Temple Baptist Church in Fredericksburg, Virginia Pastor Michael A. Reid, Jr. Sermon Series: Christmas Series Sermon: Preparations for Christmas: The Prophet" Scripture: Luke 1:13-17 Original Sermon Date: December 7, 2025

Temple Baptist Church in Fredericksburg, Virginia Pastor Michael A. Reid, Jr. Sermon Series: Christmas Series Sermon: Preparations for Christmas: The Parents" Scripture: Luke 1:5-13 Original Sermon Date: November 30, 2025

A modernized text: In the first two chapters of Preparation for Sufferings, John Flavel uses the Apostle Paul's resolute journey toward imprisonment and death in Jerusalem (Acts 21:13) to establish that it is a profound blessing for believers to have their hearts spiritually prepared for whatever severe trials God calls them to endure. While God takes no pleasure in afflicting His children and delays judgment as long as possible, He nonetheless calls them to suffer whenever His providence hedges them in so tightly that sin is the only escape. Ultimately, God ordains these painful seasons for two overarching purposes: to display His own glory by upholding His righteousness and miraculously preserving His Church, and to advance His people's true spiritual good—mortifying inner sin, proving genuine faith, purging hypocrites, uniting believers in shared hardship, and awakening them to fervent prayer.

Richard Salies

Mortify the Flesh Don't Let the Flesh Occupy What Belongs to the Lord! DON'T LET YOUR HEART FAINT! Learning to Walk by Faith, Mortify the Flesh, and Live for the Glory of Jesus Deuteronomy 20:1–9, 16–18 This message emphasizes the necessity of living by faith rather than allowing fear and the desires of the flesh to govern our lives. As Israel prepared to enter battle and possess the land God had promised, the Lord repeatedly warned them not to faint, fear, tremble, or become terrified. Their confidence was not to rest in their own strength or military ability but in the presence and faithfulness of the God who had delivered them from Egypt. Fear becomes dangerous when we give it greater authority than what God has said. Through the examples of Gideon, Joshua, Caleb, and John Mark, we see that God can strengthen fearful people, restore those who have failed, and accomplish extraordinary things through ordinary servants who trust Him. The message also examines the seven nations of Canaan as illustrations of the tendencies of our fallen nature. These pictures reveal a progression in which fear produces a craving for acceptance, acceptance encourages self-promotion, self-promotion opens the door to compromise, and compromise leads to self-centeredness, selfish ambition, and an earthbound life. Though these associations are illustrative rather than established meanings of every nation's name, they help expose how the flesh attempts to govern our thoughts, relationships, and priorities. Scripture teaches that the flesh cannot be overcome through human determination alone. We must mortify its sinful desires through the power of the Holy Spirit. Rather than making provi

The sermon emphasizes the urgency of preparing for eternity by focusing on the central truth that Jesus Christ came to give His life as a ransom for many. It argues that because God is holy, human sin requires a payment that only Christ could make through His substitutionary death on the cross. The message rejects the idea that good works can secure salvation, asserting instead that faith in Christ is the sole means of entering heaven. With a tone of pastoral concern and conviction, the speaker urges the audience to repent, defined as turning from sin and seeking God's forgiveness, rather than relying on pride or self-righteousness and works. The sermon concludes with a direct appeal to examine one's soul to repent and look to the Saviour.

Pastor John Richardson

The sermon explores the balance between unwavering spiritual conviction and interpersonal grace, using Daniel's refusal to defile himself in Babylon as the central example. It highlights how God grants favor to believers, enabling them to navigate hostile environments with composure and respect, even when facing potential consequences. The text emphasizes that true spiritual maturity is revealed not in times of success, but in how one responds when their convictions are challenged or when they do not get their own way. By proposing a practical ten-day test, Daniel demonstrates that faith requires both a settled heart and a prepared alternative, trusting that God's provision is sufficient. The message encourages believers to maintain a warm, radiant witness that reflects God's grace, rather than allowing strong beliefs to become harsh or unyielding in conduct.

"Take Possession Today!" Sharpening Our Faith, Treasuring His Word, and Walking in the Promises of God Primary Scriptures: Psalm 4:1–5; Deuteronomy 9:1–6; Deuteronomy 10:12–13; Proverbs 2:1–6 Message Summary The central message is that faith takes ownership today of what God has promised, even before we see its fulfillment. God calls His people to live by trusting His Word rather than depending upon their own abilities, circumstances, or the opinions of others. Just as a dull ax requires unnecessary labor, a believer who neglects time in God's presence will struggle to remain spiritually sharp. Through prayer, meditation, and treasuring His Word, God sharpens our faith and prepares us for greater usefulness. We cannot live a fruitful life merely borrowing what someone else believes about God. His truth must move beyond our minds and take root in our hearts, transforming how we live. In Deuteronomy 9, Moses prepares Israel to possess the Promised Land. Although the nations were greater, their cities stronger, and their warriors more intimidating, God was greater than everything standing in their way. The previous generation had focused upon the giants rather than God's promises, resulting in forty years of wilderness wandering. Joshua and Caleb, however, trusted what God had said rather than allowing what they saw to determine what they believed. Moses encouraged the new generation to embrace God's promise before physically entering the land. This illustrates a powerful principle: Faith takes possession of God's promise today while trusting Him with the timing and manner of its fulfillment. Abraham and Caleb demonstrate that genuine faith rests upon the faithfulness

And it shall come to pass in that day, that the great trumpet shall be blown, and they shall come which were ready to perish in the land of Assyria, and the outcasts in the land of Egypt, and shall worship the LORD in the holy mount at Jerusalem. (Isaiah 27:13) ~~~~ This sermon was preached at Oakington Baptist Chapel on a Wednesday evening. ~~~~ *1/ The Gospel Trumpet and the Authority to blow it. 2/ Those who shall hear it and it become effectual to - which were ready to perish and the outcasts. 3/ The effect upon them - And they shall come, And shall worship the LORD.* **Sermon summary:** The sermon explores the theological significance of the 'gospel trumpet' as depicted in Isaiah 27:13, emphasising that the proclamation of the Gospel carries divine authority rather than merely human effort. It draws parallels between Old Testament trumpet uses, such as the Jubilee and war calls, and the New Testament preaching of Christ's finished work, arguing that this message is effectual because it is sent by God. The text identifies the intended audience as those who are 'ready to perish' and 'outcasts,' highlighting that the Gospel is good news specifically for sinners who recognise their helplessness and need for mercy. Finally, the sermon outlines the dual effect of this proclamation: the conversion of the hearer, who comes to Christ, and the subsequent worship of the Lord in the holy mount, urging believers to recognise the power and authority inherent in the preached Word.

Dr. Bill Jones records this episode during a Tuesday evening food pickup in New York City with a mission team from Tri-Lakes Baptist Church in Michigan, longtime supporters of Manor Community Church. The team has spent the week doing service projects, speaking in the chapels, preparing for a beneficial food distribution, and conducting public outreach in the subways next to Moynihan Station, where they set up a prayer station and an easel with questions and riddles that stop foot traffic. A man on his way to a job interview asked the team to pray for him and later returned to tell them he had received the job. The speaker reflects on the city's need and on the joy of teaching Scripture, including a lecture from the Gospel of John on the tabernacle as a picture of Christ. He invites listeners who have never been to New York to speak with their pastor about taking a mission trip to share the gospel with people from many backgrounds and religious influences.