Calvary Monterey Podcast

Title: Gospel BlessingSpeaker: Nate HoldridgeText: Galatians 3:10-14Galatians Theme: Galatians describes a life that is free. It is a life in flight. If we cling to the true gospel, if we accept it for what it is, we can fly. But Paul wrote Galatians because the Galatian believers—and all future believers—were in danger. If we adulterate the gospel, if we add to it in any way, we will not fly. Like a bird chained in a birdcage, we will (at best) hinder ourselves from flying into God's ideal for our lives or (at worst) hinder ourselves and others from true salvation.Overview: I once heard the story of two men whose rowboat capsized above Niagara Falls. The current rapidly carried them to the falls, but people on the shore floated a rope out to them, and they both grabbed it. But one of the men saw a large log floating by and, in a panic, let go of the rope and grabbed at the log instead, leading to his demise.[^5] And there are so many other things we might grab at or trust in—our religious activity, our prayers, our good deeds—but only Christ can deliver us. Cling to his cross! Rely on him! Depend on him!When we do, we escape the curse of the law and enter into the blessing of the gospel. It brings us into a life of faith. It shows us that Christ took on our curse by becoming a curse for us on the cross. And it allows us to partake of the blessing of Abraham, namely by receiving the Holy Spirit the prophets of old said would come.And, with the Spirit leading and empowering our lives, we can enjoy the very life the law hoped to achieve—one where we trust in the true and living God, refuse to worship anything that would dehumanize us, are free from all forms of shameful defilement, are generous and just, keeping God's rules and acting faithfully (Ezek. 18:5-9). It is a life where God puts his laws into our minds and writes them on our hearts (Heb. 8:10). The Spirit empowers us, partly by reforming our motivations. And with this change of perspective and fresh empowerment, our lives come to describable with just one word—blessed!Links:Sermon Notes

Title: The Gospel According To AbrahamSpeaker: Nate HoldridgeText: Galatians 3:6-9Galatians Theme: Galatians describes a life that is free. It is a life in flight. If we cling to the true gospel, if we accept it for what it is, we can fly. But Paul wrote Galatians because the Galatian believers—and all future believers—were in danger. If we adulterate the gospel, if we add to it in any way, we will not fly. Like a bird chained in a birdcage, we will (at best) hinder ourselves from flying into God's ideal for our lives or (at worst) hinder ourselves and others from true salvation.Overview: In Matthew 22, Jesus told a parable about a wedding feast a king gave for his prince son. When he sent out his servants to invite the guests, it did not go as it does in Disney movies, where villagers are ecstatic that there is going to be a ball. Instead, his invitation was rejected, and some of his servants were shamefully treated. So the king commissioned the rest of his servants to go to the streets—to the highways and byways—to invite as many as they could find. The invitation must have included clothing provided by the king because when he saw one of his recently invited guests there without a garment, he told his attendants to cast him into outer darkness, where there was weeping and gnashing of teeth.The entire parable is outrageous. Who would reject the honor of being invited to the prince's wedding? What king would clothe an entire population just so they could be his guests? And why would the lack of proper attire get someone a one-way ticket to outer darkness?But the strong elements of the parable are what make it memorable. And the lesson seems simple: accept and wear the garments the king provides. Don't bring your own garments; wear the ones he offers.And this passage tells us the same. The way for us to be found acceptable for God's wedding feast—for his forever kingdom, first on earth and then in the new heavens and earth—is to accept the clothing he has provided. By simple faith in Christ, we will be draped with the appropriate attire for our God. Just as Abraham believed God's promise and God deposited righteousness to his account, so when we believe in Christ, we are clothed with the righteousness of God.Links:Sermon Notes

Title: How To Read The BibleSpeaker: Nate HoldridgeText: Proverbs 2Links:Sermon Notes

Title: He Became Poor For UsSpeaker: Nate HoldridgeText: 2 Corinthians 8:9Links:Sermon Notes

Title: Women of Christmas: AnnaSpeaker: Nate HoldridgeText: Luke 2:36-38Women Of Christmas Theme: For this Christmas season—Advent—over the next three Sundays, I would like us to consider some of the women of Christmas. All of them are found in Luke's gospel. First, we will consider Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist and a relative of Mary. Second, we will consider Mary, the young virgin who became the blessed mother of our Lord. And third, we will consider Anna, the elderly widow who daily waited for the Messiah in the Jewish temple and celebrated when she saw Jesus.Overview: And we should carry a similar hope today. Anna wanted the redemption of Jerusalem, but we crave the redemption of the whole world. Isaiah (and Habakkuk after him) promised a day to come when "the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea" (Is. 11:9, Hab. 2:14). Living, as we do, on the Monterey Bay, we know a bit about the sea. In our bay, there is seemingly endless life, a whole world that researchers are increasingly learning about. It is a world under water, under the deluge, existing within the substance. One day, Christ will come, and he will establish his reign and kingdom forever. And it will be like life under the ocean surface—we will exist within his realm, with a knowledge of him, his ways, and his goodness. Nothing will be untouched by the cross.Right now, though we hope for that kingdom, we have a hard time imagining it. But, one day, when Jesus returns, not as a baby but as a conquering king, "what no eye has seen or heard or imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him," will be known (1 Cor. 2:9). It will be our experience. We will be swimming in it. No, living within it. So, with Anna, let's live in anticipation and hope!Links:Sermon Notes

Title: Women of Christmas: MarySpeaker: Geoff BuckText: Luke 1:26-56

Title: Foregivness & Guilt Q&ASpeaker: Dr. J.P. MorelandDr. Moreland will be speaking on the topic of 'Forgiveness and Guilt". This is going to be a powerful night of teaching from one of the foremost voices in Christian apologetics. The event is free and childcare is provided upon registration. We encourage you to invite your believing and unbelieving friends and family to this special night. You won't want to miss it!Links:Lecture Notes

Title: Foregivness & GuiltSpeaker: Dr. J.P. MorelandDr. Moreland will be speaking on the topic of 'Forgiveness and Guilt". This is going to be a powerful night of teaching from one of the foremost voices in Christian apologetics. The event is free and childcare is provided upon registration. We encourage you to invite your believing and unbelieving friends and family to this special night. You won't want to miss it!Links:Lecture Notes

Title: Women of Christmas: ElizabethSpeaker: Nate HoldridgeText: Luke 1Women Of Christmas Theme: For this Christmas season—Advent—over the next three Sundays, I would like us to consider some of the women of Christmas. All of them are found in Luke's gospel. First, we will consider Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist and a relative of Mary. Second, we will consider Mary, the young virgin who became the blessed mother of our Lord. And third, we will consider Anna, the elderly widow who daily waited for the Messiah in the Jewish temple and celebrated when she saw Jesus.Overview: So Elizabeth was a woman after God's own heart, a woman who lived in fear of the Lord, and through her body, the dawn of the gospel began to break. Her steadfast hope in God, her prophetic counsel as a messenger for God, and her determined obedience to God all paved the way for the Son of Mary, the Son of God.Let's emulate Elizabeth by walking righteously even while still in the dark. This Christmas season, as we consider the beauty of the first advent, we still look forward to the second. All is not as it should be. And all is not as it will be once Christ returns. When he does, he will lift our reproach from us. Brokenness will not remain. We will be redeemed by our Lord.One of the most celebrated facets of this time of year is the warmth and joy of friendships and family. Movies and music often portray, amid the darkness and cold, glowing lights and relational warmth. But it is getting harder and harder to believe the hype. We cannot forget the animosity, despair, and brokenness of our time. Nor can we forget our own disappointments, times when life is anything but what Hallmark portrays.But rather than be disgusted by the hype, realize it is the guttural cry of humanity for something we cannot attain on our own. We want peace on earth. We want goodwill toward man. We want goodness and joy to permeate all things. And so does Christ. One day, he will return and banish sin, pain, brokenness, and injustice for his people. The sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings, and he will reign forever (Malachi 4:2). So let's be like Elizabeth, faithfully walking with God while hoping in God, using this Christmas season as another signpost to a more glorious age to come.Links:Sermon NotesDiscussion Questions

Title: See The GospelSpeaker: Nate HoldridgeText: Galatians 3:1-5Galatians Theme: Galatians describes a life that is free. It is a life in flight. If we cling to the true gospel, if we accept it for what it is, we can fly. But Paul wrote Galatians because the Galatian believers—and all future believers—were in danger. If we adulterate the gospel, if we add to it in any way, we will not fly. Like a bird chained in a birdcage, we will (at best) hinder ourselves from flying into God's ideal for our lives or (at worst) hinder ourselves and others from true salvation.Overview: Believers in Jesus must repeatedly see the cross of Christ, along with all its implications. Jesus Christ must constantly be "publicly portrayed as crucified before our eyes (1). When Jesus is famous to us personally—when his sacrifice on the cross is understood and appreciated for what it is—beautiful results follow.When we see afresh that the gift of the Son dying on the cross led to the gift of the Spirit living within us, we will turn to him for leadership, guidance, and strength.When we see afresh that Jesus made us complete us on the cross, we will realize that he is constantly there for us throughout life, helping us grow.When we see afresh the immense value of what Jesus did for us by substituting himself for us, we will become willing to sacrifice anything to live for him.And when we see afresh how simple faith in the gospel released God's power in our lives, we will continue to express simple faith in him, releasing his power towards us.But for all this, we must continually see his cross.The week before Jesus died in Jerusalem, he passed through Jericho. A great crowd gathered, but there was a blind beggar named Bartimaeus. When he heard that it was Jesus passing by, he began to cry, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" People tried to silence him, but Jesus called for him and asked him, "What do you want me to do for you?" Bartimaeus replied, "Let me recover my sight." Jesus commended Bartimaeus for his faith, healed him, and went on his way with Bartimaeus in tow (Mk. 10:46-52).I think Bartimaeus can be a metaphor for every believer in Jesus. When we aren't hearing a clear, continuous, and bold portrayal of Jesus Christ and him crucified, we inevitably slip into spiritual blindness, begging for scraps, turning to lesser things to solve our issues. But when we cry out afresh to Jesus, asking him to open our eyes again to him and his cross, we begin to see once more. And with our sight, he stands before us, and we are able to follow him again. So, every day, let us be a people who ask him for sight so that he and his cross will be clearly portrayed to us. Let us ask him to help us see the gospel.Links:Sermon NotesDiscussion Questions