Reformed & Expository Preaching

The Transition from Law to Prayer

The law of God is an invitation to examine the heart, and prayer is the heart turning to God. We need to see that prayer is our heart’s alignment with God, not simply outward behaviors, and the continuity of biblical teaching from law to intimate, hon...

Test the Teachers

Now it is Christ’s turn to ask a question of the leaders. He wants them to solve a riddle from Psalm 110. How is David a father and also a worshipper of his son at the same time? Christ is challenging the scribes and chief priests by questioning their understanding of the Messia...

The Law of God and the Heart

The Heidelberg Catechism concludes its teaching on the Law of God by showing that the Ten Commandments are not merely outward checklists but matters of the heart. The first commandment calls us to love and serve the true God.  We do this by discerning God’s will by the Spir...

Christ’s Mission and Unwavering Obedience

Christ enters his ministry fully aware of his mission and his fate: he must live a perfect life, die at the proper time as the true Passover Lamb, and be raised by the Father and the Spirit. His path is one of precise obedience, never deviating from the prophets or ...

The Ninth Commandment and the Weight of Truth

The Ninth Commandment warns against lying, gossip, slander, and twisting words. Though people often treat dishonesty as a "small sin," Scripture consistently elevates truthfulness as central to Christian love and faithfulness. The catechism emphasizes that decep...

The Challenge of Romans 6

Sinclair Ferguson’s Devoted to God highlights the difficulty of Romans 6, reminding us that even Peter admitted some of Paul’s writings are hard to understand (2 Peter 3:15). Dr. Martin Lloyd-Jones once said he would preach Romans when he fully understood chapter 6. The challenge c...

The Deeper Meaning of “You Shall Not Steal”

We have to follow the Lord’s law to perfection because even a small amount of failure would condemn us. While many might limit “stealing” to obvious acts like robbery or shoplifting, the catechism reveals deeper implications, including deceptive business practices...

Authority Challenged

As Jesus teaches in the temple courts, the religious leaders approach Him with a pointed question: “By what authority are you doing these things?” Their inquiry appears sincere.  They should learn why Christ is teaching here.  He has just cleared out the temple.  Rather t...

Defining God’s Law and the Call to Holiness

The way we define God’s law matters deeply. A superficial reading can lead to a misunderstanding of the law.  We can read it in such a way that we nail it because we measure up to it by our understanding of it every time.  But when we see it through God’...

Christ’s Entry into Jerusalem and the Divided Reception
Jesus approaches Jerusalem, the city meant to embody peace and God’s presence. Although pilgrims herald him as the Messiah, Christ knows his fate: rejection. This tension between celebration and impending suffering highlights the irony of the moment: the city that should welcome its King is blind to his true mi...

As Christ approaches Jerusalem, expectations are high among the people, who anticipate the visible and immediate arrival of God’s kingdom. Christ is presenting a tone of a peace transition even while bringing judgment. The approach through the Mount of Olives carries deep prophetic significance, connecting to Zechariah’s vision of both judgment and deliverance at the M...

As Jesus journeys to Jerusalem, He tells a parable that echoes the story of Herod Archelaus, who is a harsh ruler.  In fact, his own subjects protested his reign. In the parable, a nobleman departs to receive a kingdom, entrusting his servants with a single mina each. Upon returning, he rewards those who invested wisely with more, but punishes both the rebellious ...

The Lord’s Sabbath rest signifies His rest from creation.  There is a promise that this world was never intended to last in its state, but was intended to be glorified.  The Lord does not enter his sabbath rest because he is tired, but because he publishes the assurance of truly resting in the shalom, wholeness, of the Lord’s kingdom. Adam was supposed to ent...

Children are contrasted to a blind beggar while an unnamed rich ruler is contrasted to a rich tax collector.  The problem: This man named Zacchaeus, meaning “righteous”, does not measure up to righteousness.  Luke affirms this by telling us that the man is short in stature.  This is not just height, but even morality or significance.