Fasting on SermonAudio

"A shepherd can only walk the flock as fast as it's weakest lamb"

Jesus descends through betrayal, abandonment, a rigged trial, and contempt as every disciple protects himself and flees. Yet at the bottom of that valley his innocence, his silent fulfillment of Isaiah's suffering servant, and his claim to be the Son of Man shine through, previewing the glory God reveals in our own suffering and the certain end of evil.

The sermon expounds on Hebrews 3, establishing the supremacy of Jesus Christ over Moses, Abraham, and the angels to define His unique role as the Apostle and High Priest. It argues that while Moses served as a faithful servant in God's house, Christ is the faithful Son and the ultimate Builder of the church, which constitutes the true house of God. The message emphasizes that the perseverance of believers is not dependent on their own ability to hold fast, but on the unchanging faithfulness of Christ, who secures their salvation through His merit and intercession. Drawing from the 1689 Second London Baptist Confession and Psalm 95, the text warns against hardening one's heart like the wilderness generation, urging believers to find confidence in Christ's work rather than their own performance. The sermon concludes with a pastoral call to renew repentance and trust in the changeless Savior, who prays for the strength of His people to ensure their faith does not fail.

The sermon examines the parable of the true vine in John 15, distinguishing between two types of branches: those who abide in Christ and bear fruit, and those who are unfruitful and ultimately cast away. It defines abiding as a permanent, living connection to Christ through faith, which results in spiritual fruitfulness and the glory of God. The message clarifies that while salvation is secure for true believers, the unfruitful branches represent false professors who associate with Christ's name but lack a genuine, saving relationship. The preacher emphasizes the necessity of maintaining an active, daily relationship with Christ through prayer, obedience, and faith to remain fruitful. Finally, the sermon serves as a warning to examine one's own faith, urging believers to hold fast to their profession of faith and rely on Christ's faithfulness to draw them back when they stray.

Genuine faith in God produces authentic delight in God alone!

A distressed father came to Jesus with a serious problem, but Jesus' first concern was the father's faithless heart, as we see from Mark 9: 14-29.

Concluding our study of 2 Timothy, chapter 1

My son, keep my words and treasure up my commandments with you; keep my commandments and live; keep my teaching as the apple of your eye; bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart. Say to wisdom, "You are my sister," and call insight your intimate friend, to keep you from the forbidden woman, from the adulteress with her smooth words. For at the window of my house I have looked out through my lattice, and I have seen among the simple, I have perceived among the youths, a young man lacking sense, passing along the street near her corner, taking the road to her house in the twilight, in the evening, at the time of night and darkness. And behold, the woman meets him, dressed as a prostitute, wily of heart. She is loud and wayward; her feet do not stay at home; now in the street, now in the market, and at every corner she lies in wait. She seizes him and kisses him, and with bold face she says to him, "I had to offer sacrifices, and today I have paid my vows; so now I have come out to meet you, to seek you eagerly, and I have found you. I have spread my couch with coverings, colored linens from Egyptian linen; I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon. Come, let us take our fill of love till morning; let us delight ourselves with love. For my husband is not at home; he has gone on a long journey; he took a bag of money with him; at full moon he will come home." With much seductive speech she persuades him; with her smooth talk she compels him. All at once he follows her, as an ox goes to the slaughter, or as a stag is caught fast till an ....