Worship 10 am & 6 pm
Belgrade United Reformed Church
17333 Frontage Road
Belgrade, MT 59714
Kangaroo Court (2) (Luke 23:1-25)
When Jesus stands before Pilate and Herod, both rulers find Him innocent, yet the crowd demands the release of Barabbas, the rebel. Their choice exposes humanity’s deep tendency to prefer earthly power over God's redemption.
The Kangaroo Court (Luke 22:54-71)
Christ’s kingdom turns the world upside down—not through power or fear, but through peace. As Peter’s failure and Christ’s silence unfold in Luke’s Gospel, we see that true strength is found not in human resolve, but in the Savior’s submission. The King who was mocked and beaten was already winning the greatest battle of all—redeeming sinners and restoring peace with God.
What is Forgiveness? (LD 51; Col. 3:12-17)
Forgiveness is never simple. Scripture calls us to release offenses while exercising wisdom and setting healthy boundaries. Rooted in Christ’s sacrifice, true forgiveness bears a cost—it lifts the burden of sin without ignoring justice. As we forgive others, we reflect God’s grace and live out our shared identity in Christ.
The Sword's Snare (Luke 22:39-53)
In a world that either exaggerates or ignores the devil’s influence, this message calls believers to recognize the unseen battle of spiritual warfare. True victory isn’t found in self-reliance but in humble prayer and dependence on Christ, who conquered the enemy through His suffering and resurrection.
Is it Really Just Bread? (LD 50; Psalm 145)
We explore Psalm 145 and the Lord’s Prayer, revealing God as a loving provider who meets every physical and spiritual need. From feeding all creation to drawing near to His people, He satisfies abundantly and cares personally. This message calls believers to trust, gratitude, and daily praise for God’s faithful provision and nearness.
Why the Swords? (Luke 22:31-38)
Christ tells us to be ready in this age. However, it is not with swords in our hands, but rather with faith that reaches the resurrected Christ. The real battle isn’t fought with steel, but with prayer, perseverance, and trust in the One who intercedes for us, guaranteeing that we will be preserved.
Willingly Doing Your Will (Titus 2:11-14; LD 49)
Human beings naturally struggle with making God in our image, seeking to bend Him to our desires rather than aligning with His will. Even in the presence of temptation, sin, and our natural rebellion, God calls us to discern what is righteous, putting aside desires contrary to Christ while nurturing those aligned with Him. True obedience comes from humility and vulnerability before God, as we are shaped and refined throughout our lifelong journey of faith.
Twas the Night Before Passover (Luke 22:14-30)
In this sermon, we explore the profound meaning behind Christ’s celebration of the Passover, contrasting it with the familiar but sentimental imagery of "’Twas the Night Before Christmas." Christ’s Passover reveals a radical, costly redemption that goes far beyond simple reward or punishment. It challenges us to recognize our unworthiness and embrace the violent yet life-giving sacrifice of our Savior.
Far from a mere memorial, the Lord’s Supper invites us into ongoing communion with the living Christ, who nourishes and sustains us through his broken body and shed blood. This meal is a powerful reminder that true greatness in God’s kingdom comes not from status or ambition but from humble service and reliance on grace.
When is the Kingdom Coming? (LD 48; 1 Cor. 15:20-28)
In the Lord’s Prayer, the petition “Your kingdom come” expresses both recognition of Christ’s present reign and longing for its future fulfillment. While Christ already rules spiritually from heaven, the prayer calls believers to deeper submission, sanctification, and participation in advancing His kingdom through the growth of the Church and the defeat of evil. Paul’s teaching in 1 Corinthians 15 shows that Christ’s resurrection, as the “first fruits,” guarantees our own resurrection and consecrates us as God’s people, linking the present spiritual kingdom to its ultimate consummation. Ultimately, this prayer reflects hope for Christ’s final triumph, the full defeat of sin and death, and the enjoyment of God’s glory in a renewed creation.
Preparing the Passover Lamb (Luke 22:1-13)
Throughout Scripture, God’s sovereignty is clear: even amid human failure, sin, and betrayal, His redemptive plan unfolds perfectly. From Adam and Eve to Abraham, from Israel’s deliverance from Egypt to Christ’s passion, God works through unexpected circumstances to accomplish His purpose. Though Christ faced conspiracies, betrayal, and chaos, He fulfilled His role as the Passover Lamb, submitting to the cross at the appointed time and securing redemption for His people. In Him, our sins are covered, our lives consecrated, and our identity and strength found. We need to be reminded that nothing surprises God, and all His promises are faithfully fulfilled.
Watch the Fig Tree (Luke 22:5-38)
Life with Christ is not promised to be easy, but we always need to see that our redemption is secure. Jesus warns us about deception, suffering, and the fleeting nature of earthly things, yet He calls us to discernment, endurance, and hope in Him. In a world of turmoil and false promises, our strength is found not in institutions or human effort, but in the risen Christ who preserves His people to the end.
Speaking Love’s Language (LD 43; 1 Corinthians 13:4-7)
The Ninth Commandment reminds us that truth is central to Christian love and community life, warning against lying, gossip, slander, and twisting words for self-promotion. Paul’s teaching in 1 Corinthians 13 shows that true love is humble, not boastful or arrogant, but patient and forgiving, refusing to keep a record of wrongs. Love bears with others, seeks what honors Christ rather than self, and practices wise forgiveness that encourages genuine repentance. Ultimately, love and truth are inseparably linked. We see this because love rejoices in truth, not injustice, builds trust and hope within the community, and endures trials as a reflection of God Himself, who is both love and truth. This is the heart of Christian witness, possible only through the work and merits of Christ applied in the Spirit.
Does Baptism Have the Power to Save? (Romans 6:1-14)
Romans 6 is challenging to understand. It is in the context of contrasting Adam’s failure with Christ’s success, emphasizing our identity in one of their historic precedents. Baptism symbolizes Christ’s triumph over death and hell, signifying our new life in Christ and our community’s identity as God’s covenant people. As new creatures in Christ, we live out this reality, battling sin while empowered by God’s grace.
Thieving to Thriving (LD 42; Ephesians 4:28)
This post explores how the command not to steal goes beyond obvious theft to include greed, deceptive practices, and misuse of God’s gifts. We look at Ephesians 4:28 and Sinclair Ferguson’s insights, and contrast the old sinful self with the new life in Christ, emphasizing work as worship and the Spirit’s transforming patience. Living in community, generosity, and honesty honors God and reflects our identity as redeemed people.
The Redeemer’s Reaping (Luke 20:1-19)
In a tense confrontation at the temple, Jesus faces the religious leaders’ challenge: “By what authority do you do these things?” Through a powerful parable about a vineyard and its tenants, Jesus exposes their refusal to recognize His divine authority. This story warns of the dangers of relying on covenant identity, heritage, and tradition over true faith. Christ calls all to hear, receive, and live under Christ’s lordship which leads to bearing glorious fruit in God’s vineyard.
Empowered for Chastity (LD 41; 1 Thess. 4:3-8)
God’s law is not a checklist, but it’s a call to heart-deep transformation. When we define the law by our own standards, we may think we’ve kept it. But seen through God’s eyes, it exposes our desires and calls us to something higher: a life of holiness shaped by union with Christ. Adultery, for instance, is more than a physical act. It is a matter of faithfulness to the Lord. This perspective leads us to live not for appearances, but as those empowered by the Holy Spirit, set apart for God’s glory, and living by His standard. It is humbling to realize he must change us, empower us, and continue to shape us throughout our Christian lives.
Holiness is not about willpower or self-help; it’s about walking in the Spirit as redeemed people. We are called to resist sin not by our strength, but through the resurrection power of Christ at work in us. Chastity becomes a way of life. It is a continual walking in integrity, modesty, and love for God. As temples of the Holy Spirit, we live in daily repentance, joyful obedience, and growing conformity to Christ, not to earn His favor, but because we already belong to Him.
The Dirty Temple (Luke 19:45-48)
Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem marks a profound and divided moment. Though welcomed by pilgrims as the Messiah, Christ knows his mission: suffering, death, and ultimately resurrection. The city meant to embody peace and God’s presence ironically fails to recognize its King’s true mission that is not one of earthly conquest but of humble submission and redemptive sacrifice. This tension calls us to reflect on how we receive Christ today: with open hearts or hardened resistance.
This moment also reflects Israel’s long history of faltering leadership and unfulfilled covenant promises. Even the greatest leaders, like Joshua and David, failed to secure lasting peace or faithfulness. Christ enters history to heal this broken and sinful world, not as another flawed king, but as the true Redeemer who confronts false security. HIs cleansing the temple exposes the problem of religiosity that goes all the way back to Jeremiah. His call: to truly seek Him with humility and surrender, embracing the peace He offers through His Word and Spirit, rather than resisting from a place of superficial safety.
The Weeping King (Luke 19:28-44)
As Christ approaches Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives, he embodies both fulfillment of prophecy and a radical redefinition of kingship. Rather than entering as a triumphant earthly ruler, he rides a colt that symbolizes humility and peace, which is in direct contrast to common expectations of a messianic conqueror. This act not only highlights Jesus’ divine foreknowledge and connection to the promises of Genesis and Zechariah, but also deeply echoes Psalm 118 and Psalm 148 as the crowds praise him, recalling God’s pattern of deliverance even as the city's fate of judgment is delayed. The Mount of Olives itself amplifies these themes, standing as a key prophetic site where Zechariah envisioned both judgment and deliverance, much like the Red Sea parted in Israel’s history.
The reactions of the Pharisees further reveal the heart of the moment: their insistence that Jesus rebuke the crowds exposes their rejection of him as Messiah. Jesus responds that if the people were silent, even the stones would cry out, referencing John the Baptist’s warning that true children of Abraham are not defined by lineage or covenant status alone, but by embracing Christ in faith. Amid outward jubilation, Jesus weeps over Jerusalem, expressing deep compassion for its spiritual blindness and the peace it fails to receive. This narrative calls for personal reflection—urging each hearer to recognize Christ’s unique mission and kingdom, which are established not by power, but by humility, sacrificial love, and a cross-shaped posture before God.
Striving to Enter His Rest (LD 38; Hebrews 3:7-4:13)
The hope of God's Sabbath rest has always pointed beyond physical rest to something much greater: the fullness of life in God’s glorified kingdom. From creation, God's rest was never about recovering through sleep. It points to His true shalom. This "shalom" was meant for Adam, lost in sin, and held out again as a model to Israel after the Exodus. Yet like Adam, Israel fell in the wilderness, grumbling despite witnessing God’s mighty acts of deliverance.
Hebrews draws on Israel’s story to call us to perseverance in Christ. We see that the promise of entering God's rest still stands because Joshua, though faithful, did not bring ultimate rest. True rest is found only in Christ. Therefore, to turn away from Him is to risk missing the shalom God offers eternally. Now tasted in the Spirit, but we are assured of its full physical glory.
Striving to enter this rest is about living with a Spirit-driven eagerness to see our Lord. True faith is not indifferent, but hungers for Christ and longs for our physical reunion with Him. Every Lord’s Day as we gather in worship, we get a foretaste of the rest to come, and our Lord resets our affections.
Let us be a people who strive in the Spirit, longing to glorify Christ, resting in His finished work, and pressing on in faith toward His eternal promise.
Gaining Stature by Losing Status (Luke 18:18-19:10)
As Jesus approaches Jericho, which is an iconic city of judgment, He is revealed as the greater Joshua, leading not a campaign of physical conquest, but one of redemption in two phases. In Luke’s account, we meet two individuals: a blind beggar and a wealthy tax collector. Though physically blind, the beggar sees Jesus, rightly identifying him as the Son of David, the Messiah. Zacchaeus, the rich man whose name means “righteous,” is short in stature, a symbol pointing to his moral and spiritual insufficiency.
Despite their social disparity, both men encounter Christ and recognize Him as the true life-giver and equalizer. Their faith, not their status, identifies them as sons of Abraham. As the old mission of Israel ends in exile due to human failure, Jesus begins a new mission, fulfilling the promise through His suffering and the power of the cross.
In Him, we too are called to live as Spirit-led pilgrims, emptying ourselves of worldly significance and finding our identity, hope, and peace in Christ alone. He is not contaminated by sinners, but He sanctifies them as the perfect righteous priest king.