Good News Church NYC: Recent Episodes
Pastor Sam Kim
Hebrews 5:11-6:12
What is Christian maturity and why do we need it? The world tells us to resist growing up and maturing. That it is something we should avoid because of the hardships. But, the author of Hebrews tells us the opposite. We must mature at all cost lest we get caught in the allure of the world. To hold on to our faith through the help of the Holy Spirit is imperative for our salvation. For, to give in to the temptations of the world can lead us to reject Christ. In contrast, just as Jesus resisted all temptation in obedience to God we must likewise strive to resist the temptations that plagues us toward perfection - for that is the call of maturity.
Hebrews 2:5-18
In the Garden of Eden, Adam was called to fill the role of a king and all things were supposed to be in subjection to him. The presence of sin subverted God's original call and creation no longer submits to humanity. Jesus came to be the king that Adam failed to be by subjecting all things under his reign and rule. He came has a humble king, a brotherly king, and a priestly king. This sermon explores why Jesus is the better king.
Romans 8:31-39
Death is one of the certainties in life that cause fear. The way to overcome the fear of death is to be certain of another reality: Nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus. The love of God only gives us assurance if love is more than a sentiment. God's love does something to us and for us. In Romans 8, Paul summarizes what the love of God does. We are freed from the curse of sin and death, adopted into God's family, and promised a future glory. This sermon reflects on what the love of God does and what it means for us on Easter Sunday.
Revelation 12:1-17
There is a spiritual perspective to consider when it comes to fear. Satan is angry because he has been thrown down by the death and resurrection of Jesus and he wants to attack the church. Although Satan will attack the church by exploiting our fears, God will protect the church and nurture the church in the present wilderness age.
Psalm 3 - Fear and Rest
Fear can cause a physical reaction. For many, it is the inability to sleep. In Psalm 3, David says he lay down and slept in the midst of a dangerous situation. How could David sleep in the face of danger? Rather than focusing on his enemies, he focused on the LORD. By doing so, he remembered that God was his shield, his glory, and the lifter of his head.
Matthew 6:19-34 - Fear, Money, and Possessions This sermon looks at our fear and anxieties as it relates to money and material possessions. Jesus tells us that we can't serve both God and money because our hearts always pledge ultimate allegiance to one or the other. When our hearts are fully devoted to money and possessions, then we begin to get anxious. The remedy to our anxiety is to seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness.
Matthew 10:16-33 - Fear of Man (Part 2) When Jesus sent out his disciples in mission, he told them to expect persecution and death. In the face of persecution and death, he tells them not to be afraid of those who persecute them. We may be tempted to hide our faith by keeping silent because we are afraid of the consequences. When believers live in a context where Christianity is not welcome, then there will always be a degree of opposition. But Jesus exhorts his disciples not to be afraid of such opposition. He gives three reasons: 1) the truth of what Jesus said will be revealed; 2) People can only harm the body, but not the soul; 3) God cares for us and considers us to be of value to him. This sermon explores the fear of man in the context of mission and Christian witness and how we can overcome those fears through Christ.
Galatians 1:1-10 - Fear of Man (Part 1) The fear of man is something most of us struggle with. We may call it peer pressure, people-pleasing, or codependency, but the spiritual root is the same. The fear of man believes people are powerful enough to give us what we need or are powerful enough to destroy us. Paul confronts a church community that has deserted Christ by following a distorted gospel. This sermon explores the dynamics of the fear of man and how the gospel enables us to overcome our issues in the fear of man.