St. Stephen Reformed Church

The sermon traces the unfolding of God's covenant with David, demonstrating how it ultimately finds fulfillment in Jesus Christ. Beginning with the covenant of works and progressing through the covenants with Noah, Abraham, and Moses, the message highlights that God's plan was always centered on a Redeemer, culminating in the promise of a king from David's line. Through the resurrection, this promise is realized, offering forgiveness of sins and freedom from the law's condemnation to all who believe, establishing Jesus as the reigning king whose kingdom extends eternally.

The sermon explores the transformative power of divine love through the story of Judah's impassioned plea to Joseph, highlighting his willingness to substitute himself for his brother Benjamin to protect his father. Drawing parallels between Judah's actions and the ultimate sacrifice of Christ, the message emphasizes that genuine repentance involves not only confession of guilt but also a profound change of heart, mirroring Christ's substitutionary love and ultimately conforming believers into the image of God, demonstrating that God's grace can reshape even the most flawed individuals into vessels of love and devotion.

The sermon explores the Mosaic covenant at Sinai, clarifying that it was not a replacement for grace but a revelation of God's holiness and a means of exposing humanity's sin, ultimately pointing towards the need for a mediator. It emphasizes that the law, while authoritative, functioned as a guardian leading to Christ, not as a path to righteousness, and highlights the ongoing covenant faithfulness of God, fulfilled in Jesus, who offers freedom from the law's condemnation and establishes a new covenant of grace for all who believe.

The sermon explores the nature of testing and the importance of confession through the narrative of Joseph and his brothers. It highlights how Joseph, having experienced favoritism, tests his brothers to see if they have changed, ultimately revealing their willingness to confess their past wrongs and stand with their brother Benjamin. The message emphasizes that concealing sin leads to failure, while honest confession and forsaking of sin bring mercy and reconciliation, ultimately demonstrating God's use of unexpected circumstances, like a silver cup, to penetrate hearts and bring about forgiveness and covenant purposes.

The sermon explores the Abrahamic covenant as a foundational element of God's redemptive plan, tracing its significance from Genesis to the New Testament and highlighting its enduring relevance for believers today. Drawing from Galatians 3, the message emphasizes that justification comes not through works or adherence to the law, but through faith in God's promise, mirroring Abraham's unwavering trust. Ultimately, the sermon asserts that all who believe in Christ are heirs to Abraham's blessing, united with him as part of a global community defined by grace and faith, demonstrating that the gospel was present in the Old Testament as a promise of salvation through Christ.

The sermon explores Jacob's desperate situation and his eventual willingness to send Benjamin to Egypt, driven by the famine and Judah's persuasive leadership. It highlights Joseph's strategic manipulation of his brothers, designed to awaken their guilt and ultimately lead to reconciliation, demonstrating God's providential hand guiding events. The narrative underscores the themes of forgiveness, grace, and the recognition of God's sovereignty, illustrating how even in moments of apparent hardship, God's kindness and mercy are at work, offering a path toward repentance and a deeper understanding of divine purpose.

The sermon explores the theological framework of covenant, tracing a line from Adam's broken covenant of works to Noah's preservation through the flood and ultimately to Christ's redemptive work. Drawing parallels between the ark and Christ, the message emphasizes God's unwavering faithfulness and grace, demonstrating how He preserves the world, not merely for comfort, but to create space for repentance and the fulfillment of His promise to crush the serpent. The scoffers' doubt regarding Christ's return is challenged by recalling God's covenant with Noah, highlighting that while judgment is certain, God's patience offers an ongoing invitation to faith and salvation through Jesus.

The wonder of our God who initiates, and binds himself to us though, covenants.