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At the end of this podcast is the answer to the question: What would John Owen say to the Theocast podcast, "Why I left Lordship" salvation." For John Owen, severing the Lordship of Christ from His saving work is a theological impossibility because saving faith receives the undivided Person of the God-Man, who simultaneously executes the offices of Prophet, Priest, and King. In Christologia and Meditations on the Glory of Christ (Volume 1), Owen demonstrates that Christ's Kingly office is not an optional addendum to salvation, but the very mechanism by which He bestows His Spirit, subdues the rebel heart, and delivers His people from the dominion of sin and Satan. True faith involves the voluntary subjection of the soul to Christ's scepter; therefore, a "salvation" that leaves a sinner in active rebellion against King Jesus claims a benefits-only fiction that departs entirely from the genuine gospel.

This sermon examines the biblical qualifications for a 'widow indeed' as outlined in 1 Timothy 5, contrasting her spiritual maturity with the carnal lifestyle of those who live for pleasure. The central message emphasizes that true godliness is demonstrated through a consistent walk of trust in God, persistent prayer, and the fulfillment of familial duties, particularly the obligation of children to care for their aging parents. The text warns against the spiritual deadness that results from prioritizing rest and self-indulgence over the work of the Spirit, citing the church at Sardis as a parallel example. It further instructs the congregation on the importance of maintaining good works, such as hospitality and charity, which serve as evidence of genuine faith and protect the church from being burdened by those who have family support. The tone is instructional and convicting, urging believers to examine their own lives for signs of idleness, gossip, or a lack of duty, and to instead cultivate a character that honors God through practical love and self-sacrifice.

Pastor Don's Books: https://ttwpress.com 2849 - https://www.thetruthpulpit.com

Believing That Is Becoming 1 Corinthians 2–3 | Jeremiah 32:38–40 This message emphasizes that genuine faith in Jesus is more than believing something about Him; it is a believing that is continually becoming more like Him. Our believing affects our behavior, and our behavior reveals whether we're being led by the Spirit of God or governed by the desires of our flesh. Paul confronted the believers at Corinth because, although they had received the gospel and the wisdom of God, their jealousy, strife, and divisions exposed their spiritual immaturity. They were placing their confidence in gifted servants rather than recognizing that Paul, Apollos, and Peter were merely instruments through whom God was working. The servants planted and watered, but God gave the increase. The message reminds us that God has given us His Word and His Spirit, not merely to increase our knowledge, but to transform our lives. His wisdom teaches us to depend upon Him rather than our own understanding, producing humility, patience, purity, love, and a willingness to serve others without competition or offense. When we're Spirit-led, even life's difficulties and relationships become opportunities for God to accomplish His good purpose in us—conforming us to the image of Jesus. Drawing from Jeremiah 32:38–40, the message reveals God's desire to give His people one heart and one way, placing His fear within them so they will continually walk with Him. This reverence produces a lifestyle of dependence that blesses not only us but also those who come after us. Ultimately, the great evidence of our believing is who and what we're becoming. When we receive God's Word, yield to His Spirit, and trust Je

Why are the Rod and Reproof so necessary? Proverbs 29:1–15 looks forward to the midweek sermon. In these fifteen verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the rod and reproof are means that God uses to conform a child to Christ. The devotional explores the divine purpose behind parental discipline, explaining that the combination of verbal rebuke and physical correction is essential for training a child to receive God's Word. It contrasts the tragic trajectory of a child left to himself, who hardens his heart and harms self and others, with the wisdom cultivated through consistent, loving correction. The text emphasizes that this discipline is not an end in itself but serves the rebuke, which is a means of grace by which Christ brings the child to repentance and faith in Himself. The message urges parents to trust in God's sovereignty to use these instruments for the spiritual formation of their children, lest they end up in themselves rather than in Christ and like Christ.

This sermon examines the biblical foundation of marriage by contrasting the lack of family emphasis in the Old Testament with the specific instructions found in Genesis and Ephesians. It highlights the necessity of leaving one's parents to become one flesh with a spouse, using the creation narrative to illustrate that a suitable helper must share the same spiritual nature. The teaching positions marital unity as a critical bridge between being filled with the Holy Spirit and standing against the devil, arguing that spiritual strength is built through obedience to these relational commands. The tone is instructional and convicting, urging believers to prioritize their marriage partners over parental ties to avoid the spiritual and relational failures seen in biblical history.

This sermon examines the doctrine of particular sins through the lens of Eliphaz's third speech to Job, contrasting the necessity of specific repentance with the danger of presumptuous judgment. The central argument asserts that while believers must honestly acknowledge and confess specific transgressions rather than relying on vague generalities, they must never invent accusations or interpret another person's suffering as definitive proof of guilt. The text highlights Eliphaz's error in assuming Job's specific sins without evidence, warning against the hypocrisy of judging others while ignoring one's own faults. Drawing from Matthew 7 and 18, the message emphasizes that addressing sin within the church must be done privately, gently, and with a spirit of meekness aimed at restoration rather than condemnation. Ultimately, the sermon calls for a balanced approach that combines rigorous self-examination and genuine repentance with humility, recognizing that God's omniscience does not transfer to human judgment and that forgiveness rests solely on the finished work of Christ.

Pastor Don's Books: https://ttwpress.com 2848 - https://www.thetruthpulpit.com

The sermon emphasizes the necessity for the church to maintain spiritual vigilance and purity, particularly in the aftermath of a revival experience. Drawing primarily from Ephesians 5, the message argues that God values the holiness of the bride of Christ over her fruit, urging believers to remain without spot or blemish. The text uses the narrative of Achan and Joshua to illustrate how individual sin and a lack of prayer can jeopardize the entire congregation, while also warning against false teachers who cause division and serve their own interests. By citing examples of apostasy and false prophecy, the speaker encourages the congregation to rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment and to continue seeking God's face through prayer to sustain the work of the Spirit.

This sermon explores the command in 1 Peter 5:5 for all believers to be clothed with humility, defining it not as a personality trait but as a deliberate grace worked by the Holy Spirit. The central message contrasts the divine opposition to pride with God's generous provision of grace to the humble, using the example of Christ washing the disciples' feet to illustrate true greatness found in service. The exposition identifies three realities that dismantle pride: recognizing oneself as a creature, a sinner, and a recipient of grace, thereby shifting the focus from self-importance to the glory of God. The tone is pastoral and convicting, urging listeners to examine their motives in service and relationships, and to view lowly positions as fertile ground for spiritual growth. Ultimately, the sermon calls for a daily, practical application of humility through self-forgetful obedience and a growing sight of Jesus Christ.

If God forgets nothing, what does it mean that "God remembered Noah" (Genesis 8:1)? Read Exodus 2:24 and ask whether God's remembering is a memory brought back or His mercy put into action toward His own. Then ask why the same verse names "every living thing, and all the cattle" (Genesis 8:1) beside Noah. "And God remembered Noah, and every living thing, and all the cattle that was with him in the ark: and God made a wind to pass over the earth, and the waters asswaged;" (Genesis 8:1)

Who shall guard the guardians? By showing us how to treat elders who rule well, are accused, and are in sin, God demonstrates that he will guard the guardians: 1. By His Word. 2. By His Spirit. 3. By His judgments. A. Hide the Word in your heart, and seek to do it "by the book" B. Pray for your Elders/Session/Presbytery/Denomination C. Trust that if the Church doesn't get it right, Christ will work it out in the end.

Theme: Test every spirit, knowing that you have passed the test yourself by faith in Christ. 1. The Litmus Test (1-3) 2. Passing the Test (4-6)