The first twelve chapters of Isaiah—with its message of righteous judgment and gracious salvation—are bound together by a common theme: the King and his kingdom. In chapter 11, we see a further vision of the Messiah, Immanuel, ruling in righteousness over the restored creation. This passage aims to lift our eyes to the day that […]
Feelings of fear, anxiety, uncertainty, and insecurity abound in our world today. It seems as though everywhere we look there is another tragic news headline reminding us just how dark this world really is. Along with the many tragedies and acts of violence we experience come conspiracy theories, finger-pointing, and growing animosity between neighbors, political […]
What comes to mind when you think about God? Do you begin with who he has revealed himself to be, or with your own ideas or preferences? The truth is, how we understand the person and character of God is the most important thing about us. We need to see God for who he truly […]
* The audio for this sermon is unavailable due to a technical difficulty with the recording. The following is Mitch Bedzyk’s sermon manuscript: This morning we are beginning a new sermon series through the book of Isaiah. It is the most quoted and alluded to book in NT along with the Psalms. As one of […]
The Bible is a story all about God, and every prophet, priest, king, and biblical hero in Scripture ultimately points us to Jesus Christ. However, in one sense, the Bible is also about us; the characters we meet do show us how we should live before God. Abraham’s faith, David’s repentance, and even Christ’s patient […]
Before Jesus ascended to heaven, he promised his followers they would be empowered by the Spirit to be his witnesses. And as the story of Acts begins to unfold, we see this promise coming true in marvelous ways! Yet while we are given several portraits of the joyous life of the early church, soon persecution […]
Acts 4 recounts the first of many instances of persecution experienced by the followers of Jesus. Here, Peter and John find themselves on trial before the very men who had accused and condemned their Lord. Yet they faithfully bear witness to Jesus, declaring that “there is salvation in no one else, for there is no […]
Under the Old Covenant, when the Law was given to the people of God on tablets of stone, three thousand fell by the sword (Ex 32:25-29). But under the New Covenant, when the Holy Spirit was poured out on God’s people to write the Law on their new-creation hearts, three thousand were saved, baptized, and […]
What does the church need for effective witness in the world today? Do we need celebrity pastors to attract ‘seekers’ with inspiring messages? How about awesome worship ‘experiences’ that merely copy the world’s entertainment? Do we need a fresh demonstration of signs and wonders? Or should we keep quiet on the sound doctrine that the […]
