Cole Dixon's sermon, titled "The Sacramental Crown of the Temple Building King," explores themes from Zechariah chapter 6, focusing on God’s active involvement in the world and His promises to His people. The sermon begins by contrasting the negative aspects of the world and personal life with the hope provided by biblical prophecy and God’s enduring work.

Dixon interprets the directive in Zechariah 6:9-15, where the prophet Zechariah is instructed to make a crown from silver and gold and place it on Joshua, the high priest, symbolizing the intertwining of royal and priestly duties. This crown represents God’s promises and is to remind the people of the forthcoming temple that the "Branch" will build. This Branch is a figure of Christ, who is depicted as both a king and a high priest, destined to establish a spiritual temple not made with hands but built through the unity and faith of God’s people.

The sermon further explores the historical and emotional context of the Jews in Babylon, emphasizing the struggles and eventual divine redemption they experience. Dixon points out that the real significance of the narrative isn’t found in the immediate return and rebuilding efforts but in the future work of Christ, the ultimate temple builder.

The crown made for Joshua is more than an artifact; it's a sacramental symbol of the deeper covenant between God and His people, indicating the dual roles of Christ as both monarch and mediator. Dixon elaborates that this figure, the Branch, fulfills God’s promises through a new covenant, not merely through physical construction but through the spiritual building of a community of believers.

The sermon closes with a call to recognize Christ's ongoing work in the world and in individual lives, urging believers to see beyond the temporal and perceive the eternal purposes of God’s kingdom, thus finding hope and motivation to live in accordance with God’s will, contributing to the building of the spiritual temple through faith and obedience.

Jeffrey Johnson's sermon, "Buying Joy," emphasizes the universal human quest for happiness and joy. Johnson asserts that every person, regardless of their spiritual state, inherently seeks joy and fulfillment. He argues that this pursuit is a fundamental drive, influencing daily activities and overall life direction. However, Johnson highlights that earthly pleasures and achievements do not offer lasting satisfaction, instead suggesting that true, enduring joy can only be found in a relationship with God.

The sermon outlines a seven-step path to achieving this joy, each grounded in biblical principles. The first step involves recognizing one’s own misery and dissatisfaction without God. Johnson uses scriptural metaphors of hunger and thirst to describe this state of spiritual need. The second step challenges common beliefs about wealth and happiness, emphasizing that joy is freely given by God and cannot be bought. Subsequent steps include turning away from worldly pursuits that promise but fail to deliver happiness, and actively seeking fulfillment in spiritual life and communion with God.

Throughout the sermon, Johnson weaves personal anecdotes and biblical stories to illustrate his points, culminating in a powerful call to embrace the free and abundant joy offered through Christ. His message encourages both believers and non-believers to reconsider where they seek happiness and to turn towards God for true contentment.

In "The Guarantee of Glory," Gilbert Barr explores the assurance of salvation, emphasizing the idea that those chosen by God are eternally secure in their relationship with Him. He draws from Philippians 1:3-6, where Paul expresses his confidence that God, who began a good work in believers, will see it to completion. Barr likens this to the believers' unbreakable bond with God, highlighting that once someone is truly saved, they cannot lose their salvation.

He underscores this point by addressing common misconceptions and arguments against eternal security. Barr references various scriptures, including John 6:39, Romans 8:29-30, and 1 John 2:19, to support his argument that true believers will endure to the end and that any apparent fall from faith indicates that a person was never genuinely saved to begin with.

Barr also reflects on the deceitfulness of appearances, using Judas Iscariot as an example. Despite Judas' outward actions, he was never truly a believer, which is evident by his ultimate betrayal of Jesus. This distinction between outward appearances and genuine faith is crucial in understanding the perseverance of true believers.

Moreover, Barr provides encouragement to believers, emphasizing that their endurance and perseverance are evidence of God's work within them. He quotes Job 17:9 and other scriptures to illustrate that the righteous will grow stronger in their faith over time. He also reassures that nothing, including tribulation, distress, or persecution, can separate believers from the love of God.

Barr concludes by reminding believers of their victory in Christ, encouraging them to remain steadfast and unmovable in their faith. He emphasizes that their labor for the Lord is never in vain, reinforcing the eternal security and ultimate glory promised to those who truly belong to God. This sermon serves as a powerful reminder of the unwavering faithfulness of God and the assurance of salvation for all true believers.