Christian Family Fellowship: Recent Episodes
Steve Wadleigh
Another indication of a person with genuine Christian faith is the willingness to serve others, especially those in the Family of God.
Beginning in chapter 12, verse 9 of his letter to the church in Rome, the Apostle Paul describes four 'marks' of a Christian. Pastor Steve Wadleigh introduces the first of these marks, Sincere Love, in the first of four messages on this passage.
Romans 12 begins the application portion of Paul's letter to the early church in Rome. In this message, Pastor Steve explains how God uses diversity of people and gifts to build his church.
Romans chapter 12 begins the application section of Paul's letter to the church at Rome. In this message, Paul describes the reason for godly humility and the unifying purpose humility serves in the body of Christ, His church.
Romans 12:1 presents the proper response to the doctrine and practice Paul has laid out in the previous eleven chapters of this letter. The rational response to the gospel is a life lived to glorify God.
In this Easter message Pastor Steve Wadleigh shows the historical evidence of the crucifixion, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus that the Apostle John presents so that you may believe and be saved.
This Good Friday sermon looks at six conversations that took place between Jesus, Pilate, Caiaphas, and crowd as Jesus stood before the bar of public opinion. Why did he? looks at the motivation behind the events that led to Calvary and the apparent tragedy that was Good Friday.
As part two of this Passover message, Pastor Steve show how Jesus transformed the traditional Jewish Passover Seder into the continuing celebration of the Lord's Supper as a regular reminder of the New Covenant of Redemption won by his substitutionary death and resurrection.
The significance of Passover, the Jewish Seder, is important for Christians to fully understand why the Eternal Son came in human flesh to live, die, and rise again on Easter.
Romans 12 begins Paul's application in light of the gospel doctrines he has thus far presented. He begins with urging Christians to not be conformed to the ways and thinking of this present world, but transformed by the renewing of our minds by the power of the Holy Spirit.
At the end of Romans 11, the Apostle Paul unveils God's perfect plan for His people. Israel was temporarily hardened to bring in the Gentiles, but in the end, Israel would be drawn back and given faith in Christ so that all Israel will be saved. This was God's plan from the beginning, it is a perfect plan that is unchangeable and unstoppable, and will be complete when Christ returns.
In Romans 11:11-24, the apostle Paul explains God's plan to include the Gentiles into His family, to make them citizens of the eternal Kingdom of Jesus Christ. But God will and is doing this in a most surprising way.
In the opening verses of Romans chapter 11, the Apostle Paul show how God has sovereignly chosen a people for Himself. Throughout history, there have been many challenges to these people, but God has always preserved a remnant chosen by grace and redeemed by faith.
The gospel goes out to all the world, but will people hear is the question. And many seem to hear, but will they believe? In this part of Paul's letter to the church at Rome, God's sovereign will in salvation is discussed.
Since faith comes by hearing, our task as redeemed people is to proclaim the gospel, the good news of salvation by faith alone in Jesus Christ. In this message, Pastor Steve Wadleigh describes four ways in which we can be faithful to the Great Commission.
At Caesarea Philippi, Jesus asked his disciples what people were saying about him. After they responded, Jesus asked "Who do you say I am?" Peter responded with a statement that has implications for the church throughout history.
God's gracious gift to sinners is faith. In this message, we learn that we cannot save ourselves. We can only be saved through faith in Christ. Faith has three components to effectually save, and the third component, "trust" is instilled in us by the Holy Spirit. God gives faith freely to all who call upon the Lord. Faith comes through hearing the words of Christ, so, as we love our neighbor, we proclaim Christ.
Jesus said, "I am the good shepherd" but we, by our fallen nature look for others shepherds, and there are many from which to choose. But only Jesus is the Good Shepherd who care for, lays his life down for, and promises to bring all the way home. He is the Good Shepherd.
Survey says, "I get to heaven by being a good person." But the bible says, only by the imputed righteousness of God to Son can one stand blameless before God. Romans 9 and 10 describe why this is true and how it can be yours.
Is Eve's desire mentioned in Genesis 3:16 sinful? We often view Genesis 3:14-19 as judgment and when we do, we find Eve's desire for her husband to be a desire for his position. But when we understand the pronouncements of God on the participants in the first sin in a covenantal motif, we find that reconciliation is foremost in the minds of God and in Adam and Eve.
The Christian story hinges on an event and says the good news is a person. God himself entered our world as a man, suffered and died to win our forgiveness, and remains in the world as His Spirit transforms broken people into sons and daughters of God. How we present this story in the current culture is the subject of this message from 1 Corinthians 2 and 15.
Each person has a destiny and an itinerary for their journey established by God. Jesus has secured our destiny, the Father has customized our itinerary, and the Spirit walks with us until we reach our destination. Although our itinerary includes joy and sorrow, pleasure and pain, these are passing in light of the joy that is ours at our destination.
The story of Joseph and Potiphar's wife in Genesis 39 is often used as a morality tale about how to flee temptation. Is this the point, a lesson on temptation and lust, or is there a deeper hope to be found-- A closer look reveals the power of God in his sovereign providence and why we can believe that God is with us in the brightest of blessings and the darkest of trials. Yes, because of his strong character and faith, Joseph acted correctly at the moment of temptation and though the result seemed a case of -no good deed goes unpunished,- God had a greater purpose and Joseph landed in prison where God wanted him for a greater purpose.
Ironically, disguise, deception and, of all things, goats have been a favorite approach by Abraham's descendants to control the progression of the Abrahamic blessing. With every attempt, we see God's sovereign hand in control. With Judah's actions in Genesis 38 we see the sweet irony the writer brings out is this long running attempt to influence God.
What brought Joseph's brothers to the brink of murder-- How did their intended fratricide result in Joseph living in Egypt-- How do we see God's sovereign providence in this story, and why does Joseph point us to Christ and the gospel-- All this in more in this study of Genesis 37
Paul expresses his love for the church at Philippi by encouraging them to imitate him as Paul imitates Christ in how he lives to glorify God. We learn to 'walk,' to live in obedience to God out of gratitude, by observing how godly people have lived their lives to glorify God.
Known for his -coat of many colors,- Joseph's story is the longest character study in the bible except for that of Jesus. How does Joseph foreshadow Jesus-- How do we see the gospel of grace prefigured in his life-- Joseph's story demonstrates God's sovereign control over his creation and this introduction to Joseph reviews the four great epochs of history as this series examines the life of Joseph.
In this section of Paul's letter to the church at Philippi, he expresses his hopes for their continued growth, unity, and willingness to serve.
There are four -gifts- from God mentioned in Genesis 33 which would seem to be an unusual source of a Christmas message. But in the season where we worry about doing for others, it's good to pause and receive from God. His gifts to recognize at Christmas are reconciliation, recognition, restoration and redemption. Redemption is, of course the greatest gift and the precursor to the other three. Enjoy the message, Merry Christmas.
As the patriarch Jacob leaves Haran to return to the Promised Land, he manages to come to a peaceful settlement with his uncle Laban. Now, he must face his brother Esau and explain why he cheated him twenty years earlier. It's time to make things right with his brother.
Looking at Paul's opening words to the church at Philippi, we see his heart of prayer and learn how to emulate him as we prayer for others.
Do people have completely free will that is uncoerced by either human nature or God's sovereignty-- Or, in some mysterious way does God's sovereignty direct human free choices so that his perfect will for creation is always accomplished-- The events in Genesis 29 provide a window into how our freely made choices are compatible with God's unchanging will.
In a time of many inequalities, it seems right to attempt to rectify injustice by human means. James speaks to the problem and provided the solution- the finished work and the fitting example Jesus has given to us as we wait for true justice that God has promised.
Jacob flees from Esau and, exhausted, fall asleep with a rock for a pillow. He dreams of a ladder leading to heaven with angels ascending and descending. This OT shadow points to the NT reality of Jesus and the event described in John 1.
Isaac wants Esau to have the Abrahamic blessing, Rebekah wants Jacob. Both attempt to bend God's will to their desires, but the attempt by Isaac is futile, by Rebekah shows faithlessness as God works through the fallout of their sin to accomplish his perfect plan.
Paul is saved from shipwreck, but once on land is bitten by a viper. Is this God's judgment on this man-- The residents think yes at first, then think again.
Paul's experience during the severe storm and shipwreck in Acts 27 shows how God doesn't necessarily deliver his people from the storms of life, but he does deliver them through those storms.
Providence is sovereignty applied. Abraham trusts God, God is faithful, and the promise continues through Isaac and Rebekah.
A Christmas themed message. The birth of Jesus in Bethlehem is the most significant event in history.
The incarnation of God the Son on the first Christmas reveals God's eternal plan to unite all things in heaven and on earth. He created humans in his image for this purpose, but sin marred the creation. Because of humanity's intrinsic worth as made in God's image, Jesus, veiled his deity in humanity to restore the creation and complete God's intended purpose for his glory in all things.
When the -Monk with a mallet,- the Augustinian Monk Martin Luther posted his 95 theses on the church door in Wittenberg, Germany, the world changed. The Reformers recaptured the essence of God's redemptive plan in the five solas, the -alones- of biblical theology.
PACE stands for Practical Apologetics for Confident Evangelism. This conference discusses the apologetic tools that are helpful in Christian evangelism. Session One introduces the subject and provides a variety of definitions.
PACE stands for Practical Apologetics for Confident Evangelism. This conference discusses the apologetic tools that are helpful in Christian evangelism. Session One introduces the subject and provides a variety of definitions.
PACE stands for Practical Apologetics for Confident Evangelism. This conference discusses the apologetic tools that are helpful in Christian evangelism. Session One introduces the subject and provides a variety of definitions.
PACE stands for Practical Apologetics for Confident Evangelism. This conference discusses the apologetic tools that are helpful in Christian evangelism. Session One introduces the subject and provides a variety of definitions.
PACE stands for Practical Apologetics for Confident Evangelism. This conference discusses the apologetic tools that are helpful in Christian evangelism. Session One introduces the subject and provides a variety of definitions.
Paul and the Great Commission- Patient gospel teaching by Paul to the early church at Ephesus.
Paul continues to proclaim Jesus is the Christ as he evangelizes Gentiles and offers an apologetic to the Jews in Thessalonica and Berea.
The centrality of the resurrection of Jesus in history and as fundamental to the Christian faith.
How are we to view the focus of our Christmas celebrations, the baby born to Mary and Joseph in Bethlehem- The event was the game changer of human history.
The promise of Christmas is the promise of a Savior, who is prophet, priest, and king. From the Garden to the re-creation, Jesus is the promised redeemer for whom we wait, and the reason we celebrate.
The church at Antioch was a missions sending church. How did they view missions and how did they support their missionaries- The ways they supported missions is the biblical example for how churches today can be missions minded.
As Christians, we are to give God thanks in all circumstances. By our attitude of thanksgiving, we encourage others, especially at this time of year.
In a way that was similar to how others assumed Peter's motives to share the gospel with the Gentile Centurion and his household, today many people assume motives and expect the worst from others. For Christians, we should use our communication, in whatever form we speak, to build up others, and glorify Jesus Christ.
From the very inception of the church, there have been unbelievers who profess faith and attempt to undermine sound doctrine, or use the opportunity to exploit people for ill-gotten gain. The story of Simon, called 'great' is an example of how the apostles evaluated true faith.