ThornCrown Covenant Baptist Church

Lord's Day: June 28, 2026  Preacher: Carlos Montijo  Series: First John  Topic: Sin  Scripture: 1 John 5:11–17; Hebrews 7:25; Romans 5:9; Galatians 6:1; Proverbs 27:17; 1 John 2:19–20; Psalm 97:10; 1 John 2:9, 11; 3:15–17; Romans 6:23; James 2:10 16If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask and God will for him give life to those who commit sin not leading to death. There is a sin leading to death; I do not say that he should make request for this. 17All unrighteousness is sin, and there is a sin not leading to death. 1 John 5:16–17 Challenging, difficult verses to translate and to interpret Any translation requires interpretation Who is “the brother” sinning not unto death? Who do the pronouns refer to? What is the sin unto death and not unto death? What kind of death and life? Whio should we pray for and not pray for? I.  Many have misunderstood and misused this text to develop false doctrines and conclusions. Mortal and venial sin Intercessory prayer "Prayer is not to be made for the dead, nor for those who are known to have sinned the sin leading to death” (1689 Baptist Confession, cf. Westminster Confession of Faith). Galatians 6:1 II. Who do the pronouns refer to? Every interpretation has difficulties. III. Four major views of the passage Join us on Sundays for worship at 10:00am: ThornCrown Covenant Baptist Church4712 Montana AveEl Paso, Texas 79903 Contact us at: web: ThornCrownCovenant.Churchcall/text: (915) 843-8088email: [email protected] Scripture quotations taken from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com

Lord's Day: June 21, 2026  Preacher: Carlos Montijo  Series: First John  Topic: Of Man  Scripture: Proverbs 20:6–7; 31:10; John 5:24; 1 Corinthians 11:27–32; John 19:30; Exodus 20:12; 1 Peter 2:17; Romans 12:9–10; Ephesians 2:10; Proverbs 4:1–13; 1 Corinthians 4:14–17; Romans 1:16; Matthew 23:6–12; Ephesians 5:1–2, 15–33; 1 Corinthians 11:3; Genesis 2:23; 1 Timothy 2:12; 1 Peter 3:7; Ephesians 6:1–4; Matthew 6:33; Proverbs 22:6; 2 Timothy 3:15; Deuteronomy 6:1–9, 20–21; Joshua 24:15 Many a man will call out his own lovingkindness, But a faithful man, who can find? A righteous man who walks in his integrity— How blessed are his sons after him. Proverbs 20:6–7 Men, like women, need local, godly role models and influences in their life to show them the way—highlights the importance of a sound local church. I.  A Godly Father is a Godly Son A godly son is a wise son, recognizes the generational wisdom of his spiritual forefathers who came before him. II. A Godly Father is a Godly Husband A godly husband loves his wife and honors her, 1 Peter 3:7 III. There are some who deny the importance of family worship… Ephesians 6:1–4 God commands fathers to be intentional about training their children, not haphazard. IV. The Family & Worship "A sacred duty of parents, especially fathers, is to practice family worship in the home, since they are ultimately responsible for teaching and modeling the Scriptures to their children." (Of Mankind, Gender, Marriage, Family, & Sexuality) John Calvin on Ephesians 5:31 Join us on Sundays for worship at 10:00am: ThornCrown Covenant Baptist Church4712 Montana AveEl Paso, Texas 79903 Contact us at: web: ThornCrownCovenant.Churchcall/text: (915) 843-8088email: [email protected] Scripture quotations taken from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com

Lord's Day: June 14, 2026  Preacher: Carlos Montijo  Series: First John  Topic: God's Decree  Scripture: 1 John 5:14–16; Ephesians 5:15–17; Psalm 143:10; Colossians 4:12; Acts 20:27; Ephesians 1:7–10; Deuteronomy 29:29; 1 Corinthians 14:33; Isaiah 46:10–11; Job 42:1–2; Genesis 50:20; Acts 2:23; 4:28; Colossians 3:11; Ezekiel 33:10–11; 1 Samuel 2:25; John 6:40; 1 Thessalonians 4:3–11; 5:18; 1 Peter 2:13–15; 1 John 2:1; 1 Thessalonians 1:1; John 17:17; 2 Peter 3:18; 1 Timothy 3:15; Hebrews 10:24–25; 2 Samuel 10:12; James 4:13–17; 1 John 2:17 “The secret things belong to Yahweh our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our sons forever, that we may do all the words of this law." Deuteronomy 29:29 I.  The will of God The will of God is a doctrine that is not so difficult to understand in one sense (although certain aspects are complex)—but it is difficult for many to accept. Ephesians 1:7-10 II. Does God have more than one will? God’s decree does not always reflect His commands; yet His purposes are always accomplished in accord with His will. III. Does God have a permissive will? Isaiah 46:10-11 Was there a Cross because of sin? Or was there sin because of the Cross? Jonathan Edwards: “God decrees all things, and even all sins. Acts ii. 23. “Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain;” iv. 28. “For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.” If the thing meant, be only that Christ’s sufferings should come to pass by some means or other; I answer, they could not come to pass but by sin.” Gordon Haddon Clark, Christian Philosophy, The Works of Gordon Haddon Clark (The Trinity Foundation, 2004), IV <https://www.trinitylectures.org/christian-philosophy-the-works-of-gordon-haddon-clark-volume-paperback-p-145.html> IV. How then can we know the will of God? For our specific lives? What about Dr. Emerson Eggerichs' The 4 Wills of God? Pietism Join us on Sundays for worship at 10:00am: ThornCrown Covenant Baptist Church4712 Montana AveEl Paso, Texas 79903 Contact us at: web: ThornCrownCovenant.Churchcall/text: (915) 843-8088email: [email protected] Scripture quotations taken from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com

Lord's Day: June 7, 2026  Preacher: Carlos Montijo  Series: First John  Topic: Prayer  Scripture: 1 John 5:10–15; Ephesians 6:18; Romans 13:12; Hebrews 4:14–16; 1 John 3:21–23; John 14:13–15; 16:23–24; Matthew 6:7–13; Psalm 125:2; 22:3; 113:1–9; James 4:3; 5:16 And this is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him. 1 John 5:14–15 I.  Confidence & Boldness before Him These verses are precious gospel promises and indicatives, and guide our understanding of our assured confidence and status before God as believers, and our intimate relationship with Him, how we relate to Him in prayer Prayer: to boldly ask God, confidently, according to His will II. Now, we have confidence before Whom? Who is Him? The Father? The Son? The Lord's Prayer III. Prayer: God’s Condescension IV. To ask boldly, according to His will What does it mean to ask God according to His will? Join us on Sundays for worship at 10:00am: ThornCrown Covenant Baptist Church4712 Montana AveEl Paso, Texas 79903 Contact us at: web: ThornCrownCovenant.Churchcall/text: (915) 843-8088email: [email protected] Scripture quotations taken from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com

Lord's Day: May 31, 2026  Preacher: Carlos Montijo  Series: First John  Topic: Assurance  Scripture: 1 John 5:13; Titus 3:5; John 20:30–31; 1 John 1:3–4; 2:1, 8, 12–14, 21, 26; 3:24; 4:10–11; 1 Timothy 4:1–2; James 2:18; 1 John 1:9; Hebrews 11:6; 6:4–6 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life. 1 John 5:13 I.  Assurance: Imbalances and extremes to avoid “[Presumption] may be defined as the condition of a soul which, because of a badly regulated reliance on God's mercy and power, hopes for salvation without doing anything to deserve it [salvation]…” (Catholic Encyclopedia) II. The beloved apostle wrote this letter to God’s people for several reasons. Knowledge of the doctrinal truth in John’s letter is a means which God uses to personally assure us of our salvation in an ongoing, enduring sense. III. Is this verse law or gospel? The biblical doctrine of assurance requires and presupposes a proper law and gospel balance and distinction. The 1689 London Baptist Confession (and most Reformed confessions) dedicates an entire chapter on the doctrine of assurance. IV. Biblical ongoing assurance is like a well-watered tree—with roots, trunk, fruits External, objective, and internal, subjective means of assurance Means of Grace Join us on Sundays for worship at 10:00am: ThornCrown Covenant Baptist Church4712 Montana AveEl Paso, Texas 79903 Contact us at: web: ThornCrownCovenant.Churchcall/text: (915) 843-8088email: [email protected] Scripture quotations taken from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com

Lord's Day: May 24, 2026  Preacher: Carlos Montijo  Series: First John  Topic: Of Woman  Scripture: Proverbs 31:10–31; 1 Timothy 2:9–10; 1 Peter 3:3–4; Luke 16:13; Matthew 6:24; 1 John 5:11; 1 Corinthians 15:10; Titus 2:1–5; John 16:20–22; Ecclesiastes 12:13 "An excellent woman, who can find? For her worth is far above pearls." Proverbs 31:10 I.  A Woman of Excellence II. A Godly Mother is a Godly Christian Godliness applies to both men and women, but in different ways. The Proverbs 31 woman as a whole is a woman of faith. III. A Godly Mother is all of these wonderful things, and more A godly mother is a composite of godliness. Join us on Sundays for worship at 10:00am: ThornCrown Covenant Baptist Church4712 Montana AveEl Paso, Texas 79903 Contact us at: web: ThornCrownCovenant.Churchcall/text: (915) 843-8088email: [email protected] Scripture quotations taken from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com

Lord's Day: May 17, 2026  Preacher: Carlos Montijo  Series: First John  Topic: Of Woman  Scripture: Proverbs 31:10–31; Genesis 1:27; Titus 1:9; 2 Timothy 3:1–9; 1 Corinthians 11:3, 7–10 "An excellent woman, who can find? For her worth is far above pearls." Proverbs 31:10 I.  A godly mother is a godly woman Feminism teaches women (and children, and men) to believe that the best thing for a woman, the highest good for a woman, is to be independent, to have her own career, finances, to make her own living—outside of a man. II. A godly woman is against feminism A godly woman acknowledges her proper place in her family, her marriage, her own family, her church, her society, and respects the boundaries of each God-ordained sphere. A godly woman does not make important, life-altering decisions independently, without first seeking godly counsel, including male authority, in her life—her father, mother, her heavenly Father, her church, the older, wiser women in her church, the male leadership in her church, premarital counseling, and so on. Join us on Sundays for worship at 10:00am: ThornCrown Covenant Baptist Church4712 Montana AveEl Paso, Texas 79903 Contact us at: web: ThornCrownCovenant.Churchcall/text: (915) 843-8088email: [email protected] Scripture quotations taken from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com

Lord's Day: May 10, 2026  Preacher: Carlos Montijo  Series: First John  Topic: Of Woman  Scripture: Proverbs 31:10–31; Ephesians 6:1–4; Colossians 3:21; Exodus 20:12; Deuteronomy 5:16; Ephesians 2:10; Psalm 68:3–6; Proverbs 12:4; Mark 4:16–20; 2 Corinthians 12:9–10; Philippians 2:13; 1 Peter 3:1–6; Ephesians 5:22–24 "An excellent woman, who can find? For her worth is far above pearls." Proverbs 31:10 Motherhood cannot be considered in isolation. Motherhood presupposes other identities, roles, responsibilities, relationships. God has designed and instituted a logical, necessary creation order to our creation identities and roles as men and women. I.  A Godly Mother is a Godly Daughter The Baptist Larger Catechism, Questions 113-117 Psalm 68:3-6 II. A Godly Mother is a Godly Wife A godly wife trusts God her Father to always and continuously work in her, to accomplish all His good purpose in her life (Phil 2:13). 1 Peter 3:1–6, Ephesians 5:22–24 Join us on Sundays for worship at 10:00am: ThornCrown Covenant Baptist Church4712 Montana AveEl Paso, Texas 79903 Contact us at: web: ThornCrownCovenant.Churchcall/text: (915) 843-8088email: [email protected] Scripture quotations taken from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com

Lord's Day: May 3, 2026  Preacher: Carlos Montijo  Series: First John  Topic: Means of Grace  Scripture: 1 John 5:9–12; Matthew 3:17; 1 John 5:1, 4; John 1:12–13; Romans 3:21–26; 2 Samuel 15:12, 31, 34; 17:14; Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8–10; John 3:13–18; Titus 2:11–14 10The one who believes in the Son of God has this witness in himself. The one who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed in the witness which God has borne witness about His Son. 11And the witness is this, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. 12He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have that life. 1 John 5:10–12 I.  God uses means. God's Providence Does God ever accomplish his purpose without or apart from some means or other? ‘Gordon Clark and the Philosophy of Occasionalism’, Douglas Douma, 23 February 2018 <https://www.douglasdouma.com/2018/02/23/gordon-clark-and-the-philosophy-of-occasionalism/> II. And the witness of God is this… The difference between having the Son and not having the Son is the difference between having eternal life and not having eternal life. Join us on Sundays for worship at 10:00am: ThornCrown Covenant Baptist Church4712 Montana AveEl Paso, Texas 79903 Contact us at: web: ThornCrownCovenant.Churchcall/text: (915) 843-8088email: [email protected] Scripture quotations taken from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com

Lord's Day: April 26, 2026  Preacher: Carlos Montijo  Series: First John  Topic: Love  Scripture: 1 John 5:1–3; Philippians 2:13; 1 John 4:19; Hebrews 11:6; Romans 14:23; James 2:14–17; John 14:15, 21–23; 15:8–14, 17; Romans 13:8–10 2By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and do His commandments. 3For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome. 1 John 5:2–3 I.  The Assurance of Love The believer will grow in his/her love for God and for other believers, for those who also “have been born of Him” II. The Orders of Love Martin Luther's Bondage of the Will: “For if there be nothing by which we are justified but faith only, it is evident that those who are not of faith, are not justified. And if they be not justified, they are sinners. And if they be sinners, they are evil trees and can do nothing but sin and bring forth evil fruit—Wherefore, "Free-will" is nothing but the servant of sin, of death, and of Satan, doing nothing, and being able to do or attempt nothing, but evil!” Faith without love... III. Love According to Christ Both God our Father and Christ Jesus our Lord define love (man’s true love) almost exclusively as obedience to Their commandments. Join us on Sundays for worship at 10:00am: ThornCrown Covenant Baptist Church4712 Montana AveEl Paso, Texas 79903 Contact us at: web: ThornCrownCovenant.Churchcall/text: (915) 843-8088email: [email protected] Scripture quotations taken from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com

Lord's Day: April 19, 2026  Preacher: Carlos Montijo  Series: First John  Topic: Truth  Scripture: 1 John 5:6–11; John 20:31; Mark 15:39; Matthew 3:16–17; Romans 3:21–26; Matthew 17:5; John 5:33–47; 10:1–10; Luke 10:16; 1 Samuel 8:4–9; 1 John 5:20 9If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater; for the witness of God is this, that He has borne witness about His Son. 10The one who believes in the Son of God has this witness in himself. The one who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed in the witness which God has borne witness about His Son. 1 John 5:9–10 I.  The witness of God is greater When did God the Father specifically bear witness about His Son? What is the witness of God pointing to, concerning His Son? II. Is there any other time when the Father bore witness about His Son? The Death of Death in the Death of Christ III. The Word of God can bear witness for you, or against you… The Word of God makes no distinction between believing a person, or believing in a person, or believing a proposition, or something about someone. To reject God’s witnesses and means is to reject God Himself. Join us on Sundays for worship at 10:00am: ThornCrown Covenant Baptist Church4712 Montana AveEl Paso, Texas 79903 Contact us at: web: ThornCrownCovenant.Churchcall/text: (915) 843-8088email: [email protected] Scripture quotations taken from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com

Lord's Day: April 12, 2026  Preacher: Carlos Montijo  Series: First John  Topic: Truth  Scripture: 1 John 5:7–9, 11; John 17:1–5; Deuteronomy 19:15–21; Matthew 18:16; 2 Corinthians 13:1, 8, 14; Leviticus 19:11–16; Proverbs 14:5, 25; 1 Corinthians 14:37–40; Matthew 3:16–17; Romans 3:21–26; Matthew 17:5; John 5:33–47; 1 John 5:20 7For there are three that bear witness: 8the Spirit and the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement. 9If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater; for the witness of God is this, that He has borne witness about His Son. 1 John 5:7-9 I.  The marks of a true witness II. God is so concerned for the undiluted truth… III. The witness of God is greater Join us on Sundays for worship at 10:00am: ThornCrown Covenant Baptist Church4712 Montana AveEl Paso, Texas 79903 Contact us at: web: ThornCrownCovenant.Churchcall/text: (915) 843-8088email: [email protected] Scripture quotations taken from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com

Lord's Day: April 5, 2026  Preacher: Carlos Montijo  Series: Seasoned with Grace  Topic: Resurrection  Scripture: Luke 24:1–53; Acts 12:4; Exodus 12:12–13, 21–27; John 1:29; Jude 5; Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 16:2; John 4:24; 1 Corinthians 15:1–8; Isaiah 53:5; Acts 2:24; Mark 10:45; John 11:24–26; 3:16; Romans 6:3–11; Colossians 2:8–15; Ephesians 2:4–7 I.  The Reality of the Resurrection Resurrection in Greek is anastasis II.  The Resurrection According to the Old Testament III. The Day of the Resurrected God-Man IV.  The Gospel According to the Resurrection 1 Corinthians 15 The Resurrection of Christ presupposes the vicarious, sin-bearing, wrath-satisfying, Death of Christ. This does not mean that God the Father was ever angry at His beloved, eternal Son with whom He was well pleased (Matthew 3:17, Matthew 17:5, Mark 1:11, Mark 9:7, Luke 3:22, Luke 9:35, 2 Peter 1:17). V. The Glory and Power and Grace of the Resurrection John 11:24-26, Romans 6:3-11, Colossians 2:8-15, Ephesians 2:4-7 We meet on Sundays for worship at 10:00am: ThornCrown Covenant Baptist Church4712 Montana AveEl Paso, Texas 79903 Contact us: web: ThornCrownCovenant.Churchcall/text: (915) 843-8088email: [email protected] Scripture quotations taken from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com

Lord's Day: March 29, 2026  Preacher: Carlos Montijo  Series: First John  Topic: Scripture  Scripture: 1 John 5:6–8; Romans 8:15–17; Psalm 31:5; Isaiah 65:15–16; John 14:5–6; Hebrews 6:18; Matthew 17:1–8; Luke 2:13–14; 12:57 6.... It is the Spirit who bears witness, because the Spirit is the truth. 7For there are three that bear witness: 8the Spirit and the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement. 1 John 5:6–8 I.  The Spirit of Truth What does it mean that the Spirit of God bears witness? II. The Spirit of God is the truth, and bears witness to nothing but the truth Psalm 31:5, Isaiah 65:15–16, John 14:5–6 III. The Johannine Comma (Comma Johanneum) 1 John 5:7–8 (NKJV) "7For there are three that bear witness [in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one. 8And there are three that bear witness on earth]: the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree as one.” Textual variants, textual criticism, King James Onlyism IV. Textual Support for the Johannine Comma Matthew 17:1-8 V. Is the Johannine Comma authentic? Join us on Sundays for worship at 10:00am: ThornCrown Covenant Baptist Church4712 Montana AveEl Paso, Texas 79903 Contact us at: web: ThornCrownCovenant.Churchcall/text: (915) 843-8088email: [email protected] Scripture quotations taken from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com

Lord's Day: March 22, 2026  Preacher: Carlos Montijo  Series: First John  Topic: Christ  Scripture: 1 John 5:6; Matthew 16:16; 2 Peter 3:17–18; John 1:1–4, 14–15; 1 Timothy 1:15; Galatians 4:4–5; John 3:16; 1 John 4:14; John 19:32–37; Mark 1:9–11; 10:45; 1 Corinthians 2:8; 15:47; John 3:13; Leviticus 17:10–11, 14; Hebrews 9:17–28; Acts 20:28; Ephesians 1:7–10 This is the One who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ; not with the water only, but with the water and with the blood. It is the Spirit who bears witness, because the Spirit is the truth. 1 John 5:6 I.  The One who came… "Familiarity breeds contempt" II. Water and blood? III. What is the significance of Jesus coming by water and blood? Gnosticism, Cerinthus, Docetists Athanasius, On the Incarnation "cross and circulatory speech" IV. Not with the water only, but with the water and with the blood The importance of blood Without blood, you cannot live V. Does God have blood? Join us on Sundays for worship at 10:00am: ThornCrown Covenant Baptist Church4712 Montana AveEl Paso, Texas 79903 Contact us at: web: ThornCrownCovenant.Churchcall/text: (915) 843-8088email: [email protected] Scripture quotations taken from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com

Lord's Day: March 15, 2026  Preacher: Carlos Montijo  Series: First John  Topic: Union with Christ  Scripture: 1 John 5:5; John 17:3; 1 Timothy 5:25; John 14:28; Matthew 28:17; John 9:35–39; Matthew 16:13–17; John 5:17–24; 19:7; Hebrews 13:8–9; Titus 2:13; 1 John 1:3; 5:20 5Who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? 1 John 5:5 "Faith” is not just a verb—it is also a noun. I.  What does it mean to believe that Jesus is the Son of God? The Apostle John emphasizes believing, receiving, knowing, confessing, seeing, abiding over 100 times in this letter. John 17:3 II. How is Jesus the Son of God? Arianism, Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormonism Matthew 28:17, John 9:35-39 III. What saith the Scripture? Matthew 16:13–17; John 5:17–24, 19:7 IV. One of the primary subjects of John’s entire letter... Icthus: "Ἰησοῦς Χρῑστός Θεοῦ Uἱός Σωτήρ", "Jesus Christ, God's Son, Savior" Join us on Sundays for worship at 10:00am: ThornCrown Covenant Baptist Church4712 Montana AveEl Paso, Texas 79903 Contact us at: web: ThornCrownCovenant.Churchcall/text: (915) 843-8088email: [email protected] Scripture quotations taken from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com

Lord's Day: March 8, 2026  Preacher: Carlos Montijo  Series: First John  Topic: Doctrines of Grace  Scripture: 1 John 5:4–5; Jude 3; Hebrews 5:12; Romans 12:1; Psalm 9:10; Acts 20:27; Ephesians 2:8; 1 Peter 5:10; Jude 13; Genesis 49:4; Ephesians 4:14; Matthew 11:7; 2 Peter 2:1; Zechariah 4:6; John 18:33–37; Romans 8:37–39; 2 Corinthians 2:14–17; Deuteronomy 6:4; 2 Thessalonians 2:11–12; Revelation 19:11–15; 1:15; Colossians 1:21–23; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Ephesians 3:14–21 4For everything that has been born of God overcomes the world; and this is the overcoming that has overcome the world—our faith. 5Who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? 1 John 5:4–5 I.  What is this “faith” that overcomes the world? Personal faith? Or the faith? Body of divinity? Thomas Watson: "The second proposition is, that the way for Christians to be settled—is to be well grounded. "If you continue grounded and settled" (Colossians 1:23). The Greek word for grounded is a metaphor which alludes to a building that has the foundation well laid. So Christians should be grounded in the essential points of true religion, and have their foundation well laid." II. Overcoming by believing that Jesus is the Son of God. Verb tenses are important in the Bible, to maintain proper balance and distinction of the law and the gospel, to avoid confusing primary doctrines, such as distinguishing justification (one time act) and sanctification (progressive, ongoing). III. How do we overcome the world? IV. Not by might…not by sight… Zechariah 4:6, John 18:33-37, 2 Corinthians 2:14-17, 2 Thessalonians 2:11–12, Revelation 19:11–15 Join us on Sundays for worship at 10:00am: ThornCrown Covenant Baptist Church4712 Montana AveEl Paso, Texas 79903 Contact us at: web: ThornCrownCovenant.Churchcall/text: (915) 843-8088email: [email protected] Scripture quotations taken from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com

Lord's Day: March 1, 2026  Preacher: Carlos Montijo  Series: First John  Topic: Typology  Scripture: 1 John 5:1–5; John 3:16; 1:9, 12–13; 1 John 4:4–6; Philippians 1:6; 2 Timothy 4:2; Titus 1:9; 2:13; Exodus 12:50–51; Jude 5; Hebrews 3:14–19; Numbers 21:5–9; 1 Corinthians 10:9; John 3:14–15; Numbers 14:13–14; Isaiah 63:10–14; Romans 8:37–39 4For everything that has been born of God overcomes the world; and this is the overcoming that has overcome the world—our faith. 5Who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? 1 John 5:4–5 I.  Why the word “everything” (pan, v. 4) instead of “everyone” (pas, v. 1)? II. This is partly why we seek to baptize only true believers who "have been born of God..." Westminster Larger Catechism (MESV), Q. 165. What is baptism?  A. Baptism is a sacrament of the new testament, in which Christ has ordained the washing with water in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, to be a sign and seal of ingrafting into himself, of remission of sins by his blood, and regeneration by his Spirit; of adoption, and resurrection to everlasting life; and by which the parties baptized are solemnly admitted into the visible church, and enter into an open and professed engagement to be wholly and only the Lord’s. III. What is this “world” that we believing conquerors overcome? First define key terms, otherwise you cannot make proper sense of the passage. Context is king. IV. Born of God…the Father Need to account more carefully for what both the Old and New Testaments reveal about Christ. The Chicago Statement on Biblical Hermeneutics, Article III. WE AFFIRM that the Person and work of Jesus Christ are the central focus of the entire Bible. WE DENY that any method of interpretation which rejects or obscures the Christ-centeredness of Scripture is correct. Join us on Sundays for worship at 10:00am: ThornCrown Covenant Baptist Church4712 Montana AveEl Paso, Texas 79903 Contact us at: web: ThornCrownCovenant.Churchcall/text: (915) 843-8088email: [email protected] Scripture quotations taken from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com

Lord's Day: February 22, 2026  Preacher: Carlos Montijo  Series: First John  Topic: Law & Gospel Distinction  Scripture: 1 John 5:3; 4:10, 19; Ephesians 2:1–16; James 1:17; 2 Timothy 2:15; Romans 7:11–8:2; James 4:1–7; Romans 1:16–17; Matthew 11:25–30; Galatians 5:6; 1 Peter 5:6–7 3For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome. 1 John 5:3 Intricate, harmonious connection between love, faith, and obedience—on love visibly manifested and applied I.  His commandments are not burdensome. Why are God’s commandments not burdensome for believers? Because of God’s love. II. “Through many dangers, toils, and snares, I have already come…” If the law of God is not burdensome, then why do we still struggle with burdens? Romans 7:12-8:2 III. The source of quarrels and conflicts among you. James 4:1-7 IV. My burden is light. Matthew 11:25-30 1 Peter 5:6-7 Join us on Sundays for worship at 10:00am: ThornCrown Covenant Baptist Church4712 Montana AveEl Paso, Texas 79903 Contact us at: web: ThornCrownCovenant.Churchcall/text: (915) 843-8088email: [email protected] Scripture quotations taken from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com

Lord's Day: February 15, 2026  Preacher: Carlos Montijo  Series: It Is Written: Scripture Alone  Topic: Authority  Scripture: 2 Kings 17:13–14; Nehemiah 8:1–8; Psalm 119:1; Matthew 23:1–3; Romans 3:2; Colossians 1:9–10; Psalm 19:7–8 13Yet Yahweh warned Israel and Judah by the hand of all His prophets and every seer, saying, “Turn from your evil ways and keep My commandments, My statutes according to all the law which I commanded your fathers, and which I sent to you by the hand of My slaves the prophets.” 14However, they did not listen, but stiffened their neck like their fathers, who did not believe in Yahweh their God. 2 Kings 17:13–14 The OT is full of the same synecdoches we saw in the NT that point to either a larger part of, or the whole of, the OT—the Law, the Prophets, the Law and the Prophets, etc. I.  To Be, or Not to Be, God-Breathed? That Is the Church’s Question II. The Jews, the Pharisees, and Josephus III. The Roman Catholic Church-State Pope Boniface VIII, Unam Sanctam: “…we declare, we proclaim, we define that it is absolutely necessary for salvation that every human creature be subject to the Roman Pontiff.”[1] The early church was highly varied and diverse, not monolithic, and in many ways was unlike any of the major denominations we see today. IV. The Roman Catholic Canon The first time that the Roman Catholic Church defined her canon of the Bible dogmatically—was during the Council of Trent (1546): "But if any one receive not, as sacred and canonical, these same books entire with all their parts, as they have been used to be read in the Catholic Church, and as they are contained in the old Latin vulgate edition; and knowingly and deliberately despise the traditions aforesaid; let him be anathema [eternally condemned].” V.  Eastern Orthodoxy: The Other “One True Church” & Her Bible(s) Russian Orthodox Catechism of Philaret (1782-1867) of Moscow (1830), "Examined and Approved by the Most Holy Governing Synod [of the Russian Orthodox Church], and Published for the Use of Schools, and of all Orthodox Christians, by Order of His Imperial Majesty," affirms the Protestant canon instead, contradicting the earlier 1672 Synod of Jerusalem. VI. The Russian Orthodox Canon of Scripture VII. The 1672 Council of Jerusalem “The 1672 Synod of Jerusalem…rejected any further attempts at reformulation [and reformation] of Orthodox teachings and strengthened Orthodox beliefs against both the Protestant Reformation and Catholicism. The Synod produced...the Confession of Dositheus (Patriarch of Jerusalem), in which point by point it refuted Cyril [Lucaris’] eighteen points. In addition, it added four catechetical style questions that defended the restriction of reading and study of Scripture to the priests, defended the role of tradition, as well as a lengthy defense of the veneration of icons and prayers to the saints [and defined the canon of Scripture to go against Protestantism].”[2] We meet on Sundays for worship at 10:00am: ThornCrown Covenant Baptist Church4712 Montana Ave El Paso, Texas 79903 Contact us at: web: ThornCrownCovenant.Churchcall/text: (915) 843-8088email: [email protected] Scripture quotations marked LSB are from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com [1] Unam Sanctam - Papal Encyclicals, Pope Boniface VIII (December 24, 1294 - October 11, 1303), 18 November 1302 <https://www.papalencyclicals.net/bon08/b8unam.htm>. [2] ‘The Confession of Dositheus (The Eastern Orthodox Synod of Jerusalem of 1672)’, ed. by Dennis Bratcher, The Voice, <https://www.crivoice.org/creeddositheus.html>.

Lord's Day: February 8, 2026  Preacher: Carlos Montijo  Series: It Is Written: Scripture Alone  Topic: Authority  Scripture: Romans 3:1–4, 9–20; John 9:34; Luke 6:39; Mark 7:13; 1 Timothy 3:15; Matthew 7:12, 29; John 8:12–19; Romans 8:16, 23–27, 34; John 1:1; 1 Thessalonians 2:2–13; 2 Thessalonians 2:15; Deuteronomy 18:9–14; 1 Timothy 2:5; 1 John 2:2; 5:6–9; 1 Corinthians 4:6–12; Romans 11:16–24; Titus 1:9 May it never be! Rather, let God be true and every man a liar, as it is written, “That You may be justified in Your words, And overcome when You are judged.” Romans 3:4 17“Even in your law it has been written that the witness of two men is true. 18“I am He who bears witness about Myself, and the Father who sent Me bears witness about Me.” John 8:17–18 There is no such thing as an infallible human authority, for all men and women are corrupted, fallen sinners, and liars. I.  What does infallible mean? Not capable of erring (making errors)—at all God-Breathed Scripture, Free Grace Broadcaster 239 (Chapel Library, 2017), https://www.chapellibrary.org/book/gbscfg/godbreathed-scripture. Some traditions dogmatically affirm that it is possible for some people to be infallible (the pope), or that some people lived on earth without ever committing any personal sin, even while still suffering the other effects of the fall (Eastern Orthodoxy). Romans 3:9-20 II. Of Fallible Men & Infallible Authorities John 8:12-19 We as believers and as the church of God already have, not one, not two, not three, but four infallible Authorities—God and His Word. III. Belief in infallible authorities is neither contrary to Scripture—it is Scriptural—nor is it anti-Protestant… As long as infallible authorities are restricted to God and His Word alone. IV. Parallel Problems: Fallible Mediators & Authorities Those who impose so-called “infallible” churches, traditions, popes, councils, etc., undermine and replace the authority and power of God and His Word. V.  Why would you look to men for what God alone can provide? We cannot go beyond what is written, cannot go against what is written, cannot contradict what is written—the Jesus test, Scripture test, “It is written” test, Logos test, Logic test. We meet on Sundays for worship at 10:00am: ThornCrown Covenant Baptist Church4712 Montana Ave El Paso, Texas 79903 Contact us at: web: ThornCrownCovenant.Churchcall/text: (915) 843-8088email: [email protected] Scripture quotations marked LSB are from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com

Lord's Day: February 1, 2025  Preacher: Carlos Montijo  Series: First John  Topic: Law & Gospel Distinction  Scripture: Psalm 11:7; 1 John 1:9–2:2; Deuteronomy 32:3–4; 1 John 3:4; Romans 7:13; 1 Corinthians 5:6–8; Matthew 5:29–30; Romans 8:6–8; 1 John 3:8–10; Ecclesiastes 7:20, 29; Mark 10:18; Isaiah 64:6; Romans 3:10–12; Galatians 2:21; John 1:29; Galatians 4:4–5; Hebrews 4:15; 1 Peter 2:22–24; Romans 5:19; 4:3–8; 2 Corinthians 5:20–21; Ephesians 4:20–24; Philippians 3:20–21 For Yahweh is righteous, He loves righteousness; The upright will behold His face. Psalm 11:7 Two of the most important subjects in the entire Bible: sin and righteousness I.  “…so that you may not sin.” According to God, we are all sinners, born guilty under the Law of God. What is your life’s purpose? To not sin? Who are you a child of? The Belgic Confession, Article 22: The Righteousness of Faith II. The Gospel According to Righteousnesses Are you righteous? The Bible describes different kinds of righteousnesses with respect to God and man, which summarize the entire story of the Bible, the whole counsel of God, and reveals the true gospel to us: The Righteousness of God Original Righteousness Self-Righteousness The Righteousness of Jesus Christ The Imputed Righteousness of Believers The Renewed Righteousness of Believers The Culminated Righteousness of Believers An Orthodox Catechism, Question 60: How are you right with God? Only by true faith in Jesus Christ.(a) Even though my conscience accuses me of having grievously sinned against all God's commandments and of never having kept any of them,(b) and even though I am still inclined toward all evil [in my flesh],(c) nevertheless, without my deserving it at all,(d) out of sheer grace,(e) God grants and credits to me the perfect satisfaction, righteousness, and holiness of Christ,(f) as if I had never sinned nor been a sinner, as if I had been as perfectly obedient as Christ was obedient for me.(g) All I need to do is to accept this gift of God with a believing heart.(h)  (a) Rom. 3:21-28; Gal. 2:16; Eph. 2:8-9; Phil 3:8-11  (b) Rom. 3:9-10  (c) Rom. 7:23  (d) Tit. 3:4-5  (e) Rom. 3:24; Eph. 2:8  (f) Rom. 4:3-5 (Gen. 15:6); 2 Cor. 5:17-19; 1 John 2:1-2  (g) Rom. 4:24-25; 2 Cor. 5:21  (h) John 3:18; Acts 16:30-31 Join us on Sundays for worship at 10:00am: ThornCrown Covenant Baptist Church4712 Montana AveEl Paso, Texas 79903 Contact us at: web: ThornCrownCovenant.Churchcall/text: (915) 843-8088email: [email protected] Scripture quotations taken from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com See Carlos E. Montijo, ‘Series: Biblical Church Discipline’, ThornCrown Covenant Baptist Church: El Paso, TX, January 2022 <https://www.thorncrowncovenant.church/sermons/series/biblical-church-discipline> [accessed 25 October 2025].

Lord's Day: January 25, 2025  Preacher: Carlos Montijo  Series: It Is Written: Scripture Alone  Topic: Authority  Scripture: Matthew 23:1–4; Luke 4:16–21; Exodus 18:13–26; Deuteronomy 1:11–18; Ezra 10:1–6, 10–12; Nehemiah 13:23–30; Matthew 7:29; John 8:14–15, 19; 1 John 2:23; John 9:39–41; Mark 7:13 2“The scribes and the Pharisees have seated themselves in the chair of Moses; 3therefore all that they tell you, do and keep, but do not do according to their deeds; for they say things and do not do them." Matthew 23:2–3 Jesus rebukes the scribes and Pharisees, who do not practice what they preach, insofar as what they preach/teach actually agrees with Moses and the prophets, the sacred Scriptures, the written Word of God. I.  The kathedra of Moses Moses’ seat is not some extrabiblical, “infallible” tradition or authority that is outside of or independent of what is written by God. II. What saith the Scriptures? Exodus 18:13–26, Deuteronomy 1:11–18, Ezra 10:1–6, 10–12, Nehemiah 13:23–30 III. God always requires His leaders to be called and qualified, without hypocrisy. Both then, in Israel (kings, scribes, priests, prophets, judges, etc.), and now, in the church (pastors, elders, teachers, etc.) Pharisees and Sadducees emerged, and seated themselves in the authoritative teaching chair of Moses (Matt. 23:2-3)—but, were they actually called and qualified by God to do so? The scribes, Pharisees, Sadducees were denounced by Christ as hypocritical, unbiblical usurpers and abusers of authority. We meet on Sundays for worship at 10:00am: ThornCrown Covenant Baptist Church4712 Montana Ave El Paso, Texas 79903 Contact us at: web: ThornCrownCovenant.Churchcall/text: (915) 843-8088email: [email protected] Scripture quotations marked LSB are from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com

Lord's Day: January 18, 2025  Preacher: Carlos Montijo  Series: It Is Written: Scripture Alone  Topic: Church History  Scripture: Malachi 3:13–4:6; Acts 3:24; John 10:22–23; Luke 1:11–17; Matthew 11:7–15; John 10:27–29 4“Remember the law of Moses My servant, even the statutes and judgments which I commanded him in Horeb for all Israel. 5“Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and awesome day of Yahweh. 6“And he will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land, devoting it to destruction.” Malachi 4:4–6 These words mark the end of the Old Testament, the last of the Old Testament prophets, and the beginning of the 400 years of silence. I.  These are “The 400 Years of Prophetic Silence,” the Intertestamental Period Although there was a glaring prophetic silence in Israel, there was also great political and spiritual change, and turbulence. No new Scripture was given at this time, though the entire Old Testament was eventually translated into what became the next universal language of the time—Greek. II. No prophet had come to Israel during that time, no God-breathed Scriptures had been written. “So there was great distress in Israel, such as had not been since the time that prophets ceased to appear among them.” (1 Maccabees 9:27) John the Baptist III. Now we have an historical, prophetic, biblical context to the apocryphal writings. The issues surrounding the apocrypha do focus on what they say and teach, but especially on how they are regarded and used by religious traditions and churches. IV. What are the apocryphal books? Do they evidence God’s breath? None of the apocrypha claim to be inspired by God; on the contrary, some explicitly claim to be mere human writings, in part because they acknowledge that prophecy had ceased during that time. All of the apocryphal books were written during the 400 years of prophetic silence. V.  The apocrypha contain various errors and contradictions Type Count Examples Chronological 6 Tobit 14:15, Judith 1:1, Baruch 1:2, 1&2 Macc death of Antiochus Geographical 2 Tobit 1:4–5 (Upper Galilee), Judith 1:1 (Nineveh) Historical Figures 5 Nebuchadnezzar in Nineveh, Holofernes, Ahasuerus Authorship issues 2 Wisdom, Sirach (post-Solomon) Embellishments 4 Judith, Susanna, Bel, Tobit (as parable) We meet on Sundays for worship at 10:00am: ThornCrown Covenant Baptist Church4712 Montana Ave El Paso, Texas 79903 Contact us at: web: ThornCrownCovenant.Churchcall/text: (915) 843-8088email: [email protected] Scripture quotations marked LSB are from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com

Lord's Day: January 11, 2025  Preacher: Carlos Montijo  Series: It Is Written: Scripture Alone  Topic: Scripture  Scripture: Luke 11:45–52; Matthew 23:29–36; Zechariah 1:1; 2 Chronicles 24:20–22; Luke 7:28; Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 25:46; Ephesians 2:1–19 49“For this reason also the wisdom of God said, ‘I will send to them prophets and apostles, and some of them they will kill and some they will persecute, 50so that the blood of all the prophets, shed since the foundation of the world, may be charged against this generation, 51from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who was killed between the altar and the house of God; yes, I tell you, it shall be charged against this generation.’" Luke 11:49–51 Sometimes Jesus was confrontational I.  Which Zechariah? Zechariah 1:1, 2 Chronicles 24:20–22, Protoevangelium of James II. Jesus does not include any martyrdoms from the Intertestamental Period Nor John the Baptist “So there was great distress in Israel, such as had not been since the time that prophets ceased to appear among them.” (1 Macc. 9:27, after Malachi) Jewish Talmud (Sotah 9:48b): “As the Sages taught in a baraita (Tosefta 13:3): From the time when Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi died, the Divine Spirit departed from the Jewish people, as these three were considered to be the last prophets.” III. Differing levels of authority within the canonical books of Scripture Law of Moses is the foundation for everything that follows All Scripture is authoritative, but the New Testament is the final written Word of God, making it more authoritative, the final, God-breathed, written Word that divinely expands on, fulfills, continues and abrogates, and interprets the Old Testament. Augustine: “The new is in the old concealed (hidden); the old is in the new revealed.” Beware: Inverted hermeneutic of Annihilationism, Conditional Immortality (Kirk Cameron) Louis Gaussen: “The whole tenor of Scripture places the writers of the New Testament in the same rank with the prophets of the Old; and even when it establishes any difference between them, it is always in putting the last in date above the first, in so far as one of God's sayings is superior to the saying that preceded it (not…in divinity, not in dignity, but in authority).”[1] We meet on Sundays for worship at 10:00am: ThornCrown Covenant Baptist Church4712 Montana Ave El Paso, Texas 79903 Contact us at: web: ThornCrownCovenant.Churchcall/text: (915) 843-8088email: [email protected] Scripture quotations marked LSB are from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com [1] François Samuel Robert Louis Gaussen, God-Breathed: The Divine Inspiration of the Bible, ed. by John W. Robbins, trans. by David Scott, Trinity Paper, 57 (The Trinity Foundation, 2001), pp. 78, 84 <https://www.trinitylectures.org/god-breathed-the-divine-inspiration-of-the-bible-p-88.html>.

Lord's Day: January 4, 2025  Preacher: Carlos Montijo  Series: It Is Written: Scripture Alone  Topic: Scripture  Scripture: Acts 3:17–26; Psalm 119:41–48; Luke 24:25–27; 2 Samuel 7:12–17; Hebrews 11:35–38; Romans 3:1–2; Jude 3; Romans 16:25–27 “But the things which God announced beforehand by the mouth of all the prophets, that His Christ would suffer, He has thus fulfilled." Acts 3:18 The issues of the canon of Scripture and biblical authority are foundational differences between Protestantism and everything else. Basil Manly, Jr., The Bible Doctrine of Inspiration, ed. Timothy George and Denise George (Broadman and Holman, 1995). François Samuel Robert Louis Gaussen, God-Breathed: The Divine Inspiration of the Bible, ed. John W. Robbins, trans. David Scott, Trinity Paper 57 (The Trinity Foundation, 2001), https://www.trinitylectures.org/god-breathed-the-divine-inspiration-of-the-bible-p-88.html. John D. Meade and Peter J. Gurry, Scribes and Scripture: The Amazing Story of How We Got the Bible (Crossway, 2022). I.  What is a biblical prophet? The office of a prophet? “All the prophets,” including the New Testament prophets, are divine representatives, who speak for, and, beginning with Moses—write for—God, with supernatural aid, direction, and authority. II. “The prophets” and “all the prophets” of Scripture alone Every genuine prophet spoke, and eventually wrote, directly or indirectly, of the coming Messiah and His kingdom, with divine authority. III. Does the New Testament also quote apocryphal books? There is a difference between quoting something directly and alluding to something, and loosely resembling something as opposed to consciously alluding to it. Romans 3:2 IV. We normally understand Scripture and canon to refer to the same books. Some early church writers like Jerome, Athansius, Cyril, did not list apocrypha as part of the Old/New Testament canons, although they sometimes quoted them as (lower-tier) "Scripture." We have the same Old Testament that was entrusted to the Jews, which Jesus and His Apostles affirmed. The entire Old Testament speaks to, foretells, anticipates, looks forward to the coming Messiah who takes away all our sin. We meet on Sundays for worship at 10:00am: ThornCrown Covenant Baptist Church4712 Montana Ave El Paso, Texas 79903 Contact us at: web: ThornCrownCovenant.Churchcall/text: (915) 843-8088email: [email protected] Scripture quotations marked LSB are from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com

Lord's Day: December 28, 2025  Preacher: Carlos Montijo  Series: It Is Written: Scripture Alone  Topic: Scripture  Scripture: Romans 3:1–2; Acts 7:37–39; Luke 24:25–27, 44–49; John 10:27–28; 1 Corinthians 14:21; John 1:45; Matthew 22:40; Romans 3:21–22; Acts 13:15; 10:43 1Then what advantage has the Jew? Or what is the value of circumcision? 2Great in every respect. First of all, that they were entrusted with the oracles of God. Romans 3:1–2 Opponents of Protestantism falsely claim that there is no evidence in the early church for the Protestant Old Testament canon. This betrays history, church history, and the competing criteria that were used—especially in the early church—to recognize the books of the Old Testament. I.  There were two primary competing criteria in the early church used to identify the Old Testament: 1. Which books were part of the Hebrew canon that the Jews used, and which Christ and His Apostles affirmed? Rom. 3:1-2, Acts 7:37-39, etc. 2. Which books did the (early) churches read in church and deemed edifying?[1] This is less precise. The church does not define God’s Word—God’s Word defines the church. II. The Protestant Canon of the Old Testament The overwhelming testimony of the Jews was that they held to an exclusive, 22/24 book canon of the Old Testament, matching the Protestant canon—apart from any "infallible" authority/council defining their canon—and Jesus and the Apostles quoted it to them repeatedly and demonstrated how He fulfilled it, refuted them with it, appealed to it as the highest authority, held them accountable to it, without ever debating which books were inspired. See “The Apocrypha Disproves Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy,” https://faithalone.net/topical-articles/articles/catholicism/apocrypha.html. III. Hebrew Bible—Tanakh—has three sections: Torah (Law), Nevi’im (Prophets), Ketuvim (Writings) Apocrypha are not included in the Hebrew Bible. IV. The 22/24 Hebrew canon and threefold subdivision of the Old Testament is found in numerous ancient Jewish and Christian sources, and in the Old and New Testaments. Anglican John Cosin (1594-1672) lists over 76 Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox sources, authorities, councils which rejected/distinguished the Apocrypha, in A Scholastical History of the Canon of the Holy Scripture, https://confessionalbibliology.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/The_Works_Of_John_Cosin_Scholastical_his.pdf. V.  The New Testament uses synecdoches and shorthand phrases like “the Law and the Prophets” to denote the entire Old Testament. Also "the Law," “the Prophets,” “all the Prophets,” "the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms"  Old Testament also uses canonical synecdoches. We meet on Sundays for worship at 10:00am: ThornCrown Covenant Baptist Church4712 Montana Ave El Paso, Texas 79903 Contact us at: web: ThornCrownCovenant.Churchcall/text: (915) 843-8088email: [email protected] Scripture quotations marked LSB are from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com [1] John D. Meade and Peter J. Gurry, Scribes and Scripture: The Amazing Story of How We Got the Bible (Crossway, 2022), p. 120.

Lord's Day: Dec 21, 2025  Preacher: Carlos Montijo  Series: Seasoned with Grace  Topic: Christ  Scripture: John 1:1–18; Luke 2:19–20; Romans 12:1; Hebrews 13:15–16; 1 John 2:2; Isaiah 53:5–11; John 1:28–29, 35–37; Matthew 1:18–25; Isaiah 7:14; Luke 2:21–24; Leviticus 12:1–8 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14 Note: A part of the sermon was lost at around 50 minutes of the recording. We restored and merged the recordings that we did have. Jesus is our treasure, our marvel, our wonder, which we ponder in our hearts and bring praise, glory, and honor to Him by our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving, offering our entire lives as a living sacrifice unto Him (Luke 2:19-20; Rom. 12). I.  The twfold meaning of Christmas: Two big picture, bookend truths The Hypostatic Union of Christ and the Gospel II. What is the Hypostatic Union? Truly God, truly Man: “We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God. Begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father; through him all things were made (John 1). For us and for our salvation, he came down from heaven, was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary and became truly human.” (Nicene Creed) Jesus Christ is truly God and truly man in one Person. The word “hypostatic” comes from the Greek hupostasis (ὑπόστασις), meaning “substance.” Both natures operate in harmony—without confusion, change, division, or separation. The Chalcedonian Definition God the Son is the subject and Person of the Incarnation, not the human nature of Christ: anhypostasis, enhypostasis. III. The Gospel of God’s Propitiation Isaiah 53; 1 John 2:2; John 1:28-29, 35-37 IV. That is the second truth about Christmas—why Jesus was born The Virgin Birth: Isaiah 7:14, Matthew 1:18-25, Luke 2:21-24, Leviticus 12:1-8 We meet on Sundays for worship at 10:00am: ThornCrown Covenant Baptist Church4712 Montana Ave El Paso, Texas 79903 Contact us at: web: ThornCrownCovenant.Churchcall/text: (915) 843-8088email: [email protected] Scripture quotations taken from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com

Lord's Day: December 14, 2025  Preacher: Carlos Montijo  Series: It Is Written: Scripture Alone  Topic: Scripture  Scripture: 2 Peter 3:1–2, 14–18; Genesis 3:1; Acts 17:11; 2 Timothy 3:15–17; 1 Timothy 3:15; Matthew 15:3; 1:23–25; 12:47; John 10:27–28 1This is now, beloved, the second letter I am writing to you in which I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder, 2that you should remember the words spoken beforehand by the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior spoken by your apostles,... 14Therefore, beloved, since you are looking for these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless, 15and consider the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given him, wrote to you, 16as also in all his letters, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which the untaught and unstable distort, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction. 17You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard lest you, having been carried away by the error of unprincipled men, fall from your own steadfastness, 18but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen. 2 Peter 3:1–2, 14-18 Both Peter’s audience and the unstable men understood that Paul’s letters were Scripture beforehand. The Church Canon has two canons: Old Testament canon and New Testament canon I.  We can be certain as to what the Divine Canon of Scripture is without requiring any other “infallible” authority… …as long as we use the means and criteria and authorities that God gave us to identify and receive the books which He wrote down for His church Scripture alone in conjunction with Progressive Revelation II. Another testament to the early church recognizing and proliferating the New Testament canon without any other top-down hierarchy or normative authority... Which books did the early Christians copy the most? By far? “Persecution of the church began as early as Acts 4, when Herod executed James, the brother of John (Acts 12:2). By the time of Emperor Diocletian (AD 303–312), it was illegal even to own copies of the Bible.”[1] III. The canon of Scripture is one of the greatest testaments of how God uses His church in history to be the “pillar and support of the truth” (1 Tim. 3:15). The early church distinguished between authoritative apostolic tradition and all other church traditions, and she recognized the apostolic tradition that was written down to be the exclusive canon of the New Testament. IV. Even if it were true that the Roman Catholic or Eastern Orthodox church “gave” us the Bible, as they both claim, and therefore you must rely on them as your authority… Scripture alone would still refute them in the end, because it teaches us what Scripture teaches us to interpret Scripture in a logical, harmonious, consistent manner that does not violate or nullify the Word of God for the sake of extrabiblical, unbiblical traditions (Matt. 15:3). Roman Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy teach that Mary remained a perpetual virgin, even during and after Christ’s birth, even though the Bible teaches that Christ’s birth was fully natural and that Mary had other children with Joseph after Christ. Protoevangelium of James God has clearly shown us His church’s recognition and preservation of the Old and New Testaments in history, by His Spirit working through His people, for all to bear witness and see His providence in action. We meet on Sundays for worship at 10:00am: ThornCrown Covenant Baptist Church4712 Montana Ave El Paso, Texas 79903 Contact us at: web: ThornCrownCovenant.Churchcall/text: (915) 843-8088email: [email protected] Scripture quotations marked LSB are from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com [1] William D. Mounce, Why I Trust the Bible: Answers to Real Questions and Doubts People Have about the Bible, Kindle (Zondervan, 2021), p. 99.

Lord's Day: December 7, 2025  Preacher: Carlos Montijo  Series: It Is Written: Scripture Alone  Topic: Means of Grace  Scripture: Matthew 4:1–11; Genesis 3:1–5; Acts 17:23–31; 1 Corinthians 14:33; Matthew 16:17; Revelation 2:4–5 1Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2And after He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He then became hungry. 3And the tempter came and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.” 4But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.’” Matthew 4:1–4 Our first principle is powerfully illustrated and practiced by our Lord and Master, when facing the enemy of all good, in the Wilderness Temptation of Christ. Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary defines destiny: “a predetermined course of events often held to be an irresistible power or agency” I.  The devil tempts us both to question the final authority of God’s Word—“Hath God really said?”—and to depend on other authorities that contradict God. He uses religious antichrists which the Apostles repeatedly warned against,[1] who claim to speak authoritatively for God, claim to be equal to or above Scripture. Normative authority is authority that has the power to bind consciences, to direct us to what we ought to do, to command us. 1689 Baptist Confession, 1.10: “The supreme judge by which all religious controversies are to be settled, and all decrees of councils, opinions of ancient writers, doctrines of men, and individual thinkers (private spirits) are to be examined, can be none other than the Holy Scriptures delivered by the Spirit. In the verdict of Scripture our faith is finally determined.” II. We trust God alone, and the means He has revealed to us. Scripture and reason are not two first principles, but one: “God and logic are one and the same first principle, for John wrote that the [Logos] Logic was God.”[2] III. How do you settle competing interpretations of Scripture? God cannot contradict Himself, Scripture cannot contradict itself, they are logically consistent with all the propositions and doctrine of Scripture, “for God is not a God of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints” (1 Cor. 14:33). Confessing Protestants affirm other normative authorities for believers and the church (creeds, confessions, catechisms, elders, pastors, church discipline, church councils, etc.)—but Scripture is supreme over all. IV. God’s instituted system of checks and balances Believers must “judge for ourselves” whether a church is true or false, whether a teaching is sound or not, by examining it logically with the Scriptures, and by using the historic, faithful, and living church that is most consistent with Scripture, to guide our understanding and application of Scripture. V.  Even “the purest churches under heaven are subject to mixture and error” (LBCF 26.3). Churches can start out as true, faithful churches, but, if they do not stay the course, and persistently, sinfully deviate from Scripture, God will remove His lampstand from it (Revelation 2:4-5). We meet on Sundays for worship at 10:00am: ThornCrown Covenant Baptist Church4712 Montana Ave El Paso, Texas 79903 Contact us at: web: ThornCrownCovenant.Churchcall/text: (915) 843-8088email: [email protected] Scripture quotations marked LSB are from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com [1] See Carlos E. Montijo, “Those Who Went Out Were Never In”: Apostolic Admonitions Against Antichrist | 1 John 2:18-19, First John (ThornCrown Covenant Baptist Church, 2024) <https://www.thorncrowncovenant.church/sermons/sermon/2024-12-08/-those-who-went-out-were-never-in-:-apostolic-admonitions-against-antichrist-1-john-2:18-19> [accessed 17 December 2025]. See also sermons on the End Times, https://www.thorncrowncovenant.church/sermons/topic/end-times. [2] Gordon H. Clark, ‘God and Logic’, The Trinity Review, December 1980 <https://www.trinityfoundation.org/journal.php?id=16> [accessed 7 July 2024].

Lord's Day: Nov 30, 2025  Preacher: Carlos Montijo  Series: It Is Written: Scripture Alone  Topic: Scripture  Scripture: Isaiah 55:7–11; Romans 15:4–6; 1 Timothy 3:15; Luke 1:67–70; 2 Timothy 3:16; Isaiah 40:7–8; 1 Corinthians 4:6–7; Hebrews 1:1–2; Romans 3:2–4; Ephesians 2:19–22; Jude 3 7Let the wicked forsake his way And the unrighteous man his thoughts; And let him return to Yahweh, And He will have compassion on him, And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon. 8“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” declares Yahweh. 9“For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts than your thoughts. 10“For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, And do not return there without watering the earth And making it bear and sprout, And giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, 11So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing what pleases Me, And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it. Isaiah 55:7–11 4For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through the perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. 5Now may the God of perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus, 6so that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 15:4–6 15but in case I am delayed, I write so that you will know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth. 1 Timothy 3:15 These passages tell a story of God’s providence and means of how he gave His Word to His people. Use the Jesus Test (Mark 7), the Berean Test, the Scripture Test, the “It is written” Test, the “Do not go beyond what is written” Test—no matter how divinely inspired or infallible a tradition may claim to be. I.  How do we as Protestants know what Scripture is? The word canon means something straight, or something to keep straight; and hence also a rule, or something ruled or measured, a standard. II. There are three canons of Scripture The Divine Canon and the Church Canon—they must be distinguished. The Church Canon has two canons: Old Testament Canon and New Testament Canon, because God used different means and criteria to give each one to His people. God called, sanctioned, ordained prophets with authority, divine predictions, miracles, signs, and wonders in the Old Testament to confirm that the words were from God Himself, and similarly called, sanctioned, ordained apostles and prophets with authority, miracles, signs, and wonders to confirm the divine origins of the preaching, teaching, and writings of the Apostles and their prophetic associates. III. We can have certainty as to what the Divine Canon of Scripture is, using the means and criteria that God gave us to identify and receive the books He wrote down. What criteria did the early church use to identify and collect the New Testament? Generally, it was a bottom-up process, not top-down hierarchy.[1] Early church elders used Apostolicity (apostolic authorship and authenticity) to recognize what was God-breathed Scripture. Progressive Revelation IV. The canon of Scripture is one of the greatest, if not the greatest, shining examples of how God uses His church in history to be the “pillar and support of the truth.” The church is not the truth itself, nor is the church infallible. God delegated authority to her, primarily through apostles and prophets, so that the church could receive and collect God’s ultimate authority, the final written Scriptures, and the church is thus tasked by God to teach it, preach it, confess it, live it, apply it—to uphold the same faith that was delivered once and for all to the saints (Jude 3). We meet on Sundays for worship at 10:00am: ThornCrown Covenant Baptist Church4712 Montana Ave El Paso, Texas 79903 Contact us at: web: ThornCrownCovenant.Churchcall/text: (915) 843-8088email: [email protected] Scripture quotations marked LSB are from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com [1] Michael Marlowe, ‘A Brief Introduction to the Canon and Ancient Versions of Scripture’, Bible Research, n.d. <https://www.bible-researcher.com/canon1.html> [accessed 30 November 2025].

Lord's Day: Nov 23, 2025  Preacher: Carlos Montijo  Series: It Is Written: Scripture Alone  Topic: Scripture  Scripture: 1 Corinthians 4:6–7; 2 Peter 1:19–21; Acts 4:19; 3 John 9–12; James 1:17–18; Matthew 7:24–27; Mark 7:6–13; 2 Peter 3:16; Psalm 119:89; Romans 15:4–6 6Now these things, brothers, I have applied to myself and Apollos for your sakes, so that in us you may learn not to go beyond what is written, so that no one of you will become puffed up on behalf of one against the other. 7For who regards you as superior? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it? 1 Corinthians 4:6–7 19And we have as more sure the prophetic word, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts. 20Know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes by one’s own interpretation. 21For no prophecy was ever made by the will of man, but men being moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God. 2 Peter 1:19–21 I.  Scripture alone does not mean solo Scriptura or nuda Scriptura Meaning Scripture and nothing else at all, no other church authorities at all, which ironically contradicts Scripture, but rather sola Scriptura, that Scripture is our only final, ultimate, infallible authority. Unbiblical rejection of any other spiritual authorities in the life of Christians and the church, including Biblical authorities ordained by God through human means within the church. So-called “Protestant” movements that caricature Scripture alone are plagued by pietism, emotionalism, shallowness, ignorance, lack of decency and order and qualified leadership. Sound very pious, but are types of spiritual/church anarchy, disorder, divisiveness, anti (human) authority. II. We believe, teach, confess, and maintain a careful, systematic balance of these bookend doctrines Puritan principle: The Bible alone and the Bible in its entirety is the Word of God written, and to it nothing may be added nor from it may anything be taken away. Subject every and any truth claim (tradition) to the Berean Test, Scripture Test, “It is written” Test, “Do not go beyond what is written” Test, Jesus Test (Mark 7:9-13)—Does it nullify or contradict the Word of God, at any point? Whenever people become puffed up with conceit, to the point of placing other traditions or authorities above God and His Word, or equal to God’s Word, and abandon the sole ultimate authority of Scripture alone, and exchange the solid rock foundation of Christ’s own words, “these words of Mine,” for the imbalanced, contrary, unstable traditions of sand (Matt 7:24-29), it creates a domino effect leading to an avalanche of errors. III. The more permanent prophetic word 2 Peter 1:19-21 Weymouth: “And in the written word of prophecy we have something more permanent.” We meet on Sundays for worship at 10:00am: ThornCrown Covenant Baptist Church4712 Montana Ave El Paso, Texas 79903 Contact us at: web: ThornCrownCovenant.Churchcall/text: (915) 843-8088email: [email protected] Scripture quotations marked LSB are from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com

Lord's Day: Nov 16, 2025  Preacher: Carlos Montijo  Series: It Is Written: Scripture Alone  Topic: Scripture  Scripture: Acts 17:10–13; 2 Timothy 3:15–17; Colossians 2:2–3; Titus 1:2; Hebrews 6:18; John 17:17; Psalm 119:160; Hebrews 8:6; 2 Thessalonians 2:15; Jude 3; Titus 1:1–3 10And the brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. 11Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so. 12Therefore many of them believed, along with not a few prominent Greek women and men. 13But when the Jews of Thessalonica found out that the word of God had been proclaimed by Paul in Berea also, they came there as well, shaking up and disturbing the crowds. Acts 17:10–13 15and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to make you wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16All Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness, 17so that the man of God may be equipped, having been thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:15–17 These are among the clearest passages which reveal to us the ultimate authority of Scripture alone, of what God breathed out and wrote down. The Bereans practiced the same Reformation principle that we do today as Protestants—Scripture alone—because they examined and submitted what they heard from others, even the oral preaching, teaching, tradition of the Apostles themselves, which became the New Testament writings, to the written words of God. Sign the Reformation Day Statement & the Declaration: https://www.trinityfoundation.org/state.php https://www.trinityfoundation.org/state_declaration.php I.  Sola Scriptura: The “It is written” principle What is written by God Himself is the most authoritative word, this is the doctrine of sola Scriptura. "The Holy Scriptures are the only sufficient, certain and infallible rule for saving knowledge, faith, and obedience." Many who oppose the Protestant faith (including professing Protestants) distort what the doctrine of Scripture alone actually means Scripture is our first principle of knowing, our ultimate authority for all knowledge, because Scripture grounds and justifies all our knowledge, all truth, because in Christ, who is the full knowledge of God’s mystery, are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge (Col. 2:2-3). II. The Bereans had examined the Scriptures that they already had. Even though the New Testament was still being written at the time, even though it took time for the early church to compile what the Apostles and their companions had handed down to them. Progressive Revelation: Scripture alone means that the Scriptures which had been revealed to the people of God at that specific time, even during the Old Testament, those written Scriptures are the final authority of God’s Word, even when the full biblical canon was not yet completed. III. But don’t we need both the oral and the written traditions? “Whether by word of mouth or by letter”? Correction: I meant 2 Thessalonians 2:15, not 2 Timothy 2:15. Irenaeus (ca. 130-203), Against Heresies (ca. 180AD): “III.I.1. We have learned from none others the plan of our salvation, than from those through whom the gospel has come down to us [the Apostles], which they did at one time proclaim in public, and, at a later period, by the will of God, handed down to us in the Scriptures, to be the ground and pillar of our faith." IV. All Scripture is God’s breath 2 Timothy 3:15–17 There is no difference between the oral and written traditions revealed in Scripture, except that the written is more permanent. The Apostles and their associates wrote down and passed on to the early church as the ultimate, God-breathed, sufficient authority “for every good work”—Scripture alone. Examine any and all extra biblical traditions with the Berean Test, the Jesus Test (Mark 7). We meet on Sundays for worship at 10:00am: ThornCrown Covenant Baptist Church4712 Montana Ave El Paso, Texas 79903 Contact us at: web: ThornCrownCovenant.Churchcall/text: (915) 843-8088email: [email protected] Scripture quotations marked LSB are from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com

Lord's Day: Nov 9, 2025  Preacher: Carlos Montijo  Series: Remembering the Reformation  Topic: Scripture  Scripture: Acts 17:10–12; 1 Samuel 17:26, 40–45; Isaiah 8:19–20; 1 Timothy 2:5; Deuteronomy 18:10–12; Hebrews 5:12–14 10And the brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. 11Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so. 12Therefore many of them believed, along with not a few prominent Greek women and men. Acts 17:10–12 This passage echoes the first principles of the Reformation, and is one of the many reasons why it is important for us to remember the Reformation. See Reformation Evangelism at a Roman Catholic Church on 28 Oct 2025 | Romans 3:28 Sign the Reformation Day Statement & the Declaration: https://www.trinityfoundation.org/state.php https://www.trinityfoundation.org/state_declaration.php I.  What was (and still is) the main conflict with Rome? Luther knew how to ask the right questions, probing questions, questions that would get to the bottom of the issue. Like the young David, Luther was executing a lifetime of God’s preparation. With David on God’s side—Goliath did not stand a chance. II. The main issue, as Luther began to see and later saw more clearly, was that of a different giant. His giant was, ultimately, the Goliath of Rome—the magisterium and the pope of Rome, the papacy and its claims of absolute spiritual authority. “The Pope is Goliath, clad in the armor of human traditions… We are David, with the sling of the Holy Scriptures.” With Luther on God’s side—Rome did not stand a chance. III. Luther did what many others fail to do—He discerned the main issue, the main conflict with Rome, and responded with Scripture and reason. Isaiah 8:19-20 God alone is the Mediator of truth and life—Christ alone (1 Tim. 2:5). Contacting the dead for guidance (including departed Christians) is foolish and idolatrous, unequivocally condemned by God (Dt. 18:10-12) IV. We must trust God’s law and testimony—we need the ultimate authority of Scripture alone. Many fail to see the main issues affecting the church in our own day. V. Why is it so challenging for Christians to discern the main issues in the church today? VI. Scripture teaches: Discernment is a holy lifestyle that requires constant practice. This is how Luther was able to discern the main issues and kindle the Reformation. Discernment is a distinguishing mark of a mature, godly believer. VII. All believers are called to be good, mature, discerning Bereans We meet on Sundays for worship at 10:00am: ThornCrown Covenant Baptist Church4712 Montana Ave El Paso, Texas 79903 Contact us at: web: ThornCrownCovenant.Churchcall/text: (915) 843-8088email: [email protected] Scripture quotations marked ESV are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked LSB are from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com

Lord's Day: Nov 2, 2025  Preacher: Carlos Montijo  Series: Remembering the Reformation  Topic: Church History  Scripture: Galatians 3:11; Matthew 4:17; 20:16; Ephesians 2:10 Now that no one is justified by the Law before God is evident, for The righteous shall live by faith. Galatians 3:11 See Halloween vs Reformation Day series Sign the Reformation Day Statement & the Declaration: https://www.trinityfoundation.org/state.php https://www.trinityfoundation.org/state_declaration.php It is vitally important for us, as individuals and families, and as a church, to remember the Reformation—what happened, why it is important, what were the main issues—not just once a year, but throughout the year, by studying church history, especially of the doctrinal conflicts that clarified what the Bible does and does not teach, including the primary issues of the gospel (sola fide) and what our ultimate authority is (sola Scriptura), which are summed up in the Five Solas of the Reformation. The main issues of the Protestant Reformation are the issues that summarize, define, and explain our faith, our core doctrines, and separate us from everyone else. I.  Of Fasts & Feast Days 2nd Helvetic Confession (1562), CHAPTER XXIV: Of Holy Days, Fasts and the Choice of Foods: THE FESTIVALS OF CHRIST AND THE SAINTS. See Reformation Evangelism at a Roman Catholic Church on 28 Oct 2025 | Romans 3:28 II. Martin Luther’s 95 Insights Forerunners of the Reformation: Czech theologian Jan Hus; Roman Catholic professor and priest John Wycliffe; Italian Dominican friar Girolamo Savonarola Thesis 18. “Furthermore, it does not seem proved, either by reason or by Scripture, that souls in Purgatory are outside the state of merit, that is, unable to grow in love.” In order to be grounded in truth and sound doctrine, we need two basic things, all other means serve these two things: Scripture and clear reason, logical consistency. Thesis 62. "The true treasure of the church is the most holy gospel of the glory and grace of God." III. One of the most important distinctions in the entire Bible: Law and Gospel distinction “Christ did not command the preaching of indulgences but of the gospel!” Rome responded with a Counter-Reformation vengeance. We celebrate the Reformation's triumphs, and apply the many lessons that came out of it, but we must also be honest about the shortcomings and sins of the men that God has used in history, including the Reformation. Luther was a man of contrasts, good and bad. IV. Was it Luther’s intention to turn the entire western world on its head? Charles Hodge: “He who purposes the end, purposes also the means; and he brings about the end by securing the use of the means. And when rational agents are concerned, he secures the use of the means by rational considerations presented to their minds, and rendered effectual by his grace, when the end contemplated is good.” The most fundamental question that must be answered at the outset in any conflict is: What is the main issue? What was the main conflict with Rome? We meet on Sundays for worship at 10:00am: ThornCrown Covenant Baptist Church4712 Montana Ave El Paso, Texas 79903 Contact us at: web: ThornCrownCovenant.Churchcall/text: (915) 843-8088email: [email protected] Scripture quotations taken from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com

Day: Oct 28, 2025  Preacher: Carlos Montijo  Series: Evangelism  Topic: Roman Catholicism  Scripture: Romans 3:28; Acts 4:12; Matthew 23:8–12; Luke 1:46–47; Romans 1:16; Acts 17:11; Psalm 115:1–18; Hebrews 10:10–14; 1 Timothy 2:5; Romans 8:16–17, 26–27; Isaiah 53:4–11; John 14:6 Open air, bilingual (English/Spanish), Reformation evangelism and gospel protesting at a local Roman Catholic church that was celebrating the feast day (festival) of Judas Thaddeus, the Apostle. Feast days are Roman Catholic festivals with idolatrous processions of canonized "saints," according to their tradition. Got a chance to preach the Biblical truths of the Reformation—that salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, to the glory of God alone, based on the ultimate authority of Scripture alone. We cannot earn our salvation or restore our justification by sacraments or good works, nor is Christ being re-sacrificed on the idolatrous altar of the Mass, because that is to deny that Christ died only once for all who believe in Him, by faith alone apart from any works or sacraments. Good gospel conversations with some of the people who had attended. Correction: I mistakenly referred to Mary's Magnificat where she refers to God as her Savior in Luke 1:53, but it is actually in Luke 1:47: "And Mary said: 'My soul magnifies the Lord, And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior'" (Luke 1:46–47). Please visit What Every Catholic Should Know (https://whateverycatholicshouldknow.com), an excellent resource by former Roman Catholics, including former Roman Catholic priests like Richard Bennett, which compares the official, major teachings of the Roman Catholic church with what the Bible teaches. The Belgic Confession, Article 22: The Righteousness of Faith We believe that for us to acquire the true knowledge of this great mystery the Holy Spirit kindles in our hearts a true faith that embraces Jesus Christ, with all his merits, and makes him its own, and no longer looks for anything apart from him. For it must necessarily follow that either all that is required for our salvation is not in Christ or, if all is in him, then he who has Christ by faith has his salvation entirely. Therefore, to say that Christ is not enough but that something else is needed as well is a most enormous blasphemy against God—for it then would follow that Jesus Christ is only half a Savior. And therefore we justly say with Paul that we are justified "by faith alone" or by faith "apart from works." However, we do not mean, properly speaking, that it is faith itself that justifies us—for faith is only the instrument by which we embrace Christ, our righteousness. But Jesus Christ is our righteousness in making available to us all his merits and all the holy works he has done for us and in our place. And faith is the instrument that keeps us in communion with him and with all his benefits. When those benefits are made ours they are more than enough to absolve us of our sins. Semper Reformanda. We meet on Sundays for worship at 10:00am: ThornCrown Covenant Baptist Church4712 Montana Ave El Paso, Texas 79903 Contact us at: web: ThornCrownCovenant.Churchcall/text: (915) 843-8088email: [email protected]

Lord's Day: October 26, 2025  Preacher: Carlos Montijo  Series: First John  Topic: The Law  Scripture: 1 John 5:1–3; Philippians 2:13; 1 John 4:19; Hebrews 11:6; Romans 14:23; James 2:14–17; John 14:15, 21–23; 15:8–14, 17; Romans 13:8–10; Galatians 5:6; Jeremiah 31:33; 1 John 4:7; John 13:34; Romans 12:10, 16; Ephesians 4:2–3; Galatians 6:2; 1 Peter 1:22–25 2By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and do His commandments. 3For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome. 1 John 5:2–3 The obedience of love I.  The Assurance of Our Faith Love for God means that “we keep His commandments,” and “His commandments are not burdensome”—because, instead of condemning us, our love for His commandments and our growing obedience to them rather now assure us that we belong to God as His children, and love Him and His other children. II. God’s love is first in order—prior The first command from God that we must obey in order to begin to obey all the rest of His commandments, is to repent and believe the Gospel, to believe that “Jesus is the Christ.” Faith is our first response to what God fundamentally requires of us, because “without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who draws near to God must [necessarily] believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6). III. Take heed to the faithful and true words of “Jesus the Christ” God guarantees this new life and new ways of obedience in our own lives as believers, “purposing us and endeavouring us constantly to walk with him in all the ways of new obedience” (Larger Catechism, Q76). Both Jesus and God our Father define true love (man's love) primarily and almost exclusively as obedience to His commandments. The distinction and harmony of God’s Law and Gospel: The Gospel, the very power of God unto salvation (Rom. 1:16), births faith in us by God’s Spirit, and faith in the Gospel consequently works through love (Galatians 5:6). The Law, now written on our heart (Jeremiah 31:33), is fulfilled in our love for God and for one another (Romans 13:10). IV. In addition to the Thou shalt nots, how do we love God & His people in a positive sense as well? The “one anothers” of Scripture are how we function as God’s church, and fulfill the Law of God and of Christ, the Law of Love (1 John 4:7) One third of the one another commands instruct Christians to love one another. One third of the one another commands are about striving for and maintaining unity in the church, in love and in truth. Gently, patiently tolerate (“bear with”) one another in love, being diligent to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace (Eph. 4:2-3). This does not mean that we should tolerate each other’s sins[1] 15% of the one another commands stress humility and deference among believers. Many of the one another commands are simple and practical. Join us on Sundays for worship at 10:00am: ThornCrown Covenant Baptist Church4712 Montana AveEl Paso, Texas 79903 Contact us at: web: ThornCrownCovenant.Churchcall/text: (915) 843-8088email: [email protected] Scripture quotations taken from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com [1] See Carlos E. Montijo, ‘Series: Biblical Church Discipline’, ThornCrown Covenant Baptist Church: El Paso, TX, January 2022 <https://www.thorncrowncovenant.church/sermons/series/biblical-church-discipline> [accessed 25 October 2025].

Lord's Day: October 19, 2025  Preacher: Carlos Montijo  Series: First John  Topic: Doctrines of Grace  Scripture: 1 John 5:1–2; Isaiah 61:1–2; Matthew 22:14; John 1:12–13; Romans 8:28–30; 1 John 4:7–8, 16; John 3:21; 1 John 4:19 1Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the One who gives new birth loves also the one who has been born of Him. 2By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and do His commandments. 1 John 5:1–2 I.  The Source of Our Faith What does it mean to be “born of God”? See sermon “Know Your Enemy: The Flesh Examined | 2 Corinthians 5:16-18”[1] “Has been born of God” (γεγέννηται ἐκ τοῦ θεοῦ) is in the perfect passive indicative—past tense, which point to a gospel indicative, not a law imperative (command), a completed action by God Himself—“born of God/Him.” The Word of God consistently teaches the same doctrines all throughout. II. The Order of Our Faith Faith is the result, not the cause, of regeneration. ordo salutis (order of salvation): external call, internal/effectual call, regeneration, [adoption,] then repentance (change of mind) and faith (conversion), justification, adoption, sanctification, perseverance, glorification III. The Fruit of Our Faith Both faith and love are begotten of God—not only faith, but our love is also born of God and comes from God, who is love (1 John 4:8, 16). Note the universals: God saves every believer in the same basic way. John 3:21: “But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been done by [Greek en] God.” Join us on Sundays for worship at 10:00am: ThornCrown Covenant Baptist Church4712 Montana AveEl Paso, Texas 79903 Contact us at: web: ThornCrownCovenant.Churchcall/text: (915) 843-8088email: [email protected] Scripture quotations taken from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com [1] Carlos E. Montijo, Know Your Enemy: The Flesh Examined | 2 Corinthians 5:16-18, Know Your Enemy: The World, the Flesh, the Devil (ThornCrown Covenant Baptist Church, 2024) <https://www.thorncrowncovenant.church/sermons/sermon/2024-07-14/know-your-enemy:-the-flesh-examined-2-corinthians-5:16-18> [accessed 18 October 2025].

Lord's Day: October 12, 2025  Preacher: Carlos Montijo  Series: First John  Topic: Faith  Scripture: 1 John 5:1; John 14:1; 17:6–8; Romans 10:17; Mark 1:14–15; Romans 3:28; John 3:16; Matthew 16:15–17; Luke 4:16–21; Isaiah 61:1–3 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the One who gives new birth loves also the one who has been born of Him. 1 John 5:1 Parallelism I.  Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ… The doctrine of faith, belief, ties into all of the most fundamental, primary doctrines of Scripture: God, man, salvation, God’s Word. All historic Reformed confessions and catechisms dedicate an entire section/chapter (sometimes more) on the subject of faith. All systematic theologies must dedicate a significant portion to the subject of faith, otherwise it would not be systematic. II. What does this mean—that Jesus is the Christ? Christ means anointed, but for what purpose? See sermon: “Beloved, You Are from God & Have Overcome | 1 John 4:4” To rightly understand and accept Him as the divinely prophesied Messiah and Savior, according to the Scriptures III. Christ our Prophet, our Priest, our King Isaiah 61:1-3, the Christ is Prophet, Priest, King Matthew Henry: “As Isaiah was authorized and directed to proclaim liberty to the Jews in Babylon, so was Christ, God’s messenger, to publish a more joyful jubilee to a lost world.” We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father; through him all things were made.For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven, was incarnate from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and was made man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end. Join us on Sundays for worship at 10:00am: ThornCrown Covenant Baptist Church4712 Montana AveEl Paso, Texas 79903 Contact us at: web: ThornCrownCovenant.Churchcall/text: (915) 843-8088email: [email protected] Scripture quotations taken from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com

Lord's Day: October 5, 2025  Preacher: Carlos Montijo  Series: First John  Topic: Love  Scripture: 1 John 4:18–21; Isaiah 45:6–7; 46:9–11; Ephesians 2:3; 1:4–6; James 2:10–17; Galatians 6:10; 1 John 4:9–12; Mark 12:29–31; 1 Corinthians 12:31–13:13; 1 John 3:16 20If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen. 21And this commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God should love his brother also. 1 John 4:20–21 Conclusion to “The Other Love Chapter” I.  Loving and hating, without contradiction II. Loving God and brother, without hypocrisy This passage gives us criteria for identifying hypocrisy, and helps us to love both God and brother in harmony: “If someone says…” Our vertical relationship with God necessarily affects all our horizontal relationships with our fellow man, especially with our brothers and sisters in the household of faith. III. Who is harder to love? God? Or Christian brothers and sisters? Is there an order of loves (ordo amoris)? A priority of loves? To love God—also means that we love our fellow man, our brother, our neighbor, our enemy God often teaches us the positive doctrine (love) by also identifying, exposing, and refuting the opposite, the error. IV. I have been preaching primarily about God’s love and defining His love Our perfect love is fundamentally an attitude and a commitment which expresses itself in action and obedience to God’s Word and Will V.  Compare 1 John 4:11–12 Richard Lenski: “Agape is defined as the love of intelligence, of comprehension and understanding. It always has that meaning in the New Testament, most completely so here where it speaks of God’s love. Combined with this is purpose, a purpose that corresponds to the comprehension of the object…. Saving agape thus accompanies charis, compassion, and eleos, benevolence.” The entire law of God can be summarily comprehended in a single word—love. Join us on Sundays for worship at 10:00am: ThornCrown Covenant Baptist Church4712 Montana AveEl Paso, Texas 79903 Contact us at: web: ThornCrownCovenant.Churchcall/text: (915) 843-8088email: [email protected] Scripture quotations taken from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com

Lord's Day: September 28, 2025  Preacher: Carlos Montijo  Series: First John  Topic: Love  Scripture: 1 John 4:14–19; Ecclesiastes 12:13; Hebrews 4:14–16; 1 Corinthians 2:16; Philippians 2:5–11; Romans 11:22; Ephesians 2:3–9; 1:4–6; Romans 5:6–11; 2 Peter 3:16; 1 John 2:1–2; Titus 3:4–7; Romans 8:29–30 I.  We have more departed brothers who, being united to Christ, are now confident and without fear in the next world Death of Voddie Baucham, please pray for his wife and large family, 9 kids, personal inspiration for us to live up to Llisten to his preaching, teaching, and read his books God has not abandoned us, nor His church. He will continue to raise up godly men for such a time as this, who may not be as famous, but nevertheless faithful, uncompromising brothers, and God’s people can still continue to be edified by the contributions of the faithful men that have recently departed II.  There is no fear in love… Fear as in “afraid of” or fear as in “awe, reverence, worship”? φόβος phobos God reassures us by telling us not only that perfect love has no fear, but that “perfect love casts out fear”—expels fear III. How then does perfect love cast out fear? What is this perfect love? Our perfect love ultimately refers to—and points back to—God’s own perfect, redemptive love for us—the gospel God’s love gives us confidence to live without fear, to have the same mind of Christ (1 Cor. 2:16) that the Song of Christ (Carmen Christi) reveals to us God is always good, always, without fail and without exception, both in His kindness and in His severity, holiness, justice, judgment (Rom. 11:22) IV. All of this and more is why the God-breathed apostle continues to reveal to us in verse 19… We ourselves love God and our fellow man, because He Himself first loved us V. This is one of the most emphatic doctrines in all of Scripture—the gospel of what God’s love has done for us. One of the most obvious examples that “are so clearly set forth and explained in one place of Scripture or another” (2LBCF 1:7), of why we no longer have a fearful expectation of God’s judgment, of why we have a perfect love that casts out all fear, is because of God’s own perfect, omnipotent, sovereign, sufficient, sacrificial love for us, His Redemptive, Restorative, Regenerative, Reformative Love Do you see this? Do you believe this? Do you have this perfect, mature, fearless love, that does not fear God’s judgment, but instead looks forward to it? Eagerly anticipates it? What have I to dread, what have I to fear,leaning on the everlasting arms?I have blessed peace with my Lord so near,leaning on the everlasting arms.safe and secure from all alarms Join us on Sundays for worship at 10:00am: ThornCrown Covenant Baptist Church4712 Montana AveEl Paso, Texas 79903 Contact us at: web: ThornCrownCovenant.Churchcall/text: (915) 843-8088email: [email protected] Scripture quotations taken from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com

Lord's Day: September 21, 2025  Preacher: Carlos Montijo  Series: First John  Topic: End Times  Scripture: Ecclesiastes 3:7; Psalm 86:15; James 1:19–21; Matthew 20:16; Acts 20:27; Matthew 28:20; 5:13–16; Ephesians 5:11; 1 John 4:17–18; 1 Corinthians 2:16; 1 John 3:1–3 17By this, love has been perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment, because as He is, so also are we in this world. 18There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love. 1 John 4:17–18 Some Christians and pastors started complaining that if your pastor does not address Charlie Kirk’s assassination, you should leave the church I.  There is wisdom in taking time, to reflect and pray and mourn in silence, especially before making drastic public statements or decisions We are called to a higher standard, to the upside-down kingdom, where the first will be last, and the last will be first (Matt. 20:16), where our weakness is perfected in God’s strength, to the theology of the cross, the cross-oriented life It is important for elders and pastors to address issues like these in a timely and responsible manner, but there are more biblical reasons for considering when to leave a church Many churches are reluctant to speak out on current and political issues, even the ones that affect Christians and the church That is one of the reasons why we are a free, unincorporated church, because the church needs to be a prophetic voice, like John the Baptist was, in the culture and in society, we are called to be salt and light (Matt. 5:13-16) II.  Confident in the Day of Judgment 1 John 4:17 is a long chain of clauses, refers to the doctrines of Assurance, Sanctification, Glorification and our final state, Day of Judgment III. By this, love has been perfected with us… By virtue of the sanctifying, mutually abiding, loving fellowship of God and His beloved, by which our minds are married to God’s mind, in a marriage of minds, so that we have the mind of Christ (1 Cor. 2:16)—“By this,” God’s love has been perfected [τετελείωται teteleiōtai] with us [toward us] already 1 John 3:1–3 IV. Without fear of what? A good grasp of the law and gospel distinction corrects imbalanced zeal and legalistic imbalances, and strengthens our assurance and peace of mind Baptist Larger Catechism, Q.82: What shall believers receive at the Day of Judgment?A: At the Day of Judgment, believers will be caught up with Christ in the clouds1 and placed on His right hand, where they will be publicly acknowledged and acquitted.2 They will join Christ in the judgment of reprobate angels and men,3 and be received into heaven.4 There they will be completely and forever freed from all sin and misery,5 filled with unimaginable joy,6 and made perfectly holy and happy both in body and soul, in the vast company of each other and the holy angels.7 They will be particularly blessed in the visual presence and enjoyment of God the Father, the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit, forever.8 1. 1 Thessalonians 4:17; 1 Corinthians 15:42-43 2. Matthew 25:33; Matthew 10:32 3. 1 Corinthians 6:2-3 4. Matthew 25:34-46 5. Ephesians 5:27; Revelation 14:13 6. Psalm 16:11 7. Hebrews 12:22-23 8. 1 John 3:2; Romans 8:29; 1 Corinthians 13:12; 1 Thessalonians 4:17-18 Know Your Enemy: The Devil’s End | Revelation 20 The night is dark but I am not forsaken / For by my side, the Saviour He will stayI labour on in weakness and rejoicing / For in my need, His power is displayed To this I hold, my Shepherd will defend me / Through the deepest valley He will leadOh the night has been won, and I shall overcome / Yet not I, but through Christ in me No fate I dread, I know I am forgiven / The future sure, the price it has been paidFor Jesus bled and suffered for my pardon / And He was raised to overthrow the grave Join us on Sundays for worship at 10:00am: ThornCrown Covenant Baptist Church4712 Montana AveEl Paso, Texas 79903 Contact us at: web: ThornCrownCovenant.Churchcall/text: (915) 843-8088email: [email protected] Scripture quotations taken from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com

Lord's Day: September 14, 2025  Preacher: Carlos Montijo  Series: Current Issues  Topic: Law & Gospel Distinction  Scripture: Ecclesiastes 3:1–8; Romans 11:22; 1 John 5:19; Psalm 12:8; 1 John 4:17; Psalm 86:15; Romans 4:6–8; Numbers 14:18; Romans 12:17–21; Isaiah 5:20–23; Romans 1:28–32; 8:28; Matthew 27:46; Luke 23:46; Philippians 2:8–9; Ephesians 5:15–17 Charlie Kirk was murdered while doing what he did best, reaching out to the youth in college campuses He could have been our future president, yet many were celebrating and mocking his murder on social media Iryna Zarutska was viciously murdered on a train by a violent repeat offender A 16-year-old fired several rounds and almost killed two of his fellow students at Evergreen High School in Colorado, before fatally shooting himself All of these victims were very young—This is a time for weeping and mourning Our prayers go out to the friends and families of the victims:  May God give them comfort and solace, and draw nigh to them with the light of His salvation May He bring healing, and restore justice, repentance, and revival to our land May He bring the wicked to justice And may He also convict them of their sin and grant them repentance I.   This is a sample of the evil being done all over this world, this wicked world that lies under the power of the evil one Even as “the wicked strut about on every side when vileness is exalted among the sons of men” (Psalm 12:8 LSB)—God is still sovereign, God is still in control, and God’s will is still being done Part of the reason there is much evil in the world is because God is longsuffering, God suffers long, God is patient His divine patience is revealed in His enduring mercy and love for sinners, and in His delay in exacting judgment, in part to enable wretched sinners like us to repent and be saved. II.  Behold both the kindness and severity of God: Our great God and merciful Savior is also a just Judge God alone has a monopoly on vengeance (Rom. 12:17-21) God gives many sobering, dire warnings to the wicked, not just to the ones who murder, but also to the ones who celebrate wickedness (Isa. 5:20-23) III. Wickedness and violence is neither random nor senseless Know Your Enemy: The Devil | 1 John 2:14-17 God ultimately designed and decreed a good purpose for us in everything that happens, no matter how bad (Rom. 8:28) We should seek justice, God’s justice, not our own; God’s way, not our own; and by God’s means rather than our own Matt Trewhella's The Doctrine of the Lesser Magistrate The Theology of the Cross (lowliness, suffering, humility) teaches us that God is often most present where He seems most absent. Ephesians 5:15–17: “Therefore look carefully how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. On account of this, do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.” Join us on Sundays for worship at 10:00am: ThornCrown Covenant Baptist Church4712 Montana AveEl Paso, Texas 79903 Contact us at: web: ThornCrownCovenant.Churchcall/text: (915) 843-8088email: [email protected] Scripture quotations taken from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com

Lord's Day: September 7, 2025  Preacher: Carlos Montijo  Series: First John  Topic: Love  Scripture: 1 John 4:16–17; 1 Corinthians 8:4–6; John 4:24; 6:69; 1 Corinthians 13:6–8; 1 John 4:7–10; Ephesians 2:3; Luke 3:38; 1 John 3:1–3; 1 Corinthians 2:16; 1 John 4:13; 3:24 16And we have come to know and have believed the love which God has in us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. 17By this, love has been perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment, because as He is, so also are we in this world. 1 John 4:16–17 I.   “And we have come to know and have believed…” Belief, or faith, requires knowledge, understanding Faith in turn seeks a deeper understanding: “Faith seeking understanding” (Anselm) Augustine: Crede ut intelligas, “Believe that you may understand” Faith requires content, an object, something to grasp, something to "hold on" to II.  What is “the love which God has in us”? God is love (v. 16), and God loves us, His chosen people, we who have come to know and have believed God are the objects of God’s amazing love The love which God has in us is a Redemptive, Restorative, Regenerative, Reformative Love III. This passage is highly emphatic about God abiding in us and we in Him—in His love—united to Him in Christ This mutually abiding union of love corresponds both to God and to us, and it must be true in both cases (God and us) and in the same sense (univocal) Abiding in love does not mean to blindly obey God in fear, but to love and believe the truth, which is the foundation of our obedience, because true love “rejoices with the truth” (1 Cor. 13:6) “This intimate fellowship consists of having the same ideas, of thinking alike, of being in extensive agreement. Hence, intimacy with God, too, consists in knowing what God thinks. That is to say, in knowing a good bit of theology.”[1] A Marriage of Minds Join us on Sundays for worship at 10:00am: ThornCrown Covenant Baptist Church4712 Montana AveEl Paso, Texas 79903 Contact us at: web: ThornCrownCovenant.Churchcall/text: (915) 843-8088email: [email protected] Scripture quotations taken from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com [1] Gordon H. Clark, First John: A Commentary, Trinity Paper, No. 2, 2nd ed. (The Trinity Foundation, 1992), p. 143 <https://www.trinitylectures.org/first-john-p-85.html>.

Lord's Day: August 31, 2025  Preacher: Carlos Montijo  Series: First John  Topic: Faith  Scripture: 1 John 4:15; Titus 2:13; 1 Corinthians 13:8; 1 John 4:2–3; Mark 3:11–12; Matthew 25:41; Luke 15:25–32 15Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. 1 John 4:15 There are familiar words, phrases, concepts that we have encountered before: True believers, confession, assurance, mutual abiding/dwelling, God, love, God is love, glorification, eschatology ("day of judgment") Interpretive Principle: Whenever the word God is used, without any other qualification or reference to a specific Person of the Godhead, it usually refers to God the Father I.   Believers know that they belong to God and confess that reality God’s love is final, immutable (never changes), never fails (1 Cor. 13:8) Confessing that Jesus is the Son of God means that you willingly believe, and accept, and receive everything He taught, even though we may not understand all of it perfectly, and are committed to “keep all that He has commanded you” (Matt. 28:20), without hypocrisy and without denying or rejecting the truth of God’s Word that you do understand. II.  What confession is not… Important to both affirm and deny, compare and contrast, for clarity and understanding This is not a false, hypocritical confession, or a partial confession that willfully denies other primary doctrines (like cults do), but a true confession of faith in the true gospel Mark 3:11-12 The Prodigal's older brother, Luke 15:25-32 Join us on Sundays for worship at 10:00am: ThornCrown Covenant Baptist Church4712 Montana AveEl Paso, Texas 79903 Contact us at: web: ThornCrownCovenant.Churchcall/text: (915) 843-8088email: [email protected] Scripture quotations taken from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com

Lord's Day: August 24, 2025  Preacher: Carlos Montijo  Series: First John  Topic: Love  Scripture: 1 John 4:12–14; 1:1–3; John 15:26–27; 1:14; 2 Corinthians 5:7; Matthew 16:15–17; Ephesians 4:1–7; Romans 9:11, 16, 18; Galatians 4:4–6; Titus 2:13–14 13By this we know that we abide in Him and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. 14We have beheld and bear witness that the Father has sent the Son to be the Savior of the world. 1 John 4:13-14 I.   We have beheld and we bear witness… Who heard and saw, and beheld and touched with their hands “that which was from the beginning”? II.  “Beheld” means more than mere physical sensation Our physical eyes, however, do not impart to us spiritual understanding of and faith in the truth Do we walk by sight, or by faith? (2 Cor. 5:7) Matthew 16:15–17 The apostles beheld and bore witness “that the Father has sent the Son to be the Savior of the world,” not merely because they physically saw and interacted with Christ on earth—did not Judas Iscariot do the same?—but because God chose them and gave them the gift of faith And we ourselves have received that same gift of that same faith from the same God, the same Spirit, the same Lord, the same Word, the same gospel (Eph. 4:1-7) III. To be the Savior of the world… Is the Son the Savior of unbelievers? Of reprobates? Of Esau, or Pharaoh? Who is the Son the savior of? IV.  Is the doctrine of Particular Redemption a recent development? The Martyrdom of Polycarp (155-160 A.D.): “…we [Christians] will never be able to abandon the Christ, who suffered for the salvation of the whole world of those who are saved, the blameless for the sinful, or to worship anyone else. For we worship this one, who is the Son of God.” And when I think - that God, His Son not sparing / Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it inThat on a cross, my burden gladly bearing / He bled and died to take away my sinThen sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee / How great Thou art, how great Thou art Join us on Sundays for worship at 10:00am: ThornCrown Covenant Baptist Church4712 Montana AveEl Paso, Texas 79903 Contact us at: web: ThornCrownCovenant.Churchcall/text: (915) 843-8088email: [email protected] Scripture quotations taken from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com

Lord's Day: August 17, 2025  Preacher: Carlos Montijo  Series: First John  Topic: Holy Spirit  Scripture: 1 John 4:12–13; Psalm 119:71; John 17:17; 1 Timothy 4:7; Romans 8:28–30; James 3:2; Ephesians 5:18; 1 Peter 1:18; 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18; Romans 8:3; Colossians 1:19; 2:9–10; Mark 10:45; Hebrews 9:14; 1 John 3:24; Romans 8:16–18 By this we know that we abide in Him and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. 1 John 4:13 “Sanctification is a work of God's free grace whereby we are renewed in the whole man after the image of God, and are enabled more and more to die unto sin, and live unto righteousness.” (1693 Baptist Catechism, Q. 39) God uses some of our good works and our participation in His means of grace as well as our participation in affliction which we are called to endure with hope, as secondary means of our sanctification (1 Tim. 4:7) God’s love never fails us, and never gives up on us, His Spirit is always with us, abides in us, and remains in us I.   The Holy Spirit is the primary Agent by which God’s Reformative Love is applied to us Abraham Kuyper: “…bad habits of a certain character sometimes pass from father to child even where the early death of the former precludes propagation by education and example.”[1] We are in the sanctifying process of being perfected by God’s Reformative love and through the Person and work of His Holy Spirit II.  God’s Son, Christ Jesus, was the only one who was perfectly full of the Spirit Christ relied on the Holy Spirit perfectly to accomplish His mission, “to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45) Abraham Kuyper: “…what Christ needed was the gifts of the Holy Ghost to enable His weakened [human] nature, in increasing measure, to be His instrument in the working out of His holy design; and…to transform His weakened nature not by regeneration, but by resurrection into a glorious nature, divested of the last trace of weakness and prepared to unfold its highest glory.” III. If Christ on earth needed the Holy Spirit, how much more do we? The Holy Spirit is frequently the most slandered Person of the Trinity, especially by religious people who call themselves Christians He is often abused to justify all manner of wild imbalances, blasphemies, and heresies Relying on the Holy Spirit primarily means to rely on His means of grace—Word, sacraments, prayer IV.  One of the precious blessings that the Holy Spirit gives us is assurance To grow in your understanding of the Person and work of the Holy Spirit, search the Scriptures carefully, systematically, apologetically Join us on Sundays for worship at 10:00am: ThornCrown Covenant Baptist Church4712 Montana AveEl Paso, Texas 79903 Contact us at: web: ThornCrownCovenant.Churchcall/text: (915) 843-8088email: [email protected] Scripture quotations taken from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com [1] Abraham Kuyper, The Work of the Holy Spirit (Christian Classics Ethereal Library, n.d.), p. 102 <https://ccel.org/ccel/kuyper/holy_spirit> [accessed 16 August 2025].

Lord's Day: August 10, 2025  Preacher: Carlos Montijo  Series: First John  Topic: Love  Scripture: 1 John 4:11–13; 1 Corinthians 1:30–31; 1 John 4:8–9; 3:2; Romans 8:16–18; 5:1–5; Hebrews 12:5–11; Ephesians 2:3–13; Romans 9:23; 2 Peter 1:3–4; Romans 8:28–30; John 17:17; Jeremiah 23:28–29; Matthew 28:19 11Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12No one has beheld God at any time; if we love one another, God abides in us, and His love is perfected in us. 13By this we know that we abide in Him and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. 1 John 4:11–13 I.   The excellencies of God’s love correspond to the order of our salvation (ordo salutis) The order of salvation is a result of, the consequence of, God’s love being poured out richly on all of us who have been chosen by God, to be loved by Him—it is all God’s gracious gift to us! Because God is love (1 John 4:8) II.  Reformative: After regenerating us, God’s love continues to mold us, rebuke, chasten, discipline us, to conform us to the image of His Son III. The path of God’s Reformative love refines, sanctifies, prunes and perfects us God’s Reformative love sanctifies us and “is perfected in us” (1 John 4:12) through suffering—but not as those who are without God and without hope in the world (Eph. 2:12) God’s adoptive love for us as our heavenly Father disciplines and reforms us (Heb. 12:5-11) IV.  God’s Law & Gospel of Love A Redemptive, Restorative, justifying love, and a Regenerative and ongoing, Reformative, sanctifying love that disciplines us unto holiness, to make us more like His precious, unique Son, “so that we may share His holiness” (Heb. 12:10) V.  God’s law and gospel both sanctify us in special ways, because they are both God’s holy Word God’s holy love transforms us by His holy law, His holy gospel, His Holy Spirit Join us on Sundays for worship at 10:00am: ThornCrown Covenant Baptist Church4712 Montana AveEl Paso, Texas 79903 Contact us at: web: ThornCrownCovenant.Churchcall/text: (915) 843-8088email: [email protected] Scripture quotations taken from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com

Lord's Day: August 3, 2025  Preacher: Carlos Montijo  Series: First John  Topic: Love  Scripture: 1 John 4:11–12; John 19:30; 1 John 4:7–9; Titus 3:4–7; 2 Corinthians 5:17; John 1:18; 4:24; 14:9; 13:34–35; Exodus 33:18–20 11Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12No one has beheld God at any time; if we love one another, God abides in us, and His love is perfected in us. 1 John 4:11–12 I.   Regenerative: God’s love regenerates us, recreates us, causes us to adjust our course and walk in newness of life as renewed creations God’s love gives us repentance and faith, new spiritual life, gives us a new moral nature, a new disposition, by realigning our deepest convictions, thoughts, words, and actions to His Word and will II.  No one has seen God at any time Even though “no one has beheld God at any time,” yet He also demonstrates His abiding love through us and perfects His love in us, because He chose us to be the objects of His love and affections, and His love is regenerative and sanctifies us with a holy love for others, especially for our precious brothers and sisters in Christ Although Moses spoke to God “face to face,” anthropomorphism (Exodus 33:18-20) Join us on Sundays for worship at 10:00am: ThornCrown Covenant Baptist Church4712 Montana AveEl Paso, Texas 79903 Contact us at: web: ThornCrownCovenant.Churchcall/text: (915) 843-8088email: [email protected] Scripture quotations taken from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com

Lord's Day: July 27, 2025  Preacher: Carlos Montijo  Series: First John  Topic: Love  Scripture: 1 John 4:9–10; Romans 5:8–10; Ephesians 1:7–8; 1 John 2:1–2; 1 Corinthians 15:3; Isaiah 53:4–10; 1 John 3:1; 1 Peter 2:9–10; Revelation 1:5–6; 5:10; Romans 8:30 9By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him. 10In this is love, not that we have loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 1 John 4:7–10 Great gospel memory passage I.   This “Other Love Chapter” explains what love truly is, and what it looks like What then is love? God’s love is gospel; our love is law (obedience) The Excellencies of God's love: (a) Redemptive, Restorative (Justifying: Forensic [synthetic]) (b) Regenerative, Reformative (Sanctifying: Renovative, Transformative [analytic]) II.  Redemptive: God’s love forgives all our sins How is our Redemption accomplished? One “Word”—Christ III. God’s gospel of love is a gospel of propitiation The atonement is central to Christianity; propitiation is the heart of the gospel Propitiation is “the means of appeasing wrath and gaining the good will of an offended person; especially with respect to sacrifices for appeasing angered deities.”[1] You cannot be saved without a gospel of propitiation, you must believe the true gospel Against Eastern Orthodoxy 1 Corinthians 15:3 God, Man, Salvation, His Word—a failure to grasp these primary doctrines can lead to a false gospel Isaiah 53:4–10 You cannot understand God’s love unless you understand God’s wrath You cannot have God’s love unless God’s wrath has been satisfied through His Son whom He sent, to be the propitiation for our sins. IV.  Restorative: God’s love not only restores to us the benefits that we lost in the Fall, but surpasses them with more blessings and benefits Join us on Sundays for worship at 10:00am: ThornCrown Covenant Baptist Church4712 Montana AveEl Paso, Texas 79903 Contact us at: web: ThornCrownCovenant.Churchcall/text: (915) 843-8088email: [email protected] Scripture quotations taken from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com [1] Rick Brannan, ed., Lexham Research Lexicon of the Greek New Testament, Lexham Research Lexicons (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2020).