In this sermon, pastor Mitch considers David’s response to being confronted by Nathan in Psalm 51 and reminds us that repentance is the way to life for both ruined and redeemed sinners. The only way out of humanity’s downward spiral into sin begins with repentance, for this is where God in Christ has promised to […]
Christ not only died and rose again to redeem us from the curse of the law. He did so (v. 4): “in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.” This is the focus of the next part […]
Many say that Romans 5:12-14 is one of the most controversial texts in the Bible. This is because there are many theological concepts and questions here that can be difficult to swallow—like the doctrine of original sin and the principle of representation. But the most important question raised by this text is rather simple and […]
In Romans 3:9-20, Paul brings his argument to a powerful conclusion to prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that there is no one righteous, charging humanity with being helplessly captive under sin, radically corrupted by sin, and therefore justly condemned. In this sermon, pastor Matt shows that the power of sin demands a redemption […]
In this sermon, pastor Matt looks at the third section of Paul’s indictment against sinful humanity in chapter 1 and shows how our rejection of the truth about God is the most fundamental sin that leads not only to all other sins but especially to his judgment. What we ultimately see, however, is that the […]
In Romans 1:18-23, we saw why God’s righteous wrath is revealed against our unrighteous world. Instead of responding to the knowledge we all have of God by worshiping him as God, being who God created us to be, we have suppressed his truth and substituted his glory. Now, in vv. 24-32 we will see how God’s […]
Before explaining how the gospel is the power of God for salvation to all who believe, Paul shows why need the gospel by exposing the true condition of humanity: our false worship, our moral bankruptcy, our utter depravity, and our inexcusable guilt before God (Rom. 1:18-3:20). In this sermon, pastor Matt reminds us that God’s […]
Luke concludes the book of Acts with Paul a prisoner in Rome, yet still “proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance” (Acts 28:31). Though he was held captive by Rome, and many of his hearers were held captive by unbelief, he knew that God’s […]
What is grace? Simply put, grace is unmerited favor, and the grace of God is his love for the undeserving. And Scripture is clear that all things—from our election in Christ before the world began to our enjoyment of eternal life—is all to the praise God’s glorious grace. In Acts 13:48-51, Paul concluded his message […]
Isaiah begins chapter 5 singing a love song for his Beloved concerning his vineyard. Isaiah’s Beloved is the Lord his God; the vineyard is Israel (Isa. 5:7). But despite God’s loving care and faithful protection, his vineyard did not produce good fruit. Instead, they produced bitter grapes due to the corruption of their sinful hearts. […]
Jesus said that if the world hated him, then it would hate those who follow him (John 15:18-21). It wasn’t long before the early church found this to be true. In Acts 7, we find Stephen’s response to the false accusations brought against him—that he had spoken against Moses and the temple. Yet, instead of […]
As Christians, we love to hear inspiring stories of believers who lived boldly for the cause of Christ. We are deeply moved by the passionate witness of missionaries, evangelists, and martyrs. But what about us? Can we be so bold? Can we be like Peter and John, who stood before the Jewish council that crucified […]
The four Gospels—according to Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John—are not just ancient biographies of the man Jesus of Nazareth; they’re what we might call theological biographies. They are inspired accounts that ultimately tell us something about God and his purposes in redemptive history. Specifically, they were written to declare that Jesus is the Christ, the Son […]
After the devil had ended his temptation of Jesus in the wilderness, Luke tells us “he departed from him until an opportune time” (Luke 4:13). In Gethsemane, however, that time had now come. It was time for the Son of Man to be betrayed into the hands of sinners, to be led like a lamb […]
A parable is a story or saying designed to teach a deeper truth through a comparison with every-day realities. Greg Lanier explains why Jesus told parables: “Like the prophets of old, Jesus used parables to reveal the mystery of the kingdom, to stimulate reflection on sin, to call people to repentance—and to produce the opposite […]
