Church of The Word | Sunday Sermons

A New Beginning Written Into History Matthew 1 and the Meaning of Fourteen Matthew opens his Gospel with a genealogy that is anything but accidental. At first glance, it appears to be a straightforward family record tracing Jesus from Abraham to David, from David to the exile, and from the exile to Christ. But Matthew pauses to highlight something unusual: fourteen generations, three times over. T...

God’s Wisdom in an Unlikely Lineage Matthew opens his Gospel with a list many readers are tempted to skip — a genealogy. But to Matthew’s first-century audience, that list was not filler; it was a credential. It proved that Jesus met every prophetic qualification to be the Messiah — descended from Abraham, heir of David, rightful King of Israel. Yet Matthew does something unexpected. Instead of pr...

After more than a hundred sermons in Genesis, the journey through Scripture now turns a page—literally and theologically. Genesis is the book of beginnings, where God made promises: to Adam, to Abraham, and ultimately to David through the prophetic line. Matthew opens with those same promises, but now fulfilled. “The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.” — M...

Thanksgiving week gives us a reason to stop and remember what believers are commanded to do every day: “Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His steadfast love endures forever” (Psalm 107:1). Psalm 107 isn’t merely a call to gratitude; it’s a command to testify — to speak openly and joyfully of what God has done. The Call of the Redeemed Verse 2 says, “Let the redeemed of the Lord say so.” Gra...

The Heart That Needed Jumpstarting A story can sometimes clarify truth better than an argument. Our church recently installed a defibrillator—a small device capable of restarting a stopped heart. If someone were to collapse in cardiac arrest, that machine could, by design, deliver the electric jolt needed to bring them back to life. The person pressing the button might be praised in the moment, bu...

Hebrews lifts Jesus high—higher than angels, Moses, priests, sacrifices—and then shows how saints endured because their eyes were fixed on Him. Hebrews 11 is honest: not everyone “quenched fire and shut lions’ mouths.” Some were “stoned… sawn in two… killed with the sword… destitute, afflicted, mistreated—of whom the world was not worthy” (Heb 11:37–38). Faith isn’t a hack to avoid pain; it’s the...

Genesis 50:22–26 We’ve reached the end of Genesis—105 sermons later! And the book doesn’t close with a bow so much as a bold “to be continued.” Joseph dies in Egypt, embalmed and placed in a coffin, yet he makes Israel swear: “God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones from here.” (Gen. 50:25) That is the language of a man who believes God’s promises will outlive him. Genesis ends...

Genesis 50:15–21 We’ve reached the closing chapter of Genesis—a story that began with jealousy, betrayal, and deception, but ends with grace and reconciliation. Joseph’s brothers had once sold him into slavery, lied to their father about his death, and lived under that deception for over two decades. When Joseph finally revealed himself to them in Egypt, he embraced them, provided for them, and sp...

Psalm 130 There’s a deep joy in gathering with God’s people and sitting under His Word. One of the church’s chief purposes is to teach that Word. Jesus’ Great Commission wasn’t just to go and make converts, but to “teach them everything I have commanded you.” Teaching isn’t confined to the pulpit—it happens in homes, in conversations, and in our own reading and meditation. This week’s passage, Psa...

Last night many of us attended the memorial for Stephanie Camden. It was a night filled with tears and memories—and the gospel. I was reminded again how funerals strip away distraction and force us to reckon with reality: life is short, death is certain, and eternity is long. In God’s providence, our passage this morning addresses the same theme. Jacob’s death closes the book of Genesis, yet it po...

Genesis 49:22–26 Jacob is dying. One by one, he blesses his sons, speaking prophetically about their future. When he comes to Joseph, the son once despised, betrayed, and sold into slavery, the tone shifts. Of all the blessings given, Joseph’s is the richest and longest. Judah will carry the line of the Messiah—but Joseph, at this point in history, stands as the most visibly blessed. His life test...

The murder of Charlie Kirk was not just an assassination—it was a martyrdom. A man openly confessed Christ, proclaimed Him boldly, and knowingly lived under death threats until his life was taken. When asked how he wanted to be remembered, he said: for his courage and for his faith in Jesus Christ. That is a testimony worth honoring. The early church called their dead in Christ the Church Triumpha...

Jacob is nearing the end of his life. He gathers his sons together, not just to say goodbye, but to speak prophetic blessings that will shape their future as the tribes of Israel. He tells them plainly what will come in the “days to come.” Some words sound like curses more than blessings. Others overflow with promise. But all of them show that God sovereignly calls and equips His people differentl...

In Genesis 49, Jacob nears the end of his life and speaks prophetic blessings over his sons. These blessings are not mere words of wishful thinking; they are the Spirit-inspired voice of God, declaring what will come to pass. Among the twelve, Judah receives a prophecy that stands out because from his line will come the Messiah—Jesus Christ—whom Revelation calls the Lion of the Tribe of Judah (Rev...

When Jesus called James and John the “Sons of Thunder” (Mark 3:17), it wasn’t a compliment to their patience and gentleness. It pointed to their hotheaded zeal—fiery brothers who once asked if they should call fire down from heaven on a Samaritan village (Luke 9:54). They loved Christ, but their anger often boiled over. In Genesis 49, we see two other “sons of thunder”—Simeon and Levi. As Jacob sp...

Genesis 49 records Jacob’s final words to his sons. As he gathers them around his deathbed, he pronounces blessings that are more than mere wishes of an old father—they are prophetic declarations from God Himself. These words look far into the future, stretching from the tribes of Israel to the coming of Christ. And in this moment, the question is raised: who will carry the right of the firstborn?...

The closing chapters of Genesis offer us a profound glimpse into Jacob’s final days and his legacy for future generations. His perspective is not merely about his immediate children, but about his children’s children. In this passage, the Spirit confronts us with an often-overlooked truth: Christians are called to think multi-generationally. Recovering Multi-Generational Vision For much of church...

The closing chapters of Genesis bring the family of Israel into Egypt—a move that will shape the story of redemption for centuries. At first glance, the text is full of politics, famine, and practical arrangements for survival. But woven through the narrative is a deep reminder of two things: the Lord is our Shepherd, and His people are called to reflect His character. Despised Yet Preserved Josep...

Genesis 46 marks a significant transition. The long arc of Joseph’s story is nearing its end, and with it, the Book of Genesis begins to close. Jacob, now an old man, is about to leave the land of Canaan and journey into Egypt—a place that will shape the future of his descendants for generations. At the heart of this chapter is a single powerful truth: God keeps His promises. Even when the path fo...

When reading Genesis 44, it’s tempting to call it a story. We’re used to saying “Bible stories,” especially when teaching kids. But this isn’t just a story—it’s history. Real people, real sin, real redemption. And more than that, it’s history that points to the bigger story: the Gospel of Jesus Christ. In Genesis 44, Joseph is no longer the scared teenager thrown into a pit. He’s the second most p...

Joseph’s life has been marked by betrayal, suffering, and astonishing reversals: Sold into slavery by his own brothers. Falsely accused and imprisoned in Egypt. Then suddenly lifted to the highest office under Pharaoh—ruler over the entire land. He is now 38 years old. Twenty-two years have passed since he last saw the faces of his brothers. And although he has named one of his sons Manasseh—“God...

On Memorial Day weekend, when the nation pauses to honor those who laid down their lives in war, the story of Joseph in Genesis 40 reminds us how easily human beings forget—even in moments of profound kindness and promise. In the shadow of graves decorated with flags and flowers, another kind of memorial rises from the pages of Scripture: the silent prayer of a prisoner who simply says, “Remember...

In this sermon, we dive deep into the account of Joseph in the Book of Genesis. Exploring how his life's journey from affliction to exaltation foreshadows Jesus Christ's own path. This episode highlights the prophetic nature of Scripture, demonstrating God's impeccable track record in fulfilling His promises. Join us as we reflect on Joseph's rise to power in Egypt, interpreting Pharaoh's dreams,...

Father’s Day is a time often filled with reflection—on parenthood, legacy, and the influence of fathers. For some, it’s a day of celebration. For others, a day of mixed emotions. But for all believers, it’s an opportunity to look beyond earthly fatherhood to the perfect and unchanging love of our Heavenly Father. This week’s message draws from Proverbs 3, a chapter rich in wisdom and bursting with...

Turning to the Word: Who Is Israel? This week, I stepped away from our Genesis series to address something timely. In the past week, I heard an interview between Tucker Carlson and Senator Ted Cruz. Senator Cruz said one of his motivations for foreign policy decisions was the conviction he learned in Sunday school to “bless Israel.” This phrase—bless Israel—has shaped a lot of Christian thinking....