Reformed & Expository Preaching

John 14:26 and John 15:26 both highlight the role of the Holy Spirit, whom Jesus refers to as the Advocate or Helper.

John 14:26 emphasizes that the Holy Spirit will be sent by the Father in Jesus' name to teach the disciples all things and to remind them of everything Jesus has said. This means that the Holy Spirit will guide believers into truth, helping them understand and remember Jesus' teachings.  The Spirit will give the disciples the words to bear testimony about Christ.

John 15:26 builds on this by describing the Holy Spirit as the one who will testify about Jesus. The Spirit comes from the Father and will bear witness to the truth of who Jesus is, affirming His mission and identity.

Together, these verses show that the Holy Spirit is crucial in the life of a believer, serving as a teacher, a reminder of Jesus' words, and a witness to His truth. The Spirit's presence assures believers that they are not left alone; they are empowered and guided in their faith.  The Spirit is sent from the father and the son as we see sending and proceeding used interchangeably in John’s gospel.

Paul warns against the dangers of greed and the love of money, which can lead people away from faith and into spiritual ruin. Paul is not condemning wealth itself but the unhealthy attachment to it that leads to worthless pursuits.

Paul calls us to pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness, showing how these virtues reflect a life centered on Christ rather than material gain. The passage encourages believers to "fight the good fight of the faith," keeping their focus on eternal life, which is the ultimate goal.

We are called to see ourselves between two anchor points in the Christian life.  We are those who are grounded in Christ’s resurrection and we are those who are oriented to the epiphany of his return.

Jesus is confronted with a situation where He heals a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute. The Pharisees, seeing this miracle, accuse Jesus of casting out demons by the power of Beelzebul, the prince of demons.

The Pharisees are spiritually blind.  The pharisees  in their religious pride and self-righteousness, are unable to recognize the work of the Holy Spirit in Jesus’ ministry. These men slander the work of the Holy Spirit by attributing it to Satan.  They do this despite the clear  working of God in their midst.  So they willfully, and consciously attribute the work of the Holy Spirit to Satan.

The "unpardonable sin" is not a specific act but an ongoing, hardened stance of slandering the work of the Spirit when the Spirit’s work is overwhelming evident.The seriousness of this sin is attributing God’s work to evil, showing how it reflects a heart that is closed off to the Spirit’s transformative power.

Jesus sends out the twelve disciples, giving them power to heal and cast out demons. He tells them to preach about God’s kingdom and rely on the hospitality of those who welcome them. If they’re rejected, they should leave and show that the town is excluded from the kingdom by wiping their feet.

Luke then mentions that John the Baptist has been killed by Herod, which seems like a major setback for God's kingdom. This raises doubts about whether the Lord can truly establish His rule.

Later, in a remote area, the disciples find themselves without enough food, even for their small group of thirteen. But despite the huge crowd of over 5,000, Jesus miraculously feeds everyone with just five loaves and two fish. This shows that God's kingdom is not limited by our obstacles or lack of resources. The Lord's power and provision ensure that His kingdom will prevail.

In Acts 5:1-11, Ananias and Sapphira are a powerful illustration of the Holy Spirit's divinity and the seriousness of lying in the Lord’s presence. Peter confronts Ananias, pointing out that lying to the Holy Spirit is equivalent to lying to God, underscoring that the Holy Spirit is not just a force but God Himself.  We are humbled as we consider the holiness of God and the gravity of sin, especially within the community of believers. The sudden judgment on Ananias and Sapphira serves as a sobering reminder that the Holy Spirit, being fully God, is deeply concerned with the integrity and purity of the church.

Luke 8:40-56 describes two miracles of Jesus: healing a woman with a long-term illness and raising Jairus' daughter from the dead.

The story begins with Jesus returning to a welcoming crowd. Jairus, the leader of a synagogue, asks Jesus to heal his dying twelve-year-old daughter. On the way, a woman who has bled for twelve years touches His garment, believing it will heal her. Her bleeding stops instantly, but she must acknowledge her action first. Jesus tells her, "Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace."

While this happens, someone from Jairus’ house brings news that his daughter has died. Jesus encourages Jairus not to fear but to believe. At Jairus' house, mourners laugh when Jesus says the girl is only sleeping. He takes her hand and says, "My child, get up!" She rises, astonishing everyone. Jesus then tells her parents to feed her and not to share what happened.

This passage highlights the power of Jesus' words to heal and bring life, illustrating that true healing comes through His word that imparts and cultivates faith, which even conquers death.

In 1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:11, Paul addresses the Thessalonian Christians' concerns about the fate of those who have died before Christ's return.

Paul reassures the Thessalonians that believers who have died will not miss out on Christ's return. Instead, when Jesus comes back, those who have died in Him will rise first, and then those who are alive will be caught up together with them to meet the Lord. This provides comfort and hope. Death cannot overpower Christ’s shepherding care.

In chapter 5, Paul shifts to discussing the timing of the Lord's return, emphasizing that it will come unexpectedly, like a thief in the night. Therefore, Christians should always be prepared, living lives of faith, love, and hope.

So we are to live with an heavenly viewpoint, being alert and self-controlled in this life, confident in the resurrection power that Christ has secured for us, and supporting one another in the community of faith. We are a community who sojourns through this age in the Holy Spirit.

Jesus overcomes the storm showing that the Lord of life is the Lord who is the Word that ordered this creation. The abyss of the sea will not overpower Christ's word. The disciples are to see that their faith and confidence is not a sentimental thing. It is rather having a heart tuned into the conviction that the Lord prevails.

Christ moves to the other side of the sea he encounters a mock incarnation. This is a man possessed by evil spirits showing death rather than life. Christ shows once again that the word of Lord is more powerful than the Satanic legion. The demons demonstrate that their kingdom is one of death. Christ merely gives a command to free the man. The unclean spirits run into the abyss on their terms destroying the unclean animals.

We are encouraged to trust in Jesus' authority in our own lives, to seek His transforming power in our struggles, and to live out our faith boldly, knowing Jesus has power over all circumstances.

The Levitical priesthood, instituted under the Mosaic Law, could not bring perfection or complete access to God. It was always meant to be temporary and preparatory. Jesus is a priest in the order of Melchizedek, not Aaron. Melchizedek's priesthood is eternal and not based on ancestry. Jesus, like Melchizedek, holds His priesthood permanently because He lives forever. This eternal priesthood brings a better hope, allowing us to draw near to God because his sacrifice is permanent. His resurrection and ascension places Christ in a superior place than the OT temple. We might be tempted to think that our representation is inferior to the priests of old, but Hebrews teaches that it is superior because the promise is confirmed.

Jesus uses the parable of the lamp to drive home the principle of hearing the words of Christ. Just as a lamp is not lit to be hidden but placed on a stand to illuminate the room. The fertile soil of the heart is to be tuned into the Lord's purpose eager to live out the Gospel. Jesus then underscores the importance of listening carefully. What we hear and how we respond to it matters greatly. The one who truly hears and understands God's word will be given more understanding, but those who ignore it will lose even what they think they have. In verses 19-21, when Jesus' mother and brothers come to see Him, He makes a striking statement: His true family consists of those who hear God's word and put it into practice. The kingdom is not about a taxing king, but about a family who communes with God. It is a call not just to hear the words, but to humbly live out the word.