Archives: Sermons

The Application of the Cross (1 Corinthians 1:17-24)

I would like to attempt to answer two questions. 1) Why won't all people be saved? 2) How does a person claim the work of Christ on the cross? “For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, "I will destroy the…continue reading →

Who is Your Master? (Colossians 3:22-4:1)

In 1521 on this date in history, Martin Luther was given his last chance to rejoin the Catholic church. The prior day, he was brought before a generally assembly of the Roman Catholic church. Many of Luther's writings were laid on a table before him, and he was asked if he stood by them. He confirmed that they were his writings, but he asked for a day to consider if he stood by them. The following day, today in history, he gave this reply: “Unless I am convinced by the testimony of the…continue reading →

The Satisfaction of the Cross (Hebrews 9:24-28)

I would like to attempt to answer two questions. 1) How was it possible for Jesus to die in behalf of our sins? 2) How can Christ's temporal suffering equal the eternal suffering that we deserve? “For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf. Nor was it to offer himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters the holy places every year with blood not his own, for then…continue reading →

Instructions for Each of Us (Colossians 3:18-21)

We are all members of families. We are all either husbands, wives, children, fathers, or mothers. If nothing else, we are all children, for even if our parents have passed away, we can honor our parents by living in such a way. “Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them. Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.” (Colossians 3:18-21) Paul first gives instructions to the…continue reading →

The Necessity of the Cross (Ephesians 2:1-7)

I hope to answer two questions. Why was the cross necessary? Why couldn't God simply forgive our sin? “And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience-- among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.…continue reading →

Peter’s Perplexity (John 20:1-10)

“Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him." So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb. Both of them were running together,…continue reading →

Mary’s Misery and Amazement (John 20:1-18)

Death is the universal human outcome of our lives on this earth. We will all one day die. We cannot avoid it. We might be able to delay death through medical advances, but even still, life is short. Therefore, it's so incredibly important that we know what happens to us after we die, because eternity is much longer than our lives here. The resurrection of Jesus is the crucial event of Christianity, and all of history. If Jesus really did rise from the dead, we can believe what He said about Himself. We…continue reading →

The Powerful Peace of Christ (Colossians 3:12-17)

“Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another…continue reading →

The Great Role Reversal (John 12:12-32)

Witnessing an unexpected role reversal catches you off guard. Sometimes our kids correct us, acting as our parents. Often the nerdy kid in school becomes your boss, and you must respect him and call him “sir.” There are three great role reversals in the passage of Scripture that we will read this morning. “The next day the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, "Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes…continue reading →

How We Once Walked (Colossians 3:5-11)

Imagine if our world were full of people who walked in a terribly inefficient manner, but they didn't even know it. This is the reality for all who do not know Christ. “Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming. In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Do…continue reading →