IBCD Sermon Weekly

When I read this passage while preparing to write this sermon, I was struck by the phrase, "Remember those earlier days after you had received the light…" I remember those days. I remember when I didn’t care at all how I lived, as long as I was living for Jesus. Remembering those early days can sometimes help us get through the difficult days.

For the last two weeks, as we have been going through Hebrews chapter 10, we have been looking at the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. We have looked at the supremacy of Christ’s sacrifice which means no other sacrifice for sin is necessary, and last week we have looked at how this sacrifice affects the person who has “faith” in the sacrifice (the Cross) of Christ. Today we are going to be looking at ho...

As we have been journeying through the book of Hebrews, last week we looked at the supremacy of Jesus’ sacrifice and saw that the reason there is no need for continuing sacrifice to take place is because the sacrifice of Christ was for the forgiveness of sin, once and for all, and there was no need for repeated sacrifice to be made. This week we are going to be looking at the effect of that sacrif...

Many Christians start their journey with Jesus by reading the New Testament. This is great, but it can leave some questions about the need for Jesus’ sacrifice and what it means in the bigger picture. In the passage we are looking at today, the sacrifice of Jesus is compared to the sacrifice in the Old Testament. Hebrews 10:1 The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming-- not the re...

"We dream of being a Christ-Centered, life transforming church where people of all nations and generations feel like they belong and are joyfully engaged in Kingdom work." In the past two weeks, we looked at what we mean by being a “Christ-Centered church” and a “Life transforming church”. This week we want to focus on for whom (people of all nations and generations) and why (kingdom work) the chu...

"We dream of being a Christ-Centered, life transforming church where people of all nations and generations feel like they belong and are joyfully engaged in Kingdom work." Last week we looked at what we mean by being a “Christ-Centered church” and this week we are going to look at the phrase “Life transforming church” and put some understanding and context around this so that we can live out the v...

As we head into the New Year we are going to walk through our vision statement: "We dream of being a Christ-Centered, life transforming church where people of all nations and generations feel like they belong and are joyfully engaged in Kingdom work." Today we are going to look at what it means to be a Christ-Centered Church. Matthew 7:18-20 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree can...

Sometimes it feels like we go through spiritual ups and downs. It is really easy to get discouraged with these cycles, be they personal cycles or national cycles but while God sometimes has to discipline his people, he does not give up on them. In the book of Isaiah, there is a chapter which the author gives a pep talk to a downtrodden nation and in the process gives some good advice for all of us...

Sunday Sermon by Christopher Uchegbuo 1 Thessalonians 5:18 “In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”

Happiness is the ultimate goal of most people. The Bible often tells us to rejoice. But is joy and happiness the same? And how can we actively pursue it, is it not connected to external circumstances? And what does Jesus' birth have to do with all of that? Let us find out together what the Bible tells us about all of that. Luke 2:10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you go...

As we journey through Advent, we come to the theme of love. We are all aware that the word “love” is one which means very different things based on context. When someone says they “love” a movie or “love” a food, it is different from someone, even the same person, saying they love their family. But even with that said, the love of God is hard to fully understand. I think the closest we can come to...

As 2024 comes to an end, once again, it can hardly be said it was a peaceful year. One of Jesus’ titles is “Prince of Peace”. He also talks a lot about having peace in the Gospels. What is the peace we have in Christ, if not yet peace of earth and goodwill toward men? Luke 2:14 14 "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

Today is the first week of Advent, the theme of which is “Hope”. So, we will take a break from the book of Hebrews and move into the Advent season by looking at the Hope given to us by God through the incarnation.

In Hebrews chapter 9, the author dives into this idea of something greater going on as he describes what is taking place in the temple of heaven, where Jesus is our high priest, exploring themes of worship, atonement, and the supremacy of Christ's sacrifice. Hebrews 9:14 14 How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our...

In the sermon on the mount, Jesus will often take a “law” and redefine it in such a way that it becomes about the heart and not just the action. “Don’t hate your enemies. Love your enemies. Pray for them.” “When you hate your brother, it is as if you have murdered your brother.” “When you look upon someone lustfully, then you have committed adultery”. Why would Jesus do that? Why would he take com...

Melchizedek in the Old Testament is only mentioned two times, but over time there had been a lot of ideas around him taught by various Rabbi’s. What is said about him in the scripture, and what is not said, both hold meaning. In chapter 7 the author of Hebrews finally clarifies what he means by saying Jesus is a High Priest in the “order of Melchizedek”. Psalm 110:4 4 The LORD has sworn and will n...

Promises are a part of our everyday lives. Unfortunately, however, even though the very idea of promises is to guarantee something, they are not always kept and therefore we often have to deal with broken promises. This is different with God, by His very nature He cannot lie, and therefore all His promises will be fulfilled. So, let us have a look at God's promises for us and take refuge in them....

One of the oldest questions in Christianity is the question of is it possible to lose one’s salvation after becoming a Christian? It is a more complicated question than it might seem to be because it brings up the very nature of God and humanity. It has been the source of much heated debate over the years. So, let’s see what the Scripture says and the journey this issue has taken through church hi...

In the passage today, the author of Hebrews takes a sudden turn to tell the readers (or hearers) of this sermon that they are not as spiritually mature as they should be. He mentions some “elementary teachings” and lists them. Interestingly, over the centuries, some of the “elementary” teachings have led to many disputes. So, let’s visit these teachings today. Hebrews 6:1 Therefore let us leave th...

Do you consider yourself as a person with the title “Priest”? Not only “Priest” but “Holy” and “Royal Priest”? What do we do with this title? Why does Peter call those who make up the church, the followers of Jesus Christ, this title of “Holy” and “Royal” Priesthood? How are we to live this? To understand it, we need to understand Jesus as our “High Priest”. 1 Peter 2:4-5, 9-10 4 As you come to hi...

This week the author circles back around to the idea of entering into God’s rest. He calls the guidance of Moses to the Hebrews a “gospel” or “good news” which the people had been told, but which they had refused to act upon. He compares that to us hearing the Gospel of Jesus Christ and warns that to reject to Gospel of Christ is to reject the entering into the rest for one’s soul now and for eter...

Anytime we try to approach Jesus Christ as an accessory to our life, or a means to an end, our faith will eventually come to a failing point because Jesus Christ is not the foundation of our life. In the passage today the author compares the rebellious hearts of the Hebrew people during the time in the desert to the people in the church. Hebrews 3:7-9 7 So, as the Holy Spirit says: "Today, if you...

Human history has brought forth many great people. Some of them were Old Testament prophets such as David and Moses. However, none of them were as great and humble at the same time as Jesus. He exemplifies what true excellence looks like in person. So in all circumstances, let us consider Him. Hebrews 3:1-6 1 Therefore, holy brothers, you who share in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostl...

One of the big questions of our faith is the question of the “incarnation”, the question of “the Word becoming flesh and dwelling among us. Why was this necessary for “the Christ”, the Messiah, to leave the glory of heaven and walk upon the dirt? How does it affect our lives today? What does it mean when we say in our theology that Jesus was fully God and fully man? Hebrews 2:17 17 For this reason...

Something we see in the Bible is a constant reference to the nations. Even though the Bible follows the history of the Jewish people and Israel, from Abraham to Jesus to Revelation there is an emphasis that God’s work through the Jews is ultimately for all humanity. At IBCD we have a unique foretaste of what it means to have several nations gathered to worship the Lord. This Sunday we celebrate ou...