Bart Byl Sermons

Bart Byl on Acts 2 . When Jesus ascended into heaven, he didn't go into cryogenic deep freeze until he returns to earth. He is seated at the right hand of God, wielding supreme executive power over the universe. His first act is to pour his Spirit out on the 120 waiting disciples, and Peter speaks for them all when he preaches Christ to the bewildered crowds. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy...

Bart Byl on Luke 24:50-53 . Forty days after his resurrection, Jesus led his disciples to a mountain outside Jerusalem and rose up into heaven before them. His final act on earth was to raise his hands in blessing over them, assuring them and us that his atoning work was accepted by God and that we can now live under the favour of God. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bart Byl on 1 Samuel 20 . Series: Waiting for the Kingdom (1 Samuel) When Jonathan realizes his father Saul really does intend to kill David, he must make a painful choice. True loyalty to God's anointed requires us to put Jesus above all other relationships. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bart Byl on Luke 12:13-34 . Jesus contrasts the foolishness of greed and anxiety with the freedom of seeking the kingdom and trusting the Father to take care of you. After all, true abundance is being loved by God. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bart Byl on 1 Samuel 19 . Series: Waiting for the Kingdom (1 Samuel) David repeatedly escapes from Saul’s obsessed attempts to murder him. Each escape shows him to be a man under God's special protection. Christ, too, had enemies who sought to destroy him. Be instead of escaping like David, Jesus gave himself up to those who came to arrest him—out of love for both his faithless followers and his w...

Bart Byl on 1 Samuel 18 . Series: Waiting for the Kingdom (1 Samuel) David's victory over Goliath causes people to choose sides. Jonathan and the people respond in love and loyalty, while the paranoid King Saul plots to kill his new son-in-law. We face a similar choice with the resurrected Jesus: do we gladly surrender to God's anointed ... or jealously oppose him? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/p...

Bart Byl on Luke 24:13-35 . After rising from the dead, Jesus explains to two discouraged disciples that it was necessary for the Messiah to suffer before glory; then he reveals himself in the breaking of the bread. This revelation is a gift given to all disciples by our risen Master.. Only in personal and collective communion with Christ himself will our hearts burn within us. Hosted on Acast. Se...

Bart Byl on Luke 7:11–17 . Jesus arrives in Nain just as a shattered widow leads a funeral procession to the cemetery. With a touch and a word, he restores her son back to life. Like her, we're powerless against death. Our only hope is the Saviour who stands in its path to make it stop. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bart Byl on 1 Samuel 17 . Series: Waiting for the Kingdom (1 Samuel) In one of the most famous stories in the Bible, David brings down the Philistine champion Goliath in single combat. Christ is our champion, the ‘man between’ who triumphs over the Enemy through the weakness of the cross. We are the fearful Israelites who rise with a shout to finish off the fleeing foe when we realize Christ has c...

Bart Byl on 1 Samuel 16 . Series: Waiting for the Kingdom (1 Samuel) God chooses, anoints and grants the Spirit to the shepherd-boy David, whom Saul invites to court to soothe his tormented mind. David, of course, is the prototype of Christ: God’s chosen Messiah, who has received the Spirit without measure, drives out evil spirits, and blesses his enemies. His future is ours. Hosted on Acast. See...

Bart Byl on Galatians 2:20 . The Apostle Paul went further in mission, deeper in theology, and higher in spiritual experience than any other follower of Christ ever has. Yet what he gloried in was that the Son of God loved him and gave himself for him. This is the secret of everyone who has grown strong in God: joyful faith in the self-giving love of Jesus. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy f...

Bart Byl on 1 Samuel 14 . Series: Waiting for the Kingdom (1 Samuel) King Saul was concerned about ritual correctness but lacked a true heart of devotion to God. But his son Jonathan was a worshipper whose vision of the greatness of God inspired him to risk his life to save Israel from the Philistines. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bart Byl on 1 Samuel 13 . Series: Waiting for the Kingdom (1 Samuel) Saul forfeits his dynasty because he is more concerned about immediate military necessity than obeying God’s command to wait for Samuel. Outward religious obedience is not enough: God cares about inner hearts submitted and waiting on him. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bart Byl on 1 Samuel 12 . Series: Waiting for the Kingdom (1 Samuel) Old Samuel exhorts the Israelites to remain faithful to their covenant God as they transition to the kingship. Down the centuries, each generation must choose to be faithful to God or to wander away. But only Christ can empower faithless people to truly live for God. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bart Byl on 1 Samuel 10:17-11:15 . Series: Waiting for the Kingdom (1 Samuel) Saul may have been privately anointed by Samuel, but to be crowned he must save Jabesh Gilead from Nahash, the snake-king of the Ammonites. Jesus, too, will earn his crown by saving his people from the Serpent. He exercises his triumph in magnanimous mercy as his people celebrate and feast before the LORD. Hosted on Acas...

Bart Byl on 1 Samuel 8 . Series: Waiting for the Kingdom (1 Samuel) Israel demands Samuel appoint them a king, because deep down they don't trust God to keep them safe. But sometimes sinful projects actually advance God’s purposes—in this case, God's long-term plan to give his people a servant king who will give them true security. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bart Byl on 1 Samuel 7 . Series: Waiting for the Kingdom (1 Samuel) Samuel leads Israel to repent and turn fully to God, who thunders from heaven and defeats the Philistines. God calls us to repent: to put away our idols, fix our hearts on the LORD, and serve him only—led by Christ, the greater Samuel, who brings us back home to God. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bart Byl on Hebrews 2:10-18 . Christ became human in order to deal with sin, death and the devil as our Pioneer. We were trapped in fear and guilt—salvation has come only because God has sent his Son from the outside to seize hold of us and draw us out of sin and death into glory. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bart Byl on Isaiah 64 . Isaiah cries out, on behalf of Israel, for God to have pity on his sin-enslaved people and come in power. God will answer in a way no one expected—sending his Son in weakness. Jesus comes in total solidarity with us: he takes our uncleanness on himself. He is the priest who rouses himself to lay hold of God on our behalf. By his Holy Spirit he changes us from the inside: we...

Bart Byl on 1 Samuel 6:1–7:2 . Series: Waiting for the Kingdom (1 Samuel) God turns out to be just as dangerous to the Israelites as he is the Philistines. His holiness is too dangerous to be mishandled—to approach lightly is death. “Who is able to stand before this holy God?” Only Christ—and those safely clothed in him. He turns the terrified urge to push God away into joyful confidence to enter...

Bart Byl on 1 Samuel 5 . Series: Waiting for the Kingdom (1 Samuel) God turns his defeat and capture into a victory tour over the Philistines and their gods. God does not need his worshippers to prop him up: he will make every false god bow to him. So why are we anxiously trying to build his kingdom? God is capable of fighting his own battles—nowhere more than in the cross and resurrection of...

Bart Byl on 1 Samuel 4 . Series: Waiting for the Kingdom (1 Samuel) God would rather let Israel defeated and the ark to be captured to than be coerced by his people. God is sovereign and free, and cannot be controlled by spiritual/religious manipulation. You can’t manipulate God—and you don’t need to. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bart Byl on 1 Samuel 3 . Series: Waiting for the Kingdom (1 Samuel) God takes the first step in national renewal by calling Samuel to speak his word to Eli and to Israel. The word of God speaks in the darkness: are you listening? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bart Byl on 1 Samuel 2:13–36 . Series: Waiting for the Kingdom (1 Samuel) God has provided his faithful priest to intercede for us: don't treat his sacrifice with contempt. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bart Byl on 1 Peter 5:6–14 . Series: Stand Firm in Grace (1 Peter) Peter exhorts his readers to stand firm in faith against Satan, knowing that their future is safe in the hands of God. We are called to trust God in humbling ourselves, casting our anxieties upon God; to be alert and resist the devil’s attacks, and to look beyond suffer to the eternal glory we have in Christ. Hosted on Acast. See a...