Jeff Harlow Sermons

Jeff Harlow - Dogged Faith - Mark 7:23-30

The Greek woman in our text is a model of the kind of faith we need. She endured in spite of what appeard to be a stern, frowning refusal on the part of our Lord. She persevered and her faith was rewarded. Her daughter was delivered.

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Date: 3/27/2011

Jeff Harlow - How Great is Your God? Psalm 97

The LORD reigns. Let the earth rejoice. The fact precedes the reply. It is because our God is so very great, so very terrible in wrath, and so wondrous in mercy that we are called to rejoice, no matter our circumstances.

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Date: 3/20/2011

Jeff Harlow - The Transfiguration of Our Lord - Mark 9:1-10

The Transfiguration marks the transition in the life of our Lord as He sets his face to go up to Jerusalem, to suffer, and to die. But before He does He goes up on the mountain and receives the gift of the Transfiguration.

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Date: 3/13/2011

Jeff Harlow - The Touch of Jesus - Mark 5:21-43

The Old World under Adam was dominated by death, defilement, and uncleanness. Anyone who touched something unclean became unclean. Uncleanness was contagious. But now in Christ, as the two stories in this text demonstrates, the current has been reversed. Death is on the run. Life and holiness are now contagious.

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Date: 3/6/2011

Jeff Harlow - Power Over All - Mark 4:35-5:20

The wind and waves obey Him. Even the legion host of demons bow and quail before Him. Who is this Man? The Lord Jesus Christ has all authority in heaven and earth, over the entire natural and supernatural orders.

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Date: 2/27/2011

Jeff Harlow - Dark Sayings - Mark 4:1-34

Often it is said that our Lord used parables to help the uneducated understand his meaning. In fact, the truth is far stranger and far different. Jesus tells us Himself that parables are a judgement from God. Before He brings destruction, he first brings blindness and deafness to His enemies. The scribes had accused Jesus of convorting with demons. The judgment of God has begun to drop on their heads. That judgment starts with parables.

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Date: 2/20/2011

Jeff Harlow - Divided Opinions - Mark 3:7-35

Opinions about Jesus Christ are various and offen in contadiction with one another. But our Lord teaches us that we may know Him with certainty. In the midst of the polytheism of our day we can know the truth and that truth will set us free.

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Date: 2/13/2011

Jeff Harlow - Don't Mix the Old with the New - Mark 2:13-3:12

The Old world and the New world that Christ has brought are related as the acorn to the oak tree. They belong together but they are radically different. It takes great wisdom to know how to hold them together. Our Lord Jesus gives us that wisdom in our text this morning.

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Date: 2/6/2011

Jeff Harlow - The Jurisdiction of the Son of Man - Mark 2:1-12

All men are divided into two camps, those of faith and those characterized by unbelief. The point of the plow that divides humanity thusly is the authority of Christ. Either Jesus is Lord or He is not. There are no positions in between. Either He has universal jurisdiction over all things or He is a blasphemer.

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Date: 1/30/2011

Jeff Harlow - The Kingdom is at Hand - Mark 1:14-45

Man is a mess. We can make no progress until we acknowledge that fact. That explains the necessary order of "repent and believe the Gospel". But in the Gospel we learn that Christ has come to undo the mess we are in. The coming of the Kingdom means that all that is bent and twisted and crooked is now being made straight.

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Date: 1/23/2011

Jeff Harlow - Tempted in All Ways - Mark 1:12-13

Our Lord has rescued us from the penalty of our sins. That is a glory to be celebrated for all eternity. And yet there is another fact no less glorious that, in our day, seems to have been obscured. The work of our Lord Jesus has not only delivered from the guilt of our sins but from their power. As Christ endured temptation and resisted the devil so you and I are called to fight the good fight in the Spirit and by the Word of God.

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Date: 1/16/2011

Jeff Harlow - The Beginning of the Gospel - Mark 1:1-11

The Gospel is the good news about what God has done in and through His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. This is a story that announces the start of a whole new world and a whole new way of living as humans. Into that story all who believe and are baptized have been written.

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Date: 1/9/2011

Jeff Harlow - God's Glorious Tabernacle - John 1:14-18

God has come near to us. He has tabernacled among us. The Son of God has taken out on our flesh and He has become one of us. This glorious fact is the cause of wonder and revelry.

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Date: 1/2/2011

Jeff Harlow - The Reason for the Incarnation - Heb. 2:16-18

The birth of our savior changes everything. A right understanding of the incarnation will provide us with comfort in our trials and strength in our calling to be children of God in the midst of the darkness of our day.

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Date: 12/26/2010

Jeff Harlow - The Gospel in a Nutshell

For the Apostle Paul, the Gospel is the power of God unto salvation. But what is the Gospel? In brief, for Paul, the Gospel is the story of the life, death, burial, resurrection, ascension, and future return of Christ.

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Date: 12/19/2010

Jeff Harlow - Mary's Song - The Magnificat - Luke 1:46-55

Mary has a lesson for us in how to prepare for and to celebrate Christmas.

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Date: 12/12/2010

Jeff Harlow - Prepare the Way - Matt. 3:1-12

The Forerunner, John the Baptist, was the greatest of all the great saints of the Old Covenant. He represented all who had come before him, as he called on the Jews of his day to repent and prepare for the coming of the Messiah. Further, John calls us to follow his example today. We too are sent into the world calling our world to make ready a highway for the Coming King.

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Date: 12/5/2010

Jeff Harlow - The Prophets' Hope - Isaiah 2:1-5

The hope of the Old Covenant prophets is yours. What Isaiah declares concerning the future of Israel is being fulfilled in the Church. So what the prophet exhorts his own contemporaries to do, to walk in the light of the Lord, is directed at you too.

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Date: 11/28/2010

Jeff Harlow - Remember and Give Thanks - Psalm 90

Moses is someone whose opinions should not be taken lightly. He knew all too well the foolishness and frailty of man. But he also knew that God had mades promises to deal with the great and terrible dilemma created by man's great sin and God's great holiness and wrath toward sin. That solution is the Gospel. As we prepare for the celebration of the Thanksgiving holiday let us engage in the discipline of both remembering and giving thanks.

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Date: 11/21/2010

Jeff Harlow - Exodus Deliverance - Genesis 12:10-20

Our Father Abraham has left us an example of faith. His experience is also a pattern for our lives. In Genesis 12 we have a pattern of Exodus deliverance. That pattern is repeated over an over in Genesis and in the lives of God's people in all ages. This is death and resurrection writ large. As with Abraham so let it be with you and me.

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Date: 11/14/2010

Jeff Harlow - The Call of Father Abraham - Genesis 12:1-9

You and I are not alone. We are members of a great family, made up of the saints gathered throughout the earth today and of those who have left us a legacy over the many generations. Father Abraham has chartered our way. We are his descendants by faith in Christ. Let us show forth our family resemblance by living in the same faith as Father Abraham.

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Date: 11/7/2010

Jeff Harlow - Babel and Its Reversal - Genesis 11:1-9

The story of the Tower of Babel explains the terribly division and disunity of our world. It is sad to say that this evidence is often found within the Church as well. But Christ has come and the Spirit of God has been poured out precisely to undo the damage of Babel. The Church is, in fact, the institution that is charged with the mission of bringing men from every tribe, kindred, family, and tongue into one in Christ. The Reformed Church must always be reforming. Here then is a good place to start. Let us be renewed and reformed in our commitment to biblical and Christ centered unity.

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Date: 10/31/2010

Jeff Harlow - Noah's Renewed Covenant - Genesis 8:20-9:17

Discouragement and even despair is increasing among faithful Christians. To do battle with this sad state the Scriptures are our defense. In our text we see the example of Noah, who had great reason for discouragement in his day. But while the salvation promised to Noah did delay, it came. In the same way that God gave Noah assurance by placing the rainbow in the sky He has given us hope by renewing covenant with us in Christ, feeding us weekly at the Eucharist.

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Date: 10/24/2010

Jeff Harlow - All Sins Summed Up - James 2:10, Gen. 3, 6, & 9

All righteousness is summed up by two great commandments, the first, to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and might and second, to love your neighbor as your self. In a similar way the early chapters of the book of Genesis provide a summary of all sins, with the sin of Adam, the sin of Cain, and the sin of the Sons of God. By understanding these patterns of sin we can better know and value the great salvation we have received in Christ.

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Date: 10/17/2010

Jeff Harlow - Jesus' Baptism and Ours - Matt. 3:13-17

Our Lord's Baptism is the model after which we are to build our understanding of our own baptisms. God anointed our Lord by causing His Spirit to rest upon our Lord. Likewise we have been made to be priests and kings to our God in Christ. The Father declared the Jesus was, "His beloved Son". In like manner we have been given new names as we are baptized in the Name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Spirit. Jesus' baptism was the inauguration of His great work on the earth. Our baptisms likewise mark the beginning of our life in Christ.

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Date: 10/10/2010

Jeff Harlow - Sabbath Rest - Genesis 2:2-3

Modern man is tired. It is ironic that in our day the subject of Sabbath Rest has produced so much unrest. God offers us refreshment and rest, the same rest which He entered into on the 7th Day of Creation and the same rest which will be the consummation on the Last Day, when our Lord returns.

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Date: 9/26/2010

Jeff Harlow - Imago Dei - Genesis 1:26-28

Man is created in the image and likeness of God. That image is a great glory and brings with it weighty responsibility. While that image has been marred by the Fall it is being progressively renewed by the Spirit into the likeness of Christ. It becomes our duty to reflect this renewed image daily.

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Date: 9/19/2010

Jeff Harlow - Creation and Its Implications

The doctrine of creation is more than an apologetic device to overcome secularism. The fact that we and everything else in heaven and earth and under the earth has been brought to being by the word of the Triune God has deep and profound implications for all of life. In this text we will consider just three.

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Date: 9/12/2010

Jeff Harlow - Communion of Saints - Col. 4:7-18

We are deceived by our culture into believing that we are first, foremost, and perhaps exclusively individuals. This modern heresy of hyper-individualism, of utter isolationism afflicts each of us to one degree or another. But we must allow the Word of Christ to challenge our presuppositions and to once again renew our minds. We are not isolated individual. We are a Body. We confess the idea of the communion of saints. It is time for us to put it into practice.

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Date: 9/5/2010

Jeff Harlow - Kingdom Strategies - Colossians 4:3-6

You and I are called to battle. We are at war. And in this war we have weapons. The Apostle Paul instructs us in this text in the use of those weapons and in our conduct as warriors.

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Date: 8/29/2010

Jeff Harlow - The Qualities of Christian Prayer - Colossians 4:2

Prayer is our great privilege and a profound duty. But with all the distractions we daily face, how can we be devoted to prayer as Paul here demands? The Apostle here gives us a game plan.

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Date: 8/22/2010

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Jeff Harlow - Christian Work Ethic - Colossians 3:22-4:1

The Christian work ethic is founded upon a basic principle. Man is created to be a servant. All men, whether lowest or highest on the economic ladder, are servants of the Lord Christ. No matter whether you are in authority or under it you must do all, in word or in deed, as unto the Lord.

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Date: 8/15/2010

Jeff Harlow - Renewed Families - Colossians 3:18-21

Families in America are broken. But Christ is the Redeemer, not only of individuals and of their souls but also of every aspect of human life that was devastated by the Fall. New men and women and children in Christ are being formed into new families with new duties and obligations. In this text, Paul calls us to these new domestic realities..

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Date: 8/8/2010

Jeff Harlow - Word and Deed - Colossians 3:16-17

If we are to walk in the peace to which we have been called we must develop habits and dispositions that will form this new character in us. That can only happen as we learn to practice new behavior within the nursery of the Church. Among those new habits Paul lists three in our sermon text. The first is giving pride of place to the Gospel narrative. Second we are tasked with giving ourselves to loud and vigorous singing of psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Finally we are called to integrating all of life under the lordship of Christ and unto the Father's glory.

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Date: 8/1/2010

Jeff Harlow - Living at Peace - Colossians 3:15

Anxiety defines the modern character. But it must not define the Church. We are called to peace. We are called to be ruled by peace. In this text, Paul lays out the way in which we can and will overcome anxiety. Paul's solution is direct and simple.

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Date: 7/25/2010

Jeff Harlow - The Bride's Attire - Colossians 3:12-14

Status and attire - these two go together, or at least they ought to. A police officer should wear a police uniform. A judge should wear that black robe. And the Church of Jesus Christ ought to wear the white robes of righteousness. Continuing on where we left off last week, we see that Paul not only wants us to put off our old, worldly ways but to put on the virtues that befit our new status.

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Date: 7/18/2010

Jeff Harlow - Declaration of Dependence - Acts 17:28

As Americans we are afflicted with a poisonous vice. That vice is made far more dangerous by the fact that we believe our vice to be a virtue. The vice in questions is an excessive independence. We even have a day on which to celebrate it. But independence cannot be universal, in the way most Americans think, because as the Apostle Paul told the Athenians on Mars Hill, we are utterly dependent upon our Creator and Redeemer.

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Date: 7/4/2010

Jeff Harlow - The Substance is of Christ - Colossians 2:16-23

The more a heresy resembles the truth the more dangerous it is. The error of the Judaizers of which the Apostle Paul wants the Colossians to be on their guard was dangerous just because it seemed so very spiritual and holy. But Paul knew that it was a a doctrine that would deprive these believers of their inheritance in Christ. Such errors are always present though they may change their character somewhat from generation to generation. But in general the danger is always from doctrines that make men appear humble and virtuous. The only cure for such error is the one which the Apostle here counsels, namely, cling to Christ Jesus, the Head, the Substance, the Body.

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Date: 6/27/2010

Jeff Harlow - Let the Little Children Come - Luke 18:15-17

Jesus rebuked his disciples for seeking to prevent believing parents from bringing their infants to Him. We must not make the same mistake. Our Lord welcomes our kids. We must not hold them back. He commands us to bring them. He calls them to come to Him.

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Date: 6/20/2010

Jeff Harlow - Buried with Him; Raised with Him - Col. 2:11-15

The Church is led astray into many errors because she forgets who she is and what Christ has done for her. In this text Paul gives a reminder of the great blessedness with the Church already enjoys. To do so, he reminds her of the break from the world that baptism signifies. We do well to remember and to live up to the same.

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Date: 6/13/2010

Jeff Harlow - Complete in His Fullness - Col. 2:4-10

In Christ all the fullness of the Godhead dwells bodily and you are complete in Him. Such news is almost too wonderful to be believed. But it is true. And because of these wondrous facts, Paul insists that we must go on in the faith and that we must be on guard lest we be seduced off the path.

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Date: 6/6/2010

Jeff Harlow - Called to Great Conflict - Col. 2:1-3

We live in a day in which leisure and recreation are prized above all else. But believers are called to a great conflict. We cannot follow Christ unless we dispose of the idols of our laziness.

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Date: 5/30/2010

Jeff Harlow - The Ground and Goal of the Gospel - Col. 1:24-29

The Gospel that Paul preached to the Colossians was founded upon a sturdy foundation, namely the Gospel revelation in Christ. It was also part of a grand purpose with a glorious end goal. Paul saw his vocation as building upon that foundation toward that goal. What was true for Paul is true for the Church in general.

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Date: 5/23/2010

Jeff Harlow - Redemption in Three Verses - Col. 1:21-23

All of us love stories. The greatest story teller is our Heavenly Father. In these brief verses Paul tells us the story of the Gospel, the story of our redemption in Christ.

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Date: 5/16/2010

Jeff Harlow - A Hymn to Christ - Col. 1:15-20

Christ is great! But those words fall short. In order to attain to the heights of Paul's language in these verses we must develop a poetic soul. High words. Glorious words. But not mere words. These words are wondrous containers carrying marvelous treasure. This song is full of rich ore ready for our souls to mine.

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Date: 5/2/2010

Jeff Harlow - Delivered from Darkness - Col. 1:12-13

Exodus and return from exile are key themes in the Scriptures. The Apostle Paul makes reference to these hugely important events. He compares your salvation to the deliverance of God's people from slavery in Egypt. He does so, so as to elicit gratitude. Look at what you once were. You have now been delivered from the tyranny of darkness and translated into the kingdom of light; the kingdom of the Son of the God's love.

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Date: 4/25/2010

Jeff Harlow - Paul's Prayer Check List - Col. 1:9-12

For those of us who struggle with prayer, here is a technique to jump start this important work. Pray the prayers of the Bible. Make them personal and practical. Learn to desire the things God wants to give you. And then pray in faith for the will of God for you.

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Date: 4/18/2010

Jeff Harlow - Thankful for the Church - Colossians 1:1-8

The Church is no insignificant blip on the screen of history. She is at the center of God's great plan of redemption. We must therefore hold her in high regard. We must give thanks to God for giving her to the world and for making us her members.

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Date: 4/11/2010

Jeff Harlow - Be Glad and Rejoice in His Salvation - Isa. 25:6-9

A great feast was promised. That feast began with the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the grave. We are now seated at the feast enjoying the blessings of the resurrection. We also await the fullness when all that the prophets foretold will finally come to pass.

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Date: 4/4/2010