Dallas Reformed Presbyterian Church: Recent Episodes
I. God's Purpose Stands in All Things II. God Purposes Good for His People in All Things III. God Purposes His Glory to Be Known in All Things
I. Quiet Your Heart Before the Lord II. Put Your Trust in the Lord Alone III. Pour Out Your Heart Before the Lord
I. Doubt of God and His Word II. Doubt of God's Righteousness and Truth III. Doubt of God Justified IV. Remedies for Doubt and Temptation
I. The Unchanging Nature of God (vv. 12, 25-27) II. The Unbroken Worship of Believers (vv. 13-24) III. The Unshakable Foundation of the Church (v. 28)
I. Undeserved promise (vv. 1-2) II. Unfolding providence (vv. 3-11) III. Unfailing provision (vv. 12-20)
I. Why must we be patient to all? II. What is the Divine response to sinners? III. How are we now changed?
I. The Chosen Servant II. Well-Loved by the Father III. Just to All Men IV. Mild to All Men
I. Introduction: The Vine and the Branches II. Union with Christ III. Abiding in Christ
I. Introduction: The Believer's Standing II. The Believer's Sin III. The Believer's Security IV. The Believer's Service
I. The Theology of Preaching II. Preparation for Preaching III. Profiting Under Preaching IV. Profiting Post Preaching
God calls you to glory in the cross where His Son died for our sins and satisfied divine justice. I. The Cross of Calvary II. Conversations at Calvary III. Compassion of Christ at Calvary
God calls you to look unto Jesus and come to Him by faith because He alone delivers His people from the plague of sin. I. Cause of Plague II. Severity of the Plague III. Deliverance from the Plague
I. Creation Speaks to Us II. God Speaks to us in His Word III. Pray for Help to Obey the Lord
I. Pray Always II. Pray with All Prayer and Supplication in the Spirit III. Pray Watching with all Perseverance and Supplication
I. The Conscience (v.1-7) II. God's Absence (v.8-10) III. The Christian's Default Mode (v.11-12) IV. The Despair Factor (v.13-17)
I. What We Should Be in Light of the Resurrection II. What We Should Do in Light of the Resurrection III. What We Should Know in Light of the Resurrection
I. God's Goodness to His People II. God's People Are Afflicted For Their Sin III. God's Mercy Toward the Repentant
I. Washed White in the Blood of the LambII. Dwelling with and Serving God III. Every Need Provided For
I. Undefiled Virgins II. Followers of the Lamb III. Redeemed from Among Men IV. No Guile in their Mouth
I. Mighty Maker II. Majestic Monarch III. Merciful Magistrate IV. Matchless Manifestation
I. The Rising Star of WisdomII. The People's Capricious NatureIII. Christ's Willing People Rejoice in Him Alone
I. What Are the Commandments of Men?II. Why Are They So Harmful?III. Drawing Nigh to God With the Heart
I. The Love of God SpurnedII. The Love of God Secured III. The Love of God Spiritualized
Winter 2024 Communion Preparatory Service I. Common Operations of the SpiritII. Final Apostasy III. The True Test of Grace
WInter 2024 Communion Preparatory Sermon I. Sin Inconsistent with CommunionII. Searching our Spiritual House III. Purging Out the Leaven
1 God's Will for Us in Christ Jesus Rejoice evermore Pray without ceasing Give thanks in all circumstances2 Accomplished by Fixing Our Eyes Upon Christ In the Word In Prayer In Worship
Jesus teaches us…a. To be intentional to prayb. To be intentional about how we prayc. To be bold in prayerd. To be persistent in prayer
In the morning sermon, we consider Christ in the garden of Gethsemane being set apart as the one sacrifice for sin. We consider His deep anguish and distress, and the redemptive requirement that He be willing to receive the cup from the Father.
I. FormallyII. ReverentlyIII. DiligentlyIV. DiscriminatelyV. ResponsivelyVI. Expectantly
I. A Hypocrite's Heart (v.10-11)II. A Hypocrite's Warning (v.12-17)III. A Hypocrite's Concealment (v.18-19)IV. That Hypocrite's End (v.20-21)
We consider Christ being set apart to offer Himself as the one great sacrifice for sin and also intercede for His people in His High Priestly Prayer.
We continue our series on Captivity and see in Ezekiel 18 a contingent of the people questioning God's justice in how He dispenses chastisement and judgment upon His people. We hear the Lord's answer and discover that for any who turn unto the Lord in heart and soul repentance, His grace is found.
We consider the downcast and broken soul crying out to God and finding Him and His grace to be the balm needed for the soul, in Psalm 61.
We see God's call to faith and wisdom in the spreading of the knowledge and gospel of Christ in our service and callings, in Ecclesiastes 11:1-10.
We consider the exhortation of Jude 21 to "keep yourselves in the love of God." We find that this means knowing God objectively (truths of the faith) and experientially, and through walking in love with the family of God. We keep ourselves in the love of God, through:I. Building upII. Praying in the Holy SpiritIII. Hearing His voiceIV. PurityV. Redemptive Relationships
We consider our psalm of the month for July, and we see that God appoints affliction for the believer, in His goodness, to stir and draw the believer back to Himself. I. Purpose of afflictionII. Proud assessmentsIII. Renewed loving obedience to Christ
I. The objects of this comparisonII. The estimation of this comparisonIII. The implication of this comparisonIV. The command of this comparison
Those who honor Christ:I. Do so, despite persecution and reproach (v.1-2,4-5)II. Do so, according to their knowledge (v.3,8)III. Do so, even at great personal cost (v.3,5)IV. Christ will defend and honor (v.6-7,9)
A funeral sermon preached upon the death of an infant covenant child. WCF 10.3. Elect infants, dying in infancy, are regenerated, and saved by Christ, through the Spirit, who worketh when, and where, and how he pleaseth: so also are all other elect persons who are incapable of being outwardly called by the ministry of the Word.
We consider John 13 - the significance of Christ's washing of His disciples in the upper room.
We consider captivity as a judgment upon the church of God. We consider Jeremiah 29, where the LORD forces His people to accept the judgment and teaches them again what its purpose is and what to expect from it. This is very instructive to us as we consider God's chastisement upon His western church today.
We continue seeing the outcome of Mary's anointing of Christ where her deep love for Christ is shown.
We see the outcome of the raising of Lazarus. Upon the eve of Passover, Mary anoints Christ at a house in Bethany.I. Mary's great change II. Mary's spiritual insight
We consider Returning to God in our psalm of the month, the Heth section of Psalm 119.I. Pursuing GodII. Mending our waysIII. Bonds of companionsIV. A choice inheritance
Having considered Christ's providence over our sickness and death, we consider the seventh sign of John: Christ as the source of all resurrection and life.
We shall consider another Psalm of the captivity, Psalm 137, considering the purpose of God bringing the professing Christian church in a nation into spiritual captivity, His refining work, and ultimate deliverance of His remnant to spiritual power and blessing.
We consider the seventh sign of John's Gospel, Christ as the Resurrection and Life. Preached from John 11:33-48.I. The providence of Christ II. The arrival of Christ III. The raising of Lazarus
We consider a short Psalm in the Hallel ('praise') section of the book, in which we discover aspects of God's covenant of grace to all nations and His glorious character is revealed. Preached from Psalm 117.
We consider the particular blindness of legalism in the Pharisees' response to the sixth sign in John's Gospel. We see that the hardened heart responds in a deformed way to the light of Christ, and how, solemnly, the more this light is resisted Christ enacts a judgment of increased blindness upon that resistant soul. Preached from John 9:13-41.
In the PM, we consider the actions of the Lord toward His church in Psalm 147, how He brings her into captivity, refines, and revives her. We see how each of these seasons of God's work have different indicators that we must be aware of in order to truly discern, know, and respond to Him in the midst of these spiritual seasons.
In the AM we consider the sixth sign of John's Gospel - Christ healing the sinner's blindness. We see that the greatest blindness each of us has is spiritual, the Lord's sovereignty in healing it, and how refusing to see will only increase this blindness.
- The pilgrim's comfort-2. The pilgrim's alienation-3. The pilgrim's survival-4. The pilgrim's song
We conclude our short series on Backsliding and consider two more symptoms of the backslider - the diminished fear of God and lack of spiritual exercise - along with the cure to backsliding - which is rooted in the free love and mercy of God in Christ. Hosea 14-4
We consider Paul's farewell address to the Ephesian elders from Acts 20 and see to whom the Apostle entrusts them - to God - as well as to the Word of His Grace able to build us up and lead us to glory. All Christians must remember to whom they are entrusted to and the means that leads them to heaven. Acts 20-32.
We conclude our Gospel Worship series by considering the ordinance of males having their head uncovered and the female's hair being covered with a fabric covering during public worship from 1 Corinthians 11-2-16. --We find that Paul's arguments deal with nature, heaven, and the covering of the woman's glory - and none of the argumentation made by the apostle deal with culture. And so, we find an ordinance that abides even today, and consider the history of its removal from the church - due to the advent of feminism.
We continue to look at the fourth sign and consider the following points from John 6-60-71--1. Difficulty with Christ-2. Departing from Christ-3. Hiding from Christ-4. Confessing Christ
We consider a topical sermon, in light of the recent Resurrection festival throughout visible Christendom, considering how the Lord's Day is given by Christ to the church weekly, and how rather than augmenting worship, the observance of annual festivals in the visible church distorts and diminishes the glory and power of Christ on His Lord's Day. Preached from Galatians 4-8-11
We continue our series on the 7 Signs of John's Gospel and consider Christ as the incarnate bread of life. We see that Christ Himself supplies the only spiritual food and drink that can redeem, fill, and give perpetual life to the soul. Preached from John 6-49-51.
-Due to technical difficulties video is not available-.--In our second sermon on backsliding, we discover that the core issue is that the heart of the backslider has been taken away from Christ. Either sin or the world has snatched their affections. The backslider is called to turn their heart back to Christ and remember the love of espousals - of first love to Christ and repent of their backsliding in heart.
We begin a short series on the dangers and cure to backsliding. In the first sermon we get an overview of backsliding and see that our flesh is prone to it. The danger is that perpetual backsliding leads to apostasy. But the grace of Christ can restore a repentant backslider.
In our series on the Seven Signs we come to Christ's most famous miracle - the feeding of the multitudes - and we discover its spiritual significance.
Our Communion Thanksgiving Sermon focuses on the Unequaled Love of Christ for His Bride.
In our second preparatory service, we long for, and anticipate meeting with Christ, by meditating on His unsurpassed beauty and glory. Remembering that this is our beloved and this is our friend.
In our first preparatory sermon for the Lord's Supper, we see how vital it is to respond swiftly to the Lord Jesus when He invites us into Communion with Himself, lest He withdraw Himself from us for a time.
-Apologies for the poor audio- We continue our series on the 7 Signs of John's Gospel and consider Christ's reasons for cleansing the Temple and how He ultimately is the fulfilment of the Temple in His own body.
We consider a topical sermon for the unconverted, but also for the meditation of the believer, considering the reality of death from Hebrews 9 and how biblically we must all stand before God following death.
In light of the Super Bowl, we consider the practice of Sabbath keeping, and how worldly pleasures are to be put away so that we might find our delight in Christ.
Our psalm of the month is the 5th portion -He- of Psalm 119. In this portion we investigate how the Christian is to be totally consecrated to the Lord Jesus Christ with their mind, heart, eyes, and feet as a response to the grace of God in Jesus Christ. To sing with the understanding and without hypocrisy is to have such a desire to be consecrated to Christ and realize that the only way it can come about is if the Spirit gives grace to us.
In this sermon from Amos 6, we look at God's judgment upon Israel for their many sins against Him. Is our nation in danger of being -at ease- just like Israel was in the time of Amos-- We examine- -I- A divine assessment -II- A trumpet of warning -III- A commanded judgment -Preached from Amos 6-1-14.
We continue in our series on The Seven Signs of John's Gospel with Christ's first sign at the wedding at Cana. In part 1 of this message, we look at the scene and the dilemma. Preached from John chapter 2.
From out of the final day of Sodom, we consider a sermon on how consumed a sinner's heart is by lust - that even when under temporal judgment from the Lord - they are insensible to it - and will continue to pursue sin with increased fervency. This doctrine gives explanatory power to not only our own sinful condition but also to that of our society that recklessly pursues sin, even though temporal judgments have fallen upon us. Only the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ can break through our pursuit of sin. Genesis 19-11.
We consider Christ's gracious ability to bless our latter end more than our beginning and restore the years that sin has devoured. Joel 2-25.
We continue our series on Biblical Liberty and look at the doctrine of the Weaker Brother. In this doctrine, we find how Christian Liberty intersects Christian Charity and we also consider when the weaker brother may not be the weaker brother at all, but a legalist in the guise of the weaker brother. Romans 14.
We consider Psalm 119-25-32 as January's Psalm of the Month and look to the Word of God to revive our soul when it is clinging to the dust. The Lord will use His Word to bring revival to our hearts when we are brought desolate, whether bringing us a word in chastisement that leads to repentance, in testimonies that contain sweet promises, to a view of the glory of God in Jesus Christ, or in commandments that inform our duty even when we are laid low.
As we continue to investgate Liberty of Conscience, we come to a consideration of our liberty in matters indifferent. We search the Scripture to understand a right use and wrong use of things indifferent in our Christian life. Concrete examples regard even our use of alcohol, clothing, and entertainment as we seek to do all things to the glory of God.--In addition, we also see how the categories of indifference cannot be used to invent ceremonies or rites that have religious significance, but instead, worship is strictly regulated by the Regulative Principle of Worship. 1 Corinthians 10-22-33.
We continue our new series on Biblical Liberty and consider one of the great battlegrounds for the Christians' liberty - their conscience. We find that God alone is Lord of the Conscience and we are freed from the doctrines and commandments of men to have our conscience bound to Christ in His Word. Impositions upon conscience whether by church authorities or authorities in the state are to be -appropriately- resisted. Colossians 2-20-23
We continue our exposition of Luke's gospel. We find a demonized man who is blind and mute - but the Lord Jesus Christ with His Almighty Power frees him with a word so that he might see and praise God. The enemies of Christ claim that He has performed His miracle by Satan's power, but Christ shows them that He exerts the -finger of God- and that He is the true Messiah. In the midst of this, we observe the purpose of our salvation, freed by God's finger, to praise and extol the name of Jesus Christ. Luke 11-14-20.
We begin a new series on the doctrine of Biblical Liberty. In recent history, there has been a question of what liberty the Church and individual Christians possess. These are not new questions. We will begin a series to consider the liberty of the individual Christian in view of the gospel, the spiritual liberty of the Church with Christ as her King, and even the liberty of the State to serve the King of Kings. Throughout the history of the Church, these questions have had to be answered Scripturally, often at the cost of the martyrs' lives. We will begin with an overview of the specific freedom that Jesus gives the Christian, the Church, and the Commonwealth. Galatians 5-1-13.
We return to Luke's gospel to consider our Lord's teaching on prayer. We are encouraged to pray with persistence, to Ask, Seek, and Knock, knowing both the content of prayer, but also the disposition of God to those of us in Christ, to answer us when we call. We are not to give up on our petitions insofar as they are in accord with God's will, knowing that we will never leave the throne of grace empty-handed. Luke 11-1-13
Our Thanksgiving sermon is from Song of Solomon 4-6-15 on the theme of -The Beloved's Desire-.
For our communion service, our action sermon considers Christ's third saying on the Cross from John 19-25-27, where Christ gives Mary to his disciple John, and we consider the Lord's active obedience to the Law of God, fulfilling all righteousness for us.
Our second preparatory sermon deals with an examination of our love for the brethren before we come to commune to the Lord's Supper. Having grown in anticipation for meeting with Christ, we also must see if we are longing to commune with one another and know that -we being many are one- and are all partakers of that -one bread-, Jesus Christ Himself. 1 Corinthians 10-17.
For our December 2023 Communion Season, Rev. Gunn preaches the first communion preparatory service to show us how Christ desires us if we are in Him.--I. The Bride's Beauty-II. The Beloved's Desire
Our psalm of the month for December. We consider the Christian's identity as a stranger in the earth.
We look at the intercessory work of Jesus Christ as our High Priest and consider the great petition in His High Priestly prayer - that we would be with Him where He is. We marvel at the desire of the Lord and we are encouraged by how this prayer will be answered, and so the believer has every confidence that they will be with Jesus forever in heaven. John 17-24.
We consider a topical sermon on the promise from God that He will give us pastors after His own heart. We look to the nature of the people of God and why they need pastors and what the heart of such men ought to be for the flock. Jeremiah 3-15.
We look at the intercessory work of Jesus Christ once again and see how His high priestly prayer intercedes for us to bind us together as one. We see that the Redeemer's heart is for the unity of His people. We understand the cords of unity from His prayer that bind us together and are exhorted to seek after God for the grace to be unified as one people of God. John 17-21-23.
We continue our exposition of Luke's gospel and come to the episode where Martha and Mary host the Lord Jesus Christ. We see Martha's many cares and distractions that pull her away from the Lord Jesus Christ and see what is needful for our lives - communion with Christ - and thankfully this good part will never be taken from us. There is found in this text an exhortation to prioritize Christ in our lives above all other lawful activities. Luke 10-38-42.
We consider Christ as our Great High Priest and His intercessory prayers for His people. The Christian has a great assurance of their faith not failing because, in the heavens, Jesus Christ prays that their faith does not fail. However, he does not pray that our faith will not be tested. But in this text, we will also discover some of God's purpose for the trials of faith He brings to us. Luke 22-31-33.
We consider November's psalm of the month - Psalm 119-9-16 and in this portion we consider the great need to hide the Word of God in our heart to not sin against God. We see that the psalmist's view of God informs his need for heart religion and because he sees the blessedness of God, he desires to keep the Word close to not sin against his God.
Guest minister, Rev. Sam Ketcham, preaches on Mark 12-38-40, where Christ warns the people of the sins of the religious elite.-I. Beware of heart disease -v.38-39-.-II. Beware of a misunderstanding -v.38-39-.-III. Beware of abusive relationships -v.40a-.-IV. Beware of religious hypocrisy -v.40b-.-V. Beware of greater damnation -v.40c-
Guest minister, Rev. Sam Ketcham, preaches on Jeremiah 26-1-16, in which the prophet Jeremiah demonstrates a much-needed grace for all Christians to exercise today.-I. The Circumstance of Spiritual Courage -v.1-11,13-.-II. The Source of Spiritual Courage -v.12,15-.-III. The Key to Spiritual Courage -v.14-.
We return to our series on the Christian Family and consider how children are to be brought to maturity to the point where they might enter into the communicant membership of the Church. We consider what they need to know in order to discern the Lord's body and blood, how we may discern faith and the fruit of repentance in them, as well as an exhortation that children show godly maturity before taking their place at Christ's Table and as communing members of the congregation. All with the goal that the Lord would lead all of our children to the Table with true saving faith in Christ. 1 Corinthians 11-28-31.
Having begun to look at the Parable of the Good Samaritan last Lord's Day, we consider the parable itself and what Christ teaches us about our neighbor and how mercy is to be shown to them. We also find that in the law, moral duties to the 2nd Table come before the ceremonial duties of the 1st Table, which aids us in understanding how true religion is to be exercised. In many ways, the Parable of the Good Samaritan will challenge us to grow in grace and in love to both God and neighbor. Luke 10-29-37.
PRAYER MEETING SERMON We continue our series on the Beatitudes and we open up the fourth - -Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness- for they shall be filled-. Christ pronounces a blessing on those who find themselves craving for righteousness as though they would have it or perish. This is a grace that not all possess and is a true blessing, for they shall be filled with what they crave. Those who have it will look to Christ for justification and sanctification. In addition, we are called to examine what we crave - to see if it is righteousness, in the case that we are found hypocrites. Matthew 5-6.
We consider a topical subject, one on the mind of many Christians due to the recent conflict in the Middle East. What should we think about the Jews and their relation to the Church-- We discover God's mind concerning the Jews in Romans 11 and find that this chapter has been a great encouragement to recognize that the latter-day glory of the Church will be in relation to the ingathering of the Jews into the Church, Christ's singular body. We consider the implications and applications of this doctrine that looks forward to the hope that lies before us and causes us to labor for missions to both Gentiles and Jews as well as pray that the Jews would be ingathered. Romans 11.
We continue our exposition of Luke's gospel and begin to consider the interaction that was the occasion for Christ to deliver His parable of the Good Samaritan. In this first portion, we try to establish and understand the righteous requirements of the law that the lawyer Christ interacted with rightly recognized. We also observe from that lawyer fallen man's desire to reduce the requirements of the law so that he might have a chance of sneaking into heaven. Christ will have none of that. Man is forced then to acknowledge that he must flee to Christ for salvation after understanding the righteous requirement of the law. Luke 10-25-27.
We continue our series on the Christian family and consider the theme of Education. We find that the education of covenant children must be God-centered, for they belong to Him. All education is moral and so our youth must be educated with a curriculum that posits that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and the knowledge of the holy is understanding. Education has several aims including the imparting of morals and the creation of citizens. The question is what kingdom our children will be educated to become citizens of. Proverbs 9-10 and other pertinent texts.--DUE TO TECHNICAL ISSUES, THE VIDEO WAS NOT RECORDED.
We continue our exposition of Luke's gospel. We come to the Lord's blessing the eyes that are opened to see the truth of God in the gospel. We find that the Lord has much to teach us on how it is that man may know God - that only God Himself can reveal God. From this, we rejoice that if we know the true and living God it is because the Son of God has revealed Him to us. Luke 10-21-24.
PRAYER MEETING SERMON- We continue our series on the Beatitudes and we open up the third - -Blessed are the meek for they will inherit the earth-. Christ pronounces a blessing on those who are meek - those who willingly submit themselves to the will of God and show gentleness to their neighbor. This is a grace necessary to cultivate, the fruit of the Spirit, and it makes one Christlike as we recall that the Lord Jesus Christ is meek and lowly of heart. However, such meekness is not weakness, and there is a strength found in Christian meekness to be explored. Stunningly, the blessing Christ promises is that the meek shall inherit the earth. Matthew 5-5.
We consider our Psalm of the Month - Psalm 119 - the first portion -Aleph-. We begin by considering the 119th Psalm as a whole, the relationship of the law of God to the Christian, and the desires of the Christian in relation to the law, not as a rule of justification for them, but as a rule of obedience from Psalm 119-1-8.
Due to an excommunication, we study the censure of excommunication that Christ has established for His Church. We will seek to understand church censures broadly to understand the design of church censures, but then to understand excommunication specifically, especially in terms of our conduct towards the one excommunicated, as well as the hope that the Scriptures lay out for the possibility of the reclamation of one who has been cast out of the kingdom. Preached from 1 Corinthians 5.
Prayer meeting sermon- We continue our series on the Beatitudes and we open up the second - -Blessed are those that mourn- for they shall be comforted-. We find what appears to be a contrary saying - that happiness is found in mourning. But we find that the happiness comes when we mourn over what is spiritual - our sin first and foremost, but also, other proper areas of mourning - that men do not keep the commandments of God, that Christ's name is blasphemed, hard providences that are not due to our sin, loss of loved ones, persecution for righteousness, and so on. But for each of these areas of mourning - we find the blessedness- which is the God of all comfort comes to comfort us in Christ. And so there is a profound happiness that comes with proper mourning as God meets us and blesses us in such godly sorrow.
We come to a topical sermon wherein we see the great sin of being wearied of God. We will learn how to discover if we are weary of Him and what remedies to take to combat our weariness - so that we may instead, take delight in the Lord and desire Him as the object of our greatest affection, particularly, as He has revealed Himself to us in Jesus Christ. Isaiah 43-22.
We continue our exposition of Luke's gospel and find the 70 disciples return with great joy over the success of the gospel over Satan and his minions. We find the truth that the gospel proclamation is unstoppable by the evil one, for he has no power over Christ who works through the preaching of the gospel. But as much joy as we have in seeing Satan crushed under Christ's feet, Christ tells us that our greater joy is that our names are written in heaven. Luke 10-17-21.
In this season of the prayer meetings, we begin a short series through the Beatitudes. We consider the general pattern of the Beatitudes and seek to understand what it means to be blessed of God. Then we open the first Beatitude - -Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven- and understand the blessing or happiness that God bestows upon those who are of a broken and contrite spirit and find all their happiness in Christ, who opens heaven to them. Christ promises that those who embrace a poverty of spirit will find everlasting happiness in Him.
We return to our series on the Christian Family and deal with a theme that is sadly necessary in a world of sin - divorce. We find the Lord's teaching is challenging in a day of no fault divorces and see the Lord's allowance for Biblical divorces as well as under what parameters one can remarry in the Lord. In addition, the congregation will be exhorted to always remember that divorce must not be sought out by Christians apart from the counsel of the Church, as -the corruption of man be such as is apt to study arguments, unduly to put asunder those whom God hath joined together in marriage- -WCF 24.6-. Will be preached from Matthew 19-1-12 and 1 Corinthians 7-8-15
We rejoice over the baptism of a covenant child and the reception of new members into our congregation. On this happy occasion we will consider the promise of the Holy Spirit poured out from heaven like water upon dry and thirsty ground for those who hunger and thirst after righteousness. To remember the promise that if any thirst, the Father and Son will send the Holy Spirit to fill them with Christ - and that this promise is not just for covenant children but also all those afar off - making us one people of God by the Holy Spirit. In Isaiah 44-1-5 we see a picture of these glorious truths.
Wednesday night prayer meeting sermon - the Church at Laodicea exposes our lukewarmness. But as Christ rebukes us, He rebukes those whom He loves, and invites us to further communion with Him as we repent by replacing lukewarmness with zeal for Him.--NOTE- The sermons from the rest of the series may be uploaded in due time- the DRPC prayer meeting sermons have not been uploaded until now.
We come to our Thanksgiving service and hear that we have received grace that we would deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, living instead, soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world - looking forward towards the hope of glory that Christ has set before us. In this way we find the remedy for our ungodliness and the use of the grace we have received at the Supper. Titus 2-11-15.
Our Communion Service concerns Christ's 2nd word on the Cross to the wretched criminal crucified beside him- -Today shalt thou be with me in Paradise-. We consider this Word of salvation that will be given to the chief of sinners who will repent and believe in Christ. That by grace alone we are saved through faith in Christ alone - who flings heaven's gates wide open for sinners who cast themselves upon Him. As we consider coming to Commune with Him, we first affectionately meditate on the truth that Paradise will be glorious because we will be with Him, and that way is opened for us through His broken body and shed blood. Luke 23-42-43.
Our second preparatory sermon deals with the theme of Anticipation. To behold King Jesus and His beauty from this portion of God's Word. In it, we are compelled to behold the beauty of the Church - believer as they have been beautified with Christ's graces as He draws her out by His Spirit from the wilderness of her sin. The believer sees the resting place of the Lord in the Church and in Heaven where they will dwell with Him forever and acknowledge the crown by which He is crowned over their heart. Song of Songs 3-6-11.
We consider our Psalm of the Month - Psalm 118 where we see that men are to praise and thank Jehovah for His goodness. Especially when we contemplate His goodness expressed in His work of the sufferings of Christ that procured our salvation - we are to praise God that He is good and does good to His people.
We come to our first preparatory service for the Lord's Supper. We meditate upon the truth of Romans 8-6 - that to be spiritually minded is life and peace. We contemplate the great transformative effects of being spiritually minded - that it brings life and vitality to our soul and it produces peace in our hearts. We then test ourselves to see if the marks of spiritual mindedness are found in us. That if we are found lacking in a heavenly mind, to go and seek the remedy that Christ gives us, as we approach the Lord's Supper.
We consider the counterpart to the prior doctrinal sermon preached on Hell. We consider a doctrinal sermon on Heaven and its glories. We discover that everything that hell is, heaven is its complete opposite. It is, as Edwards once called it, a world of love. A world of comfort, not torment, with Jesus Christ at the center of it all. A place of innumerable saints who love God and love one another. A place devoid of the worm that gnaws away at our consciences. A place with no tears, where the former things have passed away and God remembers our sins no more only for the work of Jesus Christ. We also consider what use there is in our lives that we know the doctrine of heaven. Revelation 21.
We continue our exposition of Luke's gospel and hear from our Lord that there are degrees of punishment in hell. Among the worst punishments are reserved for those who hear the gospel and reject it due to the hardness of their hearts. Even the believer, who faces no condemnation, will face consequences for refusing to hear Christ on Earth as He speaks through His Word and by way of ministers. As such, Jesus teaches us to listen carefully to His Word and to embrace it out of faith. Luke 10-13-16.
It is good for man that he bear the yoke in his youth.-I. Exposition of the text.-II. Doctrines of the text.-III. Answering objections to the text.-IV. Uses -applications- from the text.
The Mediatorial King upholds all things.-I. Creation's total dependence on Christ.-II. The purpose for which Christ upholds all things.
In the PM we consider a most sobering topic, one often neglected, one often disparaged. It is the doctrine of Hell. We consider the necessity of this dread place where sinners are justly tormented endlessly in both body and soul. We consider the horrors of the torments described by our Lord Jesus Christ upon those who do not take His mercy and die in their sins. And we, blessedly, also consider the remedy to Hell found graciously and freely in Jesus who suffered the pains of Hell in the place of His elect on His Cross. A meditation on this doctrine will cause us to flee to Jesus and also take the gospel to those who are perishing around the world. Luke 16-19-31.
In the AM we consider our Psalm of the Month for August - Psalm 117. In this, the shortest psalm of them all, we find the most profound truths. The psalm's size is meant to be an aid for our memorization of the great truths of the gospel going forth to all nations, tribes, and tongues. All are called to worship the one living and true God in Jesus Christ His Son. But if they are to call on His name, the church will need to send missionaries with a view that all men would worship God.
We consider a topical sermon on the neglected theme of Spiritual Conference. We speak of this quite neglected duty to spend time in fellowship with the brethren profiting our souls by speaking of the Lord and of heavenly matters, to meditate upon the Word with one another, and to inquire into the state of each others' souls. To the end that our hearts would be warmed with Christ, that our brethren would be edified, and we would walk as citizens of heaven, putting away sin, and living in anticipation of glory, and the Beatific Vision. Malachi 3-16-18 and Luke 24-15.
We continue our exposition of Luke's gospel and arrive at Christ sending out seventy gospel laborers into the harvest. We consider the nature of the harvest and the pressing need to send more laborers into it. Christ also dictates to us wisdom in how to send them, including the need to send men in strength, two by two, and we also see there is urgency in this need to go out and publish the gospel through ministers to every creature. Luke 10-1-12.
A topical sermon on the doctrine of Concupiscence. We find that the Bible teaches that sinful desires are properly sin. In a time where those who are same sex attracted claim that their desires are not sinful, we must reclaim this Biblical doctrine. Understanding this doctrine will also let us get to the root of mortification and find greater victory over sin. Seeing just how sinful man is, we give thanks to God that there is no condemnation in Christ and that Christ gives power to mortify sin at the root. Exodus 20-17 and Romans 7.
We continue our exposition of Luke's gospel and come to Christ's interaction with three men who are would be disciples of His. Through these three men Christ uncovers -almost disciples- those who are not fit for the kingdom of God. Through these three men we will test our own commitment to the King. Luke 9-57-62.
We continue our series on The Christian Family and consider the vital need to gain our children's heart as we consider the Proverb, -my son, give me thine heart-. As a child's heart will lead them, we must not see our aim in parenting as behavior management, but instead, to draw the heart of a child to the Lord Jesus, understanding that a child whose heart seeks to be compliant to Christ's will is the goal in parenting. Proverbs 23-13-26.
We continue our exposition of Luke's gospel and arrive at James and John seeking to call down fire upon a village of Samaritans. We seek to learn from Jesus' stinging rebuke - 'ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of' and seek to understand the Lord's mission - to save souls. Luke 9-51-56.
In view of both the 282nd anniversary of Edwards' preaching of Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God and our evangelism efforts, we consider the doctrine of the free offer of the gospel. We consider how one who believes in the Doctrines of Grace relays the gospel to the world. We ask and answer, how do the doctrines of reprobation and election factor in to preaching Christ-- Is it proper to invite souls to take Christ and offer Him to them-- Is the gospel to be offered freely to all and the invitation given to all without exclusion-- Do the reprobate have a warrant to believe the gospel-- Is the gospel to be preached in a manner that men are to turn from their sin before placing their faith in Christ-- These are some of the questions answered by Scripture and summarized by the doctrine of the Free Offer of the Gospel.
We continue our exposition of Luke's gospel and arrive at a communication from John to Christ wherein he relayed that the disciples forbade a man from casting out demons in Christ's name. We consider Christ's rebuke, that the disciples ought never have forbade the man from freeing souls of Satan's grip in the name of Christ. He teaches us that -He that is not against us is for us- - and we learn how that causes us to relate with true ecumenism towards true believers not of our ecclesiastical circle, but also consider the caution of a false ecumenism with those who are not truly for Christ. Luke 9-49-50.
We return to our series on the family, and open up the immense topic of discipline. We consider the need for discipline especially in a day where children seem to rule the roost at home and are unruly. We find that godly discipline, according to God, is an expression of love. We will consider several of the tools available to the Christian parent out of the Word of God, and how discipline is to be balanced through a variety of means suited for each child's temperament and stage of life. Will be preached from Hebrews 12-4-11.
We consider Psalm 116, where the psalmist recounts the manifold blessings the Lord has given to him and asks the central question, -What shall I render unto the LORD for all of His benefits toward me--- We find that he makes several resolutions to live his life as Christ's servant. In the same way, we who are redeemed by the precious life and blood of Jesus Christ are to make such resolutions to live for Him.
A topical sermon on the theme of revival. We consider our need to desire revival and a determination to labor for it. When the Spirit opens our eyes to see the beauty of revival - which brings God's presence, we will have a heart to seek after it and the means that the Lord blesses to revive His people again. Psalm 85-6
We continue our exposition of Luke's gospel and consider how pride and self-seeking are pernicious sins prevalent even among Christ's servants. We hear of the Savior's chastisement on us that those who are greatest in the kingdom of God are those who count themselves the least in the kingdom - that we might mortify pride and seek the Lord for the grace of humility. A grace that was supremely manifest in the Son of God who came to be the Suffering Servant. Luke 9-43-48.
The first portion of the sermon was not recorded due to technical difficulties in the providence of God. This is the last portion of the sermon. -The Second Annual Covenanter Prayer Meeting at Marion Reformed Presbyterian Church at 1100 W. Jeffras Avenue Marion, IN 46952. Pastor Romesh Prakashpalan of Dallas Reformed Presbyterian Church will preach on the subject of revival.
We return to our series on the family and having considered our need to evangelize our children, we consider our need to disciple them by the Word of God, a process that the Lord likens to -sharpening- them as one might sharpen an arrow or a blade. We see the totality of how the Word of God is meant to fill their lives from an early age and some of the ways that we are called to not only sharpen them, but keep them from growing dull. Deuteronomy 6-4-12.
In this sermon, we consider the spiritual nature of the Law, and that Jesus means for it to govern our whole soul, not just our outward actions. We understand this to not be a justifying principle, but a sanctifying one, that brings heaven to earth in our lives as we pray the third petition of the Lord's Prayer. Preached Sabbath PM on 03-27-22 from Romans 7-14.
We return to Luke's gospel and find the Lord's exhortation to cultivate a charitable soul in our judgment of others, in forgiving, and in benevolence. Preached Sabbath AM on 03-27-22 from Luke 6-37-38.
Our motivation for godly living is that we were dead in our sins but He saved us by His grace to live for His glory. Preached Sabbath AM from 03-20-22 from Titus 3-3-8.
The church must grow in holiness pursuing the final goal of knowing Christ and being conformed to Him. Preached Sabbath PM from Philippians 3-12-14.
For our Communion Thanksgiving service, we continue in the Song of Songs and see the bride's desire for the One she loves causes her to inquire of Him where He feeds His flocks. We will see our great need is to grow in love for the Savior and desire to be fed by Him on the means of grace. Preached from Song of Songs 1-5-8 on Sabbath PM 03-13-22.
In preparation to receive the Lord's Supper we hear Christ preached as the Man of Sorrows who has surely borne our griefs. When we come to the Table we see a tangible picture of the sureness of our salvation in the broken bread and poured out wine. Preached from Isaiah 53-4-5 at a Communion Service on Sabbath AM 03-13-22.
In our preparatory service for the upcoming Lord's Supper, we are exhorted to purge out the evil leaven of unbelief from our hearts before we come to the Lord's Table that we would rest in Christ, trust Him, and follow Him, repenting of ways where we have not. Preached from Hebrews 3-7-19 on Sabbath PM 03-06-22.
In Psalm 100, we consider that great anthem of the Church Militant where we proclaim to all nations their need to be converted to Christ, and then to praise Him and to serve Him with gladness. But before we exhort the nations to do so, we ourselves, must make sure we know Jesus and have submitted to Him with cheerful heart-felt obedience and worship. Preached Sabbath AM on 03-06-22.
We consider a topical sermon on Psalm 34-19 which proclaims, -many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivereth him out of them all-. To better understand the Lord's ends in sending us many afflictions, that we might profit from them with our eyes set upon Jesus. Preached from Psalm 34-19 on Sabbath PM 02-27-22.
We continue our exposition of Luke's gospel and hear that the Lord prohibits us from taking private revenge upon our enemies, but instead to commit vengeance to Him and to be still and know that He is God and not us. Preached from Luke 6-27-36 on Sabbath AM 02-27-22.
We consider the communion, or joint participation, we have in Christ shown in the common table, common bread, and common cup shared by those who partake of the Supper. We find that sharing the table, bread, and cup has spiritual significance and we should not go away from Christ's institution. Preached from 1 Corinthians 10-16-22 on Sabbath PM 02-20-22.
We continue through our exposition of Luke's gospel and find one of the Savior's hardest ethical teachings - -Love your enemies-. We find that this ethic has its root in God - and the gospel is revealed through it - that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. The children of God are called to reflect His own heart. Preached from Luke 6-27-36, Sabbath AM on 02-20-22.
We continue our series on the Lord's Supper and seek to understand the General Rules of the Word that determine frequency for a congregation. Preached from 1 Corinthians 11-23-34 on Sabbath PM 02-13-22.
We look to one last Beatitude, not from Luke's gospel, but from Matthew's. -Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God-. We will consider the doctrine of the Beatific Vision and seek to know and long for that state in which Christians have that -happifying sight- of God that makes them eternally blessed. Preached from Matthew 5-8, Sabbath AM on 02-13-22.
We continue our series on worship and investigate our need to prepare for the Lord's Supper, considering the underlying principles that make preparation necessary for the sacrament, as well as the practice of preparation and the goal of preparation - to meet intimately with Jesus Christ and to receive great blessings from Him. Preached from 1 Corinthians 11-17-34.
We consider our psalm of the month Psalm 99. In it we behold the thrice holy God whose holiness is expressed in unspeakable terrors to His enemies and an inexhaustible tenderness to His people.
We continue our series on worship and consider the real presence of Jesus Christ in the Supper. We reject that blasphemous view of the Supper found in Rome's transubstantiation but embrace the presence of Christ in the Supper by His Spirit as the Word of God teaches. Preached from 1 Corinthians 10-1-22 Sabbath PM on 01-30-22
We continue our exposition of Luke's gospel and come to the last pair of blessing and cursing. The blessing that belongs to those who are reviled for Christ's sake and the woe that comes to those who are spoken well of by all men. Preached from Luke 6-17-26 on Sabbath AM on 01-30-22.
We return to our series on gospel worship and consider the significance of the Lord's Supper in both its institution and the elements the Lord ordained. In order to better commune and receive the benefits of Christ, we must see the significance of the Lord's Supper. Preached from Luke 22-14-20 on Sabbath PM 01-23-22.
We continue through Christ's beatitudes and consider -blessed are ye that weep now- and discover the happiness of weeping over our sin if we are in Christ, but the eternal misery of those who laugh now and mock God and His anointed. Preached from Luke 6-17-26 on Sabbath AM 01-23-22.
In our fast day sermon, we hear the promise of God, -return unto me and I will return unto you-. We hear the Lord call to us to repent, with His promise that He will return to us when we repent. When the church repents of her sins, the presence of the Lord is with her and with the presence of the Lord, the Church has the great blessing of His nearness expressed in promises such as- -God is in the midst of her- she shall not be moved- God shall help her, and that right early.- If we seek the breaches of Zion to be repaired and the presence of the Lord for revival, we must repent of our sin and turn back to God. Preached 01-18-22 at a fast day meeting from Malachi 3-7.
We continue our exposition of Luke's gospel and come to the second blessing-woe pair in Christ's Sermon. He pronounces a blessing on those who hunger for righteousness and a curse that comes to those who count themselves self-satisfied with their own sense of goodness. We are reminded of the gospel and the great hunger we must have for an alien righteousness in Jesus Christ having no righteousness of our own. Preached from Luke 6-17-26 on Sabbath AM 01-16-22.
In preparation for our fast day, we consider the true doctrine of repentance and learn the distinguishing marks of true repentance that separate it from false repentance. Preached from 2 Corinthians 7-8-11 on Sabbath PM 01-16-22.
in our series on gospel worship, we consider an extraordinary part of the worship of God - public fasting. In preparation for our upcoming public day of fasting we will hear instruction on it before we seek the Lord as a congregation. Preached from Joel 2-12-19 on Sabbath PM 01-09-22.
We continue our exposition in Luke's gospel and find the Lord Jesus pronounce a blessing on the poor in spirit and a woe to those who consider themselves rich. Instead, those who are blessed are those that see the poverty of their spirit. Preached from Luke 6-17-26 on Sabbath AM 01-09-22.
Psalm 98 calls us to shout for joy when we investigate and marvel at the victorious salvation wrought for us by our Lord Jesus Christ. We are to be joyful as well as we are filled with great anticipation that the whole earth will see Christ's salvation as He is to be glorified before all the earth through the success of the Great Commission. Preached from Psalm 98 on 01-02-22.
With a virus continuing to afflict the world, fires raging, and both church and state in moral confusion and decay, we consider our great need for corporate repentance. That nations, churches, and families all need to repent of their corporate sins and turn to the Lord Jesus Christ. The one thing few heads of nations, elders in churches, or fathers in families are doing now. Yet great blessings come to those leaders who will lead their people in such repentance. Preached Sabbath PM on 01-02-22 from Jonah 3, Ezra 9-4-10, and Revelation 3-14-19.
In this sermon we consider Paul's unflinching resolution- to forget what was behind him, and to reach forth unto those things which are before, to press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. We all must have this same resolution and resolve - for the violent take the kingdom by force - and they seek after the prize - which is to win Christ Jesus Himself. This sermon was preached Sabbath PM on 12-26-21 from Philippians 3-12-14.
We return to our series on gospel worship and consider the sacraments. We learn how the Lord has designed these means of grace and their place in the worship of God and the Christian's life. That doctrinal sermon was preached from Romans 4-11-12 and 1 Corinthians 10-16-17 on Sabbath PM 12-21-21.
In our Psalm of the Month, we find that part of the Lord Jesus Christ's reign is His reign in judgment. Something we must rejoice in as believers - but also something we tremble at - because the fire of God's wrath had burned up the Lord Jesus Christ in our place. We learn of the ways in which the church is to rejoice over the judgments of Jesus Christ over those who will not bend the knee to Him. Preached Sabbath AM on 12-21-21.
In our Thanksgiving sermon we hear of how we might give thanks to the Lord for His grace. Having seen the thief Christ redeems in the AM, we consider what the man's life might have been if he had lived. Would he continue to live in his sin- The answer is found in Ephesians 4-28 - and we find that the man would have stopped thieving, worked with his hands, and then given to those in need - he would become more conformed to the image of the Redeemer. That is our calling as well as we exercise the grace of the Lord we received in the Supper. Preached Sabbath PM on 12-12-21 from Ephesians 4-28.
In this sermon preached before the sacrament of the Lord's Supper, we consider the thief Christ remembered at the Cross. We see the humiliation of Jesus Christ for we who believe - the Lord of glory made as the chief of sinners and suffered as the chief of sinners - so that the chief of sinners might be saved, even at their 11th hour. We must be astonished and thankful for the grace of the Lord, seeing Him as our only hope, as we draw near to Him in the Supper. Preached Sabbath AM at a Communion Service from Luke 23-33-46 on 12-12-21.
In this preparatory sermon for the Lord's Supper, we open up the Song of Songs - to investigate our love and desire for Jesus Christ. As the bride in the song is distressed under the sun with a neglected vineyard, we find our souls are often neglected and distressed with a life under the sun. That is meant to draw our desire and attention to our bridegroom, Jesus Christ, sighing that He would kiss us with the kisses of His mouth and that He would draw us after Himself. Preached Sabbath PM on 12-5-21 from Song of Songs 1-1-7 on the occasion of a preparatory sermon for the Lord's Supper.
In this sermon we hear why the children of believers receive Christian baptism. That they are declared holy by God -1 Cor. 7-14- and that the kingdom of God belongs to such as them -Luke 18-15-17-. In addition, we find that God's dealings with the children of believers has always been the same - that they are under the umbrella of the covenant of grace. Whether under Abraham, Moses, or Christ which is why the promises of God are to us and our children -Acts 2-39-. Preached at a Baptism service at 12-05-21 from 1 Corinthians 7-14 and Luke 18-15-17.
BEHOLD THE CHRIST OF THE RECONCILING GOSPEL-I. The Innocence of Christ.-II. The Imputation of Christ.-III. The Impeccable righteousness of Christ.
PANT AFTER CHRIST'S MERCY BY A PERSISTENT AND HUMBLE FAITH-I. The heart of faint panting after Christ persists when it is tried by Christ.-II. The heart of faith panting after Christ owns up to how miserable of an estate the soul is in without Christ.
In this topical sermon, we consider the topic of apostasy due to a love and cherishing of this present world. We are chilled by the apostasy of Demas, who abandoned Paul, but was once called a fellow laborer of his. This tells us that worldliness can run deep and be undetected unless we check our heart to see if the world has exerted itself over Christ in our heart. We also find the remedy to worldliness in this text - which is to love the appearing of Jesus Christ. We are called to both mortify our love for the world and to inflame our love for Christ that we would be able to run the race well as Paul did and not fall into apostasy as Demas did. Preached Sabbath PM on 11-21-21 from 2 Timothy 4-10.
As our exposition of Luke continues, we come to two Sabbath controversies and we examine the heart of the Sabbath. We find that the Sabbath was not revoked or repealed by Jesus Christ. But instead He came to remove all of the extra-biblical traditions that the Pharisees had added to the day, which had turned it from a blessing to a burden. We seek to understand the substance of the Sabbath - the day Jesus Christ says that He is the Lord of. What we find is that it is a day we would delight in, if we truly delighted in Jesus Christ.--Preached Sabbath AM from Luke 6-1-11 on 11-21-21.
Apologies for the audio quality. The external microphone was not plugged in.----As our exposition of Luke continues, we see that the Pharisees attempt to chastise Jesus Christ for His disciples' lack of fasting. Christ teaches the nature of true religion - that every spiritual exercise must have Him as the focus. In addition, we see that in the presence of Christ, it is not fasting that is called for, but feasting. But when we do fast, we must afflict our souls, seeking Jesus Christ who will put an end to fasting at the marriage supper of the Lamb.----Preached Sabbath AM on 11-14-21 from Luke 5-33-39.
Apologies for the audio quality. Our external mic was not connected.--As our exposition of Hebrews continues, we see Christ as our merciful and faithful high priest who has suffered temptations as we have and is therefore able to help us in our time of need. Our great problem is our lack of interest in going to Him as we have need of Him. Preached Sabbath PM from Hebrews 2-16-18 on 11-14-21.
In our series on Hebrews, we see that Jesus Christ was made in every way as us yet without sin. In His human nature, He is truly flesh and blood. The Son of God took on this human nature that He might die and atone for our sin, defeating the devil, and his power - the power of temptation causing us to sin leading us to eternal death. In Christ's death and triumphant resurrection, Jesus Christ has turned death into a friend of the believer such that truly death is sent to fetch believers out of Christ's love to His side. Preached Sabbath PM from Hebrews 2-14-15 on 11-07-21.
In Psalm 96, our Psalm of the month, we see the sure promise that Christ will send His gospel to the ends of the earth to convert souls out of every nation, tribe, and tongue. We also find that the ultimate aim of the gospel is not salvation - but worship. That an innumerable number of saints will be praising the Lord for eternity giving unto Him the glory that He is due. As Christ has all power in His hands - this will surely come to pass. Preached Sabbath AM on 11-07-21 from Psalm 96.
As our exposition of the book of Hebrews continues we find the apostle provide three proofs from the Old Testament that proves that -Christ is not ashamed to call us brethren-. An astonishing claim but it is backed up by three proofs from the Old Testament. In each of these proofs we find great comfort - for they testify that we look to our elder brother Jesus Christ as our mediator between God and man who is an all sufficient Savior for every deficiency in us to represent us before God. Preached Sabbath PM on 10-31-21 from Hebrews 2-11-13.
As our exposition of the Gospel according to Luke continues, we come to the conversion of Levi and see a man whose heart was so seared towards God that he was willing to be thrown out of the synagogue and become an outcast among his people in pursuit of his god - mammon. But with a word, Jesus Christ converted this hardened sinner's heart. Levi demonstrates what true repentance looks like as he not only leaves behind his old life to follow Christ but also rejoices over his repentance by throwing a feast. Jesus explains clearly to the Pharisees that He has come for sinners and to call them to repentance. In this sermon we see the doctrine of repentance clearly in Levi and it is meant to spur us on to leave all and follow Jesus wherever He leads us in holiness and righteousness. Preached Sabbath PM from Luke 5-27-32 on 10-31-21.
As our series on gospel worship continues, we consider what accompanies the singing of the psalms and find that God prescribes only the human voice in the gospel era. That the instruments of worship were tied to the Levitical priesthood and that the instruments of the Old Testament were abolished when the sacrifices were abolished. But now, the Lord wants the Church to sing acapella - the sacrifice of praise being the fruit of our lips that comes as the product of plucking the strings of our heart. We also survey church history to find that the Christian Church has been very unified on this point for most of Church history. Even to the point that the word acapella derives its meaning from -in chapel style-. Preached Sabbath PM on 10-24-21 from 2 Chronicles 29-25-29 and Hebrews 13-15.
As our exposition of the gospel according to Luke continues, we see the power of the Lord Jesus Christ to forgive the paralytic of his sins and to heal the paralytic of his body. But we find Jesus explain what is most needful - the forgiveness of sins. In addition, we see the faith of the four men and the paralytic expressed in their perseverance to get to Jesus Christ as well as their love for one another - the love that Christ said would mark out His disciples. Preached Sabbath AM on 10-24-21 from Luke 5-16-26.
In our third sermon on Exclusive Psalmody we discover the author of the psalms is not David but the Holy Spirit. As the author of the psalms is perfect and infallible so too are the words that He has composed. That no mere man can compare to the divine composer of the psalms. In addition, we see how the psalms are new songs after the advent of Jesus Christ and to sing a new song is a command to sing the psalms with the light of the gospel shining upon them. Finally, our psalm singing is of no use, if we are not filled with the Spirit who inspired them, they are no use if we do not sing with faith and understanding. Preached Sabbath PM on 10-17-21 from 2 Samuel 23-1-2 and Ephesians 5-17-19.
In Psalm 95, our Psalm of the Month, we see that God is worthy of our worship. We are called to sing praises to God but we are also called to hear the Word of God and to not harden our hearts to His Word. In both ways - singing and hearing - we are called to worship God. We are exhorted to not come into the worship of God merely to sing but also to hear and receive the Words of God as they are in truth - the very words of God. Preached Sabbath AM on 10-17-21 from Psalm 95.
As our series on Worship continues, we consider the first major objection to singing psalms exclusively - that we do not sing the name 'Jesus' in worship. We discover what the name of Jesus portends - that He is the LORD - and that something better than the bare name of Jesus is found in the psalms- His very presence. We experience Jesus Christ when we sing the psalms with His Spirit and have fellowship with Him. Preached Sabbath PM from Colossians 3-16, and Philippians 2-5-11 on 09-19-21.
As our exposition of Luke continues we see the Lord's compassion on a leper. We discover that leprosy is in reality a picture of our great sinfulness. That it spreads and devours us and will ultimately condemn us if not treated. We see that Jesus has the power to cleanse us of our sin. But also that He is compassionate and willing to heal even the chief of sinners if they would come to Him. All of that is encompassed in this blessed phrase, -I will- be thou clean-. Preached Sabbath AM on 09-19-21 from Luke 5-12-16.
In this Sabbath school lesson we learn some techniques by which we can better keep the Sabbath Day in our conversations with the brethren so that our conversations do not dwell on the things of this world, but instead, the things of God, and of our spiritual walk with Christ. The goal is that we would better be able to better enjoy the promised blessings of the day - -Then shalt thou delight thyself in the LORD- And I will cause thee to ride uupon the high places of the earth, And feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father- For the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.---A Sabbath School lesson delivered on 09-19-21.
As our series on worship continues, we begin to investigate the individual elements of worship. We begin with the element of worship that is sung praise. We ask what God has instructed us to sing in the public worship of God. The answer is- His 150 inspired psalms.----In this sermon, we consider how the exclusive psalmody position fits the pillars of worship we have considered thus far. We also consider how the exclusive psalmody position is derived from the Scripture. Lastly, we remember that this was the historic practice of the church from the time of the Jewish Synagogue up to the 6th Century AD and reinforced in the Church Councils and then adopted once again in the Reformation. Proving that this is no aberrant view, but is Coherent with the Principles of Worship, with the Scripture, and also with the historic testimony of the Universal and Reformed Church.----Preached Sabbath PM on 09-12-21 from Colossians 3-16.
In our Psalm of the Month, Psalm 94, we consider the cry of the psalmist, -Who will rise up for me-- --We find his answer - -God, to whom vengeance belongeth-. In the psalm we are exhorted that in an evil day such as ours - we must plead with the God of vengeance to arise for us. --So we would remember, -vengeance is mine, I will repay, saith the Lord-. We must sing this psalm, that the Lord would rise up, to bring down wicked men. And we must look to Him alone for it. --In so doing - we can rest in Christ - remembering we ourselves were once objects of God's vengeance, until Christ took God's vengeance on Himself for our sake to make us His inheritance that He is concerned for in our psalm.--Preached Sabbath AM from Psalm 94 on 09-12-21.
In our Thanksgiving service, we are given a new commandment by Christ- to love one another as He has loved us. This is a challenge for our flesh - for Christ has loved as no other has loved. We survey the ways in which Christ has loved us and are exhorted to see that the distinguishing mark of the Christian society is that its members love each other in this way. Preached Sabbath PM on 09-05-21 from John 13-33-35.
In our Communion Service we reflect on the undying love of Jesus Christ. His eternal love that was manifest in time to -His own- through His suffering on the Cross and will endure eternally for His is an unquenchable love. We see that love on display in the Lord's Supper and we are called to meditate upon that love in the sacramental actions. Preached at a Communion Service Sabbath AM on 09-05-21
In our preparatory service for the Lord's Supper we are called to weigh in the balance our love for the world with our love for Jesus Christ. We are called to examine our love for the world, mortify it, and inflame our love for Jesus Christ as we prepare for the Communion Table. Preached Sabbath PM on 08-29-21 from 1 John 2-15-17.
As our exposition of Luke continues, we see Jesus ordain men who will preach the message of the kingdom and catch men alive for Christ. Fishers of men. Such men are humbled and brought low before Christ who forgives them and commissions them to catch other sinners forsaking all and leaving all to follow Jesus Christ. Though this text applies particularly to ministers of the gospel, all Christians will find application from its core message. Preached Sabbath AM on 08-29-21 from Luke 5-1-11.
As our exposition of Hebrews continues, we consider the truth that Jesus Christ was ordained to be the captain of our salvation by God the Father. But in order to save us, He must suffer, and suffer as a man. Though He is perfect in holiness and awesome in splendor and majesty - the astonishing word we have is that -he is not ashamed to call us brethren-. We learn how One so holy and righteous could be unashamed of sinners like us and grow to praise God for our Savior all the more. Preached Sabbath PM from Hebrews 2-10-11 on 08-22-21.
As our exposition of Luke continues, we see why the Lord Jesus Christ says that He is constrained to preach the kingdom of God - for it is why He was sent. In this sermon we are exhorted to understand the kingdom and our need to enter into it as well as seek it, and why the church must give first place to preach the kingdom of God as Jesus did. Preached Sabbath AM on 08-22-21 from Luke 4-40-44.
In this sermon we are exhorted to remember the manifold mercies of God in Jesus Christ. Both in His saving works for us and also the many trials and difficulties in our life that He has brought us through - in each case remembering it was the LORD that had helped us. If we would condition our soul in that way, we would be prepared for current and future trials remembering, -the Lord is my helper, I will not fear-. Preached Sabbath AM on 08-15-21 from 1 Samuel 7-1-12.
As our series on Hebrews continues, we are exhorted to grow in our spiritual sight of Jesus Christ. So that when our physical sight perceives that which is contrary to the Word of God's testimony of Jesus Christ - we would walk by faith and not by sight. Preached Sabbath PM on 08-15-21 from Hebrews 2-5-9.
In the psalm of the month, Psalm 93, we are exhorted to see that the LORD reigns over all. Including the enemies that come against us like a flood. We are exhorted to see the great majesty of the Lord Jesus Christ to know that He has absolute power over all things for the sake of His Church. That we must have our attention focused on Jesus Christ so that we would see that the floods are simply noise in His ears. With that in view - we must walk in holiness and make sure that -the LORD reigneth- describes the disposition of our own heart towards Jesus Christ. Preached Sabbath AM on 08-08-21.
As our exposition of Luke's gospel continues - we consider the event where Jesus heals Peter's mother-in-law. We see that Jesus Christ has come to save the whole man. In the process we understand where sickness comes from and that the Lord Jesus Christ will ultimately reverse all of the effects of the fall on both body and soul for His people. Preached Sabbath AM from Luke 4-38-40 on 07-25-21.
As our exposition of Hebrews continues, we see the first major warning in the book against apostasy. In it - we find that the Spirit's remedy for apostasy is to be earnest in heeding the Word of the Lord. If we will, we will stay on the straight and narrow both and not drift from Jesus Christ. Preached Sabbath PM on 07-25-21.
As our exposition of Luke's gospel continues, we see the Lord Jesus Christ deliver a demon possessed man through the preaching of His Word. We are exhorted to be under the preached Word of God - for it is the great means of deliverance given to us to free us from our captivity to sin, the world, and the devil. Preached Sabbath AM from Luke 4-30-37 on 07-18-21.--Outline--I. The congregant's captivity.-II. The demon's profession.-III. The Lord's preaching.
In this section of Hebrews we see Jesus Christ as the superior mediator. Far greater than the angels, who were involved in the giving of the Old Testament law. The glory of Jesus Christ is on display as the apostle cites seven Old Testament promises fulfilled by Jesus that prove Christ is far more glorious than the angels. --Preached Sabbath PM on 07-11-21 from Hebrews 1-4-2-3.--Outline--I. The desire for the angels.-II. The more excellent Son. -III. The greater condemnation.
In this sermon we are exhorted to see that sinful man's pride refuses to make him see that they are in need of Christ's mercies - for that would make them admit that they are sinners. Instead, the pride of man is such that he seeks to make Christ his servant. Instead, we are exhorted to humble ourselves before the mighty hand of Jesus Christ so that He might exalt us in due time. Preached Sabbath AM on 07-11-21 from Luke 4-22-30.--Outline--I. The prideful response.-II. The humble reception.-III. The wrathful reaction.
Our psalm of the month is Psalm 92. A psalm that extols the glory of the Sabbath Day. In this sermon we hear that we do not enjoy the Sabbath because we do not enjoy Jesus Christ as we should. Instead we are to be grateful on the Lord's Day for the works that Christ has performed for us and to praise Him from the heart for them all. Preached Sabbath AM on 07-04-21 from Psalm 92.--Psalm 92 proclaims that the Sabbath is--I. A day to praise Christ's work.-II. A day despised by Christ's foes.-III. A day to feed on Christ's grace.
We return to our series on the book of Hebrews and we consider the high Christology of its third verse. That we would see the glories of our Mediator Jesus Christ and have the impression of His glory transform us and enable us to run the race marked out for us by looking unto this glorious Mediator given to us by God. Preached Sabbath PM from Hebrews 1-3 on 06-27-21.--Look to a glorious Mediator who is--I. The brightness of God's glory.-II. The sole purifier of your sins. -III. In session at God's right hand.
As our series on Luke continues, we see the first public actions of Jesus' ministry. Which is to preach from Isaiah 61 - that He has come to deliver the poor, the brokenhearted, the captives, the blind, and the bruised and reminded that we must see ourselves in that light. Christ clearly proclaims the gospel and we hear that He demonstrates the good news of salvation centers on His person.--Preached Sabbath AM from Luke 4-14-22 on 06-27-21.--Jesus is sent--I. To public worship.-II. To the miserable.-III. To deliver them.
In this sermon, we revisit the Temptation of Christ. To understand the devil's devices when he operates as the tempter. So that we may be able to better resist temptation by the grace of God. Preached Sabbath AM from Luke 4-1-13 on 06-20-21.--The Temptation of Christ--I. The principles-II. The devices-III. The cycles
As our series on gospel worship continues, we are exhorted to know what distinguishes elements of worship and circumstances of worship. We find that the lack of clarity on this has led to chaos in the worship of the churches of God. But God has said that He is not the author of confusion but of peace and wants all things done decently and in order. To understand the distinction between elements and circumstances allows us to be confident that we are not offering strange fire - but instead are doing all according to the apostolic rule- -do all things decently and in order-. Preached Sabbath PM from 1 Corinthians 14 on 06-13-21.--Outline--I. The need for order in worship.-II. The need for defined elements of worship.-III. The need for understanding circumstances of worship.
In our Psalm of the month, Psalm 91, we see that the Christian is exhorted to not walk by fear in this world. But can expect to have the shelter of the Almighty if they are constant with Christ and are freed from all the fears our society peddles. Whether it is fear of viruses, powers, or even death itself. To be freed from fear is to become like Jesus Christ who feared no man - but feared God alone. Preached Sabbath AM from Psalm 91 on 06-13-21.--Outline--I. My profession -1-2-.-II. Thy refuge -3-13-.-III. His pledge -14-16-.
In our Thanksgiving service after the Lord's Supper - we are exhorted to walk by the grace we had received. By seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. We are exhorted to put away worry and anxiety for that is idolatry. Instead, we are to remember in how many ways the Lord has said that He will care for us. To be loosed from worry frees us to put the kingdom of God and His righteousness in the first place of our lives. Preached Sabbath PM on 06-06-21 from Matthew 6-33.--Outline--I. Put away idolatrous worry and put Christ first.-II. Give first place to the kingdom and His righteousness.
In our communion service we were exhorted to remember that Christ accepts sinners and eats with them. What the Pharisees thought was repugnant is truly the glory of the gospel and the hope of the Christian. Sinners are invited to come to Christ and His Table, but they must come as repentant sinners, forgiven by Jesus Christ, and then ready to deny themselves, take up their cross, and follow Him. Blessedly, Christ feeds them in the Supper so that they are enabled to do it. Preached at a Communion Service, Sabbath AM from Luke 15-1-2 on 06-06-21.--Jesus Christ--I. Friendly to brokenhearted sinners.-II. Feasts with repentant sinners.-III. Feeds hungry sinners.
In our communion preparation service, we are confronted with the central question of the Bible- -What think ye of Christ-- This question centers our religion on the person and work of Jesus Christ. It is a discriminating question worthy of our self-examination before we come to the Lord's Table. Preached Sabbath PM on 05-30-31 from Matthew 22-42.--The question is, -What think ye of Christ---I. The Question Apprehended-II. The Question Answered-III. The Question Applied
In this sermon, Rev. Mark Koller exhorts us to be -True Presbyterians-. Not just in form of government, but also in character. We hear that this divine form of Church Government reflects the very character of Jesus Christ. Preached Sabbath AM on 05-30-31 from Acts 15.--The True Presbyterian-I. Sees all authority as coming from Christ-II. Submits to the authority of Christ in all things-III. Is humble and always willing to serve others-IV. Seeks oversight in all areas of life-V. Cannot live without discipline-VI. Strives for peace, but is not afraid to stand and fight-VII. Is sensitive to the fragile nature of the church-VIII. Is always awed by the beauty of the church-IX. Is governed by elders
We begin a new series on the Beatitudes. In the first Beatitude we consider the blessing that comes from becoming a beggar of divine grace, -Blessed are the poor in spirit-. That those who beg the Lord for grace, having no righteousness of their own, will receive the kingdom of heaven. We are exhorted to not be proud, but to be humbled in the sight of God, that He might lift us up. Preached at a Prayer Meeting on 05-18-21 from Matthew 5-1-3.--Outline--1. The context- Christ the Mediator.-2. The character- poverty of spirit.-3. The blessing- the kingdom.
In this sermon we are encouraged to see the Lord Jesus Christ victorious over the temptations of Satan. We see how necessary our Savior's triumph over the tempter is - to give us His righteousness. We see the great suffering of our Lord Jesus to reverse what Adam had done in the garden. As He triumphed over the temptations of Satan in a world left in the ruined state the Adam left it in. Finally, we are exhorted to recognize that in temptation Christ stands ready to help us - having experienced temptation Himself. Preached from Luke 4-1-13 on 05-16-21.--Outline--1. The suffering Christ-2. The succoring Christ.
In this sermon we are exhorted to see the need to watch and pray lest we enter into temptation. Several practical ways to be watchful are provided - but the greatest of all is to love the Lord with all thy heart, with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. Preached Sabbath PM on 05-16-21.--Outline--I. What is entering into temptation--II. Why are we so weak against temptation--III. How can we watch for temptation-
In this sermon we are exhorted to recognize the need to preach the gospel in the open-air. In the marketplace and in the places where the lost congregate. Not just inside of the church building. That they might hear the words of life and be converted. To understand that even if they do not, the mere fact that Christ and His work are glorified as a public witness will be to the glory of God. Preached Sabbath PM on 05-09-21 from Proverbs 1-20-33. --Open air preaching--I. Where Christ preaches.-II. What Christ preaches.-III. How Christ preaches.
In this sermon we consider Luke's genealogy of our Lord Jesus Christ. We are exhorted to value of the Bible's genealogies and discover why the Holy Spirit takes Christ's genealogy all the way back to Adam. Our need to understand Adam's historicity - and to know that by his fall all men descending from him -by ordinary generation- are corrupted by original sin. That presents the need to be found in the Last Adam and we are exhorted to flee to Christ by faith and find the blessings that come to us through Christ's victory. Preached Sabbath AM on 05-09-21 from Luke 3-23-28.--Outline--I. The last Adam's genealogy.-II. The first Adam's ruin.-III. The last Adam's triumph.
As our series on worship continues, we consider the rule for worship - what is called the Regulative Principle. A principle that comes from the Bible - which teaches that whatever is not commanded is forbidden in worship. In this sermon we are exhorted to hear of the heart of the principle and also discover how the principle glorifies God and protects the conscience of the worshiper. Preached on Sabbath PM 05-02-21.--Of the Regulative Principle of Worship--I. Its doctrine.-II. Its heart.-III. Its King.
In our psalm of the month, we consider Psalm 90, the psalm of Moses, the man of God. In the midst of his wanderings, he reflects on the shortness of our life, and the eternity of God. Wandering in the desert without a home - his contemplation is that God is his dwelling place. In view of that, the Christian is exhorted to not live for the world but instead to redeem the time and to number their days. Preached Sabbath AM on 05-02-21.--Outline--I. Pilgrim infirmities. -II. Pilgrim dwellings.-III. Pilgrim petitions.
We come to the baptism of Jesus and we hear why the Lord had to be baptized - -to fulfill all righteousness-. Our hope as sinners is found in God being well pleased with Jesus. We see that our salvation is properly Trinitarian as all three persons of the Godhead are present when the heavens were torn asunder at Christ's baptism.--For sinners like ourselves - who have no righteousness of our own, we see that our Lord Jesus came to fulfill the Law of God. That by our union with Christ by faith - we are recipients of the greatest gifts - justification, adoption, sanctification, glorification - through the person and work of Jesus Christ. Preached Sabbath AM from Luke 3-21-22 on Sabbath AM 04-25-21.--Outline--I. Jesus Christ pleases the Father.-II. In Jesus, you please the Father.
As our series on worship continues, we consider the public worship of God. We hear what distinguishes it from secret and family worship. The great glory it brings to God. The great glory that the worship enters into - -the holiest- through the blood of Jesus. --Public Worship is most necessary - as its neglect leads to apostasy. As well, we see that Christ gives leadership of Public Worship to church officers and not civil magistrates or the unordained.--Public worship--I. Is most glorifying and most glorious.-II. Has certain requirements.-III. Is not to be neglected.
In the first sermon in our series on worship, we are exhorted to understand the gravity of worship. That through the charred bodies of Nadab and Abihu - we recognize that we are to draw near to a holy God by hallowing Him. This is the foundation of worship and is necessary before we even consider His prescriptions for worship. Preached Sabbath PM on 04-18-21 from Leviticus 10-3.--Outline--I. A definition of worship.-II. The holiness of worship.-III. Our conduct in worship.
As we continue our exposition of Luke's gospel, we see John the Baptist's rightful esteem of Jesus. He shows that he is not worthy to unloose the latchet of Christ's shoes. He points the multitudes to Jesus and away from himself. We are exhorted to see the power of Jesus in this text - that He alone is the Christ. To find our all-in-all in Him. And to be encouraged when we recognize not only His Might but also His Heart. Preached Sabbath PM on 04-18-21 from Luke 3-15-20.--Outline--1. Look to Christ's Might-2. Look to Christ's Heart
In this portion of Hebrews, we are exhorted to look to the power of Jesus Christ as the God-Man Mediator who possess all power in heaven and in earth. As God - the Creator of all things. As God-Man now the inheritor of all things. We must run our race looking unto the Jesus who posses all power for our sake. If we do, we will remember that without Him we can do nothing and will not try to run the race trusting in any power but His. Preached Sabbath PM on 04-11-21 from Hebrews 1-2.--Outline--I. Jesus' power is exercised as our Mediator.-II. Jesus' power defines these last days.
In this sermon we are exhorted to recognize that no man should expect to be pardoned without repenting of their sin. That due to the Christian being a new creature - the bent of the believer's heart ought to be to turn away from sin and to turn to Christ. We also discover why it is that John preached second table duties in repentance. Preached Sabbath AM on 04-11-21 from Luke 3-7-14.--The grace of God is demonstrated in repentance.-I. Your salvation comes with repentance.-II. Your new nature is demonstrated in repentance.-III. Your repentance is shown in its fruit.
In this sermon we are exhorted that our race cannot be run well unless we run it by listening to Jesus Christ, Son of God, speak to through by His Word. We are exhorted to be in the Word constantly knowing it is the full and final revelation of God and most necessary for us until that day when we meet with Christ face-to-face in glory. Preached Sabbath PM from Hebrews 1-1-2 on 04-04-21.--Run your race by--I. Hearing God speak in the Holy Scripture.-II. Gaining patience and hope from the Scripture.-III. Looking unto JESUS as the full and final revelation of God.
In our Psalm of the Month - Psalm 89, we are exhorted to bring holy complaints to the Lord in our prayers. Asking God to bring to pass the promises that He has promised to His Son- Jesus Christ. Especially when what we see in the world seems contrary to the promises given. Preached from Psalm 89 on Sabbath AM 04-04-21.--Complain for the glory and kingdom of Christ---I. Praise the LORD for His promises to Christ.-II. Appeal to the promises given to Christ.-III. Wait on the promises given to Christ.
We begin our look at the book of Hebrews by looking at its background and gaining a sense of its central exhortation- to behold the unsurpassed glory of Jesus Christ and to consider Him as we run the race that it set before us - ever looking unto Jesus. This is the remedy to apostasy. This is the remedy to discouragement over persecution, sin, famine, or distress. To ever keep our gaze on the glory of Jesus Christ. Preached Sabbath PM from Hebrews 1-1-3 on 03-28-21.--Three exhortations--I. Connect with the background of the epistle.-II. Behold the glory of Jesus in the text.-III. Run with endurance looking unto Jesus.
In this sermon we are exhorted to repent with urgency, as the wrath of God looms over all unbelievers. To not trust in sacraments or bloodlines to save, but instead, to flee by faith to the Lord Jesus Christ. Preached Sabbath AM on 03-28-21 from Luke 3-7-9.--Three urgent needs--I. To disavow your trust in anything but Christ.-II. To acknowledge your status outside of Christ.-III. To repent from your heart in Christ.
In this sermon we hear about the arguments contained in the conclusion to the Lord's Prayer, -For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever Amen-. We hear that our prayers must consider our relation to God and how each petition is in view of God's kingdom, power, and glory. With our Amen expressing that our heart's desire is in alignment with God's. Preached at a Prayer Meeting on 03-23-21.--In the conclusion we argue from--I. The kingdom of God.-II. The power of God.-III. The glory of God.-IV. Our desire.
As Hosea's prophecy concludes, we hear that the Lord so greatly allures His bride to repentance that He says that He will even give her the words to speak back to Him. In every way the Lord is removing every obstacle to our repentance and restoration to sweet communion and fellowship with Him. He even provides a glorious picture of what life would be like with Him if we would just -return to the Lord thy God-. Preached Sabbath PM on 03-21-21 from Hosea 14.--Outline--I. The words of repentance.-II. The grace of repentance.-III. The wisdom of repentance.
We encounter the ministry of John the Baptist in this portion of Luke's gospel as he prepares the way for Jesus Christ. We examine the calling of John in this sermon as we see him as a man sent from God to preach. We hear of our need for plain, direct preaching in the power of the Holy Ghost to cut through the political and ecclesiastical confusion and decline of our time. That preaching must be done by men sent from God, men who preach repentance, and ultimately, men who preach Christ. Just as John did. Preached Sabbath AM on 03-21-21 from Luke 3-1-6.--The Word of God comes--I. To bring clarity to confusion.-II. To men called by God.-III. To preach repentance.-IV. To point us to Jesus.
In the thirteenth chapter of Hosea, we find the gospel message - -Thou hast destroyed thyself- but in me is thine help-. We see how our love for sin has brought ruin and damnation upon us all, but that in Jesus Christ, we find salvation. An investigation into Israel's particular sins shows us how we are all worthy of damnation for what we have done, but the glory of the gospel shows us that we are unworthy of the salvation freely given to us in Jesus Christ. Preached Sabbath PM from Hosea 13 on 03-14-21.---Outline--I. Israel's sins.-II. Israel's destruction.-III. Israel's Help.In the thirteenth chapter of Hosea, we find the gospel message - -Thou hast destroyed thyself- but in me is thine help-. We see how our love for sin has brought ruin and damnation upon us all, but that in Jesus Christ, we find salvation. An investigation into Israel's particular sins shows us how we are all worthy of damnation for what we have done, but the glory of the gospel shows us that we are unworthy of the salvation freely given to us in Jesus Christ. Preached Sabbath PM from Hosea 13 on 03-14-21.---Outline--I. Israel's sins.-II. Israel's destruction.-III. Israel's Help.
In our psalm of the month, we hear from the most mournful psalm in the Psalter - Psalm 88. We see how sorrow is not contrary to the Christian experience and explore some of the reasons why the Lord might bring sorrows into our souls. But ultimately, we see that to sing this psalm with understanding, is to sing it by recognizing the Messianic dimension in it - as it points to the Man of Sorrows, Jesus Christ. Preached Sabbath AM on 03-14-21.--Outline--I. The suffering soul.-II. The Lord's purposes.-III. The Suffering Savior.
In our service of thanksgiving following the Lord's Supper, we are exhorted to never have the love of Christ lose its first place in our life. If we have displaced Him from His proper place in our heart, we are to, by His grace, restore Him to that place that He must rightfully have. Preached Sabbath PM on 03-07-21 from Revelation 2-1-7.--Love for Christ must...-1. Be the root of our works.-2. Have first place in our life.-3. Return us to the first works.
In this sermon we are called to know the infinite love of Christ. Though it is a love that is infinite in every dimension, the child of God is called to fill themselves up and grasp as much knowledge of His love to them as they can. In the mind, in the heart, and in their experiences. Preached at a Communion Service, Sabbath AM on 03-07-21 from Ephesians 3-14-19.--Know the unbounded love of Christ...-1. Doctrinally.-2. Experientially.-3. Sacramentally.
In this preparatory sermon for the Lord's Supper, we are called to prepare ourselves for our everlasting marriage to the lamb of God, Jesus Christ. --In this time of our engagement to the be Lord's, we must prepare ourselves for our marriage day, our everlasting home in heaven, and our bridegroom Christ. --To live as a bride to be -Revelation 19-7- and not as a whore -Revelation 19-2-. During this preparatory sermon we are reminded that the Lord's Supper is a preview of the Great Marriage Supper of the Lamb. Preached at a preparatory service on Sabbath PM on Feb 28, 2021.--Those who come to the Supper must...-I. Be betrothed to Christ.-II. Put away their whoring.-III. Meditate on their bridegroom.
In this sermon, we are exhorted to Confess Christ before men. To suffer for Christ in the midst of a world hostile to Christ's kingship and to endure to the very end and to look forward to the day when it is Christ who will confess us to the Father.--Preached at the reception of five new communicant members on Sabbath AM on Feb 28, 2021 from Matthew 10-16-33.--For Christ's sake...-1. Confess.-2. Serve.-3. Endure.
In the final petition of the Lord's Prayer we see that we are to have a commitment to holiness. To pray that God would deliver us from evil and deliver us from sin. To admit that we are weak in our own strength and that only God may give us the victory over sin. To watch and pray lest we fall into temptation. Preached at a prayer meeting on 02-23-21 from Matthew 6-13.---The sixth petition and the need to --I. Pray after the Lord's cleansing.-II. Know the Lord's purposes in temptation.-III. Ask the Lord's strength for deliverance.
After hearing God will make a provision for the people in His Son in Hosea 11, in Hosea 12 the Lord gives the people their duty - -to turn thou to thy God-. He brings to remembrance the patriarch Jacob. Who ceased being the deceiver and became Israel the -prince of God- who had -power with God-. We are exhorted to turn back from our deceitful ways as Jacob did. Instead to wrestle with JEHOVAH and find our sufficiency in He who is I AM THAT I AM. We remember that the Angel that Jacob wrestled with was the pre-incarnate Christ - and so as we turn to the Lord, we remember that we turn in Christ. Preached Sabbath PM on 02-21-21 from Hosea 12.--Our need to turn to God is demonstrated by...-1. Jacob's sinfulness.-2. Jacob's perseverance.-3. Jacob's sufficiency.
In this portion of Luke's gospel - we observe Christ in action at his youngest recorded age in the Scripture - twelve years old. We hear of how the personality we see in the person of Christ is truly the Son of God's - the 2nd person of the Trinity - who expresses Himself through the full human nature of Christ. We see how the Son of God's personality was also exhibited in His choice of God-fearing yet poor parents. Finally, we remember how Joseph and Mary lost Christ for three days and knowing His glorious Person, we are exhorted to never lose sight of our beloved Savior for even a minute of our lives. Preached Sabbath AM on 02-21-21 from Luke 2-39-52.--Christ's personality is...-1. The Son of God's.-2. Shown in His -choice of- parents.-3. Demonstrated by His desire.
As Hosea's prophecy shifts from the faithlessness of Israel to consider the love and salvation of the Lord, we consider the commitment of the Lord for His people expressed in these words, -How shall I give thee up-- That because of the Lord's everlasting love, He will never destroy His own people. Instead, He will, have mercy and compassion - in Jesus Christ - as He is prophesied in verse 1, -And called my son out of Egypt-. In our backsliding and our sin, we must remember the goodness of God - and are exhorted to quickly repent of sin- never to believe God will not take us back in Jesus Christ. Preached Sabbath PM on 02-14-21 from Hosea 11.--Outline-I. God's love preceded our backsliding.-II. God's mercy calls for our repentance.
In this sermon, we are exhorted to follow the clear commandments of the Lord to evangelize. To go into the streets and lanes of our city and draw in the poor, maimed, lame, and blind. Then to go further into highways and hedges to compel others to come in. To do it for their souls, but even more so to fulfill God's desire as a good servant of Christ - -that my house may be filled-. Preached Sabbath AM from Luke 14-12-24 on 02-14-21.--Outline-I. The Lord's preparation for the feast.-II. The terrible excuses of those invited.-III. The needy who will readily come.-IV. The great effort to fill God's house.
In this chapter of Hosea, we are called to have a sense of urgency in seeking the Lord. Not just for those who must be converted, but also for all of us who must be sanctified, but have been lax in our spiritual duty to cultivate a heart of holiness. Each of us are called to chart out our heart and root out idolatry and unfaithfulness. Not by the flesh, but by the Spirit so that the Lord would gain a fruitful crop of righteousness in our heart. A crop that we are called to wait for in patience and persistence - to seek Him until -'til he come and rain righteousness upon you-. Preached Sabbath PM from Hosea 10 on 02-07-21.--It is time...-1. To know the folly of idolatry.-2. To break your fallow ground.-3. To seek the Lord.
In our Psalm of the Month, Psalm 87, we are called to praise God for the City of God - which is identified as the Kingdom of God - the Church. To speak glorious words about the Church, the place where men and women of every nation, tribe, and tongue come to experience the new birth. Furthermore, we are exhorted to see that the City of God is meant to be a place of glorious praise to Christ, who will call His elect out of the world, to keep them secure until the Last Day when He shows us that the heavenly census is a perfect duplicate of the Book of Life, demonstrating that, -I kept them in thy name- those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost-. Preached Sabbath AM on 02-07-21.--The glory of the Church is unveiled in...-1. Glorious words.-2. Glorious births.-3. Glorious praise.
In the ninth chapter of Hosea, we are exhorted to see that in a state of high-handed sin, no nation, church, or individual has a cause to rejoice over temporal blessings. The Lord's rebuke - is -Rejoice not-- for there is no cause to rejoice when sin is indulged in. Instead, such joys are short-lived for they will come with judgment. We are exhorted to flee from false prophets and false saviors and turn to the true messengers of the Lord and the arms of Jesus Christ for his offer of grace and mercy and forgiveness. Preached Sabbath PM on 01-31-21 from Hosea 9. --For the Church's harlotry...-1. The Lord rebukes her joy.-2. The Lord revokes her blessings.-3. The Lord reveals her sorrows.
We meet Anna, a widow, who delighted to meet her heavenly bridegroom Jesus at the Temple. We are encouraged to observe God's faithfulness to Anna's family, and have our piety challenged by Anna's as we see how she used her time - serving the Lord day and night, longing for the courts of the Lord and for her heavenly bridegroom. We are also exhorted to be an enthusiastic witness for the Lord Jesus Christ as she was. Preached Sabbath AM on 01-31-21 from Luke 2-36-38.--Anna was devoted to Christ ...-1. As a widow.-2. As a worshiper.-3. As a witness.
In Zechariah 13-7, we find that the time would come when the Lord of Hosts would awaken His Sword of Justice against the Shepherd of God's people. This Shepherd is called God's fellow - and is revealed to be the Son of God who took on human flesh to be a man that the atonement for God's people could be efficacious and vicarious. We are called to give glory to God for our salvation in which God struck at God to save His sheep who had all gone astray, so that He could gather them up. Preached Sabbath PM on 01-24-21.-- The Great Shepherd--I. Is the companion of the LORD of Hosts.-II. Is the man struck down by the LORD of Hosts.-III. Is the tender gatherer of His sheep.