Tag: providence
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Born To Die That We Might Live: The Prophecy of the Coming King in Isaiah 53
You sometimes hear it said that Jesus was “born to die that we might live.” An important prophecy told us how over 700 years before Christ was born. God’s providential hand was working powerfully, both then and now. This sermon (also released as a podcast episode) unpacks Isaiah 53 and God’s loving plan in the…
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Treating God like a vending machine—and why there’s a better way
Let’s be honest: Do we approach our relationship with God like a vending machine? If I do this, you do that? This sermon (also released as a podcast episode) unpacks Psalm 33 and asks, do we want a relationship with God on his terms and for his purposes, or on our terms and for our…
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![Crooked Sticks Draw Straight Lines – Esther, Part 5 [Sermon]](https://matthewruttan.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/mar10.png?w=1024)
Crooked Sticks Draw Straight Lines – Esther, Part 5 [Sermon]
Things are turning into a bloody mess. And yet, there is joy. The Jews of ancient Persia stand under an annihilation order. But now they are allowed to defend themselves. Through it all, providence. This sermon brings our Esther series to a close with chapters 9-10. “God uses crooked sticks to draw straight lines” (Ignatius).
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![God Works In The Trenches – Esther, Part 4 [Sermon]](https://matthewruttan.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/mar3.png?w=1024)
God Works In The Trenches – Esther, Part 4 [Sermon]
Life can feel like a war zone. It gets messy, difficult and painful. When that happens, does God stop working? Of course not. This sermon explores Esther 8 and God providentially working in the trenches.
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![Where is God? – Esther, Part 1 [Sermon]](https://matthewruttan.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/feb11.png?w=1024)
Where is God? – Esther, Part 1 [Sermon]
Esther rises to become Queen and saves her people in an act of courage. Yes. But there’s more. The book is about providence and poses a challenge to us: Can we discern the invisible hand of God even through difficulty, deception and danger? This sermon is Part 1 in a series on Esther. We explore…
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![Is it all chance or providence? [Sermon]](https://matthewruttan.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/providence-cr-cr2.png?w=1024)
Is it all chance or providence? [Sermon]
Is your life unfolding according to chance, or a bigger plan? Jesus teaches about providence: the invisible hand of God guiding and upholding your specific life. This sermon explores John 16:25-33 (and some of Psalm 22) to see this providence not only in the good, but in the difficult.
