Florida Coast Church: Recent Episodes
Larry Trotter
The opening of Luke's narrative about Jesus helps us know for certain the things we have learned about Jesus.
While David rejoiced in being rescued from an untimely death, his words pointed to his descendant who would experience an untimely death but be rescued from the grave.
The ideal king’s marriage to the ideal bride not only teaches us about marriage but also about the relationship between God and his people.
God’s creation shows forth his majesty and the majesty of humanity and of the Son of Man.
Although the nations are constantly in rebellion against the Lord, he has established his Son as King over the whole world.
These two psalms teach us to ask our soul why it is downcast and to answer it with the only hope in life and death.
The imprecatory (cursing) psalms point to the triumph of God’s justice through judgment or salvation.
Within the final greetings in his letter to the Romans, Paul included a declaration about the final victory of the church.
Jesus has authority and power over all things and is bringing the powers of darkness down.
One of Paul's purposes in visiting Rome was to receive help to get the gospel all the way to Spain.
Our little work of accepting each other in the church is part of the big work God is doing in the world.
There are two basic principles that enable Christians with differing convictions on debatable matters to live together in harmony in the church.
New life in Christ includes submission to governmental authorities, love for the other, and putting on Christ for all to see him.
In response to all of God‘s mercies described in the first 11 chapters, we are to present our bodies and be renewed in our minds.
The rejection of Jesus by many Israelites is God‘s plan for the salvation of the nations, and even of Israel itself.
Although many Jews did not believe the gospel and many non-Jews did, everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
God is free to define Israel, to show mercy or wrath, and to add to Israel from the nations.
Although Christians may suffer much, and many things are against us, we will end up being hyper-victorious in Christ.
Not only did Christ die and rise for his people, but they also died and rose with him, liberating them from sin to live new lives.
Adam was a type of Christ, each having the same role as the representative of his people, but with opposite outcomes.
Not only are believers in Jesus justified before God, but we also have peace, grace, hope, love, reconciliation, and salvation.
Abraham’s example proves that the only way to be right with God is through faith in Jesus Christ, not by works, ritual, law, or the what we can now see.
After ruling out the possibility of being right with God through the law, Paul presented the only way - through faith in Jesus Christ.
In the conclusion of his case against humanity, Paul demonstrated that all are under sin, which is why all need the redemption that is only in Christ.
Salvation is not a matter of racial identity or religious privilege but of true righteousness, which comes through the gospel.
The gospel is the power of salvation, for all who believe because it reveals the righteousness of God that is by faith from first to last.
Paul began his letter to the Romans by explaining the gospel of God and its purpose to bring about the obedience of faith among the nations.
1 Samuel ends on a sad but hopeful note with Saul killed and David waiting in the wings, but even David and the rest of the kings of Judah were preparation for the ideal Messiah King.
The opposite results of David's and Saul's desperate measures hold lessons about how to live in the world while not being of the world.
Three incidents in the life of David illustrate the principle that believers should not pay evil for evil but overcome evil with good while trusting the Lord and letting his hand save.
God sent his unique Son in human flesh to be the propitiation for sins, Savior of the world, and life for all who believe.
God's continued rescuing of David from Saul show that God always reserves a remnant of his people and ultimately saves his anointed one from death.
While David used desperate and even deceptive means of escape, God provided for him because of his grace and faithfulness.
As David’s covenant with David held firm through difficult times, so God’s covenant with us keeps us throughout our lives.
Although the first anointed king tried to kill the second one, the Lord protected his anointed, as he always does.
One of the best known stories of the Old Testament is not only about David and Goliath but also about the Lord and the Champion to come.
After the Lord rejected Saul as king, he chose a man with a heart oriented toward the Lord.
In response to King Saul’s second major error and his excuse, Samuel famously declared that to obey is better than sacrifice.
Saul’s two acts of foolishness contrasted with his son’s two acts of faith, and they changed the course of history.
G0d's choice of Saul to be Israel's first king anticipated the eventual arrival of the coming King and also Christians' royal calling.
The Israelites’ demand for a king is a good reminder to us to trust in the Lord, the only one who can profit and deliver.
When the ark is captured, the Lord goes into exile for his people and fights their enemies. When his people repent, he gives them the victory.
The loss of the Ark from Israel anticipated the way of approaching God through Christ and also warns against faith that is merely outward conformity.
After a time of little communication with his people, God spoke again through his prophet Samuel, and he has spoken most clearly through his own Son.
The chief priest could not control his wicked sons, so God removed them all and raised up the one who could intercede between humans and himself.
After the dismal failures of Israel during the time of the judges, the restoration began with the birth of a son to a barren woman.
After relating terrible events that must happen before Christ’s coming, this text leaves believers with a simple message - Stand Firm!
The parable of the workers in the vineyard reminds us that entering the kingdom of God is not about our work but God’s generosity.
Four short parables point to the surpassing value of the kingdom of God and the need to find it now.
Although the Kingdom of God started imperceptibly small, it will cover and fill the whole earth.
The parable often called the Wheat and the Tares gives hope that one day all will be made right.
This first parable from Matthew provides the key to understanding all the parables and to entering the kingdom of God.
Christians need to learn to speak with joy, listen with discernment, and grow in grace.
In a brief burst of practical instructions, we learn how to treat church leaders, other church numbers, and everyone else.
The Day of the Lord comes like a thief in the night but not for those who live in the light.
Although Christians will grieve the loss of loved ones, we have two solid reasons for hope.
No matter how long we have been Christians, we can always keep growing more and more in purity and love.
The same joy that the first disciples experienced upon seeing Jesus again is available to us.
Jesus announced that the hour had come for him to be glorified, but his glorification would begin with a cross.
After God confirmed his covenant with Israel, and Israel broke it, God graciously renewed it again.
In response to Moses’ prayers, God promised to go up into the Promised Land with his people after all.
The tragic incident of the golden calf serves as a warning to Christians and points to the necessity of an adequate satisfaction for our sins.
While forgiving is always costly, those who have been forgiven can and must forgive others in turn.
The garment and the consecration ceremony for the Aaron and his sons emphasize that the way to approach God is through a perfect priest offering a perfect sacrifice.
The detailed instructions for the construction of the Tent of Meeting held important lessons for Israel and also for us today.
Believers can rejoice with shouts of praise, because God is the king over all the nations.
This section of Exodus is a combination of moral, ceremonial, and civil laws, which point us to Christ and/or guide our lives today.
God has always been with his people, in various ways and temporarily in Old Testament times and later and permanently in human flesh.
God gave us The Ten Words, which show us how to live well and our need for Jesus Christ.
The tenth plague was the death of the firstborn of Egypt, which was also the salvation of the people of Israel.
Moses and Aaron represented Yahweh, who took on Pharaoh along with the gods, goddesses, and magicians of Egypt during nine rounds of a ten round fight.
Even though it was hard for the Hebrew slaves to see it, and hard for us sometimes, God does care.
In the encounter with Moses at the burning bush, God revealed himself and promised to show us more of who he is.
In order to be strong in the Lord's strength, Christians need to put on the whole armor of God.
Because God sent his Son for the salvation of the nations, the church sends its sons and daughters to take the message of his salvation to the nations.
Because God sent his Son for the salvation of the nations, the church sends its sons and daughters to take the message of his salvation to the nations.
Children should obey their parents in the Lord while their parents nurture them in the education and correction of the Lord.
The solution to unhealthy competition in marriage is to live out the pattern of Christ and the church.
The solution to unhealthy competition in marriage is to live out the pattern of Christ and the church.
Christians are to be imitators of God, which means to walk in love just as Christ loved us and to avoid the evil of our former lives.
In the new way of walking, believers need to put off the habits of the old self and put on the attitudes and activities of the new.
After three chapters describing God's work in the church, Ephesians has three chapters that describe how we live up to our high calling as the church.
The conclusion to the first half of Ephesians is a prayer for believers to have strength to know Christ's love.
From all of eternity God held a secret, which he finally revealed through his church to all the heavenly beings.
Through his death Christ has brought near believers from the nations who were very far from God.
Because humans were dead in our sins, the only possible solution was for God to make us alive because of his grace.
Paul's constant prayer for believers was that God would give us his Spirit so that we can know the hope, riches, and power he has for us.
Paul continued to praise God for the benefits believers receive because of the sacrifice of the Son.
Paul continued to praise God for the benefits believers receive because of the sacrifice of the Son.
In his familiar opening greeting, Paul covered essential truths of the Bible in just a few words.
After complaining repeatedly to God, the prophet had a view of God's power and fell silent.
After complaining repeatedly to God, the prophet had a view of God's power and fell silent.
God continued to answer Habakkuk by revealing that after bringing justice to the oppressor, he would reveal his glory in all the earth.
God continued to answer Habakkuk by revealing that after bringing justice to the oppressor, he would reveal his glory in all the earth.
Jesus fulfilled the entire Old Testament by suffering, rising from the dead, and having forgiveness preached to all the nations.
Jesus fulfilled the entire Old Testament by suffering, rising from the dead, and having forgiveness preached to all the nations.
In answer to Habakkuk's complaint about God using the wicked to accomplish his purpose, God declared that the righteous will live by faith.
In answer to Habakkuk's complaint about God using the wicked to accomplish his purpose, God declared that the righteous will live by faith.
In response to Habakkuk's raw complaint, God announced that he would do something wonderful, astounding, and hard-to-believe.
In response to Habakkuk's raw complaint, God announced that he would do something wonderful, astounding, and hard-to-believe.
In this thank you letter to the Philippians, Paul teaches us about giving for missionary work.
Paul addressed a serious conflict in the church and how to live differently: in unity, joy, gentleness, peace, and goodness.
Between the establishment of a relationship with God and the final resurrection, Christians need to press on to know Christ and be more like him.
Paul warned Christians about false teachers who would persuade them to boast in themselves instead of in Christ.
Christian thinking is thinking like Jesus, especially as seen in his becoming one of us to die on the cross.
As Paul waited in prison, he was able to rejoice in two certain outcomes because of his view of life and death.
Although Paul's circumstances were very difficult, he focused on bigger realities in which he rejoiced.
In his greeting, Paul previewed coming attractions in the rest of the letter, including the main event of Christ's humiliation and exaltation.
In answer to Daniel's final question about the future, a messenger gave him a simple message we all need to hear.
In this section of Daniel, there is the clearest declaration in the Old Testament of the resurrection and eternal life.
No matter how bad things get, God is still working out his own holy will through seen and unseen agents.
In a second vision, Daniel saw into the future when the Jews would need to remain faithful under terrible persecution.
In the famous story of Daniel in the lions' den, we learn about being blameless and see again that God reigns and rescues.
Sooner or later every kingdom that opposes God will be "all gone," but there is a kingdom that will not pass away.
King Nebuchadnezzar exited the scene with an important lesson for all of us about who is the real King.
Daniel's three friends preferred to die rather than renounce their faith, knowing that God would be with them no matter what.
In Daniel 2, a problem arose because of the absence of the gods among humans, but the true God showed himself through a human.
In Daniel 1, four teenagers show us how to be faithful when we are pressured to conform to the world around us.
The personal letter Paul wrote to Philemon contains a beautiful picture of redemption through the work of Christ.
In the lives of the ones mentioned in the final greetings of Colossians, we see evidence of God's abundant grace, which is available to us as well.
The model described in Colossians 4:2-6 of ministry to those outside the church is very simple: pray, walk, and talk.
From these instructions to slaves and masters, we can learn not only about how to do our work but also about the God who delights to redeem slaves.
When we fulfill the roles assigned to us by God, both children and parents end up happier.
Dying and rising with Christ through faith transforms wives and husbands and solves the basic problem of marriages.
If we have died and risen with Christ, once we have taken off the filthy rags of the old life, it is time to put on the attitudes and actions of the new life.
If we died and rose with Christ, we need to strip off the rags of the old life and put on the habits of the new.
Sermon by Robbie Crouse on why we need to return to the One who tore us and was torn for us
Sermon by Robbie Crouse on why we need to return to the One who tore us and was torn for us
Because Christians are sometimes tempted to add human traditions to the teaching about Jesus, Colossians 2:6-15 reminds us that the fullness of God dwells in him and that believers are full in him.
In the middle of writing about his sufferings for the church, Paul explained that the message he preached was a mystery hidden for generations and finally revealed in Christ.
In Colossians 1:15-23, Paul and Timothy exalted the Son as the agent of creation and the agent of the reconciliation of all things, including us.
In Colossians 1:15-23, Paul and Timothy exalted the Son as the agent of creation and the agent of the reconciliation of all things, including us.
In prayer, the natural counterpart of giving thanks is to make requests. Together, thanking and requesting help us live out the uniquely Christian combination of persevering with joy.
In the thanksgiving section of Paul's letter to the Colossians, he recognized their faith and love, which were based on their certain hope.
In the thanksgiving section of Paul's letter to the Colossians, he recognized their faith and love, which were based on their certain hope.
In his final sermon in Haggai 2:20-23, the prophet continued to show how God would shake things up in order to bring in his kingdom.
After showing the people in Haggai 2:10-19 that it is easier to get dirty than clean, God pointed the way forward to the only way to become clean before him.
After noting how little the people had accomplished, in Haggai 2:1-9 God told them to be strong because of his presence with them.
By being with his people in Haggai 1:12-15, God stirred them up to return to him and receive the blessings he had promised in his covenant with Israel.
When our life is off center, the result is dissatisfaction. In Haggai 1:1-11, God calls us to center our lives on him.
How should we get ready for the new heavens and the new earth? In his closing words in 2 Peter 3:14-18, Peter lays out a simple plan.
In 2 Peter 3:10-13, the apostle reminds us that in order to understand what life is all about, we need to read the last chapter.
In 2 Chronicles 20:1-23, King Jehoshaphat sought the LORD, who delivered his people from a powerful enemy. Their rescue anticipated a greater deliverance by a greater king.
In 2 Chronicles 20:1-23, King Jehoshaphat sought the LORD, who delivered his people from a powerful enemy. Their rescue anticipated a greater deliverance by a greater king.
In 2 Peter 3:1-9, Peter's five answers to the false teachers' scoffing tell us what it means for us that the Lord hasn't returned yet.
In 2 Peter 2:10-22, the apostle described the character, methods, and end of the false teachers, showing us the way to avoid returning to the slop.
In Romans 8:31-34, Paul asked who can be against us, who can accuse us, and who can condemn us. The answer to all these questions is: No one!
From the six hours Jesus hung on the cross, we have seven brief sayings recorded in the gospels, each of which explains important aspects of the meaning of his death for us.
After defending true teachers in chapter 1, Peter began to expose false teachers in 2 Peter 2:1-10. With examples from Genesis, he denounced false teachers and also showed us how to live in this world.
In 2 Peter 1:19-21, the apostle explains what the Scripture is, how it got to us, and why we should pay close attention to it.
As he approached his death, Peter announced in 2 Peter 1:12-18 his purpose of ensuring that Christians would always be able to recall the truths of the gospel.
After and because God has given Christians everything we need to live, we should make every effort to supply what our faith needs in order to grow (2 Peter 1:5-11).
Second Peter 1:1-4 contains the startling statements that Jesus is God, God has given Christians everything necessary for godly living, and we share in his divine nature.
According to Ephesians 6:1-4, children are to obey "in the Lord" and parents are to nurture children in the instruction "of the Lord." That is, the gospel is at the center of Spirit-filled family relationships.
Although some adults tried to keep children away from Jesus, he welcomed them in Mark 10:13-16 as models of how to enter the kingdom of God.
Psalms 127 and 128 beautifully describe God's perspective on children, which we need to recover, not only for our own happiness but also for the well-being of the world.
In 1 Corinthians 7, Paul reminds us that life is full of transitions from one state to another, for example, from unmarried to married to widowed to remarried. Therefore, we need to hold everything lightly, knowing that only one thing remains.
According to Ephesians 5:25-33, Christ's death not only revealed the meaning of marriage, but also calls husbands to follow Christ by laying down their lives for their wives each day.
After seeing the original pattern for marriage in the previous sermon, we now look at what went wrong in Genesis 3:16 and how Christ transforms marriage on the wife's side in Ephesians 5:15-24. (Husbands next week!)
In order to understand marriage, we need to go back to the creation of the woman in Genesis 2:18-25.
Because some preachers were saying that God's grace permits Christians to practice immorality, Jude urged us to avoid their error by keeping ourselves in the love of God.
In 3 John, there is a sharp contrast between one church member who loved Christ and his missionaries and another who loved to be first.
Since the early days of the church, people have tried to deny the Incarnation and still call themselves Christians. The little letter of 2 John is an answer to them and a reaffirmation of the truth about God in the flesh.
In Isaiah 10:33-11:10, we find a picture of trees that were all chopped down. However, out of one stump a sprout would grow and eventually transform everything. This picture portrays the coming of Jesus and also what he can do in your life.
In our worship service today, we received new members and baptized new believers, two of whom told their stories of becoming Christians. In Romans 3:19-26, we have an explanation of why and how someone can become a Christian.
All agree that the Lord's Supper is a remembrance meal, but it is also communion with the Lord and with each other. In 1 Corinthians 11:17-34, Paul corrected errors and explained the Lord's Supper, who should participate, and how to participate.
From several texts in the New Testament, this message answers four questions: What is the meaning of baptism? Who should be baptized? How should we baptize? Is baptism necessary?
Although faith in Christ has become more and more of an individual matter in the West, those who became Christians in the New Testament were added to local churches. Acts 2:36-47 records the addition of 3000 new church members in one day and describes the privileges they shared.
In the last three verses of our Old Testament, Malachi 4:4-6, two of the biggest figures of biblical history make a cameo appearance, Moses and Elijah, representatives of the law and the prophets and forerunners of Jesus.
In the sixth dispute between God and his people in Malachi 3:13-4:3, we find the proper response to everything God was saying to them. That response will make all the difference on the day God promised to bring, a day for which we all need to be ready.
In another dispute with his people in Malachi 3:6-12, God gave his people of that day a lesson in generosity, which Christians need to learn as well, especially as it has been transformed by the coming of Christ.
While the people cynically questioned God's justice and longed for his intervention, in Malachi 2:17-3:5, God told them he would be coming in judgment after his messenger prepared the way. In the New Testament, we learn who that messenger was and what God did when he showed up, which was a shock to all.
In the third dispute, found in Malachi 2:10-16, God accused his people of being faithless to his covenant with them by being faithless to the covenant of marriage. This timeless message calls each one of us to marry within the faith and stay faithful to our spouse.
As God continued talking to the priests in Malachi 2:1-9, he rebuked them for failing in their two duties: offering sacrifices and teaching. If they refused to change their ways, God threatened them with extinction. Although they lasted another 500 years, they eventually disappeared and became obsolete, once the perfect high priest offered the perfect
In God's second dispute with his people, recorded in Malachi 1:6-14, he accused the priests and the people of despising him. After they objected, God demonstrated how they were cutting corners in their worship. Their failure points to the need for a perfect priest who would offer a perfect sacrifice for sins, which is just
As God's beloved people were in very difficult circumstances and doubting God, the LORD spoke to them in Malachi 1:1-5 a simple message: I love you. After they challenged his love, God proved it, but not nearly as extravagantly as he has proved his love to us.
In Acts 20:17-38, Paul passed the torch of ministry to the elders of the church in Ephesus. In his speech to them, Paul described the character of elders and their work of ministry. With a few such elders as Paul described, the church has the team it needs to fulfill the mission that God has
As the number of non-Jewish believers in Jesus began to overwhelm the original Jewish Christians, some wanted to make it harder for non-Jews to become Christians. As recorded in Acts 15:1-31, the church met in Jerusalem to discuss the matter and reaffirmed that both Jews and Gentiles receive salvation in the exact same way: by
In all times, and especially during a pandemic or persecution, it is better for churches to focus on making disciples, not on building and maintaining structures. However, some structure is necessary to send out missionaries to make disciples elsewhere. In Acts 13:1-5 we meet the first church that sent out its own missionaries.
Although there was one lone Ethiopian who became a Christian, in Acts 10:1-48 a whole house full of non-Jews heard the gospel, believed it, and was baptized. Their conversion was a big surprise to the first Christians, all of whom were Jewish. Yes, God loved those people too.
It is hard to imagine what the world would be like without Saul of Tarsus (the apostle Paul), but it would have been harder to imagine that such a violent persecutor of Christians would become a Christian and a missionary. His conversion and call, recorded in Acts 9:1-22, teach us not to despair of anyone
In Acts 8:26-40, God took Philip from a growing church to a deserted place to talk about Jesus with one African man who came from the ends of the earth. Then God guided Philip to a Scripture text about Jesus. These are the two elements we need in order to evangelize: people and a message
When were the glory days of the church: perhaps when it was being persecuted, or maybe when it held sway over the culture? In an excellent sermon on Acts 8:1-25, Pastor Robbie Crouse shows Christians how we should act in both of these situations and in every other situation as well.
The explosive growth of the church in Jerusalem led to the first threat of division between two groups, as recorded in Acts 6:1-7. Wisely the apostles recommended that the church choose a few good men to handle the urgent need that had arisen. These seven men freed up the apostles to preach and pray, and
Before he returned to his Father, Jesus told his followers to wait in Jerusalem until they received the promised Holy Spirit. About a week later, as recorded in Acts 2:1-24, Jesus poured on his Spirit on his people, and they began to proclaim the mighty deeds of God in different languages. After some from the
In our summer series, we will be looking at critical events in the book of Acts, starting with Jesus' commission of his "sent ones" in Acts 1:1-11. The goal is for our church to become more like the original Christian church. We first need to reorient ourselves to the task that Jesus gave us for
If you have ever compared your life to someone else's (who hasn't?), you need to hear Jesus' reply in John 21:20-25 to Peter's curiosity about Jesus' plan for another disciple. Also in this gospel's final section, the author finally but partially identified himself. He was one of Jesus' closest disciples and a reliable eyewitness to
In a painful conversation with Peter recorded in John 21:1-19, Jesus asked him three times if he loved him. Peter answered by declaring his love for Jesus three times. In response, Jesus charged Peter to take care of his people and to follow him. The question and the charge are for us as well.
In John 20:19-31, Jesus appeared to his disciples twice, once to commission and equip them and a second time to show himself to Thomas. In response to seeing Jesus, Thomas made an astounding declaration about Jesus, calling him "my Lord and my God!" After this declaration, the author spelled out his purpose in writing this
There is a stubborn fact of history that no one has been able to disprove, although many have tried. Jesus' tomb was empty, and no one has ever produced his body. Hear in John 20:1-18 about the first ones to encounter the empty tomb. Come, see, and believe!
All through the Gospel of John we have been hearing about Jesus' coming glorification. In John 19:16-42, we finally reach it and discover that it took place on the cross. In this familiar account, the author of the gospel included fascinating details that point us to the meaning of the death of Christ and the
Only in John 18:28-19:16 do we find details of Jesus' trial before Pilate. We hear Jesus' opponents making statements about him that are much truer than they understood. Putting these statements together, we have a clear although unintentional declaration of who Jesus is and why he came.
In his narration of Jesus' arrest in John 18:1-27, John alternated between scenes focused on Jesus who acted in complete control, and Peter who was losing control of himself. We will likely be able to find ourselves in the story in couple of different ways, once because of our similar need and another time because
After his farewell discourse with his disciples, Jesus prayed his longest recorded prayer in John 17:1-26. He prayed regarding himself, for his original disciples, and for his later disciples, but his overarching request was for God's glory. Because God's glory on earth is tied to how his disciples live, prayer for his disciples to do
Jesus concluded his final discourse with his disciples before his death in John 16:12-33. He developed previous lessons and added that they would have temporary sorrow that would change into lasting joy. In spite of our suffering in this world, Christians can have joy, peace, and courage, because Jesus has overcome the world.
After telling his disciples that they should love one another, Jesus began preparing them in John 15:18-16:11 to be hated by the world. Even so, he sent them out to be witnesses for him, but not on their own. He also promised to send the Holy Spirit to be the witness who would convince the
In a world full of bad news, we are all wanting to hear good news. What we usually receive is good advice, which is welcome but fails to animate our lives. In Acts 10:34-43, we have an early sermon by Peter, in which he clearly and simple spelled out for us the good news about
There is a word that runs through Jesus' farewell discourse and appears eleven times in John 15:1-17 in one form or another. It can be translated as abide, remain, stay, continue, dwell. As we abide in our homes during the pandemic, we need to remember that we must abide in Jesus to bear fruit, to
Continuing the final conversation with his disciples in John 14:15-31, Jesus told them how to show their love for him and of the gifts he gives to those who love him. His Spirit, his presence, and his peace enable us to live as his followers these days and every day.
Continuing the final conversation with his disciples in John 14:15-31, Jesus told them how to show their love for him and of the gifts he gives to those who love him. His Spirit, his presence, and his peace enable us to live as his followers these days and every day.
After Jesus gave his disciples very troubling news, he told them in John 14:1-14, "Let not your hearts be troubled." He went on to say what to do instead and gave them and us three reasons not to be troubled. Although this text is simply the next one in our series on the Gospel of John, it is timely during these days of pandemic.
After Jesus gave his disciples very troubling news, he told them in John 14:1-14, "Let not your hearts be troubled." He went on to say what to do instead and gave them and us three reasons not to be troubled. Although this text is simply the next one in our series on the Gospel of
In John 13:18-38, we pick up the conversation between Jesus and his disciples over dinner. After he had washed their feet, he announced that one of them would betray him. Once Judas had gone out into the night, Jesus gave his followers of every age the New Commandment: to love each other as he loved
During a meal with his disciples in John 13:1-17, Jesus did something that shattered social norms. He dressed like a slave and performed a task that was beneath most slaves by washing his disciples' feet. Although he didn't explain his actions completely, he gave us enough clues to find three important lessons. The first two
In John 12:27-50, we have Jesus' final appeal to the world before spending his final days focused on his disciples. After explaining the meaning of his death, he also explained why so many did not believe in him. Then he summarized his teaching in his last words to the crowds, giving them one final opportunity
All of a sudden, in John 11:55-12:26, Jesus not only permitted but encouraged people publicly to recognize him as king. What had changed? What we have awaited during the whole gospel of John finally happened: his hour to be glorified had come! However, his glorification would be exactly the opposite of what everyone expected. (sermon
In Jesus' final sign, recorded in John 11:1-54, he raised his friend Lazarus from the dead. As a sign, it was not to be a regular occurrence but an extraordinary event that pointed to Jesus as the only source of life from the dead and of eternal life. In the face of death, Jesus expressed
In Jesus' final public teaching in the Gospel of John (10:22-42), the people of Jerusalem tried to pin him down. They wanted him to declare openly who he was. In keeping with his indirect public style, Jesus pointed them to his words and works. He also boldly declared, "I and the Father are one." This
After the shepherds of Israel mistreated and kicked out the man born blind in chapter 9, Jesus announced in John 10:1-21 that he is the Good Shepherd. While false shepherds sacrificed the sheep for their own benefit, the Good Shepherd laid down his life for the sheep. The question for us is if we know
From Old Testament times, the Jewish people knew that only God and his Messiah could open the eyes of the blind. However, over their long history, it had never happened. Therefore, when Jesus healed the eyes of a man born blind in John 9:1-41, he caused quite a stir. Some rejected the miracle as spurious,
A constant problem for the reputation of the church is the presence of persons who claim to be believers but deny the faith with their lives. This problem is not new. In fact, in John 8:30-59, Jesus had an extended argument with some who had believed in him but ended up wanting to kill him.
The feast was over. The water and light show has dazzled the crowds. Jesus had offered living water to quench our thirst and added in John 8:12-30 that he is the light of the world. However, his hearers missed the message by challenging his procedure. In response, Jesus directed them back to himself as the
Irony occurs when a situation turns out to be the opposite of what is expected. Dramatic irony is when the author and the audience know that the situation is opposite of what the actors think it is. The Gospel of John, especially John 7:32-52, is dripping with irony. However, John used his irony not to
As we approach the end of 2019 and the beginning of 2020, we learn from John 7:1-31 how Jesus approached time and timing. He always ordered his life according to God's timing. We too have our time, and we all have the same amount of it. The question is how we are going to use
After becoming popular and attracting many followers, Jesus taught about what we call the Incarnation, the Son of God becoming human flesh. The Incarnation made it possible for people to have eternal life. Instead of being overjoyed at this news, many so-called followers turned away from Jesus in John 6:41-71. After asking the his original
Just like us, the people of Jesus' day spent much of their time laboring for things that perish. Just like us, they often found themselves not satisfied. In John 6:1-40, we read about two of Jesus' most well-known miracles, feeding the 5000 and walking on water. Because the people missed the meaning of the miracles,
If a man makes a great claim about himself, he should be ready to present evidence to back up his claim. In John 5:17-47, Jesus made the most astonishing claims imaginable for a human being. By his own admission, if he alone held this opinion of himself, we should not believe him. Therefore, he backed
There is a popular expression that says "seeing is believing." However, many people saw the amazing signs performed by Jesus and did not believe in him. In two separate incidents recorded in John 4:43-5:18, Jesus performed signs of healing, but few believed in him. One politically connected man did believe while the religious leaders did
Things had not worked out in life as she had hoped. After five broken marriages, she found herself in another uncertain relationship with a man. Then one one hot day at noon, she met a thirsty Jewish man. At first she despised him because of his race and religion, but he spoke to her in
Ever since there began to be two groups preaching and baptizing, there were those who wanted to set up a competition between them. In John 3:22-36, John the Baptist put an immediate stop to the idea of competition between Jesus and himself. His response provides not only pastors but all Christians with an excellent motto
In a nighttime conversation with a religious leader recorded in John 3:1-21, Jesus used an expression that has found its way into popular culture, being "born again." Jesus emphasized not merely a new start but a total transformation performed by God. In other words, we all need something that only God can give. At the
In John 2, Jesus began his public ministry with two incidents that started the countdown toward what he called "my hour." Turning water into wine and driving out the marketers from the Temple courts seemed like two unrelated incidents. However, they both indicated that Jesus came to replace religious activities that could never take away
Except for John the Baptist, everyone in John 1:35-51 began the day not believing in Jesus. By the end of two days, all were believing in Jesus, following him, and telling others about him. What had happened? They had all met Jesus, and most of them met him through a relative or friend. Although they
Almost all humans recognize that there is a gap between what we should do and what we actually do. Also, we have invented many methods to try to deal with that gap. Unfortunately, we repeatedly discover that our methods don't ultimately work. In John 1:19-34, John (the Baptist) called Jesus "the Lamb of God" and
The Gospel of John wastes no time in diving into the deep waters of truth. In John 1:1-18, the author presents Jesus as the divine Word who became a human, the Light that came into the darkness, and the One and Only who is himself God and with God the Father. Although these are elevated
One of the most difficult parables to interpret is in Luke 16:1-17, which relates the underhanded dealings of a dishonest manager who got fired from his job. Whom does the manager represent? In what ways might we be like the dishonest manager? Listen to Dr. Tim Sansbury as he takes us through this unusual parable,
In Ruth 4, we come to the conclusion of the story of Ruth. However, the author has several surprises in store for us readers with not one, but three conclusions. These three conclusions satisfy the three problems presented in chapter one and three problems that we all face: distance from God, bitterness about life, and
At the beginning of Ruth 3, Naomi took matters into her own hands to secure a husband for Ruth. Her plan was risky, but it worked perfectly (until a complication arose). At the end of the chapter, Boaz determined to take matters into his own hands. Both of them had previously prayed for Ruth, and
As we ended the first chapter of Ruth, there was a ray of hope for the two widows. Maybe they would not starve to death after all, since they arrived in Bethlehem at the beginning of the barley harvest. In Ruth 2, Ruth proposed to pick up leftover grain behind the harvesters and found her
In Ruth 1, we meet three men and three women, who suddenly separate, leaving all in apparently impossible situations. By the end of the first chapter, there is a ray of hope for the women but none for the men. Even so, one of the women remains convinced that God is against her, since her
The final parable in our summer series appears in Luke 18:1-8. Like last week's parable, the Parable of the Unjust Judge focuses on the period between Jesus' first and second comings. It too tells us what to do as we await his return, especially if he seems to delay, and especially if we are suffering
In the Parable of the Talents in Matthew 25:14-30 and in the two preceding parables, Jesus prepared his followers for his absence. He wanted us to know what to do until he returns, even if he delays a long time. As it turns out, he didn't ask all of us to do great things, but
Although we may overlook occasions when others receive unfair treatment, we become indignant when we think people treat us unfairly. In Matthew 20:1-16, Jesus told a parable about the kingdom of God in which he described a situation that doesn't look fair to us. As it turns out, Jesus used this apparent unfairness to teach
In the earlier parables, Jesus left people wondering what he meant. In the latter parables, Jesus was often very direct. For example, in Matthew 21:33-46, Jesus spoke a parable directly against the leaders of the Temple in Jerusalem. They had no problem understanding the parable, but they trapped themselves by their reaction to it. We
In answer to the grumblings of some religious leaders, Jesus told three parables in Luke 15 about lost and found items: a sheep, a coin, and a son. All of them emphasize the joy of God over bringing one lost person back to himself. The third parable is open-ended, forcing each of us to consider
While attending a meal with religious leaders in Luke 14:1-24, Jesus broke with social norms and caused multiple disruptions. His goal was not to offend but to instruct, first about the use of the Sabbath day and then about the kingdom of God, which he compared to a great banquet. At the end of the
One of the most familiar of Jesus' parables is the Good Samaritan, found only in Luke 10:25-37. Jesus told the parable in a conversation with an expert in the law about how to have eternal life. While the parable's story line is simple and memorable, it includes twists that turn the whole conversation on its
Every once in a while there comes along an opportunity that is so fabulous that it is too good to pass up. However, such opportunities often require us to give up all our other options and put all our eggs in one basket. In Matthew 13:44-46, Jesus told two very short parables about the kingdom
It is easy to miss something right in front of us when we are looking for something else. Many people missed Jesus, because they were looking for a different kind of kingdom than the one Jesus came to establish. Specifically, they were expecting immediate judgment on sinners, but Jesus surprised everyone by associating with sinners
In our summer sermon series on some of Jesus' parables, we start with The Parable of the Sower (or Soils) in Mark 4:1-20. This one is especially helpful, because it includes Jesus' explanation of the purpose of parables. It also includes his interpretation of the parable but with some key elements missing. As it turns
If you have ever asked what God wants you to do, the whole letter of James will help answer your question. The final section, James 5:13-20, tells us what to do in four specific situations. In three of the four situations, the activity is the same: to pray. In the fourth, we have the opportunity
A depressingly common theme that runs through human history is the oppression of the poor by the rich. In the first century, Christians were often on the side of the poor and oppressed. Certainly the readers of James' letter were in that category. In James 5:1-12, we find warnings about the dangers of wealth and
Since James is the likely the oldest writing of the New Testament, it appears from James 4:1-17 that church conflicts have been around almost as long as the Christian church has existed. Instead of treating fights as a normal part of church life, this text exposes their causes and provides the solution. Some of the
One of the most prominent themes in James is human speech. While James mentioned the importance of controlling our tongues in James 1:19 and 1:26, he dedicated most of James 3 to the power of speech for good or for evil. He also pointed us to the help we need to harness our speech for
One of the most controversial sections of James is James 2:14-26, because some verses sounds very different from what we find in Paul's teaching. However, it contains a very straightforward message. James simply insisted that the faith that saves us is a faith that produces good works. In contrast, a faith that does nothing, does
Western society has recently become sensitive to discrimination based on race, nationality, sex, age, appearance, etc. However, discrimination is not new. In fact, James 2:1-13 focuses on the contradiction between having faith in Jesus and treating other people with partiality based on their status. It turns out that the antidote for such partiality is God's
If someone hears a message but does not act upon it, sometimes we say that "it went in one ear and out the other." In James 1:19-27, God calls us not only to hear his word but to incorporate it into our lives. Only by doing the word can Christians demonstrate that we truly heard
In James 1:9-18, the author continues to urge us to have a biblical perspective on the difficult and the good things in life, including poverty and riches, trials and temptations, and perfect gifts from God. Although we may not be able to change our circumstances, we can develop a Christian approach to them.
After a very brief greeting, James launched into his letter of practical instruction in James 1:1-8 by urging believers in Jesus to consider trials an opportunity to experience pure joy. Because this instruction is so contrary to our natural reaction to trials, we need help! James provides just the help we need by giving us
In Acts 17:24-34 we get to hear a sermon that Paul preached to philosophers in Athens. He presented to them biblical truths about God, humans, Jesus, and our response. The game-changing declaration that got Paul laughed off stage was the resurrection of Jesus. The news about the resurrection left others curious enough to want to
Before Jesus left this earth, he entrusted the gospel ministry to the apostles, but to whom did the apostles entrust it before they departed? The answer found in Acts 20:17-35 is that they entrusted ministry to the elders of the church. In fact, elders are not only God's design for the church but also essential
The expression, "the body of Christ," has become such a common name for the church that we may not reflect upon what it means for the life of the church. In 1 Corinthians 12:12-27, we have the most complete explanation of the similarity between the human body and the church. Both the human body and
In some of his last words, in Matthew 28:16-20, Jesus gave a clear mission to his disciples: to make more disciples of all people groups until the end of the age. As it is easy for the church to get distracted from our mission by many other good activities, Jesus' words refocus us and send
From the very first preaching of the gospel after Jesus' ascension, the new believers were "added" to local churches. Once God added them to churches, the believers devoted themselves to simple practices that God used to add even more people both to himself and to the churches. These activities, found in Acts 2:36-47, are marks
Although the word church appears only three times in all of the gospels, in Matthew 16:13-23 and Matthew 18:15-20. However, the church figured large in the mission of the apostles, who they went out and made disciples by starting churches everywhere. By studying these three instances of the word church, we discover that Christ gave
When we considered the Covenant of Law given through Moses, we detected a major problem that we have with God's law: we cannot keep it. In light of this fact, in Jeremiah 31:31-34, God announced a New Covenant that would transform our relationship to the law by providing what we all need - complete forgiveness
After Abraham's family became a great nation, it also became a kingdom, and no one ever equalled the greatness of King David. Even so, in 2 Samuel 7:1-17, God announced to David that he had even greater plans for his offspring. Those plans were so great that even today we are seeing only part of
Because God had fulfilled one of his promises to Abraham by making his descendants a great nation, the next announcement of the Covenant of Grace contained laws that were necessary for the life of the nation of Israel. In God's sealing of this covenant with Moses and the people in Exodus 24:1-11, we discover that
Even though you enjoy many good things in life, is there one big thing that is missing? Abram (later called Abraham) was rich, powerful, and famous, but he longed for one key element to complete his life. In Genesis 15, God confirmed his promises to Abram by means of a covenant and a ceremony that
After the Covenant of Works/Life resulted in failure and death for humans, God dealt with them on the basis of his grace, or free favor toward sinners. The first mention of the Covenant of Grace appears in Genesis 6:17-18 and then receives fuller explanation in Genesis 9:8-17. Every day we are still enjoying the benefits
What can help us get a grasp on the whole Bible? There are several good answers to this question, but the idea of covenant is a handy way to understand the whole Bible. More importantly, it is the way for us to relate to God properly. In our new series on the covenants of the
In our third look at Matthew 6:1-18, which contains the Lord's Prayer, or the Our Father, we examine the prayer itself, which serves not only as a prayer of Christians of all places and times but also as a model for our praying. It consists of an initial address to God, three requests for God's
During three weeks, we are looking at Matthew 6:1-18, moving from the outside toward the Lord's Prayer in the middle. First we considered Jesus' warnings about hypocrisy: doing the right things in order to receive human applause. This week we looked at Jesus' three instructions about how to pray: in secret, with simplicity, and with forgiveness.
During three weeks, we will look at Matthew 6:1-18, moving from the outside toward the Lord's Prayer in the middle. First we considered Jesus' warnings about hypocrisy: doing the right things in order to receive human applause. Jesus called us rather to focus on the divine audience and receive grace upon grace from God.
Following up on last week's sermon about the who, where, and what of Jesus' birth, we turn to Hebrews 2:14-18 to learn more about what the incarnation was and also why it had to happen.
In the first of a two-part Christmas series, we studied the announcement in Luke 1:26-38 that the angel Gabriel made to Mary about the baby she would bear. We focused on who was involved in this announcement, where it happened, and what it meant. Next week we will study why it had to be this way.
In the dramatic concluding section, Galatians 6:11-18, Paul brought the whole message of the letter together by writing about boasting. He contrasted worldly religious boasting with Christian boasting. Christians are to boast only in something that was and is despised by most people: the instrument of execution known as a cross.
In Galatians 6:1-10, Paul took the general principles of the fruit of the Spirit (which we studied last week) and applied them to three situations in the church in order to provide concrete examples of Christian living. The three situations are: when a Christian falls into sin, when ministers need support, and when any member
Continuing the theme of the results of faith in Christ, Galatians 5:16-26 lists specific manifestations of the flesh (sinful nature) and of the Holy Spirit. The outward evidence of living by the Holy Spirit is the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
After four chapters of telling us what Christ has done for us and urging us to have faith in him alone in order to be right before God, Paul turned in Galatians 5:1-15 to explain the main thing that faith produces in our lives, which is love. While we are saved by faith alone, faith
In Galatians 4:21-31, Paul gave an interpretation of the story from the Old Testament about Abraham and the two sons he had, one to Hagar the slave woman, and the other to Sarah his wife. The false teachers in Galatia were perhaps using this story to try to force non-Jewish believers to become Jews. However,
Having described the experience of Jewish Christians as coming into their full inheritance, Paul described the conversion of Gentiles (non-Jews) in Galatians 4:8-20. Simply speaking, they (we) had not known God but then came to know him. However, the Galatians later turned back to a form of religion that was similar to what they had when
Although it is impossible to say what is the best thing about being a Christian, the theme of Galatians 4:1-7 is an excellent candidate for "our highest privilege." In fact, the privilege is so exalted that it sounds at first like we have gone too far and said too much when we speak of it.
With so much insistence in Galatians on our being right before God through faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, we might well wonder what is the purpose of the law. In Galatians 3:15-29, Paul raised this question and gave a partial answer to it by laying out what is called
In the previous section, Paul asserted that no one can be right before God by observing the law but rather through faith in Christ. In Galatians 3:1-14, he presented three strong arguments to support his assertion. He laid out in the clearest terms the difference between two systems of salvation: relying on the works of
Continuing his defense of the one and only gospel in Galatians 2:15-21, Paul addressed two basic questions: 1) How can we be in a right relationship with God? 2) How can we live godly lives? It turns out that the answer to both questions is the same: by faith in Jesus Christ.
In Galatians 2:1-14, Paul continued his personal story about his interaction with the leaders in Jerusalem, relating that they completely supported his message and ministry. He recounted these events in detail in order to defend the gospel and protect the unity of the church. It is still true today that we can maintain unity amidst
Continuing his argument that he received the one and only gospel directly from Jesus Christ, Paul demonstrated in more detail in Galatians 1:11-24 his lack of dependence on the apostles in Jerusalem. He also brought up the most shameful part of his past, which he mentioned repeatedly in his letters, and which served to magnify
As we begin a new series in the letter to the Galatians that will take us through most of the rest of this year, we read in Galatians 1:1-10 Paul's opening salvo against those who were trying to distort the gospel. Beginning with his opening greeting, Paul emphasized what the gospel is and that there
Before preaching on John 4:1-30, Pastor Al Barth gave an encouraging review of the history and work of City to City in helping to start new churches around the world.
Pastor Al Barth preached from John 4:1-30 about Jesus' encounter one hot day with a foreign woman who had a checkered past. As it turns out, we have much in common with that woman and the same need for what Jesus had to offer her.
The vision that John saw in Revelation 4-5 concludes the opening section and prepares for the rest of the book. After reading about the difficulties in the seven churches, we get a glimpse of the heavenly control room and witness a two-part worship service focused on a central throne. This second vision reminds us of what
In the final of the seven letters in Revelation 3:14-22, Jesus addressed the church in Laodicea, which had no redeeming qualities. He described the church as lukewarm. It is remarkable that Jesus explicitly expressed his love, humbled himself to show his love, and promised the most exalted privileges to this, the worst of the seven
In the letter to the church in Philadelphia in Revelation 3:7-13, we read the second of two letters that contains only praise and encouragement from Jesus for the church. Although the church in Philadelphia looked weak, it was actually strong, because it had done the one simple thing that all churches and all Christians must
In the letter to the church in Sardis in Revelation 3:1-6, Jesus had a surprise announcement for the church and promised a surprise visit if things did not change for the better. The announcement was that, in spite of appearances of vitality, the church was really quite dead, which would have fallen as a huge
In Revelation 2:18-29, Jesus sent the longest letter to the church in the least important city, Thyatira, perhaps because its situation was complicated. In general, it was a great church, growing in faith and love. However, they tolerated false teaching that led to bad living. Jesus himself would deal with the false teacher and her followers,
In Revelation 2:12-17, we meet the Church in Pergamum, a group of Christians that one has to admire for holding fast to the name of Jesus in a city that Jesus called "Satan's throne," and even after one of their number had been killed for his faith. Although they were steadfast in resisting outside attacks,
Although the church in Smyrna may not have looked like much on the surface, Jesus' evaluation of it was wholly positive. He did not tone down his description of what the believers were about to suffer, but he pointed to the way to face all the challenges of life and death without fear and full
In Revelation 2:1-7, we read the letter to the church in Ephesus, a cosmopolitan port city where intellectual and religious currents were always trying to divert the faith of the Christians. Jesus commended the Ephesian Christians for standing firm for the faith in such a difficult environment but called them back to something essential they
In our summer sermon series, we are going to study the first three chapters of the last book of the Bible, beginning with Revelation 1 and then taking the letters to the seven churches of chapters 2 and 3 one at a time. In this first chapter, we have an introduction that teaches us how
With the book of Acts, we finish our review of Bible history. Unlike Old Testament history, New Testament history ends on a very positive note. In Acts, Luke recorded the advance of the gospel from Jerusalem into Judea and Samaria and all the way to Rome. The first Christians and many others after them did such a good job that the gospel has reached all the way to us, and now it is up to us to take it to still others.
It is good to have more than one person ready to verify facts, especially when they are well-informed and honest. In the case of the remarkable life of Jesus, we have four accounts written by people close to the source, which we traditionally call the Gospels, because they record the gospel, or good news, about
With the books of Ezra and Nehemiah, we arrive at the end of Old Testament history with the Jews back in their land after having been taken away by Babylonia and sent back by Persia. They returned in at least three phases, under the leadership of three men - Zerubbabel, Ezra, and Nehemiah - in
Although the books of Kings and Chronicles cover much of the same history, they have different and complimentary perspectives, focusing mostly on the time of the united Kingdom of Israel under Solomon and then the divided kingdoms of Israel and Judah. Kings answers the question: What went wrong? Chronicles answers the question: Is there any
Thanks to Pastor Rick Hunter of CityChurch for his sermon on Acts 17:16-34, where Paul had a unique opportunity to preach to a group of well-educated men who did not know the Bible. This sermon sounds very different from those he preached in the Jewish synagogues but contains the same Gospel message. As Christians present
Ringing in our ears from the book of Judges is the cry for a king, so we are not surprised to find that the book that is now divided into 1 Samuel and 2 Samuel answers the need for a king. However, the process was not very neat, since there was a first failed attempt
When people read the Bible, they may be surprised to find shocking stories of wickedness mixed with stories of great faith, sometimes in the very same people. In other words, it contains stories of people like us. Judges reports on the chaotic situation in Israel after the death of Joshua during which a series of
In Exodus, the focus was on coming out of Egypt. Numbers recorded the wandering in the desert between Egypt and the Promised Land. Deuteronomy was preparation for entering the Promised Land. In Joshua, we read of the fulfillment of God's long-standing promise to give the land to the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The
In Deuteronomy, the fifth and final book of what is called the Pentateuch or the Five Books of Moses, we have three sermons that Moses gave to the people before his death and before the people were finally to enter the Promised Land: one focused on the past, one on the future, and one on
Who would have thought that a book called Numbers would contain interesting stories that are applicable to our lives today? Actually, the Jews call the book In the Desert, which is not only a more engaging title but also more descriptive of the history the book records about the wanderings of the people of God
While Leviticus makes for difficult reading for people today, it contains a simple message that everyone needs to learn: God is holy, so we may approach him only in the manner he determines. In the context of Leviticus, God determined that his people approach him through a holy priest offering a perfect sacrifice. However, the
We left off the story at the end of Genesis with Joseph's coffin in Egypt and his words about God visiting his people in the future to bring them up from Egypt. In Exodus, we pick up the story some generations later when the Hebrews found themselves enslaved and calling out to God for rescue.
In our new series, "Building Blocks for Life," we began at the beginning, with Genesis, the book of beginnings. This first book of the Bible records the beginnings of the universe, humanity, marriage, the family, the 7-day week, work, rest, sin, and redemption. It also introduces the patriarchs whose lives shaped ancient biblical history. In
For Easter Sunday, we reviewed Acts 2:22-36, part of the first Christian sermon ever preached, in order to discover what are the essential points of the Christian message. We found that it is the announcement of events that happened, not instruction about commandments to keep. In other words, it is good news, not good advice.
In Matthew 21:1-10, we read about what is traditionally called the Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem, which set the stage for the events that rapidly developed over the final week of Jesus' life on earth, because this event holds a key to understanding the events that unfolded after it. In fact, Jesus' entry into Jerusalem was
From Colossians 1:24-2:7, Dr. Jim Garretson explained the nature of the gospel ministry, applying lessons from Paul’s ministry to our situation at Florida Coast Church, reminding us to give thanks for faithful pastors, and calling us all to remain true to God’s purpose for the church in taking the gospel to others and building each other up in our faith.
We concluded our series with I Peter 5:1-14, in which Peter described the three ways in which God cares for his people: through the elders of the church, through the other members of the church, and directly. The letter also ends where is began, with concepts that sum up the Christian faith and life: grace,
In I Peter 4:1-19, Peter continued the call for us to follow Christ by living exemplary lives according to God's will. Above all, we are to love each other earnestly, knowing that love functions in the church to cover a multitude of sins.
Although the original readers of Peter's letter were experiencing relatively mild opposition from their neighbors, in I Peter 3:8-22, he wanted to prepare them for worse persecution to come and the unfair suffering they would have to endure. As in all the letter, God calls on us both to preach and to practice what we
Continuing the call to live outstanding lives among unbelievers, Peter focused his attention on wives and husbands in I Peter 3:1-7. Although the specific instructions to wives and husbands sounded at first glance to be similar to traditional cultural norms, they were in fact radically Christian in their placing both wives and husbands under God's
Because the early Christians were accused falsely of all sorts of outrageous behavior, Peter urged his readers in I Peter 2:11-25 to be especially careful to live such honorable lives that even their enemies would end up glorifying God. This calling was especially difficult, because they often found themselves in unfair situations that they were
In Romans 15:14-26, Paul explained his ministry as a presentation of the nations to God though presenting the Gospel of God to the nations. He also expressed his pioneering desire always to push out into new territory. Although our church is not in completely new territory, we share something of the pioneering spirit of Paul
Human beings love using metaphors, comparisons between two things that are unlike to bring out some special way in which they are alike. In I Peter 2:4-12, the author piled on a series of metaphors and quotations from the Old Testament to explain, first, who Christ is and, second, who Christians are. The first metaphor
Although we may not long to be holy as much as we long to be hopeful (see last week's sermon), the way Peter describes holiness in I Peter 1:13-2:3 shows how very beautiful and attractive it is, not only for us but also for everyone around us.
Recognizing the key role that hope plays in our lives, we encourage each other by saying, "Keep your hopes up!" We also realize that a situation is lost if someone gives up hope. With so many difficulties in our lives, we need hope to keep going. In I Peter 1:3-12, God calls his people to
To start the year, we are studying Peter’s first letter by beginning with I Peter 1:1-2. In each section, we will see how he describes the people of God. In his greeting, Peter calls Christians “elect exiles,” which is a curious expression that mixes something positive (elect, chosen, selected) with something negative (exiles, driven out, rejected). As it turns out, God’s election makes his people exiles in this world, and Peter reminds us that it is our call to live our lives as those who are in the world but not of the world.
In order to prepare for the happiest 2018 possible, we ended 2017 focusing on God's word and how we hear it, looking at Jesus' Parable of the Sower in Mark 4:1-20. Nothing will be more beneficial to our lives, our family, and our happiness than careful attention to God's word. As a church, we are
At first glance, it looked like Matthew made a big mistake in his genealogy of Jesus by placing him in the line of David, since he admitted that Jesus was born of Mary, not of Joseph. In Matthew 1:18-25, he went on to explain how Jesus was conceived and what role Joseph played in his
If genealogies are not the most engaging reading, why would Matthew begin his history of Jesus with one in Matthew 1:1-17? Actually, genealogies can be very engaging if we find in them connections with our story. Because Matthew wanted to connect Jesus with Jewish people, he emphasized Jesus' descent from the patriarch Abraham and from
In Jonah 4, we find the most successful preacher of his day angry enough to die after his greatest triumph, because God had done in Nineveh exactly what Jonah had suspected he would do. In this final chapter, God presented two arguments to teach Jonah about compassion, the same two arguments that still hold for
In Jonah 3, we find that God did not give up on Jonah or on the people of Nineveh, which encourages us to believe that he has not given up on us either. Upon hearing Jonah's preaching of impending destruction, the Ninevites surprised everyone by believing God and turning from their sins to him. According
In Jonah 2, we take a break from the narrative to read a poem of thanksgiving that Jonah prayed when he was detained for three days and three nights. It turns out that the fish that swallowed Jonah was God's appointed means not for Jonah's destruction but for his rescue. By surviving his brush with
In Jonah 1, we meet the Israelite prophet who preferred to flee rather than obey the Lord's call to do something new, surprising, and unpleasant, namely, go preach to the Ninevites, the mortal enemies of the Israelites. However, God did not give up on Jonah, or, as we shall see, on the Ninevites, or on us.
"Priorities for Parents" - Ephesians 6:4 and Deuteronomy 6. All families develop customs that reflect their priorities. Today we look at three biblical priorities for parents to establish and maintain in their family customs so that it may go well for our children throughout their lives.
From Ephesians 6:1-3, Proverbs 1:1-9, and Genesis 2:24, we put together an overall structure for parenting: the first stage of teaching first-time obedience, the second stage of teaching wisdom, and the third stage of independence. In every stage, both our children and we need to rely on God's grace as the process exposes the bent
"Only God's Glory" from Ephesians 2:1-14. In the conclusion to our Reformation Anniversary series, we ask a practical question: What is the purpose of our existence? It turns out that we must first understand the purpose of God's existence to find our own, and when we do, it filters down into every aspect of our
"Only Christ" from I Timothy 2:1-7. Last week we saw that we access God's rescuing grace by faith alone, but faith in whom or what? The fourth essential truth coming out of the Reformation is summarized in the motto, "Christ Alone."
"Only Faith" from Romans 4:1-8. If God by his sheer grace intervened in history to rescue us from all that threatens us, how do we respond in order to receive his grace and enter into a right relationship with him? The third essential truth that came out of the Reformation is "Sola Fide" or "Only
The second essential truth that came to the fore in the Reformation 500 years ago is “Sola Gracia” or “Only Grace.” While “Only Scripture” answers the question of what is the infallible word of God for us, “Only Grace” answers the question of why God intervened on humanity’s behalf by sending his Son.
Paul reported to the Philippians that his being in prison in Rome had actually produced the positive benefit of encouraging more preaching of the gospel. There were, no doubt, some who preached from bad motives, but Paul rejoiced anyway. In fact, he had a reason to rejoice, not only in prison but also in all
"God Has Spoken" from II Timothy 3:16-17 and II Peter 1:19-21. In recognition of the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation, during October, we are doing a five-part series that covers the "solas" or the "onlys" that summarize five truths that came to the fore in the life of the church, thanks to the work of
As was typical in Paul's letters, he began this one with a greeting, a thanksgiving, and a prayer. In these, he didn't waste any words but gave some previews of the major themes of the letter.
From Genesis 2:18-25 and Ephesians 5:22-22 we learn why to get married, how to get married, and how to stay married.
We begin with an overview of the history of the church in Philippi, especially in relationship to Paul and his companions. Also, we were able to cover part of the very first verse, which contains some fascinating previews of attractions coming later in the letter.
Psalm 90. Today we reflected on what is important in life and how to make our lives count.
I Corinthians 7:25-35. With an increasing number of adults living alone and only about half of American adults being married, it is important to understand God's purposes for singleness, which Paul said had distinct advantages over being married if we use it as God intended.
Psalm 133. This short song describes the goodness and pleasantness of brothers and sisters living together. Although modern life places obstacles in the path of spending time together, the development of Christian community is essential to our growth as Christians and our mission of making disciples by praising, learning, and loving. The Jews probably sang