GUEST SPEAKER SERIES: Steve Jessen "A Firm Foundation"

GUEST SPEAKER SERIES: Steve Jessen "A Firm Foundation"

SCRIPTURE: Matthew 7:24-27. This week, while Mark is on vacation, we welcome back Rev. Steve Jessen of the PCA's Ministry to North America Disaster Response team to the podcast. Steve is the Disaster Response Specialist for the Carolinas, and he brings us a message on faith called A Firm Foundation.

FWLF- Abraham's Tunnel Vision Faith

SCRIPTURE: Hebrews 11:17-19. This week, we move between two passages that describe the same event. Genesis 22 recounts God's call for Abraham to sacrifice his only son, Isaac. Hebrews 11:17–19 sheds light on Abraham's perspective throughout this entire episode. Abraham's faith was so unshakable that, even in the face of death, he fully trusted in the power of the resurrection. His faith challenges us today to trust the Lord with our past, our future, and the entire journey in between.

FORWARD-LOOKING FAITH: Abraham and Sarah

SCRIPTURE: Hebrews 11: 9-16. This week, our Forward-Looking Faith series focuses on the faiths of Abraham and Sarah. In Hebrews 11, the author uses Abraham and Sarah to make an important point: We are but pilgrims called to believe and receive God’s promises. Along this journey of faith, we are to look at God’s upcoming promises of eternal security and salvation like a warm greeting to a friend approaching your home. This is a challenge to all of us who rest in the security of our stuff, who place stability in temporal comforts, and who doubt God’s assurance for us.

FORWARD-LOOKING FAITH: Abel, Enoch, and Noah

SCRIPTURE: HEBREWS 11 This week, we begin a new summer sermon series through Hebrews 11. Hebrews 11 records several Old Testament men and women of faith who had assurance in things hoped for. That’s why we’re calling this summer sermon series “Forward-Looking Faith.” Each of those listed in Hebrews 11 lived many years before Jesus was born. However, their faith still points us to the greater realities of faith that we experience in our post-Resurrection lives. This week, we focus on the faith of three very early men of faith: Abel, Enoch, and Noah. These men lived so long ago that they exercised faith even before God chose Abraham and his descendants, the people of Israel. And yet, these very ancient examples of faith point us to wonderful realities today. I’m looking forward to journeying through this sermon series and considering what God is doing in our hearts now, and how that work anticipates a future filled with eternal hope in Jesus.

FSTS: The Many versus the One

SCRIPTURE: Hebrews 10:1-18. This week, as we continue in the Book of Hebrews, it feels a little like a broken record. Over and over again, the author reminds us that in the old covenant, sacrifices were offered over and over again. In contrast, he compares them to Jesus’ once-for-all and forever sacrifice on the cross. What’s behind this repetitious tension between the many and the one? We'll unpack that question on this podcast.