Podcast appearances and mentions of Richard D Phillips

There are moments in history, like the assassinations of the Kennedy brothers and Martin Luther King Jr., that I find helpful to define as thresholds. Thresholds are what you have to cross to get from one room to another by entering through a door. The shooting at Columbine High School on April 20, 1999 was one such cultural threshold that we crossed as a nation. Before April 20, 1999 there were 183 documented school-related shootings that included everything from suicides, gang-related incidents, and mass shootings. Since crossing that threshold on April 20th, 1999, there have been an additional 435 school shootings. There are other defining moments that have affected America, such as the attacks on September 11, 2001. The political landscape and how candidates behave has affected our nation indefinitely. Now, we find ourselves in a place where it is not always safe to talk about the political party you belong to or who you voted for without risk to friendships or more. We have crossed a political threshold that I am not sure we will ever recover from. The 2020 COVID pandemic is another threshold our country crossed and the fruit was not the kind of unity we witnessed the days following 9/11, but anger, resentment, and unprecedented suspicion concerning just about everything. Although the pandemic was global, it left a lasting mark upon Americans. In 1993, the world wide web went mainstream, and that has affected American culture. In the early 2000s smart phone went mainstream, and that has affected our culture. In 2023, AI went mainstream resulting in a global shift, and that is affecting our culture. And now, truth is more difficult to discern than ever! Now, instead of helping those in need, we stare at a device that feeds us the kind of information that is literally driving us mad as a society! If we are not staring at our phones, they are used to record acts of violence for show and entertainment. I am not sure, but it seems to me that we crossed another threshold this past week. I believe we will be able to look back to September 10, 2025 as a,pivotal shift in American culture. I am not sure what that will look like moving forward, but all that I can say is that while my confidence is fixed upon a greater hope, my heart aches for our country. I do not know a lot about Charlie Kirk, but I did watch some of his open-air debates on some of the college campuses he visited. While I do not agree with all of his viewpoints, I did agree with him on two fundamental core values he had before he was assassinated on Wednesday: "When people stop talking, that's when you get violence." Charlie Kirk believed that we should be able to debate charitably even when we do not agree. Jesus saved my life. Im a sinner. I gave my life to Christ, and that is the most important decision Ive ever made. Charlie Kirk believed that Jesus was only hope for the forgiveness of sins, redemption, salvation, and eternal life. It was reported that minutes before Kirk was shot and killed, he shared 2 Corinthians 5:15 with the crowd: and He died for all, so that those who live would no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose on their behalf. (2 Cor. 5:15) If you believe that Jesus rose from the grave, then that ought to change everything for you. It ought to affect the way you live your life in light of the reality that God does indeed exist and that what He has said about Himself and creation is true. To believe and submit your life before the risen Christ, is to yield to Him as Lord over your life. In so doing, you do not get to decide what parts of the Bible do or do not apply to you unless the Bible (the Word of God) has already made that clear. Many of the things that Charlie said came from a conviction that the Bible was and is the Word of God. The reason why Kirks assassination feels like a significant threshold in history that we as a nation have crossed is because he was assassinated by someone who hated what Charlie Kirk said and stood for. What adds to the heaviness that I feel is that some within the media publicly celebrated his death and many others posted to their TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook accounts celebratory responses to his death. This is why I posted to my Facebook account the following statement: Timothy, a pastor in Ephesus and the recipient of two of the epistles that are included in the Bible, was beaten by an angry pagan mob, then dragged through the streets, and finally stoned to death by that same angry mob because they did not like what he said about the ungodly nature of the pagan Artemis festival; Timothy spoke up because he was a Christian. The murder of Charlie Kirk and the response of some in the media feels like that to me. I believe his assassination was more than political and that we witnessed the first martyrdom in America. What I wrote is how I am processing my thoughts and feelings. What I feel is not as or more important then what the Word of God says about what is happening in our world. So, lets look at James 5:7-20 to see how the Word of God can speak into what we are feeling. Patiently Watch for His Returning (vv. 7-11) Just as the farmer understands that he has no control over the germination of the seeds he plants and must wait until his crops grow and mature before they can be reaped, so it is with the return of Christ. How are we to be patient? James tells us four ways that we are to be patient: We are to be patient until the coming of the Lord. (v. 7a) We are to be patient with the confidence that He is coming. (v. 7b) We are to be patient by standing on the promise of His coming. (v. 8) We are to be patient by enduring suffering while we wait for His coming. (v. 10) We are to be patient until the coming of the Lord. (v. 7a) The fact of the matter is that Jesus is coming back. How do we know that? We know because He walked out of the tomb! How will He come back? Jesus said when He comes, He will do so with a host of angels and that His return will be visible and it will be noticed! Jesus said that when He comes, all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory (Matt. 24:30). We patiently wait because although it is true that He is coming, He is coming at an hour you do not expect (Luke 12:40). We are to be patient with the confidence that He is coming. (v. 7b) When Jesus ascended to heaven after He had risen from death while the disciples stared off into the sky, two angels appeared and asked, ...and they said, Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven (Acts 1:11). In some ways, we can do the same thing but just sitting around while staring up into the sky is not what the angels meant when they asked the disciples that question. They continued: This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven. We are to be patient by standing on the promise of His coming. (v. 8) Standing is not sitting. What I mean by the word Stand is the same thing that James means with his words: You too be patient; strengthen your hearts... You strengthen your heart by filling your mind with the promises of Gods word. You do it with the kinds of promises Jesus left us with: Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Fathers house are many rooms; if that were not so, I would have told you, because I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I am coming again and will take you to Myself, so that where I am, there you also will be (John 14:1-3). We strengthen our hearts by doing the kind of things we read in the Bible such as Hebrews 10:24-25, ...lets consider how to encourage one another in love and good deeds, not abandoning our own meeting together, as is the habit of some people, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near. We are to be patient by enduring suffering while we wait for His coming. (v. 10) What was it that enabled the prophets who suffered ridicule, financial hardship, beatings, and even death at the hands of the people God sent them too? They were holding onto a better promise! They were looking for a different city, a city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God (Heb. 11:10). This is why Moses refused to be called the son of Pharaohs daughter, choosing rather to endure ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the temporary pleasures of sin, considering the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking to the reward (11:25-26). While Job found himself swimming in the pain of great loss and unrelenting pain, he was surrounded by friends and a wife who only added to his burden. Covered in sores and nothing to show of the great wealth he once enjoyed, the one person who should have been a source of encouragement said this to Job: Then his wife said to him, Do you still hold firm your integrity? Curse God and die! What does the kind of patience James encourages us to have look like in the life of Job? Here is how he answered his wife: Shall we actually accept good from God but not accept adversity (Job 2:9-10)? How did Job endure? He endured by first remembering that God is good, which enabled Job to endure while suffering because his eyes were focused on an infinitely good God! However, he did not only hold onto the assurance that God is good, he held onto the promise of His coming: Yet as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last, He will take His stand on the earth. Even after my skin is destroyed, yet from my flesh I will see God, whom I, on my part, shall behold for myself, and whom my eyes will see, and not another. My heart faints within me! (Job. 19:25-27). Prayerfully Live for His Returning (vv. 12-18) Jesus is coming back, so pray! Jesus rose from the grave, so you know that when you pray, God hears you. So, when you are suffering or when trials come your way, remember that God takes your words seriously. How easy it is to make promises to God we do not intend to keep or have thought little about before making them when suffering. I believe James is warning us of this very thing in verse 12, But above all, my brothers and sisters, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath; but your yes is to be yes, and your no, no, so that you do not fall under judgment. After I was hit by the car and found myself laying in the middle of Route 1 at the age of 16, because I sincerely believed that I might be dying and was scared, I made all kinds of promises to God. You know how it goes: God, if you do this, I will do that! I told God while lying on that busy road: God, if you let me live, I will do whatever you want me to do. Instead, our first course of action should not be to talk about our suffering, not to complain about our suffering, and not to try and negotiate with God out of our suffering. Our first response must be to pray: Is anyone among you suffering? Then he must pray (v. 13). Are you suffering with a sickness that will not go away? You seek out those who will pray for you: Is anyone among you sick? Then he must call for the elders of the church and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord (v. 14). Are you cheerful? Well sing praises to God then! Are you experiencing the discipline of the Lord because of unrepentant sin? Confess your sins to one another, James instructs (v. 16). Dont stop there though! James tells us to, pray for one another so that you may be healed. Whats the point? Jesus is coming back so do not wallow in your grief, nor ignore your sins, and do not doubt that the same God who raised Jesus from the grave, is the same God who listens when we call to Him. Elijah lived in a time of rampant idolatry and corruption. Guided by God, he prayed for a drought, giving King Ahab, Jezebel, and the people of Israel a chance to repentyet they refused. Later, Elijah confronted King Ahab and the 450 prophets of the false god Baal, challenging them to a test to reveal whose god was real. The story of Gods dramatic display of power before Elijah, the prophets, and the gathered crowd can be found in 1 Kings 18:20-46. In short, Baal did not respond, as he was no god at all, but the true God answered Elijah in a miraculous way. After this, Elijah prayed for the drought to endand it rained abundantly (see 1 Kings 18:41-45). Even after all of that, Elijah fled for a place to hide after Jezebel threatened his life. One moment Elijah was courageous and bold, and then the next he was filled with fear, despair, and believed that he was all alone. Why did James feel the need to use Elijah as an example? He tells us: Elijah was a man with a nature like ours... (v. 17). Daniel Doriani wrote of the prophet: Like us, he served from a position of weakness. He felt the worlds powers arrayed against him. He was prone to despair. He was not worthy, he was simply a righteous man who prayed, for individuals and for his society.[1] Conclusion What ought to be our response? Jesus rose from the grave! Jesus life and resurrection made your redemption possible! Jesus is coming back! The God who spoke the galaxies into reality when there was nothing now invites you to come to Him, so go to Him and pray! Bring your troubled heart, bring your sins, bring your sickness, bring your concerns for this nation, bring it all before the God of all creation! Know that the same God who made your salvation possible, is the God you can bring those who need to be saved before. If God can redeem Saul who watched and encouraged an angry mob to murder Stephen because they did not like what he said about the Bible and Jesus, then there is hope for Tyler Robinson. If God can part seas and raise the dead, then there is hope for Decarlos Brown who murdered Iryna on that subway train! This is the point James is making in these final verses: My brothers and sisters, if anyone among you strays from the truth and someone turns him back, let him know that the one who has turned a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and cover a multitude of sins. [1] Daniel M. Doriani, James, ed. Richard D. Phillips, Philip Graham Ryken, and Daniel M. Doriani, Reformed Expository Commentary (Phillipsburg, NJ: PR Publishing, 2007), 201.

As I was preparing for this sermon, I read something that John Stankey, the CEO of AT&T, said back in 2022 with the acquiring of HBO concerning his goals for HBO that I think was very perceptive. Its not hours a week, and its not hours a month. We need hours a day. You are competing with devices that sit in peoples hands that capture their attention every 15 seconds. I want more hours of engagement. Why are more hours of engagement important? Because you get more data and information about a customer that then allows you to do things like monetize through alternate models of advertising as well as subscriptions. Theres a reason why social media platforms, streaming services, etc. are called attention merchants. They are working hard to capture our attention. Some people also call it adhesiveness. The longer they can get us to stick around, the more money they make.[1] Stankey rebranded HBO to HBO Max, and under his leadership, subscriber growth more than doubled from 36 million to 76 million. Social media platforms rely on sophisticated algorithms to decide which content appears in your feed and in what order. These invisible gatekeepers shape your online experience, curating what you see and when you see it, all with the aim of keeping you engaged for longer periods. What is my point? My point is that there are pressures that you are both aware of and unaware of that seek to influence you. There may not have been the kinds of algorithms that we have today in the day, and age, James wrote his epistle, but they were no doubt there. There is a system that is spiritual that is opposed to God that wants to do all that it can to draw you away from Him, and that system is what the Bible calls the world. We were not made for the world, but for God. It is the tension we face as Christians to be pooled by the world or to draw close to God that he addresses in these verses. Going with the Current of the World is Friendship with the World (vv. 1-5) We gravitate towards the kinds of things James lists in verses 1-5. If comes naturally for us as a species to fight against each other. Remember what James wrote in 3:14; he said, But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart... your jealousy and selfish ambition is, earthly, natural, and demonic (v. 15). Then in 4:1, James informs us that the source of our fighting with one another comes from that part of us the apostle John described: All that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world (1 John 2:16). What James means by World is the ethics and principles that are motivated by a desire to dethrone God. The wisdom of the world encourages those who live in it to cater to what you want, give yourself everything your eyes desire and live life your way to get the most of it. This is the wisdom of the world that James warns us of in chapter three, and it is here in chapter four that shows us how it affects everything around us. The Greek word for quarrels can mean battle, fights, strife, or conflicts. What instigates this kind of fighting with one another is what James calls our pleasures. This is another Greek word that you knew without knowing that you had it in your vocabulary (last week it was the Greek word zēlos that the NASB decided to translate jealous); the Greek word of pleasures is hēdonē from which we get the word hedonism. What is hedonism? You may think that it is the pursuit of pleasure, and it certainly is that, but at its core, hedonism is the pursuit of joy. In fact, what we learn from the Bible is that we were made to pursue and experience joy. There are scores of verses in the Bible I can show you, but for now, three should do: Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! (Phil. 4:4) You will make known to me the way of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; in Your right hand there are pleasures forever. (Ps. 16:11) Consider it all joy, my brothers and sisters, when you encounter various trials... (Jas. 1:2) The Word of God encourages us to pursue joy. Blaise Pascale, the famous philosopher, observed: All men seek happiness. This is without exception. Whatever different means they employ, they all tend to this end. The cause of some going to war, and of others avoiding it, is the same desire in both, attended with different views. The will never takes the least step but to this object. This is the motive of every action of every man, even of those who hang themselves.[2] We even acknowledge that we were made for joy in the second paragraph of the Declaration of Independence: We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. However, what we were not made for is a joy that excludes a relationship with God. The kind of worldly wisdom and joy-seeking that leads to conflicts is a secular wisdom and the Godless pursuit of joy. This is kind of joy seeking is secular hedonism, and it is, earthly, natural, and demonic (3:14). What is the fruit of secular hedonism? James provides us with a list in verses that follow: Fact + result You lust and do not have... so you commit murder. (v. 2a) Fact + result You are envious and cannot obtain... so you fight and quarrel. (v. 2b) Fact + reason You do not have... because you do not ask. (v. 2c) Fact + result You ask and do not receive... (v. 3a) Full reason ...because you ask with the wrong motives, so that you may spend what you request on your pleasures. (v. 3b)[3] What kind of joy seeking is James describing? It is one where the pleasure and joy seeking is rooted in a world that is hostile towards God. Secular hedonism is self-centered joy seeking that makes the one pursuing it the center of his/her universe. So James accuses those who pursue such pleasures in verse 4 as adulteresses. Why? Because he is writing to Christians who should know better that the only joy we were created for and the one that is lasting, is a joy that can only be found in God. To seek your pleasure from this world, is to align yourself with the world by becoming its friend. To this, James states emphatically: do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God (v. 4). What do we do with verse five? What does James mean? There is much debate over the way this verse should be translated and some of the main versions of the English Bible show that. Theologians are divided over whether the Greek word for Spirit is referring to the immaterial part of us that we also call our soul or if it is the Holy Spirit that every Christian receives at the moment he/she becomes a Christian. Here is what I think James means by the statement: Do you think that the Scripture says to no purpose, He jealously desires the Spirit whom He has made to dwell in us? I think what he means is what we have seen in verses 1-4, and that is: we were made for a joy that can only be satisfied in God and the reason why He gave us a soul is the same reason He gave us the Holy Spirit, and that is to use our lives and to find our joy in Him. In other words, we were born on this earth to know God, but because we are dead in our sins, God caused us to be born again and has given us the Holy Spirit to empower us to live for Him for the purpose of finding our joy in Him (remember that James is writing to Christians). Abiding in the Word is Friendship with God (vv. 6-10) So what is the solution for the kind of problem James lists for us in verses 1-5? He provides us with the answer in verses 6-10. Its really found in verse 6; lets read it slowly and thoughtfully: But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says... What says? from the same Scripture in verse 5 James referred to: God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble. God created you; you did not create Him. Of all the gods that people worship, there is only One who is the Creator and we were made for Him just as the apostle Paul testified before a group of idol worshipers at Mars Hill: He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation, that they would seek God, if perhaps they might feel around for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; for in Him we live and move and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, For we also are His descendants. (Acts 17:26-28) God created us to know Him, but humans are fallen, sin-cursed, and spiritually dead! What hope is there for a humanity bent on finding their satisfaction and joy in anything or anyone but the One who created mankind in His image? James doesnt need to explain the gospel again to his readers because they have already heard it and received it, all that he needs is one word, and that word is grace. Christian, how is it that you have gone from death to life in Jesus? How is it that you have been called out of darkness into Gods marvelous light? How is it that you have been born again and are now sealed by Gods Holy Spirit and are a child of God? Just one word will do! He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Because you have received a greater grace there is a greater joy available to you. Remember what it was that brought you to the cross of Christ: You came to Jesus because you were poor in spirit, you came to Him because you mourned over your sins, you came to Him because you could not save yourself. There is no coming to Jesus if you are not willing to humble yourself before Him; it is Jesus alone who is able to save and it is only by grace that you are born again today. Because there is a greater grace, there is a greater joy to be experienced through God. James explains where one can experience that joy through a series of imperatives. Lets read the passage and break these imperatives (commands) down so that you can see the point James is making: Submit therefore to God. But resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come close to God and He will come close to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be miserable, and mourn, and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning, and your joy into gloom. Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you (vv. 7-10). The word submit comes from a Greek word that also means to attach yourself to the thing or person you are submitting to. To submit to God is not just to bow before Him, but also to attach yourself to Him. There is another word that the Bible uses for that same idea, and that word is abide which comes from a Greek word that also means to remain in. Attach yourself to the One you were made for! In verse 8, we are told to Come close to God... So what happens when we submit to God? We come close to Him. This is how I can resist the devil so that he will flee from me (v. 7). This is also how I can cleanse my hand and purify my heart. Listen, there is no getting closer to God if you are not willing to submit to God. There is no lasting joy if you are not abiding in Him. There will be no victory over sin in your life if you are not humbling yourself before Him (v. 10). What will happen as you submit to God and draw closer to Him? You will see your sin for what it is, but instead of coasting further from Him, you will run to Him because that is where grace is to be found in your time of need! This is the point of verse 9-10, Be miserable, and mourn, and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning, and your joy into gloom. Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you. What does it mean for God to exalt those who humble themselves before Him? He will give you the kind of joy you were made for, a joy available only through His Son. You were made for joy, but not the secular and godless kind that our world strives after. You were made for a joy and pleasure that can only be known in God by abiding in His Son. The question I have for you is this: What or who is it that has your attention and your heart? Arent you tired of pursuing lesser joys? There is a greater joy before you, but it can only be experienced by submitting yourself to God by drawing closer to Him. Let me close with something Jesus said that I think will make more sense to you in light of James 4:1-10, I am the vine, you are the branches; the one who remains in Me, and I in him bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in Me, he is thrown away like a branch and dries up; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you remain in Me, and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples. Just as the Father has loved Me, I also have loved you; remain in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will remain in My love; just as I have kept My Fathers commandments and remain in His love. These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full. (John 15:5-11) What Jesus describes and what James addresses is the kind of faith that abides in Him. [1] Ayad Akhtar, The Singularity Is Here, The Atlantic (11-5-21) [2] John Piper, Desiring God (Sisters, OR: Multnomah Books; 2011), 19. [3] Daniel M. Doriani, James, ed. Richard D. Phillips, Philip Graham Ryken, and Daniel M. Doriani, Reformed Expository Commentary (Phillipsburg, NJ: PR Publishing, 2007), 130.

A new MP3 sermon from 2nd - Second Presbyterian Church (PCA) is now available on SermonAudio with the following details: Title: Georgie Campbell Funeral Service Speaker: Dr. Richard D. Phillips Broadcaster: 2nd - Second Presbyterian Church (PCA) Event: Funeral Service Date: 4/11/2025 Bible: Genesis 25:7-11 Length: 54 min.

The messages Dr. Phillips gave were from the Stay the Course, Black Mountain Men's Retreat held this year at Lakewood Baptist Church in Gainesville, Georgia. Dr. Phillips pastors the historic Second Presbyterian Church in Greenville, South Carolina. He is the author of many books, including The Masculine Mandate and his commentaries in the Reformed Expository Commentary series. You can watch this message here.

A new MP3 sermon from 2nd - Second Presbyterian Church (PCA) is now available on SermonAudio with the following details: Title: Kirby Kee Memorial Service Speaker: Dr. Richard D. Phillips Broadcaster: 2nd - Second Presbyterian Church (PCA) Event: Funeral Service Date: 1/24/2025 Bible: John 6:38-40 Length: 65 min.

A new MP3 sermon from 2nd - Second Presbyterian Church (PCA) is now available on SermonAudio with the following details: Title: Emil Henning Memorial Service Speaker: Dr. Richard D. Phillips Broadcaster: 2nd - Second Presbyterian Church (PCA) Event: Funeral Service Date: 10/15/2024 Bible: John 4:27-42 Length: 66 min.

A new MP3 sermon from Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary is now available on SermonAudio with the following details: Title: 5. Growing in Family Worship Subtitle: PRTS Conference 2024 Speaker: Dr. Richard D. Phillips Broadcaster: Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary Event: Conference Date: 8/23/2024 Bible: Proverbs 3:1-6; Proverbs 23:26 Length: 64 min.

A new MP3 sermon from Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary is now available on SermonAudio with the following details: Title: 7. Parenting as a Prophet, Priest, and King in Your Home Subtitle: PRTS Conference 2024 Speaker: Dr. Richard D. Phillips Broadcaster: Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary Event: Conference Date: 8/24/2024 Bible: Ephesians 4:20-24 Length: 63 min.

A new MP3 sermon from Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary is now available on SermonAudio with the following details: Title: 7. Parenting as a Prophet, Priest, and King in Your Home Subtitle: PRTS Conference 2024 Speaker: Dr. Richard D. Phillips Broadcaster: Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary Event: Conference Date: 8/24/2024 Bible: Ephesians 4:20-24 Length: 63 min.

A new MP3 sermon from Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary is now available on SermonAudio with the following details: Title: 5. Growing in Family Worship Subtitle: PRTS Conference 2024 Speaker: Dr. Richard D. Phillips Broadcaster: Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary Event: Conference Date: 8/23/2024 Bible: Proverbs 3:1-6; Proverbs 23:26 Length: 64 min.

A new MP3 sermon from Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary is now available on SermonAudio with the following details: Title: 5. Growing in Family Worship Subtitle: PRTS Conference 2024 Speaker: Dr. Richard D. Phillips Broadcaster: Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary Event: Conference Date: 8/23/2024 Bible: Proverbs 3:1-6; Proverbs 23:26 Length: 64 min.

A new MP3 sermon from 2nd - Second Presbyterian Church (PCA) is now available on SermonAudio with the following details: Title: Talitha Grace Lyon Memorial Service Speaker: Dr. Richard D. Phillips Broadcaster: 2nd - Second Presbyterian Church (PCA) Event: Funeral Service Date: 8/19/2024 Bible: Mark 5:35-42 Length: 44 min.

A new MP3 sermon from 2nd - Second Presbyterian Church (PCA) is now available on SermonAudio with the following details: Title: Doris Youngblood Memorial Service Speaker: Dr. Richard D. Phillips Broadcaster: 2nd - Second Presbyterian Church (PCA) Event: Funeral Service Date: 8/13/2024 Bible: Revelation 22:1-2 Length: 51 min.

A new MP3 sermon from 2nd - Second Presbyterian Church (PCA) is now available on SermonAudio with the following details: Title: Preaching the Name Boldy Subtitle: Acts (RDP) Speaker: Dr. Richard D. Phillips Broadcaster: 2nd - Second Presbyterian Church (PCA) Event: Sunday - PM Date: 7/21/2024 Bible: Acts 9:19-31 Length: 52 min.

A new MP3 sermon from 2nd - Second Presbyterian Church (PCA) is now available on SermonAudio with the following details: Title: The Wicked Tenants Subtitle: Mark (2023) Speaker: Dr. Richard D. Phillips Broadcaster: 2nd - Second Presbyterian Church (PCA) Event: Sunday - AM Date: 6/30/2024 Bible: Mark 11:27-12:12 Length: 40 min.

A new MP3 sermon from 2nd - Second Presbyterian Church (PCA) is now available on SermonAudio with the following details: Title: The Wrath of the Lamb Subtitle: Mark (2023) Speaker: Dr. Richard D. Phillips Broadcaster: 2nd - Second Presbyterian Church (PCA) Event: Sunday - AM Date: 6/23/2024 Bible: Mark 11:12-25 Length: 47 min.

A new MP3 sermon from 2nd - Second Presbyterian Church (PCA) is now available on SermonAudio with the following details: Title: The Rich Young Man Subtitle: Mark (2023) Speaker: Dr. Richard D. Phillips Broadcaster: 2nd - Second Presbyterian Church (PCA) Event: Sunday - AM Date: 5/26/2024 Bible: Mark 10:17-31 Length: 43 min.

A new MP3 sermon from 2nd - Second Presbyterian Church (PCA) is now available on SermonAudio with the following details: Title: Let the Children Come Subtitle: Mark (2023) Speaker: Dr. Richard D. Phillips Broadcaster: 2nd - Second Presbyterian Church (PCA) Event: Sunday - AM Date: 5/19/2024 Bible: Mark 10:13-16 Length: 42 min.

A new MP3 sermon from 2nd - Second Presbyterian Church (PCA) is now available on SermonAudio with the following details: Title: Let the Children Come Subtitle: Mark (2023) Speaker: Dr. Richard D. Phillips Broadcaster: 2nd - Second Presbyterian Church (PCA) Event: Sunday - AM Date: 5/19/2024 Bible: Mark 10:13-16 Length: 42 min.

A new MP3 sermon from 2nd - Second Presbyterian Church (PCA) is now available on SermonAudio with the following details: Title: Let the Children Come Subtitle: Mark (2023) Speaker: Dr. Richard D. Phillips Broadcaster: 2nd - Second Presbyterian Church (PCA) Event: Sunday - AM Date: 5/19/2024 Bible: Mark 10:13-16 Length: 42 min.

A new MP3 sermon from Trinity Presbyterian Church, Statesboro is now available on SermonAudio with the following details: Title: The Little Scroll / Ordination of Rev. Jeff Windt Subtitle: Revelation Speaker: Dr. Richard D. Phillips Broadcaster: Trinity Presbyterian Church, Statesboro Event: Sunday Service Date: 2/5/2017 Bible: Revelation 10 Length: 41 min.

A new MP3 sermon from 2nd - Second Presbyterian Church (PCA) is now available on SermonAudio with the following details: Title: Justin Martyr Subtitle: Profiles in Christian Courage Speaker: Dr. Richard D. Phillips Broadcaster: 2nd - Second Presbyterian Church (PCA) Event: Midweek Service Date: 11/29/2023 Length: 38 min.

The following sermon was chosen as a 'staff-pick' on SermonAudio: Title: Ask the Pastor Subtitle: Ask the Pastor Speaker: Dr. Richard D. Phillips Broadcaster: 2nd - Second Presbyterian Church (PCA) Event: Question & Answer Date: 2/1/2023 Length: 51 min.

A new MP3 sermon from 2nd - Second Presbyterian Church (PCA) is now available on SermonAudio with the following details: Title: Because of God's Tender Mercy Subtitle: Christmas 2022 Speaker: Dr. Richard D. Phillips Broadcaster: 2nd - Second Presbyterian Church (PCA) Event: Sunday - PM Date: 12/18/2022 Bible: Luke 1:67-80 Length: 39 min.

A new MP3 sermon from 2nd - Second Presbyterian Church (PCA) is now available on SermonAudio with the following details: Title: Pat Wheeler Memorial Service Speaker: Dr. Richard D. Phillips Broadcaster: 2nd - Second Presbyterian Church (PCA) Event: Funeral Service Date: 12/12/2022 Length: 62 min.

A new MP3 sermon from 2nd - Second Presbyterian Church (PCA) is now available on SermonAudio with the following details: Title: Chapter 17 - Of the Perseverance of the Saints Subtitle: Westminster Conf. (Phillips) Speaker: Dr. Richard D. Phillips Broadcaster: 2nd - Second Presbyterian Church (PCA) Event: Midweek Service Date: 9/21/2022 Length: 40 min.

A new MP3 sermon from 2nd - Second Presbyterian Church (PCA) is now available on SermonAudio with the following details: Title: Josiah's Passover Subtitle: 2 Chronicles Speaker: Dr. Richard D. Phillips Broadcaster: 2nd - Second Presbyterian Church (PCA) Event: Sunday - PM Date: 9/18/2022 Bible: 2 Chronicles 35:1-27 Length: 38 min.

A new MP3 sermon from 2nd - Second Presbyterian Church (PCA) is now available on SermonAudio with the following details: Title: Chapter 16 - Of Good Works Subtitle: Westminster Conf. (Phillips) Speaker: Dr. Richard D. Phillips Broadcaster: 2nd - Second Presbyterian Church (PCA) Event: Midweek Service Date: 9/14/2022 Length: 38 min.

A new MP3 sermon from 2nd - Second Presbyterian Church (PCA) is now available on SermonAudio with the following details: Title: Chapter 15 - Of Repentance Unto Life Subtitle: WCF (Phillips) Speaker: Dr. Richard D. Phillips Broadcaster: 2nd - Second Presbyterian Church (PCA) Event: Midweek Service Date: 9/7/2022 Length: 53 min.

A new MP3 sermon from 2nd - Second Presbyterian Church (PCA) is now available on SermonAudio with the following details: Title: Loved with Everlasting Love Subtitle: Jeremiah Speaker: Dr. Richard D. Phillips Broadcaster: 2nd - Second Presbyterian Church (PCA) Event: Sunday - AM Date: 8/28/2022 Bible: Jeremiah 31:2-14 Length: 46 min.

August 23, 2022 HOUR #1: Dr. RICHARD D. PHILLIPS, author of numerous books, highly sought-after conference speaker, Chairman of the Philadelphia Conference on Reformed Theology, co-editor of the Reformed Expository Commentary Series (P&R Pub.), an Adjunct Professor & Trustee at Westminster Theological Seminary, Board of Directors member at the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals & Senior Pastor at the historic 2nd Presbyterian Church of Greenville, SC, who will address: “The SUFFICIENCY of SCRIPTURE & The STORY of SCRIPTURE” & announcing the upcoming Quakertown Conference on Reformed Theology in Quakertown, PA this Fall on “The Sufficiency Word!“ HOUR #2: MICHAEL A. GAYDOSH, founder of Solid Ground Christian Books, who will address: “DISCOVERING HIDDEN TREASURES of CHRISTIAN LITERATURE” Subscribe: iTunes  TuneIn Android RSS Feed Listen:

A new MP3 sermon from 2nd - Second Presbyterian Church (PCA) is now available on SermonAudio with the following details: Title: Speakers of Rebellion Subtitle: Jeremiah Speaker: Dr. Richard D. Phillips Broadcaster: 2nd - Second Presbyterian Church (PCA) Event: Sunday - AM Date: 7/31/2022 Bible: Jeremiah 29:15-32 Length: 45 min.

Let it be known, PBR had a creaky chair. They don't make chairs like they used to anymore.    //Jolly Work 00:00-45:00 Stop working for the weekend Book Recommendations: The Masculine Mandate Richard D. Phillips The Works of William Perkins Volume 10 Section on Vocation   //Juking Jabs 45:00-70:00 Can/should I take the jab? Is it right to require it for work? What are some arguments against the jab? Are the mandates wrong?   //Listener Questions 70:00-END Can a Christian join/stay in the military given current political scene? Given recent mandated training, what should I do?

A new MP3 sermon from 2nd - Second Presbyterian Church (PCA) is now available on SermonAudio with the following details: Title: The Blessed Who Believe Subtitle: Christmas 2021 Speaker: Dr. Richard D. Phillips Broadcaster: 2nd - Second Presbyterian Church (PCA) Event: Sunday - AM Date: 12/19/2021 Bible: Luke 1:39-45 Length: 36 min.

A new MP3 sermon from 2nd - Second Presbyterian Church (PCA) is now available on SermonAudio with the following details: Title: Put to Shame Subtitle: Jeremiah Speaker: Dr. Richard D. Phillips Broadcaster: 2nd - Second Presbyterian Church (PCA) Event: Sunday - AM Date: 5/23/2021 Bible: Jeremiah 2:14-28 Length: 48 min.

A new MP3 sermon from 2nd - Second Presbyterian Church (PCA) is now available on SermonAudio with the following details: Title: Destroyed in Destruction Subtitle: 2 Peter Speaker: Dr. Richard D. Phillips Broadcaster: 2nd - Second Presbyterian Church (PCA) Event: Sunday - AM Date: 2/7/2021 Bible: 2 Peter 2:10-16 Length: 42 min.

Rightly Relating Justification And Sanctification | Richard D. Phillips by Gifts and Graces

A new MP3 sermon from 2nd - Second Presbyterian Church (PCA) is now available on SermonAudio with the following details: Title: The Inspiration of Scripture Subtitle: 2 Peter Speaker: Dr. Richard D. Phillips Broadcaster: 2nd - Second Presbyterian Church (PCA) Event: Sunday - AM Date: 1/17/2021 Bible: 2 Peter 1:20-21 Length: 44 min.

A new MP3 sermon from 2nd - Second Presbyterian Church (PCA) is now available on SermonAudio with the following details: Title: The Eighteenth Century Subtitle: Church History Speaker: Dr. Richard D. Phillips Broadcaster: 2nd - Second Presbyterian Church (PCA) Event: Midweek Service Date: 1/13/2021 Length: 52 min.

A new MP3 sermon from 2nd - Second Presbyterian Church (PCA) is now available on SermonAudio with the following details: Title: Entering Into Glory Subtitle: 2 Peter Speaker: Dr. Richard D. Phillips Broadcaster: 2nd - Second Presbyterian Church (PCA) Event: Sunday - AM Date: 11/22/2020 Bible: 2 Peter 1:11-15 Length: 44 min.

A new MP3 sermon from 2nd - Second Presbyterian Church (PCA) is now available on SermonAudio with the following details: Title: Covenant Renewal Subtitle: 2 Chronicles Speaker: Dr. Richard D. Phillips Broadcaster: 2nd - Second Presbyterian Church (PCA) Event: Sunday - PM Date: 11/22/2020 Bible: 2 Chronicles 15:1-19 Length: 47 min.

The following sermon was chosen as a 'staff-pick' on SermonAudio: Title: The Second Century Subtitle: Church History Speaker: Dr. Richard D. Phillips Broadcaster: 2nd - Second Presbyterian Church (PCA) Event: Midweek Service Date: 6/17/2020 Length: 44 min.

In this interview from August 2007, Richard D. Phillips discusses his book, "Jesus the Evangelist."

A new MP3 sermon from 2nd - Second Presbyterian Church (PCA) is now available on SermonAudio with the following details: Title: Why Covenant Theology Is Important Today Subtitle: GCRT 2020 Speaker: Dr. Richard D. Phillips Broadcaster: 2nd - Second Presbyterian Church (PCA) Event: Conference Date: 10/3/2020 Length: 53 min.

A new MP3 sermon from 2nd - Second Presbyterian Church (PCA) is now available on SermonAudio with the following details: Title: The Twelfth Century Subtitle: Church History Speaker: Dr. Richard D. Phillips Broadcaster: 2nd - Second Presbyterian Church (PCA) Event: Midweek Service Date: 9/16/2020 Length: 40 min.

A new MP3 sermon from 2nd - Second Presbyterian Church (PCA) is now available on SermonAudio with the following details: Title: Grace in the Church Subtitle: Colossians Speaker: Dr. Richard D. Phillips Broadcaster: 2nd - Second Presbyterian Church (PCA) Event: Sunday - AM Date: 9/13/2020 Bible: Colossians 4:7-18 Length: 41 min.

A new MP3 sermon from 2nd - Second Presbyterian Church (PCA) is now available on SermonAudio with the following details: Title: Grace in the Church Subtitle: Colossians Speaker: Dr. Richard D. Phillips Broadcaster: 2nd - Second Presbyterian Church (PCA) Event: Sunday - AM Date: 9/13/2020 Bible: Colossians 4:7-18 Length: 41 min.

A new MP3 sermon from 2nd - Second Presbyterian Church (PCA) is now available on SermonAudio with the following details: Title: Watch and Pray Subtitle: Colossians Speaker: Dr. Richard D. Phillips Broadcaster: 2nd - Second Presbyterian Church (PCA) Event: Sunday - AM Date: 8/30/2020 Bible: Colossians 4:2-4 Length: 42 min.

A new MP3 sermon from 2nd - Second Presbyterian Church (PCA) is now available on SermonAudio with the following details: Title: The Third Century Subtitle: Church History Speaker: Dr. Richard D. Phillips Broadcaster: 2nd - Second Presbyterian Church (PCA) Event: Midweek Service Date: 7/8/2020 Length: 47 min.

Click here for episode transcript: https://bit.ly/3azI0Vr-htz-13 After supplementing our previous discussions of ooparts and self-atonement, in this episode we begin analyzing something so horrible and devastating that we draw it in cartoons and use it to decorate children’s nurseries: Noah’s Flood. This Episode Features: The Only Trustworthy News Source; Time Travel; Bread Is Malicious (And Sneaky); Corn Flakes, Graham Crackers, and Grape Juice; the Giraffes are Here to View the Tapestries; Papa Kent’s Moral Compass; Emily Becomes Agitated; and a Phenomenal Little Tome. Links The Babylon Bee: https://babylonbee.com/ The Antikythera Mechanism - Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antikythera_mechanism Romans Mastered Nanotechnology and Used it for Eye Catching Decoration - Ancient Origins: https://bit.ly/3cOjr8U-htz-13-1 The Lycurgus Cup - Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lycurgus_Cup Wally Wallington’s Backyard Stonehenge: https://youtu.be/-K7q20VzwVs Eating to Be Clean - Verily Magazine: https://verilymag.com/2020/03/orthorexia-diet-eating-health-food-anxiety-2020 Doorbells - Bill Bailey: https://youtu.be/SFQ_s87acFg?t=72 West Side Story: “Maria”: https://youtu.be/Jy2VGRDxSvU American Pie - Don McLean: https://youtu.be/iX_TFkut1PM Genesis 7: https://www.esv.org/Genesis+7/ 2 Peter 3: https://www.esv.org/2+Peter+3/ Principles of Geology - Charles Lyell: https://amzn.to/3ay8Xdb Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989): “Here to view the tapestries”: https://youtu.be/z14uhNXcx-s The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe - C.S. Lewis: https://amzn.to/2R3LQ2r Inferno - Dante Alighieri (tr. Anthony Esolen): https://amzn.to/39kSN5h Recos The Doctrine of God - Herman Bavinck: https://amzn.to/2xnyOWl The Politically Incorrect Guide to the 1960’s - Jonathan Leaf: https://amzn.to/2JhvsH1 The Art of Manliness Website and Podcast The Pendragon Cycle (Kindle Edition) - Stephen Lawhead: https://amzn.to/2wF8d7c The Masculine Mandate - Richard D. Phillips: https://amzn.to/2QNKatD --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/haltingtowardzion/support

Leitura do prefácio, introdução e 1º capítulo do livro Homens de Verdade do Richard D. Phillips.

Leitura do prefácio, introdução e 1º capítulo do livro Homens de Verdade do Richard D. Phillips.

In this interview from August 2007, Richard D. Phillips discusses his book, "Jesus the Evangelist."

Pastor Daniel Simmons preaching from Luke 1:26-38 where he described how God became a man through Mary. The Greatest Announcement Ever Made Luke 1:26-38 Exegetical Main Point: The Angel Gabriel announces thatthe virginMary will give birthby the power of the Holy Spiritto a son who will be a King. He will be named Jesus, and will be called the Son of the Most High. Mary's belief in her identity as God's servant informs her humble submission to the Lord. Main Point of the Sermon: True belief in God must lead to surrender. Introduction: I have to admit that I have been caught off guard by the Lord’s commands at times in my life. It’s like I have no problem accepting them until the moment that I realize just what that means for my day. “Wait, you want me to give up what? This was true for me in my early twenties, when God awakened me to the ways that I had put my music career before his Lordship. There’s a lot to the story, but what became clear to me at that point was that following Christ meant surrendering the wheel of my life to him from that point on. You see, God’s call to follow him often comes with the need to lay something down that is very dear to us. Have you experienced this? It doesn’t always make sense, does it? “Move where, do what?” Sometimes it even seems impossible, so unnatural! But in reality, if it doesn’t cost us, then we are probably not actually surrendering anything at all. As you immerse yourself in the story of God, it becomes clear that humble submission and surrender to God characterize the Christian because it characterized Christ our King. In causing Christ’s life to be born in you, God expects the death of self. In other words, we must be willing to carry our own cross, even daily. We will see an example of this today in the life of the virgin Mary. But before we look at Mary’s surrender, we need to get a glimpse of the greatness of the king. Outline: The Greatest Announcement Ever Made vv. 26-37 Mary’s Belief Lead to Surrender vv. 38 The Christian’s Belief Must Lead to Surrender The Greatest Announcement ever made vv. 26-33 Luke tells us that the same angel, Gabriel, who was sent to Zechariah six months earlier, “was sent to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary” (vv. 26-27). Luke’s Comparison I want you to notice the similarities of this story to last week’s prophecy of John’s birth because Luke seems to be up to something in the progression and details of the story. In fact, chapter 1:5 all the way to 2:52 make up what Bible scholars call the infancy narrative. Slide: John’s birth prophesied, Jesus’s birth prophesied > the meeting of the two mothers > John’s birth > Jesus’s birth > In this set up, it is clear that Luke’s aim is to compare the two important figures. Philip Ryken, who has written a good deal on the Bible’s literary features, observes some of the similarities: “two cousins, two pregnancies, two hymns of praise, and two deliveries at the beginning of two great lives.”[1] Slide: Notice the differences also: John came in the Spirit and power of Elijah to point others to the Lord. But Jesus isKing and Lord. John would be filled withthe Holy Spirit, but Jesus would be born of the Holy Spirit. John would be great beforethe Lord. But Jesus is called “great” without qualification. Both men are great, but Luke intends to show you in these birth narratives who is the true object of our worship. Jesus is infinitely greater. Though he is great like this, his humble approach is staggering. The announcement of his birth came to a very unlikely place and person. Lowly Place and Person Place:Luke’s mention of the specific location of this event is significant because of the lowly size and poor reputation of Nazareth. You may remember the words of Nathaniel when he first heard of Jesus and his hometown: “‘Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?’” (John 1:46). Nazareth was far off the path of the important places in Israel. It was a halfway stop between Tyre and Sidon, and was full of Gentiles and Roman soldiers. Person: Mary was also an unlikely and unknown figure. Scholars believe she was probably no more than 15 years old, and perhaps as young as 12, probably illiterate, like most poor young women in that time, with little knowledge of the Scriptures, other than what she had memorized at home or heard in the synagogue. Her life was not set up for greatness. She would marry young, bear other poor children, never travel far from home, and eventually die like others before her. Pastor Kent Hughes writes, Mary was “a nobody in a nothing town in the middle of nowhere… [but]the greatest news ever proclaimed in Israel came to the humblest of its people!” Hughes continues, “The Lord comes to needypeople—those who realize that without him they cannot make it—those who acknowledge their weakness and spiritual lack. The Incarnation, salvation, resurrection, Christmasare not for the proud and self-sufficient.”[2] This is truly incredible and says something about our God. The greatest honor ever given to man, to be the mother of the Lord Jesus, was given to a teenage peasant girl! As we move forward in the story, we will see God continue to bring this news to unlikely people. The announcement will come to lowly Shepherds in the following chapter. Maybe your life feels insignificant today. You need to know that God knows you. His birth, his coming, his kingdom is for people like you. This humble beginning sets the stage for the humble life that Jesus would lead, pursuing the poor, the meek, the sinner. Let’s continue in the text. Verse 28: 28 And [Gabriel] came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” 29 But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. 30 And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. The angel here acknowledges the favor, the grace, being shownto this young woman. This is why we believe that Mary is not to be prayed to or worshipped, but yet one that should be honored as incredibly blessed by virtue of the grace that has been shown to her by God. Just think, our Lord’s face will resemble Mary’s face.This gift was given to her not because she was sinless or a perpetual virgin, neither of which are anywhere taught in Scripture, but because she has been shown grace by God. “Greetings, o favored one, the Lord is with you” is an Old Testament greeting which affirmed that God would help the recipient. This was a kind greeting because this young girl was shaken up. We are told that she was “greatly troubled” and that she tried to discern what was happening to her. She was not hysterical, but sought to understand. This is a pretty amazing young woman. How do you think you would respond if it were you? Then came the incredible announcement to Mary: “You will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.” Oh how I love the name of Jesus. Though this was a common name in that time, Mary was the first person to hear the name of the Messiah. What a sweet name. Jesus is a Greek rendering of the Hebrew name Joshua, meaning “Yahweh Saves”. This naming is no coincidence. One commentator writes, “Just as Joshua had led Israel into the Promised Land (see Joshua 1:1–2), so Jesus would lead his people into eternal life.” People took the meaning of names seriously in that time, seeing them as having power. At the name of Jesus demons would be cast out, the sick would be healed, and the dead would be raised.[3] Here at All Peoples Church, we love the name of Jesus and believe there is power in the name of Jesus. Gabriel told Mary that the child “will be great and will be called Son of the Most High”. This title “Son” is a significant Messianic title that would have been recognized by anyone who had knowledge of the Scriptures. Think about Gen 49 where Jacob prophecies the greatness of Judah’s offspring, or Psalm 2, the famous Messianic Psalm, which warns all who would fail to submit to the “Son”, or Isaiah, which teems with Messianic descriptions and prophecy. I’ll read two of them: “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14). “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon[d] his shoulder, and his name shall be called[e] Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6). If that title didn’t ring bells for Mary, the angel made it even more explicit: And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” Mary is told that Jesus would fulfill the covenant promises made to King David that someone would reign on his throne forever. It is no coincidence that Joseph AND MARY were of the lineage of David. Let’s look at 2 Samuel 7, from where this promise comes. Starting in verse 12, God speaking to David, tells him that when he dies he will raise up offspring after him through whom he will establish his throne forever. 13 He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 14 I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. The beginning of this prophecy is initially fulfilled in the reign of his son, King Solomon, and further, in the reign of his sons, but the unusual and amazing promise here is that even though God prophesies that these sons would fall in sin, God promises that his steadfast love would not be taken away from this “son”, like it was taken from king Saul. Instead, David’s house and kingdom would be made sure forever through him. Gabriel tells Mary as explicitly as it comes, this child you are about to have is the long awaited son of David, who will reign over the “house of Jacob forever”, which stands for all of Israel. His reign will never end. Mary would have put the pieces together and known the weight of these sayings. This child was not just any child of God, like we would call ourselves a child of God. He would reign forever. He would be called “Immanuel” – God with us. This child had a unique identity, a divine sonship. Yahweh was truly coming to save his people. At Jesus’s conception (1:35), at his baptism (3:22), at his transfiguration (9:35), and in his resurrection (Acts 13:33), Luke is slowly unfolding the true identity of Jesus of Nazareth – this Jesus is God the Son, the second member of the Trinity, the eternal Son being born to man. Imagine your newsfeed blowing up with the news “Aliens land on earth!” This announcement would go viral and change the course of history forever. This is probably just how crazy this would have been for Jews of this day to hear the news “God will become a man”. First, God hadn’t spoken, it was believed, for 400 years. More importantly, it was unthinkable, even impossible, in the Jewish mind that the Creator could become one of the creatures. The Vikings winning the super bowl seems impossible, and would be pretty incredible to hear about, but I promise you, Vikings fans, it would pale in comparison to this. This announcement literally changed the course of history. It is truly “The Greatest Announcement Ever Made”. Mary’s Question: Mary couldn’t help herself. The most obvious question arising in her mind was “How is this possible”? I’m a virgin (vs 34). It’s important to note the difference between Zechariah and Mary’s questions. Zechariah’s question doubted the angel’s words. He wanted some sort of sign to knowthat it will come to pass. But Mary, believing that the event would take place simply asks “how”? In what way. Mary, being betrothed to Joseph, would not have lived with him and would certainly not have had sexual relations with him. The betrothal period was even considered a testing period for the betrothed couple to prove their sexual fidelity. It usually lasted up to a year and any sexual act would have actually been considered adultery. Mary was carefully preserving her sexual purity, according to God’s commands, so understanding how babies came into the world raised questions for Mary. Jesus’s greatness only gets clearer as the angel keeps speaking. Look at verse 35: The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. “How will I have this child?”, the young virgin asked. Gabriel’s reply: GOD will do it. The Spirit of God will come upon you; he will overshadow you. One commentator points out that this image of overshadowing can be seen throughout Scripture all the way back to the creation narrative when the Spirit hovered over the waters (Gen. 1:2).[4] Jesus birth would not be a result of man. Mary knew that what the angel was saying was impossible. It would be a miracle, a child born of the Holy Spirit, a creative miracle, similar to the creation of the first man, but far far greater. The texts reads, “Therefore”, as a result of this miraculous work of the Holy Spirit, we are told that this child would be “called holy – the Son of God.” This would not be like any other child. This would be God with us. God incarnated in human flesh. Some might wonder why did God need to do it this way? Why did the Christ have to be born of a virgin? I’m glad you asked. This, is in fact our hope, that Jesus was not born of Adam’s seed. Humanity could not be saved from within because every man born of Adam, humanity’s head, the first father, was born with sin, a sin nature. We needed a Savior from without. He was born of the Holy Spirit. But he also had to be man in order to save mankind. It could not be the blood of bulls or goats that would atone for our sin. It had to be the very image of God. So, Jesus was born of a woman, Mary. Therefore, this man was holy. He was a son like Adam, but one without sin: one man with two natures, fully God and fully man. The God-man. Theologian Wayne Grudem writes: “[The incarnation] is by far the most amazing miracle of the entire Bible – – far more amazing than the resurrection and more amazing even than the creation of the universe. The fact that the infinite, omnipotent, eternal Son of God could become man and join himself to a human nature forever, so that infinite God became one person with finite man, will remain for eternity the most profound miracle and the most profound mystery in all the universe (Grudem, 563).” Christians believe and have confessed this miracle for millennia. The virgin birth is one of the primary doctrines that uphold his deity. Denying it is to deny the faith. Jesus is not just any man. He is like no other. There is none greater. Kindly, the angel gave Mary a sign that this miracle would indeed take place, saying, 36 And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God.” “Mary, I know that this seems impossible and beyond your comprehension, but you know your elderly cousin, Elizabeth, who was barren, she is now 6 months pregnant. Mary, you need to know nothing will be impossible with God.” Some of you need to hear this today. As you consider the call that is before you, the mission, the lifestyle, the holiness he is calling you to that seems so impossible – nothing will be impossible with God! No sin is too great, no land too far, no amount too much, no mission too big for God. “If God is for us, who can be against us” (Rom 8:31)! Mary’s Belief Lead to Surrender vv. 38 Having heard all the angel’s words, having heard the greatness and humility of the King to be born, Mary responds with the famous words, 38 “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” Church, I hope these words catch you by surprise like they did me this week. Teenage Mary’s thoughtful question has been answered. She’s heard everything the angel has said, and pondering it all, her response is, “I know I am not my own. I am a servant of the Lord. So let it be just as you have said.” I seriously can’t believe the humility of this young woman. God was truly with her. Her identity informs her response. Do you see that? “I am the servant of the Lord. Therefore, let it be.” “It will bring me shame but I am your servant. This life God has given me is not about me, but about what He has for me. This marriage I am excited about may end as a result of this, but your call for me is more important than this marriage, than my reputation, than my choice for my body, my energy, the entire trajectory of my life! My life is not my own, but it is God’s. I am the servant of the Lord, so let it be as you’ve said!” Mary would suffer the pain child birth, and the strain of raising children in poverty. She would see her son ridiculed before all the religious leaders of Israel, the people of his own town, she would be in turmoil over Jesus’s identity; she would show up to try to pull him away from the mess of it all; and she would stand in witness of his brutal lashing and crucifixion. She would eventually worship at her resurrected son’s feet, the feet that were formed in her body; she would again hold the nail-pierced hands that she so tenderly caressed as a child, and embrace the face that nursed at her bosom, and the body which carried all the weight of her sin and the sin of the world. This young woman didn’t have any clue of what pain she was getting herself into, ultimately, but she was ready and willing to take it on because she saw herself as God’s servant. Mary is the first one to believe this message about who Jesus is. This is why some have called her the first Christian. She is truly a model for the Christian life, indeed, for all humans. Our Belief Must Lead to Surrender This Gospel of God has come to you today. What are you doing with it? Do you embrace it with humble faith like Mary, or do you reject it in pride because you can’t prove it? Mary’s understanding of her lowliness before God aided her with the humility to bow in submission to God. Do you think of yourself as too great, too educated, to believe such a story and submit to God’s call to come and serve him, to die to self so that you might be reborn in Christ? The doctrine of the virgin birth and the Christian message is not one to try to debate or prove, but a miracle of grace to be embraced in faith. Though it stands under scrutiny, God’s Word is not to be tested by the supposed greater authority of science or human logic. Jesus’s divine nature is not one to be fully comprehended, but a mystery to be embraced in faith, his conquering Kingdom one to be surrendered to, not reasoned with. We seek and we find. We look and learn by all the sciences, archeology, and history. But God has revealed himself to us in his Word and in Jesus, who was given for our salvation, and confirmed by many signs, the greatest being the sign of the resurrection, and it is up to us to humbly submit to our Maker, who formed us to serve him in joyful relationship with him. Submitting Your Life Jesus calls for your allegiance today. Is that what he has? God didn’t come to Mary and offer her an option that only involved a couple years of her life, some of her money, time, talent, but rather called her to a life surrendered to God’s purposes for her. If you are believing today, is your heart like Mary’s, ready and willing to drop anything and everything at the beckoning call of the King in humble submission to him? Don’t you see that choosing Christ, being baptized into him, means dying to self completely so that Christ’s life could reign in you? Are you surrendering your finances right now, your career, your dreams, that relationship, your family to Christ the King. Are you like Mary laying down your sexual desires and inclinations to serve the Lord? Are you willing to say no to the world and lose its honor in order to say to yes the Lord and gain his? What is he calling you to today? And what is your response? Do you see yourself as a servant of the Lord, ready to surrender to him no matter what it is. Jesus Conclusion: In calling you to lay down your life in surrender to him, Christ is calling you to do something that he has already done. What Mary did for Christ, Christ did infinitely more. He left heaven and all of his glory, taking on human flesh in utter humility, even dying the death that we deserve for the mess we’ve put ourselves in with sin (Phil 2). If the path he calls you to today seems impossible, unnatural, and low, Christ has gone lower. And in calling you low with him, in calling you to take your cross with him, he is only calling you to greatness in resurrection life. If we have died with him, we will also be raised with him. Our belief in God must lead us to surrender from the beginning to the end. Let’s pray. [1]Philip Graham Ryken, Luke, ed. Richard D. Phillips, Philip Graham Ryken, and Daniel M. Doriani, vol. 1, Reformed Expository Commentary (Phillipsburg, NJ: P&R Publishing, 2009), 28–40. [2]R. Kent Hughes, Luke: That You May Know the Truth, Preaching the Word (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 1998), 28–37. [3]Bruce Barton et al., Life Application New Testament Commentary(Wheaton, IL: Tyndale, 2001), 243–244. [4]Philip Graham Ryken, Luke, ed. Richard D. Phillips, Philip Graham Ryken, and Daniel M. Doriani, vol. 1, Reformed Expository Commentary (Phillipsburg, NJ: P&R Publishing, 2009), 28–40.

Rev. Dr. Richard D. Phillips preaching from 2 Timothy 1-1-8

Neste VEcast de número #42, Daniel Gardner e Vinicius Musselman conversam sobre um dos mais recentes lançamentos da Editora Fiel, o livro Homens de Verdade, de Richard D. Phillips.

Neste VEcast de número #42, Daniel Gardner e Vinicius Musselman conversam sobre um dos mais recentes lançamentos da Editora Fiel, o livro Homens de Verdade, de Richard D. Phillips.

Richard D. Phillips was appointed the seventh Dean of the J. Mack Robinson College of Business at Georgia State University in July 2014. He is also the C.V. Starr Professor of Risk Management and Insurance. Under Phillips’ leadership, Robinson is pioneering a new kind of business education, one uniquely capable of developing people from all […] The post Richard Phillips with J. Mack Robinson College of Business at GSU, Luis E. Ferrer-Labarca with BitCraft and Jeanine McDonald with Suzi Soma Chokers appeared first on Business RadioX ®.

Mawwiage! In today's age, marriage is the subject of much debate. Since it's institution, the Enemy has not only redefined marriage, but we've also lost sight of it's beautiful purpose. So, what is the purpose of this covenant almost as old as mankind? Is it merely a legal union to get a break on your taxes or does God consider it something greater? Today, Ethan, Seth, and special guest Rev. Mike Dean discuss the purpose of marriage. Rev. Mike Dean is pastor of Living Water United Brethren in Christ Church in Winchester, VA and Emmaus Church in Berryville, VA. Pastor Dean is also a Biblical Counselor with 43 years of experience. He founded Small Voice Ministries where he uses his experience to help people seeking Godly advice in their marriages. Pastor Dean has a wealth of wisdom to share through his time being a pastor, counselor, and husband. Co-Hosts: Ethan and Seth Guest Host: Rev Mike Dean https://www.ShieldwallDiscipleship.org Facebook.com/ShieldwallDiscipleship    Instagram.com/ShieldwallDiscipleship    Twitter.com/ShieldwallDisc ShieldwallMinistries@gmail.com To speak with a counselor at Small Voice Ministries text 540-327-7772 for an appointment. Book Recommendations: The Masculine Mandate by Richard D. Phillips Credits: Intro/outro music by Ethan S. Dean. If you like what you hear, feel free to contact him @ ethandeanmfbe@gmail.com Audio Production by Seth Dean

Dr. Richard D. Phillips - November 4, 2018

Dr. Richard D. Phillips - November 4, 2018

Understanding Ourselves & Our Faults The time has come for us to proudly discuss the indie-darling of 2018, Celeste! We are also going to be changing some things with the show's format, starting this episode, thanks to the wonderful feedback provided by some of you. We recently shared a Google Form to help garner feedback for the show. If you have not had a chance to fill out this form, you can follow the link here and be entered in for a chance to win a $10 gift card to the gaming platform of your choice (eShop, PSN, XBLM, Steam). Thanks to our Deer VIPs for bringing us our WHYBP, Newsy-News, and Topic for this episode (Eric Bryant, Alex Castellanos, Richard Marroquin "The Jedislander Podcast"). Newsy-News Shadow of the Tomb Raider Reveal New Releases Kirby Star Allies (Switch) – March 16 Burnout Paradise Remastered (PS4, Xbox One) – March 16 Attack on Titan 2 (PS4, Xbox One, PC, Switch) - March 20 Sea of Thieves (Xbox One, PC) – March 20 A Way Out (PS4, Xbox One, PC) – March 23 Detective Pikachu (3DS) –  March 23 Ni No Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom (PS4, PC) – March 23 Far Cry 5 (PS4, Xbox One, PC) - March 27 MLB The Show 18 (PS4) – March 27 Celeste Discussion Resources Celeste's Candid Portrayal of Mental Illness Celeste: The Message You Missed Reco's Celeste  "The Bruised Reed" by Richard Sibbes  "The Masculine Mandate" by Richard D. Phillips  The Completionist (YouTube Channel)

What Will You Choose? Dishonored is one of the most critically-acclaimed game series available. We brought on Mark Fromme of the Error 204 Podcast to help us discuss the game's development, what makes it unique, and it's themes of free will, revenge, and redemption. (If you have never played Dishonored 1,2, and/or Death of the Outsider prior to listening: have no fear because there are no spoilers here) Reco's! Error 204 Podcast Masculine Mandate by Richard D. Phillips Rainbow Six Siege Avengers: Infinity War Trailer Mistborn: The Final Empire Dishonored: Definitive Edition Dishonored 2 Dishonored: Death of the Outsider

In this interview from August 2007, Richard D. Phillips discusses his book, "Jesus the Evangelist."

Pastor, commentator and scholar Dr. Richard D. Phillips joins us for this last Christmas-focused podcast. He is one of the chief editors of the Reformed Expository Commentary series, and his thoughts on the incarnation are incredibly insightful. Enjoy this one- and to all of our listeners- Merry Christmas! 

The Rev. Richard D. Phillips, Ph.D., gives the 2015 Commencement Address to the RTS Charlotte graduates from Isaiah 6:1-13.