Ordination on SermonAudio

This sermon examines the civil ordinances presented in Exodus 21, focusing on the legal regulations regarding Hebrew servants, personal injury, and animal liability. The central theme emphasizes the principle of personal responsibility, illustrating that individuals are accountable for their actions and negligence under God's law. Key theological points include the protection of vulnerable groups such as female servants and the high value placed on human life, as seen in the distinctions between accidental and premeditated homicide. The discussion highlights how these ancient laws established standards for justice, fair compensation, and the sanctity of life, contrasting them with modern tendencies to evade accountability. The tone is instructional, guiding the audience to understand the underlying moral and legal principles that govern righteous living.

The sermon explores the theological distinction between the Old Testament ceremonial laws and their fulfillment in Jesus Christ, using the metaphor of shadow versus substance. It addresses the false teaching that imposes dietary laws, festivals, and sabbaths on New Testament believers, arguing that these ordinances were merely pointers to the reality found in Christ. The text emphasizes that the Old Testament should be read as a witness to Jesus, helping believers interpret Scripture through a Christ-centered lens. This perspective serves as a defense against both the dismissal of the Old Testament and the legalistic imposition of its ceremonial requirements. The message concludes by encouraging the congregation to focus on Christ during the Lord's Supper, recognizing Him as the ultimate reality behind all biblical types and shadows.

Isaiah 56 promises the foreigner and the eunuch, outsiders under the old covenant, a monument and an everlasting name in God's house when they join themselves to the Lord and keep his Sabbaths. The Sabbath is both a creation ordinance binding on all people and a covenant sign that pictures resting in Christ alone, and the Lord's Day still orders the rhythm of a believer's week. Race, ancestry, marital status and the ability to have children exclude no one from Christ's kingdom; only unbelief and impenitence do. The Lord declares that he will gather yet others besides the outcasts of Israel, Philip's baptism of the Ethiopian eunuch shows the promise fulfilled, and the church in this age of ingathering faces outward.

Questions On Church Ordinances Part 2 Wednesday 9/30/2026 PM

This sermon examines the selection of the first seven deacons in the early Jerusalem church and introduces Stephen as a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit. It addresses the internal conflict between Hebrew and Hellenist Jews, arguing that communal sharing was a temporary necessity rather than a permanent divine ordinance, while emphasizing the importance of personal labor and spiritual discipline. The speaker distinguishes between the role of these early servants and the biblical office of deacons, highlighting the need for godly men who support the pastor's ministry of prayer, study, and teaching. Furthermore, the lesson explores Stephen's intellectual prowess and his confrontation with false accusations, illustrating how a deep knowledge of Scripture enables believers to withstand spiritual attacks and defend the truth with wisdom.

1 Corinthians 1:12 "Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ." King James Version