Sermons by Brad Barrett

Sermons by Brad Barrett

Pastor

Hebrews 5:11-6:20 The Surety of the Son

From our passage today, three themes will come out: Hebrews 5:11-6:12 Let’s read the first portion of our passage for today.  The first two themes will come out:  Warning and Assurance. Hebrews 5:11–6:12 (CSB) 5:11 We have a great deal to say about this, and it is difficult to explain, since you have become too lazy to understand. 12 Although by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the basic principles of God’s revelation…

Hebrews 4:1-13 The Rest Found in Jesus

Last Wednesday there was a senseless, evil shooting in Kansas City.  Last month there was murder at a high school in Perry, Iowa, just 45 miles from here.  There is war in the Middle East and Ukraine.  In all these things, we wonder, Where is peace?  Where is the rest?  Why is everyone so angry? But even closer to home, we find ourselves longing for rest in our own little world.   Family disputes. Marriage collapses. Tension in the workplace.  And…

Hebrews 2:5-18 The Humanity of Jesus

Today is National Big Word Sermon Day.  We’re going to talk about some big words, so you may need access to Dictionary.com. We are going through a sermon series on a book in the NT called “Hebrews.”   The name “Hebrews” likely comes from the recipients of the book, who were probably Christians from Jewish ancestry.  So they were “Hebrew” Christians. And we typically call Hebrews a “letter” or “epistle,” but it actually reads more like a sermon.  A sermon of…

Hebrews 1:1-4 – The Glory of the Son

We are beginning a new sermon series, so if you are new to Stonebrook, you have come at a great time.  For the next 16 weeks, we are journeying through one of my two favorite books of the Bible:  Hebrews.  (Ephesians is my other favorite.) Last Fall we went through the OT book Exodus.  Exodus lays out the Covenant, or “The Testament,” God made with Israel through the prophet Moses.  We now called it the “Old Covenant” or the Old…

Commands of Jesus: “Follow Me”

I grew up going to church.  If you had asked me what is a Christian and if I am a Christian, I would have had a puzzled look. I might have said, “What kind of question is that?  Isn’t it obvious?  Of course I’m a Christian.  I go to church.  A Christian church.  And I’m not a Buddhist or Muslim or something else.  So what else would I be besides a Christian?”  But I couldn’t give you any specifics on that. …

Exodus 32: The Golden Calf

Before we read Exodus 32, it’s important that I lay out the setting of this story. Within the previous few months, Israel had seen some of the most spectacular, awe-inspiring events in human history.• Ten plagues of judgment on their cruel oppressor, Pharaoh of Egypt. Unparalleled judgment, yet Israel was completely spared. Miracle after miracle.• Then the greatest one: their backs were against the Red Sea and the mighty Egyptian army was bearing down on them. God then parted the…

Exodus 29: Consecration of the priest

Two weeks ago, Matt read several chapters outlining the design details of what was the centerpiece of faith in the living God in ancient Israel.  It’s called the Tabernacle.  It was a tent-like structure, with an ark, an altar, tables, lampstands, curtains, and more. This portable tabernacle was the focal point of worship and forgiveness for Israel for the next 400-500 years, until King Solomon built the permanent structure, the temple. Though this tabernacle was portable, it was a beautiful,…

Exodus 21-24: More Laws

Exodus is a fascinating book filled with some remarkable stories: a baby boy saved from death; a burning bush that God spoke out of; terrible plagues of judgment; a miraculous escape through the Red Sea.Today we are entering into a much different look at Exodus. Not some exciting, miraculous story. Rather, 3 chapters of detailed laws that Israel was to obey. When we read these laws, we might find ourselves bored with some of it. And puzzled with other parts,…

Exodus 17: Testing and Quarreling

In our series through the Book of Exodus, we are in Chapter 17.  Exodus 17:1–7 (CSB) 1 The entire Israelite community left the Wilderness of Sin, moving from one place to the next according to the Lord’s command. They camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink. 2 So the people complained to Moses, “Give us water to drink.” “Why are you complaining to me?” Moses replied to them. “Why are you testing the Lord?”…

Exodus 7-11 The Plagues

Today’s passage is a story of war, a war between God and the nation of Egypt.  And it is a war between God and Egypt’s gods (or their so-called gods).  The Egyptians worshiped dozens, even hundreds of false gods.  And through the Story of the Ten Plagues, the Lord easily defeats all of them.  God is the initiator of this war because his chosen people, the descendants of Abraham are enslaved, being violently oppressed by the king of Egypt.  And…

Exodus 3-4: The Burning Bush

Let’s read Exodus 3:1-10. Exodus 3 (CSB) 1 Meanwhile, Moses was shepherding the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian. He led the flock to the far side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. 2 Then the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire within a bush. As Moses looked, he saw that the bush was on fire but was not consumed. 3 So Moses thought, “I must…

Exodus 1: Israel’s Oppression

We are beginning a sermon series for the Fall on the Book of Exodus. Exodus is filled with many well-known stories: These are all remarkable, inspiring stories that tell us who God is, and we see examples of both faith and unbelief.  Examples of great deeds of faith, and extraordinary acts of evil.  Almost 2/3 of the book is stories. Yet Exodus has even more to offer us than those stories.  For there is something grand going on at the…

2 Timothy 4

If you were to know the end of your life on earth was very close….say, you have a terminal disease…what would you want to say about your life?  Specifically, what would you want to say about your life following Christ? We would not want to hang our heads in shame, thinking of a lifetime of regrets.  Of the many choices we made that were not in line with the will of God. Instead, we would want to worship God for…

2 Timothy 3

Before the Apostle Paul was the “Apostle”, he was a religious leader who hated Jesus Christ and any of his followers.  In his obsession against Christ, he persecuted many men and women, unjustly dragging them off to prison, and even having some of them put to death. A few years later, Paul had an encounter with Jesus, and he repented of his rebellion against God, he believed in Christ, and then he became the most well-known follower of Christ in…

1 Timothy 3– The Mystery of Godliness

When Jesus was on the earth the first time, the religious leaders knew many of the right answers.  They had studied the Scriptures.  Memorized them.  Taught them to the people. But there was a huge problem. Jesus said, Matthew 23:2–4 CSB  The scribes and the Pharisees are seated in the chair of Moses.  Therefore do whatever they tell you, and observe it. But don’t do what they do, because they don’t practice what they teach.  They tie up heavy loads…

1 Timothy 1 The King Eternal

Sunday, May 14, 2023 1 Timothy 1:  The King Eternal Letter writing in our electronic age is quite uncommon, isn’t it?  I was never a great letter writer before texting and emailing, but it’s been years, it seems, since I’ve written a letter, and especially a letter with pen and paper. In the Bible, we have in our hands two letters written by a man named Paul to his protégé.  His disciple in the faith, named Timothy. Timothy was like…

Revelation 15 & 16: Seven Bowls of Wrath

In Revelation 15 and 16, we are drawing near to the end of this world as we know it. Our holy, just God has been patient with this darkened, sinful world for centuries, even sending his own Son to redeem those under wrath. But a day is coming when his patience ends and his wrath is poured out. This serves as a warning to all those who have rejected him, but it strengthens his followers, for his pure and perfect justice will be revealed.

Revelation 8 & 9: The Trumpets of Judgment

In Week 5 of our series on the mysteriously remarkable book of Revelation, we read in chapters 8 & 9 of the seven trumpets of judgment. We will notice two crucial aspects of God’s nature that impact all of us. First, the Lord notices injustices on the earth and he will someday soon act with perfect and final justice. Second, even in his wrath we see hints of his offer of mercy, though people still refuse to repent and receive that mercy.

Chapter 2 & 3: Let Him Who Has Ears Hear

In Week 2 of our series through the mysteriously remarkable book of Revelation, we discover Jesus, the glorious head of all the churches as he directly speaks to his people who are engaged in holy war. He calls them to pay attention, walk with him, and place their hope in the glories of eternal life. In letters he wrote to seven Asian churches, we will find some words to challenge and strengthen us as individuals and as a church.

The Resistance Against Loneliness

The story of Christ coming to earth and taking on human nature—the Incarnation—impacts us more than we may realize. That momentous event shouts to us of the nearness of God by the prophetic name given to Christ—Immanuel, meaning God with us. God is with us. Heaven has come to earth. God is now very near. We are never alone. On those days we sense loneliness even in a crowd of people, we can be assured of the tender presence of our God to be to us all we need and long for.

The Resistance Against Worry (Advent week 3)

In this season, we may find that the worries of life distract us from eternal things and steal our peace. But the Advent of Christ tells us that God’s grace is enough, and we can discover a peace that surpasses our understanding.

The Story of God and Man Part 10: The Bible

SERMON POWERPOINT Sunday, November 20, 2022  Brad Barrett The Story of God and Man:  The Bible— Week 11 I enjoy reading.  Every night before bed I’m reading a chapter or two from a book.  Usually it non-fiction.  A biography.  Some historical event.  Something from World War II.  But there is one Book I read every day that is completely different than any other book.  It’s the Bible. This book is not peripheral or an add-on.  Rather, it has been the…

The Story of God and Man Part 9: The Church

SERMON POWERPOINT Sunday, November 13, 2022  Brad Barrett The Story of God and Man:  The Church— Week 10 Why are we here?  Why are we gathered? Habit?  We like people?  It seems like a good thing to do? Someone invited me so I thought, “Why not?” Or perhaps we’re simply unsure.  We are nearing the end of a sermon series going through what could be described as an overview of the Bible.  It’s Stonebrook’s Statement of Faith where we examine…