Jeff Durbin || Everything Has Purpose

A Berean Review of Jeff Durbin’s Sermon on God’s Sovereign Purpose

Introduction

• Purpose: To evaluate the sermon’s content, logical coherence, and theological integrity with a Berean mindset (Acts 17:11), testing it against scripture (Tanakh and New Testament) for truth, from a Biblical perspective that sees Yeshua as the Messiah fulfilling God’s covenant promises to Israel and the nations.

• Details: Delivered by Jeff Durbin on an unspecified date (transcript dated March 08, 2025, per context), at Apologia Church. Length: approximately 1 hour, 10 minutes. Format: teaching with worship elements (prayer, scripture reading).

• Theme: God sovereignly purposes all things, including the wicked for judgment, to bring glory to Himself and comfort to His people.

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1. Sermon Agenda

• Goals:

  • Teaching: Expound Proverbs 16:4 on God’s sovereignty over all creation, including evil and the wicked.

  • Worship: Inspire trust in God’s purpose through prayer and scripture.

  • Encouragement: Provide hope amidst suffering and evil.

• Alignment with Biblical View: Partially aligns by centering Yeshua as wisdom incarnate (00:22:30) and the fulfillment of God’s plan (e.g., Acts 4:27-28), reflecting Isaiah 49:6’s promise of Messiah as a light to the nations. However, it lacks explicit connection to Israel’s covenant role or the Torah’s foundation, leaning heavily on Gentile-framed sovereignty debates.

• Focus Summary: The sermon emphasizes God’s meticulous control over all events, offering comfort to believers while warning the wicked of their decreed end.

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2. Scriptural Usage and Contextual Analysis

• Proverbs 16:4 (00:00:30): “The Lord has made everything for its purpose, even the wicked for the day of trouble.”

  • Application: God sovereignly ordains all things, including evil, for His glory and the good of His people (00:05:00-00:07:00).

  • Faithfulness: Accurate to the Hebrew l’ma’anehu (“for its purpose”), implying divine intent. Contextually, Proverbs contrasts wisdom and folly, not predestination specifics. The sermon expands it into a sovereignty doctrine, which fits New Testament themes (e.g., Romans 9) but stretches beyond Proverbs’ wisdom focus.

  • Biblical Roots: Yeshua as wisdom (1 Corinthians 1:24) is noted (00:22:30), but Torah’s covenant framework is sidelined.

  • Depth: Meat—links Tanakh and New Testament, though heavy on systematic theology over Jewish context.

• Isaiah 46:5-11 (00:13:30): God declares His unique sovereignty, purposing all from beginning to end.

  • Application: Contrasts God with idols, affirming His control over history (00:15:00-00:16:30).

  • Faithfulness: True to Isaiah’s polemic against idolatry and God’s machashavah (purpose), rooted in Israel’s redemption narrative. Sermon aligns but shifts focus to individual destiny.

  • Biblical Roots: Implicitly Biblical (Yeshua as God’s purpose), yet Israel’s role as God’s servant (Isaiah 49) is unmentioned.

  • Depth: Meat—engages Tanakh theology, though Gentile lens dominates.

• Ephesians 1:4-5 (00:33:25): God chose believers before creation, predestining them according to His will.

  • Application: Salvation is God’s sovereign choice, not human effort (00:34:00).

  • Faithfulness: Accurate to Paul’s intent, echoing Deuteronomy 7:6-8 (Israel’s election). Lacks Jewish covenant context.

  • Biblical Roots: Yeshua-centric, but Israel’s election as a nation is overlooked.

  • Depth: Meat—requires theological maturity, though framed in Reformed terms.

• Romans 8:28-30 (00:35:40): All things work for good for those called according to God’s purpose.

  • Application: Comfort in suffering via predestination (00:36:00).

  • Faithfulness: Contextually sound, linked to Israel’s hope in Messiah. Sermon’s focus on individual election narrows the scope.

  • Biblical Roots: Yeshua as firstborn (v. 29) fits Biblical fulfillment, but Jewish roots are thin.

  • Depth: Meat—complex, though assumes prior knowledge.

• Acts 13:48 (00:36:30): Gentiles appointed to eternal life believed.

  • Application: God sovereignly appoints salvation (00:37:00).

  • Faithfulness: True to text, reflecting Isaiah 49:6’s outreach. Ignores Jewish priority in Acts.

  • Biblical Roots: Yeshua’s mission to Gentiles is implicit, but Israel’s role is absent.

  • Depth: Meat—challenges hearers, though Gentile-centric.

• Romans 9:1-23 (00:37:30): God’s purpose in election, mercy, and hardening, using Jacob/Esau and Pharaoh.

  • Application: God’s sovereignty over salvation and judgment (00:44:00-00:56:30).

  • Faithfulness: Faithful to Paul’s argument rooted in Tanakh (e.g., Malachi 1:2-3, Exodus 9:16). Overemphasizes individual predestination over Israel’s corporate election.

  • Biblical Roots: Yeshua as Messiah is assumed, but Israel’s covenant primacy is muted.

  • Depth: Meat—deep, requiring discernment, though Reformed bias skews it.

• Acts 4:27-28 (00:30:14): God predestined Yeshua’s death.

  • Application: Evil acts serve God’s purpose (00:30:30).

  • Faithfulness: Accurate, aligning with Isaiah 53. Focuses on sovereignty, not Biblical suffering servant.

  • Biblical Roots: Strong—Yeshua’s death fulfills prophecy, though Torah links are weak.

  • Depth: Meat—ties Tanakh and New Testament, challenging hearers.

• Job 38-42 (00:59:00-01:09:00): God’s response to Job’s suffering affirms His unthwartable purpose.

  • Application: Trust God’s sovereignty despite pain (01:07:30).

  • Faithfulness: True to Job’s theme of divine authority over creation and suffering, rooted in Tanakh.

  • Biblical Roots: Indirect—points to Yeshua’s trust in God (e.g., Hebrews 5:8), but not explicit.

  • Depth: Meat—profound, demanding maturity to accept.

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3. Logical Soundness and Fallacies

• Argument:

  • Claim 1: God purposes all things, including evil, for His glory (00:05:30).

  • Claim 2: This comforts believers and warns the wicked (00:18:30).

  • Reasoning: Scripture (e.g., Proverbs 16:4, Romans 9) reveals God’s sovereignty; human philosophies lack purpose (00:08:30-00:11:30).

• Fallacies:

  • Straw Man: Portrays atheism as inherently chaotic and meaningless (00:09:00), ignoring nuanced secular ethics.

  • False Dichotomy: Suggests only biblical sovereignty or total chaos exist (00:11:30), sidelining Torah’s balance of free will and divine will (e.g., Deuteronomy 30:19).

• Soundness: Reasoning holds for a sovereignty-focused audience but assumes Reformed premises (e.g., meticulous predestination), which may not convince those rooted in Torah’s covenantal freedom.

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4. Scriptural Corrections

• Proverbs 16:4: Overextends to individual predestination. Correction: Focus on wisdom’s contrast of righteous and wicked fates (Proverbs 16:5-6), not systematic theology.

• Romans 9: Misapplies Israel’s election to individual salvation. Correction: Paul addresses Israel’s remnant (Romans 11:5), not universal predestination—rooted in Tanakh (e.g., Isaiah 10:22).

• General: Neglects Torah’s free will (e.g., Leviticus 26:3-46). Correction: Balance sovereignty with human responsibility, as Yeshua teaches (e.g., John 7:17).

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5. Psychological Methods for Encouraging Giving

• Tactics: None explicit. Emotional appeals (e.g., suffering, 00:23:00; daughter’s cerebral palsy, 00:27:30) foster empathy, potentially softening hearts for giving, but no direct link.

• Manipulation: Absent—no guilt or pressure detected.

• Conclusion: Encouragement is genuine, aligning with Deuteronomy 16:17’s voluntary giving, though no financial appeal is made.

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6. Calls to Action for Giving

• Appeals: None direct or indirect (e.g., no offering mention).

• Alignment: N/A—sermon focuses on theology, not giving. Biblical giving (2 Corinthians 9:7) is unaddressed.

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7. Contradictions

• Sovereignty vs. Responsibility: Claims God predestines evil (00:30:30) but denies He’s responsible for sin (00:31:00). Undermines logical coherence—either God fully controls or humans bear guilt (cf. Genesis 50:20).

• Comfort vs. Threat: Comforts believers with purpose (00:18:00) yet threatens the wicked with doom (00:19:30), risking fear over trust. Contrasts Torah’s call to choose life (Deuteronomy 30:19).

• Impact: Weakens trust by unresolved tension—God’s goodness is questioned if He decrees evil without accountability.

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8. Denominational Biases and Corrections

• Reformed Theology: Heavy reliance on predestination (00:33:00-00:56:30), citing Ephesians 1, Romans 9, in a Calvinistic frame. Correction: Return to Tanakh’s covenantal election (e.g., Deuteronomy 7:7-8), not systematic determinism.

• Gentile Lens: Minimizes Israel’s role (e.g., Romans 9 as individual, not national, 00:44:00). Correction: Restore Israel’s primacy (Romans 11:26-29).

• Distortion: Shifts focus from Torah’s relational God to a deterministic deity, obscuring Yeshua’s Biblical identity.

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9. Alignment with Easy Belief or Denominational Structure

• Easy Belief: Avoids “one-time salvation” tropes, emphasizing predestination (00:35:00), not cheap grace.

• Church Style: Evangelical/Reformed—focus on sovereignty, scripture exposition, not Biblical emphasis on Torah observance.

• Conclusion: Leans Reformed, inflexible to Biblical roots, prioritizing theology over covenant practice.

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10. Pastoral Responsibility and Authority

• Shepherd Role: Durbin acts as ro’eh (shepherd), guiding via scripture (00:58:30), encouraging trust in God. Invites Berean scrutiny (00:38:00).

• Pride: Minimal—admits struggle (00:53:30), though sovereignty focus risks overconfidence in doctrine.

• Conclusion: Accountable to scripture, not self, but Reformed lens may mislead from Torah’s balance.

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11. Practical Application and Ethical Fruit

• Equipping: Encourages trust in God’s purpose (01:09:30), applicable to suffering (e.g., Job). Lacks Torah-based ethics (e.g., Leviticus 19).

• Tone: Integrity (Titus 2:7-8)—seeks truth, not greed or manipulation.

• Conclusion: Equips kahal for endurance, not full covenant living—needs Torah grounding.

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12. Anti-Semitic Language

• Instances: None overt. Romans 9 (00:43:00) risks supersessionism by sidelining Israel’s ongoing role.

• Analysis: No malice, but neglect of Israel’s covenant (e.g., Jeremiah 31:31-33) subtly devalues Jewish roots.

• Conclusion: Honors Messiah, not Israel’s full covenant significance—needs correction.

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13. Warnings to a New Believer

• Shallow Teaching: Risk of overemphasizing sovereignty over practical faith (e.g., James 2:17).

  • Caution: Seek Torah’s call to action, not just comfort.

• Gentile Bias: Downplays Jewish roots (e.g., Romans 11:18).

  • Caution: Study Tanakh to know Yeshua as Biblical Messiah.

• Summary: Balance doctrine with covenant obedience—test all against scripture.

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Final Assessment

• Recap:

  • Agenda: Teaches sovereignty, comforts believers—lacks Biblical depth.

  • Scripture: Faithful to texts, overextends into Reformed theology, mutes Torah.

  • Logic: Sound within its frame, but fallacies limit universality.

  • Giving: None—focus is theological, not financial.

  • Contradictions: Sovereignty vs. responsibility unresolved—weakens trust.

  • Biases: Reformed lens distorts Torah’s relational covenant.

  • Authority: Shepherd invites scrutiny, risks doctrinal overreach.

  • Application: Equips for trust, not full godly living.

  • Anti-Semitism: Subtle neglect of Israel’s role—needs correction.

  • Warnings: New believers risk missing Jewish roots, practical faith.

• Strengths: Ties Tanakh and New Testament, exalts Yeshua’s purpose (Acts 4:27-28).

• Weaknesses: Overreliance on Reformed theology, sidelining Torah and Israel’s covenant.

• Fixes: Refocus on Torah’s balance (e.g., Deuteronomy 30:19), Israel’s role (Romans 11).

• Depth Check: Meat—engages scripture and theology deeply, but demands maturity to sift Reformed bias from biblical truth.

• Shepherd Accountability: Invites scrutiny (00:38:00), aligning with Acts 17:11, though James 3:1’s stricter judgment warns against doctrinal skew.

• Reject Human Traditions: Reformed Theology (e.g., predestination) is a Gentile overlay—strip it away. Return to Torah, Prophets, and New Testament alone, free of Calvinism, Dispensationalism, or other systems.

• Back to Scriptural Roots: Ask: Who is Yeshua, Israel’s Messiah? What does God’s covenant demand? Test all against Tanakh and Messiah’s words—truth is there, not in pulpits or traditions.

• Use if Corrected: Valuable for sovereignty teaching if rooted in Torah and Biblical fulfillment, verified by personal study.

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This sermon, delivered by Jeff Durbin at Apologia Church, teaches that God controls everything—every event, every person, even evil—for His purpose and glory. Based on Proverbs 16:4 ("The Lord has made everything for its purpose, even the wicked for the day of trouble"), Durbin explains that God’s sovereignty brings comfort to believers facing hardship and warns the wicked of their destined judgment. He uses scriptures like Romans 9, Ephesians 1, and Job 38-42 to show God chooses some for mercy (salvation through Jesus) and others for justice (punishment), all to reveal His power and love. The sermon highlights Jesus’ death as the ultimate example of God turning evil into good (Acts 4:27-28), encouraging you to trust God’s plan even when life hurts. It’s deep teaching—more “meat” than “milk” (Hebrews 5:12-14)—meant to grow your faith beyond simple basics.

Key Takeaways for You:

• God is in charge, and nothing happens outside His will—your struggles have meaning.

• Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection show God’s love and victory over evil, giving you hope.

• You’re called to trust Him, not question His ways, like Job learned (Job 42:1-6).

Warning About Man-Made Doctrines:
Be careful—Durbin leans heavily on a man-made system called Reformed Theology (or Calvinism), which says God predestines everything, even who gets saved or lost, before you’re born. This sermon pushes that idea hard, but it’s not the whole picture of scripture. The Bible also shows God gives us real choices (Deuteronomy 30:19—“Choose life”; John 7:17—“If anyone wills to do His will”). Man-made doctrines like Calvinism, Dispensationalism, or others can twist God’s Word into rigid rules, missing the relational heart of the Torah (God’s law) and Jesus’ teachings. They’re Gentile inventions, not the pure truth of scripture. Test everything against the Tanakh (Old Testament) and New Testament yourself—don’t just trust a pastor or system. Ask: Does this match God’s covenant with Israel and Jesus’ call to follow Him? Stick to scripture alone; that’s where you’ll find the real Jesus, not in human traditions.

Next Steps:
Read Proverbs 16, Romans 8:28-30, and Job 38 for yourself. Pray for wisdom (James 1:5) to see God’s truth, not man’s spin. You’re new in faith—grow by studying the Bible directly, not leaning on someone else’s lens. Acts 17:11 says to “examine the scriptures daily” to see what’s true. That’s your safeguard against being misled.