In this sermon, pastor Joel sums up the glorious benefits of justification we have seen over the last eight verses, reminding us that our rejoicing and reconciliation comes only through our Jesus Christ.
One of the questions that comes to mind when reading the final section of Acts is: “Why does Luke take so much time to get Paul to Rome?” Yet while we may not know every reason why certain passages are included in Scripture, we can know many of them. Knowing that the Bible is all […]
When Paul stood before the high priest and the Jewish council, he said: “It is with respect to the hope and the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial” (Acts 23:6). Over and over, Paul makes this same assertion in his defense speeches in Acts. But why did he understand his all his […]
One of the greatest difficulties that the early church faced was the sharp division that existed between Jews and non-Jews (Gentiles). When we read our Bibles, it’s often hard for us to grasp just how serious this separation was. We certainly know what division looks like and estrangement feels like, however; just consider the year […]
The greatest problem we face, and the most important question anyone can ask, is this: “How can we be saved?” This is the problem that every religion attempts to solve, yet it’s a question many refuse to ask because we don’t want to accept all that it implies. The early church wrestled with this issue […]
When Paul and Barnabas first came to Antioch in Pisidia, they entered the synagogue and were invited to share a word of encouragement with those in attendance. It’s here that Luke provides a summary of a typical sermon preached by the apostle Paul to Jews and God-fearers. He begins with an overview of Israel’s history, […]
* The audio for this sermon is unavailable due to a technical difficulty with the recording. The following is Pastor Matt’s sermon manuscript: All of us love a good story. We love stories about epic challenges between good and evil, ultimate showdowns between the weak and the strong, and thrilling contests with an unlikely hero. […]
Though chapters 13-35 of Isaiah can sound foreign to many of us, and are often neglected by the 21st century church, Isaiah actually addresses the very issues our world is facing today. The concluding chapters of this section reveal once again that there are only two kingdoms—the kingdom of God and the kingdom of this […]
In this sermon, Pastor Matt reminds us that the Last Day will not only be a day of judgment and retribution. Though the wine will have run dry in the city of this world, another feast will have just begun. Note: This sermon was delivered during the COVID-19 pandemic, when our Lord’s Day worship services […]
