North Avenue Church Podcast

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.

Biblical Counseling | Week 2

Jerry and Josh Crouse continue to discuss the benefits of biblical counseling in contrast to some other forms of Christian counseling that seek to combine secular psychology with Scripture.

WCA Chapel: Shine in Culture | Philippians 2:12-18

Mark spoke in the upper school chapel today at Westminster Christian Academy on how we can "shine" in culture before unbelievers.

1. Shine by working out your salvation (v 12-13)
   1. How? By relying on God’s active work in you.
2. Shine by not grumbling or disputing (v 14-15)
   1. Numbers 14:27, “How long shall this wicked congregation grumble against me? I have heard the grumblings of the people of Israel, which they grumble against me.”
3. Shine by being content and joyful (v 17-18)
   1. He’s currently in jail in Rome (1:12-23)
   2. He is willing to be poured out and even die for others with joy (v 17-18)
   3. Paul’s joy in suffering helped lead the jailer (and his family) to Christ (Acts 16)
4. Shine by holding fast to the Word of Life (v 15b-16)
   1. Do not buy the lie that in college the way to evangelize others is to dim your light as much as possible or to act as much like the world as you possibly can! No, be joyfully different and unashamed of God’s word!

The Mosaic Covenant in Deuteronomy

This is our second and final week covering Deuteronomy. It is an important book to more fully grasp the details of the Mosaic Covenant that God made with Israel at Sinai and reconfirmed at the end of Moses' life just before the people follow Joshua into the land.

You can watch this message here.

The The Unforgivable Sin: Blasphemy Against the Holy Spirit | Matthew 12:22-32

"What is the unforgivable sin? How do I know if I've committed it?" These are questions that need to be answered clearly and biblically. To be taught wrongly about this sin can lead to years of unecessary dread and fear.

1. Jesus is accused of being in league with Satan (v 22-24)
2. Jesus counters the accusation with several arguments (v 25-29)
3. Jesus warns His enemies of the unforgivable sin (v 30-32)

You can watch this message here.

Biblical Counseling | Week 1

Jerry Ediger and Josh Crouse help us think through counseling that relies on the sufficiency of Scripture and they warn us against counseling that tends to mix secular counseling with Scripture. This is an important topic as various forms of counseling have become so popular in recent years.

An Overview of Deuteronomy

We covered part one of a basic overview of the book of Dueteronomy in this Sunday school. In order to understand the Mosaic Covenant more fully it is important to grasp this important book that shapes how the later OT prophets speak and is quoted so often by Jesus and Paul in the NT.

You can watch this message here.

He Will Not Break a Bruised Reed | Matthew 12:15-21

In this passage Matthew shows us how Jesus fulfills Isaiah 42:1-4 in three ways:

1. He is chosen by God and Spirit filled (v 18)
2. He is humble and gracious (v 19-20)
3. He brings us hope and justice (v 18b, 21)

You can watch this message here.

Jehovah’s Witnesses just stopped by (12 mins)

Two Jehavoh's Witnesses just visited my (Mark's) house. This is the third visit in the last couple months. These are some brief reflections on the conversation.

You can watch this brief message here.

The Word Became Flesh | John 1:14-18

Here is Scott's outline:

1. The wonder of the incarnation
2. The reality of the incarnation
3. The reason for the incarnation
4. Our response to the incarnation

You can watch the message here.