The false gospel of moralism. It’s a perennial problem within the church.
Today on Scandia Bible Church Podcast, Pastor Monty Simao continues with our study in the book of Romans and shows us this problem has less to do with the changing generations and more to do with the sin that plagues the human heart.
In our passage Paul cuts through the weeds of moralism to expose the coming judgment of God.
For God’s judgment brings reward to the believer… but ought to strike terror in those who are trusting in their own goodness.
Ask a number of different Christians this question, and you’re likely to hear a number of different answers. But how many people would say that the gospel is the power of God unto salvation?
Paul would.
Today on Scandia Bible Church Podcast, Pastor Monty Simao continues with our study in the book of Romans and shows us how Paul shares that the gospel is not just simply a message… but POWER.
And when the gospel is preached, the power of God is at work… not an aimless power but a directed power.
For the gospel is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes.
…What if you could look over his shoulder and peek at his itinerary and plans of all the things he wishes to accomplish?
Today on Scandia Bible Church Podcast, Pastor Monty Simao continues with our study in the book of Romans and shows us how the introduction allows us this opportunity… and it’s a good thing.
For God has used His Word to model through Paul, shaping how we, as well, are to submit our prayers and plans before the Lord.
Though a host encamp against me, My heart will not fear; Though war arise against me… I shall be confident.
Today on Scandia Bible Church Podcast, Pastor Josh Peglow takes the pulpit to share a Psalm, a prayer, a very raw and vulnerable cry to God from King David. And while this psalm demonstrates fearless trust, courageous confidence, and unwavering faith… it also shows us something else: David is scared.
“Please don’t leave me Lord.”
It’s hard to imagine someone of his stature feeling this way… and yet, he does. And by God’s grace it is recorded for us as an example to pattern and learn from — an encouraging imperative.
For as David concludes:
I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord, In the land of the living.
Wait for the Lord;
Be strong and let your heart take courage;
Yes, wait for the Lord.
SBC Host: When you are suffering in the midst of life’s battles, where do you find your hope?
Avg Guy:Jesus.
SBC Host: Exactly. But what about when He was suffering? Have you ever stopped to wonder what it was that Jesus considered?
Today on Scandia Bible Church Podcast, Pastor Monty Simao continues with our study in the book of Hebrews and shows us that we ought give thought to this, as Jesus is not only the premier example of godly living… but also of godly suffering.
Description: Reading through chapter 11 of Hebrews — the Hall of Faith chapter — may seem like a history lesson, but that was not the intent of the writer.
Today on Scandia Bible Church Podcast, Pastor Monty Simao continues with our study in the book of Hebrews in which we begin chapter 12 — a chapter in which the true intent of the Hall of Faith chapter is revealed: encouragement… encouragement to the believer.
The Christian life is like a race. And our encouragement in this race comes, not only from the throngs of witnesses who have gone before and who live in God’s presence, but most importantly, the greatest encouragement and strength comes from Jesus, Himself, who not only is the supreme example of faith… but faith’s object, author, and finisher.
Avg Guy Sportscaster: [sport theme music] Welcome everybody to the Big Game! We’re in the Hall of Faith where the Old Covenant Saints will face the New Covenant Saints… Who will win?… It’s anybody’s call… should be pretty close.
SBC Host: Hold on! [sport music stops]
Avg Guy Sportscaster:Oh, do you want to be my color commentator?
SBC Host: No! This isn’t a game!!
Avg Guy Sportscaster:Are you kidding me?? This is the game of games! It’s like the “Bible Pro Bowl!”
SBC Host: What?? [Pause. Has an idea.] Wait. Hold on a second…. Keep going and take my opening lines. I need to look up something.
Avg Guy Sportscaster: [sport music resumes] All right!… Today on the Scandia Bible Church Podcast, Game Official and Pastor, Monty Simao, is on the field to continue our study in the book of Hebrews and to oversee these final verses in the Hall of Faith. And like I said, it doesn’t appear that one side has an advantage over the other since both sides of believers — both Old Testament and New Testament — must still look to God in faith.
SBC Host: Okay I’ve got it! Stop the music. [sport music stops] …Ok. While I’m not technically betting here, I’m willing to give up my place in line for common meal and give the advantage to the New Covenant Saints.
Avg Guy Sportscast:You seem pretty confident there. Do you have some inside information?
SBC Host: Let’s just say that got a tip from the author of Hebrews. And while the Old Covenant Saints are to be revered, [sport music fades back in] the New Covenant Saints have got “something better.”
Avg Guy:Faith prevents the difficulties of life, for a lack of it is sure to bring trials and tribulations.
[sfx: buzzer]
SBC Host: That’s not what the Bible teaches.
Today on Scandia Bible Church Podcast, Pastor Monty Simao continues with our study in the book of Hebrews and our focus on Moses in the Hall of Faith.
Faith looks to God. It doesn’t prevent the difficulties in life, but it does overcome them.
Often, God uses difficulties to strip away our self-reliance and silence our prideful hearts, and it is in this silence that faith looks to God in trust — knowing that even when we can’t see His hand, we can trust His heart.
What does faith look like when the promises of God collide with death?
Today on Scandia Bible Church Podcast, Pastor Monty Simao continues with our Hall of Faith study in the book of Hebrews in which we examine the final moments of the patriarchs as they face death with their eyes toward the future…toward the horizon.
They know that death will not hinder the promises of God in any way and that the future will continue to unveil God’s perfect plan — which will be moving forward until that great day of consummation and resurrection.
He was commanded to perform an impossible task: sacrifice his son.
Today on Scandia Bible Church Podcast, Pastor Monty Simao continues with our study in the book of Hebrew’s Hall of Faith in which the spotlight is, once again, for Abraham.
But for us — we have questions:
How does faith overcome the natural objections that must arise from a such horrific command?
How does faith pass a test, such as this, given by God?
And how does Abraham’s example of his undeniable willingness to sacrifice his son, Isaac, point to the promise of God for all believers?
It not only guides the way in which we live and walk in this life, but it also desires and searches for a home that this fallen world cannot provide — the heart of faith.
Today on Scandia Bible Church Podcast, Pastor Monty Simao continues with our study in the book of Hebrews and explains that in God, we as Christians, are satisfied.
…Which also means that we are dissatisfied with anything less.
Therefore, our hearts will only rest when we find the home that God has prepared for us, where we will dwell in His presence forever.
She’s wife to “The Father of all who believe,” but she doesn’t share the same stellar reputation. [sfx: laugh of unbelief]
Today on Scandia Bible Church Podcast, Pastor Monty Simao continues with our study in the book of Hebrews where we are focusing on the heroes that adorn the “Hall of Faith”.
…And when we hear that Sarah made the cut, we too are tempted to laugh. For we remember in the book of Genesis that the aged Sarah laughed in unbelief when God told her husband, Abraham, that she would soon have a son.
And yet, the book of Hebrews remembers Sarah DIFFERENTLY — as one who believed God.
Certainly, this obvious contradiction must be due to some sort of oversight!
“The Father of All of Who Believe” — an incredible epitaph for an incredible, faith-filled man.
Today on Scandia Bible Church Podcast, Pastor Monty Simao continues with our study in the book of Hebrews and shows us that when it comes to faith, we can learn a lot from Abraham.
But can we even relate to this stalwart of faith??
Ironically, while our daily struggles may make us feel far removed from what Father Abraham must have experienced, what we’re likely to find is that we share more in common with him, than not.
Customer: Yes. Hello. I need 3.1 million board feet of gopher wood delivered out to my place tomorrow morning please.
Store: Can I get a name on that order?
Customer: Noah.
Today on Scandia Bible Church Podcast, Pastor Monty Simao continues with our study in the book of Hebrews where we are learning a lot about faith right now. And Noah is yet another example of one that put action behind his belief.
To the outsider, he would have looked crazy. Everything around Noah said that building a boat — a ship of such enormity — was a ridiculous endeavor. He didn’t even live near a boat launch!
…And yet without a cloud in the sky — BY FAITH — Noah knew that it was about to rain.
They ALL died — except two: Elijah and Enoch… the two men in all of history who have not tasted the pains of death. Why?
Today on Scandia Bible Church Podcast, Pastor Monty Simao continues with our study in the book of Hebrews and explains that the Bible records much about Elijah; but about Enoch…not so much.
Consequently, throughout church history, Enoch’s sparse record has been a source of speculation.
The author of Hebrews, however, helps us decipher what it was about the life of Enoch that was so pleasing to God — so pleasing that he spared him death.
Two brothers went before the Lord to offer a sacrifice. One was accepted…the other, rejected.
Today on Scandia Bible Church Podcast, Pastor Monty Simao continues with our study in the book of Hebrews in which we examine this perplexing situation.
After all, as brothers, Cain and Abel had the same parents and were likely raised the same way. They both believed in God. And they both offered sacrifices from their labor and toil.
But the end of the story leaves one brother dead and the other exiled.
Why??
…The very question the author of Hebrews seeks to answer.
Avg Guy: …It means, mustering the courage and taking a leaping step into the dark.
Avg Gal: …It’s channeling the power that comes from positive thinking to bring about what you want.
SBC Host: These are NOT Biblical views of faith.
Avg Guy/Gal: Oh.
Today on Scandia Bible Church Podcast, Pastor Monty Simao continues with our study in the book of Hebrews and shows how the author not only defines faith for us, but gives us example after example of those that went before, who knew what it meant to live by faith: the saints of the Old Testament.
What does it mean that the righteous shall live by faith?
Today on Scandia Bible Church Podcast, Pastor Monty Simao continues with our study in the book of Hebrews and explains that we often hear this phrase and immediately think it’s about the doctrine of justification… because Paul uses that expression to teach that we are saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone.
But there is another part to it: Not only are we justified by faith, but we live and hope by faith as well.
In the darkest of days, the believer should live by faith, meaning that the people of God continue to trust in Him and cling to His promises even when distress and disaster have come to them.
Knowing not only that God is faithful and will not let their soul come to destruction, but also that Christ is coming to bring an end to all calamity in a final judgment that is so complete, it will right every wrong.
Avg Guy: I’m confused. To be saved, Paul says I need faith…James says works. Who’s right??
Today on Scandia Bible Church Podcast, brother in Christ, David Teves fills in at the pulpit to address this apparent contradiction surrounding the Biblical doctrine of justification as he continues his “5 Solas Series.”
And what we’ll find is that when it comes to reading scripture, “first glances,” as one blog author put it, “are not enough.”
SBC Host: Ahh yes… who doesn’t enjoy a good road trip! And chances are you have favorite road trip music to sing to along the way.
Group: [singing “Over the river and through the woods…”]
Today on Scandia Bible Church Podcast, as we continue to Church-at-Home, Pastor Monty Simao takes us on a “road trip” to the Psalms.
As Israelites would travel to Jerusalem for the three Pilgrim Feasts, they would play their favorite music by lifting up their voices in song.
These songs are known as the “Psalms of Ascent.” There are 15 of them, and this morning we look at the third: Psalm 122 — a psalm which gives us an interesting view of Jerusalem with many lessons for the church.
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.