North Avenue Church Podcast

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

You can watch this message here.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

You can watch this message here.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.