Crossway Pond Sermon Podcast · Crossway Christian Church

The Challenge of Jeremiah

·35 min

Dave Ripper greets the congregation and the online audience in a relaxed church-room tone. He points to Joshua 1:8 as a verse worth more than an entire college education, then says that is why the church keeps coming back each week to teach God's word. The message treats Scripture as something to study, live, and share, not just admire. Ripper connects that habit to making the most of the one life God has given. From there, he pulls back into the biblical story. The people leave Egypt, pass through the wilderness, and reach the promised land. In that land, judges help govern the people under God's kingship. The era includes names like Gideon and Samuel. The people look at the surrounding nations and ask for a human king. God warns them against that choice, but they insist. Saul becomes the first king, followed by David and Solomon. After Solomon, the kingdom divides. The northern ten tribes become Israel under Jeroboam. The southern region of Judah follows Rehoboam. The northern kings are described as wicked and evil, and the consequences of sin are framed as spiritual weakness and national collapse. Assyria conquers the north in 722 BC. Judah has a few bright spots under Jehoshaphat, Hezekiah, and Josiah, but it still turns away and falls in 586 BC. The sermon closes in prayer, asking God to rekindle passion, calling, mission, and a fire that cannot be contained.

As heard by us

A sermon on Scripture and Israel's kings that presses the case for obedience to God's word.

This sermon keeps Scripture at the center of daily life and follows Israel's story from Joshua 1:8 through the judges, Saul, David, Solomon, and the split that follows Solomon.

Read the full review in PlayNext →

Why you'd press play

You want a scripture-first sermon that turns Joshua 1:8 into a call to study, live, and share God's word.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

Listen to the show on

Apple Podcasts Spotify