Northpointe PCA Sermons

Northpointe PCA Sermons

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Northpointe PCA Sermons episodes

  • January 17, 2021; Sunday Evening Worship

    Scripture: Proverbs 4:20-27

    Order of Service
    • Call to Worship — Psalm 117
    • Prayer of Intercession
    • Scripture Reading — Proverbs 4:20-27
    • Sermon
    • Benediction
      • Sermon Title: The Wise Heart and Its Effect on the Tongue, Eyes, and Feet

      Scripture: Proverbs 4:20-27

      I. The Wise Heart and the Tongue

      A. Proverbs 4:24 — Put away crooked speech and devious talk

      B. As one speaks, so he is — the tongue reflects the heart

      1. Matthew 15:17-18 — What comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart
      2. James 3:2 — If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man
        3. C. Derek Kidner: superficial habits of talk react on the mind and harden into established habits of thought
        D. Wisdom is cultivated through wise habits and practices, not passive waiting
      3. Colossians 3:9 — Put off the old self with its practices
      4. The Greek word for virtue carries the idea of good and right habits
        5. E. Practical application: examine default habits of the tongue — what triggers crooked speech?
        II. The Wise Heart and the Eyes

        A. Proverbs 4:25 — Let your eyes look directly forward and your gaze be straight

        B. Wise habits steer the eyes just as they steer the tongue

        1. David's fall begins with abandoned kingly habits — 2 Samuel 11:1 — David remained in Jerusalem when kings go out to battle, leading to lust and adultery
        2. Eve in the garden — Genesis 3:6 — she saw the tree as a delight only after her heart was turned from God's word to the serpent's lie
          3. C. The eyes follow where the heart believes satisfaction is found
        3. Sin is rooted not merely in lust but in believing the serpent's false promises of satisfaction
        4. Advertisement culture exploits this — attaching a vision of the good life to every product
          5. D. The goal is not merely avoiding sin but hating it — having a heavenward heart so focused that temptation is reprehensible
        5. Matthew 5:29 — if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out (practical steps: filters, accountability)
        6. Joseph and Potiphar's wife — he did not linger and converse but fled
        7. True freedom comes from seeing God's promises as satisfying and the world's promises as lies
          8. III. The Wise Heart and the Feet

          A. Proverbs 4:26-27 — Ponder the path of your feet; do not swerve to the right or left

          B. The key word is ponder — weighing options, thinking carefully about which paths to walk
          C. Our culture is an unthinking culture — drawn to slogans, bumper stickers, and simplistic paths

          1. Both secular and evangelical worlds are infected with the notion that truth must be instantly simple
          2. 1 Corinthians 14:20 — Do not be children in your thinking; in your thinking be mature
            3. D. The path of the fool is mindless; the path of the wise is mind-full
          3. Mature preaching engages the mind and draws hearers to Scripture — it is not a Christian slogan
          4. Our feet follow our minds — childish thinking leads to foolish paths; godly thinking leads to wisdom
            5. 27 min
          5. Plan of Salvation

            Scripture: Titus 1:1-4

            Order of Service
            • Call to Worship — Psalm 113
            • Prayer of Invocation
            • Catechism — Westminster Shorter Catechism, Tenth Commandment
            • Scripture Reading — 2 Samuel 3:1–25
            • Pastoral Prayer
            • Hymn — I Will Sing of My Redeemer
            • Sermon
            • Hymn — Not What My Hands Have Done
            • Benediction — 1 Thessalonians 3:11–13
            • Hymn Sing — When I Survey the Wondrous Cross, Holy, Holy, Holy
              • Sermon Title: Plan of Salvation

              Scripture: Titus 1:1–4

              I. God's Decree in the Plan of Salvation

              A. Distinction between God's preceptive will and His decreed will

              1. Preceptive will: God's commands and precepts — desired effect not guaranteed (cf. 1 John 2:1)
              2. Decreed will: set in stone, cannot be resisted or revoked (cf. Isaiah 46:10; Numbers 23:19)

                3. B. God decreed eternal life for His elect before the ages began (Titus 1:2)

                1. Paul speaks of the faith that characterizes the elect, not what qualifies them
                2. Genuine faith evidences election; it does not produce it (John 10:26–28)
                3. God's decree never relies on our actions; our actions rest on God's decree

                  4. C. The decree is sealed in the blood of the Lamb

                  1. Parallel to ancient Near Eastern sovereign decrees — the Persian law of the Medes (Daniel 6:8–9)
                  2. The names of the elect written in the Lamb's Book of Life before the foundation of the world (Revelation 13:8)
                  3. God signs His decree not with ink but with the blood of His Son — Ephesians 1:4

                    4. D. Practical comfort: God's eternal decree is our anchor in times of guilt, shame, and spiritual depression

                    1. Broken promises from sinful mortals cannot fulfill us
                    2. Only the unchanging God who decrees from eternity can anchor our hope
                      3. II. God's Means in the Plan of Salvation

                      A. Election and evangelism are not opposed — Paul connects them seamlessly in Titus 1:1–3

                      1. Paul is an apostle for the sake of the faith of God's elect — sent to proclaim the gospel so the elect come to faith
                      2. God's eternal decree is brought to bear in time and space through the preaching of the Word

                        3. B. God ordains both the ends (eternal life for the elect) and the means (proclamation of the gospel)

                        1. Election does not diminish evangelism — it enhances and frees it
                        2. The pure gospel of Christ crucified — not gimmicks or emotional ploys — is the ordained vehicle (1 Corinthians 2:2)

                          3. C. Election safeguards faithful gospel proclamation

                          1. When salvation rests on man's decision, the evangelist is tempted to tinker with the gospel to obtain that decision
                          2. When salvation rests on God's decree and means, the preacher is bound to proclaim the whole gospel — including the vocabulary of sin — without compromise
                          3. The preacher is freed from the burden of manufacturing results and freed to be faithful to God's ordained means
                            4. III. God's Goal in the Plan of Salvation

                            A. True saving knowledge leads to godliness (Titus 1:1)

                            1. This theme is the foundation and launching pad of the entire book of Titus
                            2. The Jewish false teachers in Crete produced speculative, not saving, knowledge — leading to ungodliness (Titus 1:16)

                              3. B. The goal of election and saving faith is holiness leading to eternal life

                              1. Romans 6:22 — freed from sin, enslaved to God; fruit leads to sanctification and eternal life
                              2. Ephesians 2:8–10 — saved by grace through faith for good works prepared beforehand

                                3. C. Three distortions when one element of salvation is isolated

                                1. Overemphasis on electing grace alone → hyper-Calvinism (neglects evangelism and holiness)
                                2. Overemphasis on faith alone → easy believism or antinomianism (neglects election and obedience)
                                3. Overemphasis on holiness alone → legalism and works-righteousness (neglects grace and faith)

                                  4. D. Self-examination: boasting in Christ while serving sin is a contradiction

                                  1. Augustus Toplady's Rock of Ages — Christ saves from sin's guilt and sin's power
                                  2. If sin rules and reigns, saving knowledge of Christ must be questioned
                                  3. The power of Christ redeems from the power of sin — believers are no longer slaves to sin but to Christ and His righteousness
                                    4. 30 min
                                  4. January 10, 2021; Sunday Evening Worship

                                    Scripture: Proverbs 4:10-19

                                    Order of Service
                                    • Call to Worship — Psalm 97:1-7
                                    • Prayer of Invocation
                                    • Pastoral Prayer
                                    • Scripture Reading — Proverbs 4:10-19
                                    • Sermon
                                    • Benediction — Numbers 6:24-26
                                      • Sermon Title: Two Paths — The Way of Wisdom and the Way of Wickedness

                                      Scripture: Proverbs 4:10-19

                                      I. The Walk in the Way of Wisdom — Proverbs 4:10-13

                                      A. The way of wisdom is straight and leads to life

                                      1. The word way conveys practical, day-by-day living — not mere theoretical knowledge
                                      2. The upright way is straight; the wicked's ways are crooked, winding, and directionless
                                      3. True liberation is found in submission to God's ways, not in the pluralism of the world
                                      4. John 14:6 — Jesus is the one way: I am the way, the truth, and the life

                                        5. B. Every step on the path is guided by God's word (Proverbs 4:12)

                                        1. Step is a metaphor for every individual decision made along the way
                                        2. The one walking in wisdom will not be hampered — freed from the debilitating consequences of sin
                                        3. Even running (a less stable motion) will not cause stumbling for those trained in godliness
                                        4. The analogy of two athletes: the disciplined one endures; wisdom calls us to train ourselves in godliness

                                          5. C. Intense urgency: keep hold of wisdom, for she is your life (Proverbs 4:13)

                                          1. Verbs pile up — keep hold, do not let go, guard her
                                          2. The word of God is not a hobby or a subject of conversation; it is the very heartbeat and lifeblood of the believer
                                          3. The word that brought life into existence continues to sustain it
                                            4. II. The Walk in the Way of Wickedness — Proverbs 4:14-17

                                            A. The same intensity used to cling to wisdom is required to flee evil (Proverbs 4:14-15)

                                            1. Do not enter, do not walk, avoid it, do not go on it, turn away, pass on
                                            2. Godliness is one coin with two sides: cling to God's word and flee from evil — you cannot have one without the other
                                            3. A warning against a checklist Christianity that focuses only on outward actions while ignoring indwelling sin
                                            4. Wisdom asks: where am I most susceptible to the path of the wicked? Where are my particular triggers and temptations?

                                              5. B. The wicked are addicted to evil (Proverbs 4:16-17)

                                              1. They cannot sleep unless they have done wrong; they plot wickedness even in their beds at night
                                              2. Wickedness and violence are their bread and drink — their very sustenance
                                              3. The word for at the start of v. 16–17 explains why we must avoid the wicked path: because evil is addicting
                                              4. Illustration: Gordon McDonald's 1987 resignation — even the apparently godly can fall; as a Calvinist would say, there is enough sin in one's pinky to destroy the world three times over
                                              5. Like a heroin addict with a first taste, the sin addict who gets a taste is caught in a vortex — avoid it before you enter
                                                6. III. Summary — The Light of the Righteous and the Darkness of the Wicked — Proverbs 4:18-19

                                                A. The path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, growing ever brighter (Proverbs 4:18)

                                                1. It is like the morning light that keeps increasing — not the afternoon light that diminishes
                                                2. Psalm 27:1 — The LORD is my light and my salvation
                                                3. Numbers 6:25 — The LORD make his face to shine upon you
                                                4. Psalm 84:5-7 — Those whose strength is in the Lord go from strength to strength, from light to light, as they walk the highway to Zion
                                                5. The word of God is light and life because it leads us to God who is light and life

                                                  6. B. The way of the wicked is deep darkness (Proverbs 4:19)

                                                  1. They do not know what they stumble over — ignorant of both the nature and the consequences of their wickedness
                                                  2. Only God who is light can illuminate sin and its consequences; those who walk away from him cannot see
                                                  3. A horrifying double bind: sin is addicting and it blinds us to its consequences
                                                  4. The remedy the wicked reach for is more sin — like a heroin addict who numbs misery with another dose — heaping misery upon misery in an ugly, unbroken cycle

                                                    5. C. The call to walk in the light

                                                    1. Avoid and turn away from the path of darkness
                                                    2. Grab hold of and never let go of the path of wisdom, which grows brighter as we walk toward Christ
                                                    3. Christ is the Sun of Righteousness who has overcome this dark world — he is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and our wisdom incarnate
                                                      4. 28 min
                                                    4. December 27, 2020; Sunday Morning Worship

                                                      Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:11-21, A New Creation in a New Year

                                                      Order of Service
                                                      • Call to Worship — Psalm 105:1-8
                                                      • Prayer of Invocation
                                                      • Confession of Faith — Westminster Shorter Catechism Q. 73–75 (Eighth Commandment)
                                                      • Scripture Reading — 2 Samuel 2:1-11
                                                      • Pastoral Prayer
                                                      • Scripture Reading — 2 Corinthians 5:11-21
                                                      • Prayer
                                                      • Sermon
                                                      • Benediction — 2 Corinthians 13:14
                                                        • Sermon Title: A New Creation in a New Year

                                                        Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:11-21

                                                        I. The New Creation Perspective

                                                        A. Christian conversion is distinct from mere moral self-improvement

                                                        1. Many inspirational stories and recovery programs produce behavioral change without Christ
                                                        2. If Christ is only a means to becoming a better citizen, the world has many competing answers

                                                          3. B. Paul's testimony centers not on becoming a better person but on receiving a new citizenship and a new creation identity

                                                          1. Paul's afflictions in 2 Corinthians 4:8 would not look inspiring by worldly standards
                                                          2. Yet those very afflictions enhanced the message that Christ saves us from this fallen, transient world

                                                            3. C. The new creation perspective is oriented toward what is unseen and eternal, not what is seen and transient — 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

                                                            D. Two gifts that give us this new world and heavenly perspective: Love and Reconciliation

                                                            II. Love Constrains the New Creation

                                                            A. Paul responds to accusations of unpolished, unrefined rhetoric compared to the sophists who captivated Corinth

                                                            1. The sophists dazzled audiences with rhetorical skill and philosophical novelty
                                                            2. Paul is more concerned with the content of the gospel than with the form of its delivery

                                                              3. B. The love of Christ controls and steers every action of the believer — 2 Corinthians 5:14-15

                                                              1. Christ died for all so that those who live would no longer live for themselves but for him
                                                              2. Illustration: In Saving Private Ryan, Ryan's entire life was constrained by the sacrifice of those who died to save him — so Paul's entire life is constrained by Christ's sacrificial love

                                                                3. C. This love transforms how believers regard others — 2 Corinthians 5:16

                                                                1. We no longer regard anyone according to the flesh (sinful, worldly standards)
                                                                2. Christ on the cross looks like a criminal to the world, but to the new creation he is the loving Savior dying for sinners
                                                                3. We do not scrutinize people by external, cultural, or worldly standards

                                                                  4. D. Application: In a year of unprecedented national division, the love of Christ constraining believers will stand out as light in a world filled with vitriolic hatred

                                                                  III. Reconciliation and the Ministry of the New Creation

                                                                  A. God is the efficient cause of all reconciliation — 2 Corinthians 5:18

                                                                  1. God reconciles sinners to himself through Christ
                                                                  2. He then entrusts the message of reconciliation to his people

                                                                    3. B. The scope of Christ's atoning death — 2 Corinthians 5:14

                                                                    1. "All" means all without distinction (every tribe, nation, and tongue), not all without exception
                                                                    2. If all without exception were meant, every individual would automatically be saved and no message of reconciliation would be necessary
                                                                    3. Because God has won a people from every corner of the world, we are to proclaim the gospel to all people

                                                                      4. C. Christ is the storehouse of all salvation's benefits, including reconciliation

                                                                      1. Faith is the door by which we enter into Christ and find reconciliation
                                                                      2. God is not reconciled by our faith — God is the reconciler; faith unites us to Christ where reconciliation is found
                                                                      3. Application: In this new year, implore people to get into Christ by faith rather than meeting a divided world with opinions and hobby horses

                                                                        4. D. The Great Exchange — 2 Corinthians 5:21

                                                                        1. Christ was made sin — not personally, experientially, or morally, but by imputation
                                                                        2. We are made the righteousness of God — not by personal moral achievement, but by imputation of Christ's righteousness
                                                                        3. As Charles Hodge explains: our sins are the judicial ground of Christ's sufferings; his righteousness is the judicial ground of our acceptance with God
                                                                        4. This is not mere pardon (removal of debt) but full justification (filling the account with righteousness) — this is what gives peace with God
                                                                        5. Martin Luther called this the Great Exchange

                                                                          6. E. Application: Whatever challenges the new year brings, believers are a new creation declared righteous in Christ

                                                                          1. Proclaim reconciliation to all people across every social and political divide
                                                                          2. The new year's resolution for the believer is not to do more, but to swim more deeply in the grace, mercy, and love of Christ
                                                                          3. Fix eyes on Christ rather than inward on self — Isaiah 64:6
                                                                            4. 32 min
                                                                          4. Uploaded after worship service because of livestream difficulties

                                                                            Scripture: Luke 2:29-32; The Nunc Dimittis

                                                                            Order of Service
                                                                            • Call to Worship — Isaiah 55:1-3
                                                                            • Hymn — Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
                                                                            • Prayer of Invocation
                                                                            • Confession of Sin — based on Isaiah 53
                                                                            • Assurance of Pardon — Romans 8:1-2
                                                                            • Scripture Reading — Isaiah 40
                                                                            • Pastoral Prayer
                                                                            • Hymn — O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
                                                                            • Sermon
                                                                            • Hymn — Of the Father's Love Begotten
                                                                            • Outdoor Congregational Singing
                                                                            • Benediction
                                                                              • Sermon Title: The Peace, Person, and Peoples of Salvation

                                                                              Scripture: Luke 2:29-32

                                                                              I. Simeon Praises God for the Peace of Salvation

                                                                              A. The Hebrew concept of shalom frames Simeon's words

                                                                              1. In the Pentateuch, shalom is often used as a verb denoting peace that comes through restitution — an offender pays a penalty to the offended, resulting in friendship and security
                                                                              2. Example: Numbers 25:12 — God makes a covenant of peace with Phinehas, who turned aside God's wrath by acting against those who were profaning the tabernacle
                                                                              3. After his resurrection, Jesus's first words to his disciples are "Peace to you" (Luke 24:36) — made possible because he paid the penalty for their sin, and his resurrection confirms that payment was accepted

                                                                                4. B. The new covenant is a covenant of peace

                                                                                1. Ezekiel calls the new covenant a covenant of peace (Ezekiel 34:25; Ezekiel 37:26), echoing Jeremiah 31
                                                                                2. Like Phinehas, Christ has made restitution for sin, turned aside God's wrath, and by his blood and resurrection established an everlasting covenant of shalom
                                                                                3. Simeon dies with peace because in Christ he sees not God as judge but God as friend

                                                                                  4. C. Shalom also carries the meaning of internal rest for the soul

                                                                                  1. Old Testament sacrifices could not cleanse the conscience (Hebrews 9:9); they instead served as a daily spotlight on Israel's sin (Hebrews 10:3)
                                                                                  2. The sacrificial system was meant to be exhausting, so that the people would long for true shalom — rest from a burdened conscience
                                                                                  3. Sin brings exhaustion and unrest, as seen in God's words to Adam after the fall in Genesis 3
                                                                                  4. Christ spells the end of the exhausted, sin-burdened soul — in him alone the conscience is quieted and the soul finds rest with God
                                                                                  5. Christmas reminds us we belong to the new covenant, defined by peace and rest for the sin-sick soul — freedom from sin's guilt and power
                                                                                    6. II. Simeon Praises God for the Person of Salvation

                                                                                    A. Salvation is found in a person — the person of Jesus Christ (Luke 2:30)

                                                                                    B. Luke chapter 2 repeatedly emphasizes Christ's faithful keeping of the Mosaic law

                                                                                    1. Circumcised on the eighth day according to the law (Luke 2:21)
                                                                                    2. Mary and Joseph perform purification and sacrifice according to the law (Luke 2:22-24)
                                                                                    3. Everything done according to the custom of the law (Luke 2:27, 39)
                                                                                    4. Jesus described as filled with wisdom — for an Israelite, conformity to God's law (Luke 2:40)
                                                                                    5. His parents kept the Passover annually according to the custom of the law (Luke 2:41-42)
                                                                                    6. At age 12 in the temple, he listened to and astounded the teachers of the law
                                                                                    7. He was submissive to his parents — fulfilling the fifth commandment (Luke 2:51)
                                                                                    8. He increased in wisdom (Luke 2:52)

                                                                                      9. C. From infancy to death, Jesus perfectly fulfilled the law of God — a paraphrase of Hebrews 4:15

                                                                                      1. He is the Israelite who fulfills the Mosaic covenant, bringing a new covenant of peace in which the law's condemnation no longer hangs over Israel
                                                                                      2. Because he fulfills the law at every age — infant, toddler, teenager, adult — he is savior for every person of every age
                                                                                        3. III. Simeon Praises God for the Peoples of Salvation

                                                                                        A. Simeon identifies Jesus as salvation for all peoples — both Jew and Gentile (Luke 2:31-32)

                                                                                        1. Fulfillment of Isaiah 42:6 — the Servant will be "a covenant for the people, a light for the nations"
                                                                                        2. With Christ's birth, the new covenant encompasses all nations

                                                                                          3. B. Gentile salvation depends upon an Israelite man fulfilling Israel's law

                                                                                          1. Though Gentiles do not have the Mosaic law, they have the law of God written on their hearts as image-bearers (Romans 2:14-15)
                                                                                          2. The conscience that accuses us proves the law is written on every human heart

                                                                                            3. C. All 613 Old Testament laws are applications of the Ten Commandments

                                                                                            1. The Ten Commandments, written by God's own finger in stone, inscribe God's holy character permanently
                                                                                            2. All subsidiary laws safeguard that holy character and Israel's reflection of it
                                                                                            3. Every law ultimately comes down to: honor the God who created and redeemed you — for Jew and Gentile alike

                                                                                              4. D. All mankind has failed to reflect God's glory (Romans 3) and needs a man to fulfill the image of God perfectly

                                                                                              1. Mankind needs one who can ascend the holy mountain with pure hands and a clean heart
                                                                                              2. Jesus Christ, the God-man, reflects the holy character of God in every step from infancy to death
                                                                                              3. United to him, believers become a new creation made after the image of the second and last Adam — Jesus Christ our Lord
                                                                                                4. 29 min
                                                                                              4. The Benedictus

                                                                                                Scripture: Luke 1:67-80

                                                                                                Order of Service
                                                                                                • Call to Worship — Isaiah 9:2-7
                                                                                                • Prayer of Invocation
                                                                                                • Confession of Faith — Westminster Confession of Faith, Chapter 8
                                                                                                • Scripture Reading — Malachi 4:1-6
                                                                                                • Pastoral Prayer
                                                                                                • Sermon
                                                                                                • Benediction
                                                                                                  • Sermon Title: The Benedictus

                                                                                                  Scripture: Luke 1:67-80

                                                                                                  I. Jesus as the Fulfillment of the Davidic Covenant

                                                                                                  A. Zechariah opens with language borrowed from 1 Kings 1:48, applying David's words at Solomon's enthronement to the birth of David's greater Son

                                                                                                  B. The Davidic covenant promises of 2 Samuel 7:16 — an eternal throne and house — find their fulfillment in Christ

                                                                                                  1. Gabriel's announcement to Mary in Luke 1:32 explicitly identifies Jesus as heir to David's throne
                                                                                                  2. The "horn of salvation" in verse 69 echoes David's own language in 2 Samuel 22:3 and Psalm 18:2
                                                                                                  3. The promise of rest from enemies in verse 71 recalls 2 Samuel 7:11

                                                                                                    4. C. Application: Augustine's The City of God (written after the sack of Rome in A.D. 410) reminds believers that earthly kingdoms are fleeting, but Christ's kingdom is eternal and secure

                                                                                                    1. Christians need not be dejected by the decline of earthly nations; we are citizens of the city of God
                                                                                                    2. As the Westminster Shorter Catechism affirms, Christ as King restrains and conquers all his and our enemies
                                                                                                      3. II. Jesus as the Fulfillment of the Abrahamic Covenant

                                                                                                      A. Zechariah's language in verses 72–75 draws on Israel's bondage in Egypt and God's covenant remembrance in Exodus 2:23-24

                                                                                                      1. God delivered Israel from Egypt so they might serve him in holiness and righteousness (Exodus 7:16, Exodus 8:1)
                                                                                                      2. Luke presents Jesus' birth as a new Exodus, demonstrating God's fidelity to his covenant with Abraham

                                                                                                        3. B. The "oath sworn to Abraham" in verse 73 points to Genesis 22:16-17, where God swears to bless Abraham after he willingly offered Isaac on Mount Moriah

                                                                                                        1. God provided a substitute ram so that Abraham's son would not die
                                                                                                        2. God's covenant oath to Abraham is sealed not with Abraham's son's blood, but with his own Son's blood — there is no substitute for Jesus

                                                                                                          3. C. Application: As God looked upon the infant Jesus in Bethlehem, he knew this child was born to die so that the promises made to Abraham might be fulfilled for all who believe

                                                                                                          III. Jesus as the Fulfillment of the New Covenant

                                                                                                          A. In verses 76–79, Zechariah turns to his son John, who will prepare the way for the Lord, fulfilling Malachi 3:1

                                                                                                          1. John is called "prophet of the Most High"; Jesus is called "Son of the Most High" (Luke 1:32) — a clear identification of Jesus with Yahweh himself
                                                                                                          2. The sunrise that visits "from on high" (verse 78) originates in heaven, identifying Jesus as God come down to redeem his people

                                                                                                            3. B. The purpose of Christ's coming is forgiveness of sins (verse 77), fulfilling the new covenant promise of Jeremiah 31:34: "I will forgive their iniquity and remember their sin no more"

                                                                                                            1. The new covenant also gathers up and fulfills the Abrahamic, Davidic, Noahic, and Mosaic covenants — all administrations of the one covenant of grace
                                                                                                            2. God's "visitation" language in verses 68 and 78 is a rich Old Testament theme; Jesus' own use of it in Luke 19:44 confirms that his coming is Yahweh's long-promised visit to redeem his people

                                                                                                              3. C. To reject Christ is to reject Yahweh's visitation and remain in bondage to sin and death; to embrace Christ is to receive light in the darkness and the shadow of death (verse 79)

                                                                                                              D. Application: The incarnation is the "spectacles" through which we see the Father clearly — a tender, merciful God who visits his people to redeem them

                                                                                                              1. In Christ we see the Father fully: his beauty, mercy, grace, and love displayed in the innocent child in the manger
                                                                                                              2. All the covenantal promises of God find their Yes and Amen in Christ (2 Corinthians 1:20)
                                                                                                                3. 31 min
                                                                                                              3. December 13, 2020; Sunday Evening Worship

                                                                                                                Scripture: Proverbs 4:1-9

                                                                                                                Order of Service
                                                                                                                • Call to Worship — Psalm 84:1-4
                                                                                                                • Prayer of Invocation
                                                                                                                • Prayer Requests and Pastoral Prayer
                                                                                                                • Scripture Reading — Proverbs 4:1-9
                                                                                                                • Sermon
                                                                                                                • Benediction — 2 Corinthians 13:14
                                                                                                                  • Sermon Title: The Tradition, Ownership, and Honor of Wisdom

                                                                                                                  Scripture: Proverbs 4:1-9

                                                                                                                  I. The Tradition of Wisdom (vv. 1–4)

                                                                                                                  A. For the first time in Proverbs, instruction is addressed to sons (plural), representing wisdom passed down through the generations, not just to one child

                                                                                                                  1. The instructor recounts in v. 3–4 that his own father taught him — wisdom flows from generation to generation
                                                                                                                  2. Biblical precedent: Exodus 12 (Passover as memorial instruction), Deuteronomy 6:4-7 (the Shema), Psalm 145:4 (one generation commends God's works to another)

                                                                                                                    3. B. The loss of tradition leads to the loss of identity

                                                                                                                    1. When a culture or church scraps its traditions, definitions and labels lose all meaning
                                                                                                                    2. Labels are a friend — being able to say "reformed Protestant Presbyterian" communicates substantive doctrinal commitments and enables real conversation

                                                                                                                      3. C. Catechism is the biblical instrument of this tradition

                                                                                                                      1. The Greek word catecheo simply means to teach orally or instruct; catechism is not Catholic, it is biblical
                                                                                                                      2. The Reformation spread largely through catechizing — Martin Luther noted that a 15-year-old girl or boy then knew more Christian doctrine than university theologians once had
                                                                                                                      3. Parents are encouraged to use the Westminster Shorter Catechism and the Heidelberg Catechism to instruct their children in the doctrines of Scripture
                                                                                                                        4. II. The Ownership of Wisdom (vv. 5, 7)

                                                                                                                        A. The Hebrew word for get (v. 5, 7) can be translated buy or purchase, carrying the idea of personally owning wisdom

                                                                                                                        1. Some commentators see the metaphor of a man paying a dowry to acquire Lady Wisdom as his wife — pay whatever price is necessary to obtain her
                                                                                                                        2. The progression in the passage is significant: attentiveness (v. 1) → holding fast and keeping commandments (v. 4) → getting and owning wisdom (vv. 5, 7)

                                                                                                                          3. B. The Reformation's three components of saving faith parallel this progression

                                                                                                                          1. Notitia — the content of faith; the teaching received from the father
                                                                                                                          2. Assensus — intellectual assent to that content as true
                                                                                                                          3. Fiducia — personal entrustment and ownership; cf. James 2:19 (even demons give mere intellectual assent)

                                                                                                                            4. C. Application: Are you merely giving intellectual assent to the truths of Scripture, or are you owning Christ for yourself?

                                                                                                                            1. Matthew 13:44 — the kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field; the man sells all he has to buy it
                                                                                                                            2. The end goal of Christian instruction is not a receptacle of sound doctrine but a person who owns, cherishes, and lives by wisdom
                                                                                                                              3. III. The Protection and Honor of Wisdom (vv. 5–9)

                                                                                                                              A. Get wisdom, for she will bring protection (vv. 5–6)

                                                                                                                              1. This protection theme runs throughout Deuteronomy — obey the covenant King and he will protect you; disobey and protection is withdrawn
                                                                                                                              2. This reflects the ancient Near Eastern suzerainty treaty formula: the great king redeems a vassal people and vows protection on condition of obedience to his covenant statutes
                                                                                                                              3. The Ten Commandments follow this pattern — the preamble ("I am the LORD your God who brought you out of Egypt") establishes God as Redeemer King before issuing his law
                                                                                                                              4. Jesus follows the same pattern in his letters to the seven churches (Revelation 2–3): he declares who he is (Redeemer King), then warns that spurning his commandments results in the removal of his protection (the lampstand taken away)
                                                                                                                              5. As a new covenant community, the church must heed the wisdom of Christ the Redeemer King to remain under his protection and guardianship

                                                                                                                                6. B. Get wisdom, for she will bring honor (vv. 7–9)

                                                                                                                                1. There is a deliberate play on words: esteem wisdom highly and wisdom will esteem you highly; honor wisdom and wisdom will honor you
                                                                                                                                2. The Hebrew word for exalt is almost always used of God being exalted; when used positively of an individual, it describes exaltation that is found in God — cf. 1 Samuel 2:1 (Hannah: "My heart exalts in the LORD")
                                                                                                                                3. Israel was repeatedly warned never to view their exaltation as self-achieved — Deuteronomy 8:14, Deuteronomy 8:17: beware lest you say "my own hand has gotten me this wealth"
                                                                                                                                4. Any honor or exaltation God's people receive is a result of sharing in God's own exaltation — an Old Testament foreshadowing of the New Testament doctrine of union with Christ
                                                                                                                                5. Paul's drumbeat in Christ, in Christ, in Christ (Romans, Galatians, Ephesians) — we are justified, sanctified, and glorified in Christ
                                                                                                                                6. Our incentive to heed the wisdom of Christ is not the pursuit of our own glory, but beholding how glorious Christ is and longing to share in that glory — the crown of righteousness belongs to him and is received only by being united to him by faith
                                                                                                                                  7. 29 min
                                                                                                                                7. December 6, 2020; Sunday Evening Worship

                                                                                                                                  Scripture: Proverbs 3:27-35

                                                                                                                                  Order of Service
                                                                                                                                  • Call to Worship — Psalm 93
                                                                                                                                  • Prayer of Invocation
                                                                                                                                  • Pastoral Prayer
                                                                                                                                  • Scripture Reading — Proverbs 3:27-35
                                                                                                                                  • Sermon
                                                                                                                                  • Benediction
                                                                                                                                    • Sermon Title: The Value of Wisdom for the Neighbor

                                                                                                                                    Scripture: Proverbs 3:27-35

                                                                                                                                    I. What a Good Neighbor Looks Like (Proverbs 3:27-30)

                                                                                                                                    A. A good neighbor gives to the needy (Proverbs 3:27)

                                                                                                                                    1. Giving is not indiscriminate — it is directed to those to whom it is due, those in genuine need
                                                                                                                                    2. Proverbs 30:15 warns against giving to the "leech" who always demands more
                                                                                                                                    3. 2 Thessalonians 3:10-12 distinguishes genuine need from willful idleness

                                                                                                                                      4. B. A good neighbor does not delay help (Proverbs 3:28)

                                                                                                                                      1. Do not offer help with no intention of following through
                                                                                                                                      2. If you have the means and your neighbor is in need, help immediately — do not put it off

                                                                                                                                        3. C. A good neighbor is not quarrelsome (Proverbs 3:29-30)

                                                                                                                                        1. Verse 29 addresses covert evil — plotting against a neighbor who trusts you, reflecting the 10th commandment against coveting
                                                                                                                                        2. Coveting often manifests not in theft but in planting seeds of suspicion and ill will in others' minds
                                                                                                                                        3. Verse 30 addresses open contention — picking fights and making baseless accusations
                                                                                                                                        4. The second table of the law (Exodus 20:12-17) implies not only negative prohibitions but positive obligations: the neighbor has rights to our kindness, care, and generosity
                                                                                                                                          5. II. What a Bad Neighbor Looks Like (Proverbs 3:31-35)

                                                                                                                                          A. The bad neighbor is violent and his character is multi-dimensional (Proverbs 3:31)

                                                                                                                                          B. His mind is corrupt — he is devious (Proverbs 3:32)

                                                                                                                                          1. Crafty, deceptive, and a stirrer of strife

                                                                                                                                            2. C. His heart is corrupt — he is wicked (Proverbs 3:33)

                                                                                                                                            1. He is set against God and all his ways at his core

                                                                                                                                              2. D. His social life is corrupt — he is a scorner (Proverbs 3:34)

                                                                                                                                              1. He does not speak directly to others, treating them as beneath him
                                                                                                                                              2. He dismisses and demeans rather than engaging with respect

                                                                                                                                                3. E. He is a fool (Proverbs 3:35)

                                                                                                                                                1. He despises wisdom and fills his mind and conversation with worthless things

                                                                                                                                                  2. F. The positive contrasts

                                                                                                                                                  1. Devious ↔ Upright — straight and honest, not crafty
                                                                                                                                                  2. Wicked ↔ Righteous — loves God and his law in the heart
                                                                                                                                                  3. Scorner ↔ Humble — speaks directly and respectfully to all
                                                                                                                                                  4. Fool ↔ Wise — loves knowledge and substantive, God-centered conversation
                                                                                                                                                    5. III. The Rewards for the Good and Bad Neighbor (Proverbs 3:32-35)

                                                                                                                                                    A. God is the one who distributes the rewards — this is the central distinction

                                                                                                                                                    B. The upright receive God's friendship (Proverbs 3:32)

                                                                                                                                                    1. The devious are an abomination to the Lord — utterly repugnant to him
                                                                                                                                                    2. The upright are in his confidence — the language of intimate friendship; the holy God stoops to befriend his servant

                                                                                                                                                      3. C. The righteous household is blessed (Proverbs 3:33)

                                                                                                                                                      1. The curse on the wicked and the blessing on the righteous are both corporate and covenantal — they extend to the whole household
                                                                                                                                                      2. Psalm 128:3-4 illustrates this: the man who fears the Lord sees his wife and children flourish

                                                                                                                                                        3. D. The humble receive grace; the scorner receives scorn (Proverbs 3:34)

                                                                                                                                                        1. God mirrors back to the scorner his own contempt
                                                                                                                                                        2. To the humble, God pours out his grace and favor

                                                                                                                                                          3. E. The wise inherit honor; fools receive disgrace (Proverbs 3:35)

                                                                                                                                                          F. The core difference: who is your rewarder?

                                                                                                                                                          1. Hebrews 11:6 — faith requires believing both that God exists and that he rewards those who seek him; the wicked reject the second part
                                                                                                                                                          2. Matthew 6:1-4 — those who practice righteousness for human praise have already received their reward; those who act in secret receive reward from the Father
                                                                                                                                                          3. The wicked do get their earthly rewards — fame, power, praise — but these are temporary, subject to moth and rust
                                                                                                                                                          4. Christians must not envy the rewards the godless pursue; those rewards have no God in them
                                                                                                                                                          5. The Christian life comes down to one question: is God himself your reward and rewarder, or are you serving the perishable things of this world?
                                                                                                                                                            6. 30 min
                                                                                                                                                          6. The Magnificat

                                                                                                                                                            Scripture: Luke 1:46-56

                                                                                                                                                            Order of Service
                                                                                                                                                            • Call to Worship — Psalm 113
                                                                                                                                                            • Hymn of Praise
                                                                                                                                                            • Prayer of Invocation
                                                                                                                                                            • Scripture Reading — 1 Samuel 2:1-10
                                                                                                                                                            • Reception of New Members (Smokey and Elise Etheridge)
                                                                                                                                                            • Pastoral Prayer
                                                                                                                                                            • Sermon
                                                                                                                                                            • Hymn — Joy to the World
                                                                                                                                                            • Benediction — Numbers 6:24-26
                                                                                                                                                              • Sermon Title: The Magnificat

                                                                                                                                                              Scripture: Luke 1:46-56

                                                                                                                                                              I. Mary Magnifies God's Care for Her Personally

                                                                                                                                                              A. Mary's song follows her encounter with Elizabeth and the leaping of John the Baptist in the womb (Luke 1:41-45)

                                                                                                                                                              1. Mary's initial response to Gabriel was fear, confusion, then faithful acceptance — not yet exuberant joy (Luke 1:29, 34, 38)
                                                                                                                                                              2. The joy of Elizabeth becomes infectious, drawing Mary into song

                                                                                                                                                                3. B. Mary calls God my Savior — a deeply personal and spiritual declaration

                                                                                                                                                                1. The angel told Joseph the child's name is Jesus because he will save his people from their sins (Matthew 1:21)
                                                                                                                                                                2. Mary, a sinner, magnifies the Lord because she is giving birth to her own Savior

                                                                                                                                                                  3. C. Mary will be called blessed not because of her own greatness, but because of God's grace shown to her

                                                                                                                                                                  1. The subject of every action verb in the Magnificat is God: he looked, he who is mighty, his mercy, he has shown strength, he has brought down, he has filled, he has helped, he spoke
                                                                                                                                                                  2. We ought to long to be remembered not for what we accomplished, but for how great the God we served is

                                                                                                                                                                    3. D. The paradox of God's holiness and mercy is resolved in the virgin birth (Luke 1:35)

                                                                                                                                                                    1. God is holy — set apart from sinners — yet draws near to those who fear him in mercy
                                                                                                                                                                    2. Jesus, conceived by the Holy Spirit, is born holy and unstained by original sin
                                                                                                                                                                    3. His holiness overwhelms and cleanses the filth of sinners rather than being overwhelmed by it — holiness and mercy meet in the incarnation
                                                                                                                                                                      4. II. Mary Magnifies God's Care for the Poor

                                                                                                                                                                      A. Verses 51–53 describe a grand reversal: the proud and mighty are humbled; the lowly and hungry are exalted (Luke 1:51-53)

                                                                                                                                                                      B. This is not liberation theology — Mary is not teaching that God favors all economically poor people without exception

                                                                                                                                                                      1. Verse 50 qualifies: mercy is for those who fear him
                                                                                                                                                                      2. A poor man can be just as proud in his heart as a rich man — this is a pride of the heart, not merely a condition of the wallet

                                                                                                                                                                        3. C. This is a common Old Testament literary device from the wisdom literature (Psalms and Proverbs), showing God's vindication of his humble, oppressed people against the proud rulers of the world

                                                                                                                                                                        D. Mary herself is a signpost of this reversal — the humble estate of verse 52 is the same phrase she uses of herself in verse 48 (Luke 1:48, 52)

                                                                                                                                                                        1. The eternal King of glory is born not of a queen or princess, but of a lowly Jewish teenager from the obscure town of Nazareth
                                                                                                                                                                        2. Jesus's life is not a rags-to-riches story — he enters the world in humble poverty and leaves it in humiliated poverty on a cross
                                                                                                                                                                        3. Our symbol of success is not a dollar sign or a title — it is a lowly manger and a shameful cross

                                                                                                                                                                          4. E. Application: How many people do we overlook who are just like Mary — unremarkable by the world's standards?

                                                                                                                                                                          1. God is pleased to draw near to and use such people as instruments of his glory
                                                                                                                                                                          2. We reflect God to the world when we notice, draw near to, and love those whom society ignores
                                                                                                                                                                            3. III. Mary Magnifies God's Care for His People

                                                                                                                                                                            A. Mary's Magnificat echoes Hannah's song of praise in 1 Samuel 2:1-10, which is also reflected in Psalm 113 (the call to worship)

                                                                                                                                                                            1. Psalm 113:7-8 directly quotes 1 Samuel 2:8
                                                                                                                                                                            2. Psalm 113 is the first of the Hallel Psalms (Psalm 113–118), sung annually on the eve of Passover — the celebration of God's deliverance of Israel through the blood of the Passover lamb

                                                                                                                                                                              3. B. Luke portrays Jesus as the inaugurator of a new exodus

                                                                                                                                                                              1. At the Transfiguration, Moses and Elijah speak of Jesus's departure — literally, his exodus (Luke 9:31)
                                                                                                                                                                              2. Jesus is the new Passover Lamb whose blood brings a new exodus — not from Egypt to Canaan, but from bondage to sin and death into the heavenly realm
                                                                                                                                                                              3. United to Christ by faith, believers are even now seated in heavenly places

                                                                                                                                                                                4. C. Mary ends the Magnificat by pointing to Abraham's offspring (Luke 1:54-55)

                                                                                                                                                                                1. God promised Abraham that through his offspring all nations would be blessed (Genesis 15)
                                                                                                                                                                                2. That promise was partially fulfilled through the supernatural conception of Isaac to the barren Sarah
                                                                                                                                                                                3. Paul identifies the singular offspring of Abraham as Christ (Galatians 3:16)
                                                                                                                                                                                4. Mary's virgin conception is the ultimate fulfillment — not merely a barren woman but a virgin
                                                                                                                                                                                5. All who are united to Christ become Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise (Galatians 3:29)

                                                                                                                                                                                  6. D. Conclusion: Mary's song of praise becomes the church's song of praise

                                                                                                                                                                                  1. We who belong to Christ are heirs of the Abrahamic promises and participants in the new exodus
                                                                                                                                                                                  2. This Christmas season, even amid darkness and confusion, our souls are to magnify the God of our salvation
                                                                                                                                                                                    3. 37 min
                                                                                                                                                                                  3. Faith in Hard Times

                                                                                                                                                                                    Scripture: Habakkuk 3:16-19

                                                                                                                                                                                    Order of Service
                                                                                                                                                                                    • Call to Worship — Psalm 96:7-13
                                                                                                                                                                                    • Prayer of Invocation
                                                                                                                                                                                    • Confession of Faith — Westminster Shorter Catechism, Questions 70–72 (Seventh Commandment)
                                                                                                                                                                                    • Scripture Reading — 2 Samuel 1:17-27
                                                                                                                                                                                    • Prayer of Confession
                                                                                                                                                                                    • Pastoral Prayer
                                                                                                                                                                                    • Hymn — Sometimes a Light Surprises
                                                                                                                                                                                    • Sermon
                                                                                                                                                                                    • Benediction — 2 Corinthians 13:14
                                                                                                                                                                                      • Sermon Title: Faith in Hard Times

                                                                                                                                                                                      Scripture: Habakkuk 3:16-19

                                                                                                                                                                                      I. A Faith That Stings — Habakkuk 3:16

                                                                                                                                                                                      A. Habakkuk trembles at the report of God's coming judgment — on Israel through Babylon, and on Babylon itself

                                                                                                                                                                                      1. His whole body, from lips to legs, is shaken — body and soul quiver at God's awesome majesty in judgment
                                                                                                                                                                                      2. This is the response of a man of faith, not of complaint

                                                                                                                                                                                        3. B. The turning point of Habakkuk is Habakkuk 2:4: the righteous shall live by faith

                                                                                                                                                                                        1. Habakkuk began with two complaints in Habakkuk 1:2-3 and Habakkuk 1:13
                                                                                                                                                                                        2. Faith transforms complaint into trembling reverence before God's judgment

                                                                                                                                                                                          3. C. The faith that believes in God's stinging judgment on sin is the same faith that rests in His saving mercy

                                                                                                                                                                                          1. At the end of verse 16, Habakkuk says yet I will quietly wait — he waits for God's salvation even as God judges their enemies
                                                                                                                                                                                          2. Habakkuk 3:2: In wrath remember mercy — the same faith that knows God's just wrath also knows His abounding grace

                                                                                                                                                                                            3. D. The proper order: fear of God's judgment leads to comfort in His mercy

                                                                                                                                                                                            1. Matthew 5:4: Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted — mourning over sin precedes comfort in the gospel
                                                                                                                                                                                            2. Illustration: the child who mourns genuine sorrow over disobedience draws the parent to comfort; the child who merely complains about punishment does not
                                                                                                                                                                                            3. The prodigal son must feel the misery of sin before he can be embraced and fed by his father
                                                                                                                                                                                            4. Saving faith is not triumphalism; it is often seen in believing the misery that sin brings — and only then are we ready for the comforts Christ affords
                                                                                                                                                                                              5. II. A Faith That Suffers — Habakkuk 3:17-18

                                                                                                                                                                                              A. Habakkuk envisions wholesale devastation: fig tree, vines, olives, fields, flocks, and herds all gone

                                                                                                                                                                                              1. Israel was an agrarian economy — this pictures total destitution, starvation, and economic ruin
                                                                                                                                                                                              2. This is the destruction Babylon will bring upon Judah

                                                                                                                                                                                                3. B. Yet in the midst of this, Habakkuk declares: I will rejoice in the Lord, I will take joy in the God of my salvation

                                                                                                                                                                                                1. This joy flows from Habakkuk's vision of God's majesty throughout Habakkuk 3:3-6 — creation itself bows before God
                                                                                                                                                                                                2. Mountains, seas, hills, and heavens pale before the Lord — what are herds and fig trees compared to possessing this God?

                                                                                                                                                                                                  3. C. The language I will take joy is one of determination, not passive waiting

                                                                                                                                                                                                  1. Habakkuk sets his heart toward joy and grasps it with both hands
                                                                                                                                                                                                  2. Philippians 4:4: Rejoice — again I say, rejoice — joy is a command, not merely a feeling

                                                                                                                                                                                                    3. D. William Cowper (18th-century poet and hymn writer, author of There Is a Fountain Filled with Blood) spent most of his life in severe depression

                                                                                                                                                                                                    1. In 1773 he was admitted to an asylum; he continued to struggle with doubt and assurance
                                                                                                                                                                                                    2. In 1779 he wrote Sometimes a Light Surprises, based on Habakkuk 3, expressing joy in God even when fig tree and vine fail
                                                                                                                                                                                                    3. Yet God the same abideth — His praise shall tune my voice; while in Him confiding, I cannot but rejoice
                                                                                                                                                                                                      4. III. A Faith That Strengthens — Habakkuk 3:19

                                                                                                                                                                                                      A. God the Lord is my strength; He makes my feet like the deer's; He makes me tread on my high places

                                                                                                                                                                                                      1. The once weak and confounded Habakkuk is now strong and confident
                                                                                                                                                                                                      2. The transition from weakness to strength comes because God is not silent — He answers prayer

                                                                                                                                                                                                        3. B. God's answer to Habakkuk is Habakkuk 2:4: the righteous shall live by faith

                                                                                                                                                                                                        1. Paul quotes this in Romans 1:16-17: the righteousness of God is revealed in the gospel, from faith for faith
                                                                                                                                                                                                        2. God's answer to Habakkuk's cry for justice and righteousness is ultimately Jesus Christ — the righteousness of God given to all who are united to Him by faith
                                                                                                                                                                                                        3. 2 Corinthians 5:21: He made Him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God

                                                                                                                                                                                                          4. C. Habakkuk saw Christ from afar, through types and shadows

                                                                                                                                                                                                          1. Matthew 13:16-17: many prophets longed to see what the disciples saw
                                                                                                                                                                                                          2. John 8:56: Abraham rejoiced to see Christ's day and was glad; Habakkuk likewise sees Christ from afar and rejoices
                                                                                                                                                                                                          3. Genesis 15:6: Abraham was accounted righteous by faith

                                                                                                                                                                                                            4. D. New covenant believers have far greater grounds for strength than Habakkuk

                                                                                                                                                                                                            1. We do not come to Mount Sinai but to Mount Zion
                                                                                                                                                                                                            2. We do not grasp Christ through opaque old covenant forms but receive Him in His substance — Christ for us and Christ in us
                                                                                                                                                                                                            3. Romans 8:10: If Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness
                                                                                                                                                                                                            4. In all hard circumstances, if Christ and His righteousness are yours by faith, you have God's smiling face upon you — take joy in the Lord
                                                                                                                                                                                                              5. 37 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.