This sermon teaches that Christians can embrace trials not as hindrances, but as divine opportunities for refining their faith, which is made steadfast by its object, the unchanging Christ. Through looking to Jesus's own suffering, believers are comforted and empowered to process grief without resorting to self-pity, ultimately growing in character and experiencing God's goodness more deeply.

This sermon recounts how two secret disciples, Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus, were compelled by the cross to move from hidden fear to public faith, providing a courageous and costly burial for Jesus. Their actions demonstrate that the cross calls believers to sacrifice worldly security for the sake of Christ, offering in return the promise of resurrection and eternal life as Jesus occupies the tomb we deserve.

This sermon asserts that when we gaze at the cross, we see God's ultimate power and love, which transformed the heart of a Roman centurion who realized his lack of control. This profound event reveals that through Christ's sacrifice, we are no longer outsiders, and are called to live a life of worship and faith, giving up our own will to embrace God's glory.

This sermon uses the story of Jonah to expose the sin of self-righteousness, which twists our hearts into anger and a refusal to extend God's grace to others. It presents Jesus as the "better Jonah," whose willing pursuit of His enemies and ultimate sacrifice on the cross provides a permanent solution to our self-righteousness by granting us His perfect righteousness.

This sermon teaches that difficult circumstances, while challenging, are a powerful opportunity for spiritual growth because they expose our true devotion and our need for God's power. By resolving to live differently and resting in Christ's presence within a supportive community, we can grow and mature, confident that Jesus has already resolved to be with us.

This sermon uses the despair of Psalm 88 to teach that Christians are not immune to profound suffering and feelings of abandonment by God. It encourages believers to honestly lament their pain to God, drawing comfort from the fact that Jesus experienced ultimate despair on the cross so that we may have hope.

This sermon uses the journey of the Magi to encourage believers to seek the promised King and leave behind the "flawed kings" or idols of their lives. It asserts that by embracing the paradox of the humble and powerful God-king born in Bethlehem, we can experience a transformation that leads us to offer our lives in worship to Him.

This sermon teaches that the name Emmanuel, meaning "God with us," is the profound truth of the Christmas season, revealing Jesus as both fully God and fully man, who drew near to humanity to offer salvation. It challenges believers to move beyond a superficial understanding of this truth and live fully for Him, because He is with us.

This sermon teaches that Matthew's genealogy of Jesus is not a dry list, but a powerful narrative that reveals God's faithfulness in fulfilling His ancient promises to humanity despite our imperfections. It also shows that Jesus came to offer ultimate rest and to radically include outsiders, welcoming everyone into His family regardless of their background or past sins.