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What kind of gift is service is good enough for God? Will he accept the best we can do right now, the leftovers, and the “just-good-enough”? Malachi 1:6-2:9 shows us that half-hearted service of God is worse than nothing. We’ll look at half-hearted worship of God and then at half-hearted service to God’s people.
Resources:
Iain Duguid & Matthew P. Harmon – Zephaniah, Haggai, Malachi (Reformed Expository Commentaries)
Alberto Ferreiro & Thomas C. Oden (editors) – Ancient Commentary on Scripture: The Twelve Prophets
Walter C. Kaiser Jr – Malachi: God’s Unchanging Love
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Does God really love us? How do we know? This is the first question posed by the people of Israel in the book of Malachi, and God’s answer is an emphatic, “yes!”. God has loved you more than you deserve, and you know that more clearly when you see the judgment you deserve. And when you see that, you can begin to give God the glory he deserves.
Resources:
Iain Duguid & Matthew P. Harmon – Zephaniah, Haggai, Malachi (Reformed Expository Commentaries)
Alberto Ferreiro & Thomas C. Oden (editors) – Ancient Commentary on Scripture: The Twelve Prophets
Walter C. Kaiser Jr – Malachi: God’s Unchanging Love
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In recent weeks we’ve been looking at the question presented by Luke: “Who is Jesus?”. This week, we’ll keep exploring that question, but also look at a question that Jesus asks his disciples: “Where is your faith?”. From Luke 8:22-56, we’ll see that because Jesus has power over the creation, over the demons, and over sickness and death, our faith should be in him. We can believe without fear, because Jesus has all power and authority.
Resources:
Arthur Just Jr (ed) – Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture: New Testament III (Luke)
Bede – Commentary on the Gospel of Luke
Darrell Bock – Luke 1:1-9:50 (Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament)
J.C. Ryle – Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Luke, Vol 1
Mike McKinley – Luke 1-12 For You
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You might already know that Jesus says, “love your enemies”? But, why would anyone possibly want to do that? We’ll see that God promises a better reward, and that loving your enemies makes you like your heavenly Father. Finally, we’ll see how to love your enemies like God loves his enemies.
Resources:
Arthur Just Jr (ed) – Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture: New Testament III (Luke)
Bede – Commentary on the Gospel of Luke
Darrell Bock – Luke 1:1-9:50 (Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament)
J.C. Ryle – Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Luke, Vol 1
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Read sermon transcriptThe classic Christmas carol “What Child is This?” is about the birth of Jesus. But this week, we’ll see that many Israelites in Luke ask “what then will this child be?” of another miraculous child, John, and see how his birth is related to the coming of Jesus. With John’s birth, the time of mercy has come. We’ll see that God’s promise to John’s parents has come, God’s covenant fulfillment has come, and God’s preparing prophet has come.
Resources:
Arthur Just Jr (ed) – Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture: New Testament III (Luke)
Bede – Commentary on the Gospel of Luke
Darrell Bock – Luke 1:1-9:50 (Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament)
J.C. Ryle – Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Luke, Vol 1
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Read sermon transcriptHave you ever decided on something, only to later question your life choices when someone asked, “Are you sure?“. Luke’s Gospel was written to remind you that you can be sure of the message about Jesus. We’ll see in Luke 1:1-4 that it’s a message that’s already been fulfilled, it’s a reliable message, and it’s an orderly message.
Resources:
Arthur Just Jr (ed) – Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture: New Testament III (Luke)
Bede – Commentary on the Gospel of Luke
Darrell Bock – Luke 1:1-9:50 (Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament)
J.C. Ryle – Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Luke, Vol 1
Daniel Wallace and Darrell Bock on the reliability of the New Testament (video)
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Read sermon transcriptWhat would it take for you to actually live up to your ideals? In Deuteronomy 29, God reveals his covenant to his people so that they can actually be obedient and live up to their calling. We’ll see the reason for obedience, the covenant for obedience, and the warning against disobedience.
Resources:
The Book of Deuteronomy – Peter C. Craigie
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Read sermon transcriptThere’s an old saying that “nobody cares what you know unless they know that you care”. So be encouraged by your leaders in Christ, because they care about you. Know their struggle and receive their greetings. And when you’ve been encouraged, pass it on!
Resources:
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Read sermon transcriptAs we abound in thankfulness that God has transferred us from the domain of darkness to the kingdom of his beloved Son (Colossians 1:13), we now have the privilege of making the mystery of Christ known to others. Paul gives us two ways to do that in Colossians 4:2-6: by persevering in prayer and walking in wisdom.
Resources:
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We’ve all gotten plenty of advice from our parents about money, but in this sermon on what proverbs says about money, we’ll see what our heavenly father wants us to know about money. He shows us why wealth is useful, but why righteousness is better.
Resources:
The Book of Proverbs (Chapters 1-15, NICOT), Bruce Waltke
Proverbs: Wisdom that Works, Ray Ortlund
St. John Chrysostom: Commentary on the Sages: Commentary on Proverbs and Ecclesiastes, translated by Robert C. Hill
Proverbs, Charles Bridges
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Read sermon transcriptResources:
The Kingdom of God and the Church, Geerhardus Vos
The Kingdom of God and the Glory of the Cross, Patrick Schreiner
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