Hope Presbyterian Church - Sermons

Read Romans 15:1-13 We have all heard the old idiom [from 1626AD], “in essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in all things, charity.” I propose a fourth line, with all people, Christ-likeness [or Christ's personality]”. With all that can be said about exercising our Liberty of Conscience, Christ-likeness is the highest goal and glory. And what is revealed in Romans 15:1-13, is the great truth, “even Christ did not please himself.” Can we say the same about our exercise of liberty in Christ? Have we attached more importance to serving ourselves, than serving Christ and his body - the Church?

Read Romans 14:13-23 This is the second message on the issue of “Liberty of Conscience” and the biblical principles that govern our exercise of our coonscience. Contrary to popular thought, we are not “free” to exercise our conscience as we may think, but are to exercise it in a generous supply of love for one another. If truth be told, more often than not, the exercise of our conscience is not so much informed by Scripture as it is by personal preference and/or convictions. Here are for Laws of Love to help guide us.

Read Romans 14:1-12 This message is longer than normal, but dealing with the crucial matter of the exercise of our conscience, especially when that liberty conflicts with other Christians. If we believe and confess that God alone is lord of our conscience, then we must look to His lordship, and the law He lays out for us in respect of our conduct and liberty of our conscience. Romans 14:1-12 gives us at least four laws concerning the exercise of our conscience.

Read Titus 3:1-8 In John 8:34-36 Jesus speaks about his grace that brings us freedom from the slavery of sin, and if the Son has set you free, you are free indeed. But free to do what? You are free to live godly in Christ Jesus. Paul addresses this freedom, and points us to the godliness we are given over to in Titus 3:1-3. It is set in contrast to what were once were without Christ, and which the ungodly are yet enslaved to.

Read Romans 11:25-36 Paul sets before us perhaps the greatest mystery and concern regarding God’s electing purposes: how come so few Jewish people have yet to respond to the gospel of Jesus Christ? His answer, unimaginable grace is yet waiting to be poured out on Israel. The concern = that we who have been engrafted in do not become ignorant and conceited because we have believed where others haven’t. Paul reveals why he has such confidence “All Israel will be saved”; because God’selecting grace is irrevocable, and God’s mercy is unfailing.

Read Titus 1:1-9 with Isaiah 60:1-9 When it comes to being assured of the hope of eternal life and the persevering grace of God, the foundation and confidence of this rests upon God’s promise, plan, and proclaiming authority in the covenant of grace. Every single blessing and promise of grace is sealed to us by the atonement and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Read Romans 11:11-24 The saving grace of our God, and his electing purposes are a mystery for us to truly comprehend, yet in saying that, God remains faithful to his covenant of grace. As we learn more about election and grace, we realize we have nothing to boast in concerning our hand in our salvation; it is all of God.

Read Titus 1:1-4 In this introductory message to Titus, we see Paul expressing his identity in Christ as a bondservant and apostle, affirming that Christ is both his Lord, and the one who has given him authority to write to Titus and the Church at Crete. In this letter Paul gives some of the most concise, yet deep confession of faith the church is to lay hold of concerning eternal life.

Read Romans 11:1-10 Understanding Election [God’s foreknowledge and predestining grace] helps us to hope confidently in God’s promises and work of salvation in the world. Even with disobedient stubborn stiff-necked Israel, God’s saving work was not frustrated, but fulfilled “according to the election of grace.” Christ Jesus will save His people from their sins!

Read 1Timothy 6:20-21 with Deuteronomy 13:1-11 This is the final sermon on 1Timothy, and it ends with the brief epilogue by Paul to Timothy about “Guarding the trust” committed to him. That trust is the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ and its vital foundation to the life of the Church. The doctrine of the Gospel can be interfered with by irreverent and empty debates and pseudo-knowledge about faith and life in Christ - which has turned some away from the Christian faith. As a Church, and as believers, we are called to protect and uphold the authority of Scripture, and sound doctrine of the faith, God’s grace, Jesus Christ, and God’s glory.

Read Romans 10:14-21 Within the doctrine of election and God’s sovereign grace, is the truth that mankind is still responsible for their sins, and to obey the commands off the Gospel. Again, using the Old Testament, Paul shows that Israel’s unbelief in the Gospel was not because they did not hear, nor understand the gospel; but rather their stubborn disobedience. Faith truly needs to hear the Word of God proclaimed [heralded], for the Spirit to work and bring about saving faith.

Read 1Timothy 6:18-21 with Ecclesiastes 5:8-20 The Lord has set wealthy people in the Church as well as poor, and they ought not to be despised, but welcomed. But there are specific imperatives given here that dealing with the rich and their pursuit of godliness. This is a matter of eternal life.

Read Romans 10:5-13 Letting fo of our legalistic tendencies is a struggle when it comes to possessing eternal life in the Lord Jesus. We cannot fathom the nature nor necessity of faith in the Lord Jesus as our only means of receiving forgiveness for all our sins, and acceptance by God as righteous. Here we see that Faith in the Lord Jesus is the only means by which we are saved.

Read 1Timothy 6:11-16 with Deuteronomy 26:16-19 We live in a time where understanding what a “Man of God” is has become distorted by worldliness. We have been given a charge to keep by Christ, and that good confession needs to be contended for in a day where it is so muddled. Our strength to contend for the faith comes from cherishing Christ who alone is the Potentate - the Sovereign King and Lord of all.

Read Romans 10:1-13 Romans 10 is dealing with the need of the saving grace of Faith. Paul confronts the vanity of sinners, both Jew and Gentile, who try to establish their own righteousness and sufficient for gaining God’s favour and salvation. Christ closed the door on those vain attempts, by establishing the righteousness of God by his own obedience, death and resurrection. This is the only sufficient righteousness needed to be justified, and it can only be received by faith in Jesus Christ.

Read 1Timothy 6:3-10 with 2Kings 5:20-27 Ever wonder how so many people fall prey to these false teachers and doctrines of the Prosperity Gospel movement, giving away thousands and thousands of dollars to ministries and people thinking their lives are going to be met with their own prosperity? Ever wonder why even Christians are duped into scams, and con-men within religious circles? in a word - discontentment. Paul exposes the character of such deceievrs, and calls Christians, and the church to add to their godliness “contentment”, and the spiritual gain is great.

Read Romans 9:30 - 10:4 Jesus Christ is called a stumbling stone and rock of offense, and this is because of the necessity we have of being broken by our sinfulness of self-righteous pride that thinks we can gain God’s mercy, forgiveness and love through our own merits, and not by faith in Jesus Christ. This was Israel’s problem - they pursued righteousness by the Law, and not of faith, and could never gain that righteousness because they could not comprehend their sinfulness before God.

Read 1Timothy 6:1-5 with 2Samuel 16:5-14 Paul concludes this section on honouring one another by looking to those Christians within the lowliest places of society, and calling them to honour those who are over them, even if they are not believers. Our standing in society does mean we can excuse ourselves from that proper obedience to God according to his moral law; and honouring those who are our lords and/or masters does not mean we are permitted to disobey God’s Law [think of Joseph]. Honouring masters matters because of God’s glory and of God’s desire to bless his people.

Read Romans 9:17-29 With the high and holy doctrine of election, Paul has been dealing with objections to this humbling truth: Can God’s Word and promises be trusted? Is God unrighteous? And now, Why does God find fault with us if our salvation is up to his electing grace? In this message we see that God is being who he is as God, in the righteous administration of his wrath, as well as in being merciful.

Read 1Timothy 5:17-25 with 1Samuel 24:1-15 To honour is to recognize the worth of another and then render the respect and tribute due to them. Honour is not a grace that is earned, but a grace that we are called in Christ to exercise - note the 5th Commandment. Honouring elders is a call to humble submission and obedience [Hebrews 13:17] due to those who are called of Christ to shepherd your souls.

Read Romans 9:14-18 with Exodus 32:30 - 34:9 Many Christians who both struggle with or reject the doctrine of election and predestination, do so because they believe it makes God unrighteous. You may have heard some Christians even say, “I can’t believe in a God who would purposely send people to hell.” This text answers that objection. In fact, Paul takes us back to Moses in Exodus to show God has already made clear his electing love is the only reason any of us are saved.

Read 1Timothy 5:3-16 with Ruth 2 The Church’s ministry unto widows is basically a non-negotiable mercy for both the immediate family and congregation. It is a mark of true religion in action. We see this testimony from our Lord Jesus when, on the cross accomplishing our redemption, he entrusted the care of his mother to John the Apostle. We see the purity of this mercy in Boaz who, looking unto both Naomi and Ruth, went beyond the minimum requirements of the law to show them mercy.

Read Romans 9:6-13 Many Christians criticize the doctrine of election because they estimate it makes God seem unjust, unloving, and Christians become nothing more than robots. Paul logically challenges many misconceptions about God’s electing grace, and begins with the thought, “Has God’s word and promise failed?”

Read 1Timothy 5:1-8 The virtue of honour is an essential yet difficult grace to exercise in the household of God. Contrary to worldly wisdom, honour and respect is to be given. We do not wait for someone to earn it, but in the redeeming grace of our Lord, we exercise it in accordance with godliness.

Read Romans 9:1-5 We return to the letter to the Romans, and beginning at chapter 9-11 we come to the difficult doctrine of Election and see how important it is to the gospel and saving purposes of God. Here Paul laments that with all the privileges Israel had, they were largely hard-hearted to the message of the gospel.

1Timothy 4:12-16 Godliness is striving to faithfully bear the image of God in all knowledge, righteousness, and holiness where we love and serve God in our whole life and being. That pursuit of godliness needs to be molded, not by our own ideals or wisdom, but by the truth of God’s Word.

Read Psalm 90 As 2020 ends, and the new year begins, our thoughts go to the brevity of life and all its struggles. 2020 has been a very difficult year for the entire world, and in this Psalm we are told that is the common struggle of fallen humanity. May we gain a heart of wisdom and be taught to number our days in light of the impending return of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Read Matthew 2:1-18 Christ Jesus, “the Son of God” was a human being, and even from his very beginning of life as a man was met with fierce persecution and enmity. He traveled the path of his people in their bondage and struggles with sin and death to be the true High Priest who can sympathize with all our temptations and struggles.

Read Jonah 4:1-11 Jonah was angry thaat God should bring revival to Nineveh and not Israel. Here God reveals that his mercy and saving grace is not for us to manipulate. God is sovereign in salvation, and shows that it is for the world.

Read John 1:1-18 The wonder of “The Son of Man” is that the eternally begotten Son of God willingly condescended to redeem us and so took to himself our humanity by becoming a true human being with a soul. He humbled himself and became obedient even unto the cursed death.

Read Jonah 3:1-10 It is funny to think that a church can plan revivals on specific days. But it is our Lord who calls us to faithful witness and testimony, and who then brings forth the increase in his time and way.

Read 1Timothy 4:6-11 One would think a good minister of Christ is easily known, but too often we gravitate toward those who appeal to us. Here are marks of such a man.

Jonah 2:1-10 It is Jonah’s time spent in the belly of the fish, which Christ so identifies with. Jonah had to die to his sin; he had to mortify his flesh, and in doing ssoo he saw the heinous nature of his sin and what it deserved - death.

Read 1Timothy 4:1-5 Timothy was called to guard the Church from false teachers and ungodly men. that character of ungodliness is recognizable as this text shows.

Read Jonah 1:1-17 As with Jonah, so our God is faithful not to allow us to reamin in sin and prodigal living. As with Jonah, so with us, our Lord is faithful to work his providence, goodness and glory to bring us to repentance and restoration in Christ.

Read 1Timothy 3:14-16 Here we see the earliest Creed of the Church, expressing the way of true godliness. If we desire to be faithfully serving God in all knowledge, righteousness and holiness, then we need to be in the only one who was truly godly - the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the perfection of godliness into whose image we have been and are being made new.

Read Jonah 1:1-16 with Psalm 139 Jonah became prodigal in his responsibility as a Prophet, and fled from the presence of the Lord. But as Psalm 139 points out, it is impossible to flee the Lord’s presence. Even when “we make our bed in hell”, Christ is there to keep us in his grace.

Read 1Timothy 3:8-13 with Acts 6:1-7 The office of deacon is also of vital importance to the church. These men who serve well in this office help the church to display the Christ-like character of compassion, mercy and love for those in need. Again, Paul is most concerned, not with ability or talent, but moral character and blamelessness. Those who serve well, will be met with the gracious favour of the Lord.

Read jonah 1:1-3 with 2Kings 14:23-29 Jonah is an historical account of a prophet of the Lord who was disobedient to his commission. Jonah desired God’s grace to be much more exclusive to God’s covenant people, Israel; but God is sovereign concerning his saving grace. This message introduces us to Israel’s state during the time of Jonah’s ministry.

Read 1Timothy 3:1-7 We now come to the second of five “faithful saying” = truths that are foundational to the church of Christ. Here it is about the role men have in being godly in their character that they might be eligible for the responsibility of overseeing Christ’s Church.

Read Daniel 12:1-13 Daniel concludes with a look into what is yet future - the end of days. Here, the glory of the will of God’s saving purposes for his people is seen as the Church stands triumphant in Christ.

Read 1Timothy 2:8-15 There is a positive command, before the prohibition is given for women not to teach or have authority over men in the church. The reasons for this look back to both the ordain roles of men and women from Creation, as well as the responsibilities that fall on each due to the fall into sin.

Read Daniel 11:1-45 The hymn writer had it correct when he penned, “T’is good our God reigneth!” God has planned the entierty of this world’s history from beginning to end; it is His Story of redemption in Jesus Christ.

Read 1Timothy 2:8-15 This is the first of two sermons on these verses, dealing with the roles and responsibilities of men and women in the Church., and what character of godliness is to flow from each.

Read Daniel 10:1-21 Daniel 10 reveals to us the hand of God that is ever at work to accomplish his will and purposes. Here we see the spiritual battle in the heavenly places.

Read 1Timonty 2:1-7 We are called to be a house of prayer, and in this passage the church is called together to be intercessors for all people.

Read Daniel 9:1-27 In all the struggles of persecution and warfare the Church faces, the greater reality is the Lord is building his church and the gates of Hades cannot prevail against her.

Read 1Timothy 1:17-20 In every generation the Church finds herself fighting for the truth and struggling to maintain sound doctrine. It also finds its greatest enemies often are from within the body.

Read Daniel 8:1-27 The spiritual warfare Christ’s church faces is one governed by a sovereign hand.

Read 1Timothy 8-17 The first of Paul’s “Faithful sayings”, this is the cornerstone of the church and godliness.

Read Daniel 7:1-28 As the hymn writer stated, “Tis good our God reigneth.” Christ, in calling himself the Son of Man, was owning this text in Daniel 7.