Sermons on Tyson:

When God Changes His Mind (Jonah 3:1-10) Series

Contributed by Garrett Tyson on Sep 8, 2022

The king of Assyria knows that there's a chance that God will change his mind, and not bring about the promised judgment. God prefers to forgive, and bless. For three chapters in a row, God has shown mercy, not judgment.

The book of Jonah began in a surprising way. Yahweh called Yonah to go to Ninevah, and Yonah disobeyed. This is not what prophets do. Prophets obey. But Yonah ran the wrong direction, to the end of the known world, at Tarshish. When that didn't work, he chose death over Yahweh. He refused ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 3:1-10, Numbers 22:18-25, 1 Samuel 15:10-29

How To Respond To Violence, Part 1 (Exodus 21:12-19) Series

Contributed by Garrett Tyson on Sep 24, 2022

How should God's people live toward each other? The OT assumes that we will fight, and badly hurt each other. In the NT, God calls us to live in peace (and gives us his Spirit so we can).

We live in a time, and a place, when violent people do violent things all the time. The world as a whole feels unsafe, and it feels like it's getting worse. Every day, we get updates about some new terrible act of violence, and we go through life just sort of constantly thinking about it. ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 21:12-19, Romans 3:10-18, Romans 14:17-19

Why Yonah Ran (Jonah 4:1-11) Series

Contributed by Garrett Tyson on Sep 24, 2022

Finally, we learn why Yonah ran from the Word of Yahweh, and first chose death over life. Should God give people a chance to repent? Is it wrong, for God to show mercy? And if God did the right thing, who will be Yonah?

Let's start today by simply rereading Jonah 3. We need to get sucked back into our story, and there's no easier way to do it, than to just read it (NRSV updated): 3 The word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time, saying, 2 “Get up, go to Nineveh, that great city, and proclaim to it the ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 4:1-11

Laws On Violence, Pt. 2: How Bad A Boss Can You Be (Exodus 21:20-27) Series

Contributed by Garrett Tyson on Oct 1, 2022

The OT answers the question, "How bad a boss can you be, and still keep possession of a slave?" The NT answers the question, "How can you be a great boss, in Christ?"

Today, we continue working through the laws on violence, in Exodus 21. Last week, we read about a few sins that were punishable by death, and a few that weren't. Let's start by simply rereading verses 12-19: (12) A striker of a man-- and he dies-- shall surely be put to death, (13) while ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 21:20-27, Ephesians 6:5-8

Pick Your Elders Carefully (Titus 1:1-15) Series

Contributed by Garrett Tyson on Oct 20, 2022

Great leaders can strengthen the church; bad leaders can really harm it. So some advice on things to look for, in picking great elders.

Today we start a new series on Titus. I'm going for the record here, in how little I say about the book before we jump in. Verse 1: (1) Paul, a slave of God. Now, an apostle of Jesus Christ, in accordance with the faith(fulness?) of God's chosen ones, and the knowledge of the truth-- ...read more

Scripture: Titus 1:1-15

Will God Judge The World, And Make Things Right? (Revelation 6:1-17) Series

Contributed by Garrett Tyson on May 11, 2023

A no-rapture, academically rigorous series on Revelation

Over the past two weeks, in Revelation 4 and 5, we've read about what happened in heaven, after Jesus ascended into the clouds. Jesus rises up, disappears, out of the sight of his disciples. And he rises up into the heavenly throne room, into the midst of the four living creatures. And when ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 6:1-17

Who Can Stand On The Great Day Of Wrath? The Church! (Revelation 7:1-8) Series

Contributed by Garrett Tyson on May 12, 2023

A no-rapture, academically rigorous study of Revelation. We, the church, are the 144,000.

Last week, we saw the beginnings of God's plan for the world starting to unfold. In the first four seals of Revelation 6, we saw pictures of the wrath of God, and the wrath of the Lamb, being poured out on the world through the four horsemen of the apocalypse. They brought with them conquest, ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 7:1-8

Who Can Stand? The Church!, Part 2 (Revelation 7:9-17) Series

Contributed by Garrett Tyson on May 21, 2023

A no-rapture, academically rigorous reading of Revelation. Life is hard now. It will be harder later, and Revelation prepares us to accept that, and to be faithful in tough times.

Last week, we worked our way through the first vision of Revelation 7, which describes the sealing of the 144,000, from the 12 tribes of Israel. I argued that this was a vision of the church. Israel, is the church. The church, is Israel. I gave a few arguments in support of this, but I left out ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 7:9-17

Hearing The First Six Trumpets (Revelation 8:1-9:21) Series

Contributed by Garrett Tyson on May 26, 2023

The trumpet judgments, are God's call to the world to repent, and come to him. But at 9:21's end, no one listens. A no-rapture, academically rigorous reading of Revelation.

Let's begin today by taking a step back, and reminding ourselves of the big picture of Revelation, starting in chapter 5. We need to somehow keep at least three chapters together in our mind, for today's passage to make sense. In Revelation 5, the Lamb, Jesus Christ, suddenly appears in ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 8:1-13, Revelation 9:1-21

9 Marks Of The Demonic (Revelation 9:1-11, 20-21) Series

Contributed by Garrett Tyson on Jun 4, 2023

A second look at the 5th trumpet-- the demonic, trans locust horde, released to harm people, and bring them to their senses. Despite this, people still serve demons. By themselves, God's judgments don't do what's needed.

Last week, we worked our way through Revelation 8 and 9, covering six of the seven trumpets. I tried to give you the big picture, and cover a lot of ground. But if I'm honest, I did so as a coward. At one critical point, I got nervous, and decided to teach it in a way that wouldn't be ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 9:1-11, Revelation 9:20-21

People Aren't Hopelessly Wicked: John Is Recommissioned, As Prophet To All People (Rev. 10:1-11) Series

Contributed by Garrett Tyson on Jun 12, 2023

God's judgments don't stand alone, or work alone. He commissions John, and then the 2 witnesses, to testify about Jesus. People turn, when we obey our commission.

This morning, we have the privilege of working our way through Revelation 10. This is a great chapter. I really enjoyed studying it, and wrestling with it. But it caused me all kinds of fits, because it's a chapter that can't be understood by itself. Until you hear the OT echoes, and ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 10:1-11, Daniel 12:1-13, Revelation 9:20-21, Ezekiel 2:1-10, Ezekiel 3:1-11, Revelation 19:9-10  (view more)  (view less)

We, The Church, Are The Two Witnesses (Revelation 11:1-19) Series

Contributed by Garrett Tyson on Jun 18, 2023

Here, the church joins John in giving clear testimony about Jesus. We have a ministry that combines power, with suffering. Through this combo, the world turns, fears God, and gives Him glory. A no-rapture, academically rigorous reading of Revelation.

This week, we have the privilege of working our way through Revelation 11. This is a rich, complex chapter. It's also a chapter where there's a lot of debate about how to read it. A friend of mine has a study Bible, and his notes told him that the chapter should be read literally. But ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 11:1-19

Teach Your Kids: Yahweh Is A God Of Wonders (Joshua 4:1-24) Series

Contributed by Garrett Tyson on Dec 11, 2021

Joshua sets up two memorials, in hopes that this will help the people remember, for all generations, God's wonders, and revere him, through all generations.

The easiest way to jump into today's passage is by turning back to Joshua 3:7-13. It begins with Yahweh's words to Joshua, right before He does the wonder He has planned for Israel. Verse 7: (7) And Yahweh said to Joshua, "On this day I shall/will begin to make you great in the ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 4:1-24

That All Will Acknowledge Yahweh (Exodus 6:28-7:7) Series

Contributed by Garrett Tyson on Dec 11, 2021

God's end goal for Egypt, and the world, is that all will acknowledge and revere Him. And our calling, is like Moses' calling. God does this through us. Bonus discussion of Exodus 7:1, a key passage for Mormons and Word of Faith movement.

Let's start this morning by rereading Exodus 6:1-13. This will help us get sucked back into the story, and I'll teach you a cool little thing about how biblical narratives work. (1) and Yahweh said to Moses, "Now you will see what I will do to Pharaoh, because with a strong hand ...read more

Romans 6:23: "a Badly Misunderstood Verse" Series

Contributed by Garrett Tyson on Dec 15, 2021

Romans 6:23 contrasts the ultimate fate of people who live as slaves to Sin, and those who live as slaves to God. The sermon reads 6:23 in the larger context of chapter 6.

When I was a teenager, my youth group taught me something called the Romans Road, which was designed as a tool to help me tell people the good news about Jesus. Romans 6:23 is part of the Romans Road. Let's start by just reading it, in the ESV: 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the ...read more

Scripture: Romans 6:1-23