Citadel Square

This week, we'll see how Paul returns to the theme of his calling as a minister of the new covenant. He shows us how the new covenant, rooted in the mercy of God, shapes his convictions and unites the preaching of Christ with the very first words of God.

we will see a fascinating comparison between the Old Covenant ministry of Moses and the New Covenant ministry of Paul. We will also explore how the coming of Christ and the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit brings hope, freedom, boldness, and transformation to our lives. As we behold the glory of the Lord, we will be conformed into His image!

Is Paul really qualified to minister to the Corinthians? Where are his credentials? These are the questions that arise in this next section of 2 Corinthians. The transformed lives of Corinthian Christians serve as Paul's letters of recommendation. But neither Paul nor any Christian is sufficient within themselves to minister without God, for we are made sufficient by God. It is His Spirit that gives life and propels the new covenant ministry of followers of Jesus.

While Paul awaits the coming of Titus with news of the Corinthian response to Paul's painful letter, we get another glimpse into his heart. Gospel opportunities are at odds with his worried heart. Yet Paul finds great joy in the knowledge that God's triumphant purposes are never foiled as the aroma of the gospel message spreads in surprising ways.

As we continue to see Paul pour out his heart for the Corinthians, Paul shares his intent behind why he wrote such a painful letter. Through his instruction, we see how a church should deal with opposition to the apostle's instruction and guard itself against the schemes of Satan to deceive and divide.

Paul hasn't done what he said he would do—promising to visit the Corinthian church. This has given an occasion for people in the church to claim Paul's unfaithful and unreliable. Paul addresses both his reputation and the reliability of the promises God makes to us in Christ, proving that though plans change, God is always reliable.

As Paul continues to share his experience walking with God we learn something about his weakness. Suffering and difficulty not only reveal something about God and his mercy but us and our strength. Paul shows the Corinthian church another aspect of God's preserving power when we face suffering, and how we can come to the aid of those who suffer for the cause of Christ in our day.

Suffering. No one asks for it, and no one likes it. In the opening verses of 2 Corinthians, Paul shows us that when we suffer and experience the hardships that come with life as a Christian, we can be sure to experience two significant realities. First, God comforts and cares for us, and second, God has a purpose for our pain.

"The end of the matter has been heard." With these words, Solomon closes his meditation on life under the sun. His counsel, spanning both Old and New Testament realities, provides the blueprint for building a life of strength, wisdom, and dignity as we look to our future. In short, "...build your house on the rock."

Through Solomon's searching, examining, and evaluation, we have learned what it means to live well. In the final chapter of this book, Solomon turns his eye to what it means to die well. How do we live with the end in mind? Our Creator strengthens and guides our final years through knowledge before we see Him face to face.

In one of the most personal moments of Jesus's post-resurrection appearances, we consider the restoration of Peter. Peter, a man humbled and embarrassed, finds hope, a future, and comfort in a conversation with Jesus who knows all of Peter's story and chooses to restore him for a life of useful ministry

The bad news of the gospel message exposes us for who we really are. We spend much of our energy committed to presenting a righteous and upright facade before others and God. While we try to avoid, and manipulate that truth, the gospel of God's grace meets us in the mess of confession and repentance.

Solomon considers the demand for wisdom during our lives under the sun, he recognizes we respond two ways. Returning again to expose our desire for control, the ambiguities and variables of life will either freeze us or free us.

In light of an uncertain and complex world, Solomon recognizes the need for poise and discretion. Favoritism in the workplace, foolishness, and the temptation to be reckless with our words all demand nuance and wisdom to navigate. It's the discipline of self-control that will allow us to speak with dignity and grace, and find our way in difficult times.

Solomon turns from the certainty of death to examine the uncertainty of life. Our plans don't always work the way we expect, and often we're surprised that life isn't fair. Through the example of an unknown savior, Solomon invites us to listen to the gentle voice of wisdom to guide our path.

In the next section of this book, Solomon pushes his introspection further in an attempt to discern what will come after man's death. Like his previous search for what is good, Solomon confronts our inevitable end with an exhortation to seize the day.

In the final meditation in Solomon's search for what is good "under the sun," we discover that frustrations often come because we don't recognize our limitations. In light of our humanness, Solomon repeats his counsel to find joy in our work and rest in the inscrutable plans of God.

In one of the strangest passages in all Ecclesiastes, Solomon shows both the vanity of striving for wisdom, and the vanity of striving for righteousness. This search ends in a bewildering realization that Solomon cannot discern the deep motivations of the human heart.

Solomon begins a new line of questions answering the question, "What is good for man?" In the shifting sands of life's unpredictable circumstances, how do we define what is good? Solomon helps us to see the thread of God's kindness to us in a variety of life's inevitable events proving that we can indeed "rejoice always."

Solomon turns from our spiritual life to examine the quest for wealth and financial freedom. Bad investments, shady business deals, and covetous hearts all threaten the quest for finding hope in our wealth. Rather than seeking stability and security in our pursuit of wealth, Solomon counsels us to work hard, spend money, be content and enjoy the gift of wealth that God has given.

"Life under the sun" means that we're often trying to make sense of the connection between our spiritual and physical lives. The first mention of our religious life in this book teaches us that how we pray and what we promise to do for God are two essential spiritual rhythms. These practices are properly informed only when we embrace a humble posture before God.

Solomon turns his attention to the world of work. The drive to succeed, the rat race, the necessarily commitment it takes to accomplish our vocational dreams turn into an oppressive hunger that only demands more. Solomon shows us that working with and for others protects us, comforts us, and allows us to keep our work in perspective.

There's a time for everything. This phrase permeates the wisdom of Ecclesiastes chapter 3. Whether it's edification or erosion, life is characterized by seasons. It's precisely the awareness of these reliable seasons that help us live wisely, and help us set our hearts on God, the unchanging one who inhabits eternity.

As the prototypical human, Solomon experiences and evaluates the pursuits that we believe give our lives meaning. Solomon discovers that they fall far short in the face of the inevitable. He then gives us our first glimpse into finding and experiencing consistent joy during our time on earth.

The book of Ecclesiastes opens with a description of life on earth that seems far from hopeful. Solomon shows us that life under the sun comes with a "vanity" that is inescapable. This news, however, is precisely the thing we need to hear to discover hope elsewhere. In our first message in this series, we explore the bad news that leads us to the good news of unquenchable hope and joy.

Pastor AJ Rankin shares about the relentless advance of God's purpose from Philippians 1:12-18.

Addison Hamrick preaches from Malachi 3:13-4:6. Is obedience to God worth it? Is God just? Why do people who are disobedient seem to prosper? These are questions that God's people had during the time of the prophet Malachi.

Christians are those who have experienced the wonderful gift of justification. However, this does not mean we are removed from the brokenness of this world. We often still wrestle with sin and suffering that can easily lead us to doubt God's goodness. In this passage, Paul reminds us of the hope we have in God who loved us and saved us even at our worst, and therefore will save us in the end so that we might share in His glory and rejoice in Him forever. Jonathan Suggs preaches on The Fruit of Justification from Romans 5:1-11.

As we complete our meditation on the incarnation, we look to the words and life of the Apostle Paul. A one-time persecutor of the church, a murderer, and most importantly a man whose life was turned upside down by an encounter with Jesus. Paul shows us the wonder of Christmas through his experience and invites us to lay hold of the truth that Jesus came for me.

The Christmas season reminds us of the distance Jesus has descended to be near to us, indeed, God with us. But Jesus's descent also comes with a declaration, a command to believe. Jesus shows us the danger of denying the words that accompany His incarnation.

In observing the incarnation, we turn our attention to Paul's letter to the Philippians. Paul's ethical commands for this church flow from the miracle of Christmas. In a few short verses, Paul shows us what a feat of humility the incarnation was. The descent of the Son of God from trinitarian glory, to experiencing the torture of crucifixion is the model for all those who would follow after Christ.

The Christmas story is filled with rich stories of characters who have a unique perspective on the incarnation. Angels, Kings, virgins, and shepherds all lend their experiences to create the tapestry of the story of the Son of God. But what does Christmas look like through God's eyes? Why did he send Jesus? What do the scriptures say happened when God became a man? This week we look at the heart of God displayed and explained in a conversation between Jesus and a man named Nicodemus.

Following Jesus requires surrender. It's within this reality that we see Luke's account of the transfiguration of Jesus. Luke gives us a unique focus as he connects the transfiguration to stories from the Old Testament, showing that Jesus is the "Chosen One"—the one to whom all of Scripture points. Listening to Him during the trials of our life is one of the greatest ways we can respond.

In the final message in our church series, we look at a moment in David's life that demonstrates a key element in our relationship with God: Worship. Apart from feelings, experiences, or spiritual encounters, worship happens when we give because of God's greatness.

This Sunday, we hosted guest speaker, Ed Welch, counselor and faculty member at the Christian Counseling & Educational Foundation. Listen as he preaches from Psalm 130.

Have you ever considered what God is doing in your spiritual life? What's the goal? How do we progress as Christians? What tools does God use to help us grow into maturity? These questions come into focus when we consider that our edification and growth happens as God gifts and empowers his church toward the end of spiritual maturity.

We will take a look at Ephesians 5:22-32 where Paul, using the metaphor of a Christian marriage, reveals a ‘profound mystery'. We, the church, are The Bride of Christ. The unconditional, sacrificial, and eternal love of Christ for his bride is indeed profound. It elicits a response of joyful submission and radical obedience from his church.

The church is a group of people who profess and give evidence that they have been saved by God's grace; who are committed to God's people and God's mission; and who exist and gather for God's glory. God's plan is not only to save individuals but to establish His people, the church. But why does God do it in this way and how is it it built?

As we consider the future eternity of the Kingdom of God in the new heavens and new earth John closes the book of Revelation with an epilogue. These final verses provide commentary from an angel, John and Jesus himself. Each witness encourages us to consider how we look at the testimony of this book and how we ought to live today in light of God's sure word about the future.

John completes his description of the capital city of the new heavens and earth by showing us the brilliance of the new Jerusalem. Radiant and pure, it's the home of all those who are written in the Lambs book of life. In the last chronological verse in the Bible we see where we will spend all eternity in the presence of God.

The judgment upon Satan, the False Prophet, and the Anti-Christ has fallen and now the works done on the earth are exposed before the great white throne of God. We see the lake of fire and the new creation contrasted as the final destiny of all people. This passage proclaims the inevitable truth that we will all spend eternity somewhere based on our response to the Lamb.

The promised Kingdom of God through the rule and reign of Jesus Christ has arrived. This much-debated chapter shows us Christ visibly ruling and reigning from Jerusalem for 1000 years and fulfills various Old Testament passages that see Jerusalem's king as the ruler of all nations.

Heaven is opened and the Christian's greatest hope has arrived. Jesus Christ, revealed in resplendent glory and surrounded by the armies of heaven, arrives to judge the anti-christ and false prophet and make war with all those who have stubbornly refused to repent of their sins.

With the return of Christ imminent, and Babylon in ruins - Heaven breaks into song and announces that the long awaited marriage between God and His people has come. The longing in the heart of every Christian to finally see Jesus is at hand and John is overwhelmed with joy.

After looking at the religious aspects of the Anti-Christ's kingdom, John describes the commercial, political, and economic aspects of this world power next. The destruction promised to the Babylon of the Old Testament is ultimately fulfilled as Babylon of the last days is brought down. For the Christian this chapter exposes the danger of finding our fulfillment and hope in political power or economic success.

On the heels of the bowl judgments of God, an angel shows John an historical panorama of the theme of false religion and political power. From the earliest parts of the Bible, the world kingdoms have one thing in common, the hatred of God, His Christ and His people. The unification of false religion and politics, Babylon, is the final Kingdom of the Beast who goes to war with the Lamb and meets it's end.

John recounts the final earthly expression of the wrath of God in the bowl judgments. These judgments occur faster and with more severity than anything before and answer several questions. What is the end of idolatry? Why doesn't pain cause people to repent? Why is Christ's second coming described as a thief? The Kingdom of the Beast finds its final decimation as Christ prepares to return.

Pastor AJ Rankin shares key elements regarding wisdom as he preaches from Proverbs 1:1-7.

John pens the shortest chapter in Revelation thus far as heaven prepares for the final bowl judgments to be poured out on the earth. In a vision that takes us back to the Exodus of Israel from Egypt, God's character is vindicated through the song of Moses.

In two vivid yet simple images, John describes the reaping of the earth. The reaping of the grain harvest, is followed by the reaping of the grape harvest - both images of the final chapters of Revelation. The bowl judgments and the last battle of Armageddon are about to commence, and the hour of God's judgment is at hand.

The next vision John records is of three angels. These angels proclaim three messages concerning the gospel , the false religious system of the day called Babylon, and the eternal destiny of those that follow her. Again, we are reminded of the need for endurance, obedience, and faith in Jesus that provide eternal security in an evil day.