The Valwood Park Sermon Podcast

As humans, we are reflections of God himself, made in his image. We are a testament to his creativity and his sovereignty. Because of this special place we hold in creation, the unlawful destruction of human life is an offense against God himself. This becomes the foundation of the sixth commandment.

From cover to cover, you easily find a recurring theme in Scripture - God's love for the nations. Through his people, he desires to see his glory known among every tribe and nation. This week, special guest speaker Vinod Thuraka from Parkway Hills Baptist Church helps us understand how this passion is built into the DNA of the early church.

As we reach the fifth commandment, we shift into what’s known as the “second table” of the Ten Commandments. After explaining what it means to love the Lord, the remaining words unpack how we honor the things he loves. This begins with a call to honor one’s parents, and by extension, authority.

Loving and worshiping God doesn’t just mean worshiping him alone and worshiping him rightly. It means loving and honoring his name. The third commandment reveals why this is so important, and what it means to love his name well.

The first commandment is simple – don’t worship other gods. The second is similar, yet different. Not only are God’s people called to worship him alone, but they are also called to worship him properly. This means worshiping him for who he really is, not simply for what we wish or imagine he is.

They sit on monuments in front of courthouses, and they’re well-known even outside Jewish or Christian circles. But what are the Ten Commandments, and how were they understood by that first generation of Israelites to experience freedom from slavery? Each week, we explore one of the commandments, what it reveals about God, and how we're meant to obey it.

The ascension of Jesus is a pivotal moment in the gospel story, symbolizing the finished nature of Jesus' work on our behalf. On this Ascension Sunday, we look at the hope it reflects.

Over six chapters, Paul has laid out the corruption that has taken down the once vibrant Ephesian Church. Having challenged Timothy to stay in the city, dig in, and fight that corruption, the apostle now gives his protege one final, heartfelt plea to remain faithful.

As Paul wraps up his letter to Timothy, he circles back to the original issue that prompted his address – the false teachers corrupting the church. What is driving their errors and heresy? How can those errors be detected and defended against?

As Paul continues to lay out how 1 Timothy should approach the necessary changes ahead for the church in Ephesus, he pays particular attention to the way Timothy should deal with the elders currently leading the congregation.

If Jesus was never risen, we should be pitied. Yet, thank the Lord that the story didn't end on the cross.

Both fully human and fully God, Jesus was uniquely suited to be our Savior and now our high priest.

As Paul continues to address Timothy’s personal character, he turns his attention to how this young minister should relate to those around him in the congregation, giving special attention to one particularly vulnerable group of members.

After explaining how the church should function and be ordered, Paul continues to lay out how Timothy should prepare himself for the ministry ahead. It serves as a powerful reminder for anyone aspiring to church leadership.

After giving Timothy specific instructions on how to address issues within the Ephesian church, Paul now turns his focus toward Timothy and his own character.

As Paul reaches the halfway point in his letter to Timothy, he pivots back to the reason for his writings – the unbelievable person of Jesus Christ. He also reminds his protege that some will leave the faith when they swerve from this gospel.

There are two teams of officers in the New Testament church – the elders and the deacons. After laying out the qualifications of the elders, Paul now instructs Timothy on what to look for in deacons.

As Paul continues to explain how the Household of God is meant to be ordered, he turns his attention to the qualifications of its leaders. What should we expect of the men who stand in the pulpit and shepherd the church?

Paul has just begun talking about how the Household of God should be properly ordered so that the Ephesian church can display the radiance of the gospel. After commanding them to pray and commit themselves to a specific lifestyle, now he explains further how that lifestyle should look.

As we continue our journey through 1 Timothy, Paul begins to outline how the church should be ordered. He encourages Timothy to begin his ministry with prayer for all people. Built within this encouragement is something that will deeply challenge the Ephesian believers.

Having charged Timothy with countering the false messages of errant leaders, Paul now pivots to the source of our faith – the miracle of salvation that is initiated by God and for God. And for a well-educated man, his argument doesn't appeal to logic. Instead, it is deeply personal and emotional.

This week, we kick off our new series in 1 Timothy. In this letter, Paul writes to Timothy with instructions on how to handle leadership and doctrinal issues that have arisen in the once-great Ephesian church. He is calling on him to address the doctrinal problems and call out the leaders who are peddling them. The letter gives us tremendous insight into God’s design for the church and how we’re m...

As Jesus prepares to ascend back into heaven and sit at the right hand of the Father, he’s got a job for his disciples to complete. In just one simple verse, he gives a command that will transform billions of lives.