OBC Messages

One of the main purposes of a midterm exam is to chart the progress of the students. After weeks of readings, lectures, and assignments, a teacher may want to gauge how well the class is retaining, processing, and synthesizing the material presented. Are they getting it? Are they putting the pieces together? Are they learning?In the sixth chapter of his Gospel account, Mark describes a couple of exams taken by Jesus's disciples. These twelve men are well into their “Ministry with the Messiah” studies. They had been drinking from the proverbial firehose, having seen, heard, and experienced a significant amount in his presence. But now it's time to track their development. Are they getting it? Are they learning, growing, and understanding? And as readers witness the examination of Christ's first-century disciples, the Holy Spirit prompts us twenty-first-century disciples to check our progress as well.

Excerpt from April 27th 2025 Sunday service.

Excerpt from 2025 Easter Sunday service.

Excerpt from 2025 Good Friday Service.

While the Old Testament promised that God would one day dwell again with his people, ruling them perfectly, justly, and eternally, Mark announces that that time has come. John the Baptist knew Jesus Christ was the fulfillment of this anticipation (1:7–8). His identity was affirmed by God at his baptism (1:11), confirmed by Satan in his temptations (1:13), and recognized by demons in his ministry (1:24; 3:11). Throughout this gospel account, Jesus's royal authority is displayed in sickness healing, law interpreting, creation controlling, spirit exercising, disciple calling, and sin forgiving. And Christ himself wasn't subtle, saying that, “The kingdom of God is at hand” (1:15) and revealing “mysteries of the kingdom of God” (4:11, 26, 30).God's people had been waiting centuries for a divine monarch, one who would deliver them, unite them, redeem them, and save them. And the first ten chapters of Mark declare with a choir of voices and a crescendo of clarity: “Jesus is that king!” But how will this Ruler be received?

Though enduring unspeakable pain, Jesus did speak. From the cross he offered words of mercy for ignorant sinners (Luke 23:34), words of destiny to a dying criminal (Luke 23:43), and words of sympathy to his grieving mother (John 19:26–27). Following closely behind, came words of misery (Matt. 27:46), an agony so profound that its darkness defies human understanding. Then, with words of frailty (John 19:28), Christ's vicarious suffering reached its pinnacle.This scene, as brutal as it is familiar, offends even those who have been cleansed by his blood and freed by his sacrifice. We may be tempted to rush ahead to the words of certainty (John 19:30) and words of victory (Luke 24:6) that follow but before we do, it's wise to pause and, with the Spirit's guidance, reflect on the intimate and trusting words of tranquility the Son declares to his Father.

In the incarnation, God the Son, having existed eternally as God and with God, added humanity to his divinity without diminishing or compromising either nature (John 1:1–3, 14). So, on the one hand, Jesus Christ is, was, and always will be truly God (e.g., John 20:28; Rom. 9:5; Tit. 2:13; Heb. 1:8). We can—and should—sing with full scriptural conviction, “Veiled in flesh, the Godhead see / Hail the incarnate Deity!”At the same time, from the moment of his conception, Jesus Christ is, and always will be, truly human. At a moment in history, the invisible God became visible, and the God who is spirit became tangible (1 John 1:1–3). During his earthly life, wrapped in flesh, our Lord experienced human limitations—weakness, frailty, fatigue, temptation, pain, and death. Jesus's true humanity allowed for his great suffering, and that suffering, in turn, showcased his deep desire.

“My, God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” There may be no sentence in all Scripture that is more difficult to explain than this one. It's said that Martin Luther fasted and meditated for hours on this verse, and when he finally spoke, it was to declare, “God forsaken of God! Who can understand that?”Indeed, to fully grasp our Lord's meaning and experience in Matthew 27:46, we would have to fully grasp the mysteries of the Trinity—one God eternally existing in three equal but distinct persons—and fully grasp the mysteries of the incarnation—the union of human and divine natures in the one person of Jesus Christ. And since our earthly minds cannot comprehend such heavenly realities, God's people are backed into the corner of our finitude. There are things in this horrid scene that we just can't fully understand. But, by God's grace, there are also some things we get to understand more fully because of this horrid scene.

It is a general truism that people die as they have lived. Those who come to the end of life with bitterness, regret, and harshness are often those who have lived lives characterized by those same qualities. Alternatively, those that approach their final years and months with faith, humility, and gratitude have likely exhibited those virtues in the decades prior.In the nineteenth chapter of John's gospel, the Apostle details the events surrounding the death of the Lord Jesus Christ. It's a horrific scene littered with plotting, suffering, mocking, screaming, crying, and bleeding. But, beyond all the brutality and injustice, readers are shown the Saviour dying as he lived, full of contagious compassion and selfless love, both of which his followers are called to mimic. Disciples of Jesus Christ are to be need-seeing and need-meeting people because they belong to a need-seeing and need-meeting God.

As he neared the end of his life, Michelangelo, the famous Italian artist, wrote a reflective poem that opened with the following stanza: “The voyage of my life at last has reached, / across a stormy sea, in a fragile boat, / the common port all must pass through, to give / an accounting for every evil and pious deed.”With typical profundity and skill, Michelangelo captured the adventure of living, the delicacy of life, and the inescapability of the grave. The fact is, unless the Lord Jesus returns, death is “the common port” at which each of us will one day dock our “fragile boats.” We are all en route, not knowing how far from the eternal marina we currently sit. While that can be a depressing thought, for those in Christ it doesn't have to be. In fact, the reality of our mortality can push aside triviality and frivolity, inspiring honesty, sincerity, and urgency. This is particularly true when, listen to Jesus, we know what comes next.

Step into the awe-inspiring presence of the Lord as we delve into Psalm 99, a passage that echoes the majesty and holiness of God, just like Isaiah before the throne room of God. The earth trembles, the heavens are declaring His glory, and we stand before a holy and majestic King who is exalted above all. What does it mean to encounter a God who is holy, a God who is just, and a God who is worthy of all our worship? Come join us as we explore the profound truths of Psalm 99 as we draw deeper into an understanding of God's holiness and how it calls us to respond. Don't miss this opportunity to be captivated by the sanctity of the Almighty and to be transformed by His presence!

The final words of someone's life can be meaningful and powerful. For example, it was just before they died that Joshua called for courage, Deborah prayed for justice, Hannah sang with gratitude, and Stephen invited repentance. It was at the end of their respective ministries that Peter said “guard the church,” Paul said, “preach the word,” and John said, “Come Lord Jesus.”Final words like these can make a big impact. And if that's true of some of God's people, how much more is that true of God's Son? Considered carefully and prayerfully, his laboured words uttered from the cross are those of sympathy and tranquility, of frailty and misery, of prophecy and destiny, and of certainty and victory. They're meaningful, powerful, and potentially transformational. Through them we encounter the Lord Jesus Christ, majestically adorned in unmatched courage and love, beauty and power.

Israel was hurting economically, sociologically, and spiritually. The questions they hurl at God throughout this book—questions to which he responds through the prophet, Malachi—are dripping with childishness, defensiveness, and rebelliousness (see 1:2, 6, 7; 2:14, 17; 3:7, 8). Blinded by sin and circumstances, the people had lost sight of the character and promises of “the Lord of hosts.” They saw no evidence of his lovefor them nor his faithfulnessto them, and because of that, they were struggling to offer God the worship he demanded, the trust he deserved, and the allegiance he desired. They knew that they were called to serve the Lord but, because of the way life was going, they were starting to wonder if such labour was worth the effort. What were they getting out of the deal? Why work for a God who doesn't seem to be working for them?

As with most Old Testament prophets, Malachi was sent by God to confront, correct, and console his wayward people. When he arrived in post-exilic Judah, the remnant was doubting God's love (1:1–5), dishonouring God's name (1:6–2:9), profaning God's promises (2:10–16), and wrestling with God's justice (2:17–3:5). Israel had become frustratedwith and fatiguedby life, spiritually immature and covenantally insecure, hard-hearted and pig-headed. Their priests weren't teaching them, their crops weren't feeding them, and their God, it seemed, wasn't hearing them. So, what did they do? Among other things, they stopped giving to him. They reasoned to themselves, “If he won't give us whatwe want, why should we give him whathe wants?” And because Israel wasn'tgiving, God wasn'tblessing, and the world wasn'tnoticing. 

The Bible is clear: the God of the universe constantly, perfectly, and impartially does what is right and good. He is just. It was to God's justice that Abraham appealed when interceding for the godly in Sodom: “Shall not the Judge of all the earth deal justly?” (Gen. 18:25). Moses sang of the Lord, “His work is perfect, for all his ways are just” (Deut. 32:4). The Psalms celebrate a God who “loves righteousness and justice” (33:5). God is just. But the fallen world in which we live isn't and when God's people inevitably experience this apparent inconsistency—whether personally or vicariously—they may echo Job's confusion: “I shout for help, but there is no justice” (Job 19:7). We've all watched greed succeed, selfishness be admired, idolatry go unpunished, and blasphemy be cheered. We've felt the plight of the righteous and seen the victories of evil and thought to ourselves, “I know God is just. But is he, though?”

One of the many wonderful characteristics of God is his faithfulness. He is totally trustworthy, unwaveringly reliable, infallibly dependable, and completely incorruptible. So, it shouldn't surprise that he expects his people to be faithful as he is faithful, to value fidelity as he values fidelity. Unfortunately, during the days of Malachi's prophetic ministry, Israel had developed a pattern of unfaithfulness. They'd started minimizing God's covenants—the ultimate proofs of his trustworthiness—saying, “God didn't really mean all that he said.” This serpentine posture allowed them to then ignore their covenant responsibilities. “If God's not obligated to his word, then we aren't to ours either.” And this lax loyalty, this playing fast-and-loose with promises, offended God, hurt people, and squandered unity. May God help his people learn from the mistakes of generations past and, thus, enjoy the unity he creates and offers.

God's people are a privileged people. Through faith in Christ, we receive perfect redemption and eternal salvation, forgiveness and access, belonging and cleansing, mercy and hope. It is beyond amazing! Yet, because these blessings are so permanent and secure, taking them for granted is an ever-present danger. We may forget our unworthiness in receiving them, the immense price paid to secure them, and the immeasurable greatness of the One who bestows them. Simply put, God's people are always at risk of taking God for granted—of minimizing his power and sidelining his person. This apathetic attitude toward the Almighty profoundly affects how we live, approach, serve, address, share, praise, and anticipate him. When we fail to give God the honour he deserves, we despise his grace and insult his holiness.

Whether one is in the practice of making resolutions or not, there is something about the New Year that encourages reassessment and recalibration. Seeing a new number on the calendar can prompt thoughtful and goal-inspiring questions, such as, “Where do I want to be in twelve months?”, “What changes should I make?”, or “In what ways must I grow?” Similarly, God's people may find this introspective and aspirational practice helpful, asking ourselves, “What kind of disciple does my Saviour want me to be?” and “What can I do to mature in the Lord?” As we think seriously and prayerfully about our walks with God, our dedication to Christ, and our usefulness to the Spirit, what spiritual resolutions might we make this year? Through his prophet, Malachi, God gave Israel six corrective and foundational resolutions to embrace as they entered a new phase of their lives. We'll learn along with them.

The theological introduction that the Apostle John provides to his account of the life, death, and resurrection of Messiah (John 1:1–18) is as deep as it is lofty, as commanding as it is inviting, and as mysterious as it is familiar. It draws readers close, not only with its infinitely-interesting Subject but with the reverent way it explains and extols him. Simply stated, this passage of Scripture is all about the Word, the person who was with God in eternity and is God eternally. It's all about he who is the origin of all life and the source of all light. It's all about, as verse 17 makes explicit, Jesus Christ. And the five concluding verses of this inspired prologue summarize and celebrate three specific things about him: who he is (God himself), what he did (took on humanity), and why he did it (that humanity may know God).

Light is an essential component of life. Without it, human beings would struggle to understand, explore, and interact with the world in which we live. Biologically, sunlight plays a significant role in managing our circadian rhythms and in the production of vitamin D and serotonin. Most dramatically, if the sun stops shining, plants stop growing which leads to stifled food and oxygen production, both of which are hard to live without! So, again, light is an essential component of life. If it is wholly absent, there is only sadness, sickness, and death. And that's not only true of our physical lives but also of our spiritual lives. If we want to be a people who enjoy healthy and happy souls now and forever, we need a very specific Light because the Light is essential for life. And the good news is that God sent that Light into the world. The question is, will we defiantly stay in the shade?

With the dawn of December comes the blooming of the Christmas season. Lights are hanging, carols are playing, classes are ending, and carts are filling! With all the decorations and pageants, gifts and music, activity and excitement, it's easy to forget that, for some, this is anything but “the most wonderful time of the year.” Many people—including many Christians—will endure this otherwise-celebratory month with a very non-festive limp, burdened with pain and frustrations, sadness and worries, fears and uncertainties. They will struggle to sing “Joy to the world!” and will, instead, seek space to groan, “Even so, it is well with my soul.” As God's people, we must understand how to navigate such desperation and help others do the same. Thankfully, in God's kindness and wisdom, he has provided us guidance on how to do just that, how to turn deep lamentation into worshipful anticipation.

Who is my God? This vital question challenges us to truly know the Creator—a God of infinite power, purpose, and relationship, revealed through the wonder of creation. Like Paul in Athens, who declared the "unknown God" to be the Creator of all and the One in whom we live and move and have our being, we are called to move beyond vague ideas and fully understand who God is. He is not distant or detached but deeply involved in His creation, longing for a relationship with us. Come and join us as we explore the life-changing truth of knowing our God—a truth that transforms how we see the world, ourselves, and our mission to share His redeeming and restoring love.

It is a fact of history that a Jewish man named Jesus lived morally, taught powerfully, and died horrifically in the first century. Ancient literature is littered with attestations to his existence, reputation, popularity, teachings, and eventual execution (see, for example, the works of non-believing first-century historians like Thallus, Tacitus, and Josephus). So, the question that any honest person must ask themselves isn't so much “Did this really happen?” but, rather, “Since it did happen, how should I respond?” And, as we'll be reminded from Luke's record of Christ's crucifixion, there are only a few possibilities. First, we can respond in passivity, apathetically or ignorantly doing nothing. Second, we can respond in mockery, arrogantly dismissing the life and death of Jesus as nonsense, insignificant, or mere superstition. Finally and ideally, we can respond with dependancy, recognizing our personal need of what his sacrifice provides.

Discover a joy that surpasses fleeting pleasures and temporary highs—a joy rooted not in circumstances but in the unshakable presence of God. In this sermon, we'll explore the difference between a natural joy, which depends on external achievements and comforts, and spiritual joy, a deep, abiding gladness that comes from the Lord. Drawing from Scripture, we'll see how true joy flows from a relationship with Christ, empowering us to face trials with hope and live fully in God's purpose. Come and experience the fullness of a spiritual joy that last forever where only God can provide!

Hebrews was written to a group of believers who had experienced affliction, temptation, and stagnation in their lives of faith and, because of that, were considering a departure from Jesus. It's to these weak and confused Christians that the author writes this urgent and pointed letter, encouraging them to continue in sanctification for the simple fact that anything for which they leave Christ is deficient. Jesus Christ is the greatest revelation of God. He's greater than the prophets and angels. He's greater than Moses, Levi, Joshua, and Melchizedek. He offers a greater rest, a greater ministry, a greater priesthood, a greater sacrifice, a greater example, a greater promise, a greater covenant, and a greater future. He is immeasurably supreme, glorious, majestic, exalted, and victorious! “So,” he says, “don't shrink back. Press on to maturity and faithful service to the Lord, by the power of God, and for the glory of Christ!”

To be a world-class runner takes more than going for the occasional jog. In reality, these athletes leave no stone of their lives unturned as they seek opportunities to improve and succeed. According to Hebrews, the Christian life is similar. When one places their faith in Jesus Christ and becomes a partaker of the New Covenant in his blood, they also become participants in a life-long race that weaves its way through the streets of this world toward the finish-line of spiritual maturity. The author wants his readers to be world-class spiritual athletes, running “with endurance the race that is set before us” (12:1). He doesn't want us shrinking back, slowing down, pulling up, or dropping out but pressing on to maturity with endurance. And to that end, he offers some inspired and practical advice, turning over some stones to show believers seven habits to practice in order to “run with endurance the race that is set before us.”

The New Covenant in Christ's blood—with all of its sin-atoning blessings and guilt-washing benefits—is entered by faith in a moment and enjoyed by faith over a lifetime. God's people are saved through faith and then commanded to walk by faith (Heb. 10:38), living lives as though God has told the truth about who they are in Christ, what they've been given by Christ, and what lays ahead for them because of Christ. When God's people live by faith they will not give up, shrink back, or stay down when knocked around by the world, the flesh, and the devil. Instead, they will endure with joy, thrive in hope, serve with power, and stand with conviction. This is what the author of Hebrews wants his readers to understand, apply, and experience. He wants those who are saved by faith to walk by faith, patiently waiting for what they have been promised and patiently weathering life in a fallen world.

Students do homework to avoid failing fuelled by the hope of future employment. Athletes endure training to avoid losing inspired by the goal of winning. Militaries recruit soldiers to avoid invasion motivated by the ideals of freedom. People eat well to avoid illness because they want to live healthily. We all do certain things to avoid certain things fuelled by certain things. And what we're willing to do and the urgency with which we're willing to do it can depend on the terribleness of what we're trying to avoid and the potency of the fuel motivating us. As the author of Hebrews nears the end of his letter, all pretence begins to be dropped, his urgency is unmasked, and his expectations become explicit as he tells his readers, “You must do this so that you can avoid this fuelled by this.” Christians are called to action so as to avoid tragedy while fuelled by memory.

To shrink back from Christianity (2:1–4; 3:12–13; 6:1–20) is to shrink back from Christ, the Son of God who, though greater than the angels (1:5–14), was made “for a little while lower than the angels” (2:9). He condescended himself to identify with humanity, be tortured by humanity, and die for humanity (2:10–18). And, because the Son was willing to suffer in this way, the Father designated him as a permanent high priest, one eclipsing and replacing all predecessors (5:1–11; 7:1–28). As a greater priest, he presented to God a greater sacrifice (7:27; 8:3) which inaugurated a greater covenant (8:3–13) mediated from a greater tabernacle (8:1–2; 9:11–28). Greater, greater, greater, Jesus is greater. And as we come to chapter 10, the author reaches a theological crescendo in his presentation of how Jesus perfectly and eternally met humanity's greatest needs: access to God, forgiveness from God, cleansing by God, and fellowship with God.

Why did Jesus have to die? Why did Christ's blood have to be spilled? Why did our Lord have to give his life? Was there no other way to save sinners? If you have ever asked this question, you are not the first. The twelve men who were called by Jesus, followed Jesus, and learned from Jesus also struggled with the idea that his demise was unavoidable (Matt. 16:21–22). Similarly, Israel's leaders, those who supposedly most anticipated the Messiah's arrival, took Jesus's death as proof that he was not he for whom they waited (Luke 23:35). Even Paul admits that the seemingly oxymoronic message of “Christ crucified”—that is a dead Deliverer—is “a stumbling block” to some and “foolishness” to others (1 Cor. 1:23). So, did Jesus have to die? In the second half of Hebrews 9, the author addresses this question, celebrating the necessity of Christ's death and the life-shaping difference it makes for Christ's followers of all eras.

If I try really hard to be as good as I can possibly be, surely God will receive me into the kingdom of heaven? Jesus says it's IMPOSSIBLE for us to enter. But with God all things are possible! He tells an amazing story to illustrate the way through the narrow gate.

All honest and uncalloused people know what it is to feel guilt for past wrongs, mistakes, and missteps. We're familiar with the haunting questions that often accompany our transgressions: Can I make this right? Is it possible to fix what I've now broken? What does my error say about me? Am I beyond redemption? Will I ever feel bad enough to make up for the damage I've done? While many try to buffer against feelings of guilt by avoiding, normalizing, or justifying wrongdoings, those who believe in the God of the Bible cannot because he has said that “all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God” (Rom 3:23). Christians know that we are guilty before our Creator. But what do we do with that guilt? Are God's children to let it burden us, muting our worship and stifling our usefulness? Must our iniquities weigh us down, robbing joy and stealing freedom? How can guilty people can live with a Christ-cleansed conscience?

Hebrews 8 begins a three-chapter-long discussion on the New Covenant, that efficacious oath sworn by God the Father, ratified by God the Son, and applied by God the Spirit. It's the cumulative covenant in which all believers are united, forgiven, and kept. It's the covenant Christ's church remembers when they take the bread and drink the cup, commemorating and anticipating he who is both its sacrificial lamb and its mediating priest. Because of all that it is and all that it does, the New Covenant's importance is not easily overstated. The more that God's people understand its necessity, its capacity, and its practicality, the more we will enjoy the hope it gives, the peace it brings, and the freedom it offers. And this chapter provides an introduction to this beautiful and powerful new Covenant and a reminder of the old covenant it replaced.

God reminds us throughout the scriptures, both in word and through example that His thoughts are not our thoughts, and that our ways are not His ways (Isaiah‬ ‭55‬:‭8‬). Furthermore, He reminds us that His ways and purposes are accomplished, not by human might or power, but by His Spirit (Zechariah‬ ‭4‬:‭6). Paul made it clear to the believers in Corinth that God uses ordinary vessels to accomplish His eternal purposes so “that no flesh should glory in His presence” (‭‭I Corinthians‬ ‭1‬:‭29‬). As we'll see in 1 Kings chapter 17, our extraordinary God is in the business of working in and through ordinary people to accomplish His divine purposes…for our blessing and His glory.

I don't really understand how the engine of our family vehicle works. I'm glad someone does and I know it'd be good if I did but, for now, I just enjoy the magic and the mystery. I'm dependent upon and benefit from the reality of auto mechanics without comprehending auto mechanics. For most Christians, the same could be said about the Melchizedekian priesthood of Christ. We're thankful someone understands it and know it'd likely be helpful if we did too but, for now, we're okay with being dependent upon and benefiting from those realities without fully grasping them ourselves. The author of Hebrews wants to help his readers look under the hood. Inspired by the Holy Spirit, he thinks it's important for those who belong to Christ to examine Christ, his current role as our advocate and the priestly lineage from which he comes.

“All children, except one, grow up.” With these words J. M. Barrie begins his classic work, Peter Pan, the title character of which has endeared himself to many for his ability to fly, his wild imagination, his friendship with Tinker Bell, his adventures with the Lost Boys, and his battles with Captain Hook. But behind the carefree facade of the story lays a cautionary tale, one hinted at by the opening line. Throughout, the characters resist, mock, and fight the inevitability of adulthood, instead choosing to live in Neverland. Determined to shirk the responsibilities and expectations of maturity, they naively select perpetual juvenility. The author of Hebrews has spotted Peter Pan in the church—believers flying around in a state of arrested development, belonging to Christ but refusing to grow-up in Christ. And, inspired by the Holy Spirit, he wants to correct that, inviting believers to experience the beauty and blessing of spiritual maturity.

Many Christians take for granted the fact that we have access to God—that we can sing about him, talk to him, hear from him, be changed by him, and offer service through him. But these are incredible and privileged realities made possible only by God's grace. In reality, sinful humanity has no business receiving anything from he who is holy, holy, holy other than judgement (Ex 33:20; Isa 6:5; Luke 5:8). Yet, God has made perfect access to himself possible through a perfect High Priest. God's people do have access to God today and the author of Hebrews is encouraging us to not forget that reality, to not shrink back from that reality, and to not take for granted that reality. Instead, we are to know our high priest, and let our growing knowledge of his perfection change, excite, and fuel the way we live our lives for him.

It's been said that “history repeats itself. It has to—nobody listens the first time around.” That there's a cyclical sense to history is both observable and biblical. Solomon said, “There is nothing new under the sun” (Eccl 1:9). He also agrees that many people fail to learn from the past: “Like a dog that returns to its vomit is a fool who repeats his folly” (Prov 26:11). According to God, those who unnecessarily relive their own messes are fools. Those who seek to understand the present and anticipate the future without examining the past are fools. The author of Hebrews doesn't want his readers to be fools. Instead, he wants them to study their history, to remember the mess their ancestors made, and to avoid the same error. And, likewise, the Holy Spirit calls to the people of God in all eras: “Don't let history repeat itself. Learn from past sins and, instead of forfeiting rest in unbelief, find rest in obedience.”

An anger that is left unchecked, can lead to destructive consequences. However, a righteous anger can lead to godly living. Discover how we can master this emotion through self-control and through a biblical understanding of anger. Self-control is not just a matter of willpower, but a spiritual fruit cultivated by the Holy Spirit. Learn how to resolve anger and channel our emotions in ways that honor God and bring peace to our lives and relationships. Join us as we uncover the transformative power of the Holy Spirit in helping us control our anger and live in harmony with others.

Discover the transformative power of managing anger in a way that honors God. In the second part of this series, we will explore the fine line between a righteous anger and sin. Learn about the destructive effects of unchecked anger and bitterness, and understand how physical, verbal, and even mental rage can damage our relationships and spiritual well-being.

Anger has often been viewed as a sinful emotion. However, through this sermon, we will explore the transformative power that a righteous anger has, when it is fully aligned with God's will. Three types of righteous anger will be examined: frustration, indignation, and jealousy. Learn how Jesus' frustrations with His disciples, His righteous indignation against sin, and His zealous jealousy for God's house, can spur the believer towards godly living and loving service that is aligned with Scripture. Discover how a righteous anger can be harnessed for spiritual growth and a deeper devotion to God.

Writing to a group of tried, tempted, and tired believers, the author of Hebrews reminds them of the absolute, immeasurable, and unrivalled supremacy of the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the climactic and cumulative self-disclosure of Almighty God to humanity, the uniquely exalted one who humbly and sacrificially accomplished God's perfect plan, identifying with sinners, dying for sinners, pardoning sinners, and now representing sinners. To look anywhere other than the Son is to settle for deficiency. To cling to anything other than the Son is to settle for instability. To follow anyone other than the Son is to be led deceptively. Simply stated, Jesus is the greatest. There is none like him. He's as unique as he is awesome, approachable and powerful, our brother and our King, our payment and our Priest.

The Lord Jesus Christ is a person of paradox. There are realities about him that don't immediately and obviously make sense to creatures like you and me. So, perhaps it's unsurprising that, during his first advent, many of his greatest lessons shared that confounding quality. For example, he instructed his disciples that, “Whoever wishes to be first among you shall be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many” (Mark 10:44–45). The Messiah will be magnified through service? The Almighty will be set above all by dying for all? How does that work? How does that make sense? How can the supremacy of the Son be seen through the the humiliation of the incarnation? Hebrews 2 explores that paradox by showcasing its paragon, the one who uniquely and perfectly exemplifies its truthfulness, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Siblings may look a lot alike until they're standing side-by-side. A forgery of a painting could fool many until it's hung next to the original. A runner might consider themselves quite fast until they're in the starting blocks next to an Olympian. Why? Because proximity can highlight dissimilarity. The original recipients of the letter to the Hebrews seem to have been forgetting the unique beauty, power, and authority of Jesus. In their immaturity and vulnerability, these believers were struggling to see the difference between Christ's priesthood and the old priesthood, between his sacrifice and the former sacrifices, between Jesus and Moses, between the Son and the angels. So, the author sets them next to each other, confident that proximity can highlight dissimilarity and, if his readers can only see Jesus and anything else standing side-by-side, the unmatched magnificence of the former will be caught and be convicting.

While there are many ways to get to know another person, the best way is to listen to them when they speak, to hear them describe their sense of right and wrong, their memories of the past, their desires for the present, and their goals for the future. Indeed, it's near impossible to experience relational intimacy with anyone apart from deliberate attentiveness to what they reveal about themselves. And what's true of our relationships with the people around us is true of our relationship with the God above us. If we desire to know our Creator—to worship him rightly, walk with him truly, rest in him fully, grow in him obviously, trust in him totally, talk about him joyfully, and bring people to him urgently—we must listen attentively when he speaks, how he speaks, and through whom he speaks. God wants to be known and he's gone to great lengths to make that possible. Are we listening?

The Bible teaches us to obey authorities and governments. The Bible also teaches us that God is in control of any earthly government. In the book of Daniel we see Kingdoms rise and fall, on God's authority. And it's that same authority that will one day bring in a final and eternal kingdom, when God reigns.

Disunity, complacency, apathy, immorality, immaturity, lethargy, idolatry, insecurity, adversity, and apostasy. There are so many spiritual diseases that can plague God's people, sin-wrought infections that hinder us from growing and serving and enjoying and worshipping and witnessing as we ought to do. And yet, as various as these sicknesses present, as contagious as these infections can be, and as dangerous as these ailments are, they all share a treatment and have a common remedy: a clearer, fuller, grander view of Jesus Christ. Whatever hardships, disappointments, failures, and discouragements face the people of God, the prescription always includes “more Jesus.” The clearer our view of Jesus, the fuller our understanding of Jesus, the grander our conception of Jesus, the more equipped we are to faithfully endure whatever spiritual diseases come our way.

While all Scripture is equally inspired and equally authoritative, we can admit that not all Scripture is equally urgent. Not every passage of the Bible uniformly challenges its hearers and readers with a sin-confronting, reality-defining, life-shaping, soul-saving, and response-demanding set of truths. Ephesians 2:1–10, however, certainly does. Sometimes considered a condensation of Paul's explanation of redemption in the book of Romans, this single paragraph declares the glorious truth that, while we were once dead in sin, we've been made alive by grace, and have now been sent to work. Whether one is unacquainted with Christ, has rejected Christ, fallen away from Christ, grown apathetic to Christ, is struggling to follow Christ, or is walking faithfully with Christ, Paul's words in this text call for action, convicting us, inviting us, reminding us, reassuring us, and motivating us.

This message focuses on the fact that human beings have a deep sense that things could be a whole lot better than what they are. They know that because as Solomon says – we have eternity written in our hearts. It is part of our spiritual DNA. And, in a very real sense we are on a journey – an Exodus. Moses was on an Exodus. Jesus too was on an Exodus. We as believer's are on an Exodus. The first couple of chapter in 1 st Peter tell us how the Believer should behave on this journey. 1] They should live as if this world is not his home. 2] They should live ready for action. 3] They should live under God's authority. 4] They should live as Priests bringing sacrifices of praise.

The present conditions of our world lead many Christians to believe that the Lord mightcome and come very soon. For sure, throughout history there have many predictions of thereturn of Jesus. But in reality – our focus should not be “when” Christ is coming. The realquestion is will we be ready when Jesus returns? Jesus himself emphasizes this when he saysnumerous times “no one knows the day or the hour”.But while we many not know the day or the hour – we can be ready. In Matt. 25 Jesustells us how through 3 parables.1] The parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins shows us that it is key to have oil. Weneed the Spirit of God in our lives.2] The parable of the Talents shows us that we must use the gift that God has given us.3] The parable of the Sheep and the Goats shows us that we must care for God'screation – human kind who were created in God's image.Jesus will be looking for these things when he returns.

In the Psalms we find a reflection of life in a fallen world—years stippled with uncontainable joy and unspeakable sorrow, seasons of holistic prosperity and times of total poverty. In this collection of inspired poetry we hear the ancient but relatable cries of God's people as they too sought to obey the Lord faithfully, avoid sin desperately, live life wisely, endure the world victoriously, and wait for deliverance hopefully. But as this book of the Bible nears its conclusion it announces with increasing clarity and rapidity what our response should always be: worship. Whether we're lamenting or celebrating, singing or groaning, gathered or scattered, God's people are to “Praise the Lord!” And though there are many reasons to do that, Psalm 146 highlights his trustworthiness as fodder for his exaltation. Our God (unlike the people around us) is perfectly, lavishly, and eternally reliable, ever helping and protecting his own.