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.
Our Lord teaches, “the first will be last and the last will be first.” If this is the case then why would we want to live or work for the Lord if we are just going to be last? Why would we pursue the Lord if we are not going to receive immediate praise? Why would our Lord say such a thing in terms of working in his vineyard? What is our Lord teaching us about the ultimate joy of the Christian life?
Christ is the messiah who enters history to save us from our sins. He is our redeemer who brings in the kingdom. Why does Christ promise such a strong kingdom that will go beyond human history, but then tell his disciples not to tell anyone about his kingdom? What kind of kingdom can this be? Is this a kingdom that will go beyond human history?
Jesus announces that the kingdom of heaven is present. This is great to hear, but what do we do with John the Baptist being arrested? What do we do with Christ retreating to Galilee? The issue then: how can Christ say that the kingdom is present when the context of this chapter seems to contradict His message?
The Apostle Paul exhorts us to live a life to the Lord without stirring up controversy. Why would Paul say such things and what does Paul by living a peaceful and quiet life?
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?
The potential temptation we can have as Christians is to think that this kingdom is only spiritual and that there is nothing physical that our Lord provides. However, Christ makes this strange promise that as we pursue the kingdom of God there is the assurance that the Lord will provide for us. How does this work? Why not worry about the physical things when the the Kingdom is Spiritual?
Israel has a very unique mission to go and establish a heavenly kingdom on this earth. They have a unique calling to dominate a land, setup a place for God to dwell, and worship our God in the midst of the Canaanite land. One would think that Israel has this calling because they are a great people with a wonderful history. Does the Lord pick them because there is something special about them as a people? Or does the Lord pick them to make clear that there is something special about God?
When we ask our heavenly father to forgive us our debts we are also asking that we forgive our debtors meaning those who sin against us. The reality is that there is a cost involved with forgiveness and we might not always be willing to bear the cost of it. What is more, the bigger problem is that we might not think that we ourselves need that much forgiveness. So, what does the older brother or the older son tell us about forgiveness in the kingdom? Why does Christ tell us that this man had two sons?
When we talk about the Kingdom of God we normally associate the Kingdom of God as being something that is present here and now. So, if the Kingdom is present here and now then why would we ask the Lord for the Kingdom to come? The Lord will establish His kingdom despite any forces that may stand against it. So, what does it mean that we ask for the Lord’s kingdom to come?
Many times when we think of peace we think of things in our lives going well for us right now. However, this peace is still working out despite Christians who are tragically being martyred and it was working out when saints were martyred. How can we find peace in all circumstances of life? How do we find peace when we are among the nations in a dispersion and living in terms similar to Jeremiah 29 rather than the book of Joshua? Where is our peace ultimately?
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?
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 Lord is the king who rules over heaven and earth. He is the one who triumphs and has while continuing to manifest His might, His power, and the strength of His hand. So, if this is true then why would we ask that His kingdom would come if He is strong enough to establish it? What does the resurrection have to do with this request? Why would the resurrection be so essential for the Christian life?
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?
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?
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.
