North Houston Baptist Church: Recent Episodes
The sermon explores the doctrine of divine providence through the distribution of land to the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh in Joshua 16-17. It emphasizes God's absolute freedom to govern human circumstances contrary to human expectations, illustrated by the reversal of birthright blessings. The text highlights the vital role of prayer in engaging with God's sovereign will, using the example of Zelophehad's daughters who petitioned for their inheritance. Furthermore, it stresses personal responsibility, noting that while God ordains outcomes, believers must actively obey His commands and fight spiritual battles rather than remaining passive. Ultimately, the message calls listeners to trust God's wisdom while diligently pursuing holiness and obedience in their daily lives.
It's often hard to understand why God included chapters like Joshua 15 in His Word, with detailed geographical boundaries and lists of long-forgotten cities. But these seemingly monotonous records reveal God's faithful provision for His people and were extremely important to the Israelites as they inherited the land. In this sermon we see how the ancient inheritance of Canaan is connected to the ultimate spiritual inheritance found in Jesus Christ, and that divine promises are fulfilled through patient waiting and earnest prayer. We are encouraged as believers that God's timing is perfect even when fulfillment seems delayed, and that ultimately, we will have complete rest and victory in Christ.
As one of only two spies, along with Joshua, who scouted Canaan and urged Israel to trust God's promises that He would give them the land, Caleb was promised an inheritance by God. When, after years in the wilderness, Israel finally took possession of the land, Caleb received his promised inheritance because he remained faithful to God. In this sermon we see Caleb as an illustration of the nature of true faith and divine providence. His wholehearted commitment demonstrates that genuine faith involves entrusting oneself completely to God's Word in the face of impossible challenges. And as believers, we are encouraged to find strength in Christ and confidence in God's faithfulness to fulfill His promises. Not grumbling over trials, but remembering that our circumstances are allotted by God's sovereign will, and trusting His plan.
In chapter 13, the narrative shifts from military conquest to the concept of inheritance, as God commands Joshua to divide the land west of the Jordan between the 9 1/2 tribes, even though there are still enemies to defeat and much land to possess. In this sermon, we see the connection between Old Testament inheritance and the New Testament truth that believers are heirs of all things through union with Christ and the indwelling Holy Spirit. While Christ has definitively won the spiritual war, Christians must actively persevere to possess their inheritance against ongoing resistance. Believers are urged to fight unbelief and sin rather than become complacent in their faith.
Even though God promised Joshua and Israel that He would defeat their enemies and give them the promised land, their prolonged conquest of Canaan required obedience and perseverance, day after day. In this sermon, we are reminded that believers must engage in a spiritual battle against sin and unbelief, wielding faith and Scripture as weapons. Despite the ongoing struggle against sin and the presence of formidable spiritual giants, Christians are called to persevere in faith until they fully experience the eternal rest promised in Jesus Christ.
As pilgrims in this world, Christians are to maintain their distinct identity and develop a spiritual appetite for heavenly things rather than worldly pleasures. In this sermon, Christians are urged to endure present hardships with joy and hope, fixing their eyes on Jesus, the perfecter of faith, and live lives of radical generosity and faithfulness as citizens of a future kingdom.
Just as Joshua succeeded in his conquest of Canaan through courageous obedience to God's commands, believers share in Christ's triumph by relying on His perfect faithfulness rather than their own strength. Remembrance of God's past deliverances serves as a source of encouragement and courage in the ongoing struggle against spiritual enemies. In this sermon, we are reminded to rest in the finished work of Jesus, who has defeated sin and death for all who entrust themselves to Him.
Although Israel sinned by not seeking God's counsel when they made a covenant with Gibeon, God still heard their subsequent prayers and made the sun and moon stand still while they destroyed the Amorites - a day like no other. In this sermon, we see that divine sovereignty inspires holy diligence rather than passivity, urging believers to rely on God's power through prayer. By aligning human petitions with God's will, Christians can experience His active protection and victory in spiritual warfare.
When the Israelites entered Canaan, many of the Canaanite kings overtly stood against them. However, the Gibeonites manipulated Israel through plausible lies, and the Israelite leaders failed to see through the deceit because they did not seek counsel from the Lord, which led to a compromised covenant despite their initial suspicion. In this sermon, this historical event serves as a warning against trusting human reason over prayer in the face of Satan's cunning strategies. Believers are urged to maintain daily dependence on God's wisdom to avoid spiritual compromise and self-reliance.
When Joshua led the Israelites into Canaan, he obeyed Moses' command that they read to all the people the blessings and the curses related to their obedience or disobedience of God's law. But because all who have ever lived are sinners, save one, the law serves as a lens revealing human inability and pointing to Christ, the greater Joshua, who kept the law perfectly on behalf of believers. In this sermon, we see that through faith in Christ alone, individuals are justified and receive every spiritual blessing, escaping the condemnation of the law. All are urged to abandon reliance on self-righteousness and place their complete hope in Jesus Christ for eternal life.
Believers are called to distinct holiness rather than assimilation or isolation, maintaining a clear difference in values while actively engaging society. Suffering and persecution for righteousness' sake are expected consequences of this faithful witness, offering eternal reward as the primary motivation for endurance. In this sermon, Christians are urged to recognize their spiritual poverty and dependence on Christ's imputed righteousness, living a vibrant, public faith that glorifies God through good works despite cultural opposition.
Meekness for the Christian is not a weakness but a spirit-wrought posture of deep trust in God that flows from humility and manifests in gentleness toward others. In this sermon, we contrast the transient prosperity of the wicked with the eternal inheritance promised to the meek. Key characteristics include committing one's anxieties to the Lord, waiting patiently for His justice, and resisting the urge to retaliate or fret over evil. Believers are challenged to seek this grace through prayer and submission to Scripture, looking forward to the future hope of inheriting the new creation rather than pursuing earthly gain.
Just as Israel suffered a humiliating defeat at Ai but later defeated them in the power of God, the Christian life is often characterized by spiritual failure and restoration through God's grace when we rely on Him and not on human strength. In this sermon, we highlight the necessity of purging sin from one's life and adhering strictly to God's ordained methods, such as prayer and Scripture, to achieve spiritual victory and deliverance from the curse of sin through faith in Jesus Christ.
Israel suffered their first defeat in Canaan because the anger of the Lord burned against them due to Achan's secret theft of devoted things and the community's failure to address sin. God punished Achan and Israel and showed that His wrath is righteous and just, serving as a sobering warning against presumption and disobedience. In this sermon, we see both the severe consequences of sin on individuals and generations, and God's grace, who promises to transform the valley of trouble into a door of hope for those who trust in Christ.
Having crossed into the land of promise, the Israelites face their first enemy at Jericho, only to learn through Joshua's encounter with the commander of the Lord's army that the coming battle will not be won by human strength. God reveals that victory is already secured by His power, though His people must walk in obedience to His unusual commands. Their marching, waiting, and shouting display a faith that acts because the Lord has given the city into their hands. In this sermon, we consider how faith‑filled obedience sees the Lord's victory and is never passive.
A new beginning unfolds for Israel as they enter the promised land through God's miraculous provision and then renew their covenant identity. Before taking possession of the land, the new generation is circumcised and the Passover is observed, marking them as God's reborn people in contrast to the unbelieving generation that died in the wilderness. In this sermon, we consider how Israel's renewal prefigures the renewal God accomplishes in His people through Christ.
Jesus' miracles, death, and resurrection together reveal God's deliberate plan to save sinners, as Peter proclaims in his ancient sermon from Acts 2. Though Jesus was crucified by lawless men, his death occurred according to God's foreknown purpose, and his resurrection vindicated him as both Lord and Christ. Those who heard Peter were "cut to the heart" and called to repent, be baptized, and receive forgiveness and the Spirit. In this sermon, we consider how Peter's message confronts our guilt and summons us to the risen Savior.
Because of the forgetfulness of His people, the Lord commands Israel to set up memorial stones after crossing the Jordan as a lasting reminder of His power. These stones testify not only to Israel but to all peoples that the Lord is mighty and worthy of reverent fear. In this sermon, we consider the call to remember and recount God's works so that we would not forget His greatness and grow in our fear of the Lord. *NOTE: Part of the audio is missing. We hope to add it later.
As the Israelites cross the Jordan, God shows His power to deliver His people and bring them safely into the their inheritance despite what seemed like impossible circumstances. In this sermon, we consider how their crossing illustrates Christ's going before us through death into resurrection life, securing our inheritance and victory over sin through union with Him.
As the spies are sent into the Promised Land, they encounter an unlikely character, Rahab. who demonstrates remarkable faith. In this sermon, we examine Rahab's faith and highlight five essential elements of saving faith.
As Joshua takes command of the people, he calls the tribes who had received land east of the Jordan River to keep their promise to help their brothers secure their inheritance. They respond in obedience, affirming their commitment to go with their brothers and submit to Joshua's leadership. In this sermon, we are exhorted, following their example, to aid our brothers and sisters of the faith to attain all the precious promises in Christ.
God called Joshua on a mission to lead his people into their promised rest. This sermon points us to Christ who leads us, and to the promises He had to embrace with great courage in the face of intense opposition.
This sermon is an introduction to the book of Joshua. In it we think about how to interpret the book in the context of the Pentateuch and the book of Judges, and in the context of the entire biblical storyline, especially in light of Christ. It ends with an encouragement regarding our union with Christ.
Believers need encouragement to persevere through trials, warnings against falling into sin, and guidance for living a godly life rooted in trust in Christ. They are called to endure God's discipline, resist temptation, and actively embrace and support their fellow believers in the church. In this sermon, we consider the concluding message of Hebrews, showing how believers are to bear hardships, draw one another in, and depend fully on the sustaining grace of God.
In Luke 11:1, the disciples asked Jesus to teach them how to pray. Even though we cannot approach Christ in the same physical way the disciples once did, He has given us His Word, which contains prayers and benedictions that guide us in learning how to pray. In this sermon, we consider six elements within the benedictory prayer at the end of the book of Hebrews and how they help shape and strengthen our own prayers.
Scripture contains warnings that remind us of our responsibility to persevere in the faith, yet God provides means to help us do so. Among these means of grace is the local church, where divinely appointed leaders watch over the souls of the flock and shepherd them in the Word. In this sermon, we consider three commands for how believers are to relate faithfully to their spiritual leaders.
Do New Testament believers offer sacrifices to the Lord? Hebrews 13 says they do. However, these sacrifices are not for atoning sin or earning salvation. In this sermon, we consider the "sacrifice of praise" through which believers render continual homage to God in heartfelt worship and generous devotion.
Whether or not we realize it, our deepest convictions shape our daily habits. Not all habits lead to lasting benefit, but spiritual disciplines, like prayer and Scripture reading, cultivate communion with God and strengthen us for spiritual challenges. In this sermon, we explore five steps to develop consistent spiritual habits that mirror Jesus' own practice of prayer and engagement with God's Word.
The author of Hebrews highlights Christ's incarnation, showing that God prepared a body for Him to perfectly obey and offer Himself as the ultimate sacrifice, bringing forgiveness, sanctification, and lasting joy. In this sermon, we reflect on the wonder of the incarnation, God's plan fulfilled from Genesis to the cross, and the hope and sanctification it secures for all united to Christ.
Believers are called to remember the leaders who spoke God's word and to consider the outcome of their lives. This strengthens the heart and guards against being led astray, for Jesus Christ is unchanging. In this sermon, we consider three admonitions that aid believers in holding fast to the faith once for all delivered to the saints.
Being rich is not a sin, but the desire for wealth and the love of money can plunge people into ruin and draw the heart away from Christ as their greatest treasure. The believer is called to keep the heart free from this love and to be content. In this sermon, we see that true contentment comes from trusting Christ's promise to never leave or forsake His people.
Not all are called to marriage, but all are called to honor it in a world that increasingly celebrates the desires of the flesh. God's Word reveals the great importance of esteeming marriage as His good and honorable design and of keeping the marriage bed undefiled. In this sermon, we consider what this requires in all aspects of life and are warned of God's certain judgment against the sexually immoral and adulterous.
As the author of Hebrews begins his closing exhortations, he calls believers to let brotherly love continue. Three specific applications, each accompanied by a motivating consideration, are given to show how this command is lived out. In this sermon, we see how love for Christ is expressed in practical devotion to His body, remembering that to serve and care for God's people is to serve Christ Himself.
Having reminded his readers of the warning not to refuse the one God who spoke to them at Sinai, the author reveals how God will once again shake heaven and earth to remove what is temporary and establish an unshakable kingdom in Christ. In this sermon, we consider how recipients of this kingdom respond with gratitude and offer God acceptable worship marked by reverence and awe.
In a broken world marked by sin and injustice, the apostle Paul highlights how a life of faith that is pleasing to God is one that looks toward Jesus Christ and actively expresses itself for the good of the saints. Paul thanks God for Philemon's faith and love, prays that the contribution flowing from that faith would be made effective by God's power, and grounds this prayer in Philemon's past fruitfulness. In this sermon, we see that living by faith often requires obedience in difficult situations, while acknowledging that every good work in us comes from Christ and is for His glory.
God's appearance on Mount Sinai and the giving of the law heightened the people's awareness of His holiness and their own sinfulness, producing fear and distance from His presence. Under the new covenant, however, believers are invited to approach the mountain of God by faith through Christ, the mediator of a better covenant. In this sermon, we consider how the sprinkled blood of Jesus speaks a better word than Abel's blood for all who are united to Christ.
The author of Hebrews, after affirming the loving discipline of God toward His children, calls believers to strive after holiness. This holiness is not the perfect righteousness of Christ already imputed to us, but the ongoing, progressive sanctification that becomes evident in daily life. Such holiness is pursued intentionally and expressed both personally and within the covenant community. In this sermon, we consider three ways a child of God may pursue this holiness.
There is a holiness without which no one will see the Lord—not a meritorious or salvific holiness, for salvation rests in Christ alone, but an experiential holiness that necessarily flows from true faith. The truly converted believer will therefore strive after this holiness, knowing it does not come by accident. In this sermon, we consider the necessity for God's children to earnestly pursue such holiness.
The author of Hebrews highlights several key aspects of God's discipline: it is a mark of His love, confirms our status as His true children, and surpasses any discipline from earthly fathers. In this sermon we focus on a fourth characteristic, that God's discipline is ultimately for our good and leads us into a greater experience of true righteousness and holiness.
When a person encounters the discipline of the Lord, they may be tempted to dismiss it, despise it, or grow dispirited by it. However, the child of God must endure in times of suffering because God's discipline is a means of sanctification, training in godliness, and ultimately for our good. In this sermon, we consider the encouragements to commit ourselves to humbly submit to God's discipline through His Word and providence.
In our call to endure, we are to look to Christ, the author and finisher of our faith. Yet the author of Hebrews strengthens this call with a surprising exhortation: he directs us to remember God's discipline in our lives. In this sermon, we consider how recalling our identity as sons and recognizing God's discipline as a mark of His fatherly love helps us endure. We also reflect on what God's discipline entails and the ways in which He disciplines His children.
The Christian life is likened to a race—not merely because it has a beginning and an end, but because it demands ongoing dedication and endurance from those who believe and long for the fulfillment of God's promised word. In this sermon, we reflect on how we are enabled to run this race with perseverance by fixing our eyes on Christ.
In Hebrews 11, the author presents 16 examples of individuals who looked to Christ by faith. They confidently and patiently hoped in God's promises, even though they did not receive them in their lifetime. These saints endured, believing that their promises all culminated in the greater promise of Christ. In this sermon, we reflect on how those who came before us were not made perfect apart from us and how we, like them, wait by faith for the fullness of the better promises that are fulfilled in Christ.
In the previous sermon, we saw how God, by faith, empowers His people to accomplish both ordinary and extraordinary works for His glory. Yet, Hebrews 11:35b–38 reminds us that faith does not always lead to earthly triumph but often to suffering and persecution. In this sermon, we consider how true faith shapes the endurance and hope of those who suffer for righteousness' sake, clinging to Christ to the very end.
True faith does not always produce extraordinary acts, nor is their absence solely due to a lack of faith; rather, genuine faith expresses itself in obedience, even when the outcome is unseen. In this sermon, we consider how God uses weak and failing vessels who possess true, saving, and persevering faith to accomplish His purposes, whether great and ordinary.
As God's people began to take possession of the promised land, they faced the mighty city of Jericho. In this event, we see both victory over the enemy and the deliverance of a sinful woman. In this sermon, we consider how faith serves as the instrument of victory and deliverance for the Christian, secured by union with Christ.
Under the Old Covenant, the Israelites annually commemorated their deliverance from Egypt through the Passover feast. It was a powerful reminder that their salvation came solely through the blood of the lamb as God's righteous judgment fell on Egypt. In this sermon we consider how faith, then and now, looks to Christ, trusting fully in His redemptive death and applying His redemption in our lives.
Though Moses could have enjoyed the passing pleasures of the palace, it was by faith that he chose to suffer with the people of God. In this sermon, we consider how faith leads the believer to make spiritual choices that defy worldly logic and preference.
True saving faith endures hardship and opposition, continually looking to Christ. In the face of death, it produces a bold and even surprising confidence—a longing for what lies beyond. In this sermon, we consider how such faith sustains believers not only in life but also unto death, as seen in the lives of the patriarchs.
God has promised His people, by His Word, pleasures unimaginable and perfect fellowship with Him—but not in this life. Instead, we are told to expect times of testing. In this sermon, we consider, through the life of Abraham, three truths about how faith thinks and reasons when it is tested.
Christians understand that this present world is not their home, but that they are pilgrims looking forward to a better country. Like Abraham, they live by faith in the promises of God, even while they remain strangers and exiles on the earth. In this sermon, we consider what it means to live with pilgrim faith on this side of eternity and how such faith shapes our thoughts, desires, and hopes.
Though there is a terrible domain of darkness and Christians live in a world that ignores and rebels against the Lord, all is not without hope, for there is a great deliverance to be found in the great deliverer, Jesus Christ. In this sermon, we consider the work and preeminence of Christ in creation, salvation, and glorification.
Though not fully evident in Genesis, the author of Hebrews reveals that Sarah possessed a faith of her own in God—one not dependent on her husband or circumstances. In this sermon, we reflect on how Sarah's own faith displayed her trust in the faithfulness and promise of God and consider the practical applications of such faith.
The apostle James describes how genuine, saving faith inevitably bears fruit in works. In Hebrews 11, Abraham is presented as a clear example of one whose saving faith was evidenced by his obedience and trust in God. In this sermon, we consider three characteristics of this sort of faith which produces a life of obedience.
A central teaching of Christianity is that every person will one day stand before God to give an account of their life. And just as a student prepares for their final exam, the person who lives by faith prepares for the coming Day of the Lord. In this sermon, we reflect on three key truths concerning the forward-looking faith of the believer and the resulting effects it produces.
Not all "faith" is true faith. In this sermon, we examine the lives of three pre-flood men—Abel, Enoch, and Noah— to see what they can teach us about the nature of true, saving faith.
Hebrews 11 is often called the Hall of Faith for its descriptions of men and women of faith. Though many are considered heroes of the faith, they serve as examples of those who possessed true, saving, and enduring faith. In this sermon, we consider what that kind of faith is and the effect it has on the true Christian.
A true Christian may look back and remember the time when they first came to saving faith. Yet, genuine faith is not a fleeting experience—it endures through suffering, reproach, and hardship. In this sermon, we reflect on the call to have an enduring faith and to heed the solemn warning against casting away our confidence, which has great reward.
In the Gospel of John, Jesus tells the Samaritan woman that true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. True worship is not defined by mere knowledge of a god, nor by outward forms of religiosity. In this sermon, we consider what true worship of God looks like by examining Jeroboam's creation of a false religious system.
Scripture clearly reveals God's preserving grace toward His true people, ensuring they are kept and brought safely home. Yet, a sobering danger remains: some may appear to belong to the church while never truly being part of it. Though outwardly associated with the covenant community, they prove false converts and will ultimately be lost. In this sermon, we consider the type of person and the danger they are in.
God has appointed leaders to shepherd His flock, yet the call to care for one another is not limited to them alone. Every believer bears responsibility to stir up fellow saints to love and good works. In this sermon, we consider the responsibility of every believer to each other to provoke one another to love and good works and the vital importance of faithfully gathering with the local church.
Approaching the perfect and holy God—the Creator of the universe—has always been a fearful experience, even resulting in death for some. Yet in Hebrews 10, we are told that we can now come before Him with confidence. In this sermon we reflect on the type of person who can posses such confident access to God through Jesus and what fruit is produced by it.
If you have ever set your mind to pursuing good and living a life of complete righteousness, you will find it an impossible task by your own effort. Even with the motivation to right past wrongs, you will find that you continue to add to the debt that you owe. So how can man ever offer a sacrifice or offering sufficient and perfect enough to perfect and forgive? In this sermon, we reflect on the dual nature of Christ seating Himself on the throne and the implications for the believer.
The entire Old Testament revelation, including the law, the prophets, and the sacrificial system, all point to Jesus. These were merely shadows of a greater reality found in Christ. Unlike animals, which were led to the slaughter without understanding or intent to obey God, Christ came willingly to offer Himself, fully understanding and submitting to God's will to atone for the sins of humanity. In this sermon, we explore both the historical effect and the personal impact of Christ's sacrifice.
At the inauguration of the covenant, blood was sprinkled over the tabernacle, its furnishings, and the people to consecrate and purify them. Similarly, while heavenly things also require purification, they are cleansed through a superior sacrifice compared to that of the old covenant. In this sermon, we reflect on Christ's sacrifice and the full purification it offers, both to heavenly things and to believers.
After highlighting the superiority of the New Covenant over the Old, the author of Hebrews describes the physical place of holiness and prescribed regulations for worship under the first covenant. These elements are presented to reveal what they failed to achieve in the lives of the worshipers. In this sermon, we explore how the types of the old covenant pointed forward to a greater place, a better offering, and the effect on worshipers.
The author of Hebrews emphasizes that Jesus is the mediator of the new covenant, and in fulfilling this role, His death was necessary. But why was His death required? In this sermon, we explore both the historical and principial reasons behind Jesus' death and the blessings it brings to those who are called by God.
In previous sermons, we explored how the New Covenant, established on better promises, is superior to the old. This raises an important question: what relevance does the old covenant have for New Covenant believers? In this sermon, we will examine the ramifications and implications of the new covenant rendering the old one obsolete.
This sermon continues to explore the glorious promises of the New Covenant which highlight how it is far surpass to the old covenant. In part one, we delved into the significance of the law being written on the heart and the promise that He would be their God and they would be His people. In this second part, we turn our attention to two more promises found in Hebrews 8:11-12, which further demonstrates its superiority.
Under the Old Covenant, God's people were given His law and were blessed with the privilege of being His chosen people, though this relationship was conditional. However, the New Covenant is far superior in that is is established on better promises. The New Covenant accomplishes what the Old failed to bring about because the New Covenant gives what it requires. This sermon is part 1 of 2.
Christ's ministry surpasses that of all preceding priests, and one key reason lies in the connection between His ministry and the covenant He mediates. This sermon provides an introductory overview of the new covenant's superiority over the old, a theme that will be explored more deeply in the weeks to come.
Having considered the person and character of Jesus Christ as our great high priest, the author of Hebrews states the main point of the past few chapters: that Christ is not yet another shadow of the things to come, but the very reality to which all that had come before him pointed. In this sermon, two typological aspects are considered: Christ's place of ministry and the nature of his offering.
The Scriptures reveal that all of mankind are enemies of God and deserving of his judgment. Therefore, for any person to have any kind of hope for salvation, they need someone to intercede on their behalf before God. In this sermon, four reasons are provided for why Jesus is the only kind of priest who could have accomplished this.
Under the Old Covenant, the high priests had the life-limited responsibility of going behind the veil in order to intercede in behalf of the people before God. However, Jesus's priesthood is unlike the Aaronic priesthood in that it never ceases. In this sermon, we consider the ramifications of Christ having an intercession without end.
In this sermon, we continue our exposition through the book of Hebrews and see how the author demonstrates the beauty and importance of every single word of God in emphasizing the Son's priesthood. And by it, we consider three implications of that sworn oath of God concerning the priesthood of His son and the confidence we can have in the promises of God because of his forever priesthood.
Sometimes, Christians can get the mistaken idea that -godliness- is for some life other than the one we're living now -- that it is merely a preparation for a life in the world to come. Paul admonishes believers to remember that godliness is profitable in all things. We are encouraged to think and live godly lives in everything we do right now.
In the last few verses of this magnificent book, the Lord soberingly reveals the future judgment of eternal fire that awaits unbelieving sinners. But He also reveals the eternal glory that belongs to all true children of God. How we respond to Christ determines which future will be ours.
This sermon is an encouragement to God's people to persevere in doing the good that God has commanded.
Religious conformity without contrition - the obedience of faith only extends a person's guilt. This sermon is a grave warning against hypocritical religion.
This talk examines three New Testament passages which are sometimes seen to argue against a New Testament Sabbath.
Isaiah foresees a glorious future for God's people and God's world, with no more weeping, no more death, and no more curse.
This is the fifth sermon in a series on the Sabbath and the Lord's Day. It examines five ways in which the New Testament explicitly sets the Lord's Day apart from ordinary days.
In this passage, God's -watchmen- are instructed to persistently plead with God for the outworking of all His purposes.
This is the fourth sermon in a series on the Sabbath and the Lord's Day. This is part 2 of a sermon on the Sabbath and its Lord.
Jesus the Messiah intercedes without ceasing for the fulfillment of all of God's purposes for His people.
This is a gospel sermon, an exposition of the declaration of the good news by Jesus the Messiah Himself.
Isaiah sees a vision of a glorious City -- the glory of the people of God. This sermon describes the delights of the New Jerusalem for the encouragement of His people.
This is the second in a series examining the Sabbath and the Lord's Day. Here is an examination of the Sabbath under the Mosaic law.
This text is the gospel in a nutshell- sin, guilt, covenant mercy, and salvation in the Messiah.
This is the first in a teaching series on the Sabbath, the Lord's Day, and the Christian.
God's people are called to forsake their sinful ways and take delight in the Lord's Sabbath.
Hope is the fuel of perseverance. But when hope is lost, a person finds it nearly impossible to go on. This passage points the way to regaining hope in the midst of feelings of despair, so that the child of God may persevere.
This sermon reminds the hearer of the holy and righteous God who thunders from Mount Sinai. But it also takes believers into the heights of heaven, and to the blood of Christ that -speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.- This sermon unpacks that statement, for the everlasting hope of guilty sinners.
This is a psalm of praise for a God who atones, satisfies, answers, and provides. His People are called to give Him the praise due His name.
It is possible to give the appearance of seeking God, and yet have a heart far from Him. The Lord charges His people to truly love Him and to love others. He hides Himself from those who act selfishly, even if they observe the outward forms of religion.
In this passage, God pronounces devouring judgment on the wicked, both irresponsible leaders and idolatrous people. But He also holds out the hope of peace and rest and communion with Himself for those who mourn over their sin and take refuge in Him.
This passage promises New Covenant hope those who were outsiders under the Old Covenant. It also reminds us that New Testament believers must continue to live righteously.
After so graciously calling all to come to Him freely, the Lord warns that in order to do so we must leave sin behind. We cannot pursue both God and ungodliness. This passage encourages us to forsake sin, promising great hope to the penitent.
To the spiritually hungry and thirsty, the Lord holds out one of the sweetest and freest invitations in all of His Word. Not only does He invite the needy to come, but He encourages them by three considerations. May this sermon be God's sweet call of grace to the hearer.
In this text, the prophet forsees the glorious splendor of the New Jerusalem. The church is spoken of in terms of a renewed city filled with true worshippers and eternally protected and vindicated by God Himself.
This text urges God's people to respond with joy to the salvation that He has provided through His Servant. This sermon also deals with the relationship of the New Covenant to the Old.
The suffering Servant of the Lord has accomplished everything that God gave Him to do. In this way, He has been successful in bringing about the salvation of His people. To Christ be all the glory- His people joyfully share in His just reward.
This sermon is a kind of -excursus- to the series on Isaiah. It focuses in on the specific question of whether there is healing in the atonement of Christ.
Isaiah predicts that the Servant of the Lord would suffer under the will of God without opening his mouth in protest. In this sermon, we examine how Jesus purposefully and obediently fulfilled everything that was written about him from of old, so that his people might be saved.
This passage is at the very heart of the Christian message. Christ died in the place of sinners. He suffered the wrath of God against the sins of all those who would believe in him. The sermon ends with an appeal for hearers to lay all their sins upon Jesus and be saved.
In this text, the Lord predicts two different responses to the coming Servant of the Lord. Every hearer must grapple with that to think of the Messiah, and will fall into one of those two categories.
This sermon reminds us that God will surely bring His people into His presence. He has already delivered us from slavery to sin by a great display of His power. Now His people worship Him as they make their way by His grace to the land He has prepared for them.
This sermon is an introduction to the final and climactic -Servant Song- in Isaiah. It focuses particularly on the identity of this great servant.
Should I forgive someone who is not sorry-- This talk attempts to answer this and other thorny questions about forgiveness. It defines different stages of -forgiveness,- examining what the Bible says about how to relate to those who do us wrong.
God is calling to those who are in a spiritual stupor to wake up. If you will turn to Jesus Christ, He will take God's wrath in your place. So leave the sin behind and follow Jesus- Do not fear -- the Lord God will make a way for all who trust in Him.
This message is for God's people who are facing fearful circumstances. God calls them to look back on His past faithfulness, to look ahead with confidence in His promises. As they cry out to the Lord, He reminds us of who He is, and that they are His children, secure in the shadow of His hand.
This is a message for those who seem to be left -in the dark- by the Lord, an encouragement to people who are tempted to be cynical and jaded toward the Lord. Hear the prophetic voice pleading with you to trust God even in the dark. None who wait for Him will be put to shame-
As their Messiah did, so the Lord's people sometimes feel forgotten and forsaken by God. This passage stands as a premiere encouragement from God regarding His faithfulness to his people.
Many times God's people face discouragement, even as the Messiah Himself suffered apparent failure and abandonment by God. But in this text, the Lord answers his Servan't lament with the assurance of a glorious future for himself, his people, and the whole earth.
Isaiah 49 is the second of four great -Servant Songs- in Isaiah. This sermon examines the identity of the Servant, His call, His preparation, and His mission to bring salvation to the ends of the earth.
Through Isaiah, the Lord commanded a future generation of Israelites to leave Babylon, just as He had generations before commanded their forefathers to leave Egypt behind. Today, the Lord continues to call His people out of the world to fellowship with Him and sing His praises forever.
The nation of Israel proved to be a stubborn and disobedient people- nevertheless the Lord delivered them. In this text, the Lord makes explicit His reason for saving them -- for His own name's sake. Likewise, it is for the Lord's own sake that anyone is saved eternally from sin's penalty. To Him alone be glory-
God resists the proud. This is His stated and settled approach to those determined to cast of His rule. This sermon examines the kinds of thinking and behavior that characterize spiritual pride and warns hearers to humble themselves before the Lord. And to the humble, God is gracious.
Human beings look to all sorts of things to uphold and sustain them. In this passage, the Lord shows the vanity of all those idols we trust in, and reminds His People that He alone carries them from beginning to end.
The only proper response to God's redeeming grace is to remember His goodness and return to Him. This sermon is a call to all sinners to return to the Lord, that He may have compassion upon them.
One great implication of the Lord's being the only God is that He ordains whatever comes to pass, including both good and bad. This sermon expounds on the Lord's own testimony that He -makes wellbeing and creates calamity,- and presses hearers to accept and submit to the providence of God.
We work and God works- but God's work is ultimate. We are dependent upon Him, and we must rely on Him. Unless the Lord works in and for us our lives, homes, churches, and societies are all hopeless.
When it seems that the powers of darkness are ascendent, God's People need a fresh vision of the Lord. He is not one god among many. He is God alone. Our hearts must be turned away from vain idols and set again upon the one true and living God.
There are two great polarities of God's work - His judgment and His mercy. With one breath, Isaiah predicted Israel's utter destruction. And with the next, He prophesied great mercy for them. What are the reasons for His judgment and His mercy, and how are those two great polarities reconciled--
God's dealings with His People are held up as testimony to the fact that He is the only God, the only Savior, and the only Sovereign. Both The People He delivered from Egypt and from Babylon, but especially those who are set free in Christ, bear witness to Him.
This is a message for those who are -in the depths.- We are encouraged to wait upon the Lord and finding Him faithful, to testify of his merciful redemption.
This Word of God is for those of His true people who are facing His dark providences. Those providences are His testing, His training, and are often His chastening for their own sin. But to His fearful children in the midst of that chastening He affirms His love and His sustaining grace.
This passage speaks to the people of God who are enduring judgment for their sins. Here God offers the hope of grace even while urging them to consider the chastening of the Lord. Ultimately, believers are assured of God's faithful love -- even His chastening love.
The Lord desired that Judah see His glory and heed His words. Instead, they distracted themselves and looked only at the world before them in the moment. This is a message to all of God's People, warning us of the frivolous distractions of the moment and the ever-present danger of being oblivious to the sight of our great God.
-And though the wrong seems oft so strong, God is the ruler yet.- In this passage, God encourages His people with the promise of a great reversal -- a Day in which all evil powers would be brought low and His own humble People lifted high.
This exploration of the book of Esther is a celebration of the preservation of life. This sermon commemorates the overturning of Roe v. Wade by the US Supreme Court.
When God's People are under pressure, there is the perennial temptation to look to the world -- to make alliances with godlessness in order to gain some perceived benefit. But in the end, all those things will pass away, and only those who rely on the Lord alone will be saved.
This text expounds both the judgment and the compassion of God. The sermon tackles the thorny issue of the relation of God's determination to bring judgment with his apparent sorrow at doing such a thing. And in the end, we see a God who is both perfectly just and sovereign, but who also reveals His heart of compassion.
When God's People are hard-pressed, there are always temptations to turn for help in worldly directions. This message challenges Christians to trust in the Sovereign Lord alone.
This is an exposition of chapter 20 of the Second London Baptist Confession of Faith -1689-, covering the topics of the gospel and the extent of grace.
This is an exposition of chapters 19 of the Second London Baptist Confession of Faith -1689-, covering the topic of God's law.
The Day of the Lord -- the day of God's great judgment of the world -- is coming. It will bring anguish, fear, and dismay. It will be utterly just. And it will be inescapable. We are rightly warned to flee from the wrath to come.
There's a deep longing in every human heart for an ideal society. Yet all our experience since the fall has been one of brokenness and animosity and pain. But through Isaiah's prophecy, God gives His people hope of a restored world ruled by peace and justice.
The beginning of the Bible is the story of Paradise lost. But Isaiah forsees the Day that Paradise will be restored through the True Vine that will bear great fruit throughout the whole earth.
In this very instructive passage, we learn three important lessons about God's sovereignty in history and among nations. Then we are encouraged to two proper responses to those truths.
For decades, God had stretched out his hand in chastening of the people of Israel, and still they rebelled against Him. God disciplines His children still today- yet we are sometimes tempted to dismiss his discipline or to become embittered with Him. This sermon pleads with sinners and saints to run toward, not away from, the God who chastens for our good.
The post-exilic citizens of Jerusalem were confronted by the prophet with the fact that they had put their own things before the Lord's. As a result, they were unfulfilled and impoverished. This sermon reminds us that our greatest calling is to see the Temple of God built.
Isaiah 9 includes one of the most famous prophecies of the Messiah. Yet the coming of this Light into the world would create a clear distinction between people -- between those who will see in Him a sanctuary, and those who will stumble over Him.
God has not only given His Son as the ultimate assurance of all His promises, but He also gives ongoing encouragements to faith in the lives of His People. By these we are reminded that since -grace has brought us safe thus far- that surely -grace will lead us home.-
The virgin birth of Jesus the Messiah was God's -yes- that all His promises are certain. The prophecy of this birth was given to strengthen the faith of God's People in Isaiah's day and to confirm our own faith, that we might say -Amen- to all God's good promises.
One great danger, especially for the American church, is pragmatism -- adjusting the church's message to try to find something that -works.- This word from God helped to prepare Isaiah to minister faithfully for a lifetime, even while seeing few visible results. This sermon also explains the concept of God's -hardening- or -blinding- people to the truth.
This is an exposition of chapters 16-18 of the Second London Baptist Confession of Faith -1689-, covering the topics of good works, perseverance of the saints, and assurance of grace and salvation.
The classic text records the vision of God given to Isaiah, his confession of sin, and the gracious cleansing extended to him by the Lord. This sermon examines who is on that throne, and his fearsome holiness. It also calls us all to confess our sin along with Isaiah, and to receive the Lord's cleansing
This is an exposition of chapters 14 and 15 of the Second London Baptist Confession of Faith -1689-, covering the topics of saving faith and repentance to life and salvation. Included is a discussion of the nature of saving faith, -temporary believers-, and the meaning of repentance.
In this text, the Lord lays out six indictments of sinful people, in the form of -woes.- These are followed by a warning of judgment which should rightly follow --therefore--. God's warning is an implicit call to all who hear to repent before it is too late.
Isaiah warned that God would cut down the nation of Israel like a wild vineyard that bore no fruit. But he also foresaw the day when a new shoot would grow up into a mighty Branch that would bear much fruit and serve as a kind of wedding canopy that would cover the fruitful union of God and His People.
This sermon examines the theme of the -Day of the Lord,- especially as the prophet Isaiah saw it. It will be a time of judgment and of vindication. Who can stand in that Day- Those whose judgment has already been borne by the Savior.
Sometimes God's People can get discouraged by the troubles and tribulations of life. In those times, we need a prophet to lift our eyes to the glorious future that God has planned for His people. Such was this passage of Isaiah's prophecy for believers in his day, and it continues to encourage our hearts today.
If sinners are so corrupt that -no one seeks for God,- then only the sovereign grace of God can give us any hope. This sermon explicates the doctrine of God's gracious and effective call, reminding us all that we were saved by His own relentless love.
In this opening section of Isaiah's prophecy, God reads the indictment against Israel but then also appeals to them to turn from sin and be cleansed. This sermon is an appeal to all hearers to repent of sin and find cleansing in the blood of Jesus Christ.
This exposition of chapter 9 of the 1689 London Confession focuses on the doctrine of the human will, unpacking first of all what is meant and what is not meant by -free will.- Then it continues through the other four paragraphs, which outline the four-fold state of the human will at various times in covenantal history.
This is the first sermon in a series on the prophecy of Isaiah. This sermon introduces the author and the major themes of the book, focusing on the chief elements of the gospel message.
Because of the gulf between God and man, a Mediator is needed to unite them. Jesus Christ was this mediator, who lived and died to reconcile the elect to God. He lives as prophet, priest, and king of His People. This lesson argues for particular redemption.
Are there times when your soul is downcast, discouraged, and depressed- When you feel hungry for God, but not satisfied with the joy of His presence -- when the Bible feels like a closed book to you, and it seems the heavens are brass- This psalm was written from just those circumstances. But it gives real hope for the people of God -- the hope of future grace.
Christian, have you found yourself cold and wayward at times- In this text, God admonishes His People to return to Him and find restoration and spiritual healing. When our hearts are cold, we must press on to know the Lord- He assures us that our seeking Him will not be in vain-
God instructs His children to take heart even in their trials and temptations. They can do so because He has promised to give wisdom to all those who call upon Him in faith. This sermon is an encouragement to all who struggle in the face of trouble.
-Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.- These words have comforted and encouraged weary sinners ever since Christ spoke them. Today He continues to graciously call broken people to Himself.
The difference between the true gospel and a false gospel is what it boasts in. So many religious messages focus on the performance of certain acts in order to be right. The Christian gospel focuses attention on the Lord Jesus Christ alone.
Those whose burdens have been borne by Christ gladly bear the burdens of others. In this text, believers are encouraged to bear the material and financial burdens of gospel ministers and of other brothers and sisters who are truly in need.
Those whose burdens have been borne by Christ willingly bear the burdens of others. When a brother or sister goes astray, those who are spiritual must restore that person with humility and gentleness.
Those who belong to Christ have died to the flesh and have become alive in the Spirit. But that new life translates into actual experience by walking in the Spirit. This sermon explores in depth what it means to walk by the Spirit, encouraging believers toward a truly holy life.
Those who are in the flesh manifest the works of the flesh. Those filled by the Spirit bear the Spirit's fruit. True believers are encouraged as they see the Spirit working in them so that they keep God's law from their hearts.
Walk in the Spirit, and you will not fulfill the desires of the flesh. What a great prospect for a believer- This sermon explores that statement, and in particular, what it means to -walk by the Spirit- even as we struggle with the flesh.
This is the fifth lecture in an overview teaching series on the Second London -1677-1689- Baptist Confession of Faith. It focuses on the doctrine of God's Covenant, covering Chapter 7 of the confession.
The gospel sets us free ... but not free to live in sin. Not free to serve ourselves at the expense of others. The perfect law of liberty teaches us to love and serve one another.
This is the second in an overview teaching series on the Second London -1677-1689- Baptist Confession of Faith -3rd lecture not recorded-. It focuses on the doctrines of creation, providence, and the fall, from chapters 4-6 of the confession.
What could tempt someone who have tasted the heavenly gift and shared in the Holy Spirit to walk away from the gospel of freedom in Christ- In the case of the Galatians, as is so often the case, the temptation comes through ungodly influences masquerading as helps. This sermon reminds Christians to be on guard.
This sermon is a summary of Paul's argument up to this point in the letter to the Galatians and an admonition to us all to not be moved away from the gospel of freedom that we have in Christ.
The false teachers plaguing the Galatian churches looked to their circumcision as a work of obedience that would justify them before God, but Paul uses the history of Abraham and his children to demonstrate that those who trust in the flesh are merely children of flesh, slaves to law and sin, and under the curse of God. This sermon is part 1 of 2.
This is the second in an overview teaching series on the Second London -1677-1689- Baptist Confession of Faith. It focuses on the doctrine of God's Decree, covering the first two paragraphs of Chapter 3 of the confession which deal with God's general decree. The second part of this chapter will be covered in a subsequent lesson.
For a Christian, truth must always win the day. However, truth that is really impactful is usually received in the context of personal relationship. This reality is exemplified in Paul's appeal to his relationship with the Galatian churches in the hope that they would turn away from the false teaching that was enchanting them.
This lesson is the first in an overview teaching series on the Second London -1677-1689- Baptist Confession of Faith. It provides a brief introduction, as well as a quick overview of Chapter 1 -Scriptures- and 2 -Trinity-.
Every good pastor fears that there may be some in his flock who are in danger of going back on their faith and returning to a slavery to sin. In this text, Paul reflects on the Galatian's former condition, their apparent transformation, and their imminent danger. This sermon challenges the hearers to persevere in the faith.
The righteous shall live by faith. Christians must trust in God, and interpret every experience in light of His Word, which reveals reality.
Through His Son, God has brought people out of slavery and made them children of God. This sermon explains the significance of the coming of the Son into the world and the implications for all those who are united to HIm.
Christ's reproof of the ancient church in Ephesus speaks with the same poignancy to believers today, challenging them to remember, repent, and return to their first love.
This sermon reflects on what it means for a Christian to live in the light of their promised future glorification.
God is everywhere and sees everything. There is nowhere to hide from the all-seeing God. And there is nowhere God's children might find themselves where God's loving eye is not upon them.
A person is not justified before God by keeping the Law -- this is part of the Christian gospel. We are justified by grace through faith in Christ alone. This passage deals with the passing nature of the Law, both in its work in history and in personal conviction of sin. But when the Law has done its good work, a person is ultimately brought to Christ, who alone justifies.
The law of God condemns, so that we will run to the Savior. The law exposes, so that we will seek the Lord for the clothing of holiness. The law narrows our focus so that we look to Christ alone as the righteous Offspring through whom all God's promises come.
The Christian message insists that no one is justified before God by works of the law, but through faith in Christ. Abraham, the father of God's People, was justified by faith. So what is the purpose of the law- Does the law of Moses have a place in the plan of God- This text elucidates those questions, teaching us how to read the Old Testament along the way.
Where is God in our pain and sorrow- Where is He when things are -out of control-- Where is God in the sin and brokenness- This sermon reminds us that the Bible teaches that God is sovereign over all things, working everything together for the good of His people.
This study is a counterbalance and a clarification to Paul's teaching in the book of Galatians. Is Paul in conflict with James, who asserts that -a person is justified by works and not by faith alone-- What is the place of works in relation to faith, and the relationship of both to justification-
In this passage, Paul defends his message of justification by faith in Christ alone from the Old Testament scriptures. Hearers must be confronted with man's great problem and be directed to the only hope for sin-cursed people.
There is a corporate as well as an individual element in being justified before God. Under the types and shadows of the Old Testament, God's elect People were the children of Abraham. So the identity of Abraham's children is a matter of utmost significance. In this text, Paul addresses this most important matter in ways that will help hearers today to have the confidence that they are among the justified People.
The Christian gospel is that sinners are justified before God by faith in Christ alone. Commitment to such a glorious doctrine has tremendous ramifications for continuation and growth in the Christian experience as well. We must never lose sight of the good news that Christ Jesus in our sufficiency in all things.
If people are not justified before God by their work or effort but through faith in Christ alone, then isn't God just condoning more sinfulness- That's the challenge that has often been put to those who preach the biblical gospel. In this passage, we are given helpful answers to that question from an apostle of Jesus Christ himself.
-Justification by faith alone- was the watchword of the Protestant Reformation. This passage in Paul's letter to the Galatians was a powerful impetus for the recovery and clarification of the gospel that came out of the Reformation.
In this sad but instructive account of his confrontation with Peter, Paul exemplifies the necessity of guarding the gospel. Sometimes the most subtle attacks on the gospel come from hypocritical compromise rather that overt opposition.
In Christ Jesus, believers have been set free. Yet there are those who would wish to bring God's People back under slavery. Paul recounts how he confronted such false teachers, and the record provides a cautionary tale for Christians today so that we would not fall back into slavery.
Paul asserted that his message was so important that any deviation from it was to be rejected out of hand and opposed in the strongest possible terms. How could he make such a bold statement- He claimed that his message was not from men, but from God Himself. Consider Paul's personal testimony as the support for that claim and consider for yourself the truthfulness of the apostolic testimony to the gospel.
What is the nature of the millennium- This talk briefly examines Revelation 20 and explores the ideas of postmillennialism and so-called -amillennialism,- perhaps better titled -realized millennialism.- The main question addressed is how effective the gospel will be during the -thousand years.-
One of Satan's great strategies to lead men astray is to present falsehood couched in the terminology of truth. For that reason, God's people must be vigilant in the defense of the gospel. Paul reminds us that we must categorically reject all false gospels in the strongest possible terms.
Paul's letter to the Galatian churches is a passionate defense of the gospel of grace against the perversions of false teachers. Explore the basic themes of the book and learn to tell the true gospel of God from all false messages of salvation.
The writer of Ecclesiastes insists that God is the ultimate cause of all things, even the -crooked- things. He further asserts that there is a real advantage in being confronted with that brokenness. This sermon suggests several reasons why experiencing -crookedness- can be a hidden blessing.
God Himself assures His people, -I am making all things new.- This sermon explores the New Thing that God is doing, and encourages believers in the certainty of the purposes of the Alpha and the Omega -- -Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true. It is done--
Christians live in a world that is contrary to the things of God. Yet they are not called to go out of the world, but to live wisely in it. In Ephesians 4 and 5, Paul describes the contrast between the way believers and unbelievers walk, and urges Christians to be careful to discern what pleases the Lord.
This talk is an attempt to examine the -social justice movement- in light of the biblical concept of justice. Four possible reasons are given for the inequalities in the world, only one of which is real injustice.
This sermon examines the biblical explanation of the origin of civilization, and draws from it four important implications that form the foundation for Christian thinking about culture.
On a mountain in Galilee, Jesus gave his apostles a great commission, encouraged by a great comfort, and grounded in a great claim. This sermon explores the meaning of that commission and argues for its ongoing relevance for the church today. Most of all, it seeks to drive home the motivation and encouragement for carrying it out.
This sermon surveys all the post-resurrection appearances of Jesus, and then focuses on His appearance to the disciples on the mountain in Galilee. Special attention is given to Christ's claim that all authority had been given to Him, tracing the background of that claim all through the Old Testament and its implications in the New.
Matthew records the testimonies of two very different sets of eye-witnesses to the events surrounding the resurrection of Christ. Setting them side by side, and using identical terminology, he invites his readers to compare and contrast the outcomes of those reports. Consider the surprising evidence for the resurrection and also the implications of rejecting it.
Several women were the first to see the empty tomb of Christ on the third day after his crucifixion. There they were given a mission, by both angels and Christ Himself, to tell the disciples that they should go to the Galilee where they would see the Lord. This sermon probes the significance of Galilee in the revelation of Christ and His mission.
Romans, Ephesians, and Colossians each describe the -sanctification dynamic.- Central to that dynamic is the renewal of the regenerate mind by the Word or God. This sermon drives home that simple point, and urges hearers to make one particular application of it to their lives.
The vision of Revelation shows the saints in glory praising the Lord for His great works. Join in with God's people in heartfelt worship for the Risen Lamb.
After briefly discussing the question of where Jesus' soul was during the time his body was in the tomb, this sermon goes on to focus on the three important elements that Matthew highlights in connection with the burial of Christ- the eye-witnesses to his burial, its unusual nature, and the strict security surrounding it. In so doing, he sets the groundwork for the testimony to Christ's miraculous resurrection.
The death of Jesus Christ is at the very heart of the Christian message. At Christ's death, God gave unusual testimony to the uniqueness of this event. And the death of Christ also brought about several incredible effects. Contemplate the significance of the death of Jesus.
In all the sufferings of the Christ, Matthew focuses on the mocking he endured. He was mocked by the Jews and Gentiles, religious leaders and condemned criminals. This sermon explores the meaning and significance of those accounts for Christ's people today.
The events of Jesus' Roman trial unfold around three main figures. Each one of these figures presents the reader with an important lesson, ultimately pointing him to the substitutionary death of Christ the King.
This is the fearful account of the end of the life of Judas, a man who had access to so much divine revelation, but deliberately walked away from the truth. The record of his end stands as a sober warning to all who have been given much spiritually, but are tempted to walk away.
Peter's great failure of faith is recorded, not for his humiliation, but for our admonition. From this account we can see the progression of temptation and take warning from the five spiritual missteps that led to his downfall.
We make plans, but frequently find ourselves unable or unwilling to keep them. But Christ was so determined to do the Father's will that He orchestrated His own arrest in order to bring about the fulfillment of prophecy and to lay down His life for His people.
This sermon explores the sad failures of Peter and the apostles, as well as the absolute faithfulness of Christ in submitting to the will of the Father. Believers are reminded that their righteousness rests not in themselves, but in their steadfast Lord.
Jesus' death would occur at Passover, fulfilling the types and shadows of that great festival. This was planned long ago in God's perfect wisdom, determined by His sovereign decree, and brought about by His overriding providence -- in spite of His enemies, and even through the act of a traitor. God worked all things according to His sovereign plan to bring about our salvation.
Romans 8 makes it clear that sanctification comes about through the Holy Spirit. This sermon explores the means that the Spirit uses to bring a Christian to greater experiences of holiness, giving five practical admonitions to aid in that growth in grace.
A Christian experiences a kind of -identity crisis-- he still feels the pull of his old, natural self- but he also senses a new spirit within him, desiring to please the Lord. This sermon explores the difficulties of interpreting the -I- of Romans 7, and presses home the important application that arises from this text.
Sanctification may be described as dedication to God and separation from sin. These are the two great -powers.- This text explains the only way to go from the realm of sin to the reign of God. This sermon reminds us that sanctification is grounded in the completed work of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Jesus speaks of eternal punishment more than any other person in the Bible. In this text, he warns of the sobering judgment of -eternal fire.- But He also speaks of the blessedness of eternal life in a kingdom prepared for those who are His. How will it be for you in the day of final judgment-
After teaching His disciples about His second coming and the end of the age, Jesus tells three parables designed to prepare His disciples to wait patiently and to be ready for His return by faithfully doing whatever He gives them to do, day by day.
The timing of the second coming of Christ is a matter of perennial speculation. But Jesus said that no man would know the time, and that His disciples should live in a state of readiness and spiritual alertness at all times. This sermon presses those words upon the hearers, while also probing the meaning of what is called the -rapture.-
The writer of Ecclesiastes expresses his dismay over the injustice in the world, just we we all do from time to time. Through the pain and anger, we wonder if there is any ultimate hope for equitable judgment- This sermon examines the broader theme of the book to point us to a hope -beyond the sun,- while encouraging us to do justice now in the fear of God.
After His resurrection, Christ ascended to the right hand of God, and -came- into His Kingdom. But though He would be enthroned in the heavenly places, His kingdom would come in ways that cannot be observed. But He spoke about the -sign- of His coming, by which His disciples might assuredly know that their God reigns. This sermon is given to encourage the saints of God in this present evil age that Christ is on His throne.
Jesus predicted a great day of tribulation and judgment upon Israel for her unbelief and rebellion. This sermon surveys some of the horrors of that wrathful judgment of God. It continues to serve as a warning for anyone at any time who would reject God's grace through unbelief.
Jesus warned his followers that they should flee Judea when they saw the -abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel.- This sermon examines the background of that reference including the well-known -70 Weeks- prophecy, and surveys the historical information that sheds light on the accuracy of Jesus' prediction.
This sermon examines the concept of the covenant curse of God and His avenging wrath as it has been manifested throughout biblical history. The hearer is earnestly admonished to realize the awful weight of the wrath of God to come, and to flee to Christ who bore the curse for sinners.
In response to the disciples' question about the timing of God's judgment, Jesus begins by warning them that many events that people associate with cataclysmic judgment are not to be causes for worry on their part. Then He identifies two events would take place before the great destruction of Jerusalem. This sermon examines various views of Matthew 24, and counsels listeners regarding their own thinking about unsettling events.
For generations, the nation of Israel had for the most part rejected the continued revelation God had given them. And with their rejection of Christ, God's cup of wrath was ready to be poured out on them. In Matthew 24 Jesus begins to describe when all these things would take place. This sermon examines various viewpoints on Matthew 24-25, and demonstrates how the structure of the text itself begins to point toward its interpretation.
This text records Jesus' last recorded public words to the people of Israel. In it He condemns them for their unwillingness to hear God's voice. As a result, God's pent-up judgment would fall upon them, and their house would be left desolate. This is a sober warning for all who refuse to hear Him.
Jesus warned his followers of three wrong attitudes which characterized the scribes and Pharisees of his day. We must be careful lest we find ourselves adopting any of these same attitudes. Inconsistency - Apathy - Hypocrisy. May God deliver His people from being like hypocrites-
After effectively silencing Jesus questioners, He turns the tables and questions them. He chooses one question which goes right to the heart of their opposition -- a question about the character and identity of the Messiah. It's a question every man must answer -- -What do you think of the Christ--
What is the greatest command in all the Bible- Such an important question desires earnest consideration by any who would be pleasing to God. This sermon examines Jesus' answer, and then contemplates the three responses we should have to such a great commandment.
Christians are people who experience the power of Christ's resurrection. This sermon examines the vital connection between Christ and His people, and then contemplates three manifestations of His transformative resurrection power in our lives.
In Matthew 22, a religious sect of the Jews challenges Jesus' belief in resurrection, attempting to show its absurdity of the doctrine. Instead, Jesus gives a powerful answer that teaches us about resurrection life and gives us hope through the transforming power of God.
Christians live at the juxtaposition of the Kingdom of God and the kingdoms of men. We are in the world, but not of the world. We are to seek the good of Babylon, but to long for the heavenly Jerusalem. This passage helps us to think about living in those two kingdoms while we wait for the consummation. NOTE- This recording suffers from poor audio quality.
In times of personal, national, or even global upheaval, God is a refuge for His People, a very present help in trouble. The church is a serene city fed by springs of living water, untroubled by the raging storms surrounding her. She dwells secure because her God is in her midst.
Many people experience same-sex attractions at times, or know someone who does. There is a prevailing narrative at work in modern western culture which is at odds with the biblical story. This sermon seeks to expose the lies behind the worldly cultural narrative and to remind us of the truth of God's unchanging Word, while offering hope to those who experience these kinds of temptations.
What should I do when I've sinned against God- Perhaps no passage of Scripture gives a better example of deep repentance and a prayer for forgiveness and cleansing as Psalm 51. This sermon explores the psalm and teaches us how to pray when we've messed up.
Jesus adapts the Old Testament imagery of Israel as God's Bride to warn the people in His day of their rejection and destruction. God will, however choose a new people for Himself. Even here, though, there is a warning to all who hear and apparently respond to the gospel invitation.
The prophets had long pictured as a vineyard planted by God. Jesus takes up that imagery and condemns Israel for her unfruitfulness. This sermon points the True People of God to the only source of their fruitfulness -- Christ Himself.
The Jewish authorities challenged Jesus about His own authority. His response merely revealed their hypocrisy. Then Matthew records a parable he told about hypocrisy and repentance. In it we find a vital principle for our lives today.
In this passage, Matthew records two symbolic acts of judgment that Jesus performed in the last week of his earthly ministry. These acts are pregnant with meaning and offer a sober warning to all those today who consider themselves -God's people.-
For much of his earthly ministry, Jesus would admonish people to keep quiet about his identity. But when His hour came, He orchestrated a public scene that was bound to cause a stir and to force people in His day and ours to grapple with the question, -Who is this--
The Kingdom of Heaven seems upside-down to a messed-up world. In Christ's Kingdom, the first is last, and the greatest is the servant of all. But these are not mere characteristics or abstract principles. This is the way of the Kingdom because it is the way of the King.
Are there rewards for following Christ- Will Christians always be blessed- Who will be most honored in His kingdom- Jesus addresses these questions for disciples ancient and modern with an encouraging affirmation and a gentle correction.
A rich young ruler's interaction with Jesus challenged his assumptions about himself and about his conception of who Jesus was. This sermon challenges all hearers to examine their own thinking about these issues, and to cry out to God for the grace to follow Christ.
Jesus' teaching on marriage, divorce, and singleness is of great importance for our day. It keeps us from a low view of marriage that leads people to treat it as dispensable, and it keeps us from an overly-exalted view of marriage that makes it an idol.