This sermon explores the authority of Jesus Christ over the spiritual realm and physical sickness as depicted in Luke 4, emphasizing that God's Word possesses limitless power to rebuke evil and heal the afflicted. The message reassures believers that while they may encounter demonic oppression or disease, they need not fear because God remains sovereign over all circumstances, using even suffering to conform believers to the image of Christ. By citing Romans 8, the text argues that all things work together for good to refine God's people, pointing ultimately to the future resurrection where sickness and evil are vanquished. The sermon concludes with a call to actively expand the kingdom of God through the proclamation of the gospel, asserting that the Word of God is the primary weapon against darkness and the source of true comfort for the church.

Part two of Walking Worthy, and the ninth message in Pastor Robert Rohlin's study of Philippians. Paul writes to a church 600 miles from Rome and tells it to behave like the citizens of heaven they already are (Philippians 1:27-30). Rohlin works through the conduct, the cohesion, the courage and the conflict of that walk, using the Roman shield wall as his picture of a church that closes ranks. He shows why spiritual retreat never looks like retreat - it looks like one small compromise at a time. Believers, he says, are magnets, not marbles. The message ends on the hardest word in the passage: God grants both the faith to believe and the grace to suffer, and opposition is courtroom evidence that a person belongs to Christ. Why listen? If your faith has never cost you anything, this sermon asks why. Rohlin brings in John Knox standing firm under Bloody Mary, the martyrs of the last 150 years, two women in Philippi who could not get along, and the marriages that need the glasses of forgiveness put on after the wedding, not before. You will leave with a plain test for your own walk and a reason not to be terrified by anyone who opposes it.

This passage sits at the end of Mark's account of the Galilean mission and the beginning of the way to Jerusalem. The two-stage healing of the blind man is a theological parallel to the disciples' spiritual journey. Jesus' initial partial healing reflects the disciples' incomplete understanding of the Messiah's mission, which is later clarified through Jesus' teachings on suffering and the cross. By contrasting the willful blindness of the Pharisees with the growing insight of the disciples, the message emphasizes that Jesus patiently guides believers from vague perception to clear comprehension of the Gospel. The tone is pastoral and encouraging, urging listeners to trust in Christ's ongoing work, seek spiritual illumination through prayer, and persevere in holiness. Ultimately, the sermon presents Jesus as a tender and faithful Messiah who completes the good work He begins in the lives of His people.

We are wrapping up the two-fold narrative of Judges chapter four (and five, which is its song-based summary), and it occurred to me how often God clarifies who the "main actor" of the story is. The way the story is written is very intentional—things that are emphasized and repeated are important, and often the things not directly mentioned (or intentionally left out) are important too. And all along the way, it's vital to recognize who is emphasized as the hero of the story. Israel thought of themselves as the main actor. A pop-level term for this is "main character syndrome," where we consider ourselves the hero of the story (while everyone else is a supporting character at best). This had been Israel's line of thinking, and God has been teaching them that their focus has been quite wrong. Israel is not the hero. Not even the Judges and deliverers who God used are the heroes, at least not ultimately. God is the hero of the story, and He is delivering His people. When we lose sight of this, it throws everything off. We make everything about us, instead of looking to Scripture to first and foremost tell us about God. We begin to look at our lives as our own, instead of remembering that our lives are not our own but belong wholly to Christ. In short, we begin to make ourselves the center of the story... as opposed to remembering that God is the center of the story. And it can often happen without our noticing it, which is why God gives us reminders like the book of Judges. I pray that as we hear from our sister Jael this Sunday, that we would be reminded how great our God is, and how wonderful that He works through His people!

This sermon examines the political opposition faced by the Jews in Ezra 4, framing it as a manifestation of Satan's ongoing strategy to hinder God's redemptive work through false accusations and legislative pressure. The text highlights the theological theme of exile and exodus, connecting the restoration of Jerusalem to the ultimate restoration found in Jesus Christ, who is the eternal Son patterned in humanity. By analyzing the historical letter to King Artaxerxes, the message reveals that believers are in union with Christ, meaning they share in His sufferings and false accusations while also participating in His glory. The preacher urges the congregation to expect such opposition as a sign of genuine engagement in kingdom work, calling them to respond with boldness and joy rather than fear. Ultimately, the sermon encourages believers to stand firm in the gospel, trusting that God will sustain them against worldly pressures and that their perseverance will lead to the glorification of Christ.

1. Reflect on the Context. 2. Peter, the Rock, Has Become a Rock of Offense, a Stumbling Block. 3. Remember Christ's Three Temptations. 4. Have You Ever Thought About the Terror of the Cross? 5. The Lord Jesus Christ Passes Through the Slaughtered Animals to Confirm His Covenant with Abraham. 6. That Is Why Jesus Prays, "Take This Cup from Me." 7. You Have the Power in Jesus' Name to Hit the Eject Button. 8. Satan's Strategy Is "You Don't Have to Suffer." 9. Euthanasia Is Evil and Bypasses God's Plan: Purgatory Is in This Life. 10. Because Jesus Endured the Cross, I Am Ready to Meet God.

Christ founds His church with prayer, apostolicity, and His suffering on behalf of His bride.

This sermon examines the theophany/Christophany of the burning bush in Exodus 3, emphasizing the profound holiness and weightiness of God's presence as revealed to Moses. The pastor argues that believers must approach God with deep reverence and awe, countering a casual attitude toward worship and prayer by recognizing God as the Almighty Creator rather than a casual companion. The text highlights the tension between God's delayed action in response to Israel's suffering and the necessity for believers to exercise patience while actively pursuing their roles as human agents in God's plan. By addressing Moses' feelings of inadequacy, the sermon underscores that divine power is perfected in human weakness, assuring believers that God's presence equips them for their calling. Ultimately, the message offers comfort in the promise that those who are in Christ will not be consumed by judgment, as death and fire bow to His authority.