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Baptism

1 Corinthians 1:10-18

The Bible makes is clear that baptism is important, and a right view on baptism is also important. This raises, therefore several pertinent questions. Why do Christians baptize? Why do Christians get baptized? And why baptism specifically? Why, of all things, did the Lord mandate this particular activity as his chosen way for Christians to welcome new Christians into the church? In this sermon, given for a baptismal service, we examine the answers to these questions, and draw out the impact and implications of this basic practice of Christ’s people.

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Gospel Goodbyes

Acts 20:17-38

Saying goodbye is a sad and painful part of life for everyone. In fact, the only way to avoid having to say goodbye to anyone is to die very young yourself. Looking at Paul’s third and final goodbye to the believers in Ephesus, we see how, while believers are not exempt from the same sorrows of saying goodbye as everyone else, nevertheless the Gospel radically changes even this aspect of life, reflecting the glory of the gospel of God’s grace.

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Made Alive in Christ

Ephesians 2:1-10
God uses the most dramatic contrast to describe spiritual life: you’re either dead or alive. Deadness manifests itself in different ways that we can see and experience every day. God has, however, resurrected his people to live a new life in which the deadness is slowly fading away, giving way to a new and greater reality: God has made us alive in Christ.

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Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham

Matthew 1:1-17
A survey of the Gospels reveal a Messianic expectation among the Jewish people. For example, Luke tells us that “the people were in expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Christ…” (Lk.3:15). The most important question among the Jewish people was, When would the Messiah come? Using this strategic genealogy, Matthew answers two questions about the Messiah: who was he? and what did he come to do?

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Go Therefore

Matthew 28:16-20
Christ’s command to go and proclaim his gospel is clear enough. There are, however, several barriers that stand in the way of his church fulfilling their mission. In this text, we’ll look at several barriers the first disciples faced–and the present day church faces as well. Christ answers those barriers and fears with two powerful statements about himself.

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When Words Fail

The Book of Job
The meaning of the book of Job is found in the privileged voice of God in the divine speech(es) of Job, in chapters 38-41. Job’s reply to the divine speech (“I had heard of you by the hearing of the ears, but now my eye has seen you”) tells the reader the effect of God’s speech on Job, but the book never explicitly tells the reader why or how the divine speech satisfied Job. I argue that the paternal and maternal metaphors used by the Lord to describe his relationship with both animate and inanimate creation allow Job to “know God” in a way he had not previously known Him: as a father. Job was then able to once again trust God and became for the reader a paradigm of faith and piety.

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Rest A While

Mark 6:30-32
After his disciples returned from ministering to people, Jesus made a surprising statement: “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.” What? After seeing such success as demons were being cast out, the sick being healed, and the gospel was being preached? Even while there were still so many pressing against them for ministry even now? Why does Jesus command them to rest? Christ teaches us the importance of “taking care of our tools.”

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Why We Must Go

Matthew 28:16-20
Why should anyone engage in missions? If we focus upon ourselves, then it’s not hard to make a case against it. Jesus answers our fears and concerns, however, with two powerful statements about his mission.”All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me” and “I am with you always.” Because of these two truths, there is nothing more foolish and fruitless than to oppose the mission of Christ–but there is also nothing more safe, wise, and profitable than to take up that mission.

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Called to Suffer

Isaiah 6; 2 Timothy 2:10
Isaiah had one of the most famous visions of God in all the Bible. He was cleansed by God, and called to ministry by God in God’s very presence. Yet, he was called to what would seem to be a failing ministry. Why? Paul was called to be the apostle to the Gentiles, and he died a Roman prisoner, abandoned by nearly everyone. Why?

Through these men’s ministries and preaching, we see something important and foundational to God’s purposes in calling us today, even when He calls us to suffer and to seem to fail.

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