Second Street PCA: Recent Episodes
John C. Black
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Believers accept God's Word
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Believers accept one another
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Believers accept the Holy Scriptures as the Word of God
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Believers grow in strength by the Holy Spirit through the Word of God written but first must know God Himself.
What path were you on before the Lord stopped you on your tracks? Where do your feet still walk where you have strayed?
Jesus is building his church church by his Spirit through Philip. Philip calls the Ethiopian eunuch, thereby including the Old Testament outcasts to the New Covenant Church.
persecution results in the gospel going to the Samaritans 1) water on a grease fire, 2) welcoming home The prodigals, 3) are you just here for the food? 4) Great joy in the city
We are to be and to make disciples, followers of Christ, not just students. As problems arose within the church, we learn not to murmur and that the church grows and makes disciples through the ministry of the Word of God.
The Apostles joyfully accepted their physical abuse for the cause of Christ because they were considered worthy to suffer for Him. What are we willing to endure? Where is our zeal?
Satan fills the hearts of Ananias and Sapphira instead of the Holy Spirit. God reminds the church of His holiness and His continued zeal for it.
The first and most powerful of a Christian Church to problems which it faces is prayer. We learn from this incident in the early church something about how to pray. Notice to whom they pray and for what they pray.
Peter and John stand up to the Sanhedrin in the boldness supplied by the Holy Spirit. We pray for boldness for ourselves in speaking and doing the Word of God.
The Sadducees priorities were power and wealth.
the Pharisees priorities were prestige through the Law.
What priorities might we have which come before Christ and, therefore, keep us from fully loving Him?
The healing of the lame man at the temple points to the coming of salvation for all men in Jesus Christ and for the new Temple, the church.
The Holy Spirit creates a desire for God. This desire can only be met by a continual devotion to things by which God makes himself known.
The believer in Christ is forgiven and receives the Holy Spirit. Justification, adoption, and sanctification.
The content of Peter's sermon and the content of all Christian sermons is Jesus Christ. The humanity of Jesus is necessary to our salvation.
The first sermon of the Christian church. It was not the tongues that brought in 3,000 souls, but they're preaching of Jesus Christ.
The Bible is the spoken word of God the Holy Spirit. God is sovereign, omniscient, and omnipotent. Therefore, the Bible is true and all that it promises can be trusted to come to pass. It is also indispensable for the church.
Using the godly example of the first disciples of Christ who are awaiting the promised Holy Spirit.
Jesus is on His throne now. He is leading His church, building it. We are to follow Him and build not in our power but in His.
The Day of the Lord is a day of judgment. A day of delight for the holy ones (saints) in Christ, a day of despair and anguish for all others.
What does it truly look like to love God? What is the distinction between law and grace?
Are there ways in which the believer may be robbing God? Money has a powerful grip on many.
The unfaithfulness of God's people today shows up in many ways. The most obvious way is our of abandonment of God's commandments to live life on our own terms, doing that which we know is contrary to God's will, at least for a time.
Malachi charges the priests with faithlessness. They are told if they do not change their ways their line will end. Today the church is a kingdom of priests. We each have our priestly rolls to fulfill. We must follow Christ and present Him in our lives as He is.
The priests who were serving at the rebuilt Temple were not honoring God, therefore their sacrifices were not acceptable to God. We must learn the lesson is that since our lives are lived before the face of God and that all we do is be done to His glory, we need to have a higher view of His glory.
God is sovereign over all nations. He rules in and through the church and His providential care over all things. Christians must learn to think of themselves as a people and not just as individuals.
The people of God have returned to the promised land after 70 years of exile for their sin. The question now is, will God still accept our worship?
God first recognizes and acknowledges the disappointing appearance of the people's work but then gives them the encouragement not to look on externals for he can have as much external Glory as desired. finally, he tells them that the latter glory of his house will be greater than the former glory. God exhorts us not to look at the work of our hands for him through The eyes of Man, but through eyes of Faith. God is at work in the future is glorious.
The word of God calls us to respond. The word of God encourages Us in our response. The word of God enables us to desire him more and more.
The prophet speaks to the people of God who have returned from exile. they were tasked with rebuilding the temple. they had set up the altar and laid the foundations for the temple, but stopped the building process. so the foundation had been laid, that they had been distracted by the world and the flesh. what about us? isn't it time to focus on the kingdom of God?
Paul asks for prayer that he might speak the gospel boldly. What would boldness look like in our lives?
Spiritual armor without prayer isn't at its strongest without prayer. Prayer is to be according to God's Word. Therefore, armor without prayer and prayer without the word are deficient.
The importance of the Christian to know the word of God to be able to resist the attacks of Satan.
While the Christian is protected from God's wrath and receives His blessings, we still have an enemy who is very powerful. But God has provided spiritual armor for our protection. We are called to take it up. In Ephesians 6:16, we see that the evil one has many fiery darts to use against us. This sermon looks at what are some of the fiery darts and how to protect against them.
The Christian believer must have a firm grasp of the Gospel of peace with God as a sure footing and as preparation for the spiritual battles ahead.
The believer in Christ must be prepared to count the cost of following Him and be prepared to suffer the loss of all things for the sake of Him. This is only possible through the power of the Holy Spirit and with his spiritual protection.
The believer is engaged in a constant struggle against the powers of hell. The only way to stand our ground is to do it in the strength of the Lord and the power of His might.
The children of believers are addressed directly in the Bible. they are told to obey their parents certainly going to "in the Lord". We explore the implications of this. Fathers are also addressed. How are we to appropriately parent?
We are justified, adopted, and sanctified in Christ Jesus. Our salvation is secure in Christ but, we are told by our Lord that we are to be careful how we walk because the days are evil.
Having put away falsehood, as believers, we are to speak truth to one another. What does that mean? The body grows itself up in love when each part is working properly. Truth is a necessary condition for proper functioning.
Jesus gives spiritual gifts to His church in order to strengthen it. The Church is responsible for the stewardship of these gifts to build itself up in love.
We know that God can do anything, but what is he willing to do? God can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine. But we limit our prayers by doubting not God's power but His willingness.
If you want to mature as a Christian, pray for the love of Christ to be poured into your heart by the Father through the Holy Spirit. This is Paul's prayer for all believers.
God displays His manifold wisdom to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places (over which Jesus Christ as been elevated) throught the Church. The Church is the eternal plan of God in Christ, therefore, we are not to lose heart. Christ will build His church of which we are a living, vital part.
The Kingdom is where God rules. The Family of God is where God indwells. The Temple is where God lives. Christians are together members of all three.
Not only were we dead in our sin, but we were separated and alienated from our only hope.
Since Jesus is Head of the Church, He 1) exercises authority over it, 2) unifies it to himself and each member to each member, 3) He directs the church (mission), and 4) He nourishes the Church.
The power of God toward us gives us hope. Hope in the power for our regeneration and perseverance. Hope for the power of God for our worldly and spiritual battles.
If Paul could be transformed from a vicious heart of Christ and His Church and them there is hope for all of us. Our identity is in Christ and defined by Christ.
Habakkuk's confusion led to complaint, but his confidence in God led him to joyful worship. How do we move from complaint to rejoicing by resting as power, residing in his pleasure, relying on his plan, and remembering his promises.
How do we move from confusion and chaos to confidence and praise? God speaks and we respond appropriately.
The church's mission is to fill the earth with the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ Jesus.
God answers Habakkuk. Tells him to write the vision on tablets. The word of god is firm and sure. God is the rock of our salvation. The righteous are not only saved by faith but are to live by that same faith, especially things seem darkest.
When life is difficult to understand, we must stand fast on our knowledge of who God is and not try to make Him into someone we want Him to be. God is who He is. And that is good.
How do we move from confusion and anger, as believers, to praise and trust? By remembering who God is and who Jesus Christ is for us.
God tells Habakkuk that He sees the evil in Judah and is in the process of gathering judgment against her. Judgment delayed may be judgement in preparation. If judgment is coming over our nation due to sin, God will first deal with His churches in this nation.
We sometimes see trials, tribulations, and difficulties in our lives and in our world, along with sin and violence. We ask, along with Habakkuk, "Why?" and "How long?" How do we move from the position of confusion and anger to praise for our God, as did Habakkuk?
The believer is strengthened and made stable in an increasingly unstable world by God who has the power to do so through Jesus Christ, who was born in a stable.
Paul begins this section demonstrating personal love for the saints and the work of the church being carried out by hard-working men and women. Then, he moves on to tell them to avoid those who cause divisions and make stumbling blocks, those who deceive with flowery language and flattery. Where do we see this in the church today? Why such division?
The church is weaker than she needs be because we are not striving together in prayer. Why should we pray? Because the Head of the Church commands it and because He loves us.
The task of the church to spread the gospel all over the world, to make disciples. Each believer is to support participating in that great commission
Paul commends the Roman church, reminds them of their need for further sanctification, and a desire for more churches. Are we "full of goodness and knowledge and able to admonish one another?
God is the God of peace. Christ humbled Himself to fulfill the Abrahamic Covenant so that Jews may be saved by faith and also to show mercy to the Gentiles that they may glorify God along with Israel.
In order for the church to speak with the prophetic voice to civil government (or to the world) in a more meaningful way, there first will need to be a greater unification of the churches. This can only be done by the work of the Holy spirit, bringing truth by the Holy Spirit-inspired Scriptures.
The neverending debt to love others. The law defines love and love is the law's inspiration. (John Stott).
Paul calls the civil authorities His servants. All people are called to submit to their authority. How is the Christian and the Church to respond when civil government oversteps its proper authority or when it commands the evil?
As Paul calls the church to submit to the governing civil authorities we first take a look at the nature of authority and submission and why we have so much trouble with it.
How is the transformed Christian to respond to the world? Our different way of thinking will transform our interactions.
Love should define the relationships amongst the people of God. What should this love look like?
Romans 12: 1- 2 told us to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. Versus 3-8 tell us how we are to think about our spiritual gifts which are to be used building up of the church.
Pastor Rick Clayton. Is not the quality of our faith, but the object of our faith, Jesus Christ, which matters.
The life of Christian belongs to Christ. Paul implores us to live lives of total submission. He does not call us to die for Him but to live for Him who has died for us.
Our theology should drive our doxology and our doxology should drive us to theology. The knowledge of God, in faith, drive us to praise. Knowledge without love is cold, dead religion. Love with our knowledge is idolatry. Both result in self-worship.
Anyone who is saved is saved by God's mercy alone. This should humble us and drive us to praise God.
The New Testament church is not a new creation out of nothing. The gentiles in the New Testament church, according to Romans 11:17, have been grafted into the Old Testament root. This Old Testament root (The Abrahamic promises) nourishes the New Testament church. Therefore, all the promises to spiritual Israel are either fulfilled in or still promised to the New Testament church. The warnings to faithfulness still stand as well.
The privileges of being a Christian. Our close relationship to the Father. That it is possible for the believer to do works which are good in his sight.
The Christian is no longer under a covenant of works or law, but of grace in Jesus Christ. The law pointed to Jesus Christ. The law was fulfilled in Jesus Christ. And now the law is written on the heart of the believer.
All have sinned and are fallen and yet all have grace available to them for whosoever shall call upon His name shall be saved. We must call upon Him with faith and know and trust that He is God.
How the believer is to pursue righteousness without legalism and without pursuing in the flesh.
God's justice and mercy in the salvation of sinners and His justice in their condemnation.
Paul had great sorrow continual anguish of his heart over the lost over the Jews. We too should feel this great anguish over the lost. It should motivated us to greater worship and evangelism.
A brief explanation of paedobaptism. ("Abraham is not Moses" means that the Old Covenant is not the same thing as the Abrahamic Covenant and the Mosaic Covenant is different from the Abrahamic Covenant.)
God has loved His people and has predestined them to conformity to the likeness of Christ and to glorification. Once God has promised His love, nothing and no one can ever separate us from it. It is He who first loved us and will love us forever, and never will death do us part.
Paul continues to summarize what he has put forth in the first part of this letter, that man is falling but has a Savior in Jesus Christ. He puts forth four characteristics of Christ's work on the cross for the believer which should give us assurance of our salvation in Christ.
God did not spare His own Son for us all. How will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Our salvation is secured by God in Christ.
One of the most often quoted verses of the Bible. It teaches the omnipotence (all-powerfulness) of God over all things and His omnibenevolence (all-goodness) toward the believer. What is meant by "all things" and what is meant by "good"?
As finite creatures of God, even though regenerated by the Holy Spirit, we do not have infinite knowledge of God's purposes. Sometimes we don't know how to pray as we ought. It's during these times that the Holy Spirit is our helper in prayer.
The most important question of all, who was the baby in the manger? What was the incarnation?
The Bible does not sugarcoat suffering in this world. Christians are not excluded from the suffering. The entire creation groans waiting the future Redemption the sons of God, our glorification! How are we to deal with sufferings in this present time? By focusing on future glory!
The primary purpose of the Spirit's leading in the believer is unto holiness and righteousness. As the Spirit of Adoption we know we are the children of God and are, therefore, His by choice and we have a right to all the children of God.
If you are a born-again believer, you have the Spirit of God dwelling in you? For what purpose? How does His presence manifest Himself the life of a believer and in the church? By promoting and enabling His people to lives of righteousness and holiness.
Walking in the Spirit and walking in the flesh are the real difference between life and death. The non-Christian can't see it at all but faith comes by hearing. We call, God chooses
The believer in Christ has been freed from damnation. He has been giving the Spirit to enable the fulfilling of the righteous requirements of the law, not unto salvation, but because of God's work of sanctification by His Spirit in those who have already been justified by His free grace in Christ alone.
Paul takes us on a deep-dive into looking internally at the work of the law in his inner life. His conclusion is to see himself as wretched and in need of rescue which leads him (and us) to Chapter 8!
Given everything that Paul has said thus far, when might come to the conclusion that the law is bad. Paul says that nothing could be further from the truth.
Paul shows us Justification and Sanctification from still another perspective. Here, Paul uses the law of matrimony to demonstrate that we have died to the law in Christ so that we might "belong to another". That other is Jesus Christ, no longer being under the law but under grace. All of this is in order that we would bear fruit for God. The Christian will bear the fruit of righteousness.
Paul, having spent five chapters explaining who we are in Christ and that we are declared righteous (justified) by faith in Christ alone and that we have been reconciled to God, now takes a look at at sanctification (how a believer is to think of sin in his/her life). We must get justification AND sanctification right.
The believer is "dead to sin" in Christ Jesus. How does the knowledge of this help us to fight the remains of sin in our personal lives?
A person is either "in Adam" or "in Christ". Those in Adam are under the dominion of sin and death. Those in Jesus Christ, through faith, reign in life through the grace and righteousness of Jesus Christ our Lord. Grace ALWAYS trumps condemnation.
The proof of God's love for us is seen in the death of His Son in which we are saved from the wrath of God. And not only this, we, in Christ, are reconciled to God.
As a result of our justification by faith we have peace with God and have access into this faith in which we stand. We also have our hope of future glory strengthened in this present darkness. Therefore, we are to be rejoicing even in our sufferings.
- Wrath 2. Rest 3. Life 4. Growth 5. Glory 6. Assurance
- The law brings wrath
- The promise rests on grace
- God brings life
- Faith grows
- God is glorified as our faith grows
- The assurance of our salvation is based upon faith in the promises of God not on works of the law.
What is the place of the non-Jewish faithful in the Old Testament promises of God in the New Testament under the New Covenant? (Faith being defined as "walking in the faith-footpath of Abraham".)? And what about circumcision?
- Faith's Content 2. Faith's Quality 3. Faith's Hope. What is the place of faith and works in the life of the true believer? What is saving faith?
Often called "The Heart of the Gospel", these verses define some of the aspects of our salvation that we may tend to overlook. This message looks to define these terms and to challenge us to rise to what Paul sees as a necessary implication; no boasting in anything except the gospel for our hope and salvation.
Maybe we Christians think we are better than other people since we have been enlightened by the gospel of Christ. The Bible teaches that we are not, in and of ourselves, in our own personal behavior, any better. We must beware of thinking that we gain salvation through our behavior because this can lead to legalism, false pride, and the preaching of a false gospel to the world.
What was the advantage of the means of grace in the Old Testament? What is the advantage of the means of grace in the New Testament? First, it exposes the participants to the word of God but without faith these things are not beneficial unto salvation.
Salvation has always and only been a matter of the heart from the fall of Adam to this very day. Circumcision was a sign and seal of actual regeneration. It was a form and shadow of the reality in the Christ to come. New Testament baptism represents the same thing. Salvation has always and only been a matter of the heart obtained by faith through grace in Christ alone.
This is a sermon about Christian introspection. Are you a true believer or hypocrite? The Holy Spirit, speaking through Paul, gives us opportunity to examine this to do something about it.
All will stand before the judgment seat of Christ. Judgment is based in works, even our consciences stand against us. The law demands perfection. The only perfect person was Jesus. The believer is clothed in His righteousness and has his conscience renewed.
God judges by works. The righteous are rewarded with honor, glory, and peace. The unrighteous with wrath. How are the works of a Christian rewarded?
The judgment of God will be revealed in "the Day of Wrath". Paul says that when a person judges another, they can then themselves because they themselves sin. Therefore they are without excuse. There is godly judgment. What does it look like? We must each see ourselves honestly, then we may have right judgment.
The Righteousness of God for man is manifest from faith for all who believe. The Wrath of God upon men who suppress the knowledge of God in their sin is manifest from Heaven.
This sermon explores the power of the gospel and the righteousness of God. The power of the gospel works by the Holy Spirit unto salvation by imputing to us God's righteousness for us.
In this introduction of Paul's, we learn about who he is and his authority over the church. We learn about what the gospel is and who it's about. We learn about who Jesus Christ is and who we are in Christ. Paul is a called-Apostle and we are called-saints.
The assurance of the coming of Jesus Christ and what He desires for us in the meantime.
We're given another glimpse of what the glorified church will look like. It is invincible, beautiful, fulfilling, and glorious. And may be hard to see the church in this way now, but this is it's true identity.
What happens AFTER heaven? And what about now? On the cross, Jesus said "It is finished." In Revelation 21, God says "It is done."
This sermon looks at what the Bible says about God's final judgment on the non-believers and the believers.
This sermon takes a look at what is meant by the binding of Satan and the sealing of the abyss. The mission of the church can be hindered by Satan but not stopped and not destroyed.
One of the final steps of the church's spiritual warfare, which is led by Jesus Christ, is the judgment of the beast and the false prophet.
Incorrect views of who God is abound. It is important for the believer to have an accurate view of who God is as He has revealed Himself in His Word. Here, in Revelation 19, we see Him revealed as a warrior fighting for His church and furiously fighting against evil. In the end, every evil force will be utterly defeated and fully punished. Those in Christ should have no fear. Our God is for us!
Does God care about evil governments? Does he care about or able to do anything about the evil worldly system of economics (all the greed and exploitation)? The answer is, yes! And the Day is coming when not only will evil people be judged but the entire system will be destroyed never to rise again. And heaven rejoices!
The church is called to come out of "Babylon" because it is being judged. The kings and all merchants of the world mourn at Babylon's destruction. How about the church? Will we mourn her destruction or will we rejoice with heaven? Are we so in love with the world that we seek its perpetuation? Are we like Lot's wife?
Jesus Christ is Lord of lords and King of kings. Though all the armies of the world should attack His church and His purposes with a single-minded unified physical and spiritual attack, they are defeated and we are more than conquerors.
The beast is demonized (evil) state government. In this section we see the final rise of the beast (the mother of all beasts). It is a rise to destruction. This is a call to see the rise of beastly governments and to prayerfully seek the good of our world through the advance of the gospel and of the defeat of evil.
Chapter 16 shows the bowl judgments upon unbelieving mankind and against the kingdoms and authority structures controlled by Satan. Chapter 17 takes a closer look at this judgment, particularly the judgment of the city of man, here in called Babylon the harlot, the mother of harlots. Christians are called to come out of that city and not to be stained by it. Christians are called to stay awake and not to be caught unawares.
The kings of the world, being deceived by Satan, are unified in setting themselves on thrones above God. They become unified in their attack on Him and His rule. The Christians are told to "stay awake".
This sermon looks at the wrath of God poured out on the ungodly. This should inspire our evangelism, give us greater thankfulness for our salvation, and comfort us in our afflictions knowing that God will set all things right.
There are times when things don't seem to be going well for the believer. Then you may look around and see "the arrogant and the prideful " prospering. The psalmist reacts, as too often we all do, resentfully and angrily. The psalmist recognizes that this is not good and so it puts him in slippery place. The answer? Know that God is always with us and upholds us with His omnipotent hand.
In this chapter, God is about to pour out his bowls of wrath on this world's wicked system of chaos against God and His people. But first we are reminded that this is to prepare us for His presence forever.
A sermon on the wrath and grace of God. The wrath of God is a topic which is typically neglected or over-emphasized. To understand salvation, we need to understand from what we have saved.
What does it mean to be "blessed"? Is your life as a Christian best described as an artificial Christmas tree decorated with ornaments and lights or as a living tree producing fruit for all to see?
An eternal gospel is proclaimed, the fall of the demonically inspired Babylons of the world announced, and the unending punishment of the wicked assured. It's a Christmas message!
The angel tells us to fear God. The angel of Luke 2, announcing the birth of Christ to the shepherds, tells them to fear not. The command to "fear not" is one of the most frequently repeated commands in scripture. So which is it, are we to fear or not to fear? This sermon explores this question.
The heavenly perspective of the church. Times maybe difficult circumstances can be hard but we need to see through eyes of faith. The church will sing the new song, the Victory Song! The songs we sing at church end at Christmas are humans and preludes to the singing of the redeemed of all the earth.
Bob Hammond brings the Word from Second Street's pulpit this morning. God is light, Jesus is the light. The light has come into the world, this is good news. All are called to receive Him and live by and in His light.
The second beast rises up out of the earth. The first beast rose up out of the sea. The dragon stood on the seashore and called them forth. The Bible tells us that the dragon is Satan, we can clearly infer that the first beast is demonized a power and the second beast, we are told in later chapters, is the false prophet. We are told that the state and the false prophet work together. The false prophet only has power in the presence of the state, the The false prophet, in turn, causes all the nonbelieving world to worship the state. In this sermon, we look at what all this means and what do we see going on in our world today.
The first beast arises from the sea. It represents demonically possessed state government. It is empowered by the dragon (Satan). The Christian is to continue his witness in the world in spite of the beast's blasphemous speech. The true believers in Christ are sealed and protected. Their names are written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain.
11/7/21 Satan has been defeated and cast out of Heaven. However, he has been cast down to Earth. His attention is now completely focused on the church. His attempts to destroy her are thwarted, the church dwells secure in the wilderness nourished by God. Satan then turns his attention on individual churches and Christians. His wrath is great because he knows his time is short. What is the Christian to do?
As Jesus gives His life on the cross, there is warfare in heaven. As Jesus lies in the tomb, there is warfare in heaven. As Jesus ascends into heaven, the enemies of God in the heavenlies have been disarmed. The Devil and his angels are cast out and there is now now means if condemnation for God's people.
This sermon, as an exposition of Rev. 12:1-6, is about the spiritual warfare in which the church has engaged ever since the garden (I'm using the word church to prefer to God's people related to Him by faith throughout time). In this text the church is seen as a woman about to give birth, and then does give birth to Jesus Christ and the New testament church, but is assailed by the dragon. God is greater than all and protects and nourishes the church.
In this sermon we look at the seventh trumpet, the end of the world. It is the third great woe of the series of trumpet judgments. It is a time of the coming of the kingdom of God and the rewarding of the believers, but the time for judgment of the world and destruction of the destroyers of the world. In the meantime, what are we to be doing? What is God doing behind the scenes?
A sermon preached at Second Street Presbyterian Church in Albemarle, NC. www.secondstpres.org
This sermon is about the witness of the church in the world. We see the first mentioning of the Beast of Revelation (demonically inspired government persecuting the church). The witness of the church is what Satan desires to destroy. He has successes. But the church survives in resurrected glory. The church is to continue its witness to the end of the age.
What happens when chaos is unleashed in the world? This sermon looks at how God uses chaotic and malevolent forces as 1) preliminary just judgments, 2) calls to mankind to recognize the evilness of evil and, 3) calls to repentance. However, man still turns its back on God and refuses to repent. Only in Christ does man see the truth.
This sermon looks at the role of demonic activity in the world through lives non-believers. We look at how the increase in iniquity is a result of judgment of God. The believer cannot be hurt by this attack. The believer sealed fellow spirit but we must stay focused on Christ and we can be greatly deceived.
The role of disasters, the rise and fall of evil nations, and the spiritual forces behind these things. What is to be the church's response and what should be the world's response? www.secondstpres.org
How is the Christian to think of natural disasters and other trials which are common to man?
In this sermon we are asked how believers today in Haiti, Afghanistan, China, or in other countries suffering from natural disasters and/or persecution might apply this text. Silence comes before the judgment of God in awesome anticipation. The prayers of believers are answered in the coming judgments and protections. The coming trumpets are warnings to unfaithful churches and to all non-believers to repent.
The believer is sealed and protected from the wrath of God. We will worship Him forever around His throne. We also see a picture of what awaits the nonbeliever. This helps us to see the beauty, value, and extent of our salvation. Not to us but to God be the glory?
Revelation 7 answers the question of Revelation 6, "for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?”. Who can stand? Only those sealed by the Holy Spirit of Christ who are numbered by the Father and washed by the blood of the Lamb.
God will protect His church. This doesn't mean that believers won't go through trial and tribulation. Yet God is in control. There will come a Day of Judgement, a great day of wrath. Believers are to have victory by keeping their faith in the one who has had victory over the world.
Part two of the throne room scene. The Lamb takes the scroll. All worship is centered on the Throne of God and of the Lamb. Jesus Christ is found worthy of worship and worthy to complete the redemptive mission of God.
What is at the center of it all? In Revelation 4 - 5, God opens the door to heaven and shows a vision of just what is at the center of it all and what is going on behind the scenes.
The church of Philadelphia had "a little strength" but would be a pillar in the temple of God. The church should never judge her affectivenss and strength on worldly standards.
Jesus told the church in Sardis that they were dead. Yet, there was a small remnant which still lived. They were called to wake up! Else Jesus would come in judgment. What were they to do? Strengthen what remained. Is this our condition in this country? How do we strengthen what remains?
The church and thy attire had given in to compromise with its culture. They not only tolerated immorality, but they had a teacher who was promoting it and she was being tolerated. We have to be careful, in our day of "cancel culture", that we stand firm on the rock of Christ Jesus. We cannot compromise with a culture that has compromised with Christ.
The church at Pergamum successfully withstood cultural and governmental persecution, including the execution of Antipas (a local church leader). And yet, inwardly, many members were worshiping the gods of the city and engaging in immoral sexual behavior. God promises to give Himself to those who repent and remain faithful. Is the church today guilty of this?
The church at Smyrna receives only commendation and no condemnations and yet they have tribulation, poverty, and are blasphemed. God promises that their tribulations have purpose, they are actually rich, and that if they are faithful unto death they will receive the crown of life.
A church can be concerned about theological correctness (and this is good) but if it has not love it is a sounding gong. The answer is to repent and remember the live they had at first. Truth without love is harsh and leads to death. Love without truth is idolatrous and also ends in death and Christ will remove the Spirit from that church.
In this section of The Revelation the Spirit reveals to us that Jesus (the Son of Man, So of God Incarnate and Glorified) is in the midst of His churches as their High Priest and King. He is in control of all things and the church is at the center of all that He is doing in the world for His glory.
In the sermon we look at the revelation of God and His triunity. He is Almighty and all rule and dominion belongs to Him
Our introduction to the sermon series on the book of Revelation. Introduction to the various themes and an explanation as to its understandability.
Which things belong to Caesar and which things belong to God? How would you answer that question?
From Galatians 2. We look at the significance of the fact of our being crucified with Christ because the believers are "in Christ". Therefore we are to put to death the deeds of the body, to crucify the flesh. Is Paul says, "the life I now live in the body I live by faith in Jesus Christ."
This sermon looks at Hebrews call for prayer for the church leaders and the prayer (benediction) which the author prays for the church. Which raises the question, do we pray for the same blessings for which our hands are outstretched to receive in the benediction?
This sermon looks at the significance of the fact that Jesus was sacrificed outside the camp. One of the important implications of this is that all of the world now has access to his beneficial sacrifice.
This sermon declares that we are to remember good Christian leaders (those who did not teach their own thoughts but rather the Word of God). What does it mean to imitate their FAITH? Also a call to leaders to live lives worthy of Remembrance, Consideration, and Imitation.
The Love of money is a snare. What is the proper perspective which we should have on money? Hint: where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
This sermon looks at the injunction from the Holy Spirit to not be in love with money. 1) Love of money can make you unfruitful for the Kingdom of God, 2) Love if money can keep you from Christ, 3) There is a connection between fear and love of money, 4) Love of money is a snare, 5) Money can be used for good. Money is not evil, the human heart is evil. 6) Wealth can be a blessing or a curse in the hands of the believer.
In this sermon we continue to look at how God calls us to live in response to persecution. Honor marriage. We address two questions; 1) Why does marriage matter to God? 2) Why is the world seeking to destroy it?
This sermon looks at how the author of Hebrews tells the church we are to live in the midst of persecution and trial.
This sermon looks at how we should worship God in reverence and awe as we have escaped His judgement and are welcomed into His presence.
In this text the writer of Hebrews points us to the reality of where we worship and where we live as believers. What the spiritual realities are. We live in the city of the living God. And that gives us permanence, protection, and peace.
The sermon looks at the relationship between the pursuit of holiness in the presence of the grace of God.
What is holiness IS possible for the Christian? If not sinless perfection, then how clos can we get? Is it legalistic to even try? In this sermon we take a closer look at what holiness actually is, why we should pursue it, if it is actually possible to achieve, and if so, how to go about it. Personal righteousness and peace and closely tied together in scripture. Let's take a look.
This sermon looks at the idea of the discipline of God. Are we in the midst discipline? If so, what do we learn? What should we do?
This sermon compares and contrasts the first coming of Christ in the second coming yet to come.
At Christmas we celebrate the arrival of Jesus Christ. Let's not forget what He came and that He is The Word Made Flesh, truly man and truly God.
What are we to do when "the world drags you down?" Look to Jesus. He endures the Cross by looking forward to the JOY set before Him. We need purpose and hope for endurance. We find this in the example of Jesus and by His Spirit indwelling us.
The sermon looks at the fact that sometimes believers have a smiling providence and sometimes not. Is this an indication of stronger or weaker faith? Or is something else going on here?
This sermon is about the faith which enables the believer to forsake the pleasures and powers of this world in order to remain faithful to the Lord.
The sermon talks about how God uses faith people to fulfill his promises. The fulfillment of his promises is not dependent on his people, but he uses his faithful people in the accomplishment of his plans.
Continuing the sermon series in Hebrews, particularly Hebrews 11, we come upon a couple of verses about the faith of Sarah. It is also about the faith of Abraham. The sermon is about the obedience that comes by faith and the outcome of that obedience. we are not Abraham and we are not Sarah. We are not called to do the same things that Abraham and Sarah were called to. We are called to do the things that we are called to do in God's Word. And we can do these things by faith. The same faith in the same God.
This sermon looks at the fact that Noah built the ark by faith. He became inheriter of the righteousness that comew by faith. people are saved in the old testament just says they are in the New Testament, by faith. And the author of Hebrews is careful to tell us that's not just faith alone but faith in Christ alone. People in the old testament trusted in God. We are to trust in God. We are to cling to God by faith, we are not to abandon hope, and we are to do what he is told us to do until he returns.
This sermon looks at Enoch. In Genesis we are told that Enoch was taken by God and did not die because God was pleased with him because he walked with God. Hebrews tells us that he was able to do this by faith. We are encouraged to have the same faith, therefore we too can walk with God and be pleasing to him.
This sermon is about dealing with persecution and trials in the Christian Life. These things are to be expected but, in Christ, they have meaning and purpose. Faith is the necessary instrument of our response. The Christian faith is a marathon, not a sprint. We have need of endurance.
In this sermon we look at what it means to have direct access to God. And since we have access and a great high priest who intercedes for us in Jesus Christ, we are to draw near, hold tight our confession, and to encourage other believers. we are told not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together as is the habit of some.
Hebrews 9:27
"And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment." ` This sermon is about how the only hope for a person to be able to stand in the judgment is in Jesus Christ.
For over a thousand years, sacrifices of animals was offered to God, their blood was spilled, to cove the sin of the people to allow them to live in the land. Then Jesus comes, the final High Priest, and offered Himself as the once for all sacrifice. Therefore, there is no more for us to do to be able to enter into and to remain in God's presence. We are to strive for holiness knowing that we have already been made perfect. We strive for Christlikeness not to earn God's love but because we already have it.
This sermon is about the ministry of the Christian's High Priest, Jesus Christ. He is seated in power and the minister of the New Covenant in which He has written the law on our hearts and minds.
This sermon is about progressive sanctification and instantaneous sanctification and justification. Several attributes of Christ are listed in verse 26, and since we are being transformed into Christ's likeness and image, these attributes should be becoming ours as well. The good news is they already are ours through faith in Christ even as we strive to exhibit them in our own lives.
This sermon looks at hope, not hopefullness, hope. The Christian's hope is external to him/herself. The Christian's only hope is Christ.
This sermon looks at this difficult section of Hebrews. Can a person lose their salvation? Is a warning being made against an event which cannot occur? What is the purpose of this warning? We must pay much closer attention lest we drift away.
In the sermon we explore how Christians need to continually deepen their faith and theological perspectives and understanding. We see that being a victim of persecution or anything else requires us to have a High Priest who deals with us gently but at the same time deals with us as he ought, challenging us to go further.
This sermon is about how Jesus, as our High Priest, is able to sympathize with our weaknesses and able to be genly with the ignorant and wayward. We have a holy God who is able to deal gently with us.
In this sermon we look at the deceitfulness of sin, the need to stay connected to the body of Christ (the Church), and the necessity of examining our hearts today.
The sermon talks about the need for perseverance in the ground for it. Also that we are the House of God and that He, Jesus, is the builder if this house. We are all called brothers. We are all made family in the house of God. This unity, with Christ and with one another is the basis of our strength.
- Through suffering and death Jesus destroyed the one with the power of death, the Devil. 2. Through suffering and death Jesus propitiated the wrath of God. 3. Through suffering and death Jesus helps His people.
In this sermon we look at the example of Jesus' suffering to give encouragement to those who are now suffering or will suffer. For those in Christ, suffering has redemptive purpose. God reveals Hid very nature in His method of bringing many sons to glory. It demonstrates even more so than creation ex nehilo His power and glory.
The church is still in the world even if not of the world. There will be trials and persecutions. We walk by faith and not by sight. What we will be has not yet been fully revealed but there will be a reversal. We will be rulers with Christ will all things in subjection to Him.
In this sermon we look at God's call for us to clean much more closely to his word. It is our tendency to drift away from what we have heard. We must not only hear but cling to his word. In what ways are you being distracted? What is distracting you? What are you focusing on? We must be careful to pay much closer attention to what we have heard less we drift away from it or it from us.
This sermon focuses on the fact that Jesus is King of all Kings. We explore the implications of this for our lives and how we are to see Satan and the "Ruler of this World" as well as how we are to interact with worldly governments and authorities.
We continue to look at Hebrews to see the Majesty of Jesus Christ. In this sermon we see that he is indeed superior to the angels, and that he is the creator king who is controlled universe. His majesty and might and grace and glory are more than we could possibly imagine. He is greater than any problem we may face.
The Easter 2020 message in the midst of the Corona pandemic. The miracles of Jesus culminate in His resurrection. His resurrection provides for our justification. We are with the disciples on the road to Emmaus as they meet with Jesus (unbeknownst to them at first) and He shows them the necessity of the death and resurrection of the Christ from the Old Testament scriptures.
We begin our series in Hebrews by reading through Habakkuk (of course). Main Theme: What is God doing in the global pandemic? God is Heir, Creator, Sustainer, Redeemer. As such, He uses all things for His own purposes and God has spoken by Son. Gentle and lowly in spirit.
Joshua is now an old man near the end of his life. He leaves his parting words with Israel. We also explore some of the parting words of Jesus and the Apostle Paul.
A theme is "A faithless generation can arise right behind a faithful one".
How are we to maintain our faithfulness and help to secure the faith of future generations?
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Faithfulness to the Written Word of God - "Be very strong to keep and to do all that is written in the Book of Moses" Joshua 23:6
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Don't be conformed to the world.
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Be very careful to CLING to and to LOVE the Lord your God.
Caleb represents for us a believer who followed the Lord with his whole heart. He was promised an allotment of land by Moses. He now comes to Joshua to ask for the promised land. He get it because God honors His promises.
What is actually promised to the believer?
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Christ's presence with us through all circumstances.
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Trials and tribulations.
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Heaven, eternal life.
The Christian believer is to radically and faithfully follow Christ and rejoice in ever circumstance because He in control and all things are working together for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purposes (Rom 8).
We are to be anxious for nothing but in all things with prayer and supplication with thanksgiving we are to make our requests known to Him and the PEACE OF GOD which surpasses all understanding will guard our hearts and our minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:4-7).
Joshua is old and there is still much land left to conquer. Today is a good day to look at our won lives and ask whether we have accomplished much and for us to see there is much yet to do. How are you doing? And as you look at your possible futures, see this, God is already there ahead of you.
Rev. Clayton fills Second Street's pulpit this week! His sermon is on James and John's (sons of Zebedee) request to sit at the right hand of Christ in His kingdom. It is a sermon about discipleship and humility.
This sermon talks about what is called the Gibeonite Deception. In it we see that God actually saves a group of people among those whom He has devoted to destruction out of His mere good grace. He does this by "using sin sinlessly". He uses the lies of the Gibeonites and the hubris and gullibility of the the Isrealite leaders. 1 - The Problem - not seeking the counsel of the Lord in our lives 2- There is always a right way to go from the mess you have made in life 3 - We must pray for wisdom and know the Lord in order to not be deceived by the world, the flesh, and Satan.
In this sermon we look into another aspect of spiritual warfare. 1. Jesus is a Warrior. (God has three institutions in the world: 1) government 2) the church 3) the household). 2. Our necks should be beneath Christ's feet. 3. Christ places His neck beneath the feet of His Father.
This sermon examines the covenant relationship of the Gibeonites to Israel and the ways in which it parallels the Christian's covenantal relationship to Christ and His church. We can call our God to our aid because He has promised to be on our side but He also covenants to do all things for our good and for His glory.
This sermon is based on the covenant renewal ceremony of Joshua 8. The question before is, where do we stand? We are in the valley between cursing and blessing. Choose life. Choose Christ. He is our blessing. He is our righteousness.
This sermon looks into Joshua's second attempt to defeat the city of Ai. The application for us is to see our gracious God forgiving us and fighting for us as OUR king in that even the physical wars of Israel were, at their heart, spiritual battles.
Joshua 7 is the story of God standing against Israel because of the sin of Achan. This sermon compares Rahab (the Canaanite who was to be devoted to destruction) and Achan (a son of Israel, a child of the covenantal promises). Yet it is Rahab the prostitute who inherits the promise and not the member of the tribe of Judah. This demonstrates that salvation is by faith and that faith demonstrates itself in actions.
Joshua sermon series. This sermon focuses on the difference between living faith and dead faith. It examines the place of works in the life of a believer.