Northpointe PCA Sermons

By Northpointe Presbyterian ChurchReligion & Spirituality Christianity

Northpointe PCA Sermons episodes

October 22, 2023October 22, 2023; Sunday Evening Worship
Scripture: Ecclesiastes 4
Order of Service
Call to Worship — Exodus 15:2
Hymn — Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah (#598)
Prayer of Invocation
Psalm Reading — Psalm 20 (read responsively)
Hymn — A Mighty Fortress Is Our God (#92)
Pastoral Prayer
Sermon
Hymn — The Church's One Foundation (#347)
Benediction — 2 Corinthians 13:14
Sermon Title: Take Care How You Live with Other People
Scripture: Ecclesiastes 4
I. Endless Striving Marks Life Lived for Self-Interest
A. The problem of oppressors and the oppressed (Ecclesiastes 4:1–3)
In a fallen world, power is routinely used to dominate and diminish others
The oppressed have no comforter — so terrible that the preacher says it would be better never to have been born
The preacher speaks as a believer who knows the world is not as it should be, echoing the honest cries of Job and Jeremiah
Psalm 103:6 — the Lord works righteousness and justice for the oppressed; even Christ groaned at the effects of the curse
B. The twin vices of envy and greed (Ecclesiastes 4:4–8)
Envy (Ecclesiastes 4:4) — the self compares and competes endlessly, viewing others only through the lens of rivalry; at its core a relational disease
Greed (Ecclesiastes 4:7–8) — the solitary man toils for riches without ever asking "for whom am I toiling?"; like Ebenezer Scrooge, others exist only to be used and left behind
Sloth (Ecclesiastes 4:5) — the sluggard "folds his hands and eats his own flesh"; no less self-interested, giving nothing of time, money, or skill to benefit others; like the Dead Sea, everything flows in and nothing flows out
Isaiah 9 uses the image of eating one's own flesh to depict insatiable, self-consuming hunger
Even acts of love can mask envy — loving another only to get something in return
Romans 7 — Paul as believer still struggling with the flesh; Galatians — biting and devouring one another
II. Enjoyed Contentment Marks Life Lived within Selfless Community
A. Two are better than one (Ecclesiastes 4:9–12)
These verses are the answer to the "not good" of Genesis 2:18 — it is not good for man to be alone
Mutual support: one lifts the other when he falls; shared warmth sustains life; together they withstand a common enemy
A threefold cord is not quickly broken — the character and selflessness of the community matters more than mere numbers
B. Better is a handful with quietness (Ecclesiastes 4:6)
Contentment born of right relationship — working beside another without envy or comparison
There is still toil, but done in right relationship it comes with quietness and peace
C. The caution of fickle multitudes (Ecclesiastes 4:13–16)
The praise of endless crowds is itself a vapor — mere numbers are not the point
What matters is whether the individuals within the community are truly for one another
D. How this selfless community is possible
By nature we are dependent creatures made for community — humility about our true estate is required
The Holy Spirit gives new life, new attitudes, and new dispositions; we cannot achieve this in our own strength
The fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22–23) — love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, self-control — are fruit for selfless, horizontal community
The gospel alone makes forgiveness between people possible (cf. Philemon, preached at the men's retreat)
Christ himself is the model: he came not to be served but to serve, laying down his life for his people — the vampire grows strong by weakening others; Christ weakens himself to make his people strong
John 13:34–35 — "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another just as I have loved you … by this all people will know that you are my disciples"
This love is practiced first in the church and in our homes, following the way of Christ
40 min
October 15, 2023October 15, 2023; Sunday Morning Worship
Scripture: John 3:31-36
Order of Service
Call to Worship — Psalm 117:1-2
Hymn — From All That Dwell Below the Skies
Prayer of Invocation
Prayer of Confession — Psalm 51
Assurance of Pardon — Psalm 51:17
Scripture Reading — Jonah 1
Hymn — Softly and Tenderly Jesus Is Calling
Pastoral Prayer
Offering
Hymn — O God Beyond All Praising
Sermon
Hymn — Father, I Adore You
Benediction
Sermon Title: The Heavenly Witness, Faith, and Love of the Son
Scripture: John 3:31-36
I. A Heavenly Witness — John 3:31-32
A. Christ comes from above and is above all; he bears witness to heavenly truth in a way no earthly emissary can
John the Baptist, the greatest of the Old Testament prophets, speaks only from an earthly perspective as a mere mortal
The Father pours out the Spirit on the Son without measure (John 3:34), surpassing the measured gift given to Old Testament prophets
B. Christ's revelation is preeminent over all prior revelation
Hebrews 1:1-2 — God spoke through prophets, but in these last days he has spoken through his Son
The book of Hebrews consistently demonstrates that Jesus Christ is better than every Old Testament type and shadow
The Old Testament gives types, shadows, and earthly copies of heavenly truth; Christ is the fulfillment and the key to interpreting it
C. Proper hermeneutics requires reading the Old Testament through a christocentric lens
Hebrews 11 — what Abraham believed when he received the promises
Galatians 3 — the meaning of the Abrahamic covenant
Interpreting the Old Testament apart from Christ (as though the New Testament does not exist) leaves the reader without the greater, more preeminent revelation
II. A Heavenly Faith — John 3:32-33, 36
A. The tension between "no one receives his testimony" (v. 32) and "whoever receives his testimony" (v. 33) is resolved by the new birth
John 3:3 — unless one is born again (born from above) he cannot see the kingdom of God
No mere earthly person can grasp heavenly truth apart from the Spirit; those born from above are enabled to receive the Son's testimony
B. Receiving the testimony means setting one's seal that God is true (v. 33)
The seal in the ancient world was a king's mark of ownership and guarantee on a letter
The believer presses the truth of God in Christ deep into mind and heart with full conviction
C. John 3:36 — belief is equated with obedience; faith in the gospel is a divine command, not merely a suggestion
In the New Testament (e.g., Acts), the call to believe is often cast in the Greek imperative — a command
God's command to believe is an expression of his love and care for sinners, not harshness
Whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life; the wrath of God remains on him
III. A Heavenly Love — John 3:34-35
A. The Father's love for the Son is expressed through the Spirit poured out without measure on the Son
Orthodox Trinitarian understanding: the Spirit is the mutual bond of love between Father and Son
In the Incarnation, the Father lavishes love on the Son through the unmeasured Spirit, and out of that love gives the Son all things to accomplish redemption
B. Our salvation flows first from the Father's love for the Son, not directly from his love for us
The Father's love reaches us through the Son as through a prism — the warm light of his affection reaches us in and through Christ
This does not diminish but heightens the Father's love for us: his love for us is as great as his love for his Son, which is unmeasured
Michael Reeves: "Our love for the Son is an echo and an extension of the Father's eternal love; through the Spirit the Father allows us to share in the enjoyment of what most delights him — the Son"
C. The goal of salvation is to be brought into the joy the Father has always had in the Son
The Spirit is given so that we might delight in what the Father has always delighted in — the Son
Eternal life is co-heiring with the Son and basking in the Trinitarian love of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
31 min
October 15, 2023October 15, 2023; Sunday Evening Worship
Scripture: Ecclesiastes 3
Order of Service
Call to Worship — Psalm 100
Hymn — All People That on Earth Do Dwell (#1)
Prayer of Invocation
Psalm Reading — Psalm 19 (read responsively)
Hymn — All Creatures of Our God and King (#115)
Pastoral Prayer
Sermon
Hymn — It Is Well with My Soul (#691)
Benediction
Sermon Title: Living Well Through Every Season
Scripture: Ecclesiastes 3
I. A Seasonal Perspective on Time — Ecclesiastes 3:1–8
A. The list of seasons covers every aspect of human life — work, leisure, relationships, speech, politics, and possessions — leaving nothing untouched by time
There is no discernible poetic pattern in the list; the randomness is deliberate
The point: time's seasons are unpredictable and cannot be controlled by man
B. Living wisely means recognizing and responding rightly to the season you are in
Advocating a biblical truth in the wrong season can itself become unwise and unbiblical
Example: a grieving person needs weeping, not premature comfort of Romans 8:28
Example: Jesus distinguishes John the Baptist's season of fasting from his own season of feasting — the bridegroom is present (Matthew 9:14–15)
C. The seasons define us; how we respond to their objective reality reveals who we are
Leaders who misread their season make disastrous blunders (e.g., Chamberlain vs. Churchill)
God's Providence is best read backwards — in the midst of suffering we often cannot make sense of it
II. An Eternal Perspective on Time — Ecclesiastes 3:9–15
A. God has placed eternity in the human heart, yet man cannot know what God has done from beginning to end (Ecclesiastes 3:11)
B. The parallel with Romans 7: the soul longs for eternity but is bound to a body destined for dust
Paul's cry — "Who will deliver me from this body of death?" (Romans 7:24) — mirrors Solomon's dilemma
The answer in both cases: resignation to Christ, who knows the end from the beginning
C. Rather than fearing time, we fear God, who is sovereign over time
Illustration: children in the back seat of a car — they rest and play because they trust the father knows the route and the destination
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 1:7); Ecclesiastes 3:14 conveys this same truth
D. "He has made everything beautiful in its time" (Ecclesiastes 3:11) — beauty is perceived from the author's vantage point, not from within the dark chapter
Like a reader encountering a dark passage in a novel, the beauty is only fully seen when the ending is known
From beneath the sun: death, war, cancer appear only as grief; from God's perspective, all things work together for a beautiful end
III. A Righteous Perspective on Time — Ecclesiastes 3:16–17
A. Solomon observes wickedness even in places of justice and righteousness
B. Two different responses to injustice are contrasted within Solomon himself
Earlier (Ecclesiastes 2:15–17): "I hated life" — circumstances allowed to dominate the heart
Here: "God will judge the righteous and the wicked" — God's truth is deliberately borne down into the heart
C. The progression mirrors Job's journey from initial trust, to bitterness, to renewed God-centered perspective
D. The call is not passive indifference but righteous indignation
We are to think on whatever is excellent, pure, good, and true (Philippians 4:8)
The distinction is not whether we feel indignation, but whether it is self-righteous and man-centered or God-centered and righteous
IV. A Mortal Perspective on Time — Ecclesiastes 3:18–22
A. Man and beast share the same end under the sun — both return to the dust (Genesis 3:19)
The word "beast" is significant: man has acted like a dumb animal and ends like one under the sun
Solomon is conducting an empirical experiment — describing only what the senses observe beneath the sun
B. "Who can bring him to see what will be after him?" (Ecclesiastes 3:22) — no one under the sun can pierce the veil of death
Those who seek psychics after a loved one's death cannot find the answer there either
The counsel: do not waste life grasping for what cannot be known; instead, rejoice in your lot
C. Jesus Christ is the supreme example of living rightly through every season
"My time has not yet come" — and then, "The hour is at hand" (John 2:4; Matthew 26:45)
A time to be born, to die, to sleep, to be angry, to make peace, to bless, to be a curse, to have communion with the Father, and to cry out in desolation (Matthew 27:46)
No one has ever lived so fully according to the seasons the Father appointed — and his end was not the dust but the Father's throne
D. Christ now pours out his Spirit so that we may live above the sun with him
He is the author and perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:2)
Looking to Christ means learning from the way he met every season the Father gave him
By his Spirit we too may live well through every season and be where he is — forever
35 min
October 08, 2023"Ingredients for Humility"
Scripture: John 3:22-30
Order of Service
Announcements
Hymn — Now Thank We All Our God
Call to Worship — 1 Chronicles 29:10-13
Hymn — Now Thank We All Our God
Prayer of Invocation
Confession of Faith — Colossians 1:15-20
Scripture Reading — Acts 28:17-31
Hymn — Jesus Shall Reign
Pastoral Prayer
Offering
Prayer of Dedication
Hymn — I Surrender All
Sermon
Hymn — Rejoice, Ye Pure in Heart
Benediction
Sermon Title: Ingredients for Humility
Scripture: John 3:22-30
I. The Sovereignty of God as an Ingredient for Humility
A. John's response to his jealous disciples grounds humility in divine providence
John's disciples complain that Jesus is baptizing and drawing followers away from John
John's entire ministry was sovereignly appointed as forerunner to Christ; pride would contradict that calling
B. Verse 27: "A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven"
The statement is absolute — not one thing in life can be claimed as one's own apart from God's giving
John was at the height of his influence and in the prime of life, yet he accepted the sovereign withdrawal of that influence
This is not fatalism or stoicism but humble dependence on God's purpose to increase Christ in one's life
C. Application: What is God giving or taking away in this season of your life to cause Christ to increase?
II. The Word of God as an Ingredient for Humility
A. Verse 28: John appeals to what he had already declared — "I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him"
John's disciples had heard this testimony and yet came with jealousy, quickly forgetting God's word
This mirrors Israel's forgetfulness in the wilderness, at Sinai, and throughout redemptive history (cf. Deuteronomy 6, King Josiah)
B. The theme of remembrance runs throughout Scripture
Israel's entire calendar was structured to bring God's promises to remembrance
The Lord's Supper: "Do this in remembrance of me"
The Holy Spirit's role: John 14:26 — given so disciples would remember all Christ said
Peter's pattern: 2 Peter 1:12-13 — continual reminders to those already established in the truth
C. Warning against neglecting God's word
When God's word is neglected, the serpent's whisper — "Did God really say?" — becomes a shout
John's disciples loved his ministry yet missed its very substance: Christ
True listening means hiding Scripture deep in the heart, as Mary pondered these things (Luke 2)
D. Application: Do not neglect corporate worship, personal reading, prayer, and meditation on Scripture
III. The Joy of God as an Ingredient for Humility
A. Verses 29-30: John uses the image of the bridegroom and the friend of the bridegroom
In ancient Jewish weddings, the best man organized the wedding and brought the bride to the bridegroom, then stepped back to rejoice
It would be particularly heinous for the best man to take the bride for himself — John says he is the last person who would do so
B. The bride imagery draws on the Old Testament
Throughout the Old Testament, Israel is called the Lord's bride (e.g., Hosea 2:19 — "I will betroth you to me forever")
John declares Christ to be the fulfillment of Yahweh's covenant promise to re-betroth his people
C. John says, "This joy of mine is now complete"
Joy in its most perfected state is beholding God's salvation in the person of Jesus Christ
Cf. Simeon in Luke 2 — holding the infant Jesus and saying, "Now, Lord, you are letting your servant depart in peace"
D. The paradox of Christian joy
The world says joy comes through increase — status, influence, wealth, popularity
John says true joy comes through decrease: "He must increase, but I must decrease"
Whatever gives us our greatest joy is what we sacrifice for — the Christian's sacrifices are to be distinct, pointing to Christ
E. Application: The secret ingredient to humility is not primarily what you do (as Benjamin Franklin discovered) but who you know — knowing Jesus Christ is the fullness of joy, producing true humility, true peace, and willingness to sacrifice all for his increase
32 min
October 08, 2023October 8, 2023; Sunday Evening Worship
Scripture: Ecclesiastes 2:12-26
Order of Service
Call to Worship — Isaiah 42:10-12
Hymn — O Come Let Us Sing to the Lord (#13)
Prayer of Invocation
Psalm Reading — Psalm 18:25-36
Hymn — Day by Day and with Each Passing Moment (#676)
Pastoral Prayer
Scripture Reading — Ecclesiastes 2:12-26
Sermon
Hymn — O Father You Are Sovereign (#75)
Benediction
Sermon Title: Wisdom and Work in Light of Eternity
Scripture: Ecclesiastes 2:12-26
I. Wisdom Apart from God — Ecclesiastes 2:12-17
A. Solomon plays an experiment: he tests wisdom in a world "under the sun" — as if no sovereign God were in control
Ecclesiastes is not condemning wisdom, work, or other good things in themselves, but testing them as potential ultimate sources of meaning
The "wisdom" in view is not the fear-of-God wisdom of Proverbs 1:7, but practical, general, human wisdom
B. Wisdom has obvious benefits — it is better than folly as light is better than darkness (Ecclesiastes 2:13-14)
As a general rule, living responsibly and wisely pays off — even unbelievers can see this
But wisdom fails the permanence test: death is the great equalizer (Ecclesiastes 2:16)
The wise and the fool both die and are forgotten
C. The root problem: seeking Godlike wisdom
The Serpent's temptation in Genesis 3:5-6 — "you will be like God, knowing good and evil" — is the same pursuit Solomon is exposing
To seek wisdom as a god is to repeat Adam and Eve's error, which brought death and the curse
Post-Enlightenment philosophers who remove God and seek meaning through reason alone ultimately produce nothing lasting
Even modern AI illustrates the irony: technological wisdom leads to intellectual laziness and dependence
II. Work Apart from God — Ecclesiastes 2:18-23
A. The toil of a lifetime must be left to another after death — who may be a fool (Ecclesiastes 2:18-21)
All labor fails the permanence test just as wisdom does
Echoes God's curse on Adam: toil, thorns, and a return to dust
B. The portrait of the workaholic (Ecclesiastes 2:22-23)
All days are full of sorrow; even at night the heart does not rest
This is the person who sacrifices family and relationships to climb the corporate ladder
Work has become an idol — it consumes everything and gives no lasting joy
The so-called "greats" who sacrifice everything for their sport or career frequently leave behind broken families, and in time their records are broken and their names forgotten
C. Work as God turns a person inward and isolates them from others
The tireless athlete is never home; the workaholic at the beach ignores his children
When wisdom or work becomes an idol, we lose both God and the joy of human companionship
III. Wisdom and Work With God — Ecclesiastes 2:24-26
A. Solomon's positive conclusion: enjoyment in toil is a gift from God's hand (Ecclesiastes 2:24-25)
Wisdom and work are not bad — they are good gifts; the problem is making them gods
Apart from God, nothing can be truly enjoyed; with God, all good things are received freely as gifts
As Calvin observed, our hearts are perpetual idol factories — we lose God and immediately make whatever satisfies us into an idol
B. God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy to the one who pleases him (Ecclesiastes 2:26)
Eric Liddell in Chariots of Fire illustrates this: "God made me fast, and when I run I feel his pleasure" — the gift is enjoyed as a gift from God, not as an end in itself
The best workers and wisest people are those free to receive their work as gift rather than making it their god
C. Joy in wisdom and work is inseparable from community and companionship
Even before the fall, Adam's work in Paradise had a kind of incompleteness — he needed Eve to share the fruit of his labors with (Ecclesiastes 4:9 — "two are better than one")
Proverbs 27:9 — "oil and perfume make the heart glad, and so does the sweetness of a friend"
Ebenezer Scrooge illustrates the transformation: awakened by a glimpse of his own death, he begins using the fruits of his labor to enjoy friendship and family — living life backwards from death
D. The ultimate answer to the despair of life under the sun is Jesus Christ
Christ came down from life above the sun to live life under the sun, doing good and obeying God perfectly
On the cross he cried, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" — he knew the full weight of vanity and forsakenness
Rising from the dead, he brings a great company of friends with him — restoring the joy of companionship that sin destroyed
John Owen's insight: when we see Christ we will say "I have been waiting for this day," and Christ will say, "So have I"
Christ has risen victorious over the vanity of vanities for us — the answer to Solomon's despair is the cross and resurrection
32 min
October 01, 2023October 1, 2023; Sunday Evening Worship
Scripture: Ecclesiastes 1:12-2:11
Order of Service
Call to Worship — Psalm 98:1-9
Hymn — Come, Let Us Sing unto the Lord (#16)
Prayer of Invocation
Psalm Reading — Psalm 18:1-19
Hymn — God Is Our Refuge and Our Strength (#40)
Pastoral Prayer
Scripture Reading — Ecclesiastes 1:12–2:11
Sermon
Hymn — Be Thou My Vision (#642)
Benediction
Sermon Title: No Gain in Striving Under the Sun
Scripture: Ecclesiastes 1:12–2:11
I. Introduction: The Central Problem
A. The passage is part of the larger unified fabric of Ecclesiastes, which instructs in wisdom that works backward from death and is informed by faith
B. A shift occurs between Ecclesiastes 1:11 and 1:12: the preacher moves from third-person introduction to first-person autobiographical instruction
C. The central question from Ecclesiastes 1:3 — "What does man gain by all the toil at which he toils under the sun?" — is answered: there is no gain
D. Tonight's passage presents the problem; subsequent sermons will address the reason (Ecclesiastes 2:12-23) and the resolution (Ecclesiastes 2:24-26)
II. The Gainless Striving Is Given by God
A. The preacher's program (Ecclesiastes 1:13)
He applied his whole heart — all thinking and willing — to seek and search out by wisdom all that is done under heaven
Here wisdom is the instrument of his labor, not yet its object
B. The preacher's perspective (Ecclesiastes 1:14)
"I have seen" — the perspective is man-centered, creaturely, finite
"All is vanity and a striving after wind" — life is the pursuit of that which cannot be contained or held
C. The problem is God-given (Ecclesiastes 1:13, 15)
The preacher calls it "an unhappy business that God has given to the children of man to be busy with"
"What is crooked cannot be made straight, and what is lacking cannot be counted" — our striving to fix things proves futile
This echoes God's curse on Adam in Genesis 3: painful, unending, repetitive toil marks all of life
D. The God-given nature of this problem is meant to surprise and reassure
The alternative perspectives — blind chance or vague fate — offer no comfort
God's sovereignty means the unhappy business is not random, arbitrary, or purposeless
C.S. Lewis, The Great Divorce: "Heaven, once attained, will work backwards and turn even that agony into a glory"
Faith gives an eternal perspective that already begins to work backwards, changing how we see all of life now
III. The Gainless Striving Is Pursued in Possessing
A. The pursuit to possess wisdom proves gainless (Ecclesiastes 1:16-18)
The preacher comforts himself in his surpassing wisdom and knowledge, basking in comparative abundance over others
He forgets the Giver for the gift — quantity of wisdom becomes an end in itself
Dissatisfied, he adds "madness and folly" — experimental knowledge of evil — to his wisdom, as Eve before him tasted what was forbidden (Genesis 3)
True wisdom is rooted in the fear of the Lord (Proverbs 3); when Godly wisdom is collected like trinkets and mixed with worldly experimentation, it leaves the preacher vexed and proves gainless
B. The pursuit to possess pleasure proves gainless (Ecclesiastes 2:1-10)
The preacher gives himself over to pure hedonism — laughter, drunkenness, great building projects, gardens, pools, slaves, herds, silver, gold, singers, and concubines
The "striving self" is at the center (David Gibson); the preacher speaks to his own heart and pursues whatever causes pleasure
He achieved partial success: "my heart found pleasure in all my toil, and this was my reward" (Ecclesiastes 2:10) — a brief buzz, fleeting fulfillment, short-lived significance
Illustration: Tom Brady, after winning his third Super Bowl, said in a 60 Minutes interview: "There's got to be more than this… I wish I knew" — the striving self can never be satisfied
C. The verdict (Ecclesiastes 2:11)
"Behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun"
We are not so different from the preacher — we too fall into thinking that more possessions, better experiences, or greater achievements will bring lasting meaning
IV. Conclusion: A Better Perspective, Not Better Pursuits
A. The answer is not to dismiss gifts or live in ineffectiveness
Charles Bridges: "God would have us rejoice in our labor, enjoy our earthly blessings, but not rest in them. Let earth be the cistern only, not the fountain."
B. Christ is the answer
As the eternal Son of God, Christ had everything and gave it all up to give his people all the gain they would ever need — himself
Matthew 11:28: "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest"
C. David Gibson: "There is no gain to be had under the sun — and that's precisely the point. None need be sought. The striving doesn't even need to happen, because, believer, you already have all that you need in Christ."
34 min
September 24, 2023September 24, 2023; Sunday Morning Worship
Scripture: John3:1-15
Order of Service
Hymn — When Morning Gilds the Skies
Call to Worship — Psalm 34:1-3
Hymn — When Morning Gilds the Skies (continued)
Prayer of Invocation
Confession of Faith — Westminster Larger Catechism Q. 59
Admission of Communicant Member — Gabriella Wadley
Prayer
Hymn — Jesus Shall Reign
Pastoral Prayer
Offering
Prayer of Dedication
Hymn — Breathe on Me, Breath of God
Sermon
Prayer
Hymn — Lift High the Cross
Benediction
Sermon Title: Supernatural Sight, Knowledge, and Content in the New Birth
Scripture: John 3:1-15
I. Supernatural Eyes
A. The crowds at Jerusalem saw Jesus's signs and believed superficially, but Jesus did not entrust himself to them because he knew what was in man (John 2:23-24)
B. Nicodemus represents those who see Jesus's signs and respect him as a teacher sent from God, but have not yet seen the kingdom of God in Christ (John 3:2-3)
Nicodemus was likely a member of the Sanhedrin — called "the teacher of Israel" by Jesus (John 3:10)
Physical eyes can produce great respect for Jesus but cannot bring saving recognition of who he truly is
C. Only a supernatural, Spirit-wrought new birth enables a person to see the kingdom of God (John 3:3)
The Greek of "born again" can equally be rendered "born from above," emphasizing the heavenly origin of this birth
The disciples — mere fishermen, not experts — were granted by the Father through the Spirit to see Christ's glory at Cana (John 2:11)
Peter's confession illustrates the same truth: "flesh and blood has not revealed this to you… but my Father in heaven" (Matthew 16:17)
D. The wind analogy: the Spirit's work is sovereign and mysterious, known by its effects, not controlled or predicted by man (John 3:8)
Leon Morris: the natural man may have contact with the spiritual man but knows neither the origin of the life in him nor his final destiny
1 Corinthians 2:14 — the natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God; they are folly to him
Salvation is not synergistic but monergistic — entirely God's sovereign work from beginning to end
II. Supernatural Knowledge
A. The exchange between Jesus and Nicodemus is fundamentally about understanding the Old Testament scriptures (John 3:5-10)
Jesus is astonished that the teacher of Israel cannot grasp what he is saying
"Born of water and the Spirit" should be read as a unified concept, not two separate things
B. Nicodemus as an Old Testament expert should have recognized the Spirit-and-water theme running through the prophets
Joel 2:28 — God will pour out his Spirit on all flesh
Isaiah 32:15 — until the Spirit is poured upon us from on high
Isaiah 44:3 — I will pour water on the thirsty land and my Spirit on your offspring
Ezekiel 36:25-27 — I will sprinkle clean water on you… give you a new heart… put my Spirit within you (likely the passage Jesus most expected Nicodemus to connect)
C. The serpent in the wilderness foreshadows Christ lifted up on the cross (Numbers 21; John 3:14)
Those bitten by serpents were saved by looking at the bronze serpent on the pole
Jesus draws a direct parallel to his own being lifted up on the cross
D. The distinction between inspiration and illumination is key
Inspiration: the Spirit carried along the biblical writers to produce God's authoritative, closed Canon (2 Peter 1:21)
Illumination: the Spirit enables believers today to rightly grasp and apply the inspired scriptures
John Owen on John Bunyan: learning without the Spirit's illumination cannot grip hearts; the Spirit can work through the uneducated as powerfully as through the most learned
III. Supernatural Content
A. Jesus alone brings heavenly truth because he alone descended from heaven (John 3:13)
If you want to know about a place, ask someone who comes from there
If you want the Spirit of God, you must go to Jesus
B. The Spirit's work is inseparably tied to Christ lifted up on the cross (John 3:14-15)
In John's Gospel, "lifted up" consistently refers to Christ's crucifixion
Even the true disciples showed much ignorance during Jesus's ministry; the full furtherance of the Spirit's illumination came through beholding the cross
Christ's descent into death and judgment, followed by resurrection and ascension, is the primary means by which the Spirit illumines dead hearts to who Christ is
C. The pouring out of the Spirit flows from the death, resurrection, and ascension of Christ
George Whitfield on Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress: "ministers never write or preach so well as when under the cross; the Spirit of Christ and of glory then rests upon them"
Those who thirst for more of the Spirit must sit often at the cross of Calvary and take up their own cross
D. Practical exhortations
Pray continually for the Spirit to give and renew the eyes of faith
Never stop sitting at the foot of the cross
If you have not yet bowed the knee to Christ, pray this day for the Spirit's illumination
29 min
September 24, 2023September 24, 2023; Sunday Evening Worship
Scripture: Ecclesiastes 1
Order of Service
Call to Worship — Psalm 145
Hymn — O God Beyond All Praising (#660)
Prayer of Invocation
Psalm Reading — Psalm 17
Hymn — O God Our Help in Ages Past (#30)
Pastoral Prayer
Sermon
Hymn — This Is My Father's World (#111)
Benediction — 2 Corinthians 13:14
Sermon Title: Uncovering Reality Under the Sun
Scripture: Ecclesiastes 1:1–11
I. The Proper Place of Our Reality
A. The phrase "under the sun" situates mankind in a fallen world marked by death, disease, and decay
B. All people — believer and unbeliever alike — experience the devastation of this fallen place
C. Mankind's foolish response is to construct illusions that escape rather than reckon with this reality
D. The preacher echoes Mark 8:36–37: there is no surplus gain from all our toil; everything returns to dust
Jesus' words in Mark 8 likely echo Ecclesiastes 1:3 — what does it profit a man to gain the whole world?
The call is to face the fallen place honestly so we can receive the proper antidote: Christ crucified
E. Ecclesiastes is a gospel book — it dismantles the illusion so we may die to life under the sun and live to life above the sun in Christ
II. The Proper Period of Time of Our Reality
A. "Under the sun" conveys not only place but time — the sun marks seasons, days, and years (Genesis 1:14)
B. "Vanity of vanities" is best translated as breath, vapor, or mist — conveying the fleeting nature of life
Psalm 39 — all mankind stands as a mere breath
Psalm 144 — man is like a breath; his days are like a passing shadow
C. Culture's response to time is the grand illusion that we can control it — acting young indefinitely, avoiding talk of death, perpetuating a lifelong mid-life crisis
Social media promotes "fake it till you make it" — posting adventure and excitement to construct an illusory life
Our cultural role models are the young, who have not yet experienced the cruelty of time
D. The proper response to time is an eternal perspective
Time is on loan from the eternal God; each moment is a gift, not something to be mastered
When we are absorbed in the Timeless One, we are freed from anxiety about time and open to enjoy each season as God's gift
We are defined not by time but by the eternal One who has come to us in Christ
III. The Proper Patterns and Rhythms of Our Reality
A. Ecclesiastes 1:4–11 answers the question of verse 3: there is no gain in all our toil under the sun
B. A threefold pattern in creation (Ecclesiastes 1:5–8) mirrors the pattern of man's existence
The sun, the wind, and the streams all return to their place in endless cycles
Man (Adam) is made from the ground (adamah) and correlates to these rhythms
Man's voice, eyes, and ears are each full of weariness — nothing seen, said, or heard fully satisfies
C. There is nothing new under the sun (Ecclesiastes 1:9–10) — not meaning no new inventions, but that nothing new can break the cycle and satisfy us (Gibson)
D. There is no lasting remembrance (Ecclesiastes 1:11) — people and the creation itself forget us; we return to dust as do all things
E. The conclusion is not despair but liberation — embrace the rhythms and patterns; stop the futile rat race
C.S. Lewis: the pleasure of novelty is most subject to the law of diminishing returns
Make new discoveries as creature in the Creator's world, not as a would-be creator inside a self-made illusion
True contentment and peace come only when we live within the reality of our creatureliness before the sovereign Creator
F. The freedom to fail — knowing the world will go on as it always has gives courage to pursue, discover, and try without the crushing weight of ultimate stakes
G. Gibson's summary: the preacher shows us what we should and should not expect from life — there is no gain to be had under the sun, and therefore none need be sought; and there is freedom in that
32 min
September 17, 2023September 17, 2023; Sunday Evening Worship
Order of Service
Call to Worship — Psalm 69
Hymn — O Worship the King (#2)
Prayer of Invocation
Sermon
Hymn — Amazing Grace (#460)
Benediction — 2 Corinthians 13:14
Sermon Title: Wisdom for Life in a Fallen World
Scripture: Ecclesiastes 1:1-18
I. Ecclesiastes: Wisdom for Life
A. The author is the Preacher (Qohelet), most naturally identified as Solomon — son of David, King over all Israel in Jerusalem
Only Solomon can be described as son of David who ruled over a united Israel in Jerusalem; after his death the kingdom split
He calls himself "the Preacher" (Hebrew: Qohelet), meaning one who gathers or convenes — his purpose is to gather people around him to instruct them in wisdom
B. Solomon's wisdom was unparalleled
In 1 Kings 3, Solomon asked God for wisdom to lead his people rightly, and God granted it abundantly
1 Kings 4 records that God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding beyond measure, surpassing all the wisdom of the East and Egypt
C. Ecclesiastes is likely written late in Solomon's life, after his personal fall
The Book of Proverbs represents Solomon at the height of his power imparting wisdom to his sons
Ecclesiastes represents the gray-haired, experienced Solomon inviting anyone who will listen to glean the wisdom of a long and complicated life
Just as C.S. Lewis wrote The Problem of Pain before loss and A Grief Observed after, experience brings new and deeper wisdom
D. The preacher covers wisdom for every facet of life: wisdom itself, work and labor, wealth, relationships, and the changing seasons of life
E. The source of all wisdom is one Shepherd — Ecclesiastes 12:11
Charles Bridges: wisdom pricks sharply and holds firmly
Though the collected sayings come through many wise men, they are given by one Lord
II. Ecclesiastes: Wisdom for Life While Reflecting on Death
A. The key word of the book: hebel — vapor or mist — Ecclesiastes 1:2
The Hebrew word hebel occurs 37 times in Ecclesiastes
Common translations include "vanity," "meaninglessness," or "futility," but "vapor" or "mist" better captures the sense of weightlessness and transience
The preacher is not asserting that life is meaningless, but that it is fleeting and passing like a breath
B. The preacher writes from near the end of life, looking back on everything pursued — wisdom, folly, pleasure, labor — and sees the transitory nature of it all
Generations come and go; the wind and streams cycle endlessly with no lasting gain — Ecclesiastes 1:4-7
In the end, desire fails and the dust returns to the earth — Ecclesiastes 12:7
C. Death as the lens for wisdom — David Gibson, Living Life Backward
Life is complex and messy, but there is a straightforward way to view it: the end will put it all right
Ecclesiastes teaches us to take the one certain future reality — our death — and work backward from it into the decisions, heartaches, and details of our lives
It is the destination that makes sense of the journey
D. Death is the great equalizer — rich and poor, those who enjoyed every pleasure and those who enjoyed none, all will die; what does the end say about the beginning and the middle?
III. Ecclesiastes: Wisdom for Life While Reflecting on Death, Informed by Faith
A. Faith is the heart of the book — without it, Ecclesiastes would be cold, miserable philosophy; death is the lens but faith is the atmosphere
B. The epilogue of the book — Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 — is not a later addition but the culmination of the preacher's whole argument
Some scholars argue these final verses are disconnected from the rest of the book, but the faith of the preacher is at the heart of everything he writes
The end of the matter: fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man
C. Fear of God must come first
This is not a cowering fear but a reverential, worshipful fear — a word-formed fear that moves us toward God, not away from him
Keeping the commandments flows naturally as the fruit of right fear and love for God
D. The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy him forever (Westminster Shorter Catechism, Q. 1)
E. The refrain of joy appears three times in Ecclesiastes — Ecclesiastes 2:24-26, 5:18-20, 8:15
"Eat, drink, and find enjoyment in all your toil, for this is the gift of God"
This is not the nihilist's "eat and drink, for tomorrow we die" — it is a joyful receiving of good gifts from a gracious Creator
Both the gifts themselves (food, drink, work) and the ability to enjoy them are given by God
By faith we can see the mundane and everyday as gifts from the hand of a gracious Creator
F. The hope of Ecclesiastes: joy is possible in the midst of a fallen world when sought rightly, in the right things, from the right source
G. By faith, death is our lens now — but there will come a day when it falls to the rearview mirror — 1 Corinthians 15:54-57
When the perishable puts on the imperishable, death is swallowed up in victory
Thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ
33 min
September 10, 2023September 10, 2023; Sunday Evening Worship
Scripture: Matthew 7: 24-29
Order of Service
Call to Worship — Psalm 149
Hymn — Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing (#457)
Prayer of Invocation
Responsive Reading — Psalm 16
Hymn — Psalm 16 (#692)
Pastoral Prayer
Sermon
Hymn — A Mighty Fortress Is Our God (#92)
Benediction
Sermon Title: Building on the Rock
Scripture: Matthew 7:24-29
I. The Sweat of the Rock — True Disciples Are Doers, Not Merely Hearers
A. A wise builder digs down to bedrock, not building on the deceptively hard surface of sand
First-century builders on the Sea of Galilee had to dig up to ten feet below the surface to find solid bedrock before winter floods came
Jesus, likely drawing on his experience as a carpenter, knows what solid building requires
B. It is not enough to nod in agreement with Christ's teaching — we must actively apply it
Matthew 7:21 — Not everyone who says "Lord, Lord" will enter the kingdom; only those who do the will of the Father
In Scripture, to truly "hear" a command is to obey it — a child who does not clean the room has not really heard
C. Bunyan's character Talkative in Pilgrim's Progress illustrates self-deception: saying and doing are different things
Christian warns Faithful that Talkative's lofty spiritual speech is not matched by his life
Jerome: "Be ever active and engaged, so that when the devil calls he might find you occupied"
II. The Source of the Rock — Christ as Confessed in Redemptive History
A. Jesus does not contrast general rockiness with general sandiness — there is one definite Rock, not just any bedrock
This parallels Matthew 7:13-14 — the narrow gate is one specific way, while the wide gate has many doors
B. The Rock is Christ, as confessed in Peter's declaration in Matthew 16
Jesus asks who the disciples say he is; Peter confesses: "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God"
Jesus calls Peter a rock because of his confession — the church is built on that confession of Christ
C. Proper confession is not vague but rooted in the full canon of Scripture and redemptive history
Peter's confession is a Jew identifying Jesus as Israel's Messiah — the fulfillment of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, and David
Sermons in Acts demonstrate this: Peter's Pentecost sermon (Acts 2) and Stephen's sermon (Acts 7) retell Israel's whole story culminating in Christ
To confess Christ is to enter into his story, not to invite Christ into ours
1 Timothy 3:16 — "Great indeed is the mystery of godliness" — the confession of Christ is the foundation of godliness
D. Corporate liturgy and reciting the Psalms are practices that orient hearts away from self and into the story of God centered on Christ
III. The Supremacy of the Rock — Christ Teaches with Divine Authority
A. The scribes customarily quoted earlier scribes; Jesus broke with this tradition by saying "But I say to you" — claiming divine authority directly
He does not appeal to Isaiah or Joel but speaks on his own authority
B. Matthew says the crowds were astonished — a word used in the New Testament almost exclusively for encounters with the majesty of God
Mark 6:51 — disciples astonished after Jesus walks on water
Luke 9:43 — all astonished at the majesty of God after the healing of the boy with an unclean spirit
C. The crowds are astonished not by a miracle but by Christ's teaching alone
Romans 1:16 — the gospel is the power of God unto salvation; the proclaimed word itself manifests the majesty of God
This is why the Reformers placed the preached and read Word at the center of worship
D. Luke 24:32 — on the Emmaus Road, the disciples' hearts burned within them as Christ opened the Scriptures and showed how all of it points to him
Christocentric preaching — the Spirit opening Scripture to reveal Christ — is what causes hearts to burn
Sitting regularly under the Word, with prepared hearts, is what keeps us standing on the Rock that cannot be shaken
25 min

About Northpointe PCA Sermons

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Weekly expository preaching from the Lord’s Day morning and evening worship services at Northpointe Presbyterian Church (PCA) in Meridian, Mississippi.

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