The Promises Of God | Calvary PHX
Final Report: Analysis of Pastor Jason’s Sermon at Calvary Community Church
Introduction
This analysis evaluates Jason’s sermon with a Berean mindset (Acts 17:11), testing its scriptural accuracy, logical coherence, and theological integrity against the Hebrew Scriptures (Tanakh) and New Testament. From a biblical perspective, Yeshua is the promised Savior who fulfills God’s covenant with Israel and extends it to the nations (Isaiah 49:6). The focus is on truth rooted in scripture, not emotional appeal, assessing whether the sermon offers “milk” (basic teachings, Hebrews 5:12-13) or “meat” (mature, contextual depth, Hebrews 5:14).
1. Sermon Agenda
Goals:
Worship (00:06:46–00:22:49): Praise Yeshua as King and Savior.
Teaching (00:25:23–00:56:54): Expound on God’s patience as a promise, using Romans 15, Psalms, Jonah, Timothy, and Peter.
Outreach (00:54:46–00:58:56): Call unbelievers to salvation.
Giving (00:16:56): Collect offerings as an act of trust.
Communion (00:59:43–01:02:06): Reflect on Yeshua’s sacrifice.
Alignment with Biblical View:
Positively, it ties Yeshua to God’s promises to the patriarchs (00:28:16) and Gentiles (00:27:11), echoing Isaiah 42:6 and 49:6.
However, it lacks explicit biblical framing—e.g., Yeshua as the Torah’s fulfillment (Matthew 5:17)—and leans Gentile-centric, sidelining Israel’s enduring covenant role (Romans 11:29).
Focus: God’s patience enables salvation, uniting Jews and Gentiles under Yeshua’s redemptive work, though with limited Jewish context.
2. Scriptural Usage and Contextual Analysis
Romans 15:1-13 (00:25:23–00:28:16):
Application: Jason uses it to show Yeshua confirming promises to Jews and extending mercy to Gentiles, fostering unity (00:28:16).
Faithfulness: Mostly accurate—Paul cites Tanakh (e.g., Psalm 18:49, Isaiah 11:10) to prove God’s plan includes both groups. “Circumcised” (Jews) and Gentiles align with covenant promises (Genesis 12:3).
Biblical Roots: Yeshua as “root of Jesse” (Isaiah 11:1) is scriptural, but Jason skips its Jewish kingdom context, reducing it to a generic hope (00:27:11).
Depth: Milk—basic unity message, no deep Torah linkage (e.g., Exodus 19:6).
Psalm 103 (00:32:08–00:35:11):
Application: Highlights God’s patience (“slow to anger”) and mercy, not treating us as sins deserve (00:33:58).
Faithfulness: True to the text—reflects Exodus 34:6-7 (God’s attributes). “Steadfast love” (chesed) is covenantal, though Jason doesn’t connect it to Israel explicitly.
Biblical Roots: Implicitly supports Yeshua’s atonement (Psalm 103:12, cf. Hebrews 10:17), but not developed.
Depth: Milk—surface-level comfort, no covenant theology.
Jonah 4 (00:39:06–00:43:39):
Application: God’s patience spares Nineveh despite Jonah’s reluctance, showing grace to the undeserving (00:42:27).
Faithfulness: Accurate—Jonah 4:2 mirrors Exodus 34:6. Emphasizes God’s universal mercy (cf. Genesis 18:26).
Biblical Roots: Foreshadows Yeshua’s outreach to Gentiles (Matthew 12:41), but Jason misses this link.
Depth: Milk—moral lesson, not prophetic depth.
1 Timothy 1:12-16 (00:43:39–00:46:07):
Application: Paul’s salvation shows God’s “perfect patience” as an example (00:44:55).
Faithfulness: Correct—Paul’s transformation (Acts 9) exemplifies grace (Ezekiel 36:26).
Biblical Roots: Yeshua as “Savior of sinners” aligns with Isaiah 53:5, though not cited.
Depth: Milk—personal application, no theological complexity.
2 Peter 3:8-14 (00:47:16–00:52:17):
Application: God delays judgment out of patience, desiring repentance (00:48:25).
Faithfulness: True—echoes Tanakh (Habakkuk 2:3) and Yeshua’s return (Matthew 24:36). “Day as a thousand years” reflects Psalm 90:4.
Biblical Roots: Links to scriptural hope, but lacks Tanakh grounding (e.g., Daniel 7:13-14).
Depth: Milk—basic eschatology, no mature reflection.
Conclusion: Scripture use is faithful but shallow, favoring isolated verses over contextual depth or biblical ties.
3. Logical Soundness and Fallacies
Argument:
Claim: God’s patience undergirds His promises (00:30:55).
Reasoning: Examples (Sarah, David, Moses) show delays (00:32:08); scriptures (Psalm 103, Jonah, etc.) prove patience leads to salvation (00:52:17).
Fallacies:
Hasty Generalization (00:38:01): Personal impatience (traffic story) doesn’t logically contrast God’s patience— anecdotal, not scriptural.
False Dichotomy (00:53:11): “Salvation or surrender” oversimplifies responses to God’s patience, ignoring sanctification (Hebrews 12:14).
Soundness: Holds for a beginner audience—simple and clear—but lacks rigor for mature discernment.
4. Scriptural Corrections
Romans 15 (00:27:11): Jason says Jews “skipped over” Gentile promises (00:29:22). Correction: Tanakh explicitly includes Gentiles (Genesis 22:18, Isaiah 56:6-7); Jews didn’t miss this—many resisted Gentile equality (Acts 15:1).
Jonah 4 (00:41:14): Implies Ninevites were “undeserving” (00:40:06). Correction: Tanakh shows God’s mercy to all who repent (Joel 2:13), not merit-based.
5. Psychological Methods for Encouraging Giving
Tactic (00:16:56): Offering tied to “trust in the provision of our king” and inheritance in heaven (1 Peter 1:3-7).
Nature: Gentle encouragement, not guilt. Links giving to worship, not pressure.
Comparison to Torah: Aligns with Deuteronomy 16:17—giving from what one has, willingly—though lacks explicit Torah reference.
6. Calls to Action for Giving
Appeal (00:16:56): “Present our gifts and offerings as an act of worship and trust.”
Context: Post-prayer, pre-song—natural flow.
Alignment: Matches 2 Corinthians 9:7—cheerful giving, not coerced. No manipulation detected.
7. Contradictions
Patience vs. Discipline (00:38:01): Jason says God’s patience “undergirds all promises” (00:30:55), yet warns it activates discipline if pushed (00:39:06).
Issue: Blurs patience as unconditional with conditional judgment (Hebrews 12:6).
Impact: Confuses God’s nature—Tanakh balances mercy and justice (Exodus 34:7).
Conclusion: Minor inconsistency; undermines clarity, not trust.
8. Denominational Biases and Corrections
Evangelical Lean (00:54:46): “Call on the Lord” for salvation (Romans 10:13) reflects “easy belief” without Torah obedience (Deuteronomy 6:4-5).
Correction: Savior’s salvation includes covenant living (Matthew 5:19).
Gentile Focus (00:29:22): Jews sidelined as if promises shifted (contra Romans 11:1).
Correction: Israel remains central (Jeremiah 31:31-33); Gentiles are grafted in (Romans 11:17).
9. Alignment with Easy Belief or Denominational Structure
Easy Belief: Salvation as a one-time prayer (00:56:54) skips ongoing repentance and Torah-rooted faith (James 2:17).
Structure: Evangelical style—pastor-led, worship-heavy, light on Jewish roots.
Flexibility: Broad appeal, but rigid in Gentile lens, not biblical adaptability.
10. Pastoral Responsibility and Authority
Shepherd (Ro’eh): Jason guides (00:25:23), encourages (00:52:17), and invites response (00:57:33), but uses humor (00:36:10) that risks trivializing.
Pride: None overt; he admits flaws (00:36:10).
Questions: No stifling, but no call to test his words (Acts 17:11).
Conclusion: Accountable to scripture superficially; risks misleading via shallow depth.
11. Practical Application and Ethical Fruit
Equipping: Urges trust in God’s patience (00:52:17) and salvation (00:57:33)—basic faith steps.
Tone: Integrity present (Titus 2:7); no greed—giving is optional (00:16:56).
Conclusion: Equips kahal minimally—lacks Torah-based ethics (Leviticus 19:18).
12. Anti-Semitic Language
Instance (00:29:22): Jews “skipped over” Gentile inclusion, implying ignorance.
Issue: Misrepresents Jewish expectation (Isaiah 2:2-3); borders on stereotype.
Correction: Tanakh foresaw nations joining Israel (Zechariah 8:23).
Conclusion: Mildly dismissive, not honoring Israel’s covenant role (Romans 3:2).
13. Warnings to a New Believer
Shallow Teaching: Basic ideas (milk) may stunt growth (Hebrews 5:14).
Caution: Dig into Torah and Yeshua’s words for meat.
Gentile Bias: Overlooks Yeshua’s Jewishness (Matthew 1:1).
Caution: Study Tanakh to see Israel’s priority.
Easy Belief: One prayer isn’t full faith (00:57:33).
Caution: Live out covenant obedience (Micah 6:8).
Final Assessment
Recap:
Agenda: Worship and teaching focus on God’s patience, with outreach and giving—biblical intent present but underdeveloped.
Scripture: Faithful yet shallow, missing Tanakh depth and Yeshua’s Torah role.
Logic: Sound for beginners, with minor fallacies.
Giving: Biblical, not manipulative.
Contradictions: Patience-discipline tension is unclear.
Biases: Evangelical, Gentile-leaning; needs biblical correction.
Authority: Jason shepherds humbly but lacks scrutiny call.
Application: Basic equipping, ethical but light.
Anti-Semitism: Subtle dismissal of Jewish insight.
Warnings: Risks shallow faith and Gentile skew.
Strengths: Links promises to Yeshua, encourages faith (00:28:16).
Weaknesses: Milk-level depth, skips Jewish roots, leans on Evangelical tropes.
Fixes: Ground patience in Torah (Exodus 34:6), emphasize Yeshua’s saving role (Isaiah 9:6), reject Gentile traditions.
Depth Check:
Scriptural Engagement: Milk—isolated verses, no Torah-NT synthesis.
Theological Complexity: Milk—basic grace, no covenant wrestling.
Audience Demand: Milk—assumes little knowledge, minimal challenge.
Shepherd Accountability: Jason doesn’t invite Berean testing (Acts 17:11), risking unexamined error (James 3:1).
Reject Human Traditions: Evangelical “easy belief” and Gentile focus echo Reformed and Dispensational distortions—shed these for Torah truth.
Back to Scriptural Roots: Read Genesis to Revelation as one story of Yeshua, Israel’s Savior. Test all against Tanakh—human systems (Calvinism, Catholicism, etc.) crumble; God’s Word stands.
Use if Corrected: Valuable if reframed biblically, but personal study trumps pulpit reliance.
For the new believer
Jason’s sermon is about how God’s patience is a promise that holds everything together. He says God waits for us—Jews and Gentiles alike—because He wants us to turn to Him through Yeshua, the Savior. The big idea is that God doesn’t give up on you, even when you mess up, and Yeshua’s life, death, and resurrection make this possible. Here’s how he breaks it down:
God’s Patience in History (00:30:55): Jason points to people like Sarah (waited for a son, Genesis 21:1-7), David (waited to be king, 1 Samuel 16:13–2 Samuel 5:4), and Moses (waited for the Promised Land, Exodus 3:7-10). God kept His word, but it took time—showing He’s patient.
God’s Patience in Scripture: He uses verses like Psalm 103 (God’s mercy, 00:32:08), Jonah 4 (God spares Nineveh, 00:39:06), 1 Timothy 1 (Paul’s salvation, 00:43:39), and 2 Peter 3 (God delays judgment, 00:47:16) to prove God waits for us to repent.
Yeshua’s Role (00:28:16): Jason says Yeshua came to fulfill promises to the Jews and bring Gentiles in too (Romans 15:8-9), tying it all to salvation through Him (00:54:46).
Your Response (00:57:33): He ends by asking you to accept Yeshua now, because God’s patience led you to this moment.
In short, Jason’s point is: God’s patience gives you a chance to be saved through Yeshua, no matter who you are or what you’ve done.
Key Takeaways Rooted in Scripture
Here are two big truths from the sermon, backed by God’s Word, to encourage you as a new believer:
God’s Love Waits for You (Psalm 103:8-12):
The Tanakh says, “The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love” (Psalm 103:8). This means God isn’t quick to punish you. Instead, He removes your sins “as far as the east is from the west” (Psalm 103:12). In the New Testament, Yeshua proves this by dying for your sins (Isaiah 53:5, Hebrews 10:17). Jason’s right—God’s patience is real, and it’s for you!
Encouragement: You’re not too far gone. God waited thousands of years to send Yeshua (Genesis 3:15, Galatians 4:4), and He’s waiting for you now. That’s love you can trust.
Yeshua Saves the Worst of Us (1 Timothy 1:15-16):
Paul, who hunted Christians (Acts 8:3), said, “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost” (1 Timothy 1:15). God’s patience turned him into an Apostle (Acts 9:15). Jason uses this to say: if God saved Paul, He can save you (00:46:07). The Tanakh promised a Savior for all (Isaiah 49:6), and Yeshua is Him.
Encouragement: No matter your past, Yeshua’s sacrifice is enough (Hebrews 7:27). You’re not “too bad” for God—His patience is your chance to start new.
These truths show God’s heart: He’s patient because He wants you in His family, and Yeshua makes it happen.
How This Fits God’s Big Story
From a biblical view, God made promises to Israel (Genesis 12:3, Jeremiah 31:31-33) that Yeshua fulfills as the Savior. The Tanakh says He’d bless all nations through Abraham’s line (Genesis 22:18), and Yeshua does that by dying and rising (Acts 13:32-33). Jason touches this in Romans 15 (00:27:11), showing Jews got the promises first, and Gentiles—like you—get grafted in (Romans 11:17). It’s one story: God’s patience with Israel led to Yeshua, and now His patience with you leads to salvation. Pretty amazing, right?
Warnings: Watch Out for These Traps
Jason’s sermon is a good start, but there are risks for you as a new believer. Here’s what to watch for, with logic to back it up:
Shallow Teaching Can Stall You:
What’s Happening: Jason keeps it simple—God’s patient, so trust Yeshua (00:52:17). That’s true, but he doesn’t dig into the Torah (God’s Law) or how Yeshua fulfills it (Matthew 5:17). The Bible calls this “milk” for babies, not “meat” for grown-ups (Hebrews 5:12-14).
Why It’s a Problem: If you only get easy stuff, you won’t grow strong. You need the whole Word—Tanakh and New Testament—to understand Yeshua fully.
Warning: Don’t settle for basics. Dig into Genesis, Leviticus, Isaiah—see how they point to Yeshua. You’ll miss the depth otherwise.
Forgetting Yeshua’s Roots Can Confuse You:
What’s Happening: Jason says Jews “skipped over” Gentile promises (00:29:22), making it sound like they messed up. But the Tanakh always included nations (Isaiah 56:6-7), and Israel’s still God’s chosen (Romans 11:1). He focuses on Gentiles without honoring Israel’s role.
Why It’s a Problem: Yeshua’s the Savior from Israel first (Matthew 1:1). If you skip that, you miss half the story—like eating a sandwich with no bread.
Warning: Study Israel’s place in God’s plan (Romans 3:2). Yeshua’s not a rootless savior—He’s the Lion of Judah (Revelation 5:5).
“One Prayer” Faith Can Trick You:
What’s Happening: Jason says pray once, and you’re saved (00:57:33). That’s partly true—faith starts somewhere (Romans 10:13)—but he skips living it out.
Why It’s a Problem: The Bible says faith without works is dead (James 2:17). Torah calls for obedience (Deuteronomy 6:4-5), and Yeshua says, “Follow me” (Matthew 16:24). One prayer isn’t the end—it’s the beginning.
Warning: Don’t think you’re “done.” Keep seeking Yeshua daily—love God, love others (Micah 6:8). That’s real faith.
Man-Made Doctrines Can Twist the Truth:
What’s Happening: Jason’s style leans on Gentile ideas—like “easy belief” from Evangelical churches—without questioning them. Systems like Reformed Theology (predestination), Catholicism (rituals), or Dispensationalism (Israel vs. Church split) add layers God didn’t give.
Why It’s a Problem: These are human inventions, not scripture. The Tanakh warns against adding to God’s Word (Deuteronomy 4:2), and Yeshua fought tradition over truth (Mark 7:8). They can pull you from the real Savior.
Warning: Stick to scripture alone—Torah, Prophets, New Testament. Test everything pastors say against it (Acts 17:11). If it’s not there, ditch it.
Encouragement: You’re on the Right Path
Here’s the good news: you’re starting with Yeshua, the promised Savior, who bridges God’s promises to you. Jason’s right about one thing—God’s patience is your salvation (00:52:17). The Tanakh promised a Redeemer (Isaiah 59:20), and Yeshua’s it—He took your sins (Isaiah 53:6) and rose to give you life (1 Corinthians 15:20). You’re not here by accident; God’s been waiting for you, like He waited for Paul (Acts 9:5-6).
Logical Boost: If God saved Nineveh (Jonah 3:10) and Paul (1 Timothy 1:16), He’s got a plan for you. His patience proves He’s not random—He’s purposeful.
Next Steps: Grab a Bible. Start with Genesis 1, Psalm 103, and John 1. See how they connect—Yeshua’s everywhere in there. You’ll grow stronger every day.
Final Word: Stick to God’s Word
Jason’s sermon is a solid first step—it shows God’s love and Yeshua’s power. But don’t stop here. The real treasure is in scripture itself, not just what pastors say. Read Torah (like Exodus 34:6-7), the Prophets (like Isaiah 11:1-2), and Yeshua’s words (like Matthew 5). Ask: Who is this Savior? What does God want from me? Test everything against the Tanakh—it’s your rock (Psalm 119:89). Human ideas—like Calvinism, Mormonism, or end-times guesses—fall apart; God’s Word doesn’t. You’ve got the best guide—use it! Welcome to the family of God through Yeshua. Keep going—you’re on a journey worth taking.
