EBG Preken

A good testimony and a shared soul 1 Thessalonians 2:1-12 The first half of chapter two of 1 Thessalonians is more of a challenge to the preacher. Not that it is difficult to understand or preach, but that Paul defends his ministry among these believers and in doing so gives us insight into the kind of man, teacher and preacher Paul was. These a very personal words and as one writer puts it: “I am...

Prayer and Preservation 1 Thessalonians 1:1-5 This letter from Paul is written to encourage the Church. In his introduction he doesn’t even feel the need to underscore his apostleship, as he does in his letters to the Galatian, Philippian and Ephesian Churches. He simply introduces the letter as from “Paul, Silvanus and Timothy”. This letter does not contain major correction or reprimand like the...

Do I listen when Scripture warns? Sermon series on biblical trustworthiness. Sermon 9 We’re going to finish this series by studying two very short letters today and next week. Perhaps you could call them “postcards from John.” Second John taught us to be weary of false teachers. Do not just let anyone come into your home. Fulfill the command to love your neighbor, but don’t sacrifice truth in orde...

Do I listen when Scripture warns? Sermon series on biblical trustworthiness. Sermon 8 We’re going to finish this series by studying two very short letters today and next week. Perhaps you could call them “postcards from John.” These letters are succinct, but they are no less potent in their instruction and warning as the rest of Scripture. Second John is addressed to the “elect lady” and various i...

Keeping God’s Word Sermon series on biblical trustworthiness. Sermon 7 Two weeks ago we started a sermon that I didn’t finish. I spent more time in Psalm 1, to expound the richness of that very first Psalm. This morning we continue in the Psalms and consider the longest one. We will only scratch the surface of this magnificent poetic masterpiece. The Scriptures is David’s focus and he clearly has...

Pentecost. the Church begins. “Count 50 days after the seventh Sabbath” (Leviticus 23:16) That’s where this feast came from. The firstfruits of the Wheat harvest are brought to the temple and offered to the Lord. This offering was two loaves of bread (with yeast) to thank God for His care and provision at the beginning of the Wheat harvest. In Exodus 19:1 we read that the Israelites arrived at Sin...

His Word in my Heart Sermon series on biblical trustworthiness. Sermon 6 So. Rubber-meets-the-road, real-life, practical reality. We believe the Bible is true. We trust its claims and understand it to be God’s message to believers. But does my daily practice support this belief? I believe it to be vital to my Christian life and yet I have not read it since last Sunday. I believe it holds the answe...

The Infallible Revelation of God Sermon series on biblical trustworthiness. Sermon 5 Infallible means that it does not contain any mistakes. Now that is a big statement. In a post-modern - some would say post-post-modern - world that has refined truth to mean nothing at all and everything you want it to mean, we expect everything to contain a margin of error. For statistics that margin is between...

The Perfect Word of God Sermon series on biblical trustworthiness. Sermon 4 Perfect is a big word. To say that something is perfect is a big statement. Scripture makes this claim in Psalm 19:7 and immediately makes application by proving its effect on man: refreshing the soul. The sermons thus far in the series have focused on proving Scripture to be what it claims. This morning I want to move bey...

The Inspiration and Implementation of Scripture Sermon series on biblical trustworthiness. Sermon 3 One of the more difficult themes for the modern atheist to wrestle with is the revelation. Not the Book of Revelation, but the concept of revelation. We have have considered what Jesus said about the Bible and we have examined one of the fanciful claims of Scripture: the Resurrection. But what does...

The historical and theological significance of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ Sermon series on biblical trustworthiness. Sermon 2 Death doesn’t belong. It wasn’t part of the original design. Death is the ugly consequence resulting from man’s rebellion against a holy God. My kids were playing outside yesterday evening. Anna’s sister joined us for dinner last night and they brought along their 13...

Jesus’ unbreakable Bible Sermon series on biblical trustworthiness. Sermon 1 Foundations are important. I had a conversation with Daniel Pulley yesterday as he was trying to paint his loft. The primer on the wall was not dependable and every time he applied a top coat, it would bubble up as it dried. I think this happens in our Christian lives sometimes. Our foundation isn’t strong and someone ask...

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God breaks His silence Sermon series on the book of Job. 5/6 Job 38-42:6 Job’s did not suffer due to personal sin, but Job did sin due to personal suffering. I think this is something we can all relate to, whether we care to or not. It is all too easy to allow difficult circumstances - or even not so difficult circumstances - to lead us into temptation. We question God all too easily. We hurdle ac...

Angry words of Truth Sermon series on the book of Job. 4/6 Job 32-37 Job’s faith has remained strong in the face of terrible havoc. His theology has remained steady despite the onslaught of his friends. He has disarmed them in the midst of terrible suffering, but his view of God has taken a plunge. These rounds of debate have left him feeling distant from God. He mourns his lost reputation, declar...

Three friends come for a visit Sermon series on the book of Job. 3/6 Job 3-31 Job’s faith has remained strong in the face of terrible havoc. Of course he doesn’t like it, but He doesn’t for a moment let go of God, instructing even his wife that God gives and takes away (1:21) and would we receive the good from the hand of God and not the evil? (2:10). Again these statements of Job are followed by...

A Day in the Life Sermon series on the book of Job. 1/6 Job 1-2 This book is a literary masterpiece in its own right. Perhaps the oldest book of the Bible Job covers themes of human suffering, the unfairness of life, the inadequacy of human understanding and the sovereignty of God in a manner that engages the reader to experience the sadness and despair of the main character. Though written during...

Where are we going? being a disciple - 6 John 14:1-7 & Hebrews 12:1-4 These past two weeks we have been clarifying discipleship: deny yourself, pick up your cross and follow. If you want to walk the road together after Him, these are the necessary aspects of that walk. Last week we came to realize, however, that this walk is not a series of doors to walk through (and doors to avoid), but it is the...

Hate your mum? being a disciple - 5 Last week we ended with three statements that clarify discipleship: deny yourself, pick up your cross and follow. If you want to walk the road together after Him, these are the necessary aspects of that walk. In Luke we encounter another such challenge to His disciples, which contains similar elements of following and yet Christ introduces a black and white, no-...

If anyone desires to come after me - 2 being a disciple - 4 “Who do people say that I am?” “And what about you? Who do you say that I am?” Two questions that framed the text we started with last week and will finish this morning. This question sparks Peter’s incredible confession and confirms in the hearts of the disciples that Christ is their expected Messiah and the Son of God. The verses that f...

If anyone desires to come after me - 1 being a disciple - 3 Returning to a text that I cited during the first sermon, I would like to draw our attention to the last words of Christ before he ascended into heaven. He left specific instructions recorded in Matthew 28:19. Go and make disciples. Baptize them. Teach them everything I taught you. Making disciples is part of what Christ taught and so the...

Fan or Follower? part two Daniel Boyd October 16, 2016 In the coming months we will investigate the various aspects of discipleship. Not every Sunday - I’ll interrupt myself along the way - but as we consider in which ways we can step out with our faith, it is going to be increasingly clear that discipleship plays a vital role. Either yours or the person that you are reaching out to. It’s the last...

Life lessons from Paul Philippians 4:14-19 This second sermon on life lessons from Paul concludes his closing remarks. In other letters he closes by taking the quill from his amanuensis, not only to show personal interest, but also to authenticate his letters. (see 2 Thess. 3:17) Perhaps that is what he has done in these last verses: personally thanking them for their gift for his need. An importa...