187 results found

A Greater Glory

October 22, 2023 | Hebrews 3:1-6 | exposition

We all have a tendency to give glory and honor to something or someone. It’s human nature. Seeing something or someone as glorious, we honor them with our admiration, our words, even our pocketbooks. But we tend to lower our eyes to the lesser reflections of glory rather than focusing on the truly glorious One, who is the source of all glory.

In the book of Hebrews chapter 3:1-6, the author told the Hebrew background believers to closely consider Jesus to see that He is worthy of more glory than all, even Moses. We can consider Jesus to see that His glory is greater than all.

A Greater Help

October 15, 2023 | Hebrews 2:5-18 | exposition

This is not a “what to do” or “how to” sermon. This is a “Behold, see Jesus” sermon. Because if you truly see Him, as our King, our Founder, our Brother and our Great High Priest and Friend, then you’ll know where to go for help.

In the book of Hebrews chapter 2, the author continued to show why Jesus is greater than all by showing why His help is greater. We can understand that there is no greater help than that which we find in Jesus.

A Greater Salvation

October 8, 2023 | Hebrews 2:1-4 | exposition

If you’re not a follower of Jesus today, perhaps you’ve been looking for salvation in other places because you just haven’t heard the message of salvation through Jesus. So you’re still searching for meaning, for purpose, for happiness. But you haven’t really heard what Jesus offers. Or perhaps you have heard, but you still have questions and doubts and you’ve delayed trusting in Him. Or maybe you are a believer in Jesus, you’ve received His great salvation, but you’ve drifted away from the joy and assurance you once had. There are many reasons that we believers might drift away from the gospel.

In the book of Hebrews chapter 2, believers were warned to carefully heed the message of God’s great salvation offered in Jesus, lest they drift away from it. We can carefully heed the message of God’s great salvation offered in Jesus.

A Greater Name

October 1, 2023 | Hebrews 1:1-14 | exposition

The book of Hebrews teaches us that the name of Jesus is greater than any other name! Indeed, Jesus is greater than anyone or anything you’re facing today.

In the book of Hebrews chapter 1, Jewish background believers were implored to rightly see that Jesus is greater than all, even the angels, and therefore even His name is greater than any other name. We can rightly see that the name of Jesus is greater.

Man-Made Morality

June 4, 2023 | Judges 19-21 | exposition

Unlike the earlier chapters, these final five chapters are so spiritually dark, and Israel has drifted so far from God, that these chapters are almost never preached. Indeed, these final chapters are so disturbing that you may be tempted to cover your ears and look away. Unlike the earlier chapters, in these final chapters, there is no foreign oppressor. The enemy is within, not without. No judges are named. This is Israel on its own. Editorial comment by the author on Israel’s sin is minimal, leaving the reader the burden of interpretation.

Last week, we covered the first “case study” depicting Israel’s spiritual decline into “Man-Made Religion.” Now this week, we’ll look at how Israel’s moral condition has become more like the Canaanite peoples around them than the people God had called them to be as His holy nation, in a sermon called “Man-Made Morality.”

Man-Made Religion

May 28, 2023 | Judges 17-18 | exposition

We Americans love a good buffet! Are you guilty of making up your own religion? Or do you have faith in God as He reveals Himself through His Word and through His Son, Jesus? In Judges 17-18, Israel began to follow a man-made religion that displeased God.

Blind But Now I See

May 21, 2023 | Judges 16 | exposition

What did it take for you to turn to God? Living in America, we are so blessed that we tend to focus on the blessings rather than the Blesser. Outwardly, we look like we have it all together. But on the inside, we’re a mess! Nice job, nice house, nice car… but on the inside… marital woes, family issues, in debt up to your ears… And where’s God in all this? Has God forgotten you? Or like Samson, have you forgotten God?

In Judges 16, God revealed much about Himself in answering Samson’s humble prayer for help. We can see how God reveals Himself to who humbly seek Him.

The Wedding Crasher

May 14, 2023 | Judges 14-15 | exposition

Are you struggling today with a compromised faith? Do unbelievers notice that you are different, that you are a committed follower of Jesus? Or is your life indistinguishable from the world?

The Philistines represent the most deadly enemy of all because they have tempted Israel to compromise their faith. Little by little, if they don’t recognize the truth, they will lose their faith as a nation and become just like the world. A compromised faith is much more dangerous and insidious than a persecuted faith. In Judges 14-15, God worked behind the scenes to rescue Israel from their compromised faith that had put them under the rule of the Philistines. We can recognize that God wants us to have an uncompromised faith.

What’s In a Name?

May 7, 2023 | Judges 12:8 - 13 | exposition

What about your name? Does God know your name? We all love to be called by our names. It means that someone knows us. They recognize us. And yes, God knows your name. He knows you better than you know yourself. As we return to our study of Judges today, we’ll see that God not only knows us, but by His grace, He reveals Himself to us that we might know Him.

In Judges 12-13, the Lord sent His angel to reveal to a barren woman and her husband that she would conceive and bear a son who would begin to save Israel from the Philistines. We can learn much about God from the revelation He gave this couple.

Misunderstandings About God

April 30, 2023 | Judges 10-12:7 | exposition

What’s your view of God? How do you see Him? Is He up in heaven with a gray beard, wearing a black judge’s robe, with a gavel in His hand, ready to judge you? Or is He like a celestial Santa Claus waiting patiently for your wish list to come in through the prayer line? Maybe you see Him as a hippie guru holding an “All you need is love sign”? Or maybe He looks like Morgan Freeman in the movie Bruce Almighty? Where do you get your view, your understanding of God?

As we continue through Judges, we see the people of Israel declining in the knowledge of God. With every generation, they remember less of His revealed Word to them. They see Him as the pagans do their false gods. In Judges 10-12, the Israelites continued their downward cycle of sin and rebellion against God, becoming less like His special called people and more like the people of the world. When they cried out to the Lord, He empowered another judge to rescue them, yet they have become so worldly that they no longer understand the character of their Lord. We often misunderstand the character of God.