North Avenue Church Podcast

Two Visions, Two Treasures, Two Masters | Matthew 6:19-24

Our eye must be fixed on the right object so that our whole body and life will be flooded with the light of truth. If we treasure heavenly things rather than earthly, and serve God rather than mammon, we will have a good eye and a life flooded with the light of God's truth and goodness.

You can watch the message here.

Be Transformed by the Renewal of Your Mind | Romans 12:1-8

The teaching team discusses the beginning of Romans 12. Romans 12-16 is when Paul especially begins to apply all the theology he has covered so far in the letter.

The Doxology: All Things are From Him, through Him and to Him | Romans 11:25-36

The teaching team covers the difficult phrase "all Israel will be saved" (11:26) and then spends most of the time meditating on the glorious doxology at the end of Romans 11.

Store Up for Yourselves Treasures in Heaven! | Matthew 6:19-21

Introduction: Structure of 6:1-21

1. Jesus is not teaching ultimate self-denial
2. Jesus is teaching us to live for true and lasting treasure.

You can watch the message here.

Last Week on LGBTQ: What About Polygamy, Revoice, Side B, Sexual Orientation, Sinful Desire, and Practical Application?

The teaching team tied up a few loose ends regarding the LGBTQ sexual revolution and ended with some practical application in how to fight our sin.

You can watch the message here.

All Things For Good: Reflections on God’s Providence Over Liliana’s Life and Legacy

Here are the questions Scott answers throughout the interview:

1. Could you start by giving us some big takeaways that you want us to walk away with tonight.
2. When did this trial begin with Liliana, and walk us through the opening day in the hospital?
3. You guys got the cancer diagnosis on Friday October 21st, could you walk us through that day?
4. Talk about Michael and how he responded to all of this trial. How has Michael deal with this all of this?
5. How has studying church history helped you face this trial?
6. People have told you that they don't know if their faith would remain strong if they walked through something like this. What would you say to someone who says they don't think they would make it through something like this?
7. Can you talk about Liliana's faith, and how it just seemed to grow stronger as she grew weaker?
8. “Sorrowful yet always rejoicing” was your experience for much of this trial but at some point the joy began to overtake the sorrow can you walk us through that?
9. Can you talk about evidences of God's goodness in this trial?
10. What are some other things that have been impressed upon you through this trial?

You can watch the interview here.

WCA Chapel Message: The 50th Anniversary of Roe v Wade (1/22/73)

In this message we discuss the 50th anniversary of Roe v Wade this weekend (1/22/73). We also discuss three positions some believers can be tempted to take:

1. Pro-life but hesitant to criminalize abortion from concept to birth.
2. Pro-life but sympathetic about voting for pro-choice candidates (including those who are running on codifying Roe into law).
3. Pro-life but don’t feel it’s right to force my religious views on society.

What about…

1. Ectopic pregnancy?
2. Rape?
3. The fact that I'm a man?

Conclusion:

1. What does Scripture teach about the unborn?
2. How does the gospel apply to those who have already had abortions?

Lead Us Not Into Temptation | Matthew 6:13

This message begins with an introduction answering three puzzling questions about Matthew 6:13.

1. Why is the line "for yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen" missing from most translations today?
2. Are we asking to be delivered from "evil" or "the evil one"?
3. What exactly is the meaning of "temptation" in this verse? The Greek word "peirasmos" (tempt/test) can mean at leastthree different things in the New Testament.

The heart of the sermon covers the following questions: What does it mean to pray "lead us not into temptation"? What does it mean to be tempted? How do we resist temptation with the Lord's help?

You can watch the message here.

The Need and Renewal of Reconciliation | 2 Corinthians 5:10-21

Here is the outline for the message:

1. We see our need (v 10, 20)
2. We become new (v 11-17)
3. We seek to persuade (v 11, 18-21)

You can watch the message here.

From Lesbian Professor to Pastor’s Wife: Reflections on the Conversion of Rosaria Butterfield (16 mins)

You can watch the full testimony of Rosaria Butterfield that was shown in Sunday school before the panel spoke here. While we disagree with Rosaria's use of the incorrect pronoun ("she") regarding her biologically male friend who claims to be a woman and the team had a few other disagreements, there is still much to learn about her journey to Christ and how she was so faithfully evangelized by a pastor and his wife.

You can watch this brief message here.

The Gentiles are Grafted In: The Wild Olive Tree and the Natural Branches | Romans 11:7-24

The teaching team covers the middle of Romans 11 which deals with the Jewish people largely being cut off from the Messiah while the Gentiles are brought into the church.

Understanding and Responding to the Sexual Revolution as Teachers and Parents: WCA Faculty

This message was given to a group of teachers at Westminster Christian Academy on January 3rd. It relies heavily on Carl Trueman's material from The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self. The shorter version of this book is titled Strange New World and Trueman's lecture series begins here.

1. Where are we?
2. How did we get here?
3. How can we invite our students to something better?

For a video of a message by Mark and Jerry covering much of the same material, see here.

Judgment According to Works | 2 Corinthians 5:10

It is important that we as Christians understand the relationship between grace and works in regards to final judgment. It is very easy to go wrong in one direction or the other.

Judgment is According to Works:

1. For Everyone
2. Regarding Salvation and Condemnation
3. Regarding Rewards and Punishments
4. For God's Public Vindication

You can watch the message here.

Why Christmas and the Incarnation? | Hebrews 2:14-18

Why Christmas and the incarnation? Why did Jesus become human?

1. To defeat the devil (v 14)
2. To free us from the fear of death (v 15)
3. To make propitiation for our sin before God (v 16-17)
4. To become a merciful and faithful High Priest (v 17-18)

You can watch the message here.

The Heart of Christmas | Luke 1:26-56

Here is the outline of this Christmas message:

1. The fulfillment of God's promise

1. The giving of surprising grace
2. The arrival of a long expected King
3. The miracle of a virgin birth

2. The faith response of God's servant

1. She trusted in God's Word
2. She rejoiced in God's mercy
3. She meditated on God's providence

You can watch the message here.