Buffalo City Church: Recent Episodes
Buffalo City Church
Blaze Culliton \ As the Apostle Paul explains the attributes of the beloved Son and laying out the supremacy - or preeminence - of Jesus Christ, He explains two foundational elements of the Christian faith. The divine nature, or deity, of Jesus and the reconciliation from sin and death that occurs through Him by the blood of the cross. His deity - which is in Him - allows for reconciliation through Him.
Caleb Drahosh \ Jesus came into the world to redeem a people for Himself, the church. Those who are part of the kingdom of the beloved Son belong to that body and are, as living stones, built up in it through Jesus, the head, who nourishes and cherishes it. The love that Jesus has for His body extends even beyond the grave, securing it for eternity.
Caleb Drahosh \ Paul goes on to give more detail about the beloved Son who delivered us from the domain of darkness and into His kingdom. That which is invisible is now seen; Jesus images the Father. And He is the agent of creation, the very power that stands behind it. Not only does He create, He sustains, holding all things together.
Caleb Drahosh \ Who is qualified to receive an inheritance? The one who has been delivered from the domain of darkness, a place of cloudy, chaotic slavery, and transferred into the kingdom of the beloved Son, a place of clear, ordered sonship. The payment of our debt is how the transfer occurs. And this was all accomplished at the cross.
John Baumgartner \ Paul continues his prayer for the Colossians, asking God for the very things that are fully pleasing to Him to be manifest in their lives: good works, knowing God, joyful endurance, and gratitude.
Caleb Drahosh \ Now that Paul has expressed the thanks he gives to God for the faith and love of the Colossians, he states how his prayers also present a request to God. Paul desires that the Colossians keep going on the road they have started down; that they would continue to discern their direction according to the truth.
Caleb Drahosh \ When the gospel is heard and received it produces fruit and that fruit increases. All of this is grace: hearing, receiving, producing, and increasing. God uses human agents to deliver the gospel who also bear witness to its effect: love.
Caleb Drahosh \ Paul begins his letter to the Colossians with a traditional greeting and expresses gratitude for the church. Paul – who was imprisoned in Rome when he wrote this letter – had never visited the church in Colossae, but he wanted to send encouragement to them after receiving a report from Epaphras about potentially problematic teaching that threatened the church. The gratitude Paul communicates is grounded in the God-given faith and love of the Colossians.
Caleb Drahosh \ Now delivered from their enemies, the Jews set aside two days for celebration known as the feast of Purim. Not even the acts that are seemingly the most random are outside of God's control; those who seek supernatural guidance against God's people are foiled. Fully free of the enemy's plot against us, we are to remember all God's wonderful works.
Caleb Drahosh \ Once Haman is exposed and executed, the king gives Mordecai his signet ring and tells him to write a new edict in the king's name. The Jews are allowed to defend themselves against the original edict established by Haman. In this way, the Jews were saved from their enemies. The new edict did not revoke the first, but established conditions that made it possible for God's people to be preserved and to flourish.
Caleb Drahosh \ Esther, having garnered favor with the king, reveals Haman's wicked manipulation of the king. Haman begs the queen to speak on his behalf, but compromises himself further in the process. The man who sought to destroy God's people is himself condemned and is executed in the very manner that he sought to end Mordecai.
John Baumgartner \ Evil is at work in the world. Haman is growing more and more in favor with the king, and he has plans to kill Mordecai in a most public and painful way. But God is at work for good, turning all the evil devices of Haman into deliverance for His people. “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” Haman’s pride comes before his destruction. In humility, Mordecai trusts the Lord to make everything right.
Caleb Drahosh \ Haman's plot goes public and when it reaches Mordecai and Esther they are deeply distressed. According to the law, no one could come before the king without being summoned. The punishment for doing so was death. Mordecai appeals to Esther to make an attempt on behalf of the Jews. If the king looks upon her request with favor, they will be saved. If not, she and all her people are dead whether she makes an attempt or not. Esther agrees. She finds favor with the king, and requests that she be allowed to throw a feast for the king and Haman with the intent of exposing Haman.
Caleb Drahosh \ After Esther is named queen, a plot against the king is made known to her by Mordecai. She informs the king and the plot is foiled. Later, King Ahasuerus promotes Haman the Agagite. Mordecai does not pay homage to Haman. Haman seeks to destroy Mordecai – and all the Jews – by taking the matter to the king who grants Haman the authority to do so. The threat is dire, but God has already worked deliverance.
Caleb Drahosh \ Kings and rulers of this earth go to great lengths to glorify themselves. King Ahasuerus of Persia was no different. In his excessive feasting and celebration of self, Ahasuerus calls for his queen, Vashti, who refuses. Fearing kingdom insubordination, the king relieves her of her role as queen. Ahasuerus now seeks a new queen. Esther, the niece of Mordecai, a Jew, is chosen.
John Baumgartner \ Prayer is calling upon God for all He has commanded us to ask Him for, humbly acknowledging our deep need of His grace, resting upon the sure promises He has made that are “Yes and Amen” to us in Christ Jesus our Lord. In the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus teaches us how to ask for everything we need both in body and soul.
Blaze Culliton \ Rejoicing in the Lord always and not being anxious about anything are postures toward God that are the results of the access we have to God through prayer. In prayer, we make our requests known to God humbly with thanksgiving as an acknowledgement of His power and holiness and our hearts and minds are guarded by the peace of God.
John Baumgartner \ Jesus was always praying and seeking communion with His Father, and He has given us the same Spirit of adoption that we too cry out, “Abba! Father!” Prayer is the most natural act of the new creation we are in Christ, but also the most difficult for sinners. We are afraid to show our sins to God and instead try to hide from Him. We imagine that He would be angry to see us, but He is a God of infinite mercy and pity. He bids you come and welcomes you as your God and Father.
Caleb Drahosh \ On Sunday morning, three women come to the tomb to anoint Jesus' body. They quickly discover that the stone is rolled away and the tomb is empty. A man in white instructs the women to go tell the disciples. The disciples do not believe two eyewitness accounts of Jesus' resurrection. Then Jesus appears to His disciples and rebukes their unbelief. He commissions them to preach the gospel. Jesus ascends into heaven, His continued work carried on by the disciples.
Caleb Drahosh \ Now that Jesus has been persecuted as a prophet and crowned as king, He takes up His priestly work of offering sacrifice for the sins of God's people. But it's not the blood of animals that is offered, but His own. His sacrifice is once for all. And the curtain in the temple was torn in two; the debt of sin that separated God from man had now been paid.
John Baumgartner \ Jesus now stands accused before Pilate the Roman governor of Judea. He does not plead for His life, nor waver at all in the face of death. Keeping the will of His Father is far greater joy than all the suffering He will face. Jesus remains a conquering victor by His courage in the face of death.
Caleb Drahosh \ Checking in with Peter we find him at a distance from Jesus, outside in the courtyard. Three different times, it is said by others that Peter had been with Jesus. In every instance Peter denies association with Jesus. Jesus remains silent when charges are brought against Him; Peter buckles and denies Jesus. Jesus said that His disciples were to deny themselves, take up their cross, and follow Him. Instead of denying self, Peter denies Jesus. But Jesus is merciful and we know that Peter is fully and finally restored by Jesus.
Caleb Drahosh \ Jesus is taken to the high priest and is tried by the chief priests, elders, and scribes. False testimonies were given, and the testimonies didn't agree. They were hunting for a reason to kill Jesus. They land on blasphemy and condemn Him to die. Even though all His followers have fled at this point, Jesus stays resolute. And those who follow Jesus closely can expect similar things; Jesus' responses should be – and can be – ours.
Caleb Drahosh \ As Jesus enters Gethsemane, the hour of His death is near. He tells His disciples to sit and pray, and takes Peter, James, and John into the garden further. There He tells them to watch. They fall asleep. He tells them to watch again. They fall asleep again. The time is now. Judas came with a crowd to arrest Jesus. The shepherd is stuck and the sheep scatter. Often our intent is to follow Jesus, but our flesh desires comfort and when difficulty comes, we respond wrongly.
Micah Hoke \ The world teaches us many ways of love that are not Biblical. Mary, on the other hand, showed true love and devotion to Jesus and set an example for us to follow. Judas did not understand this love and chose to betray Jesus instead. We, as a Church, must be ready to give everything to Jesus and be reverent of Him. Even if it means we lose our very lives.
Caleb Drahosh \ The realization of Jesus' kingly reign was imminent as He spoke to His disciples. The judgments that come upon the kingdoms of the earth aren't meant to scare His people, but embolden them that His authority is absolute. The old is giving way to the new. Although the day and the hour of the full revelation of Jesus' kingship is not known, history is moving toward it. Therefore, His people should avoid speculation, but instead remain awake and watchful by faithfully living in obedience to His Word.
Caleb Drahosh \ Tuesday of Holy Week is drawing to a close and Jesus leaves the Temple. One of the disciples comments on the beauty of the Temple and Jesus takes the opportunity to go into greater detail about what is to become of it. What is old is about to give way to the new. And that will result in suffering and persecution for Jesus' disciples. But the disciples are warned. They are able now to discern the events.
Caleb Drahosh \\ As Jesus' public teaching ministry comes to an end and He has a seat in the temple. He observes people bringing in their offerings. Rich people put in large amounts, but an impoverished widow drops a very small amount. Jesus remarks that her gift is extraordinary because it's all she has. Giving is done before the face of God and is reflective of what we believe about Him. How will tomorrow's needs be provided for? Even small gifts can reflect extraordinary trust.
Caleb Drahosh \ Now Jesus poses a question regarding the scribes’ claims to highlight His own deity and humanity. Jesus flies in the face of the expectations of the religious leadership. And the crowds were glad to hear Him. But much like the scribe in the previous passage, would they submit to Him? Jesus then issues a warning against the scribes and their performative practices, their predatory posture and their pretentious praying. Seeking the praise of men in self-righteousness is not in line with Jesus’ message and mission.
Caleb Drahosh \ When the Pharisees, Herodians, and the Sadducees approach Jesus, they do so out of antagonism. Jesus keeps turning the tables on them, showing that He's the One who is over them. Jesus doesn't go into His final days with His back up against the wall; He goes to the cross in full control, completely unrivaled. But now a scribe comes questioning Jesus. Unlike the others, the scribe is happy for an answer. He is close to the kingdom because He believes Jesus' answer. But will this belief be validated by submission to Jesus?
John Baumgartner \ Another group faces off against Jesus with a tricky question. The Sadducees think they understand the Bible, but they only use it to win their arguments. They are proud of their knowledge while being ignorant of the scriptures. Jesus reveals their ignorance by beating them at their own game. He is the true King of Israel, and He is defeating His adversaries with the Word of God.
Caleb Drahosh \ Some Pharisees again come to Jesus with the intent of trapping Him. They ask Jesus about paying taxes: is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar? Taking a Roman coin Jesus asks about the inscription on it: whose likeness is it? It's Caesar's. Jesus says to give Caesar that which bears Caesar's likeness and give to God that which bears God's likeness. We are created in God's image. God gives earthly governments and civil authorities real, but limited, authority. Our final allegiance is to the One who has placed His image on us.
Caleb Drahosh \ There is nothing that we need that cannot be found in Jesus Christ. He is not far off. He is Immanuel, God with us. Specifically, the incarnation brings this into reality; the Word took on flesh. Christmas is a celebration of this event.
Caleb Drahosh \ Those who receive Jesus are given the right to be called the children of God. But in order to receive Jesus as the true light come into the world, one must be born of God. Jesus made the world, came into the world, and now sets out to make those the Father gave Him new creations in Him. Christmas sets the stage for the final scene for the advent of a new creation completed in the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the firstborn from the dead.
John Baumgartner \ John the Baptist was a man who completely knew what God had called him to do and did it completely. He was the voice of one crying in the wilderness, “Prepare the way of the Lord!” Through his preaching and baptizing, he welcomed the humble to repentance toward their God and rebuked the proud in their self-satisfied comfort. He was a man humble in himself who succeeded in pointing out the most glorious Man, Jesus Christ.
Caleb Drahosh \ In the opening words of His Gospel, John takes us back to the very first words of Scripture. The One John writes about was present in the beginning. Jesus is the divine Word which is God's eternal, powerful, unstoppable, self-expression. This is the foundation of what we celebrate at Christmas.
Caleb Drahosh \ Jesus tells a parable of a man who plants a vineyard and leased it to tenants to work. When he sent a servant to collect from his portion of what was produced, the tenants beat him and sent him away. The same thing happens a second time. And then the next servant they kill Finally, the owner sends his son; they kill him also. Jesus says that the owner will then come and destroy the tenants and give the vineyard to others. God mercifully delivers His Word to us. Will we receive it with increasing hostility or humility?
John Baumgartner \ The authorities of Jerusalem--the chief priests, scribes, and elders--are afraid of the following that Jesus is gathering. They try to put a stop to it by questioning His authority. He turns the question back on them and shows that their authority is no real one at all. Jesus has true authority, authority to lay down His life and take it up again, and it makes Him fearless and free from manipulation. Trusting in His authority, we can follow Him in that fearless freedom laying down our lives as well.
Caleb Drahosh \ Upon traveling from Bethany to Jerusalem, Jesus found a fig tree that gave the appearance of having fruit, but none was present. As a result, He cursed the fig tree. Arriving at the temple, He found all sorts of economic activity going on. He cleared the temple, teaching about the true purpose of the temple. The next day the disciples see the fig tree withered and ask Jesus about it. Hypocrisy gives the appearance of fruit, but none is truly present, which leads to ignoring the basic functions of faith.
Caleb Drahosh \ For the Christians in Rome, this account of Jesus would have been a strange one. A Roman triumphal procession honored a general after a military victory with a grand parade. He would ride into Rome in a chariot, dressed in kingly purple, and crowned with a laurel. Afterwards, a sacrifice would be made to Jupiter. Jesus would ride into Jerusalem, in view of future victory, where He Himself was the sacrifice. The greatest triumph was marked with the utmost humility.
Caleb Drahosh \ While traveling Jesus is accompanied by His disciples and a great crowd. A blind beggar, Bartimaeus, calls out to Him. The man persists despite opposition; Jesus calls out for Bartimaeus to come to him. Jesus asks Bartimaeus what he wants and Bartimaeus replies that he would like to see. Jesus responds that his faith has made him well. Bartimaeus sought Jesus, recognized Him as the Messiah, came when Jesus called, received God's grace, and devoted his life to Jesus. Come to Christ and let Him serve you.
John Baumgartner \ Jesus is the conquering warrior. He came to win glory and greatness for Himself and His own people. James and John were right that Jesus would be enthroned in glory and right to seek to be with Him in it, but they did not yet understand that Jesus' glory is His cross. It is not wrong to seek glory and a crown. If we don't believe we will sit with Christ in His glory and receive a crown from Him, we dishonor Him. He gives us His glory and crown through nail pierced hands.
Caleb Drahosh \ A rich man came to Jesus asking about eternal life. The man said that he had kept the law. But Jesus sees through the man's statement and gets to the heart of the matter: the man was worshiping his own wealth. The law exposes sin in our life, but the rich man saw his own conformity to it as superficial, not spiritual. He needed a savior, but went away sorrowful to the god of wealth. Jesus instructs His disciples that entering the kingdom of God comes with much difficulty.
Caleb Drahosh \ In Paul's final greeting to the Romans, we learn that the letter was recorded by Tertius. Gaius hosted Paul, likely in Corinth. We learn of Erastus, the city treasurer, and Quartus as well. These men were of varying statuses, but all served Christ where they were stationed. Pen and ink, civic service, and hospitality are some of the simple, yet profound, tools used in the upbuilding of the church and the advancement of Christ's Kingdom on earth.
John Baumgartner \ The disciples have spent all this time with Jesus and still don’t get it. The kingdom of God is not what they think it is and is not coming the way they think it will. They rebuke those who are bringing children to Jesus. Jesus corrects them. The kingdom of God belongs to such as these children, and none can enter the kingdom unless they receive it like a little child.
Caleb Drahosh \ The Pharisees try to trap Jesus by asking Him about divorce. Jesus, again, turns their test against them. The problems with the interpretations of the laws regarding divorce stemmed from the Pharisees incorrect understanding of marriage. And so Jesus refreshes them on marriage. When the disciples question Jesus further, He speaks about the gravity of sin that disrupts God's good order in marriage.
Caleb Drahosh \ The disciple John saw someone casting out demons in Jesus' name, but the person was not with their group. Jesus is unbothered; the work is done in His name. Jesus takes the opportunity to teach the disciples about the seriousness of being a Christian. Personal sin and individual sin must be cut off at the source. Sin is deadly: it's the very thing that sends people to hell. But Jesus doesn't want anyone to be mistaken: everyone gets fire. But for the Christian, the fire comes now, in the form of trials.
Caleb Drahosh \ For a second time in Mark's Gospel, Jesus speaks openly about His impending death and resurrection, but His disciples simply don't get it. Out of fear they don't seek clarification. Additionally the disciples argue who is the greatest among them. They are reluctant to tell Jesus about the argument, but Jesus knows, and so He instructs them. It is the servant — the lowest, the last — who is first. Jesus is the suffering servant; how we react to the lowest in society is how we react to Jesus.
Caleb Drahosh \ The call to worship is God’s invitation to those who have been made to worship Him. God is the initiator of our worship; we must have the identity of true worshipers which is ours in Christ. The benediction (which means “good word”) is a blessing spoken as the final word by a minister at the end of a worship gathering. It expresses our hope and confidence in God’s grace to His people that enables us to walk with Him through whatever we face in this life.
Caleb Drahosh \ There’s nothing that we have that isn’t given to us by God. God is the Creator of everyone and everything and so all things belong to Him first. The foundation of giving for the Christian is the generosity of God. No act of generosity is greater than the giving of Jesus Christ. Reflecting God’s generosity is commanded in Scripture. This is done by taking a portion of what one has been given by God and giving it back to Him in the way that He commands.
Caleb Drahosh \ Baptism and the Lord’s Supper are the two Ordinances which the Lord Jesus instituted to be practiced by His church until He comes again. In Baptism, the minister of the Gospel submerges a believing Christian in water in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. This immersion in water in the Name of God signifies and seals to the believer all the benefits and graces that are theirs in Christ Jesus because of their union with Him by faith. In the Lord’s Supper, believers receive bread and wine according to the order which Christ gave them in remembrance of His death. This bread signifies Christ’s body broken for us, and the wine signifies His blood shed for us for the forgiveness of our sins. In receiving the bread and wine in faith, the believer is spiritually fed and strengthened by participating in the body and blood of Jesus Christ.
Caleb Drahosh \ Preaching is central to the gathering of the church for worship. In His wisdom, God has given His Church a book, the Bible, and preachers to proclaim all that is contained within it. Preaching that is God honoring and right proclaims and interprets what God has said in His Word and explains what the response of the faithful church must be. God brings about the salvation of sinners and growth of saints in maturity through the preaching of His Word.
Mark Reeves \ Believers sing in churches because Scripture directs us to sing. Jesus Himself sang with His disciples. We sing praises to God for what He has done and for who He is. We sing to affirm our belief and proclaim the truth to others. By singing, we align the affections of our hearts to the truth of God’s Word. Singing is the Word centered focusing of our heart’s overflow to praise and proclaim God’s excellent ways toward us.
John Baumgartner \ Ever since our first sin in the garden, we naturally try to hide, justify, and blame others instead of owning up to our own sins. We feel the accusation of guilt and try everything we can to get rid of it, but we cannot. God forgives those who come to Him and honestly tell Him their sins. Because the church is one body, we confess together as that one body for the sake of all our members. God comforts His people even before they have confessed, and eagerly proclaims His forgiveness to all who do confess their sins, coming to Him for forgiveness in Jesus Christ.
John Baumgartner \ God requires prayers and thanksgiving from all people on the earth. Prayer offered with thanksgiving is a vital act in Christian life and corporate worship. God the Father hears all and only prayers made in the name of the Son, by the help of His Holy Spirit, with understanding, reverence, humility, earnestness, faith, love, and perseverance. We are commanded to pray for everything according to His word and not to pray for anything His word forbids.
Caleb Drahosh \ At the end of the first week of creation, God blessed the seventh day and set it apart as a Sabbath day for rest and worship. Since the resurrection of Christ, the Church has recognized the first day of the week and called it the Lord’s Day, because it is the day that Christ was raised from the dead. On this Lord’s Day, we rest from all our work (excepting works of necessity and mercy) to joyfully worship God—in public with the gathered church and in private with our families. The aim of our gathering is the building up of the church by equipping and encouraging one another to love and good works.
John Baumgartner \ Jesus returns from the Transfiguration’s mountaintop experience with God back to the trials and troubles of His life. Unbelief is all around Him—the scribes, the crowds, even His disciples are faithless. A father comes to Him with barely any faith at all, pleading with Jesus to heal his son. Jesus helps him see his real trouble, and redirects his eyes from focusing on his circumstances to focusing on Jesus. Both the father and his son are healed by Jesus.
Caleb Drahosh \ Jesus leads Peter, James, and John up a mountain and transfigured before their eyes. Moses and Elijah are there and the Father speaks: "This is my beloved Son; listen to Him." The three disciples witness a forward-looking glimpse of Jesus in post-resurrection glory. Jesus continues to give spiritual sight to His disciples; their understanding is limited, but growing.
Caleb Drahosh \ Although the world is full of opinions about Jesus, Peter makes the good confession: Jesus is the Christ. He is the One who came into the world to save His people from their sin. But this confession comes with a cost: your life.
Caleb Drahosh \ In his Gospel, Mark records Jesus healing many, but he gives some unique details in this instance. Jesus leads the blind man out of the town, spit on his eyes, and laid His hands on the man. At first the man's sight is only partially restored. Again Jesus laid His hands on the man and the man's sight was completely restored. Jesus performs this miracle for the benefit of His disciples, to show them that their sight, their understanding, does not come all at once, but Jesus chooses to reveal truth over time.
Caleb Drahosh \ In a similar fashion to the feeding of the five thousand, Jesus feeds four thousand. Afterwards, the Pharisees come seeking a sign, but Jesus refuses. He then offers His disciples a warning concerning the Pharisees and Herod, but the disciples are just looking to eat some food. Jesus' compassion for people doesn't dry up; we're given many chances to see and understand. Our needs –– as individuals and as a church –– are met in, through, and by Christ. But Jesus rarely meets our needs in the same way as He meets the needs of others.
Blaze Culliton \ Jesus removes an unclean spirit from the daughter of a woman who falls at His feet, acknowledging that Jesus is Lord and provides for all who believe. Jesus heals a deaf man with a speech impediment and those around are astonished beyond measure.
John Baumgartner \ The Scribes and Pharisees made rules to protect themselves from breaking God’s laws, but in the end it only made them worse. Jesus points out the real problem isn’t with the rules but with the human heart. No rules can keep a person from sinning because rules don’t solve the heart problem. We need Jesus to give us understanding and soften our hard hearts so that we may follow Him.
Caleb Drahosh \ After Jesus feeds the five thousand, He goes up the mountain to pray, preparing Himself for the next wave of ministry. The disciples leave in a boat, and Jesus comes to them walking on the water. But the disciples do not understand; they're terrified, astounded, and their hearts are hardened. When they get to Gennesaret, the crowds bring all the sick to Jesus. Jesus continues to meet many needs, but even those who witness it all, struggle to trust Him.
Caleb Drahosh \ When the apostles return from their missions trip, Jesus invites them to come and rest. But it's short lived because the crowds saw them and sought them out. Jesus has compassion on the crowd and begins to teach. After some time, the disciples suggest that Jesus send the people away so they can find food. But Jesus tells the disciples to feed the people. He then multiplied the bread and fish. All who come to Christ receive all they need; there is no need to look elsewhere for satisfaction.
Caleb Drahosh \ The question "who is Jesus?" continues to stump people, including King Herod. Herod thinks Jesus is John the Baptist back from the dead. John was killed by Herod when he made a rash vow to his niece. Herod feared John the Baptist; John was righteous and holy. But Herodias hated John because he called out her sinful marriage to Herod. Sin has a cumulative effect; sin begets sin and generates fear in the hearts of those in whom it goes untreated. To those ones, truth becomes a terror.
John Baumgartner \ The people of Nazareth are astonished at Jesus and offended by Him. Jesus is astonished at the people and marvels at their unbelief. And we should be astonished too. Jesus has gone right through every obstacle, healed every disease, cast out every demon, even raised the dead. But when He meets with unbelief so severe in His own hometown, He departs never to return. Unbelief is the deadly disease that keeps a person from coming to the Great Physician.
Caleb Drahosh \ While Jesus was still speaking to the woman who had been healed, it was reported to Jairus that his daughter was dead. Jesus took Peter, James, and John and went to Jairus' house. Mourners were present, but Jesus told them the girl was only sleeping. They mocked Jesus. And so He left them outside and came into the room with only Jairus, Jairus' wife, and the three Jesus brought with Him. Jesus raises the girl from the dead. Jesus is stronger than the wind, waves, demons, disease, and death.
Caleb Drahosh \ Jesus is met by Jairus who asks Jesus to come make his dying daughter well. Jesus accompanies Jairus, but on the way, a woman with an issue of blood secretively approaches Jesus and touches His garment, believing that she will be made well. Her disease is immediately healed. Things seen and unseen are subject to Jesus' power. The gift of faith in this woman brings her peace; faith is what joins us to Christ and His saving power.
Caleb Drahosh \ When Jesus and His disciples get to the other side of the Sea of Galilee. There He encounters a demoniac, possessed by many demons. Jesus casts the demons out into their preferred host: a herd of two thousand pigs. The pigs run into the sea and drown. The people want Jesus to leave, but the ex-demoniac wants to come with Jesus. Jesus tells Him to make it known how much the Lord did for him. And it was a considerable amount.
Caleb Drahosh \ On the same day He spoke His first parables, Jesus and His disciples got into a boat to cross the sea. A windstorm came up and the disciples found themselves living a parable. In the parables, Jesus explained how small things bring about big results. Here Jesus' three simple words end a violent storm suddenly. But the disciples aren't relieved; they're terrified. They witness the absolute and immediate holiness of God.
Mark Reeves \ In this important parable, Jesus compares the effectiveness of the Word of God in the life of an individual to seed sown on different surfaces: The Path, Rocky Ground, Among Thorns, and Good Soil.
Caleb Drahosh \ Jesus' family came for Him. They stood outside and sent in a message; they think He's gone out of His mind. But the people who come to Jesus sit around Him and do His will. These ones are Jesus' true family. Bloodlines don’t bring you into Jesus’ family. It's those who are purchased by His blood. We must have no deeper allegiance than that which we have to Jesus.
John Baumgartner \ In this passage of Mark, we see two groups react improperly to Jesus because they don’t know who they’re dealing with. Jesus warns the scribes that they are in danger of committing an unforgivable sin. We mustn’t reject Jesus after having seen who He is, the Son of God, the Saviour.
Blaze Culliton \ The crowd continues to grow around Jesus, people coming from all directions to receive His healing. The unclean spirits testify to Jesus’ identity as the Son of God and are ordered not to make Him known. Jesus creates the twelve apostles, establishing His church, so that they might be with Him and He might send them out to preach and have authority to cast out demons (ministering spiritually to those around them).
Caleb Drahosh \ Two things happen in this passage: the disciples pluck heads of grain because they are hungry and Jesus heals a man with a withered hand. Both events take place on the Sabbath. The Pharisees challenge Jesus in both instances. But Jesus shows us that God's good gifts shouldn't be turned into a burden, rather they should point us to God's abundant grace. Jesus determines the intent of the Sabbath.
Caleb Drahosh \ Jesus came not to call the righteous, but sinners. The Pharisees and scribes relied on works of the law to be justified. The Pharisees demanded that Jesus' disciples fast, but Jesus challenges their attitudes. The Bridegroom had arrived; why mourn? Jesus Christ, the Righteous One, had arrived; why look for righteousness elsewhere? Self-righteous religion and Jesus simply don't mix.
John Baumgartner \ Jesus continues His mission to preach the gospel. Four faithful friends interrupt His preaching by lowering a paralytic right in front of Him. Jesus uses this as a sermon illustration to prove that He as the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins. Jesus deals with everyone there: eager disciples, skeptical scribes, the four friends, and the paralytic. They all leave thunderstruck at Jesus, glorifying God for His healing of the paralytic.
Ray Delaurier \ After a long day of ministry Jesus is met with a multitude of people seeking healing from disease and freedom from demon possession. After a long night, Jesus departs early to a solitary place and prays to the Father. He is directed to leave the area and its needs to preach elsewhere. Sometime later Jesus is approached by a man with leprosy begging for healing. Jesus touches him, cleanses him, and changes a major traditional spiritual dynamic.
Caleb Drahosh \ Jesus begins His work after calling the first disciples by teaching, casting out demons, and healing the sick. Jesus' authority is a kind that has never been seen before. Unclean spirits and sickness obey Him. Both are spheres that cannot be touched by even the most authoritative in the world. Now is the time to rethink everything.
Caleb Drahosh \ With no hesitation, Mark tells us about Jesus' baptism, wilderness temptation, gospel proclamation, and call of the first disciples. The gospel carries urgency, but it is not frenetic. When God, who is three persons and One divine nature, stands to take action, the momentum builds quickly. And the call is clear. Jesus says: "Follow me."
Caleb Drahosh \ John the Baptist prepared the way for Jesus. He proclaimed a baptism of repentance, looking ahead to One who would baptize not with water, but with the Holy Spirit. John knew a greater One was coming and his task was to lay the groundwork for the good news of Jesus Christ.
John Baumgartner \ We use our riches to avoid unpleasantness: unpleasant circumstances, unpleasant people, and pains. The richer we are, the less likely we are to be willing to give it up. But the Lord is so rich that he became poor for us. The Lord who is higher than the heavens and the earth is able and willing to—and did in fact—stoop down below everything else in order to raise us up.
Caleb Drahosh \ After the flight to Egypt and upon Herod's death, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph for the third time telling Joseph that he should take Mary and Jesus and return home. But learning of a new threat, Joseph moved his family to the region of Galilee and a town called Nazareth. Nazareth is not a well thought of place. But that's exactly how God works. He works His salvation for His people in unexpected ways.
Caleb Drahosh \ Joseph lived according to God's Word and therefore did not fear. Herod resisted God's Word and feared greatly. The fulfillment of God's promises in the coming Christ would threaten Herod's kingdom and his power. He sought to destroy the prospective usurper. But Herod plotted in vain. The Word of God would be fulfilled through Joseph and Mary's flight to Egypt and their return.
Caleb Drahosh \ Joseph was a man from the line of David. He was a just, or righteous, man. When his betrothed was found to be with child, he resolved to divorce her quietly. But the conception was a result of the life-giving work of the Holy Spirit as the angel would explain to him. This is a key indicator that the One Mary carried was the Christ. And Joseph, being just, acted according to the Word of the Lord.
John Baumgartner \ Jesus is the long-awaited Messiah spoken of by the prophets. He is the rightful heir to the kingship of David and the promised child of Abraham who will bless His people and all the earth. His claim to all these is as sure as His lineage shown by Matthew as the opening to His Gospel.
Caleb Drahosh \ Our pursuit of sound doctrinal understanding is meant to lead to doxology. Knowing God is the grounds of our boasting as Christians. As we grow in our understanding of the Scriptures we worship God individually and congregationally by going further up and further in.
Caleb Drahosh \ When the truth of the gospel is proclaimed, God works in the heart of the individual, bringing that one from death to life which results in faith and repentance. By faith these ones are declared righteous and their sin is removed. They are joined to Christ, receiving the adoption as sons and progressively growing in practical Christlikeness.
Caleb Drahosh \ From eternity past God planned to redeem a people for His possession. That plan is fully revealed in Jesus Christ. Jesus is the righteousness of God who God put forward as an atoning sacrifice for sins, justifying the ungodly while maintaining His perfect justice. In this way, Jesus accomplishes redemption for all the Father gives to Him.
Caleb Drahosh \ The crowning act of God's creative work is the creation of man. God created male and female and placed His image upon them. He charged them to be fruitful, multiply, and have dominion over all the created order. Nothing else in creation bears God's image. But sin entered the world through the disobedience of Adam and the image of God was marred in humanity. It is only through the God-man Jesus Christ and His sacrifice that we can be remade into God's image as new creations in Him.
Caleb Drahosh \ All theology is meant to lead to doxology. Knowing God is the grounds of our boasting as Christians. God is the Creator of everyone and everything and He freely makes Himself known in and to His creation. Humanity bears the image of God and is invited into relationship with God who reveals Himself through His Word.
Blaze Culliton \ The Psalmist provides a template for worship of a Holy God by telling them to praise the Lord and give thanks for His steadfast love and to remember His mercy. Recounted through the history of Israel, we see the mercy of the Lord for a people who forgot His works and did not wait for His counsel. Despite their forgetfulness, God remembers His covenant and saves His people through the life, death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. May we rejoice in the steadfast love and mercy of our forever and ever. Praise the Lord!
Caleb Drahosh \ The Psalmist tells God's people to give thanks to, sing to, glory in, seek, and remember the works of the LORD. Why? Because the LORD remembers His covenant forever. As an example, God remembered His covenant to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He sent Joseph to Egypt to preserve His people in famine, and sent Moses to bring them out of slavery. Like Joseph, Jesus Christ was sent into the world, a foreign place not His home. And like Moses, He delivers His people out of slavery to sin through His perfect sacrifice. In these things, the LORD remembers His covenant forever.
Caleb Drahosh \ Paul planned to go to Corinth but postponed his visit because God had opened a wide door for effective work in Ephesus. Many were hearing the gospel in Ephesus and the harvest was coming in. But there were those that would disrupt the work, and Paul labored to protect the gospel fruit. God has charged Buffalo City Church with ministering the gospel in Jamestown. The fruit is ready to bring in and God gives strength for heavy lifting.
Caleb Drahosh \ Psalm 104 is a lengthier Psalm, outlining the act of creation according to the days God made each element. And at the end, the Psalmist prescribes rest for the individual, mirroring God's rest on the seventh day. The rest is shown to be an act of worship as his people rejoice in the works of the LORD. This Sabbath rest is made for man, and Jesus is the lord of the Sabbath.
John Baumgartner \ Grumbling is one of the most prevalent sins among God's own people. We forget what He's done for us and so we begin to grumble like Israel did so many times before us. Psalm 103 is the solution to our bad memories. We are to tell ourselves all that God has done for us, in detail. Grumbling dies away before the grateful heart that remembers God's goodness to us.
Caleb Drahosh \ The Psalmist pours out his complaint before the LORD. In his distress he approaches God and lets his plight be known. But the Psalm doesn't end there. The Psalmist is reminded that the LORD is enthroned forever. He resolves to let his complaint be heard, and treats it with truth, for the sake of future generations. Even as we suffer we point to Christ's suffering that secures our future dwelling place with the LORD.
Caleb Drahosh \ To whom should the people look for an example of how to live before the face of God? The King. David knew this was the king's role and so he made resolutions to walk in integrity of heart on the blameless way. Jesus Christ is King and exemplifies David's resolutions perfectly. Jesus sits on David's throne as King forever.
John Baumgartner \ What's wrong with the world? Mankind does not honor God or give Him thanks. This Psalm is an antidote to that thanklessness. Learn from the Psalmist how to thank God with a whole heart for all His kindness to us.
Caleb Drahosh // As redemptive history unfolds, the free gift of salvation is offered to all peoples. This Psalm works backwards, indicating that the Lord will be exalted over all the peoples, that His justice and righteousness is at work in Israel, and that His hand was upon them in the past. This is all due to His holiness, which punctuates the Psalm.
Kalen Heller \ All of creation is to sing a new song to the LORD for He has worked salvation for His people. The Lord shows his steadfast love and faithfulness through His deliverance of Israel, which is done in the sight of the nations. God has delivered for His people in the past, is delivering for them in the present, and will deliver for them in the future.
Caleb Drahosh \ The foundation of the throne of the LORD is righteousness and justice. When He issues His judgments, nothing in creation can stand. The wicked are put to shame, but the righteous rejoice and worship in reverence and awe, expressing gratitude that they receive a kingdom that cannot be shaken.
John Baumgartner \ David pitched a tent for God's worship on Mount Zion. He saw the blessings of God flow out from this worship tent. All the nations will be blessed through the true worship of God. David calls not just the people but every single thing that exists in all creation to the blessing that is found in true worship.
Caleb Drahosh \ The Psalmist invites God's people to worship Him recognizing both His heavenly might and His gentle leading. But there is also a warning: God's people must not faithlessly wonder if God is with them. Instead, God's people are to respond by trusting His Word. Jesus came offering the bread of life and living water and unbelieving hearts dismissed Him out of hand. But those who receive Christ by faith enter God's rest.
Blaze Culliton \ The Sabbath Song of Psalm 94 acknowledges the sin of the world through a call to God for vengeance. Creator God is almighty and His discipline is a promise that He will not forsake His people. Through Jesus Christ, the Lord is doing and will finish the righteous work of the end of sin and death.
Caleb Drahosh \ The Lord is dressed for action and there is no corner of creation where His strength diminishes in potency. The mightiest of earthly forces rage, but the Lord stands undisputed above them. When Jesus Christ came into the world, the waves and wind heard His voice and they knew it as belonging to the King sung of in Psalm 93.
John Baumgartner \ It is good to give thanks to the Lord. What separates the righteous from the wicked? The righteous want to praise God for His goodness. The wicked cannot see any reason to. The wicked cannot see how God works, but the righteous know that all things come from God's gracious hand. The righteous know how to sing for joy.
Caleb Drahosh \ Moses composed Psalm 90 to teach Israel how to pray while they wandered in the wilderness and it's so good, it gets a retelling in Psalm 91. That which threatens God's people will not touch them when they make the Lord their dwelling place. All of God's resources are deployed for the protection of His people.
Caleb Drahosh \ When God speaks, things happen. Back at the beginning of this section in Isaiah God spoke comfort to His people. Now He reminds them of the effectiveness of His Word; they will be comforted. God's Word does not return empty; it brings about a perfect yield of joy and peace.
Caleb Drahosh \ God's people have looked for satisfaction in all the wrong places. And now God calls them to take action. The satisfaction He provides isn't theoretical. It's as practical as eating and drinking, listening and looking, seeking and finding. The food is free and the finding is easy to all who come to Christ by faith.
John Baumgartner \ Following the last servant song in Isaiah, the Lord reveals just what His servant has accomplished for His people by His suffering. The Lord proclaims that it is now time for His people to rejoice because He will give them increase and security. They will fill the whole earth with the worship of their God, and He will build them up in peace forever.
Caleb Drahosh \ The wisdom of God is wiser than men and in God's wisdom He chose to send a substitute, despised by men, to bear the grief, sorrow, transgressions, iniquities, chastisement, wounds, oppression, affliction, judgment, and anguish of His people in order to make many to be accounted righteous. Kings promote the good and punish the evil, but God justifies the unrighteous and ungodly by laying the punishment for their sin on His servant.
Caleb Drahosh \ God's strength does not fail, it does not run out. Will His strength fail when He sets out to deliver, redeem, and comfort His people? God commands His people to put on His strength and to rejoice because their deliverance is near. God is preparing to bring them out of their captivity back to their home.
Caleb Drahosh \ Israel abandoned their God in their sin and their sin became the reason they were carried off into exile; they preferred their sin over God. But God did not put them away. God comes for His people by sending His servant who would deliver Israel through His suffering. Jesus Christ is the suffering servant sent by God to deliver God’s people and give them ears so that He may be heard and obeyed.
Blaze Culliton \ In the second servant song of Isaiah, the Lord reveals attributes of His Chosen Servant Jesus Christ. The Chosen Servant will be made as a light for the nations that His salvation may reach to the end of the earth and comfort & compassion for His people. While the response of God’s people is unbelief and questioning, His response is assured by the truth of His word as Savior and Redeemer.
Caleb Drahosh \ God's unwavering commitment to His people, despite their waywardness, serves as proof that He is the true God. God is gracious and patient toward His children for the sake of His name. He is the true God because His actions aren't contingent on human action, they are aimed at His glory and that always results in the good of His people.
Caleb Drahosh \ As the gospel made its way to the ends of the earth, Paul writes to Timothy, who is pastoring in Ephesus, about the correct approach to implementing a deacon ministry. He tells him to look for individuals who are exemplary servants, but even more than that, who model godly character and doctrinal fidelity.
Caleb Drahosh \ As the gospel took hold and the church in Jerusalem continued to grow, a challenge presented itself. The newly-converted Gentiles made it known that the widows weren't being properly taken care of. The Apostles knew that the charge given to them was to focus on the word and prayer. And so they had the Gentiles choose seven qualified men to take care of the practical needs. These seven were the first deacons of the church.
Philip Reeves \ The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ are not reactionary events to the deceitful plots of men. Matthew’s Gospel demonstrates that God is in perfect control over everything that leads to Jesus’ crucifixion. Those who have placed their faith in Christ can trust that God’s redemptive purposes cannot and will not fail.
Caleb Drahosh \ In the garden, sin opened the door to death. Death spread to all men. Death ruled unopposed. Death swallowed up everyone, but Christ swallowed up death according to the promise in Isaiah. The undefeated was defeated. In these things, Jesus brings His people out of darkness and neutralizes their greatest enemy. All who are in Christ walk through death into eternal life.
John Baumgartner \ God's people in exile are going to be tempted to believe that the gods of Babylon–Bel, Nebo, and others–are mightier than the Lord. The Lord reminds His people that unlike the idols of the nations that must be carried about by their worshippers, He has carried them like a father. Just as He carried them out of slavery and put Egypt to shame, so shall the Lord now carry them out of exile and put Babylon to shame.
Kalen Heller \ The people of God don’t simply need things patched up, they need a complete overhaul. Their exile has left them in desperate straits. But God is in control of their situation and He will, even through the most unexpected means, bring them into abundant life.
Caleb Drahosh \ Isaiah goes into detail on how idols are made; he takes us inside of the idol factory and inside the heads of those who worship them. The absurdity of the whole situation is that the same wood that a man uses to kindle a fire to cook over, he also fashions into an idol and worships. God's good gifts are given to us not for us to worship them, but to point us to Him that we might worship the only true God.
Caleb Drahosh \ God's people grew tired of God. They ignored His Word in weariness, claiming to be burdened, all while it was Israel who burdened God with their sins. But God is merciful and blots out the sin of His people. He extends the grace needed to return to worship that flows from the heart instead of the rote pacification of an impersonal deity.
Caleb Drahosh \ The people of God grow insensitive to God's purposes for them and resist His discipline. But God is rich in mercy. He graciously intervenes on behalf of His people, paying a great price and going to great lengths to accomplish the redemption of His wayward people.
Blaze Culliton \ In lieu of the foretelling of sending His chosen servant, the Lord through the prophet Isaiah commands His people to sing to the Lord a new song, lift up their voice, sing for joy and declare His praise. The Lord will redeem His people, stopping at nothing to destroy sin and death and restore them - for He does not forsake His people and faithfully delivers them.
Caleb Drahosh \ God turns the attention away from the cheap substitute of idolatry and toward His plan. Here He introduces His servant. But this isn't one who will rise to prominence through political and military conquest like Cyrus. Instead the Lord's servant will come gently, not trampling on rulers as on mortar, but tending to the bruised reed and reigniting the faintly burning wick. Jesus Christ will disrupt the wisdom of the world and restore God's people through His own sacrifice and suffering.
Caleb Drahosh \ God tells the idols to speak, to make a case. He tells them to speak about the future. But they can't. God pursues His people with simple reason: there is no substitute for Him. Nothing or no one can speak in the way that He speaks; nothing or no one can do the things that He does.
John Baumgartner \ God continues to lift up valleys and bring down mountains. He contends with the nations to bring down their pride, and He comforts His people to lift them up again from their humiliation. God promises His humble people that He will use them for this work. God miraculously refreshes His people as they wait for Him to accomplish His purpose.
Caleb Drahosh \ After clearing away the obstacles that stand in the way of His people seeing Him clearly, God challenges the comparisons that His people rebelliously make. Nations and nature and idols cannot compare to God. And for His people who are wondering where He is, God reminds them that He didn't get tired or fail to understand their situation. Rather, He reminds them to patiently wait for the renewal that He has promised.
Caleb Drahosh \ By disciplining His people through exile, God removes obstacles for His people to behold their God. He levels out all earthly positions and highlights the fallibility and fickleness of men. God’s Word endures forever and we behold the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ; Christ alone is our confidence. Those who behold their God, herald their God.
Caleb Drahosh \ In Isaiah 40-55, Israel has been carried off to exile in Babylon. They broke covenant with the Lord and God used the hand of their enemies to bring discipline upon them. But now that Jerusalem had been emptied, God speaks comfort to His people. True and lasting comfort can only come from God; peace and security may be temporarily lost, but the comfort of the Lord remains for His people because He is with them.
John Baumgartner \ In the Tenth Commandment, God tells us not to covet anything that is our neighbor’s. This means we cannot look at anything another person has and wish it were ours instead of theirs. Covetousness is not a small sin that can be taken lightly. God has given us this commandment, as well as the others, to teach us our need for forgiveness and how we are to live in the new life he has given us in Jesus Christ.
Caleb Drahosh \ Jesus, along with His disciples and His mother, attend a wedding in Cana. When the wine ran out at the wedding, Jesus used the opportunity to express that the Messiah had arrived by turning water into wine. The master of the feast exclaimed, “You have kept the good wine until now.” In this way, Jesus revealed His glory; He is the reason for celebration.
Caleb Drahosh \ Jesus, along with His disciples and a large crowd, came upon a funeral. Jesus had compassion on the widow who lost her only son. Jesus spoke to the man, telling him to arise, and the dead man was restored to life. The crowd exclaimed better than they knew, "God has visited his people!"
John Baumgartner \ Early in Jesus’ ministry, a leper came to Him to be cleansed. Lepers were social outcasts. The disease prevented them from coming to God in His Temple. But when this leper came to Jesus, he was nearer to God than the Temple ever was. Jesus is compassionate to come and heal all sinners like this leper. Come to Jesus.
Caleb Drahosh \ The disciples go ahead of Jesus, crossing the Sea of Galilee by boat. But after Jesus goes up the mountain to pray, the boat is now a long ways off. He catches up to the disciples by walking on the sea. Jesus, the Lord of creation, patiently deals with the skeptical Peter showing Himself to be the Son of God.
Caleb Drahosh \ Paul concludes this letter with a benediction. God is bringing about His purposes in His people according to His faithfulness. God preserves and protects His work through the end and into eternity.
Caleb Drahosh \ Paul continues to outline the duties of church members. At the heart of his directives to the Thessalonians is the exhortation to rejoice, pray, and give thanks. To adhere to these things is to do good to one another.
Caleb Drahosh \ Paul now begins closing the letter in earnest. He reminds the Thessalonians to respect and love their pastor/elders and to do the work of ministry among themselves which is to patiently urge, encourage, and help their brothers. There is no member of the local church who is not vitally important to the body.
Caleb Drahosh \ The full revelation of God's redemptive plan has been revealed in Jesus Christ. Those who are in Christ are children of light because they are the inheritors of salvation. Christians live in light of God's plan of redemption and therefore have nothing to fear and are able to effectively encourage one another.
Caleb Drahosh \ The Thessalonians were concerned. Will we see family and friends who are believers again after they die? Paul tells them on the die that Jesus returns, those who have died will be raised and then those who are alive will ascend to meet Jesus in the air. Be encouraged that you and your brothers and sisters will be together with Christ in eternity.
Caleb Drahosh \ Paul says that the Thessalonians should continue to love one another and live lives of everyday faithfulness by living a quiet life, minding one's own affairs, and working with one's hands. We must know and live like every moment we experience, all the work we do, and everything we’ve been given is designed to be applied toward loving one another.
Caleb Drahosh \ In chapter 4 Paul turns to instruction. Everyday faithfulness includes living in holiness in areas of sexual purity. Following the ways of the world in these matters opposes God's good design and His plan to set people apart for His purposes. We joyfully believe God’s ways are better than our and live according to those ways because of the freedom that we have in Christ in order that we might represent Christ to the world around us.
Caleb Drahosh \ Paul continues expressing his gratitude to God for the love that the Thessalonians have for one another. And now Paul looks forward: the Thessalonians will be established blameless in holiness when Jesus returns if they continue and increase in faith and love for one another.
Caleb Drahosh \ Paul loved the Thessalonians. But because he and Silas were forced to flee Thessalonica, he wanted the Thessalonians to know that his love for them was not diminished. He longed to be back with them; they were his joy and glory. The local church is full of brothers and sisters for whom we should feel deep affection and desire to be together in person.
Caleb Drahosh \ Paul writes that the Thessalonians did not receive the word as the word of men, but as the Word of God. This was evidenced in the way that they suffered. A clear mark of genuinely receiving God's Word is patient endurance in the face of opposition.
John Baumgartner \ Words are powerful. We can wound with a word and heal with a word. The Ninth Commandment is put in place to protect us from the power of false words. God is the Truth and cannot lie, but in the fallen world humans lie frequently by what we say and by what we leave unsaid. This commandment forbids lies, gossip, slander, and flattery. It also requires us to defend the truth by speaking up against lies.
Caleb Drahosh \ Paul reminds the Thessalonians of the way he intends to approach them. His aim is not to please man, but God. He didn't come to the Thessalonians flattering them, in a greedy manner, or glory-seeking. Rather, like a gentle mother and an encouraging father, Paul approaches the Thessalonians, calling them to walk in a manner worthy of God.
Caleb Drahosh \ Paul continues to commend the Thessalonians and in these two verses he highlights their repentance. He writes that they turned from idols to serve God. Repentance is one movement: turning away from sin and turning to God. Their turning to God includes service rendered unto Him and hopeful anticipation of Christ's return.
Caleb Drahosh \ The Thessalonians followed the example of Paul and Silas, receiving the word with joy in the midst of suffering. Their joyful reception of the gospel became a great witness and example across the region. A church that suffers like Christ suffered is poised for gospel impact in its community.
Caleb Drahosh \ After expressing gratitude to God for the Thessalonians, Paul assures them of their status as those chosen by God. Paul is fully confident that the message of Jesus Christ was effective in the lives of the Thessalonians because the Holy Spirit was powerfully at work in and among them. The gospel message is much more than just words.
Caleb Drahosh \ Paul begins his letter to the Thessalonians by expressing gratitude to God for them and for their work in Christ. When armed with gratitude, Christians are equipped to pray for and recall Christ's work in and through their brothers and sisters.
Mark Reeves \ Scripture paints a clear picture of the qualities characteristic of a life that is being impacted by the transformation process carried out by the Holy Spirit. Remember from last time, we’re not talking about transactional grace, a system of “weights and balances” which determines our trajectory in the afterlife. Rather, these descriptives serve to grant insight into what Christ-like qualities the life of a Christ-follower reflects. It’s not a matter of working towards and conquering them, but rather, a deep surrendering of self as the Spirit accomplishes the work.
John Baumgartner \ God did not give the Ten Commandments to keep us in a constant state of fear and guilt for not measuring up to His standards. In Christ, we are empowered to keep the commandments. Our motivation for living should not be fear of our Father’s displeasure. We should be motivated to keep the command, “You shall not steal,” by the thought of pleasing our God and Father.
Blaze Culliton \ For those who have put their faith and trust in Jesus Christ, they have been remade and reborn, and provided a new identity as children of God. The Apostle John provides that as part of that identity we cannot keep on sinning, and whoever practices righteousness is righteous as God is righteous. May we press into our identity, continuing to repent of our sins and believe in the finished work of Jesus Christ for our salvation.
John Baumgartner \ The Ten Commandments are not mere prohibitions. They do not only prohibit—they protect. God protects the glory and sanctity of marriage by the commandment, “And you shall not commit adultery.” He forbids adultery, fornication, homosexuality, and all other kinds of sexual immorality in order to protect the blessing of marriage. God is not depriving us of something good by forbidding these things. He is protecting us for what is truly good.
Mark Reeves \ For more than two millennia, both within and outside of the Church, the central truth of the Gospel remains veiled for many who are motivated by the desire to somehow "measure up." This is problematic, because the grace that sent Jesus to the cross was not, is not, and will never be, transactional. We can't barter or negotiate for it. We can't work for it or earn it. All we can do is accept it - by allowing the Holy Spirit to begin His work in us, shaping us into the image of Jesus Christ, “putting God’s laws in our hearts and in our minds.”
John Baumgartner \ This commandment teaches us that murder is a terrible sin deserving of death. Our culture rationalizes this sin and breaks this commandment through abortion, euthanasia, and suicide. Our own hearts break this commandment through anger, bitterness, and name-calling. The only one who can free us from the death our sin deserves is the one who died in our place, Jesus Christ.
John Baumgartner // God is the one who gave you your father and mother. We glorify God by keeping His command to honor our father and mother. Young children do this by obeying their parents cheerfully. Grown children honor their parents by treating them with the respect and dignity that their position deserves.
John Baumgartner \ God’s commandments are not burdensome. We see that clearly in the Fourth Commandment. Whereas we are prone to constant labor, God has appointed a day for us to rest. He has given us this day of rest to help us remember that He is the one who cares for us. We are to look back and remember all that God has accomplished for us and practice resting in Him for everything we need in the present.
Cody Weckerly \ In this sermon, we learn about how much value Jesus gives to little children, and how we should as well.
Philip Reeves \ The prophecy of Malachi gives us a picture into a time of Israel's history in which their worship had been corrupted by spiritual apathy. Their blindness towards their sin and its effects on their lives led them to violate God's covenant with them, and as a result were found beneath a curse. In contrast, the immutable God extends His hand in grace towards these wayward ones, seeking to renew His covenant. God's grace is on profound display as He marks the terms for a restored relationship with His people. "Return to me, and I will return to you."
Blaze Culliton \ The Apostle John provides a warning that it is the last hour and the antichrists have come, which points squarely to the truth of Jesus Christ. No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father. The protection against this warning is provided to believers through being anointed with the truth of who Jesus is and what He has done. As truth abides in the believer, the believer will abide in the Son and in the Father.
John Baumgartner \ The third commandment forbids the misuse of God's name and teaches how precious His name is. God's name is more than a title or just a way to refer to Him. God's name is who He is. He communicates Himself to us by sharing His name with us.
Caleb Drahosh \ Nineveh repents and Jonah is angry. Jonah knows that the repentance of Nineveh is not good for Israel because God has turned His attention away from Israel. But God is always merciful and spares those who genuinely turn from their sin and to Him. Salvation belongs to the Lord and He extends it to whomever He desires.
Caleb Drahosh \ After the fish spits Jonah upon dry land, God speaks to Jonah a second time, much like He did the first. This time Jonah brings God's message to Nineveh, calling it to repentance. And the city repents. Jesus—like Jonah—was in the belly of the earth for three days. But—unlike the Ninevites—when Jesus came out, His generation refused to repent.
Caleb Drahosh \ After the sailors throw Jonah overboard, the Lord appoints a great fish to swallow Jonah. Jonah has now hit rock bottom; he is in the belly of Sheol. Jonah, knowing the Lord intends to show mercy to the Ninevites, tried to take matters into his own hands. But Jonah, seeing that even in his disobedience God's purposes are fulfilled, now finally responds to God: "salvation belongs to the Lord."
Caleb Drahosh \ Jonah's journey takes him down — down into the ship and down into the sea. He tries to flee from the requirement of God's Word, but even as he resists, the word of the Lord has its effect on the sailors, who all repent and fear the Lord. Jonah descends into the sea and the sea threatens to take Jonah's life, but God is sovereign over even the greatest of threats.
Caleb Drahosh \ God sends His Word to Jonah to go to the capital of Assyria, Nineveh, and call the city to repent. Jonah knows that Israel is threatened by Assyria and a call to repentance is an act of mercy toward Nineveh. And Jonah knows that Israel's sin has provoked the Lord to jealousy and the Lord is now provoking Israel to jealousy. For these reasons Jonah disobeys God's command and flees to Tarshish, away from the presence of the Lord.
Caleb Drahosh \ Like He did with Lazarus, Jesus raises Peter. Jesus died so that Peter's sins and Peter would die. Jesus was buried so that Peter's old way of life and Peter would be buried. Jesus was raised so that Peter would be raised without his sin and without his old way of life.
Caleb Drahosh \ Jesus appears to the disciples for a third and final time in this passage. Peter's act of going fishing is his default; he's not sure what to do, so he goes back to his old way of life. But upon seeing Jesus a third time, Peter and the other disciples quickly realize that their lives can't go back to what they were before Jesus. Those who are in Christ have the course of their lives transformed by Jesus.
John Baumgartner \ God is jealous over His people. He is jealous that His people do not worship Him in any way other than He has provided. He is jealous that His people do not worship Him through images. Images cannot substitute for God. Only Jesus Christ—who is truly God and not a substitute—reveals God to us. We worship God not through images but through Jesus Christ.
Caleb Drahosh \ John's Gospel contains nearly one-third of the total uses of the word "believe" in all of Scripture. And these two verses summarize John's purpose for recording his Gospel account. The preceding telling of Thomas' movement from unbelief to belief indicates that it is more blessed to believe on God's terms instead of our own. God has chosen to use human witnesses to bring the message about Jesus to the world. John desires for those who read his book to come to saving faith — to believe — in Jesus and to continue in that faith, obtaining life in His name.
Caleb Drahosh \ Jesus appears to the disciples on the first day of the week, the day that Jesus first appeared to Mary Magdalene. He greets them with peace and commissions them to go into the world with the message of forgiveness. Thomas is absent and does not believe. He appears again to the disciples and Thomas is present. Even in unbelief, Jesus is patient with Thomas. And He is patient with us.
Caleb Drahosh \ On the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene discovers the tomb where Jesus was buried is empty. She tells Peter and John who run to the tomb and find it empty and leave. But Mary stays and two angels appear and then Jesus Himself appears to her. She doesn't recognize Him at first, but then He speaks her name. The resurrection is announced by Mary to the disciples: "I have seen the Lord."
John Baumgartner \ In the First Commandment, God lays the foundation for every command that comes after. In it we see the exclusive relationship God has with His people. Through the act of saving His people, the Lord has shown that He is the only true God, and He is our God. Since He saves us from both the consequences of sin and its power, He is the one who gives us the ability to keep the First Commandment and live for Him alone.
Caleb Drahosh \ Jesus is led to be crucified and at the end of this passage he declares, "It is finished." All that Jesus set out to accomplish as a once-for-all sacrifice is brought to completion at the cross. There is nothing remaining for Jesus to do; He fulfilled the Scriptures and secured the way to the Father for those the Father gave to Him.
Caleb Drahosh \ Jesus is now brought before Pilate, who questions Jesus. Abandoned by His disciples and condemned by the corrupt religious leadership, Jesus now stands before the pinnacle of secular power. Whatever the line of questioning, Jesus does not waver in truth. And although the scene is bleak — things have gone from bad to worse — an inescapable reality is highlighted: Jesus is King.
Caleb Drahosh \ After Jesus' High Priestly prayer, events begin unfolding in fulfillment of what Jesus has told His disciples will come to pass. In this passage we meet a traitorous friend, a corrupt priest, and a fallen disciple. Through it, Jesus does not waver; with a face like a flint He plods toward the joy set before Him.
Caleb Drahosh \ Jesus, after praying for Himself and for His disciples, now prays for all who would believe. Jesus prays that all believers will be united so that the world would believe that He is sent from the Father and that the love of the Father, overflowing for the Son, would be set on them. Jesus desires all who are joined to Him by faith to ultimately see His glory on full display.
Caleb Drahosh \ After praying for Himself, Jesus prays for His disciples. Jesus prays that the Father would keep them in His name so that they may be unified. He prays that they would be kept from the evil one. And He prays that they would be sanctified in truth. Jesus knows what the disciples are about to face: difficulty, persecution, suffering. Jesus doesn't pray that these things won't come; rather, He prays for what's needed when they do.
Blaze Culliton \ The Lord commands us not to not love the world or things in the world, a command which relates to the second and tenth commandments from the Old Testament. The commandments remind us that we are sinners in need of a Savior provided in Christ Jesus, who redefines the identities of those who believe in Him as those whose sins are forgiven, who know the Father and Him who was from the beginning, have overcome the evil one, are strong, and those who the word of God abides in. May we walk in the light as He walks in the light, finding our identity in those truths and obeying all that He commands.
Caleb Drahosh \ As the hour of Jesus' death draws near, He prays to the Father, with whom Jesus has perfect unity and fellowship. He begins praying for Himself, that the Father would glorify Him now that His work is accomplished. Jesus has been given authority over all things, and gives eternal life to those the Father has given to Him. We are to pray that Christ would be glorified in us as our lives give evidence to the relationship that we have with God that only comes through Christ.
John Baumgartner \ The Law of God—the Ten Commandments—is for us. God gave His Law to teach His people how to live according to righteousness, never seeking to earn our place before God, but always trusting in Him alone for our righteousness. And nevertheless seeking to live according to these commandments by working hard to hear them, learn them, and do them.
Caleb Drahosh \ God called Abraham from his father's house to a land that He would show Abraham. An adventurer, Abraham left his homeland at great cost to gain what could not be gained by staying. Similarly, Jesus left His Father's house to come to earth to gain what could not be gained by staying. The adventure of Abraham and the advent of Christ paints the picture of Jesus' words, "whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it."
Caleb Drahosh \ After telling His disciples that He has overcome the world and encouraging them to pray to the Father in His name, Jesus Himself prays. He prays with confident assurance as one who is in perfect fellowship and unity with the Father.
Caleb Drahosh \ Jesus, after commanding His disciples to love one another, tells them that they will be hated by the world. And although things will seem bleak, as a woman who is in labor perceives things to be, great joy is on the horizon. Peace is given because Jesus has overcome the world.
Caleb Drahosh \ Jesus is clear that His followers will be hated by the world. Those who belong to Christ no longer belong to the world and will be treated just like Jesus was treated: persecuted, cast out, and killed. But Jesus does not leave His own alone. He sends the Holy Spirit to help the Christian bear witness to exactly what Jesus came to do.
Caleb Drahosh \ The love that Jesus has for His own is a covenantal love. He chooses us and sends us out to bear fruit that lasts. Love that is merely infatuation or affection based knows nothing of sacrifice. But Jesus commands that His followers have sacrificial, committed, humble love for one another.
John Baumgartner \ In this section, Peter concludes his discussion of the theme of submission to authority and ties it together with the theme of suffering for righteousness sake. He ties these two themes together by showing us that Jesus Christ perfectly lived according to both. Jesus Christ can empower us to live in the same way, if we live acknowledging that He is the Lord of all authorities who submitted Himself to suffering for righteousness sake.
Caleb Drahosh \ What does the life of one who is joined to Christ look like? It looks like a fruit-bearing branch attached to the life-giving vine, Jesus Christ. The Father removes branches that are fruitless and prunes those that bear fruit. In order to abide in Christ and be fruitful the believer must live according to the commands of Christ.
Caleb Drahosh \ Paul's letter to Titus is intended to deepen and strengthen our love for Jesus Christ. The letter shows us exactly what the gospel enables in us, showing us how Jesus builds His church: in unlikely places, with unlikely people, in unlikely timing. Our aim in reading and studying God's Word — including a letter like Titus — is Christ rightly known, Christ truly believed, and Christ heartily loved.
Caleb Drahosh \ A local church not fortified by the gospel and the application of it among its members, will become susceptible to false teaching and cultural conformity. The result is division among its members. It is the truth of God's Word that unites a church and when there are those within the midst of the local church who value opinion or preference above truth, they are to be warned and — if unrepentant — put out of the church.
Caleb Drahosh \ Christians can carefully devote themselves to good works by submitting to the preaching of God's Word and the teaching of what is consistent with sound doctrine. Those who are in Christ recognize that they were once conformed to the world, but know that in Christ they have been set apart for more excellent and profitable things –– mainly, putting Christ on display in both their speech and actions.
Caleb Drahosh \ Cultural conformity and false teaching are threats to any local church. As a preventative measure, God gives older, more mature believers to invest in younger believers. This investment builds resilience against these two threats. Additionally, how believers conduct themselves in their work and as citizens will give evidence of their foundation in sound doctrine.
Caleb Drahosh \ In order to fight against cultural conformity and false teaching, Paul tells Titus to teach living that is consistent with sound doctrine. Paul emphasizes that it is imperative that older, mature believers are active examples of godly living in the church. Through these means, God brings about fruit in the life of the local church.
Caleb Drahosh \ Paul tells Titus to bring order to the churches in Crete and to appoint elders because false teaching and cultural conformity are great threats to the church. Sound doctrine, when it takes root, bears fruit. And as men and women are strengthened in faith and grow in maturity, they are to pass what they have learned on to the next generation by setting an example of Christian living.
Caleb Drahosh \ After instructing Titus to bring order to and appoint elders in the churches and Crete, Paul reminds Titus what he's up against: false teaching and a culture that doesn't reflect — or even care about — godly character. And then he tells Titus to teach what accords with sound doctrine. How does the sound doctrine impact living, even when seasons in life vary?
Caleb Drahosh \ Paul leaves Titus in Crete so that Titus might put things into order and appoint elders. Titus is to fight confusion and bring clarity through correcting that which is out of step with sound doctrine within the church. Paul knew that it would take men qualified for the office of pastor/elder to see faith established and matured among the believers in Crete. Sound doctrine is the foundation for both how the church is ordered and how pastor/elders are determined.
Caleb Drahosh \ At the beginning of his letter to Titus, Paul introduces himself and his purpose; he is confident in his calling because it is built on the hope of eternal life promised by God who never lies. The letter is addressed to Titus who — although a Greek — is Paul's spiritual child in the same faith. It is the gospel that brings the most unlikely people to Christ and to each other to accomplish God's purposes among all the peoples of the earth.
John Baumgartner \ This part of Peter’s letter is clear instruction for how wives and husbands are to live within the authority structure of marriage that God has put in place. Wives are to be subject to their own husband with respectful and pure conduct and the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, not out of fear but because God is pleased with them. Husbands are to remember that that is what their wife is doing. Don’t begrudge her for it. Rather, honor her for it. She’s treating you like a leader, so lead.
Caleb Drahosh // In these verses, Jesus continues comforting His disciples. Though He is going away, He will return. In the meantime, the love His disciples have for Him will be evidenced by the fruit of obedience and will be empowered by the Holy Spirit. Jesus leaves believers peace; He leaves them confident assurance of their right standing before God and the reality that He will one day be with them again.
Caleb Drahosh \ After remarking that He is the only way to the Father and that anyone who has seen Him has also seen the Father, Jesus tells the disciples that when He goes they will do greater work and another will come. He calls this other "the Helper" and the "Spirit of truth." This is the Holy Spirit who dwells with believers, who will be in them, and who will empower the great work of obedience in the disciple.
Mark Reeves \ Forgiveness doesn’t always come easily or all at once. Many times it’s a process. And the deeper the pain the longer the process can take. However, the process is where we’ll find the Lord at work if we seek Him earnestly with humility and expectancy. This is where our prayer life comes into play. Those who regularly practice substantial, disciplined prayer will find the process of forgiveness greatly effective in the development of Christ-like character. One thing is certain: it is impossible for a person to follow Christ and experience forgiveness from sin if they are unwilling to forgive others for pain inflicted.
Mark Reeves \ Forgiveness doesn’t always come easily or all at once. Many times it’s a process. And the deeper the pain the longer the process can take. However, the process is where we’ll find the Lord at work if we seek Him earnestly with humility and expectancy. This is where our prayer life comes into play. Those who regularly practice substantial, disciplined prayer will find the process of forgiveness greatly effective in the development of Christ-like character. One thing is certain: it is impossible for a person to follow Christ and experience forgiveness from sin if they are unwilling to forgive others for pain inflicted.
Caleb Drahosh \ The disciples are worried that Jesus plans to leave them and Peter tells Jesus that he will lay his life down for Jesus. Jesus then predicts that Peter will deny Him three times; Peter's own strength would not suffice. Jesus is going to the Father, and He is the only Way to the Father. We know the Way to the Father if we know Jesus. He and the Father are one and we must rely wholly on Him.
Caleb Drahosh \ After washing the feet of His disciples, Jesus reminds them of His inherent authority to command them to follow Him in washing the feet of one another. Judas’ satanic self-service creates a contrast, showing us the danger of trying to live out from underneath Jesus’ authority. Followers of Jesus love Jesus and one another by keeping the commands of Jesus and helping one another keep the commands of Jesus — the world will know that we follow Jesus by the self-sacrificial love that we have for others in the local church.
Blaze Culliton \ From the beginning God has commanded His people to “love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might,” extending that love to those around us. This command was made new, made fully manifest in the person and work of Jesus Christ, who shines light into what it means to to know and to love God by obeying His commands.
Kalen Heller \ With the entire list of Beatitudes Jesus speaks to what the citizens of His Heavenly kingdom will look like. The Kingdom is here, because the King is here. When Jesus speaks of peace, He means an absence of striving under our own power. The peace that Jesus is referring to is the peace we have with God through our faith in His Son Jesus Christ. When we receive the peace that Christ gives us then – and only then – can we begin to make peace with others.
John Baumgartner \ We were condemned to death because of our sin, but God satisfied His justice and His mercy on that tree where Christ bore our sins because He bore God’s wrath against them so that God could be both just in punishing sin and merciful to forgive sinners. Everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins through His name.
Caleb Drahosh \ In this passage, Jesus takes the posture of a servant and washes the feet of the disciples. Hastily, Peter rebuffs Jesus, and when Jesus corrects Peter, he goes too far asking Jesus to wash him entirely. As sinful people, we must be washed once and for all by the blood of Jesus. Additionally, we must continually have our feet washed as we walk through this sin-saturated world. Christ's sacrifice is effective for both. The fruit of this washing in our lives is our service in washing the feet of one another.
Caleb Drahosh \ Many people listening to Jesus remain oblivious to Jesus' mission and do not believe. At the same time, many believed Jesus' words, but would not confess to it because of the persecution they would endure. Even in our day, the fear of man prevents many from following Jesus. But for those who are in Christ, God's good opinion of them does not change.
Caleb Drahosh \ In this passage, some from outside of Israel, some Greeks, come to see Jesus. But the text implies that Jesus does not see them. Jesus was a man on a collision course with death. Those who truly serve Christ as king, don't just seek Him for His thought, but follow Him into death like His.
Caleb Drahosh \ Three key things happen in this passage. Lazarus' sister, Mary, anoints the feet of Jesus, the chief priests plot to kill Lazarus, and Jesus rides into Jerusalem on a donkey to the shouts of "Hosanna!" At the heart of these short sections is the reality that Jesus is infinitely worthy of honor and praise. Those whose hearts are hard toward Jesus grow more resistant to Him the more they are exposed to Him; those who believe grow and are continually leaving everything to follow Him.
Caleb Drahosh \ The chief priests and the Pharisees turn up the heat after Jesus raises Lazarus. They're concerned that the Romans are going rob them of their way of life. And so the high priest, Caiaphas, proposes eliminating Jesus outright. What Caiaphas did not know is that Jesus' death would mean the redemption of Israel –– and the whole world. Caiaphas thinks that killing Jesus would secure Israel's future by preventing uprising, but instead Jesus' death secures the eternal future for all who believe in Him.
John Baumgartner \ Peter tells Christians to be subject to their masters even when they are unjust because God is glorified when His people face injustice and endure by entrusting their lot to Him. Jesus Christ is the perfect example of this by how He entrusted Himself totally to His Father, even suffering an unjust trial and execution. Being raised from death with Him, Jesus empowers us to do the same.
Caleb Drahosh \ The resurrection of Jesus ensures our eternal life together and the eternal and unfading nature of God's Word. But what about all the stuff that won't last forever? The temporary things of this world were created so that mankind could reflect the wisdom of God by living righteously through working diligently and prudently. We glorify God when we invest temporary resources into eternal things.
Caleb Drahosh // God's Word is untouchable and will never become irrelevant. For us as Christians, investing time in God's Word will never be wasted; the word of our God will never fade, even when everything else does. The resurrection of Jesus Christ gives us full assurance of the eternal authority, clarity, necessity, and sufficiency of God’s Word.
Caleb Drahosh \ As those who are in Christ, united with Him in His death and life, our life in Him will never end. Investments in others who share that identity are eternal. Proverbs 18:1 warns us of the dangers of isolation and ignoring a vital resource God provides us: biblical community. The local church — and the relationships and community we have within it — is a non-negotiable because it’s a God-given gift bought with the blood of Jesus Christ, a payment of infinite worth.
Caleb Drahosh \ We are joined to Christ's death and resurrection, and therefore we are a new creation. The newness we have in Christ isn’t a future promise, it’s a current reality. We are a collection of immortals — united with Christ in His death, in His life, living for Him by living for one another now — and it will never end.
Caleb Drahosh \ Four days after Lazarus died, Jesus arrives in Bethany. He is met by Martha and reveals to her that He is the resurrection and the life. Life as we know it does not exist apart from Jesus; and the promised eternal life does not exist apart from Jesus. Jesus strengthens faith's root system in Martha and Mary and the believing Jews giving a glimpse of His power over death.
Caleb Drahosh \ In this passage, Jesus is told that His friend Lazarus is sick and dying. Surprisingly, Jesus waits two more days before heading to Bethany, where Lazarus is. In that time, Lazarus dies. Jesus' mission is to defeat sin and death, and He is preparing to fulfill that mission. Jesus courageously and faithfully calls out the enemy He came to put to death: death itself.
Caleb Drahosh \ After claiming that He is one with the Father, the Jews again seek to stone Jesus. He asks which one of His good works is leading to this action, and they reply that it's not a good work, but blasphemy. In an act of mercy, Jesus asks the Jews to start by receiving His works so that their partial belief may grow into full-fledged saving faith — because unless you take all of Jesus, you get none of Him.
Kalen Heller \ Guilt and shame are two of the greatest obstacles that keep us from fully worshiping the risen Christ. Outside of Jesus, there has never existed someone that has not been plagued with feelings of guilt and shame and that includes King David – the man after God’s own heart. In Psalm 51 we find a heartfelt, spirit-filled confession of the sins David has committed with Bathsheba, against Uriah, and most importantly against God Himself. In the psalm, David recognizes the gravity of his sin, God’s right standing in the way He responds to sin, and the healing that can occur through God’s justice, mercy, and grace.
Mark Reeves \ In Hebrews 5:11-6:20 the reader is warned of the peril of spiritual dullness and is reminded of the provision God made so we might be fully alive in Christ. When we drift into worldliness we are in danger of neglecting God’s immeasurable provision and become blinded to the things which bring spiritual death. Christ’s sacrifice, however, empowers us to overcome spiritual dullness and live in such a way that the ‘fruit of righteousness’ is cultivated in our character.
John Baumgartner \ What Peter wrote to these Christians under severe persecution can also help us. Unbelievers will accuse Christians of doing evil, but Christians’ good deeds will show that accusation to be a lie, and God will be glorified through it all. Christians are to respond to unjust suffering as subjects of government and as subjects of masters/employers by enduring it. Jesus conquered all the world by patiently enduring suffering, trusting Himself to God and His church fills the world with His gospel by doing just the same.
Caleb Drahosh \ With the backdrop of more division among the Jews, and at the Feast of Dedication, the Jews ask again if Jesus is the Messiah. Jesus answers by pointing to the works He does in His Father's name––they bear witness to who He is. Jesus indicates that He and His Father are two distinct persons, and yet are one. Jesus can guarantee our eternal security because of His oneness with the Father while carrying out His unique role here on earth.
Caleb Drahosh \ Jesus makes two "I am" statements in this text. Jesus is the door, providing access to relationship with God the Father, and He is the good shepherd who secures right passage for His sheep through His sacrifice. Jesus makes it clear that those who the Father gives to Him will enter by Him and follow Him. Unlike the traveler who is exposed to dangers and difficulties, Jesus gives His sheep access to a home that is perfectly secured by Himself.
Caleb Drahosh \ In this passage Jesus heals a blind man. The disciples question if it's the man or his parents that sinned that caused him to be born blind. Jesus tells them that it's neither. Rather the man was born blind so that the works of God might be displayed in him. The Pharisees question the man and the others who observe the sign. They remain blind to the truth of who Jesus is, despite seeing Jesus do the works of God –– giving physical and spiritual sight.
Caleb Drahosh \ In this passage we find an extended interaction between Jesus and the Jews. The Jews rely on their bloodlines for their inheritance, pointing backwards to Abraham. But Jesus says that if they don't have the faith that Father Abraham had, it proves that their true Father is the devil. And what was Abraham's faith founded upon? The eternal second person of the Trinity, Jesus Himself, coming into the world to deal with sin and death thereby granting Abraham's offspring with a glorious and eternal inheritance in Him.
Blaze Culliton \ Jesus Christ, the righteous, is the propitiation for our sins and our advocate with the Father. In knowing Jesus, we have assurance of salvation and knowing Him is evidenced if we keep his commandments. Those who abide in Jesus Christ walk as He walks. A correct understanding of the advocacy and assurance that Christ provides are foundational elements to knowing and following Christ.
Caleb Drahosh \ Godly parenting takes its cues from our heavenly Father. In Ephesians 6:4, Paul addresses the head of the household, the Father. He instructs not to provoke to anger, but to raise children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. God's Word is the sole authority for parenting. When we patiently and diligently instruct and discipline our children, we follow in the pattern set by our heavenly Father and reflect Jesus to the world.
Caleb Drahosh \ In order to reflect Jesus, the light of the world, how are children to relate to their parents? Children are to obey their parents, and honor them. There is an ebb and flow to this relationship, but the command for children to honor their parents always remains intact regardless of age. When children honor their parents, there are natural societal implications; when people have regard and respect for older generations, society flourishes.
Caleb Drahosh \ The relationship between a man and his wife is the foundational relationship of the Christian household. It pictures Christ and His bride the church. The husband in Scripture is given authority as the head. He leads and lives sacrificially in the pattern of Christ, including taking sacrificial responsibility for everything in the home. This is how the husband loves his wife. Additionally, the wife is called to submit to her husband, giving indication to his headship. This is how the wife respects her husband. Together, when lived in light of God's Word, a man and his wife reflect the light of Christ to a world that has twisted the nature of the marriage relationship in darkness.
Caleb Drahosh \ In this passage, Jesus makes one of His seven "I am" statements. He says, "I am the light of the world." Jesus and the Father are in perfect step with one another; Jesus is the light of the world because He comes from the Father, speaks for the Father, is going to the Father, and is one with the Father. Those who follow Jesus have Jesus as their light, illuminating the path of life.
John Baumgartner \ In this passage, Peter is telling the Church what it is, even in the midst of trials and persecutions. It is the Temple of God, built not out of lifeless rock but living people. But this passage is not first about the people of God and how they live versus how those who reject God live. It's all about Jesus-who He is, what He's done, how people react to Him because of Him. Because He is the cornerstone of the living Temple, all who wish to build must line up with Him and build upon Him.
Caleb Drahosh \ The Pharisees frustration with Jesus growing, they catch a woman in adultery, a capital offense, and bring her to Jesus demanding that He give an answer on how to handle the situation according to the Law of Moses. Jesus turns the conversation onto them and says that whoever has not sinned has the ability to condemn the woman. The weight of the conscience turns them all away. Sin is very serious and where repentance is not practice, self-destructive behavior follows. Repent; go and sin no more.
Caleb Drahosh \ The announcement of Jesus' birth surprisingly comes to an unsuspecting group of shepherds. The good news of great joy is declared to the shepherds first but quickly spreads as they respond by glorifying and praising God. Small, forgotten, unsuspecting people and places became the streams of water from where God would begin filling the earth with the glory of Himself, as the waters cover the sea.
John Baumgartner \ After hearing from the angel Gabriel how God is at work, Mary goes to visit her relative Elizabeth. Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, pronounces a blessing upon Mary. She responds with a song of praise woven from the promises of God and praises of His people. Her faithful response shows us Mary’s character as someone we should imitate.
Caleb Drahosh \ The angel Gabriel appears to the virgin Mary and tells her that she will conceive by the Holy Spirit and have a son. And that her son will be named Jesus, He will be God's very Son, and He will be king. Gabriel also tells Mary that her relative, Elizabeth, who was past child-bearing years, would also have a son. Redemption for God's people comes from the places we least expect. Nothing is impossible for God.
Caleb Drahosh \ An angel of the Lord appears to Zechariah and tells him that his wife, Elizabeth, will have a son despite her old age. Zechariah and Elizabeth were a godly couple, righteous and blameless, but they had no children. The child they would have was to be named John; he would be filled with the Holy Spirit and play a major role in God’s plan of redemption. That plan of redemption is first imaged in Luke's Gospel when God redeems the womb of an elderly woman, taking away her reproach. There is no time and no place into which Christ's redeeming, curse-reversing work cannot reach.
John Baumgartner \ In these verses, Peter is continuing to teach on the command he gave in verse 17, “Be Holy as God is Holy.” Here he is telling us what holiness will look like in our everyday life: loving one another earnestly from a pure heart, just as Jesus has loved us. This love that was impossible God has made a normal reality for His people, and it is a love that by its very nature begets more love.
Caleb Drahosh \ Much confusion about Jesus remains amongst the crowds, to the point of division. The religious leadership grows frustrated by Jesus and their minds are darkened. But in the middle of the passage, Jesus declares that all who thirst should come to Him. Those who seek truth will find it in Christ who freely gives the Holy Spirit to those who believe in Him.
John Baumgartner \ In this passage, Peter displays a reversal of thinking: where earthly kings are ransomed by their people, the heavenly King came to pay the ransom for His people. Christ came to ransom us from our slavery to sin so that we will be holy as God is holy.
Caleb Drahosh \ After an extended period of time, Jesus returns to Judea for the Feast of Booths. We learn of many who do not believe in Jesus, and many who question Him. But Jesus says that there is a way to understand the validity of His ministry and His authority: obedience to God's law. All who are justified by faith are given the freedom in Christ to obey all that God commands, and through obedience they come to know God.
Caleb Drahosh \ After Jesus finishes the bread of life discourse in the synagogue, many of His disciples choose not to continue following Him. Jesus' words were hard to hear. But Peter, on behalf of the twelve disciples, says to Jesus that they had nowhere else to go. Jesus has the words of life. Those who have life in the Spirit are those who hear, believe, and press on despite the difficulty. Those who do not have ears to hear do not believe and tap out.
Caleb Drahosh \ All who put their faith in Christ and His atoning work are joined to Christ and become the inheritors of eternal life. What we receive from Christ is received by faith alone, not on the basis of works that we perform, but only on the righteousness of Christ credited to us. Those who eat the bread of life, those who eat the flesh and drink the blood of Christ, are those who become the beneficiaries of His atoning work; mainly, they are joined to Christ, justified before God, and adopted into His family.
Caleb Drahosh \ In this text, Jesus dives into the heart of His sermon in which He declares to the crowd that He is the bread of life. He tells them that to work for the food that does not perish is to believe in Him as the One who the Father has sent. Jesus' words are about certainty and assurance. Those who come to Jesus and believe in Him will be given eternal life in which they will be eternally satisfied (35), eternally welcomed (37), and eternally secured (39).
Caleb Drahosh \ After Jesus and the disciples cross the Sea of Galilee, the crowd catches up. Jesus tells the crowd that they were seeking the wrong thing; they were seeking the gift rather than the giver. But Jesus tells them how it can be corrected. We should not work for temporary satisfaction, but eternal satisfaction in Him.
Caleb Drahosh \ After Jesus fed the five thousand, the crowd planned to take Jesus and forcefully make Him king. But He slipped away. Meanwhile, the disciples made their way across the Sea of Galilee and a storm came up. Jesus, walking on the water, came to them and delivered them. Although Jesus was unwilling to be crowned king by a rogue crowd, we quickly find out that He is a king and that His kingdom is far greater than the crowd could conceive of. Jesus is sovereign over all creation; the waves and the wind speak to His true kingship.
Kalen Heller \ Rejoicing in the way fellow believers walk in the truth and encouraging others to do the same is essential to fulfilling the mission Jesus has given us to make disciples of all nations. The central component to walking in the truth of the Father’s command is to do so with love, which has always been the case–as we have heard from the beginning. Many deceivers–false teachers–are in the world who try to keep Christians from walking in the truth of the Father’s commands. Watch yourselves. There is nothing life-giving beyond God’s Word. Do not roll out the red carpet for false teachers.
Caleb Drahosh \ Jesus, being followed by a huge number of people, resolved to feed the whole crowd. The disciples found a boy who had five loaves and two fish. Jesus quickly multiplies the meal and distributes it to all the people; there is even an excess. Jesus takes something simple and small and brings about astonishing results. Out of Jesus’ fullness He gives faith and out of His fullness He feeds that faith. Jesus knows all our needs and He can and will meet them.
John Baumgartner \ As Christians still tempted to our old sinful ways, it’s easy for us to look at God's commandments as burdens we need to carry. But in reality, He has given us all these commands to show us a way of living life bearing the family resemblance to Him as His children. We can be free to live as He has called us to only if we understand the love He has for us as our Father.
Caleb Drahosh \ All of Scripture contains hints and shadows and whispers about Jesus. The Jews didn't understand that just like John the Baptist spoke of Jesus, so Moses wrote about Jesus because Jesus and Scripture are inseparable. Jesus even goes as far as to say that those who do not receive Him do not love God. We come to know Jesus through Scripture––He is seen everywhere in God's Word––and what the Jews missed, has been clearly revealed to us.
Caleb Drahosh \ After Jesus heals the man by the pool called Bethesda, we're told why the Jews were persecuting and seeking to kill Jesus: Jesus was doing work on the Sabbath and claiming to be equal with God. Jesus has the full ability to correctly discern the intent of the Sabbath because He is equal to the Father and is therefore the Lord of the Sabbath. And so the Sabbath is given to us as a way to commemorate God's works of creation and redemption and so that we might delight in Him with great delight.
Caleb Drahosh \ Jesus makes his way back to Cana in Galilee and meets an official whose son is sick. The man asks Jesus to come and heal his son, but Jesus instead says, "Go; your son will live." The man believed in Jesus' word and returned to find his son recovering. Jesus, the God-man and the source of life, sends His Word out and it perfectly accomplishes its purpose of giving life and establishing faith.
Caleb Drahosh \ When the Samaritan woman returns to her town, we see that she immediately tells others about Jesus. The other Samaritans ask Jesus to stay, and He does for two days. Through the woman's testimony many believe, and through Jesus' word, many more believed. Through these things, spiritual nourishment comes to those who are followers of Jesus. The harvest is ready now. Your spiritual food is to do the will of God by telling others about the life that can be theirs because of what Jesus did on the cross.
John Baumgartner \ In this text, Peter is going to give commands to these Christians, but his first word “therefore” indicates that the commands are based upon what God has done and not meant to earn something from God. If Jesus has saved you, you keep His commandments. You are not earning your salvation. You are living as if your salvation is real, because it is real.
Caleb Drahosh \ After Jesus' conversation with the Samaritan woman at the well, the disciples return and are surprised to see Jesus talking to a woman. Why would Jesus spend time talking with someone who could not advance His message and His mission? But they missed the point. The Samaritan woman was transformed. She left everything and ran to tell others. When a miserable sinner is saved, it is God gets the glory.
Caleb Drahosh \ When Jesus meets the Samaritan woman at the well, He offers her something that no one else can. Despite her background, despite her law-breaking, despite being incredulous, Jesus' offer is not rescinded. Jesus the Messiah mercifully extends eternal soul-satisfaction to a miserable sinner.
John Baumgartner \ In this text, Peter is helping his readers to understand the majesty of God’s plan and stand firm in it even in the depth of suffering. He does this by causing us to consider the way Jesus suffered and the glory He received. Everyone who lives after the Gospel has been revealed stands in the privileged position of knowing in full the message of salvation that Prophets and Angels have only caught glimpses of.
John 4:1-6 – Wearied from the Journey: How Jesus' Humanity Tells the Truth About the Irreducible Importance of the Cross
Caleb Drahosh \ As Jesus' following grew, He drew the eyes of His opponents. And so Jesus decided to travel back to Galilee. Jesus' journey from Judea to Galilee required a stop at Jacob's well to recover strength. When Jesus, the Word, took on flesh, He experienced what we experience, including the need to rest. In addition to being totally God, Jesus is also totally man and from Him we learn about the irreducible importance of the cross.
Blaze Culliton \ In 1 John 1:5-10, the Apostle John explains that God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all. And as further explanation of what it means for us that God is light, John tells us that He does not cast out those who walk in the light, He stands ready to forgive, and He is not a liar (and in fact, cannot lie). As followers of Jesus, we walk in the light by glorifying God and confessing our sins.
Caleb Drahosh \ In this text, John the Baptist's disciples point out Jesus' growing following. But John reminds them that his (and their) job is to point away from himself and toward the Christ. Jesus is the One who is from heaven, He brings truth as its source, and has been given all authority. For John, the goal is to make much of Jesus because Jesus is worthy to be made much of. What do we make much of? Will we live as ones who define success as making much of Jesus?
Caleb Drahosh \ Jesus Christ entrusted His work to others who He shared His life with and told them to do the same. The Christian life is not only taught, it is also caught from faithful brothers and sisters in Christ who seek to do spiritual good to others. Christians should continually be investing in others with the goal of becoming more like Jesus.
Caleb Drahosh \ There is no greater burden than that which was laid upon Jesus Christ on the cross; He bore the sins of all of those who call upon His name. In response we are called––when a brother or sister is caught in the web of sin––to bear one another's burdens. By doing so we fulfill the command to love one another.
Caleb Drahosh \ Living, healthy things grow, and it's no different for Christians. Christians are given life through the work of Christ on the cross and then Jesus gives Christians gifts so that they might grow up into godly maturity together. The effect is that the body of Christ––on display in the local church––develops and is built up in love.
Caleb Drahosh \ Christians are called to fellowship first by devoting themselves to one another through meeting one another's needs in full acknowledgement that Jesus has met their greatest need. True fellowship is found in having God given resources in common with brothers and sisters in Christ with the goal of taking the gospel to the ends of the earth.
Caleb Drahosh \ Every Christian is called to put himself/herself in total subjection to others. Everything that God has given you (your time, treasure, talent) is not for you, but is given to you to demonstrate love for God. You demonstrate love for God by using all the gifts He gives to you to serve others at all times.
Caleb Drahosh \ If through Christ we have been welcomed into God’s family, around His table, and into intimate relationship with Him, then the proper response is to welcome one another similarly for the glory of God.
John Baumgartner \ Life comes with all sorts of trials and difficulties. This is true for Christians and non-Christians alike. In fact, as the Apostle Peter writes in this letter, Christians face more trials as a result of their faith. But God has a purpose in every trial He gives to His children. He is doing His work of purifying ourselves and our faith—so that we would no longer rely on our own works, status, or skills but instead depends wholeheartedly upon Him.
Kalen Heller // There is only One who can faithfully bring forth and establish justice to the nations—and it is not you or I. The Servant that Isaiah speaks of in chapter 42 is none other than Jesus Christ, the Chosen Son of God. Even now, He is establishing justice in the earth and is doing so in a way that is contrary to the way of mankind: quietly, faithfully, and effortlessly. Christ will not rest or become discouraged until His mission has been accomplished. With injustice’s days being numbered, Christians can trust in the excellencies of Him who led them out of darkness into His marvelous light and can faithfully proclaim that truth to an unjust world.
Caleb Drahosh \ In these verses Jesus makes it clear that His mission was to save God's people and not condemn them. But those who refuse to believe are already condemned. When the fulfillment of God's plan of redemption is revealed in Jesus, people either run to the light or retreat into darkness.
Caleb Drahosh \ John 3:16 is arguably the most well known Bible verse in all of Scripture. It comes right in the middle of Jesus' teaching to the Pharisee Nicodemus and––in this one simple verse––Jesus points out the danger of death that comes through sin. But there is hope: God sent into Jesus into the world out of love. And for what purpose was Jesus sent? To give life that would come through His payment for sin on the cross and to guarantee that life would last for eternity through His resurrection from the dead.
Caleb Drahosh \ In John 3:9-15 Jesus declares to Nicodemus that He has the authority to speak about heavenly things, or the things of God. This authority is His because He is the only One to come down from heaven. Every other teacher—and every other person for that matter—who came before Him got their start on earth. Jesus has no origin and heaven is His home. Because He has this authority, He reveals to Nicodemus how God will redeem His people. Jesus—like the bronze serpent Moses lifted up in the wilderness—would be lifted up on a cross, paying the penalty for sin. All who look to Jesus will have eternal life.
Caleb Drahosh \ In John 3:1-8, a man named Nicodemus comes to Jesus full of curiosity. Jesus explains to him what must occur in a person to see and enter into the kingdom of God––you must be born again, or born from above. Nicodemus doesn't understand, but Jesus explains only the Spirit can bring about spiritual life and further clarifies that children of God are "born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. (1:13)"
Caleb Drahosh \ Jesus made the world, came into the world, but the world did not know him. Those who saw Jesus perform signs believed in His name, but their belief was artificial because of the sin that resided within them. And—knowing all things about all people—Jesus did not entrust Himself to them. By offering Himself as a sacrifice for the sin of the world, Jesus would correct the problem that plagued all people and author a faith in them that would flourish for eternity.
Caleb Drahosh \ In John 2:18-22, the Jews confront Jesus over His cleansing of the temple. They ask him for a sign. Jesus doesn't give one on demand; instead He tells them of His impending death and resurrection––but He doesn't do so explicitly. Christ crucified is preached by Jesus Himself and He chooses to not know anything else in the face of questioning. And when it's all said and done, the disciples remembered and believed Jesus' Words.
Caleb Drahosh \ In John 2:13-17, Jesus shows up at the Temple at the Passover and discovers a scene of buying and selling and money-changing. The situation is serious and Jesus begins flipping tables, scattering coins, and driving people out. It's zeal for His Father's house that consumes Him; Jesus is jealous for the set apartness of God's dwelling place. This points us forward to Christ's sacrifice where He will establish and ensure the purity of the people of God, the Church. Through Jesus, God establishes and ensures the purity of His dwelling place.
Blaze Culliton \ Fellowship with God and fellowship with one another is through Jesus Christ and the truth of who He is. In the first four verses of 1 John, there is an understanding of the truth that Jesus Christ is the Word of Life, Life made Manifest, and eternal and the giver of eternal life. May we seek true fellowship with God, with the apostles and the universal church, and with one another in the truth of who Christ is.
John Baumgartner \ Peter begins this letter by blessing the God who worked so great a salvation for those who wait for Him. He blesses the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, because it is only through Jesus that we have come to know the true God. Out of His own good pleasure, God has chosen to love those who—because of our sins—are not lovely. But God now has made us lovely in His Son Jesus Christ. As a result, we bless God just as Peter does.
Caleb Drahosh \ In John 2:1-12, Jesus goes to a wedding with his mom, brothers, and disciples. When the wine runs out, the groom stands to be dishonored and so Mary asks Jesus to do something. But Jesus wouldn't act to help the groom save face, He would act to make a statement: the Messiah is here. Jesus celebrates in the ordinary and brings about something extraordinary to keep the celebration going––and to point to greater celebrations that would come as a result of Him. Every time we celebrate in the ordinary, we celebrate the extraordinary because the same will that turned water into wine at a simple wedding in Cana, brought you from death to life.
Caleb Drahosh \ In John 1:43-51, Jesus finds Philip and tells Philip to follow Him. Philip follows and then goes to find Nathanael, claiming that he has found the Christ. Nathanael realizes that Jesus is who Philip says He is and responds in faith: "You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!" Jesus came from a backwater place, Nazareth. And so did Philip––Bethsaida was likely a blue collar town where fishing was the primary industry. But out of the forgotten places in Galilee, great faith would be established and lived out.
John Baumgartner \ Peter was a man just like us—an average fisherman. He failed and denied his Lord, but Jesus restored Peter to be a leader in the Church. In this letter to Gentile Christians, Peter bestows all the blessings that Israel was promised unto everyone who believes in Jesus Christ. The promises to Israel are now ours, only because we are among those that the Father foreknew. And because of that we have been set apart by His Spirit that we would believe in Jesus His Son, who by His blood cleansed us from our sins once for all time and gave to us all the blessings of God for His people.
Caleb Drahosh \ In John 1:35-42, two disciples of John the Baptist hear about Jesus and begin following Him. They leave everything behind, seeking to learn from Jesus and go with Him wherever He goes. And then Andrew––one of these two men––brings his brother, Simon, to meet Jesus. Disciples are those who are continually hearing the good news of who Jesus is and what He has done, are following Him by learning from Him, are going where He goes, and are bringing others to meet Jesus.
Caleb Drahosh \ In John 1:30-34, John the Baptist gives an account of who Jesus is. He says that Jesus is unparalleled––Jesus ranks before John the Baptist (and everyone for that matter) because Jesus is eternal. Jesus is sincere––there is no deceit or hypocrisy in Him; Jesus acts in humility coming in the flesh to serve. And Jesus is unique––there is no one else that can do what Jesus came to do: baptize in the Holy Spirit; there is no one other than Jesus, the Son of God, who can give spiritual life. Just as the sun conceals the stars with its brilliance, so Jesus stands unrivaled in all of history.
Caleb Drahosh \ In John 1:29, John the Baptist makes a very important declaration as he introduces Jesus: "Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world." Jesus is God’s perfect provision that will bring all kinds of people back into relationship with God by taking their sins upon Himself as a substitutionary sacrifice.
Caleb Drahosh \ This passage explores the testimony of John the Baptist when questioned by men sent by the Pharisees. John explains that he has one purpose––he is the voice crying out in the wilderness, "Make straight the way of the Lord." He does not take glory for himself, but in humility points to the One to whom all the glory and honor is due: Jesus Christ.
Caleb Drahosh \ In Psalm 110 we meet a King who King David calls, "my Lord." This King's authority comes from Yahweh, His reign is over all, and He is a priest in the order of Melchizedek. This King is Jesus Christ, sent by God, established as King, who offered Himself as the once-and-for-all sacrifice to set His people apart.
Kalen Heller \ Psalm 8 is a hymn of praise, enabling the Lord’s people to celebrate their privileged place in the created order, which speaks of the glorious Creator. As God’s people, we have been crowned with glory and honor to enact dominion over the LORD’s creation. The Psalmist also speaks of our weakness and sin, but as followers of Jesus Christ, we have been crowned with glory and honor to display before a broken world the power and majesty of the Name that is above every other name.
John Baumgartner \ Psalm 40 is a Psalm of waiting. David is waiting for God to deliver him in the middle of an unknown trial. He reminds himself how the LORD has delivered him before and will do it again. In faith David hopes for deliverance and praises God. By the Holy Spirit, David prophesied of the great deliverance to come in Jesus Christ. Because Christ has delivered us, we can pray and wait and hope even in the midst of suffering just as David did.
Caleb Drahosh \ King David writes Psalm 13 while facing difficulty, trial, or suffering. Four times he asks God, “How long, O Lord?” seeking answers. He cries out to God in his desperation. Ultimately King David resolves to trust, rejoice, and sing. Because of God’s kindness shown to us in Jesus Christ, we can do the same. During Advent we praise God that Jesus Christ came to this earth to deal with sin and death and we fix our hope on the promise of His return.
Caleb Drahosh \ As the Prologue draws to a close, John 1:18 brings things full circle reemphasizing God's sovereign self-expression seen clearly in the incarnate Word, Jesus Christ. There is no way to know God apart from Jesus; He has made God known to us. This verse serves as a clarion call to know God through His Word and resist the cultural forces that would seek to conform us to this world.
Caleb Drahosh \ In these verses John tells us that through Jesus Christ––who is full of all grace and truth––we have received a position of favor with God. Jesus Christ is an infinite well of grace and truth and all Christians are called to draw from Him for all of eternity. The grace upon grace that we have received shatters our entitlement by highlighting our insufficiency to keep the law and be right with God apart from Jesus Christ.
John Baumgartner \ In Psalm 2, God reveals the history of every nation and people, the secret motives behind all human actions, and the final end of every person who will ever live. Humanity since Adam has tried to overthrow God’s Kingdom and set up our own. But God is not threatened by our rebellion. He has set up His Kingdom with Christ as His King for all eternity. He could crush every rebellion immediately but instead has chosen to make Christ a refuge for all rebel sinners who abandon their rebellious ways and come to Him.
Caleb Drahosh \ This passage describes what is referred to as the incarnation. Jesus came to earth and took on flesh in order that we could dwell with God the way that He intended and understand what it means to be fully human. It is in the incarnation that we see the supremacy of Christ in all things.
Caleb Drahosh \ Jesus Christ came into the world to expose the things we rely on to make us right with God but have no power to do so. We are given the right to become children of God through new birth—that is not brought about by our family name or physical birth or the resolve of any man—but rather it is brought about by God’s gracious will through faith in Jesus Christ. This new birth gives us the freedom to "do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith."
Mark Reeves \ We tend to think of our lives as our own. We have our dreams, our desires, our goals and ambitions. Even for those of us who profess Christ as savior, realizing that our life’s story matters only as it is intertwined with Christ’s story can prove to be a long and difficult journey. The Apostle Paul understood this. It took a confrontation with Jesus that left him temporarily blind and thirteen years of re-thinking his life-story while he made tents for a living. But in the end he understood his role in Christ’s story.
John Baumgartner \ Paul wrote this letter to the Colossians in order to combat the false teachings that were threatening the fledgling church there. Some were trying to add manmade regulations and teachings to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul emphasized that though these added teachings seemed wise, they were powerless to free the Colossians from their sin. The only hope for holiness and joy in life comes from understanding more and more who we are in Christ. We will only grow in holiness if we abandon our program of self-help and set our minds on beholding and loving Jesus as He comes to us in the Gospel.
Caleb Drahosh // In this passage Paul prays for strength for the Ephesians to comprehend the vastness and to know intimately the love of Christ. When God's people journey into seeking to know God in this way, the natural outworking is worship. Or we could say, theology leads to doxology. God has done some amazing things in the first five years of BCC. Would we dare to pray that God would give us the strength, determination, and resolve to comprehend the vastness of Christ’s love and know Christ’s love intimately so that we might worship Him more fully?
Caleb Drahosh \ In this text we're introduced to John the Baptist. He was not the light but—like a road sign—points us to the light. We tend to think of the road sign as the destination and stop short of that which God is pointing us toward. Even so, God graciously and continuously shows Himself to us through Scripture and through His good gifts and brings us to our destination which is the redemption revealed to us in Jesus.
Caleb Drahosh \ Jesus Christ—God's sovereign self-expression—is the agency behind creation. Nothing that exists does so outside of God's Word bringing it into existence; nothing exists that doesn't have Jesus Christ as its source. All life was created through Jesus and Jesus is the only way to have eternal life.
Caleb Drahosh \ Through opening his account of the life of Jesus by writing "in the beginning," John takes us back to the very first words of Scripture. The One John writes about was there "in the beginning"; Jesus was present at creation. But Jesus wasn't just present. John calls Jesus "the Word" which is God's powerful, unstoppable, self-expression which exists in eternity, in community, and in unity. The Word is God’s sovereign self-expression. The Word is Jesus Christ.
Caleb Drahosh \ When the Pharisees and scribes grumbled about Jesus' interactions with tax collectors and sinners, Jesus told them two parables. A shepherd, when one of his 100 sheep went astray, he sought it out and rejoiced over its restoration. A woman, when one of her 10 coins was lost, sought it out and rejoiced when it was found. Jesus is the Good Shepherd who tracks down all of His who wander; He never loses any of them. Jesus rejoices over the restoration of those of His who were lost. And in Jesus, the one who wanders and the one who is lost is given worth, meaning, and purpose.
Caleb Drahosh \ Jesus tells this simple parable to encourage His disciples when difficulty, suffering, calamity, and all kinds of hardship come their way. The present reality of these signs indicate that Jesus' return is near, just like budding leaves on the fig tree indicate summer is near. Jesus' word is trustworthy and sure because He forged the way, enduring great suffering on our account. He is God and the Word of our God will stand forever.
Caleb Drahosh \ This parable consists of a man taking a journey, getting mugged, a priest and a Levite––two religious juggernauts––passing by him, and a Samaritan––and outcast––coming finally to his aid. Prior to Christ, we were like the man beaten and left for dead. In fact, we were worse off––we were dead. But Jesus, the Holy One of Israel––who would be treated like an outsider––came to us and––according to God's mercy––bound up our wounds and offered us healing through His work on the cross. It is out of this demonstration of mercy that we are able to love our neighbor by reflecting God's mercy shown to us in Christ.
John Baumgartner \ In this parable, Jesus uses the familiar picture of a wedding to warn us to be ready for His return. Like the bridegroom in this parable, Jesus will return at an unexpected time. We must be ready for His return now or we will be left out of His kingdom just like the foolish virgins. And how can we be ready for Him? Only by totally trusting in what He has done to save us.
Caleb Drahosh \ In this parable, Jesus tells us about a man who entrusted three of his servants with his property. The first two act as good stewards of the portion given to them, while the other one fails to steward his portion well. Everything in creation belongs to God and He entrusts us with a portion of His resources. The parable calls us to be good stewards of what God has given us and warns us of failing to use these gifts for His service.
Caleb Drahosh \ In this parable, Jesus tells us about two men––a Pharisee and a tax collector. Pharisees were highly regarded in Jesus' day while tax collectors were hated. But Jesus turns this understanding on its head. The tax collector acts humbly, while the Pharisee acts pridefully. The humility demonstrated by the tax collector is the evidence of God's merciful activity on his behalf––the Pharisee on the other hand, trusts in his self-righteousness to be justified. The tax collector goes home justified, while the Pharisee does not.
Caleb Drahosh \ Luke indicates that this parable was told by Jesus in order that we would pray and not lose heart. There are two characters: a widow and a judge. The judge is not just, but still administers justice when the widow persists in her requests. If this unjust man could dispense justice, how much more will our righteous God who is for those who are marginalized like the widow?
Kalen Heller \ The parable of the Prodigal Son is a story about a loving Dad and his two wayward boys. Throughout the parable Jesus tells His audience about the consequences for those who are full of discontentment or self-righteousness. The dad in the parable provides believers with a model for living a life saturated with grace.
Caleb Drahosh \ This parable is a response to a demand that Jesus mediate a dispute over inheritances. The parable helps us understand better covetousness and contentment. Jesus boosts our understanding by reminding us that life does not consist of the the accumulation of temporary material wealth. Rather, the call is to be rich toward God.
John Baumgartner \ In this parable, Jesus shows us the immeasurable forgiveness God has given us. Because of God’s mercy, He forgave us more than we could ever repay. Jesus warns us against receiving such amazing forgiveness but refusing to forgive others. If we do not forgive others, God will not forgive us. No one who receives Jesus’ love can bear to keep it to themselves.
Blaze Culliton \ Aligning with the other kingdom parables, these parables reveal that the kingdom of heaven will look different than we anticipate. Those who give up all things for the Gospel will receive all things in the treasure of the Gospel. The parable of the net provides a reminder of the Final Judgement. When Jesus asks if we understand Him, our answer comes from faith in Him and not in our own abilities. The old covenants and Law and our old selves come along with the new – the new covenant in Christ Jesus and our new selves adopted into the kingdom - for us to fully know and cherish the treasure of Christ Jesus.
Caleb Drahosh \ Each of these parables shows us what the kingdom of heaven is like. Jesus wants his followers to see that the kingdom of heaven will look different than they anticipate. Good and evil will still be present together in the world. It will seem small and unproductive. But God will take what appears to our human minds to be polluted, insignificant, and inefficient and through it establish and realize His perfect kingdom.
Caleb Drahosh \ This parable teaches us that the Word of God is spread among all kinds of people, but not all respond the same. Sometimes the word falls among those who ignore it entirely. Sometimes the word falls among those who show initial excitement but quickly find other things. Sometimes the word fall among those who cannot swallow the depth of discipleship required to follow Jesus. But sometimes the word falls on good soil and it grows and bears fruit. What does it look like to bear fruit? To live a life of repentance, maturity, and perseverance. And it means that we abandon all else for Jesus Christ.
Caleb Drahosh \ As we see Noah's descendants populating the earth, we learn in Genesis 10 that they have different languages, clans, lands, and nations (10:5,20,31). The tower of Babel provides us with the event that divided the peoples of the earth into sub-groups. In the text, the pride of the people manifests itself in a desire for systemic autonomy that does not include God. And so God divides people and scatters them across the earth. This event provides us with the ability to see that human achievement will not unify us. It is only the gospel of Jesus Christ that has the ability to ultimately unify us for eternity.
Caleb Drahosh \ Noah's great faith, demonstrated in earlier chapters, did not make him immune to the devastating effects of sin in his personal life. This text parallels the Fall recorded in chapter 3. Like Adam, Noah finds himself ashamed of his nakedness, humiliated by his son, Ham. Noah's sons Shem and Japheth provide a covering for their Father and their lines receive blessings, while Ham's line receives a curse. Just like Noah, and Adam before him, we need a covering for our sin and shame. It is the righteousness of Christ that clothes us and makes us whole.
Caleb Drahosh \ God makes good on His promise and blots out every living thing on the face of the earth. All except for Noah and Noah's family; God remembers Noah. God delivers His people through adversity—and Noah had faith that God would deliver him. Do you struggle to believe that God has not forgotten you? God is faithful to all the promises He has made in His Word and will fulfill them all because He is God.
Caleb Drahosh \ Despite God's vow to blot out man from the face of the earth, Noah found favor in the eyes of God and therefore God committed to deliver Noah and his family. God gives Noah the details of how it will happen; Noah and his family will pass through the waters of judgment in a vessel constructed according to God's standards. God is a God who delivers—and He does so specifically; His way is best and will lead to salvation.
Caleb Drahosh \ After being exiled from the garden, Adam and Eve had two sons––Cain and Abel. Both men offered worship to God. Abel worshiped God in God's way, through faith, while Cain worshiped God in his own way. Abel's worship was accepted and Cain's was not regarded. As a result, Cain's sin compounded and ended in the murder of Abel.
Caleb Drahosh \ In these verses, we see three biblical themes introduced: faith, sacrifice, and exile. By faith, Adam believed the promises of God, that through a sin-atoning sacrifice God would bring His people out of exile and restore them to the garden. Jesus Christ is that sin-atoning sacrifice, the One to whom Christians are joined by faith, and the One who delivers His people from the tyranny of sin and death.
Caleb Drahosh \ In these verses, God turns to address Adam. Adam bears the most responsibility for the introduction of sin into the world because he received the Word of God directly and yet he rebelled. And so God's creative order was fully disrupted. As a result, God cursed the ground so that Adam's charge to have dominion over creation would be riddled with pain and difficulty. And then we're introduced to the final enemy: death. This enemy will pull us all back into the very ground from which we came.
Caleb Drahosh \ In this verse, God addresses the woman. Two things are disrupted here for Eve. First, she will experience pain in childbearing. And secondly, she will be drawn to usurp her husband's leadership. Two of the great blessings given to Eve––displayed in marriage and childbearing––are now laden with difficulty because of Eve's rebellion. Nevertheless, God's promise to Eve is intact: her offspring would end the tyranny of death that her actions brought about.
Caleb Drahosh \ In this text, God turns and addresses the serpent. The serpent disrupted God's created order by assuming a position over God's image bearers, and so God curses him. But within the curse there is an incredible promise––God intended to send Jesus to crush the serpent's head and restore that which would be lost because of sin.
Caleb Drahosh \ After the man and woman sin, God shows up. They hide, but God finds them. And rather than confess their sin, Adam and Eve seek to justify themselves. God does not deal with Adam and Eve harshly however; He kindly draws them out. In Romans 2, Paul says that it's the kindness of God that brings us to repentance. We regularly shift the blame for our sin off of ourselves, but even still, God, in His immense kindness, sent Jesus to be our justification.
Caleb Drahosh \ The first seven verses of Genesis 3 describe for us the events through which sin is introduced into the world. The serpent deceives the woman by making counterclaims to the God's commands given in Genesis 2, effectively undermining the belief in God's generosity and goodness. As a result, the woman takes and eats of the tree and shares with Adam, who in willful rebellion, also eats.
Caleb Drahosh \ God made man in His image to represent and reflect Him in creation, to work and keep the garden, and to establish families which would continue to carry out God's purposes. And although sin would enter the world in Genesis 3, Jesus came to earth and lived as the new and better Adam; He would carry out God's purposes in creation perfectly. And He would become the way that we are brought back to God's original design ultimately realized in New Creation.
Caleb Drahosh \ After creating everything in chapter 1, Genesis 2:1-3 records God resting from His work. Once the work is finished, God sets aside a day for the purpose of rest and He also welcomes His people into rest. We are commanded to set a special day aside each week for the express purpose of worshiping together as God's people. While our work here on earth doesn't end, God's creation work and His redemptive work are finished.
Caleb Drahosh \ Once the stage is set in 1:1-2, God speaks into existence everything that exists. God chooses to create through His word and everything that He creates by His word He calls good. On the sixth day, God created man and woman in His image. Humans are created beings, made from dust, and yet bear the Imago Dei. We see the power and grace of God, demonstrated in His word.
Caleb Drahosh \ The first few verses of the Bible introduce us to a Creator God. We find in Genesis 1:1-2 the story of how things began, not just a take on it, but the objective truth: "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth." God is the main character of the Bible––His creative acts are what begin His story. We are woven into this story and we find all that we are in who He is.
Caleb Drahosh \ What is the result of the inbreaking of Jesus into our world at Christmas? The result is the complete certainty of the promise of the realization of hope. Our hope is that God, through the atoning work of Jesus, will set things back to the way that they were originally intended. We often settle for lesser hopes—the weekend, a vacation, a clean bill of health. But God is diligently and eagerly bringing about a greater hope. Newness, joy, delight, and eternal satisfaction are ours in Christ Jesus.
Caleb Drahosh \ When we act sinfully, we are prone to shift the blame; we seek to justify our actions and attitudes. But just shifting the blame onto others or self-justifying can't actually deal with the underlying problem. Isaiah knows that sin and guilt are the problems and the only way that these can be dealt with is through substitutionary sacrifice. So he introduces us to the Servant, Jesus Christ, the One who would stand in for us and bear all of the suffering and affliction that was rightfully ours. However, this Servant isn't to be pitied; He is to be praised. “Therefore God has highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name that is above every name (Philippians 2:9).”
Caleb Drahosh \ We long for things to be right in our world. We desire the end of conflict, injustice, exploitation, pain, suffering, and fear; we desire to find rest, security, satisfaction, and wholeness. In short, we long for Shalom––the realization of all of these desires. But who has the power to bring about Shalom? God does and He does it through Jesus Christ. What does Shalom look like? It looks like a sapling in a felled forest. A small start––a baby in a manger––that leads to the whole earth being covered with the knowledge of God. Jesus stands at the center of it, as a signal to the nations. Come and see what God has done; through a tiny child He brings about Shalom for His people.
Sermon audio starts at 1:03:53
Caleb Drahosh \ God's jealousy is our joy. Isaiah writes in 9:7 that it is the zeal––or the jealousy––of the Lord that will accomplish God's purposes. God’s purpose is to passionately acquire that which is rightfully His: glory, honor, praise, and worship. Because of sin, things aren’t right, but God is bent on making things right. And when God acts on His jealousy, the result is our joy. Nothing could be greater for us than for God to act according to who He is. God sent Jesus, a child born unto us, in order to carry out God’s plan, make things right, and end the oppression of sin and death. Therefore, our joy is increased.
Caleb Drahosh \ Disciples are hearers and doers. They are men and women who are strengthened by grace, prepared to suffer the loss of all things, and are continually remembering and meditating on God and what He has done on their behalf in Christ as revealed in Scripture. As those who humbly see themselves as part of Jesus’ story and not their own, disciples naturally make disciples by pointing others to the infinite worth of Jesus Christ with their words and with their lives.
Therefore, at Buffalo City Church we state our mission in this way: we exist to make disciples who make disciples of Jesus Christ.
***Sermon Audio starts at 1:26:30
Blaze Culliton // Being radical in mission requires an understanding of the mission: to bear witness to Jesus Christ as fulfillment of the Scriptures in the immediate community and abroad. Or in other words to make disciples who make disciples of Jesus Christ. As followers of Christ and members of the local church, we have been given the knowledge, understanding and conviction of the mission in knowing the what (witness), the where (everywhere) and the who (everyone) with which to share the Gospel message. We are to be radical––far-reaching and complete––in the mission through the power of the Holy Spirit and under the authority of Jesus Christ. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that Jesus has commanded.
Caleb Drahosh \ God the Father, God the Son, and God the Spirit set the precedent for the fellowship we strive for as a community of faith. The Triune God is three distinct persons, but possess one unequivocally unified nature. We both recognize that those who comprise the local church are created in the image of God and therefore seek to reflect the divine unity of the Godhead, and also inhabit sinful flesh and must rely wholly on the Spirit of Christ to unite.
As God’s people, we are commanded to cultivate unity which requires a thorough investment in the lives of our Christian brothers and sisters as well as the life of the local church. As the body of Christ, we rejoice with those who rejoice, mourn with those who mourn, and spur on to greater godliness and holy living.
Mark Reeves \ God’s pursuit of praise from us and our pursuit of pleasure in him are one and the same pursuit. God’s quest to be glorified and our quest to be satisfied reach their goal in this one experience: our delight in God, which overflows in praise.
As Buffalo City Church, we desire to be faithful in worship. Faithfulness in participation in the weekly worship gathering is a sure indicator of the fervor for Christ which exists in the heart of one who claims to be a Christ-follower; a life ordered around worship is consistently oriented toward God.
Caleb Drahosh \ The Word of God, the 66 books that make up the Old and New Testament, is given to us in order that we might know God and know what He requires. It is without error, inspired by God, and is the basis for all of preaching, teaching, discipleship, and evangelism.
As Buffalo City Church, Scripture is our foundation. It is given to us so that we might be taught, reproved, corrected, and trained in righteousness as those who are freed by the Gospel to live lives that glorify and enjoy God through obedience to His commands.
Caleb Drahosh \ The Gospel is the good news that despite our sin and sinfulness, God sent His Son, Jesus, to earth to live a life of perfect obedience and to die the death that we deserve––the righteous for the unrighteous––so that if we trust Jesus and turn from our sin we will be saved.
As Buffalo City Church, this truth must be central: it is not our performance that saves us, but it's the work of Jesus on our behalf. The Gospel frees us to live lives that are gracious and godly because we are accepted and approved by God through Jesus Christ; Gospel-centeredness is the attempt to be a church that reflects this truth in everything we say and do.
Caleb Drahosh \ At the end of the book of Ecclesiastes, we find the voice that introduced the Preacher in 1:1. This voice gives us insight into the whole duty of man: to fear God and keep His commandments. We fear God and keep His commands by first delighting in the formational, firm, and final Word of Truth.
Caleb Drahosh \ While life includes the cheer of youth, the Preacher is urging us to be reminded of our mortality – exhibited by the evidences of old age and death – as a way to remember our Creator and rejoice in our youth. We remember our Creator in light of the truth of the Gospel and what Christ has done on our behalf, overcoming sin and death so that our future is not defined by vanity of youth or aging and death, but the promise of eternal life in Christ Jesus.
Caleb Drahosh \ We often choose the things we do based on return on investment. Conversely, the Preacher tells us that we should "cast our bread upon the waters." When it comes to following Jesus, we should invest all that we are and all that we have boldly, wisely, and faithfully––even when the risk seems too high. Why can we confidently invest this way? Because the results are up to God and the return is not in the here and now, but guaranteed in eternity.
John Baumgartner \ Even though wisdom cannot ultimately solve the problem caused by sin, which is death, it does prevent the pervasiveness of sin and help one live a godly life. The Preacher gives us this list of proverbs to train us in wisdom. And while we cannot live so wisely as to escape life under the sun, Christ lived in perfect wisdom. Because He suffered life under the sun and tasted death, He can offer freedom from the vanity under the sun.
Caleb Drahosh \ Our society often applauds those who do big, fast, and notable things. The Preacher shows us that a life that is approved by God is content doing small, slow, and anonymous things. By taking the practical steps to slow down, stay small, and embrace anonymity we will grow in our ability to live into God-approved activities: eating joyfully, drinking merrily, celebrating enthusiastically, loving undividedly, and working heartily.
Caleb Drahosh \ We are all created with the desire for approval. We tend to seek approval in places that cannot fully offer it: other people, our work, our selves. God is our only true and lasting source of approval, and the approval of God comes to us freely through Jesus Christ. The Preacher directs us to learn to live in light of God's approval by flourishing in approved activities: eating joyfully, drinking merrily, celebrating enthusiastically, loving undividedly, and working heartily.
Caleb Drahosh \ God created us in His image; He gave us abilities of which to make use and we are called to use them well. But these abilities have limits; we exist under authority, injustice is a reality, and time ticks on death closes in on all of us. But God is not bound like we are. Wisdom acknowledges our creaturely limits, the limits of wisdom itself, and finds joy in God, the One who sustains us.
Caleb Drahosh \ This world is full of paradoxes. Godly men and women may die young, while tyrants and dictators may live to a ripe old age. There's no secret formula to circumvent this reality. How should we live in light of this understanding? Recognize the paradoxes, reject super-righteous responses, and remain in awe of God.
Sermon audio begins at: 1:38:10
Caleb Drahosh \ The Preacher asks, "What is good for man?" And while he's not able to answer the question in an ultimate sense, he does draw a specific conclusion: God has set the times of prosperity and the times of adversity; therefore, joy and good can be found in both. Finding joy and good in both times of prosperity and in times of adversity gives us the ability to see what is better here under the sun and then––ultimately––what is best beyond this life.
Mark Reeves \ The Preacher urges the reader to find satisfaction in God, rather than in money and possessions. There is no satisfaction to be found "under the sun" apart from our relationship with Christ and the work of the cross in our lives, for in Christ alone "dwells all the fullness of Deity in bodily form, and we are complete in him." (Colossians 2:9)
Caleb Drahosh \ The Preacher is a realist when it comes to church; he understands that people are sinful and they don't always approach congregational worship––and life in general––with the intentionality that it requires. Therefore, it is the responsibility of every believer to vigilantly guard his or her steps and his or her speech at all times. What motivates guarded speech and guarded steps? The fear of the Lord––knowing who He is, and knowing who we are in light of who He is.
Blaze Culliton \ Rugged individualism, greed, discontent, pride, material wealth, and the pursuit of fame are foolish and futile. Companionship, community and humility are gifts of wisdom from the Lord. However, neither foolishness nor wisdom can prevent death and therefore are vanity. So we look to the giver in Christ Jesus and not the gift for our salvation and joy.
John Baumgartner \ Solomon, when faced with the reality of Injustice and vanity, strengthens his heart by reflecting on the truth of God’s judgement, God’s purposes, and God’s gift. Injustice will not reign forever because one day God will judge the righteous and the wicked. Yet for now we should learn to be humble, because suffering and death happen to everyone. And as we humbly live in this world under the curse of sin, we must work rightly, and take joy in our work, for that is God’s gift.
Caleb Drahosh \ Just as we observe seasons in a calendar year, so our lives have seasons. God gives us the ability to recognize the season we are in and has made beauty there (11). Often we are pushed to look beyond our current season, and long for a time past or a time future. The Preacher knows that eternity resides in our heart (11), yet we can fathom neither eternity past nor eternity future. The result is twofold: 1) we are joyfully content with what has been given in the current season (12-13); and 2) we stand in awe of the sheer magnitude of God (14).
Caleb Drahosh \ The Preacher tests more things under the sun to find if they are examples of vanity. Despite taking wisdom and applying it properly, the Preacher recognizes that "the same event happens to all of them (2:14)": death. And despite being hard-working, everything the Preacher works for will be enjoyed by someone else once he dies. And so he draws the conclusion that we should enjoy gifts from God because "apart from [God] who can eat or who can have enjoyment? (2:25)"
Caleb Drahosh \ The Preacher describes all as vanity, but what are some of the meaningless pursuits he goes after? He names wisdom and indulgence. Despite being the wisest, most-experienced man to ever live, the Preacher is a limited creature who is unable to bring about the results he desires. And despite being a wealthy man who did not keep himself from anything his heart desired, the Preacher found pleasure to be limited and unable to bring about the satisfaction his heart longed for. We may gain wisdom and fleeting pleasures, but it cannot stave off death–everyone's end under the sun. And so our wisdom and our pleasure must not reside under the sun, but elsewhere.
**Sermon audio starts at 1:16:00
Caleb Drahosh \ What has true meaning, worth, or value? The Preacher of Ecclesiastes bemoans the meaninglessness, the futility, and the worthlessness of this world's contents. What is gained by all the hard work we do under the sun? The answer is nothing. Through exploring that which is meaningless, futile, or worthless, we get closer in our journey to understanding what isn't.
Caleb Drahosh \ At the end of Paul's first letter to the Corinthians, he encourages the congregation to do everything in love. Love should compel us as a church. Scripture shows us that God is rich in love–the ultimate expression coming in the Gospel. Paul wraps up his letter by giving a few practical ways we can reflect God's love: giving of what we’ve been given with no thought of return, growing spiritually under the direction of spiritual leadership, and celebrating the good that God is doing through others in our midst.
Caleb Drahosh \ The Doctrine of the Resurrection stands at the heart of the Christian faith. Paul unpacks this doctrine across the whole of 1 Corinthians 15. Jesus died and was raised; hundreds of people witnessed this reality. His resurrection guarantees the forgiveness of our sin and gives all of life meaning. At Jesus' second coming, we will immediately be raised in bodies like his which are imperishable, glorious, powerful, and perfectly in tune with God Himself. Therefore, in Christ we have nothing to fear because Jesus perfectly atoned for our sins and death is openly mocked. In Christ, we have everything and now can live Christ-exalting lives of self-sacrifice.
Caleb Drahosh \ We don't reflect on death much in our culture; in fact, often we treat death as something to avoid for as long as possible. Marketing frequently appeals to youth and anti-aging; we are told that our best life can be had now. The Corinthians thought that they had already obtained the resurrection of the dead; some even openly denied a future resurrection. Paul offers a corrective by reminding them of the importance of the Gospel, their union with Christ in the resurrection, and the beauty of Jesus as the forerunner of their resurrection. It is only through Christ that eternal life comes to those who are in Christ. We grow in our love for the Gospel when we reflect on the reality that Jesus made the end no longer the end.
Caleb Drahosh \ All who are in Christ have been given the Holy Spirit and the Holy Spirit has given each a spiritual gift. It is important that these spiritual gifts–along with everything that is given by God–not be used haphazardly, but decently and in order, for the building up of the church. Why? Because God is a God of peace; he is not a God of confusion. Confusion and chaos in the local church come as a result of self-focus, but peace and order are established when we love one another.
John Baumgartner \ As Christians, we earnestly want to experience God. The Corinthians were in the midst of great manifestations of the Holy Spirit among them. But Paul issues a warning: he tells the Corinthians if they want to experience God they should seek to build up the church. The best way to build up the church is through loving one another. How does love cause us to live? By using the gifts of the Holy Spirit to build up the body of Christ and by pursuing maturity in our thinking.
Caleb Drahosh \ The gifts of the Holy Spirit are giving to all that are in Christ and are used to build up the body. But Paul says that there is an even better, more excellent way: love. Love for one another is the mark of maturity in the Christian life, not spiritual gifts. As we move from milk to solid food–from childhood to adulthood–love for our brothers and sisters in Christ will become increasingly evident. Love is the choicest fruit on the immovable oak rooted firmly next to streams of living water.
Caleb Drahosh \ What is form of the local church? How is the local church meant to function together? Paul tells the Corinthians that they–as individuals in the local church–are all given a gift from the Holy Spirit to use to do intentional spiritual good to one another. Not everyone is given the same gift. The body is diverse; not every part has the same form or function, but they are all contributing to the life of the body. We are members of one another, seeking the common good and unity of the body as a whole.
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Caleb Drahosh \ The Lord's Supper is an important piece of congregational worship; we are called to remember Christ's sacrifice through it. Paul instructs the Corinthians regarding their approach to the Lord's Table. They came flippantly, considering only themselves and their own individual desires. But Pauls says it shouldn't be this way; he calls the Corinthians–and subsequently us–to be unified in the meal, mindful of the history, and discerning of the body. The local church must have a high view of the Lord's Supper, thinking about Christ's sacrifice and its total effect on the body.
**Skip to minute 51 to hear the audio
Caleb Drahosh \ At the end of Luke's Gospel, two travelers find themselves on the road to Emmaus. These men meet the risen Christ who interprets the Scriptures for them, intimately breaks bread with them, and affects their hearts deeply. Similarly, we are invited through God's Word, to walk with the resurrected Christ in ever deepening intimacy as our affections for Him are sparked and fanned into flame.
Caleb Drahosh \ The ideas of gender as a social construct and sex as biologically negotiable have grown significantly in our culture over the past decade. Issues of sex and gender can be found in headlines and have been the topic of debate in all areas of society, even in Christian circles. Not unlike us, the church in Corinth experienced their own issues concerning sex and gender. Paul affirms before the Corinthians that there are two genders–male and female. Both are equally made in God's image and both have complementing roles to one another. How men and women relate to one another–in marriage and in the church–sends a profound message about what we believe to be true about God and Jesus Christ.
When Jesus rode into Jerusalem mere days before being crucified, He foreshadowed a much greater coming: His return for His bride, the Church. Our maleness or femaleness does not belong to us, but to God. It is given to us as His image bearers to picture His redemptive work in history.
Caleb Drahosh \ We aspire to be like and seek to imitate people we observe all the time. And others inevitably imitate us. Paul calls the Corinthians to imitate him as he imitates Christ. As Christians, we should be seeking and setting Christlike examples. This is our purpose: God loved us first and now we have the great privilege of loving others with the same love in order that we might show each other and the world who Jesus is and that we are His disciples.
Blaze Culliton \ Although we have all been given access to God through Jesus Christ, we still inhabit sinful flesh and need help to overcome temptation and sin. With that, we proclaim in unity that Jesus Christ is the one who has overcome. We have an escape against all temptation and sin as we serve our one master Christ Jesus. Turn away from idols and fully trust him, proclaiming with your life what has been accomplished on your behalf by Jesus Christ on the cross.
Caleb Drahosh \ As Christians, we are free from sin and free to live in the way that God designed for us. Paul recognized this; he was free to exercise certain rights as an apostle (e.g. financial support) but realized exercising those rights might lead to potential obstacles in his Gospel proclamation. He was willing to give up everything to ensure that he ran a race worthy of receiving a prize. His mission was to proclaim the Gospel and he resolved to be as flexible and adaptable as necessary in order to avoid creating unnecessary obstacles. We are to follow Paul's example, giving up whatever is necessary to ensure our Gospel proclamation is not hindered.
Caleb Drahosh \ Being leads to doing; who we are in Christ leads us to live God-honoring, Christ-exalting lives on mission. God chooses to make use of us as the means to bear witness about Jesus so that the world might believe. We are a distinct people, set apart for to glorify God through making disciples by proclaiming the Word.
Caleb Drahosh \ We are often inclined to seek earthly things, but Paul reminds the church in Colossae that their identity, as those who have been raised with Christ, grants them the ability to seek things that are above. As the local church, we must seek Christ letting His peace rule in our hearts, letting his word dwell in us richly, and doing everything in the His name.
Caleb Drahosh \ As a church, how will we view ourselves and one another? In John 17, Jesus prays specifically for His followers, that they would have unity and that unity would flow from the understanding of the oneness of God. Will we view one another as those who have been purchased by the blood of Jesus and set apart to glorify God? Or something else?
Caleb Drahosh \ We all make a lot of assumptions in our daily life, assumptions that are not always motivated by love. Paul wants the Corinthians to notice that they are called to build one another up in love and not to be puffed up with knowledge. Being right with the information makes little difference if our hearts are wrongly motivated.
Caleb Drahosh \ Have you ever felt as though your social status prevents you from being effective in making disciples? Paul tells the Corinthians that they can bring God glory wherever they find themselves in life. Marital status, employment status, etc.: find contentment there. Seek faithfulness and contentment no matter your place in society.
Caleb Drahosh \ We are inclined to demand our rights, but–as those who are in Christ–we should quickly and freely give them up. Paul tells the Corinthians how they should respond to being wronged or defrauded: to love one another. This is how Jesus tells us the world will know us–if we have love for one another. Jesus humbled Himself beyond anything we can imagine for the sake of His bride, the church. We are called to follow Him into this humility.
Caleb Drahosh \ Unrepentant sin dramatically affects the health of a church. Paul received a report that unchecked, unrepentant sin was present in the life of the Corinthian church and so he prescribes disciplinary action to preserve the body. In the local church, sin must be dealt with properly and not allowed to linger in order that the church may continue in faithful pursuit of the mission.
Blaze Culliton \ In our flesh and a worldly perspective, we are drawn to what the world sees as power (intellect, wealth, respect from others and comfort). Paul implores the Corinthians to be unified in the power of Christ and therefore, to identify with Christ in humility. As a primary disciple maker for the Corinthians, he asks them to follow him as he follows Jesus.
Caleb Drahosh \ What do we think of when we think about stewardship? In 1 Corinthians, Paul indicates that he and Apollos (and others) were stewards of the Gospel. What is the primary measurement of success for a steward? Faithfulness. We are called to faithful stewardship of the Gospel: the message of God's free gift of salvation is given to all who are in Christ to wield in the disciple-making mission.
Caleb Drahosh \ The Gospel is foundational for all who are in Christ. Paul laid a foundation of Jesus Christ for the Corinthians; it couldn't be undone. But the materials that are used to build upon that foundation have varying degrees of longevity which will ultimately be tested by fire. The teaching that happens in the local church will be tested by fire–that which is according to Scripture will remain and that which is out-of-line with Scripture will be burned up. All Christians must take extreme caution when building through offering instruction–the building materials should match the precious foundation.
Caleb Drahosh \ The world regularly appeals to our flesh to elevate people above their God-given role and often can lead to jealousy and strife. But Paul reminds the Corinthians that they are to view the men who carried the Gospel to them as God's servants–or vessels–and not those with whom they should identify. Immaturity lazily follows the vessel. But one of the marks of Christian maturity is moving from milk to meat; that is, understanding the basics of who God has revealed Himself to be in His Word and pursuing the depths of those truths.
Cody Weckerly \ God proves his wisdom and power in the gospel in two ways so that every person would boast only in his wisdom and power, instead of in people. God proves his wisdom and power in his concealing the gospel and in his revealing the gospel.
Caleb Drahosh \ Christmas is a proclamation of good news; it's announces that God is mighty to save. And we, as God's people, have been given the immense privilege of pointing all people to our God.
Caleb Drahosh \ We are often tempted to think that it's our positive qualities that caused God to redeem us. Paul says to the Corinthians that this is not the case; God was not strong-armed into sending His Son to die because of our wisdom, or power, or birth status. It was exclusively because of the great love with which He loved us; not earned, but freely given.
Caleb Drahosh \ Sometimes we desire a sanitized or more culturally acceptable version of the Gospel. The Gospel unites–yes–but it also appears like foolishness to some and operates as a stumbling block to others. Paul reminds the Corinthians that–prior to the work of the Spirit that joined them to Christ–they also regarded the Gospel as foolishness. Therefore, all glory is due to God and human boasting is eliminated.
Caleb Drahosh \ The process that we go though to be made holy (sanctification) is slow. When Paul writes to the Corinthian believers, he does so with full knowledge of the glut of problems–both in idea and practice–that the church was experiencing. But Paul knew who God had made them and was making them in Christ Jesus. The power of the Gospel is a slow, overwhelming power. When it appears that evil is winning or sin is getting the best of us, we must be assured that the Gospel is at work; "it does not transform the character of men or the state of society in a moment; but it keeps up a continual conflict with evil until it is finally overcome (Hodge, Charles. "Commentary on 1 & 2 Corinthians")."
Caleb Drahosh \ When we think about being rich, we usually think about it in a financial sense. But Paul tells Timothy it is more important to be rich in good works and in generosity. Use of finances in the way God intended has eternal impact; the way money has importance beyond this present age is through a biblically informed use of it.
Caleb Drahosh \ We are often drawn to money as a source of security; and when we hope in money we find ourselves on unstable ground. Paul tells Timothy to charge believers to identify their tendency to set their hopes on riches and to fight that tendency. The enjoyment of the gifts that God provides in this life can come only when our hearts are aware that they cannot completely satisfy our deepest desires; it is only God can who can fully satisfy those longings.
Caleb Drahosh \ When corporate worship ends and our week begins, the order and orientation of our life often shifts away from God and onto other things. Psalm 134–the concluding Psalm of Ascent–invites us to stay vigilant and remember that we are called to bless the Lord: "think well of [the Lord], and speak well of Him. Adore Him with reverence, draw near to Him with love, delight in Him with exultation (Spurgeon, The Treasury of David)."
Caleb Drahosh \ In our heavily individualistic society, common direction is often an anomaly. But David calls God's people to share in and be directed by that which they are called––to love the Lord their God through the demonstration of love for neighbor. When love is displayed through genuine care and concern amongst God's people, the Gospel is proclaimed. Unity amongst brothers rejects societal ideals of self-pursuit and personal truths and rests in the reality that Jesus is better.
Caleb Drahosh \ As followers of Jesus, we have godly desires (e.g. the salvation of a family member or the spiritual development of a friend). But sometimes those desires, although godly desires, don't happen in the timing or the way we expect. David desired to secure a place for God to dwell among His people in the temple. He did not see the temple built in His lifetime, but the temple was not God's ultimate plan. God intends to dwell with His people in a way that David did not see–not in a house made with human hands, but through restoration and renewal achieved through the person and work of Jesus Christ.
Caleb Drahosh \ Our world feels increasingly complex to the point it can be debilitating. In Psalm 131 King David expresses a desire to humbly and simply know his God. We often tend toward overcomplicating our relationship with God, but for the one who is in Christ, relationship with God should be regarded with great humility by acknowledging its simplicity–as a child's relates to his or her mother.
Caleb Drahosh \ Forgiveness is one of the most difficult things in the Christian life. We often give in to ongoing bitterness or resentment when another wrongs us. But Psalm 130 makes it clear that God is a forgiving God; therefore, we are to faithfully forgive others. God's forgiveness for us is clearly seen in the Gospel; our sins are forgiven because of the sacrifice of the spotless lamb, Jesus Christ.
Mark Reeves \ Last week in Psalm 128 we were reminded: “Blessed is everyone who fears the Lord, who walks in his ways.” But it is impossible to understand - much less walk in - the ways of the Lord until we have some degree of understanding of our sin, and the cost of our redemption. Psalm 129 can be viewed in two ways: first, as a lament during adversity and oppression from the ungodly; second, as a prophetic forecasting of Christ and the Gospel message of redemption.
Blaze Culliton \ We often find ourselves striving to control our lives, keeping up our positive outward appearance. However, Solomon reminds us that the Lord is in control, commanding complete sovereignty over our circumstances and lives. He truly provides peace and rest, and without him our striving is in vain. Instead of anxiously striving for ourselves, we must rest in the person and work of Jesus Christ, who has made us daughters and sons of God.
Blaze Culliton \ We have overwhelming joy because of God’s restorative work on behalf of His people. We often pridefully forget the need we had for restoration in Christ, but He has graciously restored us to right relationship with Him through the person and work of Jesus.
Mark Reeves \ God promises to be a refuge and protector for his people. Though evil has been accorded–-by God’s sovereign will--temporary rule in this present age, it will not ultimately rule in the lives of His people. We enter into God’s protective custody when we learn to trust Him in all things and surrender our will to His leading.
Caleb Drahosh \ We sometimes buy into the notion that we need to make a name for ourselves in order have worth, or to be liked, or revered, or honored, etc. However, David sums up Psalm 124 by writing: “our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth.” All we need is found in who God is, not the name we can make for ourselves; the name we make for ourselves will never be enough. But God is always enough.
Caleb Drahosh \ The Psalmist pleads with God not based on what he thinks he deserves, but according to God’s merciful character.
Caleb Drahosh \ Gathering as God’s people to worship God provides us an anchor in the liturgy of life.
Caleb Drahosh \ The Psalmist asks from where his help comes. It's not the hills; it's God.
Caleb Drahosh \ The Psalmist finds himself sojourning in a place he doesn't want to be, longing for a better day.
Caleb Drahosh \ The book of Ruth mirrors redemptive history and pictures final fullness promised to us in eternity.
Caleb Drahosh \ Make God’s Word your food and you won’t compromise in moments of temptation. Boaz made God’s Word his food and he honored God even at midnight.
Caleb Drahosh \ Boaz is a worthy man in the light of day, will this pattern continue in the dark of night? It will; Boaz's godliness overshadows the flawed, reckless plan of Naomi. "The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps (Proverbs 16:9)."
Caleb Drahosh \ Ruth demonstrates wisdom by persisting in her mission and not losing heart despite having nothing.
Caleb Drahosh \ We are welcomed into God’s family through God’s favor displayed in a worthy man.
Caleb Drahosh \ We are welcomed into God’s family through God’s favor displayed in a worthy man.
Caleb Drahosh \ When food is scarce, vitality dwindles; therefore, feast on the bread of life.
Caleb Drahosh \ Grace moves us to recognize that we are called to devote ourselves to other followers of Jesus because we have been shown an immense measure of grace ourselves
Caleb Drahosh \ What’s happening in your life that you’re convinced you understand, but is simply unknowable by your finite mind?
Caleb Drahosh // A spirit soaked in the Word of God will be assured by God as one who has been sealed by the Spirit of Christ.
Caleb Drahosh \ "The apostle Paul sought assurance chiefly this way…He obtained assurance of winning the prize more by running than considering." –Jonathan Edwards
Caleb Drahosh \ "Assurance is not to be obtained so much by self-examination, as by action." –Jonathan Edwards
Caleb Drahosh \ We are united with Christ in his death and his resurrection which is all made possible by an empty tomb.
Caleb Drahosh \ Jesus' entry into Jerusalem, just days before His death, was only a taste of the triumph that would come: "Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied (Isaiah 53:11)."
Caleb Drahosh \ Just as God sent His Son to reconcile the world to Himself, Paul sends Onesimus back to Philemon to reconcile their broken relationship.
Caleb Drahosh \ Although Onesimus stole from Philemon, Paul takes the debt on himself. By doing so, he paints a picture of the redemption that comes through the Gospel.
Caleb Drahosh \ Although Onesimus was free for the first time, he came to realize that true freedom was not the ability to do that which he wanted, but to do that which was created for.
Caleb Drahosh \ Onesimus was transformed from one who had no use to his earthly master, to one who became of great use to Philemon and Paul in his service to the Gospel.
Caleb Drahosh \ Paul commends–and experiences great joy through–Philemon for his public faith which leads to love for others.
Caleb Drahosh \ The authority of Jesus surpassed all that the crowds understood or expected.
Caleb Drahosh // Building your house on the rock means hearing the words of Jesus and responding in faith.
Blaze Culliton \ As obedient children, we find our identity in the perfection of Jesus Christ.
Caleb Drahosh \ Kingdom citizens are actively living into obedience and not ignoring it–despite the difficulty.
Jesus calls us to do unto others that which we would have them do unto us which is directly opposed to individualism.
Caleb Drahosh \ "Jesus says the infallible test of spiritual integrity is your private prayer life." –Timothy Keller
Caleb Drahosh \ Christmas strengthens our confession that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God.
Blaze Culliton \ Peace doesn't come from our achievement or what we do. It comes only from the Lord.
Caleb Drahosh \ The imminence of God in Immanuel marks the culmination of the redemption of God's people.
Caleb Drahosh \ Jesus calls His followers not to pass harsh or quick judgment or act hypocritically.
Caleb Drahosh \ Jesus wants His followers to trust Him and not to think about what could happen, but about what He promises them instead.
Caleb Drahosh \ When we fast, we must do so not to gain the approval of man, but to honor God.
Caleb Drahosh \ Our heavenly Father provides for all our needs, both immediate and eternal.
Caleb Drahosh \ We often desire small, insignificant things rather than the kingdom God.
Sermon audio in progress
Caleb Drahosh \ When we pray, we pray to a God who is intimately acquainted with all the details of our life.
Caleb Drahosh \ The motivation for prayer should not to gain something for oneself, unless that thing is more of God.
Mark Reeves \ When we gather for corporate worship, our attitude must reflect a greater desire to bring something to the gathering than to receive something from it. Larry Moser \ True hospitality is an outward expression of caring and nurturing Gods people around our community while reflecting the attitude of Christ in all that we say and do for His glory. Ralph Friebel \ Everything we do is about what He has done for us. Blaze Culliton \ Community Groups at Buffalo City Church are a starting point for building intentional, Christ centered relationships focused on serving our community, encouraging each other, and truly experiencing life together.
Caleb Drahosh \ Love for neighbor and right relationship with others extends beyond just those who are easy to love to those who actively oppose you.
Caleb Drahosh // Jesus tells his followers to not resist the injustice that is performed against them, but rather find contentment in Him and in Him alone.
Caleb Drahosh \ Jesus expresses that right relationships with others begins internally; words are powerful and must be able to be accompanied by commensurate action.
Caleb Drahosh \ Jesus expresses that right relationships with others begins internally; it is within the context of marriage that God’s covenant love is reflected and why Jesus is concerned with the results of breaking the marriage covenant.
Caleb Drahosh \ Jesus expresses that right relationships with others begins internally; looking at another with lustful intent ignores the image of God in that person and God’s intent for sexual relationships.
Caleb Drahosh // Jesus expresses that right relationships with others begins internally; anger, insults, and personal attacks represent incompleteness, imperfection.
Caleb Drahosh \ Jesus moves His disciples to an understanding of wholeness by showing them that right relationships with one another flow from inside.
Caleb Drahosh \ Jesus' fulfillment of the Law and prophets does not mean their end, but results in an amplified understanding and outworking for His followers.
Caleb Drahoh \ The disciple is the only true light in the world because of his/her relationship with God through Christ.
Blaze Culliton \ The Lord compares the wicked with the righteous and asks us to trust Him and wait patiently for Him to act.
Caleb Drahosh \ As those who are painting a portrait of the kingdom of heaven, we are living lives that match the character described in the Beatitudes and are commended with a taste now of a glorious feast to come.
Caleb Drahosh \ As those who are painting a portrait of the kingdom of heaven, we are living lives that match the character described in the Beatitudes and are commended with a taste now of a glorious feast to come.
Caleb Drahosh \ As those who are painting a portrait of the kingdom of heaven, we are living lives that match the character described in the Beatitudes and are commended with a taste now of a glorious feast to come.
Caleb Drahosh \ As those who are painting a portrait of the kingdom of heaven, we are living lives that match the character described in the Beatitudes and are commended with a taste now of a glorious feast to come.
Caleb Drahosh \ As those who are painting a portrait of the kingdom of heaven, we are living lives that match the character described in the Beatitudes and are commended with a taste now of a glorious feast to come.
Caleb Drahosh \ Matthew sets up the Sermon on the Mount by showing that Jesus is interested in recreating, in delivering a people from their bondage, in placing in them something new and incorruptible.
Blaze Culliton \ Peter is reminding his readers of salvation, which is the promise of the Gospel, the importance and foundation of faith, and encouraging them to maintain an eternal perspective by setting their hope on the grace coming with the return of Christ. As the opening of this letter, Peter communicates that our motivations and actions for all things should be only from an outpouring of the promise of the Gospel.
Caleb Drahosh \ Jesus' words "it is finished" indicate his complete accomplishment, God's complete satisfaction, and our own eternal satisfaction found in Him.
Caleb Drahosh \ The Gospel is grounded in the historical realities of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus.
Caleb Drahosh \ God's Word is clear that salvation for all people is only possible through faith in Jesus.
Caleb Drahosh \ James urges his readers to consider what he has written to them regarding their speech through the positive example of prayer.
Caleb Drahosh \ James encourages his readers that patience and steadfastness in the face of the suffering they are experiencing is yielding eternal benefit.
Caleb Drahosh \ James wants his readers to understand that what the world ascribes worth is worthless.
Caleb Drahosh \ James warns against the arrogance of presuming to know what tomorrow will bring.
Caleb Drahosh \ James points his readers to the war that is waged internally and calls them to corporately pursue humility.
Blaze Culliton \ James is instructing his readers that there are two kinds of wisdom: short sided earthly wisdom and eternal perspective heavenly wisdom. Contextually, he provides that you can evaluate wisdom by the way that we act.
Caleb Drahosh \ James wants his readers to see that small things can create big problems; the tongue is a small member but does great things.
Mark Reeves \ Faith demands obedience, resulting in works, which brings about the fulfillment of the Great Commission.
Caleb Drahosh \ James prompts his readers to consider their actions towards others, no matter their status in society. How one conducts him or herself regarding the rich and the poor is the fruit of mercy.
Caleb Drahosh \ James steers his readers away from flippant speech to be hearers; but not hearers only, doers who identify with the marginalized.
Disclaimer: The sermon audio quality is poorer than usual due to the fact that BCC worship was conducted in an alternative location on 1/15/17
Caleb Drahosh \ James encourages his readers to understand that Godly wisdom distinguishes between what is from God and what is not.
Caleb Drahosh \ James knew that his readers had a tendency to slip into worldly thought, so he writes to remind them that God's order doesn't look like the worlds.
Caleb Drahosh \ Although trials came early and often for James’ readers, he prompts them to look through the difficulties of today and desire the wisdom of God to endure.
Caleb Drahosh \ The incarnation clearly proclaims the gospel to us by demonstrating God's commitment to reestablishing the broken relationship between God and man.
Caleb Drahosh \ Matthew records that Jesus is Emmanuel--God with us--a God who came in an unthinkable way, to bring about an unthinkable kingdom, and welcome an unthinkable people.
Caleb Drahosh \ Matthew records that Joseph was a just man reorienting his readers to incorporate compassion into their understanding of the coming kingdom.
Caleb Drahosh \ Matthew’s account of the virgin birth gives us a robust picture of Jesus’ complete divinity and complete humanity.
Caleb Drahosh \ Matthew's genealogy proclaims Jesus' kingship; although not fully realized, it is now all encompassing.
Caleb Drahosh \ As Christ's ambassadors, we are entrusted with the ministry of reconciliation; a message that God is restoring us to right relationship with him.
Caleb Drahosh \ In the same way that we are called to manage money in a shrewd and God-honoring way, so we are called to manage time in a shrewd and God-honoring way.
Caleb Drahosh \ If those whose treasure is here on earth are smart about that treasure, then those whose treasure is in heaven should be smart about that treasure too.
Caleb Drahosh \ God commands his image-bearers to steward all of his creation in a way that honors Him.
Caleb Drahosh \ God's free gift of eternal life should invoke a response of generosity by his people.
Caleb Drahosh \ How we think about and use money and material is a direct indicator of what is at the center of our lives.
Caleb Drahosh \ The weight of sin drives God's people to cry out for a great reversal and restoration; a restoration that ultimately finds its expression through God's perfect work in Jesus.
Caleb Drahosh \ All God does in his restorative work is an expression of his love, his mercy, his faithfulness, and his sufficiency.
Caleb Drahosh \ The devastation of Jerusalem in Lamentations 1 points us to God’s unwavering commitment to restore his people.
Caleb Drahosh \ We love God by seeking to know Him through His Word and love for neighbor is an outworking of this love for God.
Caleb Drahosh \ Martha’s interaction with Jesus gives us an example of a distracted, self-reliant posture that keeps us from loving God.
Caleb Drahosh \ Mary’s interaction with Jesus gives us an example of a restful, trusting, instructable posture that teaches us about loving God.
Caleb Drahosh \ The Samaritan in Jesus’ parable gives us an example of a merciful and inclusive posture that teaches us about loving our neighbor.
We had some technical difficulties with the sermon audio from Sunday (8/7). Here's a recap to get you introduced to our four week series in Luke 10:25-42.
Caleb Drahosh \ The lawyer’s interaction with Jesus gives us an example of a selfish and exclusive posture that keeps us from loving our neighbor.
Caleb Drahosh \ The Lord’s Supper is designed to point us back to the work of Jesus which secured our invitation to the anticipated marriage supper of the Lamb.
Caleb Drahosh \ Baptism is the public proclamation by the believer of the transfer from death to life that has taken place through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Caleb Drahosh \ The transfer from old to new that comes through knowing Jesus produces joyful obedience in the form of remembrance, proclamation, and anticipation.
Blaze Culliton \ We must turn away from the false teaching of the world and turn to the Lord for guidance
Tanner Olson \ We praise God for his work in the wicked’s destruction and the exaltation of the righteous for his own name’s sake, on the Sabbath we rest in God’s work, and ultimately we rest in the finished work of Christ to make us righteous.
Godliness coupled with contentment bears gospel fruit in the life of the individual and the church.
The leaders of the local church should—as a result of gospel impact—be regarded highly by the faith family and carefully evaluated before appointment.
The church is designed to function as family through gospel-impacted relationships and gospel-impacted care.
Gospel impact stirs our affections leading us to deeper love for the person of Jesus and obedience to what we’re commanded.
A servant of the church of Christ Jesus should warn, model, and instruct as an outflow of an gospel immersion.
Paul outlines for Timothy the necessary gospel-wrought qualifications for the church’s servant-leaders.
Paul outlines for Timothy proper conduct for men and women and how their roles complement one another.
Paul urges Timothy to engage in the defense of the gospel for the good of the church and the sake of unity.
Jesus’ proclamation that he is the true vine indicates that he is God and—although we are prone to abide elsewhere—the only way that we bear fruit and are made into the likeness of Jesus.
Jesus’ proclamation that he is the Way, the Truth, & the Life indicates that he is God and—despite our inclination and desire to forge our own path—the exclusive way to the Father.
Those who are in Christ have had an encounter with Jesus and say along with Mary, “I have seen the Lord!"
We look at the portrait of Jesus' triumphal entry—on this side of Resurrection Sunday—as those whose pleas have turned to praise.
Jesus’ proclamation that he is the Resurrection and the Life indicates that he is God and—despite the inevitability of physical death—the ultimate object of belief which results in eternal life.
Jesus’ proclamation that he is the Good Shepherd indicates that he is God and—unlike the thief who comes to steal, kill, and destroy—is the one who comes to give abundant life.
Jesus' proclamation that he is the Door indicates that he is God and—unlike the empty religion to which the thieves and robbers subscribe—the sole means through which God's people are set apart.
Jesus' proclamation that he is the Light of the World indicates that he is God and is—unlike the pillar of fire in the wilderness, a lamp, or the sun—exclusively and universally the means by which life is illuminated.
Jesus' proclamation that he is the Bread of Life indicates that he is God and—unlike the manna in the wilderness—God's ultimate life-giving provision for his people.
BCC's first two Core Values, "Centered in the Gospel" and "Grounded in Scripture," serve as the foundation which upon which the final three, "Faithful in Worship, Authentic in Fellowship, and Radical In Mission," are built. Together, BCC's Core values fuel the fellowship in the Holy Spirit Christ calls us to experience with one another in God's love (Philippians 2:1-2), which in turn enables us to accomplish our Mission "To Make Disciples Who Make Disciples."
In II Corinthians 14:11-14 Paul writes, "Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the saints greet you. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all."
Fellowship in the Holy Spirit is far different from the normal give-and-take of typical human relationship because it is built upon the understanding that "The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever" (from the Westminster Shorter Catechism). Our understanding of this is a key element in the disciple-making process.
Jesus’ life and ministry set the standard as one that pointed to and accomplished redemption, restoration, and reclamation. Christ’s final commission to his followers was to make disciples of all people, to baptize them in his name, and to be witnesses of what he had done in the immediate community and abroad.
As those who seek to uphold Christ’s commands, the local church—in the power of the Spirit—ought to faithfully engage the community with and bear witness to the good news of the gospel desiring to see the reconciliation of Christ transform the world in which we live. The call to know God through Christ is universal and it is the responsibility of every believer to proclaim the unaltered, uncompromised gospel.
God the Father, God the Son, and God the Spirit set the precedent for the fellowship we strive for as a community of faith. The Triune God is three distinct persons, but possess one unequivocally unified nature. We both recognize that those who comprise the local church are created in the image of God and therefore seek to reflect the divine unity of the Godhead, and also inhabit sinful flesh and must rely wholly on the Spirit of Christ to unite.
As God’s people, we are commanded to cultivate unity which requires a thorough investment in the lives of our Christian brothers and sisters as well as the life of the local church. As the body of Christ, we rejoice with those who rejoice, mourn with those who mourn, and spur on to greater godliness and holy living.
Consistently meeting together as the body of Christ is a biblical imperative. The corporate worship setting includes, but is not limited to, four important elements: worship through song, the reading of Scripture, prayer, and the preaching of God’s Word. This corporate environment prompts a deeper relationship with God and fellow believers through the exaltation of Christ by the people of God. The local church—as a microcosm of the universal Church and a shadow of the consummated Kingdom of God—is the chosen medium through which God’s people assemble together.
As those who are called to not forsake the meeting together, the corporate worship setting is a crucial aspect of the Christian life that cannot be ignored. Regularly and consistently engaging the body of Christ in corporate worship edifies, encourages, and builds up the body.