A Vision of the Lord (Isaiah 6:1-8)

We welcome Rev. Angelo Contrares to our pulpit this morning. Pastor Lindemulder went to attend an informational meeting for a Reformed Church Plant in Sheridan, WY.

https://sheridanreformed.org

God's Conquest

We skip over the wilderness wandering to the next chapter in Israel’s pilgrimage through this earth.  We move to Joshua surveying the land of Canaan as he gears up to carry out his war mission.  Why does Israel go into the land of Canaan in such a violent manner?  What does this tell us about life and our struggle as we live our lives under the sun as God’s pilgrim people? 

Our Complete Priest (Hebrews 9:24-28)

One of the frustrating things about Christianity is that we do not have a tangible king. This means that we cannot simply knock on a door and see a king at work. We are a people who are to walk by faith with our eyes peering to the heavens as we sojourn on this earth. How can we be assured that our Lord is walking with us? How can we be assured that we really do have a priest who continues to minister on our behalf?

Victory Through Defeat (Matthew 27:27-56)

If Christ is going to have a successful mission he better accomplish something that is tangible. Rome and Israel both have an issue with the way Christ conducts His holy war. In their mind Christ is a weak king whose mission falls flat, Christ is a king with bigger ideals than power, and Christ is a king who is not to be feared. Are these claims true? How can we say that Christ's mission is successful as we have record of Christ dying on the cross?

Rebellious Renegades

Our story of God’s pilgrim people skips ahead to the tragedy of Israel’s rebellion.  We would hope that with the huge build up and the drama of being called out of Egypt that the Lord’s people would possess the land of Canaan.  However, God’s pilgrim people fail to see the big picture.  Why would we want to see the bigger picture of God’s redemptive mercy?  What does the full context of covenant history teach us about God’s gracious work?

Christ Handed Over (Matthew 27:1-26)

It is shocking to think that the God who rules over heaven and earth would allow himself to be lead around by mere mortals. You would think that the God of heaven would want to put the arrogant betrayers in their place, but God does not do such a thing. How does Christ's trial show that heaven's wisdom is radically superior to earth's wisdom?

Our Merciful Priest (Hebrews 2:14-16)

If Christ merely pays our debt for today then we are still in trouble. This would mean that our sins are only covered until today. It is true that God is merciful if he does this, but God does more than merely take a few sins away. God takes all our sins away and restores us to a right relationship with him. In fact, we have a priest who is better than the priests in the Old Testament. How can we have a priest today who is better than the priests of the Old Testament? Those priests were tangible and could look us in the eye. So, why is Christ a greater and more merciful priest?

Our Stable Priest (Hebrews 7; BC 19)

Christ is both God and man.  This is not an easy doctrine for us to understand.  As human beings we want to bring God down so that Christ is maybe a little less God, but still greater than man.  Or maybe his humanity is not so human, but not quite divine.  So, why is it important for us to see Christ as being both God and man?  Why are these two natures so necessary for Christ to accomplish his mission?

Christ’s Tragic Fulfillment (Matthew 26:47-75)

Christ has to live up to his name.  He is the anointed (christ) who has to save his people from their sins (Jesus).  The moment of testing has arrived, but will Christ go to the cross?  He has already prayed that the father would remove the cup and so will Christ fulfill his mission's objective?

Definitive Defender

Our story of God’s pilgrim people skips ahead to the exodus story.  This is a wonderful story that demonstrates the Lord’s sovereign power over the serpent seed.  God will prevail.  How does this story encourage us today?  How does this story assure us that God can and will build his kingdom? 

Christ's Shocking Prayer (Matthew 26:31-46)

Christ is facing his moment of trial. This is the moment where the Gospel promises will stand or fall. Christ asks the Father to take the cup from him. Why would Christ make such a request? Is Christ going to fail? What does this scene tell us about our great high priest who is seated in heaven?

The Incarnate Shoot (Isaiah 11:1-5)

Normally our fist text that we go to defend the doctrine of the incarnation is John 1. This is not a bad text, but it implies that there are no references to Christ's incarnation in the Old Testament. Is it true that Christ's incarnation is just a New Testament doctrine?

Senile or Serene?

We move forward and recount tthe Lord’s gracious preservation as he works in the midst of his pilgrim people. We are invited to witness Jacob saying good bye to Joseph his favorite son. What does this scene teach us about Jacob’s reflection on life? What does this teach us about our earthly sojourn under the sun?

Our Father's Feast (Matthew 26:17-30)

Christ's day and his hour is at hand. Christ celebrates a passover as he has most likely done before with his disciples. However this time he applies the blessings of the passover to himself identifying himself as the passover and the one who sheds the blood of the covenant. What is Christ doing here? What does this mean in the overall trajectory of the gospel?

One or Two Redeemed People? (Acts 13:16-43)

Belgic Confession Article 17 teaches us that it is God who reaches down to pull man up. It is by God's gracious mercy that he seeks us out, gathers us together, and brings us to glory. So, is our God have one plan for Israel and another plan for the gentile Christians? How does one enter into heaven?

God Wrestles and Prevails

The progress continues in the pilgrim story. Jacob goes away to his uncle’s house only to meet his match. HIs uncle is a more skilled trickster and schemer than Jacob. However, the Lord sustains Jacob only to wrestle with him. Why does the Lord wrestle with Jacob? Why is his name changed from “Supplanter” to ‘Wrestled and Prevailed?”

Your Kingdom not Our Kingdom (Matthew 26:1-16)

Our Lord teaches us to pray, "Your Kingdom Come." This might sound easy for us and we should desire the Lord's kingdom. However, this request is easy to say, but tough to live out. Why is the Lord's kingdom so offensive? Why is it so hard for us to live out his kingdom?

Does God Hate? (Romans 9:13)

It is common for us to think that God is love. Love is certainly one of God's many attributes. However, our Lord says, "Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated." How can the Lord say such a thing? What does it mean that the Lord hates?

God's Tower

The progress continues in the pilgrim story. Isaac has two sons, and one son is sent away. This is not the apostate son, but the son of the promise. Has the Lord failed to uphold his promise? Is the Lord really going to build a kingdom or is his kingdom always going to have set back after setback? Why is Jacob’s tower so significant in light of Jacob’s exile?

The Promise is for You and Your Children (Acts 2:39; Genesis 17:7)

Peter states that promise is for you and your children. Does this mean that the promise is merely the promise of the Holy Spirit that is shown at pentecost? Is this a promise that goes before before pentecost? What passages could Peter have in mind to show that this promise is more than just pentecost? Ultimately, does this text imply that we are commanded to baptize infan

if you are want to learn more about the argument for infant baptism please check out our page on “Infant Baptism.”