Though you will experience confusion and frustration in life on this sin-stained earth, you can still enjoy your life when you keep God at the center of it. - Your life will feel frustrating and puzzling as you seek to live for God on this sin-stained earth (1:1–11). - Your life will experience frustration in your activities (1:12–18). - Your life will experience frustration in your pleasures (2:1–11). - Your life will experience frustration in your obedience (2:12–23). - Your life can still be enjoyed when lived for God (2:24–26). - Your life will experience frustration in God's sovereign providence (3:1–11). - Your life can still be enjoyed when lived for God (3:12–15). - Your life will experience frustration in God's sovereign justice (3:16–21). - Your life can still be enjoyed when lived for God (3:22).

We are going to drill a little deeper into the third type of soil this morning. For many years I have been fascinated by Jesus' warning against pleasure and money. If ever there were unalloyed goods, pleasure and money are them. Right? Jesus clearly does not think so. And in saying that these things are thorns that choke the word of God and prevent it from growing to maturity in the heart of the Christian, He targets us and our American society. He warns us that worry, wealth, and pleasure are maturity-killers — but by the power of His Spirit, we can fight these things in His strength and see His word grow up to maturity in us.

When it comes to Christian salvation, the Bible has three great burdens: (1) The first is to teach us what the root and means of Christian salvation is not—that is, what has not caused our salvation. (2) The second is to teach us what Christian salvation is actually grounded upon and who it is accomplished by for all who are saved. (3) The third is to teach us what that salvation inevitably produces in the hearts and lives of all who have truly received it. This is exactly what Paul addresses in our text for this Lord's Day morning (Titus 3:3-8). Paul does this because he believes that when we either do not understand Christian salvation rightly, or when we have grown complacent and forgetful toward the wonder of the undeserved grace we have received, it will greatly hinder our devotion to God in life. Either misunderstanding the gospel, or losing our wonder and awe at the gospel, will both cause our motivation to live in sacrificial devotion to Christ to dry up. This is because our understanding of grace and our devotion to Christ always exist in proportion to one another. When our view of grace is small, our devotion will likewise be small. But when our view of grace is great—as it should be!—our devotion will likewise be great. A proper view of God's grace to us in the gospel of our salvation fans holiness into flame, and motivates us to strive to live lives that bring pleasure and glory to God.

In Matthew 5:27–30, Jesus exposes the inadequacy of outward morality by showing that the seventh commandment reaches beyond physical adultery into the heart. Deliberate, cultivated lust is adultery before God because the King judges not only actions but desires, intentions, and affections. Christ then commands radical repentance: anything that repeatedly becomes an avenue of temptation must be decisively removed. The eye and hand imagery is not a call to self-mutilation, but to serious mortification of sin. Jesus places this battle in the light of eternity, warning that no temporary pleasure is worth final judgment. Yet the passage does not leave sinners in despair. The same Christ who exposes impurity is the perfectly pure Savior who fulfilled all righteousness, bore the guilt of His people, and gives His Spirit to sanctify them. The call is clear: flee lust, cut off its provision, and follow Christ in holiness before the holy God.

This sermon introduces a study of Ecclesiastes by examining the life of its author, Solomon, tracing his journey from humble beginnings and divine wisdom to eventual compromise and idolatry. The preacher argues that the book serves as a coherent theological argument demonstrating that life apart from God is futile and repetitive, yet offers joy through faithful acceptance of God's sovereignty. Key themes include the emptiness of worldly pursuits such as wealth and pleasure, the inevitability of death, and the necessity of fearing God as the only source of true meaning. The message challenges listeners to reject secular fatalism and instead find purpose by viewing daily limitations and cycles as gifts from a sovereign Creator. Ultimately, the sermon calls for a reverent relationship with God, asserting that joy is received through faith rather than earned through autonomous achievement.

Where do church wars and skirmishes come from? We might be tempted to say: "From Satan!" or "From false brethren!" or "From heretics who crept in secretly!" … Wrong! James answers: "Is not the source your pleasures that wage war in your members?"

Pastor Chris Arcadi brings the message from God's Holy Word. He continues the series titled "Serious Questions". Today's sermon is titled "A Question About Grace". It is based on the New Testament Gospel of Matthew, Chapter 20, verses 1-16 (Matthew 20:1-16). Open up a Bible and get ready to follow along! Please let us know if you have chosen to follow Jesus after viewing or listening to this sermon! We want to welcome you to the family of God and give you a Bible and pray with and for you! If you don't have a Bible, we will be glad to give you one! Everyone should have their own copy of God's Word. If you have a need for prayer, please contact our church office. People on our prayer and ministry teams would be glad to pray with and for you! Our contact information can be found on our website at https://pittsfordcc.org/

Eph 1:5  "having predestined us to the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will,"  Here we see an obvious past tense description: "having" "...predestinated.." = to limit or mark out beforehand; to design definitely beforehand, ordain beforehand. Comes from 2 other words: 1) "pro" = fore, in front of, prior 2) "horizo" = mark out, bound (horizon), to appoint, decree, declare, determine, limit, ordain. Destiny pre-decided. - When we speak of destiny: to something or somewhere. - In other words, to a desired end goal according to His purpose. As we've mentioned already, there are different PARTS of Salvation that stretch a broad span through eternity and time. We sometimes speak of people's eternal destiny being - appointed ahead of time (previously: eternally), or things - and events orchestrated by God's sovereign Providence (means to an end). You would be considered an ABSOLUTE Predestinarian if you believe ALL things without exception are predetermined by God. Some might use the term Full-Determinism.

The sermon explores the biblical narrative of Isaac and Rebekah to emphasize the vital importance of persistent prayer in times of difficulty and uncertainty. It contrasts the spiritual priorities of Jacob, who valued his birthright, with Esau, who despised it for immediate physical gratification. Drawing from Genesis and New Testament passages, the preacher illustrates the dichotomy between living for the flesh and sowing to the Spirit. The message challenges listeners to reject worldly distractions and fix their hearts on eternal treasures in Christ. Ultimately, it calls for a life of faith that seeks God's will above temporary pleasures.