1 Corinthians

Passage: 1 Corinthians 15:12-28

Join us as our lead pastor, Jonathan Brooks, teaches on 1 Corinthians 15:12-28. In this passage, Paul is presenting us with two very different worlds. One in which there is no resurrection and the other in which there is. The outcomes of those two worlds are radically different from one another. And, it all hinges on whether or not the resurrection is true. Not only does it hinge on whether or not the resurrection is true, but also on whether or not you trust in the one who has been raised.

So, let’s track with Paul as he lays these two worlds before us:

Devastating Consequences if There is No Resurrection. (12-19)

Glorious Consequences of the Reality of the Resurrection. (20-28)

 

Passage: Luke 19:28-30

As Jesus died on the cross, his last words were "It Is Finished". What did Jesus finish on the cross? And, what does it mean for it to be finished? The cross was intentional, not accidental, Jesus is pursuing the mission given to him by the Father. Pastor Jonathan looks at John 19:28-30 to answer these important questions about Good Friday.

Passage: Matthew 21:1-11

Join us as our associate pastor, Nathaniel Miller, teaches on Matthew 21:1-11. Jesus was no ordinary baby, all four gospel accounts tell us that Jesus is the incarnate Son of God, Son of man.

Jesus traveled from village to village teaching Israel about God's kingdom, making disciples, and working many signs and wonders. But now, in this passage, his long road to the city of Jerusalem has come to its climax. He is ready to become God's promised long-awaited King over his people who fills to the full the story of the Scriptures. He bravely enters our sin and death to rescue the ones he loves.

We will see King Jesus in this triumphal entry through the following points:

The Sovereign King of Humble Righteousness (1-7)

The Saving King of David's Line (8-9)

The Surprising King of Glorious Light (10-11)

Passage: 1 Samuel 17

Join us as our lead pastor, Jonathan Brooks, teaches on 1 Samuel 17.

In 1 Samuel 16 God told Samuel: “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” The Lord sees not as man sees. That theme continues throughout chapter 17. We will see that the difference between David and the rest of the soldiers of Israel centers on how they see the world. The author gives a detailed description of how Human Sight and Divine Sight result in dramatically different outcomes. In the end, we will be left with no question about which lens we ought to prefer.

To see this, we walk through 4 steps with the author of 1 Samuel. First, we need to observe the situation at hand described to us in verses 1-23. Then, we’ll look through the first lens of the Eyes of Man in verses 24-30. Then, we’ll look through the second lens joining David as he sees with the Eyes of God in verses 31-47. Finally, David’s sight is proven correct as God brings the Victory to Israel.

The Situation at Hand (1-23)

Seeing Through the Eyes of Man (24-30)

Seeing Through the Eyes of God (31-47)

God’s Victory Achieved (48-58)

Passage: 1 Samuel 16

Join us as our lead pastor, Jonathan Brooks, teaches on 1 Samuel 16. This passage comes on the heels of Saul’s failure to obey the Lord. Into the mess created in Israel because of the moral failure of their leader, steps the sovereign, merciful, promise keeping God. God made a promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob that from their line would come the Satan crusher. He promised that from the tribe of Judah would come a king. And, no matter what failures, doubts, and rebellion may exist in his people, God is committed to his promises. Chapter 16 reminds us that we shouldn’t mistake leaders failing, for God failing. They aren’t the same thing.

Therefore, it’s helpful to see how God graciously raises up a leader for his people in the midst of the spiritual failure of their King. In chapter 16 we will see God’s gracious provision for an undeserving people. That gracious provision can be seen in 3 ways:

God Provides a King (1-5)

God Sees the Heart (6-13a)

God Gives His Spirit (13b-23)

Passage: 1 Samuel 15

Join us as our lead pastor, Jonathan Brooks, teaches on 1 Samuel 15. 1 Samuel 15 introduces a few challenging theological questions. Therefore, in this second sermon on chapter 15, Pastor Jonathan takes time to identify those questions and provide biblical answers to them. Verse 3 causes us to ask how God can be just and good, yet command women, children, and infants to be killed. While verses 10, 29, and 35 create questions about whether God can have regret. In this sermon, we look at how starting with a biblical theology of God and man helps us answer these difficult questions:

How can God be good and just, yet command the killing of women, children, and infants? (1 Samuel 15:3)

Does God have regret? (1 Samuel 15:11,29,35)

Passage: 1 Samuel 15

Join us as our lead pastor, Jonathan Brooks, teaches on 1 Samuel 15.  In this passage it’s easy to shake our heads at Saul in disbelief, but if there was a narrative written of the intimate details of our lives it wouldn’t be pretty either. That doesn’t excuse Saul or condemn us. Instead, we can learn from Saul’s failures and commit ourselves to the pursuit of the holiness to which we have been called.

This passage calls us to put away all sense of self-righteousness that we may harbor in our hearts so that we can fall before the foot of the cross. So, Lord willing, we will see Saul’s failure and rejection and learn how to pursue holiness in our own lives. There are 4 lessons this passage teaches us about the pursuit of holiness.

Understand God’s Standard of Obedience (10-11)

Beware of the Deceitfulness of Sin (12-21)

Listen to the Piercing Power of the Word of God (22-23)

Recognize the Evidence of an Unrepentant Heart (24-35)

Passage: 1 Samuel 14:24-52

Join us as our lead pastor, Jonathan Brooks, teaches on 1 Samuel 14:24-52.

In the second half of 1 Samuel 14, the author intends us to see King Saul as a failed king. He’s a failed king is because he doesn’t have an understanding of God’s character. In the same way that Jonathan’s faithful obedience was shaped by his theology of God in the first half of chapter 14, Saul’s disobedience is shaped by what he fails to realize about God. There are 3 specific truths about God that Saul to fail to grasp:

The Generosity of God (24-35)

The Justice and Mercy of God (36-46)

The Authority of God (46-52)

Passage: 1 Samuel 14:1-24

Join us as our lead pastor, Jonathan Brooks, teaches on 1 Samuel 14:1-24. In this passage, we see that Jonathan was different than the unfaithful people surrounding him because he trusted in the faithfulness, mercy, and sovereignty of God. In 1 Samuel 14:1-24 we see the greatness of the God in whom Jonathan is trusting as he acts with bold and confident faith.

There are three truths about God in this passage that lead us toward the same faithful obedience.

God saves through difficult circumstances. (1-5)

God saves through many or few. (6-15)

God saves the failures, traitors, and cowards. (16-23)

Passage: 1 Samuel 13

Join us as our lead pastor, Jonathan Brooks, teaches on 1 Samuel 13. It is stunning to go from the strong encouragement at the end of chapter 12 into the disappointment of chapter 13.

As soon as the pressure is on Saul, it seems like everything Samuel told him fades into the background and he’s only concerned about what Saul wants. When the pressure is on, it quickly becomes clear that there is no fear of the Lord in Saul or God’s people in this chapter. We are going to see how a lack of the fear of the Lord leads to God dishonoring actions. When we fail to fear the Lord it results in:

Robbing God of His Glory (1-4)

An Unhealthy Fear of Man (5-7)

Pragmatic Disobedience (8-15)