Phoenix United Reformed Church

God's law is excellent. But for sinners, it is also the means by which we become deeply aware of our miserable condition. This sermon explores the extent of our fall and reasons why we should love God's commands.

Knowing that Christ was being proclaimed allowed Paul to rejoice and have hope even in the midst of his imprisonment, which gave confidence to other believers. God often works mysteriously to our eyes, but the gospel of Jesus is unchained and unconquered.

Psalm 78 calls the covenant community to a sacred responsibility: to faithfully transmit God's redemptive history and revealed truth to future generations through intentional, consistent, and heartfelt teaching. Rooted in Deuteronomy 6 and reinforced by the psalmist's resolve, this duty extends beyond parents to all believers, emphasizing that discipleship is a shared, lifelong calling across ages and relationships. The sermon underscores that this mission is not merely educational but deeply spiritual, grounded in gratitude for grace received, motivated by mercy toward the next generation, and empowered by the Holy Spirit. It calls for both personal and corporate commitment—through regular family devotion, intentional mentoring, and the church's structured catechetical practice—to nurture a faith that endures across time. Ultimately, the passage challenges the congregation to live as active stewards of God's Word, ensuring that the gospel remains vibrant, accessible, and life-giving for all who come after.

We are used to honoring people for what we admire or for how we expect them to treat us. But the Bible presents a command not only to honor fellow believers graciously, on account of their union with Christ, but even to outdo one another in showing honor. The sermon explores why and how we do these things.

This sermon, based on James 4:1–10, argues that sinful conflict arises not mainly from external disagreements but from disordered desires and pride within the heart. Even justified anger turns sinful when driven by self-assertion and the need to win. The remedy is not simply to manage outward behavior but to exercise spiritual humility, repentance, and submission to God: drawing near to Christ through prayer and Scripture. As the soul's deepest desires are reoriented toward Him, believers receive grace to engage conflict for the good of others and the glory of God, recognizing that every quarrel reveals whether Christ—or self—rules the heart.

2025 Christmas Eve Lessons and Carols - Full Service

This passage records the sad progression of unrepentant sin in the life of David, leading to more and worse sins. The final result was God's displeasure. By contrast, Uriah provides an example of godly integrity that pleases the LORD, as well as a picture of hope in Christ.

This sermon explains definite atonement: Christ's death was necessary because of sin and fully satisfied God's justice. While His sacrifice is sufficient for all, it was intended to effectively save the elect, actually securing their salvation. Believers are called to rest in Christ's finished work and respond with gratitude and trust.

This sermon continues a series on eschatology, focusing specifically on the final judgment and the eternal destiny of those who do not belong to Christ, based primarily on Matthew 25. It emphasizes that every sin will be exposed before Christ the Judge, that the lost will be separated from Him into everlasting punishment, and that this judgment will be just and proportionate. The preacher addresses common objections about the fairness and severity of hell, arguing that sin against an infinite God warrants eternal consequences and that God's justice glorifies His full character. At the same time, the message urges listeners to flee to Christ for assurance of salvation, to live in repentance, and to proclaim the gospel with urgency and compassion.

Psalm 87 presents a vision of heavenly Zion, the eternal city of God, established not by human effort but by divine sovereignty through Christ's victory over sin and death. The psalm reveals that this city, though invisible, is made present on earth through the church, where people from every nation—including former enemies—are welcomed as natural-born citizens by grace. The joy of this reality is expressed in worship, as believers confess that all their spiritual life and sustenance come from God alone, who is the unshakable foundation and source of eternal life. The sermon emphasizes that every baptism and new member is a foretaste of the final gathering when all nations will enter God's presence, and calls the church to live in joyful unity, eager to invite others into this divine city, knowing their names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life.

The sermon centers on the assurance of the salvation of infants who die in infancy, particularly those born to believing parents, drawing from Genesis 17's covenant with Abraham, Acts 2's promise to believers and their children, and 2 Samuel 12's account of David's mourning and hope for his deceased son. It affirms that covenant children are included in God's promises by virtue of the covenant of grace, not by their own faith, and that their inclusion is rooted in God's sovereign grace, not in external rites like circumcision or baptism. The preacher emphasizes that while the fate of such children is not determined by their ability to profess faith, their salvation is grounded in God's unchanging character, His covenant faithfulness, and the redemptive work of Christ, as demonstrated in David's confident hope that he would go to his child, not the child to him. The sermon offers pastoral comfort by affirming that God's sovereignty, love, and mercy remain intact even in the midst of tragedy, and that believers may rest in the certainty that God's promises to His elect—especially His covenant people—will never fail.

This passage from 2 Samuel 11 reveals the perilous vulnerability of even the most godly individuals when they grow complacent in their spiritual vigilance, as David's momentary lapse in duty—remaining in Jerusalem during the season of war—leads to a cascade of sin rooted in unguarded desire. The narrative underscores that temptation is ever-present, not confined to battlefields but lurking in the quiet moments of leisure, where the absence of disciplined purpose invites moral failure. It emphasizes the critical need to guard one's senses and heart, recognizing that even natural attractions become dangerous when detached from God's design, especially within the boundaries of marriage. Yet amid the gravity of David's fall, the passage points to God's sovereign grace, demonstrating that even in the midst of profound sin, divine providence continues to advance the redemptive plan, ultimately leading to the coming of Christ. The story thus serves as both a sobering warning against self-reliance and a profound testament to the enduring mercy of God.

The passage from 2 Samuel 10 reveals God's sovereign promise of comprehensive victory for His kingdom, not as a mere military triumph but as a divine demonstration of faithfulness to His covenant, pointing forward to Christ's ultimate triumph over sin and evil. Through the historical defeat of the Syrians and Ammonites, the text underscores that God's people can trust in His power to deliver, even amid overwhelming odds, because His promises are certain and His victory is assured in Christ. This victory, however, is not yet fully realized in visible, physical terms but is being progressively accomplished through spiritual conquest—conversion, repentance, and the gathering of the elect—until the final day when Christ will reign supreme and all enemies will be subdued. For those outside Christ, the same divine power that defeats armies also brings inevitable judgment, as God's justice will be fully executed on all who reject His grace, making the call to repentance and submission to Christ urgent and eternal. The passage thus calls believers to live with bold faith, trusting in Christ's ultimate victory, while also urging intercession for leaders and a longing for a world transformed by genuine, Spirit-led repentance and godly authority.

This sermon presents a theological and pastoral defense of the office of elder in the church, rooted in Scripture from Exodus 18, 1 Timothy 3, and Acts 20. It emphasizes that elders are not merely promoted deacons or older men, but godly, experienced, and spiritually mature men called by Christ to shepherd His flock under His authority, reflecting His kingship, shepherding love, and gentle rule. The sermon underscores that elders are entrusted with spiritual oversight, doctrinal purity, and the protection of the church from false teaching and division, functioning as a plural body in unity, not hierarchy, to maintain order and grace. Ultimately, the church's need for elders is grounded in Christ's love for His church—He appoints them not for power, but for the good of His people and the glory of His name, and He equips and sustains them through His grace.

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Why did God ordain the sacraments? This sermon examines how baptism and the Lord's Supper are supposed to fit into faith and life.

In James 1:5-8 and 3:13-18, we're reminded that when we lack wisdom, God offers it generously. But the wisdom He provides isn't like the world's—it's pure, peaceful, and humble. Are we seeking wisdom that aligns with our own desires, or are we open to the wisdom from above that transforms our hearts and guides our lives?

Trials are God's workshop. James 1:1-4 calls us to lean in, trust the process, and let perseverance shape us into who we're meant to be—whole in Christ.