First Irving Sermons

Main Idea. God will surely sanctify his church. Driving Question. How does God sanctify his church? 1. Through Faithful Shepherds (12–13) Heb. 13:17: “Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account.” 2. Through a Faithful Church (14–22) 3. Through His Own Faithful Keeping (23–24) Phil. 2:12–13: "Work out your salvati...

Main Idea. We belong to Christ, so stay awake for the Day. Driving Question. How do we stay awake for the Day of the Lord? 3 encouragements for staying awake: 1. Don't focus on the timing (1–3) 2. Remember who we are (4–10) 1. Our Identity: Not of the night, but of the Day (vv. 4–5): 2. Our Routine: So live awake, sober, and alert (vv. 6–8a) 3. Our Equipment: Put on faith, love, and hope (v....

Main Point: Be encouraged, there is hope amidst our grief in the Gospel of our Lord and in the promises of His Word. Driving Question: “What produces hope in us for the return of Christ?” The surety of the gospel (v.13-14) The security of Christ’s promises (v.15-17) The support of the saints (v.18) Takeaways In your grief, allow for the ministry of the Word to bring you hope. In their grief, minis...

1 Thess 4:1–12 A God Pleasing Church Main Point. Characteristics of a church that pleases God. Driving Question. How does a church live in a way that pleases God? Three characteristics: 1. Holiness before God (2–8) 2. Love for one another (9–10) 3. Witness before the world (11–12)

Main Point. Faithful churches help one another persevere until Christ comes. Driving Question. How do faithful churches help one another persevere? Three ways faithful churches help one another persevere: 1. Love that pursues (2:17–3:5) 2. Faith that comforts (3:6–10) 3. Prayer that establishes (3:11–13) Takeaways. Love is Evident. Faith is Exercised. Hope is Eternal.

Main Point. The Word of God at work in his people. Driving Question. How does God’s Word work in His people? 1. Accepted as God’s Word (13) 2. Afflicted for God’s Word (14–15) 3. Assured by God’s Word (16) Takeaways. 1. Receive God’s Word as God’s Word. 2. Resolve to suffer for God’s Word. 3. Remember God’s judgment is coming.

Main Point. God uses faithful gospel ministry to build his church. Driving Question. So what does a faithful gospel ministry look like? Paul gives three vivid pictures of faithful gospel the minister. 1. The Courageous Steward (1–6) Two Tests of Gospel Stewardship: A. Speaking to please God, not man (vv.4–5). B. Seeking God’s glory, not yours (v.6). 2. The Caring Mother (7–8) 3. The Consistent Fat...

Main Point: God powerfully creates a new people through his Word. Driving Question: How does God create a new people? 1. God’s Work In Us (1–5) 2. God’s Word In Us (6–10) THE EVIDENCE OF GOD’S WORK 1. The Word received (6). 2. The Word imitated (6, 7). 3. The Word proclaimed (8, 9). 4. The Word obeyed (9, 10). a. They turned from idols b. They served the living and true God. c. They waited for the...

Pete Stewart is a pastor at Hope Community Church Barlanark in Glasgow, Scotland. He also heads up our church-planting efforts in Glasgow and the West of Scotland

Why does the church need elders? Christ gives elders to order, shape, and protect His church. Today, the text will answer Why Elders in three ways. 1. To bring order (5) 2. To model godliness (6–8) 3. To hold firm to the word (9) Two responsibilities: 1. Teach sound doctrine. 2. Rebuke error. Response. 1. Pastoral Exhortations We must teach the truth of Christ (v.1). We must love Christ’s glory, o...

Main Idea. God delights to relent when sinners repent. In three movements, God’s mercy toward sinners is on full display: 1. The Prophet Preaches (1–4) 2. The City Repents (5–9) 3. The Lord Relents (10) Takeaways about our God: The Lord is patient. (He gives second chances). The Lord is holy. (He confronts our sin). The Lord is merciful. (He saves sinners).

Jonah 2 Hope from the Grave Main Idea. God brings us low, He hears our cry, and He raises us up. 1. He brings us low (1:17, 2:1) 2. He hears our cry (2–9) 3. He raises us up (10) Two Takeaways. 1. Salvation belongs to the Lord (2:9). 2. The Sign of Jonah (1:17). Consider the Biblical declarations and benefits of Jesus' resurrection: Romans 1:4 God “declared him to be the Son of God in power a...

Three acts of God’s sovereign grace toward sinners. 1. God Speaks (1–3) 2. God Seeks (4–16) Three ways God seeks: 1. God seeks with a storm (4–6). 2. God seeks in the casting of lots (7–10). 3. God seeks through a judgment (11–16). 3. God Saves (17) Matthew 12:40–41: “For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three ni...

MI: God accomplishes redemption for His people through the gracious work of His perfect redeemer. 1. Redemption Accomplished (vv. 1-12) 2. Redemption Applied (vv. 13-17) 3. Redemption Anticipated (vv. 18-22) Takeaways from Ruth 1. God’s Promises in Scripture 2. God’s Purposes in Suffering 3. God’s Providence in Salvation

Three movements: 1. Naomi’s Plan (1–5) 2. Ruth’s Proposal (7–12) 3. Boaz’s Promise (13–18) Main Idea. God's people ask for covering under the Redeemer's wings and He vows to provide it. Takeaways. Ruth’s request to rest. Boaz will not rest until redemption is finished.

Main Idea. God graciously provides covering for his destitute people through a worthy redeemer. 1. A destitute woman (Ruth) Three aspects of Ruth’s destitution: - She is a foreigner (vv.2,6,10,21). - She is poor (v.2). - She is a widow (vulnerable). 2. A worthy redeemer (Boaz) Five aspects of “why” Boaz is worthy: - He Loves the Laborers in His Field (v.4). - He Obeys the Law of the Lord (v.8). -...

Why study the Book of Ruth? (from Tony Merida) 1) The Book of Ruth is God’s Word. 2) Ruth helps us see the bigger story of redemption. 3) Ruth teaches us about God’s providence. Four moving parts: 1. Empty House (1–5) 2. Empty Hope (6–18) 3. Empty Homecoming (19–21) 4. Full Harvest (22). Main Idea. Even when God’s hand feels heavy and life empty, He is providentially working for his people's...

Main Idea. Believers can know with certainty that they have eternal life and belong to God. Driving Question. If we believe in the Son of God, what can we know for certain? 1. We know we have eternal life (13) 2. We know God hears us (14–17) Application. Intercede for those caught in sin. Trust that God restores His people. 3. We know God keeps us (18–21) Takeaways from 1 John. Keep trusting Chris...

Main Point: The testimony of Jesus produces new life in us by faith. Driving Question: “What role does faith have in bringing about this life?” The result of faith (v.1-3) The object of faith (v.4-10) The Reward of Faith (v.11-12) Takeaways: If you are born of God, give praise and thanks to God (Father, Son, and Spirit) for His merciful grace to you. If you are born of God, let’s commit to love on...

Main Idea. God’s love in Christ removes our fear of judgment and frees us to love one another. Driving Question. Why don’t Christians need to be afraid anymore? 1. Because God has loved us in Christ (15–16) 2. Because Christ gives us confidence for the judgment (17–18) 3. Because Christ’s assurance frees us to love one another (19–21) Takeaways. 1. Examine whether you are fearful or free in Christ...

Main Idea. The unseen God reveals His love in Christ and through His people. Driving Question. Why ought we to love one another? Three reasons why we should: 1.Because God is love (vv. 7–8) 2. Because God revealed His love by sending His Son (vv. 9–10) Two aspects of God’s love in Christ: A. God manifested His love by sending His Son (9). B. God defined His love by giving His Son as a propitiation...

Main Idea. The Spirit of God is known by the true confession of Jesus Christ. Driving Question. How do we know whether God’s Spirit abides in us? 1. By Our True Confession of Jesus Christ (2–3) And this confession holds together two inseparable truths: A. Who Jesus Is B. Why Jesus Came Two Fruits of Assurance from the Test: A. Assurance of Victory (4). B. Assurance of Discernment (5–6). Takeaways....

Main Idea. God is greater than our condemning hearts, therefore we can have assurance before Him. Driving Question. How can we have assurance before God when our own hearts condemn us? 1. Rest in the truth that God is greater than our hearts (20–22) Application. When your heart condemns you, feed on Christ. What is the result of resting in God’s greater heart? We have confidence before him (vv.21–...

Main Idea. Those in Christ are marked by love for their brothers, not by Cain’s hatred. Driving Question. What is the mark of those alive in Christ? 1. Hatred is the mark of Cain’s people (vv. 11–15) Matthew 5: 21 You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ 22 But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother w...

Main Idea: God has designed for His people to tell the next generation about Himself, so that the next generation might set their hope in Him. Driving Question: How can God’s people commit to telling the next generation? 1) Commit to knowing God’s Word. (v.1-3) Applications: a. Read and study God’s Word individually. b. Read and study God’s Word as a family. c. Read and study God’s Word as a local...