Redeemer Missionary: Recent Episodes
Jason Nicholls
2 Kings 11:1-21Observations from this passage:1. The good work of God requires conviction & courage.2. The good work of God uses key people in key situations - who create and seize key opportunities.3. The good work of God requires wisdom - for strategy, planning and timing.Having the right convictions are important, but on their own, they aren't enough... you need courage to act on them.
2 Kings 10:1-36Two Truths and Two Warnings from this passage:• Truth 1: There is no escape from God's judgement on sin.• Truth 2: We should ruthlessly pursue the elimination of sin in our own lives.• Warning 1: You can ruthlessly pursue the sin of others and be blind to some of your own.• Warning 2: In our excessive zeal we can sometimes do damage.
2 Kings 9:1-37Truth 1: Peace is only possible when sin is judged and removed.Truth 2: God ordains agents for judgement, and they prepare the way for peace.
2 Kings 8:16-29Realities in this passage:1. Faithfulness in one generation can quickly give way to waywardness in the next.2. Sin in infectious and compounding - and we intermingle with it to our detriment.3. Even in the darkest moments, the Lord mercifully still keeps a lamp burning for his people.
2 Kings 8:1-15Points from this passage:1. God honors his Word to bring justice.2. In his justice, God restores those who honor his Word, and reproves those who don't.3. God will sometimes use startling means in the process.
2 Kings 6:24-7:20Observations from this passage:1. When crisis hits, bad reactions include blaming, lashing out, and disbelieving God.2. The Lord can plunder the enemy’s camp to supply the needs of his people.3. The Lord typically delivers not by might or power, but by the things that are not.4. Deliverance is good news but evangelists need to proclaim it.5. The word of the Lord is certain, reliable, and it never fails.
2 Kings 6: 1-23Two stories- the ax head recovered from the Jordan river & Elisha's servant being able to see the supernatural horses and chariots of fire all around when it seemed like they were about to be taken by the Syrians. What is God meaning to teach His people about Himself?1. Ours is a God who recovers ax heads, guards faithful heads, and spares enemy's heads.2. Ours is a God who hears, intervenes, and controverts (by blinding and giving sight).
2 Kings 5 :15-24Two hearts seen in this passage:1. Naaman's Heart: • softening • humble • pure • generous • sincere2. Gehazis' Heart: • hardening • proud • impure • greedy • deceptiveTwo Dangers seen in this passage:1. When someone seeks personal gain from God's work, they rob from God.2. When someone pursues worldly things in worldly ways, they get the world's uncleanliness with it.
2 Kings 5: 1-14The story of Naaman being healed of LeprosyThree Ways God is Working:1. We witness God working in ways that seem mysterious.2. We witness God working through and for the humble.3. We witness God working in ways that contravene preset expectations.If we are God's children we can know that God always works for our good.
2 Kings 4:8-37Elisha and the Sunammite WomanReflections from this passage:1. The Lord is a giver of good gifts (v. 8-17)2. Sometimes the Lord's good gifts bring both gladness and sadness (v. 18-21)3. We should run and cling to God's man in time of trial and refuse to leave Him (v 22-27)4. Even God's mightiest and most faithful servants are still limited in knowledge and power (v. 27 & 31)5. Even the curse of death can bear witness to the promise of life (v 32-37)
2 Kings 4:1-7Observations from this passage:1. Sometimes we serve God faithfully and sacrificially, and great trials STILL befall us.2. God is as concerned with small-scale affairs as he is with massive ones.3. Sometimes seeing the Lord's provision requires us to step out and work in faith.4. God will often meet an immediate need even while preparing us for what's ahead.5. There's a redeemer at work on behalf of the helpless- effectively redeeming them from debt slavery.
2 Kings 3:1-273 Reminders from this passage:1. Remember to seek the Lord in whatever you do BEFORE pushing forward.2. Remember that were it not for his regard for David's heir, the Lord would not look upon us.3. Remember that great wrath cam not against us, but against another son offered in our place.
2 Kings 2:1-25Four things we learn from this passage:1. The Lord's power is not confined to a particular time or age.2. The Lord's power is not limited to any particular person.3. The Lord can do a new work in the cursed mess of our lived.4. The Lord can establish and protect work even in the very heart of rebellion.
2 Kings 1:1-18Takeaways from this passage:1. God is jealous for his people's love and loyalty - and He will interrupt idolatry.2. The enemies of God will try to manhandle his Word.3. God guards his Word - and those faithful to it.4. Humbling ourselves before His Word paves the way for mercy.
Pastor Jason kicks off our new sermon series on 2 Kings with a look back (at 1 Kings) and a look forward.Themes of 2 Kings to look for in the coming weeks: Blessing Failure Sovereignty Punishment Patience Hope
Jude, verses 11-16Takeaways from this passage:1. Beware of the way of Cain (where God's commands are clearly understood bu you give into sin anyway).2.Beware of Balaam's error (where people show favor to gain advantage).3. Beware of Korah's rebellion (where God's ways are forced to fit our ways).4. Beware of hidden reefs and self-feeders (where teaching and promises of life bring only wandering and death).5. Beware of ungodliness (of those who sin in both deed and word).
Jude verses 5-10Things we learn from this passage:1. We must persist in believing.2. We must fight for purity and stay within God's proper boundaries - especially moral boundaries. 3. We must be cautious about personal revelations (always testing them against Scripture.)4. We must submit to authority and revere God's Word.
Pastor Jason continues his "one book series" with the start of the book of Jude, Verses 1-4Four Timeless Realities:1. Jesus is our sovereign Lord and we are His servants2. We are called, loved, and kept as his people.3. We have a faith that was once for all delivered to us- and we need to fight for it!4. The church is susceptible to creepers - to being crept in on unnoticed.
Philemon vs 8-25What the Gospel Changes:1. The Gospel changes how we look at our circumstance.2. The Gospel changes how we see our relationships.3. The Gospel changes how we view our resources. 4. The Gospel changes how we hold accounts.
Pastor Jason continues our summer "series" on the one chapter books of the bible, this week landing in Philemon. Five Reasons to Heed the Call to Koinonia (a "generous sharing or fellowship"):1. Because it will create gratitude in others.2. Because it will stimulate joy and comfort in others.3. Because it will refresh the hearts of the faith family.4. Because it will equip you to more deeply and experientially know all the good things we have in Christ.5. Because it will equip you to be generous in grade for those hard moments and challenging situations.
Exodus 7:14- 10:29All of the plagues started with Pharaoh asking, "Who is the Lord?"Main Points: * The Lord rules over the created world. The Lord is purposefully patient. The Lord reigns above negotiation, manipulation and threats.* The Lord spares His people from judgement.
Pastor Jason brings us a message from the book of 3 John. Let's be people who walk in the truth & continue to do faithful things, and let's imitate what is good.
Pastor Matt takes us back to Exodus in today's sermon and leaves us with:- A Warning: The enemy's schemes haven't really changed and the people of God should watch out for signs that they are taking hold.- An Encouragement : Remember the Lord is strong to deliver in Christ.
Pastor Jason takes this week to cover the book of 2 JohnSeveral things that John wants the Church to understand:1. It is critically important to abide and walk in truth.2. There is an inseparable relationship between love and truth.3. You need to watch - in order to win.4. You must be cautions in receiving and supporting.
Our last passage in this series on John. As much as Peter denied Jesus so publicly, Jesus wants to "reinstate" him publicly in this passage. Main points/take-aways:1. Before we can serve Jesus, He must remove the guilt of our sin.2. Love for Jesus will lead to obedience to Jesus.3. The work of shepherding involves following, tending and feeding.4. The path of discipleship may vary from person to person-- "But you follow me!"
Message points:1. Jesus calls his disciples to fish, and even instructs them how-- but only He supplies the catch.2. The catch will be exceedingly abundant -- and His resources will never tear.3. The church is at its strongest when it remembers, reflects -- and jumps into action.4. Jesus welcomes his disciples to a place of nourishment, celebrating the fruit of our labors.
John 20: 24-31 This passage covers the story of "doubting Thomas" and pastor Jason gives us 5 basic points: 1. Belief is the conviction of things unseen - which are now mediated to us by the apostles.2. Belief seems to be negatively impacted by isolation.3. Doubts are obstacles to belief - and they MUST be battled through.4. Belief will culminate in our allegiance to his Lordship.5. Belief is the only way to find life in his name.
Pastor Matt brings us a message from the book of Exodus from the life of Moses. In this passage we find a key truth: The Word of God is reliable, it is purposefully mediated, powerfully accompanied, and providentially preserved. God's Word is a reliable word because it comes from a reliable God.
John 20:19-23- Christ's church is a place where fear is replaced with peace.- Christ's church is a gathering where we are continually sending ourselves out.- Christ's church is a new creation in the Spirit commissioned with a ministry of forgiveness.
John 20:1-18The resurrection story mentions 3 locations:1. The location of our atonement is in a body.2. The location of our salvation is in a garden.3. The location of our intercession is in a seat.
John 19:17-37Seven "key words" that John would have us hear from this passage:1. The Cross2. Inscription3. Tunic4. Family5. Finished6. Unbroken7. Blood/Water
John 18:28 - 19:16Pastor Jason continues in the book of John leading up to the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. This passage covers the events with Pilate. As followers of Christ, we are asked to consider Jesus' suffering. - Consider WHY Jesus suffered (what was the purpose?)- Consider the WAY Jesus suffered.- Consider HOW Jesus suffered.
John 18:1-12Pastor Matt continues our study in the book of John and preaches through the study of the night Jesus was arrested, tried and denied.
John 17:1-26Prayers can tell us a lot about people- what they value, what they long for, how they see God, etc. In today's sermon, we go through Jesus' last recorded prayer in John.
John 16:16-33Main points:1. You will have sorrow, anguish, and tribulation in this world.2. You should take heart and have peace in me (Jesus).There are two levels of application in this passage: 1. Unique to just the disciples in that time2. Us today in our world
John 15:18-16:151. The departure of Jesus from this world releases the ministry of the Spirit into it.2. The Spirit's ministry to this world is to expose and convict with the truth - (and it WILL inspire reactions).3. The Spirit's ministry to the believer is to empower and guide in all the truth - (and He will inspire witnesses).
John 15:15-31Three "threads" are discussed in this passage:1.What Jesus has already done.2. What Jesus will yet do-- for those who love him.3. What those who love Jesus will do for Him.
John 13:31 - 14:14In this passage, Jesus is presenting his disciples, and us with some "probing questions."- Are you loving one another from a power beyond yourself?- Are you placing confidence in you own human strength?- Are you letting your heart be troubled in the dark hours of this world?- Do you really believe that Jesus is the way, and the ONLY way to be saved?- Are your prayers shaped towards Jesus' will & aimed at God's glory?
John 13:1-30It's the Passover meal, and Jesus washes the disciples feet. We must be willing to do the humblest tasks for those in the body of Christ. We all need to be washed, and we all ought to wash one another's feet.
John 12:37-50Main Threads from this passage:1. At the cross Jesus judges sins, dethrones Satan, and draws all people2. Now is the time to believe and walk in the light as its sons and daughters3. Obstacles to belief include spiritual blindness, hard-heartedness, fear of rejection, and the love of man's glory
We apologize for quality of the audio recording this week. Our streaming software wasn't working, so this was reordered on a phoneJason covers Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem in today's passage.
In this passage, we read the story of Mary anointing Jesus with costly perfume. We learn several things from this story, including that Jesus is worthy of our costly worship, as well as the fact that to some people the "smell" of the gospel is life giving, but to others it causes them to recoil.
Jason preaches on the story of Jesus and the raising of his friend Lazarus and we see how the Lord's "delays' are often opportunities for his glory to be seen.
Jesus becomes the giver of "unsnatchable" life by letting himself be snatched up to death. This and 3 other ironies are put before us from this passage.
Are you in the "fold" with Jesus as your shepherd? Do you recognize & know your shepherd's voice and know how to listen for it? Do you receive your Great Shepherd's loving care personally? If you are one of the "under-shepherds" or leaders-- are you shepherding rightly? And as a "sheep", are you receiving shepherding well?
John 9:1-41In this passage, Jesus heals the man born blind. The light of Jesus brings sight to those who recognize their blindness (but leaves a shadow of judgement over those who don't.) And, God's work on display in suffering and hardship can draw people to the light
John 8:31-59What does a true believer look like? Pastor Jason shows us what portraits of both true and false believers look like and what we need to look for in our own lives.
John 8:12-303 Antithesis in this passage: Darkness vs Light Dead in sins vs the light of Life* The below, worldly realm vs the above, other-worldly realm
John 7:1-31Jesus comes into Jerusalem for the Feast of Booths. The Jewish leaders of the day were bothered by his teaching - especially because he was teaching with authority and absolute confidence. He was teaching not for his own glory, but for the Father's glory.Pastor Jason gives us 3 different reactions to Jesus and his teaching and reminds us that unlike the listeners of that day, the hour for us HAS come, and we must commit one way or another -- will we follow Jesus or will we be threatened by him.
John 6:1-21Two miracles are depicted in this passage - the feeding of the 5,000 + and Jesus walking on water and calming the storm. What do these tell us about what kind of king Jesus is?
John 5:30-47Jesus is attesting about himself and who he really is and about his relationship to the Father.
Our guest speaker, pastor Todd H, continues his mini series on the forgiveness of our sins by giving us insight into why Jesus instructs his followers to keep asking for forgiveness.
Leviticus 16Our guest speaker, pastor Todd H, brings us a message about the Day of Atonement & how Jesus is the final and perfect sacrifice
Romans 13:1-7Pastor Jason takes a break from our John series to do a message on Christians and how we relate biblically to our government and elected officials.
Leviticus 1:1-9Acceptable Sacrifices:Sacrificial Action, Jesus' Sacrifice, Living Sacrifices
John 3:22-36John the Baptist's "star" is falling, while his cousin, Jesus' "star" is rising. How does he respond to that? And how should we respond when others around us seem to be having success in life, and maybe we don't see it in our lives?
Guest speaker, Dr. Richard Averbeck, discusses the two great commandments from the Mosaic Law & how they are also foundational to the law of Christ.
John 1:19-34Pastor Jason continues his new sermon series on the gospel of John by covering the passage where John the Baptist baptizes Jesus and proclaims him to be the Christ/Messiah.
Genesis 4:1-16Pastor Matt finishes up his two part series on Cain and Abel, this time focusing on Abel and how his faith and his blood spilled points to Jesus.
Genesis 4:1-16This week, pastor Matt dives into the story of Cain & Abel and challenges us as believers to not let faithlessness sneak into our hearts like it did to Cain.
God will give us wisdom to endure trials well, if we ask him in faith, not double-souled.
As Philip meets an Ethiopian eunuch, we learn several lessons about faithful evangelism.
Stephen's sermon reminds us that God's people are often tempted to reject God's deliverer.
As the Early Church grows and new needs arise, additional leaders are recognized - ensuring that neither the Word nor the practical needs of the church would be neglected.
In this passage we see a spectrum of responses to Jesus - the Apostles on one side, the Sadducees on the other, and many others in between.
In this passage, we learn about mutual care, generosity, and motives - as well as a sobering example of sin and God's judgment.
As we look at how the apostles experienced and respond to crisis, we learn a few things about how we can respond to crisis today.
As the Sadducees bring John and Peter before their council, we learn about resurrection denying, the exclusivity of the gospel, hard-heartedness, and false authority.
The physical healing of the beggar illustrates the spiritual healing offered through the name of Jesus.
In this portrait of the Early Church, we see that a vibrant church should be marked by sharing for needs, personal fellowship, joyful praise, and growth.
In this portrait of the Early Church, we see that a vibrant church should be marked by devotion to the corporate gathering and signs of God's power at work.
Peter calls the crowds to repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus, so that they may be forgiven and receive the Holy Spirit.
Peter's sermon helps us see that the pouring out of the Holy Spirit proves that Jesus is both Lord and Christ, and all who call on his name will be saved.
The Holy Spirit arrives, the disciples are filled, tongues of fire appear, and foreign languages are spoken. Some bystanders are amazed, some are perplexed, others mock.
As the disciples try to discern who should replace Judas, they seek to let their decision be informed by God's Word.
In this passage Jesus promises to send the Holy Spirit and to advance his kingdom through his disciples. After he ascends back into heaven, the disciples gather together and wait for these promises to be fulfilled - teaching us about waiting well.
In Matthew 16, Jesus promises to build his church. We see the beginning of the fulfillment of this promise in the book of Acts.