Does Resurrection Matter? (LD 17, Colossians 3:1-4)

We normally think of the Resurrection of Christ as being a bit of an abstract concept. Sure, we believe that Christ is raised from the dead and we know that is important. We can think that his resurrection impacts our resurrection. This is true! However, the Apostle Paul sees the resurrection of Christ as being more than just the period or the end of history. The resurrection of Christ is essential for every day of our Christian life. It is in the resurrection of Christ that we move from to domain of death to the power of life even as our victory is currently hidden.

#resurrectionlife #unionwithChrist #expositorypreaching #christisenough

Our Wilderness Wandering (Hebrews 3:7-19)

The people of Israel set the pattern for God's redemptive program. We see that God redeems, leads through the wilderness, and then brings his people into their rest. This precedent shows us that the problem is never with God, but with his people. We are warned not to fall away in the wildness time of testing. The call is that we continually see the goodness of our God who has redeemed us.

#wildernesswandering #christiantesting #christisenough #christianexodus

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A Losing Servant? (LD 16; Isa. 52:13-53:12)

We might wonder why the disciples seemed to consistently miss Christ's message. We can read Luke 24 and desire to give a very harsh rebuke to the disciples who doubt Christ's resurrection. However, Christ tells these struggling disciples that the scriptures spoke of the Christ's suffering, and death. If we walk through the servant songs there are three servant songs that make us think we are on the winning side. We see a picture of the Lord's servant that we like. The fourth servant song is not an image of the servant that we fully comprehend. However, this final servant song communicates how the servant is going to be victorious. We cannot be ashamed of Christ's suffering, but we must embrace it. We must not end with Christ's suffering, because he lives to make intercession. We serve a Lord who has suffered in our place, but is also raised the Lord of life.

(Preached on November 13, 2022 in the evening)

#expositorypreaching #sufferingservant #christisenough #isaiah

Our Cursed Redeemer (LD 15; Galatians 3:10-13)

We believe that Jesus is God who has taken on the flesh. He has taken on the flesh to redeem his people. We might want to minimize the need to have Christ die on the cross, but if Christ does not die on the cross then we are still in our sins. Christ had to become a curse for us so that we could be released from the curse of death.

(Preached November 6, 2022/11.6.2022)

#expositorypreaching #galatians #whychristdied

Where is our Priest? (Hebrews 2:5-18)

We wonder about our life today. There are many temptations, we struggle with sin, and we just feel the incomplete plan of God. We long for glory. We know that Christ has redeemed us, but we wait for glorification. Hebrews assures us that this is our perspective, but we need to see that Christ has subjected all things under his feet. The problem is that we do not see it, and we have a tendency to doubt it. We need to see the bauty and the assurance that our priest resides in heaven.

#expositorypreaching #redemptivehistoricalpreaching #oldtestamentfulfillment #christisenough #christspriesthood

(Preached November 6, 2022/11.6.2022)

Why Did Christ Come? (LD 14; Gal. 4:4)

The Apostle Paul tells us that in the fullness of time Christ is born of a woman. The fullness of time is when Christ enters history to establish the Lord's people in the freedom of Christian maturity. We are now released from the guardian and called to use our freedom to glorify Christ. Paul is teaching us that Christ is God and faithful Son from eternity who has come to secure our adoption. Praise be to God that our redemption and adoption is secure in God's faithful son.

#redeemed #lifeinchrist #galatians #heidelbergcatechism

(Preached in the evening on 10.30.2022)

Dangerous Drifters (Hebrews 2:1-4)

We receive an exhortation from Hebrews not to drift away. When we think of drifting we think of the soft and soothing current taking us away. This is like a ship that is slightly off course, but continues off course and eventually misses its port. We are told not to loose sight of Christ because we too might drift away. We are reminded to see the sufficiency and glory of Christ Jesus.

#christisenough #christissufficient #expositorypreaching #hebrewssermon #hebrews2

(Preached in the morning on 10.30.2022)

Our Glorious Adoption (LD 13, Ephesians 1:3-14)

We believe that Christ is Son of God. He is son from all eternity. Christ is begotten in eternity. Yes, this is something that is difficult for us to understand, but nevertheless Christ was not created. However, we are also called sons of God. This means that we are adopted as children of God to share in Christ's inheritance. We are not deserving of this blessing, but by the grace of God we receive his inheritance by grace and mercy.

(Preached 10.23.2022 in the evening)

#graciousredemption #godsadoption #adoptedsonsofgod #expositorypreaching #ephesians1

Is One Work Enough? (Hebrews 1:5-14)

The fall into sin does not just impact our thinking, but our sojourn in the context of a fallen world impacts our view of life. We feel the consequence of Adam's fall. We see that nothing lasts forever because we continually see things returning to the dust. We struggle with our lack of contentment, the reality that things break down, and even our own covetous desires. It is a challenge to think that Christ's work is not only sufficient, but more than what we need to get through this age. Hebrews reminds us that Christ being seated in heaven testifies that we have all that we need to get through this world.

(Preached 10.23.2022 in the morning)

#expositorypreaching #hebrews #Christsufficiency #christisenough

Christian Metamorphosis (LD 12; Romans 12:1,2)

Christ presents our discipleship and conforming to his purpose as cross bearing. Peter speaks of sanctification as a refining fire. Paul uses the language of sanctification as a living sacrifice. These terms can discourage us from seeing the bigger picture. You see Paul speaks of us not merely being transformed as a heavenly people, but undergoing a process of metamorphosis. This is communicates the beauty and the bigger picture of sanctification. We are not just denying ourselves something, but we are becoming something by God's grace.

#sanctification #expositorypreaching #romans12 #livingsacrifice

God's Confirming Word (Hebrews 1:1-4)

Hebrews exhorts us to see that Christ is the confirmation of God's promise. Christ is not contrary to the prophets. Christ is not in competition with the prophets. Rather, the prophets have credibility because Christ has come. Christ is the word of God. He is the incarnation to fulfill God's purpose to redeem his people. Hebrews assures us that his work is done because Christ is seated in heaven, and we are a purified people made worthy to enter into God's presence. #hebrewssermon #hebrews #expositorypreaching

The Only Way of Salvation (Acts 3:1-4:12; LD 11)

#wayoflife #christisrisen #christistheanswer #gospel

Paul writes, "If the dead are not raised, 'Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.'" (1 Corinthians 15:32). This could be a citation of Isaiah 22:13 where the securing of one's self in the flesh is what establishes life. In other words there is no spiritual dimension. This can also be a summary of the Epicureans who basically wanted to life to the fullest. This means that for Paul if there is no resurrection there is no Christianity, there is no Holy Spirit dwelling in man, and it ultimately means we have no life.

This quote is important for this provides the backdrop for Peter giving his defense for healing a crippled beggar. He did not engage in this miracle because of his piety or faith, but only in the power of Jesus of Nazareth whom they crucified, but God has raised from the dead. The resurrection does not just conquer death, but confirms that we are reconciled to God. It means that we are secured in heaven's glory. It means that right now we walk as the Lord's new temple building waiting for the full perfection.

(Preached October 9, 2022)

The Day of the Lord (Zechariah 14:1-21)

#zechariah #nightvisions #dayofthelord

We can think of the "Day of the Lord" in scripture as being the final day. We do see the day of the Lord as a day when the Lord makes all things right. We think of this as one day rather than one day that is manifested at different times in history. In fact, God by his providence shows his deliverance in patterns throughout covenant history. The point is to give the assurance and warning to the nations that there is a day of reckoning. There is warning to the nations that they better assemble to worship with God's people rather than make war against them. These patterns give assurance that the Lord will bring his people to dwell with him on his holy plateau in the heavenly city that comes down from heaven when all things are created new.

(Preached October 9, 2022)

A Psalm for the Christian Life (Psalm 119:1-16, 81-96, 169-176)

Mr. Aaron Chizmer opens the word of God for us on Sunday morning. We look at Psalm 119 as a Psalm that summarizes and walks us through the Christian life. We are reminded that we are called to live out of gratitude and we are empowered to do so in Christ.

The Servant's Exaltation (Isaiah 52:13-53:12)

Mr. Aaron Chizmer opens the word of God for us on Sunday morning. He exhorts us to see the significance of Christ's servant mission. He does not just suffer by a people who reject him, but he is also exalted at the right hand of God. (preached 10.2.2022)

A Student of Providence (2 Corinthians 1:3-11; LD 10)

The Apostle Paul has personally witnessed the resurrected Christ. He has been called into heaven to experience a vision on par with Isaiah. It is tempting for us to think that Paul does not have to wrestle with God's sovereignty and God's election. However, Paul confesses that he too has had a break through in his Christian walk where his theology moved from being a head knowledge to to a deeper conviction within the Apostle Paul.

(Preached 9.25.2022)

On That Day (3) (Zechariah 13:7-9)

We know that God's people will be pierced through the heart after they send the Lord's shepherd to death. We can see the future promise of this reality. However, what is the Lord going to do at the end of the day? The Lord says that he will scatter his sheep, he will cut off two thirds of the sheep. He will sanctify the last third of the sheep.

(Preached 9.25.2022)

God's Cure for Anxiety (LD 9) (Luke 12:22-34)

When we worry about tomorrow we doubt God's providence and his care for us. Christ could have easily ended his sermon with the assertion that life is more than food or clothing. Christ would then be telling us how sinful we are. Christ does not just tell us that we are sinful, but Christ gives us assurance of the Lord's personal care for us. Luke tells us that Christ gives two proofs to assure us that our Heavenly Father does care. The pesky ravens receive the Lord's care. The Lord watches over the wild flowers that are here today and gone tomorrow. Christ's point is that if God cares about the little details of this creation then how much more his people. Therefore, we should not be anxious about tomorrow as we are in the father's care.

(Preached September 18, 2022)

On That Day (2) (Zechariah 12:10-13:6)

Zechariah set a scary stage in the previous context. The setting is the nations marching against Jerusalem. The nations were meeting for the battle at the mountain of the assembly. This is not assembly for worship, but assembly with the intent to destroy God's city. God's holy mount Zion is being reclaimed as the mountain of war. The Lord promises to secure his holy mountain and his holy city. The Lord is going to establish his "vision of peace" or what we know as Jerusalem. History is moving to the goal of the Lord's heavenly city where God dwells with his people forever. Zechariah continues to describe the "Day of the Lord" with the assurance that the Lord's Spirit will be poured out. His people will repent. Idolatry will be removed. His people will grieve that they have pierced the messiah. However, the Lord's people will dwell in peace in the Lord's heavenly city dwelling in the presence of God himself.

(Preached September 18, 2022)

Redeemed by the Triune God (LD 8; 2 Corinthians 13:14)

The Apostle Paul closes his second letter to the Corinthians with an incredible greeting from the Triune God. Paul is writing to a church that is on the verge of denying the Apostolic Gospel, but Paul still greets them in the blessings of redemption. Paul does not just say the names of the Godhead, but he gives the blessings of our redemption that are given to us by our God.

Preached September 11, 2022 (9/11/2022)