Chattanooga Valley Baptist Church

The Prophet Jeremiah was met with bold opposition from a man named Hananiah.  Hananiah grew weary of Jeremiah's doom and gloom and decided to preach a very different message. There was only one problem: nothing he said was true.  We live in a world with many competing messages. Christians today would be wise to consider the source of truth and guard our hearts against those things that cloud our understanding of the facts. Let's turn our attention to Pastor Brian as he shares this week's sermon from Jeremiah chapter 28, entitled, "The Land of Make Believe."

A conspiracy to rebel against the ruler?  That sounds like the plot of a modern thriller, but in this case, it was the story told in Jeremiah 27.  Through the prophet, God warned the people that they were on the verge of disaster if they followed through with their rebellion.  In this week's sermon, Pastor Brian takes a look at this conspiracy and reminds us that there is no authority except that which comes from the Lord.  Let's turn our attention to this week's sermon entitled "A Divine Lapdog."

Jeremiah’s people added sabbath-breaking to their long list of offenses. Of course, God gave them the opportunity to repent from this sin, just like all the rest. Christians often struggle with understanding and applying the sabbath. This week, we hope to understand how Christians can honor the sabbath in a uniquely Christ-honoring way.

Jeremiah's suffering was frequent and often excessive. In Jeremiah 20, we get a glimpse of one of Jeremiah's longest nights of suffering and his response to suffering. While we are not Old Testament Prophets like Jeremiah and will probably never find ourselves tortured in the stocks, we are called and set apart like Jeremiah, and there is plenty for us to learn about suffering from the Weeping Prophet.

Jeremiah's trial and Jesus' trial have some very similar features. The outcomes were very different, however. This Easter Sunday we consider how Jeremiah was delivered from death, but how Jesus was delivered unto death. But even death could not hold Jesus from winning his final appeal. 

What happens where there is no one left to reign? Jeremiah faces that terrifying reality as the final kings of Judah meet their ends. Thankfully, Jeremiah reminds us that there is a greater king to come.

A work in progress. That is probably the best way to describe our lives as we seek to abide in Christ. That's why the bible frequently turns to the analogy of clay in the hands of a potter. The potter has ultimate authority over the clay: to make and remake it as he sees fit. This image of the potter takes center stage in today’s message from Jeremiah 18 and 19. 

William Shakespeare once wrote, "To thine own self be true." While that may have been good advice in Hamlet, the saying doesn't really align with a biblical understanding of the world. Unfortunately, we live in a time when trusting in self is the way of the world. The prophet Jeremiah warned centuries ago: "Cursed is the man who trusts in man." 

In today's message from Jeremiah, chapter 17, entitled "In Us We Trust," Pastor Brian challenges us to examine where we place our trust and consider the dangers of trusting in man. 

Has God ever let you down? Jeremiah certainly felt like it! In today’s message from Jeremiah 15 will help us think through one of the biggest questions in our Christian faith.

Jeremiah is given a powerful object lesson to communicate God's judgment against the nation. Even with the threat of judgment, we can easily see how Jeremiah continues to point forward to the Good News about Jesus.

A dramatic conspiracy seeks to take the prophet Jeremiah’s life. This conspiracy reminds us of how important it is to walk by faith in a dangerous world. 

In the middle of all kinds of hardship, the people of God have confidence in the steady providence of God. Jeremiah’s catastrophic situation is an encouragement to us today to stay humble and trust the LORD. 

Christians are tempted to boast a lot about our accomplishments among other things. Jeremiah reminds us that we’ve got a better boast to make.

The world may be confused on the definition of truth, but God isn’t. Jeremiah fought some of the very same battles. This week, we consider the nature of truth and how we should confront a deceived society. 

We don't talk about backsliding much anymore...but Jeremiah isn't afraid of the topic. He concludes that it's nonsense for a people who know better and refuse to walk the right pathway. 

The people were adding their false gods to the Temple. By doing so, they were adding their own version of truth to their faith. Today's sermon will look at how modern Christians bring their own additions to the simple gospel. 

Jeremiah’s prophetic ministry takes him to the most basic unit of any society - the family. Today’s sermon takes a look at the importance of family as a building block for healthy churches and a healthy society.

This New Years Eve, we take a break from Jeremiah to look at John 14:1-14. God does not call us to a boring, miserable life but abundant life. As we look at Jesus’ words to His disciples in John 14 we see that our trust in the Lord extends beyond salvation but into an abundant life of great things in His name!

This Christmas Eve, we skip forward a little in the book of Jeremiah to consider how the weeping prophet handles the promise of the Messiah. What we find is that even in the midst of Jeremiah’s dire warnings, there is still the promise of a hopeful future for the people of God. But that hope isn’t found in any earthly ruler. 

Jeremiah’s ministry takes him to the heart of Judah’s religious identity. His powerful words challenge the people that true devotion to God isn’t found in their religious activities, but in their transformed hearts. 

Jeremiah challenges the people to reconsider their choices. He calls on them to remember the “ancient paths.” This isn’t a call to sentimentality, rather it is a call to ground ourselves in something that has stood the test of time. 

Jeremiah's warnings fell on deaf ears. His message was repeated over and over again in many different ways, but nobody paid any attention. In this text, we have a warning to be mindful of our own tendency to disregard God's clear instructions.

Jeremiah is sent on a quest to save the city of Jerusalem. All he has to do is find a good man. One good man and God will spare the city. As you can imagine, Jeremiah's quest comes up short. It would still come up short today. We are reminded, however, that there is one Good Man that is able to deliver people from sin. His name is Jesus

Judgment is at the door. God's people have to respond. Again, Jeremiah climbs through the generations and speaks to the church in her current situation.

God pleads with the nation of Israel to repent and return to him. Even as judgment is at the door, God is still reaching out to his people. The challenge for the church today is to live in a posture of repentance. 

The LORD accuses Israel of two evils - Rejecting and Replacing Him. As a consequence, they looked for the good gifts from God in other places. The church is warned of the same patterns in today's text from Jeremiah 2.

This week, Jeremiah's first sermon challenges the nation to consider how far they've drifted from the LORD. God has been faithful, but the people have not. As Christians, we are challenged to mind our own walk with Christ to remain steadfast in Him.

The third part of Jeremiah's opening visions are specifically related to his resolve and his mettle. He is being called to an incredibly difficult ministry, so he will need all the mental and spiritual toughness available to him. Increasingly, the church's calling is to a hostile, disinterested culture. The church needs the resolve of Jeremiah all the more in our present moment.

I have set the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being[a] rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure. (Psalm 16:8-9)

Paul concludes his letter to Timothy with a call to war. As Timothy seeks to lead his people well, Paul challenges him to "fight the good fight" as he is surrounded by false teachers and dangers for his people. Join us as we take a look at how this challenge given to Timothy is still relevant for us today.

Jeremiah is a book for our time. He spoke to a generation long ago that was Coming Apart. Join us as we kick off a brand new series through this incredibly relevant book.

As the church grew and spread, it became necessary to formalize the requirements for the church's leadership.  Today's sermon is to help us think through the selection of elders within the church.

The Lord gave the church a lot of liberty in how it should be organized. However, one thing he

was very specific about was the way the church should be led. This week, we look at the office

of deacon.

As Paul concludes his last known letter to the church at Thessalonica, he gives us a good reminder to stay the course. One day, the waiting will be over and we will have to answer the question - will we be found faithful?

Though we know we are still waiting for Jesus' return, we know that our waiting isn't passive. We are to be busy. Not only in spiritual pursuits - but we are also to be busy doing actual work. The idea of work and vocation are as old as creation itself. Though damaged by the fall, through the Gospel, even the idea of work is redeemed.

In his closing comments to the church at Thessalonica, Paul makes a simple request of the church - Pray for me. It is a simple command, but it is one that we often struggle with in our daily walk.

After giving the church encouragement about last things, Paul's conclusion is for the church to stay the course that God has set for them.  They're not left on their own to figure it out, however - God is faithful from beginning to end!

In his last words to the Thessalonians regarding the last days, Paul warns about a strong delusion that will take hold in the society. It is very difficult to look at our generation and not see a similarly strong delusion at work. May it cause us to eagerly work for the souls of our neighbors as we await the return of Christ.

The world is full of evil and the spirit of the antichrist is busy, but in spite of all that, we understand that God has restrained evil.  There is coming a day when the restraint is lifted.  It will be a terrifying time - but it is all part of God's ultimate plan to bring this fallen world to a fitting end.

The Bible says that the Created Order bears witness to God's glory. At the same time, we can't help but recognize that the lawlessness and rebellion of our world points to the truth that the clock is ticking on God's ultimate plan of redemption. Paul helps us understand that today in 2 Thessalonians 2:1-5.

1 & 2 Thessalonians are some of the Apostle Paul's most comprehensive words on last things. In 2 Thessalonians 1, Paul warns the church about the consequences of rejecting the Gospel.

Paul begins his second letter to Thessalonica with a powerful reminder that God is already answering his prayer from the end of the first letter. God is indeed sanctifying his church - but it doesn't come easy.

As Paul begins to bring I Thessalonians to a close, he instructs us to not quench the Spirit. Are we able to quench the Spirit of God, and if so, how? Today, we look at who the Spirit is, how we quench the Spirit, and the impact it has on our lives.

Simple instructions that are easy enough for a kindergarten classroom. Yet they are instructions that continue to confound us as adults. This week, we look at simple words to help maintain peace within the body of Christ.

In two brief verses, Paul encourages the church and her leaders about how they should serve and respect one another. We recognize a close tie between how fathers should shepherd their homes and how Christian leaders should shepherd the church.

As we conclude Paul's explanation to the Thessalonians about Last Things, we recognize that we ought to stay ready. But what does that look like? Thankfully, Paul gives us some really simple instructions for how we should live in the light of Jesus' return.

The Day of the Lord is a theme throughout the Bible. Paul continues that theme in his discussion of last things with the Thessalonians. The warnings are throughout Scripture...will we heed the warnings?

This sermon will look specifically at the idea of the Rapture as it is presented by Paul. Instead of trying to fit this text into some prescribed eschatology, we'll just take a look at the text and let the words speak for themselves. Ultimately, we recognize that God will work out the timing of these events. What matters more than the timing is whether or not our names are written on the roll of eternal life.

One of the topics we have the most questions about is death and dying. The Biblical Worldview doesn't leave us alone to figure it out. In fact, Paul goes to great lengths to set our minds at ease about these questions.