The great tension of the Old Testament is the seemingly ambiguous status of God’s covenant with His people. Sometimes God speaks as if He will bless Israel irrespective of whether or not they keep the statues of His covenant. Other times the blessing appears to be conditional upon their obedience. This deep tension is resolved through the cross. Jesus takes upon Himself the curse for breaking the covenant. Meanwhile, all of us who have disobeyed the covenant receive—through faith in Christ--the reward that Jesus deserved for keeping the covenant.

Near the beginning of Matthew’s genealogy we see Tamar—a most unlikely ancestor of Jesus. Tamar disguised herself as a prostitute and had sex with her father-in-law Judah. But this is a tale of two sinners. Judah neglected to materially provide for Tamar despite the fact that she was a helpless widow, driving her to desperate measures. This story shows that the Bible is not a book about moral people who lived perfect lives worthy of emulation. Instead, we see how God uses broken people to bring about the only righteous person who has ever lived—Jesus.

All of us need to come and see Jesus. For skeptics and seekers “come and see” means to come, think, and examine the evidence. For Christians “come and see” means to come and be a disciple of Jesus. We often think we are following Jesus, but we are really just following our own hearts. We must always strive to see Jesus as He is, not as we would have Him be. Finally, “come and see” means processing everything with friends. It means being part of a church where people encourage one another to “come and see” Jesus.

Becoming a Christian is not a change of degree but a change in kind. It is leaving your native home and entering the Kingdom of God. But entering the Kingdom of God means being willing to sacrifice everything that goes against your new King. In other words, the Kingdom of God will cost you everything you have. But is it expensive? Not at all. It’s a bargain.

Additional scriptural references made in this sermon are: Colossians 1:13; 1 Corinthians 4:20; Romans 1:16; Hebrews 2:8; Romans 8:18; Joshua 7.

The message of Christmas is foolishness to this world. We expect to find wisdom in the palaces of the elite, not the squalor of a manger. Throughout history, what has been considered “wise” has varied from age to age but the truths of Christianity have stood and will stand forever.

Additional scriptural references made in this sermon are: 1 Corinthians 1:20-21; Romans 1.

We cannot survive in this world without the presence of God. Yet, the holiness of God creates a chasm between God and man. The Bible vividly depicts this chasm when Uzzah is slain after merely touching the ark of the covenant. In this sermon, Tim Keller shows how Jesus Christ has satisfied the holiness of God in our place, and how through Him we can finally enjoy the presence of God.

Additional scriptural references made in this sermon are: Psalm 27:4; 1 Samuel 3; Hebrews 9:3,7, 11-13, Hebrews 10:9-10.

What did the fall do to humanity? By tracing the descendants of Cain and by studying the city they created, we see the violence and oppression that resulted from turning away from God—including the Bible’s first instance of polygamy. However, we also see that God has not given up on humanity.  God has a vision for a different kind of city—a city built on worship and grace instead of self-aggrandizement and power.

Additional scriptural references made in this sermon are: Jeremiah 29:7; Jonah 4:11; Revelation 21:2; Matthew 5:14-16; 1 Peter 2:12; Matthew 18:21-22; Luke 9:58; Mark 15:34.

Many people feel as if they understand who God the Father is and who Jesus is, but they become confused about the Holy Spirit. In this sermon, Tim Keller explains who the Holy Spirit is and clarifies misunderstandings about what the Holy Spirit is not. In the process, he shows what it means for the Holy Spirit to dwell richly in us.

Additional scriptural references made in this sermon are: 2 Peter 1:20-21; John 6:63; Ephesians 5:18-20; Colossians 3:16-17; Ephesians 3:16-19; Romans 8:15-16; Hebrews 12:5-6; 1 John 3:20; James 4:4-5; 1 John 2:1; John 16: 14-15.

Genesis tells the why of creation, not the how. It’s a poem, a song about a historical event. The Christian doctrine of creation is that this world is good and the purpose of nature is to be a community. We can take joy in cultivating and enjoying the physical world.

Additional scriptural references made in this sermon are: Exodus 14, 15; Judges 4, 5; Revelation 21:2; Isaiah 40:14; John 1:1-3; Psalm 19:1-4.