The Rephidim Project exists to support those on the frontlines of spiritual battle with the resources to be refreshed through the study of Scripture to spread God’s Word in this world more effectively. Pastors and missionaries become weary in the work and may feel isolated and discouraged. We seek to “encourage the exhausted and strengthen the weak” (Isaiah 35:3) through developing and distributing resources for Bible exposition. Read More…
BLOG POST
EPI-CENTER
PREACHING RESOURCES
JULY 1, 2020
SOLA FIDE
by David Christensen
The church, in Martin Luther’s day, taught that works of faith were a means of grace. If a person performed a good work by his own inclination – giving alms, for example – this person earned the “grace of congruence.” He was acting in congruence with God’s grace, and so was worthy to receive God’s grace even though a sinner. Once he received God’s grace, he could do works by faith in God’s grace and so be worthy of eternal life.
EPI-Center is a collaborative effort to bring expository resources and training to New England pastors, church leaders and those who have a call to preach. The Cecil B. Day Foundation began the EPI-Center in 2015, and over 450 preachers have received training through the ministry. The EPI-Center merged with The Rephidim Project in September 2018. We train expository preachers by providing tools, resources, and teaching.
Expository preaching is the explanation of a biblical passage in its context that forms a complete unit of thought shaped by the intent of the original author and the structure of the passage which the Holy Spirit applies to the preacher and through the personality of the preacher makes the message relevant to people today. Expository preaching ought to be the primary focus of the preaching ministry in the church. Why?
PREACHING COHORTS
ARTICLES
GIVE
Are you interested
in joining a
Preaching Cohort?
A preaching cohort is a brotherhood model of coaching preachers. It consists of a group of six to ten pastors who covenant together to develop and improve their skills in expository preaching through joint workshops, mutual encouragement, and personal accountability.
GOOD MOURNING PASTOR
by Pastor Ira Hall
Recently, I found myself feeling a sense of unease and inner weariness. I felt “off.” As I took stock of this feeling, I realized it almost felt like sadness, but I didn’t think I was sad. A mental inventory of my current situation was reassuring. Church, such as it was, was going well. The Shepherding Team was functioning, plans for adjusted services, and special events were proceeding. There were no current outstanding crises or uproars. Things at home were going well with the kids and my wife both enjoying getting outdoors and pursuing various hobbies and projects. As I did a visual inspection of all the various parts of my life and ministry, little seemed overly negative or out of place. So why was I feeling sad and tired?
We thank you for your prayers and support for the Rephidim Project, as we seek to encourage and equip pastors around the world with tools to spread God’s Word more effectively through expository preaching. If you would like to support the Repihidim Project financially, please follow the link to our online giving page. Alternatively, you may mail a check directly to:
The Rephidim Project
P.O.Box 145
Gorham, Maine 04038
MINISTRY PARTNERS
The Gospel Alliance of Maine
Overseed
Small Town Summits
Lee Eclov
The Charles Simeon Trust
RESOURCES
Expository Preaching
Resources
Digging
Deeper
Seminars
&
Workshops
Recursos
En
Espagnol
Preaching
Cohorts
SERMONS
These sermons are downloadable, can be listened to online, or subscribed to via an RSS feed (e.g. as a Podcast on your mobile device.) Our sermon podcast “Honey from the Rock” is available on iTunes.
Arrows of Victory – 2 Kings 13:14-19 by Pastor David Christensen
Additional Sermon Series
1 John:
Fellowship With God
1 Samuel:
Integrity, The Fulcrum
Hebrews:
The Supremacy of Christ
Titus:
Healthy Church Practice
Romans:
Sanctification
Judges:
Culture Wars
Philippians:
Living Fellowship
1 Peter: Living in a
Hostile World
Ecclesiastes: Meaningless!
Life Without God
Acts: His Church and
Our Mission
Genesis:
The Book of Beginnings
Revelation:
Final Judgement
Luke:
To Seek and to Save
Micah:
Social Justice
Articles by Author
David Christensen
- The Coronavirus and Regathering in Our Churches
- Preaching to a Camera? 10 tips because 10 is the traditional number to use!
- A Parabolic Paradigm for Disciple-Making Sermons
- The View from the Pit
- Grief’s Reservoir
- Fighting the Flesh
- The Cry of the Soul in the Waiting Room of God
- The Prodigal’s Turning Point
- Confession, God’s Gift of Release
- Basic Instructions About Forgiveness
- Babbles and Baubles, Avoiding Hypocrisy in Prayer
- The Three R’s of Repentance
- Paul and Philemon: A Case Study in Pastoral Influence
Rev. Dr. Jack L. Daniel
- Conflicts in the Church – Part 1: Minimizing Conflict
- Enjoy the Honeymoon: Making A Good Start in a New Pastorate
- Church Size and Revitalization: Is Your Church a Cat or a Dog?
- To Plant or To Replant, That is the Question
- Asking Questions Before Accepting a Call: Look Before You Leap
- Extemporaneous Preaching: It’s Not Only What You Say, It’s How You Say It
- Preaching Through the Church Year
- Milk A Lot of Cows, But Churn Your Own Butter: Avoid Plagiarism
Dave Deuel
Lee Eclov
Ira Hall
Garrett Soucy
- Scripture with Scripture
- Sermon Proclamation
- Conspiracy in the Church
- Why A New England Protestant Needs A Catholic Spirit
- On Celebrating A Loss of Privacy
Stephen Witmer
Books
Resources can be purchased online in physical or electronic formats.
Please find the following books below.
Our Heavenly Father has adopted us into His family and our adoption is the foundation for our transformation. Spiritual transformation is a gradual process of change as we learn the ways of our Father. Christians want to live a victorious life immediately. Talk of being radical or revolutionary Christians excites us but these descriptions imply that other Christians are lesser members of the family of God. Many consider the normal Christian life inferior to the higher Christian life. What is a normal Christian life? The Apostle Paul describes a normal Christian life in Romans 6-8. A normal Christian pursues holiness while wrestling with sin throughout life. The habits of sin must be replaced with the habits of holiness by the power of the Spirit. We grow to be like Christ as we walk in step with the Spirit. We are children of God by adoption so we must learn the ways of God by practice. When we fail we run into the arms of our Father and find our security in His love.
Is your Christian life dull and dry, full of rituals and responsibilities without any passion or joy? Has your obedience become a duty and your faith turned into an obligation? Renew your relationship with Jesus through this study of John 13-16. Jesus invites you to be His friends not merely His servants. Kindle the passion of fresh friendship with Jesus as He opens His heart to you in these chapters. His self-disclosure encourages your transparency as you explore what it means to be friends with Jesus. Jesus wants you to experience the depths of spiritual intimacy with Him. He desires your friendship, not just your service. Enjoy the riches of His love as you explore Jesus most intimate teachings shared just before He died for you.
Expository preaching exposes the ideas in the biblical unit of thought, so the sermon follows the flow of the passage. The hearers should be able to think their way through the passage after the sermon has been preached. The preacher seeks to visualize the flow of thought – to picture the structure of the passage. The sermon should expose the hinges on which the passage swings by developing an outline based on the structure but written in contemporary language. This workbook provides a structural diagram based on the Greek text side by side with a format for the expositor to develop an outline from the passage. Short, practical insights add exegetical depth and sermon seed thoughts to help the preacher flesh out the message. The workbook encourages the preacher to mine the riches of John 13-17 for personal growth and sermon preparation.
Forgiveness is not easy despite the pictures painted in many sermons. We all struggle to forgive the hurts we feel. Bitterness and resentment threaten our souls if we do not release the poison to God. Pastor David Christensen deals honestly with the pain we feel while pointing us to the wonderful release we can enjoy when we give and receive forgiveness. The book uses the metaphor of faces to teach about forgiveness. The faces of those who experience healing form the backdrop for a theology of forgiveness. There are vertical and horizontal faces of forgiveness as we look to God and others. There are judicial and relational faces of forgiveness as we deal with God and others to find the healing that forgiveness brings to our hearts. David lays out the practical steps we must take to experience the healing power of forgiveness. We must learn to accept the grace, name the blame and release the poison of unforgiveness to find healing for the hurts we feel.
Expository preaching exposes the ideas in the biblical unit of thought, so the sermon follows the flow of the passage. The hearers should be able to think through the passage after the sermon has been preached. The preacher seeks to visualize the flow of thought – to picture the structure of the passage. The sermon should expose the hinges on which the passage swings by developing an outline based on the structure but written in contemporary language. This workbook provides a structural diagram based on the Greek text side by side with a format for the expositor to develop an outline from the passage. Short, practical insights add exegetical depth and sermon seed thoughts to help the preacher flesh out the message. The workbook encourages the preacher to mine the riches of 2 Corinthians 2:14-7:4 for personal growth and sermon preparation.
