New Covenant OPC Sermon Podcast

In Matthew 7:12 Jesus, summarizing everything he’s said in the Sermon on the Mount, gives the famous “golden rule”.  The sum of the Law and the Prophets (the OT) is to do unto others as you would have them do to you.  What does this entail?  How does this rule fulfill the law?  Is this unique to Christianity?  

Pastor Grasso evaluates the various responses to feminism (egalitarianism, complimentarianism, patriarchy, and chauvinism) and argues that the historic position of the church, patriarchy, is the biblical view of the relationship between men and women.

In Deuteronomy 18:1-8 Moses gives instructions concerning contributions for the Levites. Because they maintain the worship of God, they are to receive support from sacrifices brought to the sanctuary. The same principle applies to those who preach the gospel (1 Cor. 9:13-14). Ultimately, failing to support those who labor in the worship of God is a sign of spiritual weakness.

In Matthew 7:7-11 Christ commands his disciples to pray. Why? Because God hears the prayers of His people and answers them. This ought to encourage Christians to pray to God for all of their needs.  If a sinful father knows to give good things to his children, so God gives good things to his children. 

Pastor Grasso gives an overview of feminism and offers a biblical critique.  Though feminists argue that they are fighting for equal rights, they actually undermine biblical femininity by confusing gender roles and ignoring gender distinctions.

In Deuteronomy 17:14-20 Moses details the laws for the king.  In contrast to the nations around Israel, these laws severely limit the power of the king because the king himself must recognize God’s superior power, that is, the king himself is under the law of God. This has implications for government today. As Samuel Rutherford argued “The Law is King”.  The biblical form of government i...

This verse from Matthew 7 is probably the most misquoted and applied verse in the Bible.  Typically it is used to denounce Christians for pointing out sin in the world.  This, however, is required in the gospel.  What does the verse mean? Fundamentally it means that one ought not to judge with a measure that one is not willing to see applied to oneself. Ultimately this measure is to...

Justice is something easily misunderstood.  All seek to do what is right and just, but what does the Bible say about justice?  In Deuteronomy 16:18-17:13 Moses addresses this issue as he begins to expound the 5th commandment.  Justice is ultimately found in the just judge of all the Earth, God Himself, who will judge the world in righteousness.

Many people today feel constantly stressed, like there is no peace.  Christ addresses this issue in Matthew 6:25-34, where He shows that not being worried follows from serving God rather than Mammon (6:24).  Ultimately, God is the one who provides for the needs of His people as He does the needs of all of His creatures.  In light of this truth, along with the fact that life is more...

Pastor Grasso looks at systemic racism again and shows how the gospel offers a better solution to racial tensions than the ideology that undergirds systemic racism.  Positing systemic racism can only lead to greater racial divisions, whereas in Christ these divisions are healed.

In 1 Corinthians 15:1-11 Paul emphasizes that the death and resurrection of Christ happened historically according to the Scriptures.  This resurrection is absolutely foundational to salvation such that without the resurrection of Christ no one can be saved.  Pastor Grasso here explains the historical witness to the resurrection and the way in which it was attested in Scripture before th...

How is Christ’s resurrection related to your salvation?    In Ephesians 2:1-10 Paul explains that you are dead in your sins but God made you alive together with Christ. Salvation is resurrection and not just any resurrection but it is union with Christ such that His resurrection becomes yours.  For the believer the spiritual life you have is the life of the resurrected life of Chris...

Pastor Grasso looks at the relationship between postmodernism and systemic racism.  The view that America is systemically racist is built on postmodern assumptions about truth and intersectionality that are contrary to the Scriptures.

In Deuteronomy 16:1-17 Moses gives instructions about the three annual feasts in Israel’s calendar: the Feast of Unleavened Bread (associated with the Passover), the Feast of Weeks (Pentecost), and the Feast of Tabernacles/Booths.  All three of these feasts show that worship is communion with God, that it is based on past redemption, and that it rejoices in the blessings of salvation while lo...

In Matthew 6:19-24 Christ gives three sayings that all describe what it looks like to be truly devoted to God.  It means seeking treasure in heaven, having a good eye that looks to the glory of God, and that serves God rather than Mammon.  Ultimately, everyone must choose whom they are going to serve: God or something else.  Christ warns against the kind of self-deception that belie...

Pastor Grasso looks at the ideological underpinnings of those who posit systemic racism as a problem in our country and in the world.  Here Pastor Grasso shows the relationship between Critical Race Theory, a neo-marxist ideology, to the issue of systemic racism.  He then shows the biblical deficiencies of such an outlook.

In Deuteronomy 15:19-23 Moses gives the law concerning offering the firstborn of an Israelite’s clean animals to God, emphasizing that the animals used in sacrifice must also be without blemish.  This law builds on the theology of the Passover and Exodus where God redeemed His people so as to spare the firstborn of Israel through the blood of a lamb.  This law was meant to be a reminder...

Fasting is something that is typically not practiced much today, but Christ assumes that Christians will be fasting in Matthew 6:16-18; however, this does not mean that all fasting is acceptable to God.  Christ explains that those who fast so as to gain a reputation for godliness before men will receive nothing from God, but those who fast for the sake of God’s glory will be honored by Him.

Pastor Grasso evaluates systemic racism from a biblical perspective.  He begins with a definition as well as an explanation of how people argue for the presence of systemic racism before offering a biblical critique, showing that systemic racism is a corruption of biblical justice.

In Deuteronomy 14:22-29 Moses gives instruction for the annual and triennial tithe laws for the people of God once they enter the land.  These laws show that tithing ought to be done first for the maintenance of the worship of God and second to provide for the needs of the poor, especially among the people of God.

Having looked at the first three petitions of the Lord’s Prayer last week, which all deal with praying for the good of God (his name, kingdom, and will), we look this week at the last three petitions, which deal with the way in which we bring our needs before God. Here both physical and spiritual needs are addressed by Christ, that is, the needs of both body and soul.

Homosexuality is an important topic today.  We are told that if the church does not conform to the ethics of the world that it is evidence of intolerance, bigotry, and homophobia, but what does the Bible say on the issue?  Pastor Grasso shows that homosexuality is an action, not an identity, and according to the Scriptures is an aggravated sin.

In Deuteronomy 14:22-29 Moses gives instruction for the annual and triennial tithe laws for the people of God once they enter the land.  These laws show that tithing ought to be done first for the maintenance of the worship of God and second to provide for the needs of the poor, especially among the people of God.

In Matthew 6:9-15 Jesus teaches his disciples how to pray with the famous “Lord’s Prayer”.  Often when Christians come to God there is a tendency to pray first and exclusively for pressing things in our own lives.  Christ, however, without neglecting the need to bring our requests for personal needs to him, emphasizes that we ought to pray first for God’s name, kingdom and will to be don...

Is it important for a Christian to be buried, or is cremation also acceptable?  Pastor Grasso looks at the biblical evidence and shows the connection between burial and belief in the coming resurrection.  Since our resurrection will be bodily, and since the body is still united to Christ after death, it is important that the body is cared for rather than destroyed.