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In Chapter 11 of The Grace and Duty of Being Spiritually Minded, John Owen shifts his focus from the mental exercise of spiritual thoughts to the foundational seat of spiritual-mindedness: the human affections. Owen argues that the affections—the deep longings, loves, and delights of the heart—are the governing helm of the soul, determining its true direction, sincerity, and ultimate spiritual state regardless of outward religious performance. Because the world actively competes with God for these affections, Owen outlines the providential ways God exposes the vanity, danger, and transience of earthly things, warning that an unmortified love for the world forfeits a person's eternal soul while offering practical principles for maintaining a heart truly set on heavenly realities.

What convinces a person that he will see goodness in the midst of severe opposition and suffering? In Psalm 27, David wrote, "One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in his temple." From shepherd boy to king, David knew what it meant to suffer. Throughout his trials, he learned to take his eyes off himself and focus on the beauty of the LORD. This one desire gave David his greatest comfort, healed his deepest hurt, and helped him rise above his adversity. Tune into today's podcast as Dr. Mark Hamby and Molly Mayo, joined by Richard Lang, unpack this unique Psalm.

Bible Reading: Matthew 16:1-28 (Sermon taken from Matthew 16:13-18) Motto Text: Matthew 16:18 KJV "And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." 1. Is Christ what the World says he is? 2. Is Christ what God Reveals him to be? 3. Who Christ is to you is foundational. The sermon centers on the critical question of who Jesus Christ is, contrasting worldly opinions with the divine revelation found in Scripture. It emphasizes that true knowledge of Christ as the Son of the living God is not achieved through human effort or signs, but through the sovereign work of God who reveals Himself to the sinner. The message highlights the necessity of resting on Christ as the unshakable foundation of salvation, arguing that only this spiritual reality provides eternal security and transforms the believer's life. The preacher urges the congregation to examine their personal relationship with Jesus, distinguishing between mere moral improvement and the profound change of heart that comes from being born again. Ultimately, the sermon calls for a sincere confession of faith, urging listeners to trust in Christ alone for redemption and to find their identity in the church He builds.

This sermon examines the theological dangers of pragmatism, defining it as a relativistic worldview that prioritizes anticipated outcomes over divine command. By contrasting the disobedience of King Saul with the repentant heart of David, the teaching illustrates how pragmatic reasoning leads to moral compromise and spiritual dead ends. The analysis extends to the golden calf incident in Exodus and King Jeroboam's establishment of alternative worship sites in 1 Kings, demonstrating how practical solutions often result in severe violations of God's law. The central message warns against allowing human calculation to dictate ethical choices, urging believers to rely solely on Scripture for moral guidance. The tone is instructional and convicting, emphasizing that true faithfulness requires obedience to God's word regardless of the perceived consequences.

This sermon examines the theological dangers of pragmatism as a worldview, arguing that it reduces moral decision-making to a relativistic calculation of outcomes rather than obedience to God's Word. By contrasting the disobedience of King Saul with the repentant heart of David, the teaching illustrates how pragmatic reasoning leads to spiritual compromise and the loss of divine favor. The discussion further explores historical examples of pragmatic innovation in worship, such as the golden calf in Exodus and the idolatry of Jeroboam in 1 Kings, to demonstrate that convenience or political stability never justifies the violation of divine commandments. The central message is that true faithfulness requires trusting God's instructions even when the consequences appear unfavorable, rejecting the utilitarian notion that the ends justify the means. Ultimately, the sermon calls for a return to Scripture as the sole authority for moral and spiritual life, warning that pragmatic thinking creates a trap from which only divine grace can provide an exit.

This sermon examines the narrative of Jonah fleeing from God's commission to Nineveh, using the prophet's disobedience as a lens to explore the human tendency to reject divine calls. The central argument posits that running from God is driven by a lack of compassion for the lost and a spirit of self-righteousness, contrasting Jonah's hatred for the wicked with God's sovereign mercy. By referencing Romans and Psalm 139, the message emphasizes that there is no escape from God's presence and that disobedience leads to a downward spiral of spiritual misery and wasted life. The tone is both convicting and pastoral, urging listeners to examine their own hearts for pride and to respond to God's call with obedience and compassion. Ultimately, the sermon presents the Gospel as the only path to salvation, calling both believers and non-believers to repent and trust in Jesus Christ rather than fleeing from the consequences of sin.

The Anguished Heart Reaching out a trembling hand of faith to God

Verse by verse exposition through the book of Hebrews. (Sermon also includes the reading and exhortation from the Lord's Table liturgy) Heb 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. 9 Do not be carried about with various and strange doctrines. For it is good that the heart be established by grace, not with foods which have not profited those who have been occupied with them. Heb 11:26 esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward. Eph 4:14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting...

"Who can say, "I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin"?" This is a question for us all to ask, whatever our outward condition. This is a problem for us all to face, for no-one is able to cleanse their own heart. This pushes us to a favour we all must plead, going to the God who alone is able to make our heart clean.