IBCD Sermon Weekly

As 2024 comes to an end, once again, it can hardly be said it was a peaceful year. One of Jesus’ titles is “Prince of Peace”. He also talks a lot about having peace in the Gospels. What is the peace we have in Christ, if not yet peace of earth and goodwill toward men? Luke 2:14 14 "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

Today is the first week of Advent, the theme of which is “Hope”. So, we will take a break from the book of Hebrews and move into the Advent season by looking at the Hope given to us by God through the incarnation.

In Hebrews chapter 9, the author dives into this idea of something greater going on as he describes what is taking place in the temple of heaven, where Jesus is our high priest, exploring themes of worship, atonement, and the supremacy of Christ's sacrifice. Hebrews 9:14 14 How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our...

In the sermon on the mount, Jesus will often take a “law” and redefine it in such a way that it becomes about the heart and not just the action. “Don’t hate your enemies. Love your enemies. Pray for them.” “When you hate your brother, it is as if you have murdered your brother.” “When you look upon someone lustfully, then you have committed adultery”. Why would Jesus do that? Why would he take com...

Melchizedek in the Old Testament is only mentioned two times, but over time there had been a lot of ideas around him taught by various Rabbi’s. What is said about him in the scripture, and what is not said, both hold meaning. In chapter 7 the author of Hebrews finally clarifies what he means by saying Jesus is a High Priest in the “order of Melchizedek”. Psalm 110:4 4 The LORD has sworn and will n...

Promises are a part of our everyday lives. Unfortunately, however, even though the very idea of promises is to guarantee something, they are not always kept and therefore we often have to deal with broken promises. This is different with God, by His very nature He cannot lie, and therefore all His promises will be fulfilled. So, let us have a look at God's promises for us and take refuge in them....

One of the oldest questions in Christianity is the question of is it possible to lose one’s salvation after becoming a Christian? It is a more complicated question than it might seem to be because it brings up the very nature of God and humanity. It has been the source of much heated debate over the years. So, let’s see what the Scripture says and the journey this issue has taken through church hi...

In the passage today, the author of Hebrews takes a sudden turn to tell the readers (or hearers) of this sermon that they are not as spiritually mature as they should be. He mentions some “elementary teachings” and lists them. Interestingly, over the centuries, some of the “elementary” teachings have led to many disputes. So, let’s visit these teachings today. Hebrews 6:1 Therefore let us leave th...

Do you consider yourself as a person with the title “Priest”? Not only “Priest” but “Holy” and “Royal Priest”? What do we do with this title? Why does Peter call those who make up the church, the followers of Jesus Christ, this title of “Holy” and “Royal” Priesthood? How are we to live this? To understand it, we need to understand Jesus as our “High Priest”. 1 Peter 2:4-5, 9-10 4 As you come to hi...

This week the author circles back around to the idea of entering into God’s rest. He calls the guidance of Moses to the Hebrews a “gospel” or “good news” which the people had been told, but which they had refused to act upon. He compares that to us hearing the Gospel of Jesus Christ and warns that to reject to Gospel of Christ is to reject the entering into the rest for one’s soul now and for eter...

Anytime we try to approach Jesus Christ as an accessory to our life, or a means to an end, our faith will eventually come to a failing point because Jesus Christ is not the foundation of our life. In the passage today the author compares the rebellious hearts of the Hebrew people during the time in the desert to the people in the church. Hebrews 3:7-9 7 So, as the Holy Spirit says: "Today, if you...

Human history has brought forth many great people. Some of them were Old Testament prophets such as David and Moses. However, none of them were as great and humble at the same time as Jesus. He exemplifies what true excellence looks like in person. So in all circumstances, let us consider Him. Hebrews 3:1-6 1 Therefore, holy brothers, you who share in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostl...

One of the big questions of our faith is the question of the “incarnation”, the question of “the Word becoming flesh and dwelling among us. Why was this necessary for “the Christ”, the Messiah, to leave the glory of heaven and walk upon the dirt? How does it affect our lives today? What does it mean when we say in our theology that Jesus was fully God and fully man? Hebrews 2:17 17 For this reason...

Something we see in the Bible is a constant reference to the nations. Even though the Bible follows the history of the Jewish people and Israel, from Abraham to Jesus to Revelation there is an emphasis that God’s work through the Jews is ultimately for all humanity. At IBCD we have a unique foretaste of what it means to have several nations gathered to worship the Lord. This Sunday we celebrate ou...

This sermon unpacks the essential doctrine of Christ's full humanity. We examine why Jesus becoming man is crucial for our salvation, discussing His role as our perfect representative and merciful high priest. Join us to discover how Christ's humanity bridges the gap between our sinful state and God's holiness, deepening our understanding of the Gospel and inspiring a fresh appreciation for the in...

Satan often tries to keep people from relating to Christ, and receiving salvation, by misrepresenting Christ. He gives a little bit of truth than smears that truth with lies to deceive people into hell. Should you run into people who want to insist Jesus is an angel in the order of Michael or other distinct beings created by God, take them to the first chapter of Hebrews and walk them through it....

We might not know who exactly the author of Hebrews is, but the writer knows who Jesus is in a personal, historical, and Biblical sense. This is something to appreciate because misunderstanding Jesus has been, and still is, an issue people claiming to be his followers deal with to this day. The Book of Hebrews gives a very deep look into Jesus as our High Priest and sacrifice. Hebrews 1:3 3 The So...

We are going to be starting a sermon series through the book of Hebrews next week, but before we do so, we need to explore the idea of “covenant” in the scripture. Why? Because the book of Hebrews makes many references to the covenants of the Old Testament and compares it to the new covenant found in Christ.

Have you ever thought about alternatives to the Christian God? Looking at the world and the injustice that is prevailing, we might question our faith sometimes. Psalm 73 shows us that while it is normal to go through these phases, at the end of the day no alternative can ever be better than our God of mercy. He is the solution to all evil.

In life, we have to make a lot of decisions. As Christians, we want to make them according to God's will. But how can we find out God's will? How can we find out His ways? That is the same prayer that David expressed in Psalm 25. Psalm 25:4-5 4 Show me Your ways, O Lord; Teach me Your paths. 5 Lead me in Your truth and teach me, For You are the God of my salvation;

We shall be looking at the significance of the new covenant we have in Christ and the blessings of this covenant. 22 And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. (Ephesians 1:22-23, NASB)

The Christian faith holds the Bible very high. We believe that it is God's authoritative word breathed out by Him. Therefore, it is important to engage regularly with it. However, it is not always clear what the best way is to engage with the Bible. Psalm 1 tells us to meditate on it day and night. If we do so we will be like a tree planted by streams of water. Psalm 1:2 but his delight is in the...

Unresolved issues in our life can cause a lot of long-term pain. We think something is over but it’s not. Maybe it is not over for you, maybe it is not over for someone else. The theme of unresolved understanding when it comes to how God seeks to love, forgive, and guide people is a theme found in the Bible. When these things are unresolved, they cause a lot of pain. Genesis 50:18-19 18 His brothe...

As we consider forgiveness, the goal of forgiveness is to restore a healthy relationship between estranged parties. It is not to just feel good or not feel awkward about being in the same room with a person you are at odds with. Forgiveness is not the goal; it is the necessary means to the goal of restored relationship. 1 Peter 3:18 18 For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the u...

Today we are looking at the story of Joseph and how it compares to the life of Jesus. The theme is repentance. There is a lot to the big reveal, which we will look at next week, but for this week it is important to understand that Judah’s genuine repentance leads to the revelation of Joseph and sets into place the actions which will be the salvation of his family. Genesis 45:1 Then Joseph could no...