Morningview Sermon Podcast: Recent Episodes
Morningview Baptist Church
As an Agagite, of the Amalekites, Haman is part of a line that has a seething, centuries-old hatred for the people of Israel. Mordecai's disrespect and insubordination is all the excuse he needed to push him to commit genocide. So he devises a plan to manipulate the king into ordering the execution of all the Jews in the Persian empire. However, even Haman's seething anger is directed by God's hand of providence to lead His people to seek Him again with prayer and fasting.
In this sermon from Joshua 2, Pastor Jon English explains how Rahab’s story demonstrates the mercy of the Lord, while also showing us what true faith should look like.
Pastor Robert Gardner begins an exposition of 1 Timothy by looking at Paul's greeting and appeal to his authority as an apostle.
Pastoral Intern Ian Grigsby gives an overview of the book of Ruth and shows us how chapter 1 teaches us to view God’s providence in light of His character.
Why is it that the wicked seem to flourish and advance while the righteous are ignored or left to suffering? This question is asked often by the biblical writers. What we see through through Mordecai in this part of of the book of Esther today is that sometimes, doing the right things may lead us into circumstances that feel wrong, but we can trust that Christ is with us, and He is working all things together for His glory and our good.
What we see here in chapter two of Esther is not an exciting episode of “Persia's Got Talent.” There is no romance here. As Esther is taken to the harem of the king, there is a lot of moral ambiguity and a lot of spiritual compromise. Our heroes seem more characterized by fear and worldliness as they are forced to deal with a governmental system that practices abduction and sexual enslavement. And yet, through them, we see that God's purpose is not thwarted by our sins and failings.
In this sermon from Joshua 1:10-18, Pastor Jon English explains the source and characteristics of the spiritual virtue of courage.
As we explore the first chapter of the book of Esther this morning, what we are meant to see is that for all the opulence and extravagance displayed by King Ahasuerus and the Court of the Persian Empire, in reality, they had nothing of eternal value. Even their power was a sad illusion. They are prime examples of the foolishness of earthly kingdoms which make us long for the true wisdom, power, and rule of Christ, our heavenly king.
Esther is a book with absolutely no mention of God, no mention the promised land of Israel, no reference at all to the laws of God, and not a single word about worship or the sacrificial system. But there is a central question that the book of Esther answers: Would God still honor His covenant and be with His people who remained in a foreign land with no temple, no priesthood, and no prophet? The answer is Yes! In this introduction to the book of Esther, we explore the context and prominent themes to prepare ourselves for the exposition of this book.
In this sermon from Joshua 1:1-9, Pastor Jon English explains reasons why we’re tempted to fear, and how God’s presence and promise are the cure.
In this sermon from Matthew 11:28, Pastor Jon English explains 4 graces that God gives people in this age to better experience His rest: sleep, sabbath, food, and friends.
This is the third and final message of our 75th Anniversary weekend. In this message, returning Pastor Tom Hicks explores the biblical reality of true friendship, applying it especially to marriage and family. This intensely practical sermon speaks to how Christians are to love one another as redeemed image bearers of God, and how sincerely caring for the health of another's soul truly embodies Christ's love.
This is the second message of our 75th Anniversary weekend. In this message, returning Pastor Greg Belser explores the promise that Christ will return in power at the appointed time. All of creation “will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.” (Mark 14:62) Thus, we need to be ready for that day, and anticipating that day as His people.
In this Sermon from Matthew 11:28, Pastor Jon English explains a biblical theology of rest, showing how Adam brought restlessness into the world, and how Christ regained rest on our behalf.
As Paul told us, we are ambassadors for Christ, and this gathering of the saints is our kingdom outpost. Every one of us has been chosen by the king. We are not only His ambassadors, we are His children, His heirs, His army. He has equipped us and called us and united us with His very own Spirit. The stakes are eternal. Here's the pivotal question of this series: Are you living like someone who is part of His Body? Are you fulfilling your calling in His church?
Even in the healthiest churches, it is good for Christians to be reminded of how central the church is to our lives and to God's purpose of redemption. So in this sermon, we go to the end of Acts chapter 2 where we will examine the natural activity and fruitfulness of Christ's church. Here we see the power of God on display as He establishes a united, purified church that is bearing out the truth of the gospel in all facets of life.
The fact that our Savior died for our sins and is risen from the grave changes EVERYTHING! That is the glorious message of Resurrection Sunday. With this sermon, we finish our exposition of Luke's gospel that we began 3 years and 8 months ago. As we explore this text, we are not only going to see the extent of the revolution the disciples experienced, we are going to hear again the commission we have been given to proclaim the gospel.
In this sermon from Philippians 3:20-21, Pastor Jon English explains how citizens of earth look and behave, and how citizens of heaven honor the Lord as they walk in this age.
We return to Luke 24 and Jesus' walk to Emmaus with two of His disciples. After He reveals Himself to them, we have them returning to Jerusalem to tell the other disciples. As they are there, Jesus appears in the midst of them all and proves to them that He has indeed risen bodily from the grave. Through this passage, we are able to see just how transformative the news of the Risen Christ is to us who believe in Him for salvation.
How should we think about what we feel verse what we know? Pastor Jordan helps us understand this from Psalm 40.
As we continue in Luke 24 this week, we have the joy of seeing Jesus Himself walk the road to Emmaus with two of His followers, and eventually revealing Himself to them as their Risen Savior. Through this text, we see how Jesus delights to reveal Himself through His Word. He proceeds to teach them the greatest Bible Study they have ever or will ever hear, and He helps us all understand that the Old Testament is His Testament.
In this sermon from Song of Solomon 8:1-7, Pastor Jon English explains how Solomon exhorts everyone toward purity, and how the book concludes by summarizing what love looks like.
Jesus is alive! As we begin our exposition of Luke 24, we discuss God's plans for the first witnesses of the resurrection of His Son, the critical importance of remembering the truth of the Gospel, and the glorious report that the disciples struggled to believe.
In this sermon from Song of Solomon 8:1-7, Pastor Jon English explains how Solomon’s poetry points us toward faithful use of our words, as well as points us toward the heavenly fulfillment of all our desires.
Exceeding grief, deep emotional pain, the emptiness of loss – these were the emotions being felt by the followers and loved ones of Jesus as they watched Him die. Now it was time for them to care for the body of Jesus. From this text, we glean the significance of Jesus' death, and we are blessed to behold the courage and compassion of people like Joseph of Arimathea, Nicodemas, and Mary Magdalene as they continued to meet Christ's earthly need for burial.
In this sermon from 1 Peter 5:1-4 (and other texts), Pastor Jon English explains the duties and dangers present for both shepherds and a sheep in the household of God.
Jesus was always going to accomplish His mission by dying for our sins. He is the Lamb of God who came to take away our sin. His death and resurrection secures our forgiveness and the gift of eternal life. So we all know this story – it is familiar to us. Yet, the way Luke is led by the Holy Spirit to record this part of the narrative captures amazing eternal realities that are on display as Jesus suffers the curse of our sin.
Luke is the only gospel writer that gives us this account of the salvation of the thief on the cross. Through this part of his gospel narrative, we are brought again to consider the witness of Christ's sufferings and the powerful way He saves sinners from condemnation and wrath. The thief on the cross in our brother, and the testimony of last minute conversion reminds us that no one is beyond the reach of our Savior.
In this sermon from Song of Solomon 7, Pastor Jon English explains how the love of the King woos his bride back to the garden, how the King delights in re-writing sorrowful histories, and how the King’s love points us to the un-doing of the curse.
In this sermon, Pastor Jordan warns us about being men and women who are in love with this present age, how the world is fleeting, and that the one who boast in himself does not love God.
In this Sermon, Pastor Jordan helps us understand that we are all growing in holiness and spiritual maturity.
In this sermon from Leviticus 17, Pastor Jon English explains how the Old Testament sacrifices teach us about the importance of purification and atonement, how false worship and idolatry remain a temptation, and how Christ is the atoning sacrifice we need.
In this sermon from Song of Solomon 6, Pastor Jon English explains how the Faithful bridegroom warmly embraces the bride who had so coldly refused him.
Isaiah 53:12 tells us that Jesus “was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many.” In this first of three sermons on the crucifixion of Christ from the gospel of Luke, we explore the horror of His sufferings, the wickedness of those present around the cross, and the glory of a Savior who would ask the Father to forgive His murderers.
In this sermon Pastor John Miller exhorts us to see God’s compassion, and ask ourselves if we feel the same.
In this Sermon Pastor John Miller exhorts us to reflect upon the mercy that God has shown each of us.
In this sermon Pastor John Miller explains how we can be just like Jonah: proud and fleeing God. But he also explains how God’s mercy and salvation extend even to proud, prodigal prophets.
In this sermon Pastor John Miller explains how God’s mercy pursues Jonah, and further shows how God’s mercy is seen in the work of the greater Jonah (Jesus Christ).
With the text, we begin to explore Jesus' difficult path to the cross. After Pilate gave way to the religious mob and ordered that Jesus be crucified, the Roman soldiers treated Jesus with contempt and then began his trek to the cross. Due to His weakened state, Simon the Cyrene was pressed in to service to carry the cross. As we consider his example, and hear againJesus' words to those grieving Him on the way, we learn important truths about discipleship and the coming judgment.
In this sermon from Song of Solomon 5:9-16, Pastor Jon English explains how the bride views her husband, the glorious king, and how Jesus is the fulfillment of that.
In this sermon, we see that Pilate tries a third time to release Jesus. But the people reject His verdict once again, and pressure him into crucifying Jesus. With the crowd's demand that Barabbas be released instead of Jesus, there is a beautiful foreshadowing. Here we are given an amazing picture of the substitutionary atonement.
In this sermon from Song of Solomon 5:2-8, Pastor Jon English explains how the bride rejects the request of the King, and how our King often uses discipline and trials to draw us closer to Him.
This sermon explores the second half of Christ's trial before the authorities in Israel. With both Herod Antipas and Pilate, we see men who are driven by selfish pursuits and expediency rather than truth or conviction. In contrast, we have Christ who is marked by divine resolve, meekness, and love.
This sermon was delivered on December 31, 2023, and the focus of the sermon is to encourage believers to be faithful in prayer, in the study of God's Word, and in bearing out the fruit of faithful discipleship as the New Year begins.
In this short sermon from 1 John 4:9-10, Pastor Jon English explains how God’s love is seen in the sending of the Son to take away sin and bring light into the world.
From the first 2 ½ verses of Hebrews 1, we learn that Jesus is the Son of God, the Ultimate Revelation of God, the fulfillment of All the Old Testament Anticipated, the Heir of All Things, the Agent of Creation, the Visible Radiance of God's Glory, the Exact Expression of God's Nature, and the Sustainer of all Creation. This morning we explore how Christ is the Purifier of God's People, the Final Authority Over All Creation, and the One and Only Mediator Between God and Man.
“What qualifications are required in the One who would save people from condemnation and give them eternal life?” As we move from verse 2 to verse 3, there is a change of subject from the Father to the Son, and this verse establishes that Christ is not only uniquely qualified to be the revealer of God, He is also uniquely qualified to be the mediator of the new covenant. He is qualified for these roles because He is God.
When we think about God's purpose of redemption unfolding, He is always moving us toward greater relational intimacy That is what we will be exploring during this Christmas season as we study this prologue to the book of Hebrews. The theme of this book is “The Supremacy of Christ,” and these opening four verses are laden with truths that set our minds and hearts upon the splendor of who Christ is, why He came to save us, and How He is the fulfillment of God's promises.
This sermon was delivered for the ordination of Bryan Robbins to the office of Pastor of Morningview Baptist Church. From this text, we study the offices that God gave to the church for it's spiritual leadership and growth. We also explore the ultimate goal and effect of biblical church leadership.
Pastor Jordan helps us understand both the old and the New Testament call us to love our brother. In the new we have the embodiment of love, the light of Life, Jesus Christ.
In this sermon, Pastor Jordan helps us understand that the propitiation for sins is for all who believe upon Christ. And those who believe upon Christ will walk in the same way in which he walked.
Today we are looking at the first part of the trial of Christ. In these verses, we see the exceeding wickedness of man as the Jewish leaders unleash all of their vitriol upon Christ and Pilate reveals just how weak a leader he is. However, we also see the noble majesty and sovereign resolve of the Son of God as He set His face like flint to accomplish the terms of the covenant of redemption.
In this sermon from Chapter 4 of Song of Solomon, Pastor Jon English explains how our marriages should be protected and praised, and how Christ praises and protects his Bride.
Through this text, we explore Peter's tragic threefold denial of Christ. By this point in the narrative, Peter was a man consumed by his own pride. Christ had warned him that he would betray Him, but Peter was so certain of his own loyalty, he would not listen. He followed behind Christ into the courtyard of the high priest where he fulfilled Christ's prophecy in horrifically grand fashion. Yet through his failure, we are blessed to know that Christ's grace extends to the uttermost.
Pastor Robert leads us through an examination of Paul's example of Christian contentment at the closing of this letter to the Philippians.
Kisses throughout Scripture are a sign of affection, a symbol of endearment, and an expression of love. Knowing this, it makes the idea of betraying someone with a kiss all the more despicable, and it is woefully despicable that the Savior of the World was betrayed with a kiss. As we explore this passage on the arrest of Jesus, we are going to see Him navigate the path to the cross with truth, compassion, and holy resolve, learning how deeply God loves even those who hate Him.
In the garden of Gethsemane, when Jesus was standing on the cusp of bearing both the wrath of man and the wrath of God for sinners, more than anything, He wanted time with His Father in prayer. When we, as Christians, are faced with such incredible difficulty and pain, there is always the temptation to despair, to depend upon ourselves, or to turn to other worldly avenues to cope. But the reality is that there is only one true and lasting comfort – the comfort of Christ in prayer.
In this sermon from Chapter 3 of Song of Solomon, Pastor Jon English explains how we handle feeling deserted by our beloved, and how we are to seek out the king.
In this Sermon from Song of Solomon 2:7-17, Pastor Jon English explains how Christ speaks to his beloved Bride, and how we must be on guard against foxes, both in our spiritual life and in our marriage, which seek to undermine the health of both.
In this passage, Jesus moves from the awe and wonder of the Lord's Supper into the revelation of His betrayal. Through His words to His disciples, we are led to consider some of the facets of Christ-Like leadership. A Christ-Like, Servant Leader: (1) Seeks to Be Carefully Aware of His Own Heart; (2) Knows that Greatness is Displayed in Humble Service; and (3) Looks Forward to Being at Christ's Side in His Kingdom
In this sermon from Chapter 2 of Song of Solomon, Pastor Jon English explains the Shepherd King provides restful shade for his beloved.
In this text this morning, Jesus is preparing to observe passover with His disciples for the last time. This is the day before His murder, and everything necessary for His betrayal and arrest had already been set in motion. As He undertakes this final evening with His disciples, He establishes with them the ordinance of the Lord's Supper, which remains central to worship in the church today. The regular observance of this supper leads us to rejoice in our salvation and it reenergizes our hope.
Pastor Jordan helps us see that John is writing about a God who manifested himself to this world in order that we would have fellowship with Him and one another.
Sean DeMars was this year's Men's Conference speaker. In this sermon, he challenges believers to remember that we are citizens of a kingdom that is greater and more glorious than any other – the Kingdom of Christ. Therefore, we should live in a manner worthy of our King, engaging in fearless fighting, standing firm in one Spirit, and bearing testimony to the world of the destruction of the ungodly and the salvation of the faithful.
In this sermon from the latter half of Chapter 1 of Song of Solomon, Pastor Jon English explains how Christ's work is a fragrant offering which makes His bride beautiful and fragrant.
Pastor Robert Gardner walks us through Paul's exhortation to the Philippians which shows us how we ought to think and act if we are in Christ.
In this sermon from Song of Solomon 1:5-10, Pastor Jon English explains how to deal with shame, and how to communicate well, given the principles taught us by the great Shepherd-king Jesus.
In this sermon from Song of Solomon 1:1-4, Pastor Jon English introduces the book, and describes how the beloved's desire for the king illustrates our own desire, and how Christ's love is the only thing that can ultimately satisfy that desire.
At this point in the text, it is the week of Passover – one of the most important Jewish holidays of the year where the people commemorated God's deliverance from their slavery in Egypt. Jesus was teaching openly in the Temple courts, and the religious leaders were furious. They wanted Him dead – but they feared the crowds. They might not have found a way, but then they found a co-conspirator from within the most unlikely group –Jesus' own disciples.
In this sermon, Pastor Jordan helps us examine Paul's prayer for the church in Ephesus and how God can answer our prayer beyond what we can fathom.
In this sermon, Pastor Robert walks through Paul's guidance regarding the things which rob us of our joy in the Lord, and how we can combat them in Christ.
In this sermon, Pastor Jordan shows us that God answers prayers and then he gives us 5 ways to combat prayerlessness.
Pastor Robert leads us to consider, through the example of Paul's exhortation to the saints at Philippi, the sorts of things that ought to be true of us and our pursuit of one another in Christian unity.
As we grow up, we all learn to read different signs – relational signs, signs of the weather, investment and business signs, etc. But it is amazing how in our sinfulness, we can be willfully ignorant to very clear spiritual signs. As we wrap up exploring Jesus' end times discourse in Luke, we find His strongest admonition yet for His people to be focused on spiritual realities and ready for His return. We are to understand the signs of the times and be on alert for His return.
In this sermon from 1 Corinthians 16:5-24, Pastor Jon English explains how we are to refresh the souls of the saints, only having first been refreshed in Christ.
In this passage, Jesus comes back to the subject of the destruction of the temple to basically provide bookends to the last days. The first major judgment will be that of the nation of Israel in 70 A.D., but the final judgement is also on the horizon. The core message is that we live in light of the pending judgement of the universe. Unbelievers need to flee from the wrath to come, and believers can live for His glory with the assurance that Christ will accomplish our final redemption.
As we come into this next passage in chapter 21, we see that the people and the disciples are still enamored with external adornments – on outward appearance. So Christ takes the opportunity to remind them that the things of this world so admired by men (like the Temple!) are only temporary and will be consumed in judgment. He also takes it as an opportunity to prepare them (and us) for the trials that believers will face in the coming centuries of church history.
In this sermon from 1 Corinthians 16:5-24, Pastor Jon English explains how devotion to the service of the saints, which is commended by Paul, is often lacking in believers, and how Christ is the perfect example of such devotion.
In our text this morning, we have Christ Himself presenting us with a contrast between two kinds of people: a contrast between the religious elite and impoverished commoners. As He warns the crowds about the religious leaders, we see the character of corruption, greed, and man-pleasing that will receive a greater condemnation. But as He commends the widow giving her two pennies, we see the humility, faith, and generosity that God values.
In this sermon from 1 Corinthians 16:5-24, Pastor Jon English explains Paul’s understanding of the work of the Lord, the gospel-minded flexibility it requires, and the gospel-fueled conviction that must accompany it.
As Jesus is verbally sparring with the religious leaders in the temple during passion week, He decides to ask them a question from Psalm 110 regarding the identity of the Messiah, a descendant of David. What He teaches through this brief monologue takes us into the depth of the divine character and nature of the Christ as our eternal Savior King.
During passion week, the Jewish religious leaders have been questioning Jesus in an attempt to discredit Him in the eyes of the people or to get Him in trouble with the Roman authorities. In this passage, they come to Him with a more theologically oriented question, but their motive remains the same. As Jesus answers their question about the woman married seven times, we learn about the true nature of the resurrection and how we will live in unmarried lives in Christ's presence in heaven.
Peter warns the believers about the scoffers who want believers to forget the second coming of Christ. But God is patient toward His Beloved, not wishing that any of them should perish, but should reach repentance.
In this sermon from 1 Corinthians 16:1-4, Pastor Jon English explains the doctrine of the Lord’s Day and 8 principles related to Christian giving.
Ian Grigsby shares how the stoning of Stephen points believers to Christ, who died for them and whose Spirit gives them peace amid persecution.
In this sermon from 1 Corinthians 15:50-58, Pastor Jon English explains the tragedy of our fallen condition, the mystery of our transformation, the victory of Christ’s resurrection, and the duty of believers.
In this sermon from 1 Corinthians 15:29-49, Pastor Jon English explains how a denial of the resurrection leads to senseless living, but with the resurrection comes glory.
In this sermon from 1 Corinthians 15:23-30, Pastor Jon English explains how the resurrection relates to the end times, and how death (our final enemy) will be defeated.
“Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's and to God the things that are God's.” This was Jesus' reply to the religious leaders who were trying desperately to trap Him in His words to discredit Him in the eyes of the people or get Him arrested by the forces of Rome. In this sermon, we explore how Christ manifests a divine wisdom that not only thwarts the schemes of hard-hearted men, but that also exalts the purpose of God for the believer's life.
In this sermon from 1 Corinthians 15:12-23, Pastor Jon English Lee explains how denial of the resurrection leads to hopelessness, and how the gospel (which necessarily includes the Resurrection) is the cure for hopelessness.
In the parable of the patient landowner and the rebellious tenants, Christ once again shows us that those who claim to be the most devout Jews are really the ones farthest from the kingdom of God. They have had a very long history of hard-heartedness, and because they will murder the very Son of God, they will face the crushing judgment of the Lord.
Preacher: Dr. Shawn Merithew
Scripture Text: Luke 20:9-18
In this sermon from Ezekiel 34, Pastor Jon English explains failures that shepherds can commit, and the good news that the Lord is a faithful shepherd. This sermon was preached on the occasion of Robert Gardner’s ordination to pastoral ministry.
Pastoral Intern Ian Grigsby takes a look at the progressive revealing of God’s perfections and beauty in the biblical theme of mountains.
Scripture Text: Psalm 50:2
One of the major problems with the secular world is that it refuses to acknowledge that our Lord in heaven has absolute authority over every aspect of life. He has revealed His divine will in Scripture, and we are in physical, spiritual, and cultural peril because we have denied His authority and rejected His truth. Sadly, Israel was effectively in the same place during the time of Christ. They had the veneer of biblical religion, but the majority of them had rejected God's own Son.
Preacher: Dr. Shawn Merithew
Scripture Text: Luke 20:1-8
Pastoral Intern Robert Gardner examines Paul's guidance to the Philippians to run the race and keep their eyes on the prize of our upward call in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:10-21
What is it that moves the Lord of Glory to weep? In this passage, He wept over the stubborn lostness of His own people, and the judgment that He knew they were going to suffer for their rejection of Him. What is even more amazing is that though He wept over their rejection, He still went to them – He went to them to cleanse the temple and to teach them the truth of eternity.
Preacher: Dr. Shawn Merithew
Scripture Text: Luke 19:41-48
In this sermon, Pastor Jordan Nelson shows how Paul’s concern for those closest to him reflected a willingness to live a life of sacrifice for their sake.
Scripture text: Romans 9:1-5
Pastoral Intern Robert Gardner examines Paul's exhortation to the Philippians to watch out for those who would burden them with the law and rather to trust in the righteousness of Christ.
Philippians 3:1-11
In this sermon from 1 Corinthians 15:1-11, Pastor Jon English Lee explains the stakes of the resurrection, the centrality of the resurrection, the fact of the resurrection, and the fruit of the resurrection.
When Jesus came to earth to complete His work of redemption, He came in complete humility in his birth, was hated by rulers from his infancy, and was raised in complete obscurity in the town of Nazareth. When He entered Jerusalem for the last time before His crucifixion, He came in humble poverty, without royal robes, riding on the foal of a donkey. In this sermon, we see how Jesus was worshiped on Palm Sunday, and explore how He is worthy of worship at all times.
Preacher: Dr. Shawn Merithew
Scripture Text: Luke 19:28-40
In this sermon from 1 Peter 1:6, Pastor Jordan Nelson shows us that various trials will come upon the believer, but in those trials there is always reason to rejoice.
In this sermon from 1 Corinthians 14:26-40, Pastor Jon English Lee explains that worship should be orderly and decent, conforming to God’s design and pattern for leadership in the church.
With well-known sinners like Zacchaeus coming to faith in Christ, and Jesus getting closer to Jerusalem, Messianic fervor was building. People began spreading the idea that God's kingdom was coming right now. So Jesus told them this parable of the 10 servants and the minas to help them understand that the fullness of the kingdom was not coming now, but when it did, the faithful would be called to account and the guilty punished.
Preacher: Dr. Shawn Merithew
Scripture Text: Luke 19:11-27
In this sermon from 1 Corinthians 14:1-25, Pastor Jon English Lee explains that worship should be intelligible, motivated by love, and aimed at the edification of the congregation.
This week, we come to the story of another sinner that Jesus met on the road through Jericho. Zacchaeus was rich and had his sight, but he was in just as deep a state of need as the blind beggar. The Holy Spirit led Luke to place these two passages, and therefore these two characters, side-by-side. Through the first man, we see the focus on faith. Through the second man, we see a focus on repentance. Through both, we see the compassion of the Savior who came to seek and to save the lost!
Preacher: Dr. Shawn Merithew
Scripture Text: Luke 19:1-10
In this sermon from Philippians 3:20-21, Pastor Jon English explains the hope that believers have in the future resurrection, transformed bodies, and our heavenly citizenship. This short sermon was preached after the death of one of Morningview Baptist Church's former pastors, Greg Graham.
Christ is a compassionate Savior, and His call to all of humanity is to come to Him and trust in Him for forgiveness and grace and healing and life. How sad it is that the prevailing wisdom of the age teaches either that there is no God, or that if there is One, He is not to be bothered. In this passage of Scripture, we see a desperate, blind beggar who would not be silenced by the crowd because he knew beyond the shadow of a doubt that Jesus was his only hope of salvation.
Preacher: Dr. Shawn Merithew
Scripture Text: Luke 18:35-43
In this sermon from 1 Corinthians 13:8-13, Pastor Jon English Lee explains how love is superior to all other spiritual gifts and graces.
The rich young ruler's rejection of the call to follow Christ raised a question in Peter's heart: “What about us, Lord? We have left everything to follow You; What about us?” In Jesus's answer, we have the promise of reward for all who believe in Him, and we have the description of His torturous death and resurrection by which He would purchase this reward.
Preacher: Dr. Shawn Merithew
Scripture Text: Luke 18:28-34
In this sermon from Isaiah 50:7, Pastor Jon English Lee explains how Christ’s resolve and determination were demonstrations of His for his Father and his bride.
Good Friday Service, 2023
Paul exhorts the Corinthians to join him as ministers of reconciliation. As ministers of reconciliation, we have to be reconciled to God through Christ. We also are commissioned to speak, to forgive, and to be promoters of peace.
Preacher: Pastor Jordan Nelson
Scripture Text: 2 Corinthians 5:17-21
In this sermon from 1 Corinthians 13:7, Pastor Jon English Lee explains how love believes the best, hopes for the best, and endures all things.
Pastoral Intern Robert Gardner examines Paul's exhortation in Philippians 2:19-30 to give honor to those who faithfully and lovingly serve the body.
The parable of the rich young ruler is most often preached as a story about the danger of loving money or making wealth an idol in one's life, and those truths are certainly center stage here. But what is actually happening here is that Jesus is using the issue of idolizing wealth to teach us about true goodness, to teach us about our need for an imputed goodness – more specifically, an imputed righteousness. Are you a good person? Let's see. . .
Preacher: Dr. Shawn Merithew
Scripture Text: Luke 18:18-27
Pastoral Intern Robert Gardner looks into the appeal Paul makes to the Philippians to walk in obedience because of the change in nature that Christ has worked in them through his atoning sacrifice.
Scripture Text: Philippians 2:15-18
Most pastors, when preaching this text about parents bringing their infants to Jesus, go right to the subject of how to lead your children to Christ. Our hearts and minds are rightly drawn to consider something so very important, but this text really isn't about showing our children the right way to Christ's Kingdom. It's more about how our children show us the right way to Christ's Kingdom.
Preacher: Dr. Shawn Merithew
Scripture Text: Luke 18:15-17
Pastoral Intern Robert Gardner examines Paul's instruction to the Philippian church and the promise for those who are in Christ to be children of God without blemish.
As we continue through chapter 18 of the Gospel of Luke, we are exploring another parable given by Jesus – the parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector who went up to the temple to pray. I have entitled this sermon “The TRUE Sinner's Prayer” because what we are taught here is that a true prayer for salvation is God-centered and is characterized by humility, brokenness over sin, and absolute dependence upon the mercy of God.
Preacher: Dr. Shawn Merithew
Scripture Text: Luke 18:9-14
In this sermon, Pastor Jordan Nelson gives four truths from 2 Corinthians 4 that helped Paul not to lose heart amidst ongoing trials and temptations.
In Luke 17, Jesus taught His disciples about His second coming, about how all of history is moving toward a time of final judgement. We, as the people of God in the midst of this sinful generation, are to trust His timing as He is moving us all toward that great and terrible day. How is our confidence and trust in Him born out during those times of difficulty? What do we do to seek Him and depend upon Him and not lose heart? We persist in prayer! That is what Jesus teaches us here.
Preacher: Dr. Shawn Merithew
Scripture Passage: Luke 18:1-8
With the recent revival that took place at Asbury (February 2023), many have raised questions about the marks of true revival and spiritual awakening. In this sermon, Pastor Shawn Merithew draws upon the writings of Jonathan Edwards and other recent authors to explore the biblical marks of revival as well as exploring the unbiblical methods of revivalism.
In this sermon from 2 Timothy 3:17, Pastor Jon English Lee finished his series on the doctrine of scripture, specifically noting the sufficiency of God's word to equip Christians for EVERY good work.
This is the second part of a series on the life of Peter. In this sermon, Pastor Jordan shows us different aspects of Peter’s fall and restoration.
Preacher: Pastor Jordan Nelson
Scripture Text: John 21
In this sermon from 2 Timothy 3:16b, Pastor Jon English explains how God’s word is uniquely profitable, and how Christ saves, even from unbelief.
In this sermon, we learn that Peter’s calling is driven by his confession and that the ongoing call to follow Christ and His commands comes from what we believe about Christ.
Preacher: Pastor Jordan Nelson
Scripture: Matthew 4:18-20
In this sermon from 2 Timothy 3:16a, Pastor Jon English Lee introduces the doctrine of scripture, examines the origin of scripture, and some of the qualities of scripture.
In this sermon from 1 Corinthians 13:6, Pastor Jon English Lee explains how love isn’t hypercritical, doesn’t gossip or slander, and doesn’t rejoice at the downfall of another. Rather, Love delights in the truth, just like God delights in us through our union with Christ.
The end times is always one of the topics that Christians are very curious about. In our text this morning, Jesus teaches us about some of these things. The core question Jesus is answering in this passage is: “When will the King of Heaven make this broken world right and what will that time look like?”
Preacher: Dr. Shawn Merithew
Scripture Text: Luke 17:20-37
In this sermon Pastor Jon English explains how pride makes a man sinfully insistent, easily provoked, and resentful. Also, Christ demonstrates that loving meekness is instead deferential to others, stable, and ready to forgive.
Preacher: Dr. Jon English Lee
Scripture Text: 1 Corinthians 13:5
Humility and Thankfulness – these virtues fit together. Those who are humble are also thankful because they know they could never merit the grace gifts of God, and those who are thankful tend to also be humble as they consider the magnitude of what has been given to them in Christ. Through this passage, we learn that God does not owe us blessings in exchange for our obedience, and we also learn the beauty of having Christ as the focus of our thankfulness.
Preacher: Dr. Shawn Merithew
Scripture Text: Luke 17:7-19
In this sermon from 1 Corinthians 13:5, Pastor Jon English explains how rudeness is a sin, how loving consideration is its opposite, and how Christ is our perfect example of loving consideration.
As we transition into chapter 17 of Luke, Jesus's attention turns from the crowds to more directed teaching for His disciples. The time He has with them is growing short, so He is being much more intentional about training them and preparing them to be the apostles of the church when he has returned to heaven. These six verses are very practical teachings on a variety of issues, but what they all have in common is that they are fruits of true faith.
Preacher: Dr. Shawn Merithew
Scripture Text: Luke 17:1-6
In this sermon Pastor Jon English explains the dangers of pride, and how Christ saves us from wrath and helps us grow in humility.
Scripture Text: 1 Corinthians 13:4-5
The parable of the rich man and Lazarus is one of Luke's most well-known parables. If you recall, the context of this chapter in Luke is dealing principally with the Pharisees' love of money. They were given over to idolatry of riches and they continually set aside the law of God whenever it suited their selfish desires. So Jesus gave this parable to destroy their assumption that wealth corresponded to God's favor and to warn them that judgment and agony in hell was coming.
Preacher: Dr. Shawn Merithew
Scripture Text: Luke 16:19-31
In this fourth and final sermon of our 2023 Global Missions Conference, Conrad Mbewe goes to the final chapter of the book of Romans to explore the Apostle Paul's motivation for missions. In this text, we have Paul's doxology to the entire book of Romans where he expresses both his joy and His confidence that God will make His truth of salvation known among all the nations.
Preacher: Dr. Conrad Mbewe
Scripture Text: Romans 16:25-27
In this third of four sermons for our 2023 Global Missions Conference, Conrad Mbewe goes to the fifteenth chapter of the book of Romans to explore the Apostle Paul's motivation for missions. In this text, we see that Paul's driving ambition was to preach the gospel where Christ was not known. He was confident that the gospel was for all peoples.
Preacher: Dr. Conrad Mbewe
Scripture Text: Romans 15:14-24
In this second of four sermons for our 2023 Global Missions Conference, Conrad Mbewe returns to the first chapter of the book of Romans to explore the Apostle Paul's motivation for missions. In this text, we see that God's wrath upon human sin is one of the great motivations for missions. All humankind has traded the truth of God for a lie, and only Christ, through the gospel, has the power to save men from the wrath of our Holy God.
Preacher: Dr. Conrad Mbewe
Scripture Text: Romans 1:17-32
In this first of four sermons for our 2023 Global Missions Conference, Conrad Mbewe goes to the first chapter of the book of Romans to explore the Apostle Paul's motivation for missions. In this text, we see that Paul's heart desire was to be used of God to reap a harvest in Rome and beyond.
Preacher: Dr. Conrad Mbewe
Scripture Text: Romans 1:8-17
How do we understand God? We begin with the Word of God and the Bible. But many things in the Bible are hard to understand. Thankfully, in the fullness of time, God sent His Son as the fullest revelation of Himself among man. Jesus explains, or makes known to us in the fullest sense possible in this sinful world, the person and purpose of God. As this text shows us, He is the fulfillment of everything promised through Moses and the Law.
Scripture Text: John 1:17-18
Preacher: Dr. Shawn Merithew
"And the Word became flesh..." This is one of the most amazing and concise statements of the incarnation that we have in Scripture. The creator entered His creation in the most amazing way. The invisible God became visible, the infinite took on finite flesh, eternity entered time, and omnipresence became focused in One person. In this Christmas Day sermon, we explore the wonder of the incarnation and the fullness of grace that believers receive.
Preacher: Dr. Shawn Merithew
Scripture Text: John 1:14-16
In this sermon, we see a Biblical Theology of enmity between the seed of the serpent and the seed of the woman, which culminates in the person and work of Christ.
Preacher: Pastor Jordan Nelson
Scripture Text: Genesis 3:15
Our world, indeed, our entire universe, was created by and is sustained by an almighty and loving God. He preserved the record of His works, His laws, and His promises, even telling His people that He was going to come to them at some point. Yet when He came, the world did not know Him, and His people did not receive Him. However, by His sovereign grace, there were many who believed. This sermon explores that wonderful gift of God's sovereignly granted salvation.
Preacher: Dr. Shawn Merithew
Scripture Text: John 1:10-13
“The light of Christ is the brightness of God shining in the retina of the human soul.” – John Piper
A strong physical light can blind us, but spiritually, the light of Jesus does just the opposite. The Light of Christ takes away our spiritual blindness. The light of Christ makes us see by making us alive. The light of Christ helps us to see God and ourselves and our world and our need with incredible clarity. In this sermon, we explore how Christ is indeed the ultimate light of the world.
Preacher: Dr. Shawn Merithew
Scripture Text: John 1:5-9
The human heart is an amazing and vital organ. The human body thrives because of the blood that the heart pumps at over 2,000 gallons daily. The heart still has its flaws as heart disease is still the number one killer in the world. The spiritual heart described in the Old Testament refers to the inner core of a person- the thoughts, feelings, desires, will, and choices that make that person who he/she is. Because those things can be shaped by the world and our experiences, Jeremiah teaches us here that the heart is not to be trusted because it is incurably wicked; rather, Trust the Lord. This sermon is more of an intro to the start of a series on the heart of man and how the only solution to our heart issues is The Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Preacher: Pastor Jamani Warren
Scripture Text: Jeremiah 17:5-10
When you consider where the gospels begin, Matthew and Luke begin with the birth narrative of Jesus to Joseph and Mary, and Mark begins with the start of the public ministry of Jesus. But John's gospel begins in an entirely different place – in eternity past. John begins by describing Christ as the eternal Word, the second member of the Trinity, and the agent of all creation. This first Christmas sermon explored the wonder of Christ's incarnation in light of His eternal divinity.
Preacher: Dr. Shawn Merithew
Scripture Text: John 1:1-4
How do we lament our plight when our sin put us in that very position? Jeremiah provides help to us to guide our thoughts as we are weeping over our sins in our plight.
Preacher: Pastor Jordan Nelson
Scripture Text: Lamentations: 3:1-24
God hates divorce (Mal 2:16), so we must understand that divorce is never to be thought of as God-ordained or even as a morally neutral option. Divorce exists because we as human beings are capable of incredible selfishness and debauchery and hardness of heart. It exists only as a concession under the most extreme circumstances to keep greater sins against God from being perpetrated. In this sermon, we explore the biblical teaching on this difficult question.
Preacher: Dr. Shawn Merithew
Scripture Text: Luke 16:18
For the believer, Thanksgiving is not just a holiday or a special occasion, it is a way of life. Because of Christ, we are beneficiaries of eternal realities that He has irrevocably secured for us, and thus we are able to be thankful even when we suffer. The simple fact is that faithful gospel ministry leads to rejection, suffering, and sometimes even death in this world. But Paul was more than willing to die to reach people with the gospel because knowing Christ is the greatest gift ever.
Preacher: Dr. Shawn Merithew
Scripture Text: 2 Corinthians 4:13-15
Pastoral Intern Robert Gardner examines Paul's exhortation to the Philippians to work out their own salvation knowing that it is God who makes them willing and able to work. (Philippians 2:12-13)
In this sermon Pastor Jon English explains the marks of our adoption in Christ, the fruit, the privileges, and the source.
The Apostle Peter addresses those who turn from the knowledge once had of the things of God back to the defilements of the flesh. In this sermon from 2 Peter 2:20-22, Pastor Jordan Nelson explores the Doctrine of Assurance and Perseverance.
In this sermon from 1 Corinthians 13:4c, Pastor Jon English explains how envy is built on lies, promises security, causes division, breeds hatred, and leads to death, and how Jesus is the solution to all those problems.
Sadly, in the time of Jesus, those who had the Scriptures and claimed to be the most devoted to God were the very ones who ridiculed, mocked, and rejected Christ above all others. This passage shows the religious leaders treating Jesus with contempt and ridicule. Our Savior responded by rebuking them in love and pointing them to the validity of God's law and the wonderful truth of the gospel.
Scripture Text: Luke 16:14-17
Preacher: Dr. Shawn Merithew
In this sermon from 1 Corinthians 13:4b, Pastor Jon English explains how God's kindness and goodness are seen in creation and redemption, who ought to be the recipients of our kindness, how kindness is to be expressed, what kindness gains us, and how we are able to be kind.
The parable of the dishonest manager presents many challenges to the casual reader because Jesus seems to commend sinful behavior. But what we will realize upon further study is that Jesus is actually commending the wise use of resources as well as warning us against the idolatry of money. Are you faithful with what the Lord has entrusted to you?
Preacher: Dr. Shawn Merithew
Scripture Text: Luke 16:1-13
In 2 Peter 2:17-19, we see the apostle Peter warning the church of the promises made by false teachers, and that these promises will lead you into error.
Preacher: Pastor Jordan Nelson
In this second sermon on the parable of the two prodigals, we see the terrible power of self-righteousness and legalism to blind a person's eyes to the true depravity of their soul. Yet there is hope! We have a heavenly Father who is both compassionate and merciful, who comes out to meet and welcome even the most hard-hearted people into His banquet of joy.
Preacher: Dr. Shawn Merithew
Scripture Text: Luke 15:25-32
Guest preacher, Pastor Tom Hicks walks through Psalm 77, a psalm about the day of trouble. This Psalm shows the believer the condition of the downcast soul, its causes, and its Cure.
In this sermon from 1 Corinthians 13:1-4a, Pastor Jon English explains the necessity of love, some warnings from the life of Judas, and the foundation of a Christian’s patience.
In this sermon from 2 Peter 2:10-16, we learn that the apostate is characterized by arrogance, ignorance, and immorality.
Preacher: Pastor Jordan Nelson
In this sermon from 1 Corinthians 12:12-31, Pastor Jon English explains how becoming a member of the body of Christ grants us the thing for which we were created: communion with God. Further, Paul warns against three threats to a healthy church body: radical individualism, subtle individualism, and a me-complex.
Pastoral Intern Robert examines Paul's exhortation in Philippians 2:5-11 to humble unity and the source of that humility - the humility and exaltation of Christ.
The parable of the prodigal son is likely the most well-known of Jesus' parables, but it is really a story about two prodigal sons. We learn here that Christ has come to seek and to save the lost, and He saves not only the rank sinner, but also the self-righteous sinner. In this first sermon, we will focus on the first of the two prodigal sons and see how God is a compassionate Father who runs to meet us at the end of our prodigal road.
Scripture Text: Luke 15:11-24
Preacher: Dr. Shawn Merithew
Pastoral Intern Robert Gardner examines Paul's exhortation to dwell together in unity based on the grace of God in our lives.
Philippians 2:1-4
Are sinners welcome in your circle of relationships? Are you passionate in seeking the lost, as Christ is? Are you sharing God's heart of joy when one sinner repents? These are the questions we ask and answer as we explore two of Jesus' most famous parables: the parable of the lost sheep and the parable of the lost coin.
Scripture text: Luke 15:1-10
Preacher: Dr. Shawn Merithew
God judged the angels, the ancient world, and Sodom and Gomorrah. In this sermon from 2 Peter 2:4-10, Pastor Jordan Nelson teaches that God is able and does judge all the ungodly. He also rescues the godly from judgment.
When you became a Christian, did you think about what being a disciple of Christ would cost you? In this sermon by Dr. Shawn Merithew in Luke 14:25-35, we see that true disciples hold their relationship with Christ as ultimate, take up the cross daily to follow after Christ, know that the Christian life costs everything, and strive to be salt in a deteriorating world.
In this sermon from 1 Corinthians 12:12-30, Pastor Jon English explains how the church is the body of Christ, and as such, we need to avoid the pitfalls of spiritual gift inferiority and spiritual gift elitism.
The parable of the great banquet is one of the more tragic parables of Christ. Why? Because it is delivered to Jewish people who think they are headed for the kingdom of heaven, yet it is meant to reveal their lostness because of their love for the things of this world. But the parable ends with a message of hope. The Marriage Feast of the Lamb will be served to the broken, the needy, the poor, the stranger, the foreigner – to all who receive the invitation and come in faith to Christ.
Scripture Text: Luke 14:15-24
Preacher: Dr. Shawn Merithew
In this sermon from 1 Corinthians 12:8-11, Pastor Jon English gives a brief discussion of WHAT the spiritual gifts were, and then explains how the miraculous/revelatory spiritual gifts have ceased to be given to the church today (that position is also known as cessationism).
In this ordination sermon from Acts 6:1-7, Pastor Jon English explains the duties, qualifications, and responsibilities of deacons.
In the summer of 2022, Pastors Shawn Merithew and Jon English Lee taught a class on parenting at Morningview Baptist Church, Montgomery, AL.
This is class ten, "Q&A with Jon English Lee and Shawn Merithew."
1- Shawn Merithew- God's Design for the Family
2- Jon English Lee- The Goal of Parenting: The Heart
3- Jon English Lee- The Methods of Parenting: Communication
4- Jon English Lee- The Methods of Parenting: Discipline
5- Shawn Merithew- Parenting Children
6- Shawn Merithew- Parenting Q&A
7- Shawn Merithew- Parenting Teens
8- Shawn Merithew- Having “The Talk"
9- Shawn Merithew- Parenting and Technology
10- Q&A with Jon English Lee and Shawn Merithew
In the summer of 2022, Pastors Shawn Merithew and Jon English Lee taught a class on parenting at Morningview Baptist Church, Montgomery, AL.
This is class nine, "Parenting and Technology."
1- Shawn Merithew- God's Design for the Family
2- Jon English Lee- The Goal of Parenting: The Heart
3- Jon English Lee- The Methods of Parenting: Communication
4- Jon English Lee- The Methods of Parenting: Discipline
5- Shawn Merithew- Parenting Children
6- Shawn Merithew- Parenting Q&A
7- Shawn Merithew- Parenting Teens
8- Shawn Merithew- Having “The Talk"
9- Shawn Merithew- Parenting and Technology
10- Q&A with Jon English Lee and Shawn Merithew
In the summer of 2022, Pastors Shawn Merithew and Jon English Lee taught a class on parenting at Morningview Baptist Church, Montgomery, AL.
This is class eight, "Having 'The Talk'."
1- Shawn Merithew- God's Design for the Family
2- Jon English Lee- The Goal of Parenting: The Heart
3- Jon English Lee- The Methods of Parenting: Communication
4- Jon English Lee- The Methods of Parenting: Discipline
5- Shawn Merithew- Parenting Children
6- Shawn Merithew- Parenting Q&A
7- Shawn Merithew- Parenting Teens
8- Shawn Merithew- Having “The Talk"
9- Shawn Merithew- Parenting and Technology
10- Q&A with Jon English Lee and Shawn Merithew
In the summer of 2022, Pastors Shawn Merithew and Jon English Lee taught a class on parenting at Morningview Baptist Church, Montgomery, AL.
This is class seven, "Parenting Teens."
1- Shawn Merithew- God's Design for the Family
2- Jon English Lee- The Goal of Parenting: The Heart
3- Jon English Lee- The Methods of Parenting: Communication
4- Jon English Lee- The Methods of Parenting: Discipline
5- Shawn Merithew- Parenting Children
6- Shawn Merithew- Parenting Q&A
7- Shawn Merithew- Parenting Teens
8- Shawn Merithew- Having “The Talk"
9- Shawn Merithew- Parenting and Technology
10- Q&A with Jon English Lee and Shawn Merithew
In the summer of 2022, Pastors Shawn Merithew and Jon English Lee taught a class on parenting at Morningview Baptist Church, Montgomery, AL.
This is class six, "Parenting Q&A"
1- Shawn Merithew- God's Design for the Family
2- Jon English Lee- The Goal of Parenting: The Heart
3- Jon English Lee- The Methods of Parenting: Communication
4- Jon English Lee- The Methods of Parenting: Discipline
5- Shawn Merithew- Parenting Children
6- Shawn Merithew- Parenting Q&A
7- Shawn Merithew- Parenting Teens
8- Shawn Merithew- Having “The Talk"
9- Shawn Merithew- Parenting and Technology
10- Q&A with Jon English Lee and Shawn Merithew
In the summer of 2022, Pastors Shawn Merithew and Jon English Lee taught a class on parenting at Morningview Baptist Church, Montgomery, AL.
This is class five, "Parenting Children."
1- Shawn Merithew- God's Design for the Family
2- Jon English Lee- The Goal of Parenting: The Heart
3- Jon English Lee- The Methods of Parenting: Communication
4- Jon English Lee- The Methods of Parenting: Discipline
5- Shawn Merithew- Parenting Children
6- Shawn Merithew- Parenting Q&A
7- Shawn Merithew- Parenting Teens
8- Shawn Merithew- Having “The Talk"
9- Shawn Merithew- Parenting and Technology
10- Q&A with Jon English Lee and Shawn Merithew
In the summer of 2022, Pastors Shawn Merithew and Jon English Lee taught a class on parenting at Morningview Baptist Church, Montgomery, AL.
This is class four, "The Methods of Parenting: Discipline."
1- Shawn Merithew- God's Design for the Family
2- Jon English Lee- The Goal of Parenting: The Heart
3- Jon English Lee- The Methods of Parenting: Communication
4- Jon English Lee- The Methods of Parenting: Discipline
5- Shawn Merithew- Parenting Children
6- Shawn Merithew- Parenting Q&A
7- Shawn Merithew- Parenting Teens
8- Shawn Merithew- Having “The Talk"
9- Shawn Merithew- Parenting and Technology
10- Q&A with Jon English Lee and Shawn Merithew
In the summer of 2022, Pastors Shawn Merithew and Jon English Lee taught a class on parenting at Morningview Baptist Church, Montgomery, AL.
This is class three, "The Methods of Parenting: Communication"
1- Shawn Merithew- God's Design for the Family
2- Jon English Lee- The Goal of Parenting: The Heart
3- Jon English Lee- The Methods of Parenting: Communication
4- Jon English Lee- The Methods of Parenting: Discipline
5- Shawn Merithew- Parenting Children
6- Shawn Merithew- Parenting Q&A
7- Shawn Merithew- Parenting Teens
8- Shawn Merithew- Having “The Talk"
9- Shawn Merithew- Parenting and Technology
10- Q&A with Jon English Lee and Shawn Merithew
In the summer of 2022, Pastors Shawn Merithew and Jon English Lee taught a class on parenting at Morningview Baptist Church, Montgomery, AL.
This is class two, "The Goal of Parenting: The Heart."
1- Shawn Merithew- God's Design for the Family
2- Jon English Lee- The Goal of Parenting: The Heart
3- Jon English Lee- The Methods of Parenting: Communication
4- Jon English Lee- The Methods of Parenting: Discipline
5- Shawn Merithew- Parenting Children
6- Shawn Merithew- Parenting Q&A
7- Shawn Merithew- Parenting Teens
8- Shawn Merithew- Having “The Talk"
9- Shawn Merithew- Parenting and Technology
10- Q&A with Jon English Lee and Shawn Merithew
In the summer of 2022, Pastors Shawn Merithew and Jon English Lee taught a class on parenting at Morningview Baptist Church, Montgomery, AL.
This is class one, "God's Design for the Family."
1- Shawn Merithew- God's Design for the Family
2- Jon English Lee- The Goal of Parenting: The Heart
3- Jon English Lee- The Methods of Parenting: Communication
4- Jon English Lee- The Methods of Parenting: Discipline
5- Shawn Merithew- Parenting Children
6- Shawn Merithew- Parenting Q&A
7- Shawn Merithew- Parenting Teens
8- Shawn Merithew- Having “The Talk"
9- Shawn Merithew- Parenting and Technology
10- Q&A with Jon English Lee and Shawn Merithew
In this sermon from 1 Corinthians 12:4-7, Pastor Jon English explains 7 observations about the spiritual gifts, as well as 7 dangers that are present for believers.
Trials and hurt can cause us to go from being people full of compassion to people who are cynical, hardened, and even vindictive. We tend to become very calloused toward those who have harmed us and indifferent to those in need. BUT NOT CHRIST! NOT EVER! Even if you have wronged Him, He has compassion. The invitation to be sheltered beneath His wings is for anyone who repents and believes in Him, even “religious” people who have continually spurned His love.
Preacher: Dr. Shawn Merithew
Scripture Text: Luke 13: 31-35
Pastor Jordan gives us an overview of the book of Galatians and its central theme of Justification by Faith in Christ Alone.
People fail to realize that there is an expiration date on the offer of salvation – when it comes, you don't get a second more. The same One who has opened the door of salvation and who stands with open arms saying, “Come unto me all you who are weary and heavy-laden. . .” is also the One who is going to shut the door tight. In this passage from Luke, we have Jesus speaking in very clear terms of the nature of the kingdom, the exclusivity of the Gospel, and how the first shall be last.
Preacher: Dr. Shawn Merithew
Scripture Text: Luke 13:18-30
In this sermon from 1 Corinthians 12:1-3, Pastor Jon English explains the danger of false religion, the ministry of the Holy Spirit to confirm prior revelation, and the nature of true spirituality.
By the time of Christ, the Jewish religious leaders had developed so many laws governing activity on the Sabbath that the day had become anything but a day of rest. In this passage, we have Jesus healing a woman who had suffered an affliction from a demon for 18 years, and the synagogue ruler became indignant with Jesus. From their exchange, we learn again about our spiritual need, our Savior's compassion, the danger of legalism, and God's true heart for the Sabbath.
Preacher: Dr. Shawn Merithew
Scripture Text: Luke 13:10-17
Morningview Minister of Worship and Outreach Trey Head begins a sermon series on the book of James. In this sermon from James 1:1-4, he preaches on the topic of Christians finding joy in Christ through all forms of suffering and trials.
By this point in His ministry, the people believed Jesus to be a miracle-working itinerant rabbi, maybe even the Messiah. He certainly spoke with authority in a way that none of their other teachers did. So it makes sense that they would want His perspective on major news of the day. What we see in this text is how Jesus would take such questions and use them to not only correct people's bad theology, but most importantly to turn their attention to man's greatest need.
Preacher: Dr. Shawn Merithew
Scripture Text: Luke 13:1-9
Pastoral Intern Robert Gardner examines Philippians 1:18-30, Paul's encouragement to the Philippian Church during his Roman imprisonment and his exhortation that they live in a manner worthy of the Gospel.
As we finish Luke 12, we are continuing with a section of Scripture where Jesus is warning his disciples and the crowds of the coming judgment. He is telling us that by His coming, a very clear dividing line is being drawn right down through the middle of humanity, and it is time for all men to see the signs and choose. The Gospel of Peace is going to divide even families, human discernment can still leave you blind to the truth, and it is urgent that you settle your salvation now.
Preacher: Dr. Shawn Merithew
Scripture Text: Luke 12:49-59
As Christians, we are well aware of the passages like this one that command a sense of urgency and readiness in our lives as disciples, but the truth is, it's been almost 2000 years since Jesus said, “BE READY!” So we figure, in all likelihood, we have plenty of time. Such complacency has no place among God's people. As we explore this passage, we see the purpose of Christ in warning us to live in a state of preparedness for His return.
Preacher: Dr. Shawn Merithew
Scripture Text: Luke 12:35-48
What does the Bible have to say about alcohol? Is the mode as important an issue with the Lord's supper as it is with baptism? Why do most Baptist congregations use grape juice rather than wine for the Lord's supper? Is this an issue of biblical law or Christian liberty? And if it is an issue of liberty, how do we manage disagreement at the church level?
Preacher: Dr. Shawn Merithew
Scripture Text: Matthew 26:26-30
These three verses are the wrap-up of Jesus' teaching on finances in this chapter, and as we will see, what He says here is powerful. In one sense, He is further explaining to us what it means to be rich towards God, but He is also admonishing us to manage our finances in a way that embraces spiritual realities of far greater magnitude. The Gospel realities of Christ and His Kingdom, if understood rightly, drastically change our perspective on finances and spending and investing.
Preacher: Dr. Shawn Merithew
Scripture Text: Luke 12:32-34
Believers are called to combat false teaching and practices. In this sermon from 1 Timothy 6: 3-12, Paul teaches how to fight against these false practices.
Preacher: Pastor Jordan Nelson
In this sermon from 1 Corinthians 11:23-32, Pastor Jon English explains Jesus’s institution of the Lord’s Supper, the necessity of examination, and the exhortation to consideration that Paul gives in the text.
Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the United States, yet our Savior is faithful and good to give us help and instruction in this area. He teaches us that our life is about so much more that what we eat or what we wear. Our life and our body are for the glory of God, so we must not make what are ultimately temporal things our focus. He has given us physical life, emotional life, intellectual life, and spiritual life. And if God has given us these primary realities that define life, why would He also not give us the secondary items that sustain life?
Preacher: Dr. Shawn Merithew
Scripture Text: Luke 12:22-31
In this sermon from 1 Corinthians 11:17-22, Pastor Jon English explains Paul’s rebuke of the divisions and partiality in the body, and the sin of despising the church of God which springs from uncharitableness in our hearts.
False teachers have always been amongst the true sheep of God. They want to exploit and deceive God’s children. It is important for Christians to know what characterizes false teachers in order to flee.
Preacher: Pastor Jordan Nelson
Scripture Text: 2 Peter 2:1-3
In this sermon from 1 Corinthians 11:4-16, Pastor Jon English attempts to explain why the head coverings are in the text, why they matter, and how they apply to us today.
Jesus often addressed the issue of money and stewardship – because the love of money is the root of all sorts of evil (1 Tim 6:10). In fact, Jesus spoke more about money than any other single figure in Scripture. As we find in this text, there were people in His day fighting over an inheritance just like they do today, and while Christ did not put himself in the place of arbitrating such arguments, He did take the occasion to teach us the kingdom perspective of possessions and wealth.
Preacher: Dr. Shawn Merithew
Scripture Text: Luke 12:13-21
In Luke 12:1-12, we have Jesus continuing to prepare His disciples to live an unafraid and unashamed gospel witnesses. What He gives them in these 12 verses are six lessons on how to be prepared to stand firm in the faith. This second sermon explores the latter three of these lessons.
Preacher: Dr. Shawn Merithew
We saw at the end of chapter 11 that the religious leaders were now watching Jesus' every move, looking for a way to discredit Him in the people's eyes and to find some excuse to kill Him and remove His influence over the masses. Jesus and His men were all under pressure, but He knew His mens needed to continue their training, to be ready to lead the church, so He taught them six lessons about how to live unafraid and unashamed as gospel witnesses. This sermon explores the first three.
Preacher: Dr. Shawn Merithew
Scripture Text: Luke 12:1-7
In this sermon from 1 Corinthians 11:2-3, Pastor Jon English highlights Paul’s arguments related to authority and submission, specifically noting how God is the head of Christ, Christ the head of man, and man the head of woman.
In this sermon from 1 Corinthians 10:23-11:1, Pastor Jon English explains Paul’s final summary of the doctrine of Christian liberty.
What if you heard Jesus say to you, “Your soul is like an unmarked grave”? When we think of the gravest dangers facing the church, it's not false religions, nor is it a hateful culture, nor is it even heretics in the church. Those are all very serious, but the gravest danger to the church is theologically informed, religiously active, morally conservative people whose hearts are devoid of Christ.
Preacher: Dr. Shawn Merithew
Scripture Text: Luke 11:37-54
As the people of God continue to worship Christ and proclaim His gospel in this sinful world, it is critical that we be clear about the Source of Our Identity and the Right Practice of our Faith. In this Mother's Day sermon, we explore Paul's prayer for the church at Ephesus and see that every family on earth derives its identity from the Father, and therefore if we would thrive as His family, we must seek Him, depend upon His strength, and grow in His love.
Preacher: Dr. Shawn Merithew
Scripture Text: Ephesians 3:14-19
In this sermon from 1 Corinthians 10:14-22, Pastor Jon English explains Paul’s arguments against idolatry and involvement with the dark spiritual forces.
We are called to guard the good deposit (i.e. the gospel, Jesus, sound words) that has been entrusted to believers. In this sermon, Pastor Jordan Nelson walks through Paul’s last words in order to help understand how to guard the good deposit.
Scripture Text: 2 Timothy 1:13-14
In the third and final session of the 2022 Morningview Women's Conference, special guest teacher Joy Hicks dives deeper into Colossians 3:12-17, looking at the Beginning of Compassion, the Heart of Compassion, and the End (or goal) of Compassion.
In this second session of the 2022 Morningview Women's Conference, special guest teacher Joy Hicks looks at the Christ who came. We explore the nature of Jesus as God and Man and the compassion of Jesus in Life, in Death, and in Heaven.
Special guest Joy Hicks taught from Colossians 3:12-17 for the 2022 Morningview Women's Conference. In this first session, we look at the God who IS. He is in Himself independent, simple, unchanging, impassible, and perfect.
In this sermon from 1 Corinthians 10:13, Pastor Jon English examines five Truths that God gives us to battle temptation, as well as five lies that Satan uses to tempt.
How is your spiritual vision? Do you see yourself clearly? Do you bring the lense of Scripture to bear regularly upon your own soul? Do you have unclouded sight of the things of God and the Person of Christ? In these four verses, we are brought again to see that Jesus is the Light of the World, and only in Him and through Him are Christians able to be people of the light and not of the darkness.
Preacher: Dr. Shawn Merithew
Scripture Passage: Luke 11:33-36
In Luke 11:29-32 we see the crowd demanding a sign from Jesus, but He refuses, promising only to give them the sign of Jonah: just as Jonah was three days in the belly of the whale before preaching in Ninevah, Jesus would be three days in the belly of the earth and then rise from the grave. It was not the sign they expected and demanded, but it was a sign that would be infinitely more wonderful, proving His power over death and sin and His perfect fulfillment of the Father's divine plan of redemption.
Preacher: Dr. Shawn Merithew
In this sermon from 1 Corinthians 10:11-12, Pastor Jon English examines Paul’s use of the Old Testament for our instruction, and the exhortation to remain watchful at all times, lest we fall.
The exorcism of a demon (Luke 11:14) had sparked the exchange in the previous passage, so Jesus returns to the subject of exorcism and uses it as a parable to warn us about a prevalent deception. And His warning is simple: Do not confuse the absence of evil with saving faith. If you do, you are worse off than before. We are going to explore that warning as well as the blessing He gives that is an exhortation to us all.
Preacher: Dr. Shawn Merithew
Scripture Text: Luke 11:24-28
In this sermon from 1 Corinthians 10:8-10, Pastor Jon English examines Paul’s use of the Hebrew fathers as examples. Looking at the stories Paul cites from Numbers 25 and Numbers 21, the sins of Sexual Immorality and Grumbling are examined, as well as Jesus being the one lifted up for the salvation of a nation.
On this occasion, Jesus heals yet another demoniac, restoring the man's ability to speak. By this point in his ministry, many are beginning to wonder out loud if Jesus is indeed the Messiah. The religious leaders, infuriated by such conjecture, respond by spreading a vicious lie – they accuse Jesus of being in league with Satan. Jesus responds by not only revealing the inconsistency and hypocrisy of their thinking, but also by warning that those who are not with Him are against Him.
Scripture Text: Luke 11:14-23
Preacher: Dr. Shawn Merithew
Pastoral Intern Robert Gardner continues a study of Paul's letter to the Philippians by looking to Paul's example of rejoicing in the face of persecution.
Sermon Text: Philippians 1:12-18a
When you take the time to really ponder the weight of what Jesus is saying here in this text, you realize that this is one of the most incredible promises of God that you will find in all of Scripture. With these words, the Sovereign God of heaven and earth is inviting us to pursue Him in prayer. Whatever our needs, He is our compassionate Father, and He wants us to depend upon him in faith. But to receive the bounty of this promise, we must humble ourselves and pursue Him with vigor.
Scripture Text: Luke 11:1-13
Preacher: Dr. Shawn Merithew
Pastoral Intern Robert Gardner examines Paul's prayer of rejoicing in the gospel-centered fellowship he has with the saints at Philippi.
Sermon Text: Philippians 1:1-11
Are you a Mary or a Martha? That is the question we often ask ourselves when reflecting on this passage at the end of Luke 10, but it is based on a very deficient interpretation of the text. The story of Martha and Mary is a story about two godly women who are both seeking to faithfully love Jesus, but one of them struggles with being pulled away. Their story teaches us that dwelling in the Word of God is absolutely essential to a life of active service for the Son of God.
Scripture Text: Luke 10:38-42
Preacher: Dr. Shawn Merithew
The parable of the Good Samaritan is one of the most well-known stories told by Jesus. From it we learn that how we relate to our fellow man either validates or invalidates our claim to know and love God. So in this sermon, we explore the issues of love for God, compassion for our fellow man, and heresy of works-salvation.
Preacher: Dr. Shawn Merithew
Scripture: Luke 10:25-37
Series: Luke: Thy Kingdom Come
In this sermon from 1 Corinthians 10:6-7, Pastor Jon English examines the nature of desires and gives six characteristics of idolatry seen in Exodus 32.
At the return of the 72 from their ministries in Judea, Jesus celebrates with them by offering up a prayer of thanksgiving to His heavenly Father. In this prayer, we behold the beauty of the relationship between the members of the trinity, and we are also given a window into the Father's sovereignty over salvation.
Preacher: Dr. Shawn Merithew
Scripture Text: Luke 10:21-24
In this sermon from 1 Corinthians 10:1-5, Pastor Jon English explains Paul’s use of the Exodus story as an illustration of presumptuous sin in a believer, and how Christ is foreshadowed in Exodus 14-17. He also explains how Paul’s reading of the Old Testament should inform our Bible reading today.
Here we see great joy and celebration among the 72 disciples over how the power of God was displayed in their ministry. Jesus congratulates them by affirming their success and stating again the authority He has entrusted to them. Even then, however, he warns them against pride by telling them to find their joy in the fact that their names are written in heaven. In this sermon from Luke 10:17-20, we glean critical truths and lessons about ministry and how we are all called to engage in the battle for souls.
Preacher: Dr. Shawn Merithew
Morningview Global Mission Conference 2022
The message we take to the nations is the message of the cross. But what did the cross achieve? In this sermon, Matthew Emadi considers two motifs of the atonement: Penal Substitution and Christus Victor.
Sermon Text: Hebrews 2:14–18
Morningview Global Missions Conference 2022
In this sermon, Matthew Emadi considers the divinity and humanity of Christ and the enthronement of Christ in heaven as the Messiah. The goal of missions is the glory of risen and reigning Christ.
Scripture: Hebrews 1:1-6
In this sermon from 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, Pastor Jon English explains how Paul serves as our model for running the race well in the Christian life. Self-control, discipline, and determination are necessary for finishing well, and Christ enables us to do it all.
There were many other disciples beyond the 12 who followed Jesus and learned from Him during the time of His earthly ministry. Here in Luke 10, Jesus sent 72 of them ahead to make one more great evangelistic push in the cities and villages He would visit along His way to Jerusalem. As we study His instructions to them, we are reminded that as those united with Christ, we are by nature to be a missional people who share His heart for the world.
Scripture: Luke 10:1-16
Preacher: Dr. Shawn Merithew
In this sermon from 1 Corinthians 9:19-23, Pastor Jon English explains Paul’s disposition (a humble willingness to sacrifice), his inclination (to adapt for the good of others), and his motivation (gospel advance and gospel blessing). He also explains what it means to be “not under the law of God, but the law of Christ.”
Here in Luke 9, the disciples of Jesus were in a season of rough roads. They were being tempted by the Messianic fervor of the crowds, they pridefully argued over who would be the greatest in Christ's kingdom, and they were suspicious of any ministry outside their little group. As we finish chapter 9 of Luke, we will see that the struggles faced by the disciples are the same struggles we face on the path of discipleship. The only way to overcome is by the grace and strength of Christ.
Preacher: Dr. Shawn Merithew
Scripture: Luke 9:51-62
In this sermon from 1 Corinthians 9:1-18, Pastor Jon English explains Paul’s defense of his own apostleship and his own rights, and then shows how Paul is our example, pointing to Christ, for how to love others by laying down our rights for the good of others and the progress of the gospel.
How would you define “Greatness?” The way the world defines it is very different than how the Bible defines it. In this passage, where Jesus is acting to correct and guide His disciples in godliness and humility, we find that true greatness is defined by Christ, modeled in ministry by receiving the lowly, and characterized by a kingdom mentality.
Scripture: Luke 9:43b-50
Preacher: Dr. Shawn Merithew
Prayer is one of the most basic spiritual disciplines of the Christian life, and if we are honest, it is one we struggle with the most. This sermon explores the command to pray, but seeks to move us from duty to delight as we embrace the incredible privilege of prayer and all the blessings we experience as we commune with God through Christ.
Scripture: Colossians 4:2
Preacher: Dr. Shawn Merithew
In this sermon from 1 Corinthians 8:4-13, Pastor Jon English explains the folly of idolatry, the call of love, and the dynamics between weaker and stronger brothers & sisters within the church.
Pastoral Intern Robert examines what Christ instructs about approaching the Lord in prayer humbly, understanding our justification is through faith in Christ, and not our works according to the Law.
Scripture: Luke 18:9-14
Paul is zealous and ready to go to all who were in Rome. He knows the power of the gospel unto salvation, which has given him strength to be unashamed of the person of Christ.
Preacher: Pastor Jordan Nelson
Scripture: Romans 1:16-17
Following the transfiguration, Jesus and three of the disciples descended from Mt. Miron to be met by a multitude in turmoil. Out of the crowd stepped a father who begged for Jesus to heal his demon possessed son. In His response of both rebuking the crowd and healing the boy, Jesus displayed the majesty of God on the plain just as it had been displayed on the mountain the day before.
Preacher: Dr. Shawn Merithew
Scripture: Luke 9:37-43
In this sermon from 1 Corinthians 8:1-3, Pastor Jon English explains how Christians are called to love our brothers and sisters well through the prudent and careful use of our liberties, rather than demanding our own rights.
This is the second sermon from Hebrews 10. In the first sermon, from verses 32-34, we explored the importance of looking back and remembering all the ways Christ has shown Himself faithful to bring us through our previous trials. This second sermon encourages believers to face the future with confidence, trusting in the promises of God, looking toward the return of Christ, and living lives where we press in to Christ rather than drawing back.
Text: Hebrews 10:35-39
Preacher: Dr. Shawn Merithew
Over and over again in the New Testament, believers are admonished to “remember” – to remember gospel truth, to remember God's faithfulness, to remember Christ's promises and His sovereign work of sanctification in us. In this first of a two-part series from Hebrews 10, we see why it is important for us as Christians to recall and reflect upon our previous sufferings.
Preacher: Dr. Shawn Merithew
Paul is wanting his readers to understand that they have a new position of being dead to sin. That they should not go on sinning, because they are in fact dead to sin.
Preacher: Jordan Nelson
Scripture: Romans 6:1-2
Christmas is a dark and hard time for many people. Many struggle with the recent loss of loved ones, strained finances, pressure on marriages and parenting, loneliness, and a host of other issues. As we return to Matthew's narrative of Christ's infancy, we see that Christ's incarnation was an occasion of great hostility, grief, and exile. How Jesus was received in the world shows us exactly why He needed to come into the world.
Preacher: Dr. Shawn Merithew
Scripture: Matthew 2:13-23
As we explore this part of Matthew's birth narrative, we find depicted three kinds of kings. There are kings who leave everything to pursue and worship the Lord. There is a king who sees the Messiah as a threat and deceptively seeks to preserve His own power and dominion. And then there is the King of Kings who, even as a toddler, is worthy of all praise, adoration, and devotion.
Preacher: Dr. Shawn Merithew
Scripture: Matthew 2:1-12
In this sermon from Malachi 1-2:16, Pastor Jon English explains how God demands true, heart-level worship, and how faithfulness to God’s covenant requires faithfulness to our marriage covenant.
The covenant of redemption, planned in eternity past between Father and Son, dawned in creation when Israel was under the boot of Roman and Herod the Great ruled with an iron fist over God's people. The incarnation of our Lord would come through some of the most unlikely means imaginable – a young carpenter named Joseph and his betrothed, Mary. In this sermon, we explore how God revealed His plan and purpose to Joseph to prepare him to be the earthly Father of Christ.
Scripture: Matthew 1:18-25
Preacher: Dr. Shawn Merithew
As Jesus had now begun to prepare His disciples for His upcoming sacrifice, He took three of the men with Him up to the top of Mt. Miron to experience the visage of His glorified self. Peter responded by expressing his desire to erect three tents for Christ, Moses, and Elijah and live with them in this moment of glory. His earnest desire is that of all true disciples, yet we must realize that the true path to glory always goes by way of suffering on the cross.
Scripture: Luke 9:28-36
Preacher: Dr. Shawn Merithew
Who is Jesus? How we answer this question reveals the state of our heart as well as our destination in eternity. Jesus asked His own disciples this question at a critical point in His ministry, and as they acknowledged that He was the “Christ of God,” Jesus began preparing them for His work of redemption and the true path of discipleship.
Scripture: Luke 9:18-27
Preacher: Dr. Shawn Merithew
2 Peter 1:11
Pastor Jordan Nelson
We are accepted into the eternal kingdom of God based on the merits of Christ alone. However, there will be some of us who are scarcely saved and others who have been growing in holiness all of their lives who will be richly welcomed in. They will be some who have great assurance as they leave from this life and enter into eternity.
In this sermon from 1 Corinthians 7:25-40, Pastor Jon English explains Paul’s principle of living where God has called us, resumes tracing a biblical theology of singleness throughout redemptive history, and explains how Paul wants all believers (married or not) to live life in light of the end.
In Jesus, we have a Savior who not only satisfies every single spiritual need, He satisfies every relational need, every emotional need, and every physical need. In this text on the feeding of the 5,000, we learn how important it is to retain an eternal perspective, how we must realize our insufficiency and Christ's all-sufficiency, and how we are to rejoice in Christ's provision.
Preacher: Dr. Shawn Merithew
Scripture: Luke 9:10-17
In this sermon from 1 Corinthians 7:25-40, Pastor Jon English Lee explains Paul’s principle of living where God has called us, and then begins tracing a biblical theology of singleness throughout redemptive history.
Orphan care is a picture of the gospel. God displayed His love for us while we were yet sinners. He set His affections upon us, drew us to Himself in salvation, enabled our faith, and adopted us as His very own through Christ. This sermon encourages the body of Christ to undertake orphan care out of a genuine concern for children in need and as an example of the love of Christ within our community.
Preacher: Pastor Cole Portis
Scripture: Romans 8:12-23
In this sermon from 1 Corinthians 7:17-24, Pastor Jon English Lee explains Paul’s principle of living where God has called us, and living especially with contentment.
Soli Deo Gloria, For the Glory of God Alone. How God’s glory benefits believers.
Scripture: Romans 11:33-36
Preacher: Jordan Nelson
On this 504th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation, we return to Romans to consider the pivotal truth that justification is by faith alone. Through Romans 4:1-5, along with Galatians three, we explore the Nature of Justification by Faith, the Substance of Justification by Faith, and the Practice of Justification by Faith.
Preacher: Dr. Shawn Merithew
Session Three: Matthew 18:15-35 - “What are His people like?”
Speaker: Rev. Scott Lucky of Parkway Baptist Church, Clinton, MS
Session Two: Matthew 9:35-38 - “What is His Mission?”
Speaker: Rev. Scott Lucky of Parkway Baptist Church, Clinton, MS
Session One: Luke 7:11-17 - “Who is Jesus?”
Speaker: Rev. Scott Lucky of Parkway Baptist Church, Clinton, MS
In this sermon from 1 Corinthians 7:8-16, Pastor Jon English Lee explains Paul’s instructions to 4 different groups of people in Corinth: the unmarried, the married, those believers married to an unbeliever who will stay, and those believers married to an unbeliever who wants to leave.
In Luke 9, Jesus sends the disciples out to minister in order to gain some experience while He is still with them to offer direction, encouragement, and correction. He knows the day will come when He has returned to the Father and His disciples will have to follow the Holy Spirit and continue the work of gospel ministry. So through their example, we learn that we, too, are a “Sent” people engaging a confused world.
Scripture: Luke 9:1-9
Preacher: Dr. Shawn Merithew
Jesus' power over the symptoms and effects of sin proved His power over sin itself. In this account of the raising of Jairus' daughter and the healing of the woman with the issue of blood, we see that Jesus Christ alone has the power to take away our sin and restore us to spiritual health. In our text, we have the first resurrection Jesus performed, showing His power and authority over the ultimate foe -- death itself.
Scripture: Luke 8:40-56
Preacher: Dr. Shawn Merithew
In this sermon from Hebrews 4:14, Pastor Jon English explains how Old Testament priests functioned and pointed toward Christ, how Christ fulfills all those roles, and how believers are called into priestly service under Christ.
As Jesus casts the Legion of demons out of the man at Garesene, we see again several critical truths: that He is the One who holds all authority over every living thing, including demons; that demons know and believe more about Jesus than most human beings today; and finally, that He has a sovereign purpose that He is bringing to accomplishment through every encounter in ministry.
Scripture: Luke 8:26-39
Preacher: Dr. Shawn Merithew
Looking at John 11:17-27, Pastor Jordan Nelson deals with the subject of physical death. How is the Christian supposed to deal with death? He discusses five truths of death with which every person should grapple.
Pastoral Intern Robert Gardner examines the Apostle Paul's teaching in 2 Corinthians 1:3-11 regarding the comfort that we receive from God and the comfort that we are then able to give, both to our brothers and sisters in Christ in our fellowship, and to unbelievers in the proclamation of the Gospel.
Pastor Jordan deals with two of the most controversial doctrines in the Bible, effectual calling and unconditional election. These two doctrines in this passage are crucial in understanding our security and assurance.
Scripture: 2 Peter 1:10
As we explore the Macedonian call and Lydia's subsequent conversion, we see God's faithfulness to lead in the ministry of evangelism as well as His faithfulness to redeem His children unto Himself. As believers consider these truths, we are to be driven by our love for Christ and confidence in Christ to share His gospel boldly wherever we go.
Text: Acts 16:6-14
Preacher: Dr. Shawn Merithew
In this sermon from Ephesians 2:20, Pastor Jon English explains what an apostle was, and shows how the Apostolic faith is fixed, bounded, needs guarding, accords with godliness, is found in God’s word, and is clear.
In this passage (Acts 13:44-52), we have Paul and Barnabas preaching the gospel in Pisidian Antioch. Though initially welcomed by the Jews in this city, they were rejected, reviled, and persecuted when they announced that the way of salvation was open to the Gentiles. As we explore this text, we see the danger of religion without faith, and we also see God's complete sovereignty in the work of salvation.
Dr. Shawn Merithew
In this sermon from Ephesians 4:5, Pastor Jon English explains the foundation for the church’s catholicity, the evidence of the church’s catholicity, and the fruit of the church’s catholicity.
Preacher: Dr. Shawn Merithew
Text: Acts 8:1-8
True faith sees persecution as an opportunity to glorify God, not as justification to deny God. We may never be called upon to confess Christ under the threat of death, but we are called to live our faith in a way that shows we’re ready to do just that, because that’s the kind of faith that won’t rest while there are people who don’t know. As we love Christ and go forth to the nations in His name, we will know the joy and blessings that come from Him even through the course of trials.
In this sermon from John 17, Pastor Jon English explains how the church both IS holy, and the church IS TO BE holy. He also explains some unbiblical means of pursuing holiness.
Passage: 2 Peter 1:5-8
Preacher: Jordan Nelson
God has given His people all things for life and godliness. We now see that He gives us godliness, brotherly affection, and love. We grow in these qualities by looking to the one, Christ, who willingly lived out these characteristics before us.
In this sermon from John 17, Pastor Jon English Lee explains how the church both IS united, and should seek to be united. Further, the unity of the church is based on God’s sovereign revelation, grounded on the Word, is analogous to the unity of God, and is essential to the church’s mission.
In this sermon from 1 Corinthians 7:1-7, Pastor Jon English explains Paul’s logic for how couples should relate and remain faithful to their marital obligations.
We live in a sinful world, so death and loss, difficulties and storms are an inescapable fact of life. Thus, we are going to struggle with anxiety, worry, and fear and many points in our lives. The question we must ask ourselves is, “when we face those storms, will our faith be in the only true God who can still the storms or see us through those storms?”
Preacher: Dr. Shawn Merithew
Text: Luke 8:22-25
Following the parable of the seed and soils, we have Jesus using both a lamp and his own family as metaphors to teach the importance of listening to, identifying with, and obeying Him. In this text (Luke 8:16-21), we explore the significance of what it means for the believers to be the light of the world and the family of God.
In this sermon from 1 Corinthians 6:12-20, Pastor Jon English Lee explains eight principles that Paul gives believers to aid them in their pursuit of holiness, especially holiness expressed in their bodies.
In this well-known parable of Jesus from Luke 8:1-15, we see there are four kinds of soil representing four kinds of hearts: The Hardened Heart, the Shallow Heart, the Strangled Heart, and the Believing Heart. In exploring these, we realize that only one represents a person who is truly saved. We see further that when a person is truly saved, they bring forth abundant fruit as evidence of their transformation – they bear the fruit of being like Christ!
Preacher: Dr. Shawn Merithew
In this sermon from 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, Pastor Jon English Lee explains how we are born outside of God’s kingdom, but may enter into it by faith in the Christ who has washed, sanctified, and justified His bride through his work of salvation.
Text: 2 Peter 1:5-7
Peter encourages Christians that there are certain qualities that keep us from being ineffective and unfruitful. The qualities Pastor Jordan Nelson addresses in this sermon are virtue, knowledge, self control, and steadfastness.
In this sermon from 1 Corinthians 6:1-8, Pastor Jon English Lee explains how believers can be tempted to sue and defraud one another when we forget who we are in Christ, and what our calling is as followers of Christ.
This sermon from Luke 7:36-50 explores one of the more touching stories from the ministry of Christ as we see the humility of a forgiven harlot contrasted with the arrogance of a self-righteous Pharisee. In considering both of their lives, we see that what ultimately distinguishes them from one another is faith in Christ and the powerful transformation His forgiveness brings about in the Christian.
In this sermon from 1 Corinthians 5:6-13, pastor Jon English Lee explains how Paul uses the Old Testament picture of Passover to argue for believers to cleanse out the leaven of sin wherever they may find it.
In this sermon from 1 Corinthians 5:1-5, pastor Jon English Lee explains how tolerated sexual sin will eventually lead to its celebration. Christians are instead to be pure and holy, just as God is holy.
John the Baptist had the privilege of being the herald of Christ, but after being locked away in prison, he struggled with doubt and sent his disciples to see if Christ was truly the Messiah. Jesus responded by giving evidence of His power and by pointing John to the assurance of Scripture. In the aftermath of that, Jesus reassures the crowd before Him of John's High Position as a Prophet, but He also reveals the nature of true greatness as well as the fickleness of unbelievers.
Luke 7:18-35
Scripture: Acts 4:1-13
After Peter heals the lame beggar, He preaches the gospel in front of the religious elite. The leaders of the day perceived that Peter was a common man, yet he had been with Jesus. How do people view us? Do they see that we have been with Jesus?
When Jesus came the first time, He came with the full power and authority of the godhead to undo the curse of sin wherever He went as a demonstration of His divinity and glory. As we consider here in Luke 7:1-17 the stories of the faithful Centurion and the Resurrection of the widow of Nain's son, we see how Christ's Authority Emboldens Our Faith, and how Christ's Compassion Evokes His Glory.
As we consider the whole of chapter 6, which is Luke's account of the sermon on the plain, we see that the standard of conduct and righteousness He sets before us here is truly beyond our ability. Yet Christ does not give us this revelation to further our hopelessness. He is the one preaching these truths, He is the one offering us life, and He Himself is the one way of salvation. Therefore, He concludes His sermon by stating that He is to be the rock upon which our lives are built.
Jesus was a master of agricultural metaphors. His illustrations and parables were simple, yet powerful, and this is yet another that cuts right to the heart of the matter. We can profess to have faith and make ourselves outwardly appear very religious, but it is those who bear out the righteous fruit of faith who prove that they are true disciples of Christ. Even more, Christ teaches us that the mouth is the sound system of the heart, so what does our speech reveal about our spiritual state?
Text: Luke 6:43-45
Preacher: Dr. Shawn Merithew
Scripture: Revelation 2:1-7
Jesus tells us to remember where we have fallen from; to repent and do the works we first did. We need to remember our Savior and our salvation constantly. When we grow cold toward the things of Christ we need to remember Christ.
Preacher: Jordan Nelson
Text: Jonah 3-4
Preacher: Cody Floate
After being "resurrected" out of the waters of death and the fish within those waters, the prophet Jonah finally goes to Nineveh, preaching what He was commanded to by God. Nineveh's repentance, however, sends Jonah into a tailspin that ends in him scolding the Lord for his mercy and compassion towards an undeserving people.
Text: 2 Peter 1:4
Who are partakers of the divine nature and what does it mean to be a partaker of the divine nature? Pastor Jordan explores a theme that flows throughout the Scriptures. This theme is our union with Christ.
Have you had someone who should have shown you anger or wrath and vengeance instead show you generosity, love, and grace? As we explore the passage of Luke 6:37-42, we will see how Grace should characterize the life of the disciple. Though the word grace is never used once in this text, it lies at the heart of all the different things that Jesus addresses in these six verses. So we will discuss grace in loving your neighbor, grace in maturing discipleship, and grace in humble confrontation.
Dr. Shawn Merithew
In the ethics of modern worldliness, hating people is a virtue. But not for Jesus. Sin is what He hates, and He teaches us here that those who belong to Him practice a very counter-cultural ethic of love: a love that puts others first, a love that does not expect anything in return, and a love that even extends to those who are your mortal enemies. In short, we are to love in a way that demonstrates the supernatural power of Christ and invites people to trust in Him.
Dr. Shawn Merithew
Luke 6:27-36
In this sermon from Romans 12:3-10, Pastor Jon English explains how the New Testament assumes that church members be Converted, Consecrated, and Connected.
In this sermon from 1 Corinthians 4:8-21, Pastor Jon English explains how Paul uses Irony to expose the Corinthian believers’ blind spot, how his example is worthy of Imitation, and how he Instructs us toward humility and by his example.
Preacher: Cody Floate
Text: Jonah 1-2
The book of Jonah is intended to be a revelation of our Lord Jesus, particularly as it pertains to his descent into death and his resurrection on the third day. Jonah's being tossed into the sea and into the fish is his own dive into the depths of death, so to speak, and it is God alone who is able to bring him up again, through a resurrection unto new life, restored that the prophet would be a light to the nations.
In this sermon from 1 Corinthians 4:6-7, Pastor Jon English Lee explains how Paul’s exhortations to the Corinthians give us a a principle to be learned, a pitfall to be avoided, and a posture to be maintained.
Pastor Jordan Nelson preaches from 2 Peter 1:3-4. God works all things for life and godliness through knowledge of Him. He also gives us precious and very great promises to walk in godliness continually.
In this sermon from 1 Corinthians 4:1-5, Pastor Jon English Lee explains Paul’s role, Paul’s judge, and Paul’s comfort, and how all of those connect to Christ.
In this sermon from 1 Corinthians 3:18-23, Pastor Jon English Lee explains how self-deception, pride, and boasting in men is inconsistent with the reality of who we are, and especially who we are in Christ, for in Christ we are heirs to all things.
Pastor Jordan Nelson preaches from 2 Peter 1:3. In God’s divine goodness and power, He grants believers everything they need for life and godliness. From justification to glorification, God is graciously giving everything we need to please Him.
Scripture: Matthew 22:1-14
Pastor Jordan Nelson reminds us that the wedding feast is a glorious occasion. We should desire to go and worship our king. God has given us a great invitation to come to the party, but he has also called us to go and gather others.
In this sermon 1 Corinthians 1-3, in which Pastor Jon English Lee starts off a series of sermons on personal evangelism, we see that Paul emphasized 4 C’s: the catalyst of evangelism (i.e., the gospel), the content of evangelism, that he exhibited the contentment of an evangelist of God, and that he kept in mind the community of God.
In the final chapter of Hosea, the prophet seeks to make one final call for Israel to repent of their idolatry and find their hope and rest in the the coming kingdom of God, ruled by the truly good One, Jesus, who is a tree of life for all who come to him in faith.
Preacher: Cody Floate
In this sermon from 1 Corinthians 3:16-17, Pastor Jon English Lee explains how the church is the new temple of God, which means the church is the place of God’s special revealed presence, is holy and pure, is divinely made and ordered, and is only entered through the work of a priest. Furthermore, the new temple is also protected by God himself, and thus we would be warned to not tear it down through sin or impurity.
Scripture: 2 Peter 1:1
Summary: Pastor Jordan Nelson begins a sermon series going through Peter’s second letter to the elect exiles of the Dispersion. We see that the recipients of this letter are qualified to hear these words from Peter because they have “obtained a faith of equal standing” to the apostles. In this sermon, Pastor Jordan explains the origin and object of our faith. He also shows us marks of those who have "obtained faith.”
In this sermon from 1 Corinthians 3:10-15, Pastor Jon English explains how the church’s one foundation is Jesus Christ, how every believer must choose on what foundation he will build, and how he will build upon that foundation.
How is it that a person can be so transformed that they embrace what the world hates? And how is that a person can have no fear of being hated, even when that hatred leads to their death? The answer is the Gospel, and particularly, Christ's resurrection. In this Easter Sunday sermon from Luke 6:20-26, Pastor Shawn Merithew explores the contrast between persecution and popularity, seeing how Christ's resurrection is our confidence and joy.
In this short sermon from Leviticus 16, Pastor Jon English Lee explains the connections between Aaron’s work on the Day of the Atonement in the Tabernacle to the Priestly work of Christ on the Cross. Christ is our Mercy Seat of Atonement and our Scapegoat who removes our sins far from us.
In this sermon from 1 Corinthians 3:5-9, Pastor Jon English explains how disunity in the church can be battled by having a proper view of our human leaders and a proper view of God.
Text: Luke 6:20-26
Pastor Shawn Merithew
What Jesus gives us in these opening seven verses of His “Sermon on the Plain” is four blessings followed by four woes, thereby
contrasting for us two ways of life. Jesus takes the things that no one wants – poverty, hunger, sorrow, and persecution –
and tells us that these are the very things that God blesses. Then He says that everything the world wants – money, food,
entertainment, and popularity – are exactly the things that bring woe and regret. In this sermon, we explore the first three.
Text: Revelation 22:1-5
Preacher: Jordan Nelson
In heaven there will be no more darkness. There be no more hidden sin, concealed shame, or shrouded truth. We will see that this who who walk in darkness will wake up to God’s wrath, but those who are sons of light will behold God’s glory for all eternity.
In Luke 6:12-19, we have Jesus selecting the 12 men who will be his apostles. We are going to see that by human standards, they are ordinary, flawed individuals – nothing more than fools by the standards of the world. Yet 11 of these men will be the pillars of the NT church. But first, they would have to go through poverty, rejection, sorrow, loss, and persecution. Like their Lord, the path to glory would take them through the valley of suffering.
In this sermon from 1 Corinthians 3:1-4, Pastor Jon English explains how believers ought to mature in their faith, avoiding the common temptations toward strife and jealousy, and instead pursue the spiritual fruit of peaceableness.
What does Bible say about how Christians should honor the principle of one day of rest for every six days of work? We must say with Matthew 5:17 that Christ did not come to abolish the Law, He came to fulfill it. Christ fulfilled and thus abrogated the civil and ceremonial requirements of the Old Testament Law, but the moral law still stands. The fourth command to honor the Sabbath is part of the moral law. So in this sermon Pastor Shawn discusses how to honor Christ who is the Lord of the Christian Sabbath. (Text: Luke 6:6-11)
In this sermon from 1 Corinthians 2:16, Pastor Jon English explains how the mind of Christ changes how we view our lives, emboldens humble service to others, removes our snobbery, and unties our tongues.
Scripture text: Luke 6:1-5
Dispensationalists and New Covenant theologians agree that in Luke 5:33-39, Jesus is teaching about the New Covenant. But right after Luke records Jesus' teaching about the New Covenant, God sovereignly directs him to record for us Christ's own understanding of the Sabbath. And what Christ teaches us is NOT that the Sabbath requirement is ceased or superseded, but fully established in Him as Lord.
In this sermon from 1 Cor 2:16, Pastor Jon English explains how the mind of Christ changes how we view our lives, emboldens humble service to others, removes our snobbery, and unties our tongues.
In Luke 5:33-39, we once again have Jesus responding to the prevailing legalism of His day with divine wisdom. Because He is the bridegroom arrived to redeem His bride, the church, it would be inappropriate for his disciples to fast. In the parables of the clothing patch and the new wine in old wineskins, He is making reference to the new covenant He had come to establish, a covenant in continuity with God's moral law yet fulfilling all the ceremonial requirements.
In this sermon Pastor Jon English explains the inability of natural man, the ability of the spiritual man, and how the work of the Holy Spirit ought to propel us toward holiness, purity, and peaceableness.
In the last session of our 2021 Global Missions Conference, guest preacher Chip Bugnar preaches from Romans 4:16-5:11: The gospel will succeed in saving sinners and God will satisfy all who are saved. This is on the ability of the gospel to produce what it promises and to be worth whatever costs are necessary.
John G. Paton was a missionary to the New Hebrides Islands. He encountered many trials dealing with the cannibals, the loss of his first and second wives, and religious persecution. However, he remained faith to the call to bring the gospel to those who were lost.
In this second message of our 2021 Global Missions Conference, our guest preacher, Chip Bugnar, helps us to see where Paul's eagerness to preach the gospel is grounded. The gospel is the power of God for salvation and the revelation of His righteousness. Thus, in Christ, we feel no threat from heaven and are thrust in the world on mission.
In this first message of our 2021 Global Missions Conference, our guest preacher (Chip Bugnar) walks us through Romans 15, helping us to see how a deepening understanding and confidence in the gospel transforms us into a people compelled to make Christ's glory known among the nations.
Teaching from Revelation 22:1-5, Pastor Jordan Nelson preaches that in heaven, we will forever be associated with our Savior. He writes His name on our forehead and seals us for eternity. In this life we will grow in the image of Christ until we reach heaven.
In this sermon from 1 Corinthians 2:10-13, Pastor Jon English explains the Holy Spirit’s ministry, the Spirit’s identity, our gift of the Spirit, and our Spiritual duty.
Heaven is a place where we will behold God and see His face. We will worship with nothing else vying for our attention except for His glory. But in order to understand what worship will be like in heaven, we must know what worship should be like in...
In this sermon Pastor Jon English explains what true maturity looks like, how God’s wisdom is secret and hidden, and how Christ is the Lord of Glory.
In this sermon, Pastor Jon English explains how Paul’s ministry of simple gospel proclamation should be our standard as well, lest we be tempted to adjust according to worldly standards.
In this text, we have Jesus calling Matthew, also known as Levi, out of his life as a tax collector and into a life of discipleship. If there was anyone in Israel viewed as lower than unclean lepers, it was tax collectors. But in Matthew's...
In this sermon Pastor Jon English explains how God shames the wise by calling the simple, how God removes any ground of our boasting in ourselves, and how we’re called to boast only in the Lord.
Healings and exorcisms were not the first priorities of Jesus' ministry. Going to the cross to accomplish the redemption of man and proclaiming the good news of His kingdom were His first priorities. In this passage, we see Jesus heal and leper and...
There are many events we can face in this life that forever alter our course: the loss of a loved one, the birth of a child, a cancer diagnosis, or a near-death experience are some examples. But the one thing in all of human experience that affects...
I believe all of us can admit that we live in troubling times. Times where we tend to focus on the rhetoric of others, politicians, and those on social media instead of on the words of eternal life. We tend to distract ourselves with the depravity of...
What delights the heart of Jesus? The gospels give us numerous answers, but two of the specific things that bring joy and pleasure to His heart are in our text this morning: communion with His heavenly Father and going forth with the glorious gospel....
In this sermon Pastor Jon English explains how God destroys the wisdom of the worldly wise, God delights in saving his children, and how the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom.
In this sermon Pastor Jon English explains how the world sees the cross as foolishness, how believers can even see it that way, and how the cross of Christ really is the power of God unto salvation.
This is the first Sunday of 2021, so what do we do when our New Year looks like it is only going to be an amplified version of our Old Year? Here's the answer: We find our rest and joy and hope in the authority of Christ our Sovereign King. He is...
Jesus knows from first-hand experience that those who should know you the best can sometimes misunderstand and hate you the most. Even more, He knows that religious people can be some of the greatest impediments to gospel ministry. In this text, we...
Jesus manifested Himself as man to display the mystery of godliness. He put on humility and love for us. We now get the privilege to follow in that humility and love.
Why do a sermon on Temptation at Christmas time? One of the gifts of our salvation is how we have been set free from the dominion of sin and given the strength of Christ to conquer the world, the flesh, and the devil. The fact that Christ conquers...
Here in Luke chapter three, just before Jesus begins His public ministry, the beloved Physician is led by the Spirit to give us three different testimonies to His divine identity. The first was the Herald's testimony (covered last week). The second...
In this sermon Pastor Jon English explains how disunity and divisions within the church are rooted in pride, how Christ is the example and solution for growing in humility, and how preaching must be simple and clear, lest the cross be emptied of its...
Among those who loved the coming of Christ, John the Baptist stands as the preeminent herald. He was the cousin of Christ, the last of the line of OT prophets, and most importantly, the one charged to prepare the way for Heaven's King. As we look at...
In this sermon Pastor Jon English explains how disunity and divisions within the church are promoted by sins like gossip and quarrelsomness, and especially pride, and how considering Christ is the cure for such sins.
Compassion and justice are an act of worship so we 1) Praise the Lord, because we are not the rescuers nor the hope of the vulnerable, the stranger, and the fatherless. 2) Praise the Lord because He executes justice for the vulnerable, the stranger,...
In this sermon, we look at four aspects of compassion that are revealed by Jesus as He discusses the manner in which He will make His final judgement. Biblically, we want to understand that Christ does indeed encourage us to manifest righteous...
In this final sermon of our emphasis, we are privileged to explore the love of God. In these three verses, we have an astonishing declaration of divine love followed by an invitation to commune with Christ by abiding in His commands. As we abide in...
In this sermon Pastor Jon English explains how Christians have always been exiles in this world and that they are to engage in seeking the good of our city, especially in prayer, as we wait for our returning King.
If God bids you to come to Christ and you do come to Christ, He will never cast you out.
In this sermon Pastor Jon English explains 8 biblical principles relating to how believers should think about their relationship to their wealth and worldly possessions.
In this sermon Pastor Jon English explains how believers should think about finances, money, generosity, and giving back to the Lord.
Jesus bids us, “Come.” Many people have objections to coming to Christ. This sermon provides answers to those objections.
God the Father calls His elect out of their bondage to sin and death to everlasting life. He freely gives us to His Son and all those who are given to His Son will come to Him.
Abiding in Christ begins and ends with His Word abiding in us. It is when we are a Word-saturated people that we will mirror Christ in the way we pray and live and seek and serve and give and proclaim and set our priorities. When we're saturated...
In this sermon, Pastor Jon English explains how God works to preserve believers until the very end, how they will be held guiltless on the day of judgment, and how they are called into fellowship with God’s Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.
As we begin our Flourish in Faith emphasis, we focus in on John 15:5 to understand that Christ is our Life, our Dwelling Place, and our Strength. All Christians are called to abide in Him, for apart from Him, we can do nothing.
As we come to the only recorded story of the boyhood of Jesus that we have in all the gospels, we find that Jesus was aware of His unique relationship to God from his boyhood. He knew He was God's own Son and that He possessed a unique calling in...
In this sermon, Pastor Jon English explains how God confirms the testimony of Christ among God’s people, and how God through His Holy Spirit sufficiently gifts His church.
In the midst of the narratives in Luke two, we have these brief three verses that introduce us to Anna, a dedicated servant of the Lord. Widowed after only 7 years of marriage, Anna spent the next 60+ years praying, worshiping, and fasting daily in...
In this sermon from 1 Corinthians 1:5, Pastor Jon English explains how God’s divine riches are bestowed to us in Christ Jesus.
Here we explore the significance of Jesus being born under the law so that we might be set free from condemnation. We also see the gospel being proclaimed in the Jewish temple for the very first time by Simeon, and we consider how the ministry of...
In this sermon from 1 Corinthians 1:4, Pastor Jon English Lee explains how Paul is instructive for us in his expression of gratitude: he prioritizes gratitude, he grounds gratitude in grace, and he gives voice to his gratitude.
In this sermon from 1 Corinthians 1:1-3, Pastor Jon English explains the good news of Christ’s sanctification, our battle for holiness, and the good news of God’s grace that leads to the fruit of peace.
In these twenty verses, we have Luke's glorious account of the birth of our Savior. As we ponder the manner in which Christ came into the world – born to a common family in rough conditions among a conquered people – we are struck by His...
In this sermon from Proverbs 10:12, Pastor Jon English explains how we must not give into the fleshly desire for revenge. Rather, we must trust the Lord, forgive others as we have been forgiven, and seek after reconciliation within our relationships...
The proverbs give believers great instruction on how to use the tongue. We also see how our Savior uses great wisdom and discernment with his tongue.
In this sermon from Proverbs 5, Pastor Jon English explains how we faithful believers must watch out for sexual temptation, lean in to faithfulness in marriage and sexuality, and stand firm in the knowledge of what God has done in Christ.
Elizabeth's pregnancy was a miraculous gift from God, and when John the Baptist was born, God displayed His grace in yet another miracle! At the instant when Zechariah exercised faith and obedience in naming his son, God lifted his punishment,...
Throughout the course of human history, many of us have experienced the dark night of the soul. Many of us have questioned God. Many of us long for the nearness of God. Praise the Lord that Christ was forsaken in order for us to know that God would...
In this ordination sermon from 1 Corinthians 4:1-2, Pastor Jon English explains how ministers in God’s church must be humble servants (under-rowers) and faithful stewards.
In this text, we are brought to experience the joy that erupts when Mary, the mother of Christ visits Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist. Mary's magnificat reveals five different reasons that God is to be magnified and praised for the gift of...
In this Deacon Ordination service for Fred Harvey, we explore the necessary qualifications given by Paul to Timothy, focusing upon verse 13: “For those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a high standing and great confidence in...
Only one human conception and life was more miraculous that any other in all the history of creation, because only one man was born to a virgin, and that is Jesus. In this message, we explore the wonder and significance of the conception and virgin...
In this sermon from Psalm 23:5-6, Jon English Lee explains how the Good Shepherd lavishly invites us to be the guests of honor at his banquet, and how the Good Shepherd’s goodness and mercy will follow us all the days of our lives because Christ...
Before we get to the miraculous conception of Jesus, we are given the miraculous conception of His herald, John the Baptist. In the prologue, Luke put great emphasis on the fact that the history he was recording was a fulfillment of what God had...
This sermon by Pastor Jon English Lee explores what the Bible teaches about our hearts, and how we should guard/keep them full and pure, for from them flow the springs of life.