The conclusion to the book of Jonah presents us with two responses to the grace. On the one hand, Nineveh, a pagan Gentile city, turns to God in repentance upon hearing of impending judgment (unlike Israel or Judah at that time, who continued doing evil in God’s sight), and God graciously spares them. Yet on the other hand, […]

The temple was a special sign of God’s presence among His people, of God’s covenant promise to dwell with them and be their God . Yet, in Solomon’s prayer of dedication upon its completion, he poses a profound question in view of the transcendence and holiness of their eternal God: “But will God indeed dwell on the earth?” In […]

David, in Psalm 11, examines affliction and suffering from two perspectives: an earthly one, which would lead him to despair, and an eternal one, resulting in a blessed assurance that the Sovereign and Righteous God is seated on his glorious throne in the heavens. Yet, Pastor Matt explains that as our perspective shifts to our eternally righteous and holy […]

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you” (1 Peter 1:3-4). The resurrection […]

The first reference to a king as an anointed one, or messiah, is found at the conclusion of Hannah’s prayer of thanksgiving after the birth of Samuel: “…he will give strength to his king and exalt the horn of his anointed.” This beautiful prayer, however, is more than just a psalm of praise declaring the majesty of God or a […]

God has established his covenant with Israel and now, at the end of Deuteronomy, Moses recapitulates its conditions: blessings and life for obedience, curses and death for disobedience. The command presented to Israel, to “choose life”, seems an obvious one – except the choice is an impossible one.  In this sermon, Pastor Matt explains the significance of […]

Session 2 || Pastor Matt Bedzyk

As we look into Exodus 19:1-8, Israel is about to receive the Law, beginning with the Ten Commandments.  Throughout the ages, these famous rules have come to shape how both believers and non-believers alike view the Christian religion (even, more importantly, God Himself) and often present a picture that is terribly skewed:  we see the Law as a […]

Christmas in the church is treated by many, unfortunately, as merely a “season”.  We proclaim the truths of Easter year round, and rightly so, but Christmas events seem to be only appreciated during one month out of the whole year.  However, the incarnation is what makes the events that transpired during Easter weekend to be of such […]