The account of the creation is sequenced in days through which God demonstrates his deliberate and considered acts, done for the benefit of man, that he may inhabit a land perfectly suited for his labors before the Lord.

Sermon Text: Genesis 1:1-13
New Testament Supporting Text: John 1:1-5

The first verse of the Bible affirms the proposition that there is only one God, and that He sovereignly made and governs all things. This word is given to His covenant people as they are called to trust in God for all things.

Sermon Text: Genesis 1:1
New Testament Supporting Text: Acts 17:22-31

The Christian lives in light of the coming of the Day of the Lord, when God comes in glory to render judgment and blessing. At the same time, the believer is a citizen of and derives his identity from this day of glory, leading to the call by the Apostle to live now as one who has put on Christ.

Sermon Text: Romans 13:11-14
Old Testament Supporting Text: Zephaniah 3:8-20

The call to love our neighbors is not pious advice, but a commandment. It is not a vague generalization but is a summary of all the commands God has given us regarding how we are to interact with others. Nothing absolves us of this duty, and yet, as individuals, we seek constantly to have simple checklists of piety, as groups to turn over responsibility to those in authority, instead of the living thoughtful and loving lives to which God has called us.

Sermon Text: Romans 13:8-10
Old Testament Supporting Text: Leviticus 19:13-18

When we speak of morality on the personal level, we turn immediately to God’s law for guidance. Sadly, when the role of the Christian and his relation to the magistrate is discussed, we often bring in a new morality, might makes right. To give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, we must search the Scriptures to understand his rightful role, and not fall into the trap of statolatry, and become a party to sin.

Sermon Text: Romans 13:1-7
Old Testament Supporting Text: Jeremiah 29:1-14

Matthew tells us that Jesus is the Son of David, and the Son of Abraham. In his resurrection, Jesus brings to fruition the significance of these roles, as the one who will be a blessing to the nations, and rule with wisdom over a kingdom at peace. Jesus has conquered death, and now gives abundant life to his people.

Sermon Text: Matthew 28:1-10
Old Testament Supporting Text: Daniel 6

When Jesus entered Jerusalem, he was hailed as King of the Jews. But Jesus declared through parables that he was rejecting the Israelite Kingdom, and was constituting a new Kingdom, which is not of this world. The citizens of this kingdom would not be his old people, but a new people composed of every tribe, tongue, and nation, Gentiles and sinners called to repentance and life.

Sermon Text: Matthew 21:28-46
Old Testament Supporting Text: Psalm 118:22-29

You are often told that if you follow the checklist of approved behaviors and prohibitions articulated by the speaker, then you will be right with God, and therefore, saved. This is wrong on two counts. First, God saves sinners by grace, not by their works. Second, the call to righteousness for the Christian is not a checklist, but a disposition and direction guided by God’s Word, formed by the Holy Spirit in our hearts, which Jesus summarizes with one word, love.

Sermon Text: Romans 12:9-21
Old Testament Supporting Text: Deuteronomy 24:14-22

We all see the disgrace paraded on TV where so-called “Christians” are busy denouncing this or that sin or sinner. They think this demonstrates their holiness, but actually it reveals their pride and self-righteousness. Loving service to the believing community, formed and guided by God’s written revelation, is what displays a growing sanctification worked in the believer by the Holy Spirit.

Sermon Text: Romans 12:3-8
Old Testament Supporting Text: Isaiah 1:10-20

Only after Paul has proclaimed the wonders of God’s grace in Election and Justification, does he now turn to Sanctification. Already hinted at, now he expounds the calling of the redeemed man to be a living sacrifice to God, a response of gratitude, being conformed to the mind of Christ his Savior. This is the work that God has predestined his adopted children to perform. Man’s foolish attempts at self-righteousness, rules-keeping, moralism, works of any sort to curry God’s favor, only yield more sin.

Sermon Text: Romans 12:1-2
Old Testament Supporting Text: Leviticus 1:3-9; Micah 6:6-8