Looking to Jesus, with Brian G. Hedges
“Looking to Jesus” features the preaching ministry of Brian G. Hedges, lead pastor at Redeemer Church in Niles, Michigan. Brian’s sermons are focused on the Christ-centered exposition and application of the Scriptures. His aim in preaching is to be “true to the text, true to the gospel, and true to life.” New episodes are released every week or two. Brian and his wife, Holly, have been married since 1996 and have four children. Brian is the author of Christ Formed in You; Christ All Sufficient; The Story of His Glory; Watchfulness: Recovering a Lost Spiritual Discipline, and other books. He enjoys working out, playing golf, and reading. Among his favorite authors are Saint Augustine, John Calvin, John Owen, Charles Spurgeon, Martyn Lloyd-Jones, and C. S. Lewis.
Episodes
You say you’re a Christian, but is Jesus at the center of your thoughts, affections, ambitions, and desires? Brian Hedges encourages you to:
(10:06) 1. Set Your Mind on the Person and Work of Christ
(16:32) 2. Put on the Character of Christ
(20:23) 3. Be Faithful to the Body of Christ
(27:55) 4. Be Filled with the Word of Christ
(35:04) 5. Live for the Name of Christ
When you travel internationally, your passport is the main proof of who you are and which country you belong to. Brian Hedges draws an analogy to show that, if you’re a Christian, your spiritual passport is your identity in Christ. He takes you to Ephesians 1 to show you:
(9:40) 1. You are chosen in Christ.
(17:38) 2. You are adopted in Christ.
(23:17) 3. You are forgiven in Christ.
(29:57) 4. You are secure in Christ.
Podcast Description: When you meet Jesus personally, your whole identity is re-centered. It transforms you. That’s what happened to Saul of Tarsus. In this message, see:
(8:04) 1. Identity before Christ
(14:52) 2. A Transforming Encounter with Christ
(33:17) 3. New Identity in Christ
Read the transcript of this sermon here.
Everyone longs to be noticed. Known. Cared about. Be comforted and challenged as Brian Hedges shares these powerful principles from Psalm 139:
(7:25) 1. God Knows You Better Than You Know Yourself
(13:56) 2. You Cannot Hide Yourself from God
(23:06) 3. You Are Uniquely Created by God
(31:30) 4. God Loves You with an Immeasurable, Covenantal, Saving Love
Read the transcript of this sermon here.
The crisis of identity we face is, at its core, an issue of misplaced worship. Brian Hedges shows us
(9:56) 1. What Idolatry Is
(21:01) 2. How Idols Shape Identity
(30:32) 3. How the Gospel Frees Us from Idols
Read the transcript of this sermon here.
It’s common to hear messages like “You do you” or “Be true to yourself” or “Just follow your heart.” Brian Hedges sees them as symptoms of an underlying confusion about who we are and why we exist. In this episode, he explains:
(5:01) 1. The Nature of Identity
(10:23) 2. The Crisis of Identity
(29:07) 3. The Biblical Basis for Identity
Read the transcript of this sermon here.
If you have doubts either that the resurrection occurred or that it matters, Brian Hedges offers two lines of reasoning:
(1:51) 1. The Evidence for the Resurrection
(16:27) 2. The Significance of the Resurrection
Read the transcript of this sermon here.
Jesus showed what a radically different kind of king he is by dying in the place of his people. In this message, Brian Hedges helps us understand:
(6:46) 1. The Scandal of the Cross
(11:54) 2. The Meaning of the Cross
(21:33) 3. The Power of the Cross
Read the transcript of this sermon here.
The triumphal entry had a lot more to it than just a crowd of people putting palm branches on the ground for Jesus. Brian Hedges helps us see:
(5:40) 1. The Uniqueness of the King
(19:01) 2. The Agenda of the King
(30:34) 3. The Followers of the King
Read the transcript of this sermon here.
Have you ever asked God for wisdom and guidance in a given situation? Psalm 25 is just that kind of prayer. Brian Hedges gives us five things to do from this psalm:
(6:53) 1. Fear the Lord
(13:05) 2. Learn His Truth
(19:28) 3. Obey His Commands
(23:04) 4. Ask for His Mercy
(28:50) 5. Wait for His Help
What burdens you? What causes you confusion, even anger? Pastor Brian Hedges takes you to Psalm 55, where King David describes, expresses, and addresses:
(6:41) 1. The Storm of Emotion
(11:47) 2. The Desire to Escape
(17:10) 3. The Rhetoric of Outrage
(24:21) 4. The Discipline of Prayer
(27:27) 5. The God Who Hears
Read the sermon transcript here.
Do you know what you need more than anything else? According to God’s word, it’s not more money or better relationships or a great job. Brian Hedges takes us to Psalm 15 to explain that our greatest need is for righteousness.
Outline:
(2:59) 1. Why do we need it? (Righteousness required)
(10:43) 2. What does it look like? (Righteousness described)
(19:34) 3. How do we get it? (Righteousness provided)
Scripture often uses metaphors and word pictures to help us understand deeper truth. Psalm 107 has four of them. Join Brian Hedges to explore:
(04:22) Picture 1: Rescue for the Wandering
(11:22) Picture 2: Freedom for the Captives
(15:02) Picture 3: Healing for the Afflicted
(19:21) Picture 4: The Stilling of the Storm
Sermon transcript and video
Redeemer.ch
What are you longing for? Brian Hedges reminds us that we all have desires, but only God can satisfy our deepest longings. He takes us to Psalm 84 to explain:
(03:48) 1. Desire for God
(10:36) 2. The Journey to God
(16:08) 3. Communion with God
What are you proud of? That’s what you are boasting in. In this episode, Brian Hedges shows us:
(5:38) 1. Everyone Boasts in Something
(11:34) 2. Boasting in the Cross
(33:35) 3. How Does This Change Us?
Understand the gospel better
Redeemer.ch
A computer’s output is greatly affected by the input. Or, to use Paul's metaphor, what you plant affects the harvest. The same is true in your life. Brian Hedges helps you think through:
(5:50) 1. The Environment for Sowing
(17:47) 2. The Practices of Sowing
(33:14) 3. Reaping the Harvest
Understand the gospel better
Redeemer.ch
What habits can you develop that will help you grow to be more like Jesus? How can you walk by the Spirit rather than giving in to the desires of the flesh? In this episode, Brian Hedges shows us that life in the Spirit is:
(4:26) 1. A Life of Conflict
(20:34) 2. A Life of Growth
(33:47) 3. A Life Under Grace
Understand the gospel better
Redeemer.ch
Everyone talks about peace, but ultimate peace is elusive. Brian Hedges takes us to Scripture to answer these questions:
(4:34) 1. What is peace, and why do we need it?
(9:25) 2. Why is Jesus the Prince of Peace?
(19:42) 3. How do we live in the kingdom of peace?
Sermon video and transcript
Redeemer.ch
What does it mean that our King is called "Everlasting Father"? Brian Hedges explains:
(6:38) 1. He is the Eternal One.
(8:55) 2. He is our Creator and Redeemer.
(11:53) 3. He is our Provider and Protector.
(14:42) 4. He is Merciful and Compassionate.
(18:09) 5. He Disciplines and Instructs.
And Brian asks these application questions:
(22:54) A. Have you recognized your deep "father hunger...
You and I have an innate desire to be rescued by a Champion who fights for us. See why Jesus is that Champion, as you consider:
(6:42) 1. Our King is the Divine Warrior
(15:22) 2. The Divine Warrior Comes to Rescue Us from Darkness
(28:03) 3. The Divine Warrior Rescues Us from Darkness through Self-Sacrifice
Sermon video and transcript
Redeemer.ch
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