North Avenue Church Podcast

The Kingdom of Heaven is Like Hidden Treasure | Matthew 13:31-33, 44-46, 53-58

Here is the sermon outline:

1. The Kingdom of Heaven has Small Beginnings (v 31-33)
2. The Kingdom of Heaven has Infinite Worth (v 44-46)
3. The Kingdom of Heaven has often been too Easily Rejected (v 53-58)

You can watch this message here.

Ruth 1 | Suffering and God's Sovereignty

Jerry, Scott, Papa Fred, and Jared Smith all teamed up to help lead us through the first week in Ruth.

How Will Gentiles Be Included in the Restored, True Israel?

The Old Testament makes clear that Gentiles will be blessed in the time of the restoration of Israel from exile. However, to what degree and in what way the Gentiles will be included isn't as clearly revealed in the Old Testament as it is in the New. What does Scripture teach is the relationship between Israel and the church and the inclusion of the Gentiles in the new covenant era?

You can watch this message here.

Final Judgment in the Parable of the Wheat and the Weeds | Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43, 47-50

Here is Scott's outline regarding final judgment:

1. Judgment is necessary
2. Judgment is delayed
3. Judgment is certain
4. Judgment will be thorough and permanent

You can watch this message here.

Should Christians Attend LGBTQ 'Weddings'? | An Earnest Response to Alistair Begg

We decided to take a Sunday to discuss this recent contraversy with a pastor we have often quoted at our church, Alistair Begg. Is it ever right for a Christian to attend an LGBTQ 'wedding'? If not, why not? This is an issue of our day for which Christians must have biblical clarity.

You can watch this message here.

The Double-Edged Purpose of Parables | Matthew 13:10-17, 34-35, 51-52

Mark borrowed these two points and a lot of the structure of this sermon from Don Carson's very helpful sermon here.

1. Jesus tells parables because in line with Scripture (Isaiah 6), His message blinds, deafens, and hardens (v 10-17)
2. Jesus tells parables because in line with Scripture (Psalm 78), His message reveals things previously hidden in Scripture (v 34-35, 11-12, 16-17, 51-52)

You can watch this message here.

Biblical Counseling | Week 5

Jerry and Josh Crouse wrap up this important five week series on Biblical Counseling by spending some time in Proverbs among other passages.

How the New Covenant is Better than the Old

The Old Testament itself clearly teaches that the New Covenant is in some importnat ways similar to and yet dissimilar and far better in many ways.

You can watch this message here.

The Parable of the Four Soils | Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23

Here is the outline:

1. The Pathtway soil (v 1-4, 18-19)
2. The Rocky soil (v 5-6, 20-21)
3. The Thorny soil (v 7, 22)
4. The Good soil (v 8-9, 23)

You can watch this message here.

Biblical Counseling | Week 4

Jerry and Josh Crouse continue their defense of biblical counseling in light of other alternatives even within the Evangelical world.

The New Covenant in the Old Testament

The New Covenant doesn't show up for the first time in the New Testament. It is developed and predicted by the Old Testament prophets long before the birth of Jesus! What do these prophets, writing before, during, and not long after the exile, tell us about this future, final, new covenant?

You can watch this message here.

Return of a Demonic Spirit: The Evil of an Empty Religious Life | Matthew 12:38-50

In this passage, Jesus instructs us to see…

1. Empty, Orderly Religion as an Invitation to the Demonic (v 43-45)
2. Wholehearted, Obedient Disciples as Christ’s True Family (v 46-50)
3. Himself as the Greater Jonah and Solomon We All Need (v 38-42)

You can watch this message here.

Biblical Counseling | Week 3

Jerry and Josh Crouse carefully compare and contrast biblical counseling with Christian counseling and reveal some significant differences.

The Davidic Covenant: A 50 Minute Overview

The estbliashment of the Davidic Covenant in 2 Samuel 7 is one of the most significant events in Scripture. What exactly is it and how  does it prepare the way for Jesus?

You can watch this message here.

By Your Words You Will Be Justified or Condemned | Matthew 12:33-37

Here is the sermon outline:

1. Is justification by faith or by words? (v 36-37)
2. What do our words reveal about our hearts? (v 33-35)
3. How can we change? (v 33-35)

You can watch this message here.