New Day Church Sermons

All things belong to God, the giver of every good and perfect gift (James 1:17). The gospel of Jesus Christ is an act of cosmic generosity. The cross is the pulpit of God’s love and the overflow of his grace and mercy to undeserving sinners. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16) The demonstration of divine generosity continues because, “He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:32) As beneficiaries of such generosity, we now have every motivation and grace to be generous likewise with our time, money and talents on behalf of God’s people and for God’s mission. We give joyfully and freely, knowing “God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7).

The gospel saves us into a life of service, first to God and then, as an expression of that service, to others. “For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake” (2 Corinthians 4:5). Jesus, our faithful Master, defines service as true greatness: “But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all” (Mark 10:43-44). He ultimately demonstrated this greatness for us in laying down his life for us: “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45). He also calls us to follow his example to serve not simply “in word or talk but in deed and in truth” (1 John 3:18), thus we love and care for one another in practical ways (Romans 12:13; Galatians 6:2). The Holy Spirit empowers us for a life of service in the church by distributing gifts to every Christian: “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace” (1 Peter 4:10).

God is “the God of…encouragement” (Romans 15:5) who strengthens and sustains his people through the ministry of encouragement. There is nothing more encouraging to our souls than knowing that because of Christ, we are and will always remain in right standing with God. However, the harsh realities of a fallen world often obscure the glories of the gospel in our lives. We can grow discouraged and weary as we serve, suffer, and battle remaining sin. Encouragement is the means God uses to fortify us to live in light of what is true. In the gospel and in all the precious promises of God, we have a treasure trove of encouraging truth. Although every believer can and must encourage themselves in the Lord, the emphasis in Scripture falls on the privilege, joy, and responsibility we have to discover and point out evidences of grace in others and remind each other of the truth: “Encourage one another and build one another up” (1 Thessalonians 5:11); “consider how to stir up one another to love and good works” (Hebrews 10:24).

All gospel benefits are received as undeserved gifts from a gracious God. The only appropriate response to such generous grace is gratitude. “I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart” (Psalm 86:12). A thankful heart is cultivated the more we remember, understand, and appreciate all the ways the Lord has blessed us in the gospel and through his common grace, by which he “richly provides us with everything to enjoy” (1 Timothy 6:17). We are also grateful for other Christians: “We give thanks to God always for all of you” (1 Thessalonians 1:2). Each local church is to be a community of gratitude, giving thanks to God in everything we do: “And whatever you do, in words or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him” (Colossians 3:17).

The gospel is “good news of great joy…for all people” (Luke 2:10). As believers hear and embrace the good news of salvation by grace alone, the natural response is to rejoice. In the gospel, God gives us himself, and in his presence there is fullness of joy and pleasures forevermore (Psalm 16:11). Christians are commanded to “Rejoice in the Lord always” (Philippians 4:4) because the gospel is a source of joy that can’t be touched by any circumstance in life. Even in our suffering and sorrows we can rejoice, knowing “this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison” (2 Corinthians 4:17). This kind of joy becomes contagious in local churches and is especially reflected in our corporate worship.

The Lord promises to bless the one “who is humble and contrite in spirit” (Isaiah 66:2). Humility is an accurate view of God and ourselves. It is foundational to all other shaping virtues, because without humility we will experience neither the desire nor the grace necessary to cultivate them. The gospel humbles us as we come to grasp that “by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9). This humility before God prompts humility toward others. In keeping with Jesus’ example, we are commanded, “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others” (Philippians 2:3-4).

The Last Things

Death entered God’s good creation as a result of Adam’s sin, and now all people are subject to God’s curse of death.[1]Yet believers have no need to fear,[2] because Christ has conquered death and delivered us from its dominion.[3]Although our bodies return to dust for a time,[4] death for the Christian has become a doorway to paradise,[5] where our souls enter immediately into God’s presence[6] to behold and enjoy our Savior and to rest from our labors.[7] In company with all the spirits of the righteous made perfect,[8] we will await the redemption of our bodies[9] and our full and final salvation.[10] The souls of the unredeemed, however, are cast immediately into hades to experience torment[11] as they await final judgment for their sins.[12]

Christ’s Return and the Resurrection

At the appointed time known only to God,[13] Jesus Christ will return to the earth in power and glory[14] as Judge[15]and King[16] to whom every knee will bow.[17] Christ’s personal,[18] physical,[19] and visible[20] return is the blessed hope of all who trust in him.[21] At the end of the age the just and the unjust will be raised as their souls are reunited to their bodies: the just to a resurrection of life, the unjust to a resurrection of judgment.[22] When the dead in Christ are raised,[23] their perishable bodies will be redeemed and made like Christ’s imperishable, glorious, powerful, spiritual body.[24] Those in Christ who are alive shall likewise be changed,[25] and thus will all God’s glorified people forever bear the image of their Savior.[26]

Judgment and the Consummation

On the last day all people will appear before Christ, who is the judge of all.[27] Those who suppressed God’s truth in unrighteousness and did not obey the gospel of Christ [28] will suffer the righteous wrath of God[29] and be justly cast into the hell of fire with the devil and his angels.[30] There they will experience eternal, conscious punishment according to their sins.[31] Those saved by Christ, whose names are written in the book of life, will be welcomed into the joy of their master and richly rewarded for every good work done in his name.[32] God’s glorified people will inherit the kingdom[33] from which all sin, sorrow, suffering, and death will be banished.[34] Christ as king will set all of creation free from its bondage to corruption,[35] making new the heavens and the earth[36] and establishing his eternal rule in his consummated kingdom.[37] Surrounded by unimaginable beauty,[38] we will enjoy unhindered communion with our triune God,[39] beholding him, serving him, worshipping him, and reigning with him forever and ever.[40] Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!

[1] Gen 3:17-19 Rom 5:12 Rom 6:23

The Church of Christ

The universal church is the true, worshipping community of God’s people, composed of all the elect from all time.[1]Throughout salvation history, God by his Word and Spirit has been calling sinful people out of the whole human race to create a new redeemed humanity,[2] whom Christ purchased with his blood.[3] With the giving of the Spirit at Pentecost,[4] God’s people were reconstituted as his new covenant church,[5] in continuity with the old covenant people of God but now brought to fulfillment by the work of Christ.[6] All of God’s people are united in one body[7]—with Christ as the supreme, sustaining, and life-giving head[8]—and set apart for God’s own possession and purposes.[9]

The Local Church

As an expression of Christ’s universal church, the local church is the focal point of God’s plan to mature his people and save sinners.[10] Therefore, all Christians are to join themselves as committed members to a specific local church.[11] A true church is marked by the faithful preaching of the Word,[12] the right administration of the sacraments,[13] and the proper exercise of church discipline.[14] Even true churches are imperfect: they often contain a mixture of unbelievers hidden among the true flock[15] and are vulnerable to theological error and moral failure.[16] Yet Christ is unwavering in his commitment to build his church and will surely bring it to maturity.[17]

Christ has given the offices of elder[18] and deacon[19] to the church. [20] Elders occupy the sole office of governance and are called to teach, oversee, care for, and protect the flock entrusted to them by the Lord. [21] Deacons provide for the various needs of the church through acts of service. God gives these and other people as gifts to serve and equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ.[22] In keeping with God’s created design Scripture reserves the office of elder for men,[23] yet men and women alike belong to a royal priesthood in which each member is gifted by God to play a vital role in the life and mission of the church.[24]

The Sacraments of the Church

The sacraments are precious means of grace that signify the benefits of the gospel, confirm its promises to the believer, and visibly distinguish the church from the world.[25] The Lord Jesus instituted two sacraments, baptism and the Lord’s Supper,[26] for faithful observance by the church[27] until his return.[28] Baptism is an initiatory, unrepeated sacrament[29] for those who come to faith in Christ that pictures their remission of sins and union with Christ in his death and resurrection.[30] Through immersion in water in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,[31] the believer publicly proclaims his faith in Christ and signifies his entrance into the body of Christ.[32] Although commanded by Christ and a true means of grace, grace is not so inseparably tied to baptism that no one can be saved without it, or that everyone who is baptized is thereby saved.[33]

In the Lord’s Supper, the gathered church eats bread, signifying Christ’s body given for his people, and drinks the cup of the Lord, signifying his blood shed for our sins.[34] As we observe this sacrament with faith and sober self-examination,[35] we remember and proclaim the death of Christ, commune with him and receive spiritual nourishment for our souls, signify our unity with other members of Christ’s body, and look forward to the Lord’s triumphant return.[36]

The Purpose and Mission of the Church

As the body of Christ, the church exists to worship God,[37] to edify and mature his people,[38] and to bear witness to Christ and his kingdom in all the world.[39] Governed by Scripture, the church gathers for the teaching of the Word,[40]prayer, [41] the sacraments,[42] congregational singing,[43] fellowship, and mutual edification through the exercise of spiritual gifts.[44] As the Father sent Jesus into the world, so Jesus has sent his people into the world in the power of the Spirit.[45] The church’s mission is to make disciples of all nations, teaching them to observe all that Christ has commanded.[46] We do this by proclaiming the gospel, planting churches, and adorning the proclamation of the gospel through our love and good works. There will always be a gathering of believers on earth because the Lord promises to build, guide, and preserve his church to the end of the age.[47] When Christ returns, he will gather and perfect his church from every tribe, tongue, and nation as a people for his own possession, and he will dwell with them forever.[48]

[1] Heb 12:22-23 Heb 2:12 Eph 5:25 Rev 21:2

The Church of Christ

The universal church is the true, worshipping community of God’s people, composed of all the elect from all time.[1]Throughout salvation history, God by his Word and Spirit has been calling sinful people out of the whole human race to create a new redeemed humanity,[2] whom Christ purchased with his blood.[3] With the giving of the Spirit at Pentecost,[4] God’s people were reconstituted as his new covenant church,[5] in continuity with the old covenant people of God but now brought to fulfillment by the work of Christ.[6] All of God’s people are united in one body[7]—with Christ as the supreme, sustaining, and life-giving head[8]—and set apart for God’s own possession and purposes.[9]

The Local Church

As an expression of Christ’s universal church, the local church is the focal point of God’s plan to mature his people and save sinners.[10] Therefore, all Christians are to join themselves as committed members to a specific local church.[11] A true church is marked by the faithful preaching of the Word,[12] the right administration of the sacraments,[13] and the proper exercise of church discipline.[14] Even true churches are imperfect: they often contain a mixture of unbelievers hidden among the true flock[15] and are vulnerable to theological error and moral failure.[16] Yet Christ is unwavering in his commitment to build his church and will surely bring it to maturity.[17]

Christ has given the offices of elder[18] and deacon[19] to the church. [20] Elders occupy the sole office of governance and are called to teach, oversee, care for, and protect the flock entrusted to them by the Lord. [21] Deacons provide for the various needs of the church through acts of service. God gives these and other people as gifts to serve and equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ.[22] In keeping with God’s created design Scripture reserves the office of elder for men,[23] yet men and women alike belong to a royal priesthood in which each member is gifted by God to play a vital role in the life and mission of the church.[24]

The Sacraments of the Church

The sacraments are precious means of grace that signify the benefits of the gospel, confirm its promises to the believer, and visibly distinguish the church from the world.[25] The Lord Jesus instituted two sacraments, baptism and the Lord’s Supper,[26] for faithful observance by the church[27] until his return.[28] Baptism is an initiatory, unrepeated sacrament[29] for those who come to faith in Christ that pictures their remission of sins and union with Christ in his death and resurrection.[30] Through immersion in water in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,[31] the believer publicly proclaims his faith in Christ and signifies his entrance into the body of Christ.[32] Although commanded by Christ and a true means of grace, grace is not so inseparably tied to baptism that no one can be saved without it, or that everyone who is baptized is thereby saved.[33]

In the Lord’s Supper, the gathered church eats bread, signifying Christ’s body given for his people, and drinks the cup of the Lord, signifying his blood shed for our sins.[34] As we observe this sacrament with faith and sober self-examination,[35] we remember and proclaim the death of Christ, commune with him and receive spiritual nourishment for our souls, signify our unity with other members of Christ’s body, and look forward to the Lord’s triumphant return.[36]

The Purpose and Mission of the Church

As the body of Christ, the church exists to worship God,[37] to edify and mature his people,[38] and to bear witness to Christ and his kingdom in all the world.[39] Governed by Scripture, the church gathers for the teaching of the Word,[40]prayer, [41] the sacraments,[42] congregational singing,[43] fellowship, and mutual edification through the exercise of spiritual gifts.[44] As the Father sent Jesus into the world, so Jesus has sent his people into the world in the power of the Spirit.[45] The church’s mission is to make disciples of all nations, teaching them to observe all that Christ has commanded.[46] We do this by proclaiming the gospel, planting churches, and adorning the proclamation of the gospel through our love and good works. There will always be a gathering of believers on earth because the Lord promises to build, guide, and preserve his church to the end of the age.[47] When Christ returns, he will gather and perfect his church from every tribe, tongue, and nation as a people for his own possession, and he will dwell with them forever.[48]

[1] Heb 12:22-23 Heb 2:12 Eph 5:25 Rev 21:2

Life in Christ

All believers, by virtue of their union with Christ, are progressively transformed into his image.[1] Although the ruling power of sin in our lives has been broken, remnants of corruption remain in our hearts that we will fight throughout our lives.[2] This lifelong process of growth takes place as the Spirit empowers us to abide in Christ and strive for holiness in every area of life.[3] Resting in Christ’s finished work never renders our effort unnecessary but rather enables the joyful pursuit of loving and pleasing God.[4] Compelled by grace, believers grow in the knowledge of God, obey Christ’s commands, walk by the Spirit, mortify sin, and pursue God’s priorities and purposes.[5] Although such actions are not the ground of our salvation, they demonstrate the authenticity of our salvation and are a means by which God keeps us faithful to the end.[6] Among the many public and private means of grace, the Word of God, prayer, and fellowship are primary instruments of our sanctification,[7] fostering communion with God and training us together to glorify him, love others, and testify to Christ in the world.[8]

Waiting for Christ

Living the Christian life involves longing[9] and waiting for the return of the Lord Jesus Christ.[10] Although believers are new creations in Christ and presently enjoy the blessings of his resurrection power,[11] their sanctification remains partial and incomplete in this life.[12] Furthermore, they continue to live in mortal bodies in a creation subject to futility,[13] opposed by the world,[14] the flesh,[15] and the devil.[16] The Word of God assures us that we are his beloved children,[17] yet such an assurance does not remove the reality of suffering, sorrow, and persecution in this present age.[18] The gospel enables us to rejoice in the midst of tribulations,[19] assured that his purposes are working for our good even in circumstances we do not understand.[20] Fixing our eyes on Jesus, we endure in faith and abound in hope,[21]confident that a day is fast approaching when sin and sorrow will be no more.[22]

[1] Rom 6:5-11 2 Cor 3:18 Rev 19:8