Northpointe PCA Sermons

By Northpointe Presbyterian ChurchReligion & Spirituality Christianity

Northpointe PCA Sermons episodes

April 11, 2021April 11, 2021; Sunday Evening Worship
Scripture: Proverbs 8:22-36
Order of Service
Call to Worship — Psalm 121:1-8
Hymn — O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing (#164)
Prayer of Adoration
Hymn — There Is a Fountain Filled with Blood (#253)
Pastoral Prayer
Scripture Reading — Proverbs 8:22-36
Sermon
Benediction
Sermon Title: Wisdom Personified and Incarnate
Scripture: Proverbs 8:22-36
I. Lady Wisdom's Origins (vv. 22–26)
A. Wisdom is presented as the first of God's acts, set up before the creation of the earth
Solomon is not giving a birth story of wisdom; he is declaring that wisdom is not part of creation but is bound up with the essential being of God
No orthodox Hebrew would say there was ever a time when God did not possess wisdom
B. Anti-Trinitarian misuse of this passage
Arius and modern Jehovah's Witnesses argue that "set up" and "first of his acts" imply the Son had a beginning
To say the Son was not always is to say God was not always wise — an impossibility
C. Wisdom points forward to the Son, the mystery now revealed
Colossians 2:2-3: all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden in Christ
The word mystery (Gk. mysterion) denotes something once hidden but now revealed; on this side of the incarnation we can look back and see the Son hidden in Proverbs 8
D. The eternal generation of the Son
"First of his acts of old" is best understood as "from everlasting," as in Psalm 93:2: Your throne is from of old; you are from everlasting
John 1:1-2: the Word was with God and was God — equal to yet distinct from the Father
John 1:18: the only God who is at the Father's side has made him known
The Son is eternally begotten — there was never a time when the Son was not
II. Lady Wisdom's Location (vv. 27–31)
A. Wisdom was present throughout all of God's creative acts — the heavens, the seas, the foundations of the earth
B. Wisdom is the instrument of creation, not a separate creator
Wisdom delights in Yahweh's creative acts and rejoices with Him
Colossians 1:15-16: all things were created through the Son and for the Son; God the Father creates through the Son, His Word
C. "I was there" (v. 27) contrasted with Job's absence
Job 38:4: God asks Job, "Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?" — Job was not there; wisdom was
Job 9:32-33: Job laments there is no arbiter who can place his hand on both God and man
1 Timothy 2:5: there is one mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus
Because the Son was there in the beginning and has become man, He alone can place His hand on both God and humanity and answer to the Father on our behalf
III. Lady Wisdom's Life (vv. 32–36)
A. Wisdom presents herself as the agent of life
Whoever finds wisdom finds life and obtains favor from the Lord
Whoever hates wisdom loves death
This goes beyond practical wisdom literature — wisdom here is identified with life itself
B. Parallel structure between Proverbs 8 and John 1
John 1:1-5 follows the same pattern as Proverbs 8:22-36
The Word in the beginning → Wisdom's origins (vv. 22–26)
The world made through the Word → Wisdom present in creation (vv. 27–31)
In the Word was life, the light of men → In wisdom is life; hatred of wisdom is love of death (vv. 32–36)
C. The incarnate Son is life
John 14:6: "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."
Because the Son was in the beginning and was the instrument of creation, life is found in Him alone
To turn from the instruction of the Son — who is wisdom personified and incarnate — is to love death
24 min
April 11, 2021A Day of Rest
Scripture: Exodus 20:8-11
Order of Service
Announcements
Call to Worship — Psalm 18:1-3
Call to Worship — Psalm 9:1-2
Hymn
Prayer of Invocation
Confession of Sin — 1 Kings 8
Assurance of Pardon — 1 John 1:9
Scripture Reading — 2 Samuel 12:1-31
Pastoral Prayer
Offering
Prayer of Dedication
Hymn — Abide with Me
Sermon
Hymn
Benediction — 2 Corinthians 13:14
Sermon Title: A Day of Rest
Scripture: Exodus 20:8-11
I. Rest in God the Whole Day
A. The sabbath is directed to the Lord, not to self — the entire day, from morning to evening, is to be oriented upward toward God
B. Morning and evening worship bookend the day, following the Old Testament pattern of morning and evening sacrifice
C. Works of mercy and necessity are commended on the sabbath
Jesus heals on the sabbath in Matthew 12 and defends acts of necessity against the Pharisees
The Pharisees serve as a negative example — the day of rest must not become a day of burden
D. Proper sabbath observance begins in preparation before the sabbath
In Exodus 16, God provides a double portion of manna on the sixth day so Israel would not work on the seventh
God supplies the provisions necessary to prepare; we have no excuse to neglect preparation
Practical preparation: meals ready, schedules cleared, affairs in order, so the heart and mind are free to rest in the Lord
II. Rest in God Through Corporate Worship
A. Leviticus 23:3 describes the sabbath as a day of solemn (sacred) rest and a holy convocation — a holy assembly of God's people
B. Rest is not "me time" — God's definition of rest is soul rest in corporate worship, not personal leisure
C. Israel in the wilderness illustrates a deficient view of rest
Their concern was only physical rest — food, water, comfort
Despite the presence of God in pillar of cloud and fire, they had no concept of soul rest
This limited view led to their downfall
D. The psalmist models true rest — longing for God's courts and corporate worship (Psalm 84:1-2)
E. "Doing church at home" is a contradiction in terms
The Greek word ekklesia means assembly — a gathered people
God's word to Pharaoh in Exodus 8:1 — "Let my people go, that they may worship me" — points to corporate, not individual, worship
Rest is found not in individual devotion or family worship alone, but in holy convocation with the whole body of Christ
III. Rest in God as His Image Bearers
A. The sabbath is grounded in creation, not in Israel's covenant — Exodus 20:11 grounds the command in God's rest after the six days of creation
B. The sabbath is a creation ordinance, binding on all image bearers, not a ceremonial law unique to Israel
C. To neglect sabbath rest is to be less than fully human — less than a true image bearer of God
D. The Ten Commandments are a perpetual moral law for both old and new covenant people
Written on stone (permanence), by the finger of God — unlike the book of the covenant written by Moses
Placed in the ark of the covenant, near God's presence, revealing his holy character
To abolish the sabbath commandment would be to say part of God's character has been abolished
IV. Rest in God as His Redeemed Saints
A. The creation narrative points to an eternal sabbath rest
Days one through six each end with "there was evening and there was morning"
The seventh day in Genesis 2 has no closing evening and morning — it is open-ended, foreshadowing eternal rest
Adam was given a probationary test — to obey and bring humanity into eternal sabbath rest
B. Adam failed, bringing humanity into unrest — thorns, toil, death, and chaos rather than eternal rest
C. Christ as the Last Adam succeeds where Adam failed
The temptation of Christ in the wilderness mirrors Adam's test in the garden — the new Adam is tested by the serpent and overcomes
Christ's resurrection on the first day of the week inaugurates the eternal sabbath — Mark 16:2
Upon his ascension, Christ sits and rests at the right hand of the Father — the eternal sabbath rest is established
D. The sabbath is now observed on the first day of the week (the Lord's Day), not the last
We are no longer waiting for rest — it has come in the risen Son
Weekly Lord's Day worship is a foretaste of the eternal rest already inaugurated in the ascension of Christ
The full consummation of sabbath rest awaits the return of Christ, when sorrow, anxiety, and toil will give way entirely to unending glory
37 min
April 04, 2021God Is For Us
Scripture: Romans 8:31-39
Order of Service
Prelude
Welcome and Announcements
Call to Worship — Isaiah 12:1-6
Prayer of Invocation
Confession of Faith — Heidelberg Catechism, Question 1
Scripture Reading — John 20:1-31
Prayer
Hymns
Sermon
Prayer
Hymns
Benediction
Sermon Title: God Is For Us
Scripture: Romans 8:31-39
I. God Is For Us Because of His Son's Death
A. God did not spare His Son from judgment — Romans 8:32
The language of "spare" is the language of judgment; the full weight of God's wrath was poured out on the Son
Octavius Winslow: it was not Judas for money, not Pilate for fear, not the Jews for envy, but the Father for love
B. Because of the Son's death, there is no condemnation for those found in Christ — Romans 8:34
Guilt and shame are universal because they are rooted in real condemnation before God
False responses to condemnation (denial, mockery, recreating God in our image) are all coping mechanisms
In Christ, God's wrath is exhausted; condemnation has been fully satisfied
C. With the gift of the Son, all good things are graciously given — Romans 8:32
The Son is not merely a sign that God will give good things in the future; in Him all blessings are found now
Ephesians 1:3 — the Father has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in heavenly places
II. God Is For Us Because of His Son's Resurrection
A. The resurrection proves God accepted the Son's sacrifice — Romans 8:34
1 Corinthians 15 — if Christ is not raised, Christians are most to be pitied; we would still be in our sins
If Christ remained in the tomb it would signal that God had not accepted His sacrifice
B. The resurrection is the sign that the sentence of death has been satisfied
Illustration: a prisoner released from prison signals the judge's sentence has been served
Christ hung on the cross as a guilty man bearing our sins; His release from the tomb signals the penalty is paid in full
C. The doctrine of double jeopardy illustrates our security in Christ
Those united to the Son cannot be prosecuted again for the same sins
Satan the accuser can never again bring those charges before God's court
Our ancient response to Satan's whispers: Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again
III. God Is For Us Because of His Son's Ascension
A. Christ now sits at the right hand of God and intercedes for His people — Romans 8:34
Note the movement from past tense (died, raised) to present tense (sits, intercedes)
Christ was for us two thousand years ago at the cross and tomb, and continues to be for us every moment as He intercedes
B. Paul's giddy, childlike joy in piling up the glories of Christ
Christ died — and then more than that, He is risen — and then more than that, He is seated at the right hand — and more than that, He intercedes for us
C. Application: in the midst of suffering, believers are more than conquerors — Romans 8:35-39
Believing in Christ does not mean suffering disappears; Paul says we are like sheep to be slaughtered
The promise is not that troubles will vanish, but that in the midst of every trial we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us
Whatever causes you to say "God is against me" — look at God in the face of His Son and see that God is for you
33 min
March 28, 2021The Name of the Lord
Scripture: Exodus 20:7
Order of Service
Call to Worship — Psalm 134
Hymn
Prayer of Invocation
Confession of Sin — Psalm 51
Assurance of Pardon — Psalm 51:17
Scripture Reading — 2 Samuel 11
Pastoral Prayer
Hymn
Scripture Reading — Exodus 20:7
Sermon
Hymn
Benediction — 2 Corinthians 13:14
Sermon Title: The Name of the Lord
Scripture: Exodus 20:7
I. We Hallow the Name of God by Honoring Him as Free
A. In Hebrew culture, a name carried one's reputation, character, and identity — the third commandment is about protecting God's name from defamation and frivolous use
The Hebrew word for "take" (lift up) was associated with oath-taking and invoking a name to add weight to a promise
The commandment covers far more than using God's name as a curse word; it addresses all careless, empty, insincere, or self-serving use of his name
B. In the ancient Near East, pagans invoked the names of their gods (Baal, Ashtoreth) to produce magical acts for selfish ambition — Israel's God, Yahweh, is never to be treated this way
Yahweh alone determines when and where he acts; he is not bound to human incantations or manipulation
Deuteronomy 18 prescribed death for false prophets who claimed a word from the Lord that did not come true
C. The third commandment is broken whenever God's name is used to serve human convenience, ambition, or selfish desire
False prophecy and presumptuous claims of divine direction are a serious violation
Swearing by God's name to gain another's trust, rather than doing the hard work of being trustworthy, breaks this commandment
David's sin in 2 Samuel 11 illustrates how even a man after God's own heart can wrongly assume God is bound to his desires
D. To honor God as free requires self-sacrifice — we must be willing to sacrifice our own name and reputation so that God's name remains unstained by our sinful ambitions
II. We Hallow the Name of God by Honoring Him as Creator
A. The specific name given in the commandment is Yahweh (rendered LORD in small caps in English translations) — the covenant name of Israel's God, treated with such reverence that scribes substituted Adonai when copying Scripture
B. Yahweh is presented throughout Scripture as the one true Creator God
Moses interweaves the covenant name Yahweh throughout the creation narrative in Genesis 1–2, identifying Israel's God as the Creator
Psalm 8 is bookended by "O Yahweh, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth," with the description of Yahweh as Creator — especially of man, the crown of creation — as its content
C. To hallow God's name as Creator is to honor those made in his image
James 3:9 — blessing God while cursing those made in his likeness is a contradiction; these things ought not to be
The Hebrew word for "image" was used of a king's statue placed throughout his kingdom to assert sovereignty; to dishonor God's image bearers is to dishonor God himself
Tearing down God's image bearers — through contempt, cursing, or political hostility — soils the name of God just as surely as any verbal blasphemy
III. We Hallow the Name of God by Honoring Him as Redeemer
A. The preface to the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:2) establishes Yahweh as Israel's Redeemer — the God who brought them out of Egypt — and the Exodus is the most repeated event in the Old Testament
B. Yahweh's relationship to Israel is depicted as a marriage; idolatry is spiritual adultery that dishonors his name before the nations
Romans 2:23–24 — "The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you" — covenant unfaithfulness by God's people brings dishonor to his name before onlookers
C. In the New Covenant, the name that is above every name belongs to Jesus Christ
Philippians 2:6–11 — Christ humbled himself to death on the cross; therefore God has highly exalted him and given him the name above every name, so that every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord
As Christ made a name for himself through his redemptive act, those who bear the name "Christian" are called to carry that name with honor in every area of life — workplace, home, neighborhood, and worship
D. Practical application: We must not give the unbelieving world any ammunition to blaspheme the God we serve; living in covenant faithfulness to our Redeemer hallows his name before a watching world
35 min
March 28, 2021March 28, 2021; Sunday Evening Worship
Scripture: Proverbs
Order of Service
Call to Worship — Psalm 117:1-2
Prayer of Invocation
Pastoral Prayer
Scripture Reading — Proverbs 8:12-21
Sermon
Benediction
Sermon Title: Lady Wisdom — Hatred, Strength, Government, and Love
Scripture: Proverbs 8:12-21
I. Lady Wisdom's Hatred (vv. 12–13)
A. Wisdom dwells with prudence, knowledge, and discretion — the careful planning of one's paths, contrasted with the simple man of Proverbs 7 who walks carelessly into the adulteress's trap
B. Wisdom hates evil — a deep disdain for all that offends God
Example: Phinehas in Numbers 25:11 expressed God's own jealousy for righteousness by acting against wickedness, and God rewarded him with a covenant of peace
Those who belong to Lady Wisdom abhor evil; they share God's jealousy for righteousness
C. Wisdom hates pride, arrogance, and perverted speech
Pride and arrogance are refusal to submit to God's authority
Prideful insubordination produces perverted speech — seen in Adam's response in the garden, teenagers talking back to parents, and modern figures like Oscar Wilde who stripped away all authority
Connection to the Third Commandment: proper speech flows only from proper submission to God as sole authority (the first two commandments)
II. Lady Wisdom's Strength (v. 14)
A. Wisdom provides counsel, sound wisdom, and insight — the discerning, planning aspect of wisdom
B. Wisdom also provides strength to put wise counsel into action
Knowledge without application is not true wisdom — knowing the right things but living as a fool means wisdom has not been truly grasped
Wisdom in Proverbs is not intellectual candy; it is consistently described in practical terms — a way of living, not merely a way of thinking
C. The strength belongs to Lady Wisdom, not to the individual
Psalm 121 — the psalmist's confidence rests entirely in the Lord's keeping strength, not his own
John 15:5 — "apart from me you can do nothing"
Philippians 4:13 — "I can do all things through him who strengthens me"
Warning against the insidious teaching — even in Reformed circles — that God gives wise counsel and then leaves the believer to apply it in their own strength; this produces doubt, frustration, and dishonesty in the congregation
III. Lady Wisdom's Government (vv. 15–16)
A. Hebraic parallelism in both verses makes the same point: rulers govern justly by wisdom; all just governance is rooted in God's wisdom
B. The scope is universal — all governing authorities are established by God's wisdom
Daniel 4:17 — Nebuchadnezzar's dream confirms the Most High rules over all kingdoms and bestows rule as he wills
Romans 13:1 — there is no authority except from God; governments exist to promote justice and restrain evil
The U.S. Constitution as an example of borrowed wisdom — its principles of peace, order, and justice trace back to God's wisdom, not to Jefferson, Washington, or Franklin
C. The believer's responsibility: discern whether governments, movements, and organizations manifest Lady Wisdom's principles or the self-destructive principles of the adulterous woman of Proverbs 7
This requires knowing God's Word — Romans 12:2 — be transformed by the renewal of the mind to discern what is good, acceptable, and perfect
IV. Lady Wisdom's Love (vv. 17–21)
A. A transition from borrowing to owning wisdom
The just ruler of vv. 15–16 borrows from Lady Wisdom, knowingly or not
Lady Wisdom calls for those who will own her — love her, cherish her, seek her diligently
B. Lady Wisdom is not like the adulteress — she seeks a covenant, till-death-do-us-part relationship, not a one-night arrangement
C. The blessings of vv. 18–21 are not a prosperity gospel promise
Proverbs 8:19 — her fruit is better than gold and choice silver; her riches are greater and grander than any material wealth
The prosperity gospel fixes its eye on the gold and silver rather than on Lady Wisdom herself — just as the simple man in Proverbs 7 fixes his eye on sexual gratification rather than on the person of Lady Wisdom
The rich young ruler: Jesus called him to sell all and follow him — to cherish Christ above all temporal treasure
D. Closing exhortation: wed yourself to Christ
1 Corinthians 2:9 — what no eye has seen nor ear heard, God has prepared for those who love him
The treasures of the everlasting kingdom destroy any love of temporal, passing blessings
Even in Reformed circles, prosperity-gospel thinking lurks in the heart; the call is to contentment in Christ in all circumstances — suffering, loss, and death included
32 min
March 21, 2021March 21, 2021; Sunday Evening Worship
Scripture: Psalm 90
Order of Service
Call to Worship — Psalm 113:1-3
Hymn — O God, Our Help in Ages Past
Prayer of Invocation
Scripture Reading — Psalm 90
Sermon
Pastoral Prayer
Benediction
Sermon Title: Numbering Our Days
Scripture: Psalm 90
I. The Eternity of God
A. Psalm 90:1-2 — Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations
Echoes of Genesis 1-2: God is older than the mountains, more ancient than the earth, the Creator of all things seen and unseen
John 1:2 — all things were made through him and without him nothing was made
B. God has dwelt with his people throughout redemptive history
In the garden, God walked with Adam in the cool of the day
For Israel: pillar of cloud by day, fire by night; thunder and thick cloud on Sinai; the presence filling the tabernacle
For the church: 1 Corinthians 3:16 — you are temples of God and the Spirit of God dwells in you; John 1:14 — the Word became flesh and dwelt among us
C. Application: Do our prayers begin with adoration of God for who he is?
Anxiety may be rooted in discontentment with the communion God offers through his Son
The God who loves you dwells within you in Christ by his Spirit — that ought to be enough
II. The Transience of Man
A. Psalm 90:3-11 — You turn man to dust and say, Return, O children of man
Echo of Genesis 3 — the curse: dust you are and to dust you shall return
2 Peter 3:8 — with the Lord a day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day
B. Four images of human transience
A flood: life is swept away in a moment, without warning
Sleep: like a dream that vanishes upon waking
Grass: flourishes in the morning, cut down and withered by evening
A watch in the night: our entire lives are like a three-hour shift — brief, filled with monotony and toil
C. The cause of God's wrath: sin
Israel complained, reverted to idolatry, and revolted — an entire generation fell in the desert
Moses himself did not enter Canaan because of his sin at Kadesh (Numbers 20; cf. Exodus 17)
Death is the wages of sin; original sin has corrupted all humanity — total depravity
In Christ we are saved from the wrath to come, yet sin still clings closely; 1 John 1:9 — if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us
The full measure of God's wrath against sin is seen at Gethsemane and Calvary — Jesus drank the cup to its dregs on behalf of sinners
III. Moses's Response: Six Petitions
A. Psalm 90:12 — So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom
The foundational petition from which the others flow
Personal application: how seriously do we redeem the time, knowing we must give account before the judgment seat of Christ?
B. Psalm 90:13 — Return, O Lord; how long? Have compassion on your servants
The only right response to beholding God's eternity and man's transience is to cry out to God for mercy
C. Psalm 90:15 — Make us glad according to the days you have afflicted us
Moses asks for joy equal to his suffering
God has answered this petition beyond all measure in Christ
The believer's reward: never-ending communion with God — Revelation 21:1-8 — the tabernacle of God is with men; no more death, sorrow, crying, or pain
These present afflictions are light and momentary compared to the glory to come
D. Closing exhortation: be diligent to number your days; may the Lord grant us a heart of wisdom, that at the end we gain God himself through Jesus Christ
35 min
March 14, 2021Lady Wisdom
Scripture: Proverbs 8:1-11
Order of Service
Call to Worship — Isaiah 55:1-5
Prayer of Invocation
Congregational Prayer
Pastoral Prayer
Scripture Reading — Proverbs 8:1-11
Sermon
Benediction — 2 Corinthians 13:14
Sermon Title: Lady Wisdom
Scripture: Proverbs 8:1-11
I. The Cry of Lady Wisdom
A. Lady Wisdom cries out publicly and loudly — on the heights, at the crossroads, at the city gates (Proverbs 8:1-4)
B. Contrast with the adulterous woman (Proverbs 5–7): she operates in secret, at night, in disguise — sin is stealthy and shame-filled
C. Wisdom is open and unashamed; sin hides in shadows
Adam and Eve hid after their sin — shame drives into darkness
David dancing before the ark in public (2 Samuel 6) — being in the company of God's wisdom brings unashamed, open joy
II. The Words of Lady Wisdom
A. Lady Wisdom's words are the bridge to knowing her — her speech, her voice, her proclamation (Proverbs 8:6-8)
Her mouth utters truth; all her words are righteous and straight
B. What one hears shapes what one sees and desires
Eve heard the serpent's temptation — the fruit looked desirable
The adulterous woman lures with smooth words (Proverbs 7)
Lady Wisdom's words transform desire — silver and gold lose their appeal (Proverbs 8:10-11)
C. Faith comes through hearing — Romans 10:17
The Galatians saw Christ crucified through proclamation — Galatians 3:1-2
Christianity is counter-cultural: word-centered, not image-centered
The picture throughout Proverbs 1–9 is a son sitting at his father's feet, listening
III. The Audience of Lady Wisdom
A. Lady Wisdom addresses all of humanity — at the gates, crossroads, and city entrances — covering every facet of society
B. Contrast with the adulterous woman: she is selective, targeting one unsuspecting prey; Lady Wisdom cries out to all
C. Her audience is described as simple ones and fools (Proverbs 8:5) — Lady Wisdom comes to those who are utter messes, not those who have it together
1 Corinthians 1:27-29 — God chose the foolish and weak to shame the wise and strong
The adulterous woman sees the fool as prey; Lady Wisdom sees a broken spirit in need of the Great Physician
Joel 2:12-13 — even in Israel's obstinate foolishness, God cries out: return to me, for he is gracious, merciful, and abounding in steadfast love
IV. The Reward of Lady Wisdom
A. Lady Wisdom herself is the reward — not something external she provides (Proverbs 8:10-11)
Wisdom is better than silver, gold, or jewels
Contrast: the adulterous woman offers material wealth — Egyptian linens, costly spices (Proverbs 7:16-17) — but ultimately takes the man's life
B. The gods of this world only take; God gives himself in abundance
Sin dangles a carrot, delivers one night of excitement, and ends in death
Lady Wisdom gives herself — and with her comes life pouring out and spilling over
C. Wisdom becomes incarnate in Jesus Christ — John 4:13-14
Christ does not see sinners as bait or prey, but as simple, foolish people he pities and longs to give himself to
Drinking the water Christ gives results in a spring welling up to eternal life
Christ is the reward — feeding on him satisfies forever
25 min
March 07, 2021The Love of God and the First Commandment
Scripture: Exodus 20:1-3; Matthew 22:36-40
Order of Service
Announcements
Scripture Reading — Hebrews 12:22-24
Call to Worship — Psalm 113
Hymn — King Forever
Prayer of Invocation
Confession of Faith — Westminster Shorter Catechism
Scripture Reading — 2 Samuel 8
Pastoral Prayer
Hymn — Don't Let Me Lose My Wonder
Sermon
Hymn — Lord Speak to Me
Benediction — Numbers 6:24-26
Sermon Title: The Love of God and the First Commandment
Scripture: Exodus 20:1-3; Matthew 22:36-40
I. Introduction: The Ten Commandments and Love
A. Most people do not associate the Ten Commandments with love, yet Jesus summarizes the law as love in Matthew 22:36-40
B. Love in Scripture is not primarily feelings-oriented but obedience-oriented
John 14:15 — "If you love me, you will keep my commandments"
Obedient love to God is not cold or abstract, but flows from knowing God as Redeemer
C. The preface to the commandments establishes the motive for obedience: "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery"
God heard Israel's groaning and acted in love — Exodus 2:24-25
The Hebrew word yada (to know) carries the sense of intimate, loving knowledge
Old Testament images of God's tender love: father to orphans (Psalm 68), one who pities children (Psalm 103), nursing mother (Isaiah 49), teaching a child to walk (Hosea 11)
II. The First Commandment Teaches Us to Love God Monotheistically
A. Monotheism was unique in the ancient Near East; surrounding nations were polytheistic
Some ancient religions practiced henotheism — worship of one god while acknowledging others
Higher critics claim the first commandment reflects henotheism, but Scripture refutes this
B. The fourth commandment (Exodus 20:11) establishes Yahweh as creator of all things — not merely a tribal deity
The divine name Yahweh (LORD in small caps) is the covenantal name given to Moses in Exodus 3:14 — "I AM WHO I AM"
This name points to God's aseity — he is utterly self-existent and independent, being itself
The covenant name of Israel's God simultaneously declares him to be the only God over heaven and earth
C. The uniqueness of the biblical creation narrative
Pagan creation myths involve either a war between gods or divine procreation
Genesis 1:1 — Yahweh alone creates; he shares creative power with no one
D. Exodus 19:5 — all the earth belongs to God; Israel is his treasured possession among all peoples
E. Idolatry defined: taking something real in creation and elevating it to god-like status
Romans 1:25 — exchanging the truth about God for a lie, worshiping the creature rather than the Creator
Baal worship as example: a personification of the fertility and storm cycles of nature
Matthew 6:24 — money is not inherently evil, but becomes an idol when elevated to lordship over life
F. Application: Our culture is just as polytheistic as the ancient Near East
Modern false gods include sex, beauty, power, money, politics, entertainment, and family
Henotheism is alive today in the sentiment "that god works for you; this one works for me"
The first commandment is just as countercultural and jolting for 21st-century believers as it was for Israel
God's call: "You shall have no other gods before my face" — spoken by the omniscient God who knows the inclinations of every heart
III. The First Commandment Teaches Us to Love God Covenantally
A. Background: Ancient Near Eastern covenant treaties
A great king would rescue an enslaved people, then enter into a covenant demanding exclusive loyalty
The preamble of the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1-2) follows this pattern exactly — Yahweh identifies himself as Redeemer King
Seeking another king was covenant treason — illustrated in 1 Samuel 8:7: Israel's demand for a king was a rejection of Yahweh as King
B. David understood himself as a vice-regent, not the ultimate king
2 Samuel 6:21 — David calls himself a prince over "Yahweh's people," not his own
No mere earthly king could fulfill the kingly promises of God; only Yahweh is Israel's true King
C. Jesus Christ is the great I AM come in the flesh
John 8:58 — "Before Abraham was, I AM"
John 14:9 — "Whoever has seen me has seen the Father"
As new covenant Christians, we obey the first commandment by giving exclusive allegiance to the Father and to Jesus Christ the King
D. The corporate dimension of the first commandment
The "you" throughout the commandments is singular in Hebrew — addressed to Israel as one corporate covenant body
Exodus 4 — "Let my son go" — the covenant people as one son
Colossians 1:18-19 — Christ is the head of the body, the church, preeminent in all things
We are not to hear the first commandment merely as individuals but as one family redeemed by the King of kings, holding one another accountable to make Christ preeminent in all things
36 min
March 07, 2021The Adulterous Woman
Scripture: Proverbs 7
Order of Service
Pastoral Prayer
Prayer Requests & Intercession
Scripture Reading — Proverbs 7
Sermon
Benediction
Sermon Title: The Adulterous Woman
Scripture: Proverbs 7
I. The Adulterous Woman's Prey
A. The father observes foolish youths from his window (Proverbs 7:7)
The "simple" in Proverbs denotes the gullible — not actively wicked, but easily led astray
The simple man is unsuspecting prey; the woman is the predator
B. The young man's folly is in his path and timing (Proverbs 7:8)
He passes near her corner at night — not scheming evil, but lacking sense
He is likened to an ox going to slaughter, a deer caught in a trap, and a bird rushing into a snare (Proverbs 7:22–23)
C. Wisdom requires avoiding paths that lead to temptation
James 1:13–15 — we are tempted when lured by our own desires, which conceive sin and bring forth death
The Lord's Prayer: "Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one" — we are to take proper routes in life
Though the man is an unsuspecting victim, he is still held accountable; even unintentional sins have consequences
II. The Adulterous Woman's Movements
A. The woman's defining characteristic is that she is away from home (Proverbs 7:11–12)
She is in the streets, the market, at every corner — an idler and busybody
She is apparently wealthy: Egyptian linens, expensive spices, a husband away on a prosperous journey (Proverbs 7:16–20)
B. Paul warns similarly of women who are idle, away from home, and self-indulgent
1 Timothy 5:6 — the self-indulgent widow is spiritually dead
Titus 2:4–5 — young women are to be self-controlled, pure, and working at home
C. She dresses as a prostitute and seizes the man (Proverbs 7:10, 13)
Like Tamar in Genesis 38, she uses a veil to entice and conceal her identity
She reverses the proper order of biblical pursuit: she is the active pursuer, the man is passive — contrast with the man's courtship of the Shulamite in Song of Solomon
The movements and dress of the Proverbs 7 woman are championed in today's culture; the church must recognize them as destructive, not heroic
III. The Adulterous Woman's Speech
A. She invokes a religious pretext to lure him (Proverbs 7:14)
Fellowship (peace) offerings described in Leviticus 3 and Leviticus 7 required the offerer to consume their portion that same day
If she is a pagan, the offering may involve cult prostitution tied to fertility religion
Either way, there is a spiritual/religious element to her seduction — nothing new under the sun; sexual immorality is still spoken of with spiritual overtones today
B. She appeals to comfort and sensual pleasure (Proverbs 7:16–17)
Myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon also appear in Song of Solomon 4:14 as euphemisms for the beloved's body — here used in a context of pure lust, not love
Contrast with Song of Solomon: there the spices describe a covenant relationship; here it is purely erotic and temporary
C. She assures him there will be no consequences (Proverbs 7:19–20)
Her husband is away — she persuades him they can sin without being caught
This echoes the serpent's lie: "You will not surely die" — compare Genesis 2 and the warning about death
Like Potiphar's wife with Joseph, she will use and discard her prey, even turning him into the predator to protect herself
D. The consequences are real and deadly (Proverbs 7:23, 26–27)
"He does not know that it will cost him his life" — her house is the way to Sheol, the chambers of death
Many victims — both men and women — have been laid low by the seductress (Proverbs 7:26)
Even under grace, sin still deserves death; grace is not a license to walk the path of folly but the gift of ears to hear and heed wisdom
The antidote is Lady Wisdom, to be introduced in Proverbs 8 — wisdom ultimately incarnate in Jesus Christ
35 min
February 28, 2021February 28, 2021; Sunday Evening Worship
Scripture: Proverbs 6:20-35
Order of Service
Call to Worship — Psalm 106:1-5
Prayer of Invocation
Congregational Prayer
Pastoral Prayer
Scripture Reading — Proverbs 6:20-35
Sermon
Benediction
Sermon Title: The Devastating Consequences of Adultery
Scripture: Proverbs 6:20-35
I. Preparations from the Parents Concerning the Adulterous Woman
A. In Proverbs 6:20, both mother and father instruct the son — a shift from the father alone speaking in earlier chapters
B. The parents' instructions are to be bound on the son's heart and carried with him wherever he goes
C. The purpose of parental instruction is stated in verse 24: to "preserve" the son from the evil woman and the smooth tongue of the adulteress
D. Application: Never assume children simply know what is right
Children are sinners stepping into a fallen world filled with sexual temptation
Parents must continuously repeat and reinforce instruction — never assume prior knowledge is retained
II. Protection of the Eyes from the False Beauty of the Adulterous Woman
A. Proverbs 6:25 commands the son not to desire the adulteress's beauty or be captured by her eyelashes
B. The Hebrew word for "desire" is the same word used for "covet" in the tenth commandment — Exodus 20:17
This is a specific command to heed the tenth commandment
The son must not covet a married woman's outward physical beauty
C. The seductress adorns herself to lure her prey; her beauty is a false and deadly bait
D. Contrast with the beloved in Song of Solomon 1:6-7: a working woman, sun-darkened, not adorned — yet the king's heart clings to her because of her character and chastity
True beauty is found in purity, goodness, and chastity
This is the kind of woman daughters should aspire to be, and the kind sons should seek
III. Personal Responsibility for Falling into the Trappings of the Adulterous Woman
A. The son has been amply warned; he has no excuse
B. Adultery is depicted as the height of foolishness and mindlessness
Proverbs 6:27-29: carrying fire next to one's chest, or walking on hot coals — consequences are inevitable
One night of physical pleasure is a fool's game, reducing a man to acting like an animal rather than a human being
C. While the woman lures, the man bears full personal responsibility for giving in
He cannot plead seduction as an excuse
He acted as a mindless fool and will receive his just deserts
D. Application to our culture: heavy temptation does not excuse sin
Satan whispers that God will give a pass because temptation is so overwhelming
The anti-hero of modern entertainment normalizes sexual immorality
Proverbs 6 rejects this lie: the temptation in no way excuses the behavior
IV. The Price to Pay for Pursuing the Adulterous Woman
A. Proverbs 6:26 contrasts the prostitute and the married adulteress
The prostitute costs only a loaf of bread; the transaction ends there
The married adulteress hunts down a precious life — the consequences are far greater because she belongs to another man
B. In Israel, adultery carried the death penalty — Deuteronomy 22:22
C. Even apart from death, the adulterer faces wounds, dishonor, and disgrace that cannot be wiped away (Proverbs 6:33)
Public punishment from the courts
Permanent disgrace before the community
D. The jealous husband's rage cannot be satisfied — Proverbs 6:34-35
No compensation, however generous, will appease him
The adulterer faces an unquenchable jealous fury
E. Summary application: cf. Matthew 16:26 — what does it profit a man to gain one night of pleasure and forfeit his life, family, name, and reputation?
31 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.

Share Northpointe PCA Sermons

Sign up to save your podcasts

Northpointe PCA Sermons

Northpointe PCA Sermons episodes

About Northpointe PCA Sermons