Authors of posts on the blog „St. John's"

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We begin our series in Galatians with this sermon on 1:1-2.

Who Has Your Trust?

This sermon is based upon Psalm 146 and was preached by Rev. Crawford on December 20, 2020.

Pray for the Kingdom

This sermon is based upon Psalm 72 and was preached by Rev. Crawford on December 13, 2020.

Planning Ahead

This sermon is based upon various Proverbs and was preached by Rev. Crawford on November 8, 2020.

What's a Good Friend?

This sermon is based upon various proverbs and was preached by Rev. Crawford on November 1, 2020.

Living as Stewards of the Shepherd

This sermon is based upon Micah 3-5 and was preached by Rev. Crawford on September 27, 2020.

Living in the Period of Patience

This sermon is based upon Micah 1-2 and was preached by Rev. Crawford on September 20, 2020.

Practice Peaceful Living

This sermon is based upon 1 Thessalonians 5:12ff. and was preached by Rev. Crawford on September 13, 2020.

Service Not Speculation

This sermon is based upon 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 and was preached by Rev. Crawford on September 6, 2020.

With These Words

This sermon is based upon 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 and was preached by Rev. Crawford on August 30, 2020.

Holiness and Love

This sermon is based upon 1 Thessalonians 4:1-12 and was preached by Rev. Crawford on August 23, 2020.

Make A Friend

This sermon is based upon 1 Thessalonians 2:17-3:13 and was preached by Rev. Crawford on August 16, 2020.

A Pleasing Life

This sermon is based upon 1 Thessalonians 2:1-12 and was preached by Rev. Crawford on August 9, 2020.

Reminiscing, Remembering, Running

This sermon is based upon 1 Thessalonians 1 and was preached by Rev. Crawford on August 2, 2020.

The God Who Dwells

This sermon is based upon Exodus 35-40 and was preached by Rev. Crawford on July 26, 2020.

The God Who Forgives

This sermon is based upon Exodus 32-34 and was preached by Rev. Crawford on July 12, 2020.

Looking at the Law

This sermon is based upon Exodus 18 and was preached by Rev. Crawford on June 28, 2020.

When You Fail the Test

This sermon is based upon Exodus 15-17 and was preached by Rev. Crawford on June 21, 2020.

When Adversity Arises

This sermon is based upon Exodus 5:1-6:13 and was preached by Rev. Crawford on May 24, 2020.

The God Who Is

This sermon is based upon Exodus 3-4 and was preached by Rev. Crawford on May 17, 2020.

The God Who Remembers

This sermon is based upon Exodus 2 and was preached by Rev. Crawford on May 10, 2020.

In the Face of Persecution

This sermon is based upon Exodus 1 and was preached by Rev. Crawford on May 3, 2020.

God's grace is greater

This sermon is based upon John 21:15-25 and was preached by Rev. Crawford on April 26, 2020.

What's Next?

This sermon is based upon John 21:1-14 and was preached by Rev. Crawford on April 19, 2020.

The Greatest Sign

This sermon is based upon John 20 and was preached by Rev. Crawford on April 12, 2020.

Jesus prays for his people

This sermon is based upon John 17 and was preached by Rev. Crawford on April 5, 2020.

Sent for Your Benefit

This sermon is based upon John 16 and was preached by Rev. Crawford on March 29, 2020.

I Am the Vine

This sermon is based upon John 15:1-17 and was preached by Rev. Crawford on March 22, 2020.

Let Not Your Hearts Be Troubled

This sermon is based John 13:31-14:31 and was preached by Rev. Crawford on March 15, 2020.

By Faith

This sermon is based upon Ephesians 2:1-10 and was preached by Rev. Crawford on March 3, 2019.

God's Power For You

This sermon is based upon Ephesians 1:15-23 and was preached by Rev. Crawford on February 17, 2019.

Our God Is Worthy

This sermon is based upon Ephesians 1:3-14 and was preached by Rev. Crawford on February 3, 2019.

A Foretaste of the Promise

This sermon is based upon Genesis 23 and was preached by Rev. Crawford on January 23, 2019.

God Provides

This sermon is based upon Genesis 22 and was preached by Rev. Crawford on January 20, 2019.

The Promised Birth

This sermon is based upon Genesis 21:1-7 and was preached by Rev. Crawford on January 13, 2019.

Baptism and Circumcision

This sermon is based upon Genesis 17 and was preached by Rev. Crawford on January 06, 2019.

Proclaiming the Kingdom of God

This sermon is based upon Genesis 11:27-12:9 and was preached by Rev. Crawford on December 30, 2018.

Self Examination

This sermon is based upon Jude 5-16 and was preached by Rev. Crawford on October 14, 2018.

The Faith Once For All Entrusted to You

This sermon is based upon Jude 5-16 and was preached by Rev. Crawford on October 7, 2018.

A Christian

This sermon is based upon Jude 5-16 and was preached by Rev. Crawford on September 30, 2018.

Anger and Compassion

This sermon is based upon Jonah 4 and was preached by Rev. Crawford on September 23, 2018.

That They May Be One

This sermon is based upon John 17:20-26 and was preached by Rev. Crawford on July 15, 2018.

I Pray for Them

This sermon is based upon John 17:6-19 and was preached by Rev. Crawford on July 8, 2018.

Identifying with God's People

This sermon is based upon Esther 4:5-17 and was preached by Rev. Crawford on June 3, 2018.

The Man In Whom the King Delights to Honor

This sermon is based upon Esther 3:1-6; 5:8-6:10 and was preached by Rev. Crawford on May 27, 2018.

Appearances

This sermon is based upon Esther 1-2 and was preached by Rev. Crawford on May 20, 2018.

Mighty to Save

This sermon is based upon Daniel 6 and was preached by Rev. Crawford on May 13, 2018.

Deposing Rulers

This sermon is based upon Daniel 5 and was preached by Rev. Crawford on May 06, 2018.

Giving Kingdoms

This sermon is based upon Daniel 2 and was preached by Rev. Crawford on April 05, 2018.

Love One Another

This sermon is based upon 1 Peter 1:22-23 and was preached by Rev. Crawford on February 18, 2018.

Living in th Gospel Age

This sermon is based upon 1 Peter 1:10-12 and was preached by Rev. Crawford on January 28, 2018.

Obedient Children

This sermon is based upon 1 Peter 1:13-16 and was preached by Rev. Crawford on February 04, 2018.

To Set You Free

This sermon is based upon John 8:31-59 and was preached by Rev. Crawford on December 24, 2017.

The Bread of Life

This sermon is based upon John 6 and was preached by Rev. Crawford on December 17, 2017.

God's Justice

This sermon is based upon the book of Habakkuk and was preached by Rev. Crawford on November 05, 2017.

God Is In Control

This sermon is based upon Daniel 4:28-37 and was preached by Rev. Crawford on October 29, 2017.

The One True God

This sermon is based upon Isaiah 44 and was preached by Rev. Crawford on October 22, 2017.

God Is Present in the Midst of the Storm

This sermon is based upon Acts 27:13-34 and was preached by Rev. Crawford on September 17, 2017.

Personal Evangelism: Paul and the King

This sermon is based upon Acts 26 and was preached by Rev. Crawford on September 10, 2017.

Narrative: Philippian Jailor

This sermon is based upon Acts 16:20-40 and was preached by Rev. Crawford on July 16, 2017.

Corporate Worship: Images of the Church

THE FAMILY OF GOD THE FATHER

The church is known as the family of faith (Gal. 6:9-10), the household of God (1 Tim. 3:14-15), and sons [and daughters - ‘sons,’ like ‘men’ is inclusive language in some contexts] (Gal. 4:4-6, Eph. 1:4-6, Rom. 8:12-17). As such, we have many benefits as part of God’s family. The Westminster Confession of Faith has a great section outlining these benefits (WCF 12.1): “All those that are justified, God vouchsafeth [to give or grant something graciously], in and for His only Son Jesus Christ, to make partakers of the grace of adoption: by which they are taken into the number, and enjoy the liberties and privileges of the children of God; have His name put upon them, receive the Spirit of adoption; have access to the throne of grace with boldness; are enabled to cry, Abba, Father; are pitied, protected, provided for, and chastened by Him as by a Father; yet never cast off, but sealed to the day of redemption, and inherit the promises, as heirs of everlasting salvation.” These few sentences are packed with promises made by God to his children which we can take hold of in the midst of life’s struggles. To take one example, think about the idea of having “access to the throne of grace with boldness.” Jews in the Old Testament didn’t have this bold access. They were barred from the Holy of Holies but for once a year and had to approach with caution. Through Christ, however, access has been opened to us as He sits at the right hand of God interceding on our behalf. We can therefore approach with joy and confidence because our Mediator is present for us.

Corporate Worship: Why do we come to church?

Why do we come to church?

While we have all kinds of experiences at church (for example, fellowship with other believers, singing), the main focus of our corporate worship should focus on our coming together to glorify God and to enjoy him. Everything else that we do on Sunday mornings is contingent upon this truth. Ee do this through our song, prayer, preaching, etc., but we have to see them as ways in which we glorify God and enjoy him, not just ourselves. To put it another way, what would fellowship mean apart from Christ? What would prayer mean if we didn’t have God in the picture? We need to be sure that our primary reason for coming is to glorify and enjoy God and then recognize everything that we do during corporate worship as an exercise of this truth.

Reformed Theology: The Centrality of the World

When you ask someone what “Reformed” means, you could get a whole host of responses. Some think that it is a defined liturgy (prayers, readings, saying, etc.), others think it’s simply a name on the church, still others might simply tell you they have no idea. While there are several distinctive themes of Reformed theology, the first one which stands out is the centrality of the Word of God. In all matters of faith and life, we are to subject our thoughts and beliefs to Scripture. Yes, our experiences, traditions, and reason all play a part in interpretation. The distinctive of Reformed theology is that all of these are subjected to Scripture as the final authority. As the Westminster Standards put it, “Under the name of Holy Scripture…are now contained the books of the Old and New Testament…all which are given by inspiration of God to be the rule of faith and life” (WCF I.1.2). This is based upon the belief that all of Scripture is “inspired by God” (2 Tim. 3:16).