Reformed & Expository Preaching

It is shocking to think that the God who rules over heaven and earth would allow himself to be lead around by mere mortals. You would think that the God of heaven would want to put the arrogant betrayers in their place, but God does not do such a thing. How does Christ's trial show that heaven's wisdom is radically superior to earth's wisdom?

If Christ merely pays our debt for today then we are still in trouble. This would mean that our sins are only covered until today. It is true that God is merciful if he does this, but God does more than merely take a few sins away. God takes all our sins away and restores us to a right relationship with him. In fact, we have a priest who is better than the priests in the Old Testament. How can we have a priest today who is better than the priests of the Old Testament? Those priests were tangible and could look us in the eye. So, why is Christ a greater and more merciful priest?

Christ is both God and man. This is not an easy doctrine for us to understand. As human beings we want to bring God down so that Christ is maybe a little less God, but still greater than man. Or maybe his humanity is not so human, but not quite divine. So, why is it important for us to see Christ as being both God and man? Why are these two natures so necessary for Christ to accomplish his mission?

Christ has to live up to his name. He is the anointed (christ) who has to save his people from their sins (Jesus). The moment of testing has arrived, but will Christ go to the cross? He has already prayed that the father would remove the cup and so will Christ fulfill his mission's objective?

Christ is facing his moment of trial. This is the moment where the Gospel promises will stand or fall. Christ asks the Father to take the cup from him. Why would Christ make such a request? Is Christ going to fail? What does this scene tell us about our great high priest who is seated in heaven?

Normally our fist text that we go to defend the doctrine of the incarnation is John 1. This is not a bad text, but it implies that there are no references to Christ's incarnation in the Old Testament. Is it true that Christ's incarnation is just a New Testament doctrine?

We move forward and recount tthe Lord’s gracious preservation as he works in the midst of his pilgrim people. We are invited to witness Jacob saying good bye to Joseph his favorite son. What does this scene teach us about Jacob’s reflection on life? What does this teach us about our earthly sojourn under the sun?

Christ's day and his hour is at hand. Christ celebrates a passover as he has most likely done before with his disciples. However this time he applies the blessings of the passover to himself identifying himself as the passover and the one who sheds the blood of the covenant. What is Christ doing here? What does this mean in the overall trajectory of the gospel?

Belgic Confession Article 17 teaches us that it is God who reaches down to pull man up. It is by God's gracious mercy that he seeks us out, gathers us together, and brings us to glory. So, is our God have one plan for Israel and another plan for the gentile Christians? How does one enter into heaven?