Sermons

Reformed sermons preached at our church.

That We May See and Believe

Though Jesus is the King of all kings, no one in our passage is recorded here as recognizing it.  In fact, it’s quite the opposite.  Jesus had been condemned to death for claiming to be the King of Jews.  That was the final charge that warranted the Roman death penalty.  And so in this passage, we finally see Jesus crucified.  And in these last few scenes, we see Jesus mocked as king.  We see him suffer and die as king.  And sadly, we see people completely miss him as king.  And so whether it was the mob mentality, or just plain the sinfulness of man, everyone in this passage seems to be turning against Jesus, denying that he is the Christ, and therefore denying that he is the King.  The inscription that identified him in verse 26, “The King of the Jews” was ironically so right, and yet so fully denied.  ANd yet even as the masses mocked and denied him as king, God’s Word was being fulfilled that foretold that this king would suffer exactly in this way.

Passage: Mark 15:16-32
Author: Rev. W. Reid Hankins, M.Div.
Sermon originally preached during the Morning Service at Trinity Presbyterian Church (OPC) on 03/15/2009 in Novato, CA.

Manuscript: That We May See and Believe

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Wanting to Gratify the Crowd

In our passage for today, we see both the chief priests and Pilate motivated by different forms of the fear of man.  As we see how this fear of man leads to sin, I want us to look inward at our own struggles in this area.  See how this, along with all our sin, has sent Jesus to the cross.  But rejoice in knowing that there is forgiveness in Christ because he went to the cross.

Passage: Mark 15:1-15
Author: Rev. W. Reid Hankins, M.Div.
Sermon originally preached during the Morning Service at Trinity Presbyterian Church (OPC) on 03/08/2009 in Novato, CA.

Manuscript: Wanting to Gratify the Crowds

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He Began to Curse and Swear

I made the point last week that these events happened at the same time: while Jesus was undergoing his trial, Peter was denying that he knew Jesus.  Jesus was being falsely accused, with false witnesses standing up and lying about Jesus, while Peter stood by and lied about knowing Jesus.  Peter could have been a truthful witness to Christ at the court case, instead he stood just outside, too scared to acknowledge that he even knew Jesus.  Peter didn’t witness for Peter, he denied him.  Today we will focus in on Peter’s story and his three-fold denial.  We’ll consider his confidence, fear, sadness, and joy.

Passage: Mark 14:66-72
Author: Rev. W. Reid Hankins, M.Div.
Sermon originally preached during the Morning Service at Trinity Presbyterian Church (OPC) on 03/01/2009 in Novato, CA.

Manuscript: He Began to Curse and Swear

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Many Bore False Witness

In our passage for today we see an ecclesiastical court gone bad.  Listen in on this sermon as we see Jesus falsely condemned in a corrupt trial from start to finish.  Why did Jesus remain silent under all this false testimony and incorrect accusations?

Passage: Mark 14:53-65
Author: Rev. W. Reid Hankins, M.Div.
Sermon originally preached during the Morning Service at Trinity Presbyterian Church (OPC) on 02/22/2009 in Novato, CA.

Manuscript: Many Bore False Witness

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