In this sermon, Pastor Babij examines Jesus’ return to Nazareth, Jesus’ hometown. Pastor Babij explains how the town’s inhabitants, as they continually question and take offense at Jesus, actually display the most heinous sin of all before God. Pastor Babij also points out how many today are just like the people of Nazareth and explains how Christians ought…
In this sermon, Pastor Babij identifies the fundamental problem with most people’s understanding of salvation: they start with what Jesus accomplished on the cross instead of the glorious character of God. As a result, most people create a false version of God in their minds and do not take their spiritual condition very seriously. To correct this…
What analogy best describes the Christian life? In his sermon, Greg Ho examines the analogy used by Paul in Romans 6:15-23: slavery to Jesus Christ and His grace. From the passage, Greg Ho explains four characteristics of every slave of God: an eager obedience to God’s Word, aggressiveness in good works, a motivation to attain a well-lived life,…
In this sermon, Pastor Babij finishes analyzing the narrative sandwich of Mark 5:21-43, this time focusing on Jairus and the death of Jairus’ daughter. Pastor Babij explains how Jesus’ power, compassion, and authority are all put on display as Jesus raises Jairus’ daughter from the dead. Pastor Babij also discusses how this episode previews Christ’s ultimate…
In this sermon, Pastor Babij looks at the narrative sandwich regarding Jairus’ dying daughter and the woman with the bleeding issue. In part 1, Pastor Babij focuses on the desperate woman with the bleeding issue, explaining how her encounter with Jesus reveals more about the identify of Jesus, the compassion of Jesus, the power of Jesus, and…
Are Christian just sinners like everyone else? In this sermon, elder candidate Greg Ho examines Romans 6:1-14 and points out the problem with the increasingly popular “Hyper-Grace” movement. Greg Ho explains that Christians actually will exhibit lives of holiness as result of being joined to Jesus; that is, believers cannot help being changed by Jesus. Specifically, based on…
In this sermon, Pastor Babij investigates Jesus’ interaction with the man possessed by a legion of demons in Mark 5. Pastor Babij explains that this account is really focused not on the demoniac, but on Jesus, showing the following about Jesus: His preeminence, His power, His mercy, and His mission. Jesus directly contrasts everything that a demon…
In this lesson, we examine Sodom and Gomorrah’s destruction. Why did God judge these cities? Why did God spare Lot? How do we today compare to these ancient cities? This account in Genesis has much to tell us of God’s holiness, justice, and mercy.
In this lesson, we look at God’s reiterations of His covenant with Abram. Specifically, we examine the covenant ceremony of Genesis 15, the covenant sign in Genesis 17, and then the covenant commentary in the New Testament. Abram emerges as an example of and the father of those who believe God and are counted righteous.
In this sermon, Pastor Babij explains Jesus’ Parable of the Mustard Seed. This parable, too, speaks of God’s Kingdom, and how a humble and insignificant looking beginning will later result in a globally significant dominion containing all nations of the earth. Pastor Babij also summarizes the parables presented in Mark 4 and asks how Jesus wants us to…