Pastor William Houston

This sermon explores the spiritual depth of Psalm 84, presenting it as a guide to authentic worship that engages both the heart and the soul. The exposition uses vivid imagery from the text, such as the swallow nesting under the altar and the valley of Baca, to illustrate how believers find protection and replenishment in God's presence amidst life's trials. It emphasises that true worship is not merely a duty but a joyful commitment that persists through seasons of grief, leading to spiritual growth and strength. The message highlights the priority of serving God in one's assigned role, finding contentment in His house rather than in worldly pursuits. Ultimately, the sermon concludes that the secret to happiness lies in trusting God, who provides grace for the present and glory for the future to those who walk uprightly.

This Bible Study begins to examine the character of Haman in the book of Esther, tracing his rise to power and his intense hatred toward Mordecai and the Jewish people. The teaching highlights the theological consequence of King Saul's disobedience in 1 Samuel 15, which allowed the Amalekite lineage to survive and eventually produce Haman, a direct threat to Israel. It details how Haman's personal grievance escalated into a national plot for genocide, secured through a royal decree and significant financial bribery. The narrative concludes with the profound grief of the Jewish community and Esther's courageous decision to risk her life to intercede before the king, framed by Mordecai's assertion that she was placed in the kingdom for such a time as this.

Consecutive Reading: 1 Kings 2:26-46 Psalm Singing: 90:1-7; 90:8-12; 90:13-17 Sermon Scripture Reading: Genesis 50 Sermon Title: Grief, Life, and Death Sermon Series: Preaching to the Times Pastor: Craig J. Scott Date: 10-4-2026 Service: Morning

How can believers have joy when suffering is real and painful? In 1Peter 1:6, Peter reminds us that Christian joy is not based on our circumstances, but on the salvation we have in Christ. Listen as we consider how our suffering is momentary, allowed by God, genuinely painful, and experienced through various kinds of trials --- and why our salvation gives us reason for joy in the midst of it all.

Title: Rejoicing in the Midst of grief Speaker: Mr. Jonathan Rukundo Series: KBC Preachers Date: October 4, 2026

This sermon examines the death of Sarah and Abraham's subsequent mourning as the first recorded instance of grief in Scripture, challenging the notion that weeping indicates weak faith. By analyzing Abraham's insistence on purchasing the cave of Machpelah rather than accepting it as a gift, the message highlights the believer's identity as a stranger and sojourner who refuses to be beholden to the world. The text connects this act of faith to the broader theological theme of looking for a heavenly city whose builder is God, rather than settling for the temporary comforts of this life. The preacher urges the congregation to examine their own hearts, ensuring that their lives testify to a pilgrim's hope in the resurrection and a bold, unsettled commitment to evangelism, rather than a settled complacency in earthly pursuits.

The Tenth Commandment reaches beyond your actions to the desires of your heart, challenging you to be content with God's providence rather than coveting what He has given to others. Your continuing struggle with sinful desires should drive you to Christ, not to despair or self-reliance. In fact, your grief over sin and desire for holiness are signs of the Spirit's work within you. You will always need Christ's forgiveness in this life, while trusting the Holy Spirit to keep renewing you until the day you are made perfectly holy.

The sermon explores the account of Jesus raising the widow of Nain's son, highlighting the profound compassion Jesus displays toward human suffering. It contrasts the crowd of joy following Jesus with the procession of grief, illustrating how Jesus moves from empathy to decisive action by commanding the dead young man to arise. The preacher emphasizes that true compassion is concern in action, pointing to the cross where Jesus bears the weight of human sin and death. This miracle serves as a demonstration of Christ's authority over death and a preview of the eternal life He offers to all who believe. The message concludes with an invitation to find comfort in the Savior who has paid for sin and conquered death.

This sermon examines the humanity of Jesus Christ during His prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane, emphasizing that His full manhood is essential for His role as a sin-bearing substitute. The text highlights the depth of Christ's sorrow and distress as He faced the weight of sin and the impending wrath of God, illustrating that He was touched by human infirmities and grief. By analyzing the Greek term for sorrow and the intensity of His prayers, the message reveals that Christ's submission to the Father's will involved enduring the separation from God and the punishment for humanity's sins. The preacher encourages believers to recognize the cost of salvation and to approach God with confidence, knowing that their High Priest understands their weaknesses and temptations. Ultimately, the sermon calls for a response of obedience and reverence, acknowledging that Christ drank the cup of damnation so that believers might have life.

And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you. (John 16:22) *1/ Godly sorrow. 2/ A visit from the Lord again. 3/ The effect that man cannot take away.* **Sermon Summary:** This sermon explores the transition from godly sorrow to unshakeable joy as described in John 16:22, emphasizing that true spiritual sorrow is directed toward God and arises from a conviction of sin. The preacher distinguishes this from natural grief by illustrating biblical examples of both, highlighting that godly sorrow leads to repentance and a deeper awareness of Christ's substitutionary sacrifice. Central to the message is the promise that the Lord will 'see' His people again, signifying His active intervention to remove sin and restore fellowship, much like the joy following childbirth. The discourse concludes by affirming that the joy resulting from this divine visit is secure and cannot be taken away, offering assurance to believers that their salvation is grounded in the eternal covenant and the finished work of Christ.