Three Crosses Church

The order of the eight prophecies in Amos 1–2 is far from random. In this episode of Behind the Sermon, we explore the surprising geographical and literary patterns behind Amos’s oracles against the nations, revealing how they build towards an unexpected climax—and why it matters for understanding God’s message to Israel.

Tom Richards introduces the Book of Amos through its opening two verses, showing that we should read it from two perspectives. Like the people of Judah, we are to hear God's warnings against injustice, corruption and false worship, and examine our own lives rather than simply condemning others. But we also read Amos as those living under the new covenant in Jesus Christ, who has borne the curse of the law for us and called us to live as members of his kingdom, reflecting the character of our King.

Our guest, Martin Ricquebourg, preaches from Ecclesiastes 3:1-22

In the culmination of our family series, we see that while earthly family is foundational, it is not ultimate—Christ is. Through Christ and by the Spirit, we are brought into the family of God: God is our Father, Christ is our brother, and fellow Christians are our brothers and sisters, sharing together in the privileges, obligations, suffering, and glory of belonging to him.

Mike Fischer, our missionary to Peru, preaches from Psalm 96 on Declaring God’s Praises.

In Ephesians 6:1–4, Paul brings the relationship between children and parents under the lordship of Christ: children are called to obey and honour their parents, while fathers are called to raise their children in the training and instruction of the Lord. Amid competing cultural ideas about family and parenting, this passage calls Christian families back to something more fundamental—not simply following trends or techniques, but faithfully living out the responsibilities God has given us within the family.

We explore Paul’s call for husbands to love their wives as Christ loved the church, asking what good masculinity looks like. Rather than domination or self-fulfillment, husbands are called to give themselves sacrificially for their wives’ good, seeking to present their wives radiant and glorious to Christ.

We explore Paul’s challenging call for wives to submit to their husbands, asking what biblical submission means—and what it does not. Rather than embracing the competing ideals of our culture, Christians are called to relationships transformed by Christ, in which wives willingly submit and husbands lead through loving service.

In this episode of Behind the Sermon, we look at the grammar behind Ephesians 5:18–22 and see how Paul’s instructions to households flow from his broader call to mutual submission and a Spirit-filled Christian life.

Our guest, Jared Venter, shows us that our daily bread is a gift from God to be received with thanksgiving, a blessing that fosters dependence on our Heavenly Father and a life-giving joy that satisfies our deepest longing in Christ.