This Excellent Church - TEC

Seye Maj' in this sermon exposes Article 13 of the Belgic Confession, focusing on God’s active rule over creation. It highlights God’s sovereignty, wisdom, and care, contrasting biblical providence with three false philosophies that distort the relationship between God and creation.

We look at this article in 4 major themes:

1. The Definition of Divine Providence: God did not create the world and then abandon it—He is actively involved in every detail of creation. Nothing happens by chance; everything is governed by God’s will and wisdom. (Acts 17:25-28, Matthew 10:29-30)

2. How Providence Brings Comfort to Believers: Because God is in control, nothing can happen outside His will. Even in suffering, we can trust that God is working for our good. (Lamentations 3:21-23, Romans 8:28)

3. Three False Philosophies That deny Divine Providence

• Epicureanism: Everything Happens by Chance
• Stoicism: Everything is Fated and Fixed
• Peripateticism: God Set Things in Motion but Isn’t Involved

4. Biblical Proofs That God is Actively Involved in His Creation: God gives life and sustains everything (Acts 17:25-28). Even the smallest details (sparrows, hair) are under God’s control Matthew 10:29-30.

In conclusion, we see that God is actively working in His creation, ruling over all things for His glory and our good.

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Brother Sam begins a new expository teaching series on the book of 1st Corinthians. He explores the historical, cultural, and spiritual background of the Corinthian church. He also explains sanctification—what it means to be set apart for God.

Corinth was wealthy, diverse, and immoral. The city was a major centre for trade and was full of different religious influences. Corinth was known for sexual immorality, and the term "to Corinthianize" meant to engage in depraved living. Paul planted a church there, but they struggled with division, immorality, and spiritual immaturity.

Understanding Sanctification: Sanctified means being set apart for God. Sanctification has two aspects:

1. Positional Sanctification: We are declared holy in Christ. (1 Corinthians 1:2)
2. Progressive Sanctification: We grow in holiness daily. (2 Corinthians 7:1)

The two common misunderstandings about Sanctification are

Antinomianism (False grace) – "Since we are sanctified, we don’t need to strive for holiness." Legalism – "We must reach a certain level of holiness to be accepted by God."

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In this sermon, Brother Sam explores Article 12 of the Belgic Confession, which affirms God as the Creator of all things—both visible and invisible. He highlights that God alone is eternal, and everything else, including the universe, was created out of nothing by His sovereign will. This doctrine not only establishes God’s supreme authority but also clarifies the purpose of creation, the role of humanity, the spiritual realm, and the sustaining power of God.

Throughout the sermon, Brother Sam systematically breaks down 11 key points regarding creation, supporting them with extensive biblical references. The discussion challenges misconceptions, including naturalistic views, dualistic philosophies, and false doctrines regarding the origin of evil.

In this sermon, the final part of the Because He Loves Us series, Brother Sam presents a deep and challenging call to believers to love God sincerely, fully, and without hypocrisy. The message highlights that God's unconditional love demands a response—not mere lip service but genuine devotion from the heart.

Brother Sam addresses the dangers of hypocrisy, the misconceptions about God’s love, and the cultural influences that hinder true faith. He urges believers to align with God's definition of love rather than the world’s, emphasizing that God deserves our complete and sincere love.

Sin is a reality that every believer must confront. But what does true repentance entail? In this bible study with Sis Ijeoma, we embark on an in-depth biblical journey into the nature of sin and the process of genuine repentance, examining how believers ought to respond when faced with their shortcomings. Drawing from both the Old and New Testaments, we highlight the difference between worldly sorrow and godly repentance, the consequences of unrepentant sin, and the hope of forgiveness through Christ.

"How We Want to Be Loved vs. How God Loves Us"

Building on Part 1, Brother Sam explores why people struggle to recognize and accept God’s love. Many misunderstand divine love because they desire to be loved differently than how God loves them.

1. The Misconception About Love Languages

   People expect love in specific ways (e.g., gifts, acts of service) and feel unloved when God doesn’t meet their expectations. God’s love is not about meeting human desires but about doing what is eternally best for us.

   
   

2. God’s Love vs. The World’s Love

   1 John 2:15-17 – The world teaches that love is about pleasure and self-fulfillment, but God’s love is about truth and transformation. God's love language is our sanctification.

   
   

3. Love and Suffering

   Romans 8:18 tells us our present sufferings are nothing compared to the glory that will be revealed. God's love language to us. The presence of suffering does not mean God does not love us; rather, He can and uses suffering for our good.

   
   

4. The Call to Love God in Return

   1 John 4:19: "We love because He first loved us." True faith is marked by a response of trust, obedience, and devotion to the God who loves us. God called us not to satisfy our earthly idea of what love is, but to serve and worship Him as He the Israelites from Egypt.

   
   

God's love does not always feel the way we want it to, but it is always exactly what we need. The sermon challenges believers to adjust their expectations and fully embrace the reality of God’s love.

"Jesus and the Holy Spirit: True and Eternal God"

In this sermon, Brother Sam delves into the deity of Christ and the Holy Spirit, emphasizing their full divinity as revealed in Scripture and affirmed in Articles 10 & 11 of the Belgic Confession. Many false teachings have attempted to diminish the divinity of Jesus and the Holy Spirit, but Scripture provides overwhelming evidence that both are true and eternal God.

Brother Sam begins a new teaching series on God's Love. In this sermon, Brother Sam exhorts us on the true nature of God’s love, challenging common misconceptions and calling believers to build their lives on the unshakable reality of divine love. 1 John 3:1 is the foundation:
"See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God."

He discusses the following points during the sermon:

1. God's Love is a Brute Fact: God loves us not because of what we do but because of who He is.
2. Why Many Struggle to Feel God’s Love: People expect love to be emotional or material, but biblical love is deeper. Many compare God’s love to human relationships, leading to false expectations.
3. God's Love and suffering: Hebrews 12:6 tells us "The Lord disciplines those He loves." Suffering is not a sign that God has abandoned us but a tool He uses to refine us.
4. The Greatest Expression of God’s Love: The Cross is the ultimate display of divine love. Romans 8:38-39 – Nothing can separate us from the love of God.

Brother Sam encourages us to stop basing our view of God's love on emotions and circumstances. Instead, we are encouraged to trust in God's unchanging commitment as revealed through Christ.

How can God be one and yet exist as three persons? While the word Trinity is not found in Scripture, the revelation of God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is undeniable throughout the Bible.

Brother Sam in this sermon explores Articles 8 & 9 of the Belgic Confession, which affirm that God is one essence yet eternally distinguished in three persons.

This foundational doctrine has been challenged by sceptics, cults, and even some within the church, but the Bible leaves no room for doubt—the Triune God is the true and only God.

Formed by the Gospel: Identity, Transformation, and Devotion

What does it mean to be truly shaped by the Gospel? Pastor Femi in this sermon unpacksTitus 3:5-8, where Paul describes the effects of salvation—our past justification, our future hope, and our present devotion to doing good.

Just as a language is learned through immersion, so too must believers be intentionally formed by the Gospel. We also examine the dangers of bad formation (worldly influences) and malformation (distorted Christian living), drawing fromEphesians 4:17-24.

This message calls us to actively grow in Christ, ensuring that our identity is continually shaped by God’s truth rather than by the culture around us.