Heart on SermonAudio

We take a final look at Col 2:6-14, we also look at the idea of covenant continuity, the pattern of water baptism in the early church, and that none of the things Baptism is designed to symbolize and teach can be true of an infant.

As the Israelites stand at the base of Mt. Sinai, Moses again approaches the thick cloud where God was. Previously God had given him the ten commandments (20:1-17). In this encounter, God gives further instructions, civil laws, by which to govern the people. Included among these civil laws are instructions for relationships between masters and slaves. The Israelites had been slaves in Egypt and experienced mistreatment at the hands of their overlords. Since slavery is an unavoidable part of life in a fallen world, God's people will continue to experience different forms of it, including within their own society. Hebrews will be enslaved to other Hebrews. In the context of His people, God graciously gives guidelines which curb the human tendency to mistreat and exploit others. Digging deeper, this passage is another opportunity to look carefully at the human heart and to honestly admit our enslaving tendencies. From our earliest days, we have all been governed by deep-rooted and controlling desires. Slavery exists because these desires exist. And because these desires exist, and because they inevitably involve perversion to one degree or another, slavery inevitable involves harmfulness to one degree or another. And, God sees and God cares. As we frame Exodus 21 within the Redemptive storyline of Scripture, it presents another occassion for agreeing with God concerning the human condition and for considering the good news of the Gospel. Jesus is an amazing and selfless servant. He refuses to use His superior strength, intellect, and resources to abuse people. Instead, He lays His life down for us and provides forgiveness for our sinful condition and freedom from it. He is

What was the first thing Noah did when he came out of the ark (Genesis 8:20)? Read the verse and ask whether God told him to build that altar, or whether he went to it of his own heart. Then ask why God had told him to take the clean beasts "by sevens" (Genesis 7:2), long before the flood came. "And Noah builded an altar unto the LORD; and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar." (Genesis 8:20)

Australia has shifted from being a nation of dignity, honour, resilience and perseverance, to being a nation of victims. Instead of striving to improve one's self and society, we are rather encouraged to be the greatest victim we can be. We cannot control what people say to us, but we can control how we react to it. This selfish mindset is the complete opposite of the life that Christ calls us to. I. VICTIMHOOD EMANATES FROM A PROUD HEART II. VICTIMHOOD ELEVATES PASSIONS OVER TRUTH III. VICTIMHOOD ELIMINATES PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY

After using Hosea and Isaiah to make his argument, Paul now moves on to Moses. He starts by restating the Old Covenant that Israel made at Mt. Sinai which was that if you do everything in the law, you will be saved and contrasts that with what Moses says about faith. Faith causes a shift, so it is not your work. You do not think that you or men need to drag the word down from heaven so it is accessible. You or men do not need to bring the word up from the deep, so you can have access to it. Salvation by faith is believing that God sent His Word to us so it is near us and in our mouths and in our hearts. Those are the words of faith rather than salvation by works. Which leads to you need to profess with your tongue the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead. You need to understand that Christ is with you and in you in order to be saved.

Daniel 1:8 — Should Christians celebrate Halloween? Is church trunk-or-treat harmless? A Bible answer for parents from Daniel 1. This expository preaching message from Daniel 1 answers the question every Christian parent faces each October: should Christians celebrate Halloween? Pastor Fortunato doesn't hand you a list of rules. He walks you through what Babylon did to Daniel (took his home, his schooling, his food, and his name) and shows why "it's just candy" misses the point. The trouble was never the candy. The trouble is the table. If you've been asking whether a church trunk-or-treat is any different, whether it matters where Halloween started, or how to say no without being unkind or raising a legalist, this message was preached for you. It is a family integrated church sermon, so children and parents were in the room together. Daniel purposed in his heart before the table was ever set, and this message shows how to help your children do the same. This verse-by-verse KJV sermon walks through Daniel 1, 2 Kings 18, and 1 Corinthians 10, explaining: - Why Babylon always starts with the young, and wants the best of them - Why Babylon took the holy vessels and what that says about trunk-or-treat - Why it doesn't matter where a thing started, only what is burning in front of it (Hezekiah and Nehushtan) - Why Babylon gives new names, and what children say when they answer the door in costume - What "the idol is nothing" actually means in 1 Corinthians 10, and why the table is still the table - How Daniel said no with kindness, courtesy, and care for the man in charge, without legalism - How to train children to pass up the king's table

Psalm 32 begins "Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven." "Blessed" means happy, fulfilled, satisfied, enjoying divine favor,... So the most fulfilled life is the forgiven life. The happiest human is the pardoned person. Conversely, those who know little forgiveness know little blessing. How do we experience forgiveness? Pastor Joel teaches us about constant confession!