Come Sojourn with Us
This is where you will find sermons and updates for our church. Our mission is to preach expository sermons focusing on the gospel of Christ. We are a church that is tied to the reformed tradition and seeks to submit to the scriptures so we walk in the Lord’s wisdom rather than our own.
We would love to have you join us on our Christian sojourn if you are in the Belgrade, MT area. If you are not in area then join us by listening to our bi weekly free sermon podcast.
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The Reformed position on Christ’s death on the cross is probably not the majority view in Christianity. If this position is held by a minority then what basis would people have to hold it? How do we see that really any conservative Christian believes in a limited atonement? What is more, how can the Reformed definition of a limited atonement actually teach a very gracious God?
When we think about the Reformed doctrine of salvation we could think that the doctrine is simply summarized as such, “Once saved always saved.” I have to confess that personally such a definition really bothers me. It makes salvation sound cheap in the sense that we just go along for the ride and there is no struggle. So, if this is not something I like then what can we put in the place of it? What is more, how can Reformed people be so sure that God will preserve sinners who naturally hate Him? How does the Spirit even work in Reformed theology?
We as Christians can sometimes be discouraged when we survey the world. We read the news and see what is happening to the world and at times it feels as if things are spiraling out of control around us. What can we do in light of such discouragement? How do we honor the Lord in the face of such a trying time? What did the Lord tells us about Abraham in light of Sodom and Gomorrah? What was Abraham to do in light of that tragic day when the Lord finally manifested His judgment on such blatant narcissism?
The doctrine of the Trinity is a rather confusing doctrine. In fact, it is a doctrine that we will not fully grasp or understand as creatures possibly even during glory. So, if this doctrine is so difficult can we really know our God? What is good about such a confusing doctrine? What does this doctrine have to do with our redemption? In other words, if we cannot understand this doctrine then why talk about it? What does such a doctrine have to do with the doctrines of grace?
One of the criticism of the Reformed faith is that if God chooses us then our wills are set aside. This means that we become mere robots of puppets who follow the one who pulls our strings. I guess my first reaction to this is if this criticism is true then I am not guilty for my sin. So, this would present a huge problem because God does not tempt us to sin. So, how can I preached a Reformed theology with such a glaring criticism and potential problem?
One of the great struggles that people have with the Reformed faith is the notion that if God chooses His people then why preach or send missionaries? We can understand the force of this because if God has determined what has happened then why do anything? It would seem that we are merely helpless pawns in the game of life. Is this fair? Is this really what Reformed people believe about preaching?
John 3:16 is a passage that seems to show the problem with a Reformed doctrine of salvation. It seems to be rather plain and simple that it is God who loves the world. So, if God loves the world then how can God only apply the blessings of Christ to His people? How would a Reformed person explain this text without explaining the whole text away?
If we are honest we want to think that we are a little better than what we are. Sin deceives all of us into thinking that we might be a little worthy of the Lord’s grace and favor. How do we know that the gift we receive from God is something that is forced upon us? What is the contrast of Romans 6:23 that drives home the gift that God has given to us? How do we know that we have not earned this free gift from the hand of God?
So often we want to think that we are not really that bad or that we are pretty good to put it positively. In fact, in American culture we don’t like hearing that we are sinners because we want to think that we are pretty good or decent to say the least right? We want to believe that we are going to get better and at this point we are not perfect. How can we cope with life if we are really sinful and by sinful I mean bad enough to do things that would absolutely make us shudder? How do we overcome that struggle?
Why do we want to conform to the Lord if we are already secured in Christ? Do we want to conform to the Lord because it is better than facing the dread of not conforming to the Lord? What is the primary motivation for our desire to conform to the Lord? If you look at our confessions it seems that we do so because of what God has done or as we say, “Out of Gratitude.” It seems that we obey the Lord because of His grace. So, how can grace motivate us to conform to the Lord rather than just living selfishly in rebellion against Him?
It is rather strange to ask the Lord not to lead us into temptation because we are sinners who follow our sinful desires quit well. We also believe and affirm that God cannot sin. If God cannot sin, and we are sinners why would we then ask the Lord not to lead us into temptation? It seems that we are more than capable of finding and following temptation ourselves. So, why do we pray such a request, and why even ask the Lord such a thing when really it is our call to walk the straight and narrow in Christ? Right or is there more to this request?
The call for us to suffer and forgive those who offend us is a rather difficult challenge. We as humans want to make sure that we get our pound of flesh. We think that those who offend us must pay the price or we might want be scared that they will make a habit of offending us. So, why do we ask for forgiveness and ask that we would forgive others? What could possibly motivate us to want to fulfill this radical request?
Our temptation is to trust in ourselves for our daily physical needs. We can look to money we have set aside for a rainy day, our investments, our business opportunities, or maybe just our shrewd handling of money. The temptation we have as creatures is that we can trust in our abilities for our daily provisions rather than the Lord. So, why is this wrong and what does the prayer request regarding the Lord providing our daily bread put our financial priorities in perspective?
We are creatures who have our own desires, convictions, and goals. It is not natural for us as fallen creatures to put another’s will ahead of our own will. If this is true then how can we pray, “Your will be done?” How can we want the Lord’s will over our own will? Is the Lord requiring something of us that is beyond our capabilities? Does the Lord even know how difficult it is to desire such a thing? How do we know that our high priest who resides in the glory of heaven knows such a struggle?
The Lord is the king who rules over heaven and earth. He is the one who triumphs and has while continuing to manifest His might, His power, and the strength of His hand. So, if this is true then why would we ask that His kingdom would come if He is strong enough to establish it? What does the resurrection have to do with this request? Why would the resurrection be so essential for the Christian life?
Our God is the standard of holiness. We cannot make God any holier than God already is in Himself. So, if God is one who is everything that is holy then why would want God to make Himself more holy as we pray, “Make holy your name?” Mary invites us to join together in making the Lord’s name holy. Is she out of line or is there a basis for such a request?
Our human inclination is to think that God dwelling in heaven makes Him distant from us. However, when Christ teaches us to pray the force of addressing God as our Father in heaven seems to be a blessing. So, why is it good that our Father is in heaven and not on an earthly visible throne?
The Lord is a God who rules over all things. He is king over the heaven and the earth. He is the one who orders and controls our destiny. So, if this is all true then why pray? It is not like you are going to change the mind of a God whose mind does not change. It is not like you are going to inform Him of something that He does not already know. So, why is prayer so necessary and significant for the Christian life?
We conclude the teaching on the law of God from the catechism. The tenth commandment is that we are not to desire anything that goes against the law of the Lord. So, we know that we are not to desire something contrary to God, but we do which is why we sin. How do we move beyond sin? Do we conform to the Lord because it is better to conform to Him rather than not conforming to Him?
We know that Paul writes one of the most beautiful passages on love. It is a passage that we use many times for wedding meditations and unfortunately have potentially emptied this passage of its Christian ethic and challenge for the Christian life. So, what does this love have to do with the Christian life? What does this passage on love have to do with telling the truth?
We are a bible believing church in the Belgrade, MT. We are a Reformed Protestant church who desire to build one another up in love as we sojourn under the sun.
