Jim Jester Sermons

Exodus Set to Music

by Rev. Jim Jester

June 29, 2025

SCRIPTURE READING: Psalm 114:1-2

Psalm 114 is the second psalm of a series of psalms known as the Egyptian Hallel (Ps. 113-118), and is sung as part of Israel’s Passover ceremony. It is known as the “Song of the Exodus,” and it pictures God’s deliverance of Israel from Egypt.  It is likely that Jesus and his disciples sang the Hallel at their Passover feast recorded in the New Testament. It is also thought that this psalm was used to encourage the exiles on their return from Babylon. It has no introduction and no conclusion. It is an elaboration of the previous psalm. It begins and ends abruptly, without Hallelujah and without the name of the LORD.

In Remembrance of His Works

by Rev. Jim Jester

June 1, 2025

SCRIPTURE READING: Psalm 111:1

Psalm 111 begins with the simple declaration of “Praise the Lord,” i.e., in one word: “Hallelujah!” The first time we encounter the word “hallelujah” in the New Testament is in Revelation 19. That is when the Lord Jesus has judged Babylon the great, and begins to exercise His public kingship: “And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God.” (Rev. 19:1) So with this one word, hallelujah, it was as if the psalmist thought, “Before I describe how I will praise Him, let me simply declare His praise.” This declaration also implies that others should do the same.

God’s Grace & Israel’s Sin

by Rev. Jim Jester

April 20, 2025

SCRIPTURE READING: Psalm 106:45

INTRODUCTION

Psalm 106 depicts the mercy of God toward his covenant people, even as they forsook Him. This psalm is the dark counterpart of the previous psalm (Ps. 105), a shadow cast by self-will in its long struggle against light. Alexander Maclaren observed, “The keynote of Psalm 105 is, ‘Remember His mighty deeds;’ that of Psalm 106 is, ‘They forgot His mighty deeds.’” In this psalm, Israel’s history is written to show man’s sin, while the preceding psalm was to show God’s goodness. It truly is a national confession.

So why does true Israel, the white race of America, tend to forget their biblical history? It is because they are told by false churches that Israel means “Jews;” one of the biggest lies in the world.

Passover or The Lord’s Supper?

by Rev Jim Jester

April 6, 2025

SCRIPTURE READING: Matthew 26:30-32

“And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives. 31 Then saith Jesus unto them, ‘All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad. 32 But after I am risen again, I will go before you into Galilee.’”

INTRODUCTION

I have subtitled this lesson “Passover or The Lord’s Supper,” because the Gospel accounts of these occasions report many things happening, so much so that sometimes we might wonder what exactly is going on. Which is most important: Passover or the Lord’s Supper? Let’s just say for now, that it’s not so much one event or the other, but that both of these events are a part of our history as Christian Israelites.

God of the Covenant

by Rev. Jim Jester

March 2, 2025

SCRIPTURE READING: Acts 7:2-5

INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 105

The first 15 verses of Psalm 105 are also found in I Chronicles 16:8-22 and presented there as a composition of David, written and sung for the bringing of the ark of the covenant into Jerusalem. We can conclude then, that though this psalm is not here specifically attributed to King David, he is the author of it.

The history of God’s grace to Israel described in Psalm 105 is the history of Abraham, Joseph and Moses. This same topic is covered in the address of Stephen in Acts chapter 7:

The Victorious Procession to Zion

by Rev. James Jester

SCRIPTURE READING: Numbers 10:35-36

January 12, 2025

The Psalms: Series Introduction

The Book of Psalms is the hymn-book of the Bible. Besides being the hymn book for the religious services of the second temple, it has perhaps served as the greatest source of material for hymns and gospel songs throughout the centuries. The Psalms are the oldest surviving complete collection of poetry in the world, and is likely the most prominent devotional source of the Scriptures. Its uses are many:

1. It is a hymn book intended to be sung
2. It is a devotional book for both public and private use
3. It is a poetical book
4. It contains praise, prayer, thanksgiving, affirmations of faith, liturgies, wisdom poetry, history, and prophecy 

This collection of Hebrew poetry is not divided into chapters as the other books of the Bible are — it is the exception to the rule. It is not a divided book, but rather, it is a collection. It is of course, divided in one sense only, that of its division into separate books:

Most commentators believe that Psalm 68 is connected with the coming of the Ark of the Covenant into Jerusalem (II Samuel 6), celebrating not only that event, but also the faithfulness of God to give Israel victory over her enemies, and to make Jerusalem secure enough to bring the ark into the city. Thus, King David is musing in this psalm about the wonderful provisions of the Lord God of Israel.

by Rev. Jim Jester

December 30, 2024

SCRIPTURE READING: Ephesians 5:14-20 RSV

There are many kinds of music in the world, and each kind has its purpose for which it was created: Music for drama in movies, music for dancing and entertainment, music for exercise, music for relaxation, and music for the Temple, or Church. Should the Church use any or all of these styles of music?

The Bible speaks much about music. The word “sing” and “singing” appear in the Bible 148 times. The most used Hebrew word for “song” is shiyrah, found 90 times, and the second most used Hebrew word is shiyr, found 82 times. Music is addressed regularly in the Old and New Testaments: 63 times in the Old and 5 times in the New, the specific direction is given, “Sing to the Lord.”

There is also an interesting omission: Nowhere in the Bible is there a command to sing to the heathen, or to mankind in general. This fact alone ought to set straight those evangelicals who are attempting to “win others to Christ” with their music; many going so far as to use Rock music for their “worship” services. Rather, the only purpose of sacred music in light of Scripture is to direct praise to God.

by Rev. James Jester

December 1, 2024

SCRIPTURE READING: Jude 1:3-5

The letter of Jude is essentially a sermon. In it, Jude preached against the dangerous practices and doctrines that put the gospel of Jesus Christ in peril. These were serious issues that Jude dealt with.

The picture presented by Jude of professing Christianity is not a picture that brings us joy, but it is reality. If that reality were withheld, we would miss the necessary warnings that should help us recognize the attacks made on God's truth. At the same time Jude encourages us. He points at the unfaltering faithfulness and omnipotence of God and the Lord Jesus for those who are willing to hold on to the truth which was once and for all handed down to them, and to defend it against the attacks.

By Rev. James Jester

September 29, 2024

SCRIPTURE READING: I John 1:5-7

A study in First John. What is sin?

INTRODUCTION

I grew up in a typical Christian family during the 1960’s. My two brothers and sister and I were sent to Vacation Bible School, and our family attended the Cokesbury Methodist church. Years later, after my father was converted, we went to a different church (that’s another story).

I distinctly remember sitting in church, listening to the preacher, but not really understanding anything since I was so young. He occasionally used a word that I had never heard before, and I wondered just what it was. Was it something good or something bad? Then the next thing I heard from the preacher was a thundering, “God hates sin!” I suddenly knew that sin was something bad, something awful, and something that offended God. That event impressed the young boy for the rest of his life.

by Rev. James Jester

Sept 8, 2024

SCRIPTURE READING: II Peter 1:1-8

Peter’s second letter emphasizes again holy living, just as in his first letter. But in this second letter he warns of the false prophets, who were barely mentioned in the first letter (ref. I Pet. 4:5). So, in this second letter he stresses in greater detail, the kind of people who are trying to teach false doctrine to the churches of Asia Minor.

Certain people were teaching that salvation freed Christians from the necessity of living a holy life. They twisted Paul’s doctrine of salvation by grace to support their position. Since they believed it was all right to sin, they naturally mocked at the idea of Christ’s return in judgment. For their own personal gain they lured people by promising them that they could be Christians and still live immoral lives. Peter writes to counter these false teachings and their influence on the lives of Christians. He is concerned that there be a check against false teaching even after he is gone.