St. Stephen Reformed Church

The sermon unfolds the profound connection between the Ascension and the Lord's Supper through the narrative of the road to Emmaus, emphasizing that Christ's bodily absence is not a loss but the very means by which His spiritual presence is made real. Though the disciples walked with Jesus for hours without recognizing Him, their hearts were quickened through His exposition of Scripture and finall...

The passage from Mark 1:16–20 reveals Jesus' radical call to discipleship, not as a mere invitation to moral improvement but as a summons to abandon all prior identities—occupation, family, and security—for the supreme allegiance to Him. Jesus, as the unqualified subject of the call, demands immediate, total commitment, transforming ordinary fishermen into 'fishers of men' through personal followi...

This brief yet profound letter to Gaius, the Beloved, centers on the vital connection between truth, love, and discernment in the life of the believer. The Apostle emphasizes that genuine faith is not merely intellectual assent but a lived reality expressed through faithful, ongoing hospitality toward fellow believers—especially traveling missionaries—demonstrating that one's love aligns with the...

The sermon centers on Jesus' inaugural proclamation in Mark 1:14–15, declaring that the time is fulfilled and the kingdom of God is at hand, marking the culmination of Old Testament prophecy and the transition from the old to the new covenant. Through a theological exploration of kairos, the Greek term for a decisive, divinely appointed moment, the message emphasizes that Jesus' arrival is not mer...

This sermon delivers a urgent, pastoral warning rooted in the apostolic authority of 2 John, emphasizing that the central truth of the Christian faith—Jesus Christ's incarnation in the flesh—is under constant threat from deceptive teachings, particularly those echoing early docetism. The preacher underscores that true faith is not merely intellectual assent or church membership, but abiding in Chr...

The baptism and temptation of Jesus in Mark 1:9–13 reveal Him as the faithful Son, the second Adam, and the true Israel who fulfills God's redemptive plan where the first Adam and Israel failed. Through His baptism, Jesus identifies with sinners not for His own sin, but to fulfill all righteousness, inaugurating His ministry as the obedient substitute who reverses the consequences of the fall. The...

The sermon centers on the profound joy found in seeing believers walk in truth, not as a human achievement but as the fruit of God's grace and the Holy Spirit's work within the church. Drawing from 2 John, it emphasizes that walking in truth is inseparable from loving one another, a commandment both ancient and renewed through Christ's fulfillment of the law and the internalization of God's law th...

The sermon centers on John the Baptist as the prophetic forerunner preparing the way for Jesus Christ, emphasizing that true preparation for the gospel begins with repentance and a recognition of personal unworthiness before God. Drawing from Mark 1:4–8, it highlights John's role as a fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy, particularly echoing Elijah, and underscores his message of baptism of repe...

The sermon centers on the profound truth that authentic Christian love is rooted in both sincerity and integrity—grounded not in fleeting emotions or personal preference, but in the unchanging person of Jesus Christ, who is the truth, the way, and the life. Drawing from 2 John, it emphasizes that love is not merely heartfelt sentiment nor abstract conviction, but a divine reality flowing from abid...

The sermon establishes the Gospel of Mark as a dynamic, action-oriented narrative that presents Jesus Christ as the divine Son of God and suffering servant, fulfilling Old Testament prophecies through the preparatory ministry of John the Baptist. Drawing from Isaiah 40, it emphasizes that God's redemptive plan—marked by divine comfort, the leveling of spiritual and historical obstacles, and the re...

The sermon centers on the profound theological and pastoral significance of 2 John, where the aging Apostle John, identifying himself as the 'elder,' addresses the church as the 'elect lady'—a metaphor for the bride of Christ and the mother of believers—emphasizing that her identity and the individual members' worth are rooted in God's eternal, sovereign election before the foundation of the world...

The sermon centers on Jesus' trial before Pilate, emphasizing His kingship not as a political claim but as a divine reality rooted in truth, with Jesus declaring that His mission is to bear witness to the truth. Through a deep exploration of Scripture—from Deuteronomy's prophecy of a coming prophet to John's declaration that Jesus is the Word made flesh—the message unfolds that truth is not subjec...

Psalm 24 is presented as a profound revelation of Jesus Christ as the sovereign Creator, redeeming Savior, and triumphant King, culminating in His Palm Sunday triumphal entry into Jerusalem. The passage unfolds in three movements: first, affirming God's universal sovereignty as Creator, who owns all things and demands reverent worship; second, revealing that only those cleansed by faith in Christ—...

The sermon centers on Jesus' determined journey to Jerusalem, where He sets His face toward suffering and glory, not triumphal vengeance. It contrasts the disciples' expectation of a conquering Messiah with Jesus' true mission: to fulfill God's redemptive plan through humiliation, death, and resurrection, thereby replacing the temple and making Himself the true meeting place between God and humani...

The sermon unfolds the necessity of Christ's bloody death as rooted not in external compulsion but in the unchanging holiness, justice, and love of God, demonstrating that the cross was the only possible way for God to save sinners without compromising His nature. Drawing from Hebrews 9:22–28, it argues that the Old Testament sacrifices, though necessary as shadows, pointed to a greater reality re...

Nahum chapter 3 delivers a divine verdict on Nineveh, not as a sudden judgment but as the culmination of a long history of violence, deception, and spiritual corruption, exposing the empire's identity as a city built on bloodshed, seduction, and sorcery. The prophet portrays God's justice as both inevitable and righteous, reversing Nineveh's own methods of humiliation and exposing the emptiness of...

The sermon centers on Proverbs 28:13–14, presenting a profound call to honest self-examination and repentance as the path to divine mercy. It emphasizes that concealing sin leads to spiritual ruin, while genuine confession—specific, unqualified, ongoing, and accompanied by forsaking sin—results in God's forgiveness and covering through Christ's atonement. Drawing from David's experience in Psalm 3...

Nahum 2 delivers a powerful vision of divine judgment on Nineveh, not merely as historical prophecy but as a profound revelation of God's justice and redemptive purpose. Through vivid imagery of siege, destruction, and the collapse of Nineveh's pride, the passage reveals that God's judgment is both terrifying and deeply comforting, as it liberates His people from oppression and restores their spir...

This sermon draws profound spiritual wisdom from four seemingly insignificant creatures in Proverbs 30:24–28, illustrating how divine wisdom often manifests through weakness, preparation, security, unity, and bold confidence. The ant exemplifies foresight and diligence, calling believers to prepare for eternity and spiritual trials by storing up God's Word and living with purpose. The rock badger...

Nahum's prophecy delivers a powerful message of divine justice and enduring hope, confronting Judah's lingering fears and theological uncertainties during a time of national reformation under King Manasseh. While the book's central focus is the impending destruction of Nineveh—the embodiment of Assyrian oppression and rebellion—Nahum's primary aim is not merely to condemn but to awaken faith by pr...

Psalm 23 reveals the profound truth that God, in His sovereign love, has chosen to be our shepherd—not as a distant ruler, but as an intimate, present, and active guide. Through the dual images of the shepherd in green pastures and the host at a banquet, the psalm portrays God's provision and presence as both sustaining and triumphant, even in the midst of life's darkest valleys. The ultimate expr...

Nahum's prophetic psalm presents a powerful, often unsettling portrait of God as a jealous, avenging, and wrathful sovereign, not in contradiction to Micah's message of mercy, but as its necessary counterpart, revealing the fullness of divine holiness and justice. Far from being a mere display of terror, God's wrath is portrayed as a righteous, measured, and purposeful expression of His covenant f...

The central message of the sermon is that true wisdom, as defined by Proverbs 11:30, is demonstrated not merely in personal righteousness but in the diligent effort to win souls for Christ, making the righteous a 'tree of life' whose fruit—gospel testimony and transformed lives—leads others to salvation. Drawing from historical figures like Paul, Luther, Whitefield, Edwards, and Spurgeon, the prea...

The sermon centers on the profound truth that human desires, whether for material provision or spiritual fulfillment, point to a deeper reality beyond this world, revealing that our souls were made for God. Drawing from Proverbs 13:4, it contrasts the sluggard—defined by laziness, excuses, lack of ambition, and self-deception—with the diligent, who, through persistent effort and faithfulness, are...

The sermon presents a stark contrast between the invitations of Lady Wisdom and Madam Folly, illustrating that every person faces a daily choice between the path of godly wisdom and the deceptive allure of foolishness. Rooted in the fear of the Lord, wisdom offers lasting life, nourishment, and guidance, while folly, though seductive and disguised as freedom, leads to destruction, death, and etern...