The Day of the Lord (Zechariah 14:1-21)

#zechariah #nightvisions #dayofthelord

We can think of the "Day of the Lord" in scripture as being the final day. We do see the day of the Lord as a day when the Lord makes all things right. We think of this as one day rather than one day that is manifested at different times in history. In fact, God by his providence shows his deliverance in patterns throughout covenant history. The point is to give the assurance and warning to the nations that there is a day of reckoning. There is warning to the nations that they better assemble to worship with God's people rather than make war against them. These patterns give assurance that the Lord will bring his people to dwell with him on his holy plateau in the heavenly city that comes down from heaven when all things are created new.

(Preached October 9, 2022)

Cross Ethics (4) (Matthew 18:21-35)

Our Lord concludes the second sermon on the mount with a parable that answer’s Peter’s question: how many times do we forgive?  Christ speaks of us bearing our cross before the Lord by showing this forgiveness.  What is the standard of forgiveness and how does this depth of forgiveness assure us of Christ’s mercy? 

Cross Ethics (2) (Matthew 18:6-14)

We can say that not caring about the little people is just a contemporary problem.  However, if you look at the Old Testament and Israel’s ideal call they were a nation to be in the forefront to care for the widow and the orphan.  Are these the only little ones that Christ is expressing his concern?  Can we be a little one?  What does it mean that the Lord cares for the little ones?  Does it mean that as the little ones we have a free pass to sin because others made us stumble?  What does the cross teach us about living out the Gospel for our Lord?  

Satanic Situation (Matthew 16:21-28)

The prophets and the apostles are the bedrock for the Lord’s church.  Peter, the spokesmen for the apostles, is the one who affirms with absolute certainty that Christ is the messiah.  He is the redeemer, the Christ, the Son of God sent to do the Father’s mission.  It would seem that such a strong affirmation is only going to bring Peter to submission.  However, the Christ rebukes Peter in a strong way.  Why is Christ’s mission so difficult to embrace?

Christ’s Easy Burden (Matthew 11:20-30)

We think that bearing a burden is something that is heavy.  It is not something that is light nor is it something that we enjoy or want to lift.  It is something that is associated with hard work.  However, Christ speaks of us bearing his burden as something that is enjoyable, desirable, and light.  How can a burden be light?

Certain Assurance (Matthew 5:1-12)

Jesus takes his stand on the mountain to teach the crowds and his disciples.  This should be a sermon that is full of good news.  This is expected to be a sermon where Christ promises absolute victory.  However, Christ talks about mourning, oppression, and persecution.  How can Christ’s message truly offer us hope?  Has the kingdom failed in some way? 

Sojourning Under the Sun: Sabbath Pilgrim (1 Peter 1:1,2)

Peter and James greet the church in the dispersion.  What is the dispersion?  Why would they greet the church with such strange language?  What can such language communicate about our Christian Sojourn?

Sojourning Under the Sun: Sabbath Suffering (Luke 14:25-35)

Christ uses very strong language regarding our Christian life.  He tells us that we are to actually hate our families.  Is this a contradiction of the 5th commandment?  I thought that we were to honor our parents?  I thought that we were to love our Lord as first priority and love our neighbor as ourselves?  How can Christ command us to hate our families?

Sojourning Under the Sun: Sabbath Conforming: Magistrate (Matthew 5:33-48)

Christ tells us not to take an oath, we are not to get vengeance, and we are called to a radical love.  If those things are not hard enough we hear that we are supposed to be perfect as our heavenly father is perfect.  How can we measure up to this standard?  Do we just ignore these commands because they are impossible?  Do we strive to keep them in the hopes that God will still accept us?  What do we do with these difficult commands?

Sojourning Under the Sun: Sabbath Citizens (2) (Matthew 5:1-16)

Christ takes his stand to teach his disciples after doing great things like healing people.  Why would Christ waste time teaching like this when he could heal people of their infirmaries?  What is the point of this teaching?  What is this teaching communicating to us regarding our Christian Sojourn?

A Strange Pep Talk (Mark 10:32-52)

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?

Why Are You a Christian? (Ephesians 6:10-20; LD 12)

The weapons listed for our Christian armor are mostly defensive weapons.  If these are defensive weapons what are we defending ourselves from?  How hard can it be for us to go about this age if we are grounded in Christ?  If we are already called a Christian then why such a struggle? So, why are we called Christians that is anointed by Christ if we are just walking through this world?