Reformed & Expository Preaching

We might think that we cannot relate to what it must have been like for Israel to be in exile. The reality is that James greets the church as a group of people who are in exile just like Israel. We might wonder why we would press forward in this life considering that we are just in exile. We need to listen to James who is laying out for us that this life probably will not meet our expectations because it is not supposed to meet our expectations. So, why follow our God then if this life will not give us all that we think it should?

On Good Friday we considered this servant song from the perspective of the suffering servant. We saw that the sermon was clearly presenting a suffering warrior. This is not a song that we normally associate with resurrection. Is there a message of resurrection in this song? Or is the resurrection something that is only taught in the New Testament?

When Isaiah speaks of the suffering servant we think that this is a champion who will prevail and will not falter. You would hope that a warrior would be one who would show up with armor, and adorned in such a way that the nations would tremble to be in his midst. However, this is not how the Lord conducts this war. What does this servant look like? What kind of servant and warrior do we see?

The Lord’s prayer has a strange request that we ask the Lord not to lead us into temptation. If the Lord desires us to dwell with Him forever in heaven, then why would the Lord tempt us? What does this request mean for our Christian life? Can we trust our Lord if He is tempting us? So, what does this request mean?

We conclude our study of Timothy. This is Paul reminding Timothy about the significance of the Christian life. Paul has warned of the seduction of riches, but is it wrong to be blessed by the Lord? How do we manage the wealth that God has given to us? What is the concern that Timothy is to ultimately have regarding his ministry?

It is easy to judge the younger brother and to let him live with the consequences of his actions.  It might be touching to think that the father still hosts the banquet for the younger brother.  You can almost have a sentimental feeling that the father is a really good father.  The parable hits home when the father explains to the older brother why this banquet is so significant.  It also hits home when the father has to pursue the lost son.  Which son is really the lost son in this parable?  What is the significance of the father going out to meet with each of the sons?

Paul has exhorted Timothy and the church to live a peaceful and quiet life before the Lord in this letter to Timothy. This would seem to imply that we do not fight, but seek peace at all costs. However, Paul exhorts Timothy now to fight. How can Timothy seek peace and fight at the same time? What is the point of this fighting? Or is this fight something else and we are just imposing our view on the fighting?

When we ask our heavenly father to forgive us our debts we are also asking that we forgive our debtors that is those who sin against us. The reality is that there is a cost of forgiveness and we might not always be willing to bear the cost of it. What is more, the bigger problem is that we might not think that we ourselves need that much forgiveness. So, what does the older brother or the older son tell us about forgiveness in the kingdom? Why does Christ tell us that this man had two sons?

This life can overwhelm us at times. If we are honest, many of the things which overwhelm us are self inflicted. We want the perfect job, house, marriage, or whatever it might be for us. The reality is that we can quickly become a dog chasing its own tail while believing our own tale. So, where do we find peace right now? Where do we find a happy place where we can retreat? How can we have a true peace right now even in a fallen world?

Please enjoy this message on Lazarus from Mr. Austin Reed while Pastor Paul Lindemulder enjoys a break from the pulpit.