Terrorism on SermonAudio

Verse by verse exposition through the book of Hebrews. (Sermon also includes the reading and exhortation from the Lord's Table liturgy) Heb 11:31 By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace. Josh 2:1 Now Joshua the son of Nun sent out two men from Acacia Grove to spy secretly, saying, "Go, view the land, especially Jericho." So they went, and came to the house of a harlot named Rahab, and lodged there. 2 And it was told the king of Jericho, saying, "Behold, men have come here tonight from the children of Israel to search out the country." 3 So the king of Jericho sent to Rahab, saying, "Bring out the men who have come to you, who have entered your house, for they have come to search out all the country." 4 Then the woman took the two men and hid them. So she said, "Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they were from. 5 And it happened as the gate was being shut, when it was dark, that the men went out. Where the men went I do not know; pursue them quickly, for you may overtake them." 6 (But she had brought them up to the roof and hidden them with the stalks of flax, which she had laid in order on the roof.) 7 Then the men pursued them by the road to the Jordan, to the fords. And as soon as those who pursued them had gone out, they shut the gate. 8 Now before they lay down, she came up to them on the roof, 9 and said to the men: "I know that the Lord has given you the land, that the terror of you has fallen on us, and that all the inhabitants of the land are fainthearted because of you. 10 For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out

Here's a brief review of several stories Jim covered on this week's broadcast: --President Trump is weighing whether or not to approve the 60 day Memorandum of Understanding with Iran that could extend the fragile cease-fire in the Middle East, reopen the Strait of Hormuz, and launch a new round of negotiations over the nuclear program. --According to President Trump, the enriched uranium that is buried underground in Iran will be unearthed by the U.S. under close coordination and in conjunction with Iran, the International Atomic Energy Agency, and it will be destroyed. --The State Department and the Treasury Department announced that the U.S. will impose new sanctions on Iran's oil sales. --A dual Iraqi/Iranian citizen was indicted yesterday on terrorism-related charges in what the Justice Department alleged was a lengthy spree plotting nearly 20 attacks on American and European soil. --First daughter Ivanka Trump was targeted for assassination by IRGC trained terrorists in a twisted plot to avenge their mentor being taken out by President Trump. --The Trump administration is cutting the number of weapons systems that it's willing to contribute to NATO actions. --Poland has offered to build the infrastructure necessary to host a permanent U.S. troop presence in a bid to clarify the situation between the two long-time NATO allies. --Lawmakers say the Pentagon must act after smartphone data used to target U.S. troops. --The Trump administration will extend deportation protections and work permits for thousands of Lebanese nationals in the U.S. for six months, according to a notice posted to the Federal Register on Wednesday.

The sermon centers on the Bema Seat of Christ as a transformative reality that shapes the believer's present life, not as a source of dread but as a dynamic atmosphere of joy, humility, and reverent fear. Drawing from 2 Corinthians 5, it emphasizes that while believers will stand before Christ to be judged for their works—receiving rewards or suffering loss—this judgment is not for salvation but for glorification, where Christ's grace ensures joy even amid evaluation. The preacher illustrates this atmosphere through historical Christian figures and biblical passages, showing how the anticipation of the Bema Seat cultivates courage, confidence, and a holy longing to please God, while also fostering humility in recognizing that only Christ discerns true motives. Far from being a moment of terror, the Bema Seat is portrayed as a place of intimate communion where joy and reverence coexist, reflecting the believer's deep union with Christ, who is both judge and savior. Ultimately, living in this atmosphere is not about fear or performance, but about abiding in Christ's presence, where abundant life is lived now through the lens of eternity.

What is the day of YHWH like? Zephaniah 1:14–18 prepares us for the evening sermon on the coming Lord's Day. In these five verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the day of YHWH is coming fast, covenantally faithful, crushingly furious, and completely final. The passage from Zephaniah 1:14–18 presents the Day of Yahweh as a sudden, covenantally faithful, and utterly final judgment, marked by divine fury, cosmic terror, and complete destruction. Though the people of Judah, even amid Josiah's reforms, presumed the day was distant, the text warns that God's wrath comes swiftly and without mercy, rendering wealth, strength, and human pride powerless. The imagery of darkness, trumpets, and blind men echoes Sinai and other covenants, underscoring God's unwavering commitment to holiness, even when humanity fails. Yet this terrifying day is also transformed into a wonder through Christ, who bore the full fury of God's wrath on the cross, making salvation final and complete for all who believe. The passage thus serves as both a sobering warning of impending judgment and a profound declaration of the gospel's triumph, where Christ's sacrifice fulfills divine justice and secures eternal redemption.

El ser humano, ante la santidad abrumadora de Dios revelada en el Sinaí, reconoce su pecado y teme la presencia divina, por lo que pide mediación. Dios responde no con rechazo, sino con condescendencia, estableciendo un sistema de adoración sencillo, basado en un altar de tierra y sacrificios que apuntan a la reconciliación, no al esfuerzo humano. Este sistema, que prohíbe ídolos, altares elaborados o gradas, subraya que Dios no se alcanza por el esfuerzo del hombre, sino que él mismo se acerca al hombre en su humildad. Todo este orden revela que la verdadera adoración no depende de la perfección humana, sino de la obra de Dios, que culmina en Cristo, el Mediador perfecto, quien descendió al nivel del hombre, ofreció el sacrificio final y nos permite acercarnos a Dios sin temor, revestidos en su justicia.

This sermon draws a powerful theological lesson from Jesus calming the storm on the Sea of Galilee, illustrating that true faith is not measured by the absence of trials but by trust in Christ's sovereign presence amid them. The disciples, having obeyed Christ's command to cross the sea for rest, are suddenly engulfed in a violent storm, yet Jesus remains asleep—revealing His divine peace and authority even in apparent absence. Their fearful cry, 'Lord, save us,' exposes misplaced fear and deficient faith, prompting Christ's gentle rebuke: 'Why are you afraid? You have little faith,' underscoring that fear is misplaced when God is present and faith is misplaced when it is not anchored in Christ alone. The sermon emphasizes that storms are inevitable in life, but they lose their terror when Christ is in the boat, for His presence transforms every trial into a place of safety, peace, and divine purpose. Ultimately, the message calls believers to fix their eyes on Christ, to walk in His will, and to trust that His sovereignty renders every storm powerless when He is at the helm.

The sermon unfolds a powerful theological narrative from the book of Hosea, exposing Israel's spiritual adultery in exchanging God's faithful provision for idolatry, particularly through the worship of a golden calf, which symbolizes the vulnerability and anxiety inherent in placing trust in anything other than the one true God. It contrasts Israel's broken relationship with God—marked by ingratitude, rebellion, and self-reliance—with God's enduring compassion, revealing His heart as a loving Father who, though justly judging sin, refuses to abandon His people due to His holy nature and deep mercy. The passage culminates in a profound hope: God's judgment is not the end, but a prelude to restoration, fulfilled in Jesus Christ, the faithful Son who bore the curse of sin on behalf of His people, enabling their redemption and future return to a restored home. The message calls listeners to abandon the anxious idols of wealth, health, and relationships, and instead to seek the Lord with repentant hearts, trusting in the unshakable, life-giving love of the living God who alone can satisfy and sustain. This gospel of grace, echoing through history and culminating in Christ's return, offers not terror but joy to those who have placed their hope in Him.

The sermon centers on the divine triumph of the living God over the false god Dagon, illustrating that no idol, power, or spiritual force can withstand the heavy hand of the Lord. Through the humiliation of Dagon—whose severed hands and head symbolize the utter futility of false worship—the text reveals God's absolute supremacy over all spiritual realms, including the demonic forces behind idolatry. The judgment upon the Philistines, marked by plague and terror, is not arbitrary but a targeted demonstration of God's sovereignty, striking precisely where Dagon claimed dominion—fertility, life, and sustenance—thereby exposing the emptiness of idolatry. The passage culminates in a profound gospel application: just as the Ark of God appeared as defeat in Philistine territory, so too did Christ's crucifixion seem like defeat, yet it was the ultimate victory, where God disarmed spiritual powers, triumphed over them, and exalted Christ to the highest place. The sermon concludes with a call to faith, affirming that nothing—neither death, life, nor any created power—can separate believers from the love of God in Christ, who reigns supreme and offers eternal hope and rest.

Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. (Psalm 139:23-24) **Sermon Summary:** This sermon, centred on Psalm 139:23–24, unfolds a profound meditation on God's omniscience, omnipresence, and sovereignty, revealing both the terror of divine knowledge for the unrepentant and the deep comfort it offers to the believer. The preacher emphasizes that God's all-knowing nature—knowing every thought, word, and hidden motive—should lead not to despair but to humble self-examination and reliance on Christ, who perfectly fulfilled God's righteousness. Drawing from David's prayer to be searched and known, the sermon calls believers to a holy self-awareness, recognizing their inherent sinfulness and the impossibility of self-justification, while pointing to Christ as the only true substitute whose sinless life and atoning death make eternal life possible. The message is both convicting and comforting: while God sees all, He also draws sinners to Himself through grace, and those who are in Christ are securely kept by His power. Ultimately, the sermon calls for a life marked by genuine repentance, hatred of sin, and a continual turning to Christ as the only way everlasting, grounded in the assurance that God is too good to be unkind and too wise to be mistaken.