North Avenue Church Podcast

Tempted By Our Own Desire | James 1:13-15; 4:1-3

Allen reminds us that our sin is our own fault. We are never justified in blaming others for our sin.

Praising the Greatness of Our God! | Psalm 145

Greg Rentz preached for the first time to our church today. Zoom had technical issues all over the world and so Greg had to record this on Facebook Live instead. Greg reminds us of how big God is and how important it is to praise Him.

When God Feels Far Away | Psalm 42-43

1) The Lost Past (42:1-5)

2) The Troubled Present (42:6-11)

3) The Expected Future (43:1-5)

[Outline from Alec Motyer in the New Bible Commentary.]

Meditation on James 1

Greg leads us into our time of congregational prayer with an edifying meditation on James 1.

How to Understand and Apply the Imprecatory Psalms | Psalm 69:19-36

Perhaps you've been reading the Psalms and come across places where David suddenly calls for God to judge his enemies. These can shock many Christians today. In light of Jesus's command to love our enemies, how are we to read and understand these "imprecatory" Psalms?

[For a behind-the-scenes look at the sources used for these sermons on the Psalms and how they influenced each message, see this blog post.]

Paul's Sufferings, Visions, Thorn, and God's All-Sufficient Grace | 2 Corinthians 11:21-12:10

Jerry, Allen, and Mark reflect on Paul's sufferings and think about God's grace that was sufficient for him and will be sufficient for us.

Are We Stable in Our Ways? | James 1:6-8 & 1 Peter 2:21-25

Allen asks us about spiritual stability during these challenging times.

Zeal for Your House Consumes Me | Psalm 69:1-18

David writes this Psalm which is about his experience but also in many ways foreshadows the life of Jesus.

[For a behind-the-scenes look at the sources used for these sermons on the Psalms and how they influenced each message, see this blog post.]

Remember Your Conversion | Ephesians 1:1-10 (5 mins)

Scott asks us to remember all the blessings that have come into our life because of our conversion.

The Love of Christ Controls Us | 2 Corinthians 5:11-15

Jerry, Greg and Mark talk about how the gospel should motivate our behavior as believers.

Understanding Final Judgment | 2 Corinthians 5:10

Jerry, Greg, and Mark help us think through what Scripture teaches about final judgment and what role our works play in it.

For All Who Feel Afraid & Alone: "Taste and See that the Lord is Good!" | Psalm 34

Psalm 34 was written by David after he had nearly been killed by a pagan king and perhaps soon after he was completely alone in the cave of Adullam. This is an appropriate Psalm to meditate on in the midst of our time of social distancing! David either was (or had recently been) completely alone, afraid, and in danger; yet the Lord delivered him! What would David say to us in our time of semi-quarantine?

[For a behind-the-scenes look at the sources used for these sermons on the Psalms and how they influenced each message, see this blog post.]

Entire Service Audio: Third Sunday Online (4/19/20)

Today the Webster's led us in song, Jerry led us in congregational prayer from Psalm 46, and Mark preached on Psalm 34.

Reading of Psalm 34 begins at: 3:20

'Jerusalem' begins at: 7:10

Congregational prayer in Psalm 46 begins at: 11:40

'Great is Thy Faithfulness' begins at: 21:45

The sermon on Psalm 34 begins at: 25:10

'O Lord, My Rock and My Redeemer' begins at: 1:06:10

Does Psalm 22 Really Say, "They Have Pierced My Hands and Feet"? (13 mins)

Honestly, very little is at stake for Christians in this debate, yet it is still worth investigating. And we really do think the answer to the question is, Yes!

(You can watch this brief message here.)

EASTER: My God, My God, Why Have You Forsaken Me? | Psalm 22

For Easter we looked at a prophecy of the Messiah's death that was written centuries before Jesus was crucified or even born. The detail of this prophecy is simply staggering. It is a suffering Savior that suffering sinners need.

[For a behind-the-scenes look at the sources used for these sermons on the Psalms and how they influenced each message, see this blog post.]