Taught by Grace

In Revelation 2-3, the church looks the opposite of worthy. Often having serious sin, spiritual problems, religious persecution, and the rest, the church looks totally unimpressive. But in Revelation 4-5, the worthy one comes to the forefront, Jesus steps forward to be seen as the only one who is worthy above all.

What kind of sin disgusts Jesus? He is certainly appalled by sexual sin, religious idolatry, and worldly compromise, but in the seven letters to the churches of Revelation, his harshest words are reserved for lukewarm Laodicea. In this letter to Laodicea, Jesus calls them and us out of spiritual apathy and lukewarmness by showing his disgust for it, describing what it looks like, detailing a path back, and revealing that he rebukes in grace.

The church at Philadelphia didn't look like much financially, numerically, or physically, but they were viewed highest regard by Jesus for one reason - They were faithful to Him. Listen to this week's letter to the seven churches as Jesus reminds us of the necessity and value of faithfulness.

Jesus speaks to the church at Sardis unveiling that they are a dead church. They look alive and check a lot of boxes, but they are a largely spiritually dead and unregenerate group of people. However, even in this dead body, there are living saints. Jesus speaks some of the greatest words of comfort to those who hadn't defiled themselves.

Jesus speaks to the fourth church in Revelation - Thyatira. this was a church that had many good things going for it. They had love, service, and works, but that had one big problem. They had one big problem in the form of a person named Jezebel. A false teacher had slithered her way into the church and was wreaking havoc on the church. Jesus speaks to warn and call this church to repent and turn or judgment would come.

The church at Pergamos was a good church in many ways. They had stayed faithful to Christ even though they were planted in Satan's backyard. They endured through persecution. They didn't deny Christ's name. However, the danger of compromise had crept into this church. Pergamos was allowing the Nicolaitans to come in and teach that believers could live however they wanted to, embracing idolatry and immorality. Jesus speaks to warn them of allowing this compromise to remain in the church.

Through this second letter, Jesus wants to show the church at Smyrna how they can persevere through suffering and persecution and be faithful unto death. Why should you stay faithful and true through suffering, affliction, and pain? There are four motivations for remaining faithful unto death in this text.  His Victory - Jesus is the Victor over Death (8) His Knowledge - Jesus Knows your Suffering (9) His Encouragement - Jesus Encourages Faithfulness unto Death (10) His Promise - Jesus Promises Ultimate Victory after Death (11)

What is a faithful Christian or church's greatest danger? It is living for Christ with doctrine and duty, but abandoning devotion. It is a treacherous place for any believer to know what to believe, what to do, and how to live, but without a heart that beats for and longs for Christ. This week, we look at the first letter to the seven churches in Revelation 2-3 - The Church at Ephesus. This is a church that has much going for them, but along the way, they had left behind their first love for Jesus. He speaks to them to call them to remember, repent, and return to how they originally loved Christ.

This week, is the first of a couple of month series through the seven churches in Revelation. These are sermons first preached at Freedom Baptist Church and I hope they will be a benefit to a broader audience as well. In Revelation 2-3, Jesus speaks to seven churches. He commends them for genuine faith, challenges them because of sin, and calls them to overcome by faith in Him. But before any of that, Jesus shows John a glorious vision of himself in Revelation 1.

Genesis 44 and 45 are the climactic point of the Joseph narrative in Genesis 37-50. Everything has been building to this point. From the betrayal to Potipher's to prison to the palace to now the brothers being in Egypt for food again . Eventually, there is going to be a beautiful reconciliation in Genesis 45, but before that happens, Joseph has one final test for his brothers. It will be Genesis 37 all over again, but the end result will be different this time. One brother, a former scoundrel and sinner, will stand up and take the place of another. We walk through the first part of this beautiful story of reconciliation in this week's episode.

In Genesis 43, Jacob and his sons are forced into uncertainty as God leads them back to Egypt for food in the midst of the famine. We are going to enter into uncertainty with Jacob and his boys in chapter 43 and I want to show you two realities about this chapter: God will put you in Uncertain Circumstances (1-15) God is in control of Uncertain Circumstances (16-34)

In chapter 42, we meet his father and brothers for the first time as a group since chapter 37. This chapter is the beginning of the story of forgiveness and reconciliation between Joseph and his brothers. Those scoundrels and losers are going to be reconciled to the brother they wronged and sinned against. However, before that could happen, something very important needed to happen - Their guilt needed to be uncovered.  There are two big points I want you to see as we look at this chapter   The Danger of Unconfessed Guilt (1-28) - In Joseph’s brothers, we are going to see how the guilt of their sin with Joseph never left them. It continues to weigh them down and is thoroughly exposed in this chapter.  The Danger of Unresolved Grief (29-38) - In Joseph's Father, we are going to see how the grief of his loss with Joseph never left him.

Joseph has been a tested man ever since we met him in Genesis 37 He’s passed every test so far.  He did his best at Potipher’s house He ran from sin when Potipher’s wife tempted him He was faithful in prison He cared for the butler and baker  He stayed faithful to God in the years of silence Joseph has endured affliction faithfully, but how will he handle prosperity? What is the test that comes in our prosperity? Will Joseph embrace Egypt or stay true to God? Listen as the text answers this question in this week's episode!

Joseph rises to power through seemingly ordinary circumstances here: The king has a dream The wise men can’t interpret the dream or don’t want to The butler finally remembers Joseph The guard brings Joseph from prison  Joseph interprets Pharaoh’s dreams  Joseph suggests finding a wise man to put over Egypt through the years of famine Pharaoh puts Joseph over all of Egypt as the grand vizier Joseph got here because God had been working behind the scenes to fulfill his plan in Joseph’s life. This was all the masterful orchestration of God. Only God could have done all of this to put Joseph where he needed to be.  God raised Joseph up from these ordinary circumstances to put Him exactly where He wanted Him to be, exactly when He wanted him to be there. Here’s what we learn from these first 41 verses of Genesis 41 - God is big enough to get you where He wants you to be, when He wants you to be there, and how He wants you to get there.

Are we there yet?  Is the food ready yet?  Is my package here yet?  Has my coffee come out yet?  Each of these questions have to do with something we all love to do - Waiting.  In Genesis 40, Joseph is in the middle of the years of waiting. But it looks like the dam is about to burst as he interprets the butler and baker's dreams. Even though it looked like God was prepared to exalt Joseph, there was still more years of waiting to come. Listen as we learn how Joseph waited and how we can honor God in our years of waiting as well.

How do you respond when life isn't going according to plan? Joseph's life wasn't at all going according to plan, but God was with him in it all and he glorified God in it all! In Genesis 39, the chapter is bookended with this statement - The Lord was with Joseph. The Lord was with Joseph at Potiphar's, in temptation, and even in prison. No matter where Joseph went, or how poorly his life seemed to go, God never abandoned and forsook Joseph. In fact, He was working out his perfect plan. The beauty of Genesis 39 is how Joseph responds to all that he faces - He glorifies God. He glorifies God by doing well wherever he is and by fleeing temptation. He doesn't mumble and grumble, moan and groan, but he honors God in everything.

Genesis 38 is the story of Judah’s family history. A seeming interruption in the story of Joseph. It is the story of how Judah had children and how his generations were preserved. Yet, this is not a pretty, nice family history. This is one of the ugliest and saddest chapters in the Bible. This story of Judah's descent to rock bottom, however, is one of the greatest stories of God's grace. We're going to see two parts to this ugly chapter:   An Ugly Story (Genesis 38) - We’re going to watch Judah’s downward descent. We’re going to see him make a mess and ruin everything in his life.  A Beautiful Savior - We’re going to see how God redeemed Judah’s sin and failure. We read a chapter like this and wonder “Why is this in the Bible?” To give you the bottom line up front - God lets us see sin and failure like this so that we may see that He is a redeemer. Genesis 38 is not about an ugly sinner, but a beautiful Savior 

Genesis 37 introduces us to Joseph with an action-packed drama filled with bitterness, envy, hatred, murderous intentions, and slavery. Joseph had dreams of exaltation as the beloved son of Jacob, but God's plans for Joseph didn't work out as Jospeh (or we) would have expected. Yet, all along the way, God is fulfilling His perfect plan in his life and for His people.

It’s a New Year. Today is the first Sunday in 2025. A new year typically means New Year's Resolutions. For some reason, when the calendar flips over to January 1st, everyone is ready to set goals, change their lives, and become different people! I want to call you to begin this year with the greatest resolution possible - Run after Jesus. We're going to see three truths in Hebrews 12:1-3 1. Forsake Sin (1a) 2. Run Patiently (1b) 3. Behold Jesus (2-3)

What is Jesus ultimately after in your life? He wants you to believe in Him and follow Him. In Mark 1:14-20, Jesus comes preaching and calls his first disciples. By looking at this narrative, we see what the passion and mission of Jesus was and still is. He calls us to believe in Him with total faith and follow Him in radical obedience.