Sermons

Abundant Redemption

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When Zechariah saw his newborn son and the Lord opened his mouth, the priest rejoiced, “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people!” (Luke 1:68). This is the first mention of redemption in the New Testament. But it’s far from the first mention in the Bible. Redemption is a rich theme that flows through Scripture like a mighty river.

Redemption from slavery is one example. In ancient times, slavery was often the fate of prisoners of war. It was also a last resort for those who fell into deep debt. If you were struggling to survive, and you or your family couldn’t pay up, you could liquidate any remaining assets and try to pay off the debt. If you still didn’t have enough money, the only thing left was to essentially “put yourself up for sale” and become a kind of indentured servant.

There was however a provision that a family member — or even you personally — could pay the “ransom price” and be released from your debt. Leviticus 25:47–49 says, “If … your brother … becomes poor and sells himself to the stranger or sojourner with you or to a member of the stranger’s clan, then after he is sold he may be redeemed. One of his brothers may redeem him, or his uncle or his cousin may redeem him, or a close relative from his clan may redeem him. Or if he grows rich he may redeem himself.

When we get to the New Testament, stories like this help us appreciate what Jesus did for us on the cross. He was literally paying the ransom price to pay off our sin debt. This is explained in 1 Peter 1:18–19 knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.

We did a deep dive of this topic in a recent sermon at Calvary Church West Hills. In this study, we looked at several examples of redemption and what they mean for us today…

  • Jacob – redeemed from evil
  • Israel – redeemed from Egypt
  • Firstborn – redeemed from death
  • Freedmen – redeemed from slavery
  • Ruth – redeemed from danger
  • How does redemption apply to us today??

Here’s the audio link if you’d like to listen:

Thanks for listening! For other sermons to help your spiritual walk, please visit my Sermon Hub page.

Question: As you think about the fact Christ redeemed you from sin, what emotions and thoughts go through your mind? Leave a comment below.

Journal

Vote, Dear Christian

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When it comes to voting, every Christian should do it. To not vote is to let someone with different moral convictions get 100% of their way.

I get it. Those of us in California are often forced to choose between two candidates that are mediocre at best and abysmal at worst. So choose the lesser of two evils if you have to.

By voting for someone, you’re not saying you love everything about them or everything they say or do. You’re saying given the options available, this one will likely lead the best, will likely surround themselves with better advisors, and will likely do the least damage.

So pray for wisdom, do your research, cast your vote, and leave the results to God. Imagine if every Christian in California voted. 100% turnout of Christians in our state. I guarantee it would tip the scale in some elections and maybe even make this a better place for our kids and grandkids.

For voter guides I recommend Robyn Nordell and Craig Huey.

Sermons

Unexpected Kindness

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We used to have a dove family that nested in a hanging flower basket outside our kitchen window. They became such a part of us that we named them Sarah and Albert. Every spring, Sarah and Albert would return, build a nest, and raise a couple young chicks. I’m not sure how long doves live. It’s possible we even had several generations of doves roosting in the same spot.

For weeks we would watch Sarah patiently roost and care for her eggs. Whether hot or cold, sunny or rainy, she would hunker down and protect her eggs. Then the day would come, and for the first time, we’d see two tiny heads peeking out below mama’s breast.

The baby doves were completely helpless apart from Sarah. And she spent nearly every waking moment caring for them. If we walked outside and startled her, she would swoop away, feign injury, and flop around to cause a diversion. She would do anything to steal attention away from her young, even willing to lay down her life for them. Sarah would continue feeding them until they were old enough and strong enough to fly off on their own. Then we would say goodbye for another season.

God chooses this amazing animal behavior to describe his own tender love and care for us. He says, “Are you afraid? Trust in me. Find refuge. Here, draw close, and I’ll cover you in my wings.”

Psalm 36:7–8 says, How precious is your steadfast love, O God! The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings. They feast on the abundance of your house, and you give them drink from the river of your delights.

In Psalm 57:1, the psalmist prays, Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me, for in you my soul takes refuge; in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge, till the storms of destruction pass by.

Is that your prayer today? In Ruth chapter 2, we learn how God provided for Ruth and covered her under the wings of Boaz. I preached on this passage several months ago at Calvary Church.

In this study, we learned about…

  • Farming in ancient Israel
  • A plan to take care of the poor
  • People are watching how we act as Christians
  • God cares for us like a bird with its young
  • Boaz proves himself a generous and righteous man 

Here’s the audio:

Thanks for listening! For other sermons to help your spiritual walk, please visit my Sermon Hub page.

Sermons

God is Not Done

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When bad things happen to us, one of the most common mistakes is to think God is done. Don’t let that bad situation define you. There’s still more to the story.

Even in a situation as ugly and tragic as sexual abuse, God is still working things out for his glory and our good. In their book Rid of My Disgrace, Justin and Lindsey Holcomb talk about the long recovery process from sexual abuse. “If your future is based on Christ, you can have hope that your present sufferings are not the final cries in an empty universe. Instead, your cries are the prelude of joy at the final redemption. Through Christ, God has secured your eternal life and salvation. Because of that you can have hope; God is not done with you.”

That’s a beautiful statement. Your cries are the “prelude of joy.” I shared more about this in a sermon on Ruth 1 several months ago at Calvary Church. In this study, we learned…

  • You are not alone in your suffering
  • Early glimpses at Ruth’s faith
  • No other God is worthy of our trust
  • What to do with your ugly past

Here’s the audio:

Thanks for listening. Click here to find more sermons to help you grow in your walk with God.

Question: Can you think of a situation that started out really bad, but over time, in the rear view mirror, you could begin to see the fingerprints of God? Share your story below!

Sermons

God Provides

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God is the Great Provider.

Sometimes the Lord provides in ordinary ways. When you wake up in the morning and feel the sun radiating on your skin, God is providing you with heat, light, and energy. When a low pressure system moves in and you hear the rain begin to fall, God is replenishing our lakes and providing you with life-giving water. When God enables Dad or Mom to work and earn a paycheck, God is providing you with basic needs for the family.

Never overlook the normal ways God provides for you. This is also a good reason to pray before every meal. You are pausing to acknowledge all good things from God and thanking him for his provision.

God also provides in unexpected — even miraculous — ways. He provided a ram in the bushes for Abraham. He provided manna from heaven for the Israelites. He provided a path through the Red Sea for Israel as they fled Egypt. He provided a Savior for us by sending his one and only Son to die on the cross and rise again.

Jesus says not to worry, because God knows your needs, and he promises to provide. “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?” (Matthew 6:25)

In Judges 21, God provides for the tribe of Benjamin in an extraordinary way. Be encouraged that God has a plan for you and promises to meet your needs too! Here’s the link to a sermon I preached a while back on this topic…

Thoughts on Life and Leadership