TBC Glassboro Sermons and More

Psalm 74 is a song for calamity. The psalmist, Asaph, pens this psalm during a time of crisis. The temple has been destroyed and the Israelites have been dispersed. Asaph laments the calamity that has befallen his people. How can a calamity be part of God’s plan and program for His people? No doubt, many believers today struggle with that same question. How does a calamity fit the framework of God...

The more believers interact with others, the more opportunities for judgment arise. Regardless, as Kingdom citizens, they must guard against discriminatory judgments motivated by unjust or impure standards. To that end, Jesus addresses the issue of judgment and the Kingdom citizens. In doing so, He sets forth three admonishments — judge righteously, judge without hypocrisy, and judge responses to...

Psalm 73 is a song of doubts. In particular, Asaph doubts God’s goodness. He questions whether God truly rewards the righteous and punishes the wicked. The psalmist, Asaph, one of David’s chief musicians and a Levite, struggles with the fact that the wicked of his day were prospering. Circumstances seemed to tell a different story than the one found in Scripture. Hence, he wrestles with God’s good...

Contextually, in Matthew 6, Jesus is not dealing with fear or anxiety. Instead, He confronts the issue of worry over one’s wealth. Hence, Jesus excursus in Matthew 6:25-34, is regarding worry and the Kingdom citizen. Primarily, He sets forth that Kingdom citizens should not worry over their prosperity, property, and possessions because God provides for one’s basic necessities.

Psalm 73 is a song of doubts. In particular, Asaph doubts God’s goodness. He questions whether God truly rewards the righteous and punishes the wicked. The psalmist, Asaph, one of David’s chief musicians and a Levite, struggles with the fact that the wicked of his day were prospering. Circumstances seemed to tell a different story than the one found in Scripture. Hence, he wrestles with God’s good...

Jesus begins His discourse upon the secular by addressing the issue of wealth and the Kingdom citizen in Matthew 6:19-24. He presents three different alternatives — two treasures, two conditions, and two masters. The chosen treasure, condition, or master determines whether the Kingdom citizens handle their wealth properly or improperly.

Psalm 72 is a prayer for peace. It is eschatological in that it looks prophetically toward the end of history. According to the superscription, it was penned by Solomon. Hence, King Solomon describes the ideal King and His eternal reign over all creation. As modern believers read this psalm they should reflect on the other prophecies regarding King Jesus’ return to establish His Kingdom.

In Matthew 6:16-18, Jesus addresses the third righteous deed, the issue of fasting and the Kingdom citizen. Fasting is the most misunderstood righteous deed amongst Christianity at large. Responses to fasting include outright refusal on one end of the spectrum to engaging in fasting as a meaningless act of religious piety on the other end. Even amongst Evangelical Christians, fasting is often brus...

Psalm 72 is a prayer for peace. It is eschatological in that it looks prophetically toward the end of history. According to the superscription, it was penned by Solomon. Hence, King Solomon describes the ideal King and His eternal reign over all creation. As modern believers read this psalm they should reflect on the other prophecies regarding King Jesus’ return to establish His Kingdom.

In Matthew 6:1, Jesus lays out a general principle for “practicing your righteousness” — do not practice righteous deeds to receive people's attention, applause, or adulation. To that end, He admonished believers to do their giving in secret and private. Now, in Matthew 6:5-15, Jesus addresses the second righteous deed, the issue of proper prayer and the Kingdom citizen.

Psalm 71 is written by an aged believer looking back at his life. As he reflects over the trials of his life, he sees his undaunted faith in God. Having looked back, he considers his present situation and circumstances and is confident that his faith will endure and God will continue to be his deliverer.

James 2:18 states, “If, however, you are fulfilling the Royal Law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well.” The verb fulfilling (teléō) means putting something into practice to accomplish a goal. As Jesus outlined in Matthew 5:43-48, the Kingdom citizen’s goal is loving others the same way God the Father loves all — indiscriminately and equally. N...

Psalm 69 is a psalm for the distressed soul. David, in the midst of a crisis, is drowning in depression and oppression. He struggles not only with physical illness but also from enemies who seek to destroy him, the elders who speak against him, and his own family who has forsaken him. As such, David pleads to God to rescue and restore him. Indeed, this psalm gives comfort and hope to those distres...

The progression of Jesus’ correction continues in Matthew 5:43-48. Whereas Jesus commands His followers, “Do not resist an evil person,” He now commands, “Love your enemies.” Here, Jesus corrects the misinterpretation of what James refers to as the Royal Law. The term royal (basilikós) means kingly. Hence, this particular Law is the Law of the King. Being the King’s Law, it is final and authoritat...

Psalm 69 is a psalm for the distressed soul. David, in the midst of a crisis, is drowning in depression and oppression. He struggles not only with physical illness but also from enemies who seek to destroy him, the elders who speak against him, and his own family who has forsaken him. As such, David pleads to God to rescue and restore him. Indeed, this psalm gives comfort and hope to those distres...

In Matthew 5:38-42, Jesus moves away from the Ten Commandments themselves and deals with a secondary law, the law of retaliation. It is necessary, at this point, to understand the structure of the Torah or the Law. The Law is primarily composed of the Ten Commandments. The secondary laws or ordinances apply the Ten Commandments to specific areas or cases. The law of retaliation, which Jesus addres...

Psalm 68 rehearses the history of God’s interventions on the part of His people. It demonstrates that God is always on the move — creating, walking, sending, calling, commanding, defending, and defeating. During their wilderness wandering, God led Israel through the wilderness and defeated all enemies who stood in their path. According to the superscription, David is the author. As such, the likel...

In Matthew 5:33-37, Jesus corrects the misinterpretation of the Third Commandment and the swearing of oaths. While swearing an oath may seem insignificant, that Jesus addresses the issue underscores that believers should give prayerful consideration to it. As Jesus reveals, the issue of swearing oaths is an issue of integrity and honesty in speech. Hence, every believer should heed Jesus discussio...

Psalm 68 rehearses the history of God’s interventions on the part of His people. It demonstrates that God is always on the move — creating, walking, sending, calling, commanding, defending, and defeating. During their wilderness wandering, God led Israel through the wilderness and defeated all enemies who stood in their path. According to the superscription, David is the author. As such, the likel...

Engaging people on divorce and remarriage is difficult due to the associated pain and guilt. Instead of passing judgment and adding guilt, believers must desire to see what God’s Word says on the issue. A Biblical view of divorce and remarriage will keep some from making bad choices, release those who have made bad choices from their guilt, and rescue those who have been maligned and sidelined by...

Psalm 65 is a hymn of praise to God as the Creator and Sustainer of all things. David penned this psalm to be sung yearly when the first grain of the barley harvest was brought before the Lord and offered as a wave offering. As such, this psalm celebrates God’s goodness not only in creating the seed but in sustaining it until it harvested. Indeed, yield of harvest is a testimony to the sustaining...

Understanding Jewish forms of interpretation is critical to correctly interpreting the prophetical statements of Matthew 2:12-23. In the final pericope of Matthew 2, three crises are presented — the threat from Herod the Great, the massacre of the innocent, and the threat from Archelaus. Each crisis is presented with the Messianic Child as the central figure. Hence, Matthew 2:13-23 presents the Me...

A New Year brings about new resolutions. In fact, the idea of making new years resolution goes back about three thousand years ago to ancient Babylon. A resolution involves making firm decision to commit to do or not to do something. A recent poll revealed the top ten things people resolve to do each new year. They are: 1) Exercise more; 2) Lose weight; 3) Get organized; 4) Learn a new skill or ho...

In establishing Jesus’ qualifications to be the Messiah, and by extension King, Matthew first set forth the Messianic chronicle in Matthew 1:1-17. The chronicle entailed how Jesus is both Son of Abraham and Son of David. As the greater Son of both Abraham and Davide, Jesus is qualified to be the Messiah because He is Jewish born and descended from David’s royal line. Matthew then presented the Mes...

Matthew 1 details the events of the birth of Jesus the Anointed King. If there is any doubt that Jesus is the Messiah, verses 18-25 focus upon the Messianic confirmation, specifically through two signs — the Virgin and the Name.