Coeburn Presbyterian Church Sermons - Pastor James Ensley

Introduction: Jonah 4….Jonah 3 Ninevah repents, “who knows” (behind the curtain: God relents). Jonah 1-3 could be a wrap. But the lesson the invitation for reflection is in chapter 4 as Jonah reveals his heart and God’s sovereign mercy. Remember tis about God: God shows mercy to sin. In his grace he offers a substitute. The wages of sin is death, but Christ Jesus bore that penalty on himself, purc...

Imagine you have never heard of Jonah before…You are reading your bible for the first time The World in the Flood (Genesis 6–7); Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 18–19); Egypt (Pharaoh’s kingdom warned through Moses—Exodus 7–12); Canaan and its cities (especially Jericho; Leviticus 18; Deut. 7; Josh. 6) What was Jonah’s task: The evil stench of Ninevah has come up before the Lord, Go, Call out against...

Good Evening: It is Fall. I love the Fall…Yes I do get my Pumpkin Spice Oatmilk Latte every year…Just one because they are $8 after tip… The stores though are already Christmas themed. I’ve seen Lights for Christmas. But what about Thanksgiving? Hold the line. It is the week before thanksgiving and it is appropriate for us to ponder below the surface of turkey, gravy, and pumpkin pie. So 1 Thanksg...

Introduction: LOTR Sam sinking into the river until Frodo arm grabs him and pulls him into the boat. So (1) Jonah is hurled into the ocean (2) the sailors rejoicing…(3) simultaneously Jonah Sinking, down down down, and the question becomes will anyone or anything reach down and save his life. First time reading 1:17…spoilers…what if you had never read Jonah before? 1:17 and the last verse of 2. Fo...

· Intro Have you ever fled in response to what you heard? (parent to child. Me, Great Book Tutorial High School exam…) 1. Themes in Jonah vividly speaks to: Creation. Mission. Word & Spirit a. The use of creation is stark: Winds, waters, whales, worms, and plants… b. Missions: Sneak preview of Matt. 28:19 (the mercy of God to Jonah, the sailors, and the ninevites c. God’s Word and Spirit changes t...

Last week, we saw that divine grace, divine mercy, is found in a simple prayer of trust in the mercy of God. This week we will go to Jesus’ crucifixion and the brief conversation of Jesus and the thief on the cross will show how divine mercy is found in Jesus and his saving work alone…Salvation for sinners is found in Christ. Read: Luke 23:39-45 [39] One of the criminals who was hanged railed at h...

Intro “What a man is alone on his knees before God, that he is –and no more.” – Robert Murray M’cheyne While our good works, our religious attendance, may be a fruit of salvation, they are not what causes us to one day be able to stand before God and answer the question, “Why should I let you who have committed so many sins into my holy heaven and my holy presence?” It will all come down to what w...

We are in Matthew Chapter 4 this morning. Where we will see Jesus’ teaching us to forsake trusting as a final authority in anything else besides the written word of God. God’s written word alone as the full, final, and sufficient guide for our faith and life. The context for Matthew 4 is that Jesus has just been baptized by John, The Father has spoken from heaven that He is the beloved Son of God...

Intro: Every letter must have an ending…Peter has assured us of who we are in Christ Jesus. He has reminded us that we have been born again to a living Hope, we are the Temple of God, Living Stones built on the cornerstone Christ Jesus. He has called us to Holy Lives, to face suffering as a faith purifying fire and to respond to suffering with upright lives by God’s grace, we are Exiles headed to...

Introduction: Well, I feel the weight of this passage for myself…preach to yourself first…Peter has given his instructions and as is common letters end with a word to the Leaders before final greetings… Read: 1 Peter 5:1–5 So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: [2] shepherd the...

Introduction: Peter has just finished encouraging us to love and serve one another with the gifts that God has Given us in Christ Jesus. Gifts that Christ suffered and died to purchase in order to pour out on us by the Holy Spirit. Peter now for the third time discusses suffering trials. He has previously said trials will strengthen our faith, trials unite us to be like Christ as those filled with...

Introduction: Illustration There is a whole movie genre about the world ending and everyone panicking and changing their behavior . Is this what Peter wants from us when he says, the end of all things is at hand ? (So-called prophets, sell your home). No, it’s about clear-minded, persevering love. Follow the Standard Operating Playbook until Christ returns. Read: 1 Peter 4:7–11 [7] The end of all...

Introduction: Good morning, we’ll be back in 1 Peter next week Today we’ll be in 1 Thessalonians chapter 5 verse 1 Context: 3 Sundays of training….then gone. In this Letter, Paul continues to press home to the Thessalonians what living as a Believer looks like. What the life of the Christian community looks like. A community gathered around a Great salvation is necessarily a changed people. And Pa...

Intro | Recap 1 Peter 4:1-6 Crossing the Pain Threshold: Having the Mind of Christ and Living for God [1] Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm [equip with weapons] yourselves with the same way of thinking , for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, [2] so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God. [3] For the...

This message was preached on the Acts 10 due to this being a 5th Sunday, CPC topically does chapter by chapter through the confession grounded in a scripture text. So we will return to 1 Peter 4. Next week. A brief word on expositional preaching and note the headings of WCF 23. We ordinarily preach systematically through books of Scripture so God sets the agenda, not us. This guards against hobbyh...

Peter has been teaching us to rest in our Living Hope Jesus Christ seated in heaven. That we have been born again and are secure in the life we have in Christ Jesus. In Chapter 3 he has been saying that We may suffer for righteousness’ sake “it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will than for doing evil.” Se we are called to live as a family of God, brothers and sisters. C...

Peter moves from talking about people in very particular circumstances, servants, husbands, wives, authorities, back to talking about all believers generally. Peter is teaching us how people saved by Christ ought to resemble Christ. This affects both how we treat people within the Church and the way we answer questions about our Faith to the world. 1 Peter 3:8-17 [8] Finally, all of you, have unit...

First, Broad Credit to Pastor Kevin Deyoung. I have taught on these verses previously and I want to credit everything good to him and acknowledge. Everyone ought to read his articles and books on this topic. Specifically chapter 5 of Men and Women in the Church: A Short, Biblical, Practical Introduction which is an exposition of Ephesians 5. Second, Since it is a singular verse that gives two real...

Recap: Suffering Christ, living as exiles in various difficult circumstances. Read 1 Peter 3:1–6: Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, [2] when they see your respectful and pure conduct. [3] Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelr...

[Incomplete sermon outline below. So it is rough in places or misses words spoken in the audio sermon] Recap… 1 Peter 2:21–25 For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you [ya’ll], leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. [22] He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. [23] When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suf...

Audio was lost for 1 Peter 2:13-17 You can find a written version of it on substack. This link is the cited Ortlund article referenced throughout point #1. https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/is-bible-pro-slavery/ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jamesensley.substack.com

Peter has said “this is who you are in Christ Jesus” * If you are in Christ it is because you have received mercy, being born again to a living hope. (this makes you an exile) * Having been born again by the Holy Spirit “be who you are, and you are Holy.” * Since all of your life is now lived before the face of a holy God – vertically * Therefore – love your neighbor, put away community destroying...

This passage presents a picture of the various ways people respond to Jesus. Especially given salvation in Christ is brought about by simple, Humble means. Humanly speaking, there is some foolishness to the Cross as the foundation of our salvation. How are we to respond, and what are some implications for us as a Church? As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God ch...

1 Peter 1:22-3:3 Love That Endures, Sin That Withers, New Life That Grows Introduction Good morning… Peter has for this first chapter been reminding us of our certain living hope in Christ Jesus. They have been chosen, called, made alive again by the Spirit, and enabled to persevere in the suffering that this new life in Christ brings into their lives. They have the assurance of their faith in the...

1 Peter 1:13-21 Renewing Your Mind Introduction: Good morning, we are continuing our study of 1 Peter. So turn in your bible to 1 Peter 1:13-21. Peter has, for 12 verses, been reminding his readers of their living hope in Christ Jesus. They have been chosen, called, made alive again by the Spirit, and enabled to persevere in the suffering that this new life in Christ brings into their lives. They...