What are we doing here? That’s a question that can be answered in a variety of ways, but to put it broadly...: what are we, Christians, doing here in the world? What is our role in God’s work in our day-to-day lives? And how is God calling you to join him in what the is doing in and through you? Listen as Pastor Luke Herche preaches on Matthew 5:14–16, answering four questions from this passage: Who are you in Jesus’ story? What role do you play? Where do you play that role? And why do you play it?

God has quite a lot to say about worry and anxiety, and in Matthew 6:24–34 we find one of the most well-known Biblical... passages on the subject. Listen as church elder Todd Doehring teaches through this passage that you cannot serve both God and worry; when we worry, we overlook God’s care for his creation; and only when we put God first can we be sure of anything.

In C.S. Lewis’ beloved classic, “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe,” we find a boy, Edmund,... trapped under the law of the deep magic of the land. A wrong had been committed, a debt was owed. Edmund was a traitor and his blood must be spilled. If Aslan, king of Narnia, refused, Narnia itself would be overturned. In this Good Friday sermon on Matthew 26:39, Pastor Luke Herche delves into the ironclad justice of God, looking at Jesus’ prayer in Gethsemane with a focus on four words: “if it be possible.” Since God’s answer to this prayer is in the negative, we must ask what is not possible for God? Why is it not possible? And what difference does it make?

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You were made for God’s glory. You were made to know God’s glory, to taste God’s glory, to behold and be changed by... God’s glory. In the New Testament, the Greek word used for glory, dóxa, connotes light that is shining, and in the context of John 1, it is clear that the light that is shining in darkness, the true light that is coming into the world, is not an abstract principle but a person: Jesus Christ. But what does it mean that Jesus is the true light? And how do we take in God’s glory? Listen as Pastor Ethan Brown preaches on John 1:5, 9, showing that Jesus as the light is the glory of God on full display, and that we are changed by his glory as we look and behold Jesus and find him to be beautiful.

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In John chapter 13, Jesus washes the feet of his disciples, demonstrating that Jesus comes as a servant and calls... those who follow him to serve. Listen as Pastor Luke Herche preaches on this astonishing passage, teaching us to serve, not from a place of insecurity, but of confidence, not just our friends, but our enemies, and not as something optional, but as fundamental to discipleship of the Servant King.

The Gospel of John is the gospel written by a friend. John was someone who walked with Jesus, knew him, ate... with him, saw the miracles. There are details in the gospel of John not seen anywhere else, as well as a more intimate, personal look at Jesus. In John 13:21–38 we see, from his friend, the love of Christ on display, even framed by the betrayal of Judas and the denial of Peter. Listen as Pastor Josué Pernillo preaches on this passage, showing us how Jesus calls his disciples to love others, reflecting Christ, and following him even through failure.

Where do you need comfort right now? Be it political tensions, trouble at work or at home, or even the turmoil of... your own heart—what is going on in your world that is upsetting? In John 14, Jesus begins with the comforting words, “Let not your hearts be troubled.” Listen as Pastor Luke Herche preaches on this passage, addressing three questions: Why do we need comfort? Where do we find comfort? And how do we get there?

The night before he was crucified, Jesus told his disciples that, following his ascension, whoever believes... in him will do the works that Jesus did and even “greater works than these.” Listen as Pastor Luke Herche preaches on John 14:12–14, focusing on the “greater works” and discussing when they will be done, who does them, what they are, how they are done, and why they are done.

How do you relate to Jesus? How do you relate to Jesus when he is not here, physically, when you can’t see his face, hear... his voice, or touch the scars on his hands? That was clearly a question in the early church. From a secular perspective, the church had a PR problem. They said Jesus had risen from the dead, but if so, where was Jesus? We invite people into a relationship with Christ, but where is Christ? We answer, rightly, that he is in Heaven. But what does it look like to have a relationship with someone who is in Heaven? Listen as Pastor Luke Herche preaches on John 14:15–26 showing that in a reciprocal, post-resurrection relationship with Jesus we love him as we keep his commandments, and he loves us by coming to us by his Spirit and speaking to us in his Word. Therefore, we keep his commandments, delight in his presence, and stay in his word.

Where do your fears take you? Fear and worry are part of our daily lives. Everybody has fears. And everybody... responds to fears in different ways. Some sweat, others get quiet or make jokes. But where do your fears drive you to? And how do they play out in your day-to-day? In John 14:27–31, we find Jesus teaching his disciples for the last time before his crucifixion, and here he begins to strike at their fear and anxiety, telling them, “Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” Listen as Pastor Josué Pernillo preaches on this passage, showing that in the midst of his counsel to his fearful disciples, Jesus gives them his peace and instills them with confidence because he loves the Father.

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God wants you to be fruitful. This is no minor theme, but is fundamental to God’s purposes for creation. God wants... his creation to reflect something of his own vitality, his abundance, his fruitfulness. But do you feel fruitful? Or do you feel dry? Parched? Barren? In John 15, we find Jesus teaching on the true vine and the branches, setting up his disciples for a lifetime of fruitfulness. Listen as Pastor Luke Herche preaches on John 15:1–8, addressing three questions: What does it mean to bear fruit? How do we bear fruit? And why should we bear fruit?

Christ invites us into a community of love. Listen as Pastor Luke Herche preaches... on John 15:9–17, teaching us to abide in Christ’s love as we know his love, imitate his love, depend on his love, and delight in his love.

In the children’s book “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe,” C.S. Lewis writes of the White Witch... who claims her right to execute a traitor according to the laws of the “deep magic” of the land. The witch was correct about the deep magic and its governance of justice. But Narnia’s good king Aslan knew of a deeper magic: “When a willing victim who had committed no treachery was killed in a traitor’s stead, the Stone Table would crack and Death itself would start working backward.”

Though the Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe is just a story, the “deep magic” of justice it portrays is real—and the “deeper magic” is no less real. Though God’s justice must be satisfied, when sinless Jesus died in the stead of sinners, it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him. Try as it might, death’s power had met its limits. Listen as Pastor Luke Herche preaches on Acts 2:24, addressing three questions surrounding the resurrection: What is not possible? Why is it not possible? And what difference does it make?

Christians are tempted in every age to compromise. One age might be tempted to self-reliance, another to... complacency, another to immorality, but every age has its temptations. Our day is no exception. As long as you live in this world, temptations and trials are bound to come. When the immorality of the present age and the power of the state combine to oppose Christ and his church, there is a question every Christian must face: What do you do when you must decide between doing something that goes against God’s law or facing the punitive action of the governing authorities? Listen as Pastor Luke Herche preaches from Acts chapter 5, showing that we, like the apostles, “must obey God rather than men,” and answering the what, why, when, and how of what that looks like.

What does God have to say about civil government? There are many different types of governing authorities... today: monarchies, democracies, communist dictatorships. Do the same basic Biblical principles apply to each form of government? Do some apply better than others? What is a Christian’s role as a member of a modern civil society?

To answer these questions, it’s important to begin with the understanding that government is God’s idea. When God first created humanity, he gave them dominion. Humanity was to order and rule over creation, and that even includes human life and relationships—not tyrannically, but in a life-giving way. While the execution of this calling has been seriously corrupted by the fall, it is still God’s desire for creation today. Listen as Pastor Luke Herche begins a three-part series on “The Creation, Fall, & Redemption of Civil Government,” preaching on Romans 13:1–7 and answering four questions: Where does it come from? How is it exercised? Why is it exercised? And what do we do now?

Do you believe that God can bring change into your life? Christians often struggle with sin... and weakness, wondering if things will ever get better, often tempted to believe they won’t. But the good news for these weary believers is that Christ came (in part) to change us. And he has given us everything we need to that end. But how does it happen? Listen as Pastor Luke preaches on 2 Corinthians 3:18, showing that as we behold Christ in the Scriptures, through the ministry of the word, we become like Christ by the power of the Spirit.

Listen as Pastor Luke Herche preaches on 2 Corinthians 4:1–7, teaching... about the light of the gospel via four questions: How does it shine? Why do some not see it? Who is this light? And through whom does it come?

Every one of us faces troubles of one kind or another. Troubles from without, troubles from within. Bodily illness, mental illness, emotional...turmoil, relationship strife, vocational stress, financial uncertainty, international discord... Parents and children, husbands and wives, employers and employees—everyone’s lives are touched by troubles. But how do we face this suffering? Listen as Pastor Luke Herche preaches on 2 Corinthians 5:7, showing us where not to look in suffering, where to look in suffering, how to look in suffering, and how looking shapes life.

The hope of the Christian presented in 2 Corinthians 4:13–18 is not a vague or abstract hope—it’s real. And... because it’s real it meets us in our very real needs. Our sin curves us inward on ourselves and makes us selfish and idolatrous, seeking satisfaction everywhere but in Christ. But the good news is that through the gospel God has provided for us a hope that meets us in these needs. Our isolation from sin can be turned into integration, our selfish hearts can be turned into hearts of love toward God and others, and our false worship and idolatry can be turned into praise. Listen as RUF campus minister Ethan Brown preaches on this passage, showing that our hope is corporate, our hope is current, and our hope is concrete.

Repentance is the secret, often forgotten power of the Christian life. It is one of the primary tools... the Holy Spirit uses in our lives to bring about spiritual growth and change. It is not something you do once and then put it aside, but it’s a daily part of Christian life and a secret power of daily growth in grace. Listen as Pastor Luke Herche preaches on 2 Corinthians 7:5–13a, breaking down this secret power of change into five parts:

    • The Simple Act of Repentance
    • The Instrumental Cause of Repentance
    • The Internal Source of Repentance
    • The Ultimate Result of Repentance
    • The External Fruit of Repentance

C.S. Lewis wrote in The Screwtape Letters, “There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race... can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them. They themselves are equally pleased by both errors and hail a materialist or a magician with the same delight.” Whether you are skeptical or superstitious, both are errors. So what does Scripture have to say about standing against the schemes of the devil? In this sermon on Ephesians 6:10–13, Pastor Luke Herche looks at the spiritual battle we are facing, showing that the battle is real, the battle is spiritual, the battle is won, the battle is mundane—and exhorting us to be strong and stand firm!

Pastor Luke Herche preaches on Ephesians 6:16, showing that the Lord is our Shield, therefore... we can turn to him in all circumstances, knowing he is enough.

Where does confidence come from? So many of us live with doubts, fears, and hesitations, constantly second... guessing and unsure of the next best move. The devil wants us to live in this state of doubt, discouragement, and despair...but that clearly isn't where God wants us to live, as Scripture frequently reminds us. But where does courage and boldness come from? What stops us from running away when the battle rages most fiercely? And how do we stand in the evil day—the day of tragedy or temptation—with confidence? Listen as Pastor Luke Herche expounds on the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit from Ephesians 6:17, explaining what they are, how to take them up, and why they are so important.

Pastor Luke Herche preaches on Ephesians 6:18–20, teaching that... we fight through prayer, in the Spirit, for the progress of the gospel.

Listen as Josué Pernillo preaches on Philippians 1:1–11, focusing on... gospel thanksgiving, gospel love, and gospel hope.

Listen as Josué Pernillo preaches on Philippians 1:12–18, focusing on... the external pressures (vv. 12–14) and internal tensions (vv. 15–18) that believers face.

In the book of Philippians, Paul writes not only as a person who is facing difficulties, but to a church that... is struggling. A caring pastor and apostle, seeing his friends struggling with the same struggles he himself had, Paul shares with the Philippians the confidence he has in his future joy—the coming joy that we share—and the rooted hope that he has that he will be delivered. In this sermon on Philippians 1:18–20, Josué Pernillo shows how Paul explains this through three points: God’s means of deliverance, deliverance and shame, and deliverance and glory.

In this sermon on Philippians 1:21–26, Pastoral Intern Josué Pernillo teaches that we... can live with purpose because Christ is our source of life, our goal in life, and our way of life.

In this sermon on Philippians 1:27–30, Pastoral Intern Josué Pernillo shows that in the... gospel we can be united in adversity and that in the gospel we can have courage in adversity.

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In this sermon on Philippians 2:1–4, Pastoral Intern Josué Pernillo teaches us about the gospel... source of our unity, the gospel experience of unity, and the gospel reaction to unity.

In Philippians 2:5–11 we engage with some of the most intricate and beautiful themes of... Christology found anywhere in the New Testament. Listen as Pastoral Intern Josué Pernillo helps us to reflect on this passage, thinking about who Jesus is, what he has done, and what that means for his people.

In chapter two of his letter to the Philippians, Paul reminds the believers in Philippi of who they are and how their identity... impacts their actions. Like the Philippians, believers today can know that because we have been saved by God, we can now live as those that are saved, with new identities in Christ that overflow into our actions. Listen as Josué Pernillo continues his series on the book of Philippians, expounding on this passage in three points: The Source, The Direction, and The End.

The first two chapters of Philippians are filled with beautiful and lofty truths about who Jesus is and how he impacts the... world. But at the end of Philippians chapter 2, Paul comes down to some real and practical implications of these truths, seen through the examples of Timothy and Epaphroditus. Listen as Josué Pernillo preaches on Philippians 2:19–30, helping us to see that the gospel allows us to grow in our concern for others, to grow in our service of others, and ultimately to have deep gospel friendships.

Joy is one of the main themes of Paul’s letter to the Philippians—and one of the main themes in all... of Scripture. As we examine the first verse of Philippians chapter 3, in which Paul exhorts his brothers and sisters at Philippi to “rejoice in the Lord,” we begin to understand that Christians are a people of joy in Jesus Christ. Listen as Pastor Josué Pernillo expands on this theme in three movements: the obstacles and opponents, the command of joy, and the source of joy.

We live in a confusing time. Deception is rampant. It is hard to discern truth from error. And this is not just... true in our time. Deception is an enemy as old as the Garden. In the book of Philippians Paul ties joy and truth and salvation together, helping us to clearly see through the lens of the gospel and of scripture who we are and how we should understand the world. Listen as Pastor Josué Pernillo preaches on Philippians 3:1–3, focusing on the fruit of joy, the enemy of joy, and the power of joy.

Where does your confidence lie? You have to put your confidence in something. Everybody does. We put our confidence... in things that make us feel worthwhile, important, right, blameless, because in our hearts and in the heart of every person there is a longing for righteousness. In Philippians 3:4–7 Paul shows this pattern working out in his own life through one of the most interesting self-disclosures in Scripture. Listen as Pastor Josué Pernillo preaches on this passage, showing how we are tempted to put confidence in who we are and in what we do—but what we need is an external confidence found only in Christ.

The book of Philippians is perhaps the Apostle Paul’s most personal letter. It is a beautiful epistle... filled with beautiful verses, and in chapter 3 we find a beautiful, succinct summary of the Gospel. In just five verses Paul both explains how sinners are reconciled to God and illuminates the promises that are theirs in Christ Jesus. Listen as Pastor Josué Pernillo preaches on Philippians 3:7–11, helping us to see Christ Jesus more clearly by showing the treasure of the gospel (the worth of Christ), the heart of the gospel (faith in Christ), and the promise of the gospel (resurrection and life).

The Apostle Paul depicts the Christian life as a long, hard race. It’s a marathon. And to run any marathon well,... the runners need encouragement along the way. The good news for Christians is that we have a wise and caring God who has provided for us to have strength for the journey. Listen as RUF Campus Minister Ethan Brown preaches from Philippians 3:12–16, showing us how God equips us with what we need to finish the race that we’ve begun by making us secure, steadfast, and self-aware.

What does it look like to walk as a Christian? Whose example should we imitate? The book of Philippians... was written by the Apostle Paul to his friends at Philippi. Theirs was a church established by Paul and nurtured by his ministry, through the empowerment of the Holy Spirit, and the love and affection between Paul and the believers at Philippi is evident throughout the letter. In chapter three Paul, as a caring older brother, calls these believers to imitate him, encouraging them to keep on the right path. Listen as Pastor Josué Pernillo preaches on Philippians 3:17–21, drawing out Paul’s exhortations to be aware of who you imitate (v 17), to beware of who you imitate (vv 18–19), and to remember the one we imitate is the Savior (v 20–21).

Pastor Josué Pernillo preaches on Philippians 4:1–3, in which the Apostle Paul... summarizes the major themes of the letter, calling the Philippians to stand firm in the midst of external pressures, to remain united in the midst of internal tensions, and to do this all side by side.

There was once a young man who was persecuting the church. He was so efficient at it that he was sent... to another city, and on the way Jesus appeared to him, saying, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” When Saul was persecuting the church, Jesus took it personally: “Why are you persecuting me.” Jesus loves his people.

After his encounter with Jesus, this same young man, Saul, went on to become a leader in the church, the apostle Paul. Paul loved the church. Paul loved God’s people, with the affections of Christ Jesus. In his letter to the Philippians Paul continually expresses his love and concern for the believers at Philippi in the midst of external pressures and internal tensions. Now at end of the letter, we find Paul beginning to summarize the themes of the whole letter, encouraging the believers at Philippi to stand firm in the midst of eternal pressures and to remain united in the midst of internal tensions. But in what context does this happen? Listen as Pastor Josué preaches on on Philippians 4:4–9, showing that the context of all of this is gospel-built community, and describing both the characteristics of community and the practice of the community.

The Apostle Paul ends his letter to the Philippians by sharing the secret of contentment: to be dependent... on Christ regardless of the circumstances. His focus was on Christ, and through this passage we learn what it means to see Christ clearly in all of life’s situations. Listen as Pastor Josué Pernillo concludes his series on Philippians with this sermon on Philippians 4:10–20, showing what contentment is, what it means to be content in want, what it means to be content in plenty, and that ultimately, whether in plenty or in want, we can be content in Christ who strengthens us.

If we have believed in Christ, and been united to Christ, and died with Christ, and been raised with Christ, what... does it look to walk with Christ in a world that does not know him? Listen as Pastor Luke Herche preaches on Colossians 4:2–6, teaching us to prayerfully cling to the gospel, pray for the work of the gospel, and make the most of every opportunity that you have.

At the start of each year people commonly make New Year's resolutions with hopes, dreams, and goals... for self improvement in the coming year. It is nearly as common to find that these resolutions never come to fruition. But should this make Christians skeptical of the possibility of growth in the Christian life? Listen as Pastor Luke Herche shows from 1 Timothy 4:7 the necessity of discipline, the program of discipline, the goal of discipline, and the power of discipline.

In the book of 2 Timothy, the Apostle Paul writes to Timothy to encourage the young pastor in his... pastoral work. By this time, Paul had been living—and suffering—for the gospel for thirty years, and with his impending death looming he wants to pass the baton on to his protégé. Listen as Pastor Luke Herche preaches from 2 Timothy 4:1–8 on the occasion of the ordination and installation of Josué Pernillo, echoing Paul’s exhortation to “preach the word,” and drawing our attention to the challenge of gospel ministry (“people with itching ears”), the call of gospel ministry (“preach the word”), and the hope of gospel ministry (“the crown of righteousness”).

Pastor Josué Pernillo introduces us to our new study on 1 Peter, focusing... on 1 Peter 1:1–2 and covering four main points:

• Who are we? God’s people.
• How are we the people of God? By the power of God.
• Where are we? In the world and not of it.
• What is our strength? The people of God are blessed.

Why is it that long trips are so tiring? Even with the advances and efficiency of modern travel, there is still a basic weariness... that can come from a long journey, a long drive, a long flight. Similarly, there is a weariness that can come from facing weeks, months, or even years of troubles and difficulties in life. How can we endure? In the book of 1 Peter, the apostle Peter offers help for pilgrims who are weary on their journey by addressing the hope they have in the future, the strength they have in the present, and the story, throughout history, in which they are included. Listen as Pastor Josué Pernillo preaches on 1 Peter 1:3–12, showing that as Christians we are empowered for our journey because Jesus has finished the journey. Christ empowers us on our journey through the assurance of hope, the perseverance of strength, and the Scriptures as truth.

Ruling Elder David Thies continues our 1 Peter series with a sermon on 1 Peter 1:13–25, addressing... three questions: “What action?”, “Why the action?”, and “How the action?”

What happens if you think you know where you’re going, but then you discover that you don’t know how to get there? That’s hard enough when traveling... on the road, but what happens when it occurs in life? What do you do when deep sorrows or unexpected circumstances overwhelm you, and you thought you were going the right direction but suddenly find yourself on a back trail that you didn’t expect? Where do we find our direction? In the book of 1 Peter, Peter writes to pilgrims, to sojourners, to people on a journey. To those who would face various trials and difficulties and challenges along the way, Peter reminds them of their need for wisdom and direction and he points them to the word of God. Listen as Pastor Josué Pernillo preaches on 1 Peter 2:1–3, showing that we, too, are pilgrims on a journey, but because of the gospel and because of the word of God we have everything that we need for the journey in life and godliness. God has provided for our journey by providing his Word: the Word that cleanses and the Word that matures.

Listen as Pastor Luke Herche preaches on Revelation 21:1–8, discussing hope:...

• When do we need it? Our present distress & unbelief.
• What does it look like? The beauty of what is to come.
• Why is it sure? The certainty of what is to come.
• How do we get there? Setting your hope on what is to come.