God’s Exclusive Relationship (LD 34; Eph. 5:5)

We might think that idolatry is something that only other people do. If we are honest, we will see that we are blinded to our own affections and self righteousness. We do not see that there are things in this age, not necessarily sinful things, but things that can distract us from our God. This is why it is so important that we understand we are children of God, and it is because we are redeemed in Christ that we have an exclusive relationship with our God. So, when we are exhorted to discern what is pleasing to the Lord then we are invited to see what things do distract us and to be tender to the things that may distract us from Christ. However, we must always remember that we are beloved children of God and we persevere by His grace and power.

Abraham Saw My Day (Genesis 22)

Abraham presents the picture of the Gospel when he sacrifices Isaac. This is Abraham demonstrating Good Friday and the Lord’s intention.

Free in Christ (LD 33; Ephesians 5:10)

Billy Joel says, "I would rather laugh with the sinners than cry with the saints." This is a line in "Only the Good Die Young" that has always intrigued me. This would mean that living for God is a life fully of mourning, sorrow, and pure misery. The Apostle Paul does not command us to weep, but to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. In fact, as a Christian we would say that living for God is the source of our joy. In this sermon we consider what it means to live for God and discerning what pleases him.

The Disciples' Christ (Luke 24:18-27)

The unnamed centurion carries out murder. This is not to say that everyone who has died by his hand has been murdered, but his carrying out an order to kill an innocent man is murder. We noted on Friday that the centurion praised God for Christ’s innocence. He saw this with his Roman bias and in darkness.

This is contrasted with the disciples who are familiar with Christ’s ministry. They are perplexed because they thought Christ was the messiah, but Christ died. Christ’s death does not fit into their system. The disciples never thought that Christ’s death has to take away death and definitively destroyed by Christ’s resurrection. So often we think about Christ’s death, but we do not see the significance of his resurrection. This is a reminder that we need to discern who God is rather than define him by our cultural expectations.

Why Obey if Saved By Grace? (LD 32; Matt. 7:17-18)

We are those who are created to do good works. We also know that faith is a gift that is given to us by God. Christ in the Sermon of the Mount gives us very strong exhortations to obey God from our heart. Where does grace fit into all this? Is grace something that enables us to be faithful?

#sermononthemount #lifeinchrist #gospeliving

Preached out of Heaven (Isaiah 6:4-13; LD 31)

Isaiah receives his commission from the Lord to go and bring the word to God's people. This is not a commission that is really positive as the people will not hear or see the message that Isaiah delivers. They will be deaf and blind to the substance of the message. This seems to be a hopeless mission until we read the holy seed is its stump.

#Isaiah #expositorypreaching #catechismsermon #heidelbergcatechism

Discerning Our Redemption (1 Cor. 10:14-22; 11:23-24; LD 30)

We are called to examine ourselves when we come to the Lord's Table. There is a frightening reminder that there are some who have died in the midst of the Corinthian congregation. Can we come to the table with confidence? How much examination should we do?

#expositorypreaching #lordssupper #communion

Living in Light of the Day (Heb. 10:19-25)

Hebrews is exhorting us to live in light of Christ's second coming. We are to conduct ourselves in the confidence that Christ is at work in us. We also have to be confident that the Lord will usher us into his eternal rest.

#hebrews #hebrews10 #expositorypreaching #hebrewsseries

Consuming Christ? (LD 29; John 6:52-59)

The assurance we have is this, "49 Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. 50 This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die." - John 6:49, 50.

These are strong words that our Savior utters stating that in order for us to have life we need to consume Christ. We need to remember that Christ tells us we literally consume Christ by taking hold of him by faith and being joined to him.

God’s Promise Secured (Hebrews 10:1-18)

The assurance that we have is that Christ has truly overcome. The letter to Hebrews makes a very strong statement that even the law of God is the shadow of what is to come. If we take this as all the Lord's directives then we should not see Hebrews in Scripture. This would clearly contradict a significant point of doctrine. So the law being the shadow has to refer to the Levitical priesthood and those regulations that show our sinfulness.

#hebrews #hebrews10 #expositorypreaching #hebrewsseries

Redeemed to Eat True Nourishment (Luke 22:14-23; LD 28)

Our Lord hosts the passover with his disciples on the night that he is betrayed. He applies the signs of the bread and wine to himself. He says that this is my body and this is my blood. This is sacramental metonymy. Christ is using the bread and the wine in the place of his body.

#sacraments #lordssupper #communion

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Worshipping in the True Tabernacle (Heb. 9:23-28)

We conclude the climatic chapter of Christ's priesthood in Hebrews. Christ does his work in the heavenly tabernacle. He makes intercession for us in heaven. We live in the power of Christ as his heavenly people. We see to understand what it means to live out the gospel in the power of Christ.

#melchizedek #tabernacle #heavenlytabernacle #hebrews #hebrewsseries

Baptism: A Communal Sign (Isaiah 44:1-3; LD 27)

Isaiah, the prophet, speaks of the washing that will go forth. This washing is not just for the adults in the community, but their offspring. The wilderness normally is associated with death, but our Lord will overturn it with life.

#waterbaptism #Infantbaptism #baptism

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The Blood of the New Covenant (Hebrews 9:11-22)

Christ enters through the tabernacle. He makes the definitive sacrifices and then he sits down at the right hand of God. He is the great priest king who has secured us once for all and establishing the new covenant.

#hebrewsseries #expositorypreaching

A Sign of the Time (LD 26; Zechariah 13:1-6)

Zechariah promises that there will be a fountain that is opened. This fountain will open on the day of the Lord where the Lord will establish the true cleansing. The Lord will care for us, and the Lord will redeem. This fountain is the symbolism of the true definitive washing. Baptism is the sign of the time that is shown in covenant history.

Worshipping in the Greater Tabernacle (Hebrews 9:1-10)

Christ is seated in the heavenly tabernacle. He moves from the earthly to the heavenly. We are secured in Christ because he is the greater priest. He does not work in earthly tabernacle model, but in the heavenly tabernacle.

Redeemed for Discipleship (LD 25; Matt. 28:16-20)

Christ is raised from the dead, he interacts with his disciples on the last mountain, and he goes to heaven. This would appear to be Christ leaving us and forsaking us. However, Christ assures us that he will be with us until the end of the age.

#greatcomission #matthewgospel #christianmotivation

Established on Greater Promises (Heb. 8:1-13)

We can think that Christians do not have a priest. We can think that we do not have a tabernacle. However, Hebrews assures us that we do have a priest and a tabernacle. Our problem is that we do not see them literally before our eyes so we assume we have neither. The joy we need to have is that our Lord is our priest and he presides in the heavenly tabernacle.

#hebrewssermons #hebrewsseries #expositorypreaching

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Served by the Definitive Priest (Hebrews 7:11-28)

Christ is superior, and we need to see that our joy, comfort, and consolation is found in him exclusively.

Raised for our Justification (Romans 4; LD 23)

We know that the resurrection of Christ is essential for our resurrection. Our temptation as humans is to think that this is a future blessing. However, the Apostle Paul assures us that Christ's resurrection is for us right now. If Christ is not raised from the dead then we are still in our sins. Paul's point is that Abraham did not just look for a son, but he looked to the resurrection.