Sermons Redemption Hill Church

We read in Matthew 5:10-12 that Christians will be persecuted for two reasons. Christians will be persecuted for doing what is right (v. 10) and for following Christ (v. 11).

Hebrews 10:19-25 tells us what it looks like to have access to God and how the Christian life is experienced in the local church.

Jesus says, "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." But what does it look like to receive a pure heart? And what does it look like to maintain a pure heart? The answers are the key to seeing God.

Pastors are called by God to point the flock of God to the chief Shepherd, Jesus Christ. And this is done through the faithful stewarding of the Word of God and with prayer.

The question we are confronted with is this: Did Jesus rise from the dead? How you answer this question determines the course of your life.

If you want to know what it means to be merciful to others, you must experience the saving mercy of Christ through repentance and faith.

The Creator of the universe, the Savior of sinners, the Lord of heaven and earth, rides to his death on the humblest of animals and is described as humble and meek. Of all the adjectives that could be used to describe our Lord, he is described as humble, gentle, and meek.

Mourning, weeping, and grieving are a response to pain and suffering. In this life, tears are inescapable, and Jesus knows your tears are inevitable. But Jesus says in Matthew 5:4, blessed are you who mourn for you will be comforted.

To be poor in spirit means to be empty before God. When a person is poor in spirit, there is an acknowledgment of one person's inadequacy before God. We should not be shocked that this is the first beatitude. If Jesus was about to preach into the hearts of his listeners, and now us, then we need to come to Jesus empty and needy.

Does Jesus have the authority to tell us what it looks like to flourish? If Jesus does not have the authority to teach us what it means to flourish, then what is the point of Christianity. But if we can see in the Bible that Jesus does have the authority to speak into our hearts…well, we better pay attention.

The purpose of commemorating the day with the word Purim is to remember that God providentially delivered the people of God from the clutches of Haman. In Esther 8-10, we read how God rescued his people, but the rescue points to a more incredible rescue.

The book of Esther is a sobering reminder that there is a battle between good and evil in this world, and sometimes the faces of evil are those in authority. But here is the deal. Even though you have earthly authorities - good and bad - there is One who has ultimate power over this world and the entire universe!

On what other basis do Mordecai and Esther have to believe the Jews will not be wiped off the planet? A hunch? A false hope? Or is Mordecai and Esther remembering the faithfulness of God?

There are times when a person exists in a corrupt system or is directly confronted by an evil person. In Esther 3, we see both.

The Book of Esther is not what you think. When some people think about the Book of Esther the Book of Ruth comes to mind. Both are named after women. And both are in the Old Testament. But that is where the comparison ends. Ruth is a story of sacrifice, loyalty, and love. There are plenty of Christological connections in Ruth. In contrast, Esther is dark. There is heavy drinking, sexual immorality, and a genocidal plot. God is never mentioned in Esther. Yet, Esther is unlike any other book in the entire Bible, because the providential hand of God is at work.

Christian, you are redeemed. But what does it mean for you to apply your redemption? Ephesians 1:13-14 charts the path forward.

The Book of Esther is about the providence of God engaging with people, and the world, even when God is not recognized or mentioned.

The 2nd Advent. The present reality of Jesus sitting at the right hand of Father. The Ascension of Christ. The resurrection of Christ. The crucifixion of Jesus Christ. And the perfect life of Christ could have only taken place if God chose to make himself known through the birth of Jesus Christ.

Three words from Matthew 2:15 trace the birth and early life of Jesus back to Israel's exodus from Egypt. The words "out of Egypt" also reference the spiritual exodus Jesus offers to those who believe in the incarnation, crucifixion, and resurrection of Christ. Take a listen to this Advent sermon to hear how the Son of God, came out of Egypt to redeem.

The star in the sky did not rise for Herod but another king. This astrological sign, along with a prophetic word from Micah, confirms the work of God in history. These signs point to a king born to reign.