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Behold Our Great King

This exposition of Matthew 21:1-11 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, April 14, 2019.

Intro:

“It just didn’t make sense. It was not in keeping with what had been going on for the past three years. And it was dangerous. This was a time for laying low.

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This was a time to play it safe. Why take the risk? Why now? You know they are going to be looking for something like this. It’s suicide.” That must have been the confused reasoning of the disciples as Jesus made his approach to Jerusalem on the first day of that infamous week.

Weeks before, Jesus had “set his face as a flint for Jerusalem.” He resolutely determined to go there. Nothing could stop him – nothing would stand in his way. The time had come. That time established, by the Father, in eternity past, had now come. God’s eternal plan of redemption was now reaching its climax. For weeks Jesus has been preparing his disciples by focusing on the Kingdom. He has talked about its requirements – you must have the faith of a child, a simple, dependent faith. You must be willing to lose everything in order to obtain it. Jesus taught them that such a thing is impossible with man but possible with God. He taught them to look up for the Kingdom of God was near. History’s greatest drama is about to be played out as the Sovereign Creator of the universe mounts a donkey colt and makes his way toward Jerusalem. Our text this morning is found in Matthew chapter 21.

Text: Matthew 21:1-11

Matthew has crafted his Gospel to say to Jewish readers, “This is your Messiah.”
He has demonstrated that Jesus is a great teacher 5-7 (Sermon on the Mount).
He has revealed him as a great miracle worker.
He demonstrated that he is the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets (Transfiguration).

Throughout his Gospel he has made it clear that the people responded favorably toward Jesus while the establishment despised him. Nowhere is that any clearer than in this passage.

Remember the context. Hostility has been mounting for years by this time. The more popular Jesus became with the crowd – the more threatened the establishment felt. He had to be silenced. They had to get rid of him – but how? Numerous meetings have been held. Various plots had been developed but none of them seemed to get off the ground. If only they could get him to come to Jerusalem. If they could just have him on their home turf.

That’s why it didn’t make sense to his followers. Why go to Jerusalem? Why now? Jesus would be playing into the hands of his enemies. And it appears as if he did. Albert Schweitzer the 19th century theologian described the Passion Week in terms of the Lord Jesus being “crushed in the wheels of history.” What Schweitzer failed to realize was that it was the Lord Jesus, himself, who was turning the wheel!

To Schweitzer the death of the Lord Jesus was the tragic end of a noble man who died before completing his great work. The fact is that his death was his great work!

As we explore this incredible story, we will discover that:

Thesis: The Triumphal Entry dramatically reveals the ultimate significance of Jesus’ life and ministry.

There are three things I want us to note.

  1. With His entrance into the city, our Lord boldly, deliberately and unapologetically declares himself King. (Matthew 21:1-8)
  2. Our Lord’s bold, public proclamation reveals He’s a very different kind of king: a peacemaker, reconciling sinful humanity to a holy God. (Matthew 21:9-10)
  3. His broken-hearted lament over the proud, unrepentant city demonstrates the depths of our Savior’s love. (Luke 19:41-44)

Conclusion:
He prophetically saw the proud, unrepentant Holy City as a pile of rubble wet with blood.
Look at him.
This is the heart of God.
This is the heart of the Savior.
This is how God sorrows over hearts that miss their “day” of salvation.
The tears of the Lord Jesus measure the value of your soul.
The question is will he weep over you?

I don’t believe it is possible to overestimate the significance of what happened that day in Jerusalem. The Triumphal Entry dramatically revealed the ultimate significance of Jesus’ life and ministry.

He is reveled as the Great Servant King.
He is seen as the Great Priest reconciling the world to God.
He is seen as the Great Prophet, weeping over the devastation of the proud and unrepentant.

Behold the Lord Jesus – Prophet, Priest and King.

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The Lettuce Sermon

This exposition of Hebrews 10:19-25 by guest preacher Troy Johnston was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, March 10, 2019.

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Seven key doctrines found in the first 9 chapters of Hebrews:

  1. The superiority of Jesus Christ
  2. The Great High Priest
  3. Sacrifice
  4. The Promise
  5. Maturity
  6. Faith
  7. Endurance

The passage before us has four sections that begin with the exhortation "let us":

  1. Let us draw near to God with a true heart and full assurance of faith. v. 22.
  2. Let us hold fast ... v. 23.
  3. Let us consider ... v. 24.
  4. Let us encourage one another ... v. 25.

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What’s in a Name? Christmas 2018

This exposition of Matthew 1:21 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, December 23, 2018.

Intro:

You’ve just found out. You’re going to have a baby! When you come to and pick yourself up off the floor – you’re thinking, “I can’t believe it, a baby.” You’re numb. As the initial shock wears off you begin to get excited.

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Now you are fighting over who gets to tell who – “Let me tell them,” “No let me!” You are just so excited, a baby. Things rock along just fine until one day someone says to you, “What are you going to name this kid?” That’s an innocent enough question but it ignites a storm of controversy. You enter into a time of intense negotiation. Everyone has a suggestion. By the way, Rodney is always an excellent choice! You’ve got to weigh all the suggestions. You find yourself paying attention to names wherever you find them. You’re watching a movie and your wife says, “Oh I like that.” “You like what – the man’s been murdered!” “No, the name. The killers name was Jeb.” Of course you have to give careful consideration to family names. Rheadon was not fond of my grandmother’s name. She just didn’t take to the name, Zephie. Of course you also have to get a couple of those “name” books. Then you have to experiment with different names and combinations. Rheadon liked Charis, which is Greek for grace. I liked the name itself but come on, “Charis Harris?” I couldn’t do that to a kid. It’s a time consuming process and it’s important because this is a label for life. Names are important.

In ancient times names were important as well. Names were intended to express the character and nature of the person. Parents often instilled their hopes and dreams in the name given to their child. Biblically, names are important. Abram meant, “exalted father.” God changed his name to Abraham, “father of a great multitude.” So names do matter. You want to get it right.

That is the backdrop of our text this morning. It prepares us for what happened 2000 years ago in the tiny village of Nazareth as the angel of God came to a carpenter by the name of Joseph.

Text: Matthew 1:18-25

This is Matthew’s account of the events surrounding the birth of the Lord Jesus. Luke focuses on Mary. Matthew views events from Joseph’s perspective. In the heart of the angel’s message to Joseph is a very important statement. A statement that you have read and heard many times. You are so familiar with it, it doesn’t stand out in your thinking. Yet it is a profound announcement bringing great insight into the significance of the birth of this child.

Look at the text and take special note of verse 21. For it is there that we learn:

Thesis: The name of Jesus reveals the true beauty and wonder of Christmas.

It is easy in the midst of parties, the shopping, the celebrating, the coming and going to lose your focus during this time of year. The beauty and wonder of Christmas is not found in the giving. It is not in the lights or the singing. It is not in the “good cheer.” It is not even in family. The beauty and wonder of Christmas is found in understanding the love of God demonstrated so wonderfully in the name of Jesus. Oh we say it. He is the reason for the season. We even print it on T-shirts and sweatshirts. But what does that mean? In what way? How is He the reason for the season? The answer is found in His name.

There are three things I want us to note about the name of Jesus.

  1. The name of Jesus reveals the purpose of His coming.
  2. The name of Jesus reveals the nature of His people.
  3. The name of Jesus reveals the heart of God.

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The Path to Genuine Freedom, from Romans 6:15-23

This exposition of Romans 6:15-23 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, June 24, 2018.

Intro:

We are a “Gospel People.” A people born of the Gospel, rooted in the Gospel, identified by the Gospel. The Gospel is not just good news for the lost. It is good news for the saved.

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We never move beyond the Gospel. We never outgrow the Gospel. We grow into it. We mature in it. It becomes the joy of our lives. It grows sweeter with each passing day as we plumb the depths Gospel truth. The great tragedy in the church is so many folks “get saved” and them seem to get over it. I checked the box, said the prayer got dunked in water, I’m good now let’s move on. No, we don’t move on. We spend eternity exploring the wonders of God’s salvation. The Gospel is not something I need for when I die, it is what I need in order to live. Thus from time to time we come together around this table. We come to remember and to reflect. We gather to rejoice in the life that is ours because of Christ. The life that is ours because of the cross. This morning I want to reflect on a text most of us are familiar with. It’s part of the Roman Road. It is a basic text for sharing the gospel. We know that if we want to share the gospel we need to talk about the effects of sin. So we point to Romans 3:23 - for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Then we point to Romans 6:23 - for the wages of sin is death but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23 is certainly “good news.” It is the best possible news but you really need to see it in context. It comes as the capstone of an argument the apostle is making about living the gospel. Our text this morning is found in Romans chapter 6 beginning with verse 15.

Text: Romans 6:15-23

Paul’s message has been focused and driven:
We are guilty - deserving of God’s wrath
All have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory
There is none righteous not a single one
The wages of our sin is death
But God has revealed, made known, manifested a righteousness, apart from the law
That is a righteousness that is outside of us
This righteousness is ours by faith
When we come to faith we have peace with God
We are no longer His enemies, we are His friends, children upon whom He will lavish His grace

He then gives this summary in 5:20-21: where sin abounds grace abounds all the more. Now Paul knows that this truth could be abused/misused. If sin causes grace to “super-abound” let’s sin more that grace might more abound. He responds with, God forbid, how can we who died to sin still live in it? (Romans 6:1-14)

The summary of 6:14 - For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace, could just as easily be abused - thus we have our text beginning with verse 15 and going down to verse 23.

As we explore verses 15-23 we are reminded that...

Thesis: The road to genuine freedom must pass through heartfelt, voluntary enslavement.

Now that doesn’t make sense.
How can that be?
What does that even mean?
Let’s look at it together.

There are three things I want to point out along the way.

  1. Genuine freedom is the fruit of heartfelt enslavement. (6:15-18)
  2. The Gospel, without apology, forcefully calls all believers to a life of such enslavement. (6:19)
  3. This enslavement to righteousness brings eternal glory. (6:21-23)

Conclusion:
So you want to be free? You want to know the joyous freedom of fulfillment and happiness? Then wholeheartedly embrace a life of slavery. Slavery to righteousness. Because it is only in becoming obedient to the will of God you will ever find the joy of living as you were made to live!

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An Exposition of Exodus

An Exposition of Exodus

This Sunday-morning expositional series by Pastor Rod Harris on the book of Exodus began on April 8, 2018, and concluded on April 26, 2020. To listen to a sermon simply click on one of the titles below. The most recent message is cued up and ready to play at the top of the list; to begin listening to it, simply click the little grey triangle in the upper left hand corner of the playlist.

Our Glorious Salvation

This is an exposition of Hebrews 10:1-18. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Easter Sunday morning, April 1, 2018.

Intro:

It’s what stirred the heart of the old sea captain as he wrote, “Amazing grace how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me.” It was the thing that broke the shackles that bound the sin-laden heart of Martin Luther.

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 It is that which loosed the pen of the apostle Paul as he wrote to a world held captive by ritual and superstition, “...by grace are you saved through faith” and “...it is not to the one who works but to the one who does not work but trusts him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness.” The Gospel. God’s gift of forgiveness, life and righteousness to all who believe. It is an amazing message. One that seems too good to be true, in fact it seems foolish to those who are perishing but it is life to those who believe. How can sinful men be made right with God? How is it that those who are deserving of God’s judgment and wrath can be loved and accepted? The answer is found in the gospel.

Today is Easter. Churches are filled as people gather for the annual celebration. But why are we here? What are we celebrating? Central to our faith is the person of Jesus Christ. The Bible is clear, Jesus is uniquely the Son of God (John 1:1-4, 14). As Jesus enter into public ministry (around the age of 30) John the Baptist pointed to Him and declared, “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” For three years Jesus lived and ministered in Palestine. The Gospels record His teachings and miracles. After years of mounting threats and increased hostility He is finally arrested, charged and executed. Three days later He rose triumphantly from the grave. Easter is the celebration of the resurrection.

Okay, we are celebrating the resurrection. Christ rose from the dead. But why does it matter? Is it worth celebrating? In answer to that I invite you to turn to our text this morning found in the 10th chapter of the book of Hebrews.

Text: Hebrews 10:1-18

Their world was crashing down around them.
Rejected by their families and targeted by the government - they struggled to believe.

Their faith was costly - But recall the former days when, after you were enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings, sometimes being publicly exposed to reproach and affliction, and sometimes being partners with those so treated. For you had compassion on those in prison, and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one (10:32-34).

The writer says to these frightened believers, “Hold on. Christ is better than the best Rome or Judaism has to offer.” He sets forth the Lord Jesus as superior to angels, to Abraham, to the high priest and the whole sacrificial system. As God’s final word he is unsurpassed in revealing God and in guaranteeing our acceptance before a holy God.

In this text the writer leaves no doubt...

Thesis: The sacrifice of Jesus Christ alone enables cleansing and forgiveness.

This is our greatest need. For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God and the wages of our sin is death. The death I’m speaking of is separation from God now and forever. Left to ourselves, to our own devices, we are without hope. But, the Gospel is the good news that God has not left it to us. He has redeemed us. He has saved us. There are three things about this salvation I want to point out from this text.

  1. The biblical writer makes clear the weakness and ineffectiveness of the Old Covenant. (10:1-4)
  2. The biblical writer declares the power of Christ to save. (10:5-10)
  3. The biblical writer glories in what Christ has accomplished for us. (10:11-18)

Conclusion:
Yes, today is Easter Sunday. A day for thanksgiving and celebration. A day for rejoicing. It has nothing to do with bunnies, eggs or candy. It is the joyous celebration of the fact that Christ died and rose again to make you and me perfect, forgiving us completely and renewing our hearts. Heaven has been laid at our sinful feet. There is no greater folly than to turn away from such a glorious salvation.

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Behold Your King: Palm Sunday, 2018

This is an exposition of John 12:12-19. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Palm Sunday, March 25, 2018.

Intro:

The date was December 4, 1977. The place was Bangui, the capital of the Central African Empire. It was the day of the coronation of his Imperial Majesty, Bokassa I. I must say, “It was an impressive affair.”

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The ceremony began with the blare of trumpets and the roll of drums. Bokassa’s twenty-nine official children paraded down the royal carpet to their seats. They were followed by Jean Bedel Bokassa II, heir to the throne, dressed in a white admiral’s uniform with gold braid. He was followed by Catherine, the favorite of Bokassa’s nine wives. Finally the emperor arrived in a gold imperial coach drawn by six matched Anglo-Norman horses. He wore a thirty-two-pound robe decorated with 785,000 pearls and gold embroidery. On his brow he wore a gold crown of laurel wreaths, symbolic of the favor of the gods. He took his seat on his $2.5 million eagle throne, took off his gold laurel wreath and, as Napoleon 173 years before had done, took his $2.5 million dollar crown, topped with an 80-caret diamond, and placed it on his own head declaring himself emperor. That little affair cost $25 million dollars. His kingdom lasted 2 years.

It was the year 30 AD. The place was Jerusalem. It was Passover season. The streets were crowded with pilgrims. The air was filled with joy and excitement. There was singing, dancing and laughter throughout the city. Off in the distance there came the faint echoes of a shouting mob. The shouts grow louder and louder until finally this strange parade made its way down from the Mount of Olives. But this was a very different kind of parade. Old clothes. Broken branches. Peasants shouting about a king. But what kind of king enters triumphantly on a donkey?

And how does such a one inspire people to cry, “Save us! Save us now?”
Our text this morning is found in the 12th chapter of John’s Gospel.

Text: John 12:12-19

Our Lord entered the city in a precise and calculated manner.
The citizens of Jerusalem had been debating for days about whether he would even show.
It is well known the religious establishment was determined to kill him.
So why enter in such a public way?
Why such a conspicuous display?
The answer is simple, His time had come.
That time determined by His Father in eternity past.

The Passover Lamb must be offered in payment for sin.

As we survey the chaos of that moment. We note the presence of impassioned believers. There are those who have heard His teaching and know that no one teaches like this man. They’ve watched as the eyes of the blind have been opened and they’ve seen the lame walk. Many have been in the presence of Lazarus, the once decaying corpse, and they believe this is the Christ! Others are just curious. They have heard the stories and they’re not sure what to believe. Still others are filled with rage and long for the destruction of this trouble-making Galilean. One thing is certain...

Thesis: The revelation of Jesus Christ demands a response.

He cannot be ignored. You cannot remain neutral. That option is not available to you. Once He is revealed you must believe in Him or you must reject Him.

John tells us the purpose of his writing is to present Jesus as the Christ, the Son of God that you might believe in Him. That you might trust in Him.

That you would surrender to Him as Lord and Savior. He says, “I’ve written this that you might know that He is the Christ and that you might have life by believing in His name.”

There are three things I want us to note from this text.

  1. Our Lord purposefully and deliberately reveals himself as the promised Messiah, the fulfillment of prophecy. (12:12-14)
  2. Our Lord graciously and deliberately reveals himself as the servant king and the Lamb of God. (12:15)
  3. Once revealed, He cannot be ignored. (12:16-19)

Conclusion:
There were those who waved palm branches and cried, “Hosanna, blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.” There were those who feared the whole world was going after him and thus despised Him all the more.

What is your response?

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A Study on Corporate Worship, From Malachi 1

This pair of messages by guest preacher Dennis Gunderson was delivered on Sunday, March 4, 2018.

Isn’t it Absurd? from Colossians 1:13-20

Isn’t it Absurd?  from Colossians 1:13-20. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist  Church on Sunday morning, December 24, 2017

Introduction:

You have to agree…it sounds strange. In fact you might go so far as to say it sounds absurd. Absurd refers to something that is “unreasonable” or “incongruous.” When we consider the birth of the Lord Jesus there are aspects that “seem” unreasonable. There are things that just don’t seem to fit.

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 Who would dream that the story, of the high, holy, exalted moment when God came to earth, would center around an unwed mother? To say nothing about angels visiting shepherds, strange and mysterious visitors “from the East” and the birth of God in a stable! Is that any way for God to make an entrance?

Because we’ve heard the story so often, because the story seems so “far fetched” many look at the Christmas story the same way they look at Dickens’s Christmas Carol or It’s a Wonderful Life. It is a nice sentimental, feel-good story. It’s part of our Christmas tradition and nothing more. But it is something more, something much more. Christmas is the story of God’s invasion of our world. It is the story of God’s great act of liberation. It is the story of how God in love and grace restores broken lives.

Text: Colossians 1:13-20

Christmas is not just the story of an “unusual” birth.
We do not worship a baby born under unfortunate circumstances in an obscure village.
Apart from his life, death and resurrection, his birth is without meaning.

The reason we sing, celebrate and remember is because of who he is and what he came to do. Christmas is about the Gospel. For that reason our text is an appropriate Christmas text.

From it we are reminded that:

Thesis: Christmas marks the arrival of the incomparable Lord of Glory.

This is one of my favorite texts and there are three things I want to note from this text related to the meaning of Christmas.

  1. The child born in Bethlehem is our conqueror and King. (1:13-14)
  2. This child in the manger is the sovereign creator of all that is. (1:15-17)
  3. The one worshiped is our redeemer and Lord. (1:18-20)

Conclusion:
Tomorrow is Christmas. We will gather with family and friends. We will exchange gifts and feast. All of that is well and good but meaningless apart from the wonderful, absurd story of a God who so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son so that whoever believes would not perish but would have everlasting life.

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