Confession on SermonAudio

Grace Covenant Baptist Church is a Reformed Baptist Church in Monroe, Louisiana. We are a confessional church subscribing to the Second London Baptist Confession of 1689. We adhere to the Five Solas of the Protestant Reformation; Sola Scriptura, Solus Christus, Sola Gratia, Sola Fide, and Soli Deo Gloria. Find more information about or listen to past sermons from Grace Covenant Baptist Church at https://www.sermonaudio.com/solo/gcbcwm/

This sermon explores the purpose and necessity of confessions of faith, such as the New Hampshire and 1689 Baptist Confessions, as systematic summaries of biblical truth rather than substitutes for Scripture. It emphasizes that while individual believers must personally study the Bible to account for their faith, confessions provide a tested, historical standard for evaluating doctrine and church unity. The teaching highlights the divine inspiration and sufficiency of the Scriptures, asserting that the Bible is the ultimate authority for worship, conduct, and judgment. By examining the history of these confessions, the sermon encourages believers to rely on the enduring, time-tested faith of the church to guard against personal bias and error. Ultimately, it calls for a humble, honest approach to studying God's Word, recognizing it as the pure and perfect guide for glorifying God and enjoying Him forever.

Daniel has been reading the book of Jeremiah and probably the book of Isaiah. He sees that the length of the Babylonian captivity is going to be only seventy years, and is due to expire. Part of Daniel's prayer shows he knows that Israel has to confess her national sins before the Messiah is going to come to set up His kingdom. Following the prayer, the angel Gabriel comes to make a correction to Daniel's assumption about when the kingdom would begin. Gabriel tells Daniel that the kingdom is going to be set up after this concept he introduces called, "the Seventy-Sevens". Daniel thought waiting for seventy years to finish would be the time span, and Gabriel says, "No, no… it's seventy-sevens of years."

In "Jonah: Mad That It Worked," Charles Sebold continues the Sunday evening series through the Minor Prophets with the book of Jonah. Hosea, Joel, Amos, and Obadiah set the stage; Jonah asks what happens when God shows mercy to His people's own destroyer, and His prophet cannot bear it. Keeping a running scorecard, the lesson shows that everything in the book obeys God: the wind, the sea, the pagan sailors, the great fish, the repentant king of Nineveh, even the cattle in sackcloth, the plant, the worm, and the east wind. The lone holdout is God's own spokesman, who flees downhill to Joppa and Tarshish. From the belly of the fish Jonah's psalm confesses the truth at the heart of Reformed faith: "Salvation belongs to the Lord." A five-word warning is enough for Nineveh to repent, because God's Word is powerful, and God does not change His mind but graciously recognizes the repentance He Himself produced. Yet Jonah is furious, quoting the creed of Exodus 34 as a complaint: he fled because he knew God is gracious, merciful, and relents from disaster. God's closing question, whether He should not pity Nineveh, confronts every believer who quietly hopes certain enemies never reach heaven. Grace for ourselves can seem obvious and grace for our enemies outrageous, but no one's sin overwhelms God. The lesson closes with Christ, the One greater than Jonah, who slept through a storm, went down in obedience, rose after three days, and sends His people gladly to the nations, as Peter learned at Joppa when the gospel opened to the Gentiles.

With Psalm 104:1-35 and with Article 13 of the Belgic Confession, we are reminded to praise God the Creator of all things who faithfully preserves and cares for His creation. Pastor Martijn Heijboer preaches God's benevolent rule and our unspeakable comfort.

This message examines five questions, including the theological and historical distinctions that define a Reformed Baptist church, tracing its roots to the Particular Baptists and the London Confessions of Faith. It identifies key markers such as the doctrines of grace, believer's baptism by immersion, and congregational autonomy, while clarifying that the local church remains under the final authority of Christ and Scripture. The discussion addresses the compatibility of Reformed confessional standards with dispensational eschatology. It critiques modern interpretations of congregationalism as mere democracy, advocating instead for a historic model of elder plurality and oversight. Ultimately, it presents a nuanced view of Baptist identity that honors Reformed heritage while maintaining specific convictions on the relationship between Israel and the Church. The questions: 1. What Makes a Reformed Baptist Church? 2. Are We a Reformed Baptist Church? 3. Is the 1689 Compatible with Reformed or "Leaky" Dispensationalism? 4. What Is Congregationalism? 5. What Role Have Pastors/Elders Had Historically in Baptist Churches?

Westminster Confession of Faith Chapter 18 Article 2 Is the picture of kingship presented here realistic, or is it too idealistic? The sermon explores the theological distinction between wishful thinking and the infallible assurance of salvation, grounding this confidence in the divine promises and the testimony of the Holy Spirit rather than human merit. It then transitions to an exegesis of 2 Samuel 23, where David's final oracle describes the ideal ruler who governs with justice and the fear of God, bringing flourishing to the people like morning light and rain. The text contrasts this godly kingship with the destructive nature of wickedness, urging believers to pray for leaders who reflect God's law. Ultimately, the sermon identifies Jesus Christ as the perfect fulfillment of this royal ideal, who alone holds an everlasting covenant and reigns eternally from heaven, offering believers peace and hope in the present age.

Sunday night we expose the demons. Demons are living in plain sight all around us. We will use 1 Corinthians 10.18-22 as our text but will also deal with those passages I sent to you earlier in the week. Belgic Confession Article 12 sets the stage for our exploration of God's Word into the reality of the power of demons. Please come prayerfully prepared to deal with the truth of God on this matter. -------- October 25, 2026 EVENING WORSHIP SERVICE Responsive Reading of Ephesians 6:10-18 Scripture Reading: multiple texts Confessional Reading: Belgic Confession Article 12 Text: 1 Corinthians 10:18-22 Sermon: "Demons Hiding in Plain Sight" Theme: Satan devised every false religion to destroy God's church through the worship of demons 1. The ancient plan was Satan's and was powerful 2. Religious practices from foreigners led the covenant people to worship demons 3. Kings of Israel decreed the worship of demons 4. Society began to think that child sacrifice to demons was profitable 5. What was, is now, and is coming proves demons are hiding in plain sight