North Avenue Church Podcast

The Mosaic Covenant and God’s Calling on Israel | Exodus 12-40

This week we cover much of Exodus quickly to see what Scriptures teaches us about the Mosaic Covenant.

You can watch this message here.

Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath | Matthew 12:1-8

Introduction: The Sabbath controversy (v 1-2)

Jesus responds by appealing to…

1. David (v 3-4)
2. The Priests in the Temple (v 5-6)
3. Hosea (v 7-8)

You can watch this message here.

Esther is Used to Save the Jews | Esther 8

Jerry, Scott, Papa, and Jared discuss this pivotal chapter in the story of Esther.

Understanding the Mosaic Covenant

Mark and Greg discuss one of the more difficult covenants to grasp, especially in how it relates to the New Covenant. Many differences among Christians spring from disagreements regarding how we understand the Mosaic Covenant today.

You can watch this message here.

Equal with the Father and Gentle and Lowly | Matthew 11:25-30

INTRODUCTION:

Context: “At that time” (v 25a)

1. John the Baptist doubting (v 1-15)
2. Crowds rejecting both John & Jesus (v 16-19)
3. Entire cities of Galilee rejecting Jesus (v 20-24)

Jesus could be tempted toward discouragement, but instead He praises and thanks God.

1. One pastor writes, “And in this moment when the Lord Jesus could have been profoundly discouraged. Here is the first great effort to spread the gospel to the surrounding countryside and many, many, many people had rejected that message, had rejected His miracles. He could have been very downcast. I want you to see that in that context, the Lord Jesus lifts up a prayer of thanksgiving to His heavenly Father…and in that prayer He contemplates God’s sovereignty. He contemplates God’s wisdom. And He contemplates the fact that God has caused some to respond to the gospel.”
2. When you are facing circumstances that tempt you toward discouragement or sinful anger…
   1. 1 Thessalonians 5:18. Deliberately choose to thank and praise God for His goodness, even in unpleasant circumstances.

I. Jesus thanks the Father for concealing and revealing (v 25-26)

1. Jesus teaches in this brief section:
   1. Human accountability: Jesus denounces the cities for rejecting Him (v 20-24).
   2. Divine sovereignty: Jesus says that God hid these truths from some (v 25) and that only those He chooses will know God (v 27b).
   3. Universal offer: Then Jesus invites all to come to Him (v 28).
2. APPLICATION: SO BE HUMBLE
   1. H.B. Charles, “Jesus thanks God for the mystery of salvation where those who you think will get it, don’t; and those who are least likely to get it, do.”
   2. Isaiah 57:15; Isaiah 66:1-2; 1 Peter 5:5.

II. Jesus claims to be equal with and the only revealer of the Father (v 27)

It’s hard to find a higher view of Christ than the one Jesus gives us here.

1. The Father has given all things to Jesus.
2. Only Jesus knows the Father truly and comprehensively.
3. Jesus is sovereign over knowing the Father.
4. Jesus is the only one in the universe who can reveal the Father to us.
   
   1. See John 14:6; John 3:35; John 5:21; John 17:1-2

III. Jesus invites us to find rest in Himself (v 28-30)

1. "It is the only place in Scripture where the 'heart' of Christ is actually named." (J.C. Ryle)
2. Compare Matthew 23:4 with 1 John 5:3-4 & Genesis 29:20.
   1. Spurgeon, “Eastern monarchs affected great seclusion, and were wont to surround themselves with impassable barriers of state. It was very difficult for even their most loyal subjects to approach them. You remember the case of Esther, who, though the monarch was her husband, yet went with her life in her hand when she ventured to present herself before the king Ahasuerus, for there was a commandment that none should come unto the king except they were called, at peril of their lives. It is not so with the King of kings. His court is far more splendid; his person is far more worshipful; but you may draw near to him at all times without hindrance. He has set no men-at-arms around his palace gate. The door of his house of mercy is set wide open. . . . Though he is greater than the greatest, and higher than the highest, he has been pleased to put out of the way everything which might keep the sinner from entering into his halls of gracious entertainment. From his lips we hear no threatenings against intrusion, but hundreds of invitations to the nearest and dearest intimacy. Jesus is to be approached, not now and then, but at all times, and not by some favoured few, but by all in whose hearts his Holy Spirit has enkindled the desire to enter into his secret presence.”

You can watch this message here.

Esther Reveals Haman’s Evil Plan to the King

Jerry, Papa Fred, and Jared discuss God's providence has Esther reveals Haman's wicked plot to the king and Haman is hung on his own gallows.

Jesus Rebukes and Condemns | Matthew 11:16-24

I. His Rebuke of Unappeasable Critics (vs. 16-19)

• The illustration Jesus used (16-17)
• The reality Jesus addressed (18-19)
• The point Jesus made (19)

II. His Condemnation of Unrepentant Cities (vs. 20-24)

• They were condemned for rejecting Him (20)
• Their condemnation was justly severe (22, 24)

You can watch this message here.

Feminism vs. Biblical Motherhood | Q&A with Erin & Kelly

Erin and Kelly spent about half an hour answering questions from high school seniors about their comments on biblical motherhood.

Feminism vs. Biblical Motherhood | Erin Webster & Kelly McAndrew

Kelly and Erin spoke to Mark's high school senior Bible class this week about biblical womanhood, marriage, and motherhood and how it contrasts with popular feminist ideas.

Fighting Doubt Like John the Baptist | Matthew 11:1-15

I. JOHN DOUBTS JESUS (v 1-3)

1. It came during a year long trial (in prison, v 2)
2. It came from false expectations about Jesus (v 2-3)
3. It came from a limited view of what Jesus was doing (v 2)
4. But John still knew to take his doubts to Jesus (v 2)

II. JESUS REASSURES JOHN (v 4-6)

1. Jesus pointed John to His actions and to Scripture (v 4-5)
   1. Isaiah 35:4-5; Isaiah 61:1-2
2. Jesus pronounces those blessed who trustingly submit to Him (v 6)

III. JESUS REASSURES THE CROWD ABOUT JOHN (v 7-15)

Jesus says we can trust John because…

1. John wasn’t blown around by popular opinion (v 7)
2. John wasn’t soft, posh, or given to impressing kings or other elites (v 8)
3. John was a prophet (v 9)
4. John was more than a prophet because the OT foretold his ministry (v 9-10, 13-15)
   1. Isaiah 40:3; Malachi 3:1 (v 10); Malachi 4:5 (v 13-15)
5. John was the greatest man ever born before Jesus (v 11)
6. John’s imprisonment is part and parcel of the coming of the kingdom as the kingdom is opposed by violent people (v 12)
7. Yet the least in the kingdom is greater than John! (v 11)

You can watch this message here.

The Abrahamic Covenant: Part 2 | Genesis 17-23

This week Mark and Greg argue that God makes only one covenant with Abraham not two. In other words, Genesis 15 and 17 describe one overall covenant about land and offspring. They also argue that the covenant with Abraham is both unconditional and conditional, and it is not until the New Testament that this tension is finally and clearly resolved.

You can watch the message here.

Mordecai is Honored by the King | Esther 6

Jerry, Papa Fred, and Jared lead us through chapter six of Esther.

The Covenant with Abraham | Genesis 11-16

The Abrahamic covenant is essential to rightly understanding all that comes after it in Scripture. It is important that we understand it in its context in Genesis and in its wider canonical context. This is, Lord willing, the first of two weeks on God's covenant with Abraham.

You can watch the message here.

Five Reasons to Reject Fear | Matthew 10:26-42

Have no fear because…

1. The truth will ultimately be revealed to all (v 26-27)
2. Your soul can’t be harmed by man (v 28)
3. Your Father is in control (v 29-31)
4. Jesus will acknowledge you before His Father (v 32-33, 38-39)
5. You represent the King (v 40-42, 25)

Verses 34-37 were covered in the previous message.

You can watch the message here.

Esther Prepares a Banquet and Haman Plans to Hang Mordecai | Esther 5

Jerry, Scott, Papa Fred, and Jared walk through Esther 5. (Title borrowed from ESV headings.)