Here is a new hymn celebrating God’s great love for us. If He is for us, who can be against us?
Lyrics, chord charts, lead sheets, and more are available on their site here.
Tag: Christianity
Sermons: The Doctrine of God
I am currently preaching a series called “The Truths We Hold Dear.” We are looking at core Biblical doctrines that the church believes. Here are the four sermons on the doctrine of God:
Jesus Is Coming
The Old Testament was filled with promises in great detail about the coming of Jesus, and He came just as was promised. The New Testament is filled with promises of the return of Jesus, and we believe that Jesus is coming again just as was promised. We are “waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13).
And Jesus is coming again to bring forth the final fulfillment of God’s Kingdom. In the Gospels, Jesus declared that the kingdom of God was at hand. Jesus the King has come, and He cast out demons and healed the sick and raised the dead and multiplied food and calmed the storm to show what His kingdom would one day be like. Satan will be defeated, and there will be no more sickness or death or lack or destructive chaos. And He died on the cross for our sins and rose again to make for Himself a people, His subjects, who will turn from their sin & believe in Him, and begin to follow Him.
One day the King is coming again, and He will bring about the final fulfillment of the Kingdom. He will bring peace and justice and righteousness forever (Isaiah 9:7). He will set up His throne on the New Earth, and He will bring forth His kingdom filled with life and healing and light. There will be no more darkness, and nothing accursed. And His people will be forever in presence of the Lord (Revelation 22:1-6).
So let us carefully prepare for His return. Too many people don’t prepare, don’t even think about being ready for His return. They have no interest in Jesus, no interest in the salvation He offers. But if there is even a chance that what we are saying is true, shouldn’t you carefully explore it? If your eternal destiny rests on what you do with Jesus, shouldn’t you consider it? Jesus might return today. You could die today. Turn from your sin and trust in Him today. Carefully prepare for His return.
He is coming. Are you ready?
And if you are, rest in the amazing certain hope that you have in Him!
Too Easily
All too easily, and all too unnoticed, our busyness pushes others away from us, and us away from God.
– Adam Mabry in The Art of Rest
Remember
Baptism and the Lord’s Supper are designed to picture and so remind us of Christ’s saving work for us.
Baptism pictures and reminds us of Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection, and how in Him we have spiritually died and been buried to our old sinful way of life and been raised to a new life with Him (Romans 6:3-4). Baptism also pictures and reminds us that in Christ our sins are washed away (Acts 22:16).
The Lord’s Supper pictures the broken body and shed blood of our Savior, which we are specifically told to remember (I Corinthians 11:23-25). The same passage also reminds us that the cup is the New Covenant in His blood – it pictures our new relationship with God made possible through Christ in which are sins are forgiven and His Word is written on our hearts (Hebrews 8:10-12).
And so both baptism and the Lord’s Supper picture and remind us of Christ’s sacrifice, and how in Him our sins are forgiven and we are now able to follow Him.
So let us remember and rejoice. I tell people when I prepare them for baptism, that it is a celebration.
Sometimes we talk about celebrating Lord’s Supper, because it should be a celebration. As we remember Christ’s saving work for us, how could we not celebrate? As we consider forgiveness of sins and a new life in Christ, how could we not rejoice? Remember and rejoice!
Let us also remember and rest. And in two ways: rest in Christ’s love and rest in His finished work.
First, rest in Christ’s love that brought Him to the cross to die for your salvation. Everyone is looking for love, and as Christians we have found an undying, unselfish, unending, amazing love. No matter what others think of you, no matter how they may reject you or mistreat you or ignore you, the God of universe, your Creator and Savior, loves you and will not reject or mistreat or ignore you. As we witness a baptism or gather for the Lord’s Supper, we remember His saving work for us and rest in His love.
Second, rest in Christ’s finished work. Jesus died and rose again to cleanse you of all your sins. In Christ, you are clean. There is nothing you have to do but believe. It is not of works, so no one can boast. No penance, no earning, no striving – just rest in His finished work. Again, He died and rose again to change you, to give you a new life – something you could not do on your own. You cannot fix yourself. He has already done it – just rest in His finished work. As we witness a baptism or gather for Lord’s Supper, we remember His saving work for us. It is finished, so we can rest.
As you witness a baptism or gather around Christ’s table, remember His saving work for you. And as you remember, rejoice and rest.
Sermons: Why Doctrine Matters
I am currently preaching a series called “The Truths We Hold Dear.” We are looking at core Biblical doctrines that the church believes. I started with two sermons on why doctrine matters, which you can watch here:
Classic Quote
Resolved, to study the Scriptures so steadily, constantly, and frequently, as that I may find, and plainly perceive, myself to grow in the knowledge of the same.
– Jonathan Edwards
Christ Our Head
For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ…. (Ephesians 5:23-24a)
Christ is the head of the church. And the church must submit to Him, obey Him, follow His leading.
Christ is in charge of the church, not the pastor, not the leadership team, not you. Christ alone is the head of church.
Follow the illustration. My body follows the instructions of my head. My head tells my neck to turn, my foot to rise, my hands to clap, my fingers to scratch my head. If my body doesn’t listen to my head, then my body is sick. And to whatever extent the church is not listening to Christ, to that extent the church is sick. Christ is the head.
So let us commit to Christ’s leading – as a church and as individual Christians. We must be committed to the leading of Christ. We must follow His instructions in His Word for the church and our lives. We don’t go off and do our own thing. We don’t make up the church or what we believe or how to live. No, we must commit to follow Christ in all things. Christ is our head.
Saturday Strands
Here are some loose strands for continuing to think about the new year:
Old Advice for a New Year – Cassie Achermann (TGC)
Throughout the centuries, pastors and theologians have used the opportunity of the new year to encourage believers. Let’s listen to their advice for the year ahead.
New Year’s Goal-Setting for People with Actual Lives – Joe Carter (TGC)
What we need isn’t a better to-do list but a better grid for making wise decisions across every domain of life, whether we’re planning our fitness goals or our prayer habits. Such a grid should work for anyone, in any season, pursuing faithfulness in any calling.
5 Habits for Better Prayer in 2026 – Blake Glosson (TGC)
Consider five habits or mindsets that can enrich your extended times of prayer.
The Resolution We Rarely Make – Erik Raymond
As you look ahead to a new year—with fresh goals and good intentions—hear again the invitation of Jesus. He does not offer a program of self-improvement, but a path of self-denial. It’s the path of life.
Flashback: Everlasting Significance
Everyone is searching for significance….
Hope you have a great Lord’s Day worshiping God with your local church!
Classic Quote
I wish my brothers and sisters, that during this year you may live nearer to Christ than you have ever done before.
– Charles Spurgeon
Brian J. Mikul 