North Avenue Church Podcast

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.

14 Problems with Official Catholic Church Doctrine

Why was the Reformation necessary? Is the Catholic Church truly Christian and does it officially teach the true gospel? What are the major differences between Catholics and Evangelical Protestants?

You can watch this message here.

The Biggest Errors of Jehovah’s Witness Teaching

Many of us have had Jehovah's Witnesses knock on our door or offer free literature on a streetcorner. What do they really teach? How far from biblical Christianity is there teaching?

You can watch this message here.

In the Beginning was the Word | John 1:1-13

1. The Word (v 1-5)
2. The World (v 9-13)
3. The Witness (v 6-8)

You can watch this message here.

Leviticus in 50 Minutes: An Overview of a Challenging Book

In order to understand the Mosaic Covenant it is helpful to grasp not just Exodus, but also the book of Leviticus. There are also many New Testament passages, both in the gospels and especially Hebrews, that become clearer in their meaning after carefully studying Leviticus.

You can watch this message here.

The Sabbath Controversy Continues: When Tradition Replaces Faithfulness to God’s Word | Matthew 12:9-14 Sermon

I. A Public Location (vs. 9)

    A. The same people are involved

    B. The religious setting is not coincidental

 

II. A Loaded Question (vs. 10)

    A. The situation: a man with a withered hand

    B. The question: is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath

    C. The intent behind the question: to accuse Jesus

 

III. A Pointed Response

    A. Jesus references a real controversy (vs. 11)

    B. Jesus references clear Scriptural teaching (vs. 12)

    C. Jesus restores the man's hand (vs. 13)

 

IV. A Wicked Plan (vs. 14)

 

You can watch this message here.

The End of Esther | Esther 9-10

Jerry, Papa Fred, and Jared covered the last two chapters of Esther as we see the Jews bring destruction upon their enemies, the feast of Purim inaugurated, and Mordecai honored.

Women’s Breakfast: Leah Petty’s Testimony & Haley Crane on Anxiety

Leah shared her testimony about how the Lord worked in her life over the course of several years to bring her to genuine faith in Christ and repentance. Haley shares about how to fight the sin of anxiety in a world that often belittles and excuses such sins.