Growing and Witnessing

Chapters 30 and 31 explain that Christ has given the Church the authority to govern itself to direct its ministry in an orderly manner and protect its purity for the glory of Christ. The Church does this through ecclesiastical courts (deliberative governing bodies) and the appropriate use of discipline. 

Psalm 97 celebrates God's kingship over all his creation, particularly focusing on how God's universal rule assures the faithful of his final victory over evil and idolatry. We sing it to praise the God who maintains peace by his providential reign.

Chapters 27-29 of the Westminster Confession of Faith discuss the nature, purpose, and proper use of the sacraments in Christian faith. They are God-ordained means of grace meant to build up believers and point them to Christ. There are two sacraments in the Protestant Church -- Baptism and the Lord's Supper.

Chapters 25 and 26 of the Westminster Confession of Faith define the Church and her mission, as well as explaining how our membership in the Church impacts our daily lives. Join us as we study these chapters together.

God is worthy of praise, and he is to be praised both now and evermore. We must praise him with a devoted heart and beware of a hard one. We are not to harden our hearts before God. Rather, let us bend the knee to him and thank him for his goodness to us.

Chapters 22 and 23 of the Westminster Confession explain the our responsibilities to God with reference to oaths we take and how we relate to the civil magistrate. Join us as we think through what these chapters teach.

Vengeance is mine, says the Lord. He will repay everyone according to his deeds. He is the one who has our backs. We don't need to worry about repaying evil for evil. We are to be good to all and let God handle his business.

Chapter 21 emphasizes how vital worship is in the life of a Christian, highlighting the responsibilities of both the church and individual believers in engaging with the means of grace.

Our Lord reigns, and that comforts our hearts amid turmoil. We don't lose hope when nations rise against our God. Rather, we trust him, engage the political system of our day, pray, and serve while walking holily before our God.

Chapter 20 of the Confession emphasizes the freedom believers have in Christ and the responsibilities that come with that freedom, particularly regarding adherence to God's authority and lawful governance.

It is good to thank our Lord for his goodness and grace in our lives. Cultivating a heart of gratitude is a challenge that takes time throughout our Christian lives.

Matthew 16 asks us if we will follow Jesus with our lives. He is the Son of God and the only one worthy of our faith. When we stand on him, we are guaranteed to prevail.

Why is our counter-cultural gospel such good news? It gives us true freedom in a performance-driven world order.

Is God working out his eternal plan in time and space? Yes, and Jesus' kingdom parables in Matthew 13 explain that his plan involves the proclamation of the gospel to all and the delay of his judgment on the wicked to preserve the lives of his beloved children.

How do you deal with disappointment and the doubt that comes with it? You're going to struggle with it just like John the Baptist did. He took his doubt to Jesus and received gracious rest for his soul. Will you do the same?

Whenever Jesus sent his disciples out as his witnesses, he informed them that persecution would come their way. This is true for all of us as well. Jesus prepares us through his Spirit, like he prepared his disciples years ago. Be ready to stand for Christ amid the wolves of this world.

Is Jesus still riding in majesty? Yes. He will reign for all eternity after he took his crown upon his head in his resurrection. We follow him in his grace.

Should we participate in our King's mission of seeking and saving the lost? Yes. But, "Will we?" is the question. We must learn to see people as Jesus sees them, feel for people as Jesus feels for them, and think about people and their eternity as Jesus thinks about them.

Who can follow Jesus? Anyone who trusts the Lord Jesus Christ follows him with their lives. It's really that simple. Background doesn't matter. Gifts don't matter. Skills don't matter. Experience doesn't matter. Only faith matters.

Jesus has complete dominion. The questions are: Will you trust him with your life? And, do you submit to him?

Entrance into the kingdom of Christ is by faith. It must be a faith that is bold and humble in the Lord of Glory, who is more than able to heal his people immediately and entirely by restoring them to Himself in his grace.

What is the general biblical principle that governs our interactions with one another? The golden rule. In Matthew 7, Jesus explains how doing unto others the way we want them to do unto us plays out in our daily lives.

Should we worry about tomorrow? No. God has already planned what will happen and determined it will be for his glory. Every day anxiety does nothing but trouble our hearts.

Like our acts of righteousness, our piety must come from the heart and be purposefully done for the glory of God. Religious devotion is given to God alone. Any notoriety from them should reflect our desire to glorify the God who saved us by his grace.

Jesus said we are the salt of the earth and the light of the world. We are to be true to who God says we are in character and committed to the truth of God's Word.

Who are you before God is the question Jesus asked his disciples at the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount. Are you poor in spirit? Do you mourn your sin? Are you meek? Do you hunger and thirst for righteousness? Are you merciful? Do you promote peace? Are you pure in heart? Are you willing to endure persecution for righteousness' sake?

Matthew 4:12-25 is the first of three turning points in Mathtew's gospel. The other two are found in chapters 16 and 28, respectively. In this first one, Jesus begins his public ministry and life. He reveals himself publicly to the residents of the Galilean countryside by preaching his first sermon, calling his first disciples, and healing the sick and infirmed. Our study of these verses leaves us asking ourselves three questions. You can join us to find out what they are.

Was Jesus tempted for me? Yes, he was. He stepped into the wilderness to free us from the wilderness prison we created for ourselves in our sins. Because he overcame when we failed, we can come into the eternal garden he has prepared for us. 

Why was Jesus baptized? According to him, it was to fulfill righteousness, but what does that mean? Jesus wasn't a sinner who needed to repent. He was perfect. We'll explain the answer in this message of Matthew 3.

Who is the Messiah? Matthew tells us that he is the one who willingly became a Nazarene for all of us to deliver us from bondage to sin into the light of his marvelous grace by forgiving our sins and wiping every tear from our eyes. He turns our mourning into dancing.

Would he do things differently if he was born today? Would his approach to ministry and salvation be different? No. He's the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. The question is, would you follow him?

We can learn much from Mary and her example of faith. She was humble, grateful, faithful, knowledgeable, and committed to the promises of God. We can emulate her as she placed her faith in her God and sought to serve him with her life.

Join us for our annual Christmas Message Video. This year, we think about Jesus's kingship from Psalm 93.

God began something new with the birth of John the Baptist. In this sermon, we discuss the event leading up to his birth and his father's prophetic song about the reason for John's birth. We learned the value of faithfulness and waiting on God to fulfill his promises, which he is sure to do.

For what are you thankful is the question from Psalm 9 as we prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving this year. 

Why is acting rashly dangerous for Christians? It has bad consequences, which can be severe if a pattern of rashness is established in our lives. Saul is a prime example. In this sermon, we look at three rash decisions/actions and their consequences in his life. Prayerfully, we'll learn to be patient, rely upon the Lord, practice self-control, and repent of our sins.

Saul was a reluctant king. He didn't want to serve Israel after he was anointed by Samuel. But God had a purpose, and it wouldn't be thwarted.

Is God involved in all things? Yes, without question. The story of Samuel anointing Saul greatly illustrates God's providentially working out his purposes in all things. He brought Saul to Samuel, heard the cries of his people, and used Saul's reign to show them they didn't know what was best. He still works the same way today. 

Why do we prefer substitute gods? They meet our immediate needs pragmatically. They enable us to be like everyone else. And they promise to make our lives easier. However, they can do none of those things. They ultimately enslave us by forcing us to worship them while treating us harshly. We should embrace the freedom of following God even though it is often hard to live free.

Though we cannot force God's Spirit to move toward revival, we can do three things to prepare our hearts and lives for it. We must put away the idols of our hearts, devote ourselves fully to the LORD, and serve him alone. These were Samuel's instructions to the Israelites, and they are God's to us today. 

Is the God of the Bible the supreme God of all gods? Yes, he is. He is supreme in his victory, supreme in judgment, supreme in grace, supreme in providence, and supreme in holiness. May we know this supreme God through faith in Christ. 

Like the ancient Israelites, we are tempted to turn our faith into superstitions. We fall prey to the false ideas of our world regarding why things are the way they are. We must learn to trust God as he is and rest in him alone for our hope in this life. Superstitions come from our pretentious pride and idolatrous hearts.

What must a prophet possess if he is to be used by God? How does God use each of us? Should we have the same qualities as the prophets so God can use us to proclaim his gospel? Yes. We must know our Lord, have a willing heart, understand the gospel, and have the courage to proclaim it.

Will you be faithful to your God? is the question that 1 Samuel 2 asks us by contrasting Hannah and the priests, Hophni and Phinehas. She was faithful, humble, and pure. They were not. How will we respond to God's call on our lives? 

What will you give God? Will you give him everything? Will you give him your all? Will you fully surrender to him in faith? Are you willing to surrender your life to him?

1 Samuel 1:1-20 confronts us with four challenging questions. They are: How do you deal with your grief? Are you honest with God, or do you let it fester in your heart? Do you believe that God can and does work in chaos? Do you know that God honors the worship of his people?

The Lord gives abundant life to his people. In him, we find refuge, protection, triumph, and satisfaction. May we know the blessed and eternal life of Christ.

Psalm 90 is a song that starts in the mire of death, focuses us on God's everlasting dwelling place, and teaches us the wisdom of numbering our days before God. Join us as we work our way through the psalm's story.

Psalm 89 is a song about the faithfulness of God and the guarantee that he will keep his promises in Christ Jesus. God's love is his foundational virtue, as it governs every action he takes. Out of his love, he keeps his covenantal promises. He has the power and the righteous character to ensure the outpouring of his love. This makes him worthy of our faith and trust.

Psalm 88 is a lament suited for a person who is so overwhelmed with troubles that even his friends shun him, and who wrestles with the dread that comes from suspecting that the Lord has shunned him as well. We learn the truths of God's care and the way we should minister God's grace to one another in the midst of hardship.

Chapter 19 of the Confession discusses the purpose of God's law and its application to our lives. God gave the law to Adam, fulfilled it in Christ on our behalf, and empowers us to keep it through the ministry of the Holy Spirit. This week's video explains.