Strapped in By GraceRomans 5:8; James 1:2-3; John 10:28-29 KJVIn this message,we explore the powerful truth that God's grace isn't just a concept—it's the force that holds us, grows us, and secures us, even when life feels out of control. What if the very thing we thought would break us was actually the grace that held us together all along?I. When There Was Nothing to Hold Us (Romans 5:8)Even when we were at our worst—lost in sin and without hope—God's grace reached out. Christ died for us not because we were worthy, but because grace was already at work, holding us when nothing else could.II. Tested for Trouble (James 1:2-3)Trials don't just happen—they train us. Grace doesn't disappear in hardship; it deepens. Through testing, our faith is refined, and patience is produced. Grace is the strength in the struggle, shaping us from the inside out.III. Secured Until the End (John 10:28-29)Grace doesn't just start the journey; it guarantees the finish. Jesus assures us that once we are His, we are eternally secure—no one can remove us from His grip. We are strapped in by held tightly in the Father's hand.

Jacob is about to die. He stands, leaning on his staff, blesses Joseph's two sons as his own. The author of the Book of Hebrews thought this was the most important thing that Jacob did by faith. By faith, Jacob blesses Joseph's sons as his own and gives to Joseph, through his sons​, the double portion usually reserved for the firstborn son. We also look at how Jacob addressed his first four sons, Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah and reveal the primary challenges that men face in life, namely, displaced passion, boredom, and anger​ as recorded in chapter 49.

We're all familiar with the old Hymn "Trust and Obey". Many of our children have no doubt learned it early on, and have sung it in school or in a school program. "When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word What a glory He sheds on our way! While we do His good will, He abides with us still And with all who will trust and obey Trust and obey, for there's no other way To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey" The hymn goes on for several more verses, with various descriptions of how "happy in Jesus" we can be if we keep ourselves in the way of obedience. The hymn was written in 1886, and has reached worldwide popularity. It is embraced by revivalists and the Roman Catholic Church alike, and has become a slogan of Federal Vision. Our lecture will demonstrate how this also has become the self help theology of the PRCA, and of Loveland Protestant Reformed Church in particular, both in past and present day preaching. If the thought of your happiness in Jesus hinging in part on your obedience does not concern you, we hope that you will attend the lecture, and learn why it should. Romans 5: 6-10: For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

There are sins that shout from rooftops, and there are sins that whisper in the shadows of the soul. These are our "secret sins"--hidden from human eyes, unnoticed by those around us, and often even concealed from our own self-awareness. Yet Scripture makes it solemnly clear: No sin is hidden from the all-seeing eye of God! David, the man after God's own heart, cried out in Psalm 19:12, "Who can discern his errors? Forgive my hidden faults." In humility, he acknowledged what every believer must: We are blind to the full depth of our depravity! There are corrupt motives we do not fully grasp, selfish thoughts we excuse or forget, and subtle pride cloaked in religious activity. We are often strangers to the worst parts of our own hearts! God, however, sees all. "You have set our iniquities before You, our secret sins in the light of Your presence!" Psalm 90:8. In the brightness of His holiness, there are no shadows. The thoughts we nurse, the desires we entertain, the motives behind our service--these are all laid bare before Him. Hebrews 4:13 reminds us, "Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give an account." Oh, how many Christians think themselves safe, because their sin is hidden from others--yet it is festering in the sight of God! The sobering truth is that secret sins are not secret to God. But for the believer, this is not merely terrifying--it is transforming. It drives us to the cross of Jesus. There, even the most hidden iniquities were placed upon our sin-atoning Substitute. Jesus died not only for our open sins--but for those we alone know, and those we do not even r

Someday you may need to decide what to do with the body of a loved one after they die. You can influence those who will make the decision about your body. It isn't a happy thought. But it cannot be ignored. And as a Christian you will want Scripture to inform your decision. Until very recently, burials have been the norm for believers. That has changed. Many funeral homes now perform more cremations than burials. Does Scripture command burial? Some reformed believers have thought so. "Holy Scripture commands that the bodies of believers, which are temples of the Holy Spirit and which will rise from the dead on the last day, be buried in the ground reverently." Henry Bullinger says that "Scripture wills that the bodies of the faithful … should be … committed to the earth." It may be too strong to say the Scripture commands burial. Herman Bavinck observes that "Cremation is nowhere forbidden." But Scripture certainly commends the practice. And knowing that it does so and why should help us honor the bodies of the dead.

Throughout history men have had various thoughts and beliefs about who Jesus is. Some believe he was a great teacher, that he lived when the Bible claims, he started a religious movement, he died via crucifixion. Some men believe that he was a prophet. Other men believe that he is a god, but not THE GOD. Many men, however, like the Apostle Peter, believe that he is the Christ, the Son of the living God. What does the Bible say about Jesus Christ? Listen along as Pastor Sargent brings several lines of evidence from the Bible, which shows the Deity of Jesus Christ, that he is God.

(1) Israel at War 4/27/25: Hamas wants a 5 YEAR ceasefire in exchange for freeing hostages but PM Netanyahu has repeatedly said, "No way." In the meantime, Jew-hate continues to rise. (2) Jorge Bergoglio, known by his alias Pope Francis and the first Jesuit to reign as Pope died. We give our thoughts with reminders of the Antichrist nature and spirit of the Papacy and the fact that the final Pope will be, according to historic Christianity and our own Biblical understanding, the Beast of Revelation. (3) Marxist political pontificator Joy Reid, formerly of the Marxist MSNBC network, displays the ignorance and idiocy of the far left by claiming that the Roman Empire fell because of their lack of DIVERSITY. https://bbfohio.com

As Jesus died on the cross, His family and friends thought it was all over. The Blessed One is gone. But Sunday came, and their misunderstanding was washed away by truth, by the Truth! How do we respond when God takes away the blessing?

A new MP3 sermon from Still Waters Revival Books is now available on SermonAudio with the following details:

Title: Dying Thoughts 5 of 5

Subtitle: Dying Thoughts

Speaker: Richard Baxter

Broadcaster: Still Waters Revival Books

Event: Audiobook

Date: 11/14/2004

Bible: Philippians 1:23

Length: 30 min.

A new MP3 sermon from Still Waters Revival Books is now available on SermonAudio with the following details:

Title: Dying Thoughts 4 of 5

Subtitle: Dying Thoughts

Speaker: Richard Baxter

Broadcaster: Still Waters Revival Books

Event: Audiobook

Date: 12/2/2002

Bible: Philippians 1:23

Length: 40 min.