Worship 10 am & 6 pm
Belgrade United Reformed Church
17333 Frontage Road
Belgrade, MT 59714
Our Eternal Problem (Matthew 25:35-46; LD 4)
We are tempted to solve sin the same way we solve everything else — with strategy, discipline, or distance. But as Luther reportedly said of his time in the monastery, "I went to escape the rascal, only to find that the rascal followed me there." The problem isn't out there. It's in here. And only one solution reaches that deep.
God's Glorious Projection (Esther 8:1-17)
Haman is dead — but his decree isn't. The villain has been removed, but his villainy still stands. In Esther 8, we're confronted with a sobering reality: one evil man can be toppled, yet the damage he set in motion keeps moving. So what does God do? He doesn't cancel the decree. He issues a better one. This is the pattern of redemptive history — God doesn't simply undo the enemy's work, He overwhelms it.
Chapter 7 - “In For the Kill”
Are you ready to fight sin with gospel hope? In this powerful message on sanctification, we explore Chapter 7 of Sinclair Ferguson's "Devoted to God" titled "In for the Kill"—learning how to actively put sin to death through the Spirit's power.
God’s Fault? (LD 3; Genesis 3)
Why does life often feel frustrating and broken? Genesis 3 reveals the deeper story behind our world: God’s perfect creation, humanity’s rebellion, and the lasting consequences of the fall. Yet even in the midst of judgment, God gives the first promise of the gospel—a Redeemer who will defeat the serpent and restore His people.
Ironic Exaltation (Esther 7:1-10)
In a kingdom where decrees cannot be undone, Esther stands between her people and destruction. What begins as hesitation becomes one of Scripture’s boldest moments of faith. As Esther exposes Haman’s wickedness and risks everything to identify with God’s covenant people, we glimpse a deeper story — of justice, irony, and redemption. Through Esther’s courage and Haman’s downfall, we see God’s unwavering purpose: to preserve His people and point us to the Redeemer who hung on the tree in our place.
The New Rhythm of Grace: How Sanctification Transforms Your Christian Life | Colossians 3 (Chapter 6)
Sanctification is not self-effort but a new rhythm of grace. In this episode, we explore Colossians 3 and Sinclair Ferguson’s teaching on union with Christ, renewal, and learning to put on Christ in daily life.
Misery or Mercy? (Psalm 19:7-14; LD 2)
If God’s law reveals our sin and misery, why does Psalm 19 celebrate it as life-giving? The Heidelberg Catechism teaches that the law exposes how deeply we fall short, yet Scripture also describes God’s instruction as perfect, joyful, and renewing to the soul. This study explores how God’s law leads us not to despair, but to Christ—our Redeemer—who enables us to live in gratitude, reverence, and dependence upon Him.
Mordecai's Ironic Reward (Esther 6:1-14)
When God's people face annihilation, we expect a burning bush, ten plagues, or some dramatic miraculous intervention. Instead, God sets his entire plan in motion through a single sleepless night. The book of Esther reminds us that God's silence is never God's absence — he is working through the most mundane details of human life to ensure that his promises cannot fail.
The Conflict Zone: Walking by the Spirit vs. the Flesh (Galatians 5) | Devoted to God Series (Chapter 5)
The Christian life is a daily battle between the flesh and the Spirit. In this episode, we explore Galatians 5 and Sinclair Ferguson’s teaching on walking by the Spirit and living devoted to God in the midst of spiritual conflict.
Comforted or Controlled? (John 10:28, 29; LD 1)
Most comforts belong to certain moments—a warm blanket for a cold night, a favorite flannel for a casual afternoon. But the Heidelberg Catechism begins with a startling claim: there is one comfort that fits every circumstance, in life and in death. That comfort is not found in self-determination or achievement, but in belonging—body and soul—to our faithful Savior, Jesus Christ. He redeems, preserves, and intercedes for his sheep so that they will never perish and can never be snatched from his hand.
Procrastinator or Strategic Planner?(Esther 5:1-14)
As Esther enters the king’s court uninvited, the fate of God’s people hangs in the balance. After a three-day fast, she stands between courage and compromise, strategy and fear. What appears to be hesitation is actually wisdom at work, as God quietly moves his plan forward. Even when his people seem weak and his name is unspoken, the Lord’s decree still stands.
A Different Kind of Death: Understanding Union with Christ (Romans 6) | Devoted to God Series (Chapter 4)
What does it mean to be dead to sin and alive to God? In this episode, we explore Romans 6 and Sinclair Ferguson’s teaching on union with Christ, baptism, and the freedom believers have to live in their new identity.
Elite Doctrine or Rich Comfort? (John 3:1-21; COD Conclusion)
The Canons of Dort addresses critical questions about God's sovereignty and human free will, but its true purpose is pastoral: to provide genuine consolation in knowing that God desires, chooses, and gives life to His people. This teaching leads believers toward Scripture, submission to God's Word, and ultimately to His glory.
The challenge is navigating the tension between God's universal call and particular work. John 3 shows us both truths: the general call is real ("God so loved the world"), and the particular application of Christ's work to God's people is also real (one must be "born again" to respond). Like the wind, the Spirit "blows where it wills"—we cannot control God's work, which is both humbling and liberating.
Our hope rests in Christ, not ourselves. When we bow the knee to Christ, it's because we've been born from above by the Spirit. Our confidence is in His power to uphold us until the end.
Persia’s Queen or Israel’s Queen? (Esther 4:1-17)
Esther chapter 4 brings the queen to a crossroads. She must choose between protecting her own comfort or risking everything to save her people. Through flawed characters and quiet providence, God shows that He can accomplish His purposes even through unlikely servants.
Prepositions of Grace (Devoted to God Series)
I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me." Galatians 2:20 reveals the heart of Christian sanctification: holiness doesn't happen apart from Christ—it happens IN Christ. Through four prepositions (for, in, with, in), Paul shows us we're not just observers but united to Jesus Himself. We don't believe in Him; we believe in Him. When he died, we died. When He rose, we rose. Stop living like spiritual paupers, striving in your own strength. You've been given union with the Son of God. Sanctification isn't just turning from sin—it's turning TO Christ, basking in His glory, and moving in His resurrection life.
New Creatures in an Old World (2 Corinthians 5:16-21)
Discover how the gospel reshapes identity in a culture of confusion. In Christ, we’re made new—reoriented to see others through grace and called to live out reconciliation. The old has passed; the new has come.
What's With Life and Death?
What is your only comfort in life and death? This timeless question from the Heidelberg Catechism offers a profound answer that our world desperately needs to hear: you belong—body and soul—to your faithful Savior, Jesus Christ. In this sermon, we explore how biblical hope isn't about optimism or self-effort, but about confident expectation grounded in God's faithfulness. You are not your own. You don't belong to your guilt, shame, or fear. You belong to Christ, who has claimed you, redeemed you, and covenanted with you before you could ever choose Him.
All of Me (Chapter 2)
What does it mean to be devoted to God with all of life? In Chapter 2 of Devoted to God, Sinclair Ferguson unpacks Romans 12:1–2 to show how sanctification flows from the gospel, transforms our bodies and minds, and reveals the goodness of God’s will as we are conformed to Christ.
For They Were Not of Us (1 John 2:18-25; COD Head 5 RE)
The Canons of Dort remind us that perseverance is not grounded in our spiritual strength, but in Christ’s preserving power. When some depart from the faith, John does not tell believers to look inward for hidden signs or elite knowledge. Instead, he directs us outward—to Christ, who continues his priestly work by interceding for his people. True assurance does not come from the quality of our faith, but from the faithfulness of our Savior, who prays that our faith will not fail.
When God’s Promises Seem to be Failing (Esther 2:19-3:15)
The book of Esther confronts a haunting question: when God seems silent and His people face destruction, can His promises still stand? Set in a foreign empire ruled by absolute power, Esther reveals a hidden battle between the decree of man and the decree of God. As Haman plots genocide and Mordecai refuses to bow, the story presses one central tension—has the Lord forsaken His role as shield and defender? Yet even through imperfect people and unseen providence, God proves faithful, triumphing over the serpent’s seed and preserving His redemptive promise.