The Attributes of God: God’s Love

This Sunday we will study God’s most popular, well-known, and misunderstood attribute – love.

What Would the World Be Like Without Jesus

A brief sermon preached at our Christmas Eve service.

I Believe in the Virgin Birth

Isaiah 7:14 -  “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel”.

Christmas in the Gospels: Part 3

Part 3 of a 3 week Sunday School class taught by Randy Broberg. Other lectures in this series can be found here.

Christmas in the Gospels: Part 2

Part 2 of a 3 week Sunday School class taught by Randy Broberg. Other lectures in this series are available here.

Christmas in the Gospels: Part 1

Part 1 of a 3 week Sunday School class taught by Randy Broberg. Other lectures in this series can be found here.

The Attributes of God: God’s Benevolence

This Sunday I will proclaim the benevolence (goodness) of God, which encompasses His grace (His goodness to the wicked), His mercy (His goodness to those in distress), and His patience (His continued goodness to those who sin against Him).

How, you may ask, does this sermon about God’s attributes tie into Christmas? The coming of Jesus Christ reveals God’s true nature (John 1:14). Mary reminds us in Luke 1 that the coming of the Messiah was a manifestation of God’s great mercy (Luke 1:50,54). God’s goodness and grace is best displayed in the gift of His Son who gives us eternal life (John 3:16). We are called to give good gifts to other as God has given to us. God also expects those of us who have received His mercy to show others mercy.

Jesus Calms Our Storms

Mark 4:35-41 - On that day, when evening came, He said to them, “Let us go over to the other side.” Leaving the crowd, they took Him along with them in the boat, just as He was; and other boats were with Him. And there arose a fierce gale of wind, and the waves were breaking over the boat so much that the boat was already filling up. Jesus Himself was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?” And He got up and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Hush, be still.” And the wind died down and it became perfectly calm. And He said to them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?” They became very much afraid and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?”

The Attributes of God: His Righteousness

This Sunday we will be discussing one of God’s less popular attributes: His righteousness which encompasses His justice and His wrath.

Arthur Pink writes,

It is sad indeed to find so many professing Christians who appear to regard the wrath of God as something for which they need to make an apology, or who at least wish there were no such thing.

What was true of some in Pink’s day seems to be true of the majority of Christians today. Some deny God’s justice. Others claim to believe in it, but refuse to speak of it. Church growth experts advise preachers not to touch the subject because it will not draw unbelievers. John the Baptist, on the other hand, began his ministry proclaiming, “Flee from the wrath to come!” Heaven will tell who had the more ‘successful’ ministry.

God is not ashamed of His righteousness, including its expression through His just wrath. These attributes are more fully expressed in Scripture than his love (the number 1 attribute on today’s ‘hit parade’). I would even dare say that righteousness plays as great a role in our salvation as love. Both Paul and John speak of the gospel in terms of God’s righteousness (Rom. 1:16-17 I Jo. 1:9) where one might expect to hear them speaking of love (look it up!).

I hope as we consider the Word of God together you will be moved to praise God for His righteous character, His righteous acts (including His wrath against sinners), and the righteousness salvation He has provided for us in Christ. I also pray that we will be moved to seek His righteousness (Mt. 5:6 6:33).

Satisfaction for the Thirsty

Spurgeon called Isaiah 55 a chapter of gospel invitation. He preached from this passage at least eighteen times.

Isaiah 55 pleads with the lost to abandon their worthless idols. The Lord offers abundant pardon and rich kingdom blessings to those who turn to Him.

Isaiah 55 also speaks to believers who sometimes waste their time and money seeking to find joy and satisfaction in worldly things instead of finding their fulfillment in Christ.

Isaiah 55 also points to Christ who offers Himself as our spiritual food and drink.

Liberty and Love

Are you strong?

Last week Paul began his discussion of the issues over which Christians differ by encouraging all of us to accept one another without judging in these difficult matters.

In this week’s text Paul focuses upon those who consider themselves strong - because they believe they have liberty to do things in which the weak cannot participate without violating his conscience.
Rather than looking down on the weak, the strong should forego the use of his freedom for the sake of those who don’t enjoy the same sense of freedom.
In so doing he is living out the gospel by imitating Christ who gave up His rights for us.