A Journey of Deliverance: The Law and Gospel and Slavery (Exodus 21:1-11)

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What are Christians to make of passages like Exodus 21:1-11 that give regulations for slavery instead of condemning slavery outright? In this sermon, Pastor Brice gives some considerations from what the Bible says about slavery, and what difficult passages like this can teach us about how God commands his people to live righteously in an unrighteous world.

A Journey of Deliverance:
The Law and Gospel and Slavery
Exodus 21:1-11

Considerations from what the Bible says about slavery:
I. The Hebrew word for slave is translated in many different ways
II. Slavery existed long before these commands were written, and it still exists long after
III. The law is not condemning or condoning slavery, but constraining brutality and injustice amongst God’s people
IV. The bible does condemn slavery that was common in early American history
A. American slavery was a horrendous act because men, women, and children
were stolen from their home and shipped to a foreign land
B. American slavery was a horrendous act because men, women, and children
were beaten and killed by their master
C. American slavery was a horrendous act because men, women, and children
were considered lifelong possessions and not image-bearers of God
D. American slavery was a horrendous act because of the fugitive slave act

A Journey of Deliverance: The Good that Comes from the Law (Exodus 20:18-26)

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In this sermon from Exodus 20:18-26, Pastor Brice teaches how the Ten Commandments and God’s appearing bring us closer to God in reverence.

A Journey of Deliverance:
The Good that Comes from the Law
Exodus 20:18-26

I. The ten commandments and God’s appearing bring us closer to God in reverence because they instill in us a healthy fear of God
II. The ten commandments and God’s appearing bring us closer to God in reverence because they reveal our need for a mediator
A. We need a mediator because of our sin and the depth of our sin
B. We need a mediator because of our inability to keep the whole law
III. The ten commandments and God’s appearing bring us closer to God in reverence because we go to God on his terms

A Journey of Deliverance: The Joy of Contentment (Exodus 20:17)

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Pursuing desires is not necessarily sinful, yet the tenth commandment to not covet deals with what happens when we let our desires rule us. In this final sermon on the Ten Commandments, Pastor Brice explains how coveting is a summation of the heart issues that cause us to break the other nine commandments.

A Journey of Deliverance:
The Joy of Contentment
Exodus 20:17

I. Practice contentment
II. Pursue integrity in all things
III. Put down wrong desires
IV. Pursue upright living

A Journey of Deliverance: Do Not Bear False Witness (Exodus 20:16)

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Because each of the Ten Commandments applies not only to a specific context but also to a broader category of behaviors, the ninth commandment involves much more that simply not lying. In this sermon, Pastor Brice teaches why God commands us to be people of truth because he is the God of truth.

A Journey of Deliverance:
Do Not Bear False Witness
Exodus 20:16

I. How do we break the 9th command?
A. Gossip or Slander
B. Flattering or withholding necessary truth
C. Careless Lies
D. Hyperbole or Exaggeration
E. Blatant Lying
II. How do we keep the 9th command?

A Journey of Deliverance: Do Not Steal (Exodus 20:15)

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Regarding the eighth commandment, Martin Luther said, “It is not God’s will for us to have anything that we cannot obtain by honorable means, and the only right attitude to other’s property is scrupulous concern that ownership be fully respected.” In this sermon, learn what all this seemingly simple command encompasses.

A Journey of Deliverance:
Do Not Steal
Exodus 20:15

I. How do we break the 8th commandment?
II. How do we keep the 8th commandment?
A. Put away stealing
B. Labor and do hard and honest work
C. Pray for and practice generosity
D. Put on contentment

A Journey of Deliverance: The Faithful Spouse (Exodus 20:14)

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In this sermon, Pastor Brice explains how the seventh commandment to not commit adultery is often broken, and teaches many ways we can become faithful husbands and wives.

A Journey of Deliverance:
The Faithful Spouse
Exodus 20:14

I. How we break the 7th command
A. Premarital sex
B. Viewing pornography, elicit material, and lusting
C. Self-Gratification
D. Having multiple partners
E. Emotional attachments to the opposite gender
F. Emotional detachment from our spouse
II. Steps we can take toward being a faithful spouse
A. A faithful spouse commits to and practices abstinence before marriage
B. A faithful spouse commits to regularly dating and wooing your spouse after marriage
C. A faithful spouse commits to staying clean and healthy in mind and body
D. A faithful spouse commits to regular and emotionally attached sex with your spouse
E. A faithful spouse commits to dressing modestly
F. A faithful spouse commits to loving and treating their spouse better than their children
G. A faithful spouse abstains from relationships that might derail their marriage
H. A faithful spouse reads books, articles, and other material about marriage and written by godly people
I. A faithful spouse trusts in the Holy Spirit

A Journey of Deliverance: Don’t Kill (Exodus 20:13)

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While it may seem easy to keep the sixth of the Ten Commandments, it involves significantly more than not killing. In this sermon, Pastor Brice expounds upon how we often indeed break this command in our hearts.

NOTE: Due to recording issues, about 20 minutes of the sermon audio is missing in the middle of this recording.

A Journey of Deliverance:
Honoring Those in Authority
Exodus 20:12

I. What is not breaking the 6th command
A. Killing in self-defense
B. Capital Punishment
C. Being in the military or law enforcement or killing justly from those positions
II. What is breaking the 6th Command
A. Suicide
B. Euthanasia or assisted suicide
C. Murder of the Heart
D. Abortion

The Second Advent: Prepared at All Times (Matthew 24:36-51)

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The Second Advent:
Prepared at All Times
Matthew 24:36-51

As we end our celebration of Advent and look forward to 2019, Pastor Brice challenges the church to be prepared as we anticipate Christ’s return.

I. While we wait for the second advent, we must count the cost and endure until the end
II. While we wait for the second advent, we must do well with the gifts we have been given
A. If you have been given much, humbly multiply more
B. If you have been given little, don’t let fear prevent multiplication
III. While we wait for the second advent, we must spend more energy on an eternal mission

Unto Us: Perspectives on the Incarnation | God’s Use of the Shepherds (Luke 2:8-20)

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Unto Us: Perspectives on the Incarnation
God’s Use of the Shepherds
Luke 2:8-20

In this sermon, Morgan Putman looks at the story of Jesus’s birth from the perspective of the shepherds and shows how we can learn from their response to the good news of great joy the angels proclaimed to them.

I. Who were the shepherds?
II. What was the message?
A. A message for all people (10)
B. A message of good news (10-11)
III. What was the response?
A. Angels’ Response (13-14)
B. Shepherds’ Response (15-20)
1. Action
2. Praise

Unto Us: Perspectives on the Incarnation | Herod the Great: The Not So Great Story of Rejecting the Power of God (Matthew 2:1-6)

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Unto Us: Perspectives on the Incarnation
Herod the Great: The Not So Great Story of Rejecting the Power of God
Matthew 2:1-6

In this sermon, Pastor Brice Holbrook explains what we can learn about the power of God from evil King Herod’s response to the birth of Jesus.

I. Those who reject God fear his power
II. Those who reject God want his power
III. Those who reject God cannot receive his power

Unto Us: Perspectives on the Incarnation | Jesus Through Joseph's Eyes (Matthew 1:18-25)

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Unto Us: Perspectives on the Incarnation
Jesus Through Joseph's Eyes
Matthew 1:18-25

In this sermon, Missional Community Pastor Stephen McNeill shows what we can learn from the heritage and character of Joseph, the adoptive father of Jesus.

I. Joseph’s family
II. Joseph’s character
A. A just man
B. A compassionate husband
C. An obedient servant
D. A faithful worshiper
E. A loving father

Takeaways:
1. The Father has adopted us through Christ into this same family.
2. Our obedience matters.
3. We are the light of the world.
4. Marvel at the sovereign work of God.

Unto Us: Perspectives on the Incarnation | And His Name Shall Be Called (Isaiah 9:2–7)

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Unto Us: Perspectives on the Incarnation
And His Name Shall Be Called
Isaiah 9:2–7

In this sermon, Worship Pastor Blake Bostick introduces our Advent series by examining what the prophet Isaiah meant when he referred to the coming Messiah by so many rich and descriptive names.

I. Wonderful Counselor
II. Mighty God
III. Everlasting Father
IV. Prince of Peace
V. Emmanuel

A Journey of Deliverance: Honoring Those in Authority (Exodus 20:12)

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The fifth commandment calls us to honor our father and mother, but this is more than simple obedience or begrudging respect. In this sermon, Pastor Brice shows what this command teaches us about honoring authority and the biblical role of the family.

A Journey of Deliverance:
Honoring Those in Authority
Exodus 20:12

5 causes of erosion of authority in the family:
1. Technology
2. Weak dads and overbearing moms
3. Parents either set no boundaries for children, or worse, they don’t keep the ones they have set
4. Busy schedules
5. Removing God out of the center of the family

I. We are to honor our fathers and mothers
    A. A command for every stage of life
    B. A command that extends to all of those in authority
    C. A command that brings gospel light
II.  We are to live lives worthy of honor
    A. Honor is earned before marriage or children come
    B. Honor is earned as parents fulfill their role in the family
III. We must seek a higher honor than this world has to offer

A Journey of Deliverance: Remember the Sabbath and Keep it Holy (Exodus 20:8-11)

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The fourth commandment calls us to remember the Sabbath and keep it holy. Is this command unimportant and outdated, or does God call Christians to remember the Lord’s Day? Listen to Pastor Brice explain how the Sabbath applies to us in this sermon.

A Journey of Deliverance:
Remember the Sabbath and Keep it Holy
Exodus 20:8-11

I. How do we break the fourth commandment?
A. We break the fourth command by not working hard throughout the week
B. We break the fourth command by taking personal sabbath that excludes corporate worship
C. We break the fourth command by regularly prioritizing anything over sabbath worship and rest
II. How do we keep the fourth commandment?
A. We keep the fourth command by observing a day dedicated to worship
B. We keep the fourth command by observing a day dedicated to rest
C. We keep the fourth command by trusting in the sabbath rest only found in Christ

A Journey of Deliverance: Honoring the Name of the Lord (Exodus 20:7)

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The third commandment prohibits taking the Lord’s name in vain, but this is much more than simply using his name as a profanity. In this sermon, Pastor Brice teaches how obeying this command involves not just our lips, but our lives.

A Journey of Deliverance:
Honoring the Name of the Lord
Exodus 20:7

1. Taking the name of God is vain is simply using it as a curse word
2. Taking the name of God is vain is using it to proclaim a false gospel or false prophecies
3. Taking the name of God in vain is swearing by his name to add believability or breaking that covenant by which you have sworn
4. Taking the name of God in vain is found in weak worship
5. Taking the name of God in vain is found when we take up the name of Jesus in word and not deed

I. Be intentionally respectful with the treatment of God’s name
A. Focus on and ascribe to him the great and marvelous things we see from the Bible
B. Focus on and ascribe to him the great works he is presently doing
C. Focus on and ascribe to him the great works that are still to come
II. Do not use God’s name selfishly or coercively
III. Change your ways or change your name

A Journey of Deliverance: Right God AND Right Worship (Exodus 20:4-6)

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The second of the Ten Commandments prohibits God’s people from making idols to worship, yet so often we misunderstand what this really means. In this sermon, Pastor Brice teaches why this command matters and why it should be taken seriously.

A Journey of Deliverance:
Right God AND Right Worship
Exodus 20:4-6

I.  Why should we not carve or worship sacred images?
   A. Graven images are inadequate of his deity and undeserving of his majesty
   B. God is revealed through his word and not by sight
   C. God has tangible revelation through his image bearers
II. What is the punishment for for breaking God’s commands?

A Journey of Deliverance: No Other Gods (Exodus 20:1-3)

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The Ten Commandments reveal God’s heart and lay the foundation for his enduring holy standard for his people. In this sermon, Pastor Brice explains why we should study and follow them, and how the first command sets God’s people apart from the world.

A Journey of Deliverance:
No Other Gods
Exodus 20:1-3

Why do we study the Ten Commandments?
1. We study them because people need to be aware of what God requires
2. We study them because the church has used the ten commands as an ethic for living throughout her history
3. We study them because the ten commands are the foundation for the old and new covenants
4. We study them because the Law is from God, it gives us a picture of his heart, and it is good
5. We study them because they are central to a modern day ethic
6. We study them because they show us our need for a savior

Why we should be passionate to learn and follow them:
1. They are congruent with the rest of scripture
2. They touch on both physical obedience and obedience of the heart
3. They point to both a positive and negative aspect of obeying God
4. Each command covers a category of sins that really forms a complete standard of living
5. They point us to a holy standard, but also helps us to point others to a holy standard

I . Why did God give this command to his people?
   A. They came from a strictly polytheistic society
   B. God was pointing out that he wasn’t one of many, but that he was the only one
   C. He was giving them the motivation to keep the rest of the law
II. How do we keep it today?
   A. Hold a trinitarian, but monotheistic view of God
   B. We flee from idolatry
   C. We trust Christ

A Journey of Deliverance: Approaching God with Reverence (Exodus 19:7-25)

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God reveals his awesome power at Mt. Sinai in thunder, lightning, smoke, and fire. In this sermon, Pastor Brice explains how this display demonstrates God as both transcendent and immanent.

A Journey of Deliverance:
Approaching God with Reverence
Exodus 19:7-25

I. God reveals himself this way to show his glory
II. God reveals himself this way to get his people’s attention
III. God reveals himself this way to emphasize his commands
IV. God reveals himself this way to prove that he has spoken
V. God reveals himself this way to show that he is holy

A Journey of Deliverance: A Covenant Kept and a Holy Nation Born (Exodus 19:1-6)

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At Mt. Sinai God tells his people, “If you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples.” In this sermon, learn how God keeps his promise to bring his people out, bear them up, and bring them to himself.

A Journey of Deliverance:
A Covenant Kept and a Holy Nation Born
Exodus 19:1-6

I. The Lord kept his covenant promise
A. The promise to save them
B. The promise to make them a great nation