Theological term
Apostate
2 sermons · All terms
The Passover with the Disciples
Matthew 26:17–25 presents Jesus as the sovereign master of the Passover, not a hapless victim of events spiraling beyond his control. Working through the preparation for Passover and the announcement of betrayal, this exposition shows how Christ's active obedience to the law, his precise foreknowledge, and his willing submission to the Father's eternal decree together constitute the ground of redemption for his people. The contrast between Judas, whose hardened heart renders him a reprobate despite extraordinary privilege, and the eleven, whose sorrowful self-examination models the disposition of genuine faith, drives home two applications: trust in Christ alone, by grace through faith, for justification; and cultivate a healthy self-suspicion rather than a confident presumption of one's own standing before God.
The Parable of the Sower Explained
Matthew 13:18–23 presents Christ's own interpretation of the Parable of the Sower, identifying four types of hearers who encounter the Word of the kingdom. The sermon argues that the parable was given primarily to explain the widespread rejection of Jesus in his own ministry, and secondarily to prepare and embolden the disciples against future discouragement. Working through each soil in turn, the exposition exposes the hardened unbeliever, the shallow apostate scandalized by trial, the fruitful-appearing hypocrite choked by carnal anxiety and prosperity, and the genuine believer who hears, understands, and bears fruit — all as a summons to honest self-examination before the Word.