RADIO FPC

Who did Jacob wrestle with all night? In Genesis 32:22-32, Jacob wrestles a mysterious "Man" through the night and walks away with a limp and a new name. Dr. Toby Holt explains this strange and pivotal encounter. Returning home after twenty years, Jacob is terrified of meeting Esau. Left alone at the river, he wrestles until daybreak with One he realizes is God Himself — a pre-incarnate...

What was Jacob's ladder, really? In Genesis 28:10-22, the fleeing deceiver Jacob dreams of a ladder reaching from earth to heaven. Dr. Toby Holt reveals what that ladder truly was. Running from Esau, Jacob sleeps with a stone for a pillow and sees a ladder joining heaven and earth, angels going up and down, and God above it renewing His promises. Every person senses a gap between earth and heaven,...

Can God use a broken family? In Genesis 27, a blind old father, a scheming mother, and a deceiving son all sin their way through one chaotic day. Dr. Toby Holt shows how God works His good plan even through a deeply broken family. Isaac plans to bless Esau, ignoring God's choice of Jacob. Rebekah schemes, and Jacob lies to his father's face to steal the blessing. Every major figure does wrong — ye...

Why did God choose Jacob over Esau? In Genesis 25, before twin brothers are even born, God declares that "the older shall serve the younger." Dr. Toby Holt explores one of the Bible's clearest teachings on God's electing choice. As Isaac's line continues, Rebekah gives birth to Esau and Jacob, and God announces His choice of Jacob before either has done good or bad. Quoted by Paul in Rom...

Why would God ask Abraham to sacrifice his son? In Genesis 22, God gives Abraham the hardest command imaginable: offer your son Isaac as a sacrifice. Dr. Toby Holt walks through this famous test and the gospel it foreshadows. Abraham obeys, traveling three days to Mount Moriah as Isaac carries the wood up the hill. At the last moment God stops him and provides a ram as a substitute. Abraham truste...

Why did God destroy Sodom and Gomorrah? In Genesis 18:22 through 19, God rains down judgment on the wicked cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. Dr. Toby Holt examines a sobering account of both God's wrath and His mercy. Before judgment falls, Abraham pleads with God, who agrees to spare the cities for ten righteous people — but not even ten are found. Two angels rescue Lot's family as fire destroys the...

Is anything too hard for God? In Genesis 18:1-15, the Lord promises ninety-year-old Sarah a son — and she laughs. Dr. Toby Holt asks whether anything is truly too hard for God. Three visitors come to Abraham, one of them the Lord Himself in human form. As Abraham serves a lavish meal, the Lord renews His promise: Sarah will have a son within the year. Sarah, far past childbearing age, laughs at th...

What does it mean to be a friend of God? In Genesis 12, God calls Abraham out of a pagan land with a staggering set of promises. Dr. Toby Holt opens the life of the man the Bible calls "the friend of God." Abraham came from Ur, steeped in idol worship, yet God chose him — not for his merit but by grace. God told him to leave his country and family for a land he had never seen, and he obe...

Why did God confuse the world's languages? In Genesis 11:1-9, humanity unites to build a tower to the heavens — and God scatters them by confusing their language. Dr. Toby Holt explains what really happened at Babel. God had told mankind to spread out and fill the earth, but the people gathered to build a city and tower "to make a name for ourselves" — pride and rebellion. God came down,...

Was Noah's flood about more than animals? In Genesis 6, the world has grown so corrupt that God sends a flood — yet "Noah found grace." Dr. Toby Holt shows that the flood is far more than a children's story. As humanity's wickedness fills the earth, God resolves to judge it with a flood — a picture of His wrath on sin. But Noah finds grace, and God provides the ark as the one means of re...

Why did Cain kill his brother? In Genesis 4:1-12, the first child ever born grows up to commit the first murder. Dr. Toby Holt shows how Cain and Abel reveal the deep reality of sin in every human heart. Both bring offerings, but God accepts Abel's and not Cain's — because of the heart behind it. Instead of repenting, Cain grows furious and murders his brother. There was no bad upbringing to blame...

What does Genesis 3 teach us in The Temptation and the Fall? In this sermon on Genesis 3, Dr. Toby Holt of New Geneva Theological Seminary teaches that the fall of Adam is the cataclysm modern people no longer understand: one sin was enough to expel our first parents from God's presence and to curse the whole created order, because the wages of sin is death. From a Reformed and Westminster perspec...

Did God really create everything? In Genesis 1, the Bible opens with five world-shaping words: "In the beginning, God created." Dr. Toby Holt shows why how we understand creation shapes everything else we believe. Genesis declares God made the heavens and earth out of nothing, by His word, and made human beings in His image. This is the foundation of all right thinking about God and ours...

Is there real evidence that Jesus rose from the dead? In Luke 24, the resurrection is presented with witnesses, proofs, and eyewitness testimony. In this sermon, Dr. Toby Holt considers the empty tomb and why so much hangs on whether it is true. Questions this sermon answers: 1. Why were the disciples anxious at first? Because the news seemed too good to believe — even those closest to Jesus strug...

Why did John the Baptist call Jesus "the Lamb of God"? In John 1, as the people prepared for Passover, John pointed to Jesus and called Him "the Lamb of God." In this sermon, Dr. Toby Holt explores why Jesus is the true Lamb, and what that means for our salvation. Questions this sermon answers: 1. Why call Jesus a "Lamb"? Because the Passover lamb was slain so that ju...

Why is love greater than faith and hope? In 1 Corinthians 13, Paul declares that the greatest of faith, hope, and love is love. In this sermon, Dr. Toby Holt explores what makes love supreme — and how it reflects the very heart of God. Questions this sermon answers: 1. Why was Corinth given a "primer on love"? Because the church was divided and immature. They needed to learn that gifts w...

Does God pursue the outsider? Yes. In Acts 8:26-40, God sends Philip into the desert to reach one searching foreigner — an Ethiopian official. Dr. Toby Holt shows how far God will go to save the people the world overlooks. On a lonely desert road, Philip meets an Ethiopian official reading aloud from Isaiah 53 but unable to understand it. Philip climbs into the chariot and, beginning from that pas...

Why do people rage against God? In Psalm 2, the nations and their rulers conspire against the Lord — a rebellion as old as the human heart. Dr. Toby Holt unpacks this psalm's picture of human defiance and God's enthroned King. The kings of the earth plot to throw off God's rule, but God in heaven is unmoved. Psalm 2 is a Messianic psalm pointing to Christ, God's appointed King, who will one day ru...

What kind of love makes sinners into God's children? In 1 John 3, the apostle marvels that God calls us His children. In this sermon, Dr. Toby Holt unfolds the astonishing love that brings believers into God's family — not as servants, but as sons and daughters. Questions this sermon answers: 1. What does it mean that God is our Father? That salvation makes us family. God has no "peons"...

How does the kingdom of God grow? In Matthew 13, Jesus compares the kingdom to a mustard seed — tiny at first, but destined to grow great. In this sermon, Dr. Toby Holt unfolds the parable and what it reveals about the church's growth. Questions this sermon answers: 1. What is the point of the mustard seed? That the kingdom begins small and unimpressive but grows into something vast — far beyond i...

Is there hope after losing someone you love? In 1 Thessalonians 4, Paul comforts grieving believers — not by denying their sorrow, but by anchoring it in hope. In this sermon, Dr. Toby Holt brings tender, biblical encouragement to grieving hearts. Questions this sermon answers: 1. Is it wrong for Christians to grieve? No. Grief is natural and right. But Paul says we "do not sorrow as others w...

How much time do you really have left? In Romans 13, Paul urges believers to wake up and live, for "the night is far spent, the day is at hand." In this sermon, Dr. Toby Holt calls us to treat today as short and precious, living in the light of Christ's coming. Questions this sermon answers: 1. What did Paul mean by "the night is far spent"? That the present age is passing and...

Should preachers teach only the easy parts of the Bible? No. In Acts 20:17-38, the Apostle Paul charges the Ephesian elders to preach the whole counsel of God — not just the comfortable parts. Dr. Toby Holt explains why every truth of Scripture matters. Meeting the elders one last time, Paul reminded them how he served through tears and trials, holding nothing back. He warned that "savage wol...

As Christians, we often remember the things that Jesus has done. With that said, have you ever wondered: what is He doing right now? Among other things, Jesus is interceding on behalf of His people. You have a divine advocate that is (even now) seeking your welfare! And that should be an encouragement during these difficult days. Questions That We'll Answer: A) Why is John 17 referred to as the 'h...

What makes Mary's song one of the most counter-cultural ever written? In Luke 1, a young woman responds to astonishing news with a song of praise — the Magnificat. In this sermon, Dr. Toby Holt explores why this humble hymn turns the world's values upside down. Questions this sermon answers: 1. What news did Mary receive? That she would bear the Messiah, conceived by the Holy Spirit — a virgin bir...