Madison Reformed Church

Persecution is like a "fiery trial," and according to the Apostle Peter, we should rejoice when it comes. Why and how? In this message, learn three corrections to our natural reactions to suffering: to not be surprised, but rejoice; to not suffer as a sinner, but as a Christian; and to not confuse our judgment with the judgment of the wicked.

Exod. 1:15–22  Dan. 3:8–18  Matt. 5:38–42  Rev. 13:1–10   Should Christians only ever obey civil authorities, or are there times when we must disobey? Scripture gives us very useful categories for understanding when we must or may disobey the governing authorities. In this message, and with the help of the Protestant tradition, we explore the biblical conditions and reasoning for engaging in civil...

When Jesus brings us into a union with Himself, He also breaks our union with Christ. That means that we have to be willing to the patterns and habits of sin behind us, even if it means facing the ridicule of whose who don't believe. In this message, we learn the void that saying no to sin creates in our lives, and how to fill it with the gifts God has given to us—namely, vibrant life in the...

Gen. 47:1–12  Ezra 7:21–27  John 18:33–36  Acts 26:19–32   The basic responsibilities of civil government are to punish law-breakers and protect the innocent. But what is its relationship to the Church? Although there's room for difference of opinion, Scripture guides us to a handful of common elements.

A down payment of course is when you make a first large payment on some big item like a house or property, paying the rest when the time comes. This idea is here in 2 Corinthians 5:5, except that God is the buyer, and the Holy Spirit is His down payment. In this Pentecost message, we look into one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit secured for us on that great day. It is the gift of a guarantee . Chr...

Gen. 9:1–7  1 Sam. 8:10–18  Matt. 22:15–22  Rom. 13:1–7  Although Christians are free to have a variety of views about politics and policies, the Bible's basic teaching on the role of civil government is clear. In this message, we discover two of the most important functions our governing authorities have, and what the response of Christian citizens should be.

What does Christ's suffering, the Holy Spirit, Noah's ark, the flood, spirits in prison, and baptism have to do with us? In this message from 1 Peter 3, we explore these various topics and how they relate to Peter's bigger goal to help Christians persevere when they're suffering unjustly.

Isa. 1:12–20  1 Cor. 11:17–34  What is self-examination? Some Christians are so unfamiliar with it that they never do it. Others feel they've only done it if they feel spiritually discouraged. But self-examination is an  aid  to assurance, not a weapon to destroy it. In this message, we explore the call to self-examination and how it prepares us to receive Christ's body and blood.

Deut. 8:1–10  Ezek. 45:13–17  John 6:52–59  1 Cor. 11:17–34  Sacred meals are all over Scripture. God invites His people to eat in His presence. In the Lord's Supper, we have a sacred meal in which Christ Himself is offered to those who receive Him by faith. In this message, we explore the past, present, and future benefits of this wonderful sacrament.

“No good deed goes unpunished.” That old saying rings true because most people have had the experience of doing something kind only to have it backfire. In our passage today, Peter has in mind not just bad responses to particular good deeds here and there, but when Christians are targeted for living righteously. Peter teaches us that Christ’s own suffering has transformed our suffering into an opp...

Deut. 11:1–12  Ezek. 36:22–29a  Matt. 8:28–34  Col. 2:8–15   In holy baptism, the Lord has given us a gift that connects us back to the great cleansing events of the Old Testament, like the parting of the Red Sea. But it doesn't end there. Baptism is useful each day, powerfully delivering the good news to us that Christ's blood is our Red Sea, and that He has delivered us from the tyrann...

Peter now applies the identity of "sojourner" to our marriages, calling on Christian wives to submit themselves to their husbands (even if they're unbelievers) and Christian husbands to understand their wives in a couple crucial ways. In both these callings, we see the character of Christ working in men and women, a grace that is sufficient to the call.

Gen. 3:20–24  Ezek. 20:5–8a  Matt. 6:25–34  1 Cor. 10:1–8  In this message on the sacraments, we reflect upon the worries we deal with as Christians, how we tend to make ourselves feel better through idolatry, and how in the sacraments God targets these destructive tendencies and gives us the healing we need.

Christians are sojourners and exiles in this life, and one way or the other, we will suffer injustice. Peter addresses this universal experience by appealing to the household slaves of the congregations to whom he wrote. He shows them, and us, that our calling to endure unjust suffering is anchored to Christ Himself—the Suffering Servant of God, our Savior in whose footsteps we must learn to walk.

Exod. 26:26–30  1 Chron. 16:1–7  Luke 4:16–22  Heb. 8:1–7  Christ is the true worship leader. As our mediator and high priest, He leads the worship of His people and summons them up to heaven with Him. In this message, we explore the glories of New Covenant worship done not according to passing trends, but according to the Word.

For 2,000 years, Christians have had to wrestle with their identities as sojourners and exiles under wildly different political situations. Peter describes the conduct of sojourners and applies it our relationship to the governing authorities. In this message, we remember that in His redemptive work for us, Christ subjected Himself to wicked governing authorities. He calls us now to respond with g...

Early in the morning on the first day of the week, the risen Christ asked Mary Magdalene a question. It is posed to us today as well: "Whom are you seeking?" In this Easter message, we learn that the answer must be the risen Lord Jesus Christ. His resurrection is the answer to death, to spiritual ignorance, to grief, to fear, and to doubt.

Lev. 10:1–7  2 Kgs. 18:1–8  Matt. 18:15–20  1 Tim. 3:14–16   In this message, we explore Paul's wonderful claim that the Church is a "pillar and buttress of the truth." With this authority, the Church applies the Word of God to maintaining order among God's people and regulating our worship of the living God.

In this Good Friday meditation, we consider the meaning of the name Gethsemane ("olive press") and its significance as the location of Jesus' prayers before His crucifixion. For those hard-pressed on every side, Jesus is the Savior in Gethsemane, who shares His anointing with us.

Deut. 1:9–18  1 Kgs 3:5–15  Matt. 20:20–28  Acts 6:1–6   Christ raises up officers to serve His churches. But how does that happen "on the ground"? In this message, we examine Scripture's design for identifying men to church office, and the immense privilege it is to select them.

Everyone loves a good story. Peter wants Christians to realize that their story is the same as ancient Israel, and for that reason, all who believe in Christ have the same status and privilege as those who came before. Your story is that you're a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, the people of God who have received His mercy. And this is the story we proclaim.

Exod. 18:13–27  Prov. 11:14; 15:22  Matt. 23:1–4  1 Tim. 3:1–13   Every group on earth has to get organized in order to get anything done. It's the same with the Church. But the difference is that the Church is a heavenly institution that also exists on earth. In this sermon, we learn that Christ's care for and rule over His people is experienced in the order and officers of the Church.

Most of us are familiar with the idea of "getting saved." But have you ever said, "I need to grow up in salvation"? That's how Peter speaks about our walk with Christ here in the second chapter of his letter. Using two wonderful images—the nourishment of milk, and the building up of stones—Peter shows Christians the way to taste and keep on tasting that the Lord is good.

Exod. 30:1–10  Isa. 29:11–16  Matt. 15:1–9  Acts 7:51–60  In Acts 7, Stephen brings down an indictment on the Pharisees, who were the leaders of the church in that day, saying, “You…received the law as delivered by angels, but did not keep it.” In fact, they did the opposite. They opposed and persecuted the prophet, they resisted the Holy Spirit. Stephen strong words shows us there is such a thing...

Isaiah 40:6–11 & 1 Peter 1:22–25. "Love one another" is one of the most repeated commands in the Bible. But we run out of steam in obeying it. Peter shows us where the power comes from: the Word of God.