Timothy Keller Sermons Podcast by Gospel in Life

Genesis tells the why of creation, not the how. It's a poem, a song about a historical event. The Christian doctrine of creation is that this world is good and the purpose of nature is to be a community. We can take joy in cultivating and enjoying the physical world. This sermon was preached by Rev. Timothy Keller at Redeemer Presbyterian Church on October 15, 2000. Series "Genesis - The Gospel According to God". Scripture: Genesis 1:1-8, 31; Exodus 14,15; Judges 4,5; Revelation 21:2; Isaiah 40:14; John 1:1-3; Psalm 19:1-4

Wise people are good at choosing, forging, and keeping friendships. The marks of a true friend are constancy, carefulness, candor, and counsel. When you are liberated to be the great friend you need to be by the great friendship of Jesus on the cross, then you will find yourself getting, paradoxically, all the friends your heart needs. This sermon was preached by Rev. Timothy Keller at Redeemer Presbyterian Church on May 29, 2005. Series "Proverbs: True Wisdom for Living". Scripture: Proverbs 17:17; 18:24; 25:17,20; 26:18,19; 27:5,6,9,14,17; 28:23; 29:5, John 14-17, Genesis 3:8

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus contrasts two groups who appear the same on the outside,but have different motives on the inside. Religious people are superficial,hiding behind the letter of the law; but people who are changed by the gospel are shining in the spirit of the law. This sermon was preached by Rev. Timothy Keller at Redeemer Presbyterian Church on March 28, 1999. Series "The Mount; Life in the Kingdom". Scripture: Matthew 5:11-20, Psalm 1, Matthew 7.

When we say "hallowed be thy name," we are making the adoration of God the ultimate concern of our lives. By giving God the praise he deserves,we will heal our worldview as well as our souls. This sermon was preached by Rev. Timothy Keller at Redeemer Presbyterian Church on April 30, 1995. Series "The Lord's Prayer 1995". Scripture: Matthew 6:6-15

Without a judgment day,we would live in a hopeless world. But if there is a judgment day,none of us could bear the weight of judgment. However,in Christ we have already been judged. In Christ we can live between two judgments: the judgment we've already passed through and the coming judgment of the world. This sermon was preached by Rev. Timothy Keller at Redeemer Presbyterian Church on January 23, 2000. Series "The Apostles' Creed; Getting a Vocabulary for Faith". Scripture: John 12:41-50

It is much easier to believe in God than to trust in God. God calls Abraham to live a life of faith, but Abraham struggles. He asks God how he knows that he can trust God. God responds with a demonstration that is one of the clearest pointers to the Gospel in the Old Testament. In so doing, God enables Abraham to truly live a life of faith. This sermon was preached by Rev. Timothy Keller at Redeemer Presbyterian Church on November 3, 1996. Series "Daring to Draw Near". Scripture: Genesis 15:1-21

The Easter story tells us of a new beginning after disaster - that after death there is life. If you spiritualize the resurrection of Jesus, you will have comfort but not the truth. The message of Easter is that right now, Jesus has flesh and bones. This changes the way you think, the way you live, and the way you feel. This sermon was preached by Rev. Timothy Keller at Redeemer Presbyterian Church on April 12, 1998. Series "Easter Service". Scripture: Luke 24:37-43

The gospel of Jesus Christ transcends cultural and socioeconomic differences. Here we have three examples of conversions in Philippi: of the religious, the oppressed, and the secular. The gospel is presented through rational discourse, a power encounter, and through practical embodiment of a gospel-changed life. The message of Christ liberates and transforms lives, and unites people who once had nothing in common into one family. This sermon was preached by Rev. Timothy Keller at Redeemer Presbyterian Church on November 9, 2003. Series "The Necessity of Belief". Scripture: Acts 16:13-34

The gospel should change not just our inner being but also the way we relate to the outside world. Paul engaged with society every day. He was distressed, indignant and compassionate about the Athenians' beliefs, but he kept his eyes on the cross to inform his words. He recognized their idols and raised up Jesus as the only true God. This sermon was preached by Rev. Timothy Keller at Redeemer Presbyterian Church on March 29, 1998. Series "The Church - How to Believe Despite Christians". Scripture: Acts 17:16-34

Adam and Eve sinned even before they ate the forbidden fruit. As soon as they asked themselves why they should obey God, they had sinned in their hearts. Sin is when we remove God as the ultimate authority and enthrone ourselves in God’s place. By elevating ourselves at the expense of God, God’s good world became broken. Yet, the story of Adam and Eve does not end with despair but with hope. God, in the midst of his judgment, promises that a day will come when one of Eve’s children will utterly annihilate the power of sin. This sermon was preached by Rev. Timothy Keller at Redeemer Presbyterian Church on July 5, 1998. Series "Genesis 1998". Scripture: Genesis 3:11-24

Romans 8:28 is one of the most famous verses in the Bible. People love the thought that God works out all things for good for those who love Him. Yet, Romans 8:28 is intimately connected with Romans 8:29-30 where God promises to bodily resurrect those He has called. In other words, the Bible does not promise that Christians will have more pleasant circumstances in this life than non-Christians. The Bible promises a better life to come—not better life circumstances in this world. This sermon was preached by Rev. Timothy Keller at Redeemer Presbyterian Church on July 6, 1997. Series "Happiness and Weeping". Scripture: Romans 8:28-30

The Biblical view of sex is unique. It rejects the view, held by some conservative cultures, that sex is dirty. Instead, the Bible views sex so highly that it cannot be shared casually with anyone. Sex is meant to bind two people together. It renews the covenant that they have made with one another. This sermon was preached by Rev. Timothy Keller at Redeemer Presbyterian Church on February 7, 2005. Series "1 Corinthians: Leader Talks, 2004-2005". Scripture: 1 Corinthians 6-7

In Romans 12, Paul looks at the Gospel and then exhorts us as to how we should live in the light of what Christ has done. He urges us to give up control over our lives and become “living sacrifices” for God. Unfortunately, the problem with a living sacrifice is that it keeps moving off the altar. Unless we stare deeply at Christ’s sacrifice on our behalf, we will never trust God enough to become the living sacrifices that he calls us to be. This sermon was preached by Rev. Timothy Keller at Redeemer Presbyterian Church on September 18, 2011. Series "Every Member Ministry". Scripture: Romans 12:1-8

The rich young ruler in this passage had followed all the rules, but received an astonishing rebuttal from Jesus. Any encounter with the “real” Jesus shocks us. This young man’s religious assumptions failed him because he didn't understand the concept of “treasure in heaven,” and consequently, he was unable to recognize the true freedom and inheritance Jesus offers. This sermon was preached by Rev. Timothy Keller at Redeemer Presbyterian Church on March 19, 1995. Series "The Seven Deadly Sins". Scripture: Matthew 19:16-25

The story of Noah and the flood is about second chances and new beginnings; God is ready to give us another chance. God calls us into three great relationships: with the earth, with all the people on earth, and with himself, the Lord of the Earth. This sermon was preached by Rev. Timothy Keller at Redeemer Presbyterian Church on December 10, 2000. Series "Genesis - The Gospel According to God". Scripture: Genesis 9:1-17

Knowing God is not an anti-rational mystical experience. Knowing God occurs when the truth overflows from your mind into your entire being. Knowing God is when the truth you’ve heard a thousand times becomes experientially real, and you marvel at the miracle of God’s love for us. This sermon was preached by Rev. Timothy Keller at Redeemer Presbyterian Church on April 2, 1995. Series "Knowing that We Know God; 1 John, Part 2". Scripture: 1 John 3:1-3

The great tension of the Old Testament is the seemingly ambiguous status of God's covenant with His people. Sometimes God speaks as if He will bless Israel irrespective of whether or not they keep the statues of His covenant. Other times the blessing appears to be conditional upon their obedience. This deep tension is resolved through the cross. Jesus takes upon Himself the curse for breaking the covenant. Meanwhile,all of us who have disobeyed the covenant receive - through faith in Christ - the reward that Jesus deserved for keeping the covenant. This sermon was preached by Rev. Timothy Keller at Redeemer Presbyterian Church on September 9, 2007. Series "The New Heart God Gives". Scripture: Deuteronomy 29:2-4, 9-18

Modern people are often uncomfortable when the Bible speaks of God’s jealousy. Yet, God’s jealousy is intimately related to God’s love toward us. The relationship that God calls us to is not merely one of subjects obeying a king. Rather, God calls us into a marriage relationship with Him, and His jealousy is spousal. God seeks a relationship with us that is characterized by priority, fidelity, and intimacy. This sermon was preached by Rev. Timothy Keller at Redeemer Presbyterian Church on March 27, 2011. Series "To Know the Living God; The God Who Makes Alive". Scripture: Exodus 20:1-6

The proper basis for prayer is to approach God as our loving, Heavenly Father and to view our relationship with him as a family relationship - not a business relationship. To be able to pray with this kind of confidence, we need to know that we have been adopted as his children, with all the privileges that entails, by the sacrificial death of his only begotten Son, Jesus. This sermon was preached by Rev. Timothy Keller at Redeemer Presbyterian Church on April 23, 1995. Series "The Lord's Prayer 1995". Scripture: Matthew 6:6-15

Do we see Jesus as he is or merely as we would like to see him? That same question goes for religious people and skeptics alike. For skeptics and seekers “come and see” means to come, think, and examine the evidence. For Christians “come and see” means to come and be a disciple of Jesus. We may think we are following him when in reality we are just following our own hearts. Coming to Jesus with a heart that seeks to see him as he wants to be seen opens the way to a life-changing encounter. Come and see. This sermon was preached by Rev. Timothy Keller at Redeemer Presbyterian Church on November 15, 1998. Series "John - On Knowing the Christ". Scripture: John 1:35-51