Sermons

Listen to biblical preaching from Sharon Reformed Presbyterian Church, or follow a complete series and explore teaching by book of the Bible.

Browse Sermon SeriesStudy by Bible Book

Showing 145–168 of 419 sermons, newest to oldest

Sermon archive

Audio

The Peace of Christ

Bryan Schneider

November 24, 2023

Philippians 4:6-9

Anxiety is the wrong normal. We worry about all the things of life, but the sad paradox is that this anxiety shortens our health and life. How do we give our worries to the Lord? By prayer. If God has adopted us as His son or daughter, then we are welcome to come into His throne room and lay out our worries before Him. The answer to our problems is not removing them; it is Who we go to with them. It is in difficult situations that our Christianity is proved. If Paul could thank God in prison, can we not thank Him in the midst of the liberties and blessings we enjoy? When we go to Jesus Christ, we will find comfort for our souls. What is our mind focused on? If our eyes are always on our problems, we will never have true peace. Let the peace of Christ guard and keep your mind so that your life may be filled with thanks to Him!

Audio
Mark

Selfish Leaders

Bryan Schneider

November 17, 2023

Mark 12:38-44

One of the big dangers that the Church faces today is bad pastors and selfish leaders. We must beware of those who want respect because of the clothes they wear, or who makes long prayers for pretense. A pastor is nothing more than another redeemed rebel whom God has given the gift of teaching. Those pastors who are intent on their own aggrandizement and fleecing widows are not God's shepherds. The Jewish scribes only saw what everyone was able to give, but Jesus wants only a faithful heart – as was demonstrated by the poor widow who gave all she had to the Lord. Jesus does not act like these scribes. He – the King of kings – humbled Himself and came to serve others and die for sinners. That's who we need to follow and worship – the One Who is our Good Shepherd.

Audio
2 Timothy

Perilous Times

Dr. John Wiers

November 3, 2023

2 Timothy 3:1-9

In the last times – the times that we are living in now between Christ's first coming and second coming – there will be perilous and dangerous times. Scripture is very realistic, but there is still hope – even in this warning. The natural human state is to look out for #1, and the rest of the list of bad things in this passage are just outworkings of that main sin of a distorted and perverted self-love. Our culture is puffed up with self-esteem and we are told to "believe in ourselves." Pauls says to avoid these kind of people. We need to be watchful because hypocritical unbelievers will creep into the Church and they are almost more dangerous than outright pagans. Do we understand and know the power of the Gospel? We need to be watchful against these false teachers, but we can also be encouraged because these people do not get the last word. The Lord Jesus has set up His Church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it!

Audio
2 Timothy

Dealing with Those in Error

Dr. John Wiers

October 27, 2023

2 Timothy 2:14-26

We can't avoid those who are in error, so how do we deal with them? We need to be careful about what we say to them and not engage in useless squabbles. It is important to take a stand for true doctrine, as Martin Luther did in the Reformation. What we believe is translated into how we live, so we do need to find the hills to die on. These things need to be talked about; but when we do, we need to be gentle and not obnoxious. And we need to remember that it is our job to present the truth to people, but it's God Who changes their hearts.

Audio
Mark

Love Commanded

Bryan Schneider

October 20, 2023

Mark 12:28-34

What is the most important of all the commandments in the Law? This is the first instance we have in the Gospels of someone coming to ask Jesus a question in sincerity. He replied to the scribe who asked this question by quoting the Shammah from Deuteronomy 6, which teaches us that we are to love God and love our neighbor. This is more important than any number of burnt offerings or animal sacrifices that we could ever offer. If you kept all the Lord's commandments – loving God and loving your neighbor, you'd be perfect and you'd go to heaven. That's terrifying news, though, because none of us can do this. We fail at it. So what hope do we have? The answer was standing right in front of the scribe in the Temple that day. Jesus, the embodiment of true love – was standing there and fulfilling the work of redemption for us, who could never keep the Law. Not only does He tell us that we are not far from the Kingdom of God, He also brings us into it!

Audio
2 Timothy

A Faithful, Dedicated Life

Dr. John Wiers

October 13, 2023

2 Timothy 2:1-13

These exhortations that Timothy was to live by as a faithful minister are the same principles that we are to live by as faithful Christians. We are to draw upon God's gracious strength; this is fundamental to our lives as Christians. We must also be single-minded – like soldiers, athletes, and farmers – and keep our focus on Jesus, because that is the only thing that will ultimately satisfy us. If our life is not filled with Christ, it will be empty. When we look at ourselves, we will see ourselves as failures. But this is where the Gospel comes in... Even though we are faithless, Jesus remains faithful. And nothing can separate us from His love! Having a Gospel-centered approach to life will help us take the risks that are associated with whatever work God calls us to do.

Audio
2 Timothy

Faithful through Grace

Dr. John Wiers

October 6, 2023

2 Timothy 1

The Lord's grace is a theme throughout the entire Bible. Grace was at the core of who Paul was as he gave his final advice to Timothy in this Book. Here he shows Timothy that grace is often shown intergenerationally. God is faithful to His Covenant from generation to generation, as was illustrated in Timothy's mother and grandmother. God's grace was also planned before the foundations of the world. He chose us in Christ because of undeserved grace, and this grace was embodied in all its splendor when Christ came into this world as our Savior. God, in His grace, has given us the Gospel. And when we share the sound words of the Gospel with others, it is the loving thing to do. Since we know what we believe, we cannot help telling others and declaring what is right and wrong to the "woke culture" all around us. But only God's grace can make us strong. If we're saved by grace, we're called to live boldly by grace.

Audio
Mark

The Resurrection

Bryan Schneider

September 29, 2023

Mark 12:18-27

The Sadducees come to Jesus and ask Him about the resurrection, even though they don't believe in the Resurrection. They think they will be able to trap Him, but Jesus tells them they were wrong because they did not know the Scriptures. He took them back to school and told them what they should have known. In the historical narrative of Moses and the burning bush, the Lord had told Moses that He was the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. In other words, He is the God of the living and not the dead. The Saducees' minds were restricted to the here and now. They assumed that if there was a resurrection, it would look just like on earth – complete with marriage and everything. They didn't believe in anything they couldn't see. They couldn't imagine anything after death. But that limits the scope of the power of God Who made the heavens and the earth. In heaven, our relationships – including our marriage relationship – will be different than they were here on earth. They will be perfect and much better than even our best days here below. In heaven, there will be far better things for us to worry about. We must make up our mind. Do we belive in Jesus as the only way, truth, and life? Do we believe that even in the resurrection, He has great plans for us? The resurrection is real because our Savior said it is. Will we believe in it, or reject it?

Audio
Mark

Testing God

Bryan Schneider

September 15, 2023

Mark 12:13-17

It seems that more and more these days, people are hyper-interested in politics. Often we hungrily gobble down all the political talk we hear, without stopping to ask, "Where is my heart in all of this?" Here in this passage, the Herodians and the Pharisees band together to try to trap Jesus in His words. They asked Him if Caesar had a right to impose taxes. Sadly, they call Him Teacher, but they don't want to be taught; they say that He is true, but they don't believe it. After making them admit that the denarius had a mark of Caesar's authority, Jesus made it clear that paying taxes was a necessary part of the civil government that they were living under. But there was more in Jesus' answer than a political lesson. These men were not paying to God what rightfully belonged to Him. They were willing to pay taxes to the government, but they also owed obedience to Jesus – the icon or image of the Father. Yet they were rebels against Him and refused to love the Lord and their neighbor. You can be obsessed with politics and your own power, but all you are doing is building your own kingdom instead of God's. He puts rulers in power, whether for our good or for our bad, but always for His glory. Does your obedience to God depend on your political party winning? Jesus Christ is still King, even today. He still sits on His throne. Kingdoms rise and fall, but His Kingdom is not of this world. Do not put your trust in any political leader, or you will be sadly disappointed. Give to the Lord what belongs to Him!

Audio
Mark

The Cornerstone

Bryan Schneider

September 8, 2023

Mark 12:1-12

Why didn't things go differently when Jesus entered Jerusalem? Why didn't the leaders of the people acknowledge Christ as the Messiah? It was part of God's sovereign plan, and they did not want to give up their authority. After Jesus would not answer their question about His authority, He told them this allegorical parable. The man in the vineyard (representing God) went to great expense to set up this vineyard, and He rented it out to tenant-farmers. These men were blessed to be stewards of the vineyard, but they went from enjoying the blessing to thinking they were entitled to owning the place. When the owner sent for his portion of the wine – which was contractually obligated – they became defensive and wouldn't give it up. They persecuted and killed the servants (the prophets); and when God finally sent His well-beloved Son into the world, they killed Him too. With ridiculous logic, they thought they would kill the heir and then receive his inheritance. This is what sin does; it twists our thinking and causes us to rationalize and justify what we have done. Jesus took the scribes to school and asked them if they had ever read the 118th Psalm, which speaks of the rejected stone becoming the Chief Cornerstone. They had tossed this stone aside and built up a crooked system of their own. But Jesus now stands before them and says He will bear the weight of the structure and make it square and sturdy. Jesus is still the Chief Cornerstone today! And the vineyard is God's. The Church does not belong to any pastor or man. Every pastor will fail somehow, but Christ is our Head – and we need to keep our eyes on Him!

Audio
Mark

The Authority of Jesus

Bryan Schneider

September 1, 2023

Mark 11:27-33

Authoritarianism seems to be on the rise. People and organizations want control. And it was the same way back during Jesus' earthly ministry, too. The Sanhedrin had been struggling up and down for centuries to maintain their power; and now, by overturning the tables and merchandise in the Temple, Jesus had come in and put a death blow to their power. They came and demanded Him to explain Himself and tell them whose authority He was under. It wasn't that being a scribe or a high priest was evil in itself. The problem was that these men had taken their God-given power and used it for their own purposes. And they failed to see and acknowledge that the Messiah Himself was standing right there in front of them. Jesus asked them a question in return concerning John's baptism – whether it was from God's authority or men's. But they preferred to shuffle around instead of dealing with the honest question and have their tyranny be impaired. Jesus had authority from heaven to judge the Temple because He was the Lord of the Temple. Who do you think Jesus is? Either the Bible and Jesus' testimony concerning Himself are a big lie, or else they really are true – just as they claim to be. Who is Jesus to you?

Audio
Mark

Cleansing the Temple

Bryan Schneider

August 25, 2023

Mark 11:12-26

In this part of Mark's Gospel, we are shown that what was going on in Jerusalem at the time was empty ritualism, not living faith. Jesus looked for the little berries on the fig tree that would have proceeded the flowers and fruit, but He found none – and so He cursed it. Then He walked into the Temple in Jerusalem. It was an externally beautiful building, but the interior was corrupted with greedy people who had set up a marketplace and were talking advantage of even the poorest of God's people. Sadly, this still goes on today. It is God Who needs to be worshiped, not we who need to be entertained. Jesus was righteously angry at all this. Just like the fig tree, He found no spiritual fruit within the glorious and beautiful Temple. After seeing the dead fig tree again, He used this as an opportunity to teach His disciples a lesson about faith. He was not saying that the Lord will just dump blessings on you if you pray hard enough. But God did move heaven and earth to procure the forgiveness of our sins. Do we believe that? Jesus came for us to have a living faith, not just a trust in signs and symbols.

Audio
Mark

The King Arrives!

Bryan Schneider

August 18, 2023

Mark 11:1-10

Whether we like it or not, we will be inundated with ads from politicians over the next year or so. But the real question we should be asking is, "Who is our King?" Who is the One that we can place our hope and trust in? This scene here in Mark 11 is full of symbolism from the Old Testament. The Jews had been promised that their Messiah would come riding on a donkey's colt. God had assured David that he would one day have an heir who would sit on his throne forever. Jesus' public entry into Jerusalem was a pivot point. He had usually told the people whom He healed to not say anything about Him, but He was not staying hidden forever. And now the people shouted with the trumpets of their own lungs, proclaiming that this was their King Who would sit on the throne! But they expected Him to be a political king Who would overthrow the Romans and give them freedom and wealth. However, Jesus has a much better spiritual Kingdom. We can't be sure who will be our President next year, but we can rest assured that Jesus will be our King! Things will keep happening to shake up our government, but our King in heaven reigns forever. Let's not put our hope in presidents or politicians, but in the Prince of peace!

Audio
Elder Qualifications

Look for a Working Leader

Bryan Schneider

August 4, 2023

1 Timothy 3:1

1 Timothy 3:1 shows us that elders are to be shepherds and servants who are called to do hard work. The work of an elder is sacrificial work. It is the hard job of protecting Christ's sheep from their enemies, both inside and outside the Church. An elder is called to labor in prayer, taking God's people to the Chief Shepherd and entrusting them to His care. There is also the work of feeding. Sheep depend on their shepherd for their food, so we should look for a man who is already on a diet of the Word and shares the living water with others. We need to beware of false shepherds and look to the Lord Jesus as our true Shepherd. Sadly, some "pastors" would rather line their own pockets instead of doing the hard work to serve God's people. When looking for an elder, we need to look for a man who imitates Jesus in His earthly ministry. Even in His tiredness, Jesus still worked and served and loved the people. It took physical, spiritual, and emotional work. He worked out the plan of salvation for His sheep. We need to look for a man who does not desire to work for his own glory, but for the good of God's sheep, as an under-shepherd of Jesus.

Audio
Elder Qualifications

Look for a Willing Servant

Bryan Schneider

July 28, 2023

1 Timothy 3:1-7

It's a good thing if a man desires to serve the Church as an elder, but what is this desire? It has to be something deeper than just thinking it would be a neat office to fill. It has to be something that the Lord has deeply rooted in the man's heart. When looking for a man to serve as an elder, we need to look for someone who shows a spirit of humility. Is he humble enough to listen, especially to God? Is he humble enough to serve? Even Jesus came to earth to serve others, not Himself. We need to look for someone who cares practically for others and helps them grow. A potential elder also needs to be humble enough to pray and be rebuked by God's Word. We need to look for a man who is marked by wisdom – knowing what to do and how to do it. A wise shepherd knows how and when to lead the sheep spiritually. A wise man values others' opinions and will seek out answers to questions that he may not know. A wise man knows when and when not to fight. If a man is desiring to serve as an elder, what is he desiring right now? What is his goal for himself and his family? Is his focus on Jesus and His Kingdom? You'll never find a perfect elder, but he should be a man who hungers and thirsts after righteousness and knows that this can only be satisfied in Jesus. He needs to be a man who is desiring the right things.

Audio
Elder Qualifications

Look For An Overseer

Bryan Schneider

July 21, 2023

1 Timothy 3:1-7

Those who wish to be first must be servant of all. An elder is to be a shepherd of the people of God. When looking for a man to be an elder, we should search for a man whose voice is like that of Christ. He needs to care for the lambs in Jesus' flock. An elder must not lord it over God's people. He must set a good example and have the right motivations. He should be eager to serve and do good for others. We need to look for a man who will protect with foresight, and a man who will lead our souls to living waters. We need a man who knows where in the Scriptures to direct us when we need to find green pastures. In short, when electing an elder, we need to look for a man who strives to be like Jesus Christ.

Audio
Mark

The Servant of All

Bryan Schneider

July 14, 2023

Mark 10:35-45

Jesus came as the King of kings, walking on the royal road of service. And He is calling each one of us to walk on the same road. The other ten disciples were displeased with James and John because they had all wanted the seats of honor that those two had asked for. Jesus took the opportunity to teach them all a lesson. He talked to them about how the leaders of the world act. All around us, we see leaders who are only in the game for what they can get out of it for themselves. We see this in the workplace, sports, academia, politics, and sadly, even in families and churches. This is the way the world does things, but it shouldn't be that way among God's people. Some of the best leaders are those who love their people and serve them. They see the needs that people have, and they help them – sometimes even when other people can't see it. Even the Son of Man Himself did not come to earth in order to be served – although He was the King of kings! He showed His love by serving even to the point of death. What should our response be to that kind of leadership? Go and love others. What act of selfless love can you do for another person today?

Audio
Mark

The Cup of God's Wrath

Bryan Schneider

July 7, 2023

Mark 10:35-41

How can God be merciful and gracious, and yet at the same time, He does not by any means justify those who are guilty? The answer to this mystery was not revealed to the Lord's people for centuries. But here we see the answer made clear! In this passage in Mark's Gospel, we see the love of Jesus for us. The disciples clearly didn't understand any of what Jesus had said about His coming suffering and death, as is evident in James and John's question. They asked if they could have the seats of the guest of honor and the second-in-command in Jesus' Kingdom. But Jesus told them they didn't know what they were asking. They claimed they could drink the cup that He was about to drink, but they didn't understand. That cup was the full cup of the righteous wrath of God against sin. Jesus drank down the contents of that cup so that we would never have to do so. Jesus loved us, and that is why He drank that cup and endured the baptism of God's fiery wrath. When we think of this, it should not only make us hate sin more, but it should also encourage us to love Jesus more. This is the message of the Gospel. Let us rest in it, receive it, praise God for it, and find peace for our souls!

Audio
Mark

Jesus - Willing to die for you

Bryan Schneider

June 30, 2023

Mark 10:28-34

Who chose for Jesus to die? Jesus willingly sacrificed His own life. And He did this in full knowledge of the cost that it would involve, but He did it because He loved us – His people. The rich young ruler had gone away and now the disciples asked Jesus, "What about us? We've left everything to follow You." jesus made three promises to them. He promised that they would receive back a hundredfold what they had left behind, that they would encounter persecution, and that they would be given everlasting life in the world to come. Jesus was willing to pay the ultimate price to purchase this for us. He took His 12 disciples aside and told them what was really about to happen to Him. He told them that He would be betrayed, condemned to death, handed over to the Gentiles, mocked and scourged and spit upon, and put to death. But the story wouldn't end there, because He would also rise from the dead! On the cross, the price was paid for our salvation. But in the Resurrection, we are justified! In the Resurrection, we have hope. And in the Resurrection, we have the assurance that the Lord's promises are true. Will you trust in Jesus and live out a living faith? He deserves our allegiance and love. Will you sacrifice for Him? This is part of the cost of discipleship. But the new heavens and new earth – where we will join the myriads of redeemed souls who are singing and praising Jesus – will make those sacrifices worth it in eternity!

Audio
Mark

Where is Your Heart?

Bryan Schneider

June 23, 2023

Mark 10:17-31

Where is your heart? What do you love most? The rich young man came running to Jesus and asked what he needed to do to be saved. Jesus loved this man, and He did the loving thing by pointing out the idol in his life and the one thing that was lacking. But the man went away sorrowful because he had great riches. How much do we love our wealth? It's not that material wealth is evil in itself, but to love that stuff is to make an idol out of it. The mindset of Jesus' disciples when they thought of the Kingdom of God was something like the riches and plenty in the days of Solomon. But Jesus told them that they would have a hard time getting into that Kingdom with that mindset. It's like trying to put a camel through a needle's eye. The disciples asked who can be saved then... and Jesus said it's impossible! You can't save yourself. But it is possible for the Lord to change someone's heart so they have something to actually live for besides worldly wealth. Get ready to count the cost. What are you living for and working for? What things are keeping you from reading your Bible and praying? Be honest and evaluate your heart. Is Jesus Christ worth it? He loved you so much that He gave up everything for you to be a part of His Kingdom. WIll you count the cost for Him?

Audio
Mark

Bring Your Children to Jesus

Bryan Schneider

June 16, 2023

Mark 10:13-16

When we think of the great Apostles like Paul, Peter, or John, we think it's only right that the Kingdom of God belongs to people like that. But is it true that the Kingdom of God also belongs to little children? Jesus says yes! The most loving thing a parent can do to their children is to bring them to Someone Who cares for their souls. Sadly, there are some who are still like the disciples in Jesus' day, and they try to keep the children away from Jesus and out of the Church. No wonder, then, that the Church is losing more and more children every passing generation. Jesus was angry at this. This is not how His Kingdom operates. Jesus cares for children and loves them; He has chosen them to be a part of His Covenant. Yes, they sin like everyone else, and they need the grace of Christ like everyone else. But they belong to the Lord and we want their faith to bloom fully from the little bud to the full blossom. Never give up on your children! Come to Christ with the humility and faith of a child, for the Kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these – and bring your children with you to Him!

Audio
Mark

Confusion about Marriage

Bryan Schneider

June 9, 2023

Mark 10:1-12

There were different schools of thought among the Jewish Pharisees and rabbis in regard to divorce. They asked Jesus about divorce in an effort to trick him into saying something they could catch Him on. But He answered their question with a question and basically took them back to what Moses wrote in the very beginning of the Bible about marriage. Gender, marriage, and the family are all God's design. He made human beings male and female, complementary to each other. Marriage is not a human construct; He "glues" together a man and his wife, and no one should separate that union. God's original plan for marriage was one man and one woman for life. Marriage is not about one spouse making the other happy; it's about helping and serving one another in love. Marriage is meant to be a picture of Christ's relationship with His Church. Nothing shall be able to separate Jesus' Bride from His love. Therefore, Christians should imitate Him and love their spouse.

Audio
Mark

Jesus Hates Pedophilia

Bryan Schneider

June 2, 2023

Mark 9:42-50

"But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea. If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed, rather than having two hands, to go to hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched — where 'Their worm does not die And the fire is not quenched.' And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame, rather than having two feet, to be cast into hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched — where 'Their worm does not die And the fire is not quenched.' And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire — where 'Their worm does not die And the fire is not quenched.' "For everyone will be seasoned with fire, and every sacrifice will be seasoned with salt. Salt is good, but if the salt loses its flavor, how will you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace with one another" (Mark 9:42-50).

Audio
Mark

Biblical Christian Unity

Bryan Schneider

May 26, 2023

Mark 9:38-41

Jesus is teaching us here what it means to be unified in Him. He calls us to pursue Jesus-focused unity. But how? We need to realize that the focus in on Jesus, not us. It is He Who needs to be followed. The disciples had been unable to cast out a demon, but they stopped one who was doing just that because he wasn't a part of their group. This man could do this because he had faith in Christ, Whose power did not stop with the 12 disciples. There is power in Jesus' name, but only for those who believe in Him. How do we forge a unity with one another? In an army, there is a uniform, a flag, and an anthem. What is our anthem? Is it the glory of the Lamb? But we must beware of a false unity or an ecumenicalism where everyone is tolerant of anything and no one stands up for the truth. We live in an age where people invent a God of their own making. We ought to love Jesus and be united with each other, but we need to know who is actually on Jesus' side. We don't necessarily have to lock-step with everyone; but we do need to realize that there are some who are indeed Christians, even though they may not be part of our denomination. We should be on the lookout for fellow believers to show love to – not for their own sake, but for the sake of the Master whom we both serve.

Page 7 of 18