FBC Benbrook Sermons

Fully God and Fully Human

What does it mean to say that Jesus was (and is) fully God and fully human? Why has the church defended this orthodox understanding of the incarnation when it passes all reason? What practical difference does it make that Jesus was, and continues to be, fully God and fully human? (Philippians 2.7-8) December 8, 2024

Before the Manger

The story of Christmas begins long before the manger. In the beginning, Jesus was with God and Jesus was God, the Second Person of the eternal triune God, the Creator and Sustainer of all things. The incredible mystery of this story begins with God, the only God who is at the Father’s side, becoming flesh and dwelling among us. (Philippians 2.6) December 1, 2024

Worthy Citizens

The apostle Paul challenges the saints in Philippi to live out their citizenship in heaven as citizens of Philippi in a manner that is worthy of the gospel of Christ. He emphasizes standing firm in the one Holy Spirit and striving together for the gospel with the one mind of Christ. As Jesus prayed in John 17, the unity of the church proclaims to a lost world that the Father sent the Son to be the Savior. (Philippians 1.27-30) November 24, 2024.

A Martyr's Prayer for Non-Martyrs

For me, Christ is gain both in living and in death. Paul’s conviction that life for him was Christ and that eternal life was guaranteed for him through Christ, enabled him to desire for Christ to be honored in his body, whether that resulted in life or death. This martyr’s prayer challenges even those of us who may never be called to be martyred to live a life worthy of the gospel. (Philippians 1.19-26) November 17, 2024

Through Your Prayers

The apostle Paul was confident that he would be delivered not only through the work of the Holy Spirit but also through the prayers of the saints. The way in which God exercises His sovereign rule over creation through the prayers of His people is a manifold mystery, indeed. But given the way the apostle Paul speaks about prayer, our neglect of striving prayer not only limits God’s divine activity in this world but also silently participates with the rebellion against His sovereign rule over creation. (Philippians 1.19) November 10, 2024

Proclaiming Christ

Paul wanted the saints in Philippi to know about a unique situation: some fellow Christians were preaching Christ from jealousy and selfish ambition, actually hoping to cause Paul more pain and turmoil in prison. This disturbing story challenges us to ask the Holy Spirit to convict us of any jealousy and selfish ambition so that we do not reap the fruit of disorder and every evil thing. (Philippians 1.15-18) November 3, 2024.

The Apostle Paul vs. the NRTADV

The apostle Paul wanted the saints in Philippi to know that what had happened to him, from his many imprisonments and beatings to the various near death experiences, had really served to advance the gospel. As a result, the gospel had reached the halls of power in the Roman Empire, and many of them had become believers. His testimony is challenging to us today who really want Jesus to make our life better and easier. What must take place within our own hearts to ask the Lord to use our circumstances to advance the gospel, regardless of how difficult they may be? (Philippians 1.12-14) October 27, 2024

My Thanksgiving and Prayer

The apostle Paul had fond memories of the church in Philippi, and he prayed for them often. His prayers began with thanksgiving that flowed into intercession. He was thankful for, and asked God for more of, their abounding love, their spiritual wisdom, the fruit of their righteousness in Christ, their hope in the full gospel, and their desire to bring glory to God. On the 20th anniversary of my tenure as Pastor of FBC Benbrook, I take the opportunity to give my thanks to God for His manifold grace upon this church and to lead the church to pray for more and more of His grace. (Philippians 1.12-14) October 20, 2024.

To Defend and Confirm

In today's sermon, we are reminded of the importance of guarding our faith and the challenges we face in a world where many are deconstructing their beliefs. We recognize that the term "deconstruction" has gained popularity, often leading individuals away from the orthodox Christian Gospel and towards a rejection of faith altogether. We are called to defend and confirm our faith, understanding that questions and doubts are a normal part of our spiritual journey, but we must seek deep answers rather than settle for shallow ones. As we prepare for the spiritual battles that lie ahead, we are encouraged to engage with the core issues of the Gospel, knowing that it is through Christ that we find true life and purpose. Ultimately, we affirm that the Gospel is worth defending and sharing, as it brings abundant life to all who believe. (Philippians 1.7) October 13, 2024.

God Finishes What He Starts

One of the great promises in the Bible is that “He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” In this sermon, we lift up this promise and examine it from various angles, the many good works of God that He brings to completion. We also examine how the completion date of the day of Jesus Christ changes our hopes. Finally, we wrestle with a couple of truths that we need to accept in order to fully rest under this promise. (Philippians 1.6) October 6, 2024
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In our journey through life, we often find ourselves starting projects or endeavors that we never see through to completion. This is a common human experience, often due to limited resources, changing desires, or simply biting off more than we can chew. However, the promise we find in Philippians 1:6 offers us a profound contrast: God is not like us. When He begins a work, He sees it through to completion. This assurance is rooted in His sovereignty and faithfulness, qualities that are unchanging and eternal.Paul's confidence in this promise is not based on wishful thinking or subjective feelings. Instead, it is grounded in the objective truth of God's character and His past actions. Paul has experienced God's sustaining grace and knows that the work God begins, whether it be the gift of life, our salvation, or our sanctification, will be brought to completion at the day of Christ. This completion is not something we will necessarily see in our earthly lifetime, but it is assured in the eternal timeline of God's plan.The promise extends to various aspects of our lives. Firstly, the gift of life itself is a work that God began and will sustain until the day of Christ. Our daily prayers for provision, protection, and wisdom are rooted in the confidence that God is actively involved in our lives. Secondly, our salvation is a work that began with Christ's sacrifice and continues as we are being saved and will be saved from the wrath of God at the final judgment. Thirdly, our sanctification, the process of being made holy, is ongoing and will only be completed when our sin nature is fully redeemed. Fourthly, the good works we are created to do are part of God's plan, prepared in advance, and will continue to bear fruit even after our earthly lives end. Lastly, the work God began in the church will also be brought to completion, as the church continues to bear fruit and witness until Christ's return.To rest under this promise, we must embrace the eternal perspective, recognizing that the completion of God's work is not confined to our earthly timeline. We must also accept that suffering is part of the process, trusting that God is with us through every trial and tribulation. This promise is a source of hope and assurance, reminding us that God is faithful and will complete the good work He has begun in us.