Christ the King Newton Sermons
Podcast of Christ the King Presbyterian Church in Newton
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Podcast of Christ the King Presbyterian Church in Newton
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“If a person has grasped the meaning of God's grace in his heart, he will do justice. If he doesn't live justly, then he may say with his lips that he is grateful for God's grace, but in his heart he is far from him. If he doesn't care about the poor, it reveals that at best he doesn't understand the grace he has experienced, and at worst he has not really encountered the saving mercy of God. Grace should make you just.” - Tim Keller, Generous Justice Generous Justice (James 5:1-6) Rev. Nathan Barczi James 5:1-6
These troubles and distresses that you go through in these waters are no sign that God hath forsaken you, but are sent to try you whether you will call to mind that which heretofore you have received of his goodness, and live upon him in your distresses. —John Bunyan, The Pilgrim’s Progress Our Defining Journey (Hebrews 2:6-10) Rev. Rick Lints Hebrews 2:6-10
“Neither the nature of any created thing,… nor the weakness of the flesh, can prevail against the will of God. For God is not subject to created things, but created things to God; and all things yield obedience to his will.” —Irenaeus, Against Heresies 5.5.2. Divine Promise (James 4:13-17) Rev. Nathan Barczi James 4:13-17
Nietzsche says that the illusion of willpower rests on our tendency to identify with the part of our soul that commands, not the part that obeys. On one hand, the will is desire. On the other, the will is necessary only when you need to act against your desires. The will is both problem and solution, and to fight will with will is to end up even more entangled. —Meghan O’Gieblyn For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. … Wretched man that I am! Who will delive
“Love for our neighbors, then, like love for ourselves, involves something vastly more significant than the meeting of individual needs. It involves God’s reaching out in us and through us to build a kingdom, a sphere of rulership, in which his will is done in the fallen world as it is in the sinless heavens; in which cruelty and disorder and the distortion caused by sin are supplanted by love, order, and righteousness. Loving obedience to God produces much more than individual goodness, respectability and the alleviation of suffering. It builds the kingdom of heaven.” -Richard Lovelace, Renew
If you want to give a hungry man a tract, wrap it up in a sandwich. — Charles H Spurgeon Definition of Living Faith (James 2:14-26) Rev. Bradley Barnes James 2:14-26
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.” — Romans 1:16-17 Thirst for Justice (Habakkuk 2:1-20) Rev. Bruce Cooke Habakkuk 2:1-20
“Mercy is the highest art and the shield of those who practice it. It is the friend of God, standing always next to him and freely blessing whatever he wishes. It must not be despised by us. For in its purity it grants great liberty to those who respond to it in kind. It must be shown to those who have quarreled with us, as well as to those who have sinned against us, so great is its power. It breaks chains, dispels darkness, extinguishes fire, kills the worm and takes away the gnashing of teeth. By it the gates of heaven open with the greatest of ease. In short, mercy is a queen which makes m
“Give me the grace to be impatient for the time when I shall see You face to face and need no stimulus than that to adore You.” — Flannery O’Connor, A Prayer Journal Seeking His Face (James 1:19-27) Rev. Nathan Barczi James 1:19-27
Nicodemus: “Rabbi, we all know you’re a teacher straight from God. No one could do all the God-pointing, God-revealing acts you do if God weren’t in on it.” Jesus: You’re absolutely right. Take it from me: Unless a person is born from above, it’s not possible to see what I’m pointing to—to God’s kingdom.” Nicodemus: “How can anyone be born who has already been born and grown up? You can’t re-enter your mother’s womb and be born again. What are you saying with this ‘born-from-above’ talk?” Jesus: “You’re not listening. Let me say it again. Unless a person submits to this original creation—the ‘
“Put away doubting and do not hesitate to ask of the Lord. Do not say to yourself: ‘How can I ask of the Lord and receive from him, seeing that I have sinned so much against him?’ Do not reason with yourself like this, but turn to the Lord with all your heart and ask of him without doubting, and you will know the multitude of his tender mercies, that he will never leave you but fulfi ll the request of your soul.” — Shepherd of Hermas, 2nd century James: Portrait of a Living Faith (James 1:1-11) Rev. Nathan Barczi James 1:1-11
But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.” —Author unknown, Lam.3:21-24 Two Ways to Interact with Jesus (Luke 10:38-42) Rev. Bradley Barnes Luke 10:38-42
God moves in a mysterious way, his wonders to perform; he plants his footsteps in the sea, and rides upon the storm. Deep in unfathomable mines, of never-failing skill; he fashions up his bright designs, and works his sovereign will. Ye fearful saints fresh courage take, the clouds that you much dread, are big with mercy and will break in blessings on your head. Judge not the Lord by feeble sense, but trust him for his grace; behind a frowning providence, he hides a smiling face. His purposes will ripen fast, unfolding every hour; the bud may have a bitter taste, but sweet will be the flower.
“Thy Mercy is more than a match for my heart, which wonders to feel its own hardness depart; dissolved by thy goodness, I fall to the ground, and weep to the praise of the mercy I’ve found.” — John Stocker, Thy Mercy My God Jesus Turns the Test (Luke 10:25-37) Rev. Bradley Barnes Luke 10:25-37
The Mission of God (Luke 10:17-24) Rev. Nathan Barczi “Christians go into the world as witnesses of the kingdom (Acts 1:6-8). To spread the kingdom of God is more than simply winning people to Christ. It is also working for the healing of persons, families, relationships, and nations; it is doing deeds of mercy and seeking justice. It is reordering lives and relationships and institutions and communities according to God’s authority to bring in the blessedness of the kingdom.” — Tim Keller, Ministries of Mercy Luke 10: 17-24
“He left His Father’s throne above, so free, so infinite his grace! Emptied himself of all but love, and bled for Adam’s helpless race. ‘‘Tis mercy all, immense and free, For Oh my God, it found out me!” — Charles Wesley, d.1788 On Mission (Luke 10:1-16) Rev. Bradley Barnes Luke 10:1-16
The cross was not an accident. It was planned in eternity, and it was for this, Jesus said, that he had come. He had come to die. And in his moment of death the holiness of God and our sin collided. This is what called forth his cry of dereliction. ... The truth is that Christ’s death is simply incomprehensible if we do not start with the demands of God’s holiness, which cannot tolerate sin’s violations. ... What we see at the cross is the white-hot revelation of the character of God, of his love providing the price that his holiness requires.” —David F. Wells Why Follow Him? (Luke 9:51-62) R
“Those of low estate are but a breath; those of high estate are a delusion; in the balances they go up;they are together lighter than a breath.” —Psalm 62:8 The Disciples (Luke 9:46-50) Rev. Bradley Barnes Luke 9:46-50
“Posterity shall serve him; it shall be told of the Lord to the coming generation; they shall come and proclaim his righteousness to a people yet unborn, that he has done it.” -Psalm 22:30-31 Listening to Jesus (Luke 9:37-45) Rev. Nathan Barczi Luke 9:37–45
“Do you believe your faith? Do you believe this I am telling you? Do you believe a day is coming, really coming, when you will stand before the throne of God, and the angels will whisper together and say, ‘How like Christ he is?’ That is not easy to believe. And yet not to believe is blasphemy. For that, not less than that, is what Christ promises.” — Robert Rainy, Principal, New College, Edinburgh, Scotland Jesus Transfigured (Luke 9:28-36) Rev. Bradley Barnes Luke 9:28-36
“Talk to me about the truth of religion and I’ll gladly listen. Talk to me about the duty of religion and I’ll listen submissively. But don’t come talking to me about the consolations of religion or I shall suspect that you don’t understand.” — C.S. Lewis “Th e whole idea that there is a privileged era for being a Christian is a strange one.” — Rowan Williams Who Is This? (Luke 9:18-27) Rev. Nathan Barczi Luke 9:18-27
“We cannot present a reason for Christ to finally close off his heart to his own sheep. No such reason exists. Every human friend has a limit. If we offend enough, if a relationship gets damaged enough, if we betray enough times, we are cast out. The walls go up. With Christ, our sins and weaknesses are the very resumé items that qualify us to approach him. Nothing but coming to him is required—first at conversion and a thousand times thereafter until we are with him upon death.” — Dane Ortlund, Gentle and Lowly Discipleship Focused on Jesus (Luke 9:10-17) Rev. Bradley Barnes Luke 9:10-17
“‘Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.’” — Jesus, Matthew 11:28-30, The Message The How, the Why, and the Who of Discipleship (Luke 9:1-9) Rev. Nathan Barczi Luke 9:1-9
“Those who are well have no need for a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.” — Jesus, Luke 5 All Eyes on Jesus (Luke 8:40-56) Rev. Bradley Barnes Luke 8:40-56
“On the whole, I do not find Christians, outside of the catacombs, sufficiently sensible of conditions. Does anyone have the foggiest idea what sort of power we so blithely invoke? Or, as I suspect, does no one believe a word of it? The churches are children playing on the floor with their chemistry sets, mixing up a batch of TNT to kill a Sunday morning. It is madness to wear ladies’ straw hats and velvet hats to church; we should all be wearing crash helmets. Ushers should issue life preservers and signal flares; they should lash us to our pews. For the sleeping god may wake someday and take
