Calvary Baltimore Weekly Sermons

Pastor Josh considers the early church's views on baptism, and gleans some interesting insights from extrabiblical sources: the Didache, Justin Martyr, and Tertullian. Baptism was essential to the early church, and how to best practice it was considered very carefully by these early writers. The main thread: we should take baptism seriously, as God takes it seriously!

In baptism, we are baptized into God's Kingdom. We declare his authority over the world, and swear allegiance to God in front of him and his people, and the angels... and the demons. We declare war on the principalities and powers that come against God.  As a Christian, if you have the opportunity to get baptized, you must. It's the consummation of Jesus' prayer in John 17:20-22... we all become o...

Don't forget to praise God when life is good, and learn to find joy amid the suffering. What is a church? It literally means "assembly" - Christians together, not in isolation, with a biblical structure. We pray and heal and confess our sins to one another. He fills us with his spirit so we may be a light to the world, that shines back on him. We are to seek and save the lost, and bring those who...

Having told us how NOT to speak, James now tells us how TO speak. We should faithfully pray, sing praise to our Father, and confess our sins to one another. We're called not to perfection, but to be faithful, and to repent when we fail. Out of gratitude, we pull people from the fires of hell, so they can receive the same free gift of eternal life that we have received. We labor not for ourselves,...

How can we know we're going to Heaven? Not by swearing an oath, but by depending on God. He provides for us daily, moment by moment. We are lost without his provision. This steadfast reliance on him requires patience, exemplified in the life of Job.

As image-bearers of God, we should all have patience. We are to live in joy of Jesus' imminent return. His joy is our strength! It transcends our struggles. Wait for the Lord to act on your behalf. The better ending is connected to those who are not proud in spirit, but patient!

Today, Pastor Josh examines the timeline, context and origins of our passage in James to get at the meaning of some of the more difficult parts. Life is a vapor, so we're grateful for God's provisions while he gives them! Failure to do what God sets before us to do is sin. The sacrifices we think are pleasing to God are nothing compared to abiding in Jesus Christ! God will defend his people agains...

Non-believers aren't forced to come to Jesus or live for him. But anything else you give your life to will eventually be eaten up. Wake up and store your treasures in heaven. While there's still time, come and yield to him and he will radically change your life! As believers, we can rest assured that Christ is King and the God of the Bible is alive today. God's Church will outlast Satan! We stand...

Submit to Jesus, and not only will Satan flee, but God will draw near to you. Forgo self-promotion and let God exalt you in your humility. Rather than judging others as if we're God, even dehumanizing our enemies, we should pray for their salvation!

The problem with the human race is our hearts, and the treatment is humility! Satan doesn't fear us; he fears God. Submit yourself to God as your creator and master, and Satan will flee! We are to be joyful but mourn our sinful state. We must call out sin when we see it, holding each other accountable, but only when we ourselves are right with God! Our approach must come from humble obedience.

As Christians, we must be "all in"-- with both feet in the Kingdom of God, not one foot in the world. God is jealous for us! He also commands us to be joyful. As we satisfy ourselves only in him, our joy increases. So we must die to ourselves daily!

Hedonism, the focus on making yourself happy, is never the path to peace; it leads to disorder and every vile practice. When we give our lives to him, we don't lose our life, but gain it. The closer we get to Christ, the more our joy is made full. In "Christian hedonism," God is most glorified when we're most satisfied in him! Pursuing worldly pleasures leads to dissatisfaction; in heaven, it just...

"My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"  The most misunderstood of the 7 sayings of Jesus on the cross. He lived perfectly, loving the Father with all his heart, soul and mind! Yet even he suffered the feeling of spiritual separation on the cross. Because of this, he knows the pain we feel when we are in a spiritually dry season, separated from the Father.

Do you really believe that God's sovereignty is enough, that he's truly on the throne? Those who trust in the Lord can be assured of their Father's delight in them! Everything Jesus did on the cross was because of his great love for every last one of his people. How can we withhold anything from him?

The third saying of Jesus on the cross: (To Mary), "Woman, behold your son!" (To John), "Behold your mother!" On the cross, Jesus had compassion for his mother, but didn't neglect his duty to God's people. Despite his pain, he pressed on. Here, he forms a new family out of Mary and John, as well as the family of God.

Jesus suffered just like us; he understands and has compassion for us. Everything was taken from him on the cross, but his enemies knew the truth, labeling him King of the Jews. The two thieves parallel Jerusalem and Rome: only one accepted Jesus as King.

"Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.” The bare minimum to enter heaven is fear of the Lord. Jesus will always have a personal love for you. The world needs to know this, and that the "man on the middle cross" can save them! His words on the cross are incorruptible; they cannot be taken from us.

Paul talks about how to walk in a worthy, spirit-filled manner. We are all one Body, so rather than fight, we work hard at peace and unity with one another. We're all baptized in the same water, into the same family with the same Father!

Let all the things of this world go, and follow God! Unburden yourself and he will give you rest. We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. Meditate on his Word, be open to his Spirit. Be patient for his answer, and secure in his provision.

Spiritual maturity is proven by following our Lord daily in wisdom and restraint, not pursuing power for personal gain. We pray for God's pure wisdom, to be peaceable, considerate, reasonable, compassionate, bearing good fruit, impartial and sincere!

We must control our speech. The tongue is like a fire - it can be used for good or evil. Cursing refers to all evil things spoken: hatred, gossip, lying... The Garden of Eden isn't filled with thorns and thistles, but fruit-bearing trees!

As we abide in Christ, we must control our speech... this is only possible through the Holy Spirit! Pastor Josh emphasizes the importance of guarding what we see and hear, speaking with holiness and love, and glorifying God through blessing others!

A godly woman is the crown of her husband; as such, everything we do should make the Lord look good! She is not lazy, always working for the good of her family. She is a female David, a warrior woman after God's own heart! She and her husband never speak poorly of each other, invested in each other's honor-- just as the members of the trinity defer honor to one another. The qualities described in...

The diligence of a godly woman not only honors God, but elevates her husband! And the husband and children are to be just as diligent in serving her and each other, to the same end. A family thrives when selfishness is put to death!