The Plowman

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An exposition of Ephesians 3:1-13. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Wednesday evening, April 30, 2008.

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An exposition of Ephesians 2:11-22. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Wednesday evening, April 23, 2008.

[Editors note: My apologies for the lo-o-o-o-ng delay in getting this message out, but due to technical difficulties the audio had to be worked over extensively. The process involved an elaborate, multi-step process that would make most grown  men break down with uncontrollable weeping. The audio is still not all that good, but hey, consider it a near miracle that you have anything at all to listen to and be thankful.]

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An exposition of Psalm 49:1-20. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, April 27, 2008.

Today we address something important, about the meaning of life, and the key to living well. The key to this Psalm is that the righteous understand the meaning of the folly of seeking meaning in material possessions. Most measure success by three things: money, power and fame. God’s word tells the contrary, that these things are not where true satisfaction and meaning in life lie. On the other hand, poverty is not equated with blessedness. A good exercise for all of us is to ask the question “What is it that satisfies me, and brings me real joy and fulfillment?”

In Psalm 49 the psalmist reveals four things:

1.  See in verses 5-9 the foolishness of trusting in riches.
2. See in verses 10-13 that death is inevitable.
3. See in verses 14-15 that there is a great contrast between those who trust in riches, and those who trust in God.
4. See in verses 16-20 that the righteous seek understanding rather than prosperity.

Life, meaning, and purpose is found in Christ, and Christ alone. All else is just a passing joy, and ultimately results in a wasted life. What is your passion, your joy, that which gives you satisfaction. Warning If your answer to that is anything other than “My God, my Savior, my Lord,” it will not last and will ultimately be your doom rather than your glory.

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An exposition of Mark 16:1-20. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, April 20, 2008.

Christ was raised! That is essential to our faith. It is not an option. Our faith is meaningless if Christ has not been raised. But both Paul and Peter firmly attest that he was indeed raised (1 Corinthians 15:20; 1 Peter 1:21). What were Jesus’ disciples thinking when he died there on the cross? It is here that our text begins.

1. The glorious fact of the resurrection overwhelms the earth-bound heart and mind that’s burdened by sorrow and death.
2. Even the joy-filled testimony of those who’ve seen the resurrected Christ and heard his story failed to persuade grief-stricken hearts refusing to see beyond their sorrow.
3. 27:00 The risen Christ graciously confronts our unbelief, and then lovingly calls and sovereignly equips us through the Holy Spirit for a world-wide task.

That same holy spirit that came to those disciples then comes to convict and to convince us; that same spirit comes to equip us to come and preach the gospel to the whole world.

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An Exposition of Mark 15:33-39. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, April 13, 2008.

Does it bother you that you can read the text before us with such ease? Have we become so familiar with this story that it has dulled our senses? We must be reminded that this passage is intimately related to who we are as children of God. May God grant us spiritual eyes to see what is going on in this human drama that defines the cross roads of all of human history.

1. Behold the one utterly forsaken of God for us.
2. Behold the glory of the victorious one.
3. Behold the wonder of the one vindicated.

What difference does any of this make? It makes all the difference in the world, for now, and for ever. Do you know him?

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An exposition of Ephesians 2:10. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Wednesday evening, April 9, 2008.

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An exposition of Mark 15:21-32. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, April 7, 2008.

It stands as the center of our faith. In our day the absolute necessity of the cross has been brought into question. Do we really need a bloody cross to appease a wrathful God? We must return to a centrality of the cross in our preaching and teaching, we need to stand at the foot of the cross until we understand fully the beauty of the cross until we drink it all in. Why would an instrument of torture and death cause us to worship?

The striking thing about the accounts of the crucifixion in the combined gospel accounts is the economy of words; notice how little is said. There is an awe of silence surrounding it, as this is a holy moment. While this was happening physically in time and space, Jesus was entering in behind the veil of the Holy of Holies in the heavenly realm. The cross captures the deep dimension of the work of Christ on behalf of his people. The great significance of the love of God for sinners like me and you is demonstrated in the cross.

1. The cross reveals a redeemer with incomparable love. See here the love of a God who would do such a thing for sinners. Romans 5:8; John 15:13. Perhaps Jesus’ pain was worse than any man’s because his love was perfect.
2. The cross reveals a king whose throne was an object of shame. Galatians 3:13. But it is because of this cross that Jesus is who he is: Philippians 2:5-11.
3. The cross reveals a savior who refused to save himself. Listen to the hiss of the serpent in the background. The call to come down was the call to deny the will of God.