Sermons on Sacraments
1 Samuel 4:1-11
In 1 Samuel 4:1-11 the people of God are defeated at Aphek. After the defeat, they bring the ark of God to the battle and believe they will win merely because the ark is with them. This, however, does not help them and they are once again defeated. What are we to learn from this? God’s people ought to trust in the God of the ark rather than the ark of God.
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.
Deuteronomy 30:1-10 (Part 4)
In Deuteronomy 30:6 Moses prophesies that God will circumcise the hearts of his people. By speaking of this inward circumcision that God will sovereignly accomplish, Moses distinguishes between outward circumcision, which all the Jews received, from inward circumcision, which God gives through Christ. Baptism, the new circumcision, has the same outward/inward dichotomy. The Scriptures teach us to look to God to grant the new heart sovereignly, rather than placing our hope merely in the outward sign as the Catholics and…