Rahab, the harlot of Jericho, is perhaps the most scandalous name in the genealogy of Jesus. In this sermon, we explore Joshua 2 and 6 to understand the nature of her justifying faith. Pastor Mark shows how Rahab’s faith—born from hearing the reports of God's redemptive works—was immediately active and led her to salvation. Learn why the simple, visible scarlet thread in her window is a powerful foreshadowing of the blood of Christ and the inclusive, sovereign grace of God that defines the Christmas message.

The season of Advent begins with a deep dive into the messy and vital story of Tamar from Genesis 38. This sermon challenges our idealized view of Christmas, showing us that the lineage of Christ was anything but spotless. Listen as we trace the fulfillment of God's covenant promise through Judah's lineage and discover the glorious truth: God's stubborn grace prevails over human sin and brokenness. The persistence of Tamar's faith led to her being declared righteous, illustrating the profound reality that Jesus came into the dirt of our world to grant us His perfect purity.

Join us for this Thanksgiving Day message from First Reformed Church. Drawing from Psalm 65, we are called to move past the superficial checklist of the holiday—the shopping, the food, and the football—to focus on the proper priorities of biblical gratitude.

The sermon highlights that true thankfulness begins with the acknowledgment of God's power and our sinfulness, leading us to the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ as our greatest blessing. Only by recognizing Christ's work can we truly praise God for His sovereign control over the world (the rain) and His loving provision of physical sustenance (the grain). We worship the mighty God who fills our plate and saves our souls.