Sermon Video

Here is our latest sermon video.

Thomas Watson on the Lord’s Supper

Tomorrow we celebrate the Lord’s Supper, made all the more special by its coinciding with Palm Sunday.  As we prepare our hearts to receive God’s blessings, consider these words on the blood of Christ and the seriousness of sin.

Was Christ’s body broken? Then we may behold sin odious in the red looking-glass of Christ’s sufferings. It is true, sin is to be abominated since it turned Adam out of paradise and threw the angels down to hell. Sin is the peace-breaker. It is like an incendiary in the family that sets husband and wife at variance. It makes God fall out with us. Sin is the birthplace of our sorrows—and the grave of our comforts. But that which may most of all disfigure the face of sin and make it appear abominable is this—It crucified our Lord Jesus! It made Christ veil His glory and lose His blood.

If a woman saw the sword which killed her dear husband—how hateful would the sight of it be to her! Do we count that sin light—which made Christ’s soul heavy unto death? Mark 14:34. Can that be our joy—which made the Lord Jesus a man of sorrows? Isaiah 53:3. Did He cry out, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” And shall not those sins be forsaken by us—which made Christ Himself forsaken? O let us look upon sin with indignation! When a temptation to sin comes, let us say, “Is not this the sin which poured out Christ’s blood!” Let our hearts be enraged against sin.

When the senators of Rome showed the people Caesar’s bloody robe, they were incensed against those who slew him. Sin has rent the white robe of Christ’s flesh, and died it a crimson color. Let us, then, seek to be avenged of our sins. Under the Law, if an ox gored a man so that he died, the ox was to be killed, Exodus 21:28. Sin has gored and pierced our Savior! Let it die! What a pity is it for sin to live—which would not allow Christ to live!

Was Christ’s body broken? Let us, then, from His suffering on the cross, learn this lesson—do not wonder if we meet with troubles in the world. Did Christ suffer—who “knew no sin,” and do we think it strange to suffer—who know nothing but sin? Did Christ feel the anger of God? And is it much for us to feel the anger of men? Was the Head crowned with thorns? Must we have our bracelets and diamonds—when Christ had the nails and spear going to His heart! Truly, such as are guilty may well expect the lash—when He, who was innocent, could not go free.

Contemplating Communion With You,

Pastor Todd

What’s It All About?

A great summary of the Bible’s message by Tim Keller.

On Speaking with Conviction

HT: The Gospel Coalition

Palm Sunday 2012: The Pathway to Glory

This Sunday we will celebrate Palm Sunday with a familiar text, John 12:12-26.  Actually, the first half, vv. 12-19 is familiar since it recounts the events of Jesus’ Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem. But this Sunday we will focus on those Greeks who were present in Jerusalem during the Passover celebration and who came to the disciples with the hope of meeting Jesus (vv. 20-21).  Instead of answering  their request directly, Jesus responds with truth about himself, his mission and the nature of what it means to follow him.  We don’t know if these Greeks ever got to meet Jesus but we do learn something about “The Pathway to Glory.”

Pathway to Glory (John 12:12-26)

Main Point: Jesus was a King destined for a cross.  Just as his ultimate glory came through his death and resurrection, the glory we desire comes only as we die to ourselves and live to follow Him.

I.    The Pathway to Fruitful Life is Through the Death of Christ (24)

II.  The Pathway to Eternal Life is Through Letting Go of This Life (25)

1. Jesus speaks of losing our lives
2. Jesus speaks of hating our lives

III. The Pathway to the Father’s Favor is Through Service to the Son (26)

1. To serve is to follow
2. To follow is to be with Christ
3. To serve Christ leads to the Father’s honor

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Check This Out! 3/2/12

For your weekend reading pleasure.  If you’re a member of my church I encourage you to read the last article on the list as a bit of sermon preparation for Sunday morning.

• Many of the stupid, foolish and sinful things we do involve a crowd, even if the crowd is just one or two other people. From Ed Welch, “A Crowd Can Make You Crazy.” View Article…
• Sure hope everyone at First Baptist reads Phil Ryken on “How To Listen to a Sermon.” View Article…
• Some astute observations from Jason Stambaugh on the true cost of social Media, “Social Media is Free, But Comes With a Price.” View Article…
• From Russell Moore, “Is It Right for a Christian to Take Anti-Depressants?” View Article…
• Here is one pastor’s perspective on how he determines which marriages he will perform.  Since he develops much of his theology on marriage from Malachi 2:13-16, the text I will be preaching Sunday, this is a very timely post. Mike Bergman on “Why I Have a More Exclusive Wedding Policy…” View Article…

Putting Death In Perspective

This has been one of those weeks in our church where the inevitability and suddenness of death is driven home powerfully.  In one case by the tragic death of a life cut painfully short, and in another, by the end of a long and full life that is still just as painful to the family that is experiencing the loss.  I want to a share a few words this morning from a book I am currently reading by Paul David Tripp called Forever: Why You Can’t Live Without It.  This chapter, “The Bad News You Can’t Escape,” spoke powerfully to me this morning.

The way for you to begin to experience real life is to face the inescapable reality of death.  The death that is all around you is meant to get your attention.  It is meant to force you to face the impermanence of the physical things around you.  These things clearly have a limited and temporary ability to fulfill you.  The wilting flowers, the rotting deck out back, and the food that quickly spoils are all meant to produce in you a deep hunger for the forever that comes with it.  Rather than depressing you, all of the death and impermanence around you is meant to open your eyes and inform your heart.  It is meant to call you away from the delusion that this life is all there is and that you can find your identity, meaning and purpose and deepest inner sense of well-being from things that so quickly die.

Speaking of the impermanent pleasures of this life, he goes on to write,

The temporary pleasures of this world are meant to point you to the lasting pleasure of knowing God.  The rising of the sun each morning is to remind you of his faithfulness.  The crushing power of a devastating storm is designed to make you reflect on His power.  The sweetness of a human kiss is meant to remind you of his tender care.  The dependency of the baby is there to remind you of your constant need for God.  The fading beauty of the daffodil is meant to help you see his eternal beauty.  The imperfect justice of the human community is designed to make you thankful that God is perfectly just.  The tender moment of human mercy is there to cause you to rest in his mercy.  That five-course meal is an opportunity to reflect and be thankful for the spiritual food you need and that God graciously gives.  The shifting stars in the night are created to remind you that Jesus is the Light that never shifts or fades.  Every experience of love is meant to point you to his love.  Every moment of grace is there to cause you to run to his grace.  All of creation is finger pointing to God.  It was not meant to replace him.

Psalm 73 powerfully reminds us that this life is not all there is.  The point of life is not personal, temporal pleasure.  An end is coming.  All that is now wrong will be made right.  In pointing us to the final end of things, Psalm 73 tells us what the drama of life is all about.  We were made to have God as the one life-shaping treasure of our hearts, but sin turns us in on ourselves.  It causes us to forget who we are and that God exists.  It turns us into little self-sovereigns, wanting to reign for our own glory.

James 1:2-4 teaches  us, Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing (ESV).

Surely death is one of the great trials of life, but we have the promise of God that even this, the greatest of all trials, has the ability to produce something in us that prepares us for eternity if we will just view it from the proper perspective.

 

Check This Out! 2/27/12

Here’s something I haven’t done in a while.  The transition to a new church has cut down on blogging time, but here are a few great articles for your reading pleasure.

• From Michael McKinley, “8 Ways to pray During Sermon Preparation.” This isn’t just for pastors.  This will help you pray for your pastor! View Article… And here’s one for praying in preparation to lead worship from Matt Boswell. View Article…
• Here is a helpful guide for evaluating movies from Randy Alcorn. View Article…
• “Why We Need Jesus” from Michael Horton.  View Article…
• “Structuring the Church for Maximum Edification” View Article…
• From the Washington Post, “Black pastors take heat for not viewing same-sex marriage as civil rights matter.” View Article…
• From Denny Burk, “What is a Christian.” View Article…

 

Covenant Marriage and the Worship of God

For the next two Sundays I will be preaching on the subject of covenant marriage from Malachi 2:10-16.  This Sunday we will ask and answer the question, “Does it matter who I marry?”  You can find the outline below.

Covenant Marriage and the Worship of God: Does It Matter Who I Marry?

Malachi 2:10-12

Main Point: God is intensely concerned about who you marry.  It is His will for his people that they remain faithful to Him and to one another by not marrying outside the covenant.

I.                    God cares who you marry because it is a reflection (v.10)

1. It is a reflection of your relationship to Him
2. It is a reflection of your relationship to his people

II.                  God cares who you marry because He cares about your spiritual health (vv. 11-12)

1. He wants you to give him undivided service
2. He wants you to have a healthy view of His Glory
3. He wants you to experience healthy worship
4. He wants you to think in view of eternity

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Marriage Matters

This Sunday morning we will be looking at Malachi 2:10-12 and the sin of Christians marrying unbelievers.  This is a difficult subject that runs counter to the current cultural view of marriage, but the Bible speaks with clarity and authority on this subject.  Since there is a limited amount of time to deal with this issue during the course of a sermon, I thought I would post a few helpful resources on the subject of marriage.  I would especially recommend the last one on this list, “Mixed Marriages,” as a really helpful way to prepare for this Sunday’s sermon.

• “Marriage to the Glory of God” by Derek Thomas
• “When Sinners Say I Do” (online video training) by Dave Harvey
• Statistics on Living Together Before Marriage by Ray Fowler
• “Mixed Marriages” (On Christians marrying Unbelievers)