2 Kings 6-7
Archive for Sermons – Page 14
Devout believers, in most times and in most places, have had to live out their faith in conditions decidedly uncongenial to the practice and propagation of that faith. And none more so than the prophet Elijah. In his day, the spiritual tide was so low – and the spiritual momentum so heavily in favor of Baal and Asherah worship – that he finally came to the conclusion that all was lost. He raised the white flag and prayed that he might die, “I have had enough, Lord”, he said, “Take my life” (1 Ki. 19:4). But as it turned out, the reports of the death of God’s work had been grossly exaggerated. God wasn’t quite ready yet to declare lights out on either Elijah or his saving purposes, as we’ll see this morning, in 1 Kings 18-19, in a message entitled, “Reversing the Irreversible”.
When the young peach-skinned David made his way across the Valley of Elah that morning to confront the crude, bellicose Philistine giant Goliath, he looked every bit like a lamb on its way to slaughter. Not a single soldier in all the army of Israel, not Saul, not any of his commanders, not any of his most experienced, most well equipped warriors had risen to the occasion, not one. The only taker was a young shepherd boy, armed with only his shepherd’s staff, pouch and sling, and an indomitable faith in the living LORD God Almighty. What happened that day made holy history, and stands as the quintessential example of the formidable giants we can sometimes face and the conquering faith that can easily slay them, as we’ll see this morning in 1 Samuel 17:1-51, in a message entitled, “Defeating the Undefeatable”.
He has been described as a he-man with a she-weakness. Raised from birth in a privileged spiritual environment, with a unique and special calling upon his life, his unusual spiritual gifts and power were on full display early on in his young adult years. Unfortunately Samson’s great physical strength was not matched by a corresponding strength of character, and his bent toward living life on the edge eventually caught up with him resulting in the tragic loss of his sight, freedom, and every last vestige of human dignity. But, as we’ll be reminded this morning, human sin and the terrible toll it can exact, does not necessarily get the last word. God’s ability to turn tragedy into triumph was on full display in the closing scene of Samson’s life, in Judges 16:23-31 in a message entitled, “Redeeming the Irredeemable”.
There was no more daunting image, jutting out of the lush Jordan valley, then the ancient walled city of Jericho. It was an imposing, impregnable fortress, standing sentinel over the gateway into the land of Canaan. No sooner had the ill-equipped, rag-tag group of wilderness wanderers crossed the raging Jordan river on to the banks of the promised land, then they were staring down both barrels of the oldest, strongest, most intimidating embattlement in all of Palestine. What God did, how he did it, and what he taught them in the process is powerful witness to the certain truth that we are indeed more than conquerors, as we’ll see again this morning by way of Joshua 5:13 – 6:27 in a message entitled, “Destroying the Indestructible”.
Joshua 3-4
Preaching has fallen on hard times. Pulpits have by and large disappeared, making our sanctuaries look more like a Ted Talk than a place of worship. But the changes are far more than just cosmetic, or the innocent pursuit of relevancy by way of stage furnishings and the latest display of technology. Which makes the closing words of the Sermon on the Mount so important. Matthew’s record ends not with the final words of Jesus’ sermon, but with the collective response of those who heard it. It is one of those brief statements that we could easily blow right by, as nothing more than a convenient literary device meant to provide a comfortable transition from one section of scripture to another. But, as we’ll see this morning, Matthew 7:28-29 records something quite profound and profoundly significant. We’ll consider the meaning and significance of Matthew’s after-sermon report in a much needed message entitled, “The Power of the Word Proclaimed”.
We want to tarry one additional week over the concluding words of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. In the words of Peter, “Lord, it is good for us to be here” (Matt. 17:4). As we have seen, Jesus alerted us to the reality that following him is neither easy nor automatic, “Small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it” (7:14). The way is hard to enter, difficult to stay on, and not many do. But just because it is not easy, does not mean it is complicated. In fact, it is decidedly not. As we’ll see this morning, the whole of our discipleship comes down to two very simple and clear imperatives. Simple and clear in their meaning, but profound in their implications. This morning we’ll consider the significance and meaning of those two commands, and the surprising extent of their implications, as we turn again to Matthew 7:24-27, in a message entitled, “Our Marching Orders in Two Words”.
Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, his primer on kingdom living, comes to a decisive conclusion by way of a parable, a parable of two houses. Which dramatically and memorably illustrate two very distinct and different responses to his words with two very distinct and different outcomes. Because we don’t often comprehend or take seriously the significance between those two responses, or their two respective outcomes, Jesus drives home the truth with a mental picture easy to imagine and hard to forget. This morning we’ll consider the significance and meaning of those two houses, and the two differing responses they illustrate, in Matthew 7:21-23, in a message entitled, “The Distinct Difference Between Hearing and Doing” .
In preparing us for the challenges of the road to kingdom living, Jesus alerts us to two potential hazards that can significantly endanger our way. Having warned us about the prevalence of false prophets – those who have our ear, who shape our belief and behavior, who appear to be in line with God’s truth and God’s will, but are not – he turns his attention to the prevalence of false professions. Those who clearly, even enthusiastically, profess faith in Jesus Christ, but who in the end will not enter the kingdom of heaven. How could that situation possibly exist? What would be the cause, and what are the lessons for us? This morning we’ll consider the significance and meaning of Jesus’ sober warning in Matthew 7:21-23, in a message entitled, “The Hard Truth About False Profession”.
Note: No sermon video posted for 9/19/21 due to technical issues with the recording.
Glorifying God by Encouraging
All People to Pursue a Lifelong,
Joyous Relationship with Jesus Christ