Sermon B-Sides - Coram Deo Church

The ancient heresy of Gnosticism is alive and well, but the Psalms will have none of that nonsense. Want to know how to be Anti-Gnostic? In this episode of Sermon B-Sides, Pastor Jon and Pastor Rusten look at Psalm 33 and consider how good God's creation is and how we ought to feast upon and enjoy God's generous provision.

What would the aroma of your family and church be if you were committed to the habit of confessing sin to one another and reminding one another of the gospel of Jesus? In this episode of Sermon B-Sides, Pastor Brandon and Pastor Rusten discuss Psalm 38 and the grace of God's "heavy hand" in bringing us to grief over our sin. To be apathetic over our sin would be a death sentence, but when we are g...

Wickedness seldom comes to being abruptly, but rather it grows slowly and follows a regular progression. In this episode of Sermon B-Sides, Pastor Brandon and Pastor Rusten discuss Psalm 36 and the contrasting pictures it gives us of the progression of man's wickedness on one hand and God's steadfast love on the other.

In this episode of Sermon B-Sides, Pastor Jon and Pastor Rusten discuss the story of the Ethiopian eunuch and how the Gospel is for all people. They also ask whether we can use this passage to make a case for affirming a plethora of sexual identities.

In this episode of Sermon B-Sides, Pastor Jon and Pastor Rusten discuss Simon the magician, the worldview behind magic, the revival of the occult in modern times, and the difference between science and scientism.

In this episode of Sermon B-Sides, Pastor Jon and Pastor Rusten discuss the joy and deliverance that the Gospel brings to those who are dead in trespasses and sins. This is a joy that surpasses understanding, it is a joy that we can't quite make sense of, and it is a joy that we desperately need. The early Church knew this joy, which is why they kept spreading the Gospel despite persecution. Is th...

In this episode of Sermon B-Sides, Pastor Jon and Pastor Rusten discuss the sermon and martyrdom of Stephen and how it unpacks and demonstrates a theme that is consistent through Scripture. God sends his prophet, judge, or ruler to his people, and they reject him. And through that rejection, God vindicates his man and delivers his people from bondage.

In this episode of Sermon B-Sides, Pastor Jon and Pastor Rusten discuss the role of deacons within the church, the question of female deacons, the ordination of women, the call to care for widows and the impoverished, and the call to be encouraged in the Lord in making a living through hard work.

In this episode of Sermon B-Sides, Pastor Jon and Pastor Rusten discuss the priority of the ministry of the Word in the early Church and the establishment of deacons within the Church to serve. They consider the question: "Why is the ministry of the Word so important?"

In this episode of Sermon B-Sides, Pastor Jon and Pastor Rusten discuss Acts 5 and the imprisonment of Peter and the Apostles. In a time when the authorities are encroaching on more and more of our basic liberties, it is a deep encouragement to know that Jesus is our Lord and that joy in him is our strength.

In this episode of Sermon B-Sides, Pastor Jon and Pastor Rusten discuss how, even during COVID-19, Governor mandates, lockdowns, etc., the message and the commission of the Church to make disciples and baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit has gone forward unhindered. They also discuss how the Book of Revelation carries an attitude and confidence that is instructive...

Ananias and Sapphira sold their property and gave most of it away. But they lied about how much they sold the property for because they wanted folks to believe that they gave more than they did. So, God struck them dead. What is up with that? In this episode of Sermon B-Sides, Pastor Jon and Pastor Rusten discuss why God Struck down Ananias and Sapphira and how it is a lesson for us today to not t...

In this episode of Sermon B-Sides, Pastor Jon and Pastor Rusten discuss the story of the woman at the well and the need to not avoid the subject of sexual sin. Our culture is increasingly averse to this kind of confrontation and, often, we feel that we cannot proclaim Christ as the one who saves from sin. We hope you enjoy, and as usual, if you have any questions for Sermon B-Sides—or anything els...

The Church tends to easily dismiss Christ in his Kingly office, either by spiritualizing his rule or by saying that his Kingly rule is non-existent until the second coming. "Surely, if he was really reigning the world wouldn't look like the mess that it is" is the kind of criticism that one might hear against the claim that Jesus reigns as King. In this episode of Sermon B-Sides, Pastor Jon and Pa...

Was there a priestly role in the garden of Eden before the fall of humanity? What are all those other sacrifices and offerings, (e.g. bread offerings, wave offerings, drink offerings), in Leviticus all about? What does it mean that the Church is a royal priesthood? (1 Peter 2:9) In this episode of Sermon B-Sides, Pastor Jon and Pastor Rusten discuss how Jesus is the fulfillment of the office of Pr...

Have you ever heard someone tell you that the God revealed in the Old Testament is mean and grumpy and that they prefer the Jesus of the New Testament because it seems like God has finally chilled out? Have you ever heard of folks who call themselves "red-letter Christians," meaning they only affirm the words spoken by Jesus himself in the New Testament rather than the whole counsel of God in the...

In the book of Acts, being moved by the Gospel and the love of God, the early Christians loved each other and sold their belongings so they could give to one another wherever there was a need. Where does this kind of love come from and how is this love for the Church different from the love for our neighbors that are not members of Christ's Body? In this episode of Sermon B-Sides, Pastor Jon and P...

"Why do the nations rage?" Those are the opening lines from Psalm 2, one of the most quoted Old Testament passages in the New Testament. It was a passage often referred to by the Church to declare the sovereign reign of the Lord in the midst of kings and nations that sought to cast off God. It was this God who "laughs" at rebellion against his Christ that gave the early Church the confidence and b...

The book of Acts is rife with conflict. The public preaching of the Gospel often resulted in the imprisonment and reproach of the Apostles. Ever wonder why the Apostles didn't just start house churches and invite people to attend those to "find out who Jesus is"? Wouldn't that have been an effective "mission" strategy that bypassed all the public conflict? Today, we often think being missional mea...

In the book of Acts and throughout the New Testament, the Apostles and Jesus himself don't even flinch from discussing and preaching judgment, the wrath of God, and hell. Jesus speaks about hell more than any other person in the scriptures. This topic is never avoided because it is the very thing that Jesus came to save us from; he is glorified because he saves sinners from judgment and the wrath...

Early on in the book of Acts, God works healing signs and wonders among the early Church through the Apostles. Are these signs normal in the life of the Church? Should we expect and ascribe veracity to faith-healers? Or is there perhaps a pattern in scripture that shows why this isn't the norm in the life of the Church? After discussing this question, Pastor Jon and Pastor Rusten discuss the trend...

The early Church was known for their love for another and how they shated they shared with one another out of their love. Many take this information and assume that because they shared, that they were communistic. In this episode we discuss the major differences between communism and Christian sharing. Another thing that comes up in this episode is the early Church's commitment to sharing meals to...

While we lament our divisions as a people, we also must remember that there was a kind of unity on display in the story of the Tower of Babel that God intentionally disrupted. Apparently, according to God, unity is not good in and of itself. Even today, our attempts at unity are fraught with Babel-like, man-exalting foundations. In this episode of Sermon B-Sides, Pastor Jon & Pastor Rusten discuss...

Join us for the second half of our Ask Anything episode of Sermon B-Sides. Pastor Jon & Pastor Rusten answer your submitted questions including questions regarding the value of motherhood, statistics and risk assessment, creation in six days, the NAR, hell being annihilation vs. conscious torment, and the doctrine of heaven vs. new creation. If you have any questions you would like us to address i...

Join us for this special Q&A episode of Sermon B-Sides. Pastor Jon & Pastor Rusten answer your submitted questions including questions regarding Calvinism, original sin, faith and cognitive disability, family discipleship, and the relationship of statistics to ethical judgments. If you have any questions you would like us to address in future Sermon B-Sides episodes, email pastor@coramdeochurch.or...