Gen. 22:15­–18  Dan. 4:34–37  John 4:23–26  Heb. 6:13–20  Sometimes we wish that He had just published a glossary with all His attributes listed out with simple definitions. But God is not a textbook. He ...

With the death of his wife Sarah, Abraham realizes for certain that the fulfillment of the Promise Land is still in the future. This is a passage about waiting for God to provide a homeland, a final resting place not in death, but in eternal li...

Exod. 8:8–15 Isa. 40:18–26 Luke 6:32–36 1 Pet. 1:13–21  The doctrine of God is the foundation of all theology. In a very important sense, it is theology. That word “theology” puts two Greek words together and simpl...

Back in the story of the sacrifice of Isaac, and zooming in on God's oath, we learn about the outcome of the spiritual war that has been going on since the serpent arrived in the Garden. God tells Abraham that his descendants will triumph again...

Deut. 30:11­­–14 Joel 2:30–32 Luke 12:8–12 Rom. 10:11–14 Among the many pressing needs among Christians in the west is a better understanding of the main teachings of the Bible. Even we Reformed Christians, who love our doctrine...

One of the essential components of the Christian life is cross-bearing. Jesus says to all who claim to follow Him that it requires self-denial and taking up their cross. In the passage today, Abraham takes the wood of the burnt offering and (v....

We’ve come to a very ordinary section of Abraham’s life. He interacts with a local king, makes a deal, and life goes on. Passages like this can seem a little random to us. But it’s exactly because it tells such an ordinary story that it also sh...

Deut. 9:1–5 1 Chron. 29:10–13 Mark 11:20–25 Phil. 4:14–20 In this final message on the Lord's Prayer, we first build our confidence in Scripture by learning how to handle a difference between some copies of Matthew 6:13, then we...

"Resolved: that in the coming year, we would thirst for God more deeply and conquer by His power." On this final Lord’s Day of 2024, we look at Revelation 21, where John reveals to us the new things that God promises to do for those wh...

The homily from Luke 2 during our annual Festival of Lessons & Carols at MRC. A joyful time celebrating the birth of the Savior of the World.

The full service of our annual Festival of Lessons & Carols at MRC on Christmas Eve 2024. The audio begins midway through the first carol, "Once in Royal David's City." Homily at minute 42.Song list:1.  “Once ...

Exod. 13:17–22 Josh. 1:5–9 Matt. 10:16–25 1 Pet. 5:5–11 When you open Scripture and ask—who are the enemies of God’s people?, the answer ends up circling around three main categories: the world, the devil, and our flesh...

No one likes the feeling of being duped. In some situations in life, it's important to bring healthy suspicion. But we go astray when apply that suspicion to God’s Word. Even Christians who have no problem believing things like the Virgin birth...

Gen. 33:1–11 Prov. 15:15–17 Luke 7:36–50 2 Cor. 2:5–11 Because Christian teaching has so seriously fallen apart in the Western world, we have to remind ourselves of the basics. In this message, we continue le...

Gabriel tells Mary that the way she will conceive the Christ-child is by the Holy Spirit and through the power of the Most High. His explanation reveals to us the amazing mysteries at the center of our faith: that God Himself took on human fles...

Lev. 24:10–16 1 Sam. 3:10–17  Matt. 26:36–42  1 Thess. 4:1–8  When we pray, "Thy will be done," what is God's will? Scripture speaks of God’s will in two different ways: what shall be done becaus...

There are versions around us of a Christianity that try to get us to achieve greatness by the world’s measurements. This is when greatness is measured by what we can see with our eyes. But in Mary we learn that God brings about true greatness t...

Num. 15:37–41 Ezek. 20:39–44 Luke 23:6–12 Col. 1:3–14 The first two petitions (requests) of the Lord's Prayer are "Hallowed be Thy name" and "Thy Kingdom come." In this message, we learn why these prayers mean, and how they enab...

These days it is easy to be offended. Usually we take offense, not because of something actually done wrong to us, but because our perception was off. In this passage, Jesus says, "Blessed is the one who is not offended by me" — a warning not c...

In this message, we learn that Christian thankfulness is the result of being given a new self. This new self must be "put on" in our pursuit of holiness, but it is first given to those whom God has chosen and loved. In this message on the even ...

Exod. 4:18–23 Job 37:14–24 Mark 14:32–36 Gal. 4:1–7 Prayer is one of the greatest privileges and struggles of the Christian life. It is a struggle because, as we say in the prayer of confession, “our minds are dark and are assai...

Isaac’s birth is next major moment in God's redemption plan. Because Isaac comes into the world through God’s power and promise, not through human effort, his story teaches us that salvation is the work of our sovereign God, and that no obstacl...

Gen. 12:1–9 Ps. 145:14–21 Matt. 7:7–11 Rev. 8:1–5 Christian gratitude is not just about obedience to the commandments, but also prayer. In fact, Q&A 116 teach us that “prayer is the most important part of...

In the passage, Abraham the “man of faith” comes into contact with an outsider—an unbeliever—Abimelech, king of Gerar. Abraham’s behavior toward this outsider causes a serious problem. This story posts a particularly challenging lesson for Chri...

November 10, 2024Deut. 12:1–12 Zech. 8:18–23 John 17:20–23 Heb. 12:18–23 Guest preacher John Punt (Bloomington RPCNA) opens God's Word to Psalm 122 in the evening service to spe...