Lord's Day: Nov 9, 2025  Preacher: Carlos Montijo  Series: Remembering the Reformation  Topic: Scripture  Scripture: Acts 17:10–12; 1 Samuel 17:26, 40–45; Isaiah 8:19–20; 1 Timothy 2:5; Deuteronomy 18:10–12; Hebrews 5:12–14

10And the brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. 11Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so. 12Therefore many of them believed, along with not a few prominent Greek women and men. Acts 17:10–12

• This passage echoes the first principles of the Reformation, and is one of the many reasons why it is important for us to remember the Reformation.
• See Reformation Evangelism at a Roman Catholic Church on 28 Oct 2025 | Romans 3:28
• Sign the Reformation Day Statement & the Declaration:
  
  • https://www.trinityfoundation.org/state.php
  • https://www.trinityfoundation.org/state_declaration.php

I.  What was (and still is) the main conflict with Rome?

• Luther knew how to ask the right questions, probing questions, questions that would get to the bottom of the issue.
• Like the young David, Luther was executing a lifetime of God’s preparation.
• With David on God’s side—Goliath did not stand a chance.

II. The main issue, as Luther began to see and later saw more clearly, was that of a different giant.

• His giant was, ultimately, the Goliath of Rome—the magisterium and the pope of Rome, the papacy and its claims of absolute spiritual authority.
• “The Pope is Goliath, clad in the armor of human traditions… We are David, with the sling of the Holy Scriptures.”
• With Luther on God’s side—Rome did not stand a chance.

III. Luther did what many others fail to do—He discerned the main issue, the main conflict with Rome, and responded with Scripture and reason.

• Isaiah 8:19-20
• God alone is the Mediator of truth and life—Christ alone (1 Tim. 2:5).
• Contacting the dead for guidance (including departed Christians) is foolish and idolatrous, unequivocally condemned by God (Dt. 18:10-12)

IV. We must trust God’s law and testimony—we need the ultimate authority of Scripture alone.

• Many fail to see the main issues affecting the church in our own day.

V. Why is it so challenging for Christians to discern the main issues in the church today? VI. Scripture teaches: Discernment is a holy lifestyle that requires constant practice.

• This is how Luther was able to discern the main issues and kindle the Reformation.
• Discernment is a distinguishing mark of a mature, godly believer.

VII. All believers are called to be good, mature, discerning Bereans

We meet on Sundays for worship at 10:00am:

• ThornCrown Covenant Baptist Church
  4712 Montana Ave
  El Paso, Texas 79903

Contact us at:

• web: ThornCrownCovenant.Church
  call/text: (915) 843-8088
  email: [email protected]

Scripture quotations marked ESV are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked LSB are from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com