Ramsey Creek Baptist Church Sermons

What do I want more of in 2023? 1. Nearness to God - draw near" [v.22] - When you draw near to God, you always draw nearer to God’s people. 2. Perseverance - "hold fast" [v.23] - We’re to hold fast to our confession because its content is true, verified by the blood of Christ and poured out to us in the gift of the Holy Spirit. 3. Stirring one another up - "to love and good works" [v.24] - What Ch...

What do I want more of in 2023? 1. Nearness to God - draw near" [v.22] - When you draw near to God, you always draw nearer to God’s people. 2. Perseverance - "hold fast" [v.23] - We’re to hold fast to our confession because its content is true, verified by the blood of Christ and poured out to us in the gift of the Holy Spirit. 3. Stirring one another up - "to love and good works" [v.24] - What Ch...

“But when the fullness of time had come…” Christ was born at just the right time, according to the sovereign timing of God. Romans 5:6 says, “For while we were still weak, at the right time, Christ died for the ungodly.” Christ was born in the fullness of time and Christ will return in the fullness of time. And at the Incarnation, God’s message of love was perfectly proclaimed. Jesus came that we...

“But when the fullness of time had come…” Christ was born at just the right time, according to the sovereign timing of God. Romans 5:6 says, “For while we were still weak, at the right time, Christ died for the ungodly.” Christ was born in the fullness of time and Christ will return in the fullness of time. And at the Incarnation, God’s message of love was perfectly proclaimed. Jesus came that we...

In the darkness of Israel’s experience, Isaiah showcases the brilliance of hope. It helps illustrate the truth that hard and dark times reveal that our hope is often misplaced. If God still hears and still saves, why did Israel (and us) feel like He is so far away? Sin. God isn’t distant, but our sin makes it seem that way. We can't find hope by getting a new job or finding a new relationship or r...

In the darkness of Israel’s experience, Isaiah showcases the brilliance of hope. It helps illustrate the truth that hard and dark times reveal that our hope is often misplaced. If God still hears and still saves, why did Israel (and us) feel like He is so far away? Sin. God isn’t distant, but our sin makes it seem that way. We can't find hope by getting a new job or finding a new relationship or r...

Some of Malachi’s very last words anticipated the return of the Lord Jesus in judgment. For every person, the Lord is either a refining fire or a consuming fire. “Pride is the root sin, but their evil deeds are the rotten fruit.” But to those who fear His name and gather to speak to one another about Him, the Lord’s judgment doesn’t fall as a consuming fire; it comes like the sun rises after the d...

Some of Malachi’s very last words anticipated the return of the Lord Jesus in judgment. For every person, the Lord is either a refining fire or a consuming fire. “Pride is the root sin, but their evil deeds are the rotten fruit.” But to those who fear His name and gather to speak to one another about Him, the Lord’s judgment doesn’t fall as a consuming fire; it comes like the sun rises after the d...

Some today are working hard to eliminate distinctions, but God through Malachi makes clear ones in v.13-18. Christians and churches are uniquely positioned by God in the culture to bridge the gap between truth and love. “Walking in mourning” means to live life in a posture of humility. It's indicative of a heart that's returned to the Lord and been changed by Him. The church meditates on the name...

Some today are working hard to eliminate distinctions, but God through Malachi makes clear ones in v.13-18. Christians and churches are uniquely positioned by God in the culture to bridge the gap between truth and love. “Walking in mourning” means to live life in a posture of humility. It's indicative of a heart that's returned to the Lord and been changed by Him. The church meditates on the name...

God does not change (immutability). Knowing and following the Lord isn't only about outward actions, but our outward actions eventually reveal the true condition of our heart. God through Malachi reveals that the problem was with their hearts. This was the nevidenced by their carelessness in proper giving. God wants your heart, and how you spend your money shows if He has it or not. God blesses Hi...

God does not change (immutability). Knowing and following the Lord isn't only about outward actions, but our outward actions eventually reveal the true condition of our heart. God through Malachi reveals that the problem was with their hearts. This was the nevidenced by their carelessness in proper giving. God wants your heart, and how you spend your money shows if He has it or not. God blesses Hi...

Jesus' first coming wasn’t to refine and judge, it was to redeem and give His life as a ransom for many (Mk. 10:45). Who can endure? Who can stand? The reality is, standing before the searching scrutiny of the righteous Judge, no one will be able to maintain a successful defense of their actions. We demand that justice be served, until we’re the ones who are accused. According to the metaphors of...

Jesus' first coming wasn’t to refine and judge, it was to redeem and give His life as a ransom for many (Mk. 10:45). Who can endure? Who can stand? The reality is, standing before the searching scrutiny of the righteous Judge, no one will be able to maintain a successful defense of their actions. We demand that justice be served, until we’re the ones who are accused. According to the metaphors of...

The Israelites continue to resist the Lord's correction, even attacking the justice and holiness of God. But their desire wasn’t for truth, only to be justified in their wrong actions & attitudes. Malachi mentions two messengers: John the Baptist and the Messiah. Malachi mentions two Lords: Yahweh God (LORD) and the Messiah (Lord). “Behold, He is coming, says the LORD of hosts.” We hear an additio...

The Israelites continue to resist the Lord's correction, even attacking the justice and holiness of God. But their desire wasn’t for truth, only to be justified in their wrong actions & attitudes. Malachi mentions two messengers: John the Baptist and the Messiah. Malachi mentions two Lords: Yahweh God (LORD) and the Messiah (Lord). “Behold, He is coming, says the LORD of hosts.” We hear an additio...

The priests in Israel had fallen into an evil pattern of thinking & behavior. Malachi explained how they were not taking to heart the honor of God's name, and goes on to show the effects of such an evil pattern in family life. When the desires of the flesh outweigh our fear of the Lord, the result is always sin. Similarly, our issues with God inevitably become issues with each other. The marriage...

The priests in Israel had fallen into an evil pattern of thinking & behavior. Malachi explained how they were not taking to heart the honor of God's name, and goes on to show the effects of such an evil pattern in family life. When the desires of the flesh outweigh our fear of the Lord, the result is always sin. Similarly, our issues with God inevitably become issues with each other. The marriage...

The priests had become deaf to the commands of God and their hearts had grown cold in recognizing His love for them. Their efforts in the priesthood had grown selfish and they were content to offer God the leftovers. An evil pattern of thinking & behavior has consequences. Malachi explains how they were not taking to heart the honor of His name, using Levi & the Levitical covenant as an example.

The priests had become deaf to the commands of God and their hearts had grown cold in recognizing His love for them. Their efforts in the priesthood had grown selfish and they were content to offer God the leftovers. An evil pattern of thinking & behavior has consequences. Malachi explains how they were not taking to heart the honor of His name, using Levi & the Levitical covenant as an example.

The people of Israel had lost the sense of what real worship was and were content to not only go through the motions, but to give God less than what He deserved. They were offering Him careless & leftover worship, and Malachi was sent to call them out on it. We should take this to heart today because what we offer to God reveals what we think about Him. A day is coming when all people everywhere w...

The people of Israel had lost the sense of what real worship was and were content to not only go through the motions, but to give God less than what He deserved. They were offering Him careless & leftover worship, and Malachi was sent to call them out on it. We should take this to heart today because what we offer to God reveals what we think about Him. A day is coming when all people everywhere w...

God's Word is a burden in the sense that if what He's saying is true, then everything changes. The burden of Malachi is communicating the unfailing love of God to His people. Make no mistake - it all starts with God (Detu. 7:6-8). God’s faithful love was declared ("I have loved you"), His love was doubted ("How have you loved us?"), and now His love is demonstrated through the nation of Israel and...

God's Word is a burden in the sense that if what He's saying is true, then everything changes. The burden of Malachi is communicating the unfailing love of God to His people. Make no mistake - it all starts with God (Detu. 7:6-8). God’s faithful love was declared ("I have loved you"), His love was doubted ("How have you loved us?"), and now His love is demonstrated through the nation of Israel and...

An introduction to the book of Malachi, revealing Israel's apathy toward the things of God and their religious formality. Malachi’s overall warning is this: stop going through the motions in the Christian life.