Phoenix United Reformed Church

Rev. Michael Spotts

3.0 (1)
Christianity

The newest sermons from Phoenix United Reformed Church on SermonAudio.

Apr 12

Driven Back Upon Prayer

This passage from Mark's Gospel presents a powerful call to faith, humility, and reliance on Christ's sovereign authority, as Jesus returns from the Transfiguration to confront a demon-possessed boy and the spiritual hardness of those around Him. The narrative warns against the danger of hardened unbelief, particularly in religious leaders who prioritize argumentation over genuine faith and compassion, and underscores that true faith is not in human strength but in Christ's power, which is revealed through prayer and dependence on Him. It affirms the real and destructive nature of demonic oppression, not as mere metaphor or medical condition, but as a spiritual reality that Christ decisively overcomes through His word, demonstrating that His authority extends over all creation. The passage also teaches that effective ministry and spiritual breakthrough come not through human effort or ritual, but through humble, persistent prayer—often intensified by fasting—acknowledging our weakness and trusting in God's goodness, even when doubt lingers. Ultimately, it reassures believers that though trials may intensify before deliverance, Christ's hand is always ready to lift us up, for He holds His people securely and will never let them perish.
Apr 12

God's All Prevailing Providence

The sermon presents the Reformed doctrine of providence as the sovereign, sustaining, and fatherly governance of all things by God, emphasizing that every event—great or small, joyful or painful—occurs not by chance but under His wise and benevolent hand. Rooted in Scripture, particularly First Samuel 9, it illustrates how God uses seemingly ordinary circumstances, like Saul's search for lost donkeys, to fulfill His eternal purposes, demonstrating that providence is not fatalism nor emotional detachment, but the assurance that God ordains all things through secondary causes for the good of His people. The teaching is grounded in key biblical passages, including Hebrews 1:3, Romans 8:28, and Matthew 10:29, affirming that God's sovereignty brings patience in adversity, gratitude in prosperity, and confident hope in the future, knowing no creature can separate believers from His love. Ultimately, the doctrine of providence is not a passive resignation but a living trust in God's faithful care, shaping daily life through humility, prayer, and unwavering confidence in His purposes.
Apr 5

The First Act of the New Creation

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is presented as the foundational event of a new creation, inaugurating the age to come and transforming the believer's present hope and future expectation. Rooted in Scripture, particularly Romans 8 and 1 Corinthians 15, the sermon emphasizes that Christ's resurrection is not merely a historical event but the firstfruits of a cosmic renewal, in which believers already participate through the Holy Spirit and anticipate the redemption of their bodies and the restoration of all creation. This hope shapes a Christian life marked by joy, stewardship, and a longing to use creation for God's glory rather than selfish consumption, as the entire creation groans in anticipation of the revealing of the sons of God. The sermon calls believers to rejoice in Easter not as a mere tradition, but as a celebration of God's redemptive power already at work, and to live with purpose, repentance, and faith, knowing that the ultimate fulfillment of all things is certain and glorious.
Apr 3

United in a Death Like His

The sermon centers on the transformative power of a renewed encounter with Christ's atoning death, emphasizing that Christian hope is not rooted in new information but in a deep, Spirit-enabled grasp of Christ's substitutionary, penal, and cursed sacrifice. It highlights three distinct aspects of Christ's death—its intentional design, its association with divine judgment as foretold in Deuteronomy and fulfilled in Galatians, and its inevitable triumph over death through resurrection—demonstrating how His sinless righteousness nullified death's claim and secured eternal life for believers. The preacher calls the audience to reckon themselves dead to sin and alive to God, not through self-effort but through faith in Christ's finished work, urging a life of joyful obedience and bold witness. Grounded in Scripture and the Reformed tradition, the message is both pastoral and convicting, inviting believers to live in the reality of resurrection hope while proclaiming it to a world in need of redemption.
Mar 29

The Blessed Trinity

The sermon centers on the Trinitarian nature of God as revealed in Scripture, particularly through Matthew 3:16–17 and the Heidelberg Catechism's Lord's Day 8, emphasizing that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are distinct persons yet one in essence, with their external works—creation, redemption, and sanctification—undivided and co-active in salvation. It affirms that Christianity is fundamentally structured around the Trinity, with the Father as Creator, the Son as Redeemer who fulfills divine righteousness through incarnation and sacrifice, and the Spirit as Sanctifier who applies Christ's work to believers, all working in unity for the believer's life, growth, and ultimate glorification. The sermon underscores that while the Trinity is beyond full human comprehension, it is revealed through Scripture, worship, baptism, and the church's historic faith, calling believers to live, pray, and worship in a consciously Trinitarian way, recognizing that salvation and true Christianity are impossible apart from the triune God.
Mar 29

To Live is Christ, and to Die is Gain

The sermon centers on the profound joy available to believers even amid suffering and uncertainty, grounded in the unshakable certainty of Christ's victory and presence. Drawing from Philippians 1:18–30, it emphasizes that joy is not rooted in circumstances but in the certain truth that Christ will be honored in every situation—whether through life or death—because His gospel remains unchained and His purposes are sovereign. The preacher highlights that to live is Christ and to die is gain, affirming that both life and death lead to deeper communion with Christ, making the believer's ultimate hope secure. Furthermore, believers are called to live as citizens of heaven, standing firm in unity, striving together for the faith, and facing opposition without fear, knowing that their victory is already assured in Christ. This joy, though not naive or dismissive of pain, is sustained by the reality that God's grace is sufficient, His promises are certain, and His glory is the ultimate aim in all things.
Mar 22

Hear the Transcendent Messenger

The transfiguration of Jesus, as recounted in Mark 9:1–9, serves as a divine revelation of His divine glory and supreme authority, affirming His identity as the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophets while surpassing them in dignity and power. Through a carefully structured event echoing the Exodus and Sinai theophanies, Jesus is revealed in radiant glory alongside Moses and Elijah, who discuss His impending 'exodus'—His death and resurrection as the ultimate deliverance from sin and death. The voice from the cloud declaring, 'This is My beloved Son; listen to Him,' establishes Jesus as the final and authoritative revealer of God, surpassing even the greatest figures of the Old Covenant. This moment calls believers to prioritize Christ above all earthly authorities, to endure present suffering with confident hope in future glory, and to live in humility and faithfulness, knowing that every believer shares in Christ's transfigured destiny. Ultimately, the passage underscores the urgency of faith and evangelism, warning that eternal judgment awaits those who reject Christ, while affirming that salvation is found only in Him.
Mar 22

Will All People Be Saved At Last?

The sermon centers on the exclusive and gracious nature of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ, grounded in John 3:16–19 and the Heidelberg Catechism's Lord's Day Seven. It affirms that salvation is not universally granted but is promised only to those who believe in Christ, emphasizing that faith is not a human merit but a gift of grace, involving knowledge, assent, and wholehearted trust in Christ's atoning work. The preacher underscores that true faith is not blind or reductionist, but a confident embrace of the full Christian faith as summarized in the Apostles' Creed, which includes essential doctrines such as Christ's divinity, resurrection, and the forgiveness of sins. While affirming the exclusivity of salvation, the sermon calls believers to evangelize with humility and boldness, recognizing that God alone draws the elect and that faith is the instrument through which believers receive Christ's merits, not the basis of salvation. Ultimately, the message calls for a steadfast, confessional commitment to Christ as the sole hope of salvation, rooted in divine sovereignty and grace.

The newest sermons from Phoenix United Reformed Church on SermonAudio.

Creator

Rev. Michael Spotts
Years Active

2018 - 2026
Episodes

102
Rating

Clean
Copyright

© Phoenix United Reformed Church
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Phoenix United Reformed Church