When we examine baptism, we normally think that one professes Christ, and then that person is baptized. This would make the sign a sign of faith. We can assume that when Peter calls Israel to repent and he says, “For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” (Acts. 2:…

Fullness of Joy (My Soul Among Lions / Jody Killingsworth) https://songbook.warhornmedia.com/songs/psalm-16-fullness-of-joy-msal/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=crGl1F-q_-Q Fullness of Joy (Caroline Cobb feat. Shane Barnard / Caroline Cobb) https://carolinecobb.bandcamp.com/track/fullness-of-joy-feat-shane-barnard-psalm-16#lyrics https://www.youtu…

Oleh W. A. Criswell

Mary Magdalene goes out early in the morning to show her love for Christ. We know from Luke’s gospel that she heads out with the other women to prepare Christ for burial. John records for us that she went out alone or at least he does not tell us that she is with the other women. John wants us to hear Mary’s testimony alone. She runs to the discipl…

Daniel J. Mount and Chad Berry discuss the best four songs from Psalm 15. Your Holy Hill (My Soul Among Lions / Jody Killingsworth, Jake Mentzel) https://songbook.warhornmedia.com/songs/psalm-15-your-holy-hill-msal/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEUmA0fXjr0 Who, O Lord, With Thee Abiding https://hymnary.org/text/who_o_lord_with_thee_abiding Psalm…

Oleh W. A. Criswell

This is the last reading for our Good Friday and Easter series. We are going to be looking at John 20. This is the record of Christ being raised from the dead where the heavenly courts confirm Pilate’s words, “Behold Your King!” If Christ remains in the grave then we have no Easter message. If Christ is never raised it means that God as not overcom…

This is our reading for Good Friday as we enter into the Lord’s presence. It is the assurance that the Lord is the man, the one who has redeemed us securing us in our savior.Oleh Pastor Paul Lindemulder

As we prepare for Good Friday I read Isaiah 53. The background music is an old recording of my wife and daughter playing “Where You There?” My wife is on the piano and my daughter is on the cello. We have a Good Friday Service at our church at 6:30. We look forward to seeing you!Oleh Pastor Paul Lindemulder

Christ’s strong statements about the law and prophets are a response to the Pharisees’ letter of the law application of Moses. They are asking the question: what is my legal right? It is true that God sets boundaries in his law. However, the deeper question we are invited to ask is, “What pleases my Lord?” This radically changes one’s orientation i…

A rich man confronts his manager for squandering wealth. This manager is like the youngest son in the previous parable. He squanders the wealth. It appears that there is no plan. The rich man fires him from his position, but not immediately. The manager, realizing his limited options, knows that he is not able to do manual labor, and he is too prou…

Daniel J. Mount and Levi Johnston discuss the best nine songs from Psalm 14. Show Notes Free searchable database of expository songs: https://expositorysongs.com/ Audio version of podcast: https://expositorysongs.buzzsprout.com/ Featured Songs Lord, Protect Your People (Psalm 14) - Nathan Clark George https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JWplWgO22yo O t…

Normally we think of the parable of the prodigal son highlighting the contrast between a repentant sinner and a self-righteous individual. The younger son squanders his inheritance, leading to a life of hardship and desperation. Ultimately, he realizes his mistake, repents, and returns home, seeking forgiveness and a place as a servant. A prodigal …

Baptism is the sacrament that initiates us into the covenant of grace. We picture the water as representing the reality of being handed over to death, made alive, and triumphing in Christ. It reminds us of the pouring out of Christ’s blood for redemption and the establishment of a community to live for Him. We think of the water as the washing away…

Christ’s association with tax collectors and sinners, considered unclean by the Pharisees, posed a problem as it contradicted their understanding of holiness. They show their hand by being grumblers. This recalls for us tragic times in Israel’s history when Israel lost sight of God’s purpose. Christ does not directly interact with their complaint, …

Daniel J. Mount and Chad Berry discuss the best songs from Psalm 13. Show Notes Free searchable database of expository songs: https://expositorysongs.com/ Audio version of podcast: https://expositorysongs.buzzsprout.com/ Featured Songs How Long, O Lord, How Long (Psalm 13) (Sovereign Grace Music / Matthew Carpenter, Lisa Clow, Brittany Born, David …

Oleh W. A. Criswell

The means of grace, the preaching of the Gospel, and the sacraments are means that God uses to nourish Christians. They are not the source of life, but the means to being nourished by life. Sacraments communicate the visible gospel. While the sacraments are important, they should not be elevated above Christ or the preaching of the Gospel. They are…

Normally we think of God being a God of love. John, the beloved apostle repeats that God is love two times in his first letter. Christ does not communicate that God is love, but that we are called to hate our family and our own lives. This seems to contradict Moses's calling us to honor our parents. There are certainly other places we can appeal to…

Banquets are normally attended by people who are worthy to attend the banquet. If there is a prestigious banquet, it is for those who share prestige. The seating arrangements typically reflect the social significance of the guests. This is true for Rome, and this is true even in our day. In many cases, these gatherings can also be transactional, bu…

Oleh W. A. Criswell

Christ’s blessing is not based on personal righteousness, faith’s worthiness, or even outward covenant membership. Only receive Christ’s blessings through faith and the Spirit. The catechism clarifies that faith is the instrument by which we receive Christ’s blessings, secured by his righteousness, not our own. We only receive this by faith. This a…

The city of man will always try and triumph over the city of God. This is seen in the interaction between Christ and Herod. The Pharisees warn Jesus that Herod wants to kill him, but their motives are uncertain. They might be a faction that legitimately cares, or they might be with the rest of the Pharisees who want to silence Jesus. Herod himself …

Many times as Christians we can be influenced by Greek thought. We can fall into a mindset that the body is merely a temporary shell for the soul. However, Scripture teaches that God redeems his people as whole people. He redeems us body and soul. The apostle Paul, in 1 Corinthians 15, makes it clear that we are not merely escaping fleshly tombs in…

Jesus reminds us that we often ask the wrong questions, which leads us away from the truth. Instead of asking, “Have I done enough?” we should be asking if we are truly striving to enter through the narrow door on Christ’s terms. Many assume they are in good standing with God, much like thinking they are a luxury car with minor flaws. However, the …

Jesus continually overturns people’s expectations. Christ does not fail to disappoint when we continue in Luke 13 when He heals a woman on the Sabbath. This woman had been suffering for 18 years—bent over, unable to stand up straight. Christ heals this woman, but the leaders are outraged. Why such a reaction? Because their rigid view of the Sabbath…

Daniel J. Mount and Chad Berry discuss the best nine songs from Psalm 12. Show Notes Free searchable database of expository songs: https://expositorysongs.com/ Audio version of podcast: https://expositorysongs.buzzsprout.com/ Featured Songs The Words of the Lord (Psalm 12) - Jody Killingsworth|Jake Mentzel - My Soul Among Lions https://www.youtube.…

Oleh W. A. Criswell

Peter knows the weight of suffering. When Satan requested permission from Christ to sift Peter he caved. He denied his savior three times. One would think that such a record would disqualify Peter to talk about suffering. However, Peter encourages us to rejoice in suffering, feel blessed when insulted, and glorify God. This sounds a bit hypocritica…

So often we reduce Job down to a book about suffering, but we miss the deeper theodicy. Theodicy is dealing with the issue of a just God and suffering in this world. Job is a book about God showing he will triumph over Satan, and addressing the issue of theodicy. The seed of the woman will be crushed. Job, the main actor in this historic story, is …

Oleh W. A. Criswell

The return of Christ is not just a concept, but it’s a reality that orients and grounds how we live today. Many of us, when we think about His return, are either tempted to ignore it as something so future that we doubt Christ is coming at all. On the other hand we might fear the looming judgment. But Scripture tells us that Christ’s return is both…

Jody Killingsworth and Phil Moyer share the story of My Soul Among Lions. Show Notes Free searchable database of expository songs: https://expositorysongs.com/ Audio version of podcast: https://expositorysongs.buzzsprout.com/ My Soul Among Lions https://mysoulamonglions.com/ https://songbook.warhornmedia.com/songs/ https://www.facebook.com/MySoulAm…

Colossians 3:1-4 assures us of the significance of Christ’s dual nature and heavenly position. Lord’s Day 18 contrasts two heretical views that contradict the two natures of Christ: Eutychianism and Nestorianism. Eutychianism blends the two natures in such a way that Christ is a hybrid human who is a man god or god man, but not God and man. The div…

The Christian life is often seen as one where believers coast carelessly in Christ's finished work, secure in their righteousness through Him being completely indifferent to morality. However, the gospel calls for a responsive life, marked by tenderness and sensitivity to Christ's leading, driven by new desires as the Holy Spirit works in Christ’s …

Oleh W. A. Criswell

The resurrection of Christ is a profound doctrine that assures us of our redemption and transformation in Christ. While it might seem straightforward—Christ lived, died, took our sin, and was raised to life—the challenge lies in understanding its full implications for us today. Some may believe that Christ’s resurrection means we have already reach…

The passage explores Christ’s teaching on material wealth and priorities through the lens of a parable about a man seeking his inheritance. Initially, the issue is framed around a personal dispute where one brother demands his share, revealing a heart of covetousness rather than a concern for family legacy or honoring God’s wisdom. Christ rebukes t…

Oleh W. A. Criswell

Oleh W. A. Criswell

Christ enters history as the suffering servant to overcome the problem of sin. Sin’s problem is deeper than we can imagine. Sin’s depth and severity demand a redemption only Christ provides and overcomes. The problem of sin is a hellish problem. Christ’s being fully God and fully man enables him to endure the eternal punishment of hell in a way we …

In Luke 12:1-12, Jesus confronts the hypocrisy of the Pharisees, warning his disciples to beware of the “leaven of the Pharisees.” This is the fermented product from the old loaf that is put in the new loaf. He exposes the dangers of living for outward appearance rather than living by faith in the Holy Spirit. True piety is living before the face o…

In Galatians 3:10-14, Paul makes clear that we are not going to remove the sting of death by our works. The law demands perfect obedience, and no one can meet its standard. This reveals the depth of human sin and the impossibility of earning God’s favor through self-effort. Paul underscores that righteousness comes not through the law but by faith,…

What do we make of the statement, “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” Does this mean that Christ is a sinner? If that is the case then we are in a horrible predicament. What does Paul mean? Paul is describing the heart of the Gospel and the ministry of reconciliation. He explains …

Christ’s birth turns the world values upside down. Ceasar established world peace, but the story communicates that Ceasar can only maintain peace through power. This is contrasted to the true king born in a peasant’s home God is showing us something profound: His kingdom doesn’t operate according to the world’s priorities of wealth, power, and stat…

We can misunderstand redemption. We can make redemption something that is sentimental and miss the deeper implications of redemption. Israel is enslaved for 400 years. We can think of their redemption through the Red Sea, but miss the point that they deserve to be cast down and held in bondage. We also see that we are redeemed because Christ is the…

Christ enters history through a scandalous line calling into question his credibility. However, God defies human expectations. We expect the Lord to fail, but he succeeds. The Lord shows that he can take broken and sinful people and use them to secure his victory. He is bigger and stronger than his people. Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, and Bathsheba display …

Paul opens the chapter by reminding believers of their freedom in Christ: “For freedom, Christ has set us free; stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery” (v. 1). The gospel frees us from striving in the flesh that misses Christ, and the gospel as we conform in our power. It also shines a light so we see where we sinfully …

Daniel J. Mount and Chad Berry discuss the best ten songs from Psalm 11. Show Notes Free searchable database of expository songs: https://expositorysongs.com/ Audio version of podcast: https://expositorysongs.buzzsprout.com/ Featured Songs Refuge (Psalm 11) (Jody Killingsworth|Jake Mentzel, My Soul Among Lions) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3b7l…

Genesis 21 recounts the fulfillment of God’s long-awaited promise to Abraham and Sarah—the birth of Isaac. This chapter centers on God’s faithfulness, the nature of grace, and the surprising ways God accomplishes His purposes. The chapter opens with the Lord visiting Sarah, just as He had promised (v. 1). At the age of 90, Sarah gives birth to Isaa…