God's Gracious Boundaries (Head 5; Art 4-6)(1 Peter 1:1-9)

The doctrine of the perseverance of the saints is sometimes summarized as, "Once saved always saved." There is truth to this statement, but it radically misses the complexity of the Christian walk. God will certainly preserve his people until the end, but we are called to persevere by the Lord's grace. The challenge in this life is that we can have sinful desires that are contrary to God's kingdom. The Canons of Dordt warns us that God can hand us over to those desires. Where do we find our strength in this life to continue on our Christian sojourn?

Man's City Under Surveillance (Zechariah 1:7-17)

People in the city of man think that they are safe. They trust in their military might and their strategy. However, the city of man looses sight of the reality that it only functions in the confines of God's providence. The Lord sees the actions of the city of man and the Lord will act on behalf of his people. We can take comfort in Zechariah seeing the Angelic Horsemen surveying the earth.

God Returns to His People (Zechariah 1:1-6)

God says through his prophet, “Return to me and I will return to you.” This is a promise that sounds rather conditional. This is strange considering that the Lord promises to send a redeemer to Adam. The Lord calls Abraham out of his idolatrous land to sojourn to heaven. The Lord is the one who walks between the cut up animals as the Lord cuts a covenant with Abraham that we call the “Covenant of Grace.” So, how can the Lord say to Israel “return to me and I will return to you?”

Just Sinners (Hd 5, Arts 1-3; Romans 6:1-23)

The Apostle Paul tells us that we are either slaves of sin or slaves of righteousness. Is our situation really this dire? Are we really just people destined to slaves of one thing or the other thing? Is it really a good thing that we are slaves of Christ Jesus? Why would we actually find freedom in such slavery?

The Servant Love of Christ(John 13:1-17)

Christ is a gracious king who shows his servant quality by washing his disciples feet. This shows us the call to love and service in the kingdom.

God's Worthy Citizens (2 Peter 1:3-11; COD Head 3, 4, RE 9, 10)

Christ has come to establish the Lord's kingdom and to bring his people to his heavenly city. We might wonder how one is worthy to enter into this city. Does one make themselves worthy through a series of preparations or is the Lord's grace bigger than our ability?

Paul’s Final Farewell (2 Timothy 4:19-22)

Paul, the Apostle, writes to a dear friend. Paul writes to a young minister who is most likely seen as Paul's child in the faith. As Paul departs and says his farewell how do we know that this letter extends beyond even Timothy? How do we know that Paul intends to encourage us today?

Running on Fumes (2 Timothy 4:9-18)

Paul, the Apostle, knows that his apostolic ministry is coming to a close. He is not looking to a retirement in this age, but to the ultimate retirement and graduation to heaven. What do these verses teach us about Paul's farewell? What do these verses teach us about our ultimate Christian comfort in Christ?

Oaths: God's Yes and Amen People (Matthew 5:33-37)

Christ tells us not to take oaths, but we read the apostle Paul taking oaths and putting other people under oaths. Is Paul contradicting Christ? What does Christ intend for us by his exhortation not to take an oath?

Man’s Hopeless Situation (COD Head 3, 4 RE 1-4; Ephesians 2:1-6 )

As human beings who sojourn through this world we can think that we are doing well. The problem is that we might not have the clearest picture on life. The tragedy of our existence is that we do not naturally want to pursue God. How do we then interact with God? Is God our enemy? How does God's grace and power overcome our hopeless situation?

I’ve Run the Race (2 Timothy 4:6-8)

The Apostle Paul is writing to assure his friend that ministry includes suffering, but also glory. This is very much an extension of Christ's life, death, resurrection, and ascension. Does this mean that we complete the work of Christ as we live out of gratitude? How should we understand the power in which we run the Christian race? Is that power our will or the Lord's power?

Why Give Exhortations and Pursue God if We are Elect? (1 Peter 1:22-2:3; COD 3, 4, Art. 17)

We can think that if God has chosen us before the foundation of the world, if God has elected us to be his people, and we are those who worship him then we are golden. We can fall into a trap of self righteousness thinking that because we have done the right thing we are worthy of God's electing mercy. However, the Canons of Dordt does not encourage this thinking. In fact, the canons does a wonderful job of reminding us that we are truly saved by grace, delivered from hell for the sake of Christ, and still called to live out of gratitude.

Why is Christ Distressed about Baptism? (Luke 12:49, 50)

We normally think that baptism is a wonderful sign and seal of the Lord's promise. It presents for us the certainty that Christ has endured an eternal punishment, and he has emerged triumphant. The very promise of Genesis 15 is confirmed in Christ's death and resurrection. Christ confirms the promise of the covenant of grace. We think of baptism being this sign of the covenantal promise.

However, Christ is actually anxious about his baptism and he desires to get through his baptism as soon as possible. Why is Christ so concerned about baptism when his father has already pronounced that he is pleased with his son? If Christ is already baptized then what baptism is Christ looking forward to undergoing?

Work Out Your Salvation (Philippians 1:6; 2:12,13; COD 3,4; 14-16)

We know that we are saved by grace that is applied by the will of God. God is the one who chooses his people, empowers his people, and will preserve his people until the end. If this is true, then why does Paul tell us to work out our salvation with fear and trembling? Does God just start the work and then we need to finish the work?

The Last Days of Preaching (2 Timothy 4:1-5)

The primary way that the church grows in faith and in number is through the preaching of the gospel. You would think that the church would love the preaching all the time and that the life changing power of the gospel would permeate our being so we cannot get enough of it. However, this is not the case. The incarnate word was sent to the cross by the will of God using the rejection of man. So, Paul warns Timothy that in the latter days the gospel will not be so joyfully received. What is the fundamental problem? Do we need to change the gospel message?

God’s Free Spirit (COD 3, 4; Art. 10-13)(John 3:1-8)

The Lord is free to do what the Lord desires to do, but the Lord still uses his means to call his people. We know that his gospel will be sent, and his people will respond in faith. We are familiar with John 3:16, but what does the context tell us about some coming to Christ and others rejecting Christ? What does Christ tell Nicodemus about this division in the recipients of the gospel message?

How Do We Persevere in Truth? (2 Timothy 3:10-17)

Paul has warned us about false teachers and our need to be discerning. The struggle we can have is when do we know the truth and when do we not know the truth. This is where Paul assures that the Lord has given us his proof and it is sufficient for us to know right from wrong.

God’s Just Freedom (John 6:35-59; COD 3,4; 7-9)

God builds his heavenly city and calls his saints to dwell with him forever. Today as we take hold of Christ by faith we will dwell in this heavenly city. We will dwell with him and we taste his goodness as we walk in his spirit. We experience the joy in that we walk in him offering ourselves as living sacrifices in Christ Jesus.

Trials in the Last Days (2 Timothy 3:1-9)

Paul gives an exhortion to Timothy that not everything is going to go that well in the last days. There will be struggles and hardships for the church. When are these days? What are these hardships? How do we persevere in the truth? Paul answers these questions with the assurance that the Lord will prevail.

More Than a Certificate (Matthew 5:31-32)

Christ commands us not to divorce. This seems to contradict Moses and not seem to account for abuse. What does Christ mean in the sermon on the mount? How has divorce been abused in Israel? What is Christ positively commanding about marriage?