Special

The Stone Had Been Taken Away

John 20:1-18

Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early in the morning and saw a few remarkable things, but she didn’t understand what had happened. Even though she was the first person to see the risen Christ, she only recognized him when he revealed himself to her. It wasn’t until the Good Shepherd called his sheep by name that she was able to hear and follow.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS

The Stone Had Been Taken Away Read More »

The Work of God’s Word in His Church

Ephesians 4:7-16

We hear words every day. The power of spoken words is undeniably powerful. God’s Word possesses unique and unmatched power to feed souls. In this passage, Paul explains how God works through his Word to build his church. He describes the ministry each believer has to speak God’s Word to one another.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS

The Work of God’s Word in His Church Read More »

Baptism

1 Corinthians 1:10-18

The Bible makes is clear that baptism is important, and a right view on baptism is also important. This raises, therefore several pertinent questions. Why do Christians baptize? Why do Christians get baptized? And why baptism specifically? Why, of all things, did the Lord mandate this particular activity as his chosen way for Christians to welcome new Christians into the church? In this sermon, given for a baptismal service, we examine the answers to these questions, and draw out the impact and implications of this basic practice of Christ’s people.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS

Baptism Read More »

Gospel Goodbyes

Acts 20:17-38

Saying goodbye is a sad and painful part of life for everyone. In fact, the only way to avoid having to say goodbye to anyone is to die very young yourself. Looking at Paul’s third and final goodbye to the believers in Ephesus, we see how, while believers are not exempt from the same sorrows of saying goodbye as everyone else, nevertheless the Gospel radically changes even this aspect of life, reflecting the glory of the gospel of God’s grace.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS

Gospel Goodbyes Read More »

Made Alive in Christ

Ephesians 2:1-10
God uses the most dramatic contrast to describe spiritual life: you’re either dead or alive. Deadness manifests itself in different ways that we can see and experience every day. God has, however, resurrected his people to live a new life in which the deadness is slowly fading away, giving way to a new and greater reality: God has made us alive in Christ.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS

Made Alive in Christ Read More »

Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham

Matthew 1:1-17
A survey of the Gospels reveal a Messianic expectation among the Jewish people. For example, Luke tells us that “the people were in expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Christ…” (Lk.3:15). The most important question among the Jewish people was, When would the Messiah come? Using this strategic genealogy, Matthew answers two questions about the Messiah: who was he? and what did he come to do?

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS

Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham Read More »

Go Therefore

Matthew 28:16-20
Christ’s command to go and proclaim his gospel is clear enough. There are, however, several barriers that stand in the way of his church fulfilling their mission. In this text, we’ll look at several barriers the first disciples faced–and the present day church faces as well. Christ answers those barriers and fears with two powerful statements about himself.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS

Go Therefore Read More »

When Words Fail

The Book of Job
The meaning of the book of Job is found in the privileged voice of God in the divine speech(es) of Job, in chapters 38-41. Job’s reply to the divine speech (“I had heard of you by the hearing of the ears, but now my eye has seen you”) tells the reader the effect of God’s speech on Job, but the book never explicitly tells the reader why or how the divine speech satisfied Job. I argue that the paternal and maternal metaphors used by the Lord to describe his relationship with both animate and inanimate creation allow Job to “know God” in a way he had not previously known Him: as a father. Job was then able to once again trust God and became for the reader a paradigm of faith and piety.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS

When Words Fail Read More »