1. We Are Comforted 2. We Are Able to Comfort One Another 3. The Source Of This Comfort And Strength Scripture: 2 Corinthans 1: 3, 4 Text: 2 Corinthians 1: 3, 4 Songs: 31C, 119U, 42A, 30A

(1) True comfort flows from the gospel; (2) True comfort flows from the preincarnate Savior; (3) True comfort flows from the incarnate Savior; (4) True comfort flows from the exalted Savior.

The personhood and divinity of the Holy Spirit within the framework of the Trinity, emphasizes that the Spirit is a distinct person rather than an abstract force. Drawing primarily from John 14, the text highlights Jesus' promise to send another Helper who dwells within believers, intercedes for them, and guides them into truth. The message underscores the cooperative roles of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in the plan of salvation and the ongoing sanctification of the church. It assures listeners that they are not left as orphans but are empowered by the Spirit with all things necessary for life and godliness. The tone of this sermon is pastoral and comforting, aiming to strengthen faith in God's personal presence and care.

The sermon centers on the Apostle Paul's exhortation in 1 Thessalonians to rejoice, pray continually, and give thanks in all circumstances as God's will for believers. It contrasts the sin of murmuring with the biblical call to gratitude, using the examples of the ten lepers and the Israelites in the wilderness to illustrate the danger of complaining against God. The preacher emphasizes that true thanksgiving is not dependent on favorable circumstances but rests on the certainty that Christ has met humanity's greatest need through His sacrifice and resurrection. By viewing suffering through the lens of Job and the cross, believers are encouraged to pour out their complaints to God rather than about Him, finding comfort in His sovereignty and love. Ultimately, the message calls for a life marked by persistent prayer and gratitude, anchored in the faithfulness of God who sanctifies His people completely.

Lord's Day 1 1. Jesus makes me belong to Him 2. Jesus has paid for all my sins 3. Jesus protects me in my salvation 4. Jesus assures me 5. Jesus makes me willing to serve Him

Verse by verse exposition through the book of Hebrews. (Sermon also includes the reading and exhortation from the Lord's Table liturgy) Heb 12:12 Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, 13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed. 1 Thes 5:11 Therefore [b]comfort each other and [c]edify one another, just as you also are doing. 14 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all.

In this sermon from Exodus 20, Scott Aniol examines the First Commandment: "You shall have no other gods before me." This command does not merely forbid worshiping pagan deities or bowing before physical idols. It requires every part of our lives—our minds, wills, affections, love, trust, hope, loyalty, and worship—to belong entirely to the one true and living God. The sermon explains how Christians must avoid two forms of legalism when applying God's law. We must not create our own boundaries and use them to measure our righteousness, nor should we narrow God's commands to their most limited meaning so that we can justify ourselves. Instead, we must ask what each command says, what it requires, what it forbids, and how it reaches the desires of the heart. Anything that receives our ultimate love, dependence, service, or allegiance becomes a god to us. Money, comfort, family, reputation, possessions, and personal independence can all take God's rightful place in our hearts. Every violation of the other commandments is ultimately rooted in a violation of the First Commandment. Although Israel repeatedly turned to idols, Jesus Christ perfectly obeyed the First Commandment. He refused Satan's offer of the kingdoms of the world, loved and obeyed His Father completely, and bore the curse earned by our idolatry on the cross. Because Christ has redeemed His people from slavery, believers can now joyfully pursue obedience—not to earn salvation, but because God has already turned His gracious face toward them in Christ.

The sermon interprets Daniel's vision of four beasts and Nebuchadnezzar's dream to illustrate the succession of Gentile world empires, culminating in a future revived Roman Empire. It contrasts the apparent chaos and anarchy of the current age with God's absolute sovereignty and foreknowledge of history. The central message emphasizes that despite global turmoil, God remains in complete control and has established an everlasting kingdom through Jesus Christ. This divine certainty serves to comfort believers and urge them to trust in God's plan rather than fear worldly events. The preacher concludes with a call to personal salvation, warning that eternal destiny depends on accepting Jesus as Lord.