Reformed & Expository Preaching

Please enjoy this exhortation from Mr. Austin Reed while Pastor Paul enjoys a Sunday off.

When Christ walked this earth there were two kinds of people with whom he interacted. There were the sinners who knew that they were sinners. These are the people who liked Christ’s message because it was clear their sins would be taken away in Him. Christ also dealt with the pharisees. These were the people who were righteous and in a position to judge Christ’s work. When Christ speaks of the prodigal son who recklessly spent his father’s inheritance, how does this son show the folly of sin and the folly of righteousness?

As we walk through this world as human beings there is no doubt that we are tempted to live our lives to please man. This is a real and honest temptation that we face, but why is that so wrong? Why do we live our lives before the face of God? Why is it so essential to live our lives before the face of God as His redeemed people?

Asking the Lord to give us our daily bread could be another way of asking the Lord to make me more successful. In other words it is the desire that we want to be successful. The problem that we have as humans is looking beyond this world and believing that our Heavenly Father is more than looking down upon us, but is actually caring for us. So, when we ask the Lord for our daily bread what are we exactly asking the Lord to provide?

Paul continues with the reminder of what it means to care for the widows. There are the young widows who might need assistance and there are the older widows who need assistance. How is the church supposed to know who receives the assistance and who does not? What is a way of doing this that honors the Lord?

This is one of the requests of the Lord’s prayer that we can rattle off without really considering the implications of it. What does it mean that we really want the Lord’s will? This is basically saying that we no longer desire to live by our will, but by the will of our father in heaven. So, how do we live by the will of the Lord seeking to honor the Lord?

The Apostle Paul lays out how the church is to function as a family. First, there is the reminder that Paul has for Timothy that we view the members of the church as family members. However, this has implications for how we widows who are part of the church. How are we to treat widows? Do all widows receive the same amount of funds from the church? Is there a provision for widows not to receive any funds? How do we know who is to receive and who is not as we are all one family?

When we talk about the Kingdom of God we normally associate the Kingdom of God as being something that is present here and now. So, if the Kingdom is present here and now then why would we ask the Lord for the Kingdom to come? The Lord will establish His kingdom despite any forces that may stand against it. So, what does it mean that we ask for the Lord’s kingdom to come?

Timothy is facing a challenging time in the Ephesian church. People are bringing in teaching that is not pure or teaching that is not correct. So, what is the solution to this? What is Timothy to do in this whole process? How is Timothy to right this ship?

If we are redeemed and united to Christ then how can we discipline ourselves? It sounds as if Paul is saying that on the one level salvation is by grace, but now it is up to you to complete the work that has been started. Is that what Paul is saying? Is this how we go through life with this confidence that the Lord gives us enough grace to make it? Or is Paul telling us something different that we need to heed?