Christ Restoration Church Sermons

Christ Restoration Church
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These are the sermons available from Christ Restoration Church in New London, New Hampshire. For more information, visit www.christrestorationchurch.net

Episodes

  1. 5d ago

    Jesus and Your Anxiety (Matthew 6:25-34)

    QUOTES FOR REFLECTION “My anxieties have anxieties.” ~ Charles Schulz (1922-2000), renowned cartoonist "Our anxiety is only increased as we seek these means of relieving it. The more things we have the more we fear their loss, and so the more we want in order to secure ourselves against this possible loss." ~ Frederick Dale Bruner, late 20th Century Bible scholar “Our anxiety does not come from thinking about the future, but from wanting to control it.” ~ Kahlil Gibran (1883-1931), Lebanese-American writer and visual artist “Worrying is carrying tomorrow’s load with today’s strength—carrying two days at once. It is moving into tomorrow ahead of time. Worrying doesn’t empty tomorrow of its sorrow, it empties today of its strength.” ~ Corrie ten Boom (1892-1983), Nazi death camp survivor "If God is kindly disposed to certain people and gives them success, they can often accomplish more in one hour without care and anxiety than others in four whole days with great care and anxiety. It is vain for you to try to anticipate and with your concern to work out what you think are great schemes. What God does is this: when He sees people fulfilling their duties diligently and faithfully, being concerned to do so in a God-pleasing way, and leaving the concern over its success to God, He is generous in His gifts to such as those.” ~ Martin Luther, 16th Century church reformer SERMON PASSAGE Matthew 6:25-34 (ESV) 25 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? 28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. 34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

  2. Sep 30

    In Harmony with the Spirit (Romans 8:1-11 )

    TIME OF REFLECTION QUOTES “Without the Spirit of God we can do nothing. We are as ships without wind or chariots without steeds. Like branches without sap, we are withered. Like coals without fire, we are useless.” ~ Charles Spurgeon (1834-1892), English pastor and writer “The Christian’s life in all its aspects—intellectual and ethical, devotional and relational, upsurging in worship and outgoing in witness—is supernatural; only the Spirit can initiate and sustain it.” ~ J. I. Packer (1926-2020), British-born Canadian professor, theologian “The church becomes irrelevant when it becomes purely a human creation. We are not all we were made to be when everything in our lives and churches can be explained apart from the work and presence of the Spirit of God.” ~ Francis Chan (1967-present), American preacher, teacher, author “We are not only united to Christ as our representative, living, dying and rising for us; we are also united to Christ vitally by the presence of His Spirit. He has not left us as orphans. He comes to us, and He dwells among us in our hearts and in our gatherings as His church.” ~ Edmund Clowney (1917-2005), American educator and pastor “If you want to get warm you must stand near the fire. If you want to be wet you must get into the water. If you want joy, power, peace, eternal life, you must get close to, or even into, the thing that has them. They are not a sort of prize which God could, if he chose, just hand out to anyone. They are a great fountain of energy and beauty spurting up at the very center of reality. If you are close to it, the spray will wet you; if you are not, you will remain dry.” ~ C.S. Lewis (1898-1963), British writer and Christian apologist “If I have observed anything by experience, it is this: a man may take the measure of his growth and decay in grace according to his thoughts and meditations upon the person of Christ, and the glory of Christ’s Kingdom, and of His love.” ~ John Owen (1616-1683), English pastor and theologian SERMON PASSAGE Romans 8:1-11 (ESV) 1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. 3 For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. 6 For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. 7 For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. 8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. 9 You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. 10 But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.

  3. Sep 27

    Thou in Me & I in Thee - Part 2 (Romans 8:1-4)

    TIME OF REFLECTION “True freedom is to be one’s true self, but my true self is made for loving, and loving is self-giving. So in order to be myself, I have to deny myself and give myself. In order, then, to be free, I have to give up my freedom. In order, then, to live, I have to die to my self-centeredness. In order to find myself, I’ve got to lose it.” ~ John Stott (1921-2011), British pastor and theologian “Freedom is not the absence of limitations and constraints, but it is finding the right ones, those that fit our nature and liberate us. ~ Timothy J. Keller (1950-2023), American pastor and author “Most of us have never really understood that Christianity is not a self-help religion meant to enable moral people to become more moral. We don’t need a self-help book; we need a Savior. We don’t need to get our collective act together; we need death and resurrection and the life-transforming truths of the gospel. And we don’t need them just once, at the beginning of our Christian life; we need them every moment of every day.” ~ Elyse Fitzpatrick (1950-present), American author and speaker “Our huffing and puffing to impress God, our scrambling for brownie points, our thrashing about trying to fix ourselves while hiding our pettiness and wallowing in guilt are nauseating to God and are a flat out denial of the gospel of grace.” ~ Brennan Manning (1934-2013), American author, former priest “If we have deep-seated fears that God does not really love us... we can only go so far in growing nearer to God. There will come a point at which we will fear to trust Him any further because we cannot be sure of His love. When we look at ourselves, or our own faith, or our circumstances we will never be free from those lurking fears... But when we lift up our eyes and look on the cross we find the final persuasion that God is gracious towards us. How can he be against us when all His wrath against us fell upon Christ? How can He fail to care for us when He gave the only Son He had for our sake? How can we doubt Him when He has given us evidence of His love sufficient to banish all doubts?” ~ Sinclair B. Ferguson (1948-present), Scottish minister and professor SERMON PASSAGE  - Romans 8:1-4 (ESV) 1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. 3 For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

  4. Sep 21

    Thou in Me & I in Thee (Romans 3:21-24; 6:1-11; 7:4)

    TIME OF REFLECTION QUOTES “I am 65, and I am lonely and have never found peace.” ~ H.G. Wells (1866-1946), English writer, teacher, historian, said on his birthday. "The root of all sin is the suspicion that God is not good, which leads us to seek our fulfillment apart from Him, resulting in ultimate alienation." ~ Henri Nouwen (1932-1996), Dutch Catholic priest, professor, writer and theologian "The modern world has no comfort for loneliness; it only offers distractions. But the gospel offers us a true communion that breaks through our self-imposed isolation." ~ C.S. Lewis (1898-1963), British writer and Christian apologist "The Christian life is a life in Christ: he in us and we in him." ~ John Frame (1939-present), American philosopher and theologian “Faith must be taught correctly, namely, that by it you are so cemented to Christ that He and you are as one person, which cannot be separated but remains attached to Him forever.” ~ Martin Luther (1483-1546), German theologian, author and seminal figure during the Protestant Reformation “We, the unclean, are not just washed; we are in the Holy One forever. We, the rebellious, are not just pardoned; we are in the King forever. We, the sad, are not just encouraged; we are in the Blessed One forever. We, the defeated, are not just empowered; we are in the Victor forever. We, the confused, are not just instructed; we are in the Sage forever. This is radical reconciliation, full provision, an astounding advantage. This is how the Jesus who lived 2000 years ago becomes our living Friend and Power today – union with Christ. God announces to us that He has relocated us in His universe of grace. We are no longer outside Christ, and now not just before Christ or near Christ or beneath Christ, but in Christ. Let’s inhale deeply from this new environment.” ~ Lewis Smedes (1921-2002), American author, ethicist, and theologian SERMON PASSAGES: Romans 3:21-24; 6:1-11; 7:4 (CSB) Romans 3 21 But now, apart from the law, the righteousness of God has been revealed, attested by the Law and the Prophets. 22 The righteousness of God is through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe, since there is no distinction. 23 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; 24 they are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. Romans 6 1 What should we say then? Should we continue in sin so that grace may multiply? 2Absolutely not! How can we who died to sin still live in it? 3 Or are you unaware that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 Therefore we were buried with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too may walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been united with him in the likeness of his death, we will certainly also be in the likeness of his resurrection. 6 For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be rendered powerless so that we may no longer be enslaved to sin, 7 since a person who has died is freed from sin. 8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him, 9 because we know that Christ, having been raised from the dead, will not die again. Death no longer rules over him. 10 For the death he died, he died to sin once for all time; but the life he lives, he lives to God. 11 So, you too consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. Romans 7 4 Therefore, my brothers and sisters, you also were put to death in relation to the law through the body of Christ so that you may belong to another. You belong to him who was raised from the dead in order that we may bear fruit for God.

  5. Sep 13

    The Humility of Unity (Psalm 133 & Philippians 2:1-11)

    Time of Reflection Quotations “I do verily believe that when God shall accomplish unity, it will be the effect of love, and not the cause of love. It will proceed from love, before it brings forth love.” ~ John Owen (1616-1683), English church leader, theologian, and academic administrator at the University of Oxford “Humility is throwing oneself away in complete concentration on him. something or someone else.” ~ Madeleine L’Engle (1918-2007), American writer “Each human soul has in a sense to enact for itself the gigantic humility of the Incarnation. Every man must descend into the flesh to meet mankind.” ~ G.K. Chesterton (1874-1936), English writer, philosopher, orator and lay theologian “The way to open our hearts to others is by receiving afresh the grace of God and appreciating what it means: seeing our own need of Christ; coming to receive His mercy; sensing how undeserved His love for us is… the heart that is opened to receive the grace of Christ will learn to welcome all those whom Christ Himself has welcomed.” ~ Sinclair Ferguson (1948-present), Scottish minister, theologian, professor and author “We don’t come to church, to be a church. We come to Christ, and then we are built up as a church. If we come to church just to be with one another, one another is all we’ll get. And it isn’t enough. Inevitably, our hearts will grow empty, and then angry. If we put community first, we will destroy community. But if we come to Christ first and submit ourselves to Him and draw life from Him, community gets traction.” ~ C.S. Lewis (1898-1963), British writer and Christian apologist Sermon Passage Psalm 133 & Philippians 2:1-11 (NIV) Psalm 133 A song of ascents. Of David. 1 How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity! 2 It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron’s beard, down on the collar of his robe. 3 It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion. For there the LORD bestows his blessing, even life forevermore. Philippians 2:1 1 Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. 5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; 7 rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross! 9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

  6. Sep 6

    Getting to the Heart of Humility (Psalm 131)

    Time of Reflection Quotations “If anyone would like to acquire humility, I can, I think, tell him the first step. The first step is to realise that one is proud. And a biggish step, too. At least, nothing whatever can be done before it. If you think you are not conceited, it means you are very conceited indeed.” “To even get near humility, even for a moment, is like a drink of cold water to a man in a desert.” ~ C.S. Lewis (1898-1963), British writer and professor “Humility is perfect quietness of heart. It is to expect nothing, to wonder at nothing that is done to me, to feel nothing done against me. It is to be at rest when nobody praises me, and when I am blamed or despised. It is to have a blessed home in the Lord, where I can go in and shut the door, and kneel to my Father in secret, and am at peace as in a deep sea of calmness, when all around and above is trouble.” ~ Andrew Murray (1828-1917), South African writer, teacher, pastor “The very essence of anxious care is the imagining that we are wiser than God, and the thrusting of ourselves into His place, to do for Him that which we dream He either cannot or will not do!” “Behold the wonder! There He hangs upon the cross! This is the greatest sight you will ever see. Son of God and Son of Man, there He hangs, bearing pains unutterable, the just for the unjust, to bring us to God. Oh, the glory of that sight! The innocent punished! The Holy One condemned! The Ever-blessed made a curse! The infinitely glorious put to a shameful death! The more I look at the sufferings of the Son of God, the more sure I am that they must meet my case. Why did He suffer, if not to turn aside the penalty from us? If, then, He turned it aside by His death, it is turned aside, and those who believe in Him need not fear it.” ~ Charles Spurgeon (1834-1892), English preacher and writer Sermon Passage Psalm 131 (ESV) A Song of Ascents. Of David. 1 O LORD, my heart is not lifted up; my eyes are not raised too high; I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvelous for me. 2 But I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child is my soul within me. 3 O Israel, hope in the LORD from this time forth and forevermore.

  7. Aug 30

    Apprehending Arrogance (Psalm 36)

    Time of Reflection Quotations “…the essential vice, the utmost evil, is Pride. Unchastity, anger, greed, drunkenness, and all that, are mere flea bites in comparison: it was through Pride that the devil became the devil: Pride leads to every other vice: it is the complete anti-God state of mind.” “As long as you are proud you cannot know God. A proud man is always looking down on things and people: and, of course, as long as you are looking down you cannot see something that is above you.” ~ C.S. Lewis (1898-1963), British writer and professor “On the highest throne in the world, we still sit only on our own bottom.” ~ Michel de Montaigne (1533-1592), French writer & statesman “There is no other matter in which the heart is more deceitful and unsearchable. Alas, how much pride the best have in their hearts! Pride is God’s most stubborn enemy! There is no sin so much like the devil as pride. It is a secret and subtle sin, and appears in a great many shapes which are undetected and unsuspected.” ~ Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758), American theologian, writer, pastor “The essence of sin is man substituting himself for God, while the essence of salvation is God substituting himself for man. Man asserts himself against God and puts himself where only God deserves to be. God sacrifices himself for man and puts himself where only man deserves to be.” ~ John Stott (1921-2011), English Anglican priest, theologian, author “The deeper we grow in the Spirit of Jesus Christ, the poorer we become – the more we realize that everything in life is a gift. The tenor of our lives becomes one of humble and joyful thanksgiving. Awareness of our poverty and ineptitude causes us to rejoice in the gift of being called out of darkness into wondrous light and translated into the kingdom of God’s beloved Son.” ~ Brennan Manning (1934-2013), American author and former priest Sermon Passage Psalm 36 (ESV) To the choirmaster. Of David, the servant of the LORD. 1 Transgression speaks to the wicked deep in his heart; there is no fear of God before his eyes. 2 For he flatters himself in his own eyes that his iniquity cannot be found out and hated. 3 The words of his mouth are trouble and deceit; he has ceased to act wisely and do good. 4 He plots trouble while on his bed; he sets himself in a way that is not good; he does not reject evil. 5 Your steadfast love, O LORD, extends to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds. 6 Your righteousness is like the mountains of God; your judgments are like the great deep; man and beast you save, O LORD. 7 How precious is your steadfast love, O God! The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings. 8 They feast on the abundance of your house, and you give them drink from the river of your delights. 9 For with you is the fountain of life; in your light do we see light. 10 Oh, continue your steadfast love to those who know you, and your righteousness to the upright of heart! 11 Let not the foot of arrogance come upon me, nor the hand of the wicked drive me away. 12 There the evildoers lie fallen; they are thrust down, unable to rise.

  8. Aug 23

    The Voice of Sin & the Voice of God (Psalm 36)

    Time of Reflection Quotations “A ruthless, sleepless, unsmiling concentration upon self… is the mark of Hell.” ~ C.S. Lewis (1898-1963) “Sin comes when we take a perfectly natural desire or longing or ambition and try desperately to fulfill it without God. Not only is it sin, it is a perverse distortion of the image of the Creator in us. All these good things, and all our security, are rightly found only and completely in Him.” ~ Augustine (354-430), North African bishop and theologian “Nothing humbles and breaks the heart of a sinner like mercy and love. Souls that converse much with sin and wrath, may be much terrified; but souls that converse much with grace and mercy, will be much humbled.” ~ Thomas Brooks (1608-1680), English preacher and author “Love is the only fire that is hot enough to melt the iron obstinacy of a creature’s will.” ~ Alexander MacLaren (1826-1910), English minister “Sovereign grace has pow’r alone To subdue a heart of stone; And the moment grace is felt, Then the hardest heart will melt.” ~ John Newton (1725-1807), English clergyman “In ‘religion,’ the purpose of repentance is basically to keep God happy so he will continue to bless you and answer your prayers. This means that religious repentance is selfish, self-righteous, and bitter all the way to the bottom. In the gospel, however, the purpose of repentance is to repeatedly tap into the joy of our union with Christ, to weaken our impulse to do anything contrary to God’s heart.” “Disordered love leads always to misery and breakdown. The only way to ‘reorder’ our loves is to love God supremely.” ~ Timothy Keller (1950-2023), American minister, theologian, author Sermon Passage Psalm 36 (ESV) To the choirmaster. Of David, the servant of the LORD. 1 Transgression speaks to the wicked deep in his heart; there is no fear of God before his eyes. 2 For he flatters himself in his own eyes that his iniquity cannot be found out and hated. 3 The words of his mouth are trouble and deceit; he has ceased to act wisely and do good. 4 He plots trouble while on his bed; he sets himself in a way that is not good; he does not reject evil. 5 Your steadfast love, O LORD, extends to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds. 6 Your righteousness is like the mountains of God; your judgments are like the great deep; man and beast you save, O LORD. 7 How precious is your steadfast love, O God! The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings. 8 They feast on the abundance of your house, and you give them drink from the river of your delights. 9 For with you is the fountain of life; in your light do we see light. 10 Oh, continue your steadfast love to those who know you, and your righteousness to the upright of heart! 11 Let not the foot of arrogance come upon me, nor the hand of the wicked drive me away. 12 There the evildoers lie fallen; they are thrust down, unable to rise.

  9. Aug 16

    A Fresh Song of Trust (Psalm 33)

    Time of Reflection Quotations “Few delights can equal the mere presence of one whom we trust utterly.” ~ George MacDonald (1824-1905), Scottish author, minister “Hope for the Christian isn’t just confidence in a certain, glorious future. It’s hope in a present providence.” ~ Elliot Clark, contemporary author, cross-cultural church planter “God’s providence is not blind, but full of eyes.” ~ John Greenleaf Whittier (1807-1892), American Quaker poet and advocate of the abolition of slavery in the United States “I do know that waiting on God requires the willingness to bear uncertainty, to carry within oneself the unanswered question, lifting the heart to God about it whenever it intrudes upon one’s thoughts.” ~ Elisabeth Elliot (1926-2015), Christian missionary, author, speaker “In the most restless age of history, Christ can give you rest.” “The rest that Christ gives is not a piece of negation. It is founded upon something positive – Christ himself.” “This rest that Jesus gives will endure the ravages of time and will abide through all eternity.” ~ Billy Graham (1918-2018), American minister and evangelist “Do not tell me that there is no rest for us till we get to heaven. We who have believed in Jesus enter into rest even now. Why should we not do so? Our salvation is complete. The robe of righteousness in which we are clad is finished. The atonement for our sins is fully made. We are reconciled to God, beloved of the Father, preserved by His grace, and supplied by His providence with all that we need. We carry all our burdens to Him and leave them at His feet. We spend our lives in His service, and we find His ways to be ways of pleasantness, and His paths to be paths of peace. Oh, yes, we have found rest unto our souls!” ~ C.H. Spurgeon (1834-1892), English pastor and author Sermon Passage Psalm 33 (CSB) 1 Rejoice in the LORD, you righteous ones; praise from the upright is beautiful. 2 Praise the LORD with the lyre; make music to him with a ten-stringed harp. 3 Sing a new song to him; play skillfully on the strings, with a joyful shout. 4 For the word of the LORD is right, and all his work is trustworthy. 5 He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the LORD’s unfailing love. 6 The heavens were made by the word of the LORD, and all the stars, by the breath of his mouth. 7 He gathers the water of the sea into a heap; he puts the depths into storehouses. 8 Let the whole earth fear the LORD; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him. 9 For he spoke, and it came into being; he commanded, and it came into existence. 10 The LORD frustrates the counsel of the nations; he thwarts the plans of the peoples. 11 The counsel of the LORD stands forever, the plans of his heart from generation to generation. 12 Happy is the nation whose God is the LORD — the people he has chosen to be his own possession! 13 The LORD looks down from heaven; he observes everyone. 14 He gazes on all the inhabitants of the earth from his dwelling place. 15 He forms the hearts of them all; he considers all their works. 16 A king is not saved by a large army; a warrior will not be rescued by great strength. 17 The horse is a false hope for safety; it provides no escape by its great power. 18 But look, the LORD keeps his eye on those who fear him—those who depend on his faithful love 19 to rescue them from death and to keep them alive in famine. 20 We wait for the LORD; he is our help and shield. 21 For our hearts rejoice in him because we trust in his holy name. 22 May your faithful love rest on us, LORD, for we put our hope in you.

  10. Aug 9

    God’s Dramatic Deliverance (Psalm 124)

    Time of Reflection Quotations “Through many dangers, toils and snares I have already come: ‘tis grace has brought me safe thus far, and grace will lead me home.” ~John Newton, “Amazing Grace” “The real glory is being knocked to your knees and then coming back. That’s real glory. That’s the essence of it.” ~Vince Lombardi, American football coach “You don’t really suppose, do you, that all your adventures and escapes were managed by mere luck, just for your sole benefit?” ~Gandalf to Bilbo, in The Hobbit “The consolation of fairy-stories, the joy of the happy ending: or more correctly of the good catastrophe [eucatasrophe], the sudden joyous ‘turn’ […] is a sudden and miraculous grace: never to be counted on to recur. It does not deny the existence of dyscatasrophe, of sorrow and failure: the possibility of these is necessary to the joy of deliverance […] Joy beyond the walls of the world, poignant as grief.” “For I coined the word ‘eucatastrophe’: the sudden happy turn in a story which pierces you with a joy that brings tears […] the Resurrection was the greatest ‘eucatastrophe’ possible in the greatest Fairy Story – and it produces that essential emotion: Christian joy which produces tears because it is qualitatively so like sorrow, because it comes from those places where Joy and Sorrow are at one.” ~J.R.R Tolkien, English writer and academic “What we like to do is we try to protect ourselves from ever having to go through the valley of the shadow of death. […] But if Jesus really is your shepherd […] wouldn’t you kind of want to go through the valley of the shadow of death? […] There ought to be this side [of us] that’s actually excited about it and going, ‘Okay, this is going to be cool. I’m going to see God come through in some ways where he wasn’t coming through. I’m going to see this other side of the shepherd that I didn’t see by the still waters.’” ~Francis Chan, American pastor, on Psalm 23 “We can’t outrisk His faithfulness” ~Ocean and the Ghost, “Can’t Outrisk” Sermon Passage Psalm 124 (NIV) 1 If the LORD had not been on our side— let Israel say— 2 if the LORD had not been on our side when people attacked us, 3 they would have swallowed us alive when their anger flared against us; 4 the flood would have engulfed us, the torrent would have swept over us, 5 the raging waters would have swept us away. 6 Praise be to the LORD, who has not let us be torn by their teeth. 7 We have escaped like a bird from the fowler’s snare; the snare has been broken, and we have escaped. 8 Our help is in the name of the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. Exodus 13:17-18, 14:1-4 (NIV) 17 When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter. For God said, “If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.” 18 So God led the people around by the desert road toward the Red Sea. […] 1 Then the Lord said to Moses, 2 ‘Tell the Israelites to turn back and encamp […] 3 Pharaoh will think, ‘The Israelites are wandering around the land in confusion, hemmed in by the desert.’ 4 And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and he will pursue them. But I will gain glory for myself through Pharaoh and all his army, and the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord.’ Romans 5:6 (NIV) 6 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.

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These are the sermons available from Christ Restoration Church in New London, New Hampshire. For more information, visit www.christrestorationchurch.net

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    Christ Restoration Church
  • Years Active
    2016 - 2026
  • Episodes
    10
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    Clean
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    © Copyright 2026 Christ Restoration Church
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