The Two Foundations Psalm 15, Luke 6: 46-49 August 16, 2026

Dan Warne preaches from Psalm 26

In this 43rd sermon on the book of Romans pastor Merson explores the certainty of God's faithfulness to His promises, using Romans 11 to affirm that He has not permanently rejected national Israel. The preacher outlines four proofs—personal, historical, doctrinal, and judicial—to demonstrate that God preserves a remnant chosen by grace rather than works. Emphasizing that human hope must rest on divine election rather than subjective feelings or past experiences, the message warns against false hopes built on self-reliance. It concludes by highlighting the spiritual blindness currently affecting Israel while assuring believers of their secure standing in Christ through the lifting of the veil by the Holy Spirit.

The sermon interprets Revelation 18 as a historical judgment against apostate Jerusalem, identified symbolically as Babylon for rejecting Christ and persecuting the saints. It warns believers against presuming upon covenant privileges or God's grace based on religious heritage rather than genuine faith in Jesus. The text emphasizes that true security comes solely from the imputed righteousness of Christ, not human performance or church membership. Believers are called to separate from worldly corruption and strive for holy living through the power of the Holy Spirit. Ultimately, the message affirms Christ's triumph and urges a life of gratitude, witness, and dependence on His finished work.

The sermon exhorts believers to reject social partiality and instead cultivate eyes of compassion by looking to Jesus Christ as the ultimate example. Drawing primarily from James chapter 2, it warns that showing favoritism based on wealth or appearance is a sin that violates the law of loving one's neighbor. The message emphasizes that all humanity stands guilty before God's moral law, yet finds redemption solely through the mercy and grace of Christ rather than personal merit. Illustrating this truth with a story of familial reconciliation, Bro. Warren demonstrates how divine compassion overcomes deep-seated bitterness and hatred. Ultimately, the congregation is challenged to extend the same unmerited grace they have received to others, particularly those who are marginalized or difficult to love.

The scripture in these passages is the story of Cain and Abel. Cain was the first murderer of the world in this text. The question asked of many is why wasn't Cain's sacrifice pleasing to God. Reference is given in Hebrews 11 by the words "by faith". Without faith it is impossible to please God. God gives Cain a warning of if he continues on the path of sin, it will dominate his life moving forward. God gave Cain the opportunity to repent of his sin. Cain instead puts the blame on God, for we often are selfish and try to justify our actions. Scripture tells us, "The wages of sin is death." Moving forward in the scripture, Eve gives birth to Seth. God always restores what has been taken away. Illustrates God gives hope to a fallen world.

This sermon addresses the Christian response to suffering by contrasting the instinctive 'Eliphaz reflex' of assuming punishment with the biblical truth that trials serve a refining purpose. Drawing primarily from 1 Peter 4, the message explains that fiery trials are not signs of God's abandonment but evidence of His love, designed to purify faith like gold in a furnace. Believers are exhorted to rejoice in their sufferings because they share in Christ's experiences and look forward to eternal glory. The passage also warns against self-inflicted trouble while encouraging unashamed identification with the name of Jesus amidst worldly persecution. Ultimately, Christians are called to entrust their souls to God as a faithful Creator, finding strength and hope in His sovereign care during difficult times.

The sermon explores the metaphor of the church as the body of Christ, emphasizing that every believer receives specific spiritual gifts at salvation for the common good. It addresses the Corinthian church's tendency to covet prominent gifts and warns against division by highlighting the essential nature of every member, regardless of visibility or perceived importance. The preacher clarifies that baptism into the Holy Spirit occurs instantly upon faith in Jesus Christ, establishing a permanent union with other believers. Unity is maintained when each individual accepts their God-ordained role and cares for one another, rather than seeking status or comparing gifts. Ultimately, the message calls for selfless service and mutual support to glorify God and effectively advance His kingdom.