Sermons by Rev. Michael Grasso
1 Samuel 2:1-10
In 1 Samuel 2:1-10 Hannah sings a song of praise to God for giving her a son. This song contains the major themes found in the books of Samuel. By giving Hannah a son, God has shown his preference for the humble. He often works to exalt the humble while also humbling the exalted. These things show the almighty sovereignty of God. Such an action can be seen in the calling of David, the youngest of Jesse’s sons, and ultimately…
Proverbs 8:22-31
In Proverbs 8:22-31 Solomon continues his description of Wisdom. Here we see Wisdom’s relationship to creation. Amazingly, Wisdom is described as being prior to creation and related to God as one begotten of him. This passage has been extraordinarily important in the history of the church, particularly during the Arian controversy. The passage shows that Wisdom is a person, the Son of God, equal with the Father, existing before creation as the eternal God. This is the one who calls…
1 Samuel 1:21-28
In 1 Samuel 1:21-28 Hannah fulfills the vow that she made to God when she asked for a son. Though her vow entailed Samuel leaving the home and growing up in another city so that her mother would only be able to see him during the annual feasts, Hannah still, with great joy, gives thanks to God. God is worthy of thanksgiving and praise and Hannah, overwhelmed by the grace of God, considers nothing too much to give back to…
Proverbs 8:12-21
When considering a person’s exhortation to follow them, one of the most important considerations is the nature of the person making the call. After describing the call of Wisdom in Proverbs 8:1-11, Solomon now describes who Wisdom is and how she operates in the world. Wisdom is righteous and good, possessing wisdom herself. She is the one by whom kings rule and the one who rewards those who love her with blessings. Such is the glory of the one making…
1 Samuel 1:1-20
In 1 Samuel 1:1-20 the birth of Samuel is recounted. This birth was miraculously given to Hannah after she cries out to God in the face of the opposition she faced from Peninnah. The opposition of Peninnah is a type of the opposition that the godly face from the ungodly. Hannah’s cry for deliverance is a model of how to face such opposition in faith. God granted her deliverance through childbirth. Such deliverance has been granted to us through the…
Proverbs 8:1-11
In Proverbs 8:1-11 Solomon records the call of Wisdom, the eternal Son of God, which is contrasted with the call of the adulteress in the previous chapter. This call has gone out to all the earth in the preaching of the gospel. The words of Christ are pure, true, and righteous, and those who are wise find them to be so. Do not neglect Wisdom’s call.
1 Samuel 1:1-20
Pastor Grasso gives an overview of the books of Samuel, focusing on the themes of kingship and the house of God. The books of Samuel recount the transition from Judges to Kings. The books of Samuel are not against kingship, but rather make it clear that there is a particular kind of king that must be sought and that king is not a king like all of the other nations but the king after God’s own heart. This is the…
Proverbs 7:1-27
In Proverbs 7:1-27 Solomon gives his final exhortation against the sin of adultery. Here the emphasis is on an incident he saw where a young man was tempted and fell into sin. Solomon exhorts us to learn from the example of others who have been destroyed by sin. In a world where examples of the destructive nature of sexual sin are abundant, the wise would do well to notice the end of such sins and to avoid them by the…
Hebrews 13:20-25
The author ends his letter with a glorious benediction. Pastor Grasso explains the purpose of benedictions in general and the significance of the one in the letter to the Hebrews.
Proverbs 6:20-35
In Proverbs 6:20-35 Solomon gives another warning against the sin of adultery, even saying that adultery is worse than other forms of sexual sin. Adultery is by its very nature destructive. Flee this sin. Turn to Christ.
Hebrews 13:7-16
In Hebrews 13:7-16 the author explains that christians ought to obey their leaders rather than be led away after the false teachings of others who emphasize an earthly altar. The passage is a reminder that our faith focuses on the world to come rather than this one.
Proverbs 6:12-19
In Proverbs 6:12-19 Solomon describes the wicked. Whereas the godly devote every part of themselves to godliness, the wicked devote themselves to ungodliness. As such they are opposed by God since they do the things He hates.