Jesus Confronts The Heart & Heals The Helpless
Matthew Series | Matthew 14:34-15:28 | Pastor Duane Smets
This week is an exegetical sermon on Matthew 14:34-15:28 where Jesus calls some old pastors weeds and blind guides and then later calls a woman a dog. This sermon takes a close look at the nature of evil deeds, the heart, what does and doesn’t make one defiled before God, and how God wants us to come to him. This sermon was originally preached on June 6th, 2010 at The Resolved Church in San Diego, CA.
Advent Week 2 – The Bethlehem Candle of Humility: Mary
This week is an exegetical sermon looking at Luke 1:26-38,46-56 focusing on the character of Mary. The sermon is titled, “Confessions of the First Christian” and looks at the faith, trust, servanthood, submission, worship, joy, God, and savior of Mary. This sermon was originally preached by Pastor Duane Smets on December 6th, 2009 at The Resolved Church in San Diego, CA.
Nehemiah Series (Part 3): “Putting God’s Vision into Practice”
This is the third week of our sermon series, “Nehemiah: Building God’s Church in the City.” Part 3, this week is an exegetical sermon of chapter three and is about Putting God’s Vision into Practice. This sermon addresses the following issues in the context of church planting: unity, resolve, neighborhoods, jobs, family, quality, and humility. This sermon was originally preached February 1st, 2009 at The Resolved Church in San Diego, CA.
Advent – Week 2 | The Bethlehem Candle: Humility
This is the second week of Advent, the Bethlehem Candle dealing with the theme of humility. This year’s text is Luke 2:1-7 and deals with the subjects of Caesar Augustus being dethroned, Joseph and his hometown, and the sign of the manger. This sermon was originally preached December 7th, 2008 at The Resolved Church in San Diego, CA.
Viva La Vida Christus: Living the Life of Christ (Part 2)
This is the second week of our fall sermon series, “Viva La Vida Christus: Living the Life of Christ” dealing with Romans 12-16. Part 2, this week, is titled “Humility, our Gifts, and Real Life” and works with Romans 12:3-8 and issues of pride, humility, and our spiritual gifts. This sermon was originally preached September 14th, 2008 at The Resolved Church in San Diego, CA.
What is Advent?
The word “Advent” comes from the Latin word Adventus, which is a translation of the Biblical Greek word parousia, meaning “coming” “arrival” or “appearing.” Out of the 24 times it occurs in the New Testament, only one of those actually refers to the incarnation or birth of the God-man: Jesus, on earth (2 Pet 1:16). The majority of all the other occurrences refer to the time when Jesus promised he will come once again to earth, a second advent or coming when he will not come as a baby, poor and lowly but as a powerful king full of glory.
Thus interestingly, the Christian season of advent is really a season which anticipates and looks forward to the future day when Jesus will come again. The first coming birth of Jesus is only significant in so far as Jesus isn’t just a figment of our imagination but in fact a real person who is alive because he conquered death and is now currently sitting on a throne as the victorious king awaiting the appointed day when he will advent once again for all his people. To say it in a fancy way, the birth of Jesus is elliptical and eschatological and therefore the celebration of Advent is really a celebration of the reality of the Christian faith and the longing for the appearing of Jesus once again for us.
