The Plowman

An exposition of Jeremiah 25:15-38. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, June 29, 2008.

Are there many paths to God? What does John 14:6 mean? What do most Americans believe today anyway? By and large Americans in today’s post-modern world you can believe pretty much what you want. Just don’t have a narrow view that your way is the only way.

1 God is coming in judgment of the wicked.
2 The cup of God’s wrath was not reserved for Jeremiah’s time alone. A cup of wrath is reserved for anyone who refuses God’s gracious offer of life in the person of Jesus Christ. We have not preached the gospel until we declare this.
3 God is not being unreasonable. This message comes after centuries of rebellion from his people.
4 The wonder of the gospel is found in the fact that Christ consumed the cup of the wrath of God for you and for me who believe.

The question is will you consume the cup of God’s wrath for your self or will Jesus consume  it for you? The only hope for our world is not in education, treaty, or the right presidential candidate. The only hope for our world is if the church faithfully, consistently preaches the gospel of grace of Jesus Christ.

 

 Standard Podcast [36:18m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (6)

An exposition of Revelation 2:8-11. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, June 22, 2008.

The Pain of Betrayal
Have you ever felt the pain of betrayal? It is intensified by the closeness of the relationship, and the circumstance of an hour-of-need situation. In our day personal loyalty is out the window. This has worked its way in every aspect of our lives, even in our faith, the church, and to Christ.  Oh yes, we will be loyal to Christ so long as it doesn’t inconvenience us, and we get out of it what we desire. Looking at the Scriptures we see that God places a high value on loyalty. John chose a life of loyalty to Christ, and paid for it by being exiled to the island of Patmos.

Today we come to the words to the church in Smyrna. If there were a one-word epitaph for the church in Smyrna it would be the word “loyalty.” They were one of only two addresses to the seven churches who were not reprimanded. Two points follow:

1. The sovereign Lord of the church demands our loyalty, even in the face of hardship and extreme persecution and trial.
2. In response to your faithfulness the Lord of the church promises a great reward.

 

 Standard Podcast [41:29m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (20)

An exposition of Revelation 2:1-7. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, June 15, 2008.

Beginning in chapter two of Revelation, Jesus is sending messages through John to seven churches in Asia Minor. This letter is intended for those seven churches, but as seven is a number for completeness, this letter is also intended for The Church catholic (churches in every place and every age, past, present and future). Today’s message deals with the first message to the church that is in Ephesus.

Authentic orthodoxy possesses a genuine passion for Christ. Doctrine does matter. You must believe the right stuff, but you must also believe it passionately.
1. Orthodoxy without passion proves to be a powerless thing.
2. Remember, repent and return to passionate orthodoxy for a remedy to powerlessness. 3. An impassioned orthodoxy ensures a glorious future.

It is possible to carry on the work of the church, to continue to hold to all of the orthodox doctrines, and still be on the verge of being stripped of our church by the one who holds the church in his right hand. These are very disturbing and frightening words, and should cause each of us to ask “Where is your passion?”

 

 Standard Podcast [36:38m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (20)

An exposition of Revelation 1:1-20. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, June 8, 2008.

Many have said that “Revelation” is the most mis-named book in the Bible.
Things to keep in mind when studying the book of Revelation:

1. The book of Revelation was given to a church. It was meant to comfort that church.
2. It is a gospel book. It is about Christ.
3. It is a book of worship.

Three principles from this opening passage from the book of Revelation:

1. living faithfully in this world demands a confident hope in the sure return of our redeemer in power and glory.
2. living faithfully demands a clear vision of the majesty and glory of Christ.
3. Living faithfully demands a compelling conviction that Christ is sovereign over the church and over the world.

Don’t waste your time worrying, spend your time waiting and anticipating the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

 Standard Podcast [35:21m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (23)

An exposition of Jeremiah 23:9-40. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, June 1, 2008.

Introduction:
False teaching has been an issue with the people of God from the very beginning. It began in the garden: “Did God say?” Resources available to us today is almost beyond belief; much of it good, much of it not just bad, but deadly. In terms of a mixed bag, nothing much has changed since the times of Jeremiah. What are we to do with conflicting voices? Be careful who you listen to and what you read.

A. Three things about false teachers you should know:

1. False teachers come proclaiming their own vain imagining, their flawed dreams, and their false theology, all in the guise of a word from God.
2. False teachers consistently deny God’s revealed truth.
3. The ministry of the false teachers produces bitter fruit.

How should we respond to the wickedness of false teaching?

1. Our first response should be broken hearts and genuine mourning.
2. We should respond by carefully guarding our own speech and bridling our own tongue.
3. We must make certain to consistently look to Christ 32

Conclusion:
We should not come to the house of God to hear the opinions of men. We come to hear a word from God

 

 Standard Podcast [34:17m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (62)