Oceanside United Reformed Church

Easter noon service 2026

Good Friday service 2026

Summary We continue our 2026 evening series on the Christian Life, with the theme that we're pilgrims (message #01) whose sure footing is belonging to Jesus (message #02) as we live before the smiling face of God (message #03). Tonight, we'll focus on the essential doctrine for the journey—sanctification. Introduction: when old habits keep tripping you Thesis: Because God brings His children into the light through Jesus Christ, we must live by ongoing repentance—not hiding in sin or despairing in sin, but confessing it and rising again in His mercy. GOD TEACHES PILGRIMS TO WALK IN THE LIGHT SIN TEACHES US TO HIDE; GRACE TEACHES US TO CONFESS CHRIST GIVES STUMBLING PILGRIMS PARDON AND A PATH FORWARD GOSPEL INVITATION: COME INTO THE LIGHT Conclusion: learn the gait by returning

Introduction: God counts righteousness to sinners who believe, not to workers who earn. Summary: where we're at in Romans and where we're going in this passage. NOT BY WORKS (VV. 1–5) Question and answer 60 of our Heidelberg Catechism: "How are you righteous before God? Only by true faith in Jesus Christ...without any merit of my own, out of sheer grace, God grants and credits to me the perfect satisfaction, righteousness, and holiness of Christ, as if I had never sinned nor been a sinner, and had been as perfectly obedient as Christ was obedient for me—if only I accept this gift with a believing heart." BUT BY FAITH (V. 5) AND WITH FULL FORGIVENESS (VV. 6–8) Justification has two sides: • Negatively: he doesn't count your sin against you. He takes away your guilt. • Positively: he counts righteousness to you. He grants you righteousness. WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR US AS A CONGREGATION?

The Day of the Lord is like a coin with two sides. On one side there is judgment against the enemies of God and his people. Those who refuse to humble themselves before the covenant Lord will face his wrath and indignation. On the other side of the coin, there is salvation and restoration of his people. Those who humble themselves and seek the covenant Lord will receive his mercy. This is what we see in our passage today. God promises that the peoples will call upon his name when he removes the proud and usher in moments of joy. CALLING UPON THE LORD (9–10) REMOVAL OF THE PROUD (11–13) MOMENT OF JOY (14–20)

Introduction: "Do not go where it is all fine music and grand talk and beautiful architecture—those things will neither fill anybody's stomach, nor feed his soul. Go where the Gospel is preached, the Gospel that really feeds your soul, and go often!" The gospel of justification by faith humbles sinners, unites peoples, and establishes a life of grateful obedience. Summary: where we're at in Romans and where we're going in this passage. Relevance Bridge: What does this have to do with me? THE GOSPEL SILENCES BOASTING THE GOSPEL CREATES ONE PEOPLE THE GOSPEL ESTABLISHES OBEDIENCE

Summary: where we're at in Romans and where we're going in this passage. Relevance Bridge: What does this have to do with me? God publicly presented Jesus as the sacrifice who satisfies his righteous wrath, so that God may remain just while justifying sinners who believe in Jesus. THE PROVISION: "GOD PUT FORWARD CHRIST" (V. 25A) THE PURPOSE: "TO SHOW GOD'S RIGHTEOUSNESS" (VV. 25B–26A) THE RESULT: "SO THAT HE MIGHT BE JUST AND THE JUSTIFIER" (V. 26B) Conclusion: God smiles upon you because he frowned upon his Son in your place

We continue our 2026 evening series on the Christian Life, with the theme that we're pilgrims (message #01) whose sure footing is belonging to Jesus (message #02) as we live before the smiling face of God (message #03). Tonight, we'll focus on the essential doctrine for the journey—justification. Introduction: The case that won't close Road Sign (Series Connection Line): Remember the Bible's pilgrim story: God has brought us out of Egypt (sin), he's leading us through the wilderness (this life), and he's bringing us home to the Promised Land—ultimately the New Heavens and Earth (Rev. 21–22). The wilderness can make you feel alone. The road is long. The enemies are real. You start to wonder if you truly belong. As pilgrims on the way, God's provision for you this week when you feel like a spiritual orphan is to remember the Father named you and replaced fear with filial confidence. Thesis: Because the Father adopted you through the Son and sealed you by the Spirit, live as a child who belongs—resting in His w

Summary We continue our 2026 evening series on the Christian Life, with the theme that we're pilgrims (message #01) whose sure footing is belonging to Jesus (message #02) as we live before the smiling face of God (message #03). Tonight, we'll focus on the essential doctrine for the journey—justification. Introduction: The case that won't close Road Sign (Series Connection Line): We've been brought out, we're being brought through, and we're being brought home as pilgrims. Pilgrims can't walk with a prosecutor on their heels. God gives a road sign: His settled verdict in Christ—the doorway of peace that steadies your stride for the next step. Thesis: Because God has justified us by faith in Christ, the pilgrim has peace with God and stands in grace on the road of life—so even suffering produces hope, because the Spirit pours God's love into our hearts. THE PARADOX (PS. 143) THE SETTLED VERDICT THE PILGRIM JOY Spurgeon: "Peace is the flowing of the brook, but joy is the dashing of the waterfall." GOSPEL BRIDGE

Summary We continue our 2026 evening series on the Christian Life, with the theme that we're pilgrims (message #01) whose sure footing is belonging to Jesus (message #02) as we live before the smiling face of God (message #03). Tonight, we'll focus on the essential doctrine for the journey—justification. Introduction: The case that won't close Road Sign (Series Connection Line): We've been brought out, we're being brought through, and we're being brought home as pilgrims. Pilgrims can't walk with a prosecutor on their heels. God gives a road sign: His settled verdict in Christ—the doorway of peace that steadies your stride for the next step. Thesis: Because God has justified us by faith in Christ, the pilgrim has peace with God and stands in grace on the road of life—so even suffering produces hope, because the Spirit pours God's love into our hearts. THE PARADOX (PS. 143) THE SETTLED VERDICT THE PILGRIM JOY Spurgeon: "Peace is the flowing of the brook, but joy is the dashing of the waterfall." GOSPEL BRIDG

Introduction: "possibly the most important single paragraph ever written." Summary: where we're at in Romans and where we're going in this passage. Relevance Bridge: What does this have to do with me? We've all fallen short of God's righteous standard—therefore God justifies freely, by grace, through Christ's redemption. THE UNIVERSAL PROBLEM (V. 23) THE FREE VERDICT (V. 24A) THE MEANING OF JUSTIFICATION: ACCEPTANCE YOU CAN'T EARN (V. 24A) THE GROUND OF THE GIFT (V. 24B) Gospel Bridge: Conclusion: You fall short—but in Christ, God justifies freely, by grace, as a gift

Summary: where we're at in Romans and where we're going in this passage. Relevance Bridge: What does this have to do with me? God doesn't wait for guilty people to become righteous; in the gospel, he reveals and gives a righteousness from Himself—apart from the law—to all who believe in Jesus THE TURNING POINT: "BUT NOW..." (V.21A) THE SHOCK: "APART FROM THE LAW..." (V.21B) THE CONTINUITY: "WITNESSED BY THE LAW AND THE PROPHETS..." (V.21C) THE INSTRUMENT: "THROUGH FAITH...FOR ALL WHO BELIEVE" (V.22) Gospel Bridge: stop trusting yourself and trust Jesus!

A series through John Owen's "The Glory of Christ" at "Anchored," the men's ministry of the Oceanside United Reformed Church

Summary We continue our 2026 evening series on the Christian Life, with the theme that we're pilgrims (message #01) and our sure footing is belonging to Jesus (message #02). Tonight, we'll focus on living before the face of God while under the stars on our journey. Introduction: Whose face are you living for? EL ROI SEES YOU ON THE ROAD (GEN. 16:13–14) THE GOD WHO SEES ALSO SURROUNDS YOU (PS. 139:1–12) UNDER THE STARS, GOD GIVES SIGHT NOW AND PROMISES SIGHT FULLY THEN Conclusion: Seen, surrounded, and still moving

Summary: where we're at in Romans and where we're going in this passage. Relevance Bridge: What does this have to do with me? God's law silences our excuses, sentences our guilt, and strips away self-justification—so we'll flee to Jesus for the righteousness God's grace alone can give THE LAW SILENCES US (V. 19A) THE LAW SENTENCES US (V. 19B) THE LAW STRIPS US (V. 20) The problem isn't the law; the problem is you. The law requires what we as sinners cannot perform: personal, perfect, and perpetual obedience. Gospel Bridge: stop trusting yourself and trust Jesus!

Summary We continue our 2026 evening series on the Christian Life, having set out on our pilgrimage (message #01). Tonight, we consider the need for sure footing for the journey from several passages of Scripture and how Jesus provides it. Introduction "COMFORT": CERTAIN FOOTING BELONGING STEADIES AT THE BEGINNING AND END OF LIFE (ROM. 14:7–9) SURE FOOTING BECAUSE YOU WERE PURCHASED (1 COR. 6:19–20) FIVE BOARDS ON A BRIDGE (HEIDELBERG CATECHISM Q&A 1) GOSPEL-SHOES FOR THE FIGHT (EPH. 6:10–17)