This Excellent Church - TEC

Learning From the Corinthians (Part 22) | 1 Cor. 10:14–33; 11:2–16

In this sermon, Pastor Sam shows how Paul addresses two vital issues in the Corinthian church: fleeing idolatry and honoring God’s order in worship.

Idolatry is the root sin that rivals God for our devotion. In Corinth, eating food sacrificed to idols was more than a meal — it was participation in idol worship. Some believers knew the food meant nothing, but others believed it tied them back to false gods. Out of love, Paul warns: don’t do it. You cannot partake of the Lord’s Table and the table of demons. To rob God of His glory or cause a brother to stumble is to take lightly the very cross of Christ.

Paul then turns to head coverings in worship. For a man to cover his head in their cultural context was seen as dishonor, and for a woman to uncover hers was equally dishonor. While the cultural symbol was hair in the ancient world, the principle reaches deeper: God has woven order into creation. Man and woman are equal before God but distinct in role and design. To ignore these distinctions is to dishonor God’s wisdom.

The heart of it is this: the Christian life is not about fighting for our personal rights, but about laying them down for the sake of others and for the glory of God.

This Excellent Church – Belgic Confession, Article 37: The Last Judgment

Key Texts: Matthew 25:31–46; Revelation 20:11–15; 2 Corinthians 5:10

Description:

In this powerful conclusion to the Belgic Confession series, Pastor Samuel Oyeyinka expounds Article 37 on the Last Judgment. This sermon calls believers to live with urgency, hope, and holiness in light of Christ’s return.

The message highlights:

• The certainty of Christ’s second coming to judge the living and the dead
• The resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked
• The joy of believers who will inherit eternal life, and the terror of those who reject Christ
• The justice and mercy of God displayed in final judgment
• A call to readiness: living faithfully now because “we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ” (2 Cor. 5:10)

This is both a sobering and comforting message: sobering because it confronts us with eternity, and comforting because it assures us that Christ will make all things right. It ends with a hopeful reminder that for believers, judgment is not condemnation but vindication and everlasting joy with Christ.

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Learning From the Corinthians (Part 21) | 1 Cor. 10:6-22

In this sermon, Samuel Oyeyinka sheds light on two more practices that can make Christians fall away and miss their final rest, like ancient Israel:

(1) Sexual immorality: Enjoying the privilege of sexual pleasure without the corresponding responsibilities of a marriage vow.

(2) Grumbling / Testing God: Challenging God to satisfy our desires because we've grown discontent with His good gifts.

Although the danger of falling away is real, Christ promises to keep His own to the end (John 6:35-40). Our role is to take the way of escape He graciously provides whenever temptation comes.

This Excellent Church – Belgic Confession, Article 36: The Magistrates

Key Texts: Romans 13:1–7; 1 Peter 2:13–17

Description:

What is the role of the state, and how should Christians respond to civil authority? In this sermon on Article 36, Pastor Samuel Oyeyinka explores the biblical doctrine of civil government. Far from being a human invention, government is established by God to maintain order, promote justice, and restrain evil.

Key themes include:

• God’s sovereignty in appointing rulers and governments (Romans 13:1)
• The proper relationship between church and state—distinct but complementary roles
• The believer’s duty to honor, pray for, and obey civil authorities, unless commanded to sin
• Warnings against both anarchism and idolatry of political power
• How Christians can live as good citizens while maintaining ultimate loyalty to Christ the King

This sermon equips believers to navigate politics and society with a gospel-centered perspective, seeing government as part of God’s providential care while remembering that our true citizenship is in heaven (Philippians 3:20).

Learning From the Corinthians (Part 20) | 1 Cor. 9:24–10:7

The reward ahead of believers — everlasting life with God — far surpasses anything this world can offer. This eternal hope should spur us to exercise self-control and guard against desires that destroy the soul.

The first of these destructive desires is idolatry: trusting created things to meet our needs instead of God the Creator, and treasuring the gifts above the Giver.

How can we be free from idols? By exposing ourselves to God's means of grace — the Word, prayer, and the Sacraments — which He uses to change our appetites and transform our hearts.

Belgic Confession, Article 35: The Lord’s Supper

Matthew 26:26–29; John 6:53–58; 1 Corinthians 11:23–29

Description:

In this teaching on Article 35 of the Belgic Confession, Samuel Oyeyinka unpacks the profound mystery and meaning of the Lord’s Supper. More than a symbolic ritual, the Supper is a spiritual feast where believers are nourished by Christ Himself.

This sermon emphasizes:

The true spiritual presence of Christ in the Supper, not just a memorial act

The Supper as a means of grace where believers receive Christ by faith

The necessity of self-examination before partaking, guarding against unworthy participation (1 Cor. 11)

The Supper as a sign and seal of our union with Christ and one another in the church

The contrast between Christ’s once-for-all sacrifice and the Roman Catholic Mass

Listeners are reminded that the Lord’s Table is where heaven meets earth—where Christ feeds His people and strengthens them for the journey of faith

Learning From the Corinthians (Part 19) | 1 Cor. 9:15-27

God doesn't owe Christians praise or thanks for doing what He has commanded, whether that's preaching the gospel or working in church.

Instead, we owe Him everything for saving us from eternal damnation and giving us eternal life. This truth should motivate the joyful and steadfast performance of our duty.

Yet, God has promised an eternal reward for those who serve him faithfully — and that's the greatest ambition we can pursue.

Belgic Confession | Article 33&34

Family Affairs Day 3 | 1 John 3:10-24We build solid and stable families when we obey the commands of Jesus, which are summed up in one word: Love.How do we walk in love in our families?1) Husbands lead and serve sacrificially — not making decisions based on convenience or self-interest, but on what's best for their famiies.2) Wives trust, respect, support, and advise their husbands as they fulfill God's call on their lives.Understanding this helps singles look beyond superficial standards like financial status or appearance when weighing potential partners. Instead, they focus on whether the person understands and displays true love.When we build our families with love, they become a foretaste of heaven on earth.

Good marriages do not happen by chance, and they are not reserved for a select few.In His wisdom, God designed marriage as a beautiful gift to humanity; a means through which His will is revealed and accomplished on the earth.It is not the world that defines the purpose of marriage, nor the path to fulfilling it. That right belongs to God, the Giver of the gift.Only He can rightly instruct us in both the vision and the virtues required to live it out.One of the key foundations we learnt for a thriving marital union is genuine friendship. And in our season of singlehood, we are called to cultivate the kind of love that reflects Christ; a love that serves, honors, and uplifts others.As we build godly friendships and community, the Lord is shaping in us the character, humility, and selflessness that are essential for lasting, Christ-glorifying marriages.