Do Gentiles Really Receive the Messiah? (Acts 11:1-18)
When God disrupts our comfortable traditions, how do we respond? Explore Acts 11 and the profound moment when the early church learned that the gospel's reach extends to all people. They think this is radical, but it is the realization of the Lord’s ancient promise.
Christian Introspection (LD 30; 1 Corinthians 11:23-32)
Approaching the Lord’s Table can often bring confusion between holy reverence and personal unworthiness. Discover how to engage in honest Christian self-examination without falling into morbid despair or self-righteous pride. Grounded in the finished work of Jesus Christ and the teachings of 1 Corinthians and the Heidelberg Catechism, learn how believers are invited to commune with confidence, repent of sin, and be nourished by God's grace.
Can Outsiders be Insiders? (Acts 10:34-48)
In this message on Acts 10, we explore how God shattered cultural barriers by bringing Gentiles into the covenant community. Discover what Peter’s vision teaches us about the universal call of the Gospel, the power of Christ's resurrection, and finding our true worth in Him alone.
Feasting as One People (LD 39; 1 Corinthians 10:16, 17)
The sacraments are visible signs and seals of God’s gospel promises. Explore how Baptism and the Lord’s Supper assure believers of Christ’s once-for-all sacrifice, nourish the soul by the Holy Spirit, and call the covenant community to humble, united fellowship in Christ.
Peter's Shocking Revelation (Acts 10:1-33)
In Acts 10, Peter’s vision breaks down the barriers between Jews and Gentiles. Discover how God’s grace dismantles our cultural assumptions and invites all nations into unified table fellowship in Christ.
The New Covenant in My Blood (Luke 22:14-23; LD 28)
Is the Lord’s Supper merely a sentimental memorial? In this Heidelberg Catechism (LD 28) sermon on Luke 22:14–23, Pastor Paul Lindemulder explores how Christ spiritually nourishes our faith through the New Covenant in His blood, confirming His once-for-all sacrifice.
Peter’s Preparation (Acts 9:32-43)
The stories of Aeneas and Tabitha might seem like brief transitional narratives in the book of Acts, but Luke records them with divine purpose. Far from filler, these miracles testify to Peter’s authority as a restored apostle, establish his credibility as a messenger, and demonstrate that Christ continues to care for His church. Beyond the signs, Luke hints at the gospel breaking down clean/unclean barriers to reach all nations.
Saul’s Mission (Acts 9:19-31)
How can the church trust someone who once sought to destroy it? In Acts 9:19–31, Saul goes from persecutor to preacher, hunter to hunted, and feared enemy to a brother eventually embraced by the church. His credibility, however, is not found in his personality, intelligence, or gifts, but in Christ who called him and the gospel he faithfully proclaims.
Washed in Christ(Titus 3:5; LD 26)
Baptism is more than a mere symbol, but it is not a magical act that automatically regenerates everyone who receives it. As the Heidelberg Catechism reminds us, baptism visibly communicates and confirms the promises of the gospel. Through the sign of water, we are pointed to the cleansing found in Christ’s blood and the renewing work of the Holy Spirit.
Baptism calls us to remember who we are in Christ. We have passed from death to life, have been set apart as his people, and are called to walk in the new life he has given us. We do not pursue holiness to prove ourselves worthy of Christ. We pursue holiness because Christ has redeemed us, made us his own, and continues to work in us by his Spirit.
God's Prisoner of War (Acts 9:1-19)
Saul traveled toward Damascus breathing threats and murder against the church, convinced that Jesus was a failed Messiah and determined to destroy his followers. But Christ had another plan. On the road to Damascus, the persecutor was captured by the risen Lord, confronted with the reality that in persecuting the church he was persecuting Christ himself. Acts 9 reveals the sovereign grace of God, the presence of Christ with his suffering people, and the remarkable transformation of an enemy of the gospel into a servant and messenger of Christ.
Finding our Unity in Christ (1 Corinthians 12:12-26; LD 25
How does the gospel advance? It advances not only as people come to faith, but as the church grows together as the body of Christ. In 1 Corinthians 12, Paul reminds us that we have been joined together by one Spirit, called to serve rather than compete, and to find our worth not in our gifts or accomplishments but in Christ alone. Through the preaching of the gospel and the visible testimony of the sacraments, our eyes are continually directed back to our Redeemer as we grow in gratitude and are increasingly conformed to him.
The Gospel Advances: Embracing the Ordinary (Acts 8:26-40)
We are easily tempted to measure God's presence by visible success, large crowds, and obvious strategy. Yet in Acts 8, the Holy Spirit redirects Philip away from a thriving ministry in Samaria to an isolated desert road to meet a single seeker. This message shows how God uses unlikely places, ordinary preaching, and faithful obedience to accomplish His extraordinary redemptive purposes.
Pursuing God's Reward (2 Timothy 4:6-8; LD 24)
If salvation is by grace and our good works cannot earn our redemption, what motivates us to live faithfully for Christ? Scripture speaks about rewards and crowns, but these rewards are not wages earned through human merit. They are gifts of grace. In 2 Timothy 4, Paul shows us what this looks like: because Christ has redeemed us and God is preserving us, we are called to fight the good fight of faith, finish the race, and keep the faith.
The Unlikely Advancement (Acts 8:4-25)
Stephen is dead, persecution is spreading, and the church is being scattered. Yet the gospel does not stop. In Acts 8, Philip goes to Samaria—a place the Jews would hardly have expected to receive the gospel. There we see both the surprising reach of God's grace and the danger of an outward profession without genuine faith. The gospel is not for the worthy, nor can God's Spirit be manipulated for our ambitions. Christ himself preserves and advances his church, calling sinners to repentance and faith in him.
What Benefit is This Knowledge? (LD 23; Romans 3:21-26)
Is doctrine really helpful for your daily walk with God, or is it just head knowledge? Many Christians struggle with a disconnect between what they believe and how they live. Exploring Heidelberg Catechism Lord’s Day 23 reveals why justification by faith is far more than a theological idea—it is the very truth that diagnoses our deepest need and provides the assurance, freedom, and strength we could never earn on our own.
The Unhealthy and Unwealthy Gospel (3) (Acts 7:53-8:3)
When Stephen stands before the mob in Acts 7, his faithfulness is met not with earthly reward, but with opposition and martyrdom. In a world that constantly pressures believers to soften the truth, Stephen’s trial forces us to confront a vital question: Is Jesus truly essential, or is He optional when following Him becomes difficult?
Discover how Stephen's vision of the risen Christ standing at the right hand of God shifts our perspective—reminding us that earthly suffering does not mean abandonment, and that Jesus actively reigns even in the midst of our deepest trials.
God's Gracious Shepherding (Philippians 3:12-20; LD 22)
If God only shepherded us through our earthly journey, death would continue to threaten us—but Christ’s resurrection changes everything. Christ redeems the whole person, body and soul. Because He has secured our future and made us His own, we are empowered to press forward today not to earn God’s favor, but because His favor is already won.
The Unhealthy Unwealthy Gospel (2) (Acts 7:1-52)
When Stephen stood falsely accused before the ruling council in Acts 7, he didn't offer a traditional self-defense. Instead, he took his accusers on a journey through redemptive history—from Abraham in Mesopotamia to Moses in the wilderness. Stephen showed that God’s presence cannot be trapped within a physical building or geographical border, and that human nature consistently resists God's true deliverers. Discover how Stephen's final message points directly to Jesus as the greater Moses and calls us to a humble, tender-hearted faith.
God's Protected Community (Romans 8:15, 28–39; LD 21)
In Heidelberg Catechism Lord's Day 21 and Romans 8, we confess that Jesus Christ is actively gathering, preserving, and defending His church through His Word and Spirit. Christianity is not merely an individual relationship with God but participation in Christ's covenant community. We are the communion of saints.
This sermon explores the biblical meaning of the holy catholic church, the unity believers share in Christ, and the comfort of knowing that nothing can separate God's people from His love. Even in suffering, God continues His work of conforming His children to Christ until the day of glorification. Because Christ gathers His people, unites them as one body, and faithfully guards His church, believers are called to encourage and serve one another with confidence in His unfailing promises.
The Unhealthy and Unwealthy Gospel (Acts 6:8-15)
Faithfulness does not always lead to visible success. Stephen was a man full of grace, wisdom, and the Holy Spirit. One would expect a warm embrace, but his reward was false accusation. In fact, he endured suffering rather than earthly triumph. Acts 6 reminds us that God's kingdom does not operate according to the world's expectations. Christ calls His church to faithful obedience, not guaranteed comfort. Even when believers face opposition, the risen and reigning Christ strengthens His people by His Spirit and preserves them to the very end.