The sermon is from Isaiah 9:6-7– “ The Eternal Kingdom of the Eternal King”. “Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, …” – Isaiah 9:7 God calls civil magistrates his “servants for good.” He establishes authority in human societies and he also establishes the individual authorities. He “removes […]
The sermon is from Isaiah 9:6-7– “ A Child Born and a Son Given”. “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; …” – Isaiah 9:6 In the Christian community, we hear the truth of Isaiah 9:6 affirmed frequently from our pulpits, confessed repeatedly in our confessions of faith, and […]
The sermon is from Mark 1:1-15–”Repent!”. “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe the gospel.” – Mark 1:14-15 The Old Testament prophets prepared Israel (and any other nation who would listen) for a coming Messianic kingdom. The kingdom’s “King” would descend from King David and establish a […]
The sermon is from Mark 1:1-15–”Repent!”. “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.” – Mark 1:1 The Gospel According to Mark starts rather abruptly. Matthew and Luke’s Gospels begin with their famous birth narratives. John’s Gospel immediately asserts Christ’s divine and human nature. But Mark, as I heard one preacher […]
The sermon is from be Romans 12:14-21– “Serve the Lord Perseveringly”. “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.” – Romans 12:14 How can a mere sinful mortal obey Paul’s command in this verse? Our innate tendency is to defend ourselves. This is a proper response in the kingdoms of men; there […]
The sermon is from be Romans 12: 9-13–”Serve the Lord Admirably”. “Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.” – Romans 12:11 Paul’s rapid-fire commands in Romans 12:9-13 take one’s breath away. There are 13 of them in only 5 verses. He summons Christians to love, abhor, hold fast, love, […]
The sermon is from Romans 12:3-8 –“Gifted to Serve Christ and His Body”. “For in it [i.e. the gospel] the righteousness of God is revealed …” – Romans 1:17 In the early 1500s, a German monk began to ponder just one phrase in Romans 1:17 and that phrase was “the righteousness of God.” He had […]
The sermon is from Romans 12:1-2 – “Now, What?” “Do not be conformed … but be transformed …” – Romans 12:2 The Bible teaches that sin no longer reigns in Christians (Romans 6:1-23), but the Bible also teaches that sin does remain in Christians (Romans 7:14-25). Romans 12:2 reminds us of the world’s efforts to […]
The sermon is from Romans 11:33-36- “Sola Deo Gloria”. “How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!” -Romans 11:33 Someone in the 16th Century asked the Protestant Reformer, John Calvin, “What was God doing before he created the world?” To which Calvin replied, “He was preparing hell for the curious.” Now, Calvin wasn’t […]
The sermon is from Romans 11:25-32 – “Israel’s Future Salvation”. “… in this way all Israel will be saved, …” – Romans 11:26 In Romans Chapters 9, 10, and 11, Paul explains a great conundrum in the First Century. Israel’s promised Messiah came to earth and the nation en masse rejected him. He came to […]
