Sermons by Pastor William Shifflett

This message was recorded on June 12, 2022.

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“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

“Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

- Matthew 5:10-12

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Blessed are the pure in heart.

The Chalcedonian Creed

Therefore, following the holy fathers, we all with one accord teach men to acknowledge one and the

same Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, at once complete in Godhead and complete in manhood, truly

God and truly man, consisting also of a reasonable soul and body; of one substance with the Father

as regards his Godhead, and at the same time of one substance with us as regards his manhood; like

us in all respects, apart from sin; as regards his Godhead, begotten of the Father before the ages, but

yet as regards his manhood begotten, for us men and for our salvation, of Mary the Virgin, the

God-bearer; one and the same Christ, Son, Lord, Only-begotten, recognized in two natures, without

confusion, without change, without division, without separation; the distinction of natures being in

no way annulled by the union, but rather the characteristics of each nature being preserved and

coming together to form one person and subsistence, not as parted or separated into two persons,

but one and the same Son and Only-begotten God the Word, Lord Jesus Christ; even as the

prophets from earliest times spoke of him, and our Lord Jesus Christ himself taught us, and the

creed of the fathers has handed down to us.

Progressive Errors

1 Peter 1:23-25

Since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; 24 for

“All flesh is like grass

    and all its glory like the flower of grass.

The grass withers,

    and the flower falls,

25 but the word of the Lord remains forever.” And this word is the good news that was preached to you.

Matthew 24:35 

Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

Psalm 119:89

Forever, O Lord, your word

    is firmly fixed in the heavens.

 Acts 4:23-31

When they were released, they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 24 And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, “Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them, 25 who through the mouth of our father David, your servant, said by the Holy Spirit,

“‘Why did the Gentiles rage,

    and the peoples plot in vain?

26 The kings of the earth set themselves,

    and the rulers were gathered together,

    against the Lord and against his Anointed’—

27 for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, 28 to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place. 29 And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, 30 while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” 31 And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.

Psalm 46

God is our refuge and strength,

    a very present help in trouble.

2 Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,

    though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,

3 though its waters roar and foam,

    though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah

4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,

    the holy habitation of the Most High.

5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved;

    God will help her when morning dawns.

6 The nations rage, the kingdoms totter;

    he utters his voice, the earth melts.

7 The Lord of hosts is with us;

    the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah

8 Come, behold the works of the Lord,

    how he has brought desolations on the earth.

9 He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;

    he breaks the bow and shatters the spear;

    he burns the chariots with fire.

10 “Be still, and know that I am God.

    I will be exalted among the nations,

    I will be exalted in the earth!”

11 The Lord of hosts is with us;

    the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah

Hebrews 4:14-16

Jesus the Great High Priest

14 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.