Preacher: Ben Merkle
Text: John 12:20–50

Speaker: Douglas Wilson
Sermon: Christ the Friend of Sinners

Are you a mess? Then you qualify. Come, and welcome, to Jesus Christ.

Preacher: Douglas Wilson
Text: Psalm 42:11

Although the occasions can be many, there are two basic reasons for discouragement—internal and external. The internal occurs when for some reason we have given way to sin, and the external occurs when we are buffeted by circumstances, as Job was, but without sin. And, of course, it is possible to get discouraged in both ways. How are we to understand this? How are we to respond to it?

Preacher: Toby Sumpter
Text: Hebrews 12:18–29

There is a stark difference between childlike faith and childish folly. “Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him” (Prov. 22:15). “Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven” (Mt. 18:3). Likewise, there is a massive difference between the high-octane praise of nursing infants (Ps. 8:2) and infantile vain repetitions (Mt. 6:7). And the difference is between hope and despair. Childlike faith and praise is rooted in the greatness and goodness of God, but folly and infantilism despair of growing up into any greatness and goodness and settle for momentary gimmicks and games and emotional highs.

As we consider Christian maturity, we really have to begin at the center all human endeavor, which is worship. It might be easy to react to certain forms of childish worship by lurching into what looks to us like “grown up” worship, but we really must remember that the worship wars go back to Cain and Abel. It’s not enough to just find something older. We want our worship to actually please God, and by His grace, we want it to be a potent force in our lives and world.

Preacher: Dr. Ben Merkle
Text: John 12:1–19

Preacher: Douglas Wilson

Wherever Jesus went He was getting into trouble. And it was the same with all of the apostles and prophets. But we should pay careful attention to what got them all into trouble. Everywhere they went, it was the trouble of the gospel, the trouble of healing and restoration, the trouble of love for neighbor and countryman.

Preacher: Douglas Wilson
Sermon: Christ the Friend of Sinners

God wants you to be free from your sin. He doesn't want to wrap your sin around your neck so He can accuse you of it. He wants to liberate you from your sin.

Preacher: Douglas Wilson
Text: Philippians 2:1–5

For a number of years now, we have been emphasizing community, life together, fellowship, communion, what the New Testament calls koinonia. The response to this emphasis has been significant—showing that there is a real spiritual hunger for this kind of thing. But there is a hitch—other people are involved. There is always a catch.

Some might remember the conclusion of Sartre’s famous play, No Exit, where he said, “Hell is other people.” But we are Christians, and so we are called to affirm, to the emphatic contrary, that Heaven is other people. But a long stretch of road in a fallen world lies in between us and that Heaven.

Preacher: Toby Sumpter
Text: Philippians 3:20

Underlying much of the modern culture wars are questions, confusions, and conflict over the nature and possibility of progress, maturity, and excellence. What is possible in this world? And if real cultural progress is possible, how is it possible? For the next several weeks, we will be looking at a series of texts on the pursuit of excellence and maturity. Christianity gives good reasons for optimism, but not for the reasons the world gives.

Preacher: Dr. Ben Merkle
Text: John 11

With the raising of Lazarus we complete the book of signs and enter the final days of Jesus’s ministry. It is after this seventh sign, the raising of Lazarus from the dead, that the Jews determine that Jesus must die, setting the stage for the remainder of the Gospel of John.