Theological term
Eyewitness Testimony
10 sermons · All terms
The Third Appearance of Christ to the Disciples, Part 3
John 21:20–25 closes the fourth gospel with two interlocking concerns: the sovereign headship of Christ over His church and the divine authority of Holy Scripture. Peter's question about John's fate draws a sharp rebuke — 'What is that to you? You follow me' — which exposes the temptation to play the victim of providence rather than the contented subject of Christ's will. The passage then grounds the church's authority in the eyewitness testimony of the beloved disciple, written by the Spirit for one declared purpose: that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ and have life in His name. The sermon closes with John's doxological acknowledgment that the infinite Word made flesh exceeds all possible description, and calls every hearer to follow Christ in their appointed station rather than fixate on the lot of others.
The Resurrection of Christ
The resurrection of Christ is the foundation of Christian hope, the confirmation of Old Testament prophecy, and the grounds of both justification and coming judgment. Working through John 20:1–10, this sermon examines the discovery and investigation of the empty tomb by Mary Magdalene, Peter, and the beloved disciple John, noting the eyewitness character of the narrative and the theological significance of the burial cloths. The shift from the seventh-day Sabbath to the first day of the week is grounded in Hebrews 4 and the pattern of new creation. The empty tomb preaches comfort to the believer and the certainty of judgment to the unbeliever, calling all to repent and believe on the risen Lord Jesus Christ.
The Confirmation of His Death
John 19:31–37 records the confirmation of Christ's death by Roman soldiers and the apostle John, providing decisive historical and theological testimony against any swoon theory or denial of His true humanity. The soldiers' breaking of the legs of the other condemned men — but not of Jesus, who was already dead — and the piercing of His side with a spear fulfills two strands of Old Testament prophecy: the unbroken bones of the Passover lamb (Exodus 12:46; Numbers 9:12) and the piercing of Israel's Messiah (Zechariah 12:10). John's eyewitness testimony is given with a stated evangelistic purpose — 'that you may believe' — grounding the gospel call in verified historical fact. The sermon closes with an exhortation to confident, prayer-filled gospel proclamation on the basis of Christ's finished, sovereign work of redemption.
Live Stream - September 10, 2023
First Corinthians 15 grounds the certainty of the resurrection in the testimony of the Old Testament scriptures, the evidence of eyewitnesses, and the grace of God attending gospel proclamation. The great hope of the gospel is established by Paul's chain of logical argumentation: if Christ is risen, then preaching is full, faith is complete, sin does not reign, and believers who have died have not perished. The sermon closes with the adamic theology of the gospel — the contrast between the first Adam, in whom all die, and the last Adam, Christ, in whom all shall be made alive — calling hearers to praise God for so great a salvation.
Paul's "Jesus and the Resurrection"
What does Paul mean when he proclaims 'Jesus and the resurrection,' and why does the denial of bodily resurrection destroy the entire Christian faith? Drawing on 1 Corinthians 15:1–20, this exposition works through four interlocking realities: the gospel is comprehensive for all of Christian life, the events of the gospel are certain on the testimony of Scripture and eyewitnesses, the grace of God is foundational to both the delivery and reception of the gospel, and the resurrection of Christ secures an unconquerable hope for all who believe. The sermon presses toward a pointed application: Christian hope is not wishful thinking but the certain expectation that God's promises in the risen Christ will most surely come to pass.
The Herald and His Proclamation, Part 2
Peter's Pentecost sermon in Acts 2:22–36 rests on two pillars the preacher draws out in this evening exposition: a voracious history and a marvelous yet sobering Christology. The resurrection of Christ is not mythology but attested fact — confirmed by Lukan preambles, apostolic eyewitness statements, post-resurrection narratives, and Paul's logical argument in 1 Corinthians 15. From that historical foundation, four Christological truths press upon every hearer: Christ has been raised, exalted to God's right hand, has poured out the Holy Spirit, and has been given all authority as both Lord and Christ — each truth a marvel for the believer and a sober warning to all who remain in unbelief.
Pentecostal Preaching, Part 2
Peter's sermon in Acts 2:22–36 does not rest on myth or legend but on the verified historical reality of Christ's resurrection, attested by the firsthand eyewitness accounts of the apostles and a company of more than five hundred. From that established historical fulfillment, the sermon draws three weighty Christological implications: Christ has been exalted to the right hand of God, He has poured out the Holy Spirit upon His church, and He has been made both Lord and Christ — with authority to crush His enemies and to save all who call upon His name. Hearers are urged to receive the gospel's certainty with the highest confidence and to find in the risen, reigning Christ a champion to whom no earthly rival compares.
The Resurrection of the Bridegroom
The resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead is not a peripheral doctrine but the very ground of Christian hope, justification, and assurance. Working through John 20:1–23, this sermon examines three successive narratives — the empty tomb, the appearance to Mary Magdalene, and the appearance to the disciples — demonstrating through eyewitness detail, fulfilled Old Testament prophecy, and apostolic interpretation that the risen Lord is none other than the crucified sacrifice. The resurrection vindicates Christ's atoning work, secures the believer's justification, and commissions the church to proclaim the forgiveness of sins as its primary and irreplaceable task.
The Historical Veracity of the Resurrection
The bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ is not a peripheral doctrine but the vital, non-negotiable centre of Christian faith and proclamation. This exposition of Matthew 28 examines the historical veracity of the resurrection through three general arguments — the character of Scripture as inspired and inerrant, the straightforward historical precision of the Gospel accounts, and the authors' own stated commitment to eyewitness certainty — followed by two specific evidences: the empty tomb and the post-crucifixion appearances of Christ. The sermon applies these evidences to call believers to find their chief comfort not in self-examination or works but in the crucified and risen Savior, and to call unbelievers to bow the knee to the risen King who alone saves sinners from their sins.
But Now Christ is Risen
The resurrection of Jesus Christ is not a peripheral doctrine but an inseparable component of the gospel itself — Paul's argument in 1 Corinthians 15 demands that it be treated as a truth of the first rank. This exposition works through four movements: the resurrection's cardinal importance, its absolute certainty established by both Old Testament Scripture and eyewitness testimony, the devastating logical implications if it were false, and the blessed realities that flow from the fact that Christ is indeed risen. Believers are called to find in the risen Christ the ground of their regeneration, justification, sanctification, and hope; unbelievers are warned that the same resurrection that secures salvation for the elect guarantees a righteous judgment against all who reject it.