, but it also analyzes the ins and outs of what both humanistic ambition and godly ambition look like.
This sermon gives a balanced look at what is involved in Christ-likeness. It is as radical a departure from postmodernism as one can get.
This sermon examines the critical preconditions for endurance. While other factors are examined, it especially focuses on the role that hope plays in energizing people to endure. Of course, hope deals with eschatology. Paul said, "If we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance" (Rom. 8:25). Interestingly, this sermon not only analyzes an eschatology of hope for the world as a whole, but gives an eschatology of hope for our personal sanctification (Phil. 1:6), for providence (Rom. 8:28), for finances (Phil. 4:19), for covenant succession in our families (Acts 2:39), and for other areas of life. It is critical that we know how to build all the preconditions for endurance in our children, but giving them hope is of the utmost importance. But ultimately this sermon is a call to endure with the knowledge that we will reap a harvest if we do not lose heart and give up (Gal. 6:9). This is a much needed message for our day and age.
One of the things that distinguished David as a godly leader was his ability to face a crisis without becoming a crisis. The principles learned in this passage are critical principles for any Christian to learn, but they are particularly important for leaders.
Do you tend to look for the opportunities that God is strewing in your path and seize those by faith or do you tend to look at the obstacles Satan is throwing in your way and come up with reasons why it can't be done? This sermon is a challenge to look at all of life through the eyes of faith.
If you wait till Spring to clean your house, you will likely be overwhelmed. The same is true in the spiritual realm. While avoiding contemporary extremes on the subject of sanctification, this sermon gives great encouragement and practical applications of Scripture that ensure that the pursuit of sanctification will be a joy and not a burden.
This sermon answers a number of perplexing questions, and in the process engages the hearer in an exercise with the Gospel. Did Samuel appears to Saul? Did his soul really exist in the heart of the earth? How do we reconcile this with Elijah's being caught up to heaven? Did Saul and Jonathan join Samuel in paradise? What evidence is there that Saul repented? How does the Gospel fit into this picture?
The influence of the occult is rapidly growing in America. It is estimated that over 50 million Americans dabble with the occult in some form. This sermons helps to understand this demonic influence both inside and outside the church, and gives strategies for dealing with it. It also tackles the difficult questions surrounding Samuel's spirit talking to Saul after Samuel was dead.
Life is never as neat and tidy as we might prefer. It is filled with disappointments, surprises, unexpected obstacles and opportunities. How we respond to such things often reveals the true character of our hearts. This sermon calls us to not be driven by the expectations of others, and shows us how to handle confusing circumstances with the faith of David.
Only God can turn a mess into a message, a test into a testimony, a trial into a triumph, and a victim into a victory. Whether people have misinterpreted your actions and motives as being a mess, or whether they really are, this is a chapter that can be a great help to you. Though it contains controversial themes, it is a wonderful portion of God's Word that we can learn from.
While Scripture says that we should ordinarily not rebuke a fool, since a fool is not interested in the truth or in holiness, there are exceptions to that rule that are laid out in the Scriptures. This passage illustrates one of those exceptions. The rebuke of a fool is useful when it brings warning to those who are witnesses. It can be a part of apologetics and being salt and light in culture. This passage helps us to do a better job at apologetics.
Self-control Is a key component of godly leadership. Indeed, lack of self-control is one of the defining marks of many of the counterfeits of leadership qualifications. Even self-control can be counterfeited by our flesh. So it is very important that we understand what it means to put on this Spirit-given grace. It is one of the links in the chain of sanctification outlined in 2 Peter 1:5-8, and Peter says that we cannot prosper, be fruitful, and abound in our Christian walk without self-control.
This sermon concludes a conference on Healthy Leaders, and highlights six benchmarks by which we can evaluate our growth as leaders. However, these benchmarks are good tests for anyone to measure his or her life by.
Lenin spoke of useful idiots who supported his cause even though he was their enemy. This sermon encourages us to not be useful idiots who blindly support a person, party, ideology, or movement. In the process of exposing the useful idiots of America, Pastor Kayser also gives us some new lessons on Biblical civics.
Are our churches prepared to minister God's grace to new converts whose families are messed up? We live in a time when families have sometimes been irreparably harmed. They too need a sanctuary. Pastor Kayser gives us guidance that is so relevant to our times by examining the messed up families of Abigail and David.
One of the challenges of the Christian life is learning how to graciously respond to rebuke. This passage gives ten practical guidelines to responding to rebuke in a God honoring way.
Abigail was able to stop an angry army in its tracks because of her amazing peacemaking skills. This sermon will look at the characteristics of her peacemaking efforts and apply this wonderful grace to our own peacemaking.
If you have done something horrible in the past, it is easy to wear that around as a ball and chain. If you look at the horrible prospects of the present, it is easy to throw up one's hands in despair. If you are deeply in debt, it is easy to feel hopeless about the future. This sermon helps to overcome not only these kinds of discouragements, but many others as well. This is a sermon that gives a dominion perspective on difficult obstacles.
When people are blind to their addictions, abusive behavior, or other destructive lifestyles, it is imperative that godly Christians engage in an intervention. But how should they do so? And how can they avoid crossing the line into meddling? What is a wife to do when it is her husband who is guilty of criminal behavior? This sermon gives detailed information on every facet of the difficult subject of interventions.
Many people struggle with anger and do not understand why they cannot gain the victory over their tempers. This sermon seeks to understand how anger works and gives practical steps in sanctifying the emotion to the Lord. If you have ever struggled with anger, this is a sermon that must be listened to.
This sermon digs deep into what "going the extra mile" looks like in every area of life, and why it is that God prospers those who embrace this principle so much.
Too many times the negative expressions of our mouth kill our own faith. This is a sermon that looks at seven incredible promises of God – promises that are the antithesis of Murphy's Laws. In the course of giving us a Biblical worldview for the future, the seven points of this sermon also serve as boosters for our faith.
Last week's sermon dealt with the difference between pursuing God in everything and pursuing everything as a substitute for God. This fundamental difference between David and Saul can even be seen on so-called "spiritual" issues such as worship, prayer, and the topic of this weeks sermon: repentance. 1 Samuel 24:16-22 goes to the heart of what constitutes genuine repentance and what is counterfeit repentance. It is designed to help us press into God's grace more deeply when we repent and when we grant forgiveness to others who repent.
How much of our life will be burned up as hay, wood, and stubble at the Second Coming of Jesus? It all depends on whether we are pursuing God in everything we do (like David did) or pursuing everything in a way that turns our goals into dead dogs (like Saul did). This is a sermon about to exchange a life of vanity for a life of fulfillment.
This sermon helps us to sort through the confusing issues surrounding the subject of the conscience. Why is it that the legislative, judicial, and executive functions of the conscience can sometime be so distorted? How do we keep our consciences from being either insensitive or legalistic? What is involved in retraining the conscience to function as God intended it to function? What bad things automatically happen when we fail to retrain the conscience? This sermon gives practical answers on these and other questions.
In this dynamic sermon, Dr. Marshall Foster encourages us to let the heroes of the faith stir us up to expect great things from God and to attempt great things for God. In the past God has turned nations around that were in far worse shape than our nation is in. He can do so again. But will we be men, women, and children of faith who fight for liberty?
Psalm 45 describes the very enemies that are slain by the weapons of Christ's warfare in verses 1-7 as becoming His friends and bride in the last half of the Psalm. This powerful juxtaposition of being slain by Christ and being embraced by Him is the thought of a poem that Charles Spurgeon composed. This poem exegetes the heart of my message better than I can.
Betrayal is extremely painful. David felt the pain of betrayal keenly, but handled it without getting bitter. This sermon shows us how we can do the same.
What things must be in place if a church is to be an encouraging church? This sermon gives practical suggestions for perfecting the grace of encouragement.
Last week's sermon dealt with the limits of resistance to tyranny, which must be kept clearly in mind. This text goes verse by verse through this passage to illustrate what the law says about the practice of resistance. This is a key sermon dealing with various forms of interposition.
What are the limits of civil disobedience? This sermon seeks to give the Reformed answer to that question.
What do you do when regrets gnaw away inside of you and make you cringe? This sermon gives some practical steps on how to be forever rid of the debilitating feelings of regret that keep people from serving well.
This communion message highlights the implications of renewing covenant with our God, who calls Himself Yahweh Sabaoth. It is a name that calls us to war against the world, the flesh, and the devil, but it is also a name that gives assurance of victory, since our God is the Lord of hosts.
Communion was never intended by God to be a funeral dirge. It was intended to be a time of joy and blessing. Too many times we emphasize the disciplines that come through partaking unworthily. But even the passage that pulls together most of the disciplines connected to the Lord's Table does not call the cup a cup of cursing. Instead, Paul calls it the cup of blessing. Why? Because this is a meal through which God loves to pour forth His blessings. When properly understood, God's people look forward to communion with great anticipation.
Is America still the land of the free? The previous sermon and this one provide a convenient set of principles by which any nation can be evaluated on this pressing question. Too many nations are headed down the path to tyranny that Saul was on. We need to pray that God's grace and His law would once again be restored as the foundations for liberty for our nation.
Is America still the land of the free? This sermon and the next one provide a convenient set of principles by which any nation can be evaluated on this pressing question. Too many nations are headed down the path to tyranny that Saul was on. We need to pray that God's grace and His law would once again be restored as the foundations for liberty for our nation.
Many people have at some point faced overwhelming feelings of loneliness and the crushing sense that no one cares about them. David faced those same feelings. How did he not only survive, but thrive? This sermon examines that question and five other practical issues as 1Samuel 22 is compared with three Psalms written during that period.
When times get tough for Christians, fleeing a state or country is one of the options that the Bible provides. But how can Christians do this without succumbing to ungodly fear? How can Christians do this without jumping out of the frying pan and into the fire? What does the Bible say about the subject of seeking asylum?
What does Scripture say about surviving during times of emergency? How does God provide? What happens when the government confiscates the fundamental needs of people? What if they confiscate articles of self-defense? What kind of resistance to tyranny is allowable? What laws can be ignored? This sermon seeks to answer these and other questions that arise during difficult times.
Some Christians have routinely barred themselves and/or their children from the Lord’s Table because of sin. Though Matthew 5:23-24 is frequently cited as the foundation for such behavior, we will see that this passage teaches the exact opposite. This communion meditation clarifies such issues as partaking worthily, church and family jurisdictions, discipline, self-examination, and the relationship of grace and works to the Lord’s Table.
Psalm 5 was written at the end of 1Samuel 20, and forms an important background for the actions of David in the later chapters of 1Samuel. David did not relish being forced into the role of a rebel. But neither was he willing to embrace a false peace. This Psalm gives the necessary ingredients for maintaining the careful balance needed when the state forces you into civil disobedience.
Too many people wish that they could have lived when Jesus was physically present. But the Gospel of John promises that we have an even greater privilege – living during the kingdom period when the risen Messiah is spiritually present with his people. This sermon helps us to understand how we can benefit from the present ministry and fellowship of our risen Lord.
Have you ever wondered how to resolve the numerous “contradictions that occur in the Passion Week when you hold to a Friday Crucifixion? Well, it can’t be done. But when you hold to a Thursday crucifixion in 30 AD, not only is Jesus in the tomb “three days and three nights, but every aspect of the Jewish Calendar opens up in exquisite beauty as it is fulfilled in Jesus with meticulous accuracy. Stand in awe of God’s marvelous plan, provision, and providence as this sermon unlocks the keys to understanding Passion Week.
Dr. Samuel Johnson wisely said, "A man, sir, should keep his friendships in a state of constant repair." Too many times friendships break up when one person will hurt the feelings of another. This passage shows how the Gospel can keep our friendships strong and in a constant state of repair.
Have you ever wondered why some people seem oblivious to the presence of sin in their lives? Have you ever wondered why others don't care that their sin guarantees ruin and disaster for them? Have you ever been amazed at the convoluted rationalizations that some people engage in? This sermon discusses the mystery of such self-deception and what we can do about it. It shows how all sin is self-destructive and all sin is irrational. It gives great reasons why we need to cling to God's grace every day.
The only way God can guarantee that all things work together for our good and for His glory is if His providence governs all things. This remarkable section of Scripture shows God's governance of all of the details of life. Not even the sins of demons and of men can thwart His purposes. If you need faith when life seems to be falling apart, this sermon may be helpful.
This sermon gives us ten lessons on friendship that help to improve not only our horizontal relationships, but also our walk with God.
The third battlefront that the Scripture calls us to engage is the "world." What exactly is that? How does the world impact us? Why are we so frequently blind to the way we have been conformed to the world? Saul and David give us insight into the constant tug that the world has upon our flesh, and how Satan uses the world to make us ineffective. It also explains why we so seldom get places when we argue with people without dealing with their presuppositions.
Have you ever wondered about the irrational nature of things coming out of Washington DC, or the irrational way a marriage has spiraled out of control? Sometimes demons are the cause of the problems we face, and if we only fight the flesh, we have a missed a critical battlefront. This sermon looks at Saul's irrational paranoia and seeks to make applications to our own lives. It is a call to engage Satan in spiritual battle.
The American church has not made major progress against abortion because the church itself has a major problem – it lacks a consistent worldview and a consistent approach to cultural change. This sermon contrasts the Reformed approach to culture with six false alternatives. It demonstrates how those six false views of culture have guaranteed that humanism would win. But the sermon also shows from Jude how humanism cannot stand against the church militant if the church will once again embrace a Biblical worldview.
Whereas Rome speaks of multiple times in which Jesus is sacrificed, Hebrews speaks of Jesus being sacrificed once and for all. This passage gives several correctives to false Romanists views of the mass. But more importantly, it is a passage that gives comfort and security to the believer.
Studies have shown that success often becomes the occasion for moral failures and carelessness. But it need not be the case for Christians. In the process of giving sound advice on how to build on the successes that God brings into our lives, this sermon also gives practical advice on developing friendships, handling praise, dealing with idolatrous celebrity worship, and other issues.
When God told Job to gird himself like a man, he was in effect telling him to take off his dress and act like a man. David showed himself to be a man's man in this battle, and in the process stands as a model for all time. Too many in the church have failed to be forceful, vehement, and manly in their spiritual warfare against the world, the flesh, and the devil. It is no wonder that they lack success. This sermon gives practical, powerful guidance for more consistently gaining victory in our spiritual battles.
What has robbed the church of a visionary faith? Why did David run towards the front lines of his culture wars instead of away from them? What is the difference between faith and presumption? How do we put off the lies of the Old Man that tend to eviscerate our faith? How do we develop the ability to see opportunity where others see only giants? These are a few of the questions that are answered by this sermon that examines the key components of the visionary faith of David.
In 1 Samuel chapter 13 God had rejected Saul as king, and in chapter 16 David is anointed, yet Saul remains in authority for 40 years! Waiting for God to fix politics can feel agonizingly slow unless you look behind the scenes and realize God is always at work, using the very politics we hate to work for His good.
Question number 36 of the Catechism asks what benefits we receive in this lifetime from salvation, and we are reminded of a great benefit of our salvation: The peace of ones conscience.
Question number 36 of the Catechism asks "What are the benefits which in this life flow from justification, adoption, and sanctification?" The benefits which come from our salvation come to us even in this life.
The lineage of Davis is filled with many surprising people, and it's study brings us encouragement and teaches us of the importance of covenant succession in families.
Abraham's faith is tested by God requiring a blood sacrifice--his son Isaac. In this story we see the blood sacrifice of Christ foretold.
We have studied what the Bible says about the theology, methodology, purpose, and content of prayer. But what does the Lord’s Prayer imply about the people who are praying it?
Here we find Jesus in the Old Testament as the ark of God, protecting Noah and his family from the flood. God's wrath is poured out upon the earth in the flood but His mercy is shown in the ark as it rescues the perishing and bears the punishment of the storm.
We are not naturally generous people, Matthew 18:21 tells the well known story of the man forgiven of the large debt immediately demanding repayment of a tiny debt. Our immense debt to God has been redeemed, and this should drive us to generosity.
Recent events seem to indicate a time of economic distress for many countries. With concerns of employment and finances mounting, it is important to look at how we can have hope in God's promises. Christ's love for us should be a continual anchor to us.
Are you settled in your sin? Do you think "I will never fall for that sin"? Do you know what one sin is found at the root of all other sins?
In this sermon, Pastor Kayser describes how the roots of sin that lead to sodomy are found in each of us, if we are not careful. Luther wrote that "God made this earth out of nothing, and so long as we remain nothing, we are able to be used by Him." Listen in to hear how you can be sure you are humbling yourself before God, to guard against sin in your own life.
What are we to make of ministers like Judas and Charles Templeton who abandon the faith after having been used so powerfully by God? And what is the difference between Peter and Judas? Both denied the Lord. Both wept bitter tears. This sermon evaluates the difference between evangelical repentance and counterfeit repentance, and makes practical application to our lives.