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Beloved in the Lord Jesus: All men from the fall of Adam have been inherently sinful and under God's just condemnation, but God elected some of those under condemnation to save them through his Son, through the preaching of the Gospel. God did this out of pure grace, giving man faith to receive that grace. (That grace is Jesus obeying and suffering for man and satisfying God's anger against man.) You also saw God did not only elect you because of his love (Deuteronomy 7), but also for his pleasure. (Article 10) Now Article 11 teaches election to salvation is unchangeable! Why is this important? If election were unchangeable, it means your salvation is eternal! So this is a doctrine of comfort, not one of fear. Hear this doctrine today. Our headings are: 1. God cannot Change 2. So Your Election Cannot be Changed Our goals are: That you will receive comfort from your election, that you will praise God daily with your mouth for your election, and that you will have renewed zeal to spread the Gospel so the elect can be brought in.

This sermon explores the life of John Mark by examining his ten mentions in the New Testament to understand the author of the Gospel of Mark. It traces his journey from a wealthy background and early ministry with Paul and Barnabas to his departure from the missionary team, highlighting his pattern of failure and subsequent restoration. The message contrasts Mark's persistent return to Christ with the final abandonment of Paul by Demas, illustrating the difference between true and false believers. The central theme posits that Mark's biography reflects the experience of every true disciple who, despite stumbling and fearing hardship, continues to follow a faithful Savior on the road to the cross. The sermon concludes with a call for believers to repent of spiritual cowardice and to consistently turn their eyes back to Jesus, while inviting unbelievers to commit to Christ.

(AI Generated Summary) This sermon examines the seventh plague of hail in Egypt to reveal the incomprehensibility and sovereignty of God, emphasizing that there is none like Him in all the earth. The central argument connects God's hardening of Pharaoh's heart to the theological doctrine of divine election, using the potter and clay analogy from Romans 9 to demonstrate that salvation is entirely of God's grace rather than human will. The text contrasts the superficial fear of punishment exhibited by Pharaoh with the genuine fear of the Lord, which is defined by consistent obedience and action rather than mere verbal confession. By highlighting the futility of idolatry and the pride-killer of recognizing one's status as molded clay, the message calls believers to trust in God's sovereign character and to serve Him consistently, not only in times of distress but in all aspects of life.

Hymns: Fill Thou My Life , O Lord with Praise Love Divine, All Loves Excelling That Man Is Blest Who Fearing God Outline: I. The Pursuit of Happiness II. The Godly Man's Portrait III. The Road to Death

GOD'S LETTER TO THE CHURCH TEXT: Revelation 1:10-21; Matthew 16:18 SUMMARY: God's letter to the churches in Revelation, if it is to have its necessary effect on us, must be read through the eyes of John, as he fell in fear like a dead man at the feet of the glorified Christ. I. THE NATURE OF THE LETTER. A. Its origin. B. It's Urgency. II. THE AUTHOR OF THE LETTER A. John, the Human Instrument. B. Christ, the Divine Author. III. THE RECIPIENTS OF THE LETTER, vv. 17-21. A. The Church Identified. 1. The Universal (Invisible) Church defined: see 1689 Confession, 26-1; Westminster Confession, 25-1) -The Invisible Church has a sure Foundation and Builder. -The Invisible Church has Opposition. -The Invisible Church Perseveres. 2. The Local (Visible) Church defined: see 1689 Confession, ch. 26-3; Westminster Confession, 25-5] B. The Church Examined. Who are the individuals referred to as "angels"? -Heavenly beings sent out to the churches as God's messengers? -Human messengers sent out to carry the letter [the book] to the seven churches? -Guardian angels, one for each congregation? -A Pastor, an elder or a group of elders, who are messengers of God's Word to their congregations, and carry some responsibility for their welfare? C. The Church Exhorted. The letters are written: 1. to "the angel," probably a pastor or group of elders. 2. to the visible church on earth as a whole. 3. to specific local churches. 4. to individuals within the church.

This sermon explores the narrative of Jesus calling Simon Peter and his partners to become fishers of men, emphasizing Jesus' sovereignty over all creation and His role as the ultimate Master. The preacher highlights the contrast between Peter's professional expertise and Jesus' divine authority, illustrating that Christ knows better than humans in every aspect of life, including their vocations. Central to the message is the theme of humble obedience, where the proper response to God's command is immediate trust, even when it defies human logic or experience. The sermon addresses the human tendency to feel unworthy in the presence of a holy God, countering this fear with the gospel truth that Jesus offers forgiveness and commission rather than condemnation. Ultimately, the passage serves as a call for believers to leave behind their old lives and follow Christ, recognizing that He has a greater purpose for their lives than they can imagine.