Urc Learning: Rev. Adam Kaloostian

The many strange details in this story point to the strange and wonderful truth that people of every unexpected nation and stripe have been brought near to the Christ of Whom the ancient Jewish prophets spoke. Isaiah 53 Acts 8:25-39

The power of Christ breaks through into Samaria in a way that even Simon, the arrogant money-grubbing illusionist, must recognize. Be encouraged that the grace and power of Christ are at work in your life, and be warned against false teachers and against your own love of money. Acts 8:4-25

The great persecution breaking out against the church in Jerusalem is the occasion for us to be inspired by Stephen and instructed about the power of Christ at work through the preaching of His Word. Acts 7:57 – 8:8

(44:04) The persecution against the early church again intensifies as Stephen, one of the recently appointed deacons, becomes the center of the controversy. His martrydom becomes a clear example of of our own humiliation and coming exaltation. Sermon text: Acts 6-7

(37:21) Far from an abstract, irrelevant philosophical concept, the Bible’s teaching about the extent of God’s control is not only true but the only sure basis for any comfort in this trying life. Knowing and embracing God’s providence is the privilege and responsibility of all His creatures made in His image. Sermon text: Matthew 10:29-32 […]

(46:36) The apostles are arrested again, and this time they come close to receiving the death penalty. But Christ stamps out this attack on the advancement of His glorious gospel through an unlikely man. Sermon text: Acts 5:14-42

(35:07) Our magnificent God and Father created everything out of nothing as an arena to display His glorious majesty. Indeed, the King established and occupied His throne, the heavens and the earth. Sermon Text: Genesis 1:1-2 Belgic Confession Article 12

(34:11) The Lord strikes Ananias and Sapphira dead in a terrifying, immediate act of church discipline carried out by the Lord of Glory. This is the same God we worship today, though often times we (dangerously) don’t treat Him like it. Sermon Text: Acts 4:32 – 5:14

(32:42) There’s no good reason for the political-religious temple establishment to oppose the gracious power of Christ at work through the apostles. But they do, so there’s no reason why the church should expand, given the strength of its opponents. But it does, so we must conclude that Christ’s expansion of His kingdom is relentless. […]

(27:40) As the author to the Hebrews explains, a priest who is holy and eternal is required to truly fulfill his office. If Jesus is indeed the great High Priest, then He must be holy and eternal. If He is holy and eternal, then He must be true God. Sermon text: Belgic Confession, Article 10 […]

(36:21) We see ourselves as the miserable, pathetic crippled beggar and as the rebellious, covenant-breaking, apostate generation of Israelites. We see the Lord as the One who gives us the opposite of what we deserve, giving us peace and future glorification. Sermon text: Acts 3:1-26

(32:43) The last two aspects of Luke’s prescriptive portrait of the early church regard the regular celebration of the Lord’s Supper and participation in “the prayers”. Sermon text: Acts 2:42-47

(36:12) The Scripture is clear about this magnificent and in some senses incomprehensible doctrine. To reject the teaching of the Trinity is to reject God Himself. Sermon text: Belgic Confession, Articles 8-9

(37:49) Please note: The last five minutes of the sermon were mistakenly deleted from this sermon. Challenges against the completeness of God’s Word arise in many different forms. A series of these challenges, including the rise of the Apocryphal books, and the unwarranted binding of the conscience by religious authorities, are addressed. Sermon text: Belgic […]

(42:08) Luke breaks up his reporting of the dramatic, redemptive-historical events of the early part of Acts with this the first in a series of prescriptive portraits of the early church’s activity. Sermon text: Acts 2:40-47

The foundation of our beloved confession is that the Scripture is the very Word of God written. In fact, the foundation laid in article three is the basis for all of what the confession says about the Word in the following articles. Belgic Confession Article 3 2 Timothy 3:14-17

This sermon is part one of the 2007 “Commission-Driven Reformed Church” series preached at the Ontario United Reformed Church. We must believe and live out these six ideas in order to be faithful to our evangelistic calling. Acts 11:19-26

Christ now pours out His Spirit, reversing the Babel disaster and empowering His church to be His instrument to recreate the fallen human race. Acts 2:1-21

Doesn’t Luke know better than to start the triumphant tale of the early church’s expansion with the disheartening story of a suicidal reprobate? Apparently he knows this unpleasant story is exactly what we need to hear right at the beginning of Acts. Acts 1:12-26

The true God reveals Himself in two ways: indirectly through the world He has made, and directly through His Word. Knowledge of God is not arbitrary but bound by His own revelation, and therefore treating His Word properly is of the utmost importance. Belgic Confession Article 2 Psalm 19