Living Way Reformed Presbyterian Church: Recent Episodes
In this evening sermon from Acts 10:9-23, Pastor Rockhill considers the vision God gave to the Apostle Peter upon the rooftop of Simon the Tanner. As Peter prays and grows hungry, he falls into a trance and beholds a great sheet let down from heaven filled with clean and unclean animals, hearing the command to rise, kill, and eat. Though Peter resists, the Lord declares three times that what God has cleansed he must not call common. Pastor Rockhill's central burden is to show how the Lord was preparing not only Cornelius but the church itself for the ingathering of the Gentiles. He explains that the vision overturns the Old Covenant dietary restrictions and the whole ceremonial system, for Christ has cleansed all defilement by his once-for-all sacrifice and has conquered the curse of death. The believer now enjoys true Christian liberty, receiving every good gift with thanksgiving to the glory of God. More than food is in view, however. Pastor Rockhill draws upon Ephesians 2 to declare that the middle wall of separation between Jew and Gentile has been broken down, so that the two are made one new man in Christ. What God has cleansed, no one may call common—including those once counted outside the covenant. Applying the text, Pastor Rockhill reminds the congregation that as the gospel expands, things change for good, as God gathers people from every nation, tribe, and tongue. He calls the saints to reflect this reconciling grace, receiving one another and showing hospitality as Peter welcomed the men sent from Cornelius.
In this sermon from John 4:15-24, Pastor Rockhill traces Jesus' conversation with the Samaritan woman at Jacob's well as it turns from living water to the heart of true worship. His central burden is that mankind was created to glorify and worship God, yet apart from grace people worship in ignorance, serving the creature rather than the Creator. Pastor Rockhill shows how Jesus compassionately pursues this lost woman, gently exposing her sin and her broken history not to shame her but to bring her into the light, that she might confess, be forgiven, and be restored. He reminds the congregation that Christ still does this for His people today through His Word, His Spirit, and faithful friends who love one another enough to speak the truth. Moving to the woman's diversion about the proper place of worship, Pastor Rockhill unfolds Jesus' declaration that the hour has come when true worshipers must worship the Father in spirit and truth. He stresses that sincerity alone is not enough; acceptable worship requires both the indwelling Holy Spirit and the revealed truth of God's Word, over against man-made, self-imposed religion. Applying this pointedly to the modern church, Pastor Rockhill warns against worship reduced to performance and driven by preference and emotion. He calls hearers to heed Jesus' words, "believe me," to receive the living water of the Spirit, and to offer worship that is both Spirit-led and truth-governed, all to the glory of God alone.
In this evening message from Acts 10:1-8, Pastor Rockhill turns the congregation's attention to Cornelius, a Roman centurion of the Italian Regiment stationed in Caesarea. Though a Gentile of Gentiles—neither ethnically, religiously, nor ceremonially a Jew—Cornelius is presented as a devout God-fearer whose faith was sincere, whose household shared his devotion, and whose life overflowed with constant prayer and generous alms toward the poor. Pastor Rockhill's central burden is that God truly hears and receives the prayers and worship of His people. When the angel declares that Cornelius' prayers and alms have ascended as a memorial before God, echoing the grain offering of Leviticus 2, we learn that this Gentile's worship was accepted as a sweet-smelling aroma even though he was barred from the temple. Here the fulfillment of the covenant promise to Abraham comes into view, as the gospel presses beyond Israel to the Gentiles and the wall of separation begins to fall. Doctrinally, the sermon highlights worship in spirit and truth, the sufficiency of Christ's once-for-all sacrifice, and God's providential ordering of the encounter that will prepare both Cornelius and Peter. Pastor Rockhill draws a tender application for the believer: though we receive no angelic visitation, we may rest assured that in Christ our great High Priest, God is mindful of us, hears our prayers, and answers by the working of His Spirit, all to the glory of His name.
In this sermon from John 4:1-15, Pastor Rockhill opens the account of Jesus meeting the Samaritan woman at Jacob's well, showing that this was no chance encounter but a divine appointment kept by the eternal Son of God. Pastor Rockhill sets the scene against the deep, centuries-old animosity between Jews and Samaritans, underscoring that Jesus deliberately went through Samaria to seek out one despised and outcast woman. His central burden is that the gospel is to be freely offered to everyone, of every nation and station, just as Christ regarded neither the learned Pharisee Nicodemus nor this sinful woman as beyond His grace. Pastor Rockhill draws out the true humanity of Christ, weary and thirsty at the well, even as He remains fully God, so that He might identify with sinners as their perfect Mediator. He then unfolds the meaning of the living water Jesus offers: not the temporary relief of Jacob's broken cistern, but the Holy Spirit, springing up to everlasting life and satisfying the deepest thirst of the soul. With patient persistence, Christ pursues the woman despite her rude, earthly, and stubborn responses, modeling the compassion believers must show as they witness to the lost. Yet she remains fixed on physical water, blind to her spiritual need. Pastor Rockhill applies this searchingly, warning against a surface-level faith that wants forgiveness without repentance or Christ without transformation. He tenderly invites every hearer to come to Jesus and ask, "Sir, give me this living water," that they might be washed, renewed, and made new to the glory of God alone.
In this message from the closing verses of John 3, Pastor Rockhill draws out the final witness of John the Baptist to the surpassing greatness of the Lord Jesus Christ. Against the backdrop of jealousy among John's disciples, who were troubled that Jesus drew larger crowds, Pastor Rockhill shows why John could say, "He must increase, but I must decrease." The central burden is that Christ is greater than all — greater than John, the apostles, the prophets, and every preacher — and that this greatness demands a response. Working through verses 31 to 36, Pastor Rockhill unfolds three ways Jesus is greater. He is greater in His origin, for He comes from above as the eternal Son of God and Creator, while man is of the earth, mere dust. He is greater in His witness, for He alone has seen and heard the mysteries of the Godhead and always speaks the very Word of God, unlike our fallible and often inconsistent testimony. And He is greater in the gifts He has received, possessing the Spirit without measure and all things from the Father, yet graciously sharing these gifts with His people. Pastor Rockhill presses home the doctrine of Christ's essential and mediatorial kingship, magnifying the wonder of the incarnation and the cross, where Jesus bore the wrath of God in the place of undeserving sinners. The application is urgent and searching: there can be no fence-sitters. Verse 36 sets before every hearer the difference between life and death — those who believe the Son have everlasting life, while those who reject Him remain under the abiding wrath of God. Pastor Rockhill lovingly calls each listener to respond in faith, to the glory of God alone.
In this evening sermon Pastor Rockhill traces Peter's missionary travels through the Gentile regions of Lydda, Sharon, and Joppa, showing how the risen Christ continued to build His church through the ministry of His apostle. The central burden is that Peter possessed no power in himself; every mighty work was done in the name and by the authority of the living Jesus Christ, confirming the word of the gospel so that many turned to the Lord. Expounding the healing of the paralyzed Aeneas and the raising of Tabitha, called Dorcas, Pastor Rockhill draws out the faith of Peter and of those he served. He lingers on the meaning of "saints" as ordinary believers made holy by justification through faith, not a special class of super-Christians, and he honors Dorcas as a faithful woman who abounded continually in good works and charitable deeds toward the poor and the widows. Doctrinally the sermon dwells on the sovereignty of God over life and death, the confirming purpose of apostolic miracles, and the fulfillment of Christ's promise in John 14 that His disciples would do His works to the Father's glory. Pastor Rockhill notes how Peter's lodging with Simon the tanner foreshadows the passing away of the old ceremonial order and the gathering of Jew and Gentile into one body in Christ. By way of application, he calls the congregation to live faithfully for the Lord even in small, hidden acts of service, to rest not in signs and wonders but in the Spirit and the truth of God's written Word, and to bear witness so that Christ may draw many to Himself.
In this afternoon exposition of Luke 19:11-28, Pastor Rockhill preaches the parable of the ten minas, spoken by Jesus as He drew near to Jerusalem and the crowds mistakenly expected the kingdom of God to appear immediately. The central burden is a charge to faithful stewardship: rather than being consumed with speculation about the timing of Christ's return, believers are called to be busy in the work their Master has entrusted to them until He comes. Pastor Rockhill unfolds the parable's purpose, its players, and its instruction. The nobleman who departs to receive a kingdom pictures Christ, who through His obedience, death, resurrection, and ascension has secured all authority and now reigns, though the fullness of His kingdom is not yet come. The servants represent the visible church, each entrusted with gifts—abilities, spiritual graces, and the gospel itself—to invest for God's glory. The hostile citizens picture those who reject Christ's rule. With pastoral care, Pastor Rockhill distinguishes reward from merit, insisting that salvation rests wholly in the grace of God through Jesus Christ, while faith must nevertheless bear fruit. He warns that the unfaithful third servant portrays the false professor, a Christian in name only like Judas, whose resentment of the Master exposes an unregenerate heart, and that Christ's return will bring both gracious reward for the faithful and just judgment upon those who despise His gifts and reject His reign. The sermon closes with an earnest exhortation: labor diligently in the Spirit's power, undistracted by the cares of this world, so that at the King's certain return He may be pleased and glorified.
In this morning message from John 3:22–30, Pastor Rockhill draws out the humble example of John the Baptist as a pattern for every believer who seeks to serve Christ faithfully. When John's disciples grow jealous that Jesus is baptizing and drawing larger crowds, John refuses to be threatened. Instead he reminds them that a man can receive nothing except what is given him from heaven, and he rejoices that his God-given mission is being fulfilled. Pastor Rockhill shows how John understood his calling as a forerunner and herald—the voice crying in the wilderness, the friend of the bridegroom whose joy is made full when the bride is led to the groom. John was never the Christ, the King, or the Messiah; his whole ministry was to point people to Jesus and then to fade into the background. The central burden of the passage is captured in verse 30: "He must increase, but I must decrease." Along the way, Pastor Rockhill addresses the danger of loyalty to a man overtaking devotion to the mission, warning that admiration for a faithful teacher can slip into pride, division, and even idolatry. He points to the sovereignty of God ordering both John's ministry and Christ's, and to the humility that trusts God's plan. The application is searching and personal. More Jesus and less John means more Jesus and less of each of us. Echoing Galatians 2:20, Pastor Rockhill calls the congregation to be crucified with Christ, living lives that fade into the background so that those around them see the Savior exalted, all to the glory of God alone.
In this morning sermon from John 3:17-21, Pastor Rockhill brings the conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus to its climax, unfolding the true purpose for which God sent His only begotten Son. Contrary to the popular Jewish expectation of a political Messiah who would come to condemn the Gentile oppressors, Pastor Rockhill shows that Christ came not to condemn the world but that the world through Him might be saved. The world already lay under condemnation because of sin, and its deepest need was not judgment but salvation and deliverance. Drawing on the covenant promise to Abraham and its fulfillment in Galatians 3, Pastor Rockhill stresses that this salvation extends to sinners from every nation, tribe, and tongue. The central burden of the message is faith: the one who believes in the name of the only begotten Son is not condemned, while the one who refuses to believe is condemned already. He grounds this in the sovereignty of God as Creator and in the reality that all people stand guilty in Adam, so that there is no injustice when God freely saves some and passes over others. Pastor Rockhill then presses the searching contrast between those who love darkness and hate the light lest their evil deeds be exposed, and those who do the truth and come to the light. He applies this pastorally, assuring believers that there is now no condemnation in Christ, and calling them to walk openly as beacons of light, bearing witness to the gospel amid a world darkened by sin.
In this evening message from Acts 9:22-31, Pastor Rockhill traces the astonishing transformation of Saul of Tarsus, the church's fiercest enemy, into its boldest witness. Drawing on Galatians 1 to fill in the years of study in Arabia and Damascus, he shows how the man who once breathed threats against the disciples now confounds the Jews by proving from the Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ. The persecutor has become the persecuted, hunted by the very council that once armed him. Pastor Rockhill highlights the sovereignty and providence of God at every turn. The Lord's own word to Ananias, that Saul was a chosen vessel appointed to suffer for Christ's name, governs the whole account, and it is God who exposes the murderous plots so that Saul escapes over the Damascus wall and later flees Jerusalem for Tarsus. Salvation and calling rest entirely on the Lord's purpose, not on human confirmation. A tender pastoral note falls on Barnabas, the son of encouragement, who dares to embrace and vouch for Saul when the frightened apostles hold back. Pastor Rockhill urges every believer to be, and to seek, such a friend in critical moments of faith. The sermon closes with Luke's summary that the churches, granted peace, were edified and multiplied. The central burden is that the gospel advances under persecution and prosperity alike, prospering wherever God's people remain faithful. Pastor Rockhill calls the congregation to that same boldness, going out into the world to proclaim Christ for the glory of God alone.
In this evening message from Acts, Pastor Rockhill traces the aftermath of Saul's dramatic encounter with the risen Christ on the road to Damascus. The central burden is the sovereign grace of God, who not only converts the fiercest enemy of the church but appoints him as a chosen vessel to bear Christ's name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. Pastor Rockhill draws attention to the faith and obedience of Ananias, who, though rightly fearful of Saul's murderous reputation, trusted the Lord's word and went to lay hands on him. His tender greeting, "Brother Saul," becomes a striking picture of the peace and reconciliation that only the gospel can bring, reminding hearers how simple words of grace can comfort a troubled soul. The sermon underscores that Saul's calling rested not on chance but on God's eternal decree, set apart from his mother's womb like the prophet Jeremiah. Pastor Rockhill also weighs the Lord's warning that Saul must suffer many things for Christ's name, showing that this affliction would humble his pride and conform him to his suffering Savior, so that in weakness he might be made strong. Application flows from God's providential care over his people. Just as the Lord protected the believers of Damascus by changing the heart of their persecutor, so he guards his church still, often thwarting evil without our knowledge. Believers are called to marvel at redeeming grace, to receive repentant sinners as brothers, and to go forth as bold witnesses declaring the glory of Christ to the nations.
In this sermon Pastor Rockhill draws the congregation to what he calls the very heart of the gospel, meditating on the single, familiar verse of John 3:16 within the account of Jesus and Nicodemus. His central burden is that this beloved verse is not a sentimental slogan but a searching declaration of God's incomprehensible love, one that demands a response from every hearer. Pastor Rockhill first anchors the love of God in the character of God Himself, warning against reducing the Lord to a single attribute. God is love, yet He is equally and infinitely holy, just, wise, and true, so that His love can never be severed from His other perfections. He exposes the modern corruptions of "love is God" and "love is love" as idolatry that unmoors love from its only true anchor. Turning to the object of that love, Pastor Rockhill carefully unfolds the meaning of "the world" as fallen and rebellious humanity gathered from every nation, tribe, and tongue, and he distinguishes God's general love from His special, redeeming, covenant love for the elect chosen before the foundation of the world. He then magnifies how this love was manifested: God gave His only begotten Son through the incarnation and, supremely, as the propitiation for sin at the cross. Pastor Rockhill closes with a solemn application, pressing every listener to either humble himself and believe unto everlasting life, or harden his heart and perish, urging all to rest in Christ alone.
In this evening message from Acts 9:1-9, Pastor Rockhill traces the dramatic encounter of Saul of Tarsus with the risen Christ on the road to Damascus. He sets the scene by showing how the martyrdom of Stephen unleashed a fierce persecution that scattered the church, and how Saul, breathing threats and murder, made it his consuming mission to eradicate the followers of the Way. Pastor Rockhill presents Saul as the unlikeliest of converts, a ruthless enemy of Christ whom many would have judged beyond the reach of the gospel. The central burden of the sermon is the sovereignty of God in salvation. Pastor Rockhill stresses that Saul was not seeking Jesus; rather, the Lord sought out and arrested His chosen enemy, revealing His glory in blinding light and equating persecution of the church with persecution of Himself. Here is grace shown to a man who deserved only judgment, and a calling to become a minister and witness to Jews and Gentiles alike. Pastor Rockhill carefully distinguishes what is common to every conversion from what was unique to Saul. All who are saved are by nature lost enemies whom God graciously calls, yet the bright lights and the visible appearance of Christ were tied to Saul's unique appointment as an apostle. Applying the text, Pastor Rockhill comforts believers whose conversions were quiet or gradual, warns against making Saul's experience the standard, and urges the congregation to bear faithful witness, trusting God to save even those thought unsavable.
In this sermon from John 3:9-15, Pastor Rockhill draws a sharp distinction between merely knowing about the truth and actually believing it. His central burden is that knowledge of Scripture, however vast, profits nothing apart from saving faith, and that such faith is impossible without the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit. He illustrates this with the figure of Nicodemus, "the teacher of Israel," a learned and revered Pharisee who nonetheless could not grasp the necessity of the new birth. Pastor Rockhill shows how Jesus upends the Pharisaic framework, which presumed entrance into the kingdom of God through natural descent from Abraham and diligent law-keeping. Against this, Christ insists that no one can see or enter the kingdom unless born of the Spirit. Tracing the Old Testament witness of Ezekiel 36-37, Psalm 51, and Jeremiah 31, the sermon underscores that this transformation of a heart of stone into a heart of flesh is the sovereign gift of God, not the fruit of human works. The sermon presses on to the gospel itself, foreshadowed in the bronze serpent of Numbers 21. Just as the dying Israelites looked in faith and lived, so the Son of Man was lifted up on the cross that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. Pastor Rockhill applies this pointedly to modern skeptics and so-called scholars who study Scripture yet reject it, warning that head knowledge without a regenerate heart leaves one perishing. He exhorts believers not to be content with knowing the truth, but by God's grace to believe it unto eternal life and to bear faithful witness to others.
In this sermon from Psalm 26, Pastor Rockhill draws on the familiar image of a final exam to confront every hearer with the reality of standing before Christ in judgment. Just as David boldly invites God to vindicate, examine, and try his heart, so believers are called to welcome God's searching scrutiny now rather than dread it on the last great day described in 2 Corinthians 5:10. Pastor Rockhill walks through David's testimony, showing what a passing life looks like: keeping God's covenant lovingkindness ever before the eyes, walking obediently in God's truth, separating from the wicked while remaining a witness in the world, seeking cleansing from sin, offering thanksgiving, and loving the house and people of God. Yet the central burden is that none of these works can save. David's plea, "Redeem me and be merciful to me," reminds us that our righteousness is but filthy rags. The doctrine pressed home is justification by grace alone through faith in Christ alone. Only Jesus walked in perfect integrity without slipping, and His vindication in the resurrection secures the believer's standing before God, men, and angels. Pastor Rockhill closes with a tender, urgent application: examine yourself daily through the Word, the fellowship of the saints, and the trials God sends, and rest wholly in the perfect righteousness of Christ. Those who trust Him now will hear Him say on that day, "This one is mine," and will not be disappointed.
In this communion-season message from Luke 18:9-14, Pastor Rockhill takes up the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector to expose the pride and self-righteousness that cling to every child of Adam. His central burden is that genuine faith walks the way of humility, both before God and before others, and that this humility is not optional but the very pattern of life into which Christ calls his people. Pastor Rockhill contrasts the two men who went up to the temple to pray. The Pharisee trusts in his own works, parading his fasting and tithing while looking down on others with contempt; his prayer is filled with "I" and is really a conversation with himself. The tax collector, by contrast, stands afar off, beats his breast, and cries, "God, be merciful to me, a sinner." One leaves justified; the other does not. Doctrinally, the sermon presses home that our own righteousness is but filthy rags and that justification comes only through the imputed righteousness of Christ, received by the humble, repentant sinner who pleads for mercy. Pastor Rockhill points to Jesus himself, who humbled himself to the death of the cross, becoming sin for us that we might become the righteousness of God in him. The application is searching and pastoral. Pastor Rockhill urges hearers to examine their hearts for hidden pride, to confess their sin honestly, and to put off self-righteousness and contempt while putting on the humility of Christ in every relationship, especially as they prepare to come humbly to the Lord's table.
In this sermon on John 3:1-8, Pastor Rockhill considers Jesus' nighttime conversation with Nicodemus, a Pharisee and ruler of the Jews. His central burden is the absolute necessity of the new birth: unless one is born again, he can neither see nor enter the kingdom of God. Pastor Rockhill sets the passage against the close of John 2, where many believed because of Jesus' signs, yet Jesus did not commit Himself to them because He knew their hearts were unchanged and still dead in sin. Working carefully through the text, Pastor Rockhill explains that to be born again is to be born from above, a spiritual birth wrought by the Holy Spirit alone. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but only the Spirit of God can impart new spiritual life. Drawing on Ezekiel 36 and 37, he shows how the sprinkling of clean water and the breath upon the dry bones picture regeneration, the sovereign transformation of a dead heart of stone into a living heart of flesh. The doctrine pressed home is the sovereign, gracious work of God in regeneration. Like the wind that blows where it wishes, the Spirit falls upon whomever God has appointed unto salvation, so that they truly believe in Christ. Salvation is therefore a gracious gift, entirely to God's glory. Pastor Rockhill applies this as both encouragement to true believers seeking assurance and a warning to false professors who rest in heritage, ritual, or works. He calls hearers to examine their hearts, cling to Christ, and boldly proclaim that sinners must be born again.
In this evening message from Acts 8:26-40, Pastor Rockhill traces the account of Philip the evangelist and the Ethiopian eunuch, drawing out a single steady burden: that believers are called not to produce results but to be faithful with the Great Commission. Coming off his ministry in Samaria, Philip might have been discouraged, yet when the angel of the Lord directed him toward the desert road to Gaza, he simply arose and went—no questions, no complaints. Pastor Rockhill emphasizes that the fruit of evangelism belongs to God alone. We cannot convince or compel anyone to believe; only the Spirit convicts and converts. Our task is to be ready, prayerful, and willing to go wherever the Lord leads, trusting that He is preparing the hearts of those He sets in our path even as He prepares us. The sermon dwells on the Ethiopian reading Isaiah 53, the prophecy of the silent suffering Servant. Beginning at that very Scripture, Philip preached Jesus—His substitutionary death, His resurrection on the third day, and the forgiveness of sins. Pastor Rockhill reminds the congregation that faithful witnesses must know the Scriptures and the story of redemption that runs from Genesis to Revelation. The eunuch professed faith, was baptized, and went on his way rejoicing, carrying the gospel toward the ends of the earth. Pastor Rockhill closes by urging the flock to lay aside the fear of failure, to pray for opportunities, and to be faithful witnesses to the saving truth of Jesus Christ, all to the glory of God.
This sermon examines the account of Simon the sorcerer in Samaria, where the gospel preached by Philip brought great joy and many were baptized. Though Simon himself professed faith and was baptized, his true heart was exposed when he tried to purchase the power of the Holy Spirit with money after watching Peter and John lay hands on the believers. The preacher's central burden is the danger of false profession: a man may believe outwardly, submit to baptism, follow the ministry closely, and yet never possess saving faith. Peter's sharp rebuke—that Simon had neither part nor portion in the matter because his heart was not right before God—reveals the bitterness and bondage of iniquity beneath an apparently sincere conversion. The sermon teaches that the gift of God cannot be bought, that authority in the church comes from God alone, and that grace by its very nature is freely given and cannot be merited or purchased, whether by indulgences, works, or simony. It connects this error to the corruptions the Reformers labored to remove and to the Larger Catechism's treatment of the second commandment. Drawing on the parable of the sower, the preacher warns that some who spring up with joy wither in testing, having no root. Yet Peter still calls Simon to repentance, showing the church's duty to correct and the hope held out to the straying. The application turns inward: believers are not to grow suspicious of others but to examine their own hearts, ensuring their profession is genuine, free from hypocrisy, and fruitful in faithful witness.
Preaching from John 2:18-25, the minister takes up the religious leaders' demand for a sign after Jesus cleansed the temple. His central burden is that true faith never rests upon the spectacle of signs but flows from a heart transformed by the Holy Spirit. He observes that the leaders tacitly recognized the messianic character of the cleansing, yet their pride and self-righteousness hardened them against the One they should have welcomed. Their request for a sign was not honest inquiry but evidence of unbelief, for they had already witnessed a display of divine power and refused to repent. Drawing on Romans 1, the preacher reminds the congregation that God has revealed Himself in creation, in His Word, and supremely in His Son, so that sign-seekers who suppress this revelation would not believe even if granted their demand. He explains Jesus' cryptic answer, 'Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up,' as a figure pointing to His body and resurrection, the true sign of signs foreshadowed in Jonah. The leaders, focused on brick and mortar, twisted these words for years to come. The sermon closes by distinguishing the shallow faith of the crowds who believed in a miracle-worker from the saving faith of the disciples who believed the Scriptures and Christ's word. Believing that Jesus works wonders is not the same as trusting Him as the Son of God who bore the curse for sin. The application is searching and personal: men must be born again, their stony hearts made flesh, and rest by faith in the crucified and risen Lord for eternal life, to the glory of God alone.
In this message, Pastor Rockhill considers Jesus' cleansing of the temple as a further revelation of His glory and authority as the only begotten Son of God. Drawing on the account of Jesus driving out the merchants and money changers, he sets the scene within the Passover, showing how that feast pointed forward to Christ as the Lamb of God whose blood causes judgment to pass over all who trust in Him. The central burden Pastor Rockhill shares is the holiness of God and the reverence due to Him in worship. What began as a well-intentioned convenience for traveling pilgrims had hardened into corruption, greed, and the displacing of true worship, and Christ in righteous zeal purged His Father's house. Connecting this to Psalm 69 and Malachi 3, Pastor Rockhill shows Jesus as the promised Messiah who comes suddenly to His temple as a refiner's fire, and he warns that man's innovations always crowd out the simple worship God commands. He presses the doctrine that God must be regarded as holy, recalling Nadab and Abihu, and that Christ has authority to cleanse His own house. The application turns inward: Pastor Rockhill reminds us that believers are not called to overturn tables but to cultivate a holy zeal, purging sin from their own hearts and approaching God each Lord's Day to worship Him in spirit and truth.
Jesus's first miracle of turning water into wine reveals His glory as the only begotten of the Father.
In this evening sermon from Luke 18:1-8, the preacher unfolds the parable of the persistent widow and the unjust judge, drawing out Christ's central burden that His disciples ought always to pray and not lose heart. The sermon opens by observing how easily believers begin spiritual disciplines with energy yet falter when difficulties arise, and prayer is no exception. The unjust judge is described as a godless, corrupt man who feared neither God nor man, while the widow stands as a powerless figure with nothing but time and determination. Her relentless coming finally wears the judge down, and he grants her request out of selfish motives. The preacher then turns to the lesson Christ draws by contrast from the lesser to the greater: if even an unjust judge yields to persistence, how much more will the holy, faithful, and compassionate God avenge His own elect who cry to Him day and night. The sermon addresses why God often seems to delay, explaining that believers err when they try to impose their will and timing upon God, who is infinite in wisdom and works all things for His glory and their good. Sometimes delays expose hidden sin, cultivate patience, or teach dependence upon Him alone. The preacher closes by pressing Christ's sobering question — will the Son of Man find faith on the earth when He returns — urging hearers to examine whether their faith is the kind that perseveres in prayer through trial, persecution, and suffering until the Lord comes again in glory.
When Satan bets your skin will make you curse God, and even your wife and friends pressure you to break—will you hold fast to your integrity? Job did. So must we.
God is sovereign in salvation even setting divine appointments for those in need of the Gospel to hear and believe.
Proclaiming the Gospel is the ordinary means which God uses to bring people to faith in Christ. Faithful believers are called to bear witness to what the Lord has done in their lives and live out the Gospel for all to see, but they must ultimately show people where to meet Jesus by pointing them to the Word of God.
John the Baptist testifies that Jesus is both the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world and the Son of God who became flesh and dwelt among us.
The Lord has given us the gift of prayer so that we might cry out to Him and be strengthened in faith in the day of trouble.
John the Baptizer was a voice crying out in the wilderness heralding the coming of the Messiah. His voice still cries out, calling people to repentance for the Lord Jesus is coming again.
The Word became flesh to dwell among us, identify with us, perfectly fulfill the law for us, and redeem us through His death on the Cross. This is the glory of the Incarnation.
Those who are made alive by God's grace are enabled to receive Christ and believe in His Name granting them the privilege of becoming children of God.
The True Light has come into the World. Rejected by the world. Rejected by His own people. How will you receive Him?
Abraham and his whole household received the sign of the covenant and enjoyed the outward blessings and privileges of being a part of the covenant community. Likewise, believers in Christ and those in their household ought to receive the covenant sign so they might enjoy the same blessings.
John the Baptizer is given a position of honor - but he was not the Light. He was sent to bear witness to the Light and to exalt the Light above himself.
The Word was in the beginning, the Word was with God, the Word was God, the Word is life, the Word is light and the Word is Jesus!
In this introduction to the Gospel of John we consider John's role as a witness to the person and work of Jesus Christ.
When we have difficult questions about what's going on in our lives - David and Jesus give us the example to take these questions to the Lord and humbly submit ourselves to the truth God has revealed in His word as we trust Him for the answer.
Psalm 36 gives a contrast between the wicked, dead in sin and the blessedness of those who've been redeemed and transformed by God's grace.
The Second Great Commandment calls us to love our neighbors as ourselves. Who is our neighbor? Everyone. So in God's grace be neighborly.
We're called to love the Lord our God with every fiber of our being and we demonstrate that love by obeying His commands found in the Moral Law, the 10 Commandments.
The Tenth Commandment calls us to be content and grateful for what the Lord has given us.
The Ninth Commandment calls us to not only speak and live out truth, but to know THE TRUTH God has revealed, Jesus Christ.
The Eighth Commandment calls us to remember that we and all we have belongs to the Lord and so we shouldn't be greedy and envious of what others have, lest we steal from them and ultimately steal from God.
The Seventh Commandment calls us to pursue purity in marriage, our bodies, and in our hearts.
The Sixth Commandment calls us to cherish the gift of life the Lord has given, putting to death the murder in our hearts and by our hands.
The Fifth Commandment calls us to give honor to those in authority over us knowing that by doing so we ultimately honor the Lord who gave that authority.
The Fourth Commandment calls us to observe the Day God has set apart as holy and blessed: the Lord's Day.
The Third Commandment requires that we honor God's Name and all other ways in which He has revealed Himself.
The Second Commandment teaches us to worship God only as He has commanded us in His Word.
Sudden tragedies can bring up many unanswerable questions - but the one question we need to be most concerned with is - "Am I right with the Lord if such a tragedy were to come to me?"
We're to know and acknowledge the Lord as the One True Living God and worship and glorify Him accordingly.
The preface to the Ten Commandments reminds us that we don't obey the Lord to earn our salvation, but we obey to show our gratitude for the salvation He's already secured for us in Christ.
The Moral Law of God summed up in the 10 Commandments continues to be binding on all humanity.
Jesus charges His disciples to be watchful for His return and faithful in what He's called them to do.
After this past week filled with hatred, violence, and evil - the imprecatory Psalms give us a way to cry out to the Lord for justice and find true hope and comfort.
Seek the Lord at the time he may be found and be filled with the blessed joy of His forgiveness.
When faced with challenging and seemingly hopeless situations we need to humble ourselves before the Lord and get real with Him about our helplessness and we will find real hope and strength.
We can find contentment in the Lord as we stay calm in trials remembering God's sovereignty; keep our cool by trusting in His judgments; and standing confident in the truth of His Word.
In Psalm 22 we have the suffering of Jesus on the Cross. As Jesus came to identify with us in our misery so that He might be our perfect sacrifice for sin - we're called to identify with Him as we suffer knowing He will bring us comfort and victory.
When feeling discouraged, remember the good things the Lord has done for you in the past, remember His perfect attributes, and cling to what you know to be true - the promises of His Word.
In times of spiritual drought - earnestly seek the Lord and clint to the promises of His Word with every fiber of your being so that you might regain confidence in faith and trust Him even though circumstances remain the same.
In the midst of trials, rampant evil and sudden tragedies we may be tempted to doubt God's presence. It's at such times that we must cling to what we know to be true - the truth of God's Word.
The Christian has no reason to fear because Jesus is our Light, our Salvation, and our Strength.
Through Jesus we receive the threefold blessing of His peace, His presence, and His grace.
As members of Christ's body, the church, we commit ourselves to holding one another accountable through encouragement and also through correction and admonition.
Jesus is the victorious King of Glory who will come again to claim the world He has created.
We're called to live our lives disciplined and shaped by the word of God. Glorifying God by working hard at your calling and being diligent to do good works.
The critical question everyone needs to ask when confronted with the Gospel is whose side are you on?
As you live your lives in anticipation of the glorious return of the Lord be diligent to pray for the spread of the gospel, remember the faithfulness of the Lord, and carry on in the work God has called you to do.
Prayer is a gift the Lord has given. Be diligent to share this gift with others as you pray for one another to be comforted and strengthened.
If the Lord has chosen you and poured His love on you; if He has called you to faith through the Gospel; and if His Spirit is at work in you, then be assured you're held securely in His grasp even in the midst of life's trials and storms.
To avoid the deception of the spirit of antichrist at work in the world you must know God's Word, believe God's Word and above all trust in Jesus who will hold you secure.
Though the Man of Sin is yet to be revealed, the spirit of anti-Christ is already at work. Christians need to be discerning so as not to get swept away by the deception.
Jesus desires to bless the little children with the blessings of God's covenant faithfulness.
Jesus challenges those who hear the Gospel to obey and produce good fruit as a demonstration of their faith in Him.
The Man of Sin will be revealed in time, but the mystery of lawlessness is already at work in the world. Stand guard then and hold fast to the truth of the Gospel.
We need to develop a habit of prayer - not only to grow in our relationship with the Lord, but to be a warrior in the battles against our own sin and temptations as well as stepping out and doing what God has called us to do for His glory.
False teaching, failed predictions, and a lack of contentment with what God has revealed in His Word stir great fear and anxiety about the End Times. Christians need to be rooted in God's Word and use it as the standard to test every teaching.
The bottom line of all that we endure in this life because of our faith in Christ is our good and God's glory.
The righteous judgment of God is coming to vindicate the godly and destroy the wicked. This is a great comfort to the people of God who suffer.
The Lord wants us to grow in faith and in our love for Him and one another more and more so will be like Jesus.
In this introduction to Paul's 2nd letter to the Thessalonians we note the key themes of the letter as well as the doctrine and blessing contained in the simple greeting.
Jesus has harsh words for those who have an outward appearance of religiousness, but inwardly their hearts are far away from God.
As you walk your journey of faith, beware the stumbling blocks of lack of understanding, pride, exclusivism, Judgmentalism, and idolatry.
God's plan for you is to become more and more holy until you are made perfect at the return of Jesus Christ.
We need to be open to the leading of the Spirit and the truth of God's Word as we move toward greater holiness; but we should also be diligent to discern every truth claim using the infallible standard of God's Word.
The Apostle Paul gives three brief commands that should not only be a part of our worship, but how we live our lives.
True peace isn't just the absence of conflict but involves unity and oneness - reflecting the peace with God Jesus secured for us.
The Lord has entrusted the elders of the church with great responsibility. Honor those who so faithfully labor among you.
We don't know when Jesus will come again, but when He does return it will be a different experience for those who are in the Light and those who remain in the darkness of sin.
As believers in Christ, we don't grieve as the world does for our hope and comfort is in the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ and all the blessings that flow from that.
How do we live in these last days? By loving one another through seeking to live peaceable lives, by being diligent in what the Lord has called us to do, and by being productive to the glory of God.
The challenge of the Moral Law isn't who is my neighbor, but rather, am I being neighborly.
In the current degradation of our culture, we must pursue sanctification by abstaining from sexual immorality, exercising self-control, and not defrauding others.
The Lord's purpose for us is that we would abound in love toward one another and be made holy by the work of the Holy Spirit.
Don't wait to be served, loved, or encouraged, but be proactive in serving, loving, and encouraging others and the Lord will bring it back to you for His glory.
As faithful followers of Jesus Christ we can expect suffering, opposition, and eternal joy and glory.
The Spirit of God goes with His Word and prepares the heart to receive it and enables one to believe it for what it is, God's Word.
The Lord calls the leaders of His church to shepherd the flock as He does: as a servant with steadfast integrity; as a mother of selfless sincerity; and as a father who is compassionate in authority.
The Church needs good examples of love, faith, and hope to imitate so we know how to better serve and glorify the Lord. Only imitate those examples who are seeking to follow and imitate Christ, not the wisdom of the world.
The Word of God when accompanied by the Holy Spirit has power to convert or condemn according to God's eternal purpose.
God's love bears fruit in us as He chose us before the foundation of the world to be adopted as His beloved children and works in and through us for His glory.
True Christianity is evidenced by a faith of action, a diligence to love as God loves, and a hope that patiently endures to the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Paul greets the Thessalonians by reminding them they've been called out from the world by God to be One in Christ, their Savior and Lord.
In this epilogue parable to the Parable of the Sower, Jesus re-emphasizes the importance of hearing and receiving the light of the Gospel.
Paul was only in Thessalonica for a short time, but the Gospel went forth mightily by the power of the Spirit into the hearts of the people.
The glory and majesty of God is most dramatically displayed in the Gospel and His outpouring of grace and mercy upon the undeserving sinner.
The Lord as a Shepherd of His people is a beautiful picture of His grace and mercy. He may discipline His sheep with His rod, but He also uses it to guard, protect and comfort them. We anticipate the perfection of this comfort when our Good Shepherd comes again at the end of the age.
We stand confident in the promises of God's Word, that though we may endure darkness, misery, and chastisement for sin- Light is coming. Indeed, Light has already come, Jesus Christ.
We are in lamentable times as corruption, sin, and hearts hardened against the Gospel abound. We know judgment is coming. Until then we keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, wait upon Him for the fullness of salvation, and pray for boldness to share the gospel.
When God's people violate His covenant, he chastises them, not to destroy them- but because He loves them as sons and daughters. We can have this confidence because Christ bore the reproach for our sins.
The Lord doesn't want your stuff. He wants your love. He wants your devotion. He wants your obedience. He wants YOU-
We live as exiles in this world of sin and misery. But God has a purpose for His Church in exile- to bless the nations by sharing the Gospel, advancing the kingdom of God, and being made more and more holy by the work of the Spirit until Jesus returns.
Micah prophesies of a Ruler who would come from the obscure town of Bethlehem to do the will of God and redeem the remnant of His people.
Now, in this life, we suffer pain and affliction and are assaulted from within and without- but then, when Jesus comes at the end of the age, we shall have the fullness of redemption and victory over our enemies.
The purpose of parables is to both reveal and conceal the mysteries of the Kingdom of God. The parable of the Sower illustrates this purpose.
Satan will use a variety of techniques to tempt us, but Jesus reminds us that the Word of God is a mighty sword to defend against Satan's assaults.
What the Lord has promised in His Word, He will in fact do. Indeed, in Christ Jesus, He's already done it and will continue to do it.
Though we still anticipate the fullness of Christ's kingdom, we're in the -latter days- which Micah speaks of as people from every nation, tribe, and tongue are gathered together in the Church.
The Lord places all rulers and leaders in their position and gives them authority- therefore, He will hold them to account if they do not acknowledge Him or misuse and abuse their authority.
Jesus is the Good Shepherd, the Deliverer, and the King - He has secured freedom for us and is our great hope to come.
False prophets who speak half-truths abound today leading many astray by proclaiming a god who overlooks sin and disobedience.
When suffering injustice, we can be comforted by the fact that God takes notice and will bring the schemes of the evildoers back upon themselves in judgment.
The Lord is Judge of ALL the earth, but this judgment begins in the house of God. This judgment is coming. Are you prepared--
The Prophet Micah challenges us to consider, -Who is like the Lord--- Who is like the Lord who judges sin, yet offers comfort, hope, and forgiveness.
We learn from Jonah to not take the grace and mercy of God for granted, as though it's owed to us. But we should always rejoice and give thanks when we see the mercy of God on display and we should always keep our eyes on Jesus.
As believers in Christ we can sometimes take the mercy of God for granted, thinking that it only belongs to -us- and not -those- sinners out there in the world. May we be cautioned against this and always rejoice when God saves undeserving sinners, even our enemies.
There will always be skeptics who find ways to sow seeds of doubt about God and His Word. But remember the unwavering truth--1- God is the Creator and rules over all He's created.-2- God NEVER changes.-3-God is BOTH good AND just.-4- Jesus died and rose again for undeserving sinners like us.
It was God's purpose from the beginning that Jonah would preach judgment and mercy so that the Ninevites might receive the gift of faith and bear true fruit of repentance.
The abounding mercy of God toward undeserving sinners isn't just -one and done- in order to bring them to salvation, but because God never changes, His mercy continues to be poured out in great abundance upon His own people.
The proper way to understand the role of God and the role of Man in salvation is to determine which brings all glory to God. For salvation is of the Lord.
Jonah's prayer is ultimately a prophecy of what the Lord Jesus would endure on our behalf- demonstrating how the Word of God can not only encourage but inform our prayers.
Jonah's descent to the bottom of the sea is a picture of the downward spiral of sin that leads to death and destruction. But, even when you hit the bottom, the Lord is there and most gracious to save.
The Lord will use storms and calamities, trials and suffering, and even the imperfect witness of His stubborn people to pursue and save lost sinners to Himself.
It is praiseworthy that our God is a God who will pursue us when we sin so that we can be restored to Him.
We're like Jonah in our sin and rebellion against God, which is why Jonah shows us how much we need Jesus who accomplished what we wouldn't and couldn't because of our sin.
The book of Jonah is a historical account that teaches us about God's sovereignty, His justice and mercy, His plan of salvation, and the glorious hope we have in Jesus.
In the coming year, commit yourself to being a servant of the Lord. Serving by obeying Him, walking in the Spirit awaiting the return of Christ, and by bearing witness to the glory of the Gospel.
The Good News is that the Son of God came in the flesh to save His people from their sins. Proclaim this Good News boldly as needy people desperately need to hear it.
Is your faith too rigid to be stretched beyond the status quo or is your faith flexible, even eager, to stretch to limits you never thought possible-- Remembering God is the God of the impossible-
Do you love your brother and sister in Christ enough to lovingly confront them with their sin so that they might be restored to the peace of God and the fellowship of believers--
The Creator of all the universe has given us a gift to be able to communicate with Him and express our needs and concerns and yet, prayer is often under-utilized by the people of God. Be fervent in prayer and accomplish much to the glory of God.
Take time to consider and meditate upon the great abounding love of God toward the undeserving sinner and the fact that those who trust in Christ are children of God Most High. And as children of God we're guaranteed great blessings in this life and in the eternal life to come.
Three practical remedies- If you're suffering, then pray. If you're filled with joy, then sing Psalms of praise. If you're sick, then ask the elders and the people of God to pray for you.
Whether you swear an oath, take a vow, make a promise or simply make a statement- always speak the truth and be true to your word, for the Lord will hold you accountable.
The Lord calls us to be patient during trials and affliction, not just to simply endure them begrudgingly until they're over- but to actively anticipate the glorious return of the Lord Jesus Christ. For He WILL come again-
Trust not in your wealth and possessions which give no security on the Day of Judgment, but put your trust now in the Lord Jesus who saves.
God has revealed in His Word the good things you're to do. You need to just do it and do it to the glory of God.
Acknowledge the Lord in all areas of your life, even in making your plans for the future.
If you speak evil of or unrighteously judge your brother, you not only exalt yourself over them, but you exalt yourself above the Law and the Lawgiver, even Jesus.
It's time to wake up from your spiritual slumber and obey, repent, and humble yourself before the Lord in faith.
You're either a friend of God or a friend of the world. You can't be both, it's spiritual adultery.
We're called to worship the Lord with our lives presenting ourselves as living, holy, and acceptable sacrifices.
Troubles and disruption to the peace and unity of the church begin with the daily battles with sin that take place within us. It is only through the Gospel that peace can be restored.
Jesus offers hope for the hopeless. Challenging us to not only enjoy that hope for ourselves through faith in Him, but to also minister that hope to those in need around us.
It's easy to say we trust in Jesus, but it's much more difficult to actually live out that trust. Jesus challenges His disciples to trust Him with everything they have- resources, heart and mind, and their lives.
The Holy Spirit alone is sufficient to stir our hearts with joy and gladness as we gather to worship the Lord and praise His name.
The -new song- is an old song of God's mercy sung anew by the people of God as they experience His salvation in each generation. It's also a song of God's justice wrought against His enemies, anticipating the final judgment when Christ returns at the end of the age.
God the Lord, our God, our Creator is the One True Living God - for all creation, all the reality around us, seen and unseen, praises and glorifies His Name. Do you hear it--
If God knows the number and names of all the stars and provides for the beasts of the field and the young ravens- how much MORE does He know you and care for you for whom Christ died.
Hallelujah- Praise the Lord because He alone is our sure and certain hope in this life and in the life to come. Hallelujah-
When we praise God for who He is and the great things He has done, we bear witness to the world of the glory of God and invite them to join with us now in the chorus of everlasting praise that will be offered to Him forever and ever.
Seek the wisdom from above -I.e. from Jesus- that it might bear fruit of righteousness in your life to the glory of God.
Though the tongue is small, it wields great power to either build up or destroy. Only by the power of the Spirit at work in us can we tame the tongue and speak to the glory of God.
If you aspire to be a pastor, elder, or teacher in the church and you don't have the maturity to control your tongue- then James offers a stern warning that ought to be heeded.
Though some try to pit Paul against James, there is no conflict between the two. We're justified by faith alone in Jesus Christ, but the faith that justifies is never alone as it produces fruit and good works in the life of the believer to the glory of God.
If you claim to be a Christian and yet, you don't live like a Christian, then your profession is hollow, and your faith may not be genuine.
The 10 Commandments are summarized in the NT as the two -Love Laws- and the two -Love Laws- in the NT are explained in further detail in the 10 Commandments. We show our love and gratitude to God when we keep His commandments.
Imitate Christ, the Lord of glory, and do not show partiality, but seek to display the gracious love of God not only as a witness to others, but to bring glory to God.
True religion isn't just going through the motions of religious ritual, but loving the Lord, first and foremost in your life and loving your neighbor as yourself.
Not only must we be diligent hearers and receivers of God's Word, but the true disciple of Jesus finds great blessing in being a doer of God's Word.
As we continually hear and receive God's Word we will gain the wisdom to love others, to guard our tongues and to be slow to wrath, thus becoming more Christ-like.
If the unchangeable, most good, almighty Sovereign God is in control of all things- then we can be assured that the eternal good of those who trust Him WILL come about.
It's not sinful to be tempted, but we can sin depending on our response to the temptation. We need godly wisdom to engage in the daily battle against our sinful thoughts and desires so we can resist temptation. And when we fail and fall into sin, we must humble ourselves before the Lord and confess our sin, seeking the forgiveness Jesus graciously secured for us.
Trials come whether you're rich or poor, so our only boast is in the humiliation and glory of the Lord Jesus Christ.
We need God's wisdom in order to help us understand the trials we endure and how we can find joy in the midst of them and glorify God. We just need to ask God for this wisdom and He'll give it freely.
We can rejoice when our faith is tested by trials because we know our God is sovereign and will use that trial to deepen our faith and help us become more like His beloved Son, Jesus.
James, the brother of Jesus, didn't exalt himself because of his relationship to Jesus- but humbled himself and served his Lord as a bond-servant and challenged other believers to live out their faith to the glory of God.
Saints aren't -super Christians-. All who call upon the name of the Lord in faith are saints. Saints are made holy because of what Jesus has done for us and by our union and communion with Him.
In this next installment of our Communion series of -Back to the Basics- we consider what is it about the Bible that makes it different from any other book.
The ministry of giving and receiving is a mutual ministry of all the members of all the members of Christ's body investing their gifts for the overall encouragement and growth of the body of Christ.
As long as you seek satisfaction, happiness, and contentment in other people, possessions, and circumstances - you'll continue to be disappointed and discontent- for it's only in Christ alone that we find full and complete satisfaction.
Battling against sinful thoughts and desires involves starving your heart and mind of the garbage offered by the world and meditating on what is true, noble, just, pure, lovely, and of good reputation. All the things found in the Word of God and in Jesus Christ.
Are you anxious-- Rejoice in the Lord, the Sovereign Creator of heaven and earth- come before Him in prayer, laying all your burdens at His feet- and know that He who sent His Son, Jesus, to save you from your sins, cares for you and loves you.
Jesus Christ, the Son of God, fulfilled the obligations of the Covenant of Grace by humbling Himself even to the point of death, but then was exalted by God to reign over all things for the good of the church and the glory of God.
We must vigorously contend to preserve peace and unity in the body of Christ, making sure differences in preference and opinion don't disrupt the fellowship of those inside the church or the witness to those outside.
We need to look out for godly examples to imitate, but we also need to become godly examples worth imitating.
The Covenant of Grace is one and the same covenant administered differently in the Old Testament and the New Testament.
Setting aside the traditions which have often clouded the events surrounding the birth of Jesus, we see a simple historical fact that gives us great comfort and hope- Jesus was born to identify with us in our suffering and redeem us from the condemnation of sin.
We're called to run the race set before us - to pursue the glory of God in our lives and holiness, without which no one will see God.
What are you investing in for your salvation and future hope-- Material wealth-- Family heritage-- Good works-- Religious rituals-- All these are rubbish and will pass away. Our only lasting security is in the grace of God through the Lord Jesus Christ.
Through one man, Adam, the Covenant of Works was broken and death spread to all men- Through one Man, Christ, the obligations of the Covenant of Works was perfectly fulfilled bringing life to many.
Rejoicing in the Lord means giving thanks for our salvation, being content in God's grace, and resting in His sovereign hands.
Paul sets forth several practical examples for the Philippians -and us- to follow on how to be more Christ-like.
The process of sanctification can be difficult, but we can find joy in knowing the greater joy awaiting us.
If you've enjoyed blessings in Christ, then you must strive for unity in the Body of Christ. In order for true unity to be achieved you must be humble toward your brothers and sisters in Christ. This is the calling and the example Christ has set for us.
Why are we here-- How did we get here-- Who are we-- What does God's Word tell us about these questions.
Jesus' suffering and humiliation for our sin intensifies as the One who will one day sit as the Righteous Judge of all the Earth is subjected to a charade of justice in His trial before the Sanhedrin.
As Jesus' death draws near, the sinful hearts of those around Him become exposed, readying them for the Gospel He's about to accomplish. Will these hearts be humbled before Him and call upon His Name in faith, or will they continue to harden in sin, storing up for themselves wrath in the Day of Judgment.
As Jesus goes to the Garden of Gethsemane, He becomes overwhelmed with grief and anguish as He prepares for what's soon to come. His only comfort is crying out to His Father in Heaven and submitting to the Father's will. Because of this, Jesus is a great high priest who is truly able to sympathize with us in our weaknesses.
When Jesus tells His disciples that they will all be made to stumble because of Him, Peter swells with pride as he rejects Jesus' words and the Scriptures and exalts himself above the other disciples saying he will never be made to stumble. This becomes a great warning to us to keep our pride in check lest we take a mighty fall.
Only when we sing the Psalms do we not only sing about Jesus, but we also sing along with Him.
In the midst of celebrating the last Passover, Jesus institutes the First Supper of the New Covenant. The Lord's Supper is a means of grace with rich spiritual blessings that demonstrates our union and communion with Christ and one another, but the meaning can often be lost in the midst of various errors and an improper focus.
As Jesus celebrated the Last Supper with His disciples, it was also the Last Passover since Jesus was the perfect Lamb of God who came to take away the sins of the world. But in the midst of this intimate meal, Jesus reveals that one of His own disciples will betray Him. All this was according to God's predetermined purpose and plan.
As the Jewish religious leaders are plotting to kill Jesus, one of Jesus' close companions turns against Him and plans to betray Him. Both the religious leaders and Judas are hypocrites who are poor in faith. But God sovereignly rules over their evil actions to carry out His plan and purpose for our salvation.
In this new Communion Series we go Back to the Basics of the Christian Life. And one of those key basic doctrines is our duty to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. But we can only love Him because He first loved us through Jesus Christ.
The disciples are quick to judge a woman for her act of love and devotion toward Jesus. Jesus commends her as one who is rich in faith. This is the first in a two part series from Matthew 26-1-16 -covering vs. 6-13-.
In the midst of trials and struggles we must remember God's faithfulness, His goodness and the blessings of His covenant promises as we look to find refuge on the Rock who is the Lord Jesus Christ.
Jesus will come again in power and glory at the end of the age as the righteous Judge of all the earth. People from all nations will be gathered together and He will separate the sheep from the goats. The sheep are those who hear His voice in faith and obey Him in even the little things. The goats are those who rejected Him and rebelled against even the simplest command.
In this parable, Jesus urges His followers to be faithful in using the gifts and talents He's given them to glorify God. Those who do so will be commended on the Last Great Day- while those who fail to do so will be cast out from His presence.
The Parable of the Ten Virgins is an encouragement to true believers in the visible Church as they eagerly await with confidence Jesus' second coming in power and glory. The parable is also a warning to those in the visible church who may not be prepared - either for their own death or the return of Christ. All are urged to be ready before the door is shut and it's too late to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.
Jesus asks, -Who is the faithful and wise servant-- He goes on to show that the faithful and wise servant is the one who faithfully does the Lord's will because he knows that he must be ready and prepared for Christ's return on the Last Great Day.
Despite many foolish and sinful speculations by false prophets, Jesus is very clear, -no one knows the day or the hour- of His second coming. Since no one knows, Jesus challenges us to always be ready by living our lives for the glory of God.
Abraham and his whole household received the sign and the seal of the covenant and enjoyed the outward blessings and privileges of being a part of the covenant community. Likewise, believers in Christ and those in their household ought to receive the covenant sign and seal so they might enjoy the same blessings.
Jesus uses a parable and the certainty of the everlasting Word of God to assure His disciples that judgment is truly coming. It's coming and so they ought to be dutifully prepared.
The Lord has called His people to gather together on the first day of the week to praise and worship Him, to give thanks for the salvation He's secured for us in Jesus Christ, and to hear His Word so that we might obey it in our lives.
Jesus gives signs leading up to His return at the end of the age. For the unbeliever these signs will be a great terror as the revelation of Jesus Christ as Judge of all the earth will be clearly made known to them. But for the believer, these signs will be a great blessing as the fullness of our salvation comes to fruition and our present hope is realized - being in the glorious presence of our Savior for ever and ever.
In giving clear warning signs about the coming destruction of the Temple, Jesus reveals that with judgment also comes great mercy- both in 70 A.D. and on the Last Great Day.
As Jesus warns His followers of every age of the tribulations and persecutions they will endure, He gives them encouragements so that they might persevere to the end.
Jesus begins the Olivet Discourse by cautioning the disciples to be wary of seeking after signs lest they be led astray. False Christs, false prophets and teachers, wars, famines, and pestilences will come, but the end is not yet. So be alert, stand firm, and remain focused on the mission Christ has called the Church to accomplish.
Did Jesus come to bring salvation or judgment- Did He come to bring peace or conflict- The answer to both of these questions is -Both-. If we fail to understand this, we fail to grasp the glory of the Gospel Jesus accomplished.
Jesus warns His disciples not to be unprepared when He returns again in glory. They must vigilantly keep watch and be faithfully doing what He's called them to do. The same challenge applies to us today.
The testimony of Scripture, church history, and Jesus Christ himself show us that simple praise is what the Lord requires of us using only the instruments of a heart renewed by the Holy Spirit and lips filled with gratitude to God for all He's done for us through Jesus Christ.
Worrying and being anxious are challenges to Christian living that can destroy us physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Instead of being anxious we need to trust the Lord and cling to the promises Christ has secured for us so that we might do all we do to the glory of God alone.
A discontent heart, fueled by a desire for more leads to greed. Greed is a snare and stumbling block to faithful Christian living. Instead we ought to be thankful for what the Lord has provided us and guard our hearts against greed.
This is the first in a series on Challenges to Christian Living from Luke 12. Fear can be a challenge for us as we seek to live our lives as followers of Jesus. We can be tempted to fear truth, fear Man, and fear expressing our faith in an increasingly hostile world. Jesus warns His disciples of these fears and urges them to fear God alone.
The Lord calls His people to sing praises to Him in worship. But what happens when you can't sing- Not for lack of skill, but due to being overwhelmed with grief or facing the suffering and trials of persecution. Psalm 137 challenges us to press on and sing anyway. Sing about God's justice and His abounding mercy.
God's goodness and especially His mercy pervade every area of the lives of His people. As we acknowledge this truth, experience it, and enjoy it everyday- we then ought to give thanks to God.
Because God is our Creator and Redeemer, we have a duty to praise Him. But we also praise Him because He is good, because He is great, and because He alone is worthy to receive our praise.
As we gather together each Lord's Day, we come to worship and bless the Lord our God and in the midst of that time, the Lord is pleased to bestow His rich and gracious blessing upon us.
The Church is the only organization on Earth that is bound together and finds its unity in the perfect love of God through Jesus Christ. The unity of the brotherhood of believers is truly a blessed gift from the Lord.
Though sinful Man is often inconsistent in keeping the promises he makes, we know with all certainty that the Lord is always faithful to keep His promises for the blessing of His people and for His own glory.
True contentment is only found in Jesus Christ as we cast off pride, arrogance, and presumption and humble ourselves before the Lord to trust in Him, His goodness, and His perfect plan.
God has graciously given us a book of songs right in the middle of our Bibles that not only speak of the glorious work of redemption Jesus Christ has secured for us- but as we sing them, we recognize that Jesus himself sings with us and to us so that those hearing might be admonished and edified as God is praised and glorified.
Truth compels us to obedience of God's commands and the commands that we are to obey are to love God and love one another.
The only lasting foundation for peace and unity in the church is the uncompromised truth of the Gospel.
After commending the example of several faithful servants, Paul charges believers to be diligent in doing good works as they rely fully on the abounding grace of God.
Paul warns that Christians ought to avoid fruitless debates and divisive people so they don't get distracted from doing the good works the Lord has called them to do and so that true peace and purity can flourish in the body of Christ.
The grace of God working in us through the power of the Holy Spirit enables us to die to sin and live unto righteousness so that we might be sanctified and made holy in the perfect image of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
If you rely on your works to get right with God, you'll never know if you've done enough - having no assurance and no hope. Knowing you've been justified by grace through faith in Jesus Christ and His perfect righteousness secures assurance of salvation and hope for eternal life in God's glorious presence.
In order to live as the Lord calls us to live we must be born again and renewed by the power of the Holy Spirit. It's the Spirit's gracious work of regeneration that transforms us from slaves to sin to new creations in Christ Jesus and servants to the glory of God.
Though we're not of the world, we do indeed live in the world where we're citizens of communities and nations. As we live as faithful citizens we're reminded that all we do, even submitting to those in authority over us, is to be done to the glory of God and as a witness to others of the transforming power of the Gospel.
Jesus gives one final warning to the Scribes and Pharisees and all those who reject Him. Though it's a severe warning, we also see displayed the faithfulness, compassion, and righteousness of Jesus which is a great hope to all who come to Him in faith.
Jesus rebukes and warns the Scribes and Pharisees with seven woes that apply today to those who are merely -religious- outwardly but inwardly their hearts are far from God. We ought to examine our own hearts in light of these woes so we don't fall under the same condemnation.
Jesus warns the people about the sins of the Scribes and Pharisees- hypocrisy, legalism, and pride. These same sins can be found in church leadership today. The people of God are urged to flee from such leaders and look for those who sincerely strive to imitate Christ.
All worship is regulated, so the key question the church needs to ask is whether worship is regulated by the preferences and traditions of Man or is worship regulated by the commandments of God.
In the midst of trials and suffering we can be greatly encouraged when we remember Jesus Christ and what He accomplished for us.
Jesus asks the Pharisees a question about the Christ to show them that the testimony of Scripture has been consistent that the Christ would be both the Son of David and the Son of God. Will they acknowledge this truth-
Jesus cares for His people - we can trust Him, therefore we ought to keep our eyes fixed on Him.
Everyone talks about love, but few understand what true love is. We can't truly love others unless we love and obey God first and foremost in our lives.
The encouragements that the elders of the church are to give to the members of the congregation are to be rooted in the foundational doctrinal truth that Jesus Christ is the God-Man who secured our salvation by giving Himself for us.
Sound doctrine rooted in the appearance of God's grace through Jesus Christ and the yet to come appearance of our hope in glory at Christ's return is to be the basis for the encouragements Elders are to give to the flock of God.
Psalm 91 gives us great comfort and strength as we face a variety of trials and afflictions. But these promises only belong to those who trust in Christ for salvation, for He is the one who first secured them for us.
Jesus is confronted by the Sadducees who look to trap him in a question about the resurrection. Instead of falling into the trap, Jesus exposes their ignorance of the Scriptures and rebukes them for denying the power of God to raise the dead.
The assaults against Jesus continue. This time an unlikely alliance gathers to question Jesus about whether it's lawful to pay taxes to Caesar. Jesus' response not only silences them but challenges us to consider how we relate to the civil magistrate and especially to the God who created us.
In this Kingdom parable Jesus warns about those who've been privileged to hear the proclamation of the Gospel but either reject it out right or give appearance of responding in faith and yet- inwardly, they don't truly believe.
Jesus continues to warn the religious leaders about their rejection and unbelief by showing them in a very clear parable that they're ultimately rejecting God and their covenant privileges. Jesus warns them that their judgment will be severe.
Jesus tells a parable about two sons as a warning to all those who would hear the Gospel. If you hear the Gospel proclaimed, you must respond. Will you repent and obey- Or will you profess with your lips but deny in your heart and actions- The difference is between life and death.
The Jewish religious leaders tried to back Jesus into a corner when they asked about His authority to do the things He does. But Jesus turned the tables and backed them into a corner because they refused to accept the truth they already knew about Jesus.
Looking beyond the babe in a manger we see Jesus - entering Jerusalem on the foal of a donkey as the Messiah, as the greatest prophet, and as the Son of God who secured for us a sure and certain salvation.
Psalm 37 challenges us to not focus on the prosperity of the wicked, but to look to the Lord and trust Him as He works out His perfect plan for our good and His glory.
Two blind men look to Jesus with eyes of faith and not only receive healing but give us an example that true faith comes by hearing and not by sight.
Our salvation is rooted in the surety and unchangeableness of God's eternal decree. He who has determined the end from the beginning- chose us before the foundation of the world, at the appointed time He sent His Son Jesus Christ to die for our sins, as time continued He graciously gave the Holy Spirit to call us and apply the benefits of Christ's death to us and even now the Spirit and grace of God works in us to preserve us so that we might truly persevere to that glorious and perfect end.
Service in the Kingdom of God isn't about getting the best seats in the Kingdom, but faithfully and humbly serving in the here and now for the glory of God and the blessing of others.
By staying focused on the path of suffering and humiliation the Father set before Him, Jesus accomplished, once and for all, redemption from the bondage of Sin and Death for His people, for those who even now would repent of their sins and believe on Him for salvation.
Even in turbulent and uncertain times, the one who trusts in Christ has many reasons to give thanks.
The Lord calls laborers to Himself in every age and at any time to serve in His Kingdom. All those called receive an abundance of grace and mercy resulting in eternal life that they don't deserve.
Take time to consider and meditate upon the great abounding love of God toward the undeserving sinner and the fact that those who trust in Christ are children of God Most High. And as children of God we're guaranteed great blessings in this life and in the eternal life to come.
As we endure hardships and trials because of our faith in Christ, we may wonder and ask, -What about us- What do we get as we've lost everything to follow Jesus--. These are good questions but we must be careful not to ask them with an attitude of earthly-mindedness or self-righteousness. Aware of the disciples struggle with this, Jesus assures those who follow Him will be greatly honored and richly blessed both in this life and more especially in the eternal life to come.
Hannah's prayer of thanksgiving acknowledges God's power to save and His holiness pointing us toward the coming Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.
When you consider our fallen sinful nature, how we're born dead in our sins and transgressions- the thought of such a one coming to new life is truly impossible. And yet, with God, it not only becomes possible, but becomes actual when He graciously saves an undeserving sinner through faith in Jesus Christ.
The salvation which Christ secured for undeserving sinners is effectually applied by the Holy Spirit to the one God had purposed before the foundation of the world to save. The Spirit of God graciously brings to life these who were dead in sins and enables them to hear and respond in faith to the call of the Gospel at the time in history God has appointed. These ones are then truly saved by the grace of God alone.
Jesus challenges a young man who lacks assurance of salvation because of his faulty assumptions about Jesus, himself, the nature of Man, and the way to eternal life. The young man was trying to diligently work for and earn what only comes as a free gracious gift from God through faith in Jesus.
Faithful parents, rightly understanding the nature of God's Covenant and the blessings of its promises, bring their little children to Jesus to be blessed by Him as Jesus affirms their place in the covenant community of the kingdom of Heaven.
The Pharisees try to trap Jesus by forcing Him to choose sides on the controversial issue of divorce. Instead of playing their game, Jesus reaffirms God's purpose and design for marriage and clarifies why Moses permitted divorce in some cases. These were hard sayings during Jesus' time and they're hard sayings in our own day - but regardless of whether one is married, divorced, or single God is gracious to still use them in the work of the Kingdom.
What does the Bible say and not say about slavery- How could Paul encourage slaves to be obedient to their masters and not charge them to rebel and claim their freedom- How can the elders of the church use this passage to encourage the people of God today-
Young men are prone to foolishness which is often cheered on by the worldly culture. To combat this the elders must not only encourage the young men to be sober-minded and self-controlled, but they must also demonstrate for them a clear example of what it means to be a godly man.
Young women are being constantly bombarded in our society with temptations to turn away from godliness and pursue a self-centered lifestyle. The elders of the church are called to not only directly encourage the younger women, but urge the older women of the church to teach and train the younger women in the midst of all these challenges.
The elders of the church are to encourage older woman to pursue a manner of living that demonstrates true and sincere godliness. The elders should also encourage the older women to carry out a vital ministry that's often lacking in the church today- teaching the younger women in the way of faithfulness and godliness.
The elders of the church are called to oversee the spiritual care of the congregation. In order to do this effectively they must be able to give focused encouragements to members of varying age, genders, and station in life. In this sermon we consider the encouragements to the older men and the importance of sound doctrine for godly living.
Drowning in the guilt of sin, we can be tempted to think that there's no no one who will hear our cry and no one who will come to our aid- we can lose all hope of redemption. But the character of God and the promises of His Word reveal to us that there is a sure and certain hope through Jesus Christ our Lord.
As the heat of persecution increases, Christians can find great comfort in praying and singing Psalm 129 as we're reminded that the Lord is righteous- He is good and faithful to His people and He will bring the oppressors to justice.
In this OT beatitude we see that those who fear the Lord and walk in His ways are blessed with contentment in work, a flourishing refreshing home, and a peaceful community of fellow believers in Christ.
Whether we're building a marriage, raising children, doing our work, or building up the Body of Christ- we must keep the Lord at the center of all we do, lest we build and labor in vain.
All true disciples of Christ are appointed to bear fruit for God's glory as they love and serve one another. But, when officers in the church are ordained and installed they are set apart, given authority, given the necessary gifts, empowered to do and commissioned to go and lead the congregation in this fruit bearing for the glory of God and the blessing of the Church.
Looking back on past deliverances helps us to be confident in hope as we endure current distress. But as we endure with tears we ought to strive to faithfully do the work Christ has called us to do for His glory.
In the midst of turmoil and persecution, God's people can be confident that the Church is secure and well protected and will not be removed from the earth. The Lord himself is the strength and security of the Church.
IF the Lord had not been by our side- THEN we would have surely been devoured by our fierce enemy. BUT, the Lord is by our side- THEREFORE, we ought to give Him all praise, glory, and honor.
For whom did Christ die- All Mankind without distinction or only for those whom the Father gave Him- Did Jesus' death on the Cross only make salvation possible or did it actually secure complete salvation for undeserving sinners-
Back in January, many were casting a 2020 vision for the new year. Now, six months in and after a worldwide pandemic and civil unrest in the streets - how's that vision working out for you- Psalm 123 challenges us that no matter what's going on around us we must keep looking up, looking for mercy from our sovereign merciful God.
Deacons are responsible to oversee the vital ministry of mercy in the church. Mercy Ministry complements the faithful ministry of the Word so that the church can be fully effective in carrying out the calling Christ has given it.
God has given qualifications for elders and deacons to bring order to the church, to protect the flock of God, to pair the needs of the congregation with appropriate gifts and to remind officers and members of their need to fully rely on the all sufficient grace of God.
Do you have ears of faith to hear the Lord speak through His word and Spirit- If you hear Him, do not harden your hearts but seek Him out with joy and gladness.
A controversy arose in the early Church that could have divided and destroyed the Church before it ever left Jerusalem. But God graciously used that controversy to introduce the office of Deacon that continues today in the Church to demonstrate the truth of the Gospel through deeds of mercy. Through this office the Church is blessed and God is glorified.
Many Christians are longing for the day when they can once again gather together with God's people for corporate public worship. But even when there's no pandemic, faithful believers long for the worship assembly each Lord's Day as it reminds us of how much we long for the greater glory of eternal worship in the glorious presence of our God and Savior.
It's not easy to forgive someone, especially when you've already forgiven them many times before. But before we put a limit on forgiveness, we ought to remember the huge debt of sin that God, through Jesus Christ, graciously, freely, and abundantly forgave us. If the Lord so loved us, shouldn't we so love one another-
Jesus gives orderly steps for believers to follow as they seek to reconcile with their brothers and sisters to preserve the peace and unity of the Church.
Jesus concludes His discussion of the -little ones- by reminding His disciples that they ought not to despise one another, for God values each one chosen before the foundation of the world. He values them so much that He sent His only begotten Son, Jesus, to suffer and die on the Cross for their sins.
As precious little ones of the Heavenly Father, believers in Christ need to be on guard against the temptations and stumbling blocks placed before us. And though Jesus warns that the judgment upon those who tempt others to sin will be very severe- we must remember that this doesn't excuse us from the responsibility of the sins we commit. Let's be challenged to look to the Lord for protection against temptations- and when we do sin, let's look to the Lord for mercy and forgiveness secured for us through Jesus Christ.
In response to a foolish question, Jesus uses a little child to illustrate to His disciples that they must turn away from pride and selfishness and humble themselves before God and one another if they're going to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.
In the midst of a plague sweeping the globe, the people of God have no reason to fear or panic, because our God is the One True Living God and He is sovereign over all that He's created. At such difficult times, let's rest in the Lord and find comfort in His sovereignty.
The death of Jesus was as certain as the obligation to pay the Temple tax. This is ultimately a good thing, because through the death of Jesus our debt has been paid in full and we now live as free sons, freed from the condemnation of sin and death.