Death on SermonAudio

1. The Essence of Christ's Suf- fering 2. The Sentence of Pilate 3. The Significance of This Death

This sermon explores the raising of Lazarus in John 11 to demonstrate that Jesus is the resurrection and the life. The preacher addresses human impatience with God's timing, explaining that delays often serve a greater divine purpose rather than indicating neglect. It highlights the danger of misplaced focus on circumstances over Christ, using Martha's grief as an example of shifting attention away from faith. The message connects Jesus' resurrection to the concept of firstfruits, establishing Him as the guarantee of future resurrection for all believers. Ultimately, it calls listeners to examine their personal faith and commit to following Jesus with unwavering trust.

The sermon introduces the second major section of the Book of Jeremiah, contrasting the earlier focus on national dismantling with a new emphasis on hope and divine deliverance. It examines Jeremiah 26, where the prophet faces a death sentence for his temple sermon but responds with unwavering confidence in God's sovereignty rather than lamentation. The narrative highlights how God raises up unexpected helpers, such as officials and elders, to spare Jeremiah's life and prevent the nation from bearing the guilt of murdering a faithful messenger. This passage illustrates the multifaceted nature of Jeremiah's ministry, showing him as both inwardly compassionate for his people and outwardly stalwart in proclaiming God's word. Ultimately, the message encourages believers to trust in God's protection and purpose even amidst severe opposition and impending judgment.

All of us, at one time or another, have experienced a devastating event. It might be the death of a loved one, the loss of a relationship, or a physical or emotional condition that seems so overwhelming that we do not know where to turn for comfort. This week, as we prepare to worship together as the body of Christ, the Apostle Paul reminds us in 2 Corinthians 1:1-7 that in our suffering we are comforted by God Himself. In turn, God uses His people to be His hands and feet, ministering to those who are suffering. God does not waste our suffering. When He comforts us in our affliction, He is simultaneously preparing us to be His hands of comfort to someone else. The comfort we receive is not a private possession but a sacred trust, received in order to be shared. Two people who have walked through similar pain can often speak words of hope to one another that no one else can. God's comfort flows through the very wounds He has healed, turning our places of greatest need into channels of His grace for others. We will discover that 2 Corinthians 1:1-7 shows us that we both receive and give comfort. God meets us in our affliction and then turns us toward others who are suffering, carrying the comfort that we ourselves have received. In God's design, the comforted become comforters, and our suffering becomes the very pathway through which His comfort reaches a hurting world. Please make time to read the following passages in preparation for this coming Sunday: "The God of All Comfort." 2 Timothy 1:6-12, Psalm 40:1-5, and our preaching text, 2 Corinthians 1:1-7, with special attention to verses 3 and 4. Be His Hands and Feet! Pastor Darryl Heisey

This sermon is the first in a series of messages dealing with the work of God the Holy Spirit as "the Spirit of Truth", taking the things of Christ and revealing them to those the Father chose and Christ redeemed by His obedience unto death. The subject of the series is "THE MIND OF CHRIST."

As Chrisitans our behavior should be equal to the living out the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus.

How can compromise in our lives affect the people around us? This week, Pastor Ric continues our First Things First series with a message from Haggai 2 titled, "The Contagion of Compromise." Haggai reminds God's people that while holiness cannot simply be transferred through contact, uncleanness can spread. Our outward actions may look right, but God sees beyond appearances and looks directly at the heart. When sin takes root within us, it can affect our choices, our relationships, and our influence on the world around us. But God does not leave us trapped in our uncleanness. Through repentance, He offers us a new heart and a new life. Join us as we examine our hearts, recognize the impact of compromise, and discover how only Jesus can cleanse us, change us, and lead us from death to new life.

The sermon exhorts believers to live as imitators of God by walking in love, modeled after Christ's sacrificial death on the cross. It emphasizes that sanctification is rooted in grace and requires rejecting sexual immorality, impurity, and covetousness, which are incompatible with the identity of a child of light. The preacher warns against participating in or approving of cultural perversions, urging Christians to stand firm in biblical truth rather than conforming to worldly standards. Believers are called to replace filthiness and foolish talk with genuine thanksgiving and obedience to God's design for marriage and sexuality. Ultimately, the message encourages the church to remain distinct from darkness, offering hope through the gospel while maintaining a holy witness in a corrupt world.