Your sermon of the week is Soli Deo Gloria: The Supremacy of God in All Things by Brian Borgman. This is part two of a thirteen part series entitled Introduction to the Reformed Faith that Pastor Borgman gave in 1998. DefCon will be posting all thirteen sermons in this series over the next few months. Look for each additional installment every couple weeks. You can find part one, A Tale of Two Gospels, here.
Sermons
Sermon of the week: “The Atrocity That Pleased God” by Phil Johnson.
As a follow up to last week’s sermon on Isaiah 53 by J. Randall Easter (see here), I present this Wednesday’s sermon of the week also on Isaiah 53 by Phil Johnson entitled The Atrocity That Pleased God.
Sermon of the week: “The Suffering Servant” by Randall Easter.
Your sermon of the week is The Suffering Servant by Pastor J. Randall Easter. Pastor Easter preaches a great sermon from Isaiah 53 that I wished to share with the readers (and listeners) of DefCon. I plan to provide you with a sermon on the same subject by Phil Johnson next week.
HT: The Bororean
Sermon of the week: “A Tale of Two Gospels” by Brian Borgman.
Your sermon of the week is A Tale of Two Gospels by Brian Borgman. This is part one of a thirteen part series entitled Introduction to the Reformed Faith that Pastor Borgman gave in 1998. DefCon will be posting all thirteen sermons in this series over the next few months (although not consecutively). Look for each additional installment (in order) every couple weeks.
Sermon of the week: “Biblical Womanhood” by Voddie Baucham.
Your Wednesday sermon of the week is Biblical Womanhood by Voddie Baucham. This message is also very apropos to men (so don’t you guys think you can skip out on this week’s sermon).
And don’t forget to check out Baucham’s two messages on Biblical Manhood too.
Sermon of the week: “Warning to Professing Christians” by Albert N. Martin.
Your Wednesday sermon of the week is a powerful one from Albert N. Martin.
Warning to Professing Christians is one of those messages you won’t hear in most churches that dot the landscape of American Christianity today.
Albert N. Martin delivers a convicting exposition of Matthew 7:21, a verse that I have wrestled with countless times (and still do). I’d also venture to say most readers of DefCon (who are supportive of our work here) have also been challenged by this verse at some point in their walk.
With that said, I not only recommend this sermon to the readers of DefCon who support us, but I also submit that this needs to be heard by those who give us the most resistance (like those who sit under such teachers as Robert Schuller, Perry Noble, Joel Osteen, Rick Warren, Mark Driscoll, etc.).
If you won’t listen to us (because we’re all just a bunch of prude “Pharisees”), perhaps you may give this sermon a chance and heed the warnings contained within. Although this sermon was delivered in 1994, it is just as apropos–if not more–today!
One of my favorite quotes from this sermon is in response to those who hide behind their sins with the excuse “nobody’s perfect.” Albert N. Martin says:
This is the hypocrites couch; this is the believer’s bed of thorns.
He also asks this cutting question in regards to Christians and their worldliness:
When you’ve got to suck at the world’s fountains for fulfillment, where in the world are you?
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I also highly recommend another exposition of Matthew 7:21 by John Thompson entitled The Saddest Words Ever Spoken. It was DefCon’s sermon of the week for January 03, 2008. Click here to go to the post to listen to it.
Sermon of the week: “Separating From Unbelievers” by John MacArthur.
Your sermon of the week is Separating From Unbelievers by John MacArthur. And yes, in spite of what you see in the lifestyle of the average professing Christian (and even the average pastor), there actually is a biblical mandate for believers to separate from unbelievers.
And for those who will have the typical knee-jerk reaction (who won’t listen to the messages but simply assume what MacArthur is saying), he is not advocating a monastic lifestyle. He simply expounds on the biblical doctrine of separating ourselves from unbelievers including what it is and what it is not.
This is a great refresher about a doctrine that was commonly practiced by the church until recently.
Separating From Unbelievers (Part 1)
Separating From Unbelievers (Part 2)
Steven J. Lawson: “The Flesh vs. The Spirit (part 1)” (Galatians 5:19-22a)
Galatians 5:19-22a (NASB)—19 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, 21 envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love…
If we are going to claim the name of Christ, our lives, our actions and our words should be different than before we met Him. Sadly, that kind of teaching is so obviously absent from the teachings of many, many “churches” today (Like, oh, I don’t know, this one maybe). Dr. Lawson shows us, biblically, why this must be so.
Here is the nineteenth installment of this series going verse-by-verse through what Dr. Lawson calls “Paul’s Most Explosive Letter.” You can listen by left-clicking this link.
Sermon of the week: “The Charismatic Movement” by Phil Johnson.
Your sermon of the week is entitled The Charismatic Movement.
A former Charismatic himself, Phil Johnson examines this movement from its recent beginnings (January 1, 1901) to it’s position today in mainstream Christianity. He tactfully, and Scripturally exposes the errors of Charismatic theology (and the damaging effects it has on those who adhere to it) in this message.
If you have any questions about this abhorrent movement, I cannot recommend this message enough.
Steven J. Lawson: “Walk By The Spirit” (Galatians 5:16-5:18)
Galatians 5:16-18 (NASB)—16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. 17 For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law.
Here is the eighteenth installment of this series going verse-by-verse through what Dr. Lawson calls “Paul’s Most Explosive Letter.” You can listen by left-clicking this link.
Sermon of the week: “Why do we believe in God?” by Don Green.
Your sermon of the week is Why Do We Believe in God? by Don Green. This is a good message for both Believers and non-believers on the reasons Christians believe in God.
This is a two-part sermon examining the five compelling reasons why we should believe and why no one will have an excuse on the final day of judgment.
Creation
Conscience
Canon
Christ
Conversion
Download both part one and part two below:
Steven J. Lawson: “Called to Freedom” (Galatians 5:13-5:15)
Galatians 5:13-15 (NASB)—13 For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. 14 For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 But if you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another.
If we are saved, do we live like we used to? That is silly. If we are to be children of God, we should live as children of God, and obey those things our Father commands us to do. And we should love our brothers and sisters as ourselves. This is the point Paul is making in this passage.
Here is the seventeenth installment of this series going verse-by-verse through what Dr. Lawson calls “Paul’s Most Explosive Letter.” You can listen by left-clicking this link.
Sermon of the week: “What Was Paul Doing on Mars Hill?” by Phil Johnson.
If you’re one of those people who think the Apostle Paul’s proclamation of being all things to all people meant “anything goes,” then you desperately need to listen to this message.
This sermon answers all those worldly doctrines built on shifting sand that try to use the excuse that Paul employed examples of Greek culture in his preaching to reach the lost therefore we can employ whatever we deem as relevant (i.e. sex, drugs, and rock n’ roll or whatever other lust of the eyes and lust of the flesh you happen to be engaging in and enjoying).
For all those who live by these erroneous beliefs, I strongly encourage you to take a break from leaving scathing comments on DefCon and listen to Phil Johnson’s apropos sermon: What Was Paul Doing on Mars Hill?
Steven J. Lawson: “Finish Strong!” (Galatians 5:7-5:12)
Galatians 5:7-12—7 You were running well; who hindered you from obeying the truth? 8 This persuasion did not come from Him who calls you. 9 A little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough. 10 I have confidence in you in the Lord that you will adopt no other view; but the one who is disturbing you will bear his judgment, whoever he is. 11 But I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why am I still persecuted? Then the stumbling block of the cross has been abolished. 12 I wish that those who are troubling you would even mutilate themselves.
The believers in Galatia had begun well. But along came the Judaizers, leading them away from the truth of the gospel. Their faith, which was at first strong, had been diluted by false teachers. Like many today. They begin with faith, but then they get caught up in false doctrines (like the heretical prosperity “gospel”), and are turned away from the truth. Much like these believers, who were turned from the truth by those who would add circumcision to the cross of Christ, much like many add baptism to the cross of Christ.
Here is the sixteenth installment of this series going verse-by-verse through what Dr. Lawson calls “Paul’s Most Explosive Letter.” You can listen by left-clicking this link.
Sermon of the week: “Bewitched, Bothered, and Bewildered” by Russ Sukhia.
Your sermon of the week is Bewitched, Bothered, and Bewildered by Russ Sukhia. The sermon overview from Sermon Audio reads:
This Reformation Day sermon, the fourth in a series on Galatians, looks at justification by faith, and endeavors to clearly explain exactly how our redemption is accomplished. This message, which includes a summary of Luther’s life and a fictitious account of a breakfast meeting with Arnold Schwerzenneger and Bill Gates, was well-received. One member said it was ‘the best gospel message I have heard in 40 years as a Christian.’
Sermon of the week: “Gaining the World and Losing Your Children” by Paul Washer.
Your sermon of the week is Gaining the World and Losing Your Children by Paul Washer. It is yet another challenging message directed toward fathers in how they treat their wives and children. When you are done with this sermon I highly encourage you download his message Biblical Manhood Part 1 found on this post.
Steven J. Lawson: “True Liberation Theology” (Galatians 5:1-5:6)
Galatians 5:1-6 (NASB)—1 It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery. 2 Behold I, Paul, say to you that if you receive circumcision, Christ will be of no benefit to you. 3 And I testify again to every man who receives circumcision, that he is under obligation to keep the whole Law. 4 You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. 5 For we through the Spirit, by faith, are waiting for the hope of righteousness. 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but faith working through love.
Is the “social gospel” the most important thing for the church? Is feeding the hungry and housing the homeless what Jesus came to do? Is Rick Warren’s unbiblical yoking of himself with Muslim groups true Christianity? The biblical answer to that question is resoundingly, emphatically, and absolutely, “NO!!!!”
Satan would like us to think that slavery in this country was done away with after the Civil War. Nothing could be farther from the truth. We are all slaves–we either serve Christ, or we serve Satan. Today, we will hear what the apostle Paul says about who is the one that is truly free.
Here is the fifteenth installment of this series going verse-by-verse through what Dr. Lawson calls “Paul’s Most Explosive Letter.” You can listen by left-clicking this link.
Sermon of the week: “The Curse Motif of the Atonement” by R.C. Sproul.
Your sermon of the week is The Curse Motif of the Atonement by R.C. Sproul. I’ve had this message on my MP3 player for a while now and only got around to listening to it the other day. Wow. I wish I had listened to it earlier.
I’ve never been what you’d call a “fan” of R.C. Sproul, but this message is spot on and powerful. If you only listen to one R.C. Sproul sermon in your whole life, this should be it.
Steven J. Lawson: “Who Is Your Mother?” (Galatians 4:21-4:31)
Galatians 4:21-4:31 (NASB)—21 Tell me, you who want to be under law, do you not listen to the law? 22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, (AB)one by the bondwoman and one by the free woman. 23 But the son by the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and the son by the free woman through the promise. 24 This is allegorically speaking, for these women are two covenants: one proceeding from Mount Sinai bearing children who are to be slaves; she is Hagar. 25 Now this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. 26 But the Jerusalem above is free; she is our mother. 27 For it is written, Rejoice barren woman who does not bear; break forth and shout, you who are not in labor; for more numerous are the children of the desolate than of the one who has a husband. 28 And you brethren, like Isaac, are children of promise. 29 But as at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so it is now also. 30 But what does the Scripture say? Cast out the bondwoman and her son, for the son of the bondwoman shall not be an heir with the son of the freewoman. 31 So then, brethren, we are not children of a bondwoman, but of the free woman.
Question: What is the one thing that separates true followers of Christ from those trapped in false religions?
Answer: The fact that the one who has put his faith in Christ as their Savior and Lord have been set free from the Law of sin and death (Romans 8:2) because the law could not make us free because of the weakness of our flesh (Romans 8:3), and they place NO FAITH in their own works, which can never make one righteous. For if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law (Galatians 3:21).
Yet the one who is trapped in a false religion will still go through their life counting up all their “good deeds” and all their “bad deeds,” thinking that all the while God is smiling upon their enterprise–yet He is pleading from Heaven, “This is My Beloved Son–Hear HIM!!”
Here is the fourteenth installment of this series going verse-by-verse through what Dr. Lawson calls “Paul’s Most Explosive Letter.” You can listen by left-clicking this link.
Sermon of the week: “Cheap Imitations of Love” by Phil Johnson.
Your sermon of the week is Cheap Imitations of Love by Phil Johnson.
Some say lust is “love.” Some say pre-marital fornication is “love.” Still others say not warning people of God’s coming judgment but letting people live however they want–live and let live–is “love.” In this world where everything is subjective and “love” is whatever you want it to be, we must ask, what does the Bible say “love” is?
Phil Johnson takes on this topic and surprisingly delves into the whole perversity of the pulpit problem–that so many pastors today seem to think is acceptable–almost a full year before he delivered this scathing sermon taking on Mark Driscoll and the likes.
Christ Alone Wyoming 