I. While death is lurking, Jesus is working. (1-16)

a. This is an emergency to everyone but Jesus. (1-6)

b. Jesus is a marked man. (7-10)

c. Those closest to Jesus still don’t see Jesus. (11-16)

II. In the face of death, Jesus offers life.

a. Death is demoralizing. (17-20)

b. Martha confesses a someday hope in her right now grief. (21-24)

c. What Martha believes, Jesus proves. (27)

Jesus raises the dead.

Movement 1: (7-10)

Invitation

I. You can pass through the land of death into abundant life.

a. In a world of liars, Jesus is the truth. (7-8, 10a)

b. To those left exposed, Jesus provides shelter. (9, 10b)

Revelation

I. Jesus is the door.

Movement 2: (11-18)

Invitation

II. You cannot save yourself, but there is a Savior who gave himself.

a. Jesus confronts the threat to protect his own. (11-13)

b. Jesus was willing to die because his mission was clear. (14-18)

Revelation

II. Jesus is the good shepherd.

Jesus gave his life to save his own.

Why is Jesus our only hope in darkness? 

1. Jesus is the source of all true light. 

2. Jesus exposes all darkness.

3. Jesus leads us into all life.

 Jesus is our only hope in darkness.

I. To truly get what Jesus gives you must believe that He was given. (22-27)

A. This crowd is curious as they search for Jesus. (22-25)

B. The motive of the crowd and the mission of Jesus are misaligned. (26-27)

II. Sinners cannot earn God’s favor, but they can receive. (28-29)

A. When God is brought up, they go right to work. (28)

B. Jesus takes their work and raises faith. (29)

III. God provided Christ to bring sinners true life. (30-35)

A. No amount of evidence will convince the hard-hearted. (29-30)

B. They're seeking a sign, but they're given a Son. (32-33)

C. Our hunger for God is only satisfied through Jesus. (34-35)

True life is only found in Christ.

I. The Lord’s people are defined as those he has redeemed. (1-13)

a. This is all God.

II. Serving the true God requires rejecting all false gods. (14-24)

a. This demands a choice.

b. Joshua will serve the Lord.

c. Serving the Lord demands total allegiance.

III. Those who know the Lord hold fast to his word. (25-33)

Serve the God who saves.

I. God’s proven faithfulness gives every reason for obedience.

a. The Lord’s record speaks for itself. (1-5)

b. Loving the Lord means obeying his word. (6-11)

II. God’s unfailing word charts the course of life and death.

a. God calls his people to live distinct from the world. (12-13)

b. God’s warnings are just as certain as his promises. (14-16)

Cling to the Lord whose word never fails.

I. Faithfulness produces obedience. (1-6)

a. Promises given have been kept. (1-3)

b. God’s people take him at his word. (4-6)

II. Apostasy destroys unity. (7-20)

a. It appears they lost the plot. (7-12)

b. Fidelity is worth the fight. (13-20)

III. Fidelity preserves unity. (21-34)

a. Covenant community fosters generational fidelity. (21-29)

b. The Lord’s presence preserves his people’s faithfulness. (30-34)

God’s people fight to stay faithful.

I. The price of blood demands justice. (1-6) 

a. The value of life sets the price of blood. (2-6)

b. The Lord’s provision paves the way for justice. (1) 

II. The place of mercy delivers safety. (7-9)

​a. The Lord’s people follow his word. (7-8)

​b. The Lord’s place is a light to the world. (9)

God met the demand for justice with a place of mercy.

I. God’s presence delivers the inheritance. (18:1-2, 19:51)

a. God is ever and always present with his people. (18:1a)

b. God’s people worship, and he provides. (18:1b-2, 19:51)

II. Obedience proves the Lord’s faithfulness. (18:3-19:50)

a. The Lord’s provision allows now excuse for indecision. (18:3)

b. God’s generosity doesn’t abolish human responsibility. (18:4-9)

c. The Lord personally assures all his people have a place. (18:10-19:48)

God shows up to deliver on his promise.

I. Forgetting God’s goodness leads to cowardice (16:1-10)

II. Forgetting God’s goodness leads to compromise (17:1-13)

III. Forgetting God’s goodness leads to complaining (17:14-18)

I. The Lord provides his people with a place. (1-12, 20-62)

A. The Lord’s promise has real substance.

B. As boundaries are drawn, a promise is kept.

C. In Canaan, Judah settles first.

II. The Lord’s people must take hold of what he gives.

A. Caleb and Othniel reveal the ideal. (13-17)

B. Achsah’s boldness results in blessing. (18-19)

The Lord’s provision calls for a response.

I. The Lord provides an inheritance. (1-5)

a. God’s people are heirs of what he gives.

II. Obedience that doesn’t flinch is rooted in a promise that doesn’t fail. (6-12)

a. Caleb took the Lord at his word. (6, 9-10, 12)

b. Caleb wholly followed the Lord. (7-9)

c. Caleb’s not confused on who’s in charge. (12)

III. The Lord blesses obedience. (13-15)

a. Trust in the Lord pays off in the end.

Faith in God’s promise produces boldness.

This passage might seem odd, irrelevant, or far off. It speaks of a

moment in history and a cultural context nearly 3,500 years ago. Yet what is not

far off from us is the desire for home, and the security that offers. Every human

being knows the ache of having a place to lay their head and a future that is sure.

What the ancient Israelites were given by the Lord (just as he promised), we are

offered through Jesus Christ—a secure future, an eternal inheritance, a sure

salvation.

I. This promise will survive death. (12-13)

A. Though David will die; the promise will live. (12)

B. He’s David’s offspring, but God’s chosen King. (13)

II. This promise will overcome sin. (14-15)

A. Man’s sin must be dealt with. (14)

B. God’s Steadfast love endures. (15)

III. This promise will outlast time. (16-17)

A. The promise is guaranteed. (16)

B. The promise is God’s. (17)

Jesus is the promise.

Matthew 2:1-12

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet: “ ‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’ ” Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what

time the star had appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.” After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.

I. News of Christ threatens those who resist him. (1-9a)

a. Those drawing near to Christ come from far way. (1-2)

b. Those long expecting Christ are surprisingly troubled. (3-9a)

II. Jesus gives joy to those who worship him. (9b-12)

a. The wise men experience great joy. (9b-10)

b. The true king deserves all worship. (11-12)

Whether worshipped or rejected, Jesus reigns.

I. The mission is clear. (11-14a)

a. Those who belong to God pursue his ways. (11)

b. Those called by the King fight for the faith. (12-13)

c. Those born to new life hold fast to the truth. (13-14a)

II. The Lord is near. (13-16)

a. As we strive for the faith, our hope is the Lord. (13-15a)

b. His rule is without rival. (15b)

c. His glory knows no equal. (16)

d. His kingdom is eternal. (17)

Main Idea: Stay the course with Christ.

1 Timothy 6:11-16

11 But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 13 I charge you in the presence of

God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, 14 to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 which he will display at the proper time—he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the

King of kings and Lord of lords, 16 who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.

In this sermon from Mark 2:13–17, Ryan MacDonald—our future Church Planter in Residence—unpacks the radical grace of Jesus, who came not for the righteous, but for sinners. As Jesus dines with tax collectors and outcasts, we see the heart of the gospel on full display: Christ is the Great Physician, and He seeks out the spiritually sick with compassion and authority. Ryan invites us to examine our own hearts, reminding us that true healing begins not with self-righteousness, but with repentance and a deep need for Jesus.

In the first sermon of A Gospel Church series, Pastor Andrew Murch preaches from 1 Thessalonians 1:2-10. The gospel spreads where it takes root, producing faithful fruit even in the midst of affliction. Like the Thessalonians, we are rooted by the work of the Father, empowered by the Spirit, and secured by the Son. Though news travels fast and we are inundated with headlines, the report here is that God saves a people and forms a family of faith. Gospel people receive, believe, and proclaim the good news with joy through affliction. Jesus is building his church, and all who are united to him rest in the hope of full and final salvation.x`

for the church, we now are let into a conversation that seems like another very small debate. Two friends, Paul and Barnabas, co-laborers in the gospel, have a disagreement. This is the Barnabas who was the only one to welcome Paul into the faith. These two men have journeyed in missions together, preached the Good News together, and have faced harsh persecution and near death together. They are bonded in Christ, and yet when it comes to deciding the next step in their ministry, the two men debate. Apparently, it’s also a big enough argument to lead to them going their separate ways as they continue to preach the gospel and baptize new Christians.

1. God’s banquet is for all who accept his invitation. (14:12-14)

2. God’s guests must beware of worldly distractions. (14:15-20)

3. God’s servants are sent to compel unlikely guests. (14:21-24)

(1) God is greatly concerned for those not yet a part of the church. 

(2) God wants us to go into every corner of the world to tell people about Jesus. 

We are sent by God to compel unlikely guests to enter God’s great banquet. 

1. Protecting the Child King (2:13-15)

2. Rage of the Serpent King (2:16-18)

3. Return of the Child King (2:19-23)

The Enmity Between the Seed of the Woman and the Seed of the Serpent, the controlling narrative of the entire Bible, played out throughout the life of Jesus in fulfilment of ALL prophetic words