Come Sojourn with Us
This is where you will find sermons and updates for our church. Our mission is to preach expository sermons focusing on the gospel of Christ. We are a church that is tied to the reformed tradition and seeks to submit to the scriptures so we walk in the Lord’s wisdom rather than our own.
We would love to have you join us on our Christian sojourn if you are in the Belgrade, MT area. If you are not in area then join us by listening to our bi weekly free sermon podcast.
Stay informed by following us on Facebook, YouTube, Apple Podcasts, or through our RSS feed. We would love for you to join us for worship every Sunday at 10 am and 6 pm. If you cannot join us in person then tune into our YouTube livestream.
The pharisees and the sadducees finally have Christ right where they want him. In their minds they have trapped Christ into either losing credibility with the people or being charged as an insurrectionist. How is Christ going to get out of this trap? What does Christ teach as He responds to their trap?
When Christ is in the midst of Israel it seems that Christ has a challenge making friends with the leaders of Israel. Why does Christ have such a problem and what does Christ say about them? Why does Christ speak of a vineyard and troublesome tenants? Most of all, why would this offend the leaders of Israel?
When we see Christ going into Jerusalem it seems that He has some anger management issues. First, He curses a tree that did not bear fruit. Second, he overturns tables in the temple and has what appears to be a tantrum. How can these things make a credible point? Why curse a tree out of anger and overturn the temple? Is the stress of the cross getting to Christ or is there more?
When we see Christ riding into Jerusalem we see that Christ is entering into a holy and incredible place that is so full or history. This is the place where God is to dwell in the midst of HIs people. Now is finally the time in Christ’s ministry when you would expect His people to embrace their God. Is this the time for God to sit on the throne and finally make His city holy? If that is the case then why is Christ seated on a donkey and not a war horse?
When we face the trials of life we want a strong leader to tell us what to do. If we are honest we really want the leader to tell us that it is all going to be okay. You cannot find a better or stronger leader than God God as He is the one who made us and knows us. So, you would think that Christ would tell His disciples that it is all going to be okay when they enter Jerusalem. Well, this is not what Christ does at all. Why does Christ give such a strange pep talk prior to their entrance into Jerusalem?
The reality is that if we ask the wrong question we are more than likely to arrive at the wrong answer. If we desire to find the right answers it is best to ask the right questions. This is what we find with the wealthy man who approaches Christ about salvation. He thinks that the answer is simple so his question is simple. In his understanding he has done all that is required for life. However, when Christ points out the bigger picture even the disciples are confused by the answer. So, what must we do to be saved and have life? How can we as Americans enter the Kingdom of God if a camel cannot go through the eye of a needle?
So often we use the law of God to find loopholes and technicalities. I think that many times we like the letter of the law because it narrows the sharpness of its requirement. But, how do we order our lives by the law of God when it seems contradictory? For instance Christ gives permission for divorce if there is an adulterous relationship. The Apostle Paul allows for divorce if the unbeliever cannot live with the believer. Yet, Christ states that, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her.” How do we reconcile these teachings on divorce and order our lives when they seem to contradict one another?
The Old Testament forbids man from harming himself, but our Lord seems to be contradicting His command to Israel by advocating that we cut off a body part that may cause us to stumble. Does the Lord really want us to cut off body parts? How is the Lord different from Baal when the priests of Baal cut themselves in 1 Kings? If our Lord does not desire us to maim our bodies then what does our Lord mean when he talks about cutting off parts of our body that lead us into sin?
We might think that the kingdom of God is a kingdom of glory. There is glory in the kingdom of God, but that is not the whole story. What is involved in the kingdom of God prior to the glory? Why is it so offensive that the very men who bring the kingdom are rebuked when they discuss their significance in the kingdom?
You would think that after showing the glory of heaven to the disciples that there would be great joy in this. Finally, a kingdom that they could embrace, and see. A kingdom that manifests the glory of the Lord. However, this is not how the kingdom is manifested with the disciples at all. So, why is it in the midst of what appears to be the disciples flailing that the kingdom is still working? Why does Mark include this story in HIs narrative?
The honest truth is that the kingdom of God is very difficult for us to grasp. There are some who believe that Christ is basically teaching us ethical things and that is what we take from the kingdom. There are others who see Christ as one thoroughly committed to His beliefs even to death. Are these fair assessments of Christ’s work? What is the point of Christ’s suffering and our suffering? What is the outcome of the suffering? Is it just to suffer to show fulfillment, or is there something beyond the suffering that keeps it all in perspective?
Our Lord is one who entered history to secure His kingdom. There is no doubt that the kingdom is established, but why not have a palace or even a headquarters? Why would we want such a kingdom where we cannot even find the headquarters? How do we know that the kingdom is here when we cannot see expected buildings in a kingdom?
You would think that Christ would figure out that if he just worked with the leaders of Israel a little bit then His life would be easier. So, why does Christ purposely dine with unclean people after having been rebuked? Why not just give a little sign when he is asked for a sign? Why such a harsh warning for His disciples?
Christ does not embrace a gentile woman with open arms. Why is Christ so caustic to this poor woman? Why does it seem as if Christ is just not showing the compassion we would expect?
There is the temptation that we face, whether we admit it or not, to think at times that we have arrived at a superior place in our sanctification. Now, we might not put it this crassly, but the reality is thatwe do think higher of ourselves than we ought. Why is that? We pride ourselves on our systems, our strategies, and our ways overcoming sin. We do this in the name of growth. So, what does Christ teach us about Spiritual growth and conforming to Him?
We are probably tempted to have our favorite villains in the Gospel stories. We have the Pharisees and the Scribes who conspired to send Christ to the cross. We have Judas who betrayed Christ and should have known better. We have Pilate who compromised justice to save himself from having a potentially huge political mess. However, we do not think about our issues and the gospel? What about the disciples and their struggle?
We might wonder from time to time why Jesus does all these miracles and theatrics. Why not just tell us the point? Why not just live, die, and be raised? Why these miracles for a time? What is the purpose behind these miracles? Why does Jesus feed 5000 people with 5 loaves and two fish?
One great struggle with being a Christian is seeing the world continually slide down hill when we want it to be getting better. Is this something that is unique to our time? Does this mean that the Lord has turned His back on us and this world? Does this mean that the Lord has been dethroned from all His glory?
Does Christ's success depend on the crowds or is there something intrinsic to His person that gives Him such authority? How is that significant in our lives today?
Our Lord rules over the heavens and the earth. There is no doubt that He is busy and has many things to tend to daily. How do we know that He really cares about the little people that He has redeemed? How do we know that He is sovereign enough to overpower everything in this age?
We are a bible believing church in the Belgrade, MT. We are a Reformed Protestant church who desire to build one another up in love as we sojourn under the sun.
