First Irving Sermons

Main Point: For its good, the church must honor, hold accountable, and appoint elders with discernment. 1. For our good, consider the elder’s honor (v.17-18) 2. For our good, hold the elder accountable. (v.19-21) 3. For our good, appoint the elder with discernment. (v.22-25) Takeaways: For the Pastor: · Remember Christ is the head of the church, not us. · Pursue faithfulness, not praise, in your l...

Note: The first minute of this sermon was not recorded. Main Point. Caring for the members of God’s household. Driving Question. How do we care for God’s household? 1. Words of care (1–2) 1 Jn 3:14–15. 14 Exodus 22:22-24. Deuteronomy 10:18. 2. Widows cared for (3–16) Three marks of the true widow. 1. True widows are without family care (4–5, 8). 2. True widows are godly (5, 9–10). 3. True widows a...

Main Point. Faithful pastors are essential for the spiritual health of the church. Driving Question. What is God’s pastor to be? 1. He must be an example (v. 12) 2. He must be wholeheartedly devoted (vv. 13–14) 3. He must be ever watchful (vv. 15–16) Application. 1. Identify and point out the spiritual growth in your brothers and sisters. 2. Examine yourself. Takeaways. The pastor is to be differe...

Main Point. The whole Church is to train for godliness with hope in the living God. Driving Question. What does our spiritual training entail? 1. Train in the words of faith (6) Applications: Godly ministers who teach: feed others with the word, and feed themselves on the word. In what particular ways is the word nourishing you these days? 2. Train for godliness (7–9) How do you train yourself for...

Main Point. Some will be deceived and depart from the faith, but the faithful embrace God's goodness with thanksgiving. Driving Question. How must the church guard against deception? 1. Expect apostasy (v. 1) Application. Be prepared for some to deconvert and abandon the faith. 2. Expose deceitful teaching (vv. 2–3) Attributes of false teaching: Demonic (v. 1) Deceitful (v. 1) Distorted (v. 2...

Main Idea: Proper behavior in the church both promotes and protects the gospel of Jesus Christ. 1) Why does our behavior matter? (vv. 14-15) a. We are the household of God b. We are the church of the living God c. We are the pillar and buttress of the truth 2) What is our behavior rooted in? (v. 16) Takeaways: 1) Are you united with Christ? 2) Are you prioritizing the local church? 3) Will you hel...

Main Point. God protects his church through qualified deacons. Driving Question. Who must deacons be? 1. The Deacon's Faithfulness (8–12) Personal character. Dignified (8). Not double-tongued (8). Proper steward. Not addicted to much wine (8). Not greedy for dishonest gain (8). Persistent faith. They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience (9). Publically tested. Tested fir...

Main Point. God protects his church with qualified overseers. Driving Question. What is an overseer? 1. The Work of the Overseer (1) a. He aspires to the work. Not only is it good and noble, but Paul says it’s good to aspire. There should be a willing desire to do this work, to shepherd God’s flock [1 Pet 5:2].This isn't to be done out of compulsion, nor out of pride. b. His work is an office...

If I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth. (1 Tim 3:15) Main Point. God protects his church through the functional roles of his created order. Driving Question. How does God protect his Church from false teaching? 1. God protects his Church by having the men pray (not divide) (8) Application....

Main Idea: The Triune God created man and woman in His image to exercise dominion over the earth through distinct and complementary roles. Yet, because of sin, a curse came upon the world that distorted God’s design until Christ came to reverse the curse. 1. Delighting in our Designer - Gen. 1 Our God is a Trinitarian God _______________________ Our God is a Trinitarian God -Equality in the Trinit...

Main Point. We pray that all people be saved through Christ, who gave His life as a ransom and is the only Mediator between God and man. Driving Question. Why do we pray for all people when we come together for worship? 1. Because the Church can live a peaceful and godly life (1–2) Application. How are we doing in this as a church? Are you taking advantage of God’s common grace as you live in a fr...

Main Point. We wage the good warfare by holding to Christ, our safeguard from spiritual shipwreck. Driving Question. How do we wage 'the good' warfare? 1. Remember your calling to the fight (18) Application. Wage the “good” warfare (18). Defend the revealed truth of God against those who distort it (3). Christian ministry is more than proclamation; it’s also combat. 2. Use the weapons gi...

Main Point. Christ came to save sinners, and His great mercy leads to the praise of God our King. Three Driving Questions today. 1. What is the very center of Christianity? 2. What can we learn about God? 3. How do we respond? 1. What is the very center of Christianity? Observations of this “saying” (the gospel). The saying is trustworthy. The saying is deserving of full acceptance. The saying is...

Main Point. The Church’s charge is to guard sound doctrine by faith, promote Christlike love, and use God’s law to reveal sin and lead us to the gospel. Driving Question. Why is it essential that we guard the sound doctrine? 1. Because sound doctrine protects the church from false teachers (3–7) 1 Cor 4:1–2 This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of Go...

The why” of 1 Timothy. (1 Tim 3:14–15) 14 I hope to come to you soon, but I am writing these things to you so that, 15 if I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth. Driving Question. What is the foundation of the Church of the Living God? Main Point. The Church is established on God our Savior’s...

Main Idea. How we manage our resources reveals our true devotion to Christ and eternal perspective. Question. What can we learn from the manager's foresight and shrewdness, despite his dishonesty? Jesus teaches 3 lessons to his disciples. Lesson 1: Use Worldly Wealth with Eternal Perspective (8b–9). Applications. Invest in the Kingdom of God and make friends. Lesson 2: Faithfulness in Little...

Main Point: Jesus is and brings a glorious hope to all nations. I. Jesus is the hope of Israel (v.17-23) II. Jesus is the hope of the Gentiles. (v.24-28) III. Jesus is the hope His disciples proclaim (v.30-31) Takeaways from the book of Acts: Jesus is the Resurrected King There is not neutrality Jesus commissions His disciples to be His witness It’s a mission given to the church It’s a worldwide m...

Main Idea. Holdfast to Christ in the storm, for He not only makes promises but faithfully keeps them. Driving Question. In what ways can God’s word be trusted during difficult storms? 1. He Makes Promises of Passage Through the Storm (13–26) Applications. Hold tight to the Lord’s words and promises despite living in seasons where you succumb to injury or loss. Remember the Lord who rules the sea....

Main Idea. Paul's steadfast faith in Christ’s resurrection sustained him during his final defense. Driving Question. Why is the resurrection of Jesus Christ the center of our defense? 1. Because the Risen Christ Completes God’s Promises (4–8) What’s the promise? Psalm 16:9-11 Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure. For you will not abandon my soul...

Main Idea. In life’s trials, God’s providential care enables our faithful living and directs our mission. Driving Question. How can we remain faithful amidst our trials? 1. Remember Christ’s Care (1–5) 2. Reflect Christ’s Character (6–11a) 3. Remain in Christ’s Commission (11b–12) Responses. 1. Repent and believe. 2. Reconsider your trust in God today. Takeaways. 3. Religion is dangerous when disc...

Main Idea: Evil plans will not prevail against the providential purposes of the Lord. 1. An Evil Plot to Thwart God’s Plan (vv. 12-15) 2. Divine Providence & His Fatherly Hand (vv. 16-35) The Heidelberg Catechism - 1563 “Providence is the almighty and ever present power of God by which he upholds, as with his hand, heaven and earth and all creatures, and so rules them that leaf and blade, rain...

Main Idea. God’s grace produces a good conscience, firm convictions, and close companionship with Jesus Christ yielding faithful testimony. Driving Question. What are components of faithful testifying amidst a trial? We will be diligent to look at three things today to build up our faith in trial. 1. A Clear Conscience Before Christ (22:30–23:5) Application: Live in a way that realizes God sees ev...

Main Idea. Jesus Christ is able to save the most unlikely person and make him a preacher of good news. Driving Question. Why does Paul’s defense provide such hope for all peoples? 1. Because Jesus Saves Persecutors (vv. 1–11) 2. Because Jesus Sends Preachers (vv. 12–21) Ananias (12–16) Paul, himself (17–21) Responses: Repent and turn to the righteousness of Christ. Rejoice because, if Jesus can tr...

Main Idea. Willing submission to Jesus Christ. Driving Question. What does a life submitted to Jesus Christ look like? 1. Paul's Humble Submission (Acts 21:17-26) Three Applications From Paul’s Humble Submission: i. Testify to God’s work in our lives. ii. Consider others Spiritual well-being. Phil 2:4 iii. Lay down liberties for unity and discipleship. 1 Cor 9:19, Romans 14:1 13 2. The Jewish...

Main Idea. Following and obeying Jesus Christ is costly. The cost of following Jesus. Luke 14: 26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. 27 Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.28 For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does n...