St. Stephen Reformed Church

This sermon examines the conflict between Jesus and the Pharisees regarding fasting and Sabbath observance, highlighting their misunderstanding of His divine identity. Jesus uses the metaphors of a wedding feast, new cloth, and new wine to demonstrate that His arrival ushers in a new covenant that cannot be mixed with old religious rituals or works-based righteousness. The preacher argues that sal...

This sermon explores Psalm 8, highlighting the majestic glory of God displayed in both the vast cosmos and the intimate care for humanity. The preacher emphasizes the theological tension between human insignificance against the backdrop of creation and the profound honor bestowed upon mankind through divine mindfulness. Key themes include the concept of dominion over the earth and the ultimate ful...

Psalm 18 is presented as a divine epic of deliverance, where David, a warrior king shaped by violence and persecution, expresses profound, tender love for God—a love rooted in divine compassion revealed through cosmic rescue. The psalm portrays God as both sovereign over creation and intimately present in personal distress, using apocalyptic imagery not to exaggerate but to reveal the magnitude of...

Psalm 18 unfolds as a divine epic of deliverance and dominion, revealing that true strength and greatness come not from human might but from God's sovereign grace, which equips, trains, and exalts His people through humble condescension. David's victories, though vividly described in martial terms, are ultimately attributed not to his prowess but to God's faithful provision, as the Lord made his w...

This passage from Mark 2:1–12 reveals Jesus' divine authority to forgive sins and heal both spiritually and physically, demonstrating that the Kingdom of God has arrived in His person and power. Centered on a paralyzed man brought to Jesus by four determined friends who broke through the roof to reach Him, the narrative highlights the priority of spiritual healing over physical restoration, as Jes...

The sermon centers on the urgent call to support and uphold those who labor for the name of Christ, emphasizing that true mission work is driven not by personal ambition but by devotion to the sacred, life-giving truth of God's name—particularly the name of Jesus, which is above all others. It contrasts the selfless, sacrificial service of unnamed traveling missionaries, who accept nothing from th...

This sermon centers on Jesus' unwavering commitment to prayer and preaching as the foundation of His mission, even amid overwhelming popularity and physical need. Drawing from Mark 1:35–39, it emphasizes that despite being surrounded by crowds seeking healing, Jesus prioritized solitude and communion with the Father, demonstrating that spiritual vitality must precede and sustain ministry. The pass...

Pentecost is not merely a historical event but the climactic fulfillment of God's redemptive plan, revealing that Jesus, exalted at the Father's right hand, has received the promised Holy Spirit as the victorious King and now pours Him out in abundance upon His church. This outpouring marks a decisive shift in redemptive history: the Spirit, once temporary and task-specific in the Old Covenant, no...

This passage from Mark 1:21–34 presents a vivid snapshot of Jesus' authority, compassion, and divine power on a single Sabbath day, revealing His supremacy over both spiritual and physical realms. Jesus' teaching astonishes the crowd not for its scholarly debate, but for its divine authority, contrasting sharply with the uninspired teachings of the scribes. His immediate confrontation and expulsio...

The sermon unfolds the profound connection between the Ascension and the Lord's Supper through the narrative of the road to Emmaus, emphasizing that Christ's bodily absence is not a loss but the very means by which His spiritual presence is made real. Though the disciples walked with Jesus for hours without recognizing Him, their hearts were quickened through His exposition of Scripture and finall...

The passage from Mark 1:16–20 reveals Jesus' radical call to discipleship, not as a mere invitation to moral improvement but as a summons to abandon all prior identities—occupation, family, and security—for the supreme allegiance to Him. Jesus, as the unqualified subject of the call, demands immediate, total commitment, transforming ordinary fishermen into 'fishers of men' through personal followi...

This brief yet profound letter to Gaius, the Beloved, centers on the vital connection between truth, love, and discernment in the life of the believer. The Apostle emphasizes that genuine faith is not merely intellectual assent but a lived reality expressed through faithful, ongoing hospitality toward fellow believers—especially traveling missionaries—demonstrating that one's love aligns with the...

The sermon centers on Jesus' inaugural proclamation in Mark 1:14–15, declaring that the time is fulfilled and the kingdom of God is at hand, marking the culmination of Old Testament prophecy and the transition from the old to the new covenant. Through a theological exploration of kairos, the Greek term for a decisive, divinely appointed moment, the message emphasizes that Jesus' arrival is not mer...

This sermon delivers a urgent, pastoral warning rooted in the apostolic authority of 2 John, emphasizing that the central truth of the Christian faith—Jesus Christ's incarnation in the flesh—is under constant threat from deceptive teachings, particularly those echoing early docetism. The preacher underscores that true faith is not merely intellectual assent or church membership, but abiding in Chr...

The baptism and temptation of Jesus in Mark 1:9–13 reveal Him as the faithful Son, the second Adam, and the true Israel who fulfills God's redemptive plan where the first Adam and Israel failed. Through His baptism, Jesus identifies with sinners not for His own sin, but to fulfill all righteousness, inaugurating His ministry as the obedient substitute who reverses the consequences of the fall. The...

The sermon centers on the profound joy found in seeing believers walk in truth, not as a human achievement but as the fruit of God's grace and the Holy Spirit's work within the church. Drawing from 2 John, it emphasizes that walking in truth is inseparable from loving one another, a commandment both ancient and renewed through Christ's fulfillment of the law and the internalization of God's law th...

The sermon centers on John the Baptist as the prophetic forerunner preparing the way for Jesus Christ, emphasizing that true preparation for the gospel begins with repentance and a recognition of personal unworthiness before God. Drawing from Mark 1:4–8, it highlights John's role as a fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy, particularly echoing Elijah, and underscores his message of baptism of repe...

The sermon centers on the profound truth that authentic Christian love is rooted in both sincerity and integrity—grounded not in fleeting emotions or personal preference, but in the unchanging person of Jesus Christ, who is the truth, the way, and the life. Drawing from 2 John, it emphasizes that love is not merely heartfelt sentiment nor abstract conviction, but a divine reality flowing from abid...

The sermon establishes the Gospel of Mark as a dynamic, action-oriented narrative that presents Jesus Christ as the divine Son of God and suffering servant, fulfilling Old Testament prophecies through the preparatory ministry of John the Baptist. Drawing from Isaiah 40, it emphasizes that God's redemptive plan—marked by divine comfort, the leveling of spiritual and historical obstacles, and the re...

The sermon centers on the profound theological and pastoral significance of 2 John, where the aging Apostle John, identifying himself as the 'elder,' addresses the church as the 'elect lady'—a metaphor for the bride of Christ and the mother of believers—emphasizing that her identity and the individual members' worth are rooted in God's eternal, sovereign election before the foundation of the world...

The sermon centers on Jesus' trial before Pilate, emphasizing His kingship not as a political claim but as a divine reality rooted in truth, with Jesus declaring that His mission is to bear witness to the truth. Through a deep exploration of Scripture—from Deuteronomy's prophecy of a coming prophet to John's declaration that Jesus is the Word made flesh—the message unfolds that truth is not subjec...