This week, I’ll be sharing a sermon prepared during my preaching class at Southern Seminary. It’s one of the very first sermons I preached, so it’s a bit unpolished and runs about 18-19 minutes; we kept them brief since each student (about 25 of us) had to preach over a couple of weeks. Starting next week, I’ll begin posting sermons from my three years pastoring at Sovereign Grace Church, each adapted specifically for this podcast. I will be starting with the Gospel of Matthew.

Today's message comes from James 3:7-12. James addresses the power and difficulty of controlling the tongue. In these verses, James notes that while humans can tame animals, the tongue is uniquely challenging to restrain. He describes it as a "restless evil" full of poison, capable of both blessing God and cursing people who are made in God’s likeness. James emphasizes the inconsistency of using the same mouth to bless and curse, illustrating with examples from nature: fresh and salt water cannot flow from the same spring, and a fig tree cannot bear olives. He calls for consistency in speech, suggesting that our words should align with our faith.

1 Peter 4:7-11 emphasizes the importance of living faithfully as the end of all things draws near. It urges believers to be alert and self-controlled so they can pray effectively. The passage stresses maintaining deep love for each other, as love covers many sins, and encourages hospitality without complaining. Each person is called to use their gifts to serve others, faithfully managing God's grace. Those who speak should do so with God's words, and those who serve should do so with God's strength, so that in everything, God may be glorified through Jesus Christ.

This sermon was preached on August 16, 2015 at Sovereign Grace Church in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky. For those familiar with my journey, that was after my time in Cleveland. You’ll notice my voice sounds noticeably weaker and tired. Less than a year later there would be some, even more serious, medical challenges I would face (around Mid-May of 2016). Due to circumstances, the next sermon will be posted until November 10,2024.

Matthew 8:18-22 (NIV) describes Jesus' interaction with two would-be disciples and highlights the cost of following Him. In this passage, Jesus emphasizes that following Him requires total commitment and may involve sacrifices, such as the loss of personal comfort and even family obligations.

In Matthew 4:23-25, Jesus begins his public ministry in Galilee. He travels throughout the region, teaching in synagogues, proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing people of all kinds of sicknesses and diseases. His fame quickly spreads throughout Syria, and people bring to him those suffering from various illnesses, including demon possession, seizures, and paralysis, and he heals them all. As a result, large crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and beyond the Jordan follow him, drawn by his teachings and miraculous healings.

In Jonah chapter 2, Jonah finds himself inside the belly of a big fish after being swallowed up. While in the fish, Jonah prays to the Lord acknowledging God's power and thanking him for being rescued from drowning. Jonah describes his desperate situation, feeling trapped and cut off from God. Yet, he expresses faith that God will save him (in other words, Jonah recognizes that the fish is both an instrument of judgment and an instrument of grace, both at the same time). He acknowledges that salvation comes from the Lord and vows to fulfill his promises to God. After the prayer, God eventually commands the fish to spit up Jonah onto dry land.

Today's message comes from Matthew 4:18-22. In this passage, Jesus calls His first disciples, Peter, Andrew, James, and John, who immediately leave their livelihood and families to follow Him. It reflects the decisive and transformative nature of Jesus' call to discipleship.

Today's sermon is from 1 Timothy 1:18-20. In these verses, Paul addresses the importance of faith and good conscience in the Christian life. He urges Timothy to fight the good fight, holding on to his faith and clear conscience. He mentions some individuals who have strayed from this path, warning against their destructive influence. This passage highlights the significance of perseverance in faith and the dangers of turning away from it.

Matthew 28:16-20 is a passage from the New Testament where Jesus gives His final instructions to His disciples after His resurrection. Here’s a summary:

The eleven remaining disciples go to a mountain in Galilee, as Jesus had directed them. When they see Him, they worship, though some still doubt. Jesus then approaches them and gives the Great Commission. He tells them that all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Him. He commands them to go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey all that He has commanded. He concludes by promising His continued presence, saying, “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”