FRCP Sunday Morning Sermons

In Romans 12:1-8, Paul urges his readers to join in the fight against the Worldly system and fully serve God and others in a spirit of unselfishness. While we honor those who have fallen in actual battle, those of us still living are called to be living sacrifices and lay down our lives for one another. So which spirit are you directed by: the spirit of selfishness or the Spirit of Sacrifice?

In Matthew 4:23-25, Jesus demonstrates his power to heal and his love for those suffering. This confirms his role as the One sent from the Father to usher in the kingdom, but also describes God's intentions through Jesus' ministry: to do good, to bring healing, and to bless. When we see Jesus work among people, we realize just how good the Good News is!

In Matthew 4:18-22, Jesus calls his first disciples. In some ways, Peter and Andrew, James and John and the rest had it a little easier. They were direct disciples, with an audible command to follow, and a simpler duty to just go where Jesus went and listen to what he taught. They could ask clarifying questions, get feedback from him, etc. However, they had to literally leave their nets. But we, t...

In Matthew 4:1-11, Jesus enters the wilderness to be tempted by Satan. Satan hits him with three different offers. Not all bad; in fact, things had God promised to His Son. But Satan's offer comes with a couple catches, namely that Jesus would surrender his identity and worship to the Tempter and would receive the "prizes" outside of the Father's timing. As Eugene Peterson wrote, this amounts to t...

In Matthew 3:13-17, Jesus's cousin John Baptizes him in the River Jordan. This was an important step for Jesus and the fulfillment of his calling, yet John was hesitant. John was incredibly humble, despite being a bold witness for righteousness, and being around the incarnate Son of God made him feel unworthy. But he consented and baptized Jesus, after which Jesus's humility is rewarded by a voice...

In Matthew 3:1-6, we are introduced to a wild man in the wood, John the Baptist. John, like Jesus, is a predicted character fulfilling God's predicted mission. What would this preparer-of-Jesus's-way call listeners to? Repentance! Confession, repentance, and a washing to symbolize this internal renewal. Is confession and repentance a regular part of your life? Though difficult and humiliating, tru...

In Matthew 2:13-23, we have a story that is most often heard around Christmas time, but this story is a wealth of insight for how to be a godly dad. Joseph is led by the Spirit to not just raise God's own Son, but to protect his very life from a jealous king, involving becoming international refugees. Though we normal dads aren't raising the Messiah, we like Joseph need to depend on the leading of...