Sermon B-Sides
Sermon B-Sides - E99 - Fire on the Mountain and the Holiness of God - Exodus 19
March 29, 2024 • Pastor Jon Needham, Pastor Rusten Harris • Exodus 19
God meeting his people on Mount Sinai is a grand and terrifying event. First comes fire and smoke, then thunder and lightning, and finally the voice of God. The people were trembling, and for good reason; the holiness of God is dangerous. If anyone touches the mountain, they will die. In this episode of Sermon B-Sides, Pastor Jon and Pastor Rusten discuss the Sinai scene, what it means, and how Christ is our better Moses who brings us to a holy God. They also discuss the covenant language that God introduces to Israel and its implications for Christians today. We hope you enjoy, and as usual, if you have any questions for Sermon B-sides--or anything else, email us at mailto:pastor@coramdeochurch.org
Sermon B-Sides - E98 - Jethro, Institutions, and Covenant Theology - Exodus 18
March 22, 2024 • Pastor Jon Needham, Pastor Rusten Harris • Exodus 18
Who is Jethro? Is he a pagan priest who comes to faith in Yahweh, or is he a Gentile believer who already knows God? What does Jethro bless Moses with? In this episode of Sermon B-Sides, Pastor Jon & Pastor Rusten examine some of these questions and look at the history of Jethro and his ancestors. They also discuss covenant theology and the differences between the covenant of grace and the covenant of works. We hope you enjoy, and as usual, if you have any questions for Sermon B-sides--or anything else, email us at mailto:pastor@coramdeochurch.org
Sermon B-Sides - SPECIAL EPISODE - Cultural Reformation and Christian Nationalism
March 19, 2024 • Pastor Jon Needham, Pastor Rusten Harris
How should Christians seek to positively impact their culture for Christ? Instead of only looking to politics, how can Christians work to reform culture in more grassroots ways from the bottom up? How should Christians approach civics and politics? What are Christians to make of "Christian Nationalism" and the different meanings given to that term? In this special episode of Sermon B-Sides, Pastor Jon and Pastor Rusten discuss some of the points from the "Building for Cultural Reformation with Dr. John West" event hosted at Coram Deo Church. We hope you enjoy, and as usual, if you have any questions for Sermon B-sides--or anything else, email us at mailto:pastor@coramdeochurch.org
Sermon B-Sides - E97 - Water from the Rock and War with Amalek - Exodus 17
March 15, 2024 • Pastor Jon Needham, Pastor Rusten Harris • Exodus 17
After God delivers his people from Egypt, he teaches them to rely on him as their Father by providing food and water in the wilderness. In chapter 17, the people grumble because they are without water again. This time, God provides water by instructing Moses to strike the "Rock of Horeb" with his staff. After this, God's people enter their first military conflict, but the way they win is through Moses lifting his hands. In this episode of Sermon B-Sides, Pastor Jon and Pastor Rusten discuss how God's provision in the wilderness point to and are fulfilled in Christ. We hope you enjoy, and as usual, if you have any questions for Sermon B-Sides—or anything else, email us at mailto:pastor@coramdeochurch.org.
Sermon B-Sides - E96 - Testing, Discipline, Manna, Tithing, and God the Father - Exodus 16
February 23, 2024 • Pastor Jon Needham, Pastor Rusten Harris • Exodus 16
The Exodus isn't just about delivering the Hebrews from slavery to the tyrant Pharaoh; it's also about delivering God's people from the tyranny of sin. This is why the story doesn't end after the slaves are free from Egypt. They are then brought into the wilderness where God reveals their sinful grumbling through testing. In this episode of Sermon B-Sides, Pastor Jon and Pastor Rusten discuss how God uses trials to reveal areas where we are tempted to trust in something other than God, and how God's abundant provision teaches us to live in light of his care for us. We hope you enjoy, and as usual, if you have any questions for Sermon B-Sides—or anything else, email us at mailto:pastor@coramdeochurch.org.
Sermon B-Sides - E95 - The Song of Moses Contra Mundum - Exodus 15
February 16, 2024 • Pastor Jon Needham, Pastor Rusten Harris • Exodus 15
When God's people are finally delivered from their Egyptian enemies, they respond by singing a song of praise. They praise God for bringing judgment on the Egyptians, for casting the horse and rider in the sea, and for establishing his people. It is not the kind of worship song that most evangelical churches are used to today. Why is that? In this episode of Sermon B-Sides, Pastor Jon and Pastor Rusten discuss how Exodus 15 challenges our modern notions about who God is and who Jesus is, especially in light of recent efforts to soften God's edges in order to make him more palatable to our age (e.g., the "He Gets Us" campaign). We hope you enjoy, and as usual, if you have any questions for Sermon B-Sides—or anything else, email us at mailto:pastor@coramdeochurch.org.
Sermon B-Sides - E94 - How God Turns the Cowardly into the Courageous - Exodus 14
February 9, 2024 • Pastor Jon Needham, Pastor Rusten Harris • Exodus 14
The Red Sea crossing is one of the most celebrated acts of God's deliverance in the entire Bible. In an epic way, God saves his people from slavery by crushing the final threat of Pharaoh and the Egyptians. But this story also shows us that God's act of rescue was also meant to confront and cure Israel's cowardice. In this episode of Sermon B-Sides, Pastor Jon and Pastor Rusten discuss how God removes our fear of man in order to set us free from slavery to man. Rather than promoting the passivity of God's people in the face of enemies, this story gives us reason to have courage as we fear God instead of any man. We hope you enjoy, and as usual, if you have any questions for Sermon B-Sides—or anything else, email us at mailto:pastor@coramdeochurch.org.
Sermon B-Sides - E93 - Firstborn Sons and the Priesthood - Exodus 13
February 2, 2024 • Pastor Jon Needham, Pastor Rusten Harris • Exodus 13
What does it mean that the firstborn sons of Israel were to be consecrated? Some critics of the Bible claim that the Old Testament originally commended the sacrifice of the firstborn sons, but what we see in scripture is actually the exact opposite. The firstborn sons were redeemed and consecrated for a special calling. In this episode of Sermon B-Sides, Pastor Jon and Pastor Rusten discuss Exodus 13, the meaning of the consecration of the firstborn, the mixed multitude, and how Israel was made up of non-ethnic jews. We hope you enjoy, and as usual, if you have any questions for Sermon B-Sides—or anything else, email us at mailto:pastor@coramdeochurch.org.
Sermon B-Sides - E92 - Discipleship in God’s Liturgical Calendar - Exodus 12
December 8, 2023 • Pastor Jon Needham, Pastor Rusten Harris • Exodus 12
Throughout Scripture, God divides days and seasons. He gives us holidays and feast days, and he gives us the Sabbath day. In this episode of Sermon B-Sides, Pastor Jon and Pastor Rusten discuss how God marks time according to his works of creation and redemption. They discuss how God uses seasonal liturgies to disciple Christians and form their imaginations. They also discuss why only the circumcised were allowed to eat the Passover meal. We hope you enjoy, and as usual, if you have any questions for Sermon B-Sides—or anything else for that matter—e-mail us at mailto:pastor@coramdeochurch.org.
Sermon B-Sides - E91 - God Doesn't Believe in Intersectionality - Exodus 11
December 1, 2023 • Pastor Jon Needham, Pastor Rusten Harris • Exodus 11
Rebelling against God makes you stupid. We see this principle in Pharaoh's refusal to let the Israelites go free when his son's life is on the line. Today, one way we see this principle is in the teaching of intersectionality, which Exodus 11 utterly rejects as a worldview. In this episode of Sermon B-Sides, Pastor Jon and Pastor Rusten discuss how those who reject God become futile in their thinking, and also how God's judgment comes upon both the king and the slave girl behind the handmill. When judgment is coming, your race, gender, and socio-economic status do not matter. The only distinction that matters is the blood of the Passover lamb. We hope you enjoy, and as usual, if you have any questions for Sermon B-Sides—or anything else for that matter—e-mail us at mailto:pastor@coramdeochurch.org.
Sermon B-Sides - E90 - Satan’s Tactic of Going After Women and Children - Exodus 10
November 24, 2023 • Pastor Jon Needham, Pastor Rusten Harris • Exodus 10
The family is the fundamental building block of society. Pagan tyrants feel threatened by Christian family and the Church because they represent a future contrary to their rule. This is why, in Exodus 10, Pharaoh goes after the women and children. In this episode of Sermon B-Sides, Pastor Jon and Pastor Rusten discuss the importance of the family for the discipleship of God's people. They discuss many ways the enemy seeks to undermine the gospel through attacking the family. We see this today in public education, LGBTQIA+ ideology, and the perversion of femininity. They also discuss how God strengthens the family in the faith through worshipping together at church and at home. We hope you enjoy, and as usual, if you have any questions for Sermon B-Sides—or anything else for that matter—e-mail us at mailto:pastor@coramdeochurch.org.
Sermon B-Sides - E89 - The Sovereignty of God and the Hardening of Pharaoh's Heart - Exodus 9
November 17, 2023 • Pastor Jon Needham, Pastor Rusten Harris • Exodus 9
What does it mean for God to be sovereign? The story of the Exodus reveals the answer to that question. God demonstrates his sovereignty through the plagues he brought upon Egypt and by hardening Pharoah's heart. In this episode of Sermon B-Sides, Pastor Jon and Pastor Rusten discuss how the sovereignty of God is clearly taught in the book of Exodus. They discuss the difference between Calvinism and Hyper-Calvinism. They also discuss how God's sovereignty demonstrates his greatness and should give us great hope, especially in evangelism and missions. We hope you enjoy, and as usual, if you have any questions for Sermon B-Sides—or anything else for that matter—e-mail us at mailto:pastor@coramdeochurch.org.
Sermon B-Sides - E88 - Judgment and Frogs in the Kneading Bowl - Exodus 8
November 10, 2023 • Pastor Jon Needham, Pastor Rusten Harris • Exodus 8
Why does God judge? Why does God send ten different plagues to Egypt? Why frogs? Why flies? Why gnats and other swarming things? In this episode of Sermon B-Sides, Pastor Jon and Pastor Rusten discuss how the particulars of the plagues are not accidental or arbitrary. They discuss how the plagues against Egypt reveal that God is the true Creator, how his judgment is a form of de-creation, and how, ultimately, God's judgment is good and reveals his goodness. We hope you enjoy, and as usual, if you have any questions for Sermon B-Sides—or anything else for that matter—e-mail us at mailto:pastor@coramdeochurch.org.
Sermon B-Sides - E87 - When a Nation Abandons the Truth - Exodus 7
November 3, 2023 • Pastor Jon Needham, Pastor Rusten Harris • Exodus 7
What happens when a nation abandons the truth? What lies do people start to believe? Why do nations who abandon the truth always seem to become more coercive? In this episode of Sermon B-sides, Pastor Rusten and Pastor Jon discuss Exodus 7 and the culture of ancient Egypt. They discuss how the choice facing a people is always Christ or chaos. They discuss tyranny, idolatry, the demonic, and sorcery. We hope you enjoy, and as usual, if you have any questions for Sermon B-Sides—or anything else for that matter—e-mail us at mailto:pastor@coramdeochurch.org.
Sermon B-Sides - E86 - Setbacks, Despair, and Christian Hope for the Future - Exodus 6
October 27, 2023 • Pastor Jon Needham, Pastor Rusten Harris • Exodus 6
Why does God allow setbacks and roadblocks to the things he has called us to do? How do Christians fight despair? In this episode of Sermon B-Sides, Pastor Jon and Pastor Rusten discuss Moses' confusion and frustration after confronting Pharoah for the first time results in failure. They discuss how setbacks are part of God's plan. They also discuss how Christian hope for the future fights despair through faith and looks to God to keep his promises, even in the midst of roadblocks. We hope you enjoy, and as usual, if you have any questions for Sermon B-Sides—or anything else for that matter—e-mail us at mailto:pastor@coramdeochurch.org.