Search Results on SermonAudio

A Thought in the Mind of God — Announcing My New Systematic Theology Book After months away from the podcast, I'm back with something I've been working on for 20 years: a brand-new systematic theology book called A Thought in the Mind of God. In this episode, I unveil the book, explain the single sentence that captures its entire argument, introduce the idea of "operational idealism," and share why the whole thing is free to read online. 📖 Read the entire book for free: inthemindofgod.com 🌐 More from me: pristinegrace.org Timestamps: 0:00 – Are you a thought in the mind of God? 1:17 – Welcome to the Pristine Grace podcast 1:45 – Why I've been quiet these last few months 3:47 – Unveiling the book: A Thought in the Mind of God 5:00 – The four print editions (paperback, hardcover, deluxe) 6:50 – Twenty years in the making 7:20 – How it started: bornagain.net and the early days of Pristine Grace 10:41 – Being attacked by Phil Johnson early on 13:04 – Finding the one thought underneath it all 14:11 – The core sentence: what the whole book comes down to 14:36 – What is "operational idealism"? 16:50 – How this differs from classical philosophical idealism 20:10 – The law: the invisible always precedes the visible 22:53 – Practical implications — regeneration, justification, election 24:13 – Why this book is different from other theology books 25:05 – Simulation theory and the gospel 26:32 – Read it free / how to get a printed copy 28:34 – Closing thoughts SystematicTheology #Grace #Gospel #Theology #Christianity #PristineGrace

Does godliness just happen? Shouldn't we just "Let go, and let God?" How do we avoid "legalism" while fulfilling the biblical mandate to "make every effort…" How do we understand the doctrines of grace as they apply, not merely to our justification, but also to our sanctification? How can we be truly godly? In this 9-week Adult Sunday School course, we will explore Paul's admonition in 1 Timothy 4:7 for Timothy to "discipline (train) himself for godliness." We will be looking at the role of spiritual disciplines as practiced by the church throughout its history that have shaped the lives of the godly. The goal is to learn the paths of discipline and the "habits of grace" unto which godliness is the end that God might be glorified, honored, and enjoyed among us. Severn Run Evangelical Presbyterian Church is a congregation of the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA), devoted to the pursuit of Scripture, prayer, fellowship, and worship as we seek to faithfully reach our community for Christ.

The sermon celebrates eighteen years of God's faithfulness by examining the theological progression found in 1 Corinthians 1. The preacher outlines how God justifies believers individually, equips the church corporately with spiritual gifts, and guarantees future glorification. Emphasis is placed on the necessity of active pursuit in sanctification rather than passive reception of grace. The message urges listeners to respond to this divine faithfulness with gratitude, obedience, and communal engagement within the body of Christ. Ultimately, the text affirms that salvation is entirely God's work, inviting both believers and seekers to rest in His sovereign grace.

1. Justification Not by Works 2. Justification The Basis for Our Reward 3. Justification Leading to Fruits of Thankfulness This sermon defends the Reformed doctrine of justification by faith alone against objections that good works contribute to righteousness before God. Using Psalm 18 and the Heidelberg Catechism Lord's Day 24, the preacher argues that human works are imperfect and defiled, making Christ's perfect righteousness the only basis for salvation. The text clarifies that while believers receive rewards for obedience, these are gifts of grace rather than earned merits. Furthermore, true faith inevitably produces fruits of thankfulness and a holy life, refuting claims that sola fide leads to moral carelessness. The central message emphasizes that salvation is entirely God's work, leaving no room for human boasting.

This sermon was preached on June 21, 2026 at Antioch Presbyterian Church, a congregation of Calvary Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church in America located in Woodruff, South Carolina. Guest preacher Dr. Joseph A. Pipa, Jr. preached this sermon entitled "No Condemnation!" on Romans 8:1-4. For more information about Antioch Presbyterian Church, please visit ⁠antiochpca.com⁠ or contact us at ⁠⁠⁠[email protected].

Please consider how you can be faithful to the Lord Jesus Christ through your financial support to the continued work of His Church in this time. Contributions can be made by PayPal by visiting our website ( faithbiblepres.org ) or by mailing your contribution to: Faith Bible Presbyterian Church 3001 Marian Dr. Trenton Mi 48183 "The Pastor ought to have two voices: one, for gathering the sheep; and another, for warding off and driving away wolves and thieves. The Scripture supplies him with the means of doing both." ~ John Calvin (July 10, 1509 - May 27, 1564). "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me." ~ NKJV John 10:27 "Satan's greatest success is in making people think they have plenty of time before they die to consider their eternal welfare" ~ John Owen (1616 - August 1683). "For the word of God and testimony of Jesus Christ." ~ NKJV Rev. 1:9 Fᴀɪᴛʜ Bɪʙʟᴇ Pʀᴇsʙʏᴛᴇʀɪᴀɴ Cʜᴜʀᴄʜ ~ Tʀᴜᴇ Worship & Aᴜᴛʜᴇɴᴛɪᴄ Fᴇʟʟᴏᴡsʜɪᴘ ~ Faith Bible Presbyterian Church is a Bible believing and Christ honoring church that is committed to teaching|preaching the Word of God with diligence and authority. We stand for the historic Christian faith, and we welcome you to our services of worship. Won't you join us? faithbiblepres.org

This sermon, drawn from Galatians 6:1–5, presents a gospel-centered vision of Christian community rooted in mutual accountability, humility, and love. It emphasizes that spiritual maturity flourishes not in isolation but within the local church, where believers restore one another gently when caught in sin, bear one another's burdens in love, and guard against pride through continual self-examination. The passage underscores that such practices are not moralistic works but the natural fruit of justification by faith, fulfilling the law of Christ through love. The preacher highlights the necessity of church membership and submission to elders, portraying the church as the body of Christ where each member, though flawed, is called to serve and be served, reflecting Christ's humility and sacrificial love. Ultimately, the sermon calls believers to live in constant dependence on God's grace, examining themselves by His Word, and serving others not out of self-righteousness but out of gratitude for the cross, where Christ made Himself nothing to restore sinners and bear their heaviest burdens.

Q: How can believers be certain that God's promise of salvation cannot be changed? A: Because God's unchanging promise to Abraham is fulfilled in Christ and received by faith, not altered by the old covenant.

Bible Reading: Romans 4:1-12; Romans 1:28 Sermon: Romans 4:5-8; 1. How our sins are forgiven. 2. How our sins are covered. 3. The Lord will not impute sin to us. The sermon centers on the profound blessing of divine forgiveness and the covering of sin through Christ's atonement, drawing from Romans 4:7–8 to emphasize that true blessedness lies not in moral achievement but in the imputed righteousness of Jesus Christ. It confronts the universal reality of human sinfulness—highlighted in Romans 1–3—underscoring that all have fallen short of God's glory and are naturally alienated from Him, yet Christ's death on the cross provides a complete and sufficient covering for every sin. The message is both convicting and comforting: while humanity's natural state is one of rebellion and self-justification, the gospel offers salvation not through works or religious performance, but through simple faith in Christ, who bore God's wrath in our place. The sermon calls both believers and unbelievers to embrace this covering with urgency, warning of the eternal consequences of rejecting Christ while affirming the joy and peace found in knowing sins are forgiven and not imputed. Ultimately, it exalts Christ as the only means of reconciliation and eternal life, inviting all to find refuge in His finished work on the cross.

Part 1 of this sermon centers on the distinction between spiritual and carnal living, rooted in the biblical design of humanity as spirit, soul, and body, with the spirit as the governing priority. It emphasizes that carnality arises when individuals operate according to their fleshly senses and emotions, leading to envy, division, and pride, while true spirituality involves submitting the soul and body to the Spirit of God through repentance, faith in Christ's gospel, and the daily renewal of the mind by Scripture. The message underscores that salvation is a gift of grace through faith in Christ's death, burial, and resurrection, not religious works, and that genuine spiritual maturity requires ongoing surrender, the rejection of false doctrine, and the sanctification of the soul. Pastor Friesen calls believers to self-examination, urging them to move beyond emotional justification and carnal decision-making toward a life governed by the Word of God, where the Spirit leads the mind, will, and emotions in alignment with divine truth, resulting in a life of purity, obedience, and readiness for Christ's return.