The persistent Gospel invitation to rest had been rejected by Judah, even by the prophets and priests, with a contemptuous characterization of Isaiah's ministry.

This sermon examines Galatians 2:1-10 to reveal three core truths about the nature of the gospel: it advocates for the sinner, joins hands in fellowship, and builds one unified house. The text highlights Paul's defense of Titus against legalistic demands, illustrating how the gospel removes the burden of self-justification and welcomes Gentiles into the covenant without partiality. It further explores the right hand of fellowship extended by Peter, James, and John, emphasizing that the church operates under a singular mission despite diverse strategies and backgrounds. Finally, the passage is interpreted through the lens of temple typology, presenting the church as God's dwelling place constructed from both Jews and Gentiles. The tone is pastoral and instructional, encouraging believers to rest in Christ's finished advocacy and to pursue unity in the shared mission of advancing the gospel.

This sermon explores the command in Galatians 6 to bear one another's burdens, specifically focusing on the spiritual discipline of restoring a brother or sister who has been overtaken by sin. The central message emphasizes that this restoration is not merely about correcting behavior but about guiding the individual back to the pathway of holiness, characterized by the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, and peace. The preacher argues that this work requires a disposition of meekness, where believers examine their own hearts to avoid pride and self-protection, recognizing that they too are dependent on God's grace. By using the metaphor of mending nets, the sermon illustrates that restoration is a process of repairing what has been torn so that the believer can function as designed for God's glory. Ultimately, the text calls for a rejection of comparative religion and self-reliance, urging believers to trust in Christ as the ultimate burden-bearer and restorer who grants repentance and sustains the community through the Holy Spirit.

In this sermon, Pastor Rockhill addresses the ongoing controversy surrounding the Fourth Commandment, focusing specifically on the Sabbath as presented in John 5:9-18. He illustrates how the religious leaders of Jesus' time misinterpreted the purpose of the Sabbath, turning it into a burden rather than a blessing. Through Jesus' healing of a man who had been infirm for thirty-eight years, Pastor Rockhill emphasizes that the Sabbath was intended as a day of rest and worship, a divine gift meant for the benefit of humanity. Pastor Rockhill argues that the moral law, including the command to observe the Sabbath, is still applicable today, as it reflects God's created order and moral character. He warns against the dangers of legalism that can arise when man-made traditions overshadow God's commands. The sermon concludes with a call for believers to embrace the Sabbath as a time for spiritual renewal and a reminder of the ultimate rest found in Christ, who fulfilled the law and offers salvation. This message encourages the congregation to honor the Sabbath not out of obligation, but as a delight in God's provision for their souls.

• Worship is governed by God's commands, not human sincerity or innovation. The story of Nadab and Abihu serves as a stark warning against introducing unauthorized elements into worship. • The apostles' teaching is preeminent. It has priority over all other elements of worship because worship is fundamentally God's self-revelation to which humanity responds. Its preeminence also dictates the proportion of time dedicated to it and its role as the interpretive key to the Old Testament. • The apostles' teaching is a finished, foundational deposit of truth. As the "foundation" of the church (Ephesians 2:20), the apostolic office was an unrepeatable, revelatory role. With the death of the apostles, the canon of Scripture closed. Therefore, the church does not receive new revelation and cannot invent new elements of worship. This is directly tied to the principle of Sola Scriptura. • The public ministry of the Word has two commanded modes: public reading and public preaching. Citing 1 Timothy 4:13 and 2 Timothy 4:2, the speaker asserts that these are not suggestions but divinely mandated elements. The command is for a specific mode of delivery (reading and heralding), not just for the transmission of content. • The regulative principle liberates the conscience. By adhering only to what God has commanded, believers are freed from the "tyranny of human wisdom" and the burden of man-made rules and traditions in worship.

Sunday Service - Sept 20, 2026 - Romans 15:1-6 Ephesians 5:28, Luke 14:27, Gal 1:10, Ps 69:4, Ps 69:7, Mark 15:32, Matt 27:39, Luke 22:63-64, Jn 8:29, Rom 5:6, Jn 8:32, Jn 17:17, 2Tim 3:16-17, Heb 12:1-3, 1Peter 1:3, Ps 14:19

This sermon explores the paradox of Christian joy amidst suffering, arguing that true happiness is found exclusively in a relationship with Jesus Christ. The central message asserts that believers are freed from the burden of their past sins, which are cleansed by the atonement of Christ, and are granted a present right standing with God as a gift of grace rather than something earned through the law. The teaching emphasizes that this joy is sustained by the future hope of resurrection and eternal life, where all pain and shame are permanently removed. By contrasting the futility of legalistic self-righteousness with the sufficiency of the gospel, the sermon encourages listeners to press forward in faith, secure in the knowledge that their identity is defined by Christ's work rather than their own failures.