Heart on SermonAudio

The spiritual transformation of Nicodemus through his three appearances in John's Gospel shows how the miracle of the new birth gradually moved him from curiosity to conviction and ultimately to courageous public devotion to Christ. In John 3, Nicodemus is a curious seeker who comes to Jesus by night, intrigued by His miracles yet unable to grasp the necessity of being "born from above." In John 7, he becomes a convicted man, cautiously defending Jesus before his fellow Pharisees and acting on the growing convictions of his heart. By John 19, Nicodemus emerges as a confessing disciple who publicly identifies with the crucified Christ by helping bury His body at great personal and religious cost. His journey demonstrates that spiritual understanding is often progressive, that religious knowledge alone cannot save, that true faith eventually becomes public, and that the new birth produces courage.

The sermon opens with the parable of the persistent widow from Luke 18, establishing the theme of persevering in prayer without losing heart. It then transitions to a biographical study of the Puritan duo Philip and Matthew Henry, highlighting their faithfulness during the English Civil War and the subsequent persecution of non-conformist ministers. The message details Matthew Henry's disciplined life, his prolific commentary, and his specific work, *The Method of Prayer*, which emphasizes using Scripture to structure and deepen one's communion with God. The central theological argument is that prayer is not intended to change God's mind but to align the believer's heart with His will, fostering a continuous dependence on Christ. The sermon concludes with an exhortation to cultivate gratitude for the legacy of past saints and to adopt a more methodical, scripturally grounded approach to personal devotion.

This is a strong and deep message, asking us to examine our own hearts, asking God to remove our stony hearts and give us a heart of flesh. And the remedy for this is confession and repentance, followed by sanctification. May this message stir your hearts to follow God! God bless you, dear listener!

This sermon examines the act of Jesus washing the disciples' feet as a profound symbol of His condescension and the necessity of divine cleansing for salvation. It contrasts the disciples' ambition for status with Christ's focus on His redemptive mission, highlighting that true greatness is found in humble service rather than ritual performance. The text explores the theological distinction between the once-for-all justification received through faith and the ongoing sanctification required in daily life, using the metaphor of a full bath versus washing one's feet. The preacher emphasizes that unless believers accept this cleansing from Christ, they have no part in His inheritance, urging the congregation to emulate Christ's mindset of selfless love and to view all acts of service as vital expressions of their faith.

Sunday Evening – November 1, 2026 Join us this Sunday evening as Pastor John Wheeler continues his study through the book of Joel with a message titled "The Call to Repentance" from Joel 2:12-17. In this passage, the LORD calls His people to return to Him with a sincere heart, rending their hearts and not their garments. Come prepared to worship, hear the word of God faithfully preached, and examine your own heart before the Lord. Whether you're joining us in person or watching online, we're thankful to have you with us.

PM sermons are preceded by a Confessional, Catechism, Historic Creed lesson, or a lesson from the NT (Usually 5 minutes or so) Heidelberg Catechism 31 Q. Why is he called "Christ," meaning "anointed"? A. Because he has been ordained by God the Father and has been anointed with the Holy Spirit to be our chief prophet and teacher who fully reveals to us the secret counsel and will of God concerning our deliverance; our only high priest who has delivered us by the one sacrifice of his body, and who continually pleads our cause with the Father; and our eternal king who governs us by his Word and Spirit, and who guards us and keeps us in the freedom he has won for us

The sermon critiques the modern church's adoption of consumerist values, arguing that marketing and human appeal have replaced the conviction of the Gospel. It asserts that the church has lost its nerve by seeking to please people rather than relying on the sovereign power of God to save souls. Drawing from Paul's ministry in Corinth and Athens, the message emphasizes that the testimony of Christ crucified is sufficient without rhetorical embellishment or worldly wisdom. The preacher urges believers to embrace their own weakness, recognizing that faith must rest in the power of God rather than the competence of men. Ultimately, the call is to preach Christ plainly and trust in the Holy Spirit to witness the truth to the hearts of the lost.

Paul is now summarizing the righteousness of faith. You have to confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead. These words are often twisted to mean just say you believe and pray a prayer and you can know that you are saved. This week, we will consider what these words actually mean and some of the implications of them.

This sermon explores the biblical motif of shepherding, arguing that true church leadership is defined by possessing the heart of Christ rather than merely managing tasks. The speaker highlights Jeremiah 3:15 as a prophetic promise that God would provide shepherds who feed His people with knowledge and understanding, a promise fulfilled through Jesus Christ. By examining John 9 and 10, the text demonstrates how Jesus modeled shepherding by seeking out the blind man, protecting him from religious persecution, and leading him to spiritual sight. The sermon further illustrates that Jesus personally shepherded the twelve apostles through intimate care, foot washing, and prayer, preparing them to receive the commission in John 21 to tend His flock. The central message calls for a return to close-range, sacrificial pastoral care, rejecting modern trends of inaccessible or corporate-style leadership in favor of men who reflect the tender, proactive, and self-giving nature of the Good Shepherd.