All Nations Presbyterian Church: Afternoon Sermon Series

2 Corinthians 1:1-11 - The Strength of Weakness

Genesis 7:6-8:19 - Salvation and Destruction

On Sunday afternoon, we looked at the flood account from Genesis 7 and 8. While this is often known as the story of God saving Noah, his family, and the animals, it is also a story of judgement on sin. All except 8 people died. The way this story is told emphasizes the reality of waiting as a believer. Noah knew that God was going to bring him to safety; he didn't know when this would be. He tried to find out with birds, but in the end he waited for God to tell him when to leave. Our Christian lives have a lot in common with this. We know that judgement is coming and our rest will come. Yet we wait. We trust that God will do the right thing at the right time. While we wait, we try to remain faithful and we trust in the One who is in control. Take time today to pray for Jesus' return, and to ask for patience while we wait.

Leviticus 11:1-47 - Clean and Unclean

Last Sunday afternoon, we heard from Leviticus 11 together. This chapter is all about clean and unclean food—what animals the Israelites could and could not eat. We saw that the animals themselves are not sinful; instead, the animals serve as a symbolic object lesson for the people about the holiness of God. In particular, the unclean animals are symbolically linked with death and disorder, reminding the people that God is a God of order and life who must be separated from death and disorder. Even more, the clean and unclean foods show us that the holy God calls His holy people to live differently and distinctively in this world. How does Jesus change the way we think about clean and unclean food? Jesus shows us that ultimately, sin is a matter of the heart, not a matter of what we eat. Even more, Jesus died to wash our hearts clean, and now we have freedom in Christ to eat all kinds of food. Yet, God still calls us to live differently as His blood-bought people, not in the food that we eat but in our joyful service from the heart. This week, take some time to think about whether you are really living any differently from the world around you. Is there some area of your life where you need to ask for the Holy Spirit’s help to live as the holy people God has called us to be?

Leviticus 10:1-20 - Worship

Last Sunday afternoon, we heard from Leviticus 10 together. This is a confronting and sobering passage that reminds us of how seriously the holy God takes our worship. In particular, we saw that God struck Nadab and Abihu dead for their false worship. This shows us that our worship is always a matter of life and death, and God is deeply concerned that we only worship Him as He commands. Yet, we also saw there is hope: although we all deserve to die for worshipping wrongly, Jesus took God’s judgment in our place and now He leads us into God’s presence so that we can worship the living God with confidence and joy. This week, take some time to re-read Leviticus 10. Then, pray for God to convict you of ways that you have not treated His worship as seriously as you should, and ask for the help of the Holy Spirit to worship God rightly—all in response to the incredible salvation God has given us in Jesus Christ.

Leviticus 8:1-13; 9:1-24 - Priests

Last Sunday afternoon, we heard from Leviticus 8-9 together. These two chapters especially show us that we can only draw near to the holy God through our great high priest. We saw that the high priest was clothed in glorious, beautiful garments from head to toe. The high priest in his beautiful robes is a shadow of Jesus Christ, our true and final High Priest who shines in His own glory and righteousness. We also saw that the priest has two main roles: offering sacrifices and interceding for God’s people. Again, this points us forward to Jesus Christ, who has offered the final sacrifice for our sins and ever lives to intercede for us. Why does all of this matter? It reminds us of the beauty and glory of Jesus Christ. It is only as we know Jesus more and more that we will be able to fight against sin and grow in godliness in our lives. This week, take some time to re-read Leviticus 8-9 and Hebrews 7-8. As you do, thank God for the perfect work of Jesus Christ, our Great High Priest.

Leviticus 1:1-2:3 - Living Sacrifices

Last Sunday afternoon, we looked at the burnt offering in Leviticus 1. We especially saw the sacrifices have two main sides to them. First, the substitutionary death of a spotless substitute covers over the stench of our sin in God’s sight. This first side of the sacrifices especially points us forward to Jesus’ perfect sacrifice for our sins as the spotless Son of God whose sacrifice is a “pleasing aroma” in God’s sight. Second, the sacrifices also express our response of whole-hearted thanksgiving for God’s grace. This second side of the sacrifices is especially clear in the burnt offering, as the entire offering was burned in the fire as a sign of our total devotion to the Lord. Although we do not have to sacrifice burnt offerings anymore, the New Testament reminds us that our entire lives should be living sacrifices, completely devoted to the God who has saved us in Jesus Christ. This week, take some time to prayerfully consider if there is a part of your life that you have been holding back from God. Is there any part of your life that you refuse to devote to the Lord? Pray for God’s help to recognize these areas of your life and to offer your whole life as a living sacrifice to the Lord.

Leviticus 16:1-34 - Sacrifice and Atonement

Last Sunday afternoon, we looked at the Day of Atonement in Leviticus 16. Through a detailed ceremony involving animal sacrifice, the Day of Atonement taught the people of Israel that they were sinners who deserved to die for their sins, but it also reminded them that God had graciously provided a spotless substitutionary animal to die in their place. These Old Testament shadows point us forward to Jesus Christ, the spotless Son of God who willingly offered Himself as the perfect and final sacrifice for our sins. While the OT priests sprinkled the blood of the animals at the foot of God’s earthly throne, Jesus Christ has appeared in heaven before His Father with His own precious blood. Although we sometimes feel our sin and guilt so deeply, Jesus Christ has provided a perfect atonement for us through His once-for-all sacrifice that covers our sins and makes us at-one with God. This week, take some time to re-read Leviticus 16 and thank God for the perfect and final sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

Exodus 40:34-Leviticus 1:2 - Holy God, Sinful People

Last Sunday afternoon, we started a new sermon series in Leviticus by hearing from Exodus 40:34-Leviticus 1:2 together. Although Leviticus gives us the same gospel as the New Testament, it is a hard book for us to understand because it speaks to us in shadowy form. We especially saw that the shadows at the end of Exodus speak to us of the awesome holiness and glory of God. At the same time, Moses’ inability to enter the tent of meeting reminds us that as sinners, we cannot approach the holy God on our own and live. So, is there any way for us to draw near to the holy God? This is the fundamental question that Leviticus answers. We saw that Leviticus 1:1-2 points us to the start of the answer: God calls and invites Moses into His presence. The only way for sinners like us to approach a holy God is if God Himself calls and makes a way, and God has done just that in Jesus Christ! This week, take some time to pray and ask God to help us understand the shadows of Leviticus as they point us forward to Jesus. Even more, thank God that He has made a way and called us to draw near to Him covered in Jesus’ blood and righteousness.

Luke 22:14-23 - Feasting with Jesus

Last Sunday afternoon, we heard from Luke 22:14-23 together. This passage helps us understand the gift of the Lord’s Supper. In particular, we saw that the Lord’s Supper is all about Jesus Christ. As a new covenant meal, the Lord’s Supper reminds us that Jesus Christ our Passover lamb has died to cover our sins. Not only that, this new covenant meal reminds us of our new covenant relationship with Jesus; covered with His blood, we are now Christ’s precious bride. Even more, the Lord’s Supper is a true meal that Jesus uses to feed and strengthen our hearts as we seek to serve Him. Finally, the Lord’s Supper is a foretaste of heaven and of the even better meal that we will share with Jesus when He returns. The Lord’s Supper may sometimes seem quite ordinary, but this week take some time to thank God for this precious meal that shows us Jesus and feeds our faith.

Acts 13:13-52 - God Gave the Growth