Reformed & Expository Preaching

The Apostle Paul speaks Abraham first having faith and then receiving he sign. This would seem that the sacraments are a sign of our faith rather than a sign of the covenant. This has profound implications because this would mean that first we would profess our faith and then receive the sacrament. So, why would we as reformed people baptize infants if this contradicts the Apostle Paul? Why would infants potentially receive the sign if they have not first professed faith like Abraham did?

Joseph is to be the father of Jesus. He is to find his significance in Christ’s advent. How does Joseph finding his significance in a baby demonstrate the beauty of this kingdom? How does Joseph finding his significance in Christ demonstrate our call to humility?

This is a strange title because we believe that Jesus Christ was not created, but is from all eternity. So, are we unorthodox in this statement about the Genesis of Jesus? Is Matthew unorthodox when he talks about this genealogy being the beginning of Christ? Or does Matthew intend something different?

We have been considering at the language of the Belgic Confession that identifies the preaching of the Gospel as a mark of the true church. If the reformers claim that a mark of the church the the preaching of the gospel then why does Paul exhort Timothy to preach the word? Does our confession need to be rewritten? Does Paul understand the preaching of the word to be the preaching of the Gospel?

Our confession does not merely say that we preach the word, but we preach the Gospel. Why not have a mature church that no longer needs the Gospel because they have advanced beyond it. Then we could have churches that are more geared to young Christians. What basis do we have to preach the gospel for all members of Christ’s church?

Jude is not the first letter that we read for our personal or corporate encouragement as it is a letter that is a challenge to understand.  It is also a letter that deals a lot with judgment. Jude desires to write to the church about the common faith once for all delivered, but instead writes about the pressing matter concerning the false teachers.  So, how can this letter go beyond its immediate context?  What encouragement can we glean from this letter?  Why press forward in this life?

Jacob leaves home sent away as a covenantal fugitive to fend for himself at his uncle’s house. He is left alone in the deserve literally stripped of everything that he valued. Is all lost? What can Jacob’s vision in the midst of his existential crises teach us about preaching and the gospel message?

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Jude writes a letter with some very strong warnings cautioning people about challenging God. Jude has appealed to angels, battles before history, judgments in history and before history, and he has appealed to many events to make his case. The point of these events is to communicate that God always wins. This is an intriguing book, but how are we to live for the Lord in light of these exhortations? Are we to be terrified of our God?

(Please check our website http://urcbelgrade.com for archived feeds and sermons)

We might think that we know the Gospel and we know the Gospel well. So, why would we think that we need to continually hear the Gospel preached if we know the Gospel message? Is there a point in our Christians lives when we move beyond the Gospel message? What wisdom can be gleaned from church history that would shed some light on this issue of Gospel preaching?