Podcast
Second City Sermons
Hosted by Second City Church · EN
Welcome! Here you will find the weekly sermons of Second City Church in Harrisburg, PA. We hope these sermons will help you worship God and celebrate the good news of Jesus.
32episodes
Episodes
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Psalms for the Summer: Faithful and Unfaithful Generations : Psalm 78
2w ago00:37:35Tap to summarizePsalm 78 is both a history lesson and a personal challenge. It opens with a clear call to remember what God has done and to pass that memory on to the next generation, not just as information, but as a living faith. The psalm honestly recounts two things running side by side throughout Israel's story: the wondrous acts of God and the consistent rebellion of His people. That same honesty is part of what makes Christianity credible, because it does not flinch from either the beauty or the brokenness of the world. Psalm 78 ultimately points forward to Jesus, the Good Shepherd, who holds both sides of the story together. He restores what is broken and goes to the cross to deal finally with human rebellion, resolving the story at great cost to Himself. The challenge for every reader is to ask what history they are telling and whether it is pointing the people around them toward hope in God.
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Psalms for the Summer: I Cry Aloud to God : Psalm 77
3w ago00:36:52Tap to summarizeThere are seasons when God feels distant, prayers seem unanswered, and doubt creeps in. Psalm 77 speaks honestly into those moments, showing that lament is not a sign of weak faith but an invitation God Himself extends. Asaph moves through raw despair, asking whether God has forgotten His people, before shifting his gaze from his own suffering to the character and acts of God. He remembers that God is holy, powerful, and caring, pointing to the Exodus as proof that God makes a way even when all hope seems lost. For those on this side of the New Testament, the cross stands as the ultimate answer to every doubt Asaph voiced. Because God did not spare His own Son, He has not forgotten you in your darkest night.
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Psalms for the Summer: The Haughty Defiance of 76
4w ago00:29:03Tap to summarizePsalm 76 is an ancient war psalm that declares God's absolute control over the rise and fall of nations. Christians can and should be patriotic, expressing genuine gratitude to God for the blessings and freedoms their country provides. At the same time, gratitude does not mean ignoring injustice. It means holding both thankfulness and honest historical perspective together. God is not a distant observer of human events. He actively intervenes in history on the side of the humble and holds the powerful accountable. Every loyalty we have, to self, family, community, and country, must ultimately be subordinate to our loyalty to God. The practical response to God's rule over history is to align ourselves with the poor and overlooked, because that is where God stands.
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Resurrection Life: Contentment
Jun 3000:33:54Tap to summarizeCoveting is one of the quietest and most dangerous sins we face. It begins as an inner desire for what belongs to someone else, but Scripture places it in the same company as murder and adultery because it is where so many other sins are born. We live in a culture built around stirring up unholy desire, making it easy to covet other people's careers, relationships, recognition, and possessions without even noticing. The good news is that the cross of Jesus Christ does not simply forgive our coveting. It removes the very reason for it. When we understand that God did not spare His own Son for us, we can trust that He will provide everything we truly need. Fixing our eyes on that love is what loosens the grip of the next thing.
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Resurrection Life:Truth Telling
Jun 2300:36:14Tap to summarizeLying is one of the most common struggles in human life, but the Ninth Commandment reveals that dishonesty is far more than a personal failure. It is harm done to our neighbors, rooted in malice, pride, or shame. God loves truth because He loves justice, life, and the people He created in His image. The cross of Jesus Christ is the ultimate act of truth telling, declaring simultaneously that our sin is real and costly, and that we are deeply and unconditionally loved. That love is the foundation that frees us from the need to hide or exaggerate. When we understand both the weight of our sin and the depth of God's love, we are freed to live honestly.
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Resurrection Life: Possessions
Jun 1600:34:13Tap to summarizeThe eighth commandment 'do not steal' extends far beyond obvious crimes like robbery or burglary. According to biblical teaching and Protestant reformers, theft includes time theft from employers, taking credit for others' work, fraudulent business practices, and even failing to give God the honor He deserves. While 86% of adults believe they satisfy this commandment, most overlook subtle forms of stealing in daily life. The command addresses heart issues about ownership and trust, reminding us that everything belongs to God and we are merely stewards. True obedience involves honest work, generous living, and recognizing God as the source of all blessings rather than grasping for what isn't rightfully ours.
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Resurrection Life: Sexual Faithfulness
Jun 900:38:10Tap to summarizeThe seventh commandment reveals God's beautiful design for sexuality within marriage while addressing how sin has distorted this gift. God created sex for three purposes: procreation, pleasure, and as a picture of divine love between Christ and the church. However, sin has broken this design through adultery, pornography, emotional affairs, and lustful thoughts. Jesus expanded the definition of adultery beyond physical acts to include lustful intentions of the heart. Our response should be twofold: listen vigilantly to God's word about sexual purity and receive His abundant love and forgiveness. The gospel offers hope for all sexual brokenness, as Christ pursues and redeems those who have fallen short of God's design.5
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Resurrection Life: Loving LIfe
Jun 200:41:23Tap to summarizeThe sixth commandment goes far beyond simply avoiding murder. The Hebrew word 'ratsak' specifically refers to unlawful killing, emphasizing that human life is sacred because every person bears God's image. Jesus expanded this understanding to include our words and attitudes, showing that murder begins in the heart with anger and contempt. This commandment calls us not just to avoid taking life, but to actively promote and protect it. We're challenged to speak words that build up rather than tear down, seek the wellbeing of our neighbors, and treat every person with dignity and respect. When Christians have truly lived out this principle throughout history, it has transformed entire communities through love and charity.
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The “Valley of Vision” at Last!
May 2600:36:27Tap to summarizeLife's valleys often feel like places to escape, but Scripture reveals they can become extraordinary places of spiritual vision. In Isaiah 22, God calls Jerusalem the Valley of Vision, showing that our lowest moments can offer the clearest glimpses of God's glory. When we face difficulties, we often respond with frantic self-salvation or mindless escapism, but God calls us to look for Him in these deep places. In our valleys, we encounter God as both warrior and shepherd - fighting for our freedom while remaining intimately present with us. The Holy Spirit transforms these difficult seasons into launching points for spiritual growth, just as Jerusalem's valley became the birthplace of the early church at Pentecost.
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Resurrection Life: Honored Relationships
May 1900:35:37Tap to summarizeThe fifth commandment to honor your father and mother extends far beyond childhood obedience. The Hebrew word for honor means to give weight or significance to someone's presence, recognizing their God-given role. This foundational relationship teaches us how to engage with all authority figures throughout life. Honor isn't blind obedience but proper recognition and respect. Those in authority are equally called to honor those under their care through love, guidance, and protection. Jesus perfectly modeled this by honoring the Father even unto death, showing us the way to healthy relationships with authority.
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