A sermon for Maundy Thursday about Jesus' last will and testament--the Lord's Supper. How Jesus fulfilled all the examples of the Old Testament sacrifices in His death on the cross for our forgiveness. Hebrews 9:11-22

Sermon on Matthew 27:11-66, for Palm Sunday. About how we play the "blame game" and how the people at Jesus' death attempted to excuse, accept, or pass the blame. Contrast to the only way to truly be free of blame.

Sermon Talking Points: Read past sermons at: http://thejoshuavictortheory.blogspot.com Listen to audio at: http://thejoshuavictortheory.podbean.com

1. How do we try to play the “blame game” when it comes to acknowledging or denying our sin? What are our tactics? Why does it ultimately never work? Jeremiah 2:22; Romans 3:3-6; 3:19-20; cf. John 9:41; Romans 6:23

2. What various events or statements at Jesus’ trial and death showed Him to be innocent? Who tried to escape blame at His death? Who apparently “accepted” the blame? (Matt. 27:25). How did Jesus maintain His innocence? Who else recognized His innocence?

3. How is our guilt like a debt that we could never pay? Matt. 18:21-35. Why is it one of the greatest mistakes of religious belief (Christian or otherwise) to think that our “good works” count as “good credit” to repay our “debt” or earn grace from God? Isaiah 64:6; Romans 4:4-5; Gal. 2:16

4. What is the “price tag” for the worldwide, accumulated debt of humanity? Romans 6:23; 1 Peter 1:18-19. Why was only Jesus able to pay it? Why is it so important that He be true God and also true man?

5. How is repentance like making a claim of “spiritual bankruptcy” for ourselves before God? We are unable to pay our debt, and are placing ourselves completely at God’s mercy. How do we share in the blame for Jesus’ death? How are we spared or forgiven that blame?

6. Consider what it means to have Jesus’ blood “on you and your children.” Is that a good thing or a bad thing? Acts 18:6; 20:28; Ephesians 1:7; 2:3

7. Instead of playing the “blame game”, what is Jesus’ motive in showing us our sin by the Word of Law? What does that lead us to, and instead of blame, what does Jesus speak over us? Luke 23:34; Hebrews 12:24

A sermon on the 7th Commandment (and by extension the 9th-10th Commandments on Coveting) based on Exodus 20:15, 17, and 1 Kings 21:1-16; Ephesians 4:17-32. How we are commanded not to steal or deprive our neighbor of their property unjustly, and what Jesus teaches us to do with our possessions and property, and how He Himself used His riches.

Sermon on the 3rd & 4th Commandments, Exodus 20:8-12.

Sermon on John 11:17-53 for the 5th Sunday in Lent, on Jesus' raising of Lazarus from the dead.

Sermon Talking Points: Read past sermons at: http://thejoshuavictortheory.blogspot.com Listen to audio at: http://thejoshuavictortheory.podbean.com

1. What motives lurked behind the plot to kill Jesus? Why was He such an offense or threat to the Sanhedrin (Jewish Ruling Council)? John 11:47-53; 5:18; 6:41-42; 7:1-52; etc.

2. What was the Old Testament basis for faith in the resurrection of the dead? Exodus 3:6, cf. Matt. 21:32; Job 19:23-27; Psalm 16; Ezekiel 37

3. How is this story one of the greatest pictures of Jesus’ humanity? What made His emotion so strong at the death of Lazarus? Hebrews 4:15; Phil. 2:7-8; Luke 19:41-44; Matt. 9:36;

4. How do we grieve at funerals? What kind of grief is appropriate? When do we in unbelief silently give death more power than God? 1 Thess. 4:13-18; John 11:21-27.

5. How is the Christian hope in the resurrection different from the religious belief in “reincarnation?” Why does that belief ultimately give no hope, and make everything dependent on our works? How does the Bible teach differently? Hebrews 9:27; Genesis 3:19; Ecclesiastes 12:7; Job 10:20-22; 16:22; 19:23-27.

6. Why is physical death for the Christian not too late for God? 1 Cor. 15. How is that the ultimate hope and confidence for a believer in Christ? Even better, it doesn’t depend on us and how good or bad we’ve been!

7. How was Lazarus’ resurrection a foreshadowing of Jesus’ own resurrection. What was similar? What’s significantly different? What’s that mean for us when Jesus comes to raise our bodies from the grave?

Sermon on the 6th and 10th Commandments. Exodus 20:14, 17; Genesis 39:1-23; Matthew 5:27-32; Psalm 127.