Fr. Larry Richards is the founder and president of The Reason for our Hope Foundation, a non- profit organization dedicated to ”spreading the Good News” by educating others about Jesus Christ. His new homilies are posted each week.
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The Village Church exists to bring glory to God by making disciples through gospel-centered worship, gospel-centered community, gospel-centered service and gospel-centered multiplication.
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Welcome to the Enjoying Everyday Life TV podcast with Joyce Meyer. To learn more, visit our website at joycemeyer.org or download the Joyce Meyer Ministries App. By supporting Joyce Meyer Ministries, you can help us reach hurting people around the world. To find out more, go to joycemeyer.org/donate
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Love God, love people, and change the world. We believe the life and lessons of Jesus aren’t just good advice, but are Good News for us here and now. As a church, we are all about following Jesus and know there’s no end to that journey—we’re more about becoming than arriving. We are committed to becoming a multi-generational, multi-ethnic, multiplying movement of Christ followers, equipping and empowering our kids and students to not only be the church of tomorrow, but the church of today.
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Mind The Business: Small Business Success Stories
1 Understanding Taxes as a Newly Formed Small Business - Part 2 of the Small Business Starter Kit 28:24
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LikedIn our second installment of the Small Business Starter Kit series - we’re tackling a topic that’s sometimes tricky, sometimes confusing, but ever-present: taxes. Hosts Austin and Jannese have an insightful conversation with entrepreneur Isabella Rosal who started 7th Sky Ventures , an exporter and distributor of craft spirits, beer, and wine. Having lived and worked in two different countries and started a company in a heavily-regulated field, Isabella is no stranger to navigating the paperwork-laden and jargon-infused maze of properly understanding taxes for a newly formed small business. Join us as she shares her story and provides valuable insight into how to tackle your business’ taxes - so they don’t tackle you. Learn more about how QuickBooks can help you grow your business: QuickBooks.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.…
Comforting Assurance (Ephesians 2:1-10)
Manage episode 448661398 series 1113854
Content provided by Paul Lindemulder and Pastor Paul Lindemulder (Belgrade URC). All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by Paul Lindemulder and Pastor Paul Lindemulder (Belgrade URC) or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://player.fm/legal.
Ephesians 2:1-10 highlights the transformative power of God’s grace in the lives of believers. Historically because of Adam we are dead, living in sin and separated from God (verses 1-3). However, in verses 4-5, God takes the iniative by his mercy and love making us alive together with Christ. His resurrection is not just overcoming our physical death, but moves us from children of wrath to children of God.
In verse 8-10, Paul makes it clear that salvation is a gift from God, not something earned by works. He states that we are saved through faith, and even faith itself is a gift from God. This means no one can boast about their salvation, because it is solely by God’s grace, not by human effort. We only live out the gospel by the Lord’s power.
99 episodes
ShareManage episode 448661398 series 1113854
Content provided by Paul Lindemulder and Pastor Paul Lindemulder (Belgrade URC). All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by Paul Lindemulder and Pastor Paul Lindemulder (Belgrade URC) or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://player.fm/legal.
Ephesians 2:1-10 highlights the transformative power of God’s grace in the lives of believers. Historically because of Adam we are dead, living in sin and separated from God (verses 1-3). However, in verses 4-5, God takes the iniative by his mercy and love making us alive together with Christ. His resurrection is not just overcoming our physical death, but moves us from children of wrath to children of God.
In verse 8-10, Paul makes it clear that salvation is a gift from God, not something earned by works. He states that we are saved through faith, and even faith itself is a gift from God. This means no one can boast about their salvation, because it is solely by God’s grace, not by human effort. We only live out the gospel by the Lord’s power.
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Baptism is the sacrament that initiates us into the covenant of grace. We picture the water as representing the reality of being handed over to death, made alive, and triumphing in Christ. It reminds us of the pouring out of Christ’s blood for redemption and the establishment of a community to live for Him. We think of the water as the washing away, the picture of the Spirit’s work in our deliverance. Our catechism speaks of the baptism as a reminder of Christ’s death on the cross. Question 70 asks, “What is it to be washed with the blood and Spirit of Christ?” The catechism is challenging us not to limit the sacramental imagery. The sacraments are visible signs of the gospel that are administered with the Word. Christ endures hell on the cross, and emerges triumphant in his resurrection. However, baptism still symbolizes this one time event. We consider 1 Peter 1:2 where Peter mentions the sprinkling in Christ’s blood. The text explores the concept of “blood baptism” with the language of being “sprinkled in his blood.” It is strange for us to think of the cross as a baptism because Peter literally mentions a baptism in 1 Peter 3:21, examining its connection to baptism and the Noah’s flood. So, Peter draws a connection between water and baptism later in his letter. So, what do we make of a blood baptism? Peter is using Christ’s sacrifice as the picture of being baptized in his blood. The sprinkling of Christ’s blood should make us think back to Israel standing before Moses, the sacrificial system, and the different ways that things were cleansed to be made worthy to enter into the Lord’s presence. Peter is emphasizing that in order for us to come into the Lord’s presence we need this once for all sprinkling in Christ’s blood. Peter uses the sacramental language of blood to assure that we have been washed in Christ’s blood. We are made worthy in that one time work. We draw near to our God in confidence. We should look to Christ, our definitive redeemer, and not look to the sign or the Gospel as our savior. They are means of grace that point us to our savior.…
1 The Sinners' Supper: Mercy in the Mess (Luke 15:1-10) 32:40
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Play Later Play Later Lists Like LikedChrist’s association with tax collectors and sinners, considered unclean by the Pharisees, posed a problem as it contradicted their understanding of holiness. They show their hand by being grumblers. This recalls for us tragic times in Israel’s history when Israel lost sight of God’s purpose. Christ does not directly interact with their complaint, but Christ speaks in two parables. The first parable is about a shepherd who leaves the 99 sheep to find the one lost, highlighting his passion and love for his one sheep. This parable, though challenging to the Pharisees due to their negative perception of shepherds, underscores Christ’s role as the good shepherd seeking out the lost. Christ is the good shepherd promised in Ezekiel 34. Christ’s second parable that he uses to address the pharisee’s concern is a parable about a lost coin. A woman loses her coin. This is most likely a dowry that is set apart to give the widow some financial security in the event of widowhood or divorce. She finds the coin, invites the villagers to celebrate, and that rejoicing is parallel to the shepherd who returns home to his village after finding the lost sheep. These parables contrasts the Pharisees’ self-righteousness and lack of understanding of the need for repentance. The text emphasizes the importance of finding righteousness and redemption in Christ, rather than relying on one’s own standards, and encourages a mindset of celebrating the lost coming to faith. The most shocking part is that the angels in heaven celebrate the lost being found and coming to place of repentance. The angels in heaven are so holy they have every right to be self-righteous. However, they celebrate a sinful coming turning one’s ways to align with the purpose of Christ and his kingdom. Let us celebrate repentance, recognizing our continual need for God’s grace and call to conform to Christ out of gratitude. Let us desire to align with the heavenly choir, celebrating the kingdom’s priorities.…
1 Two Graces or One Grace Through Two Means? (Gen. 17; Rom. 4:11; LD 25) 41:35
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Play Later Play Later Lists Like LikedThe means of grace, the preaching of the Gospel, and the sacraments are means that God uses to nourish Christians. They are not the source of life, but the means to being nourished by life. Sacraments communicate the visible gospel. While the sacraments are important, they should not be elevated above Christ or the preaching of the Gospel. They are given to us because we are weak in our faith. They nourish us in the same grace that the Gospel communicates. Ultimately, we are nourished and living in Christ. Paul emphasizes the centrality of the gospel message in salvation, highlighting the preaching of the Gospel as a means of the Lord’s power to unite believers with Christ and receive Christ’s blessings. Paul appeals to Abraham to show that the sacrament is not a sign of Abraham’s faith, but a seal of the promise declared in the Gospel. Abraham receives the sign because he doubts the Lord’s gospel promise. The Lord gives him the sign and seal of circumcision because Abraham doubts that the Lord really can bring life from death. Abraham doubts that the Lord will continue his victorious line through a barren couple. Sacraments are given to us because we fail to heed the Lord’s word or see His power. The Lord continues to work in us through His means, even if we don’t understand how. The preaching of the gospel is the priority because it is the preaching of the gospel that proclaims the Lord’s gospel promise. The sacraments merely communicate the same message, but visibly before our eyes. Let us never doubt the life-give power that is ours in the Spirit who preserved God’s people throughout the ages, and raised Christ from the dead.…
Normally we think of God being a God of love. John, the beloved apostle repeats that God is love two times in his first letter. Christ does not communicate that God is love, but that we are called to hate our family and our own lives. This seems to contradict Moses's calling us to honor our parents. There are certainly other places we can appeal to Moses to see an apparent contradiction. We might think that there is a contradiction, but we need to be active listeners of Christ. Christ’s call to hate family and self challenges the notion of a loving, comfortable kingdom that we so often associate with Christ. He emphasizes the cross-bearing disciple, who finds identity in Christ and prioritizes heavenly values over worldly ambitions. Ultimately, Christ’s message is for all, regardless of social status, to evaluate their ambitions in light of the cross and seek God’s will. The temptation is for people to think that this is a kingdom of earthly glory. Christ warns against a superficial understanding of discipleship, emphasizing the need to count the cost and understand the potential sacrifices involved. True discipleship requires a conscious commitment to follow Christ, even if it means losing family, social status, or even our life. This commitment involves actively seeking to live out the gospel, not for personal gain, but to glorify Christ and find identity in Him alone. In this sense, we lose our own life because we reprioritize our values in light of the cross while seeking to live as living sacrifices before God. Christians should conform to Christ’s image, not the other way around. This requires listening to Christ’s words with the wisdom of the Spirit, discerning His ways, and living out His priorities with grace and the Spirit. Hearing Christ’s words is not just evaluating whether they are Christ’s words, but evaluating one’s life in light of Christ’s wisdom as we walk in the Spirit by faith.…
Banquets are normally attended by people who are worthy to attend the banquet. If there is a prestigious banquet, it is for those who share prestige. The seating arrangements typically reflect the social significance of the guests. This is true for Rome, and this is true even in our day. In many cases, these gatherings can also be transactional, but in Rome, they were almost always transactional. You would invite people who could elevate your social status as they were required to return the invitation. Jesus presents a banquet that is radically different from these types of transactional banquets. In Luke 14, Jesus is invited to dine with the Pharisees on the Sabbath, likely after Jesus taught in the synagogue. The Pharisees are grappling for position. They claim to be pure, but we know that they observe Jesus with the intent to discredit him or, even worse, destroy him. They closely watch Jesus, hoping to catch Him breaking Sabbath laws. A man suffering from dropsy (edema) was present, and it was likely invited as a setup to test Jesus. Dropsy, characterized by excessive thirst and swelling, was often used metaphorically in ancient times to represent insatiable greed or desire. The irony is that as this man is at the banquet to expose Christ’s sabbath breaking, the man exposes the state of the Pharisees’ own spiritual condition. Without hesitation, Jesus healed the man, exposing the Pharisees’ hypocrisy. They remained silent when Jesus asked them for permission to heal, and they remained silent when Jesus pointed out that they, too, exercised compassion on the Sabbath by delivering their son or animal from a well. Jesus then told a parable addressing the deeper issue of pride and self-exaltation. He described a wedding feast where guests sought the seats of honor, only to be humbled when someone more important arrived. Jesus's point was clear: those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted. The Pharisees were obsessed with status and recognition, failing to see their spiritual poverty. Jesus calls for a different posture — one of humility and dependence on God. True honor comes not from self-promotion but from recognizing one’s need for a savior. One must see their spiritual problem and only Jesus as the solution. Jesus further emphasized the nature of God's kingdom by encouraging people to invite the poor, crippled, lame, and blind because such people comprise the kingdom of God. In a very literal sense, they cannot advance oneself in society. This countercultural teaching revealed God's heart for the marginalized and the unworthy. The Pharisees, in their self-righteousness, missed the point. They were spiritually sick, much like the man with dropsy, yet they refused to acknowledge their need for healing. Jesus' invitation to the kingdom is for those who recognize their deep need of redemption and rely entirely on their Redeemer, Jesus Christ. The Christian call is not to seek status or significance in this world but to find identity, contentment, and life in Christ alone. The true banquet is one where the humble are exalted, and those who recognize their spiritual poverty receive the fullness of God’s kingdom. When we bow our knee before our savior, this is the true Shalom (wholeness) of humanity that we taste, but we will have in the fullness at Christ’s appearing.…
Christ’s blessing is not based on personal righteousness, faith’s worthiness, or even outward covenant membership. Only receive Christ’s blessings through faith and the Spirit. The catechism clarifies that faith is the instrument by which we receive Christ’s blessings, secured by his righteousness, not our own. We only receive this by faith. This assurance means believers are not just citizens of God’s kingdom but heirs, enjoying a deep, familial relationship with God, moving from a courtroom setting to the warmth of the family room, as we borrow John Murray’s analogy. Acts 16 illustrates this truth through the story of the Philippian jailer. Seeing Paul and Silas’s unwavering faith amid suffering and their care for his well-being despite their pain, the jailer asks what he must do to be saved. His question reflects human nature—assuming salvation depends on personal effort. Paul responds that salvation comes through believing in the Lord Jesus, acknowledging him as the true King who has conquered sin and death. This faith is not about personal merit but trusting Christ alone. The sermon also highlights the broader implications of faith. The contrast between the enslaved servant girl and the jailer shows that true freedom is found in Christ, not in worldly control or spiritual bondage. Paul’s deliverance of the girl from demonic oppression demonstrates Christ’s authority, yet it results in persecution—mirroring the world's rejection of true salvation. Despite suffering, Paul and Silas rejoice, illustrating that faith in Christ brings unshakable joy. The jailer’s conversion and the baptism of his household affirm that God works through families in the context of the covenant, as seen in the Old and New Testaments. The call is for us to see that as we believe in Christ, we are saved, receiving the distinct redemptive blessings in Christ.…
1 Establishing the True Vision of Peace (Luke 13:31-35) 33:36
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Play Later Play Later Lists Like LikedThe city of man will always try and triumph over the city of God. This is seen in the interaction between Christ and Herod. The Pharisees warn Jesus that Herod wants to kill him, but their motives are uncertain. They might be a faction that legitimately cares, or they might be with the rest of the Pharisees who want to silence Jesus. Herod himself represents the worldly pursuit of power, maintaining peace through intimidation by control and violence. John the Baptist is a clear victim of the tyranny demonstrated in the Herodian family. Christ seeks to confirm and establish the Lord’s heavenly city. Christ seeks to bring the true vision of peace from heaven. This is not a kingdom that is established through fear and threat. No, it is a kingdom where one experiences the ideal of the shalom of God. A kingdom where one takes on the yoke of Christ, is in fellowship with God, and is restored rather than exploited. So, Christ, being confident about the true vision of peace (Jerusalem), does not cower before Herod. In fact, he makes his opinion known regarding Herod. He does not even address Herod, but instead calls him a "fox," exposing his weakness, smallness, and cunning ability to stand on the coattails of giants. Christ remains resolute in his mission, showing that true peace is not found in earthly empires but in the kingdom of God and entrance through the narrow door. Christ does not seek safety but willingly moves toward Jerusalem, knowing that Herod is not the threat but the earthly Jerusalem. His ministry of healing and casting out demons demonstrates his authority, yet Jerusalem rejects him because he does not fit their mold of a messianic king. The irony is that while people try to warn and protect Jesus, they fail to recognize that he is the one who has come to protect them, confirming the promise that God is a shield and defender. The ultimate rejection of Christ is not just by political rulers like Herod or Rome but by Jerusalem itself—the very city that should have embraced him as the fulfillment of God's promises. We are so deeply sinful, and it is so deep-rooted that we reject the prophet. Finally, we are challenged to reflect on the human tendency to resist God’s work, much like Paul before his conversion, who "kicked against the goads." Despite Israel’s rejection, Christ still offers the gospel and calls all humanity to repent. He weeps over Jerusalem, using imagery from the Exodus of the mother hen being like the eagle protecting its young. Christ knows that in order for Psalm 118 to be confirmed, he must be rejected by the builders only to be raised up as the cornerstone. The call to enter through the narrow door remains open right now. We are called to bow our necks under Christ’s domain, discern what is pleasing to the Lord, and seek to live out his will. Let us mourn how the city of Jerusalem embraced Christ, let us celebrate God’s sovereign will that He overcomes, and let us ultimately long for the vision of peace that comes from heaven. Praise be to God that even in this life, we have a taste of it. Let us walk as living sacrifices to our redeemer, knowing that our lives are hidden and secured in Him.…
1 Living in a Tomb? (Phil. 3:21, Lord’s Day 22) 32:37
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Play Later Play Later Lists Like LikedMany times as Christians we can be influenced by Greek thought. We can fall into a mindset that the body is merely a temporary shell for the soul. However, Scripture teaches that God redeems his people as whole people. He redeems us body and soul. The apostle Paul, in 1 Corinthians 15, makes it clear that we are not merely escaping fleshly tombs in our resurrection, but we will be raised in glorified bodies. Our current flesh was made for this world. Adam is from the dirt. He was created good in body and soul. Paul’s point in 1 Corinthians 15 is that we would need a glorified flesh that is fit for heaven even before the fall. Therefore, rather than seeing our bodies as unimportant or disposable, we should recognize that God created us body and soul. He created us good. This backdrop is important to understand Philippians 3:21. We know that right now our bodies are subject to the death of the common curse, but God has not forgotten what he created good. God created us as whole beings—body and soul—and intends to glorify body and soul in his redemption. The Bible provides numerous examples of life after death, showing that believers consciously dwell with Christ while awaiting the physical resurrection. The resurrection of Jesus affirms that our future bodies will be physical, but a physical spiritual flesh that is fit for heaven glorified. As temples of the Holy Spirit, our bodies are not just vehicles for the soul but are meant to be cared for and honored. Instead of viewing our flesh as inherently sinful or something to be escaped, we should understand it as a good creation, personally made by God’s hand, and it will one day be perfected because we taste Christ’s blessings now in the Holy Spirit. In Philippians 3:21 Paul reminds us of our ultimate hope: the full realization of our redemption in glory. The work of the Holy Spirit in us now is a foretaste of the eternal joy we will experience. While we struggle with the effects of sin and the limitations of this age, we are being transformed by God’s energy, which will ultimately bring us to our full glory. Our heavenly citizenship calls us to live with a mindset fixed on Christ’s glorious return. The same divine energy that raised Christ from the dead dwells in us. It is not a mere manifestation of God, but the power of God that orients us and moves us through this age.…
Jesus reminds us that we often ask the wrong questions, which leads us away from the truth. Instead of asking, “Have I done enough?” we should be asking if we are truly striving to enter through the narrow door on Christ’s terms. Many assume they are in good standing with God, much like thinking they are a luxury car with minor flaws. However, the reality is far worse—we are broken beyond repair, and without Christ’s redemption, we have no hope. Jesus’ journey to Jerusalem highlights this truth, as he heads toward suffering and rejection, his followers think he will seize glory and sit on Jerusalem’s throne. Truly then the city will live up to its name: the vision of peace. However, Christ is not traveling to sit on an earthly throne, but the heavenly one that he must attain through the cross and resurrection after living a perfect life. Along the way, someone asks how many will be saved, but Jesus does not answer directly. Instead, he calls for striving, which is an active pursuit of the narrow way. Salvation is not a matter of national identity or religious association but of genuine commitment to Christ. Jesus warns that the narrow door will not always remain open. Many will assume they are part of his kingdom because they have dined at his table, listened to his teaching, worshipped him, and were part of the right gene pool. But when the door closes, they will find themselves outside, rejected as evildoers. This is not about blatant immorality—it is about those who thought they knew Christ but were never truly known by him. The frightening reality is that many who expect to be inside will be cast out, while others from the ends of the earth—unexpected outsiders—will be welcomed into the kingdom. This dramatic reversal echoes Isaiah’s prophecy of a great feast in Isaiah 25, where those who trust in the Lord will rejoice while others suffer separation from him. The warning is clear: entering through the narrow door requires striving, humility, and submission to Christ, not mere outward association with him. Ultimately, the real question is not about numbers or who gets in but whether we are truly hearing and submitting to Christ. The last will be first, and the first will be last—not because of human effort but because God’s kingdom operates by his grace, not our merit. It is not about checking religious boxes or assuming we are safe; it is about seeking Christ wholeheartedly, being transformed by him, and knowing that only enters through the narrow door in Christ This is not easy, nor is it natural—it requires humility, dependence, and a willingness to be shaped by God’s will rather than our own desires. The danger is not in failing to do enough good works but in failing to recognize our deep need for Christ and his redeeming grace. Therefore, the call is clear: strive, listen to Christ’s word, and pursue Christ, for the door will not always remain open. The heavenly feast is only for those who bow their necks under Christ’s yoke. Let us follow our redeemer savior, who graciously pursues.…
Jesus continually overturns people’s expectations. Christ does not fail to disappoint when we continue in Luke 13 when He heals a woman on the Sabbath. This woman had been suffering for 18 years—bent over, unable to stand up straight. Christ heals this woman, but the leaders are outraged. Why such a reaction? Because their rigid view of the Sabbath had blinded them to the true intention of Sabbath rest that God ordained. They saw rules, but Jesus saw a broken and burdened person needing rest. Jesus is not just addressing an outward issue, but an internal issue. The leaders missed the Lord’s Sabbath intention. They were so focused on controlling religion that they completely missed the manifestation of Religion. Christ the Messiah is the embodiment of what the prophets promised. Jesus then turns the tables on them with a simple but devastating argument: If you’d untie your ox or donkey to give it water on the Sabbath, how much more should this woman—a daughter of Abraham—be freed from her suffering? He is saying “You show compassion for your animals, but you could care less about a daughter of Abraham.” Jesus is exposing the Lord’s intention for his kingdom. The kingdom of God is not about outward rule-keeping but inward renewal. And this is unsettling, because it means that even deeply religious people can be far from God. It’s not just bad people who are lost, but the Lord’s covenant people can also miss the substance of God’s grace even as they profess to walk in it. Then Jesus gives two mini-parables about the kingdom: the mustard seed and the leaven. Both seem small, insignificant—just like Jesus’ movement at the time—but they grow into something unstoppable. That’s how God works. His kingdom doesn’t come through power and dominance but through quiet, transformation. Our challenge is to wait upon the Lord, it is wanting the Lord to transform us from the inside out. The gospel is not about avoiding or managing sin, but it’s about pursuing our God. And until we see that pursuing and loving our God above all things, we’ll either be self-deceived by thinking we keep our legalism or crushed by the unbearable weight when we realize we cannot heal ourselves. But as we pursue our Lord we recognize that he progressively heals us, and as we grow in our union with him we see that our sin is less satisfying in comparison to our basking in his glory. May we have a humble spirit, may we be a people who tremble at his word, and may we pursue our Lord because by his grace he has secured and pursued us.…
1 Refined in Tribulation (LD 20; 1 Peter 4:14) 38:11
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Play Later Play Later Lists Like LikedPeter knows the weight of suffering. When Satan requested permission from Christ to sift Peter he caved. He denied his savior three times. One would think that such a record would disqualify Peter to talk about suffering. However, Peter encourages us to rejoice in suffering, feel blessed when insulted, and glorify God. This sounds a bit hypocritical that Peter would say such things. However, as we dig deeper we note that Peter is not a hypocrite at all, but rather a fellow sojourning living in the dispersion. Peter is communicating to us that living as redeemed people means enduring trials, sharing in Christ’s suffering, and not a necessary failure in our Christian life. Peter reminds believers that suffering is not a sign of abandonment but a means of refinement like gold or silver having its impurities burned away. The trials we endure as Christians test and strengthen our faith, strengthen our union with Christ, and reveal our character. We rejoice not in superficial words of piety, but consciously seeing ourselves as sharing in Christ’s sufferings which also means we will share in his glory. The presence of the Holy Spirit in us is God is refining and preserving us through every hardship. Ultimately, our confidence lies in the Spirit of God who dwells in us, the same Spirit which raised Christ, and the full glory that filled the temple is in us. This divine presence secures our heavenly destiny and empowers us to live as God’s people, even in the context of suffering. The Spirit is not a temporary gift but a permanent power that preserves us as we consciously persevere in Christ by faith. Thus, we are called to walk in the Spirit, trusting that God is working out His redemptive plan in us, and securing our place in His eternal kingdom. Let us rejoice in God’s refinement, and not suffer as evil doers in this age.…
1 Fruitless Faith or Fruit-bearing Faith? (Luke 13:1-9) 34:28
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Play Later Play Later Lists Like LikedSo often we reduce Job down to a book about suffering, but we miss the deeper theodicy. Theodicy is dealing with the issue of a just God and suffering in this world. Job is a book about God showing he will triumph over Satan, and addressing the issue of theodicy. The seed of the woman will be crushed. Job, the main actor in this historic story, is put forth as a champion. Job is in line with the counselors that the righteous receive blessing while the wicked receive punishment. Job has to wrestle with this self-righteous view. Job comes to know God and eventually puts his hand over his mouth after knowing that the ways of God are more complex than the box man builds around God. This theme is echoed in Christ’s response to the question of the Siloam tower. Here humans died, the setting seems to be that the Galileans probably deserved it, but Christ calls all people to repentance, emphasizing that righteousness is not determined by outward circumstances but by one’s hearing Christ’s words. Suffering is complex, and the study of suffering in light of a just God is even more complex. Christ further illustrates this point through the parable of the barren tree. The tree, despite receiving care and nourishment, fails to bear fruit, symbolizing those who hear the gospel but remain unrepentant. They are not hearers of God’s word, but merely performers. Just as the vineyard owner delays judgment to give the tree one more chance, God’s patience allows time for people to repent, reorient their mindset, and humbly submit to Christ. Christ echoes the words of John the Baptizer that the axe is at the root, so the time to repent, hear Christ’s call, and consciously be oriented towards Christ’s kingdom is right now. Job’s story fits this broader biblical narrative by challenging simplistic views of divine justice. Job’s friends assume that there is a direct cause-and-effect relationship between righteousness and suffering, but Christ is making the case that God’s ways are more intricate and complicated than the boxes we place around God. Christ’s point is that suffering should not lead to self-righteous vindication, but to humble self-examination that leads one to conform to Christ’s kingdom, and discern Christ’s ways. Our role is to remain faithful by discerning what is pleasing unto the Lord, conform to the Spirit’s proddings, and humbly submit to God's will as sojourners in this world.…
1 Our Confidence, Our Calling, and Our Coming King (LD 19; Matthew 25:31-46) 37:08
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Play Later Play Later Lists Like LikedThe return of Christ is not just a concept, but it’s a reality that orients and grounds how we live today. Many of us, when we think about His return, are either tempted to ignore it as something so future that we doubt Christ is coming at all. On the other hand we might fear the looming judgment. But Scripture tells us that Christ’s return is both a sobering and a thrilling reality. He is not only the Judge but also the Redeemer who has already secured our place in His kingdom. If we are in Christ, we don’t have to live in uncertainty—we can have confidence because we are represented by our great Melchizedekian Priest and not our performance. Judgment isn’t about measuring up; it’s about who possesses us. And if we belong to Christ, we can look forward to His return with joy rather than dread. But how do we know if we belong to Him? Jesus makes it clear that His true followers aren’t identified by religious performance, but by their response to His grace. The sheep in His parable didn’t do grand, impressive things—they simply lived out of love, responding to needs around them in ordinary ways. They fed the hungry, welcomed the stranger, cared for the sick. Why? Because when you truly understand grace, it changes you. You stop asking, “What do I need to do to get in?” and start asking, “How can I reflect the love I’ve received and seek to share one another’s burdens?” This is the key difference between those who are secure in Christ and those who are not. The goats in Jesus’ parable weren’t condemned because they failed to check off a list of good works, but because their lives revealed that they had never had a heart that was tender to their Redeemer, Lord, and Master. So, how do we live in light of Christ’s return? Not by trying to earn our place, but by living as people who know we are already His. That means prioritizing the kingdom—not as a task list, but as a way of life. It means trusting that the world, in all its brokenness, is not spinning out of control, but is heading toward restoration under the reign of Christ. The hope of His return isn’t an escape plan; it’s the assurance that everything we do, every act of love, every moment of faithfulness, is part of His ultimate redemption. And that changes everything because we have the joy of showing the Gospel even in our everyday ordinary tasks. Let us seek our King because he has first sought us!…
1 Our Advocate and New Mind (LD 18; Colossians 3:1-4) 37:48
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Play Later Play Later Lists Like LikedColossians 3:1-4 assures us of the significance of Christ’s dual nature and heavenly position. Lord’s Day 18 contrasts two heretical views that contradict the two natures of Christ: Eutychianism and Nestorianism. Eutychianism blends the two natures in such a way that Christ is a hybrid human who is a man god or god man, but not God and man. The divine and human natures bleed into each other. Nestorianism teaches that the two natures are so radically divided that Christ is almost two persons. Neither of these positions understands the hypo (under) static (same/consistent) union of Christ. A very practical problem with these views is that our redemption is never accomplished because the creature that offended has not endured the Lord’s wrath. The eternal punishment we deserve has not been poured out. Thus, we are still in our sins. Colossians 3:1-4 assures us that Christ’s ascension to heaven marks his position as the glorified God-man, taking his seat at the right hand of the Father. He is ascended in glory as the glorified God-Man. His glorified human nature is bound to space and time while his divine nature is everywhere present or omnipresent. His presence in heaven is described as advantageous for believers, as he now serves as our ultimate authoritative advocate before God. Christ intercedes on their behalf, understanding our struggles and needs. He knows our weakness as our sinless priest who walked this age. He knows our struggles because he dwells in us by His Spirit. His heavenly ministry ensures our glorification as he guides, intercedes, and empowers as our savior. His supreme position refutes alternative spiritual philosophies that appear to threaten our Christian life. Christ’s ascension testifies that he has overcome and we are guaranteed to overcome in him because He has triumphed. He is our heavenly advocate who continues to sustain us in this age.…
1 Joyful Slaves under Sovereign Scrutiny (Luke 12:35-48) 34:11
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Play Later Play Later Lists Like LikedThe Christian life is often seen as one where believers coast carelessly in Christ's finished work, secure in their righteousness through Him being completely indifferent to morality. However, the gospel calls for a responsive life, marked by tenderness and sensitivity to Christ's leading, driven by new desires as the Holy Spirit works in Christ’s servants. Though Christ's sovereignty assures us that He will take care of our needs, the gospel challenges us not to be passive, but to actively serve Him as living sacrifices while awaiting His return. We are called to live in light of the kingdom, anticipating the fullness of Christ’s blessings when He comes again, while diligently serving in the present. This includes staying vigilant and prepared, like the servants waiting for their master’s return, with lamps burning and hearts ready to welcome Him. Christ’s parables exhort us that we live consciously in light of Christ’s provision, not relying on earthly storehouses but trusting in God's care. Jesus instructs His followers to be prepared, living as if His return could come at any moment. The parables of the faithful and wise servant highlight the importance of serving diligently, even in the master’s absence, and being alert to His return. The kingdom's radical nature is revealed when the master, instead of merely commanding service, invites the servants to dine with Him and even serves them. This reversal of roles underscores the sacrificial love of Christ and the grace extended to His people, who are called to wait with readiness, faithfulness, and joy rather than complacency. The kingdom challenge calls for believers to live with an awareness of Christ's return, not to take His delay as an excuse for complacency or indulgence. Jesus warns that those who fail to live faithfully, abusing their position, will face judgment. The severity of this judgment varies, depending on the knowledge and responsibility each servant has been given. While the passage warns against neglecting the master's commands, it also encourages a life lived before the Lord's face (Coram Deo), seeking to glorify Him (Solo Deo Gloria) in all things. Christians are reminded that their actions matter and that God holds them accountable. Still, they are also empowered by Christ’s finished work and the Holy Spirit to live with wisdom, humility, and reliance on God's guidance. Ultimately, we are called to live in light of our physical reunion with our savior while we walk by faith in the power of the Holy Spirit.…
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Reformed & Expository Preaching
1 We Are Risen and Resurrected? (1 Cor. 15:45; LD 17 35:04
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Play Later Play Later Lists Like LikedThe resurrection of Christ is a profound doctrine that assures us of our redemption and transformation in Christ. While it might seem straightforward—Christ lived, died, took our sin, and was raised to life—the challenge lies in understanding its full implications for us today. Some may believe that Christ’s resurrection means we have already reached the end, experiencing the fullness of glory right now. However, Paul’s teaching in 1 Corinthians 15 reveals that while we are secured in Christ, but we still wait to sing the final victory hymn. The resurrection assures us that we have moved from death to life, yet we still experience the struggles of this broken world, awaiting the full realization of our redemption. The Heidelberg Catechism emphasizes that Christ’s resurrection not only declares Him as the Son of God but also grants us righteousness, regeneration, and the hope of eternal life. Death, as portrayed in Scripture, is more than the end of physical life; it represents the brokenness of this age and the tragic consequence of sin. The first man, Adam, was formed from the dust and given life by God, but his rebellion led to a fallen existence. In contrast, Christ, the last Adam, is from heaven. He is the life-giving Spirit securing our life, redemption, and physical resurrection. Despite the resurrection being a historical reality witnessed by many, even the early Corinthian church struggled with doubts about its reality. Paul’s teaching makes clear that if Christ is not raised from the dead, then we have no true life, no real spiritual power, and no lasting future in glory. The resurrection life is ours now, but not yet in its fullness. Christ’s resurrection power works in us through the Holy Spirit, ensuring our ultimate glorification while calling us to walk faithfully in this present age. We experience the victory of Christ as we walk in the Holy Spirit, united to Christ, and progressively transformed day by day into His image. Paul encourages us to remain steadfast, knowing that Christ has secured our future resurrection, and we are called to live in anticipation of that final triumph. Currently, we walk in the power and confidence of Christ’s work, living as thanksgiving offerings, not adding to Christ, work, and seeking to glorify God in all aspects of life while waiting for the full physical glory.…
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Reformed & Expository Preaching
The passage explores Christ’s teaching on material wealth and priorities through the lens of a parable about a man seeking his inheritance. Initially, the issue is framed around a personal dispute where one brother demands his share, revealing a heart of covetousness rather than a concern for family legacy or honoring God’s wisdom. Christ rebukes the man’s perspective, highlighting the deeper problem of placing too much value on earthly wealth rather than seeking eternal security in God. The passage reminds us that life under the sun is fleeting and that true security is found in trusting Christ’s provision, not in material accumulation. Christ then presents a parable of a rich man who plans for his future by building bigger storehouses for his crops, focusing entirely on himself without regard for God or others. The parable does not condemn business or private property but rather exposes the man’s self-reliant attitude and failure to recognize God as the provider. The rich fool’s error lies in his misplaced security in self reliance rather than in God’s protection. Scripture supports wise planning and stewardship, but Christ warns against the idolatry of self reliance and encourages his followers to seek heavenly priorities, understanding that earthly gains cannot secure eternal life. Finally, Christ addresses the anxiety that often accompanies concerns about material needs. He assures his followers that God, who cares for the unclean birds and temporary flowers, surely loves his people more. Christ’s exhortation is not to reject work or planning but to entrust our lives to God’s care, living with a heart that prioritizes the kingdom of God over temporary security. True faith means living in the confidence of God’s sovereignty and provision, living with confidence in his promises, and seeking to please him rather than striving for earthly status. Ultimately, we rest in the assurance that our legacy is in Christ, finding our worth and success in his finished work and future return. He is our Shield and Defender!…
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Reformed & Expository Preaching
Christ enters history as the suffering servant to overcome the problem of sin. Sin’s problem is deeper than we can imagine. Sin’s depth and severity demand a redemption only Christ provides and overcomes. The problem of sin is a hellish problem. Christ’s being fully God and fully man enables him to endure the eternal punishment of hell in a way we will never grasp. In Christ’s divine nature he is outside time and space; as man, he fully receives the full wrath of God as the offending creature. His cry from the cross, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” declares that is a moment of time he endured hell as the sin cursed creature. Christ committing his spirit into the father’s hand tells us that the two natures are still distinct as we are assured that Christ is really dead because his body is laid in a grave. Christ living to make intercession means he is not left in the grave as a failed servant. This ongoing intercession emphasizes our dependence on Christ and the assurance that his work is complete, freeing us from attempting to earn redemption through our own efforts. However, even as redeemed Christians we are prone to wander. Praise be to God our perfect priest continues to intercede on our behalf and sustain us through this age.…
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Reformed & Expository Preaching
1 Looking Out for the Leaders’ Leaven (Luke 12:1-12) 38:59
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Play Later Play Later Lists Like LikedIn Luke 12:1-12, Jesus confronts the hypocrisy of the Pharisees, warning his disciples to beware of the “leaven of the Pharisees.” This is the fermented product from the old loaf that is put in the new loaf. He exposes the dangers of living for outward appearance rather than living by faith in the Holy Spirit. True piety is living before the face of God rather than pleasing the community. Grace liberates us from living up to the community’s expectations, trying to earn God’s favor, and failing the human standard. Christ calls us to live with integrity, knowing we are only made worthy in Christ, and will only conform as we are joined to our savior. Jesus then reassures his disciples that God’s cares for his people. If God notices even the minor details of sparrows being sold and counts the hairs on our heads, how much more does he value us. When we know our worth is secure in God’s love, we are freed to obey him from a heart of gratitude rather than a spirit of fear. This shifts our motivation from self-justification to worship, cultivating a life that manifests God’s character. We are not living out of fear of judgment, but living as living sacrifices joined to Christ before the Lord’s face. Finally, Jesus speaks of the Holy Spirit as the source of courage and guidance in times of trial. True piety flows not from our strength but from God’s Spirit, who sustains and equips us even in our most vulnerable moments. Jesus warns that we will face persecution and we might not always know how to respond. However, Christ’s redemption continues to be at work in us in His Spirit. The Holy Spirit will sustain and give us the words to say in our intense times of trial.…
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Reformed & Expository Preaching
In Galatians 3:10-14, Paul makes clear that we are not going to remove the sting of death by our works. The law demands perfect obedience, and no one can meet its standard. This reveals the depth of human sin and the impossibility of earning God’s favor through self-effort. Paul underscores that righteousness comes not through the law but by faith, quoting Habakkuk 2:4: “The righteous will live by faith.” This is a gospel moment—our standing before God depends on His grace, not our performance. Paul then highlights the redemptive work of Christ, who became a curse for us by dying on the cross, fulfilling Deuteronomy 21:23. Jesus took the curse we deserved so that we could receive the blessing promised to Abraham that only comes by faith in the Spirit’s power. This exchange is the heart of the gospel: Christ bore our penalty, and we receive His righteousness. The cross is not just an act of forgiveness but a complete reversal of the curse, securing our freedom and reconciliation with God. Finally, Paul connects this truth to God’s promise to Abraham, showing that the gospel has always been about faith. Through Christ, the blessing of Abraham extends to the Gentiles, breaking down all barriers of ethnicity, culture, and works-based religion. Paul reminds us that salvation is a gift of grace, received by faith alone, ensuring that no one can boast. This passage calls us to abandon self-reliance and trust entirely in Christ’s finished work.…
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Reformed & Expository Preaching
1 Comforted by Sin’s Credit? ( 2 Corinthians 5:21; LD 14) 36:17
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Play Later Play Later Lists Like LikedWhat do we make of the statement, “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” Does this mean that Christ is a sinner? If that is the case then we are in a horrible predicament. What does Paul mean? Paul is describing the heart of the Gospel and the ministry of reconciliation. He explains that the purpose of Christ’s life, death, and resurrection is to reconcile sinners to God. There is a double transaction that must occur. Our sins get credited to Christ. He is so holy that our sin does not contaminate him. He does not know sin in the sense that he is a sinner. Jesus in his perfection is treated as the sinner. The other side of this is that Christ’s perfect work is given to us. We are credited as faithful sons. Jesus was treated and received what we deserve. He was treated as a sinner who never sinned. This was done so that we can receive the righteousness of God. But notice, this isn’t just about our individual salvation. In the context of 2 Corinthians 5, Paul is calling the Corinthians to live out this reconciliation. If Christ has reconciled us to God, how can we not live as agents of reconciliation in the world? To know that Jesus became sin for us is to know a love so radical that it reorients everything about how we relate to God, to ourselves, and to others. This transaction shows us the depth of sin. It shows what it takes for sin to be eradicated and removed from us. It shows us what needs to be done in order for us to come into the Lord’s presence. The beauty of this verse is that it does not just show the hope of the gospel, but it assures us that the gospel is not theoretical, but actual as we are joined to Christ we receive his distinct blessings. We are called to live out the life-giving union that is ours in Christ Jesus.…
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Reformed & Expository Preaching
1 Luke’s Shaky Witness, and Firm Foundation (Luke 2:1-21) 34:54
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Play Later Play Later Lists Like LikedChrist’s birth turns the world values upside down. Ceasar established world peace, but the story communicates that Ceasar can only maintain peace through power. This is contrasted to the true king born in a peasant’s home God is showing us something profound: His kingdom doesn’t operate according to the world’s priorities of wealth, power, and status. His kingdom is established only his power and not in his intimidation. The story does not get better. Shepherds, a vocation that many rabbis would forbid are out in the field. These are men who could not testify in court. These are not credible witnesses. However, they are the first in Luke’s gospel to be entrusted with the message of Christ’s birth. They also see the angelic army assembled before them. The shepherds testify that the Lord’s blessing does not go to the worthy. The Lord’s blessings and good news do not come to the religious. Rather, this is a message for all. This is for the elite centurions right down to the outcasted shepherds. All need to bow the knees to the messiah and find their life in him. Jesus fulfills the Lord’s will by coming to save the sinner and not the righteous. The righteous do not need a savior, but it is the sinner who has the cross-like posture before the Lord’s throne. The angels in heaven do not engage in war. They know that war only comes through the success of Christ’s humiliation in the incarnation, his humiliation in obedience, and his humiliation in death, and this results in his glorification. As we conclude our Christmas series let us marvel at the humble victory that our Lord accomplishes in his son. He could have sent his angels to establish world peace, but our Lord saw the bigger picture and the need to eradicate sin!…
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Reformed & Expository Preaching
We can misunderstand redemption. We can make redemption something that is sentimental and miss the deeper implications of redemption. Israel is enslaved for 400 years. We can think of their redemption through the Red Sea, but miss the point that they deserve to be cast down and held in bondage. We also see that we are redeemed because Christ is the true Son of God. He is eternal, having the same nature as the Father. However, we are only adopted by the Father because of Christ's perfect work. He is the faithful son who lays down his life so the unfaithful children can have life. This new birth and life is because of Christ’s merits and applied by the Spirit. Our inheritance and life are only by the work of the Spirit, initiated by God, and not by our effort. Sure, we walk in the Spirit and orient our affections to heaven. We are called to consciously live this life under the domain of the Spirit. This is why Godliness is a mystery. Our security is only in Christ. Ultimately, we have our adoption and inheritance by the grace and mercy of our God. We consciously live as people identified and secured in a new family. We walk in the power of the Lord's Spirit.…
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Reformed & Expository Preaching
1 A Firm of Shaky Foundation? (Matthew 1:17-25) 36:15
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Play Later Play Later Lists Like LikedChrist enters history through a scandalous line calling into question his credibility. However, God defies human expectations. We expect the Lord to fail, but he succeeds. The Lord shows that he can take broken and sinful people and use them to secure his victory. He is bigger and stronger than his people. Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, and Bathsheba display that the Lord will not use conventional people to establish his promise through the Messiah. Joseph suspects that Mary was unfaithful to him and in love with another man. The genealogy could certainly lead one to easily draw that conclusion. However, by the Angel’s intervention, he learns that there is a bigger plan. Just like the story in Genesis when the seed of the woman dies or is hampered in some way it appears the serpent seed has won. The Lord shows that his purpose, his power, and is plan is not what human beings expect. The Lord wants his people to see that he has established his promise. Humans are used, and genealogy shows us that it is not always the cream of the crop. Yes, God’s people fail. However, by the grace of God, their overall trajectory is that the Lord’s strength is shown in the midst of human weakness. The Lord has been with his people in the high times of their history as well as their low times. Ultimately, Christ is the seventh seven. Christ establishes the kingdom, using a broken people, and slaying the serpent. Matthew captures the tension about whether or not God can establish his kingdom. The answer is yes! Against all hope, the Lord is always faithful. He secures, redeems, and makes his people alive to live unto him out of gratitude.…
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Reformed & Expository Preaching
1 Comforted in Our Anointing (LD 12; Gal. 5:16-25) 33:38
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Play Later Play Later Lists Like LikedPaul opens the chapter by reminding believers of their freedom in Christ: “For freedom, Christ has set us free; stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery” (v. 1). The gospel frees us from striving in the flesh that misses Christ, and the gospel as we conform in our power. It also shines a light so we see where we sinfully indulge selfishness and self-reliance to find joy on our terms. We must focus on Christ as we walk in His Spirit. Paul contrasts two ways of living: life according to the flesh and life in the Spirit. The flesh, in Paul’s terms, is not just the body but our old, self-centered nature—our default way of living apart from God. It’s a life marked by striving, selfishness, and broken relationships. Paul lists the works of the flesh (v. 19-21), which include sins of self-gratification (like sexual immorality and drunkenness) and sins of self-righteousness (like envy, dissensions, and jealousy). Living in the flesh is our attempt to build our identity apart from Christ’s power and Lordship. We can do this through moral performance or selfish indulgence. The flesh is fundamentally self-focused, driven by a desire to control our own lives and find meaning apart from the gospel and from submitting to Christ. Life in the Spirit, by contrast, is marked by freedom, transformation, and love. Paul describes the fruit of the Spirit (v. 22-23): love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. When we lose sight of the to do list and focus on living for Christ we produce fruit just as the fruit grows naturally when connected to the vine, so the Spirit produces Christlike character in us when we abide in Him (John 15:5). Life in the flesh is about striving, either through self-indulgence or self-righteousness, but life in the Spirit is about surrender—trusting the Spirit to work in and through us. The Spirit doesn’t just give us new behaviors; He gives us a new heart. Paul’s command to “walk by the Spirit” (v. 16) is not about trying harder but about living in daily dependence on the Spirit. In the same way, life in the Spirit is about continually turning to God’s grace for every need, moment by moment. The Spirit frees us from self-centeredness so that we can love sacrificially, reflecting the love we’ve received from Christ. Galatians 5 teaches us that life in the Spirit is not about trying harder to be good but about being transformed by grace. The flesh leads to striving and self-destruction, but the Spirit leads to freedom, fruitfulness, and love. When we give up our control, submit to Christ, and walk in the Spirit we find the power to live out the Shalom, the peace, and the joy that God has created us to enjoy as we commune with him.…
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Reformed & Expository Preaching
1 Isaac: A Funny Foundation (Genesis 21:1-21) 36:06
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Play Later Play Later Lists Like LikedGenesis 21 recounts the fulfillment of God’s long-awaited promise to Abraham and Sarah—the birth of Isaac. This chapter centers on God’s faithfulness, the nature of grace, and the surprising ways God accomplishes His purposes. The chapter opens with the Lord visiting Sarah, just as He had promised (v. 1). At the age of 90, Sarah gives birth to Isaac—a name meaning “laughter”—as a testament to the joy that comes when God’s promises are fulfilled, even in the face of human cynicism. Isaac shows the Lord’s redemption: God moves his people from cynical laughter to joyful celebratory laughter. God’s promises don’t operate on our timeline; they operate on His. Isaac’s arrival reminds us that waiting on God is not wasted time but formative time—teaching trust in His sovereignty. Isaac’s arrival contrasts sharply with Ishmael’s, Abraham’s son through Hagar. Ishmael represents human effort—Abraham and Sarah’s attempt to secure God’s promise through their plans. Isaac, however, is entirely the result of divine grace, showing that God’s blessings come as gifts, not as something we can earn or achieve. Isaac shows the impossibility of the Christmas promise. The thought of the Lord establishing his promise through death seems absurd. However, Abraham and Sarah testify that the Lord establishes life through death because the Lord knows the depth of sin, and what it will take to overcome it. Isaac sets the joyful foundation, but Christ is the one who definitively establishes the foundation by fulfilling God’s promise.…
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Reformed & Expository Preaching
1 Comforted in One True Savior (LD 11; 1 Cor. 1:10-17) 33:38
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Play Later Play Later Lists Like LikedPaul addresses a fractured church, divided into factions based on allegiance to specific leaders—Paul, Apollos, Cephas, or even Christ in a tribalistic sense. These divisions reveal the human tendency to seek identity and superiority in secondary things, even in the church. Paul responds by re-centering their focus on Christ alone, emphasizing that their unity and salvation are rooted not in the messengers, but in the message of the cross. Human hearts naturally turn good things, like church leaders or even the gospel, into ultimate things that ironically look away from Christ. We are those who create idols that divide rather than finding significance in Christ. But Paul dismantles these divisions by reminding the Corinthians of the gospel’s leveling power: none of them were baptized into Paul or Apollos—they were baptized into Christ. The cross is not just the means of salvation; it’s the ultimate unifier, declaring that all believers are equally in need of grace. The key takeaway is that the gospel creates a new identity transcending tribalism. In Christ, there’s no room for boasting in human leaders or factions because everything we have is a gift. This passage challenges us to examine where we are tempted to find our worth outside of Jesus and invites us to center our hearts and community on the One who unites us all.…
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Reformed & Expository Preaching
1 Comforted by Providence (LD 10; Acts 17:22-31) 35:41
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Play Later Play Later Lists Like LikedIn Acts 17:22–31, Paul addresses the philosophers in Athens, presenting the gospel, and calling them to see that they do not market god. It is God who continues to uphold this creation whether we affirm it or not. Paul begins by acknowledging the Athenians’ religiosity, even pointing to their altar “to an unknown god.” He uses their cultural and spiritual hunger as a starting point to reveal the true God — not a distant deity but the Creator who is near, sustaining all life. Paul calls them to account for the fact that they do not discover and promote the gods but that there is one God who sustains all things. Paul then calls them to repentance, announcing that this God has revealed himself in Christ. Jesus’ resurrection is proof that God will judge the world through him. The resurrection isn’t just evidence of God’s power; it’s the assurance of his love and the hope of renewal for all creation.…
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Reformed & Expository Preaching
The crowd is seeking signs, challenging their demand for proof, but Christ says they will receive the “sign of Jonah.” Jonah was the sign to Ninevah so Christ is the sign for the current generation. Then Jesus shifts to a metaphor of light and vision. The problem isn’t the light (the gospel) but the eye (our spiritual perception). If our “eye” is healthy, we’ll see clearly and live in the light. If not, we’re plunged into darkness. So, we are not to demand signs but to see the Gospel as the sufficient light pointing us to Christ. We are to have a singular focus on the kingdom. As we are focused on the Lord’s kingdom, his light will continue to conform. Ultimately, it is the call to give ourselves to the Spirit, the sole source of light and life.…
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Reformed & Expository Preaching
We welcome Mr. Roy Kim to our pulpit while Pastor Paul Lindemulder enjoys a week off. In Job 3, we see Job’s raw and unfiltered anguish. After losing everything—his wealth, his children, and his health—he breaks his silence and curses the day of his birth. This chapter shows us the depths of human suffering and the honesty of biblical faith. Job doesn’t sugarcoat his pain or pretend to be fine. Instead, he expresses the full weight of his despair, wishing he had never been born and lamenting the darkness that has engulfed his life. God allows honest lament—Job’s words are deeply emotional and even shocking, yet God doesn’t rebuke him for pouring out his heart. This shows that God welcomes our questions and grief, even when they are raw and messy. Despair arises when suffering feels meaningless—Job’s cry is rooted in the feeling that his life has lost all purpose. He doesn’t yet see the bigger picture, but his pain foreshadows the human cry for meaning in suffering, ultimately answered in Christ. Job suffers, but he still prays—Though Job curses the day of his birth, he never curses God. His lament is directed to God, showing that even in his darkest hour, Job clings to the reality of God’s presence. We are encouraged to be honest about our pain while trusting that God can handle our darkest cries—and that He works even through suffering to bring ultimate redemption.…
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