Sermons from First Evangelical Free Church in Sioux City, IA

2:41-42 Faithful worship. Just as we have consistently seen from Joseph and Mary, Jesus, too, is faithful to the Lord. 2:43-45 Where’s Jesus? After celebrating the Passover, Jesus’ parents head back to Nazareth. Yet, on the way, they discover that Jesus isn’t with them. Where had He gone? 2:46-47 Here He is! After an extensive search, Jesus is located in the temple. He’s not there simply to listen...

2:36-37 Her past. Anna’s words are recorded by Luke as coming from somebody with integrity and uprightness. She had a difficult life, yet her response was continual worship. She spent her time not in complaining or bitterness, but instead in fasting and calling on the Lord in prayer. 2:38 Her hope. At exactly the right time, Anna comes onto the scene when Jesus and his parents are at the temple. A...

10:1-2 Purpose. The plagues have a meaning that differs depending upon whether a person was an Egyptian rebelling against God or whether a person was a Hebrew in need of God’s rescue. God’s rescue of the Hebrews would end up being the origin story that gave identity and purpose to the people of Israel. 10:3-11 Hardness. Yet, that same rescue and blessing from God looked like – and ended up as – ju...

9:13-21 None like Him. The Lord pulls back the curtain, revealing His own mercy in being patient with Pharaoh and Egypt, even warning them of the coming plague of hail. Yet, Pharaoh’s heart is also revealed: heavy and rebellious toward the Lord, unwilling to even protect his own people and livestock. 9:22-26 Protecting His people. Once the plague of hail arrives, the Lord’s power is shown in that...

9:1-7 Death arrives. The reality is that sin leads to death (Romans 6:23), and that truth is held out as a warning to Pharaoh in these verses. Sadly, even when the judgment is carried out upon the livestock of Egypt – even when Pharaoh has undeniable proof that the God of Israel has the power to both bring plagues and distinguish between His people and the Egyptians – Pharaoh continues to rebel ag...

8:16-19 Unique acts. Unlike the previous two plagues, we find that this one cannot be duplicated by Pharaoh’s magicians. The Lord is showing His unique power over and above Pharoah because He alone is the God of the universe. 8:20-24 Unique words. As the plagues progress, a further distinction appears: God’s people will not always suffer on account of Pharaoh’s rebellion and wickedness. The Lord h...

8:1-7 Again. On the one hand, almost everything seen in these verses follows the pattern that we’ve already come across with Pharaoh in chapter 7. Yet, as is common throughout the Bible, repetition helps us to see points that we may have missed the first time around. It also helps us to see when something does not match the pattern, which will be the case here. 8:8-15 Harder. Pharaoh seeks relief...

Noah Dziurawiec delivers the second sermon in a two-part series.

Overseer Noah Dziurawiec shares the first of a two-sermon series.

Undivided > Ephesians 3:20-21 3:20 The power of God. Paul has taken the past three chapters to show that the Gospel of Jesus Christ brings reconciliation – both between sinful humans and their creator, but also with one another, which reflects the power of Christ to save. The Lord is at work building and unifying a people for Himself, for His own glory. 3:21 The worship He deserves. Because of...

That All May Know > Exodus 7:1-13 7:1-7 What, will, and why. The time for the big showdown with Pharaoh has come: Moses and Aaron are sent to proclaim what God will do, what he has promised all along: that he would rescue his people from out of Egypt. In so doing, all of Egypt would come to know that he is the Lord, the one true God. 7:8-13 Just as God said. The prelude to the plagues unfolds...

How We Live > Acts 2:46-47 2:46 Attending. Luke summarizes the practice of the early church in two words. First, they “attended” – that is, they regularly worshipped together and shared time in their homes with one another. The people of God weren’t isolated, but instead, lived in community and gave thanks to the Lord for all that He was doing and providing. 2:47 Praising. Second, God’s people...

Gospel transformation leads to Christ-centered change in every area of life. The Jerusalem church gave of their possessions not because they were rich, nor because they were forced to. Instead, they gave as an expression of the forgiveness and life that Jesus had first given to them.

Let Us Pray > Acts 2:42d 2:42a And they devoted themselves… A reminder that for each of the four elements in this verse, Luke is describing what the early church intentionally pursued together as God’s people. 2:42d …to the prayers. God’s people gave themselves to prayer as a priority. Not just when it was convenient or could be worked in to other ministries, but as its own important practice....

2:42a And they devoted themselves… Remember where this verse started: these are the practices of Christians in the first church. This is how they did life together and followed Jesus side-by-side. 2:42c …to the breaking of bread. The breaking of bread describes both the regular meals of these early Christians (eating together, sharing life together) and also the Lord’s Supper, which would have bee...

Why One-another? > Acts 2:42b 2:42b What is meant by “fellowship”? Pictured here is the community life of the early church – a life where Christians gathered together because they had Christ in common with one another. 2:42b Why does fellowship matter? This gathering together is important because it testified to the God these early Christians believed in, it gave them a training ground and pla...

Why the Bible? > Acts 2:42a 2:42a They devoted themselves… A snapshot of Christian living from the early church: those who trust Christ devote themselves (give their attention to, prioritize) to four practices as a congregation. They respond to God by dedicating themselves to his pattern of faith and life. 2:42a …to God’s teaching. The first priority of Christ’s church is that it is focused up...

Suffering with Jesus > Mark 8:22-9:1 8:22-26 Seeing but not seeing. Just as the blind man sees only partially at first, but later fully, so will the disciples begin to see more clearly who Jesus the Messiah is and what that means for him and for them. 8:27-30 Seeing Christ. Jesus challenges the disciples to decide for themselves who he is. Peter, speaking for the group, answers correctly: Jesu...

8:11-13 Refusing to see. The religious officials are the focus of the first picture in this passage: they refuse to acknowledge that Jesus is the Messiah. They refuse to see what he has done. They have already determined to reject him. 8:14-16 Don’t see. The disciples are not opposed to Jesus, but they are in the same danger of unbelief as the religious officials. The disciples have witnessed many...