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Sermon begins at 41:20 
 
After having received seven judgments from the Lord in the form of plagues, the Lord brings an eighth plague of locusts against the Egyptians and against Pharaoh for refusing to release the Israelites. Locust plagues still happen today and can be ecological disasters. 
 
Service from Christian Bible Church in Cissna Park, Illinois. Message preached by Josh Benner.

Sermon begins at 41:20

After having received seven judgments from the Lord in the form of plagues, the Lord brings an eighth plague of locusts against the Egyptians and against Pharaoh for refusing to release the Israelites. Locust plagues still happen today and can be ecological disasters. 

Service from Christian Bible Church in Cissna Park, Illinois. Message preached by Josh Benner.

Service from October 24, 2021 - Exodus 10:1-20

In this passage, we see meals for God's people past, present, and future. In the past, the Israelites celebrated Passover where a special meal commemorated God's work of delivering the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. During his ministry, Jesus called the church to celebrate communion in remembrance of him. the Bible tells of a future wedding feast where Jesus will serve as the host. 
 
Sermon from Christian Bible Church in Cissna Park, IL. Preacher: Josh Benner.

In this passage, we see meals for God's people past, present, and future. In the past, the Israelites celebrated Passover where a special meal commemorated God's work of delivering the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. During his ministry, Jesus called the church to celebrate communion in remembrance of him. the Bible tells of a future wedding feast where Jesus will serve as the host.

Sermon from Christian Bible Church in Cissna Park, IL. Preacher: Josh Benner.

Sermon: Do this in remembrance of me - Luke 22:14-20

Sermon from Josh Benner, Christian Bible Church, Cissna Park, Illinois.

Crisis averted (Sermon only) Esther 8:1-10:3

Sermon starts at 23:30. 
 
The tables turn in this passage in a scene with such heavy irony that it creates a funny scene where the wicked Haman goes from a high ranking official in the empire to the king’s enemy. 
 
Sermon preached by Josh Benner at Christian Bible Church in Cissna Park, IL

Sermon starts at 23:30. 

The tables turn in this passage in a scene with such heavy irony that it creates a funny scene where the wicked Haman goes from a high ranking official in the empire to the king’s enemy. 

Sermon preached by Josh Benner at Christian Bible Church in Cissna Park, IL

The case of insomnia that changed history - Esther 5:1-7:10

Sermon starts at 15:30 
 
A king throws a great feast, but when the queen refuses to be on public display, he banishes her and seeks a new queen. Through that event, God will put an Israelite on the throne of a pagan nation while a threat to the Jews looms on the horizon. 
 
In this passage, we begin our 2020 Advent series as we preach through the Book of Esther. 
 
Partial sermon excerpt: 
For the full sermon text, it can be found at: https://joshbenner.org/2020/11/22/sermon-from-commoner-to-queen-esther-11-218/ 
 
We’re beginning a Christmas series today as we study the Book of Esther. 
 
And where we’ll begin this morning is by giving an introduction to this book. 
 
A few noteworthy facts about Esther. 
 
-Esther is the only book in the Bible that never mentions God. 
It never mentions prayer. There’s nothing supernatural in this book. There are no prophecy. There are no direct descendants to Jesus who are in this book. 
 
But just because God is not mentioned in the Book of Esther does not mean that God is not present in the Book of Esther. Because God’s work is seen all throughout this story of a Jewish woman becoming the Queen of Persia and through that, saved Israel. 
 
Esther might not be the most obvious book to preach at Christmastime, but as we look at this story, I think we’ll see a number of themes in Esther which are present in the Christmas story and which are just as pertinent for our lives today. 
 
Esther is a book where we see God’s providence and sovereignty over the nations and over his own people. In the Book of Esther, we see hope and an unlikely hero. We see wickedness and plots of destruction. We see God’s faithfulness. 
 
Couple of other brief notes to make. 
 
We’ve talked many times about how the northern and southern kingdoms of Israel fell. The north was conquered in 722 B.C. The southern kingdom was conquered in 586 B.C. 
 
The Book of Esther is written just about a century after the southern kingdom was conquered. In that time, the Persians had actually allowed the Israelites to return to Jerusalem to build the temple. 
 
We see that in books like Ezra and Haggai. But they’re still under Persian rule at this point in history. 
 
Last comment to make before we get into the passage. For me, it’s helpful to think of the scenes in Esther like acts in a play. And this week, we look at the first act where the major characters are all introduced. 
 
And we’ll primarily focus on three introductions today. 
 First: the King’s Feast 
The story begins by introducing us to King Ahasuerus and a great feast he throws. 
 
Now in the days of Ahasuerus, the Ahasuerus who reigned from India to Ethiopia over 127 provinces, 2 in those days when King Ahasuerus sat on his royal throne in Susa, the citadel, 3 in the third year of his reign he gave a feast for all his officials and servants. The army of Persia and Media and the nobles and governors of the provinces were before him, 
 
First thing to note. The king’s name. 
 
I’m preaching from the ESV which names the king as Ahaseurus. 
 
Some translations say Xerxes. I looked at this verse in all of the major translations and it looks like a fairly even split between the two. Neither way is wrong. Because both names refer to the same person. Ahaseurus is the name that is in the Hebrew Bible. Xersxes is the Persian name for this king, and it’s closer to the name that he’s given in the Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible. 
 
But it’s the same person. Ahasuerus - or Xerxes - is a historical figure who ruled as emperor of Persia for over 20 years. 
 
The opening verse mentions the kingdom from India to Ethiopia. At its height, the Perisan Empire was massive. 
 
Verse 3 ties the opening of the story to the third year of the king’s reign, and mentions that he gave a great feast. 
 
This feast corresponds historically to a war council that the Persians had in 483 B.C. in preparations for their invasion of Greece. 
 
Next the author of Esther showcases the opulence of this feast and the king’s great wealth. 
 
We see the description of the feast. 
 
6 There were white cotton curtains and violet hangings fastened with cords of fine linen and purple to silver rods and marble pillars, and also couches of gold and silver on a mosaic pavement of porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl, and precious stones. 7 Drinks were served in golden vessels, vessels of different kinds, and the royal wine was lavished according to the bounty of the king. 8 And drinking was according to this edict: “There is no compulsion.” For the king had given orders to all the staff of his palace to do as each man desired. 
 
So you have people drinking out of golden vessels. The best wine. Excessive food and drink. 
 
The author mentions violet hangings over the curtains and purple cords. 
 
Purple dye in the ancient world was unbelievably expensive. 
 
So it’s all highlighting the grandness of the king’s wealth. 
 
Our second scene: the Queen’s opposition.

Sermon starts at 15:30

A king throws a great feast, but when the queen refuses to be on public display, he banishes her and seeks a new queen. Through that event, God will put an Israelite on the throne of a pagan nation while a threat to the Jews looms on the horizon. 

In this passage, we begin our 2020 Advent series as we preach through the Book of Esther.

Partial sermon excerpt: 
For the full sermon text, it can be found at: https://joshbenner.org/2020/11/22/sermon-from-commoner-to-queen-esther-11-218/

We’re beginning a Christmas series today as we study the Book of Esther. 

And where we’ll begin this morning is by giving an introduction to this book. 

A few noteworthy facts about Esther. 

-Esther is the only book in the Bible that never mentions God. 
It never mentions prayer. There’s nothing supernatural in this book. There are no prophecy. There are no direct descendants to Jesus who are in this book. 

But just because God is not mentioned in the Book of Esther does not m

From Commoner to Queen - Esther 1:1-2:18

Sermon begins at 9:27 
 
The Day of Atonement was the most holy of days in the Jewish calendar. It was the only time of the year when the High Priest would enter the inner sanctuary of the Tabernacle to atone for the sins of the people. For Christians, this is a passage and a day worth understanding because everything associated with this day points us to Christ. Jesus atones for our sins by being the perfect sacrifice and he also takes our sins away from us. 
 
 
#YomKippur 
#atonement 
#dayoftonement 
#Leviticus16

Sermon begins at 9:27 

The Day of Atonement was the most holy of days in the Jewish calendar. It was the only time of the year when the High Priest would enter the inner sanctuary of the Tabernacle to atone for the sins of the people. For Christians, this is a passage and a day worth understanding because everything associated with this day points us to Christ. Jesus atones for our sins by being the perfect sacrifice and he also takes our sins away from us.


#YomKippur
#atonement
#dayoftonement
#Leviticus16

The cost of forgiveness - Leviticus 16:1-22

We are justified by Christ but the Holy Spirit plays an important role in our salvation as it is through the Spirit that we are born again, regenerated. The Spirit renews us, gives us a new heart, and enables us to follow God’s Laws. 
 
#sermon 
#bornagain 
#howtobebornagain 
#regeneration 
#holyspirit

We are justified by Christ but the Holy Spirit plays an important role in our salvation as it is through the Spirit that we are born again, regenerated. The Spirit renews us, gives us a new heart, and enables us to follow God’s Laws. 

#sermon
#bornagain
#howtobebornagain
#regeneration
#holyspirit

Heart transplant - Ezekiel 36:25-27

We so often focus on our physical needs and what’s in front of us. But Jesus came to satisfy the world’s great Spiritual need. That we are dead in sin and in need of a savior. 
 
#sermons 
#gospel 
#preaching

We so often focus on our physical needs and what’s in front of us. But Jesus came to satisfy the world’s great Spiritual need. That we are dead in sin and in need of a savior. 

#sermons
#gospel
#preaching

The bread of life - John 6:27-35

It’s perhaps the most significant event to happen to the people of God in the Old Testament: crossing over the Red Sea. In this story, we see a picture of the gospel, commands not to fear, and the dominion of a mighty God. 
 
#gospel 
#exodus 
#redsea 
#preaching 
#bible 
#exodus14 
#gospelinexodus

It’s perhaps the most significant event to happen to the people of God in the Old Testament: crossing over the Red Sea. In this story, we see a picture of the gospel, commands not to fear, and the dominion of a mighty God. 

#gospel
#exodus
#redsea
#preaching
#bible
#exodus14
#gospelinexodus

Crossing the Red Sea - Exodus 14:5-31

Sometimes we might wonder how the Bible all works? In our passage today, we discuss that from start to finish, the Bible is about Jesus. It points to Jesus, tells about his ministry and gospel. Jesus is the key who unlocks the Bible. In our passage today, Jesus interacts with a group who knew a lot about the Bible but they missed the most important teaching. 
 
#sermon 
#preaching 
#John5:37-47

Sometimes we might wonder how the Bible all works? In our passage today, we discuss that from start to finish, the Bible is about Jesus. It points to Jesus, tells about his ministry and gospel. Jesus is the key who unlocks the Bible. In our passage today, Jesus interacts with a group who knew a lot about the Bible but they missed the most important teaching. 

#sermon
#preaching
#John5:37-47

A book all about Jesus - John 5:37-47

In this highly theological passage, four affirmations are made which will point to the divinity of Jesus.

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