North Avenue Church Podcast

This is the first of two message Mark gave to the 6th-12th graders at Westminster's SharpTop retreat on Wednesday, 9/16. The focus is on the amazing truth that Yahweh is our shepherd and therefore we shall lack nothing.

Scott gives us much wisdom out of a puzzling passage. Ruth is instructed, unwisely, by Naomi to approach Boaz at night on the threshing floor. What can we learn from Boaz's godly reaction upon being awakened at midnight in this circumstance? You can watch this message here.

Having finished the introductory weeks last Sunday, this is the first week of the Genesis series that Greg and Zach begin to exegetie the opening chapter of Scripture. You can watch this message here.

This is our second week in 2 Thessalonians. You can watch this message here.

God has purposes for all of our suffering: To remove our earthly props — Isaiah 6:1 To reveal our sin — Psalm 119:67, 71 To make us willing to serve Him — Isaiah 6:8 To position us for service — Genesis 50:20 To test and refine our faith — 1 Peter 1:3-9 To nurter a patient and growing appetite for heaven — 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 To deepen our dependence on Christ — Romans 8:28-39 To enable us to comfort others — 2 Corinthians 1:3-6 You can watch this message here.

You can watch this message here.

You can watch this message here.

The doctrine of reprobation addresses the question: Why doesn't God save everyone?   Wayne Grudem writes, "In many ways the doctrine of reprobation is the most difficult of all the teachings of Scripture for us to think about and accept."   Why does God pass some sinners by, hardening them in their sin and withholding saving mercy? The answer Paul provides, at bottom, is not "human free will" but rather something radically God-centered.   God hardens human hearts: Sinlessly Unconditionally Purposefully You can watch this message here.

Here are the four points for Scott's message: The Providence of God The Godly Character of Boaz and Ruth. Seven Kindnesses from Boaz to Ruth Naomi's Bitter Heart Softens You can watch this message here.

We will not be able to understand the God of the Bible until we understand that He is a God-centered God! (And that this is good news!) You can watch this message here.

The early church is sometimes wrongly used to support Old Earth Creationism. When we examine what was actually said, the case is just the opposite! Greg and Zach also look at the Reformed confessions and Genesis 1 itself to defend the six literal day creation view. You can watch this message here.

This week we covered seven theological distinctives of our church: Baptist theology Reformed theology Cessationism Progressive Covenantalism Complementarianism The relationship between God's glory and our joy Confessionalism You can watch this message here.

What exactly is the "old earth" vs. "young earth" debate among how Christians interpret Genesis 1? You can watch this message here.

If the title seems hard to believe, please give some time to listen to the message with an open Bible nearby!Those who deny this passage teaches *unconditional election* to salvation have *two main ways* by which they seek to avoid this conclusion:1) One is to say that this passage is about temporal blessings and judgments on *nations in history* — rather than the salvation of individuals.2) The other is to say this passage is about individual salvation, but that God makes His choice based on *human free will decisions* to believe.In contrast to these views, why do we hold that Paul really does teach *unconditional election to salvation* in this important and humbling chapter? You can watch this message here.

Here are the three points from Scott's message: God's sovereignty Naomi's bitterness God's sovereignty and goodness in our suffering You can watch this message here.

You can watch this message here.

This is the second week as the team continues to introduce the basic themes of Genesis, especially as regards to God as the Creator. You can watch this message here.

Paul anticipates that his listeners will wrongly draw the conclusion that his doctrine of unconditional election is unjust. However, this misunderstands what mercy and justice really mean. You can watch this message here.

Here are the three points of the message: Famine and faithlessness Suffering Return You can watch the message here.

You can watch this message here.

This past Sunday, Greg Rentz and Zach Hutzell began a new Sunday school series in the book of Genesis. You can watch this message here.

Here are the six points from the message: The offer of the gospel is universal (v 38-39) We must personally believe in Jesus to be forgiven (v 38-39) We are responsible for all our sin, including unbelief in the gospel (v 40-41, 45-46, 50-51) We as Christians are the primary means God has chosen to bring unbelievers to faith (v 47; 14:1) Our faith is owing to God's appointment (v 48) We can identify the elect only when they respond positively to the gospel (v 48) Why evangelize if the doctrine of unconditional election is true? Guaranteed success! Motivation for prayer Perseverance in the face of discouragement You can watch this message here.

In our last week in 1 Thessalonians, we lingered on the issue of how we are to think about prophecy in the church today. You can watch this message here.

In this last sermon on the Golden Chain, we spend time working through each of the five terms. We linger especially on the first three which most closely relate to the issue of God's sovereignty in salvation: Foreknown, Predestined, and Called. You can watch this message here.

There is no such thing as a "boring" testimony!   The more desperate our plight the more glorious our conversion! And we are *all* born morally unable to come to Christ because we are by nature willingly enslaved by our 1) love of darkness; 2) hatred of God; 3) spiritual blindness; and 4) spiritual deadness. [For more on these points, see John Piper's excellent sermon that Mark said he adapted these points from.]   Only sovereign grace could overcome each of this and transform our hearts to make us willing to believe!   You can watch this message here.

We could all use more joy and gratitude, along with a more consistnent prayer life!   Don't miss toward the end when Jerry is asked about how the Lord kept him from despair in the hosptial in the months following his spinal cord injury nearly 43 years ago, at the age of 17.   You can watch this message here.

This was our last Table Talk for this summer! We focused on how all that we have is a gift from God that we must use for His glory. You can watch this message here.

Jerry, Mark, and Scott cover this section of 1 Thessalonians that alerts us to the fact that we are in the midst of a battle in the Christian life and we must keep our armor on, the gospel clear, and be actively invovled in a faithful local church. You can watch this message here.

The Golden Chain is a source of great comfort for the believer! However, we must make sure we understand each of the five linkes correctly. This sermon is a meditation on the first two. What does it mean to be foreknown and predestined? You can watch this message here.

You can watch this message here.

It has become popular to see Romans 9 as being mainly about (1) temporal blessings and judgments on *nations* in history, or (2) the salvation of individuals based on *foreseen faith*. However, there are good reasons to reject these views and accept that Romans 9 really does teach unconditional election unto salvation. Really! You can watch this message here.

To live as though Jesus is not returning is to live in the dark about where humanity is heading. No matter how intelligent or informed someone is about worldly things, to lack this knowledge is to be asleep to reality. As Christians, we must not give into moments of sleepiness, but sould be awake, aleter, and spiritually sober minded. We need to put on God's armor to be ready for battle, not sleeping on the battlefield. You can watch this message here.

This is our fourth Table Talk of the summer and we focus on the all-important issue of worship — both publica and private. You can watch this message here.

Romans 9 is the most important chapter on the doctrines of election and reprobation. What is it really about? You can listen to this message here.

Contrary to what is sometimes assumed, Paul tells us that certain things of global significance have to happen before Christ returns. These things are not happening currently as far as we can see. If this is the case, then in what sense is Christ's return 'imminent'? Borrowing from John Piper, we look at three ways: 1) prophetically near; 2) divinely near; and 3) potentially near. You can watch this message here.

While genuine Christians can hold differing views on the rapture, it is still an issue worth studying since it has a surprisingly large effect on how numerous passage are interpreted. This includes much of Revelation, the Thessalonians letters, the Olivet Discourse (Matthew 23, Mark 13, & Luke 21), and portions of the OT prophets. You can watch this message here.

This passage opens up the doctrine of election and reprobation. These are such weighty doctrines that must be studied with humility and a heart that is submissive to God's word. Here are the three points of the message: Introducing Malachi Jacob I Have Loved Esau I Have Hated You can watch this message here.

This is week three of this summer's Table Talk series on the Spiritual Discipines. This time we are focused on the importance of prayer. You can watch this message here.

In this last passage in Nehemiah, we see sin rear its ugly head all over again. What can we learn from a waning revival? The main idea: Indwelling sin never stops assaulting God's people throughout this fallen age. We must keep fighting it daily by God's grace and power! Here are the main points: Pagan Intermarriage Returns Nehemiah Responds Lessons from a Failed Reformation You can watch this message here.

Some of the questions from this message: How should Christians understand grief when it comes to the death of dearly loved fellow believers? What is the 'intermediate state' between death and resurrection? Why is resurrection so important? What will happen to deceased Christians when Christ returns? You can watch this message here.

The 'quiet time' is such an important part of the Christian life and of the means of grace. However, there is not one cookie-cutter way to approach this subject. How can Christians make progress in having quiet times that truly do stir our affections by the Holy Spirit's power and produce real transformation in our lives? Let us Learn to Wield Scripture in the Daily Fight to Commune with God. You can watch this message here.

There are three main points in Greg's message: Confront Diotrephes (v 9-10) Commend Demetrius (v 12) Imitate What is Good (v 11) You can watch this message here.

Christians should make it their ambition to ... what? Paul says, "...to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one." What does this mean exactly? You can watch this message here.

This is the first Table Talk message of the summer! Here we are covering the spiritual disciplines. You can watch this message here.

Lust must be fought against! How does Paul (and the Lord throug him) teach us to fight? You can watch this message here.

This too often overlooked passage in 3 John tells us so much about how we should support missionaries. Zach helps us unpack the neglected details of this hidden text: Who should we support? How ought we support? Why should we support? You can watch this message here.

We're planning a three week mini-series in 3 John, the shortest book in the Bible by word count. This week Scott covered the introduction and conclusion of this letter. What riches are here for us in this too often ignored letter! Gaius's godliness (v 1-3) A healthy body with an unhealthy soul makes for an unhealthy person (v 2) John's greatest joy (v 4) The sweetness of Christian fellowship — especially face to face (v 13-15) You can watch this message here.

Sexual immorality is nothing new in a post-fall world. The culture of the Thessalonians had major issues in this area just as our world does today. Paul makes it clear that one of the distinguishing marks of a Christian should be "that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God." You can watch this message here.

Mark, Scott, and John discuss all the theology and practical application that we get from Paul's prayer here and the doctrines which undergird it. You can watch this message here.

Here are the three points from the message: Nehemiah Confronts the People for Giving too Little (v 10-13) Nehemiah Confronts the People for Working too Much (v 15-22a) Nehemiah Fixes His Hope on God, not Man (v 14, 22b) You can watch this message here.

Jerry, Scott, and John walk through this next section of 1 Thessalonians 3.