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.
“Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.”
Merry Christmas everyone and welcome to our special Scandia Bible Church Christmas Eve Service for 2022 as we gather to also worship Him — celebrating the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
As is our tradition, in addition to a sermonette from Pastor Monty, this evening’s service will present a progression of scripture readings, congregational hymns, and instrumental music from our church family… to remind and retell the story of the greatest, most indescribable gift of all time.
Avg Guy: Okay, riddle me this… If God is good and God is sovereign and rules over all things, then why do we find wickedness in surprising places? …such as places of law and worship? …Furthermore, as men, if we have to die like animals then what makes us any better??
SBC Host: Sounds like you’re ready for another sermon in Ecclesiastes.
Avg Guy:I thought you were going to say that.
Today on Scandia Bible Church Podcast, Pastor Monty Simao continues with our study in the book of Ecclesiastes and shows us that these objections were brought up by Solomon and have been raised by many men over the years…
…But the ANSWERS to these objections have only been found in ONE man: the God-Man, Jesus Christ.
Today on Scandia Bible Church Podcast, Pastor Monty Simao reaches our LAST sermon for the book of Hebrews—
Avg Guy: —Imagine a discussion with God, it would always be God who got the final word, right?
SBC Host: Right. After all, who can argue with God?
Avg Guy:We would be like Job who exclaimed, “What can I reply to You? I lay my hand on my mouth. Once I have spoken, and I will not answer; even twice…
SBC Host:…and I will add nothing more.”
Avg Guy:But all our fret and worry over what God’s final word to us might be is needless.
SBC Host: For God’s final word to His people is always benediction and blessing for those who are in Jesus Christ.
The Bible presents a clear and superior contrast between Mount Sinai and, heavenly, Mount Zion… as well as between the “church in the wilderness” gathered under the mediator Moses and the “church of the firstborn” who are gathered under the mediatorial ministry of Jesus Christ.
Today on Scandia Bible Church Podcast, Pastor Monty Simao continues with our study in the book of Hebrews and points us to this superiority, in that Jesus, who is the superior high priest, has brought the superior sacrifice into the superior sanctuary… and in His blood has brought us under a superior covenant.
“By affliction, He teaches us many precious lessons, which, without it we should never learn. By affliction, He shows us our emptiness and weakness, draws us to the throne of grace, purifies our affections, weans us from the world, and makes us long for heaven. In the resurrection morning, we shall all say, ‘It is good for me that I was afflicted.’ We shall thank God for every storm.”
— JC Ryle
Today on Scandia Bible Church Podcast, Pastor Monty Simao continues with our study in the book of Hebrews and shows us how our passage this morning is one of the Scriptural foundations for Ryle’s outlook on affliction…
He understood what many of us miss when troubles come our way:
We see our troubles, and we sinfully draw the wrong conclusions.
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.
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?
Avg Guy:I don’t have time to talk to anybody!… Quick! Answer this for me.
SBC Host: Hello. Average Guy’s phone.
[garbled phone voice]
SBC Host: It’s Jesus.
Avg Guy: Tell Him I’m too busy.
Are you too busy to hear from Christ?
Today on Scandia Bible Church Podcast, Josh Peglow fills in at the pulpit and preaches through the familiar account of Mary and Martha.
Recall that Mary was the attentive one — the one who set everything aside, and sat at her Lord’s feet, to hear from Him.
Martha was the busy one, filled with overwhelm and a touch of sister-directed resentment, scurrying about to serve Him.
It’s easy for us to read this passage and assign misdirected priority and attention onto Martha. But this ultimately isn’t about what Martha should or shouldn’t have done: it’s about what you… and what you would do.
For there is no greater priority in the Christian life than hearing from Christ.
For God had a message that would not only break 400 years of His silence, but would announce the birth of two sons: John and Jesus — the Baptizer and the Christ.
Today on Scandia Bible Church Podcast, Pastor Monty Simao continues in his Advent series this season, further telling us about the greatest miracle of all: the birth of Jesus.
John the Baptist played a crucial part, though, for he was sent by God to prepare the way for Jesus. And while the story of Jesus’ birth is one that we are all familiar with, what we can often miss is that every aspect, of this story we know so well, is rooted in the prophesies of God concerning the Messiah.
And Jesus fulfilled them all.
The Almighty God and Creator of the universe had veiled Himself in the flesh of a helpless infant.
This baby, had come through the most unexpected mother, in the most unexpected way, to be the long-awaited Savior of the world.
Pull up a virtual pew and join us. It’s Christmas Eve… and we’re together again!
Merry Christmas and welcome to our special Scandia Bible Church Christmas Eve Service for 2021, as we gather to celebrate a moment in history that would forever change the course of humanity — the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
As is our tradition, this evening’s service will be served up “family style” (you’ll find an Order of Service in the Sermon Notes) in which you’ll experience a mix of scripture readings, congregational hymns, and good ol’ fashioned church family music (plus Pastor Monty has a few words)… to remind and retell the story that everyone must know.
God had not spoken to His people for over 400 years. It was a long time of silence and in that time, Israel had returned from exile, rebuilt the temple, survived Alexander the Great, and now was occupied by Rome. Many were discouraged and there were a host of ways in which the people responded. It was rough.
Today on Scandia Bible Church Podcast, Pastor Monty Simao opens the Bible this advent season to tell us of a pivotal moment in all of time:
God was going to break His silence.
And it wouldn’t be to a great prophet or the king, but He would send an angel to an obscure, middle-aged priest named Zecharias.
…For the most important time in history was about to begin.
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.
writer:We can stop pitching the tent, Eliakim, for the Lord has pitched the True Tent… our True Tabernacle of the Heavenly Realm!
Eliakim:There you go again! You and your writings.
writer:Eliakim, listen to me!…. Don’t you see? Jesus is our Priest, now… our High Priest in heaven… And His work far surpasses what our priests here on earth could EVER do!
Today on Scandia Bible Church Podcast, Pastor Monty Simao continues with our study in the book of Hebrews, where we learn right alongside them about a better ministry….
writer:Don’t you read Torah?
Eliakim:God warned Moses on the mountain. That’s all I need. Now we have a tabernacle to erect. Grab your hammer, and help me! Follow the plan.
writer:Yes, you are right. God warned Moses to follow the pattern because it had to be precise. This tent, and everything that our earthly priest do in here in it, is but a shadow — a hint — of what goes on in the True Sanctuary of Heaven.
And the work that has been given to our High Priest, Jesus, is much greater than the work of OUR priests.
…Eliakim, don’t you find it strange that this tent we erect, time and time again, has no chair for the priest in which to sit?
Eliakim:How can he! Have you seen all the offerings and sacrifices?? He has far too much work to do!
writer:That is my point, Eliakim. Jesus’ work is different. He has obtained a more excellent ministry than our priests, and the New Covenant which He brings is much greater than the Old… because it is based on better promises.
Eliakim, in the Heavenly Tabernacle there are places to sit. And Jesus, our High Priest, at the right hand of the throne of His Father… SAT DOWN!
SBC Host:What type of priest and sacrifice does God require to save men?
Avg Guy:Bulls and goats, right??
SBC Host:It is true that some have thought that the sacrificial shadows of bulls and goats sufficed; but that doesn’t take into consideration that the sacrifices themselves were offered by priests who were just as in need of a savior, as the people they represented.
Avg Guy:Good point! …Then I know, the answer must be Christ!
Today on Scandia Bible Church Podcast, Pastor Monty Simao continues with our study in the book of Hebrews and shows us that to say Christ is a fitting high priest or was a fitting sacrifice is to say that Jesus perfectly fit God’s requirement, as well as man’s need.
The Levitical Priesthood could never do that.
But Christ’s perfect priesthood is able to perfect imperfect people and make them fit for heaven.
SBC Host: Assurance of salvation — all Christians struggle with it…
Avg Guy:You’re telling me.
SBC Host: And yet, we understand that Jesus is able to save.
Avg Guy:Exactly!
Today on Scandia Bible Church Podcast, Pastor Monty Simao continues with our study in the book of Hebrews to show us that God understands and has given us a guarantee, or a surety, to secure our future — and it is Jesus Christ.
Jesus, Himself, is the assurance of our eternal salvation.
We may try to obtain assurance through other means… but such as it is with the Gospel of Grace: all of God’s blessings, including assurance, come to us in Christ.
SBC Host: “Weak and useless”… God’s description of the Levitical Priesthood.
The Levitical Priesthood had problems.
Avg Guy:Wait a minute! What was wrong?? Why couldn’t something be done to fix it?
SBC Host: There was. And He did.
Today on Scandia Bible Church Podcast, Pastor Monty Simao continues with our study in the book of Hebrews in which we see why a priesthood, that had once been ordained by God, was now needing to be replaced.
But then it all makes sense when viewed against the backdrop of the Gospel, where we see on display man’s great need and the perfect work of Christ.
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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Sermon Notes
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