Sermon B-Sides - Coram Deo Church: Recent Episodes
Coram Deo Church
Grab a beverage (something of a high-proof is our usual choice) and join Pastor Jon Needham and Pastor Rusten Harris from Coram Deo Church for a friendly conversation filled rabbit trails as we consider the Bible and apply it to our current cultural context.
Amos doesn't just have a message of judgment for the pagan nations around Israel; he also has a message of judgment for his covenant people. God's covenant people have often had the signs of the covenant but haven't had the faith and righteousness that those signs point to. When Amos confronts Judah and Israel, it is clear that they have, by varying degrees, become apostates. In this episode of Sermon B-Sides, Pastor Jon and Pastor Rusten discuss how God's judgment works, what apostasy is, and how people become apostates over time, step by step.
We hope you enjoy it. As usual, if you have any questions about Sermon B-sides or anything else, email us at pastor@coramdeochurch.org.
The Lord roars, and Amos shoots straight and to the point. God is the judge of all, and all will answer to him. This means nations that don't even recognize his lordship will have to give an account. In this episode of Sermon B-Sides, Pastor Jon and Pastor Rusten discuss the relevance of Amos for our world today, the calling of a normal "Joe" like Amos, and the universal Lordship of Christ over every nation.
We hope you enjoy, and as usual, if you have any questions for Sermon B-sides or anything else, email us at pastor@coramdeochurch.org
The golden calf incident in Exodus 32 is a paradigm for idolatry in the Bible. Examining this story helps us understand the nature of idolatry and the ways that we are led into it. The character of Aaron also reveals to us the sinner's tendency to make excuses for sin and blame others for them. In this episode of Sermon B-Sides, Pastor Jon and Pastor Rusten discuss the lessons that we can learn from this story of idolatry and how blame-shifting keeps us from enjoying freedom from the snares of idolatry.
We hope you enjoy, and as usual, if you have any questions for Sermon B-Sides or anything else, email us at pastor@coramdeochurch.org.
It is not uncommon to hear the phrase "filled with the Spirit" in connection to some kind of erratic spiritual experience. But in the Bible, that phrase is first connected to the skills necessary to build the tabernacle. In this episode of Sermon B-Sides, Pastor Jon and Pastor Rusten discuss what it means to be filled with the Spirit in light of the skill and wisdom given to Oholiab and Bezalel to manufacture the parts of the tabernacle. What might this mean for our understanding of the phrase? They also discuss the charismatic view and compare it to the task-oriented nature of work. Finally, they discuss the importance of work and Sabbath for the Christian.
We hope you enjoy, and as usual, if you have any questions for Sermon B-Sides or anything else, email us at pastor@coramdeochurch.org.
The worship of the tabernacle involved a lot of visceral components that people experienced through the senses. Incense, fire, smoke, water, and oil each play their part in the tabernacle. While many of these are shadows that point to heavenly realities, they also point to the creaturely nature of our worship. We may lean into a gnostic tendency to focus exclusively on spiritual things. But the visceral components of worship speak to the importance of bringing all our creaturely life to God in worship. In this episode of Sermon B-Sides, Pastor Jon and Pastor Rusten discuss the spiritual referents of these visceral things while also discussing how we should avoid an overly spiritualized and gnostic-leaning worship.
We hope you enjoy, and as usual, if you have any questions for Sermon B-Sides or anything else, email us at pastor@coramdeochurch.org.
The coming new creation is one of the big themes of the New Testament. This new creation is so deeply related to our current redemption in Christ that we read that "if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation" (2 Cor. 5:17). But does the Old Testament teach new creation? Are there hints within the tabernacle and priesthood of the new creation that Christ came to bring? In this episode of Sermon B-Sides, Pastor Jon and Pastor Rusten discuss the pervasive theme of the new creation within the Old Testament portrait of the high priest. As we look at the ordination process of the high priest, we see that new creation was always the plan.
We hope you enjoy, and as usual, if you have any questions for Sermon B-Sides or anything else, email us at pastor@coramdeochurch.org.
Exodus 28 is all about the clothing that the high priest wore when serving in the tabernacle. Examining the details of the high priestly clothing helps us to understand how Christ is our High Priest. This clothing points to Christ's incarnation and mediatorial as our second Adam. In this episode of Sermon B-Sides, Pastor Rusten and Pastor Jon discuss the meaning of the priestly underwear, the materials of the garments, and the glorious high priestly ephod.
We hope you enjoy, and as usual, if you have any questions for Sermon B-Sides or anything else, email us at pastor@coramdeochurch.org.
A crucial aspect of the tabernacle construction is its dimensions and geographical order. While we might scratch our heads and wonder why all these details are important, we haven't been left without the keys to understand what they mean. To understand the tabernacle, we need to look back to Sinai and Eden. In this episode of Sermon B-Sides, Pastor Jon and Pastor Rusten discuss how the tabernacle calls back to these moments to convey God's redemptive purposes to his people in a geographic and tactile way.
We hope you enjoy, and as usual, if you have any questions for Sermon B-Sides or anything else, email us at pastor@coramdeochurch.org.
God has a purpose for his people. He didn't just save them from Egypt, he reconciled them to himself and made them a new people that were to live for him and worship him. The number of words and chapters giving the details of God's prescription for the tabernacle speaks to the importance of corporate worship for his people. This is an important lesson for us today. Just like we might de-emphasize the intention of the tabernacle details, many evangelical Christians today tend to de-emphasize the importance of the Church. In this episode of Sermon B-Sides, Pastor Jon and Pastor Rusten discuss the importance of God's purpose for his people and God's redemptive work in history.
We hope you enjoy, and as usual, if you have any questions for Sermon B-Sides or anything else, email us at pastor@coramdeochurch.org.
When God instructs Moses on the construction of the tabernacle, there are details...lots of details. While these things may seem foreign or arbitrary to us, every detail was intentional and spoke something crucial that God's people needed to hear. It is helpful to think of the tabernacle as a kind of word of God communicated through the fabricated objects of the tent and its furniture. In this episode of Sermon B-Sides, Pastor Jon and Pastor Rusten discuss how they communicated that God has provided a way to invite his sinful people to come home to him.
We hope you enjoy, and as usual, if you have any questions for Sermon B-Sides or anything else, email us at pastor@coramdeochurch.org.
How do the covenants of the Bible relate to the new covenant? How is Sinai related to the coming of Christ? Is Sinai a gracious covenant? In this episode of Sermon B-Sides, Pastor Jon and Pastor Rusten discuss the unfolding nature of God's promises and administrations of his covenant of grace. At Sinai, we see a covenant that is incomplete and unfulfilled. But it is still a gracious covenant that points to the fulfillment that was to come in Christ.
We hope you enjoy, and as usual, if you have any questions for Sermon B-Sides or anything else, email us at pastor@coramdeochurch.org.
God is against partiality in justice. But today, we are seeing an intentional institutionalization of partiality in the law. For example, in many cities, theft is being decriminalized by applying partiality to certain "disadvantaged" groups. This is exactly the kind of partiality that Exodus 23 addresses and condemns. In this episode of Sermon B-Sides, Pastor Jon and Pastor Rusten discuss why justice must be impartial and how we are seeing the abandonment of this principle today through laws, lawfare, and partial application of the law.
We hope you enjoy, and as usual, if you have any questions for Sermon B-Sides or anything else, email us at pastor@coramdeochurch.org.
Can you legislate morality? Many Christians answer with a confident "no." But the same people who answer that way would likely not be in favor of repealing laws against murder or theft. If the law doesn't legislate morality, what does it legislate? In this episode of Sermon B-Sides, Pastor Jon and Pastor Rusten continue to discuss the relevance of the Law of the Covenant for how we understand civil law today. They discuss topics like God prioritizing individual responsibility, Theonomy, and laws outlawing wizardry and witchcraft. They also continue to critique the way many Christians have been shy about seeking God's vision of justice in our modern context.
We hope you enjoy, and as usual, if you have any questions for Sermon B-Sides or anything else, email us at pastor@coramdeochurch.org.
When was the last time you heard a sermon preached on Exodus 21? It contains laws about slavery, laws about justice, laws about capital punishment, and so on. While we tend to ignore or neglect these laws due to a critical posture toward them, the alternative of modern American statism is clearly unjust. In this episode of Sermon B-Sides, Pastor Jon and Pastor Rusten discuss the part of Exodus often called 'The Law of the Covenant." They discuss why the modern evangelical tends to be allergic to law passages, and why the law of God is good and just.
We hope you enjoy, and as usual, if you have any questions for Sermon B-Sides or anything else, email us at pastor@coramdeochurch.org.
What is 'new' about the new covenant? Were there baptisms in the Old Testament? What can we learn from household baptisms? What is baptism a sign of? Is baptism necessary for salvation? In this special episode of Sermon B-Sides, Pastor Jon and Pastor Rusten answer questions from the Baptism and Unity in the Church lecture held on July 2, 2024. As they consider your questions, they discuss the continuity and discontinuity between the old and new covenants as well as the meaning and importance of baptism.
We hope you enjoy, and as usual, if you have any questions for Sermon B-Sides or anything else, email us at pastor@coramdeochurch.org.
The eighth commandment prohibits theft. This means that God acknowledges personal property. God calls us to respect the property of others while being thankful for what God has given us and being good stewards of it. In this episode of Sermon B-Sides, Pastor Jon and Pastor Rusten discuss ideas like Communism and how they subvert God's law by undermining personal property. They also discuss books on Christian economics, including Jerry Bowyer's 'The Maker vs. The Takers."
We hope you enjoy, and as usual, if you have any questions for Sermon B-sides or anything else, email us at pastor@coramdeochurch.org.
The sixth commandment forbids murder. How does this commandment inform our understanding of capital punishment? Or war? In this episode of Sermon B-Sides, Pastor Jon and Pastor Rusten discuss why God forbids murder and why he commands capital punishment. They also discuss how Christians can be pro-life and yet for capital punishment or just war.
We hope you enjoy, and as usual, if you have any question for Sermon B-sides or anything else, email us at pastor@coramdeochurch.org
We live in a world of sexual confusion that has largely ignored the the seventh commandment. The results have been catstrophic. In this commandment to not commit adultery we have a world of instruction about what God's good design is for sexuality. In this episode of Sermon B-Sides Pastor Jon and Pastor Rusten discuss why God forbids adultery and the implications for this commandment. They discuss the reality of natural law as it pertains to our created bodies. They also discuss the implications of the seventh commandment for what it requires and what it prohibits (for instance those outlined in the Westminster Larger catechism) with regard to marriage.
We hope you enjoy and as usual, if you have any question for Sermon B-sides or anything else, email us at pastor@coramdeochurch.org
The fifth commandment reveals God's heart for the family. By God's design, the family is the building block of culture and even the foundation of good government. The basic unit of the family makes a community, society, or nation strong. But a breakdown in the family results in bad and even tyrannical government. Likewise, bad culture and tyrannical government tends to undermine and destroy the integrity of the family. In this episode of Sermon B-Sides, Pastor Jon and Pastor Rusten discuss the importance of the fifth commandment with regard to our knowledge of God and the stability of society. They also discuss practical ways that children (including adult children) ought to actively honor their parents.
We hope you enjoy and as usual, if you have any question for Sermon B-sides or anything else, email us at pastor@coramdeochurch.org
The fourth commandment isn't just about rest, it is also about work. After a week of work, God called his people to trust in him by resting from all their labors. This rest was an expression of trust in his rule and reign. In this episode of Sermon B-Sides, Pastor Jon and Pastor Rusten discuss the fourth commandment and consider how we can obey this commandment today. The Sabbath was meant to be a day of rest and joy. It was a feast day in the Old Testament and a day of holy convocation (i.e. corporate worship) that pointed towards our future rest.
We hope you enjoy and as usual, if you have any question for Sermon B-sides or anything else, email us at pastor@coramdeochurch.org
What does it mean to "take the name of the Lord your God in vain"? Is this commandment all about language at the construction site? What is the significance of the name of the Lord? In this episode of Sermon B-Sides, Pastor Jon and Pastor Rusten discuss the third commandment and how we are called to take the name, but not take the name in vain. They discuss baptism as one way in which we take the name and hypocrisy as the way that the name is taken in vain. They also discuss the age of baptism and how it relates to this discussion.
We hope you enjoy and as usual, if you have any questions for Sermon B-Sides or anything else, email us at pastor@coramdeochurch.org
Why did God forbid making graven images? Does this include images of Jesus or Christian art? What about Christian traditions that use images in their worship? In this episode of Sermon B-Sides, Pastor Jon and Pastor Rusten discuss the second commandment and how it applied during Old Testament times and since the coming of Christ. They discuss Eastern Orthodoxy and their use of images, as well as popular media like the Chosen and the Passion of the Christ. They also discuss the warning and encouragement that violating or obeying this command has implications on discipling our children.
We hope you enjoy and as usual, if you have any questions for Sermon B-Sides or anything else, email us at pastor@coramdeochurch.org
How should Christians approach God's law? Broader evangelicalism tends to think that the law primarily condemns or that Christians should "unhitch" from the Old Testament law. It tends towards antinomianism (rejecting all law) and legalism (living slavishly like we earn God's favor through law-keeping). But what we see in Scripture—in Psalm 1 and Psalm 19, for instance—is a call to love and delight in God's law. How is this possible? In this episode of Sermon B-Sides, Pastor Jon and Pastor Rusten discuss the importance of the first commandment. They also discuss how the God we worship shapes our heart-posture towards his law.
We hope you enjoy and as usual, if you have any questions for Sermon B-Sides or anything else, email us at pastor@coramdeochurch.org
God meeting his people on Mount Sinai is a grand and terrifying event. First comes fire and smoke, then thunder and lightning, and finally the voice of God. The people were trembling, and for good reason; the holiness of God is dangerous. If anyone touches the mountain, they will die. In this episode of Sermon B-Sides, Pastor Jon and Pastor Rusten discuss the Sinai scene, what it means, and how Christ is our better Moses who brings us to a holy God. They also discuss the covenant language that God introduces to Israel and its implications for Christians today.
We hope you enjoy, and as usual, if you have any questions for Sermon B-sides--or anything else, email us at pastor@coramdeochurch.org
Who is Jethro? Is he a pagan priest who comes to faith in Yahweh, or is he a Gentile believer who already knows God? What does Jethro bless Moses with? In this episode of Sermon B-Sides, Pastor Jon & Pastor Rusten examine some of these questions and look at the history of Jethro and his ancestors. They also discuss covenant theology and the differences between the covenant of grace and the covenant of works.
We hope you enjoy, and as usual, if you have any questions for Sermon B-sides--or anything else, email us at pastor@coramdeochurch.org
How should Christians seek to positively impact their culture for Christ? Instead of only looking to politics, how can Christians work to reform culture in more grassroots ways from the bottom up? How should Christians approach civics and politics? What are Christians to make of "Christian Nationalism" and the different meanings given to that term? In this special episode of Sermon B-Sides, Pastor Jon and Pastor Rusten discuss some of the points from the "Building for Cultural Reformation with Dr. John West" event hosted at Coram Deo Church.
We hope you enjoy, and as usual, if you have any questions for Sermon B-sides--or anything else, email us at pastor@coramdeochurch.org
After God delivers his people from Egypt, he teaches them to rely on him as their Father by providing food and water in the wilderness. In chapter 17, the people grumble because they are without water again. This time, God provides water by instructing Moses to strike the "Rock of Horeb" with his staff. After this, God's people enter their first military conflict, but the way they win is through Moses lifting his hands. In this episode of Sermon B-Sides, Pastor Jon and Pastor Rusten discuss how God's provision in the wilderness point to and are fulfilled in Christ.
We hope you enjoy, and as usual, if you have any questions for Sermon B-Sides—or anything else, email us at pastor@coramdeochurch.org.
The Exodus isn't just about delivering the Hebrews from slavery to the tyrant Pharaoh; it's also about delivering God's people from the tyranny of sin. This is why the story doesn't end after the slaves are free from Egypt. They are then brought into the wilderness where God reveals their sinful grumbling through testing. In this episode of Sermon B-Sides, Pastor Jon and Pastor Rusten discuss how God uses trials to reveal areas where we are tempted to trust in something other than God, and how God's abundant provision teaches us to live in light of his care for us.
We hope you enjoy, and as usual, if you have any questions for Sermon B-Sides—or anything else, email us at pastor@coramdeochurch.org.
When God's people are finally delivered from their Egyptian enemies, they respond by singing a song of praise. They praise God for bringing judgment on the Egyptians, for casting the horse and rider in the sea, and for establishing his people. It is not the kind of worship song that most evangelical churches are used to today. Why is that? In this episode of Sermon B-Sides, Pastor Jon and Pastor Rusten discuss how Exodus 15 challenges our modern notions about who God is and who Jesus is, especially in light of recent efforts to soften God's edges in order to make him more palatable to our age (e.g., the "He Gets Us" campaign).
We hope you enjoy, and as usual, if you have any questions for Sermon B-Sides—or anything else, email us at pastor@coramdeochurch.org.
The Red Sea crossing is one of the most celebrated acts of God's deliverance in the entire Bible. In an epic way, God saves his people from slavery by crushing the final threat of Pharaoh and the Egyptians. But this story also shows us that God's act of rescue was also meant to confront and cure Israel's cowardice. In this episode of Sermon B-Sides, Pastor Jon and Pastor Rusten discuss how God removes our fear of man in order to set us free from slavery to man. Rather than promoting the passivity of God's people in the face of enemies, this story gives us reason to have courage as we fear God instead of any man.
We hope you enjoy, and as usual, if you have any questions for Sermon B-Sides—or anything else, email us at pastor@coramdeochurch.org.
What does it mean that the firstborn sons of Israel were to be consecrated? Some critics of the Bible claim that the Old Testament originally commended the sacrifice of the firstborn sons, but what we see in scripture is actually the exact opposite. The firstborn sons were redeemed and consecrated for a special calling. In this episode of Sermon B-Sides, Pastor Jon and Pastor Rusten discuss Exodus 13, the meaning of the consecration of the firstborn, the mixed multitude, and how Israel was made up of non-ethnic jews.
We hope you enjoy, and as usual, if you have any questions for Sermon B-Sides—or anything else, email us at pastor@coramdeochurch.org.
Throughout Scripture, God divides days and seasons. He gives us holidays and feast days, and he gives us the Sabbath day. In this episode of Sermon B-Sides, Pastor Jon and Pastor Rusten discuss how God marks time according to his works of creation and redemption. They discuss how God uses seasonal liturgies to disciple Christians and form their imaginations. They also discuss why only the circumcised were allowed to eat the Passover meal.
We hope you enjoy, and as usual, if you have any questions for Sermon B-Sides—or anything else for that matter—e-mail us at pastor@coramdeochurch.org.
Rebelling against God makes you stupid. We see this principle in Pharaoh's refusal to let the Israelites go free when his son's life is on the line. Today, one way we see this principle is in the teaching of intersectionality, which Exodus 11 utterly rejects as a worldview. In this episode of Sermon B-Sides, Pastor Jon and Pastor Rusten discuss how those who reject God become futile in their thinking, and also how God's judgment comes upon both the king and the slave girl behind the handmill. When judgment is coming, your race, gender, and socio-economic status do not matter. The only distinction that matters is the blood of the Passover lamb.
We hope you enjoy, and as usual, if you have any questions for Sermon B-Sides—or anything else for that matter—e-mail us at pastor@coramdeochurch.org.
The family is the fundamental building block of society. Pagan tyrants feel threatened by Christian family and the Church because they represent a future contrary to their rule. This is why, in Exodus 10, Pharaoh goes after the women and children. In this episode of Sermon B-Sides, Pastor Jon and Pastor Rusten discuss the importance of the family for the discipleship of God's people. They discuss many ways the enemy seeks to undermine the gospel through attacking the family. We see this today in public education, LGBTQIA+ ideology, and the perversion of femininity. They also discuss how God strengthens the family in the faith through worshipping together at church and at home.
We hope you enjoy, and as usual, if you have any questions for Sermon B-Sides—or anything else for that matter—e-mail us at pastor@coramdeochurch.org.
What does it mean for God to be sovereign? The story of the Exodus reveals the answer to that question. God demonstrates his sovereignty through the plagues he brought upon Egypt and by hardening Pharoah's heart. In this episode of Sermon B-Sides, Pastor Jon and Pastor Rusten discuss how the sovereignty of God is clearly taught in the book of Exodus. They discuss the difference between Calvinism and Hyper-Calvinism. They also discuss how God's sovereignty demonstrates his greatness and should give us great hope, especially in evangelism and missions.
We hope you enjoy, and as usual, if you have any questions for Sermon B-Sides—or anything else for that matter—e-mail us at pastor@coramdeochurch.org.
Why does God judge? Why does God send ten different plagues to Egypt? Why frogs? Why flies? Why gnats and other swarming things? In this episode of Sermon B-Sides, Pastor Jon and Pastor Rusten discuss how the particulars of the plagues are not accidental or arbitrary. They discuss how the plagues against Egypt reveal that God is the true Creator, how his judgment is a form of de-creation, and how, ultimately, God's judgment is good and reveals his goodness.
We hope you enjoy, and as usual, if you have any questions for Sermon B-Sides—or anything else for that matter—e-mail us at pastor@coramdeochurch.org.
What happens when a nation abandons the truth? What lies do people start to believe? Why do nations who abandon the truth always seem to become more coercive? In this episode of Sermon B-sides, Pastor Rusten and Pastor Jon discuss Exodus 7 and the culture of ancient Egypt. They discuss how the choice facing a people is always Christ or chaos. They discuss tyranny, idolatry, the demonic, and sorcery.
We hope you enjoy, and as usual, if you have any questions for Sermon B-Sides—or anything else for that matter—e-mail us at pastor@coramdeochurch.org.
Why does God allow setbacks and roadblocks to the things he has called us to do? How do Christians fight despair? In this episode of Sermon B-Sides, Pastor Jon and Pastor Rusten discuss Moses' confusion and frustration after confronting Pharoah for the first time results in failure. They discuss how setbacks are part of God's plan. They also discuss how Christian hope for the future fights despair through faith and looks to God to keep his promises, even in the midst of roadblocks.
We hope you enjoy, and as usual, if you have any questions for Sermon B-Sides—or anything else for that matter—e-mail us at pastor@coramdeochurch.org.
Is there a conflict between feasting and reverence? Is the worship of the Church supposed to be joyful and triumphant? In this episode of Sermon B-Sides, Pastor Jon and Pastor Rusten discuss feasting in the Bible and how God desired to free the Hebrews from slavery so they would hold a feast to him. This feast is not only joyous; it is also an act of spiritual warfare. The Lord has set a table for us "in the presence of our enemies." This is important because being faithfulness will often cause Christians to "stink" to the world around them. In moments like that, Christians need to hold the line and continue to rejoice and feast together.
We hope you enjoy, and as usual, if you have any questions for Sermon B-Sides—or anything else for that matter—e-mail us at pastor@coramdeochurch.org.
Sometimes the Bible is weird. Sometimes we rush past things too quickly to understand how the Bible is speaking to us through meaningful signs and the strange events in the story. Exodus 4 is a good example of that. In this episode of Sermon B-Sides, Pastor Jon and Pastor Rusten discuss the meaning of Israel being God's "firstborn son," the meaning of signs, and one of the stranger events in Scripture: the story of the "bridegroom of blood."
We hope you enjoy, and as usual, if you have any questions for Sermon B-Sides—or anything else for that matter—e-mail us at pastor@coramdeochurch.org.
Why does God reveal himself to Moses through the burning bush? How does knowing God prepare Moses his great and difficult task of confronting Pharaoh? In this episode of Sermon B-Sides, Pastor Jon and Pastor Rusten discuss how knowing and fearing God gives Moses, and us, the courage we need to face any of our fears.
We hope you enjoy, and as usual, if you have any questions for Sermon B-Sides—or anything else for that matter—e-mail us at pastor@coramdeochurch.org.
In the midst of conflict and tyranny, God raises up his man. While Pharaoh decrees forced abortions for all the new baby boys born to the Hebrews, Moses is born and set apart by God to deliver his people from slavery. In this episode of Sermon B-Sides, Pastor Jon and Pastor Rusten discuss God's pattern of raising up men during times of conflict, and how these men are often not accepted by those who need deliverance.
We hope you enjoy, and as usual, if you have any questions for Sermon B-Sides—or anything else for that matter—e-mail us at pastor@coramdeochurch.org.
In the opening chapter of Exodus, Egypt, the nation that used to know the God of Joseph, has become serpent-like. In this episode of Sermon B-Sides, Pastor Jon and Pastor Rusten discuss the strategies of Egypt's tyranny and consider the ways that Christian families and strong Christian men are threats against tyrannical rule.
We hope you enjoy, and as usual, if you have any questions for Sermon B-Sides—or anything else for that matter—e-mail us at pastor@coramdeochurch.org.
We have been emphasizing that the book of Daniel is guide to Christian resistance. But we need to remember that Christian resistance has the goal of glorifying Christ in every square inch of life. Statism, on the other hand, tries to rob Christ of his glory as Lord. Christians resist statism in hope that the culture and the state would find their hope and joy in King Jesus. In this episode of Sermon B-Sides, Pastor Jon and Pastor Rusten discuss Daniel 4 and how Daniel's witness ultimately led to King Nebuchadnezzar's conversion and bowing down to the God of Daniel.
We hope you enjoy, and as usual, if you have any questions for Sermon B-Sides—or anything else for that matter—e-mail us at pastor@coramdeochurch.org.
Do you ever wonder why Nebuchadnezzar set up the golden image to be worshipped? Or why so many nations in the past required religious uniformity and unity? In this episode of Sermon B-Sides, Pastor Jon and Pastor Rusten consider how tyrants try to strengthen their state through the use of religious unity, particularly how Nebuchadnezzar tries to do so in Babylon. They also talk about modern Christians' tendency to bow the knee to the idolatrous state by accepting a kind of private pietism and limiting the jurisdiction of our faith.
We hope you enjoy, and as usual, if you have any questions for Sermon B-Sides—or anything else for that matter—e-mail us at pastor@coramdeochurch.org.
In Daniel 2, God reveals his plan for history to King Nebuchadnezzar, from the time of the kingdom of Babylon to the coming of the kingdom of Christ. The kingdom of Christ destroys the kingdoms of the world and grows to fill the earth. In this episode of Sermon B-Sides, Pastor Jon and Pastor Rusten discuss the ramifications of this revelation and what it means for us today living under the kingdom of Christ.
We hope you enjoy, and as usual, if you have any questions for Sermon B-Sides—or anything else for that matter—e-mail us at pastor@coramdeochurch.org.
Historically, tyrants like Nebuchadnezzar have targeted young men when conquering a culture. They do this because young men are often the future of a culture. Capture the men, weaken the men, turn the men, and you can turn an entire culture. In this episode of Sermon B-Sides, Pastor Jon and Pastor Rusten discuss how Nebuchadnezzar uses this strategy. But they also discuss how Daniel and his companions exemplify the principles of successful Christian resistance in the face of pagan cultural indoctrination.
We hope you enjoy, and as usual, if you have any questions for Sermon B-Sides—or anything else for that matter—e-mail us at pastor@coramdeochurch.org.
We are living during a time when authority structures have been widely deteriorated and are now being actively subverted. How are Christians to respond to this trend in light of the scriptures which teach that relationships of authority and submission are designed by God and are to be honored under Christ?
In this episode of Sermon B-Sides, Pastor Jon and Pastor Rusten consider the way that the scriptures establish multiple "spheres" of government and how especially how healthy household governments are crucial to having a healthy civil government, they also discuss the trend in many evangelical churches to embrace egalitarianism in the house and in the pastorate.
We hope you enjoy, and as usual, if you have any questions for Sermon B-Sides—or anything else for that matter—e-mail us at pastor@coramdeochurch.org.
What does it mean that we have died in Christ? What does it mean to live in Christ? What does it mean to "put on" Christ? What happens to Christians immediately after they die? In this episode of Sermon B-Sides, Pastor Jon and Pastor Rusten consider how Christians objectively have a new life in Christ and how this has ethical implications upon our lives.
We hope you enjoy, and as usual, if you have any questions for Sermon B-Sides—or anything else for that matter—e-mail us at pastor@coramdeochurch.org.
Paul often uses the terms "elementary principles" or "elementary spirits" in his letters. What in the world is he talking about? In this episode of Sermon B-Sides, Pastor Jon and Pastor Rusten discuss how elementary principles were part of God's plan for maturing the world before Christ came. Now that Christ has come, however, they are obsolete and actually a hindrance. They also discuss how the world celebrates a form of counterfeit humility that is really another form of pride.
We hope you enjoy, and as usual, if you have any questions for Sermon B-Sides—or anything else for that matter—e-mail us at pastor@coramdeochurch.org.
In the coming of Christ, God revealed the great mystery that the Gentiles would be brought into the people of God. God promised this to Abraham and hinted at it throughout the Old Testament. But when Christ came, he fulfilled it. In this episode of Sermon B-Sides, Pastor Jon and Pastor Rusten discuss what it means that Christ is the Lord of all the nations. They also discuss how the Gospel brings us into maturity.
We hope you enjoy, and as usual, if you have any questions for Sermon B-Sides—or anything else for that matter—e-mail us at pastor@coramdeochurch.org.
In Colossians, Paul calls Christ the "firstborn of all creation." To understand what he means, we need to interpret Scripture with Scripture. In this episode of Sermon B-Sides, Pastor Jon and Pastor Rusten discuss the deity of Christ, how Christ is the second Adam, and how Scripture helps us to understand what Colossians is referring to. We hope you enjoy, and as usual, if you have any questions for Sermon B-Sides—or anything else for that matter—e-mail us at pastor@coramdeochurch.org.
Why do so many churches lose the gospel? In this episode of Sermon B-Sides Pastor Jon and Pastor Rusten discuss how thankful we ought to be when a church truly understands and treasures the gospel. They also discuss how the key to not losing the gospel is to keep your eyes on Christ while avoiding the traps of legalism and antinomianism.
We hope you enjoy, and as usual, if you have any questions for Sermon B-Sides—or anything else for that matter—e-mail us at pastor@coramdeochurch.org
Ephesus was full of spiritual darkness, and it was a city where the cures were as bad as the ailments. We see this in the syncretistic exorcists and magic books full of spells to cast out demons or heal from sickness. What is magic exactly? Do Christians need to be on guard against spiritual darkness today? In this episode of Sermon B-Sides, Pastor Jon and Pastor Rusten look at Acts 19 and consider how the gospel delivers people from spiritual darkness.
In this episode of Sermon B-Sides, Pastor Jon and Pastor Rusten look at the gospel ministry in Ephesus. Ephesus was a strategic location for the gospel. The gospel began to spread in Ephesus through the ministry of Apollos. Then, Paul spent over two years teaching there, resulting in all Asia Minor hearing the gospel.
In the Bible, God uses normal people like Paul and Elijah as instruments in his mission. We may think that Paul and Elijah were invincible, but they struggled with despair and the pressures of their task. But in these moments, we see God graciously comfort and strengthen them. In this episode of Sermon B-Sides, Pastor Jon and Pastor Rusten look at the story of Paul in Corinth and Jesus' promise that Paul would not be harmed there.
What happens when the Gospel confronts the cultured pagans of Athens? In this episode of Sermon B-Sides, Pastor Jon and Pastor Rusten look at Paul's address to the Areopagus. In this passage, Paul shares the Gospel with people who are not familiar with the Old Testament. We can learn from Paul's example here; while he sought to make the Gospel understandable, he did not soften the claims of the Gospel that the Athenians found offensive.
As the Gospel spreads throughout the Greek world, the Church experiences more and more conflict. Religious leaders stir up riots. Paul and his team are accused of turning the world upside down. In this episode of Sermon B-Sides, Pastor Jon and Pastor Rusten discuss Paul's missionary trips to Thessalonica and Berea, and why it's significant that Luke mentions converted women in Acts.
In this episode of Sermon B-Sides, Pastor Jon and Pastor Rusten discuss how the sanctity of human life is rooted in the image of God. They also discuss how the fear of God should shape our posture towards this issue—especially with regard to abolishing legal abortion.
It is popular among Christians today to reduce the Gospel to personal "spiritual" application only. We believe that Christ has no plan to make an impact on the wider culture. As a result, we forget that Christ is Lord of all. In this episode of Sermon B-Sides, Pastor Jon and Pastor Rusten look at Acts 16:16–40 and discuss how, even in the early Church, we see Christ's impact in all aspects of life—including economics, civics, and the family.
Today, the Church faces constant pressure to redefine loving our neighbors to fit with the world's definition. This tendency can undermine the Gospel. In this episode of Sermon B-Sides, Pastor Jon and Pastor Rusten discuss how redefining "sin" and "love" robs our neighbors of the truth of the Gospel: that Christ came to save us from our sin. When we do this, we compromise both the Gospel and the distinction between the Church and the world.
What does the Bible teach about angels? Why do the stories of Christ's birth have so many scenes with angels? In this episode of Sermon B-Sides, Pastor Jon and Pastor Rusten consider how the Bible talks about angels, their relation to the Old and New Covenants, and how they often inspired fear in those who encountered them.
Merry Christmas! At the fullness of time, Christ was born in Bethlehem. The coming of Jesus was the long-awaited fulfillment of the promise given at the beginning of the story in Eden. In this episode of Sermon B-Sides, Pastor Jon and Pastor Rusten consider how the practices and traditions of Advent teach us to consider Jesus' long-awaited arrival so we can learn to wait in hope for his coming kingdom.
Merry Christmas! What exactly happened on that first Christmas? Was that baby that in the manger also God? Is Jesus also a human? Did the Old Testament anticipate this at all? In this Advent Episode of Sermon B-Sides, Pastor Jon and Pastor Rusten discuss the deity of Jesus, the incarnation, and how the Bible anticipates the astounding miracle of the Word made flesh.
To the Jew first, and then to the Gentile—we see that pattern throughout the book of Acts. The mission starts in the synagogues until Peter or Paul get kicked out. Then they preach the Gospel to the Gentiles. In this episode of Sermon B-Sides, Pastor Jon and Pastor Rusten look at Acts 14 notice wild swings that Paul would experience in his missions. In this chapter, Paul and Barnabas bring the Gospel to the Gentiles in Lystra. At first, the crowds worship Paul and Barnabas as Zeus and Hermes, but then they stone Paul and drag him outside of the city. These experiences become the way God advances his kingdom and spreads his Gospel.
Have you ever noticed how different the sermons preached in the book of Acts are from the sermons you might hear today? Rather than being mere motivational boosts, the sermons in Acts focus on how Jesus is the fulfillment of the Old Testament, and they do so in a punchy, to-the-point way. In this episode of Sermon B-Sides, Pastor Jon and Pastor Rusten consider these sermons and the way they put trust in the Word and promises of God.
King Herod killed James and continued to persecute Christians because it was politically advantageous. God later strikes him down. Shortly after this, we see the conversion of Sergius Paulus, the Roman governor of Cyprus. Why does Acts emphasize kings and rulers? How is Sergius supposed to rule now that he is a Christian? In this Episode of Sermon B-Sides, Pastor Jon and Pastor Rusten consider these questions, and share some general thoughts on various versions of Two Kingdom Theology.
Jew and Gentile. Circumcision, food laws, and the ceremonial law. The Holy Spirit and the conversion of the Gentile centurion Cornelius and his household. Ethnic identity and covenant identity. "Ordinances" and the "elementary principles of the world." Why does the Old Testament have laws that Christians don't observe anymore, while it has other laws that they do? In this episode of Sermon B-Sides, Pastor Jon and Pastor Rusten consider questions that seem like foreign concepts to us, but were very prevalent and monumental in the New Testament. Considering these questions will help you understand major themes of the New Covenant and the Gospel.
Soon after meeting Jesus and beginning to preach that he was the Christ, Saul was on a hit-list. In Acts 9 we read of two separate conspiracies to kill Saul. Saul could've avoided this by being silent or by pursuing a life of private piety. But that wasn't an option for Saul. Instead, God used him to stir up holy controversy. In this episode of Sermon B-Sides, Pastor Jon and Pastor Rusten discuss the dynamics of Saul's 'lightning rod status' and how this was actually a gift to the Church.
When Saul met Jesus on the Damascus Road, everything changed. The sovereign grace of God met Saul and made a train wreck of his life as it was. He went from persecutor to ardent supporter of the Church; from opposed to mixing with Gentiles to uniting Gentiles and Jews within the Church; from hauling Christians to the magistrate to preaching the Gospel to kings. In this episode of Sermon B-Sides, Pastor Jon and Pastor Rusten discuss how the grace of God meets us and subjects everything in our lives to him.
Why is it that God sometimes rescued his people in obvious and miraculous ways, but at other times God had them take part in battles and conflict? In this episode of Sermon B-Sides, Pastor Jon and Pastor Rusten look at Psalm 44. They consider how God often doesn't deliver us in miraculous ways so he can mature our faith in him. They also consider that, even when God is silent or seems distant, we should bring him our frustrations and cries for help.
Sometimes, circumstances and conflict reveal that we've founded our hope on something that isn't solid. In this episode of Sermon B-Sides, Pastor Jon and Pastor Rusten look at Psalms 42 and 43. They discuss how in our trials, conflict, and inner turmoil, we often need to fight for our faith and joy in God rather than fall into a distorted version of lament. These Psalms show us two weapons we have in this fight: God's Word and worshiping with his people.
In our lives, we will inevitably suffer. What do you do with your suffering? What do you learn from it? In this episode of Sermon B-Sides, Pastor Jon and Pastor Rusten consider how Psalm 41 teaches us to bring our sufferings to the Lord and how our sufferings teach us to consider and care for the poor and needy.
Moments of distress and affliction remind us of our need for help and reveal what we are putting our trust in. In this episode of Sermon B-Sides, Pastor Jon and Pastor Rusten look at Psalm 40 and consider how trusting in God may look like overconfidence to the world, while distrusting God may look like humility to the world.
Everyone's life is shaped by their fears. What you fear will determine how you live, how you speak, and what you love. Every fear outside of the fear of the Lord leads to a self-salvation project that leads to self-destruction and personal dissonance. In this episode of Sermon B-Sides, Pastor Jon and Pastor Rusten look at Psalm 34 and consider how the fear of the Lord delivers us from all other fears and how it shapes our speech.
There is a Psalm to give a voice to every human experience. Some Psalms, known as the imprecatory Psalms, call on God to judge our enemies and evil in the world. Are Christians called to pray or sing these Psalms? Are they inconsistent with Jesus' call to love our enemies? On this episode of Sermon B-Sides, Pastor Jon and Pastor Rusten discuss these questions and why the imprecatory Psalms are so important and needed in the life of a Christian.
The ancient heresy of Gnosticism is alive and well, but the Psalms will have none of that nonsense. Want to know how to be Anti-Gnostic? In this episode of Sermon B-Sides, Pastor Jon and Pastor Rusten look at Psalm 33 and consider how good God's creation is and how we ought to feast upon and enjoy God's generous provision.
What would the aroma of your family and church be if you were committed to the habit of confessing sin to one another and reminding one another of the gospel of Jesus? In this episode of Sermon B-Sides, Pastor Brandon and Pastor Rusten discuss Psalm 38 and the grace of God's "heavy hand" in bringing us to grief over our sin. To be apathetic over our sin would be a death sentence, but when we are grieved and confess our sin to God we can receive forgiveness, cleansing, and healing.
Wickedness seldom comes to being abruptly, but rather it grows slowly and follows a regular progression. In this episode of Sermon B-Sides, Pastor Brandon and Pastor Rusten discuss Psalm 36 and the contrasting pictures it gives us of the progression of man's wickedness on one hand and God's steadfast love on the other.
In this episode of Sermon B-Sides, Pastor Jon and Pastor Rusten discuss the story of the Ethiopian eunuch and how the Gospel is for all people. They also ask whether we can use this passage to make a case for affirming a plethora of sexual identities.
In this episode of Sermon B-Sides, Pastor Jon and Pastor Rusten discuss Simon the magician, the worldview behind magic, the revival of the occult in modern times, and the difference between science and scientism.
In this episode of Sermon B-Sides, Pastor Jon and Pastor Rusten discuss the joy and deliverance that the Gospel brings to those who are dead in trespasses and sins. This is a joy that surpasses understanding, it is a joy that we can't quite make sense of, and it is a joy that we desperately need. The early Church knew this joy, which is why they kept spreading the Gospel despite persecution. Is this a joy that we know too?
In this episode of Sermon B-Sides, Pastor Jon and Pastor Rusten discuss the sermon and martyrdom of Stephen and how it unpacks and demonstrates a theme that is consistent through Scripture. God sends his prophet, judge, or ruler to his people, and they reject him. And through that rejection, God vindicates his man and delivers his people from bondage.
In this episode of Sermon B-Sides, Pastor Jon and Pastor Rusten discuss the role of deacons within the church, the question of female deacons, the ordination of women, the call to care for widows and the impoverished, and the call to be encouraged in the Lord in making a living through hard work.
In this episode of Sermon B-Sides, Pastor Jon and Pastor Rusten discuss the priority of the ministry of the Word in the early Church and the establishment of deacons within the Church to serve. They consider the question: "Why is the ministry of the Word so important?"
In this episode of Sermon B-Sides, Pastor Jon and Pastor Rusten discuss Acts 5 and the imprisonment of Peter and the Apostles. In a time when the authorities are encroaching on more and more of our basic liberties, it is a deep encouragement to know that Jesus is our Lord and that joy in him is our strength.
In this episode of Sermon B-Sides, Pastor Jon and Pastor Rusten discuss how, even during COVID-19, Governor mandates, lockdowns, etc., the message and the commission of the Church to make disciples and baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit has gone forward unhindered. They also discuss how the Book of Revelation carries an attitude and confidence that is instructive for the Church today.
Ananias and Sapphira sold their property and gave most of it away. But they lied about how much they sold the property for because they wanted folks to believe that they gave more than they did. So, God struck them dead. What is up with that? In this episode of Sermon B-Sides, Pastor Jon and Pastor Rusten discuss why God Struck down Ananias and Sapphira and how it is a lesson for us today to not take lightly the holiness of God.
In this episode of Sermon B-Sides, Pastor Jon and Pastor Rusten discuss the story of the woman at the well and the need to not avoid the subject of sexual sin. Our culture is increasingly averse to this kind of confrontation and, often, we feel that we cannot proclaim Christ as the one who saves from sin. We hope you enjoy, and as usual, if you have any questions for Sermon B-Sides—or anything else for that matter—e-mail us at pastor@coramdeochurch.org.
The Church tends to easily dismiss Christ in his Kingly office, either by spiritualizing his rule or by saying that his Kingly rule is non-existent until the second coming. "Surely, if he was really reigning the world wouldn't look like the mess that it is" is the kind of criticism that one might hear against the claim that Jesus reigns as King. In this episode of Sermon B-Sides, Pastor Jon and Pastor Rusten discuss the Kingly office of Christ and how he is reigning now. We hope you enjoy, and as usual, if you have any questions for Sermon B-Sides—or anything else for that matter—e-mail us at pastor@coramdeochurch.org.
Was there a priestly role in the garden of Eden before the fall of humanity? What are all those other sacrifices and offerings, (e.g. bread offerings, wave offerings, drink offerings), in Leviticus all about? What does it mean that the Church is a royal priesthood? (1 Peter 2:9) In this episode of Sermon B-Sides, Pastor Jon and Pastor Rusten discuss how Jesus is the fulfillment of the office of Priest and how Jesus makes us a royal priesthood. We hope you enjoy and, as usual, if you have any questions for Sermon B-Sides, email pastor@coramdeochurch.org.
Have you ever heard someone tell you that the God revealed in the Old Testament is mean and grumpy and that they prefer the Jesus of the New Testament because it seems like God has finally chilled out? Have you ever heard of folks who call themselves "red-letter Christians," meaning they only affirm the words spoken by Jesus himself in the New Testament rather than the whole counsel of God in the Scriptures? In this episode of Sermon B-Sides, Pastor Jon and Pastor Rusten discuss how Jesus is the fulfillment of the office of Prophet and how these low views of the Old Testament actually result in having a low view of Jesus since Jesus is the fulfillment of God's revelation in the Old Testament. We hope you enjoy and, as usual, if you have any questions for Sermon B-Sides, email pastor@coramdeochurch.org.
In the book of Acts, being moved by the Gospel and the love of God, the early Christians loved each other and sold their belongings so they could give to one another wherever there was a need. Where does this kind of love come from and how is this love for the Church different from the love for our neighbors that are not members of Christ's Body? In this episode of Sermon B-Sides, Pastor Jon and Pastor Rusten discuss Acts chapter 4 and how love for the Church is an essential fruit that comes from knowing Jesus. They also discuss practical ways that members of the Church can continue to meet the needs of one another today. We hope you enjoy and, as usual, if you have any questions for Sermon B-Sides, email pastor@coramdeochurch.org.
"Why do the nations rage?" Those are the opening lines from Psalm 2, one of the most quoted Old Testament passages in the New Testament. It was a passage often referred to by the Church to declare the sovereign reign of the Lord in the midst of kings and nations that sought to cast off God. It was this God who "laughs" at rebellion against his Christ that gave the early Church the confidence and boldness to face suffering and conflict. It is also the Psalm that encouraged them to preach the Word and the Gospel with boldness, knowing that God's Word is the way that he reconciles sinners to himself. In this episode of Sermon B-Sides, Pastor Jon and Pastor Rusten discuss Acts chapter 4 and the need for the Church today to continue preaching the Word with boldness. We hope you enjoy and as usual if you have any questions for B-sides, email pastor@coramdeochurch.org.
The book of Acts is rife with conflict. The public preaching of the Gospel often resulted in the imprisonment and reproach of the Apostles. Ever wonder why the Apostles didn't just start house churches and invite people to attend those to "find out who Jesus is"? Wouldn't that have been an effective "mission" strategy that bypassed all the public conflict? Today, we often think being missional means avoiding conflict at all costs, but that is emphatically NOT the way the Apostles went on mission. Join us for this episode of Sermon B-Sides as Pastor Jon and Pastor Rusten discuss conflict in the book of Acts and why the public declaration of the Gospel and the public singing of praises to God is so important. We hope you enjoy and as usual if you have any questions for Sermon B-Sides, email pastor@coramdeochurch.org.
In the book of Acts and throughout the New Testament, the Apostles and Jesus himself don't even flinch from discussing and preaching judgment, the wrath of God, and hell. Jesus speaks about hell more than any other person in the scriptures. This topic is never avoided because it is the very thing that Jesus came to save us from; he is glorified because he saves sinners from judgment and the wrath of God. But this topic is taboo in many churches today. Which leaves many wondering no doubt, that if Jesus is savior, what does he save us from? Join Pastor Jon and Pastor Rusten for this episode of Sermon B-Sides as they discuss why this difficult topic is important and yet often skipped. We hope you enjoy and as usual if you have any questions for Sermon B-Sides, email pastor@coramdeochurch.org.
Early on in the book of Acts, God works healing signs and wonders among the early Church through the Apostles. Are these signs normal in the life of the Church? Should we expect and ascribe veracity to faith-healers? Or is there perhaps a pattern in scripture that shows why this isn't the norm in the life of the Church? After discussing this question, Pastor Jon and Pastor Rusten discuss the trend throughout the book of Acts for the spicy, in-your-face, pull-no-punches sermons. Is there a reason why this kind of preaching is less common in our day? We hope you enjoy and as usual if you have any questions for Sermon B-Sides, email pastor@coramdeochurch.org.
The early Church was known for their love for another and how they shated they shared with one another out of their love. Many take this information and assume that because they shared, that they were communistic. In this episode we discuss the major differences between communism and Christian sharing. Another thing that comes up in this episode is the early Church's commitment to sharing meals together and a biblical theology of food. We hope you enjoy and as usual if you have any questions for Sermon B-sides, email us at pastor@coramdeochurch.org.
While we lament our divisions as a people, we also must remember that there was a kind of unity on display in the story of the Tower of Babel that God intentionally disrupted. Apparently, according to God, unity is not good in and of itself. Even today, our attempts at unity are fraught with Babel-like, man-exalting foundations. In this episode of Sermon B-Sides, Pastor Jon & Pastor Rusten discuss the ways that Acts 2:1-41 gives us a picture of the basis of good unity and the ways that the Gospel undoes the curse of Babel. If you have any questions you would like us to address in future B-Sides episodes, email pastor@coramdeochurch.org.
Join us for the second half of our Ask Anything episode of Sermon B-Sides. Pastor Jon & Pastor Rusten answer your submitted questions including questions regarding the value of motherhood, statistics and risk assessment, creation in six days, the NAR, hell being annihilation vs. conscious torment, and the doctrine of heaven vs. new creation. If you have any questions you would like us to address in future B-Sides episodes, email pastor@coramdeochurch.org.
Join us for this special Q&A episode of Sermon B-Sides. Pastor Jon & Pastor Rusten answer your submitted questions including questions regarding Calvinism, original sin, faith and cognitive disability, family discipleship, and the relationship of statistics to ethical judgments. If you have any questions you would like us to address in future Sermon B-Sides episodes, email pastor@coramdeochurch.org.
Ever wonder how it is possible that Judas, who witnessed Jesus and all that he did in person, could possibly have betrayed him? In this episode of Sermon B-Sides, Pastor Jon and Pastor Rusten discuss the fate of Judas and the warning contained in his story. Not only is the story of Judas a warning, according to Peter it was also written of in the Psalms. Which leads to another question, how did the early Church read the scriptures and how might this be a challenge to some of the ways that we read them? If you have any questions you would like us to address in future episodes go to slido.com and put in the code b-sides.
A quick announcement for Sermon B-Sides about an upcoming "Ask Anything" Episode. Ask your questions at slido.com and enter the event code 'b-sides'. We look forward to getting your questions!
The circumstances of 2020 and 2021 have been cause for pastors and the Church to ask questions that have not had to be considered in our lifetime. Are Christians bound to obey the civil authorities when they issue mandates to cease singing or gathering? What is the presence of the Church in the world supposed to look like? In this episode of Sermon B-sides, Pastor Jon & Pastor Rusten discuss the reasons for starting our study through the book of Acts, the key Luke gives to understanding Acts and the importance of the Resurrection and the Ascension of Jesus. If you have any questions you would like us to address in future episodes, send us an email at pastor@coramdeochurch.org.
Coming out of 2020, one of the most volatile years many of us have experienced, we are all hungry for peace. Our politicians are promising peace, and yet we recall the words of Jeremiah when he said "They have healed the wound of my people lightly, saying, ‘Peace, peace,’ when there is no peace" and are reminded that so often those peddling peace are also those who historically have been the greatest troublers of a nation. It was under the Pax Romana (the infamous Peace of Rome) that Christ was crucified after all. In this episode, Pastor Jon & Rusten discuss the Peace that Christ came to bring in contrast to the volatility of our times and the broken promises of politicians. If you have any questions you would like us to address in future episodes go to slido.com and put in the code coramdeo.
For Christians, joy is not accidental, superfluous, or a distraction. In this episode, Pastor Jon and Pastor Rusten discuss how the joy and delight of the triune God was the context for the creation of all things, how our misery is due to our estrangement from him, and how the redemption Christ accomplished for us brings us into his joy. They also discuss how Christian fellowship and worship is an essential aspect of this joy. If you have any questions you would like us to address in future episodes go to slido.com and put in the code coramdeo.
During this episode of B-Sides, Pastor Jon and Pastor Rusten discuss the Advent theme of Love. Though our culture puts a high value on love, often our conception of love is contrary to that which Scripture teaches. In what ways does the love revealed by Christmas and the incarnation confront our understanding of love? Join us in this episode as we discuss the surprising love of God. If you have any questions you would like us to address in future episodes go to slido.com and put in the code coramdeo.
During this episode of B-Sides, Pastor Jon and Pastor Rusten discuss the Advent theme of "Hope." In what has been an incredibly disorienting year, hope has been in high demand. A pandemic, lockdowns, economic turmoil, and future uncertainty have all exposed our fragility. How does the hope of Christmas speak into this situation? What kind of hope and future does the Christian story proclaim to this world? How does this hope confront our fears? How does this hope show up in the way that we live? If you have any questions you would like us to address in future episodes go to slido.com and put in the code coramdeo.
In this final episode on the Ten Words about the 10th commandment, Pastor Jon and Pastor Rusten discuss the tenth commandment: Does the 10th commandment prohibit desire or ambition? How does this commandment relate to the rest of the commandments? They discuss the way that coveting is discontentment with the beauty and wisdom of God as well as how this commandment relates to economics and idolatry. They also spend some time discussing the "music" and beauty of scripture and the internal harmony of scripture. If you have any questions you would like us to address in future episodes go to slido.com and put in the code coramdeo.
Grab your favorite beverage and join us for Sermon B-sides. In this episode, Pastor Jon and Pastor Rusten discuss the 8th commandment: "Thou Shalt not Steal"... They discuss topics including the theology of personal property, economics and providence, as well al socialism and communism. We tackle questions like "Was the early church basically communist?" as well as discuss historic implications of not heeding the 8th word. If you have any questions you would like us to address in future episodes go to slido.com and put in the code coramdeo.
Grab your favorite beverage and join us for Sermon B-sides. In this episode, Pastor Jon and Pastor Rusten discuss the 6th and the 7th commandments and the way these are related to the sanctity of life, the gift of gender, and the joy of marriage and children. In this episode, we discuss how God created us to display him in our relationships and how both the sexual revolution and abortion are attacks upon his revelation. If you have any questions you would like us to address in future episodes go to slido.com and put in the code coramdeo.
In this episode of B-sides, Pastor Jon and Pastor Rusten consider more questions from our God & Government According to the World lecture from October 27. Questions include subjects such as immigration, good governance vs. bad governance, Just War Theory, Christian participation in the military vs. turning the other cheek, honoring the civil-government vs. unlimited submission, Christians and the United States Constitution, and more. If you have any questions you would like us to address in future episodes go to slido.com and put in the code coramdeo.
What does obedience to parents have to do with national security? What might doing the dishes have to do with God's mission in the world? How does God's institution of the family guard against snares that lead to slavery? Grab your favorite beverage and join us in this episode of Sermon B-sides as we discuss the implications of the fifth commandment and family discipleship. If you have any questions you would like us to address in future episodes, go to slido.com and put in the code coramdeo.
It's election day, so grab your favorite beverage and kick back and relax while we discuss what the Sabbath might teach us about the current stress and anxiety that this political season has brought to our lives. In this episode, we also discuss the history behind the "weekend," the question of why God's people meet on Sunday instead of Saturday, as well as what a "holy convocation" is. If you have any questions you would like us to address in future episodes, go to slido.com and put in the code coramdeo.
Grab your favorite beverage and join us while we discuss construction site language and how bizarre it is that even atheists invoke the name of God while swearing. We also discuss how the 3rd commandment is about much more than our speech and other ways we might understand "taking the name." As usual, we had a good time making this one and hope you enjoy it as well. If you have any questions you would like us to address in future episodes, go to slido.com and use the code coramdeo.
Have you ever thought about the Ten Commandments as a biography? In this episode of Sermon B-Sides Pastor Jon Needham and Pastor Rusten Harris discuss how the Law of God pre-figures Jesus, what it means to be adopted into God's family, as well as how graven images lie about God.
Coram Deo Church is going through a series on the Ten Commandments (Ten Words), and in this episode of Sermon B-Sides, Pastor Jon Needham and Pastor Rusten Harris discuss the sad reality of how common it is today for Christians to be embarrassed by the Old Testament and the Law in particular. They also discuss mildly controversial subjects like Theocracy, Theonomy, and the Chaos of 2020.
In this episode of Sermon B-Sides, Pastor Jon Needham and Pastor Rusten Harris discuss the brutal honesty of the Psalms, Anger, Hippie Jesus, how the Cross is simultaneously judgment and salvation.
In this episode In this episode of Sermon B-Sides, Pastor Jon Needham and Pastor Rusten Harris discuss the dangers of tranquility and God's grace of disrupting our self-sufficiency.
In this episode of Sermon B-Sides, Pastor Jon Needham and Pastor Rusten Harris discuss the scriptural theme of worship as warfare and the importance of corporate worship.
Related sermons: June 28, 2020 — Psalms — Psalm 21 August 2, 2020 — Psalms — Psalm 26 August 9, 2020 — Psalms — Psalm 27
In this episode of Sermon B-Sides, Pastor Jon Needham and Pastor Rusten Harris revisit some of the themes that were covered in the last several weeks of our Sermon series through the Psalms. In this conversation, they considered the Kingly aspect of the Psalms, Cultural Idols, and the Lordship of Christ.
Related sermons: June 28, 2020 — Psalms — Psalm 21 July 5, 2020 — Psalms — Psalm 22 July 12, 2020 — Psalms — Psalm 23 July 19, 2020 — Psalms — Psalm 24 July 26, 2020 — Psalms — Psalm 25 August 2, 2020 — Psalms — Psalm 26 August 9, 2020 — Psalms — Psalm 27 August 16, 2020 — Psalms — Psalm 28 August 23, 2020 — Psalms — Psalm 29
In this episode of Sermon B-Sides, Pastor Jon Needham and Pastor Rusten Harris dive into the material that wasn't able to fit into the past two sermons in our Jesus Stories sermon series. They talked about topics like how we ought to interpret parables, loose living, lost sons, effectual calling, and more.
Related sermons: April 19, 2020 — Jesus Stories — The Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32) April 26, 2020 — Jesus Stories — The Pharisee and the Tax Collector (Luke 18:9-14)
In our first episode of Sermon B-Sides, Pastor Jon Needham and Pastor Rusten Harris discuss the evidence for the resurrection, why the Resurrection of Jesus means that everything matters — from whiskey to vocation, and how the Exodus story pre-figures the deliverance of the Resurrection.