A Tale of Two Conceptions

December 18, 2016September 25, 2019 BigSpringsChristmas, conceived by the Holy Spirit, God-Bearer, Luke 1, Mother of God, Psalm 51, Song of Mary

Psalm 51:5; Luke 1:30-35 (texts); Heidelberg Catechism Lord’s Day 14 December 18, 2016 • Download this sermon (PDF) Congregation of Christ: To most evangelicals, “Virgin Mary” or “Mary, Mother of God” are easily dismissed as Catholic ideas. But the title, “Mother of God,” is both early and a mistranslation. It was used of Mary as early as the mid-3rd century, and the Greek term used, Theotokos, is literally, “God-Bearer” or “Birth Giver of God,” not “Mother of God.” The controversy over the title Theotokos began when Nestorius, bishop of…

Hebrews Sermons

The Son Like a Man in Every Respect

November 28, 2016September 25, 2019 BigSpringsexaltation, Hebrews 2, humiliation, Philippians 2, Psalm 110, Psalm 8, two natures of Christ

Psalm 8:4-6; Hebrews 2:5-18 (text); Heidelberg Catechism 14 & 35 November 20, 2016 • Download this sermon (PDF) Congregation of Christ: Today, we look forward to gathering with our families on Thursday, Thanksgiving Day. Thanksgiving Day is probably our most treasured holiday, even more than Christmas Eve or Christmas Day itself. But many people today only look forward to all the drinking and eating, turkey and football, ignorant of what Thanksgiving Day is supposed to be: a day to give thanks to Providence for the bounty he has given to…

Bible studies Church Blog

Have I Committed Blasphemy Against the Holy Spirit?

November 15, 2016September 25, 2019 BigSpringsblasphemy against the Holy Spirit, demon-possessed, Mark 3, Matthew 5, unforgivable sin

This is a very common question Christians ask their pastors after they commit what they think are serious or heinous sins, such as murder or adultery. We know from Scriptures that King David was forgiven by God of these two sins. Jesus speaks of this blasphemy as the “unforgivable sin.” This is a most serious question, one that often causes a Christian sleepless nights and nightmares. Three parallel passages in the New Testament concerning this subject are: • Matthew 12:31-32: Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be…

Hebrews Sermons

Christ is Better Than the Angels

November 13, 2016September 25, 2019 BigSpringsangels, Christ is Better, Hebrews 1, Hebrews 2, Psalm 110

Scripture Readings: Psalm 110:1-7; Hebrews 1:1-2:4 November 13, 2016 • Download this sermon (PDF) Congregation of Christ: Before we get to our text, let us first examine the background of the Book of Hebrews. We will not understand this book correctly without knowing the basics: author, audience, date of writing, and purpose and occasion. First of all, who wrote this book? Unlike the letters of Paul and other New Testament writers, the author of Hebrews does not mention his name. From the earliest days, the names suggested include Paul,…

Church Blog Hebrews Sermons

Sermon Series on the Epistle to the Hebrews

November 9, 2016October 12, 2021 BigSpringsChrist is Better, Hebrews, sermons

This Sunday, November 13, we will be starting a new sermon series based on the Epistle to the Hebrews. Hebrews was written to Jewish converts to Christianity who were most likely living in Rome under persecution. It was written to encourage them to persevere and not go back to the old covenant institutions in the midst of persecution. The main theme of the letter is that Christ is greater than all: angels, prophets, and old covenant temple, priesthood and ceremonies. Therefore, Christ has fulfilled all Old Testament institutions which were…

Judges Sermons

The Verdict: “In Those Days There Was No King in Israel; Everyone Did What Was Right in His Own Eyes”

November 6, 2016September 25, 2019 BigSpringsBenjamites, everyone did what was right in his own eyes, Isaiah 9, Judges 19-21, presidential election 2016, Psalm 146

Scripture Readings: Judges 19-21; Daniel 2:20-21; Romans 1:18-32 November 6, 2016 • Download this sermon (PDF) Congregation of Christ: We now come to the last sermon on the Book of Judges. There are two concluding sections after the account of the 12 judges of Israel, ending with the story of Samson. The first concluding section is in Chapters 17 and 18, which we studied last week. This was the story of Micah and his Levite priest and the false religion of Israel, which mixed the worship of God with…

Ezekiel Sermons

Watchmen Trumpeting the Gospel of the Reformation

November 1, 2016September 25, 2019 BigSpringsEzekiel 33, Feast of Trumpets, Reformation, Romans 10, trumpet sound, watchman

Ezekiel 33:1-9 (text); Leviticus 23:23-25; Romans 10:8-17 © October 30, 2016 (BSCC) • Download this sermon (PDF) Beloved congregation of Christ: Today, Reformed churches worldwide commemorate Reformation Sunday. Let us recount the events that occurred in Europe on October 31, 1517. No, I’m not referring to the Halloween celebration 499 years ago. Halloween was a festival celebrated by ancient pagan Druids in the British Isles, and didn’t come to America until about 1900. Germans in 1517 didn’t know anything about Halloween and its wandering spirits of the dead and trick or…

Church & Culture Church Blog KSYC Program

Christians: Stay Away from Halloween and Commemorate Reformation Day

October 30, 2016September 25, 2019 BigSpringsAll Saints' Day, All Souls' Day, Druids, Halloween, martyrs, Romans 1, Samhain

October 30, 2016 (KSYC) • Download this post (PDF) “After one’s own birthday, the two major Satanic holidays are Walpurgisnacht (May 1st) and Halloween.” Anton LaVey, The Satanic Bible, 1969. Anton Lavey was the founder of the Church of Satan. [footnote]Anton LaVey, The Satanic Bible, 1969. Anton Lavey was the founder of the Church of Satan.[/footnote] That’s what Satan would say to many people, including evangelicals, on October 31. He would be extremely pleased with the celebrations all over the world on that evening. Why would Satan be delighted? Because it…

Church & Culture Church Blog KSYC Program

Do We All Worship the Same God?

October 29, 2016September 25, 2019 BigSpringsBuddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism

October 9, 2016 (KSYC Broadcast) * Download this post (PDF) In December 2015, a professor at Wheaton College in Chicago, a prestigious Christian university, explained why she wore the Muslim hijab, “I stand in religious solidarity with Muslims because they, like me, a Christian, are people of the book. And as Pope Francis stated last week, we worship the same God.” In recent years, she was not the only Christian teacher who has said the same thing. She mentioned Pope Francis. Mother Theresa, who was recently canonized by the Roman…

Judges Sermons

Israel’s False Religion

October 23, 2016September 25, 2019 BigSpringscontemporary worship, false worship, idolatry, John 4, Judges 17, Judges 18, regulative principle of worship

Judges 17-18; John 4:19-25 October 23, 2016 • Download this sermon (PDF) Congregation of Christ: We come now to the last two sermons on the Book of Judges. In Chapters 1 and 2, the book opens with an introduction to how Israel went spiraling down into idolatry and unbelief after Joshua died. The second major part of the book, Chapters 3 through 16, tells the stories of the twelve judges appointed by God for Israel, and how even the behavior of these judges also went into a downward spiral. After…