Episodios

  • Remembering the Reformation: Scripture Alone | Acts 17:10-12

    Remembering the Reformation: Scripture Alone | Acts 17:10-12
    Nov 9 2025
    Lord's Day: Nov 9, 2025 Preacher: Carlos Montijo Series: Remembering the Reformation Topic: Scripture Scripture: Acts 17:10–12; 1 Samuel 17:26, 40–45; Isaiah 8:19–20; 1 Timothy 2:5; Deuteronomy 18:10–12; Hebrews 5:12–14 10And the brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. 11Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so. 12Therefore many of them believed, along with not a few prominent Greek women and men. Acts 17:10–12 This passage echoes the first principles of the Reformation, and is one of the many reasons why it is important for us to remember the Reformation.See Reformation Evangelism at a Roman Catholic Church on 28 Oct 2025 | Romans 3:28Sign the Reformation Day Statement & the Declaration: https://www.trinityfoundation.org/state.phphttps://www.trinityfoundation.org/state_declaration.php I. What was (and still is) the main conflict with Rome? Luther knew how to ask the right questions, probing questions, questions that would get to the bottom of the issue.Like the young David, Luther was executing a lifetime of God’s preparation.With David on God’s side—Goliath did not stand a chance. II. The main issue, as Luther began to see and later saw more clearly, was that of a different giant. His giant was, ultimately, the Goliath of Rome—the magisterium and the pope of Rome, the papacy and its claims of absolute spiritual authority.“The Pope is Goliath, clad in the armor of human traditions… We are David, with the sling of the Holy Scriptures.”With Luther on God’s side—Rome did not stand a chance. III. Luther did what many others fail to do—He discerned the main issue, the main conflict with Rome, and responded with Scripture and reason. Isaiah 8:19-20God alone is the Mediator of truth and life—Christ alone (1 Tim. 2:5).Contacting the dead for guidance (including departed Christians) is foolish and idolatrous, unequivocally condemned by God (Dt. 18:10-12) IV. We must trust God’s law and testimony—we need the ultimate authority of Scripture alone. Many fail to see the main issues affecting the church in our own day. V. Why is it so challenging for Christians to discern the main issues in the church today? VI. Scripture teaches: Discernment is a holy lifestyle that requires constant practice. This is how Luther was able to discern the main issues and kindle the Reformation.Discernment is a distinguishing mark of a mature, godly believer. VII. All believers are called to be good, mature, discerning Bereans We meet on Sundays for worship at 10:00am: ThornCrown Covenant Baptist Church4712 Montana Ave El Paso, Texas 79903 Contact us at: web: ThornCrownCovenant.Churchcall/text: (915) 843-8088email: ThornCrownCovenantBChurch@gmail.com Scripture quotations marked ESV are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked LSB are from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com
    Más Menos
    Menos de 1 minuto
  • Remembering the Reformation: The Conflict with Rome | Galatians 3:11

    Remembering the Reformation: The Conflict with Rome | Galatians 3:11
    Nov 2 2025
    Lord's Day: Nov 2, 2025 Preacher: Carlos Montijo Series: Remembering the Reformation Topic: Church History Scripture: Galatians 3:11; Matthew 4:17; 20:16; Ephesians 2:10 Now that no one is justified by the Law before God is evident, for The righteous shall live by faith. Galatians 3:11 See Halloween vs Reformation Day seriesSign the Reformation Day Statement & the Declaration: https://www.trinityfoundation.org/state.phphttps://www.trinityfoundation.org/state_declaration.php It is vitally important for us, as individuals and families, and as a church, to remember the Reformation—what happened, why it is important, what were the main issues—not just once a year, but throughout the year, by studying church history, especially of the doctrinal conflicts that clarified what the Bible does and does not teach, including the primary issues of the gospel (sola fide) and what our ultimate authority is (sola Scriptura), which are summed up in the Five Solas of the Reformation.The main issues of the Protestant Reformation are the issues that summarize, define, and explain our faith, our core doctrines, and separate us from everyone else. I. Of Fasts & Feast Days 2nd Helvetic Confession (1562), CHAPTER XXIV: Of Holy Days, Fasts and the Choice of Foods: THE FESTIVALS OF CHRIST AND THE SAINTS.See Reformation Evangelism at a Roman Catholic Church on 28 Oct 2025 | Romans 3:28 II. Martin Luther’s 95 Insights Forerunners of the Reformation: Czech theologian Jan Hus; Roman Catholic professor and priest John Wycliffe; Italian Dominican friar Girolamo SavonarolaThesis 18. “Furthermore, it does not seem proved, either by reason or by Scripture, that souls in Purgatory are outside the state of merit, that is, unable to grow in love.”In order to be grounded in truth and sound doctrine, we need two basic things, all other means serve these two things: Scripture and clear reason, logical consistency.Thesis 62. "The true treasure of the church is the most holy gospel of the glory and grace of God." III. One of the most important distinctions in the entire Bible: Law and Gospel distinction “Christ did not command the preaching of indulgences but of the gospel!”Rome responded with a Counter-Reformation vengeance.We celebrate the Reformation's triumphs, and apply the many lessons that came out of it, but we must also be honest about the shortcomings and sins of the men that God has used in history, including the Reformation.Luther was a man of contrasts, good and bad. IV. Was it Luther’s intention to turn the entire western world on its head? Charles Hodge: “He who purposes the end, purposes also the means; and he brings about the end by securing the use of the means. And when rational agents are concerned, he secures the use of the means by rational considerations presented to their minds, and rendered effectual by his grace, when the end contemplated is good.”The most fundamental question that must be answered at the outset in any conflict is: What is the main issue? What was the main conflict with Rome? We meet on Sundays for worship at 10:00am: ThornCrown Covenant Baptist Church4712 Montana Ave El Paso, Texas 79903 Contact us at: web: ThornCrownCovenant.Churchcall/text: (915) 843-8088email: ThornCrownCovenantBChurch@gmail.com Scripture quotations taken from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com
    Más Menos
    Menos de 1 minuto
  • Reformation Evangelism at a Roman Catholic Church on 28 Oct 2025 | Romans 3:28

    Reformation Evangelism at a Roman Catholic Church on 28 Oct 2025 | Romans 3:28
    Oct 28 2025

    Day: Oct 28, 2025 Preacher: Carlos Montijo Series: Evangelism Topic: Roman Catholicism Scripture: Romans 3:28; Acts 4:12; Matthew 23:8–12; Luke 1:46–47; Romans 1:16; Acts 17:11; Psalm 115:1–18; Hebrews 10:10–14; 1 Timothy 2:5; Romans 8:16–17, 26–27; Isaiah 53:4–11; John 14:6

    Open air, bilingual (English/Spanish), Reformation evangelism and gospel protesting at a local Roman Catholic church that was celebrating the feast day (festival) of Judas Thaddeus, the Apostle.

    Feast days are Roman Catholic festivals with idolatrous processions of canonized "saints," according to their tradition. Got a chance to preach the Biblical truths of the Reformation—that salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, to the glory of God alone, based on the ultimate authority of Scripture alone. We cannot earn our salvation or restore our justification by sacraments or good works, nor is Christ being re-sacrificed on the idolatrous altar of the Mass, because that is to deny that Christ died only once for all who believe in Him, by faith alone apart from any works or sacraments. Good gospel conversations with some of the people who had attended.

    Correction: I mistakenly referred to Mary's Magnificat where she refers to God as her Savior in Luke 1:53, but it is actually in Luke 1:47: "And Mary said: 'My soul magnifies the Lord, And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior'" (Luke 1:46–47).

    Please visit What Every Catholic Should Know (https://whateverycatholicshouldknow.com), an excellent resource by former Roman Catholics, including former Roman Catholic priests like Richard Bennett, which compares the official, major teachings of the Roman Catholic church with what the Bible teaches.

    The Belgic Confession, Article 22: The Righteousness of Faith

    We believe that for us to acquire the true knowledge of this great mystery the Holy Spirit kindles in our hearts a true faith that embraces Jesus Christ, with all his merits, and makes him its own, and no longer looks for anything apart from him. For it must necessarily follow that either all that is required for our salvation is not in Christ or, if all is in him, then he who has Christ by faith has his salvation entirely. Therefore, to say that Christ is not enough but that something else is needed as well is a most enormous blasphemy against God—for it then would follow that Jesus Christ is only half a Savior. And therefore we justly say with Paul that we are justified "by faith alone" or by faith "apart from works."

    However, we do not mean, properly speaking, that it is faith itself that justifies us—for faith is only the instrument by which we embrace Christ, our righteousness. But Jesus Christ is our righteousness in making available to us all his merits and all the holy works he has done for us and in our place. And faith is the instrument that keeps us in communion with him and with all his benefits. When those benefits are made ours they are more than enough to absolve us of our sins.

    Semper Reformanda.

    We meet on Sundays for worship at 10:00am:

    • ThornCrown Covenant Baptist Church
      4712 Montana Ave
      El Paso, Texas 79903

    Contact us at:

    • web: ThornCrownCovenant.Church
      call/text: (915) 843-8088
      email: ThornCrownCovenantBChurch@gmail.com
    Más Menos
    Menos de 1 minuto
  • Bound by Love: Obeying God, Loving One Another | 1 John 5:2-3

    Bound by Love: Obeying God, Loving One Another | 1 John 5:2-3
    Oct 26 2025
    Lord's Day: October 26, 2025 Preacher: Carlos Montijo Series: First John Topic: The Law Scripture: 1 John 5:1–3; Philippians 2:13; 1 John 4:19; Hebrews 11:6; Romans 14:23; James 2:14–17; John 14:15, 21–23; 15:8–14, 17; Romans 13:8–10; Galatians 5:6; Jeremiah 31:33; 1 John 4:7; John 13:34; Romans 12:10, 16; Ephesians 4:2–3; Galatians 6:2; 1 Peter 1:22–25 2By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and do His commandments. 3For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome. 1 John 5:2–3 The obedience of love I. The Assurance of Our Faith Love for God means that “we keep His commandments,” and “His commandments are not burdensome”—because, instead of condemning us, our love for His commandments and our growing obedience to them rather now assure us that we belong to God as His children, and love Him and His other children. II. God’s love is first in order—prior The first command from God that we must obey in order to begin to obey all the rest of His commandments, is to repent and believe the Gospel, to believe that “Jesus is the Christ.”Faith is our first response to what God fundamentally requires of us, because “without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who draws near to God must [necessarily] believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6). III. Take heed to the faithful and true words of “Jesus the Christ” God guarantees this new life and new ways of obedience in our own lives as believers, “purposing us and endeavouring us constantly to walk with him in all the ways of new obedience” (Larger Catechism, Q76).Both Jesus and God our Father define true love (man's love) primarily and almost exclusively as obedience to His commandments.The distinction and harmony of God’s Law and Gospel: The Gospel, the very power of God unto salvation (Rom. 1:16), births faith in us by God’s Spirit, and faith in the Gospel consequently works through love (Galatians 5:6). The Law, now written on our heart (Jeremiah 31:33), is fulfilled in our love for God and for one another (Romans 13:10). IV. In addition to the Thou shalt nots, how do we love God & His people in a positive sense as well? The “one anothers” of Scripture are how we function as God’s church, and fulfill the Law of God and of Christ, the Law of Love (1 John 4:7)One third of the one another commands instruct Christians to love one another.One third of the one another commands are about striving for and maintaining unity in the church, in love and in truth. Gently, patiently tolerate (“bear with”) one another in love, being diligent to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace (Eph. 4:2-3).This does not mean that we should tolerate each other’s sins[1] 15% of the one another commands stress humility and deference among believers.Many of the one another commands are simple and practical. Join us on Sundays for worship at 10:00am: ThornCrown Covenant Baptist Church4712 Montana AveEl Paso, Texas 79903 Contact us at: web: ThornCrownCovenant.Churchcall/text: (915) 843-8088email: ThornCrownCovenantBChurch@gmail.com Scripture quotations taken from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com [1] See Carlos E. Montijo, ‘Series: Biblical Church Discipline’, ThornCrown Covenant Baptist Church: El Paso, TX, January 2022 [accessed 25 October 2025].
    Más Menos
    Menos de 1 minuto
  • Faith & Love Begotten of God | 1 John 5:1-2

    Faith & Love Begotten of God | 1 John 5:1-2
    Oct 19 2025

    Lord's Day: October 19, 2025 Preacher: Carlos Montijo Series: First John Topic: Doctrines of Grace Scripture: 1 John 5:1–2; Isaiah 61:1–2; Matthew 22:14; John 1:12–13; Romans 8:28–30; 1 John 4:7–8, 16; John 3:21; 1 John 4:19

    1Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the One who gives new birth loves also the one who has been born of Him. 2By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and do His commandments. 1 John 5:1–2

    I. The Source of Our Faith

    • What does it mean to be “born of God”?
    • See sermon “Know Your Enemy: The Flesh Examined | 2 Corinthians 5:16-18”[1]
    • “Has been born of God” (γεγέννηται ἐκ τοῦ θεοῦ) is in the perfect passive indicative—past tense, which point to a gospel indicative, not a law imperative (command), a completed action by God Himself—“born of God/Him.”
    • The Word of God consistently teaches the same doctrines all throughout.

    II. The Order of Our Faith

    • Faith is the result, not the cause, of regeneration.
    • ordo salutis (order of salvation): external call, internal/effectual call, regeneration, [adoption,] then repentance (change of mind) and faith (conversion), justification, adoption, sanctification, perseverance, glorification

    III. The Fruit of Our Faith

    • Both faith and love are begotten of God—not only faith, but our love is also born of God and comes from God, who is love (1 John 4:8, 16).
    • Note the universals: God saves every believer in the same basic way.
    • John 3:21: “But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been done by [Greek en] God.”

    Join us on Sundays for worship at 10:00am:

    • ThornCrown Covenant Baptist Church
      4712 Montana Ave
      El Paso, Texas 79903

    Contact us at:

    • web: ThornCrownCovenant.Church
      call/text: (915) 843-8088
      email: ThornCrownCovenantBChurch@gmail.com

    Scripture quotations taken from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com

    [1] Carlos E. Montijo, Know Your Enemy: The Flesh Examined | 2 Corinthians 5:16-18, Know Your Enemy: The World, the Flesh, the Devil (ThornCrown Covenant Baptist Church, 2024) [accessed 18 October 2025].
    Más Menos
    Menos de 1 minuto
  • Believe in Jesus, the Christ | 1 John 5:1

    Believe in Jesus, the Christ | 1 John 5:1
    Oct 12 2025

    Lord's Day: October 12, 2025 Preacher: Carlos Montijo Series: First John Topic: Faith Scripture: 1 John 5:1; John 14:1; 17:6–8; Romans 10:17; Mark 1:14–15; Romans 3:28; John 3:16; Matthew 16:15–17; Luke 4:16–21; Isaiah 61:1–3

    Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the One who gives new birth loves also the one who has been born of Him. 1 John 5:1

    • Parallelism

    I. Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ…

    • The doctrine of faith, belief, ties into all of the most fundamental, primary doctrines of Scripture: God, man, salvation, God’s Word.
    • All historic Reformed confessions and catechisms dedicate an entire section/chapter (sometimes more) on the subject of faith.
    • All systematic theologies must dedicate a significant portion to the subject of faith, otherwise it would not be systematic.

    II. What does this mean—that Jesus is the Christ?

    • Christ means anointed, but for what purpose?
    • See sermon: “Beloved, You Are from God & Have Overcome | 1 John 4:4”
    • To rightly understand and accept Him as the divinely prophesied Messiah and Savior, according to the Scriptures

    III. Christ our Prophet, our Priest, our King

    • Isaiah 61:1-3, the Christ is Prophet, Priest, King
    • Matthew Henry: “As Isaiah was authorized and directed to proclaim liberty to the Jews in Babylon, so was Christ, God’s messenger, to publish a more joyful jubilee to a lost world.”

    We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father; through him all things were made.
    For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven, was incarnate from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and was made man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.

    Join us on Sundays for worship at 10:00am:

    • ThornCrown Covenant Baptist Church
      4712 Montana Ave
      El Paso, Texas 79903

    Contact us at:

    • web: ThornCrownCovenant.Church
      call/text: (915) 843-8088
      email: ThornCrownCovenantBChurch@gmail.com

    Scripture quotations taken from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com
    Más Menos
    Menos de 1 minuto
  • Loving Brothers Seen & God Unseen | 1 John 4:20-21

    Loving Brothers Seen & God Unseen | 1 John 4:20-21
    Oct 5 2025

    Lord's Day: October 5, 2025 Preacher: Carlos Montijo Series: First John Topic: Love Scripture: 1 John 4:18–21; Isaiah 45:6–7; 46:9–11; Ephesians 2:3; 1:4–6; James 2:10–17; Galatians 6:10; 1 John 4:9–12; Mark 12:29–31; 1 Corinthians 12:31–13:13; 1 John 3:16

    20If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen. 21And this commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God should love his brother also. 1 John 4:20–21

    • Conclusion to “The Other Love Chapter”

    I. Loving and hating, without contradiction

    II. Loving God and brother, without hypocrisy

    • This passage gives us criteria for identifying hypocrisy, and helps us to love both God and brother in harmony: “If someone says…”
    • Our vertical relationship with God necessarily affects all our horizontal relationships with our fellow man, especially with our brothers and sisters in the household of faith.

    III. Who is harder to love? God? Or Christian brothers and sisters?

    • Is there an order of loves (ordo amoris)? A priority of loves?
    • To love God—also means that we love our fellow man, our brother, our neighbor, our enemy
    • God often teaches us the positive doctrine (love) by also identifying, exposing, and refuting the opposite, the error.

    IV. I have been preaching primarily about God’s love and defining His love

    • Our perfect love is fundamentally an attitude and a commitment which expresses itself in action and obedience to God’s Word and Will

    V. Compare 1 John 4:11–12

    • Richard Lenski: “Agape is defined as the love of intelligence, of comprehension and understanding. It always has that meaning in the New Testament, most completely so here where it speaks of God’s love. Combined with this is purpose, a purpose that corresponds to the comprehension of the object…. Saving agape thus accompanies charis, compassion, and eleos, benevolence.”
    • The entire law of God can be summarily comprehended in a single word—love.

    Join us on Sundays for worship at 10:00am:

    • ThornCrown Covenant Baptist Church
      4712 Montana Ave
      El Paso, Texas 79903

    Contact us at:

    • web: ThornCrownCovenant.Church
      call/text: (915) 843-8088
      email: ThornCrownCovenantBChurch@gmail.com

    Scripture quotations taken from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com
    Más Menos
    Menos de 1 minuto
  • Have No Fear—Perfect, Fearless Love Is Here | 1 John 4:17-19

    Have No Fear—Perfect, Fearless Love Is Here | 1 John 4:17-19
    Sep 28 2025

    Lord's Day: September 28, 2025 Preacher: Carlos Montijo Series: First John Topic: Love Scripture: 1 John 4:14–19; Ecclesiastes 12:13; Hebrews 4:14–16; 1 Corinthians 2:16; Philippians 2:5–11; Romans 11:22; Ephesians 2:3–9; 1:4–6; Romans 5:6–11; 2 Peter 3:16; 1 John 2:1–2; Titus 3:4–7; Romans 8:29–30

    I. We have more departed brothers who, being united to Christ, are now confident and without fear in the next world

    • Death of Voddie Baucham, please pray for his wife and large family, 9 kids, personal inspiration for us to live up to
    • Llisten to his preaching, teaching, and read his books
    • God has not abandoned us, nor His church. He will continue to raise up godly men for such a time as this, who may not be as famous, but nevertheless faithful, uncompromising brothers, and God’s people can still continue to be edified by the contributions of the faithful men that have recently departed

    II. There is no fear in love…

    • Fear as in “afraid of” or fear as in “awe, reverence, worship”? φόβος phobos
    • God reassures us by telling us not only that perfect love has no fear, but that “perfect love casts out fear”—expels fear

    III. How then does perfect love cast out fear? What is this perfect love?

    • Our perfect love ultimately refers to—and points back to—God’s own perfect, redemptive love for us—the gospel
    • God’s love gives us confidence to live without fear, to have the same mind of Christ (1 Cor. 2:16) that the Song of Christ (Carmen Christi) reveals to us
    • God is always good, always, without fail and without exception, both in His kindness and in His severity, holiness, justice, judgment (Rom. 11:22)

    IV. All of this and more is why the God-breathed apostle continues to reveal to us in verse 19…

    • We ourselves love God and our fellow man, because He Himself first loved us

    V. This is one of the most emphatic doctrines in all of Scripture—the gospel of what God’s love has done for us.

    • One of the most obvious examples that “are so clearly set forth and explained in one place of Scripture or another” (2LBCF 1:7), of why we no longer have a fearful expectation of God’s judgment, of why we have a perfect love that casts out all fear, is because of God’s own perfect, omnipotent, sovereign, sufficient, sacrificial love for us, His Redemptive, Restorative, Regenerative, Reformative Love
    • Do you see this? Do you believe this? Do you have this perfect, mature, fearless love, that does not fear God’s judgment, but instead looks forward to it? Eagerly anticipates it?

    What have I to dread, what have I to fear,
    leaning on the everlasting arms?
    I have blessed peace with my Lord so near,
    leaning on the everlasting arms.
    safe and secure from all alarms

    Join us on Sundays for worship at 10:00am:

    • ThornCrown Covenant Baptist Church
      4712 Montana Ave
      El Paso, Texas 79903

    Contact us at:

    • web: ThornCrownCovenant.Church
      call/text: (915) 843-8088
      email: ThornCrownCovenantBChurch@gmail.com

    Scripture quotations taken from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com
    Más Menos
    Menos de 1 minuto