College Park Baptist Church, Cary, NC: Recent Episodes
College Park Baptist Church
College Park Baptist Church exists to worship God, follow Christ, and help each other in the process.
Collegeparkministries.org
Speaker: Dr. Ken Casillas
Day 3 - The Problem of Legalism
Series: CPBC 2026 Summer Bible Conference
Speaker: Dr. Ken Casillas
Day 2 - A Method for Biblical Application
Series: CPBC 2026 Summer Bible Conference
Speaker: Dr. Ken Casillas
Scripture: Matthew 12 and 1 and 2 Corinthians
Day 1 - Biblical Patterns of Application
Series: CPBC 2026 Summer Bible Conference
[7/12/2026 AM]
Our Personal Relationship with God (Deuteronomy 5)
Pastor Matthew Walker
Description: speaker: Pastor Joe
Scripture: Genesis. 15:7-21
series: Genesis chapter 15
Speaker: Pastor Jo
Scripture Referenced: Genesis 14, 15. Philippians 3:18-19. Psalms 3:1-6. Galatians 3:13-14. Ephesians 1:13-14.
Sermon: I Declare Unto You the Gospel
Speaker: Pastor Walker
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:1
[2025/10/12 PM] Safe in the Shadow of God’s Wings (1 Samuel 21:10-22:5)
Pastor Matthew Walker
[2025/28/09 AM] The Best Way to Live Revisited (Ecclesiastes 8:1-9:10)
Pastor Matthew Walker
[2025/21/09 AM] The Incomparable Wisdom of God (Ecclesiastes 7:15-29)
Speaker: Matthew Walker
Text: Ecclesiastes 7:15-29
[2025/07/06 AM] You Cannot Fun Your Way Out (Ecclesiastes 2:1-11)
Pastor Matthew Walker
Scripture: Revelation 21:22-27
Speaker: Pastor Matthew Walker
Series: Revelation Series
Scripture: Psalm 78
Speaker: Pastor Matthew Walker
Series: Psalm Series
Communion Service
2023 CPBC Summer Bible Conference
Speaker: Dr. Andrew Goodwill (Maranatha Baptist University)
When I was in the Marines, I went through a yearly fitness report. My platoon sergeant would sit down with me and go through an evaluation he made of my service the previous year. Then he would show me my score. Of course, God does not sit us down as a church and go over a checksheet to see how we are doing as a church. But there are places in Scripture where we can work through the text and self-evaluate to see how we are doing. Today’s sermon: Our Fitness Report. (Mark 6:6b-12)
Speaker: Pastor Matthew Walker
Series: The Collapse of Solomon
The author of 1 Kings writes, sadly, that Solomon gave his heart to his wives. He loved them so much that he stopped loving the Lord with his whole heart. This allowed those pagan women to turn his heart away from God to idols. Tonight, we dig into the reason why Solomon was willing to give up his heart to these women.
Speaker: Pastor Matthew Walker
Series: The Gospel of Mark
How do we know what we know? Philosophers call this epistemology. I believe in the existence of Indonesia, though I have not been there and do not know anyone from there. How do I know it exists? These types of questions plague Christianity. Unbelievers ask: “How do you know the Bible is God’s word?” “How do you know Jesus was the Son of God?” These kinds of questions not only challenge our faith, they force us to reaffirm the most important things about it.
Speaker: Pastor Matthew Walker
Series: The Collapse of Solomon
Solomon, the wisest of men, still did a lot of foolish things. Marrying hundreds of women was one of them. God had specifically told him not to do it, and he did it anyway. Doesn’t that sound familiar? One of the reasons God did not want kings to have many wives (other than the obvious departure from His original intent for marriage) is that He knew the wives would turn the hearts of the kings against Him. Solomon was no different. Tonight’s sermon: The Danger of Ungodly Affections. (1 Kings 11:2b)
Speaker: Pastor Matthew Walker
Series: The Gospel of Mark
Feeling helpless is a common human emotion. It is easy for life to go spinning out of control and leave us feeling as if we have very few options. That feeling of helplessness often leads to feeling hopeless. As Christians, we are never hopeless. God’s word teaches us that we have an unlimited supply of grace. Life might be out of our control, but it is never out of His.
Speaker: Pastor Joseph Jo
While the Book of Acts highlights Paul’s three major missionary journeys and his deportation to Rome (Acts 13-28), it is important to understand that his missionary work began right after his conversion; it was many years before his first missionary journey started from Antioch in Acts 13. Tonight, we will study how Paul spent those years between his conversion and ministry in Antioch as the apostle to the Gentiles.
Speaker: Pastor Matthew Walker
Series: The Gospel of Mark
The news this week included the shocking announcement that Humpty-Dumpty may not have been an egg. Scholars believe he might refer to a military canon or an English king. Whatever the nursery rhyme means, it most certainly does not refer to Lewis Carroll’s human-like egg. However, the story helps us see something useful about humanity—it’s irretrievably broken. This is why Jesus came. He came to put back together what sin destroyed. Today’s sermon: A Godly Response to Grace. (Mark 5:1-20)
Speaker: Pastor Matthew Walker
Series: The Collapse of Solomon
King Solomon was one of the wisest men to ever live because he prayed for wisdom and God gave it to him. His wisdom, though legendary, did not prevent him from sinning against the Lord. Tonight we begin a somber but helpful study on the spiritual collapse of this powerful king. Tonight’s sermon: Failure to Follow God. (1 Kings 11:1-2a)
On May 7, 1915, a German U-boat sank the Lusitania, a transatlantic passenger ship that was sailing home from New York City to Liverpool, England. After being struck by a torpedo on its starboard side, the ship sank within twenty minutes. Nearly 1,200 people drowned, including 128 Americans. Imagine being one of the passengers on that ship? This is the feeling the disciples had while they were on their fishing boat on the Sea of Galilee. They had something the passengers of the Lusitania did not. In their case, Jesus Is in the Boat. (Mark 4:35-41)
Speaker: Pastor Matthew Walker
When you have a crisis in your life where do you turn? For many people, they muddle through doing what they think is best, being very unsure of themselves. They may even live in crippling anxiety. What people need is wisdom. In today’s sermon, we examine how we should think during difficult times as we go on a journey in Pursuit of Wisdom (1 Kings 3:1-28).
Speaker: Pastor Matthew Walker
Who believes in Santa? This time of year there are stories of people who tell their children that Santa is make-believe, or those who reinforce the make-believe. It’s one of those parental conundrums—to tell or not to tell. It’s not the only hard-to-believe story at Christmas; the original Christmas story has caused people to question too. Yet, when we examine the biblical record, we learn that Christmas is critical to our faith. Today’s sermon: It’s Christmas, Believe It or Not (Matthew 1:18-25).
Speaker: Pastor Matthew Walker
Sin wrecks everything that it touches. It destroys people, families, communities, governments—everything. It brings a cloak of darkness into the life. But God brings light! Into the darkness of exile, God brought the light of deliverance. Into the darkness of sin, God brought the light of salvation. Today’s sermon: From Darkness into Light (Matthew 1:12-16)
Speaker: Pastor Joseph Jo
Series: Paul's Missionary Journeys
Desiring to emphasize the continuity between Judaism and Christianity, some interpreters claim that Paul was never “converted” from Judaism to Christianity, but was simply “called” to the office of the apostle to the Gentiles. Was Paul converted or called on the road to Damascus? What does his conversion/call mean to us? Tonight’s message: Conversion and Call (Acts 9:1-19).
Speaker: Pastor Matthew Walker
Mankind is seeking peace on earth, or so many claim, but they are unwilling to do what it takes to achieve it. Namely, mankind has turned away from God and are pursuing independence from the Creator. The season of “merry and bright” is really quite sad and very dark. (Matthew 1:6b-11)
Speaker: Pastor Matthew Walker
Series: The Unity in the Church
One of the qualities that seems to be lacking in our world is kindness. Many people fight others—on the roads, in offices, in homes. How sad that so many lack basic kindness. Christians should be different. Being like Jesus doesn’t just mean being truthful, working hard, and using suitable words. It also means being kind. Today’s Sermon: Be Kind Like Jesus. (Ephesians 4:31-32)
The Christmas season is filled with expressions of joy and happiness, of family and friends. Carols ring out in people’s homes and in stores. Good food is aplenty. The first Christmas did not have that. Mary and Joseph “celebrated” in the stable portion of a middle-eastern home, sharing their bed with various farm animals. What must have seemed like hardship to them was God’s perfect plan being implemented. Today’s sermon: The Sovereignty of God in Christmas. (Matthew 1:1-6)
Speaker: Pastor Joseph Jo
Saul, who is later called Paul, suddenly appears at the scene of Stephen’s death and becomes the main figure in the latter half of the Book of Acts. Why Paul? Who was he before he encountered the Lord Jesus on the road to Damascus? Why did God use Paul the way He did? Tonight, we will study the background of Saul of Tarsus.
Speaker: Pastor Matthew Walker
Series: The Gospel of Mark
One of the most important spiritual principles is you reap what you sow. It’s a farming allusion — the farmer expects to reap a crop from the seed he sowed earlier in the year. The apostle Paul explained clearly that if you sow to the Spirit, you will reap spiritual life. Paul borrowed this idea from Jesus who frequently taught this principle. As our Thanksgiving holiday comes to an end, let’s consider A Sermon for Harvest (Mark 4:24-25).
Speaker: Pastor Matthew Walker
Series: Unity in the Church
People are taught at a young age that “sticks and stones” are the things that hurt, but we shouldn’t be hurt by words. Doesn’t that reinforce the idea that it is okay to injure people with our words? God says do not speak harmful words, but only those which build up others. What happens when we don’t do that? What happens when we use hurtful words? Tonight we will look at “words that hurt,”and consider that Someone else is listening to what we say and He gets hurt by our words as much as anyone else. Tonight’s sermon: When God Gets Sad (Ephesians 4:30)
One of the most well-known parables of Jesus is the Parable of the Sower. It’s about a farmer who scatters seed in his field getting ready to plow it under. However, some of the seeds fall on ground that is unsuitable for planting. Those seeds, if they sprout at all, fail to produce any fruit. Jesus uses this story to explain how people receive the truth. This is just as important today. Today’s sermon: Four Car Rides Home from Church. (Mark 4:1-20)
Speaker: Pastor Joseph Jo
Series: Salvation and Holiness
Influenced by the individualistic culture, we often understand good works as individualistic works. While Christian faith is deeply personal, it is never meant to be individualistic. Our personal relationship to God must be expressed and experienced through the good works we do for the church. Today’s message: Salvation to Good Works for the Church. (Ephesians 2:10-17)
Speaker: Pastor Matthew Walker
Series: The Gospel of Mark
One of Satan’s most effective tricks is to make it seem as though Christians are the illogical ones, living lives divorced from reality. Let’s face it—most people think we’re nuts! We are not alone; people thought Jesus was crazy too. One of the challenges we face in life is that we have to overcome the obstacle that the world does not understand Jesus or Christianity. Today’s sermon: Misunderstanding Christianity (Mark 3:20-35).
Speaker: Pastor Matthew Walker
Series: Unity in the Church
The call for believers to “put on Christ” is to display the kind of behavior that Jesus showed when He walked the earth. Part of that is the blessing of generosity. The apostle Paul notes that Jesus would often say, “it’s better to give than to receive.” That generous spirit is critical to a life that glorifies God and adorns the gospel. Tonight’s sermon: Giving Generously Like Jesus (Ephesians 4:28)
While the ministry of Jesus was in great conflict with the leaders of Israel, His real conflict was with Satan. Some theologians have called the coming of Jesus as a sort of military invasion with the Lord charging into battle against the forces of darkness. Today’s sermon examines how Jesus’s life and ministry powerfully changed the world through The Invasion of the Gospel. (Mark 3:7-19)
Speaker: Matthew Walker
One of the most difficult thing for believers to do is control their emotions. For many men, especially, anger consumes their lives—how they drive, how they talk to others, how they interact with their families. Ephesians instructs us to live in a state of emotional control, not letting our anger take over. Tonight’s sermon explores the importance of Being Angry Like Jesus.
Speaker: Pastor Matthew Walker
Series: The Gospel of Mark
American poet Robert Frost wrote of two diverging paths that wound through a forest. He could only choose one and his poem reflects his reasoning on which to take. Jesus also referred to two paths, and these also diverged: with one leading to eternal life and the other to eternal death. Today’s sermon looks at the diverging paths: the one taken by unbelievers who reject God‘s love and the other by Christians who accept it.
Speaker: Pastor Matthew Walker
Series: Unity in the Church
One way that we glorify God is that we live as the Lord Jesus lived. Our study in Ephesians 4 takes us to the various sins that have no place in the Christian life. Just as our old man has already been put away at salvation, so old man behaviors should be put away from us now so that we can show how we have “learned Christ.” The first thing we learn is how to Glorify God by Speaking the Truth (Ephesians 4:25).
Speaker: Pastor Matthew Walker
Series: Communion Service
When I was a boy, my pastor would say: “God can save a sinner, but He won’t save a rebel.” The gospel call is unlimited; it is not limited by gender, ethnicity, or financial ability. It is not even limited by man’s depravity. God saves sinners by His grace. But God will not save those who refuse to acknowledge their sinfulness. The self-righteous are left out. In our efforts to gospelize our community, it is good to remember that we have Opportunities and Barriers to Evangelism.
Speaker: Pastor Matthew Walker
Series: Unity in the Church
One of the most practical portions of the New Testament is Paul’s encouragement in Ephesians 4 to be who you are in Christ. He argues forcefully that Christians should live like Christians and not like the unsaved world. This admonition is focused on how to live in harmony with other people. Tonight’s sermon begins a short series on Unity in the Church: How to Get Along With Other Believers.
In a by-gone era, the one-man band was a thing. A guy with a huge drum on his back, with cymbals and horns, and usually holding a guitar or an accordion, would play all of the instruments at once. Of course, it was a spectacle. Jesus was not a spectacle; He was a One-Man hospital, but His real intention was to preach. He healed men’s bodies, but His goal was to be The Healer of Souls. (Mark 1:35-2:12)
Speaker: Pastor Matthew Walker
Series: Galatians
No one likes to be called names. The old adage of “sticks and stones ...” has it all wrong because words do hurt. Name-calling, at least being on the receiving end, can be painful. So it is not fun to be called names, even ones as seemingly innocuous as “you’re a goodie-goodie” or “you’re holier than thou.” But isn’t that what we should be? At the end of Galatians, after untethering the Christian life from law-keeping, the Apostle Paul shows us What Christian Living Should Look Like (Galatians 1:1-18).
Speaker: Pastor Matthew Walker
Series: The Gospel of Mark
We have a world-changing faith—one that has the power to radically reshape everything about life and culture. It may not seem that way, but the gospel still changes the lives of those who believe it. Our God still sovereignly controls all things and has authority over the forces of evil. Our calling is to show God’s love to the world, even to those who least deserve it. While this may not be what many Christians experience (for various reasons), this is what you would see If You Spent a Day With Jesus (Mark 1:21-34).
Speaker: Pastor Joseph Jo
Series: Paul's Missionary Journeys
With Pastor Joe, we are starting a new series on Paul’s Missionary Journeys. Luke’s records of Paul’s three missionary journeys in Acts instruct us how we should reach the world with the gospel. Tonight, we will lay a foundation for the remainder of the series by studying important introductory matters to the Book of Acts. Tonight’s message: The Book of Acts: God’s Passion for Missions.
Speaker: Pastor Joseph Jo
Series: Salvation and Holiness
Influenced by the materialistic culture, we constantly worry about money. When we lack food, drink, or clothes, we think it is okay to worry about those things. But is it really okay to worry about them as God’s children? In today’s text, the Lord Jesus teaches us an invaluable lesson to pull us out of the materialistic culture. Today’s message: Don’t Worry about Money (Matthew 6:24-33).
Speaker: Tyler Juvinall [Maranatha Baptist University Impact Team]
The Maranatha Baptist University Impact Team will be with us tonight. Please enjoy this special time.
Speaker: Pastor Matthew Walker
Series: Communion Service
Jesus was murdered; that fact is unassailable, but His murder was not a crime of passion. It was not unplanned. Those who put Jesus to death carefully laid out their scheme to arrest Him, unjustly convict Him, and have Him executed by the Romans. Behind their scheme was a tangle of sins that taken alone do not seem to be that terrible. They were “tolerable sins,” in that they were the type that we tolerate in ourselves. (Matthew 27:15-25)
Speaker: Mattew Walker
Series: Galatians
People often have a Hollywood image in their minds of what life was like in the American West in the 1800’s. They see gunslingers with silver-handled six-shooters spraying bullets all over the street. Westerns have given us the idea that life was all saloons and card-games and gun-fights. Many Christians today have this idea that without the Law keeping the peace, there would be no peace. The exact opposite is true.
Speaker: Pastor Matthew Walker
Series: Galatians
There is something about our natural curiosity that causes us to look at things that are difficult to see—a car accident happens and everyone drives by slowly to see what it looks like. Using your mind’s eye, try to image legalism like one big 50-car pile up on an interstate. Like an accident, it is really hard to watch someone leave the gospel of grace and willingly march back into a life of spiritual bondage. Tonight’s sermon: Watching a Spiritual Train Wreck (Galatians 4:1-31)
The Gospel of Mark is considered by many scholars to be the first Gospel account formally written about Jesus’s life and ministry. While it bears Mark’s name in our translations, there was no title to the Gospel originally. In fact, while it was likely Mark’s pen that wrote the Gospel, the words are the apostle Peter’s. It bears all of the markers of Peter’s personality, strong and frenetic. It also is Peter’s reflections of his relationship with Jesus. Today’s sermon: The Story of My Friend. (Mark 1:1-15)
It’s hard to look at something right in front of you, to see it clearly, but also know it is an illusion, a lie. The best magicians are able to trick the mind into thinking one thing, when reality is something else. Satan is a master magician. He has convinced the world that God is false and he is right. But those who embrace Scripture as God’s revelation know that the meaning of life is not about what appears to be true, but what God says is true. Today’s sermon: The Worldview of Godly Fear. (Hebrews 11:23-28)
Speaker: Pastor Joseph Jo
Series: Salvation and Holiness
The Christian life rises and falls on the message of the gospel. Unfortunately, many Christians understand and communicate the gospel in a purely human-centered way. While the gospel brings many benefits to sinners, the center of the gospel message is not sinners, but Christ. Tonight’s message: The Center of the Gospel: The Rulership of Christ (1 Corinthians 15:3-4, 20-25).
Speaker: Pastor Matthew Walker
Series: Communion Service
One of Satan’s chief lies is that man can solve his sin problem without salvation in Jesus. In the sad story of Judas, the terrible power of Satan’s deception is on full display. He deceived Judas into thinking he had no hope and he led the chief priests to accomplish his plan to murder Jesus. The lesson for us is that our only hope is in Jesus.
Speaker: Missionary Steve Mcleans
The McLeans have been serving the Lord in Wales for about 14 years. They are presently ministering in Rhuddlan leading a church replant effort. Steve is originally from the Seattle, WA area and Marcia is from Johnstown, PA. They reach out to their village through various means including leaflet distribution and personal contacts through children’s ministries. The McLeans have four girls: Margaret, Gwyneth, Amelia, and Beatrice. We are so glad they can be in our evening service.
Speaker: Missionary Theo van Reijn
We are blessed to have missionaries Theo and Sarah van Reijn in our service today. Theo was born in the Netherlands where his parents were also missionaries. Sarah is originally from Richmond, VA. They have been in the Netherlands since 2010. Theo and Sarah are joining us with their children Miriam, Luke, and Ella.
Speaker: Pastor Matthew Walker
Series: Galatians
There are, supposedly, two kinds of calamari (from the Italian for squid). One kind comes from a cephalopod, a marine animal that has tentacles. What you get at Olive Garden are basically fried squid rings (tasty!). On a 2014 episode of This American Life, host Ben Calhoun started a rumor that there is an artificial calamari that comes from pigs. As strange as that seems, another hoax was spread by Judaizers in the 1st century, falsely arguing that in order to be saved, one had to become a Jew first. Paul sets the record straight by explaining Faith is Better. (Gal. 3:1-14)
The first half of faith is trusting God. Trust is a key part of faith, but it is not the whole story. In order to truly have faith in God, you must (1) believe and (2) respond. For example, if you believe God when He says He will flood the entire world, then you will also build a boat! Faith is A Right Response to God. (Hebrews 11:13-16)
Speaker: Pastor Matthew Walker
Series: Galatians
The apostle Paul galloped out of the gate like a racehorse with his teaching that there is only one gospel. He was so forceful, so adamant, that we think he must have had a situation occur where his “one gospel” theology was put to the test. You don’t have to read very far to find such an example. Tonight, we continue our study of Galatians by looking at an incredible conversation between two of God’s choice servants. Tonight’s sermon: Applications of One Gospel. (Galatians 2:11-21)
Speaker: Pastor Matthew Walker
Have you ever accidentally driven the wrong way down a one-way road? If you have, and there were other people around, you know the looks of confusion, possibly fear on their faces. “Why would someone be driving this way, when the road only goes the other way?” This is what worldviews do. Modern man thinks that Christians are crazy—who would live that way? Christians know that modern man is blind to the truth. We live this way because (1) there is a creator God, and (2) He has revealed Himself. One question remains. Do you believe Him? (Hebrews 11:9-12, 17-19)
Speaker: J. Mark Kittrell
2022 Summer Bible Conference 3
J. Mark Kittrell has served in evangelism, church planting, and missions for over 30 years. As the director of Pacific Rim Missions International and president of Haven of Grace Seminary in the Philippines, Mark travels extensively throughout the United States conducting meetings in churches as well as regularly preaching and teaching on foreign fields. Mark and Tammisue live in Fairview, Oregon.
Speaker: J. Mark Kittrell
2022 Summer Bible Conference 2
J. Mark Kittrell has served in evangelism, church planting, and missions for over 30 years. As the director of Pacific Rim Missions International and president of Haven of Grace Seminary in the Philippines, Mark travels extensively throughout the United States conducting meetings in churches as well as regularly preaching and teaching on foreign fields. Mark and Tammisue live in Fairview, Oregon.
Speaker: J. Mark Kittrell
2022 Summer Bible Conference 1
J. Mark Kittrell has served in evangelism, church planting, and missions for over 30 years. As the director of Pacific Rim Missions International and president of Haven of Grace Seminary in the Philippines, Mark travels extensively throughout the United States conducting meetings in churches as well as regularly preaching and teaching on foreign fields. Mark and Tammisue live in Fairview, Oregon.
Speaker: Pastor Matthew Walker
In the game Stratego, the key is to defend one’s flag against the attack of one’s opponent. People who play that game have different strategies, hence the name of the game, and they use their bombs, generals, and spy to help defend their territory. In Christianity, we defend the gospel against similar attacks by our enemies, the world and the Devil.
Speaker: Pastor Joseph Jo
Series: Communion Service
Many of us suffer from a lack of confidence and low self-esteem because of the absence or lack of fatherly love and care. Does it mean that we should continue to suffer in the same way without hope? God forbid! The message of the gospel provides a life-changing hope to those who feel abandoned and uncared for. (Romans 8:14-19)
Speaker: Pastor Matthew Walker
Series: Galatians
During the missions trip, some of the teens spent a few hours spreading straw on a field where the church in Maine is planting grass. It was not particularly difficult work, but it took some time to spread out the straw as evenly as possible. Imagine the disappointment to find that the wind blew all of the straw off the field and into the bushes and trees nearby. That disappointment explains some of Paul’s amazement that the church in Gaul was in danger of turning from the gospel to a false explanation of God’s law. Tonight’s sermon: The Surprising Apostasy of a Well-Taught Church (Galatians 1:1-10)
Acknowledging the existence of God does not make someone a Christian, nor does that belief automatically mean someone has a biblical worldview. Many of America’s founding fathers were deists who believed in God, but denied His directing role in the governance of mankind. They thought of God like “a great clock-winder” who winds up a clock, but then lets it run on its own power. A biblical worldview demands not only God’s existence, but also the belief that God Has Revealed Himself. (Hebrews 11:7)
Speaker: Pastor Joseph Jo
After learning the doctrine of free salvation, many people wrongly conclude that it will also cost them nothing to follow Christ. However, the Bible is very clear that there is a very high cost in following Jesus. How should we understand the relationship between the two: free salvation and costly discipleship? (Luke 14:25-33)
Speaker: Pastor Matthew Walker
Series: The Book of Nahum
In our reading of the Bible, we are surprised to find places where God directed His attention specifically to a pagan nation or even its individual ruler. The prophecy of Nahum ended with God giving a final note to Ashurbanipal about the demise of his government and the justice that will be meted out against him. Because God is a Divine Warrior, He promised to end Ashurbanipal’s kingdom even though such an outcome seemed humanly unlikely at the time of Nahum’s prophecy. Tonight’s sermon concludes the prophecy with A Final Letter to a Wicked King. (Nahum 3:18-19)
How you “see” the world is your worldview. It explains how you make sense of the world around you. Of course, there is a significant difference between the way unsaved people “see” the world and how believers do. The preacher of Hebrews explained that the witnesses (the Old Testament saints) believed God. Their lives are a testimony of faith in Him—that He exists and that He created everything. Today’s sermon continues our series The Worldview of the Witnesses by noting that There Is a Creator God. (Hebrews 11:1-3)
Speaker: Pastor Joseph Jo
Series: Salvation and Holiness
The church is filled with the people who claim they have been forgiven by God. Yet, unfortunately, many of them still have a hard time forgiving others. Is it possible for the forgiven to be unforgiving?
Speaker: Pastor Matthew Walker
Series: Communion Service
On the day that Jesus was crucified, He stood before three different groups of people. There were those who hated God and rejected Jesus as unfit for society. Others were skeptical about Him and questioned what He taught. Still others were so worldly-minded that they thought of Jesus as a circus act, Someone to entertain them, but not Someone to follow. This perfectly describes the unsaved world even now. (Matthew 27:1-2, 11-14, Luke 23:6-12)
Speaker: Pastor Matthew Walker
Series: The Book of Nahum
June is the month when many Americans shake their puny fists in the face of God. They refuse to acknowledge Him and they reject reason itself as they refuse His rule over them. For Christians living in America, it is difficult to see people stand up against God this way. The prophecy of Nahum provides us with a perfect illustration of how God deals with rebels like these. Tonight's sermon: The Futility of Man's Fight against God (Nahum 2:11-3:17).
Most news outlets, including social media, now "fact-check" what people put onto the internet. The concern is that "false facts" will make their way into the public consciousness and become believed by the American people. This can certainly be a problem, but sometimes the "false facts" are the result of a different worldview. Unbelievers see the world from their vantage point. The Bible gives us a different perspective to consider. Today we begin a short series on "The Worldview of the Witnesses, a Study from Hebrews 11."
Speaker: Pastor Matthew Walker
Scripture: Proverbs 15:7, 28
Series: Wise Words
Our world is angry. You read angry words in print and hear them in news broadcasts on television and the internet. People spew invectives against each other, often ignoring the fact that others are listening. God is also listening. One of the most captivating recent examples is the celebrity defamation trial between former spouses Johnny Depp and Amber Heard. Their mutual dislike and the way they communicated it provides the perfect context for our consideration of Wise Words 2: Unsolicited Advice to Formerly Married Celebrities.
Speaker: Pastor Joseph Jo
Series: Salvation and Holiness
Is Christianity a religion of faith or works? Of course, Christianity is a religion of faith. Does it mean, then, our religion is not about works? Tonight, we will examine the Parable of Two Sons to learn how faith is so intimately related to works. Tonight’s sermon: Obedience and Faith (Matthew 21:28-32)
The world is in conflict. Everywhere you look, people are at each other’s throats. You see it among governments, in politics, in sports, and all over social media. Can you believe that the COVID pandemic only made things worse? God has a plan for people-problems, but it requires us to be submissive to His wisdom and subscribe to His rule in our lives.
Speaker: Pastor Matthew Walker
Series: The Book of Nahum
Sometimes media outlets provide a preview of what will soon run on their station or website. Similarly, Nahum was a preview of the coming judgment of Assyria and the destruction of Nineveh. Its end was declared by God’s prophet, meaning it was certain to happen. Tonight’s sermon looks at the prophet’s description of the destruction of Nineveh, reminding us of The Inevitable Fall of the Wicked.
Speaker: Pastor Matthew Walker
Scripture: 2 Samuel 12:15-23
Series: Grief: A Study in the Life of David
We have all experienced some level of grief—a pet that died, a career move that didn’t pan out, a planned vacation that fell through. Those things are difficult, but not necessarily life-changing. Those griefs are like shallow streams where the water barely covers your feet. Sometimes, however, the waters of grief are like torrential rivers and thundering Niagaras. In the life of David, he had a few of these dramatic events. His response to the death of his newborn son offers us some idea of how to respond When the Waters of Grief Run Deep.
Speaker: Pastor Matthew Walker
Series: The Book of Nahum Series
In the middle 7th century B.C., Nahum confidently prophesied that the great kingdom of Assyria would be brought to nothing. What seemed to be a kingdom at its height was, nevertheless, “at and end.” Israel also seemed to be ruined; divided by internal strife and then partially destroyed by Assyria, it lay in tatters. However, God promised to restore Israel back to strength. Through this story we see that what seems strong may be weak and what seems to be weak, when God is involved, is actually strong. Tonight’s sermon: Celebrate God’s Restoration of Ruined Things (Nahum 1:9-2:2).
Speaker: Pastor Matthew Walker
Scripture: Isaiah 53:4-6
Communion Service
Isaiah’s prophecy of the Suffering Servant revealed how Messiah (Jesus) would rescue His people from their sins. Messiah, though sinless Himself, would bear their sins as if they were His own. It is amazing to think that Jesus deliberately took upon Himself the punishment we deserve, even while we were turning away from him. Jesus truly is “the Friend of sinners.”
Nahum is a little known prophecy in the Old Testament, but it is critical for our understanding of how God deals with Gentile nations - particularly the great “world powers.” In this sense, there is a lot for Americans to consider in this prophecy. The opening paragraph of Nahum focused on the nature of God. The prophet revealed God to the pagan Assyrians as a righteous, powerful, and supremely just God. Tonight’s sermon:
Is This America’s God? (Nahum 1:1-8)
Speaker: Matthew Walker
Grief is not the end. It often feels (especially in the moment) as if it is, but there is life to be lived after grief. How we respond to grief is critical to the aftermath. If we respond by blaming others or refusing to accept God’s leading in our lives, our griefs will be amplified. But if we respond in faith then we can anticipate that God’s blessings will naturally follow.
Speaker: Pastor Matthew Walker
Series: How to Study the Bible Effectively
We have an opportunity each month to memorize part of God’s Word. This opportunity provides each of us with encouragement to internalize His life-changing truth. This takes commitment from us, but it’s one we should happily do. Tonight’s sermon focuses on why you should Commit Yourself to God’s Word (Joshua 1:1-9).
Imagine being lost in a thick woods and not being able to get out. The trees all look the same and you begin to feel that you’ve been walking in circles. This is how grieving people feel much of the time. After asking the common question, “why?” they may begin to ask, “what now?” God is the answer to this problem and we must consult Him through prayer. Today’s sermon: Praying Through Our Grief. (1 Samuel 23:7-15, 27:1-12)
Speaker: Pastor Matthew Walker
Scripture: John 10:1-21
Series: How to Study the Bible Effectively
One of the reasons that we struggle to understand the Bible is that it was written to an ancient audience using their language and culture as a backdrop for its teaching. Understanding life in antiquity is one of the most important tools we must develop if we are going to be good students of God’s word. Tonight’s sermon examines the parable of the Good Shepherd in John 10 by looking at it through the lens of life in Israel in the first century.
Speaker: Pastor Matthew Walker
Scripture: 1 Samuel 21:1-9, 22:9-22
Series: Grief: A Study in the Life of David
One of the worst aspects of grief is the feeling that one is alone in sorrow. It is not true: God is always with us, but it can feel as though we are alone. One of the ways God has provided to mitigate our grief is to place people in our life who provide companionship during difficult times. Today’s sermon examines a terrible experience in the life of David, and how he provided comfort to a young man who lost his family during the war with Saul.
Speaker: Pastor Matthew Walker
Easter Sunday Morning Message
As most of the world sleeps, God provides them with air, water, and food, and they are relatively unaware of His involvement in their lives. They are ignorant of Him and to whatever extent that they believe in God, most of humanity ignores Him day to day. But God will not always remain silent; there will be a time when He will rise up and judge the world by the Lord Jesus who rose from the dead. This truth should lead us to Penitential Worship as a Response to the Resurrection (Acts 17:22-34).
Speaker: Chris Anderson
Chris has just returned from a humanitarian trip to Ukraine through his missions agency. He will show some pictures from his trip and offer a Q&A about what is going on in that war-torn nation.
Speaker: Chris Anderson
Scripture: 3 John
Pastor Chris Anderson is now a representative for Biblical Ministries Worldwide. Chris’s ministry includes the important task of encouraging men and young families to consider the pastorate or missions work as a life-time calling. With the number of pastors in the USA decreasing, this ministry is more crucial than ever before. Chris will be preaching from 3 John.
Speaker: Pastor Matthew Walker
Series: How to Study the Bible Effectively
One of the most important things we have to do when interpreting our Bible is to look at the context. It is not too dramatic to say that context controls almost everything. It is a serious error to take a verse out of its context. Many problems in the church have originated from doing this. Tonight’s look at how to study the Bible effectively emphasizes The Importance of Context. (1 Peter 2-3)
Speaker: Pastor Matthew Walker
Scripture: 1 Samuel 18:10-11, 19:8-11
Series: Grief: A Study in the Life of David
Because I live in a sinful world, I should expect grief to be a part of life. And I should pursue a godly response to the grief and see it as an opportunity for Christlikeness. That’s the entire sermon series summarized in one sentence: grief is inherent to life. Adam’s sin brought death into this world. Imagine Eve’s grief when Cain came home, but Abel didn’t. Yet even when facing the sharpest pain, it is a blessing to know that God is in Our Grief.
Speaker: Pastor Matthew Walker
Series: How to Study the Bible Effectively
The last book of the Bible is a fitting conclusion of the Scriptures. The lessons that begin God’s Word in Genesis 1-11 are brought to a close with Jesus revealing some aspects of the future to His beloved disciple, John. Learning how to approach The Apocalypse is one of the most important skills a reader of the Bible can understand. Tonight’s sermon explains How to Effectively Study the Book of Revelation. (Revelation 1:1-3)
The Bible tells us Daniel was so influential in Medo-Persia that Darius considered making him a co-regent over the entire kingdom. The officers under him were so jealous of his political power that they decided to have him killed. They misused the law in a way to get Daniel convicted of a crime and thrown into a den of lions. But God rescued him. In the same way, the early church was rescued from Satan (the roaring lion). This final example in our sermon series “When Satan Attacks” helps us understand that we can enjoy Spiritual Health in Spite of Satan’s Attacks. (Acts 9:23-31)
Speaker: Pastor Matthew Walker
Series: How to Study the Bible Effectively
We ended last Sunday evening highlighting the importance of not transforming secondary ideas into main points. What the authors of Scripture intended to be their point should be our point too; the Bible is not something we can twist and turn for our own purposes. Tonight, we will apply this principle to another text in 1 Corinthians. Our examination will help us see the importance of Worshipping God with our Bodies.
It is easy to read the stories of the disciples and see how easily and often they failed the Lord and think: “what was wrong with those men?” Shouldn’t we, rather, see ourselves in their experiences? Can we see our own anger issues alongside James and John or face our doubts with Thomas? Their failures provide learning experiences for us. None of lessons is more important than the failure of Peter at the crucifixion of Jesus. His denials of Jesus present us with a golden opportunity to determine what we must do ourselves in Preventing Spiritual Defeat. (Luke 22:54-61)
Speaker: Pastor Matthew Walker
Series: How to Study the Bible Effectively
Only six of the twenty-seven New Testament books are not epistles (letters). In God’s design, He determined to leave us these letters that are just as important as the Law or the Prophets. Understanding them, particularly for those of us who live in this dispensation, is critically important. This is why tonight our focus is on How to Interpret the Epistles. (1 Corinthians 9:1-18)
Speaker: Pastor Matthew Walker
Scripture: Acts 8:1-8
In 1990, the art world was shocked when Rembrandt’s painting Christ in the Storm was stolen from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston. The way in which the master artist depicted the disciples is powerful. The disciples are in a panic, frantically trying to keep their boat from sinking beneath the powerful waves. Jesus, however, remains calm. The lesson is an important one for us because it reminds us that during life’s storms (sometimes the result of Satan’s attacks).
Speaker: Joseph Jo
Many Christians who struggle with the assurance of salvation run to 1 John 5:13 for comfort. While this verse affirms that those who believe in Jesus’s name have eternal life, the “believing” the apostle John discusses in this verse is much more than a mere mouth confession.
Speaker: Joseph Jo
Do we love only those who are lovable? Do we find it so hard to love those who do not deserve our love? Then, we have to revisit the basic truth of the gospel—God’s love for us who are undeserving and unlovable. Today’s message: We Love Because God Loves. (1 John 4:7-12)
Speaker: Pastor Matthew Walker
Series: How to Study the Bible Effectively
The Book of Acts is one of the most interesting books of the Bible, but also one of the most difficult to understand because of where it sits in the Bible. Acts is a bridge between the Gospels and the Epistles. This forces interpreters to think about how the information is being given. Much of the material is straightforward, but some of it can be very confusing. This is why tonight’s sermon is about How to Interpret Acts. (Acts 1:8)
Speaker: Pastor Matthew Walker
Scripture: Acts 8:9-40
Sometimes well-intentioned Christians fall into the temptation to advance the gospel through non-biblical means. This attempt to “sweeten” the gospel may seem to be a smart decision, but it actually often results in a huge mess. Simon’s desire for gospel power was not a righteous one, and Peter rightly understood that this is one of the ways that Satan Attacks Our Mission.
Speaker: Pastor Joseph Jo
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:8-10
The reason biblical Christianity is so different from other religions is the concept of grace in salvation; forgiveness of sins is an unmerited gift of God. What’s more amazing about this grace is that it accomplishes much more than our forgiveness
While some people mock Christianity, there are others who initially reject its truths but are willing to think about them. These people struggle to believe in Jesus because they have accepted the lies that Satan has been preaching in our culture for a long time. As Christians, we can affirm is that Jesus is real. He demonstrated by his actions, by his teaching, that he is trustworthy. Today’s sermon encourages us that even though the world tells us the opposite, You Can Trust Jesus. (Matthew 26:57-68)
Speaker: Pastor Matthew Walker
Scripture: Mark 8:31
The first eight chapters of The Gospel of Jesus According to Mark answered the question “Who is Jesus?” by introducing the Lord in various ways. Peter’s confession is the high-water mark as he revealed his belief that Jesus is the Messiah promised in the Old Testament. This confession forms the hinge of the Gospel as Jesus transitions to teaching His disciples about His coming death and resurrection.
Speaker: Pastor Matthew Walker
Scripture: Acts 8:1-8
Modern life, with all of its innovations and luxuries, has blinded us to the reality that life itself is tenuous. In the Middle Ages, the average life expectancy was somewhere in the mid-40s, provided one actually survived infancy and childhood. Today, we expect to live into our 80’s, and we are surprised when people don’t live that long. Christians have always understood the fragility of life, particularly because of Satanic persecution. The early church suffered in ways that we cannot comprehend.
Speaker: Pastor Matthew Walker
Series: How to Study the Bible Effectively
Studying the Bible is one of the most important things - but can also be one of the most frustrating things - that Christians do. You know that it is important to learn, but God’s Word is so vast and sometimes very complicated. Where should one begin? Tonight’s sermon takes us to the place where many new believers start their journey of faith. The Gospel of Jesus According to Mark. (Mark 1:1)
Speaker: Pastor Matthew Walker
Scripture: Acts 6:9-7:60
One of the concerns that many theologians have expressed recently is their belief that Christians in America are spiritually weak. The concern is that real persecution would result in the church crumbling under the burden of suffering. However, Scripture reveals that Christians have always risen to meet such a crisis with great resolve. This is not because they are so strong, but because they are Spirit-filled. A great example of this is Stephen, who is considered to be the first martyr for Jesus. He showed us how to respond
Speaker: Joseph Jo
Scripture: Romans 6:20-23
The Romans Road to Salvation has been a helpful system to succinctly present the gospel message. While there is nothing wrong with using this system, it is also important to understand the meaning of each verse used before using it. We will give a fresh look at Romans 6:23 (which is at the core of the RR system and often misunderstood by many) to better grasp what it truly means to receive eternal life in Christ.
Not every friendship is guaranteed to last. We have all experienced those times when friendships seem to fail. When it is a casual friend, it can be discomforting. But it is life-changing when a close friend walks away from us. In the final hours of Jesus’s life, His reaction to Judas and the other disciples helps us learn how to properly handle friendship failures.
Speaker: Matthew Walker
Scripture: Obadiah 1:1-21
One of the most difficult sections of the Bible to read is the section of Old Testament Prophecy. In fact, much of the material in this section is horribly misunderstood. Even the role of the OT prophet is misunderstood. This misunderstanding hinders our ability to comprehend their words and apply them into the context of our modern day.
Speaker: Pastor Matthew Walker
Scripture: Acts 6:1-7
The main job of a pastor is to faithfully preach God’s word. In 2 Timothy 4:2, the Apostle Paul commanded his son-in-the-faith Timothy to “preach the word!” Unfortunately, some pastors and some churches do not see the importance of this. Other jobs, some of them quite important and necessary, replace the most important task of preaching. Let us never let that happen at College Park.
Speaker: Matthew Walker
Series: How to Study the Bible Effectively
Our series on learning to study the Bible effectively continues tonight with a look at one of the poems of the Old Testament. This section of Scripture encompasses the five books between Job and Song of Solomon. The poem we will consider is attributed to Asaph and is part of book 3 of the Psalms. Tonight’s sermon: Understanding the Poems of the Old Testament. (Psalm 82)
On this first Sunday of 2022, let us consider a theme for the year based on our core values of worship, discipleship, and fellowship. These values are the basis of our church philosophy and help to center everything we do as a church. This year, let us think about how these values apply to church-life as we all grow up into Christ
Speaker: Pastor Matthew Walker
Scripture: John 20:21
Our Christmas series concludes today on a high note as we consider the truth that we have been sent, just like our Lord Jesus was sent. Jesus was sent to do the Father’s will by speaking His words and doing His works. In the same vein, we have been sent to do our Savior’s will by speaking His words and doing His works. This is what God wants for us today.
Rejoice with us as we celebrate God’s Amazing Gift to the world with the choir presentation of the cantata The Newborn King.
Speaker: Joseph Jo
Scripture: 1 Timothy 3:16a
What is Christmas truly about? It is about the birth of the second Person of the Trinity—the incarnation of God. Incarnation is one of the most familiar doctrines among believers and yet also one of the most misunderstood ones. Tonight, we will explore what the incarnation of God means and does not mean and then contemplate on its theological and practical implications.
Speaker: Matthew Walker
Scripture: John 14:9
One of the most startling facts from the life of Jesus is that He claimed everything about Him was the result of the Father’s work. His life and ministry pointed people to the Father and His death and resurrection are the reason we can come to the Father. He was clear in His declaration to Philip: “Whoever has seen Me, has seen the Father.”
Speaker: Matthew Walker
Scripture: Joshua 2:8-15
Series: How to Study the Bible Effectively
We continue our series on How to Study the Bible Effectively by looking at a historical narrative section of the Old Testament. Many people believe that narrative is the easiest part of the Bible to interpret, but there are pitfalls that can really trip up people who read these stories.
This Christmas season we will be in John’s Gospel looking at the references to Jesus being sent to earth - His incarnation. There are a lot of these references and we will work through them one by one. Today we consider the first of these “sent” passages which came when Jesus was speaking to Nicodemus.
Speaker: Matthew Walker
Scripture: Exodus 23:1-9
We continue our series on How to Study the Bible Effectively by examining the opening books of the Old Testament. This will not be a survey of those important books, but an explanation of how to read them so as to better understand what God was doing. Many people misunderstand the purpose and nature of Old Testament Law.
Speaker: Matthew Walker
Scripture: Isaiah 55
Today we will introduce our church memory verses for 2022. Isaiah 55 is one of the most important texts in the entire Bible; some of the most precious thoughts ever written down are there. The overall meaning of the chapter is the universal call to salvation that God makes to the world. As great as this call is, it does have one condition—come. Those who are spiritually hungry and thirsty only need to come and God will give them a rich bounty that eternally satisfies.
Speaker: Pastor Joseph Jo
One of the things we have learned from the How to Study the Bible Effectively Series is the importance of context. Tonight, as preparation for Thanksgiving, we will look at a very short phrase, “In everything give thanks,” in its historical, literary, and theological contexts to understand the theological depth and practicality of this short command.
The first commandment is important. God said: “You cannot have any other gods before Me.” This command is the foundation for everything we are as believers. We trust in Christ because we believe that He is God and we worship Him and no one else. The horrible sin of idolatry is replacing God with another god, worshipping something other than Him. Today’s sermon examines a call to worship in the Psalms.
Speaker: David Mayes
Scripture: Genesis 3
God told Adam that he would die if he ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Genesis 2:17). But Adam did eat from it, and he immediately died spiritually, and then later physically. And by this "one man, sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned." (Romans 5:12) "For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of One (Jesus) shall many be made righteous." (Romans 5:19) But not without blood. NOTHING but the blood of Jesus can wash away our sins. Have you been washed?
Speaker: Pastor Mattew Walker
Series: How to Study the Bible Effectively
We will take a short detour in our series on How to Study the Bible by looking at an interesting passage from the Old Testament about some of the military victories of David. While it might appear to be a mundane passage of Scripture, this text actually answers a seeming contradiction that many are unaware even exists. Tonight’s sermon: Who Killed Goliath? (1 Chronicles 20:1-8)
Speaker: Matthew Walker
Scripture: Psalm 1
Prosperity is something for which most of the world is searching. Some try to find it through get-rich-quick schemes. Others look to education or hard work as the answer. God has a method for prosperity, but it requires a radically different approach than these. God’s method is simple. He tells us that the prosperous man is one who submits to God’s rule over his life. There really is no other way.
Speaker: Pastor Matthew Walker
Series: How to Study the Bible Effectively
God’s word is a beautiful, wonderful book full of principles and precepts for us to follow. How unfortunate it is that we do not have the original autographs (the actual first books that were written)! But what we do have, translations of those original writings, provide us everything we need to see the revelation of God in the pages. Tonight’s sermon builds on this idea of translation by encouraging us to use the translations we have.
The world hates our Savior and that puts us into difficulty. We have to live here; there’s no other world in which we can live right now. But those who occupy this world with us hate our Lord Jesus. How should we respond when they wrong us for our faith? Should we treat them like they treat us? Today’s sermon looks at a horrible event in the life of Jacob and then draws out a few principles for how we should live today.
Satan attacks in different ways. He can attack us externally using people or events outside our church to discourage or dissuade us from doing God’s will. He can also attack us from within, using disobedient brothers and sisters in Christ to harm our church’s testimony. He sometimes attacks us head-on, trying to throw us off course. Today’s sermon examines a situation where Satan tried to force the apostles off-course by threatening their lives.
Speaker: Chuck Flesher
Scripture: Psalm 11
Retired Army chaplain Chuck Flesher is our guest speaker tonight. Chuck has been with us in the past. He is a representative of AGC, an endorsing agency for Christian evangelical chaplains in the military. God is using Christians in the chaplain corps to reach service men and women for Christ.
Speaker: Joseph Jo
Series: Communion Message
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:17-2:5
What can we offer to the world as Christians? Some think they can look cool in the eyes of the world. Some want to sound wise in the ears of the world. Some preachers try to win souls with their personal charisma and eloquence. Some churches attempt to win the world with worldly entertainment. According to Paul, we have only one thing that we can offer to the world as Christians.
Speaker: Pastor Matthew Walker
Series: How to Study the Bible Effectively
Every person should read, if he can find an appropriate translation, a copy of the Bible in his own language. This is not just a goal, it is something that God desires for everyone to do. God has revealed Himself in His word and His will is that every person capable of reading will read His revelation in his language. This idea did not begin with English, it began almost 2,250 years ago in Egypt with the Septuagint.
Speaker: Pastor Matthew Walker
Series: When Satan Attack Series
Satan’s second attack on the church was to influence two of its members to lie to the Spirit by pretending to give to the church more than they actually did. This lie, if it had been successful, would have provided the liars with undue influence in the governance of the early church in Jerusalem. Peter’s confrontation of the liars stopped this attack and eradicated the problem from the church. Today’s sermon: When Satan Attacks Church Governance. (Acts 5:1-11)
Speaker: Matthew Walker
Series: How to Study the Bible Effectively
Scripture: Nehemiah 8:1-8
One of the chief problems we have in our study of the Bible is the leap from original documents written in Hebrew and Greek to an English translation. Fortunately, this problem is not new. There was a time in the Old Testament when God’s people had the Bible, but not in their native language. We will look into what they did to solve this problem.
The Bible describes Satan as a ravenous lion who is out looking for prey. He attacks people regardless of whether they are believers or not. Unbelievers have no defense against him; he just devours them completely in sin. For Christians, we have ways in which we should respond to him. Today’s sermon begins a series of messages from Acts 4-9 where we find the Early Church fending off the attacks of Satan.
What is the New Testament? How can we learn for ourselves what it is teaching? Tonight’s sermon continues our series on How to Study the Bible Effectively by looking at the 27 books of the New Testament. Tonight’s message: The New Testament (Hebrews 1:1-2).
Speaker: Matthew Walker
Series: Jonah Series
Scripture: Jonah 4:1-11
Sin is so bad that the only way mankind has any hope of salvation is through the grace that comes by faith in Jesus Christ. Our only righteousness is His righteousness. Our only plea is Jesus. How terrible is it, then, if we desire this grace for ourselves, but do not wish it for others! Is there anyone so terrible that God’s grace cannot save him? Let us learn from the life of Jonah that while everyone is unworthy of grace, they are all capable of receiving it.
Speaker: Joseph Jo
Series: A Young Minister’s Prayer Requests for CPBC
Scripture: Colossians 1:24-29
Our Christianity is facing a rapid spiritual, moral, and numerical decline. Why? It has been said, “Everything rises and falls on leadership.” While it is not the only reason, the leadership crisis in local churches is one of the fundamental reasons for our sad state of decline. Tonight we will learn what God expects from His ministers and how we can pray for our spiritual leaders as a church.
Speaker: Matthew Walker
Series: Communion Message
Scripture: Matthew 26:36-46
There is no better Teacher on prayer than the Lord Jesus. His example was incredible as He often spent hours communing with His heavenly Father. Today’s sermon examines one of the most important of these prayer meetings—our Lord’s prayer in Gethsemane. There is so much we can learn from Jesus here, but this message distills this story into three distinct lessons.
Speaker: Matthew Walker
Series: How to Study the Bible Effectively
Scripture: Hebrews 1:1 & Genesis 12:1-3
There are 39 books in the English version of the Old Testament. Written by as many as 40 different authors over 1,000 years, it is amazing that it can reveal God’s sovereign plan to His people. Of course, that is because God is the true Author of the Bible. Continuing our series on How to Study the Bible Effectively, we will focus on this first collection of books.
Speaker: Matthew Walker
Series: Jonah Series
Scripture: Jonah 3:1 - 4:3
There are two levels of obedience. There is the outward obedience that conforms to some external pressure. This obedience looks right because it is visible. But real obedience is the kind of obedience that comes from the heart. This heart obedience is what God desires; that we would obey Him because we want to obey, not just because we feel like we must obey. Jonah obeyed God, but not because he wanted to. He did not have this type of heart obedience.
Speaker: Pastor Matthew Walker
Series: How to Study the Bible Effectively
God wants us to understand Him because faith comes by hearing. However, if one cannot hear, how can he have faith? If we cannot understand what we are reading in God’s word, there is no way we can learn to obey and follow Him. Learning to study the Bible effectively means learning how to comprehend God’s word. Tonight’s sermon: The Importance of Comprehension—Do You Understand What You Are Reading? (Acts 8:26-40)
Speaker: Matthew Walker
Series: Jonah Series
Every Mother’s Day or Father’s Day, my heart grieves for those who grew up with bad parents. There are more people like that than you might realize; maybe that describes you. What a blessing that we have a wonderful heavenly Father who loves and cares for us, even when we disobey Him. Jonah’s repentance to God over his sin led to God graciously responding by repairing their relationship and restoring him to service.
Speaker: Matthew Walker How to Study the Bible Effectively Series Tonight begins one of the most important series in the history of our church. This series is on the theme: “How to Study the Bible Effectively.” Too many Christians lack the necessary knowledge about how to live God-pleasing lives because they do not really understand the rudimentary principles for how to study the Bible.
The psalmist asked the penetrating question: “Can I find a place where God is not already there?” He knew that he might attempt to run from God, but God would easily find him. Jonah thought he had outwitted God by having himself cast overboard, but God will not let someone die if he wants him to live. He is sovereign that way. Jonah discovered the truth that the fish is not a curse, but a blessing.
Speaker: Pastor Matthew Walker
King Hezekiah is one of the most fascinating characters in the Old Testament. He was one of the most faithful kings of Judah, yet his pride lead to the downfall of his nation. In that sense, he was a lot like us. He was a mixed bag of faithfulness and sin. He is both an example to follow and an example to avoid. Tonight’s sermon: Hezekiah’s Legacy (2 Kings 20:20-21).
Speaker: Pastor Matthew Walker [Jonah 1:4-16] Sin is a progressive disease. It begins with Christians becoming spiritually sleepy—just letting things go by without notice. Then it progresses to insensitivity. Christians can become calloused to their sin. Finally, believers can fall into a kind of spiritual insanity. Today’s message explains how Jonah responded to God’s attempts to get his attention. Instead of repenting, the prophet doubled-down in his running from God.