Introduction John Knox (1514-1572) is known as the principal architect of the Church of Scotland. He lived in Geneva, Switzerland, where he ministered among the English-speaking refugee congregation and worked closely with John Calvin. He considered Geneva “the most perfect school of Christ that ever was on earth since the days of the Apostles.” In 1559, John Knox returned to Scotland. When John Knox returned, the nation was spiritually barren. Churches were full of ritual but empty of Scripture. People participated in ceremonies, but they did not understand the Word. Religion kept them busy, but their hearts were empty. Knox didn’t arrive in Scotland with a political strategy or clever innovation. He brought the Bible, and he preached the Gospel. It wasn't the man but the Word that accomplished the Reformation in Scotland. Eyewitnesses tell us that entire towns gathered, sometimes daily, to hear the Bible read and explained. People stood for hours just as they did in Nehemiah’s day. They wept as the Word exposed their sin. But just as in Nehemiah 8, their sorrow was not the end. It became the gateway to joy. In Nehemiah 8, the walls were rebuilt, but the hearts were not. The city was restored, but the community was not yet renewed. And so God did what He has always done. He restored His people through His Word.

A.W. Tozer warned, “If the Holy Spirit was withdrawn from the church today, 95 percent of what we do would go on, and no one would know the difference.” In other words, it's entirely possible for us to gather for worship and stay busy with church events without God occupying the center of our lives. That’s what happened in the days of Haggai. The people of Judah had returned from exile with great hope. They had endured Babylon, survived the long journey home, and even laid the foundation of the temple (Ezra 3). But after facing opposition (Ezra 4), the work came to a halt. One year passed… then five… then ten… then sixteen years. Life went on. The temple remained in ruins. And amid that spiritual drift, God speaks a piercing, awakening word through the prophet Haggai. This morning, we are hearing the same word. God spoke to the covenant people then, and now to us: “Consider your ways.” (Haggai 1:5, 7) Let us consider our ways. First things, first. 1. God Calls Us To Reorder Our Priorities Under His Word (Haggai 1:1–6) 5 Now, therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider your ways. 6 You have sown much, and harvested little. You eat, but you never have enough; you drink, but you never have your fill. You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm. And he who earns wages does so to put them into a bag with holes. The Hebrew word for “consider” literally means “Fix your whole inner attention on the path you are actually walking.” God is saying: “Stop. Look. Reflect. Examine your life in the light of My Word.” The people had convincing reasons for the delay. “It’s not the time to rebuild.” “We’ll get to it later.” “We’re too busy trying to survive.” They were busy, but not satisfied. This reveals the deeper spiritual issue. Their loves were disordered. They were prioritizing good things—homes, work, stability—over the greatest thing: God Himself. Augustine describes this condition with striking clarity: “My sin was this: that I looked for pleasure, beauty, and truth not in Him, but in myself and His other creatures—and so I fell.” (Confessions 2.5.10) When we seek ultimate satisfaction in created things rather than the Creator, life becomes restless and fractured. We end up exhausted, frustrated, and spiritually empty. Augustine’s insight helps us understand Haggai’s audience. They were not rejecting God outright. They were simply looking for meaning, security, and identity in something other than God. And when our loves are disordered, our lives become disordered. Tim Keller said, “The human heart takes good things and turns them into ultimate things.” This is why God tells them—twice: “Consider your ways.” 2. God Lovingly Disrupts Us So That We May Return To Him (Haggai 1:7–11) 10 Therefore the heavens above you have withheld the dew, and the earth has withheld its produce. 11 And I have called for a drought on the land and the hills, on the grain, the new wine, the oil, on what the ground brings forth, on man and beast, and on all their labors.” Why would God allow this? To wake them up. To rescue them from spiritual numbness. To save them from wasting their lives. “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I [Paul] will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”—2 Co. 12:9 Divine disruption is an act of divine mercy. God frustrates our lesser loves to bring us back to our first love. 3. God Restores His People and Empowers Their Obedience (Haggai 1:12–15) 12 Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, with all the remnant of the people, obeyed the voice of the Lord their God, and the words of Haggai the prophet, as the Lord their God had sent him. And the people feared the Lord. 13 Then Haggai, the messenger of the Lord, spoke to the people with the Lord's message, “I am with you, declares the Lord.” What happens next is remarkable. The leaders and the people respond with obedience (v. 12). This is the fruit of God’s Word and the work of the Spirit. And then comes one of the most beautiful promises in the Old Testament: “I am with you, declares the LORD.” (v. 13) Here is the heart of the gospel in Haggai. God does not say, “Work harder so I will be with you.” He says, “I am with you. Therefore, rise and build.” Christian obedience flows from assurance, not fear. Grace precedes action. God's presence produces our perseverance. Then verse 14: “And the LORD stirred up the spirit of the people.” The same God who commands obedience creates obedience. The same God who calls us to repentance empowers repentance. This is grace. God requires what He Himself provides.

“God’s Grace at the Edge of Collapse” (Ezra 9-10), November 16th, 2025 Introduction There are moments in the Christian life—and in the life of a church—when we suddenly realize how far we have drifted. No one drifts on purpose. Drift happens quietly, slowly, almost imperceptibly. And then something wakes us up. D. A. Carson once said: “People do not drift toward holiness. Apart from grace-driven effort, people do not gravitate toward godliness, prayer, obedience to Scripture, faith, and delight in the Lord. We drift toward compromise and call it ‘tolerance’; we drift toward disobedience and call it ‘freedom’; we drift toward superstition and call it ‘faith.’ We cherish the indiscipline of lost self-control and call it ‘relaxation’; we slouch toward prayerlessness and delude ourselves into thinking we have escaped legalism; we slide toward godlessness and convince ourselves we have been liberated.” Ezra 9 is one of those moments—when the drift suddenly comes into view. The people of God had returned from exile. They had the temple. They had the land. They had God’s promises ringing in their ears. But within one generation, they drifted. They blended in. They adopted the values of the surrounding culture. Quietly, socially, economically, spiritually—they compromised. Their hearts were drifting long before their actions were exposed. We may read Ezra and think, “That’s ancient history, pastor.” But Ezra is reading our hearts. Because Bergen County, New Jersey—where many of us live—is one of the most affluent, achievement-driven, opportunity-loaded environments in America. It is also one of the easiest places to drift from God. Not by hostility. But by slow, silent compromise—career pressures, school pressures, social pressures, and financial stability pressures. And Ezra invites us to stop, to look honestly at our lives, and to return to God with whole hearts. So today, we explore three truths from Ezra 9–10: Covenant Love, Not Racism True Repentance, Not Self-Loathing God’s Grace Calls Us Back to Life

Introduction When the exiles finally returned from Babylon, it looked like the dawn of a new day. God had moved the heart of King Cyrus to let them go home, and the people rejoiced. The altar was rebuilt, the temple foundation laid, and the walls eventually restored. But as the story of Ezra–Nehemiah unfolds, the excitement fades. The temple stands, but the glory of God never fills it. The Law is read, but the people’s hearts remain unchanged. The walls rise, but the moral walls of the nation collapse within. It is a story that begins with promise and ends with disappointment—a deliberate ending that leaves the reader looking beyond human reform to divine redemption. Ezra–Nehemiah shows us that what God’s people needed most was not a new temple or new leaders, but new hearts. 1. God Stirs the Heart to Begin His Work (Ezra 1:1–6) “The Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia… and also the spirit of all those whose spirit God had stirred to go up to rebuild the house of the Lord.” The story opens not with human initiative but with divine action. The Lord stirs hearts—first of a pagan king, then of His people. Cyrus thinks he is making a political decree, but heaven is fulfilling Jeremiah’s prophecy. Grace always begins the rebuilding. Before there is obedience, there is mercy. Before Israel acts, God acts. This is how spiritual renewal always starts: not with a strategic plan, but with God’s gracious call. The first movement of restoration is God’s stirring within the human heart. 2. God Reveals the Heart’s Need Through Human Failure (Ezra 3:1–6 ; 5:1–2) “They built the altar of the God of Israel… for fear was upon them because of the peoples of the lands.” “Then the prophets Haggai and Zechariah prophesied… Then Zerubbabel and Jeshua arose and began to rebuild the house of God.” At first, everything looks right. The people rebuild the altar even before the temple, showing that worship comes before walls. They lay the foundation with songs of praise. But discouragement soon sets in. Opposition rises, fear takes hold, and the work stops for sixteen years. God sends His Word through Haggai and Zechariah, reviving their faith and obedience. The people rise again. But even then, the glory does not return. Zerubbabel, Ezra, and Nehemiah all lead courageously, yet every renewal ends with disappointment: • The temple stands, but God’s presence does not fill it. • The Law is read, but sin remains. • The walls are strong, but the covenant is broken again. The author wants us to see that even the best human effort cannot produce lasting holiness. The problem is not the temple; it is the heart. Through human frailty, God exposes our need for deeper grace. 3. God Completes the Work Through the Greater Rebuilder Ezra–Nehemiah ends in disappointment. We are to turn our eyes to the One who finishes what no human can. • Jesus is the greater Zerubbabel, the true Son of David who rebuilds the temple of His body (John 2:19–21). At His resurrection, the glory returns—not to stone walls but to living hearts. • Jesus is the greater Ezra, the incarnate Word who writes God’s Law on our hearts (Jer. 31:33). He does not command separation from sinners but joins Himself to His Bride and cleanses her with His blood. • Jesus is the greater Nehemiah, who leaves the palace of heaven to rebuild the walls of salvation through His cross. In His kingdom, no enemy can breach the gates, for He Himself is our refuge. What began with Cyrus’s decree ends with Christ’s victory. The unfinished work of Ezra–Nehemiah finds its completion in the crucified and risen Lord. In Christ, "exile" ends, glory returns, and the true temple is restored. Applications: 1. Return to the Word that revives. God still sends His prophetic Word to awaken obedience. Let Scripture shape your perspective and rekindle your courage. 2. Pray & Worship before you "work." The altar came before the temple. Let communion with God precede every act of service. Presence is greater than productivity. 3. Trust Christ, not "heroes." Zerubbabel, Ezra, and Nehemiah remind us that even faithful leaders cannot finish the job. So, let us look to the One who can—Jesus Christ.

The God of Second Chances | 2 Chronicles 30 | Sunday Worship (Oct 26, 2025) Hezekiah’s Passover teaches us the same truth that the cross of Christ proclaims: Our God is the God of second chances. He invites the unworthy. He provides a way for the unready. And he restores joy to those who return. So, if you’ve missed your “first chance,” if you’ve drifted or delayed, remember: It’s not too late. The door of mercy is still open. The God who welcomed prodigals and pardoned rebels still says, “Return to me.” And when we do, joy returns to worship.

Riverside Community Church – Sermons & Meditations Welcome to the official YouTube channel of Riverside Community Church in Elmwood Park, New Jersey — a House of Prayer for All Nations. Here you’ll find biblically grounded sermons, meditations, and reflections designed to help you walk with Christ in everyday life. Each message flows from a Reformed theological foundation and seeks to bring together truth and grace, doctrine and devotion, conviction and compassion. We believe discipleship begins with listening to God’s Word, living it out in community, and reflecting the beauty of Christ in every season of life. Join Pastor Brian Lee and the Riverside family as we journey through Scripture together — discovering the joy of wholehearted faith, the comfort of God’s promises, and the hope of the gospel that changes everything. “The Lord is able to give you much more than this.” (2 Chronicles 25:9) Visit us at www.riversidepeople.org

Who is Holy Spirit | John 14:15-26 | Pastor Brian Lee | Riverside Community Church Introduction In his book, Keep in Step with the Spirit (1984), theologian-pastor J. I. Packer described the Holy Spirit as the “shy member of the Trinity.” He did not mean that the Spirit is timid or weak, but that His great mission is to shine the spotlight on Jesus Christ. Packer explained that the Spirit works like a floodlight: the brighter He shines, the less we notice Him, because our eyes are fixed on Christ. Some have explained the Trinity this way: God the Father planned salvation, God the Son accomplished salvation, and God the Holy Spirit applies salvation to our lives. The point is this. Without the Spirit, Christ’s work would remain outside of us. But by the Spirit, we are born again, united to Christ, equipped with gifts, and empowered for the Great Commission. In John 14:26, Jesus promised: “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you” (ESV). The Greek word for "helper" is paraklētos. The NIV translates it “Advocate,” which I like, because He defends us. The KJV renders it “Comforter,” from the Latin "com forte" — “with strength.” Both are true: the Spirit is our Advocate and our Strength. So, who is this “shy member of the Trinity”? We'll try to answer that along with the following. What does it mean that He indwells us? And how should we think about His gifts?

Foundations Series | "Who is Christ?" | Sunday Worship | August 24, 2025 | Pastor Brian Lee Introduction As we continue our Foundations Series, I hope you are not saying this is "too basic." Think of it this way. If you remove the foundation of a house, then it doesn’t matter how well-decorated the living room is. The house built on sand will not stand when the storm comes. So, let us press on with the fourth foundational topic. Today, we ask the question, "Who is Christ?" Now, Jesus himself asked this question to His disciples. In Matthew 16:15, Jesus asks, “Who do you say that I am?” He was not posing a mere theological question. He was asking the defining question of life itself. You see, how we answer the question, "Who do you say that Jesus Christ is?" shows who we are in this world. Today, we will consider three things: Christ’s personhood, Christ’s offices, and Christ’s work. The personhood, the offices, and the work of Christ are the foundation of the Christian life. We never move past them. We only grow deeper into them. As R. C. Sproul put it, “The work of Christ reveals to us who He is. The work and the person may be distinguished but never separated.” If we get Christ wrong, we get the gospel wrong. But when we see Christ for who He is, we not only see salvation, we see the very glory of God. 1. The Person of Christ: Fully God and Fully Man (John 1:1-4; 14) Jesus is fully God and fully man. He is not half God and half man. Christians throughout history, everywhere, have professed this about the person of Christ. He is fully God and fully man. Why does this matter? If He were not God, He could not save us, for only God can bear the weight of divine wrath and offer infinite righteousness. But if He were not man, He could not represent us (stand in our place), obey the law on our behalf, or die in our stead. As Hebrews 2:17 declares: "For this reason, he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people." (NIV) Sinclair Ferguson notes that the incarnation shows us not only God’s power but God’s humility. The Creator stooped to become a creature, so that creatures might be reconciled to their Creator. 2. The Offices of Christ: Prophet, Priest, and King (Hebrews 1:1–4) The Reformers often spoke of Christ’s threefold office as Prophet, Priest, and King. As Prophet, Christ speaks God’s Word to us. As Prophet, He is unlike any other prophets of religions. He is not merely another messenger. He is the message itself, the Word made flesh. He is the truth, life, and the way. As Priest, Christ offers Himself as the sacrifice for our sins and continually intercedes for us. “He always lives to make intercession for them” (Hebrews 7:25). Unlike the priests of old, He never ceases, and he never fails. As King, Christ rules over all things. After His resurrection, He declared: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me” (Matthew 28:18). His reign extends over every inch of creation. Knowing Christ in these three offices shapes our daily life. As Prophet, He directs us by His Word. As Priest, He (re)assures us of forgiveness. As King, He is victorious over sin and death. He gives us the confidence to press on, even when our lives are seemingly falling apart at the seams, because He is the King of Glory. He is mighty to save! 3. The Work of Christ: His Deity and Redemption (Colossians 1:15–20) When Apostle Paul says in verse 15 that Christ is “the image of the invisible God,” the Greek word is pronounced, εἰκών (eikōn). In everyday Greek, eikōn could mean a statue, likeness, or picture. But here it means something far more profound: Christ is not a copy or reflection of God, but the exact and perfect manifestation of the invisible God. What is unseen in God the Father is made visible in the Son. This is why Jesus can say in John 14:9, “Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.” The unseen God is perfectly and personally revealed in Christ. He does not merely represent God; He presents God. He makes the invisible visible. James Montgomery Boice once said, “The deity of Christ is essential. If Jesus is not God, then we are idolaters for worshiping Him. But if He is God, then worship is our only reasonable response.” Conclusion: "Who do you say Jesus Christ is?" When we feel crushed by guilt, we need to remember Christ is our Priest who intercedes for us. When we are confused by the noise of the culture, we need Christ as our Prophet to speak truth into our confusion. When we feel powerless in this broken world, we need Christ as our King who reigns over every detail of our lives. The most important question you can ever answer is the one Jesus asked: “Who do you say that I am?” #BrianLee #Foundation #WhoisChrist #Christ