Reformed & Expository Preaching

We welcome Rev. Austin Britton to our pulpit this morning. We hear his message exhorting us not to be Pharisees who cling uncritically to tradition, but to draw the boundaries where our Lord draws the boundaries. We are encouraged to discern what is pleasing to the Lord as we conduct ourselves. Rev. Britton recalls that the fall of the Berlin Wall symbolized the end of a significant boundary, much...

This week we began a series on the Canons of Dort, exploring the five points of Calvinism. These doctrines—Total Depravity, Unconditional Election, Limited Atonement, Irresistible Grace, and Perseverance of the Saints—show God’s sovereign, transforming grace. Far from prideful or fatalistic, they call believers to humility, worship, and confidence in God’s faithful work.

Circumcision and baptism are not opposing signs but complementary marks of one covenant promise. Both point to the same gospel and the same Savior—Christ Himself. Circumcision looked forward in faith to the Redeemer who would be “cut off” for His people, while baptism looks back in faith to His finished work on the cross and resurrection. Each sign declares that God consecrates His people to Himse...

When Jesus returns to Pilate, both rulers affirm His innocence, yet the crowd—stirred by corrupt leaders—demands Barabbas, the rebel, be freed instead. In choosing a violent insurrectionist over the Prince of Peace, the people reveal humanity’s tragic preference for earthly power over spiritual deliverance. Key theme: Humanity exchanges the true Son of God for a counterfeit “son of the father” (Ba...

Trusting God in Temptation In the Lord’s Prayer, we ask, “Lead us not into temptation.” Yet Scripture promises that God never tempts anyone (James 1:13). Why, then, do we pray this way? Peter helps us see the answer. He once boldly declared he would never deny Jesus. Jesus warned him that Satan asked to sift Peter. Christ predicts that Peter will deny Christ 3 times before dawn, and Peter denies C...

The Upside-Down Kingdom When we return to the opening chapters of Luke, we’re reminded that Christ’s coming wasn’t just a gentle story, but it was a world turned upside down. He comes to a world infected by sin and a world that is cursed. The world will not self-heal. He came to lift up the humble and bring down the proud, to establish not another earthly power struggle but a kingdom of shalom tha...

The Complexity of Forgiveness in the Christian Community The concept of forgiveness is complex, balancing the call to forgive wholeheartedly with the need for wisdom and protection against enabling sin or specifically abuse. The catechism emphasizes bearing the cost of forgiveness, enduring whatever consequences arise while consciously choosing to let go of grudges. This call to bear extends beyon...

Recognizing the Reality of Spiritual Warfare In reflecting on spiritual warfare, it’s tempting to either overemphasize or downplay Satan’s influence. While some traditions see every life event as a battle against demonic forces, there’s a risk of overlooking the profound impact of personal sin, which can align us with the devil’s schemes. Satan seeks to destroy not just individuals but God’s very...

Knowing Our God When we pray for our daily bread, as taught in the Lord’s Prayer, we acknowledge God as the source of all good things, both spiritual and physical. Psalm 145, particularly verses 10–14, reveals God’s character as a loving provider who created us with physical needs. Far from being distant, He intimately understands our need for sustenance, as seen in Christ’s own experience of hung...

Preparing for Turmoil in the Kingdom In times of uncertainty and struggle, preparation is essential, much like keeping winter gear in vehicles during Montana summers to anticipate sudden snowstorms even at unexpected times. Jesus does not advocate for carelessness but acknowledges human responsibility in facing dangers. However, Jesus' words in Luke present a seeming contradiction. On the one hand...

Human beings naturally struggle with making God in our image, seeking to bend Him to our desires rather than aligning with His will. Even in the presence of temptation, sin, and our natural rebellion, God calls us to discern what is righteous, putting aside desires contrary to Christ while nurturing those aligned with Him. True obedience comes from humility and vulnerability before God, as we are...

The Nature of Redemption When Christ institutes the Lord’s Supper, he captures the uniqueness of the Passover in contrast to the familiar myth-making found in "’ Twas the Night Before Christmas." While the poem crafts a benevolent Santa Claus who rewards the good, Christ’s Lord’s Supper, which builds on the Passover, underscores the necessity of violent redemption, revealing humanity’s deep need f...

In the Lord’s Prayer, the petition “Your kingdom come” may initially seem strange because Christ has already inaugurated His kingdom through His life, death, and resurrection. He also rules from heaven after ascending to the right hand of God.  Different theological perspectives interpret the kingdom differently.  There are some who anticipate a progressive improvement of the world or a...

The Pattern of God’s Sovereignty in Scripture The events surrounding Christ and the conspiracy against Him should not surprise us when we consider the broader biblical narrative. From Adam and Eve’s fall in the garden to the promise of a victorious offspring, Scripture consistently demonstrates humanity’s failure to live by God’s word alongside God’s unwavering plan for redemption. Abraham’s test...

Christ concludes with a call to maintain a perspective rooted in hope and perseverance, even in the face of suffering or discouragement. We see through history tha Christians face persecution.  We can think of postwar Europe and the commitment required of Christians under threat.  He highlights the continual need to evaluate priorities and find strength not in oneself but in the risen Ch...

Understanding Our Heavenly Father At first, the idea of calling God our Father can feel strange. This is because He seems distant or absent from us, being all the way in heaven. Yet Scripture and the catechism remind us that God’s fatherhood is not about abandonment, but about his personal majesty and personal care. Our desire to pray to Him as our Father reflects the truth that he has secured us...

In the Reformed tradition, profession of faith is when a covenant child declares, “This faith is my faith.” It’s more than a one-time event because it’s a lifelong calling to daily confess Christ in both struggles and joys. Hebrews points us to Jesus as both Apostle and High Priest. He is the one sent by the Father to confirm God’s promises. He is the High Priest as our mediator who secures God’s...

The Transition from Law to Prayer The law of God is an invitation to examine the heart, and prayer is the heart turning to God. We need to see that prayer is our heart’s alignment with God, not simply outward behaviors, and the continuity of biblical teaching from law to intimate, honest prayer. The story of Abraham’s intercession for Sodom becomes a model, highlighting both compassionate concern...

Test the Teachers Now it is Christ’s turn to ask a question of the leaders. He wants them to solve a riddle from Psalm 110. How is David a father and also a worshipper of his son at the same time? Christ is challenging the scribes and chief priests by questioning their understanding of the Messiah. He uses Psalm 110 to highlight the distinction between David and the Messiah, emphasizing that the M...

The Law of God and the Heart The Heidelberg Catechism concludes its teaching on the Law of God by showing that the Ten Commandments are not merely outward checklists but matters of the heart. The first commandment calls us to love and serve the true God.  We do this by discerning God’s will by the Spirit in faith, according to his standard, and not man’s standard.  The catechism ends wit...

Christ’s Mission and Unwavering Obedience Christ enters his ministry fully aware of his mission and his fate: he must live a perfect life, die at the proper time as the true Passover Lamb, and be raised by the Father and the Spirit. His path is one of precise obedience, never deviating from the prophets or his Father’s will. As opposition grows, the religious leaders seek to trap him with question...

The Ninth Commandment and the Weight of Truth The Ninth Commandment warns against lying, gossip, slander, and twisting words. Though people often treat dishonesty as a "small sin," Scripture consistently elevates truthfulness as central to Christian love and faithfulness. The catechism emphasizes that deceptive speech is rooted in arrogance, as it often aims at putting our reputation above other p...

The Challenge of Romans 6 Sinclair Ferguson’s Devoted to God highlights the difficulty of Romans 6, reminding us that even Peter admitted some of Paul’s writings are hard to understand (2 Peter 3:15). Dr. Martin Lloyd-Jones once said he would preach Romans when he fully understood chapter 6. The challenge comes from extremes: some argue baptism saves, others claim perfection in righteousness, and...

The Deeper Meaning of “You Shall Not Steal” We have to follow the Lord’s law to perfection because even a small amount of failure would condemn us. While many might limit “stealing” to obvious acts like robbery or shoplifting, the catechism reveals deeper implications, including deceptive business practices, exploiting others in financial transactions, greed, and squandering God’s gifts. True obed...

Authority Challenged As Jesus teaches in the temple courts, the religious leaders approach Him with a pointed question: “By what authority are you doing these things?” Their inquiry appears sincere.  They should learn why Christ is teaching here.  He has just cleared out the temple.  Rather than seeking truth, they aim to destroy Him while maintaining control over the people. Jesus...