In this sermon, as we begin the second half of Isaiah (chs. 40-66), pastor Matt shows us that the comfort from God that we need is found under the saving rule of Christ. For only King Jesus has entered into the despair of our world, dealt with the problem of our sin, and made possible […]
From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible links together the joy of experiencing salvation with the response of singing songs of praise. And Psalm 98—famously known as the inspiration for the Christmas hymn, “Joy to the World”—illustrates this beautifully. Here we find a song of joy and victory for all of God’s people and even all […]
As Zechariah’s Benedictus begins, he blesses God for who he is and what he has done. Instead of focusing on the miraculous birth of his own son, which pointed to the Messiah’s advent, he rejoices instead that the Lord has visited and redeemed his people. Now, in the second half of this song, Zechariah mentions […]
While Mary sang her “Magnificat,” Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist, sings his “Benedictus.” The birth of John causes Zechariah to bless God for the birth of Jesus. Why? Because John’s birth was a sign of the Messiah’s advent. In other words, even in his birth, John was pointing to the Lamb of God. […]
To conclude our sermon series, Pastor Matt recites the Paul’s letter to the Romans in its entirety. There are several reasons why we concluded our series this way: This enables our congregation to hear Paul’s whole argument in one sitting just like his original audience did in Rome almost 2000 years ago. While it’s true […]
After all Paul has said to the saints in Rome about the good news of God’s Son he can’t help but erupt once more in joyful praise to God. He concludes with a doxology, ascribing to the Lord the glory that is due his name, reminding the Roman church once more to behold their God. […]
Having explained his reasons for gospel ministry and laid out his plans for future travel, Paul now sends his greetings to the chuch as he prepares to visit them and work with them to take the gospel to Spain. But this long list of greetings doesn’t make for the most exciting reading, and can make […]
While Paul’s travel plans might be easy to understand on the surface, there’s much we can learn about his love for the church. His travel plans reveal what Paul desired to see in the churches: the blessing of refreshment, fellowship, and prayer. In this passage, pastor Matt explains that the church is where the blessing […]
Paul beings the conclusion to his letter to the Romans much like he began, providing the church with further details about himself and his calling, his ministry and his plans for future mission, as well as his needs and many personal greetings. We learn why Paul preached Christ (his authority); how Paul preached Christ (his […]
