Sermon Video: When Jacob's sons repaid evil for evil - Genesis 34

 

The book of Genesis is an encouraging story about the faithfulness and grace of God. It is also an honest story about the failings and follies of the people whom God has chosen to work with, and humanity as a whole. In Genesis 34 Jacob's daughter Dinah is raped by one of the leading men of a neighboring tribe. Rather than seeking justice openly, Jacob's sons scheme like their father resulting in wholesale murder of all of the male relatives of the perpetrator living in the same town, the stealing of all of their property, and the enslavement of the now widows and orphans. Jacob's sons responded to evil with a much greater amount of evil. There are no excuses, no "what about..." deflections. They knew better, and they should have done much better than any of that. As a Church, Jesus Christ calls us to reject this human tendency toward vengeance in all its forms.

The Narrow Path (FFOZ, Torah Club) lesson #1 - Billy Graham was wrong about John 3:16??

In lesson #1 of the new Torah Club series that begins in October 2026, D. Lancaster and FFOZ present a different gospel, one opposed to that preached by Billy Graham and exemplified by John 3:16.

Instead of salvation by grace through faith in Jesus as our assurance of eternal life {as the Bible proclaims}, FFOZ is selling salvation by obedience (works) to the teachings of Jesus (Torah observance).

Let lesson #1 be a warning to anyone who is invited to join a Torah Club, let it serve as a danger sign to any pastor or church that would allow this material into their congregation. 

This false gospel offered by FFOZ is built upon the foundation of the deeply heretical, "How the Gospels Should Have Ended."  To view my two-part response to this insane rejection of God's plan to share the Good News with the whole world:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUMxme9ElkxOrTt6-kbiM3B3tOzkDvJIF

Listen to the Word of God: 62 Scripture passages that refute 'Christian' Nationalism - #40 1 Corinthians 5:11-13

1 Corinthians 5:11-13 But now I am writing to you that you must not associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or slanderer, a drunkard or swindler. Do not even eat with such people. 12 What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? 13 God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked person from among you.”

Like an iceburg the true cost of pursuing "Christian" Nationalism may not be readily apparent, but it lies beneath the surface, doing its damage whether we see it or not.

What does the myth of a "Christian" Nation cost the Church?  {See my: The Myth of a Christian Nation - by Gregory Boyd: a summary and response}  Among its many steep costs is this: The Church becomes known for what (who) it is against, not what (who) it is for.  As Gregory Boyd rightly said, "The brutal fact is that we Christians are not generally known for our love - for the simple reason that we, like the pharisees of old, generally judge more than we love." (The Myth of a Christian Nation, Boyd, p. 133-134).  A Church focused on obtaining power over its political enemies will inevitably devolve into an us vs. them mentality.  How can we share the Gospel with them, how we can be servants, when we're busy trying to destroy them?  

In a "Christian" Nation, moral authority is reduced to a tactic, we can't (or hesitate to) criticize our 'team' for immorality, but at the same time we are incentivized to criticize "them" whether warranted or not.

But that's not at all what the Apostle Paul tells the followers of Jesus Christ to do.  We are told that judgement begins, and ends, with us.  God will deal with the rest of the world, our task is to make sure that immorality has not home within our community.

Thus "Christian" Nationalism pushes the Church in the opposite direction from what scriture commands.  Instead of cleaning our own house, we throw stones at "them", instead of having zero tolerance for sin within our community, we make room (even celebrate) unrepentant sinners who happen to be good at the political power game.

The cost of "Christian" Nationalism is far to high for the Church, the Gospel, and each one of us.

Sermon Video: What is Goof for Everyone - 1 Thessalonians 5:5-12

As he begins wrapping up his letter with a variety of instruction for the church at Thessalonica, the Apostle Paul weaves his insight around the theme of, "what is good for each other and for everyone else."  In shorter form: What is good for everyone.  As a local church, this is always going to be a significant challenge.  We have to come to agreement on what is good in various situation, decide how to pursue it, and peaceably work together to try to achieve it, for everyone.  Difficult, but not impossible for a people called and empowered by the Holy Spirit.

Sermon Video: Awake and Sober - 1 Thessalonians 5:6-11

In light of our foreknowledge that Jesus will return to gather his followers, both the dead in Christ and the currently living, the Apostle Paul encourages us to live our lives in a way that is awake and sober?  What does this mean?  Metaphorically, it means we have an important job to do in sharing the Gospel and making disciples, and we need to be properly focused upon it.

How do we do this?  By embracing faith, love, and hope.

Lastly, Paul ends the discussion of the impact of the return of Christ by reminding us to use this wisdom of what will one day happen to encourage and build each other up.

A 3 minute video is all it takes to see that FFOZ denies the Gospel!

I've written a lot about the dangers of the First Fruits of Zion in the last 3+ years, and I've created long detailed videos refuting their false teachings.  I think there is value in taking the time to dig deep and examine things closely.  However, if you have a friend or family members who is participating in a Torah Club, or you know of a church that allows its building to be used for a Torah Club, show them this 3 minute video looking briefly at one of the most outrageous quotes I've seen thus far.

In the quote, asserts that some who have put their faith in Jesus will be rejected on Judgement Day because that day's decisions will be "based on deeds."  This directly contradicts dozens of passages of scripture, including John 3:16, Acts 16:31, Romans 10:9, and 1 John 1:9.

Christianity affirms that faith must be genuine in order to save, that it has to result in a changed heart and mind and produce fruit.  However, we reject as heresy the idea that works can save anyone (even Torah keeping won't help), our salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Jesus Christ alone.

If this short video prompts questions, I'm happy to have a conversation with anyone with regard to First Fruits of Zion or the larger Hebrew Roots Movement of which they are a key part.

Sermon Video: Like a Thief in the Night - 1 Thessalonians 5:1-5

Having established that both those who have died in Christ and those who are still living when he returns will both be gathered to the Lord, the Apostle Paul now talks about the timing of the return of Jesus.

As Jesus told his disciples, the Father will not reveal when Jesus is coming back, which means that everyone will be surprised, right?  Not actually.  

Those who will not rejoice at his return will certainly be caught off guard, but those who anticipate that day with joy will be ready no matter if the day come sooner or later than we expected.  Why?  Because the wicked are walking in darkness, but the righteous are living in the light of the day.

Listen to the Word of God: 62 Scripture passages that refute 'Christian' Nationalism - #39 Romans 15:1-2

 Romans 15:1-2 We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. 2 Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up.

How do Empires grow in human history?  There have been quite a few of them of various sizes and durations, but the common theme they share, which includes the British Empire from the map above, is that they imposed their will upon other peoples.  Some of these expansions were more bloody and ruthless than others, but none were happy affairs from the point-of-view of the victims.  The British were not the only empire builders to think that the "natives" ought to be grateful to join their empire, but the rose-colored glasses that empowered that sort of hubris aren't strong enough to blind us to the cost of empire born by the conquered or annexed peoples of the world.

How does this discussion of political empires connect to "Christian" Nationalism?  Directly, as it turns out.  "Christian" Nationalists think of the Church and the Gospel with the same expansionist mindset as those seeking to build political empires.  The tactics and methods of empire building, including the use of force or coercion fit neatly into what those behind the Spanish Inquisition, for example, chose to do to "protect" the Christian nature of the Spanish Empire.  We hear similar rhetoric from today's nationalist politicians and pundits as they propose law and regulations aimed at benefiting "Christian" institutions and individuals and placing obstacles and burdens on the backs of those outside the approved list.  We hear talk of banning the building of houses of worship by groups not on the approved list, talk of denying citizenship or basic human rights to those who worship differently (or not at all).

The insurmountable problem with these power plays is that the Kingdom of God, where all followers of Jesus Christ owe their highest allegiance and share equal citizenship, does NOT spread by violence, by maneuverings, by pacts or alliances, nor even by threats of punishment or inducements of reward.  The true Kingdom spreads only through the Fruit of the Spirit and the transforming power of the Gospel's message of salvation by grace through faith.  God's Kingdom grows when his people live in ways that exemplify the neighborly attitude of the Parable of the Good Samaritan.  A weak neighbor is not an opportunity for gain, but an obligation to be a protector.  Likewise with strength, those who have it must put it to use in helping, not exploiting, others.

Mandatory prayer in public schools?  No thank you.  Denying building permits for a mosque, synagogue, or temple?  Not if we truly believe in the power of the Gospel.  Tipping the scales of justice, education, or business so as to favor self-proclaimed Christians and dis-favor everyone else?  Count me with the everyone else if you're going to do that.

We don't need an empire, especially not one that pretends to be Christian while exploiting its neighbors.

Sermon Video: The Dead in Christ Will Rise - 1 Thessalonians 4:15-18

In answering the concerns of the 1st generation Christians at Thessalonica, the Apostle Paul reassures the followers of Jesus that those who have died in Christ will be at no disadvantage when he returns.  In fact, the dead in Christ will be in line ahead of the living in Christ.

In the end, death has zero power to interfere with God's redemptive plan, all those who are in Christ (who have saving faith), whether they be living or dead, will be united with their Savior.

Sermon Video: We do not grieve like those without hope - 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14

Death and the grief that it causes are as real for followers of Jesus as they are for everyone else.  Because we have faith our grief is not eliminated, it is transformed, transformed by our hope.  Hope in what?  the resurrection of those who are in Jesus Christ.

Sermon Video: Love and a Quiet Life - 1 Thessalonians 4:9-12

 The words of the Apostle Paul to the church at Thessalonica about how to please God in this text feel like they have a strong disconnect with life in the modern information age.  It is more difficult for us to make the genuine connections that lead to the type of fellowship he describes that embraces love, and it is much more difficult to lead a quiet life that avoids the turmoil of being involved in other people's business.

And yet, we need Paul's wisdom more than ever.  Our social media and smartphone fueled lives are causing emotional, psychological, and yes, spiritual harms, including to those who are part of the kingdom of God.

Listen to the Word of God: 62 Scripture passages that refute 'Christian' Nationalism - #38 Romans 13:1-4

 

Romans 13:1-4 Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2 Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. 4 For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer.

You might be surprised to see Romans 13:1-4 in this series given that it is the passage most commonly cited by "Christian" Nationalists themselves to justify their subservience to whichever human authority (including those which commit great evil) they have hitched their wagon to.  

The thing is, Paul isn't advocating here for a union of Church and State, far from it.  What Paul is talking about is much more akin to Jesus', "give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s." (Matthew 22:21)  What Paul is teaching is that the idea of human authority, including governmental authority, ultimately comes from God.  We have not been called by the Gospel to become anarchists, it doesn't matter if that impulse comes from the Right or the Left, it is fundamentally contrary to God's design for human society.  Any Rand was wrong about this, along with much else. {The Philosophy of Ayn Rand: Hatred of the authority of God, a post I wrote, ironically, just as the COVID pandemic was starting and governmental authority would be a major worldwide topic}.

Nowhere in Paul's words does he envision a union between the governmental authority established by God with the Bride of Christ.  Given Paul's very negative history with the Sanhedrin, a group that had compromised its moral authority beyond recognition to wield power under both Herod and the Romans, and the Church's understanding of the Roman Empire as the greatest danger facing early believers, we would not expect Paul to be someone who would want to see religious and political authority working hand-in-glove.  Yet, it was not personal experience, or practical reasons, that held Paul back from proposing that the followers of Jesus Christ seek political power in his name, it was his respect for the providential design of God's will, a design in which God's people had all the power they would ever need to change the world in servanthood.

We can have a conversation about what Christian theology has to say about rebellion, revolutions, and non-violent resistance, and we should include Romans 13:1-4 in our study of God's Word with respect to these topics, but we would be dishonoring God's Word if we allowed these words of Paul to be used to justify turning our backs on the evil that governments do, especially when those governments wrap themselves in a Christian flag.

Sermon Video: "how to live in order to please God" - 1 Thessalonians 4:1-2

In this text, the Apostle Paul establishes two key truths that we take for granted, but that would have been mind-blowing in the Ancient Near East: (1) We can KNOW how to please God, and (2) we can please God in the way in which we live.

Now, Paul makes this assertion by building on the foundation of salvation by grace through faith.  One cannot please God without the forgiveness of sins and the relationship that faith creates.  

How do we know what pleases the Lord?  His Word tells us.  Who can please the Lord?  Every man, woman, and child who comes to Jesus Christ by faith, who is empowered by the Holy Spirit, and who is joined together into a community of fellow disciples.

Listen to the Word of God: 62 Scripture passages that refute 'Christian' Nationalism - #37 Romans 12:17-21

 

Romans 12:17-21 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. 20 On the contrary:

“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;

    if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.

In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”

21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

On April 7, 2026, the President of the United States wrote on Truth Social, "a whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again." He was speaking of the 90 million people of Iran.  Much to the relief of the world, the genocide threatened by President Trump did not happen.  That it might have is yet another reason why the Church and the Gospel cannot possibly make alliance with any kingdom of this world.  This grandiose vision of death and destruction is not what we have been called to as followers of Jesus Christ.  In fact, our calling is very nearly the opposite of this: turn the other cheek.

The efforts of Pope Leo, among others, to advocate for the Christian interest in peace were loudly mocked by those in the political realm, with some proclaiming that politicians know better about what the Bible teaches about war.

The kingdoms of this world, whether in this current moment or in generations past, operate using tools and methods, even when they stop well short of the mass slaughter of genocide, that are not permissible to followers of Jesus.  Their ways are not our ways.  The kingdoms of this world make moral compromises for their own benefit, those are choices that are not permissible for followers of Jesus Christ.  Their priorities are not our priorities.  The kingdoms of this world view other nations on a spectrum from ally to enemy, a self-interested scale that often shifts {Consider America's history with our first foe England who later after another war in 1812 shifted to become our staunchest ally}.  By contrast, those who are in Christ have been called to look at humanity without these labels, to view all people as either those who are our brothers and sisters in Christ to whom we owe loving fellowship, or as those with whom we have been called to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Enemies?  Only if they choose to be, we'd rather they accept God's grace and join us in fellowship.

Are the Iranian people the enemy of Jesus Christ?  No.  Are they the enemy of Christianity?  No.  Are they the enemy of the Gospel?  No.  Our response as followers of Jesus Christ in all three cases is to do what is noble, just, and good with respect to the Iranian people.  'Christian' Nationalism stands ready to choose sides in conflicts great and small and, "root, root, root for the home team," but they are wrong, our calling is much higher and much nobler than the whims of geopolitics. 

Sermon Video: A Prayer for a Church that is already Standing Firm- 1 Thessalonians 3:6-13

Having learned from Timothy that his worst fears (see previous sermon in this series) had not come about because the church at Thessalonica was actually doing well in his absence, the Apostle Paul shifts to thanksgiving and prayer.  

When a church is already standing firm, what prayer need does it have?

Paul offers three possible needs: (1) outside support and encouragement, (2) overflowing love, and (3) blameless devotion to God.

Sermon Video: Labor Not in Vain - Paul's concern for a church, 1 Thessalonians 2:17-3:5

In sharing his own anxiety over their well-being with them, the Apostle Paul opens up to the church at Thessalonica by telling them that his prolonged (unwanted) absence from them has caused him turmoil.  His reasons?  (1) The relationship that they have will be celebrated when Christ returns. (2) They needed his assistance, which meant sending them Timothy in Paul's stead. (3) Paul knew that they would be facing persecution. (4) He feared that temptation might have caused them to be unfruitful.  

Paul's openness demonstrates the importance to us of our relationships with brothers and sisters in Christ, the need that every local church has for its own version of Timothy to support and encourage it, and our collective reliance upon faith to overcome temptation.

Sermon Video: Receiving God's word in a hostile environment - 1 Thessalonians 2:13-16

 

We know the stories of the missionary martyrs, those who risked their lives and gave them to share the Gospel.  Less well known are the persecutions of those who chose to accept Jesus in those dangerous settings.  The persecution that Paul endured is familiar to us, but what about the ordinary men and women of Thessalonica, what was it like for them?

In our text today Paul doesn't detail the hostility they faced, rather he focuses on what they did in response: they accepted the Gospel as the very words of God.  This remarkable faith is encouraging to us, reminding us of the power of the Gospel and the work of the Holy Spirit.  Persecution didn't stop the redeeming power of God's grace in Paul's day, it won't in ours either.

Sermon Video: The spiritual parents of a new church - 1 Thessalonians 2:7-12

The Apostle Paul tells the young church at Thessalonica that he and his team  were related to this congregation as its spiritual mother and father.  Both the tenderness of a mother and the encouragement of a father were needed by the community of new Christians as they grew in maturity.

This same principle applies to individual new Christians within an established Christian congregation, a reminder to mature disciples of Jesus that we are called to serve as mentors of the discipleship of others.

Messianic Jewish Perspectives: An interview with Pastor Matt Frey, Heritage Fellowship

 

Pastor Matt and I have had an email conversation going for some time, I was glad to have the opportunity today to learn more about his faith journey, call to ministry, and efforts to plant a congregation that is both welcoming to Jewish and Gentile followers of Jesus Christ, and at the same time intentional about its mission to evangelize within the Jewish community.

Pastor Matt offered numerous insights into issues related to being Jewish, Judaism, Messianic Judaism, and the Hebrew Roots Movement.

Listen to the Word of God: 62 Scripture passages that refute 'Christian' Nationalism - #36 Romans 12:2

 

Romans 12:2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

How should God's people, those whom he has called, "out of darkness into his wonderful light" (1 Peter 2:9) conduct themselves in the world?  

The Star Wars sequel trilogy has flaws, a lot of them, but the idea of a stormtrooper who questions his indoctrination isn't one of them.  With Finn, whom the Empire only gives a designation to: FN2187, one of the nameless and faceless soldiers of the Empire, we finally get a glimpse at what it would take to say "No." to the evil that they are asked to do in its name.  Finn, in an act of rebellion, rescues the Rebel operative Poe Dameron, and subsequently joins the rebellion.  He becomes a thinking person with a moral code, not just a number.

Why talk about this Star Wars character in connection with 'Christian' Nationalism?  The answer is really simple: 'Christian' Nationalism creates its own stormtroopers.  No, we're not talking about people who can't hit the broad side of a barn with a laser gun, and we're not talking about the ways that term was used by WWII's fascist regimes.  Rather, 'Christian' Nationalism elevates the role and purpose of the state, sanctifying it by claiming that God wants them to run/rule it in God's name, which makes service to the state and obedience to the state into spiritual imperatives because they come from a, supposedly, God-sanctioned ruler or party.

What happens when the state engages in evil?  What happens when the state persecutes the outcasts and "others" that it designates as its enemies?  Do followers of Jesus go with the flow, do they make themselves no more than a cog in the machine of state?  

True discipleship of Jesus is not unthinking conformity, certainly not to the kingdoms of this world.  Instead, the Apostle Paul instructs us that we need to be transformed by the Holy Spirit, we need to seek the will of God, even if that means rebellion against an Empire.