Madison Reformed Church

In this Good Friday meditation, we consider the meaning of the name Gethsemane ("olive press") and its significance as the location of Jesus' prayers before His crucifixion. For those hard-pressed on every side, Jesus is the Savior in Gethsemane, who shares His anointing with us.

Deut. 1:9–18 

1 Kgs 3:5–15 

Matt. 20:20–28 

Acts 6:1–6  

Christ raises up officers to serve His churches. But how does that happen "on the ground"? In this message, we examine Scripture's design for identifying men to church office, and the immense privilege it is to select them.

Everyone loves a good story. Peter wants Christians to realize that their story is the same as ancient Israel, and for that reason, all who believe in Christ have the same status and privilege as those who came before. Your story is that you're a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, the people of God who have received His mercy. And this is the story we proclaim.

Exod. 18:13–27 

Prov. 11:14; 15:22 

Matt. 23:1–4 

1 Tim. 3:1–13  

Every group on earth has to get organized in order to get anything done. It's the same with the Church. But the difference is that the Church is a heavenly institution that also exists on earth. In this sermon, we learn that Christ's care for and rule over His people is experienced in the order and officers of the Church.

Most of us are familiar with the idea of "getting saved." But have you ever said, "I need to grow up in salvation"? That's how Peter speaks about our walk with Christ here in the second chapter of his letter. Using two wonderful images—the nourishment of milk, and the building up of stones—Peter shows Christians the way to taste and keep on tasting that the Lord is good.

Exod. 30:1–10 

Isa. 29:11–16 

Matt. 15:1–9 

Acts 7:51–60 

In Acts 7, Stephen brings down an indictment on the Pharisees, who were the leaders of the church in that day, saying, “You…received the law as delivered by angels, but did not keep it.” In fact, they did the opposite. They opposed and persecuted the prophet, they resisted the Holy Spirit. Stephen strong words shows us there is such a thing as false churches. Those who have the trappings of religion, but are actually enemies of God. How can we know? We have the marks of false churches to help us.

Isaiah 40:6–11 & 1 Peter 1:22–25. "Love one another" is one of the most repeated commands in the Bible. But we run out of steam in obeying it. Peter shows us where the power comes from: the Word of God.

Rev. Dr. Brandon Burks (Christ Reformed Church, Bellevue, KY) joins us to open God's Word from Daniel 5.

Num. 5:5–10 

Prov. 4:20–27 

Luke 9:21–27 

Gal. 5:16–26 

There are such things as hypocrites in the church of our Lord Jesus Christ. That is to say, that in the visible church, there are people who are “physically there,” but “nonetheless are not part of it.” Some people hear this and it fills them with a kind of dread. In this message, we learn Scripture's marks of the true Christian, and what to do when, in our weakness, we fail to live up to them.

So many of our problems were handed down to us. In our families, nation, and culture, we have sinful habits and dispositions that we've inherited from those who came before us. Is being a Christian just...learning how to stop acting up? Or is it something more? In this message, we learn that nothing less than our liberation is required. And Christ has paid the price for that liberation, not with perishable money, but with His precious blood.