Sermon: Christ Our Hope: The Word Returning

During our Sunday morning worship service, an Elder leads the congregation in prayer.

Christ Our Hope: The Word Returning December 21, 2025 1 Peter 1:3-5 Pastor Tony Felich----more---- 1 Peter 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, [4] to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, [5] who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. Our hope is revealed, secured, and preserved by Christ—and ultimately fulfilled in the resurrection and eternal joy in God. I. Our hope is revealed by Christ our Prophet II. Our hope is secured by Christ our Priest III. Our hope is preserved by Christ our King IV. Our hope finds its fulfillment in the resurrection and in eternal joy in God. Q. 37. What benefits do believers receive from Christ at death? A. The souls of believers are at their death made perfect in holiness, and do immediately pass into glory; and their bodies, being still united in Christ, do rest in their graves, till the resurrection. Q. 38. What benefits do believers receive from Christ at the resurrection? A. At the resurrection, believers, being raised up in glory, shall be openly acknowledged and acquitted in the day of judgment and made perfectly blessed in the full enjoying of God to all eternity. Sermon Application sheet [LINK]

During our Sunday morning worship service, an Elder leads the congregation in prayer.

"Christ Our King: The Word Enthroned"  12.14.25  Pastor Tony Felich  Sermon Application [file]   2 Samuel 7:12 When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. [13] He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.[16] And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever.’”   Psalm 2:6 “As for me, I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill.” [7] I will tell of the decree: The LORD said to me, “You are my Son; today I have begotten you. [8] Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession.   Micah 5:2 But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days.   Matthew 2:1 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, [2] saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”   Philippians 2:9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, [10] so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, [11] and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.   Revelation 19:11 Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. [12] His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. [13] He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. [14] And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. [15] From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. [16] On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.   WLC 45 Q. How doth Christ execute the office of a king? A. Christ executeth the office of a king, in calling out of the world a people to himself, and giving them officers, laws, and censures, by which he visibly governs them; in bestowing saving grace upon his elect, rewarding their obedience, and correcting them for their sins, preserving and supporting them under all their temptations and sufferings, restraining and overcoming all their enemies, and powerfully ordering all things for his own glory and their good; and also in taking vengeance on the rest, who know not God and obey not the gospel.”

“He Has Risen”  Mark 16:1-8  December 7, 2025  Nathan Currey ----more---- Mark 16:1 When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. [2] And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. [3] And they were saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?” [4] And looking up, they saw that the stone had been rolled back—it was very large. [5] And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe, and they were alarmed. [6] And he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid him. [7] But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.” [8] And they went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had seized them, and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.   The women set out to show their love through a burial errand, fully aware of the impossible obstacle of the stone. Yet they arrived to find the obstacle divinely removed—and instead of a task completed, they were given a new commission from an angel.      I. Their Mission:   II. Obstacles and Divine Intervention  III. Alarmed at the Angel   IV. The New Commission

During our Sunday morning worship service, an Elder leads the congregation in prayer.

Sermon Outline Christ Our Priest: The Word Incarnate December 7, 2025 Hebrews 4:14-16 Pastor Tony Felich Sermon Application [file] ----more---- Hebrews 4:14 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. [15] For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. [16] Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Since Christ is our merciful and mighty High Priest, we can persevere by coming confidently to His throne of grace. I. The role of priests II. How Jesus compares III. Two exhortations in light of Jesus our Great High Priest: a. Hold fast to our confession (in Christ) b. Draw near to the throne of grace

During our Sunday morning worship service, an Elder leads the congregation in prayer.

“Christ Our Prophet: The Word Promised”                                                     November 30, 2025 Selected Passages Pastor Tony Felich  Sermon Application [file]   ----more---- Isaiah 9:2 The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone. [3] You have multiplied the nation; you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as they are glad when they divide the spoil. [4] For the yoke of his burden, and the staff for his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian. [5] For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult and every garment rolled in blood will be burned as fuel for the fire. [6] For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. [7] Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this. Deuteronomy 18:15 “The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers—it is to him you shall listen— Hebrews 1:1 Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, [2] but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. Jesus Christ is the Prophet who tells us the truth we need.            • Listen to Christ, the promised Prophet            • Submit to Christ who reveals the will of God for our salvation            • Sit under Christ as He continues to speak to His people            • Treasure and proclaim the Word of Christ

"Israel to Christ to the Church" Exodus 19:1-6 and 1 Peter 2:4-9 November 23, 2025 Pastor Tony Felich   ----more---- Exodus 19:1 On the third new moon after the people of Israel had gone out of the land of Egypt, on that day they came into the wilderness of Sinai. [2] They set out from Rephidim and came into the wilderness of Sinai, and they encamped in the wilderness. There Israel encamped before the mountain, [3] while Moses went up to God. The LORD called to him out of the mountain, saying, “Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the people of Israel: [4] ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. [5] Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; [6] and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel.”  1 Peter 2:4 As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, [5] you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. [6] For it stands in Scripture: “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.” [7] So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe, “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,” [8] and “A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense.” They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do. [9] But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.  Exodus 19 casts a grand vision of a priestly, holy people belonging to God. 1 Peter 2 shows that this vision has been fulfilled in Christ and now conferred on the Church—God’s redeemed people from every tribe and tongue.   I. Israel as Shadow, Christ as Substance  II. The Church as God’s Covenant People III. Differences with dispensationalism (see below) Application How the Reformed View Differs from Dispensationalism Reformed Covenantal Perspective One people of God across both Testaments Rooted in one covenant of grace, administered in various historical forms. Christ as fulfillment, not plan B Everything Israel was called to be becomes reality in Him. The Church includes believing Jews and Gentiles Gentiles are grafted into the same olive tree (Rom. 11). The Church inherits Israel’s titles because of union with Christ. Covenant theology sees the Church not as replacing Israel, but as Israel fulfilled and expanded in Christ. Traditional Dispensational Perspective Two distinct peoples of God Israel (earthly people) Church (heavenly people) Different covenants and destinies Israel retains national promises (land, political kingdom). The Church is a distinct organism beginning at Pentecost. 1 Peter 2:9 applied typologically, not fulfillingly The Church shares similar blessings but does not fulfill Israel’s identity. Israel’s fulfillment is future, in a restored national kingdom during the millennium. Dispensationalism emphasizes discontinuity, maintaining a strict distinction between Israel and the Church.