Sermon Text: 1 Samuel 27:1-28:2 Theme: When the believer seeks salvation apart from the provision of the Lord, he will find that his self-made refuge will lead him into greater disobedience to God. Structure/points: Are the actions of David in 1 Samuel 27:1-28:2 good or evil? The Bible offers no direct commentary, but it does offer an important clue for interpretation. The…
Sermon Text: Psalm 54:1-7 Theme: Though all other means of rescue fail, the believer in the God of Israel will find that He is an all-powerful, faithful helper against the treachery of wicked men. Structure/points: Psalm 54 was written as David’s reflection upon the Ziphites’ treachery when he learned they had tried to hand him over to the king. David had no…
Sermon Text: 1 Samuel 26:1-25 Theme: Since the lives of the righteous are precious in the eyes of the Lord, they must commit their situations to the Lord, lest they sin by taking matters into their own hands. Structure/points: The last time that David and Saul met, David refused to take the king’s life. But what did he do when God handed…
Sermon Text: Luke 2:22-38 Theme: Because Jesus is the salvation that the Lord promised His people in ages past, the people of God rejoice that they have been redeemed and consoled by His appearance in the flesh. Structure/points: Luke 2:22-38 tells the story of how Jesus was received by the OT communion of saints, the believers who looked for the Christ whom…
Sermon Text: Luke 2:1-21 Theme: When Jesus was born in Bethlehem, the Savior of sinners entered into the world, bringing glory to God and peace to His people through the redemptive work He would accomplish. Structure/points: The Christmas story is a familiar one, but it is nonetheless of vital importance. Our faith hangs on the truth that Luke 2:1-21 proclaims. Jesus was…
Sermon Text: Luke 1:57-80 Theme: Because of His tender mercy for those whom He loves in Jesus, the Lord has brought salvation to His people so that they can serve Him in peace. Structure/points: The Christmas story tells us that the Lord heard the many prayers of His people that He would show mercy to them. And it tells us how He…
Sermon Text: Luke 1:39-56 Theme: The people of God magnify His saving power and mercy because He has blessed the humble and dethroned the proud by means of the virgin’s offspring. Structure/points: The story of Christ’s birth is a story of the mercy of God, how He rescued those whom He loves in Jesus despite their lack of merit and standing. Even…
Sermon Text: Luke 1:26-38 Theme: The grace of God to save the lowly calls for all people to believe the good news that the virgin’s offspring is the Son of God who will reign forever as king. Structure/points: Luke 1:26-28 tells us how the Virgin Mary was told that she would bear the Son of God. But while Mary herself is not…
Sermon Text: Luke 1:5-25 Theme: The announcement of the forerunner’s birth prepared those who prayed to God in faith to believe the good news that their reproach would be taken away. Structure/points: Before the birth of Christ, or even the announcement to Mary herself that she would conceive the Son of God, another announcement had to be made first. The Christ would…
Sermon Text: 1 Samuel 25:23-44 Theme: The Lord restrains His people from sin in order that, free from pangs of conscience, they may have the satisfaction of looking to Him in faith that He will do all that is right and just. Structure/points: If David had been allowed to follow through on his plans for Nabal, it would have been devasting for…