Weekend Sermons Podcast

We must see our lives, ministries, and future rewards inextricably linked to Christ and our service to one another, in His name.Matthew 10:40–42 (ESV)40 “Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me. 41 The one who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and the one who receives a righteous person because he is a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward. 42 And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.”

12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day's journey away. 13 And when they had entered, they went up to the upper room, where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot and Judas the son of James. 14 All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.Acts 1:12-14

Preaching Point: Allegiance to Christ requires radical self-denial and a commitment to Christ over your closest earthly relationships.Main Text: Matthew 10:34–39 (ESV) 34 “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. 36 And a person’s enemies will be those of his own household. 37 Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38 And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

Preaching Point: We must be thoroughly convinced that God is pleased with those who boldly stand for the gospel while trusting in His providential care.Main Text: Matthew 10:26–33 (ESV) 26 “So have no fear of them, for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. 27 What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops. 28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. 29Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. 30 But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. 32 So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, 33 but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.

We must thoroughly grasp the bad news concerning our position before God if we hope to comprehend the significance of the good news of the gospel.Ephesians 2:1–3 (ESV) 1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.

Preaching Point: Approach the opposition to your evangelism with wisdom and confidence, knowing God’s plan will not be thwarted.Main Text: Matthew 10:16–25 (ESV)16 “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. 17 Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to courts and flog you in their synagogues, 18 and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the Gentiles. 19 When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour. 20 For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. 21 Brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death, 22 and you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 23 When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next, for truly, I say to you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes. 24 “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. 25 It is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of his household.

Embrace the mission of Christ by compassionately and urgently calling people to a right response to the gospel while warning them of the judgment to come.Main Text: Matthew 10:5–15 (ESV) 5 These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them, “Go nowhere among the Gentiles and enter no town of the Samaritans, 6but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7 And proclaim as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ 8Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay. 9Acquire no gold or silver or copper for your belts, 10 no bag for your journey, or two tunics or sandals or a staff, for the laborer deserves his food. 11 And whatever town or village you enter, find out who is worthy in it and stay there until you depart. 12 As you enter the house, greet it. 13 And if the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it, but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. 14 And if anyone will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet when you leave that house or town. 15 Truly, I say to you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah than for that town.

Jesus’ compassionate appeal to his disciples should motivate you to pray fervently for more evangelistic laborers while being an answer to that prayer yourself.

Every Christian must be prepared to address the polarizing responses associated with Jesus Christ.Main Text: Matthew 9:32–34 (ESV) 32 As they were going away, behold, a demon-oppressed man who was mute was brought to him. 33 And when the demon had been cast out, the mute man spoke. And the crowds marveled, saying, “Never was anything like this seen in Israel.” 34But the Pharisees said, “He casts out demons by the prince of demons.”

Preaching Point: Clearly perceiving our desperate plight, we must trust in Jesus Christ as the central figure of our salvation while anticipating his return to rule on the throne of David forever. Main Text: Matthew 9:27–31 (ESV) 27 And as Jesus passed on from there, two blind men followed him, crying aloud, “Have mercy on us, Son of David.” 28When he entered the house, the blind men came to him, and Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” They said to him, “Yes, Lord.” 29 Then he touched their eyes, saying, “According to your faith be it done to you.” 30 And their eyes were opened. And Jesus sternly warned them, “See that no one knows about it.” 31 But they went away and spread his fame through all that district.

Micah 7:18-20

God’s holiness means he is righteous, and his righteousness demands that he is just!

Holding fast to the biblical gospel requires a clear understanding of what the gospel is and a steadfast confidence in its ability to save you and sustain you.1 Corinthians 15:1–4 (ESV) 1 Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,

Good Friday is a time to reflect on the suffering of Jesus on the cross, whose blood justifies the sinner and whose death reconciles us to God.Romans 5:6–11 6 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— 8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. 11 More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

Preaching Point: Make it your mission to showcase supreme confidence in the authority of Christ, even in the most challenging seasons of life.Main Text: Matthew 9:18–26 (ESV) 18 While he was saying these things to them, behold, a ruler came in and knelt before him, saying, “My daughter has just died, but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live.” 19 And Jesus rose and followed him, with his disciples. 20And behold, a woman who had suffered from a discharge of blood for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, 21 for she said to herself, “If I only touch his garment, I will be made well.” 22 Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, “Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well.” And instantly the woman was made well. 23 And when Jesus came to the ruler’s house and saw the flute players and the crowd making a commotion, 24 he said, “Go away, for the girl is not dead but sleeping.” And they laughed at him. 25 But when the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took her by the hand, and the girl arose. 26 And the report of this went through all that district.

Preaching Point: The arrival of Christ requires you to assess the value of every spiritual practice in light of how it relates to the person and work of Christ.Main Text: Matthew 9:14–17 (ESV) 14 Then the disciples of John came to him, saying, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?” 15And Jesus said to them, “Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast. 16 No one puts a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch tears away from the garment, and a worse tear is made. 17 Neither is new wine put into old wineskins. If it is, the skins burst and the wine is spilled and the skins are destroyed. But new wine is put into fresh wineskins, and so both are preserved.”

Preaching Point: God desires a contrite heart that will follow Him, not a heart full of pride based on its outward religious formalities.Main Text: Matthew 9:9–13 (ESV) 9 As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him. 10 And as Jesus reclined at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were reclining with Jesus and his disciples. 11 And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 12 But when he heard it, he said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 13 Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Jesus’ authority over the symptoms of sin should serve as a powerful confirmation of his divine mission to remove your sin and cause you to respond in penitent faith.

Jesus’ dominion over demonic forces ought to give you extreme confidence in his identity and mission to save you from sin.

Jesus calls you to exercise faith in his supreme authority, even in the most fearful circumstances.

A genuine relationship with Jesus includes a readiness to forsake worldly comforts and even close family relationships to follow Him.

Jesus's miraculous healings should serve as a poignant reminder of God's promise to permanently deliver us through Christ's substitutionary death on the cross.

Our lives should serve as shining examples of unlikely people whose faith in Christ's authority proved sufficient to inherit the Kingdom of God.

Humbly responding to the authority of Jesus is necessary for anyone who desires to obtain the mercy of God.

Knowledge of God’s holiness should cause you to confess your need for God to cleanse you from your sin.

Beginning your year with a renewed commitment to focus on eternal priorities is crucial for a fruitful and fulfilling 2024.

Ensure that you are joyously preparing to dwell with God in His perfect eternal kingdom.

We must venerate Christmas as the day commemorating God's self-revelation through His one and only Son from whom we receive God's unmerited favor.

John’s testimony should remind you that adoption as God’s child is the exclusive right of the one who turns from sin and trusts in Christ for deliverance from the consequence of sin.

Grasping Jesus’ divine identity and agency in creation is essential to understanding the magnitude of His incarnational mission to save His creation.

Compass Bible Church Hill Country

Prioritize the hard labor of discipleship so that you can faithfully entrust others to carry on the pure Gospel of Jesus Christ to the nations and to the generations to come.

The effective teaching ministry of the church relies on pastors who cleave to the word of God as the indispensable tool for sound teaching and faithful leadership.

Our call to reach the world for Christ is accomplished by imploring the nations to turn from idols and worship the living God, who will judge the earth in justice and righteousness through Christ.

The outcome of your life, both temporally and eternally, is directly determined by whether or not you obey Jesus’ words.

Spirit-empowered obedience to God, not mere professions nor fervent religious activity, has always been the mark of an authentic relationship with Christ.

Knowing false teachers exist today should put every believer on high alert to inspect the teaching and lifestyles of those who claim to speak on God’s behalf.

Compass Bible Church Hill Country

Entrance into the Kingdom of God is only possible through the substitutionary work of Jesus on our behalf, which is made evident by a lifelong, joyful submission to God.

Genuine salvation empowers believers to imitate the unwavering generosity of God through their own commitment to gospel-powered generosity.

Stop playing God in your condemnation of other people’s sins but instead humbly submit to His standard and instruction so you can address other people’s sins correctly.

A proper evaluation of God’s providential care is necessary for anyone who wants to cease living an anxiety-driven lifestyle and reorient themselves toward God’s rule and righteousness.

Even as Christians, we must regularly examine what we pursue with our time, money, and thoughts to determine our spiritual well-being.

We must ensure that our personal sacrifices to God are never exploited for the purpose of gaining others' praise and attention.

An effective testimony emphasizes the work of Christ on behalf of unworthy sinners and includes how God has been working through them ever since.Main Text: 1 Timothy 1:12–17 12 I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service, 13 though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, 14 and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 15 The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. 16 But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life. 17 To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.Teaching Points:1. Prove You Knew the Cost of Sin vv13,152. Emphasize Christ’s Work on Your Behalf vv14-163. Share What God is Doing in Your Life Now v12

Preaching Point: We must work diligently to ensure that we nor anybody else carelessly reject an invitation to God’s eschatological banquet because we stubbornly choose to pursue our own ambitions.Main Text: Luke 14:15–24 15 When one of those who reclined at table with him heard these things, he said to him, “Blessed is everyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God!” 16 But he said to him, “A man once gave a great banquet and invited many. 17 And at the time for the banquet he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’ 18 But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, ‘I have bought a field, and I must go out and see it. Please have me excused.’ 19 And another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to examine them. Please have me excused.’ 20 And another said, ‘I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.’ 21 So the servant came and reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house became angry and said to his servant, ‘Go out quickly to the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor and crippled and blind and lame.’ 22 And the servant said, ‘Sir, what you commanded has been done, and still there is room.’ 23 And the master said to the servant, ‘Go out to the highways and hedges and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled. 24 For I tell you, none of those men who were invited shall taste my banquet.’ ”Teaching Points: Don’t Let Excuses Keep You from God’s Banquet vv15-20,24Take God’s Invitation Seriously vv21-23Get Others on Board vv21-23Application Questions:Write down one application or observation you found helpful from this week’s sermon.Read Luke 14:15–24. How do you feel knowing that many will miss out on God's eschatological banquet because they make excuses for not surrendering to Jesus today? (a) What response ought this reality invoke in your life as a Christian? Read Luke 13:22–30 and Acts 17:30–31. What is the effect of a laissez-faire attitude toward obedience to God’s word, His will, and an invitation to His banquet?  (a) How does a Christian’s daily obedience to God show the seriousness and imminence everyone should have toward Christ’s return? Read 2 Corinthians 5:17–20 and Acts 26:12–18. Why would separating your relationship with God and your role as His ambassador be a mistake? How do you plan on improving your role as an ambassador of Christ moving forward? 

PREACHING POINT: To pray effectively about your needs, you must keep God's economy at the forefront of your prayers.MAIN TEXT: Matthew 6:9–15 9 Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. 10 Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread, 12 and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. 14 For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, 15 but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.Teaching Points:Pray with a High View of God vv9-10Our Father In Heaven Holy is your nameYour Kingdom ComeYour will be donePray for Daily Provisions vv11-15Daily Sustenance Daily forgivenessDaily Deliverance Application Questions: Write down one observation or application you found helpful from this week’s sermon. Read Matthew 6:9 and Isaiah 57:15. What is at stake if you don’t pray with God’s transcendence and holiness in mind? In what ways can you incorporate the concept of God’s holiness and transcendence into your prayers?Read John 1:11–13 and 1 John 3:1-3. How does the title of God as our Father influence the way you pray and relate to God? Read 1 John 5:14. Why do you believe Jesus wants you to pray with God’s coming Kingdom and God’s will at the forefront of your mind? How does a focus on God’s eschatological Kingdom and His will alter your daily prayers? Read Matthew 6:11-15. What does the simplicity of these three petitions teach you about what God prioritizes in your daily life? Read Matthew 6:14-15 and Mark 11:25-26. What is the relationship between interpersonal forgiveness in the community of believers and your prayers?Why does God care so much about you forgiving others when He has already forgiven you? Read Lamentations 3:22-23 and Psalm 32:5. What are the benefits of regular repentance when you pray to God? Read Psalm 19:13 and Matthew 6:13. How might praying for deliverance from temptations impact your ability to focus on God’s Kingdom and His will? On the other hand, how does falling into temptations often hinder you from focusing on God’s will?

Preaching Point: Your generosity should never be motivated by human recognition but by your commitment to God, who sees your generosity and rewards you as His child.Main Text: Matthew 6:1–4Teaching Points:Check Your Motives v1Don’t Settle for Less v2       Give to Glorify God vv3-4Application Questions: Write down one observation or application you found helpful from this week sermon. Read Matthew 6:1-2. What is God's motivation for caring so much about your motives when your actions appear to be good at face value?Read Isaiah 1:10–20. What does this passage in Isaiah teach you about God’s perspective on doing “good things” with wrong motives? What questions can you ask yourself that can help you regularly check to ensure that you are 1. Regularly generous, and 2. Have the proper motivations for your generosity? Read John 12:43. How does seeking praise from people cause you to settle for less than God desires for you? In what ways does keeping an eternal perspective prevent you from seeking instant gratification through praise from others? Read Colossians 3:23–24 and Matthew 6:3-4. According to God's word, what are the appropriate motivations for generosity?

Text 1: 1 John 5:13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life.Point 1: Placing your trust in the person and work of ChristPoint 2: The God-given capacity and desire to follow Christ faithfullyPoint 3: Persevering in the faithApplication Questions:1. What is one observation or application you found helpful or encouraging from this week’sbaptisms and sermon?2. Read Acts 4:10-12 and Romans 10:9. What is meant when someone says, “the person and work of Jesus”?a. How does biblically defining the person and work of Jesus help you see the gospel of Jesus clearly? b. How does this definition help you see that responding to the gospel is not an ambiguous or otherwise subjective experience, but a clearly defined propositional truth that requires a response?3. Read 1 Thessalonians 4:2–8 and Ezekiel 36:26-27. Have you seen someone whose life was completely transformed by the Holy Spirit once the person surrendered their life to Christ? a. How did their transformation give you confidence in that person’s genuine salvation? b. If you have professed faith in Jesus, how does watching the Holy Spirit change your own life grow your assurance of genuine salvation? 4. Read Hebrews 10:19–39. How do these verses explain the connection between persevering in the faith and having confidence in your relationship with God in Christ?

Preaching Point: As a Christian, you have a responsibility to display your relationship with God by reflecting His benevolence and concern for all people, including your enemies.Main Text: Matthew 5:43–48Teaching Points:   Love Others Indiscriminately vv43-45Reject the World’s Superficial Definition of Love vv46-47Intentionally Pursue Progressive Holiness v48Application Questions:Write down one observation or application you found helpful from this week’s sermon. Read Romans 5:8–11. Why is defining love according to this passage significant both in your relationship with God and your relationship with others?What does loving indiscriminately look like practically? Read Matthew 5:46–47. Does your love tend to look more like how the world defines love than how God defines love? How so?Who do you need to specifically improve on loving in a self-giving, self-sacrificial way that seeks their good?What are three practical ways you can accomplish that this week?Read 1 John 3:10 and 1 Timothy 6:11. Why should you intentionally pursue holiness? Why would believing that you have no part to play in progressing in holiness be biblically misinformed? Look up and write down a Bible reference that addresses your part in pursuing holiness.  How can correctly understanding the role of the Holy Spirit give you confidence that your cooperation with the Holy Spirit to make you progressively holy is God’s plan for every Christian?