Some of the greatest thinkers have ended their pondering by taking their own lives. Why??
Perhaps it is because they have realized the futility of all human labor. After all, what is the point???
Is mankind any better off, or happier? Are there fewer wars, violence, famines, droughts, or plagues?
And apart from God, what does a person believe happens after death? If nothing, then what is the point of life?
Today on Scandia Bible Church Podcast, Pastor Monty Simao embarks upon our new study in Ecclesiastes — a book of the Bible that takes the reader down the horrifying spiral of life apart from God:
—life lived as if God wasn’t there;
—life lived as if there were no heaven, no eternity…
—and that everything that ever mattered (or will matter) is found “under the sun.”
Depending where you sit, it will either be the BEST NEWS Imaginable… or the worst news ever.
Today on Scandia Bible Church Podcast, Pastor Monty Simao continues with our study in the book of Hebrews in which we learn that Jesus’s return will “shake” the heavens and the earth.
And how you receive this news depends on whether you have been justified by His blood, adopted into God’s family, and thus are a citizen and heir of Christ’s kingdom.
To receive the King is to receive His kingdom.
To refuse the King is to provoke God’s wrath and learn the fullness of what it means that our God is a consuming fire!
That’s how Paul described all of his past accomplishments — his background, his accolades, even his religious fervor.
He counted it all rubbish.
Today on this Resurrection Sunday Scandia Bible Church Podcast, Pastor Monty Simao opens the book of Philippians to show us how, when talking about himself, Paul now finds other things of surpassing value: namely, knowing Christ and the power of His resurrection. But…
What does it mean to know Christ?
What does it mean to know the power of His resurrection?
It’s an adjective that has become more and more popular in recent years when describing any number of activities either in the church or in the lives of God’s people. And while this descriptor is helpful and often a necessary reminder, we usually don’t give credit where credit is due for this perspective in the Christian life.
Today on Scandia Bible Church Podcast, on this Reformation Sunday, Pastor Monty Simao takes some time to reflect on this term, because it’s one that involves the Reformers.
For as the Reformers returned to the authority of Scripture, they, also, began to see that Jesus, Himself, revealed Himself as the “scope” of all the Scriptures.
What this means is that the credit goes to Christ: for all of Scripture is “Christ-Centered” — it all points to Him, and therefore, Jesus is the target and the end of all revelation from God.
SBC Host:You heard Him. The finality and decisiveness of the sacrifice of Jesus for our sins is such that God declares that, in Christ, our sins are as good as forgotten.
Today on Scandia Bible Church Podcast, Pastor Monty Simao continues with our study in the book of Hebrews and explains that because of this, there will never be a need for another sin atoning sacrifice.
Christ has done it all! …His words spoken at the cross, proven true: “It is finished.”
SBC Host: Pretend you’re an Israelite, and I ask you to make a drawing of “the law,” what would you draw? …What image would best represent it?
Avg Guy:I have no idea.
SBC Host: Exactly.
Today on Scandia Bible Church Podcast, Pastor Monty Simao continues with our study in the book of Hebrews and explains that while we — being in possession of the New Testament — certainly have a richer, more complete idea of what the shadows of the law of the Old Testament pointed toward… we would struggle knowing what to draw too!
For even with this additional knowledge, we can’t fully grasp the expanse of the multiple facets of what the law actually entails — until we begin to see the lines of the sketch take shape: revealing an image of obedience and sacrifice that foreshadows the fullness of the reality of the law which we will one day completely see and experience in all of its glory.
Description: It’s a subject that most would rather ignore, but all agree is certain: DEATH. And inextricably linked to this inevitability is an even more avoided topic: JUDGEMENT.
Today on Scandia Bible Church Podcast, Pastor Monty Simao continues with our study in the book of Hebrews and reminds us how the Scriptures necessarily tie death and judgment together. After all, death comes as the consequence of sin.
But we need to understand, death is NOT the end… rather, it’s the BEGINNING of eternity — an eternity where we either enter into the fullness of joy in the presence of our Heavenly Father, or an eternity filled with condemnation when we are cast into the lake of fire.
Because you see, which eternity becomes your destiny, hinges on that very topic most of us would rather not ponder: JUDGEMENT.
“But, beloved, we are convinced of better things concerning you, and things that accompany salvation….”
— Hebrews 6:9
Today on Scandia Bible Church Podcast, Pastor Monty Simao continues our study in the book of Hebrews and shows us that amid the stern warning that the author of Hebrews has been giving to his readers, in our passage today, he points to a promise…a promise from God.
But what are the these “better things” that accompany salvation???
And how do they assure us of God’s good works and faithfulness in our lives — and ultimately provide us with, what the author describes as, “full assurance of hope until the end”?
* Unfortunately, our LIVE Stream had some internet instability in the beginning. As a result, the first 19 minutes of today’s service were not recorded. The sermon, however, is completely intact.
Avg Guy:Okay… I just read Hebrews chapter 5, versus 5-10, and I have questions.
SBC Host: Let’s hear them.
Avg Guy: All right…
If Jesus is God and knows all things then how can He learn obedience?
What does God require by which men can be saved and have fellowship with Him?
If Jesus is God and perfect, how can He be made perfect?
And… What qualifies Jesus to be our Savior, anyway?
SBC Host: These are daunting questions, to be sure.
Today on Scandia Bible Church Podcast, Pastor Monty Simao continues with our study in the book of Hebrews and reminds us that questions like these can leave our minds reeling if we have not acquired the theological framework to think through them.
How we answer these questions will say much about our understanding of Christ – the only Savior.
Description: What does it mean that Christ is our Great High Priest? And how is His priesthood different from the priesthood of, say, Aaron?
These and other questions must be answered in order for believers to have assurance of their acceptance before God.
Today on Scandia Bible Church Podcast, Pastor Monty Simao continues with our study in the book of Hebrews and reminds us that our assurance begins and ends in the person and work of Jesus Christ…
…And that His priesthood means that His completed work is being applied by our great Mediator and Savior resulting in our perseverance despite our weakness.
Description: We know that Jesus was tempted as we are tempted… and yet, He was without sin.
Today on Scandia Bible Church Podcast, Pastor Monty Simao continues with our study in the book of Hebrews and points out that Jesus’s temptation, and corresponding sinlessness, is supposedly mentioned in the book to help us draw near to Him, for He sympathizes.
The problem is that Jesus’ sinlessness makes us think Him unapproachable.
Description: Their wandering the desert floor for forty years not only provides us with a great WARNING, but a great PROMISE: the promise of rest.
Today on Scandia Bible Church Podcast, Pastor Monty Simao continues our study in the book of Hebrews and reminds us that even Joshua and Caleb — the two faithful spies of the Wilderness Generation who were able to enter Canaan — did not receive this “promised rest.”
For it would be the “Greater Joshua,” Jesus the Son of God, Who would be the Champion for His people and complete His work to enter into His rest; and we, if we are partakers of Him, of Christ — having received the Good News — enter, in faith, into this rest that only He alone deserves.
Description: If he was known for anything, the Pharaoh of the Exodus was known for his hardened heart that was calloused to hear the word of the Lord. This hardened heart cost him his kingdom and his son… and finally his life.
Today on Scandia Bible Church Podcast, Pastor Monty Simao continues with our study in the book of Hebrews and tells the sad continuation of this story: even the entire Israelite generation — the Hebrews who witnessed Pharaoh’s demise — would not believe the word of the Lord either and hardened their hearts as well.
Pharaoh perished in the Red Sea, while they were buried in the wilderness… on the wrong side of Jordan.
The whole community was in an uproar, wailing all night long. All the People of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron. The entire community was in on it: “Why didn’t we die in Egypt? Or in this wilderness? Why has God brought us to this country to kill us? Our wives and children are about to become plunder. Why don’t we just head back to Egypt? And right now!”
Soon they were all saying it to one another: “Let’s pick a new leader; let’s head back to Egypt” (Num 14:1-4, MSG).
Why would the Israelites — in the middle of the Exodus, after having seen the Red Sea part and manna fall from heaven — want to return to Egypt?
Why would they prefer slavery in the hands of cruel task masters, once again?
Today on Scandia Bible Church Podcast, Pastor Monty Simao continues with our study in the book of Hebrews and states that when it comes to the Israelites wanting to return to Egypt, a more dramatic example of foolishness would be hard to find.
But, incredibly, there is a greater example: those who turn back from Christ.
Description: There is perhaps no one in the mind of the Jew who has as much distinction as Moses:
He was miraculously saved as an infant, raised with royalty, sent to liberate his people, and spoke with God face to face — not to mention that he was the writer of the Torah, as well as the mediator of the Old Covenant.
Today on Scandia Bible Church Podcast, Pastor Monty Simao continues with our study in the book of Hebrews and concedes that it’s a pretty long resume that put Moses in this position of honor.
But then in steps Christ who brings a better covenant …and in order to argue this position, the author of Hebrews demonstrates that Jesus is superior to even the great covenant mediator, himself, Moses.
SBC Host: [Bible Reading, Hebrews 2:10] “For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to perfect the originator of their salvation through sufferings. For bot—”
Avg Guy:Wait!!! Hold up for a moment! You can’t just read that without prompting some questions: What does it mean that it was *fitting* for Christ to suffer? And what does it mean that Christ was being made *perfect*?? …Isn’t Christ *already* perfect? …And hasn’t He *always* been perfect?
SBC Host: Fair enough.
Today on Scandia Bible Church Podcast —on the Sunday before Christmas — Pastor Monty Simao continues with our study in the book of Hebrews and shows us that, indeed, these and other questions arise from this Advent passage that we find in Hebrews chapter 2.
Description: God created man in His image. He created him with an intent and purpose. But, was God’s intent thwarted by sin?
Today on Scandia Bible Church Podcast, Pastor Monty Simao continues with our study in the book of Hebrews and explains that some do say God’s initial intent was thwarted by sin, and yet God doesn’t throw man on the scrap pile of bad ideas.
Rather, He sets about redeeming man and restoring mankind to His original intent… showing us that His plans are never thwarted.
Description: In the first section of the book of Hebrews the author labors a point:
Christ is infinitely superior to the angels.
Today on Scandia Bible Church Podcast, Pastor Monty Simao continues our study in the book of Hebrews and explains that it’s a point which may make us wonder, because our thoughts of angels are not the same as the first readers of this book.
However, in a sense, their struggle is our struggle, not because we think too highly of angels… but, perhaps, too lowly of Christ.
Description: In the opening verses of Hebrews we read that Jesus Christ created the universe. …A surprising statement, even for most Christians! After all, didn’t God the Father create everything? And to make matters more confusing, we read that Christ also upholds everything.
Today on Scandia Bible Church Podcast, Pastor Monty Simao continues taking us through our study in the book of Hebrews and shows us that this great truth of Christ creating and upholding everything — and, as we’ll learn, making purification for our sins —not only gives us a clear picture of both Christ’s deity and humanity, but continues the author’s argument of presenting Christ as the Final and Perfect Revelation from God.
The Alpha and the Omega. The First and the Last. The Beginning and the End.
Today on Scandia Bible Church Podcast, Pastor Monty Simao continues with our study in the book of Hebrews and gives us more insight into our Special Agent with a capital “S”.
For not only is He the God-Man, Creator of the world, and the Word-Made-Flesh, but our Redeemer… our perfect Redeemer.
And the more we understand who He is, the more magnificent our redemption… in His eyes.
Sermon Archives
Given New Life
in SBC Classic Edition
We’re in the process of digging through the colossal SBC Sermon Archive Library to bring forth the rich and timeless Biblical Truths found within the hundreds and hundreds of sermon cassettes from yesteryear, in our Tape to Podcast Project.
Currently on the workbench:
The Jim Allen Lamentations Study (1998-1999) has joined our SBC Classic Edition.
The Jim Allen MARK Study (1999-2001) is (finally) complete! …as part of our SBC Classic Edition.
Watch our Steeple Study grow! … Great for a listen-study through a book or series.
Our Find-A-Sermon resource page helps you find what you’re looking for.
With the increased release of sermons from our archives, SBC Classic Edition is now podcasting on its own dedicated feed, separate from our current Sunday sermons.
Sermon Notes
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