What does the Bible mean when it says there is “one baptism” in Ephesians 4:5—and is that the same thing as water baptism practiced in most churches today? In this sermon, Pastor Josh walks through Scripture to define what baptism actually is, showing that the Bible speaks of multiple baptisms (diverse washings under the Law, John’s baptism with water, baptism with the Holy Spirit, baptism with fire, baptism unto Moses, etc.). He traces how these carnal, outward washings functioned as temporary figures pointing to a deeper spiritual reality, and then shows from Hebrews, the Gospels, Acts, and Paul’s letters that these ceremonial baptisms were time‑stamped and progressively faded as God’s fuller revelation in Christ was made known.

From there, the message focuses on the “one baptism” of Ephesians 4 and Romans 6: the Spirit’s work of baptizing believers into Jesus Christ and into His one body the moment they trust the gospel. Pastor Josh argues that this Spirit baptism—not water—is what actually purifies, sanctifies, and gives us a new identity in Christ, and that it is the true ground of Christian unity and membership in the church. He also explains why Twin Cities Grace Fellowship does not practice water baptism as a church ordinance, how this view addresses common membership and ministry issues in evangelical churches, and how to relate graciously to believers who still link water baptism with this one, saving baptism.

What does it mean that God has “now made manifest” truths He kept hidden for ages—and why does that matter for how you live today? In this concluding message of the series “That Which May Be Known,” Pastor traces God’s progressive revelation from before the foundation of the world to the present dispensation of grace, focusing on Paul’s teaching in Ephesians 3. He explains how God’s eternal counsel centered on exalting Christ, how redemption was never an afterthought, and how certain truths—especially concerning Jew and Gentile in “one body”—were kept secret until after Christ’s death, resurrection, and ascension and then revealed to the Apostle Paul.

Drawing from Ephesians, Galatians, 2 Corinthians, and Jeremiah, the sermon shows how promises rooted in the Abrahamic, Davidic, and New Covenants find their spiritual fulfillment in Christ and are now being ministered to Jew and Gentile alike. Gentiles are made “fellow heirs,” “of the same body,” and “partakers of His promise in Christ by the gospel.” Pastor presses the practical implications of these doctrines: if Old Testament saints did so much with so little light, what should we, who now possess the full revelation of God’s purpose in Christ, be doing with our lives, our churches, our marriages, and our work? The message ends with a heartfelt call to wakefulness, unity, and purposeful service in light of Christ’s present reign in the heavenly places and our privileged place in God’s eternal plan.

Are the “ordinary” commands of Scripture shaping the daily life of your church and your walk with Christ? In this closing message from 1 Thessalonians 5:12–28, we trace how Paul brings his letter home with a series of compact, practical exhortations that define congregational life and personal devotion. The sermon unpacks our call to esteem faithful leaders, pursue peace, wisely care for the unruly, the faint-hearted, and the weak, and refuse to repay evil for evil—showing how the “labor of love” is meant to function in the real, everyday relationships of a local church.

From there, the message turns to three core habits that are “the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you”: rejoicing always, praying without ceasing, and giving thanks in everything. It then examines Spirit-led discernment—refusing to quench the Spirit, not despising the proclamation of God’s Word, testing all things, holding fast to what is good, and abstaining from every form of evil. The sermon concludes with Paul’s benediction (vv. 23–24), centering on the “very God of peace” who sanctifies us wholly—spirit, soul, and body—and the anchor of our hope: “Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.”

Are you living as a child of the day—or drifting as if you still belong to the night? In this sermon from 1 Thessalonians 5:1–11, we explore Paul’s contrast between those in darkness who will be overtaken by the Day of the Lord, and believers who are “children of light, and children of the day.” Building on Old and New Testament passages about the Day of the Lord, the message highlights how our secure identity in Christ and deliverance from God’s coming wrath are meant not just to inform us, but to transform how we walk right now.

Pastor Josh unpacks the call to “watch and be sober” by showing what spiritual sleep and drunkenness look like in everyday life—being overcharged with pleasures, distractions, and the cares of this world. In contrast, believers are exhorted to put on the breastplate of faith and love and the helmet of the hope of salvation, living alert, engaged, and others-focused as we await Christ’s coming. The sermon closes by pressing the practical question: if the Lord came today, would you be found living in line with who you are—light in the Lord—or simply blending into the darkness around you?

What if the entire Bible is telling one unified story through two intertwined threads—God’s plan for glory in Christ and His plan to redeem sinners? In this sermon from Isaiah 42, “Centuries of Witness,” we trace how God has progressively revealed His eternal counsel “bit by bit” across the Law, the Psalms, and the Prophets. We explore the “eternal purpose” thread—God’s plan to place all authority in heaven and earth under Jesus Christ—and the “redemptive” thread—God’s answer to sin and death through the promised Seed. From Genesis to the Davidic covenant, through the Psalms and key prophetic passages, we see how themes of kingdom, dominion, resurrection, and worldwide blessing increasingly converge on the person of Christ.

The message then walks through specific Old Testament prophecies that sharpen into remarkable detail: the virgin birth (Isaiah 7), the birthplace of the Messiah (Micah 5), His identity as God in the flesh and eternal King (Isaiah 9), and His atoning sufferings and substitutionary death (Isaiah 53). Along the way, we consider how these “former things” and “new things” validate God’s word, anticipate Christ’s cross and resurrection, and prepare for the final revelation of “the mystery” given to Paul. The sermon closes by urging us to read Scripture with this big-picture lens, to understand where we fit in God’s unfolding purpose, and to respond with the contrite, believing heart God looks for today.

Are you living like a child of the day—or drifting along with a world that thinks it’s safe in the dark? In this sermon from 1 Thessalonians 5:1–11, we explore Paul’s teaching on “the day of the Lord” and how it connects to the broader biblical storyline in both Old and New Testaments. Pastor unpacks the meaning of “times and seasons,” the imagery of the day of the Lord coming “as a thief in the night,” and the world’s deceptive cry of “peace and safety” just before sudden, inescapable destruction. Along the way, he traces key Old Testament and Gospel passages (Joel, Amos, Matthew 24, Luke 21, 2 Peter 3) to show how this coming day brings both judgment and salvation, and how the Thessalonians could “know perfectly” about it yet still be troubled by false teaching.

From there, the message turns to the believer’s identity and calling: we are not in darkness, but are “children of light” and “of the day.” That identity carries a clear exhortation—“let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.” Paul’s imagery of spiritual armor (the breastplate of faith and love, and the helmet of the hope of salvation) ties directly to the “work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope” already seen in the letter. Because God has not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, this coming day should not terrify us but shape how we walk now. The sermon closes by calling believers to live in a way that matches their calling—alert, sober, and comforted—so that we might truly “live together with Him” as we await His coming.