Northpointe PCA Sermons

Northpointe PCA Sermons

By Northpointe Presbyterian ChurchReligion & SpiritualityChristianity
Download on the App Store

Northpointe PCA Sermons episodes

  • October 2, 2022; Sunday Evening Worship

    Scripture: Galatians 2:11-14

    Order of Service
    • Call to Worship — Psalm 146
    • Hymn — Hallelujah, Praise Jehovah (#57)
    • Shorter Catechism — Questions 65–66 (Fifth Commandment)
    • Hymn — A Christian Home (#719)
    • Pastoral Prayer
    • Scripture Reading — Galatians 2:11-14
    • Sermon
    • Closing Prayer
    • Hymn — Gracious Spirit, Dwell with Me (#335)
    • Benediction
      • Sermon Title: Gospel Faithfulness and the Fear of Men

      Scripture: Galatians 2:11-14

      I. Gospel Unfaithfulness Due to the Fear of Men

      A. Peter had been freely eating with the Gentiles, but when men from James arrived, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing the circumcision party (Galatians 2:12)

      B. Peter's prior pattern of fearing men is seen in his three denials of Christ — not from doctrinal doubt but from fear of the crowd

      C. The fear of man is a powerful weapon in Satan's arsenal, used not only in grand, landmark moments but in ordinary daily pressures

      1. We may never face a "here I stand" moment like Luther at the Diet of Worms or Polycarp before the emperor, but we face many microcosmic versions daily
      2. Peter's failure was not a grand theological decision — it was the equivalent of leaving the "uncool kids' table" when the popular crowd arrived

        3. D. The antidote to the fear of man is preparation through meditation on God — his holiness, goodness, faithfulness, and love

        1. Proverbs teaches that wisdom begins with the fear of God; the "simple" are those who live by the fear of man
        2. Daily meditation on God's Word trains our instincts so that we gravitate toward the glory of God rather than the approval of men
          3. II. Gospel Unfaithfulness Due to Superior Men

          A. Peter's departure acted like a steering wheel — wherever he went, the rest of the Jews followed, and even Barnabas was led astray (Galatians 2:13)

          B. Paul expresses shock that Barnabas, his longtime ministry partner who witnessed the Spirit poured out on the Gentiles and stood with him at the Jerusalem Council (Acts 15), would be swept away

          C. Peter was the chief Apostle — the "superior" — and blind deference to superiors is another of Satan's tactics for pulling the church from gospel truth

          1. The Reformation was built on Sola Scriptura precisely because the reformers recognized that without Scripture as the sole authority, the traditions and positions of men would lead the church astray
          2. All five Reformation Solas depend on Sola Scriptura as their foundation

            3. D. Church leaders hold authority that is ministerial and declarative only — they lead insofar as they minister and declare the truths of Christ; their authority ends where their conduct or doctrine departs from the gospel

            E. There is a hidden polemic against the claims of Rome here: Paul publicly opposes Peter — the supposed rock of the papacy — demonstrating that even Peter was not above Scripture or the gospel

            III. Gospel Unfaithfulness Opposed by Godly Men

            A. Paul's opposition to Peter stands out as one of the clearest demonstrations of his zeal for the gospel

            1. Paul himself had been a Pharisee of Pharisees — a member of the circumcision party (Philippians 3:5-6) — making the temptation to join the crowd especially strong
            2. Yet he stays put, so enamored with the freedom of the gospel that he will not return to its chains

              3. B. Paul opposes Peter publicly, before them all (Galatians 2:14)

              1. 1 Timothy 5:20 — elders who persist in sin are to be rebuked publicly before the congregation so that others may stand in fear
              2. Public figures whose sin leads the people astray must be publicly admonished for the safety and sanctity of those they serve
              3. Calvin: "Those who have sinned publicly must be publicly chastised, so that their sin may not by remaining unpunished form a dangerous example for the flock"

                4. C. Paul opposes Peter directly, to his face — not in a corner with like-minded critics

                1. Matthew 18:15 — if your brother sins, go and show him his fault between you and him alone
                2. Going directly to a brother or sister who is straying is one of the most loving things we can do for them and for the whole body
                3. 1 Corinthians 5:6 — a little leaven leavens the whole lump; unaddressed sin spreads through the congregation

                  4. D. Had Paul been silent, Peter's hypocrisy would have continued and deep confusion would have settled into the church at Antioch — the gospel itself was at stake

                  E. Application: We are often more like Peter than Paul — silenced by the fear of man or the influence of superiors — yet nothing is more precious than the gospel, and we are called to defend it in both word and conduct

                  29 min
                4. Don't Touch the Lord's Anointed

                  Scripture: 2 Samuel 1:1-16

                  Order of Service
                  • Call to Worship — Psalm 95:1-7
                  • Hymn — Come, Christians, Join to Sing
                  • Prayer of Invocation
                  • Confession of Faith — Athanasian Creed
                  • Scripture Reading — Acts 15:1-21
                  • Hymn — Spirit of God, Descend Upon My Heart
                  • Pastoral Prayer
                  • Offering
                  • Hymn — Great King of Nations, Hear Our Prayer
                  • Sermon
                  • Prayer
                  • Hymn — I'd Rather Have Jesus
                  • Benediction — Psalm 20:1-2
                    • Sermon Title: Don't Touch the Lord's Anointed

                    Scripture: 2 Samuel 1:1-16

                    I. Exposition of 2 Samuel 1:1-16

                    A. David at Ziklag receives an Amalekite messenger bearing news of Israel's defeat and the deaths of Saul and Jonathan (2 Samuel 1:1-4)

                    1. The Amalekite falls down and pays homage to David, signaling a shift of allegiance from Saul to David
                    2. David asks how the man knows Saul and Jonathan are dead

                      3. B. The Amalekite's account (2 Samuel 1:6-10)

                      1. He claims to have been at Mount Gilboa by chance and to have killed Saul at Saul's own request — a mercy killing
                      2. He takes Saul's crown and armlet (Royal regalia) and brings them to David, expecting reward
                      3. This account contradicts 1 Samuel 31:4-5, where Saul takes his own life — the Amalekite is lying

                        4. C. David's response: mourning, not celebration (2 Samuel 1:11-12)

                        1. David and his men tear their clothes, weep, and fast over the deaths of Saul, Jonathan, and the people of Israel
                        2. This reaction likely unsettles the Amalekite, who expected praise

                          3. D. David executes the Amalekite (2 Samuel 1:13-16)

                          1. David rebukes him: "How is it you were not afraid to put out your hand to destroy the Lord's anointed?"
                          2. "Your blood be on your own head, for your own mouth has testified against you"
                          3. This constitutes a violation of the sixth commandment — even a so-called mercy killing is murder; a proof text against euthanasia and assisted suicide

                            4. E. Key ironies in the passage

                            1. The Amalekite's lie, intended to bring reward, brings his death instead
                            2. Saul's armor-bearer refused to strike Saul because he was the Lord's anointed (1 Samuel 31:4); the Amalekite had no such fear
                            3. David twice refused to kill Saul when he had opportunity — at En-gedi (1 Samuel 24) and in the wilderness of Ziph (1 Samuel 26)
                            4. The passage opens with David returning from striking down the Amalekites (2 Samuel 1:1); it was Saul's failure to destroy the Amalekites that cost him the crown (1 Samuel 15)
                            5. David is shown to be the true king — not by receiving stolen regalia, but by destroying the Amalekites and waiting on God
                              6. II. Application: You Cannot Deceive God

                              A. The wicked fall into their own traps — Proverbs' recurring theme of the schemer caught in his own pit

                              1. The Amalekite's deception, aimed at winning favor with God's king (God's vice-regent), brings swift destruction
                              2. This mirrors the account of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5 — lying before God's appointed leaders brings death
                              3. Members of the Corinthian church eating and drinking unworthily at the Lord's Supper fell ill and died (1 Corinthians 11)

                                4. B. Those within the Covenant community are held to a higher standard — "the older child knows better"

                                C. God is omniscient and omnipresent; He looks upon the heart — deception within the body of Christ invites God's judgment

                                III. Application: We Are Called to Mourn Over the Failures of God's People

                                A. David's first response to Israel's defeat is lamentation, not satisfaction

                                1. Despite Saul's wickedness, David does not rejoice at his destruction
                                2. This is the pattern of faithful covenant love

                                  3. B. Paul models the same posture toward Israel's unbelief in Romans 9:2-3

                                  1. "I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart... I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers"

                                    2. C. The downfall of churches, pastors, and denominations should provoke grief, mourning, and fasting — not schadenfreude or tribalism

                                    IV. Application: We Must Trust in God's Good Timing

                                    A. David refused twice to seize the throne by killing Saul, trusting God's timing instead

                                    1. He refuses again here to accept the armlet and crown through an ungodly act

                                      2. B. Historical examples of waiting on God's timing rather than grabbing opportunity outside His standards

                                      1. John Hooper (English Reformer, Bishop of Gloucester) refused an unbiblical oath and unscriptural vestments, accepting imprisonment rather than compromise, and waited for an honorable resolution
                                      2. Eric Liddell refused to race the 100 meters at the 1924 Olympics because it fell on Sunday; he raced the 400 meters instead and won gold

                                        3. C. The supreme example: Jesus Christ

                                        1. He refused to be taken by force and made king (John 6:15)
                                        2. He rode into Jerusalem on a donkey, not as a conquering warrior
                                        3. He declared to Pilate, "My kingdom is not of this world" (John 18:36)
                                        4. He submitted to the cross rather than grasp divine prerogative — "he did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped" (Philippians 2:6)
                                        5. The result: He now sits enthroned with all rule and authority over heaven and earth

                                          6. D. The call to imitate Christ, the Lord's Anointed

                                          1. When opportunities arise, ask: am I more like the Amalekite — dishonoring the Lord's anointed — or like David — honoring him?
                                          2. Waiting on God's timing conforms us to Christ and leads to sharing in His glory through union with Him by faith
                                            3. 32 min
                                          3. September 25, 2022; Sunday Evening Worship

                                            Scripture: Galatians 2:1-10

                                            Order of Service
                                            • Call to Worship — Psalm 150
                                            • Hymn — Praise to the Lord, the Almighty (#53)
                                            • Westminster Shorter Catechism — Questions 63 & 64 (Fifth Commandment)
                                            • Hymn — Let Children Hear the Mighty Deeds (#364)
                                            • Pastoral Prayer
                                            • Sermon
                                            • Hymn — How Firm a Foundation (#94)
                                            • Benediction — Numbers 6:24-26
                                              • Sermon Title: God Faithfully Preserves His Gospel Without Obstacle

                                              Scripture: Galatians 2:1-10

                                              I. God Preserves His Gospel by the Endorsement of the Church

                                              A. Paul's second journey to Jerusalem, 14 years after his conversion

                                              1. Paul had been preaching the gospel to Gentiles since his calling on the Damascus Road — set apart even before birth (Galatians 1:15)
                                              2. The background to this visit is the prophecy of Agabus foretelling a famine, prompting Paul and Barnabas to bring aid to poor believers in Judea (Acts 11)
                                              3. God orchestrated this mission so that Paul could gain a private, official meeting with the Jerusalem apostles

                                                4. B. Paul presents his gospel before the influential apostles privately

                                                1. His purpose: not that he himself doubted his gospel, but so the broader church would not think he had been running in vain
                                                2. Application: what is proclaimed from the pulpit matters eternally — a false gospel believed leads to eternal condemnation; the true gospel must be carefully preserved and examined

                                                  3. C. Titus, a Greek believer, is brought as a living example

                                                  1. The Jerusalem apostles did not compel Titus to be circumcised, demonstrating unity around the gospel of grace
                                                  2. False brothers had secretly infiltrated to spy out the freedom believers have in Christ Jesus, seeking to bring them back into slavery — Galatians 2:4
                                                  3. Paul and his companions did not yield even for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might be preserved

                                                    4. D. The apostles extend the right hand of fellowship to Paul and Barnabas

                                                    1. James, Cephas (Peter), and John — the pillars — recognized the grace given to Paul
                                                    2. They affirmed the same gospel: Paul entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised, Peter to the circumcised — one gospel, two mission fields — Galatians 2:7-9
                                                    3. This endorsement was not for Paul's sake but for the church's confidence — including the Galatians and believers today
                                                      4. II. God Preserves His Gospel as It Expands to the Nations

                                                      A. It has always been God's purpose to include the nations in his saving work

                                                      1. The blessing of the nations was already in view when God met Abraham — Genesis 12
                                                      2. The Great Commission sends the church to make disciples of all nations — Matthew 28:19-20
                                                      3. The arc of Acts moves the gospel from Jerusalem to Judea, Samaria, and the ends of the earth

                                                        4. B. Titus illustrates the expansion: a pagan Greek who has come to faith in Christ, one of many Gentiles turning from many gods to the one Lord Jesus Christ

                                                        C. The gospel transforms everything it touches

                                                        1. Paul, once breathing murderous threats against Jewish Christians, now brings them financial aid and preaches life
                                                        2. Gentile converts, once enemies of God's people, now support poor Jewish believers — a picture of unity across ethnic lines
                                                        3. The gospel turns hostility into affectionate concern, and death into life

                                                          4. D. The preserved gospel has come to the ends of the earth — including Meridian, Mississippi

                                                          1. Believers today are recipients of the same gospel proclaimed in Jerusalem
                                                          2. Salvation by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone has been faithfully handed down because God is faithful to preserve what is his
                                                          3. The gospel brings freedom from condemnation, freedom from bondage to sin, and transformation of the heart — Galatians 2:4; Isaiah 55:11
                                                            4. 30 min
                                                          4. September 18, 2022; Sunday Evening Worship

                                                            Scripture: Galatians 1:11-24

                                                            Order of Service
                                                            • Call to Worship — Psalm 5:11-12
                                                            • Hymn — To God Be the Glory (#55)
                                                            • Shorter Catechism — Questions 61–62 (Fourth Commandment)
                                                            • Hymn — A Day of Rest and Gladness (#392)
                                                            • Pastoral Prayer
                                                            • Scripture Reading — Galatians 1:11-24
                                                            • Sermon
                                                            • Closing Prayer
                                                            • Hymn — My Faith Has Found a Resting Place (#468)
                                                            • Benediction
                                                              • Sermon Title: The Apostle, the Gospel, and the Grace That Cannot Be Earned

                                                              Scripture: Galatians 1:11-24

                                                              I. The Source of the Gospel Paul Preached

                                                              A. Paul's opening defense: the gospel he preached is not man's gospel (Galatians 1:11-12)

                                                              1. He did not receive it from any man, nor was he taught it by men
                                                              2. He received it through a direct revelation of Jesus Christ

                                                                3. B. The uniqueness of the true gospel

                                                                1. No other religion offers God incarnate suffering and dying for sinners
                                                                2. The charge of the gospel: believe upon the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved — not a works-based system
                                                                3. To corrupt it with works is to reject Christ himself
                                                                  4. II. Paul's Biographical Defense of His Apostleship

                                                                  A. Paul's former life in Judaism (Galatians 1:13-14)

                                                                  1. He persecuted the church violently and tried to destroy it
                                                                  2. He advanced beyond his peers in zeal for the traditions of his fathers
                                                                  3. In persecuting Christians, Paul was persecuting Jesus himself (Acts 9)

                                                                    4. B. Paul's humility on display — his past achievements he counts as rubbish (Philippians 3)

                                                                    1. Education and zeal for the law apart from grace only heap up condemnation
                                                                    2. The sanctified mind, however, is God's instrument for saving lost sinners and building up the body

                                                                      3. C. The warning to the Galatians — and to us

                                                                      1. To return to the law as any ground of justification is to reject the gospel
                                                                      2. As the author of Hebrews warns, it is to crucify the Son of God afresh
                                                                      3. Salvation is by grace alone through faith alone: Ephesians 2:8-9
                                                                        4. III. God's Sovereign and Predestinating Call

                                                                        A. Paul set apart before birth (Galatians 1:15-16)

                                                                        1. God's choice of Paul preceded any achievement or merit on Paul's part
                                                                        2. Paul's calling mirrors that of Jeremiah: Jeremiah 1:5
                                                                        3. God was pleased to reveal his Son to Paul and in Paul

                                                                          4. B. Application to every believer

                                                                          1. Conversion — whether dramatic or quiet — is entirely the work of God's grace
                                                                          2. Christ revealed to us and in us by the Holy Spirit explains the drastic change in every believer

                                                                            3. C. Paul's subsequent movements confirm the independence of his apostleship (Galatians 1:17-24)

                                                                            1. He did not consult with the Jerusalem apostles immediately — he went to Arabia
                                                                            2. After three years he visited only Peter and James, and briefly
                                                                            3. The churches of Judea glorified God at hearing of his transformation — confirming the miracle of his conversion
                                                                              4. IV. Two Takeaways for the Church

                                                                              A. There is only one true gospel

                                                                              1. Many counterfeits exist, then and now
                                                                              2. It is the gospel of total reliance on God to save through Christ's blood — not to be mixed with human merit or religious achievement

                                                                                3. B. If you belong to the Lord, he will not let you go

                                                                                1. The Father pursues his straying children through discipline and grace
                                                                                2. For those still trusting in works, the gospel is extended even now: Romans 5:6-10
                                                                                3. We were each enemies of Christ, but in him we are reconciled — believe upon the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved
                                                                                  4. 41 min
                                                                                4. September 11, 2022; Sunday Evening Worship

                                                                                  Scripture: Galatians 1:6-10

                                                                                  Order of Service
                                                                                  • Call to Worship — Isaiah 58:13-14
                                                                                  • Hymn — O Day of Rest and Gladness (#392)
                                                                                  • Westminster Shorter Catechism — Questions 59 & 60
                                                                                  • Hymn — Lord of the Sabbath, Hear Us Pray (#390)
                                                                                  • Pastoral Prayer
                                                                                  • Sermon
                                                                                  • Hymn — One Day He's Coming (#327)
                                                                                  • Benediction — Numbers 6:24-26
                                                                                    • Sermon Title: The Gospel and Its Non-Negotiable Boundaries

                                                                                    Scripture: Galatians 1:6-10

                                                                                    I. The Gospel Is Personal

                                                                                    A. Paul's astonishment is not over abandonment of a concept but of a person — "him who called you in the grace of Christ"

                                                                                    B. To abandon the gospel is to abandon the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
                                                                                    C. "Gospel deism" — the danger of treating the gospel as a formula God no longer personally guards — leads to distortion
                                                                                    D. The gospel is the triune God giving himself to us

                                                                                    II. The Gospel Is Easily Abandoned

                                                                                    A. The Galatians deserted the gospel almost immediately after Paul's founding of the churches — likely the earliest of Paul's epistles (c. 48–49 AD)

                                                                                    B. This quick abandonment mirrors Israel at Sinai — Exodus 32:8: "They have turned aside quickly out of the way that I commanded them"
                                                                                    C. Both abandonments share the same root: forsaking trust and utter dependence on God alone

                                                                                    1. Israel could not wait on God and fashioned a golden calf — control over God rather than faith in God
                                                                                    2. The Judaizers offered works of the law — salvation placed back in human hands
                                                                                      3. D. Distortions of the gospel echo the serpent's lie: "Did God really say...?" — questioning faith alone in Christ alone
                                                                                      E. Romans 4:5 (citing Psalm 32): "To the one who does not work but trusts him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness"
                                                                                      III. The Gospel Is Owned by God

                                                                                      A. Even apostles or angels who preach a contrary gospel are to be accursed — the gospel belongs to its author, God himself

                                                                                      B. The gospel is immutable because God is immutable; it is not shaped by mutable, changing men
                                                                                      C. Church history resembles a game of telephone — each generation risks distorting the original message

                                                                                      1. The Reformers called the church back to the original source
                                                                                      2. Subsequent distortions: 18th-century Christ-plus-reason; 19th-century Christ-minus-supernaturalism; industrial-era Christ-plus-rugged-individualism; postmodern Christ-plus-self-interest
                                                                                        3. D. The proper response today is the same as the Reformers': stop the game, go back to the author
                                                                                        IV. The Gospel Is Serious

                                                                                        A. Paul twice pronounces anathema — "let him be accursed" — on any who preach another gospel; heaven and hell hang in the balance

                                                                                        B. The Hebrew word for glory (kavod) means "heavy" — the true gospel carries the full weight of God's glory
                                                                                        C. The five solas are interconnected; adding to any one of them subtracts from the glory and heaviness of God

                                                                                        1. Scripture alone, grace alone, faith alone, Christ alone, to the glory of God alone
                                                                                        2. A false gospel strips God of his heaviness and brings his curse; the true gospel brings his weighty blessing
                                                                                          3. D. The gospel demands serious, weighty proclamation — in the tradition of preachers like Jonathan Edwards and Richard Baxter
                                                                                          V. The Gospel Is an Offense

                                                                                          A. Paul's aim is to please God, not man: "If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ"

                                                                                          B. Paul's former credentials as a Jew (Philippians 3:4-6) are now counted as loss; he has put the man-pleasing life behind him
                                                                                          C. The cardinal sin of contemporary culture is giving offense — this pressure produces gospel distortion, turning the gospel into a message of self-esteem
                                                                                          D. 1 Peter 4:12: "Do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you... as though something strange were happening to you"
                                                                                          E. The offense of the gospel is not unique to our times; Paul, Peter, and the early Christians proclaimed the same gospel in the same fallen, man-centered world
                                                                                          F. The temptation to believe our times are uniquely difficult leads to seeking a "unique gospel for unique times" — the text forbids this; the one true gospel is sufficient for every age

                                                                                          25 min
                                                                                        3. A Life of Peace

                                                                                          Scripture: Philippians 4:2-9

                                                                                          Order of Service
                                                                                          • Announcements
                                                                                          • Hymn — May Jesus Christ Be Praised
                                                                                          • Call to Worship — Psalm 150
                                                                                          • Hymn — May Jesus Christ Be Praised
                                                                                          • Prayer of Invocation
                                                                                          • Confession of Faith — Colossians 1:15–20
                                                                                          • Scripture Reading — Isaiah 57:14–21
                                                                                          • Hymn — It Is Well with My Soul
                                                                                          • Pastoral Prayer
                                                                                          • Choir Anthem
                                                                                          • Prayer of Dedication
                                                                                          • Hymn — What a Friend We Have in Jesus
                                                                                          • Scripture Reading — Philippians 4:2–9
                                                                                          • Prayer for Illumination
                                                                                          • Sermon
                                                                                          • Hymn — Rejoice, the Lord Is King
                                                                                          • Benediction
                                                                                            • Sermon Title: A Life of Peace

                                                                                            Scripture: Philippians 4:2–9

                                                                                            I. A People's Peace (v. 2–3)

                                                                                            A. The peace Paul envisions is rooted in the Hebrew concept of shalom — not merely the absence of war, but harmony among distinct parts working in concert, as in a symphony

                                                                                            B. Two women in the Philippian church, Euodia and Syntyche, are in dispute; Paul urges them to agree in the Lord
                                                                                            C. Paul calls on a "true companion" (possibly Luke, who remained in Philippi after Paul and Silas departed) to help reconcile them
                                                                                            D. Despite their dispute, Paul affirms these women as faithful fellow workers whose names are in the Book of Life

                                                                                            1. The Book of Life echoes Old Testament language (cf. Psalm 69) and appears uniquely here on Paul's lips
                                                                                            2. It contrasts heavenly citizenship with Roman civic records, picking up last week's theme from Philippians 3
                                                                                              3. E. Shared citizenship in the heavenly country is the foundation of church unity; remembering this shared identity dispels bitterness and grudges
                                                                                              F. The church is the chief visible manifestation of Christ's peace to a watching world
                                                                                              II. A Praiseworthy Peace (v. 4–5)

                                                                                              A. Paul's double exhortation — "Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice" — emphasizes that joy is the most frequently attributed quality of the church in the New Testament

                                                                                              B. In the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22–23), love leads to joy, which leads to peace — each virtue serves as a domino to the next
                                                                                              C. This joy flows from reconciliation with God through Christ's atoning blood

                                                                                              1. Romans 5:10 — if while we were enemies we were reconciled by Christ's death, how much more are we saved by his life
                                                                                              2. Christ, as propitiation, bore God's wrath so that we now have peace with God
                                                                                                3. D. Joy produces gentleness and reasonableness toward others (v. 5); a bitter, downcast spirit drives them out
                                                                                              3. Illustration: a father fired from his job lashes out at his children; the same father promoted responds with warmth and celebration
                                                                                              4. When filled with the Spirit's joy, we are patient and gentle with all people
                                                                                                5. III. A Praying Peace (v. 5b–7)

                                                                                                A. The antidote to anxiety is not medication, therapy, or yoga — it is the peace that comes through prayer

                                                                                                B. Five observations on prayer in this passage:

                                                                                                1. Prayer, not anxiety, is the path to peace
                                                                                                2. Prayer is to be offered with thanksgiving — we come to God with hands full of blessings already received in Christ, not empty-handed seeking reasons to be grateful
                                                                                                3. Prayer covers everything — no circumstance or area of life is to be left without prayer
                                                                                                4. The resulting peace "surpasses all understanding" — it is supernatural, not contingent on circumstances changing; Paul is not promising relief from temporal suffering but a heavenly peace that transcends it
                                                                                                5. God "guards" (a military term, meaning to garrison or place in a strong tower) our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus through prayer — we are secured in Christ as in an ark amid the storm
                                                                                                  6. C. Pray without ceasing in every area of life and know the peace that passes all understanding
                                                                                                  IV. A Pondering Peace (v. 8–9)

                                                                                                  A. Paul's climactic exhortation concerns the Christian mind — D.A. Carson: the real measure of a person is not what they own or do but what they think

                                                                                                  B. A practical gauge: where does your mind wander when it has nothing to occupy it?

                                                                                                  1. Proverbs 23:7 — as a person thinks within himself, so he is
                                                                                                    2. C. Two practical applications for developing a heavenly mindset:
                                                                                                  2. Develop new habits of the mind — Paul says "practice these things" (v. 9); a godly mind is not given by sudden divine fiat but cultivated through discipline: morning Scripture reading, prayer, preparation for Sunday worship, engaged participation in the full liturgy
                                                                                                  3. Think positively, not only negatively — Paul's list is not a catalogue of prohibitions but a positive vision of what is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent, and praiseworthy
                                                                                                    4. D. The list encompasses both moral categories (pure, true) and broader virtues and beauties — a sunset, birdsong, a soldier's sacrifice, a beautifully written story, a painting, a symphony — all are glimpses of God's shalom through general revelation
                                                                                                    E. To know the peace of God is to know the shalom of the triune God — the wholeness and harmony that rests within the three-in-one Godhead and is reflected in every good and beautiful thing he has made
                                                                                                    F. Think on these things, pray about them, set your minds on them, and God will give you the peace that surpasses all understanding
                                                                                                    33 min
                                                                                                  4. Two Kingdoms

                                                                                                    Scripture: Philippians 3:17-4:1

                                                                                                    Order of Service
                                                                                                    • Hymn — We Have Heard the Joyful Sound
                                                                                                    • Call to Worship — Psalm 149
                                                                                                    • Hymn — We Have Heard the Joyful Sound
                                                                                                    • Prayer of Invocation
                                                                                                    • Confession of Sin — Isaiah 53
                                                                                                    • Assurance of Pardon — 1 John 1:9
                                                                                                    • Pastoral Prayer
                                                                                                    • Offering
                                                                                                    • Hymn — On Jordan's Stormy Banks
                                                                                                    • Scripture Reading — Philippians 3:17–4:1
                                                                                                    • Sermon
                                                                                                    • Prayer
                                                                                                    • Lord's Supper — John 6:53–58
                                                                                                    • Hymn — Behold the Lamb (vv. 1–2)
                                                                                                    • Lord's Supper Distribution
                                                                                                    • Prayer
                                                                                                    • Hymn — Behold the Lamb (vv. 3–4)
                                                                                                    • Benediction — Hebrews 13:20–21
                                                                                                      • Sermon Title: Two Kingdoms

                                                                                                      Scripture: Philippians 3:17–4:1

                                                                                                      I. Service in the Two Kingdoms

                                                                                                      A. Paul calls the Philippians to imitate him and those who walk according to the apostolic example — pressing on to gain Christ above all else (vv. 12–16)

                                                                                                      B. Servants of the kingdom of the world (v. 18–19)

                                                                                                      1. Their god is their belly — slaves to fleeting appetites and instant gratification
                                                                                                      2. They glory in their shame — calling evil good, celebrating what is disgraceful
                                                                                                      3. Minds purposefully set on earthly things — not a wandering but a willful pursuit

                                                                                                        4. C. Servants of the kingdom of heaven set their minds purposefully on heavenly things and pursue Christ above all else

                                                                                                        D. The chief contrast of our age: citizens of the world heed the therapeutic call to "find themselves" and make self the center; citizens of heaven are first found by Christ and conclude with Paul, "Wretched man that I am" — Christ alone is center

                                                                                                        E. Application: bind yourself to role models who imitate Christ, not servants of the kingdom of the world

                                                                                                        II. Suffering in the Two Kingdoms

                                                                                                        A. Those who became enemies of the cross (v. 18) appear to have once held allegiance to Christ but turned away under worldly pressure

                                                                                                        B. Context of the cross in the Roman Empire

                                                                                                        1. Christians were mocked for worshiping a crucified man (e.g., the Alexamenos graffito)
                                                                                                        2. Minucius Felix records opponents calling Christian worship of a crucified man scandalous

                                                                                                          3. C. Servants of the kingdom of the world deny the cross to escape temporal suffering — but their end is destruction (v. 19), eternal torment

                                                                                                          D. Servants of the kingdom of heaven bear the cross, face temporal suffering, and receive eternal glory

                                                                                                          E. The transformation awaiting citizens of heaven (vv. 20–21)

                                                                                                          1. The Greek word for "transform" is the same word used for the Transfiguration of Christ — a glimpse of his post-resurrection sinless glory
                                                                                                          2. The same glorified Christ who blinded Paul on the Damascus road is what we will be conformed to — beyond what any eye has seen or ear heard (1 Corinthians 2:9)
                                                                                                          3. The greatest thing about heaven is not what will be there, but what will not be there — sin; even watching paint dry without indwelling sin would surpass any earthly pleasure
                                                                                                          4. We now see through a glass dimly, but we will see face to face (1 Corinthians 13:12)

                                                                                                            5. F. Application: do not exchange eternal glory for fame, riches, or worldly pleasure — hold high the cross

                                                                                                            III. The Savior of the Two Kingdoms

                                                                                                            A. Paul deliberately applies to Christ the titles "Lord" and "Savior" (v. 20) — titles belonging to Caesar in Roman imperial inscriptions

                                                                                                            1. A 48 AD Ephesian inscription calls Julius Caesar "a visible god and savior of human life"
                                                                                                            2. An inscription from Egypt near the time of writing calls Nero "savior and benefactor of the world"
                                                                                                            3. It is Nero — on the throne as Paul writes — who will execute Paul and many Philippian Christians

                                                                                                              4. B. The point: do not fear the lords and saviors of this world; fear and serve the Lord who reigns in heaven

                                                                                                              C. Christ's power to subject all things to himself (v. 21) means the Neros of this world will become a footstool for Christ; united to him by faith, we become more than conquerors

                                                                                                              D. Therefore, stand firm in the Lord (4:1)

                                                                                                              1. The world will threaten reputations, jobs, livelihoods, and lives
                                                                                                              2. The remedy: remember who is truly in charge — the true Lord and Savior
                                                                                                              3. At the Lord's Table we remember the cross and Christ's promise to drink the cup new with us in his Father's kingdom (Matthew 26:29)
                                                                                                              4. When Christ returns, destroys every enemy including death, and hands the kingdom to the Father, we will eat and drink face to face with him in our true home
                                                                                                                5. 29 min
                                                                                                              5. The Christian Marathon

                                                                                                                Scripture: Philippians 3:12-16

                                                                                                                Order of Service
                                                                                                                • Announcements
                                                                                                                • Hymn — Holy God, We Praise Your Name
                                                                                                                • Call to Worship — Psalm 148
                                                                                                                • Hymn — Holy God, We Praise Your Name
                                                                                                                • Prayer of Invocation
                                                                                                                • Confession of Faith — Heidelberg Catechism, Question 1
                                                                                                                • Scripture Reading — Ruth 4:13–22
                                                                                                                • Hymn — I Will Sing of My Redeemer
                                                                                                                • Pastoral Prayer
                                                                                                                • Offering
                                                                                                                • Prayer of Preparation
                                                                                                                • Sermon
                                                                                                                • Hymn — Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah
                                                                                                                • Benediction — 1 Thessalonians 5:23–24
                                                                                                                  • Sermon Title: The Christian Marathon

                                                                                                                  Scripture: Philippians 3:12–16

                                                                                                                  I. The Christian Marathon Involves the Pursuit of a High and Holy Goal

                                                                                                                  A. Paul presses on toward a goal he has not yet attained — the resurrection glory that Christ currently possesses (Philippians 3:12)

                                                                                                                  1. The "it" Paul seeks to obtain refers back to the resurrection from the dead (Philippians 3:11)
                                                                                                                  2. The goal is nothing less than conformity to the perfected, glorified Son of God
                                                                                                                  3. Christ makes us his own and calls us to be conformed into his image through union and communion with him

                                                                                                                    4. B. The standard is perfection — Matthew 5:48: "You must be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect"

                                                                                                                    1. We are to be conformed into the image of the Son, who perfectly images the Father
                                                                                                                    2. We aim for perfection in every sphere of life — 1 Corinthians 10:31: whatever you do, do it to the glory of God

                                                                                                                      3. C. Illustration: The "goats" of sport (Jordan, Woods, Brady) never reached perfection but always strove for it

                                                                                                                      1. When they failed, they went back to the drawing board and plugged up the holes
                                                                                                                      2. So the Christian, when missing the mark, identifies the path that led to sin and obstructs it
                                                                                                                      3. Striving for perfection produces growth in godliness, holiness, and maturity
                                                                                                                        4. II. The Christian Marathon Involves the Possession of a High and Holy God

                                                                                                                        A. Christ has made Paul his own — the Christian is possessed by Jesus Christ (Philippians 3:12, 14)

                                                                                                                        1. The "upward call of God in Christ Jesus" is the effectual call upon the elect (Romans 8:30)
                                                                                                                        2. God does not command the race without first giving the ability to run — he gives his Son and his Spirit

                                                                                                                          3. B. Forgetting what lies behind and straining forward (Philippians 3:13)

                                                                                                                          1. Paul likely refers back to his Jewish credentials in Philippians 3:4–6 — running in the arena of works righteousness moves one away from the finish line
                                                                                                                          2. Paul's lament in Romans 7: "Wretched man that I am, who will save me from this body of death?" — Romans 7:24
                                                                                                                          3. Illustration: Tiger Woods had a short memory — a bad hole did not derail him; contrast with golfers who "blow up" after one mistake
                                                                                                                          4. Running in the arena of works righteousness means every failure causes collapse; all depends on personal performance

                                                                                                                            5. C. Running in the arena of grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone

                                                                                                                            1. When we fall, the Spirit assures us that right standing before God is found only in Christ's imputed righteousness
                                                                                                                            2. 1 John 1:9: "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive them and cleanse us from all unrighteousness"
                                                                                                                            3. The gospel frees us from obsession over yesterday's failures and empowers us to run today
                                                                                                                            4. Luther's pre-Reformation crisis — "Love God, hate God" — resolved when the gospel pierced his heart
                                                                                                                            5. Application: If you are exhausted and have lost energy to run, hear the call of the gospel — today is the day of salvation; confess, receive assurance of pardon, and run

                                                                                                                              6. D. Philippians 2:12–13: "Work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you both to will and to work for his good pleasure"

                                                                                                                              1. God gives the ability (his Son, his Spirit) and then commands: run
                                                                                                                              2. The combination of God's empowering gifts and intense effort toward the glory of Christ produces a mature and holy Christian
                                                                                                                                3. III. The Christian Marathon Involves the Promise of a High and Holy Guide

                                                                                                                                A. Philippians 3:15: "If in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you"

                                                                                                                                1. The Greek word for "reveal" is the root of our word apocalypse — to uncover, unmask, or unveil
                                                                                                                                2. It is synonymous with God's divine self-revelation given to us in Holy Scripture

                                                                                                                                  3. B. The guide for the race is the Word of God — 2 Timothy 3:17: Scripture trains us in righteousness and equips us for every good work

                                                                                                                                  1. Illustration: Great athletes study their playbooks, film, and the opposing team before game day
                                                                                                                                  2. The Christian studies the Word to be equipped to strive after excellence in every sphere of life
                                                                                                                                  3. In Scripture we read of saints' successes and failures, learn the schemes of the devil, and receive God's directives for defeating him in Christ

                                                                                                                                    4. C. God guarantees fruit when his Word is studied (Philippians 3:15)

                                                                                                                                    1. We all have blind spots this side of Heaven, but God promises to reveal them through his Word
                                                                                                                                    2. Illustration: A teacher does not say "you might do well" — she says "you will do well" to the gifted student who applies himself
                                                                                                                                    3. God, our Rabbi, speaks to his Spirit-gifted pupils: study my Word and you will become more like my Son
                                                                                                                                    4. Luther: "I would not want to be in Paradise if the Word were not there with me, but if the Word were with me I could make my home in Hell itself"
                                                                                                                                    5. Application: Hear Augustine's call — "pick up and read"; the assurance of God through his Spirit is that immersion in the Word will bear fruit in godliness and holiness
                                                                                                                                      6. 32 min
                                                                                                                                    6. August 28, 2022; Sunday Evening Worship
                                                                                                                                      Order of Service
                                                                                                                                      • Call to Worship — Psalm 107:1-2, 43
                                                                                                                                      • Hymn — Praise to God Who Reigns Above
                                                                                                                                      • Westminster Shorter Catechism — Questions 57 & 58
                                                                                                                                      • Hymn — O Day of Rest and Gladness (#393)
                                                                                                                                      • Pastoral Prayer
                                                                                                                                      • Scripture Reading — Galatians 1:1-5
                                                                                                                                      • Prayer of Illumination
                                                                                                                                      • Sermon
                                                                                                                                      • Hymn — Marvelous Grace of Our Loving Lord (#465)
                                                                                                                                      • Benediction — Numbers 6:24-26
                                                                                                                                        • Sermon Title: The Apostolic Gospel and Its Author

                                                                                                                                        Scripture: Galatians 1:1-5

                                                                                                                                        I. Background: The Recipients and the Occasion

                                                                                                                                        A. The Galatian churches were comprised largely of Roman Gentile converts who had heard Paul preach on his first missionary journey (Acts)

                                                                                                                                        B. Reports reached Paul of trouble in the churches — the Judaizers were infiltrating after him

                                                                                                                                        1. The Judaizers were Jewish converts who preached a "Christ plus law-keeping" gospel
                                                                                                                                        2. Specifically, they required circumcision as necessary for justification
                                                                                                                                        3. They also attacked the foundation of Paul's authority by calling his apostleship into question
                                                                                                                                          4. C. The theme of Galatians: faith in the Lord Jesus Christ alone justifies and brings freedom from sin
                                                                                                                                          II. The Authenticity of Paul's Apostleship (Galatians 1:1)

                                                                                                                                          A. The office of apostle was distinct from all other church offices

                                                                                                                                          1. Unlike the offices of elder and deacon — which continue and are confirmed through men — the apostolic office was temporary, established by Christ for a specific purpose
                                                                                                                                          2. The one strict requirement: an apostle must receive his call directly and personally from the risen Christ
                                                                                                                                            3. B. Paul's apostleship was not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father
                                                                                                                                          3. The preposition "through" connects Christ's authority to the authority of the triune Godhead
                                                                                                                                          4. Paul met the risen Christ on the Damascus road — this was his direct, divine call as apostle to the Gentiles
                                                                                                                                            5. C. The credibility of Paul's apostleship matters because it undergirds the credibility of the gospel he preaches
                                                                                                                                          5. If Paul's credentials are false, the gospel he preaches is suspect — just as a builder without a license calls into question the integrity of every home he builds
                                                                                                                                          6. Paul's authority to preach is from God himself; his gospel message came directly from God
                                                                                                                                            7. III. The Substance of the Gospel Paul Preaches (Galatians 1:1, 3-5)

                                                                                                                                            A. The resurrection of Christ (v. 1 — "God the Father who raised him from the dead")

                                                                                                                                            1. Paul begins with resurrection because his own call as apostle came through encounter with the risen Christ
                                                                                                                                            2. The resurrection is the source of new life for those united to Christ by faith
                                                                                                                                            3. As with the dry bones of Ezekiel 37, God raises dead sinners to new life in Christ
                                                                                                                                              4. B. The willingness of Christ to go to the cross (v. 4 — "who gave himself")
                                                                                                                                            4. These three words reveal the voluntary, uncompelled obedience of Christ as sacrifice
                                                                                                                                            5. The cross is the crescendo of Christ's righteous obedience; he laid down his life of his own accord
                                                                                                                                            6. This is the supreme picture of the love of Christ for his people
                                                                                                                                              7. C. The purpose of the cross (v. 4 — "for our sins")
                                                                                                                                            7. The law is the standard by which all are judged; Romans 3:23 — all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God
                                                                                                                                            8. For our sins we stand condemned; for our sins Christ died in our place — substitutionary atonement
                                                                                                                                            9. Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ (Romans 8:1)
                                                                                                                                              10. D. The effect of the cross (v. 4 — "to deliver us from the present evil age")
                                                                                                                                            10. The "present evil age" is the totality of human life dominated by sin and opposed to God
                                                                                                                                            11. Christ's death accomplishes a new exodus — deliverance from bondage to sin, analogous to Israel's exodus from Egypt
                                                                                                                                            12. Believers already now belong to a new kingdom; they are no longer subjects to the reign of sin
                                                                                                                                              13. E. The origin of the cross (v. 4 — "according to the will of our God and Father")
                                                                                                                                            13. The cross was no divine afterthought or reaction to the fall — it was eternally planned by the loving Father
                                                                                                                                            14. The Father does not love us because the Son died; the Son died because the Father loved us
                                                                                                                                            15. From eternity past the Father decreed the cross as his plan to rescue those he loves
                                                                                                                                              16. IV. Application: Believe the Gospel Paul Preaches

                                                                                                                                              A. Christ plus anything gets you nothing — not law-keeping, not good deeds, not cultural relevance

                                                                                                                                              B. Any other message is a false gospel amounting to futile human effort
                                                                                                                                              C. The call: consider your sin, consider Christ crucified and risen, and trust in him alone

                                                                                                                                              36 min
                                                                                                                                            16. August 21, 2022; Sunday Evening Worship

                                                                                                                                              Scripture: Hosea 14

                                                                                                                                              Order of Service
                                                                                                                                              • Call to Worship — Psalm 29
                                                                                                                                              • Hymn — Praise, My Soul, the King of Heaven (#76)
                                                                                                                                              • Shorter Catechism — Questions 55 & 56
                                                                                                                                              • Hymn — God, My King, Thy Might Confessing (#5)
                                                                                                                                              • Pastoral Prayer
                                                                                                                                              • Scripture Reading — Hosea 14
                                                                                                                                              • Sermon
                                                                                                                                              • Hymn — God, Be Merciful to Me (#486)
                                                                                                                                              • Benediction
                                                                                                                                                • Sermon Title: Repentance, Confession, and Restoration

                                                                                                                                                Scripture: Hosea 14

                                                                                                                                                I. Repentance and Confession (Hosea 14:1–3)

                                                                                                                                                A. God commands Israel to return with words — genuine verbal confession, not rote ceremony

                                                                                                                                                1. Psalm 51:17 — "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise"
                                                                                                                                                2. Hosea 12:4 — Jacob's example: he wept and sought God's favor; words of sorrow and contrition are disarming and restorative

                                                                                                                                                  3. B. Repentance includes confessing "You were right and I was wrong"

                                                                                                                                                  1. Israel must acknowledge that Assyria, Egypt, and idols cannot save — only Yahweh can
                                                                                                                                                  2. Confession strips away all self-justification and excuse

                                                                                                                                                    3. C. The incentive for confession: God's mercy to the orphan (Hosea 14:3)

                                                                                                                                                    1. Israel, having played the unfaithful wife and been abandoned by Baal, is left an orphan in exile
                                                                                                                                                    2. The faithful husband Yahweh alone stands ready to extend mercy
                                                                                                                                                    3. 1 John 1:9 — "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness"
                                                                                                                                                    4. Luther's pre-Reformation anguish: seeing God's justice apart from Christ produced only condemnation; the Reformation discovery of Romans 3 revealed God as both just and justifier at the cross
                                                                                                                                                    5. God's justice is manifested in his forgiveness — to withhold forgiveness from one who comes through Christ would make God unjust
                                                                                                                                                      6. II. Repentance and Comfort (Hosea 14:4–8)

                                                                                                                                                      A. The blessings of restoration flow from God himself, not from Israel's effort

                                                                                                                                                      1. Hosea 14:5 — "I will be like the dew to Israel" — growth originates with God
                                                                                                                                                      2. Hosea 14:7 — "They shall return and dwell beneath my shadow" — flourishing flows from union with God
                                                                                                                                                      3. Hosea 14:8 — "From me comes your fruit" — the evergreen cypress as image of God's inexhaustible life

                                                                                                                                                        4. B. The imagery contrasts judgment (wilderness, drought) with restoration (lily, Lebanon cedars, olive, vine)

                                                                                                                                                        1. John 4:13–14 — Jesus as the water that becomes a spring welling up to eternal life
                                                                                                                                                        2. John 7:38 — rivers of living water flowing from those who believe; Christ pours out the Spirit upon repentant covenant people

                                                                                                                                                          3. C. The critical order in Hosea 14:4: "I will heal their apostasy" — God heals; the sinner does not heal himself

                                                                                                                                                          1. Jeremiah 13:23 — "Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard his spots?" — outside Christ, sinners cannot change
                                                                                                                                                          2. Telling sinners to change before presenting Christ is telling leopards to change their spots
                                                                                                                                                          3. What the sinner needs is Christ preached — his mercy, lowliness, grace, and righteousness capturing the heart
                                                                                                                                                          4. Pattern in Acts 2 and throughout Acts: redemptive-historical proclamation of Christ comes first; the people are "cut to the heart"; then the call to repent and be baptized follows naturally
                                                                                                                                                          5. Warning against two errors: (a) liberal churches omitting repentance altogether; (b) conservative churches preaching repentance without Christ, which is equally fruitless
                                                                                                                                                          6. Gospel repentance = confession of sin + presentation of Christ + reception of the Spirit's power to change
                                                                                                                                                            7. 30 min

                                                                                                                                                          About Northpointe PCA Sermons

                                                                                                                                                          From the publisher's feed

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