North Avenue Church Podcast

Overcoming Opposition with God’s Word | Ezra 4:4-5:2

Ezra chapter four focuses on opposition to the work (in the present) of rebuilding the temple and (in the future) the city of Jerusalem. Chapter five begins with God overcoming opposition with His word.

1. God’s Enemies Stop the Work through Intimidation (4:4-5, 24)
2. God’s Enemies Stop the Work through Political Force (4:6-23)
3. God Revives the Work through His Word (5:1-2)

At 25:32 Mark meant to say, "It is not the wrong side of history to believe in what Christianity teaches."

You can watch the message here.

Introducing the Five Points of Calvinism (TULIP Series)

The TULIP grew out of the soil of a significant discussion and disagreement regarding God's role in salvation. Did God choose us because He knew we would choose Him? Or, did God choose us so that we would choose Him? This topic is worth many hours of our best mental efforts and prayers as we pour over God's word.

You can watch this message here.

The Church at Thyatira: Sinful Tolerance | Revelation 2:18-29

Tolerance has been a chief virtue in our culture over the past couple decades, however, Jesus shows that tolerance can very easily become sin that threatens the very life of His church.

You can watch the message here.

Biblical & Unbiblical Ways to Talk about God’s Will

The question, "What is God's Will for My Life?" is popular and often based on unbiblical assumptions. What is a better and more biblical way to approach this issue?

Does God Have Two Wills? Is it actually true that God has a will of decree and a will of command? What does Scripture really say about this?

You can watch the message here.

Three Tactics of the Enemies of God’s People: Then & Now | Ezra 4:1-6

God's enemies (both then and now) seek to...

1. Join God's people (v 1-3)
2. Intimidate God's people (v 4-5)
3. Politically stop God's people (v 6)

The basic idea behind these points (excluding their wording) was adapted from Don Carson's devotional book For the Love of God volume 2, January 4th.

You can watch the message here.

The Letters to the Churches in Smyrna and Pergamum | Revelation 2:8-17

Smyrna and Pergamum are both experiencing attacks from Satanic opposition. Smyrna is holding fast to Christ, but Pergamum is beginning to compromise. There is much to learn for all Christians from Christ's letters to these churches!

You can watch the message here.

Worship Rekindled: Laying the Foundation of the Temple | Ezra 2:68-69; 3:7-13

Here are the four sermon points for how worship is rekindled in Jerusalem:

1. They Gave Generously [2:68-69; 3:7]
2. They Worked in Unity [3:8-9]
3. They Praised Joyfully [3:10-11]
4. Some Wept Loudly [3:12-13]

You can watch the message here.

God’s Sovereignty Over Sin

Few issues are as misunderstood as the relationship of God's sovereignty to the sinfulness of men and demons. There are many dangers in discussing this topic because of how easily it can be misunderstood. Yet Scripture is not unclear about this issue and there are several important applications points that we all should apply to our lives by God's grace.

You can watch this message here.

Ephesus: Have We Lost Our First Love? | Revelation 2:1-7

The teaching team thinks that of all the seven letters to the seven churches in Revelation, perhaps this letter to Ephesus would apply most directly to North Avenue. What a wonderful and fearful privilege to hear these words today! Have we lost our first love and passion for the Lord? If our love has waned, let us fan into flame that love again!

For Spurgeon's excellent sermon on the passage see the audio version here and written version here.

You can watch the message here.

Ten Ways God is Sovereign Over Satan

Jerry, Mark, and Papa Fred didn't get a chance to cover these ten points in Sunday school, so they made an additional recording on Zoom this week to make sure they were covered.

You can watch this message here.

God’s Sovereignty Over Satan

God is completely sovereign over Satan. What does this look like in Scripture? How can this, perhaps strangely at first, actually be a great comfort to those who know Christ?

You can watch the message here.

The Altar Rebuilt: Obedience in the Midst of Fear | Ezra 3:1-6

Here are the three points from the message:

1. The Altar Rebuilt [v 1-3]
2. The Feast of Booths Celebrated [v 4]
3. God’s Word Obeyed [v 2, 4-6]

You can watch the message here.

Jesus Among the Lampstands | Revelation 1:9-20

John sees Jesus in His glorified state and falls on the ground before Him. There is so much that is comforting and even fearful that we can learn from the description of Jesus in this passage. As Greg's quote reminds us, Revelation 1 describes "not what Jesus looks like, but what He is like."

You can watch the message here.

A Right View of Divine Healing & Following Jesus | Matthew 8:14-22

Here are the main points to Greg's message:

1. Jesus displays His divine power
2. Jesus demands our full commitment
3. Jesus demands that we follow Him over all other obligations

Following Jesus today involves:

1. A devotion to knowing Him and responding to Him as revealed in Scripture
2. A devotion to obey His commands in Scripture
3. A devotion to conform our whole life to all we know of Him in Scripture
4. A devotion to His global church through involvement in a faithful local church
5. A devotion to His church's mission to multiply mature disciples in all nations.

You can watch the message here.

Sovereign Over the Womb: God’s Providence Over Infertility, Miscarriage, Birth, & Death

Infertility and miscarriage is trial that can cause deep grief. How are we to see God's goodness and providence in the midst of struggles to get pregnant or the sorrow of miscarriage and death?

You can watch the message here.