Growing and Witnessing: Recent Episodes
Clint Davis
This is the podcast of the preaching and teaching ministry of the Chester ARP Church in Chester, SC. We title it Growing and Witnessing because we believe our mission is to Grow in Christ and Witness of his great love to the World.
Why is acting rashly dangerous for Christians? It has bad consequences, which can be severe if a pattern of rashness is established in our lives. Saul is a prime example. In this sermon, we look at three rash decisions/actions and their consequences in his life. Prayerfully, we'll learn to be patient, rely upon the Lord, practice self-control, and repent of our sins.
Saul was a reluctant king. He didn't want to serve Israel after he was anointed by Samuel. But God had a purpose, and it wouldn't be thwarted.
Is God involved in all things? Yes, without question. The story of Samuel anointing Saul greatly illustrates God's providentially working out his purposes in all things. He brought Saul to Samuel, heard the cries of his people, and used Saul's reign to show them they didn't know what was best. He still works the same way today.
Why do we prefer substitute gods? They meet our immediate needs pragmatically. They enable us to be like everyone else. And they promise to make our lives easier. However, they can do none of those things. They ultimately enslave us by forcing us to worship them while treating us harshly. We should embrace the freedom of following God even though it is often hard to live free.
Though we cannot force God's Spirit to move toward revival, we can do three things to prepare our hearts and lives for it. We must put away the idols of our hearts, devote ourselves fully to the LORD, and serve him alone. These were Samuel's instructions to the Israelites, and they are God's to us today.
Is the God of the Bible the supreme God of all gods? Yes, he is. He is supreme in his victory, supreme in judgment, supreme in grace, supreme in providence, and supreme in holiness. May we know this supreme God through faith in Christ.
Like the ancient Israelites, we are tempted to turn our faith into superstitions. We fall prey to the false ideas of our world regarding why things are the way they are. We must learn to trust God as he is and rest in him alone for our hope in this life. Superstitions come from our pretentious pride and idolatrous hearts.
What must a prophet possess if he is to be used by God? How does God use each of us? Should we have the same qualities as the prophets so God can use us to proclaim his gospel? Yes. We must know our Lord, have a willing heart, understand the gospel, and have the courage to proclaim it.
Will you be faithful to your God? is the question that 1 Samuel 2 asks us by contrasting Hannah and the priests, Hophni and Phinehas. She was faithful, humble, and pure. They were not. How will we respond to God's call on our lives?
What will you give God? Will you give him everything? Will you give him your all? Will you fully surrender to him in faith? Are you willing to surrender your life to him?
1 Samuel 1:1-20 confronts us with four challenging questions. They are: How do you deal with your grief? Are you honest with God, or do you let it fester in your heart? Do you believe that God can and does work in chaos? Do you know that God honors the worship of his people?
The Lord gives abundant life to his people. In him, we find refuge, protection, triumph, and satisfaction. May we know the blessed and eternal life of Christ.
Psalm 90 is a song that starts in the mire of death, focuses us on God's everlasting dwelling place, and teaches us the wisdom of numbering our days before God. Join us as we work our way through the psalm's story.
Psalm 89 is a song about the faithfulness of God and the guarantee that he will keep his promises in Christ Jesus. God's love is his foundational virtue, as it governs every action he takes. Out of his love, he keeps his covenantal promises. He has the power and the righteous character to ensure the outpouring of his love. This makes him worthy of our faith and trust.
Psalm 88 is a lament suited for a person who is so overwhelmed with troubles that even his friends shun him, and who wrestles with the dread that comes from suspecting that the Lord has shunned him as well. We learn the truths of God's care and the way we should minister God's grace to one another in the midst of hardship.
Chapter 19 of the Confession discusses the purpose of God’s law and its application to our lives. God gave the law to Adam, fulfilled it in Christ on our behalf, and empowers us to keep it through the ministry of the Holy Spirit. This week's video explains.
We are blessed to be a part of the people of God, the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ. Understanding this blessing gives us a vision to sustain and encourage our hearts as we strive to live for Christ in the present age.
Chapter 18 of the Westminster Confession of Faith teaches us that we can have assurance of God’s grace and our salvation in Christ. We can live in unwavering confidence that we will be with the Lord in eternity. It’s not in question.
How do we pray when we are in distress? David shows us in Psalm 86. We remember our relationship with God, plead our case before God, and praise him intentionally for his goodness to us.
The doctrine of the Perseverance of the Saints encourages our souls in the grace and mercy of God. We will make it to our eternal home because God will ensure we do so through his grace, love, and Spirit. We must press on in faith and rest upon him alone, even when we don't feel he is working. He will complete the good work he has begun in each of his children.
This video answers four questions about good works and their relationship to the Christian faith. What makes them good? Are they necessary? Are good works enough? Can unbelievers do good works?
What do we need to do to prepare for revival? We remember God's past mercies, pray for him to move again, listen to his voice, obey his will, and look forward to the day when he establishes his kingdom fully on earth.
The fifth video in the second volume of our study of the Westminster Confession of Faith covers the topic of repentance unto life. What is repentance? Is it necessary? How do I live a life of repentance? Join us as we study what it means to repent and believe the gospel.
Blessed are those who dwell in the house of God. Blessed are those who have the longings of their hearts met in Christ Jesus. Blessed are those who trust in the Lord.
The people of God cry out for God to rescue them from the challenges they face. Psalm 83 reveals four challenges God's people often endure. They are: the reality of enemies, the plans of their enemies, their own weakness, and God's apparent silence. It's as applicable today as it was when Asaph wrote it.
This video covers the process of sanctification in the lives of believers and how God works to make their lives reflect His glory. Join us as we walk through what it means for God to work his grace in our lives for us to be more holy.
When governments walk in darkness, there are consequences—the perishing need to be rescued. With darkened eyes, leaders are ignorant and inept and make decisions that shake the foundations of societal life. Faithful Christians wait on the Lord to Judge rightly and pray for their leaders so they can walk in truth.
This video discusses the benefit of adoption for those in Christ Jesus. What does it mean to be adopted into the family of God? The Westminster Confession helps us understand the blessing of being called children of God.
John calls his readers to walk in the light as Christ is in the light. We are people of the light and should reflect God's light to the world around us as we live for his glory.
In this first video of the second volume of our study of the Westminster Confession of Faith, we discuss the Confession's teaching on Justification. Justification is a principal doctrine for our Christian hope. Join us. The links to the slides and the Confession are below.
What is the reason for which we live? The glory of God is why we exist. We are redeemed to glorify God as well. Paul gave Timothy 5 ways that God is glorified in the Church and the individual lives of His people.
Paul instructed Titus to teach sound doctrine to the Christians in Crete. Sound doctrine impacts the way the Church and home are organized. Older women are to teach younger ones, and older men are to train the younger ones. We can learn much from Paul's instruction to Titus for being a congregation in 2024.
Paul instructed Titus to teach sound doctrine, which forms the foundation for godly living. Preparing our hearts for the Lord's Supper, we studied the implications of the gospel of God's grace to enable us to live for Christ and wait for His return.
Paul told Titus to silence the false teachers who infiltrated the Cretan congregations. These teachers intentionally led people astray, disrupting family and the congregation for greedy gain. They were to be silenced and ignored. The same is true today.
Proper leadership is essential for the health of any congregation. Paul understood this explicitly and left Titus in Crete to establish godly elders to lead the island's fledgling congregations. We must have well-qualified leaders today as well.
How do I know that I am a Christian? That's a great question. We look for assurance daily. Can we have it? Yes. We know we are Christians when we believe in the name of the Son of God, Jesus Christ. We explain what that means in this message.
Psalm 46 is a beautiful psalm that reminds us of our great hope in Christ. He is the only hope we have in this life. He is the mighty fortress upon whom and in whom we stand.
Jesus turns our mourning into dancing through his resurrection from the dead. He conquered our final and strongest enemy and took us to be his people when he arose. Psalm 30 gives us a beautiful framework through which to understand some of the effects of the resurrection in our daily lives. We will all find ourselves in David's story. May we never lose the hope for the resurrection.
The crowd joined Jesus's disciples in praising Him as He entered Jerusalem triumphantly. They rejoiced in His arrival and shouted His praise. We are to do the same. We learn about our responsibility to praise him from Zechariah 9.
In the final sermon in our seven-week series on the Church, we answer the question, "How are Church members supposed to live?" We learned from 1 Peter 2:1-12 that we are to be different than our unbelieving neighbors because we have been changed by God's grace in Christ. We are also to be willing ministers of God's grace to those around us. Finally, we are to be holy and devoted to our God for his glory.
Why does the church baptize her members? Basically, she does it because Jesus told her too and baptism is the sacrament through which members enter the visible people of God. It's all about covenant and God's faithfulness to fulfill his promises to his people.
Do I have a place in the Church? Absolutely, you do. You are a par of the one body that God created in his grace to be His people. You are a member of the Church through faith in Christ, which is a gift from the Holy Spirit. You are also uniquely gifted to serve Him, build up the Church, and advance His kingdom. You have to use those gifts faithfully.
Why does the Church have a supper? Great question. Simply, we have it because Jesus commands us to do it, which is a really gracious thing for him to do. It is a commemoration of the redemptive work of Christ on our behalf. It is covenantal, ordinary, and experiential. This means that those who have been brought into the new covenant through faith are to come to the table regularly so that they can experience the reality of God's grace in Christ.
What is the Church supposed to do? And, why? These are the questions that we seek to answer in this week's message on the Church. Simply, we say that the Church is to worship the Triune God, nurture one another, serve Christ and others, and witness to the glory of God's grace and love in Christ.
Who is really in charge of the Church? Jesus Christ. He's the head of his body, and when the Church is disconnected from him, she dies. His original authority is stewarded by the rightfully elected officers of the congregation.
What is the Church? Who or what makes up the Church? We answer those questions in our new sermon series on the Church. In short, the Church is all those in the world who profess the true religion and their children. The Church is the household of God.
What is the proper posture of prayer? Humility. The parable of the tax collector and the Pharisee illustrates this point beautifully. Humble prayer is the result of a living faith.
The thief on the cross pled for Jesus to give him mercy as he died. His simple prayer is instructive to us. It tells us that God always hears the prayers of sinners. It also tells us that our hope rests in the mercy and grace of God through faith in Christ.
Jonah prayed a masterful prayer in the midst of his distress while in the belly of the fish. His prayer reminds us that we can pray at anytime and from anywhere. It also reminds us that we should view our circumstances as the vehicle through which our sovereign God is saving us. Finally, it reminds us that we should always thank God for his constant presence and salvation in our lives.
Daniel taught us how to pray a prayer of confession when he recorded his own prayer to the Lord on behalf of the Judeans. He acknowledged sin, accepted responsibility, pled for God's mercy, and relied upon God's mercy for hope. We should do the same.
Stephen prayed a most remarkable prayer at the moment of his death. He submissively asked God to receive his spirit after his body had been killed by the angry mob's stones. Then, he prayed for his persecutors compassionately asking God not to hold their sins against them.
Hannah's prayed a raw prayer before God as she expressed her pain before God in his grace. There is much we can learn from her as she boldly came before the throne of God.
Paul prayed for the Ephesians and we can learn a lot from him about how to pray for other people. We thank God for them, ask Him to give them a spirit of knowledge and wisdom, and that He enlighten the eyes of their hearts.
King Hezekiah and Judah faced certain destruction at the hand of the Assyrians, but God delivered them. Hezekiah sought the Lord, laid his burden before Him, boldly asked Him to act on Judah's behalf, and rested in the fact that God does all things for His glory and the good of His people.
Are you thirsty for something more than what this world has to offer? if so, find it in Jesus, the living water.
The Lord Jesus Christ is our eternal king of creation. We find joy in Christ as our king. He is the one in whom we find joy through submitting to him.
Jesus is our great heigh priest and we find peace with God in Him. May we know that peace as we trust him for the forgiveness of our sins.
Jesus is the great prophet for the people of God. He reveals the will of God for our salvation and edification through his Word and Spirit. We find our hope in his Word as it confirms to us the reality of God's fulfillment of his promises.
We are to give God thanks always. We are to give him thanks with our whole hearts. We are to praise him for being himself.
The author of Hebrews concludes chapter 10 by giving us instructions for how we are to live as members of the new covenant community of faith -- the Church. We are to draw near to God, hold fast to our confession, stir one another up to love God and serve Him, stop sinning deliberately, and strive to be the best followers of Christ we can be.
Jesus cleanses our consciences by his grace. We can change our behaviors, our morality, our expressions, our traditions to cleanse our lives from our sin and its effects. We cannot, however, cleanse our consciences or get rid of our guilt and shame. Jesus alone can do that through His precious blood which was shed for us.
James warns his readers not to be friends with the world. Rather, we are to to be friends with God and devote ourselves to him in faith.
Jesus taught his disciples to be discerning as they evaluated the actions, behaviors, and morality of others. We are to be wise and willing to challenge one another to bring our lives into submission to the Judge of the world in loving obedience to our Heavenly Father.
The author of Hebrews tells us why the new covenant in Jesus is better than the old one. He argues that the blessings of the new covenant are enough to keep us focused on Christ and faithful to the end. The last thing the author wants is for his readers not to make it to their end of their lives in faith. Thankfully, Jesus seals us in his grace.
Jesus addressed the issue of anxiety with his disciples in the sermon the mount. He diagnosed the causes of anxiety in Matthew 6:19-24 and offered a prescription for anxiety through faith in Matthew 6:25-34.
The Author of Hebrews challenges us to answer a most important question: Will you take the new way to God that Jesus provides or will you continue to do it man's way? Only the path that goes through Jesus will lead us to eternal access with God.
Jesus taught his disciples to pray when he gave them the Lord's Prayer. This model prayer teaches us how to address our Father in Heaven and how we are to prioritize the prayers we pray.
Showing partiality within the church is a sin. It requires us to make value judgments regarding others on the basis of external or economical or other worldly standards.
Who is this Melchizedek guy? Great question. The author of Hebrews answers by telling us that he is the king of righteousness and the king of Salam. He is an eternal priest with no beginning and no end. He is important because He is the forerunner of Jesus and the linchpin for understanding that Jesus's covenant is greater than Moses's.
Jesus tells us that our righteousness, which we receive through faith in Christ should be displayed through acts of sacrifice, self-discipline, and self-denial.
JKrue leads us through James 1 to begin our newest Bible Study series on the book of James. He challenges us to view the trials of our lives with joy as they lead us to Christ.
The author of Hebrews pauses in the middle of his letter to warn his readers of the possibility of apostasy and to encourage us to walk in holiness. Specifically, he tells us to have the same diligence in pursuing the knowledge of God and the full assurance of hope until the end as we do in serving the saints out of love for God and for others.
In our final study of our bible study on 2 Thessalonians, Buzzy helps us to understand Paul's teaching to the church regarding the importance of staying focused on working for the kingdom of God and the betterment of society to keep us out of trouble.
Jesus taught his disciples how to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world by being different from the world around them. Particularly, we are to be different in our purity and different in our actions. The examples he gives of how we are to be different challenge our commitment to him.
The author of Hebrews challenges us to fight against the temptation to be lazy in their faith and ignorant in their understanding of the things of God. These twin temptations lead to spiritual immaturity and potential apostasy. The answer is to keep watch on ourselves and pursue a greater understanding of the things of God.
Jesus is your high priest. What does that mean? Great question. We answer in this sermon from Hebrews 4:14-5:10. Join us.
John walks us through the first chapter of Paul's second letter to the Church in Thessalonica. He uses three subheadings: gratitude, persecution, and the Day of the Lord. It's all interconnected and helps us understand the purpose of suffering and hardship.
Jesus fulfills the Law of God. But, how does he do it? Great question. He does it completely in his life, death, and resurrection. His fulfillment of it enables us to fulfill it as well because he lives in us through faith. Join us as we think through what this means for us.
If you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts. For today is the day of salvation. If you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts. For today is the day of salvation.
Christians are to be salt to the earth and light to the world because God has made us His children through His grace.
This is a discussion of 1 Thessalonians 5 from our Wednesday Morning Bible Study. May it encourage you.
Jesus is the founder of our salvation. What does that mean? It means that he is the one who makes the salvation Christians enjoy possible. He pioneered the work of God's grace by conquering death for each of us. Join us as we think about what this means for us.
The author of Hebrews begins his letter telling his readers about the way that Jesus explains to us who God is and what His will is for our lives. He tells us that Jesus reveals God to us by His spoken word, by His works and miracles, by fulfilling His Father's testimony, and by the effects of His life and resurrection in the lives of His followers.
This is the first message in our new Wednesday Evening Bible Study Series on the Sermon on the Mount. We take note of the first 3 beatitudes.
Celebrations are often times for renewal and revival. That was certainly the case for the ancient Hebrews as they gathered to celebrate God's amazing works of grace in their history. Psalm 81 was written for this occasion and challenges us to be doers of the Word and not just listeners.
The prayer of Psalm 80 is for God to restore Judah to himself in His grace. They had turned away from Him and were suffering the consequences of their actions. But, they boldly approached His throne of grace and mercy hopeful that He would restore them to Himself. That is what our loving shepherd does.
Paul's first letter to the Thessalonians is full of hope and encouragement. They needed it given that they became a congregation is some of the most difficult circumstances of all the early congregations. Acts 17 tells of a riot that followed the conversion of the young Christians as well as the continued persecution they experienced. No wonder they hoped in Christ's return.
How do you respond to hardship and difficulty? Do you get angry? Do you blame others? Do you question God's goodness? These questions are important because they cause us to think through how we approach and deal with the challenges and hardships we face in this life. Psalm 79 gives us some great wisdom and instruction that will enable us to cope with regular challenges properly.
In the 11th video of our summer study series on the Westminster Confession of Faith, we work our way through chapter 10 titled -- "Of Effectual Calling." This short chapter is essential to our understanding of how God calls us to Himself and makes that calling effectual to our lives for salvation in Christ. Without the Holy Spirit making the appeal of the gospel effectual to our lives, we would never trust Christ and so would never have any hope of salvation.
Why do we do what we do as a congregation? Why do we emphasize teaching our youth and children about the glory and the grace of our God? Why do we care so much about the children of our church? The answers to these questions are in this sermon from Psalm 78. Join us as we work our way through it.
Chapter 9 of the Confession explains the reality of man’s free will. While many opponents of the Westminster Confession’s theological system accuse it of denying free will, nothing could be farther from the truth. The Confession safeguards true human liberty and responsibility in light of God’s sovereignty.
Psalm 77 is a hymn that is meant to help us work through our emotions when the dark mood hits us. The Psalmist expresses his feelings beautifully, but he also offers hope to us as he lists the commitments of his faith. The light of God is often seen through the commitments of faith in our lives. Join us as we work through the faith commitments of Psalm 77 and apply them to our lives.
Chapter 8 of the Westminster Confession of Faith explains how it is possible for us to live in relationship with God given that we are sinners and under the wrath and curse of God. Our only hope is in Jesus, the mediator of God’s covenant of grace with his elect.
We praise the God of the Bible because He is worthy. He is to be praised:
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Because He makes Himself known to His Church.
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Because He fights against the enemies of of the Church.
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Because He is more glorious than all the kings and kingdoms of the world.
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Because He is too terrible for anyone to stand before Him in His anger.
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Because He will make the malice of His enemies to contribute to His own glory.
Here is this week's video on chapter 7 of the Westminster Confession of Faith. In it, we discuss the subject of God's Covenant with Man. The fact that God, our creator, chooses to enter into a covenant relationship with us is both humbling and encouraging. We do not deserve the privilege of living in a relationship with HIm. He is far above us. Yet, He loves us so much that He wants to interact with us in grace. What a blessing! To make it more encouraging, He entered into that covenant relationship with us through the life, death, and resurrection of His Son while we were still sinners! Unbelievable.
Are you thankful to God for all of the ways that He is working in your life? Can you thank Him in the trials the way you thank Him in the blessings? Psalm 75 tells us that our thanksgiving to God exalts Him, warns nonbelievers, and strengthens our faith.
This week's video in our summer study series on the Westminster Confession of Faith answers the question of why we are the way we are. Simply, we are the way we are because we sin. Bad things happen because we do them. Why is it this way? Our first parents sinned and passed a sin nature down to us and that brought all kinds of trouble to us. Thankfully, our God loves us enough to step into our lives and redeem us by His grace in Christ.
In the sixth video of our summer study series on the Westminster Confession of Faith, we answer the following two questions: What is providence and What it means for us to live under His providence? Feel free to share the study with others.
Our Christian faith asks hard questions about our experiences with God and his grace. At the same time, it places its hope in the Triune God of the Bible and in the fact that he keeps his promises, cares for his beloved, and always defends his cause at the perfect time. This psalm instructs us on how to ask the right questions of God while finding our hope in the certainty of God himself.
In the fifth video of our Westminster Confession of Faith series, we work through the Confession's teaching on Creation. The primary focus of our time is on the "Who" and "Why" of creation and what it means for us as the crowning achievement of God's creation. The links to this session's presentation and the Confession are below.
The Presentation's Slides -- https://storage2.snappages.site/XPXG4X/assets/files/Of-Creation.pdf
The Westminster Confession -- https://storage2.snappages.site/XPXG4X/assets/files/Westminster-Confeesion-of-Faith.pdf
Out of the pleasure of His will, God planned everything for the purpose of His glory. In this video we will explore this truth by working our way through five statements about God's eternal decree. Below are links to pdf files of the powerpoint presentation used in the video and the Westminster Confession of Faith.
Presentation: https://storage2.snappages.site/XPXG4X/assets/files/Decree-of-God-WCF.pdf
The Confession: https://storage2.snappages.site/XPXG4X/assets/files/Westminster-Confeesion-of-Faith.pdf
What went wrong in ancient Judah during Malachi's day? The Judeans had become so consumed with their sin that they didn't even realize that they were lost. They had become so arrogant that they called good evil and evil good. They had completely lost their way. The same could be said about the contemporary Church and society. The answer from Malachi is for us to repent and turn to Christ in faith while prying for revival and committing ourselves to following our Lord.
In the second video in our series on the Westminster Confession of Faith, we discuss chapter 1 -- On Scripture. The links are below:
Presentation on WCF Chapter 1 -- https://storage2.snappages.site/XPXG4X/assets/files/WCF-Of-Scripture-.pdf
Westminster Confession Chapter 1 -- https://storage2.snappages.site/XPXG4X/assets/files/WCF-Chapter-1.pdf
Westminster Confession -- https://storage2.snappages.site/XPXG4X/assets/files/Westminster-Confeesion-of-Faith-cloud-23.pdf
In the first video of our first series on the Westminster Confession of Faith we answer the question: Why is the Confession in Important? We discuss the background to the Confession and its two big sections -- what do we believe about God? and what duty does God require from us? Join as we begin our study of this most helpful systematization of Christian belief.
What does God deserve and demand from us? Our best. We can give nothing else that is worthy of His matchless glory and love. But we often give him our leftovers. Why? We keep the best for ourselves because we think we're most worthy and because we don't trust Him to continue to provide in His grace.
"How does God love us?" is the question the people of God are asking in Malachi 1:2-5, and God's response is definitive. I loved you enough to choose you to be my beloved people before you ever existed. Like Israel, we get caught asking the same question of God. May we learn to focus on His many blessings in our lives and so develop grateful hearts.
Malachi is the last prophecy of the Old Testament and prepares the way for the Messiah of the New. In this prophecy, God uses Malachi to call to people of Judah to fix their relationship with God. He tells them to wake up from their spiritual slumber, repent of their sins, rededicate themselves to proper worship, and walk with him in faith.
Two of Jesus's disciples got the thrill of their lives when they realized they had been walking with and talking to the resurrected Jesus along the road to Emmaus. They talked about him, he showed up and instructed them and then ate with them in their home. He will do the same for us.
Do you love Jesus? Do you love him enough to follow him where he leads you? Do you know him as the Lord of Glory? Are you willing to follow him? These are the questions that John's Gospel causes us to answer throughout.
The Tomb was empty on that first day of the week when the women went to anoint the body of Christ. They found what they least expected. Where was the body? Who had taken it? No one. He had risen and this definitive act of resurrection has tremendous implications for us. Join us as we peer into the empty tomb and see the evidence of the Lord's resurrection for ourselves.
Pilate deliberately asked Jesus, "What is truth?" because he was at the point of despair. His life's journey had crossed many mountain peaks and achieved significant heights, but he still knew something was lacking. Something was wrong. He didn't understand that the path of self-denial is the only path that leads to eternal exaltation.
Jesus established his kingdom when he came to earth. Its characteristics are peace, courage, order, self-sacrifice, and openness, and they reveal the glory of God.
The story of Mary anointing the feet of Jesus during a dinner party honoring him for raising Lazarus from the dead is one of the most compelling in John's gospel. It grabs our attention with its drama and causes us to look into our own hearts for our response to God and his grace. Are we like Mary? Are we like Judas? Or, Are we like the Jews who wanted to kill Lazarus?
Our God majors in doing the impossible, and that is a good thing because we are all in an impossible situation. We cannot overcome death and sin on our own. It's impossible. God, however, has overcome it in Jesus's life, death, and resurrection. The story of Lazarus's resurrection is a preview of the Lord's that is to come. Join us as we work through the story and note Jesus's impossible delay, his impossible comfort of his people in their trials, and his impossible solution to the curse of death.
There will always be opposition to Jesus when He is presented to others or when a life is lived devoted to him in front of the world. Jesus showed us this reality when He faced opposition from his family, in the crowds, and among the Jewish leaders. He doesn't leave us alone, however. He invites us to drink from His living water, which is ours through the Spirit.
What does it mean to follow Jesus? It means that we are willing to follow him with our whole hearts and to feed on him in spirit in truth.
John 5:1-18 paints a beautiful picture of what it means to be restored by God's grace and power in Christ. Jesus stepped into an invalid man's life, healed him, and restored him through grace. The religious leaders missed the miracle because they were too worried about their religious practices. Don't be like them. Rather, get up in faith and walk with Jesus.
Deborah and Barak sing a song of praise to the Lord for his deliverance of Israel from the hands of king Jabin and Sisera. It's honest and earthy, but glorious at the same time.
John 3 is a great story about Jesus and Nicodemus. In this sermon, we explore the question of why Nicodemus would come to Jesus at night. Perhaps it's because he's dissatisfied with his Pharisaical religious life and wanted to know more about Jesus. In short, he was living in spiritual darkness and knew it. Jesus brings him into the light.
In the third lesson in our Judges Bible Study, we discuss how God allows us to endure some of the consequences of our sin to keep us from being comfortable in them. We also note how He responds to our cries in compassion and delivers us in His grace.
In the second lesson of our Love is Necessary series, we discuss what it means for love to be kind and the way that it challenges us to be kinder people.
In this first sermon in our sermon series on the Gospel of John, we dive into John's introduction of Jesus and the story that follows. He gives us three anchor points for the narrative that follows, They are: Jesus's Divine Preeminence; The World's Hostility to Jesus; and Eternal Hope for Those Who Trust Christ. Join us as we work through these first 18 verses of the fourth Gospel.
How do we properly celebrate the grace and mercy of God on display at Christmas? We sing to God's glory. We ascribe glory, strength, holiness, and righteousness to him. We celebrate the salvation He brings to us.
Why does God do what He does? Because He loves us. Why did He send His son to be born of a woman and under the Law? Because He loves us. Why did Jesus die and rise again? Because He loves us.
This is our annual Christmas message. in it, we think about the completeness of Christ's salvation that he freely gives to us all. It's past, present, and future.
There is joy in knowing the forgiveness of God in Christ at Christmas. join us as we focus our attention on the blessing of God's forgiving grace by working our way through Psalm 32 to understand the "why" of Christmas. Jesus came to save sinners from our sins.
In the second message of our Advent/Christmas series -- Restored at Christmas, we look at Psalm 89 and find four places for us to find peace during the Chrisms season. They are: our celebration of God's faithfulness, our praise of God for His faithfulness, our remembrance of the acts of His power, and our knowledge of Him. Let's find our peace in Him!
In the first sermon of Advent/Christmas season, Buzzy Elder preached from Psalm 80 and our need to be restored by the God of Christmas. We all seek to find our our hope and restoration in this life in various places other than God, but ultimately He is the only One who can restore our souls. There is hope for restoration in Him. In fact, that's why He came.
Does our attitude of thanksgiving matter to God? Absolutely it does. He expects us to thank him for all his many blessings to us. We thank him for being good and gracious. We thank him for his steadfast love that never fails. We must learn to take the journey from our natural and sinful state of ingratitude to one of gratitude for all things.
Have you ever found yourself in a difficult predicament? Have you ever faced an insurmountable battle? Of course you have. We all have. It's life. King Jehoshaphat faced a great one as the armies of Moab and Ammon threatened Jerusalem's peace. He brought his concern to God, and we can do that same thing. His problem was great. his prayer was passionate. God's provision was gracious. And, the Judeans' praise was abundant.
When we gather to worship God, we enjoy an experience with the transcendent God of all Creation who is immanently present with us. This experience is good for us as it gives us rest and restoration in Christ, order in a world of chaos, and roots in the Divine Order of life itself.
David prepared things for Solomon to build the Temple of God in Jerusalem even though he wasn't allowed to build it himself. He used his resources and gifts to prepare Solomon and Israel for a good and blessed future. Worship is central to the life of God's people.
The primary question for all of us who seek peace in life is: does your soul rest in Christ? There are no other places for us to rest that will give us the eternal security for which we long besides Jesus. Everything else is temporary and therefore will ultimately fail us. Jesus is eternal.
Does your should find comfort in Christ? If not, they'll never be truly comforted and your life will struggle to find peace, rest, and satisfaction. Paul encouraged us to look into the face of Jesus for the comfort we desperately need.
In the second sermon on 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12, we answer the question, "Who is behind lawlessness?" The answer, of course, is the Devil, who is currently at work in our world. His work is a mystery to us, for we cannot understand why evil, wickedness, and lawlessness is in the world. It puzzles us. Paul also tells us that God, in His providence, ordered the world this way and will work all things out for His glory and our good, which will be seen when Christ returns and evil is destroyed.
When will Christ return? He'll return when the Father is ready to send him back to get his bride, his Church. Not a moment before. In this message, we discuss Paul's instruction to the Thessalonians and how it applies to us as we seek to address the obsession in the American Evangelicalism over the return of Christ.
Every Christian and every biblically faithful congregation is called to be a living testimony to God's good and right judgment of the world. Paul tells us that we are to follow the Thessalonians' lead in doing this three ways.
- We endure suffering and trials in faith.
- We choose to follow Christ above everything and everyone else.
- We grow in our sanctification and holiness daily.
In the last video of our summer video study series on the history of the Church, we wrap up what we've learned by identifying six principles from our history that shape us today and lead us into the future. These six principles are:
- We are God's People.
- God uses all things to advance his name and his people.
- Our thinking must be right.
- The Church must always be willing to undergo reformation.
- The doctrines of grace must be at the heart of the Church's life and ministry.
- Christ's Church must remain free to govern herself and make policy decisions according to the Bible.
"What does it mean for us to be Associate Presbyterian?" and "Where does the tile come from?" are the two questions we answer in the latest video in our Disruptions series.
The Gospel makes God's people anticipate Christ's return and the establishment of his Kingdom once and for all. Believers find joy in the promise of Jesus's return to earth. This joy and hope encourages our faithfulness to the Lord Jesus. We have nothing to fear.
Our Reformed Presbyterian heritage is derived from a tumultuous time in Scotland's history. Kings Charles I was forced to sign a National Covenant with the Scots but his son, Charles II, refused to uphold it. This led to rebellion, persecution, and the refusal to allow the Scots to govern their own churches and worship according to the Scripture. We have much to learn from them.
The gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, namely his life, death, and resurrection gives us hope as we confront death and mourn the loss of loved ones. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 contain some of Paul's simplest and most familiar instruction regarding death and what happens after it.
In the seventh video of our 2022 Summer Study, we discuss six characteristics of the Reformed tradition. These characteristics help us answer the question, "What does it mean to be Reformed?"
One of the ways that we can live in a way that glorifies God is to allow the gospel of Jesus Christ control the way we do things. In 1 Thessalonians 4:1-11, Paul instructs us on how to do just that. We are to:
- Remain sexually pure;
- Respect and Care for One Another;
- Live Simple Lives by Minding Our Own Business;
- Take Responsibility for Ourselves.
These things will glorify God and be a testimony to those on the outside of our devotion to Him.
In the 6th video in our series on the disruptions in the history of the Church, we discuss the Protestant Reformation and the forces that led up to it. God worked through the cultural and intellectual renaissance to bring about a much needed Reformation in the Western Church. Luther's 95 theses accomplished more than he could have ever imagined (or intended) and set off a turn of events that changed the world.
Living a faithful Christian life is not possible without prayer. We must learn to pray and pray regularly for the God of Heaven to work in our lives. But, our prayers must reflect the concerns of God, not the concerns of the gods of our culture: health, wealth, and comfort. We need to pray spiritually for ourselves and others.
The subject of the 5th video in our series on Church history is the divide between the Eastern and Western Churches that was cemented in 1054 over the Filioque controversy. However, there were a number of factors that led to the split between the two branches of the Church. Join us as we trace 5 threads that lead to and cemented the divide. The threads are: the rise of the Papacy, the threat of Islam, the crowning of Charlemagne, the question of the Holy Spirit, and the final Crusade.
"Who is Satan and what is he doing in the world in which we live?" is the question we address in this sermon 1 Thessalonians 2:17-3:5. The answer is simple: Satan is a real, personal being who consistently opposes God and His people. Specifically, Satan hindered Paul's return to Thessalonica, afflicted the apostles and the Thessalonians with suffering, and tempted them all to give up their faith in Christ. He still does the same thing today.
In the fourth video of our series on the history of the Christian Church, we examine the Council of Chalcedon and its definition of the person of Jesus Christ. He is one person with two distinct natures -- human and divine. He's 100% man and 100% God. The impact of this definitive theological statement has solidified the Church's orthodox understanding of her Savior's uniqueness and pushed her to take the Christian gospel to the people of all nations, cultures, and languages.
God grants godly ministers to His Church to serve, support, and equip the congregations to advance the gospel of Christ. Paul was the most famous minister to serve multiple congregations in the earliest days of the Church's history. Often, he found himself needing to confront opponents who sought to discredit his ministry. That is exactly what he does in 1 Thessalonians 2-3.
In the second video of our 8-week study of Church history, we discuss the development of a canon of Scripture, church government, and historic creeds. All three of these things were necessitated by the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem (70 AD) which forced the Christian Church to finally break from Judaism and scatter. Universal standards were required.
The Church's history is full of disruptions. In this first session of our summer 2022 study on the church's history, we discuss the first of the disruptions of the Christian Church's history -- Pentecost.
How capable is our God of doing unimaginably great and wondrous things? Far more. Join us as a pastor and missionary Lee Shelnutt explores Ephesians 3 with us and challenges us to think grand thoughts of God and ask him to do grand things.
Good, faithful friendships are blessings from God and necessary for our physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual health. Without them, we will not live life as God intends us to live; rather, we will be lonely and unhealthy.
In our Mother's Day sermon on Exodus 2:1-10 titled, “A Faithful Mothers Reward,” we observed that Moses’ mom believed in unbelieving times, acted on her faith, and received the reward for her faithfulness. God always rewards those who are faithful. Join us as we walk through that passage.
Jesus knows what we need better than we do. He also knows where we are. He always finds us where we are and will never withhold his provision from us.
In his account of Jesus's resurrection, Mark gives us a unique perspective of the obstacles the women faced and the way they faced them in faith. They were willing to risk everything for a Jesus they thought was still in the grave. They also received instructions from Jesus to go to Galilee to meet him. They had to walk in faith, trusting that they would see him there. The greatest obstacle that they had to overcome, though, was their astonishment and terror over the glorious power of God displayed in Christ's resurrection. We face the same challenges as we strive to fulfill the Lord's call upon our lives.
Jesus commands us to love one another in the exact same way he loves us -- sacrificially.
When we celebrate Palm Sunday, we worship the king of kings who rode into town on his donkey. He came to free sinners from their sins. He came to redeem men and women. He came to demonstrate his love to the world. But, he wasn't universally received. We must commit to praising him in the face of opposition as those saints along the road did on the first Palm Sunday.
There is no excuse for a Christian to not be generous after we have received the amazing and glorious grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. He was rich, yet became poor so that we might become rich in his grace. For our congregation to be a biblical congregations, we must respond to God's call for us to be generous beyond measure. It's the only natural and acceptable response to God's grace in our lives.
The Fourth characteristic of a biblical church is dedicated to service. Hearts and acts of service are part of the DNA of a Christian. Jesus taught his disciples on multiple occasions that they were to be servants of one another and of those in the world around them. In doing so, they were following the model he set before them in his life, death, and resurrection. The same is true for us. We must be willing and joyful servants if we are followers of Christ.
The third characteristic that Chester ARP most possess to be a biblically faithful congregation is maintaining a commitment to being Bible-centered in everything. We must make the word of God central to every aspect of our congregational and individual lives. This is why we teach and live the Bible in every ministry we have at our church. The rationale for this commitment is found through out the Bible, but we chose to look at 2 Timothy 3 in this sermon to see it clearly. Join us.
For Chester ARP to be a biblically faithful congregation, we must be committed to worshipping God properly. We believe that is done according the principles he has given us in his word. Specifically, we focus on the three ordinary means of God's grace through which He communicates the benefits of our redemption to us. They are: the reading and preaching of the God's Word, prayer, and the Sacraments of Baptism and the Lord's Supper. Join us as we consider the privilege and responsibility we have to worship our God in Heaven.
The first message in our series on the nine characteristics of a biblically faithful Chester ARP identifies our congregation as a congregation that is full of Christians. We are all here because we have trusted Christ with our lives and seek to live a life of devotion to him. Join us as we think about the way in which the biblical faith shows up in our lives.
Anxiety, in some form or another, is a regular companion for most people in America. Everywhere we look we find reason to worry and be concerned about the world around us, our families, and ourselves. Jesus specifically told us not to worry about our lives. Rather, we are to live in faith, trusting God to provide for our every need. It's hard. May this message help us regain our faith in him.
Sarah held onto a sliver of faith and God was pleased to give her the desire of her heart. He is faithful!
When we think about prayer, we don't often think about investing our earthly lives and resources in the kingdom of God so as to build treasure in heaven. However, Jesus connects the the two in his teaching in Matthew 6. We must pray for the grace and strength of God to resist the temptation to store up for ourselves treasures on this earth. Join us as we work through this connection.
The Lord Jesus taught his disciples a proper prayer in Matthew 6:9-13. We commonly know this prayer as the Lord's Prayer, but it is much more than that. It is a prayer that teaches us the proper way to pray and informs us of the everything for which we ought to pray. Its a great model prayer and will have tremendous impact in our lives if we learn to pray prayers like in spirit and truth not just form.
In his gospel, Luke emphasizes the importance of the women who surrounded the life and ministry of Jesus. it's a wonderful perspective from which to view the gospel story. Form the very beginning with Elizabeth, Mary, and Anna to the very end with the women at the tomb, Luke tells us that Jesus elevates women and brings liberation to them in the same way he brings it to the men. This was a radical reality in the ancient world and still is in much of the world today. This initial lesson in our "some women of the Bible" series should encourage our hearts.
In the first message of our prayer Emphasis Month sermon series, we discuss Jesus's teaching in Matthew 6:1-18 and how it relates to our prayer lives. Specifically, we think about the primary relationship of prayer. the practice of our righteousness in prayer, and the proper motivation for our prayers. We'd love for you to join us!
Why do we make it a habit of worshipping Jesus each week? Because he's worth it and because we want to be like him in every way. Luke tells us that it was his custom to publicly worship each week on the Sabbath day. He also tells us that Jesus specifically claimed to be the Messiah of God's people, the one sent by God to save the world. He's worth all of our praise and must be worshipped as he really is.
Christmas is a celebration of God's visit to earth that brought redemption to his people. It is also a challenge to us to be full of mercy for other people in the same way God is full of mercy for us all. The story of the nativity demonstrates the marvelous mercy of God and calls us to be merciful in the same way. In fact, Jesus says that his followers must be merciful by definition (Matt. 5:7). In this message, we discuss how we can display that mercy.
What is Christmas? Zechariah answers that question in three ways in his prophecy at the birth of his son, John the Baptist.
- Christmas is a celebration of God's visit to his people who walked in great darkness. 2. Christmas is a celebration of the establishment of God's eternal kingdom.
- Christmas is a celebration of our privilege to be holy and righteous like our Heavenly Father.
"Those who walk in darkness have seen a great light." is one of the great prophecies of the Old Testament as it points us to the great Light of the World, Emmanuel. Light shines in the midst of darkness and brings clarity to the confusion of our lives. Join us as we think through the implications of God's light in today's world.
We are commanded to be thankful throughout the Bible. This is because our natural tendency in our sin nature is to be ungrateful and entitled. However, we are dependent upon God for everything. As we prepare to celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday, let us respond to God's command to give thanks and remember that for which we have to be most thankful.
One of life's biggest questions is, "Why do the rich and unrighteous people continue to prosper while the righteous suffer hardship?" Psalm 73 takes us through one man's journey to find the answer to this question. Join us as we discover his shocking conclusion -- the answer doesn't really matter.
The Lord Jesus Christ has dominion over all things. At the appointed time, he will have physical dominion over all the earth and eternity. Until then, he exercises his authority and dominion through the ministry of his Spirit in the lives of men and women. Join us as we study Psalm 72 an think through the applications of this great truth.
How do you live your Christian life as you age? Faithfully unto the Lord. You maintain your faith. You continue to praise his name. You testify to the end. You give God thanks for all the ways he has provided for you in his grace throughout your life.
Do you ever ask God to remember his promises to you and his people as David did in Psalm 70. Interestingly, he plead with God to remember his promises to him personally and the nation of Israel not because God needed a reminder but because he needed the affirmation that God would indeed be faithful to fulfill his words. This is the affirmation we all need regularly.
Do you ever feel like you are suffering under the burden of an attack from those who oppose God? Have you ever thought of your struggle to maintain your faith in Christ as a fight for all that holy and virtuous? If so, then you and David are kindred spirits. He suffered unjustly and fought to maintain his faith in the God who saves. Are you willing to fight for your faith?
Psalm 68 takes us on a journey from David leading the procession of the Ark of God's Covenant up the Mountain in Jerusalem to the Ascension of the Lord Jesus Christ. The message is the same in each of those scenes -- worship the ascended the Lord with joy and use the gifts he bestows on his people for his glory and the good of others. Join us as we walk through the Old and New Testaments on our way to the present in light of the ascension of our everlasting Lord.
Why does God bless his people? So that they will be a blessing to other people. What is the purpose for this blessing? So that the glory of God would be known around the world. How do we know this is true? Look to the harvest of the fields. God is as faithful to us as he is to bring an exponential harvest from a single kernel of grain.
Do you ever question whether or not you are actually forgiven, or if you can be forgiven? Do you going to find stability in your life? Jospeh's epic story is a great one to help you find the answers to these questions and the longings of our heart.
Today we discuss the last phrase of the creed -- the life everlasting. What does that mean? Why does it matter to us? Why is it important? Who receives it? We answer all these questions, and probably a few others, during our study.
What is biblical forgiveness and how do we learn to forgive others? Those are two supremely important questions that we discuss from Genesis 45. Join us as we think through them.
Is forgiveness dependent upon the admission of guilt? Is it conditioned upon those who've hurt us asking for forgiveness? Is it an emotional decision? The answer to all of these questions is, "No." We explain from Genesis 45 and the story of Joseph's forgiveness of his brothers. Join us!
Does God really have a plan for all things? Is he really working in all things, at all times, in all places, through all people to accomplish his will for his glory? Yes. Joseph's story illustrates this fact beautifully. Join us as we study it together and seek to apply the truth of God's providence to our lives.
Joseph displayed uncanny grace with his brothers when they returned to purchase more food after they had consumed their original allotment. His grace took away their fear, anxiety, and spiritual blindness. In this sense, he models the love and grace of God to us.
Do you ever find yourself overwhelmed and feeling powerless? Of course, you do. We all do. That's why faith in the powerful and authoritative Jesus of the Bible is so important and freeing. Join us as we think through 4 stories of his healing power in Mark's gospel.
Joseph's story foreshadowed the coming salvation in the Lord Jesus Christ. Join us as we work out way through this wonderful picture of of God's great salvation in the Old Testament.
God had a hold on Jospeh's heart and would not let him go. Joseph went from speaking hardly to his brothers and incarcerating them to releasing them and starting the path of reconciliation with them. He did it all by the grace of God. God works in your life the same way. You have someone you need to forgive? Join us!
Joseph finally got out of prison when he was able to interpret Pharaoh's dreams. In his interpretation he gave wise counsel from God and received a handsome reward from the king of Egypt. Join us as we think about how we can give wise counsel to our friends while trusting our Lord in Heaven to reward us in his grace.
Joseph had contentment because oof his faith the Lord. He knew he couldn't do anything, but that his God was capable of everything. How did he learn these lessons? Through suffering. Pharaoh was the opposite. He was troubled by his dreams and the prospect of lost prosperity and security. He didn't have the peace that comes from faith in our Lord.
While in prison, Jospeh found himself in a familiar position -- leading and serving others. In chapter 40, he serves as a steward for two of Pharaoh's most trusted servants, his cupbearer and his chief baker. They had dreams and Joseph interpreted them. In this message, we discuss Genesis 40 from the perspective of four words: dependability, integrity, testimony, and hope.
Joseph's life was one of struggle and blessing. He experienced the blessing of God's presence as he suffered. He also faced great temptation and found God's grace to be sufficient in it. We have much to learn from how Jospeh dealt with temptation.
How do you respond with God's plans aren't your plans? Joseph, his brothers, and his father, Jacob, all answer this question in different ways. Their examples help us think through the way that we answer it when things don't go as well as we planned them in our lives.
The beginning of Jospeh's story is about a the bad fruit of jealousy in his brothers' lives. They despise Jospeh because Jacob, their father, loved Joseph more than the rest of them. Their jealousy, which ultimately was a problem they had with their dad, bore horrific fruit in their lives and in their family. Jealousy must be dealt with properly through faith and repentance.
In this week's edition of The Wednesday Bible Study, we discuss what it means to affirm that Jesus Christ was conceived by the Holy Ghost and born of the Virgin Mary. This reality makes Jesus unique as a person and the one in whom we can have hope.
Joseph's story is one of overcoming adversity and trusting a sovereign God. He has much to say to us as he overcomes the dysfunction of his family and childhood through faith in God. Will you trust God like Joseph did?
We believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. But, what does that mean? What is the reason for our belief?
Joseph is one of the first Old Testament stories we learn after being introduced to the Christian faith. He is forerunner of Jesus and reveals some of the great themes of the Gospels. In this first message, we talk about his faith, his commitment to his family, and his desire to return home to the land of God's provision.
I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of Heaven and Earth. Join us as we think through what this affirmation means.
Jesus told his disciples that they needed to die to themselves in order to follow him and be a part of his kingdom. Why is this self-denial so important? Paul tells us that it's important because without it we cannot live in Christ eternally.
In this first lesson on the Apostles' Creed, we discuss the purpose of the Creed and the reason we use it each week during our worship services.
What is required of us to be saved from our sin at the point of our death? Great question. We answer that question along with its follow up question, "What should I be doing with my life?" We'd love for you to join us.
During our Easter morning worship, we discussed the fact that Jesus's command to Peter (and all of his disciples) was the same after his resurrection as it was when he called them to be his disciples initially. He said, "Follow Me." The resurrection makes it possible for us to follow Jesus. Without its power, we would never be able to properly follow Jesus as his disciples.
During our Maundy Thursday service we meditated on what it means to obey the commands of Christ through the power of his Spirit from the last part of John's gospel.
Did Jesus know who he was? Absolutely. He knew exactly who he was and the reason why he came. He also knew the mission he would give his people after he ascended into heaven. There is no sense is trying to change these two realities.
How does Satan work on this earth, in the world we live in? Through the two beasts of Revelation 13. In this version of the Wednesday Bible Study we think specifically about the beast of the sea and what his presence means for us.
I encourage you to join us for this 30 minute study on Rev. 10:8-11 as we discuss our responsibilities in our Christian lives. We must trust Jesus Christ in faith, read and devour the Word of God (the Bible), and testify about the reconciling love and grace of God to our dying world.
What are Christians to be doing while they wait for Jesus to return? Simply, we are to be witnesses to the glory of Jesus. In this message, we discuss 8 things we can be doing to be faithful witnesses of God's glory to our world. Pick a couple and work on them in the coming weeks.
This is edition of the Wednesday Bible Study is on the prophetic background of Revelation 11. Join us as we dive into the imagery and find a sure foundation upon which to stand.
Are we, the people of God, in a battle for what is right? Yes! Are we being confronted every day by those who do not honor God nor do what is right? Yes. Will we collapse? No. Why? Because God has sealed us and measured off our borders to protect us. Join us as we see this in John's beautiful revelation.
This week in The Wednesday Bible Study we discuss idolatry from Revelation 9. Join us as we think through the idols of our lives and ask four important questions to help us determine what our idols are.
Where are all of us in the story of the Book of Revelation? It's fairly easy to identify with the congregations which received Paul's and Peter's letters, but Revelation is seemingly impossible to apply unless we understand where we fit in the story. Join us as we think through it all and what the lessons are for us in Revelation 10.
In today's bible study we take a deeper look at Revelation 8-9. We specifically think about the value of prayer as a sacrifice to God and about the Lord's sovereign control over Satan and the demons.
What happens when the seven angels blow their trumpets after the scroll is opened in Revelation 8-9? Plagues upon plagues upon plagues come upon the people of the earth. But God's people are preserved. It's deep. Join us as we talk about it.
From where does wisdom come? It comes from God and is to be understood and attained though a relationship with God through faith. In that relationship, we learn to take the knowledge that. God has given to us in his Word and apply it to our lives as we are directed by the Holy Spirit.
What does Revelation tell us that the sealed servants of God will be doing for all eternity? Worshipping the Triune God of the Bible. What is worship? Great question. We answer it in our second sermon on Rev. 7. Join us.
Today we finish our series on Anxiety, the Sovereignty of God, and Prayer as we discuss two more reasons we struggle with anxiety in our daily lives. Join us as we fight against the comparison trap and our tendency to listen to our feelings instead of God's Word. I pray you'll be encouraged by our study.
Do you ever wonder how secure your life after this one is? If so, Rev. 7 has a great message for you. It is secure by the blood of Jesus and the seal he places on your life. Don't know about that? Join us as we discuss it.
In this Bible Study we discuss two practical ways to deal with the anxiety of our lives. First, we have to deal with guilt properly. Guilt causes anxiety and dealing with it properly in faith relieves us of the burden. Second, we have to take the necessary steps to prevent us from being overwhelmed. We become anxious when we are overwhelmed with everything going on in our lives. Join us as we discuss how we can deal with anxiety more practically.
Do you ever wonder what God is doing in our world with all that is going on? Is there a plan to it all? Is there hope in all? What should the Christian's response be to it all? Revelation 6 really helps us answer these questions.
There are two great pillars that support our faith when we face anxiety. The first is God's Sovereignty and the second is God's Mercy. Today we discuss how believing in God's mercy transforms our lives and enables us to deal with the guilt that causes anxiety.
As we peer into the throne room of God, we see a majestic panoramic view of God on his throne. We also focus on the scroll that contains the promises and plans of God for the salvation of the world and the establishment of his eternal kingdom. The Lion of the Tribe of Judah is the only one worthy enough to open the seals and in that we find gets hope and joy.
The first pillar that forms the support structure of our faith is the sovereignty of God. It holds strong when we long for certainty.
Do you ever wonder what happens in Heaven? Worship. Continual worship. That's what happens in heaven. It makes sense, doesn't it? When you are in the presence of the great, holy, and triune God who saves his people, there is nothing else to do besides praise him, for he is worthy.
Anxiety is a real problem in our society and in our daily lives. Join us as we have a time of prayer and then introduce our newest bible study series titled, "Anxiety, Prayer, and the Sovereignty of God."
Join us for part 2 of Ethan's 2 part sermon series on God in the Garden. We know you'll be encouraged.
Join us for part 1 of Ethan's 2 part sermon series on God in the Garden. We know you'll be encouraged.
We can always come home for Christmas -- home to God. He longs for us to come home. How do we know that? He came to us in Christ. Christmas reminds us of his great pursuing love.
How do we live in light of Christ's return and the final establishment of his kingdom? Jesus tells us we are to do at least two things: persist in prayer and humbly rely upon God. Join us as we pray and study God's word together.
Jesus came in a manger. He died on a cross. he rose from the grace. He ascended into Heaven. And, He will return riding on the clouds. Are you getting ready to welcome him? If so, what do you need to be doing to prepare?
God is just, and there is no conflict between his justice and his mercy. We discuss it in this edition of Theology for Life Thursdays.
Jesus told the parable of the 10 virgins to prepare his people for his return. He will come in middle of the night and we must be prepared.
The same Jesus that was born in the manger and wrapped in swaddling clothes grew up, died, rose from the grave, ascended into Heaven, and will return to the earth one day. While we wait for that day, we are to be busy remembering God's promises. waiting for him to return in faith, and preparing our hearts for his eternal kingdom through repentance.
Join us for our Wednesday Evening Bible Study/Prayer Meeting for this week. In it we discuss the story of the Forgiven Woman and the Pharisee from Luke 7. There Jesus tells the short parable of two debtors that are forgiven by a money lender to make his point that the woman knew how much she was forgiven while Simon the Pharisee did not. In fact, he treated Jesus with contempt while the woman lavished love upon him. I think you'll enjoy the study. It's enriching.
Gratitude and Contentment aren't not natural to any of us. We are born wanting more and more. We have to have our hearts transformed by God's grace before we can learn to be thankful and content in every circumstance. The Apostle Paul learned it through hardship, and we do too.
God's love for you and me is extravagant and the three parables of Luke 15 prove it. Join us as we take a deep dive into them after a time of prayer for our world on this week's edition of The Wednesday Bible Study.
Repentance is essential to Christianity. In fact, you can't be a Christian without it. So, what does it look like? What does it mean to repent? Great questions. We answer them from Rev. 2 and Rom. 2.
Covenants between God and his people in the Bible are always initiated by God, reflect and agreement between him and his people, cut in blood, and mediated by grace. This is no more true than in the New Covenant that God established with us through Jesus Christ as this week's Theology for Life Program explains.
The Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus is as helpful and encouraging as it is sobering and challenging. May we learn from it in the grace of Christ.
The Church in Thyatira received a challenging letter from Jesus because they had started justifying their sins of idolatry and sexual immorality. Like all of us, they allowed themselves to participate in popular and unholy activities and then sought to change their theology to justify their actions. Jesus called them on it and told them to repent. He says the same to us.
The Bible is one big story of how God entered into a covenant relationship with his people, and that includes all of us. Join us as we think through the implications of the gracious and cohesive way God lives in relationship with us and reveals it to us in the Bible.
Followers of Christ are to use their money wisely for the kingdom of heaven in an effort to build treasure there, not here on earth.
The challenge for every Christian in every generation is whether or not he or she will persevere to the end in faith. Jesus, as the Alpha and the Omega, promised the Christians in Pergamum that they would live with him forever if they overcame the temptation to comprise with the world. Will you resist?
The Church in Smyrna was quite challenged by the spiritual warfare all around them. They were hard-pressed, slandered, forced into poverty, thrown in jail, and even killed for their faith. Persecution is always a threat for the Christian Church. We must be prepared.
Jesus wrote a stunning letter to the congregation in Ephesus in which he commended them for their religious acts of devotions, but rebuked them for their lack of love. They had ceased to let their love for Jesus, for one another, and for the world around provide the beat of their lives. We can do the same. Join us as we think about Jesus's shocking letter.
Our Wednesday Bible Study this week is on Luke 11:1-13 where Jesus taught his disciples to pray. He taught them two important truths:
- That prayer is following Jesus.
- That prayer recognizes God as a Heavenly Father.
Join us as we work through these wonderful truths.
Jesus wrote seven letters to seven churches in the book of Revelation. In the first chapter he reveals himself to be the glorious king of all creation. Can you imagine what it was like to receive such a letter?
The whole Bible is about Jesus. He's on every page, either explicitly or implicitly. The book of Jonah is a prime example of this reality. Jesus is better than Jonah. Where Jonah failed completely, Jesus obeyed perfectly.
The God of the Bible is a God of grace. He gives it to those he loves beyond measure. The question we must ask is: What will we do with it? Jonah's story brings us to that point as does the older brother's in the prodigal son parable.
God entered into a special covenant with Adam and Eve after he created them. There was one stipulation to that covenant -- do not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. We discuss what it meant for them to break it.
The parable of the vineyard workers is a wonderful story that illustrates the greatness of God's grace, his willingness to apply equally to all who follow him in faith, and his pursuit of people lost in sin. It challenges us to serve Christ with all we have as we rely upon his grace for everything.
God loves you. God loves me. God loves everyone that he has created. He pursues them and calls them to faith and repentance. Have you responded?
What does the biblical idea of being created in the image of God have to do with our understandings of relationships, gender, and our purpose on earth? We answer that question in Theology for Life Thursdays discipleship program.
The kingdom of God is like a mustard seed and the leaven in the bread. Join us as we discuss Jesus's two parables and his healing of a woman on the Sabbath day in the synagogue.
Jonah loved himself more than he loved God. he loved his own people more than he loved God. And because he did, he refused to follow God's command to go to Nineveh. What do you love more than God? Who do you love more than God?
The crowning achievement of God's creation is humanity -- men and women. We are created in God's image and the last of all his creation to be created. Join us as we think through what this means for us.
This is the first bible study in our new series on the parables of Jesus for our Wednesday Bible Study. This first message is on Mark 4:1-21 where Jesus told the parable of the soils. It leads us to ask, "What kind of soil am I?"
Jesus equals renewed relationships is the theme of our sermon from Colossians 4 this morning. Ethan walks us through how transformation in Christ encourages us to continue praying, encouraging one another in Christ, and walking in righteousness. It's a great passage that challenges us to walk with Jesus.
A proper understanding of God's providence has tremendous effects in our lives. In this session of our Theology for Life Thursdays program, we discuss 5 of them. We'd love for you to join us.
We have victory in Jesus through faith in him. Therefore, we are overcomers in faith. John summarized his epistle with by explaining how we experience this wonderful victory in Christ. We point out 5 particular ways we can have confidence in Christ.
Are there present effects to the eternal reality our salvation in Christ? Yes, there are, and Paul explains them in Colossians 3. Join us as we think through putting off the old self and putting on the new one.
What is providence? Is there really a God who has a plan and purpose for all things? Is he really at work in the world around us? Tune in to our Theology for Life Program to find out.
In this edition of the Wednesday Bible Study, we look deeply into verses 7-21 of 1 John 4, which is the beginning of the concluding section of the epistle in which John practically applies the wonderful truths of God's love to our lives. I think you'll be challenged and encouraged by the teaching as John gives us some blessed assurance of our faith in Christ.
Jesus equals new life is the title of the sermon on Colossians 2. And the main question we ask is: What kind of relationship with Jesus do you have? Is it one in which you see yourself and Jesus involved in a transaction? Or, is it one in which you recognize and experience true life transformation by his grace?
Why is a biblical understanding of creation so important for Christians? Why is it important for you? These are the questions we address in the latest edition of the Theology for Life program.
How do we discern who's voice we should listen to when it comes to our Christian faith? We answer this important question from 1 John 4:1-6 in our Wednesday Bible Study.
Jesus Equals everything because he is:
- The Creator of the World
- The Head of His Church
- God Himself
- The Savior of Sinners.
You will do well to give you life completely to him. Join us as we dive into Colossians 1:15-20.
God made an eternal decision to save his people from their unrighteousness. It’s a blessed teaching that confronts our self-dependence. Tune into our latest edition of Theology for Life.
In the this edition of the Wednesday Bible Study, we think through 1 John 3:11-24 where John gives us the test of love by which we can examine our own hearts. Join us!
For what are we thankful in 2020? God has been good and gracious to us all. He makes the sun to shine on the righteous and unrighteous alike. He gives mercy and grace to all. He saves those who call upon him. Therefore, we always have something for which to be thankful to our God.
Those who have placed their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ have been adopted into the family of the God. This new identity changes things for each of us who've trusted Christ. We discuss what it looks like to live as God's children from 1 John 3:1-10.
Do you rejoice in the Lord? The righteous ones will rejoice in him because he has been good to them and is worthy of their praise. He is the one who delivers them when they call upon him. He is the one who wins all his and their battles by his mighty hand.
God is distinct from us and he reveals that distinction through his Word by showing us his attributes. We discuss four of these attributes in this session of our Theology for Life program. They are: self-existence, Unchangeability, Infinity, and Simplicity of Being. Join us.
John encourages us to abide in Christ and to live according to our status as God's beloved children. Our lives of obedience and righteousness are a response to his great love for us. "Behold, what manner of love the Father has given unto us!"
No matter where we are, our desire should be for our God because only he will satisfy our souls. He is the one who provides for us and protects us throughout our days. His presence alone will comfort our souls. The question Buzzy challenged us with is: Do you earnestly seek God at all times? Join us as we think through this beautiful psalm.
Our only hope rests in the sovereign God who has promised to rescue us from the problems of the day. However, we rarely see complete rescue in this life. Problems are continual. But those who wait patiently on the Lord will know true relief through their enduring hope and faith in God's salvation in Christ Jesus. Join us as Ethan walks us through Psalm 62 and challenges us to rest in God.
How do we pray for our leaders? is a question we should ask regularly, especially in our contentious and extreme times. Our politics dominate our lives, or at least it seems that way. It can be incredibly frustrating. Therefore, it's imperative that we pause to pray for our political leaders regularly. But, how do we do it? The Bible gives us some answers. Join us as we study them together.
Gos exists as Trinity, which means he is one Gos who exists in three persons. This is hard to comprehend, but not hard to believe given that the Bible clearly reveals God in this way. His eternal relational nature means that he loves us and pursues us for relationship.
There are antichrists -- those who deny Jesus Christ as Lord -- everywhere while we live in these end times. We will not be without them until Christ Jesus returns. Until then, we must be prepared to withstand the temptation to follow after the pursuits that will draw us away from Christ.
We are called to walk in holiness and the blessings of fellowship with God and seeing God as he is would motivate us to live that way. However, if we do sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before God. Join us for this encouraging message!
King David and his army found themselves in a tenuous situation at the time in which he wrote Psalm 60. They were in a fierce battle with the Syrians in the North when the Edomites attacked from the South. And, the Edomites were coming for blood. They had a bone to pick with the Israelites because of the history between their ancestors Jacob and Esau. Fear dominated the land. But, God had a word of clarity for them, which they heard in the place of sanctuary -- Jerusalem. The Lord's reasonable word calmed their spirits and they were ready to go to battle again. They had confidence in the Lord. Join us as we seek to apply these truths to our current lives.
The question of who is God is an extremely important one for God's people to answer because it's answer determines how we are to live our lives. In this session, we begin to get our minds around who God is as an infinitely perfect spirit and personal God who is one God alone.
Worldliness is a constant danger for those who are in Christ. The Evil one continually tempts us with the desires of the flesh, the lusts of the eyes, and the pride of possessions. We must maintain faithfulness out of love for God is directly opposed to the love of the world.
We walk in the light of the Lord God almighty. Our lives should reflect his light and glory.
David was in an upside down world when he wrote Psalm 59. Saul had sent soldiers to lie in wait to kill him. because of the threat he posed to Saul's kingdom. These men had a license to do whatever they wanted and whatever was necessary to capture and kill David. David learned to wait on the Lord, watch for him to come, and sing to his praise as he relied upon his faith to carry him through the difficult circumstance. He trusted God to put the world right side up. We have to do the same.
The biblical authors were inspired by God as they wrote his word for us. God has preserved it through the same work of the same Holy Spirit who inspired those original authors. It is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training up in righteousness that the man of God may be equipped for every good work.
John loved the congregants in the Asia Minor churches. He wanted to see them grow and mature in faith. So, he wrote in a way to challenge them to help each other grow in grace.
God is holy and his people rely upon his holiness to bring judgment and vengeance to their enemies. We trust our God because we know how he will respond to our cries. He will be quick to listen and act uprightly. Join us as we learn about God's holiness in Psalm 58.
The Bible is the only way through which God makes himself and his will for our lives known to us. It contains what we are to believe about God and how we are to live to his glory. We find his character in the Word of truth.
There are two tests that we can ask to determine whether or not we are walking in the grace and love of God. Are we obedient to him? Do we love one another as God loved us?
Do you realize that suffering and hardship is a natural part of our lives? On the grandest of scales, its purpose is to make us realize that this world is not our home. We were made for something more. We were made to live in relationship with God and to walk with him in perfection. But, we lost that privilege when sin entered the world. We are now living under a curse. However, there is hope for us because God sent his son into the world to save us from our sins. If we trust him, we will be restored and live with him forever. The questions before us in Psalm 57 are: Do we trust the Lord Jesus and cry out to him as our Savior and our Lord, and do we understand that God has a purpose for us in our suffering?
God must reveal himself for us to know him. Join us as we think through what it means for God to reveal himself and our need for it. In this introduction to our Theology Thursdays discipleship program, we discuss the two ways God makes himself known to us.
When the Holy Spirit came upon the 12 disciples in the Upper Room, their lives and our world changed forever. The power to boldly proclaim the good news of Christ came from him. Many heard the truth of Christ in their own language and 3,000 of them responded to Christ and trusted him with their lives. The Spirit changes things. His coming also began the work of gathering people from all tribes, tongues, socio-economic, and skin colors together in Christ. The church is God's plan for redeeming the world for himself. Join us as we think through the implications of this great event!
We have fellowship with God and with one another through our relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ by faith. Join us as we discuss this wonderful truth.
Jesus prayed for each of us prior to his arrest, trial, and crucifixion. In his beautiful prayer recorded in John 17, Jesus makes three petitions. The first is that he be glorified by the Father. This glory will be seen in his crucifixion and resurrection. His second petition is for his disciples to be sanctified -- made holy -- by His Word through the Spirit. And, the third petition is that we, the church, be unified in our worship of him, our commitment to living righteous lives, and our mission on earth. Join us as we think about how these three petitions apply to us in the here and now.
What happens when the Triune God makes his home in you? He changes things. He makes things new. He transforms your life. He enables you to live in righteousness and to keep his commandments. Join us as we work our way through Jesus's teaching in John 14:8-21 on the Holy Spirt and his work in the lives of Christians. We find 8 effects of God's dwelling in your heart and mind. We'd love to have you think through these implications with us.
The question of comfort and calm in the midst of troubled times is whether or not Jesus is trustworthy. If he is, then all that he says is true and he is worthy of our trust. If he isn't, then we are free to do as we wish. Join us as we dive into the answer to this question from John 14:1-7.
"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want." is the most famous line of the Psalter -- the Book of Psalms. It is a beautiful song that tells us two dynamically comforting truths about God. First, he is the only shepherd of his people. No one can shepherd the church like the Lord. And second, he has given his people all things. He does not withhold any good thing from us. He provides for our physical and spiritual needs, comforts us in the midst of trials, and leads us home. Join us as Ethan opens this psalm before us and shows us clearly that Jesus is the great shepherd of his people -- those who trust in him.
Psalm 84 is a wonderful psalm that tells a magnificent story about the journey of finding hope in the midst of melancholic isolation. The poetry is beautiful. Blessing comes from living in a right relationship with God, walking with him, and fellowshipping with his people. But, what do we do when we aren't able to fellowship with one another. We find our hope in the Lord of glory.
Jesus's disciples were afraid of the Jews and confused about their mission on the evening of the day on which Jesus was raised. They hid in the Upper Room. Jesus met them there and pronounced peace upon them, while breathing on them his Spirit -- the Holy Spirit. Jesus's pronouncement of peace had a tremendous impact on their lives as it took away their uncertainty, assured them of his presence, and challenged them to exercise their faith in God and him. Join us as we imagine that we are in that room with those disciples and seek to apply the lessons we learn from being there to our lives.
David was in despair in Psalm 13, but he made a remarkable decision in the midst of that despair. He decided to praise the Lord for God had been good to him. He had dealt bountifully with him in his grace. This Easter has been a tough one for our congregation; so, we took David's journey from despair to hope on Sunday morning. We went from Psalm 13 to 1 Corinthians 15 with a stop to look into the empty tomb. Join us for our journey as we learn about the hope of God's goodness to us in Christ's resurrection.
There are five possible responses to Jesus represented in the first 26 verses of John 12. They are: lavish devotion, calculated hesitancy, violent hatred, confessed rejection, and intrigued inquiry. Join us as we work our way through each of these responses by pausing to observe their representatives in the story. We are left with the question: how will you respond to Jesus?
Jesus told Martha that if she believed in him, she would see the glory of God. And, she did as Jesus her brother Lazarus from the dead. Join us as we work out way through this beautiful story in John 11 and see the reason for all things, the faith of Thomas and Martha, and the glory God in Jesus's resurrecting power.
"Why do bad things happen?" is a question that we all ask from time to time. It is one of the great quandaries of life. Jesus's disciples were as interested in the answer as we are. In fact, the asked Jesus about it when they came across the man born blind in John 9. Jesus's answer is striking and comforting. He said that bad things happen so that the works of God may be displayed. In John 9, those works are compassion/healing, clarity, and full spiritual transformation. Join us as we dive into this story and see the works of God clearly in Jesus's interaction with the blind man.
Jesus had an encounter with a woman sitting beside a well in Samaria. This multi-faceted story is full of surprises and we will explore them during this sermon. Won't you join us as we explore it?
Jesus told Nicodemus that he must be born again in order to experience the kingdom of God. That goes for each of us as well. We must be born again throw the power and work of the Holy Spirit. And this new birth brings with it faith in Jesus Christ. Like Nicodemus, we all must place our faith in Jesus and look to him for our eternal salvation.
Jesus is majestic. Jesus is gracious. Jesus is superior. These three characteristics of Jesus are beautifully made known to us in the story of Jesus' transfiguration. Join us as we think through the event that took place on that mountain top in Matthew 17:1-9 and seek to apply these great truths of Jesus's identity to our lives.
Being a Christian is hard. It’s hard to: live consistently with our faith; persevere in faith while continually facing the challenges of others; live self-controlled lives; get up in the morning and commit to being a part of Christ’s church; stand firm on absolute claims regarding human sexuality, gender identity and gender roles, the sanctity of human life in the womb and out, other matters of social justice, etc. when those claims brew controversy at the cultural level as well as with our families and friends. Join us as we jump into this topic feet first and hear what Jesus has to say to encourage us to walk with him in faith. Walking with Christ is hard, but it's infinitely worth it!
What is the purpose of the Christian Church? What is the mission of the Church? These two extremely important questions are the subject of our discussion on Matthew 5:13-16. Jesus tells us plainly that the way we witness to our world as we glorify and enjoy God is to be salt to the earth and light to the world. Join us as we thing through the meaning of these two metaphors.
The Beatitudes are one of the most familiar passages of Scripture in the New Testament. We often think of them in the same way we think about the Lord’s Prayer, the 23rd Psalm, and the 10 Commandments. Passages of note that should be remembered because of their promises or moral responsibilities. But, we must see them in context if we are to fully understand their meaning and their importance for us as modern-day Christians.
These seven statements/promises “describe the perfect Christian's character and make up a perfect benediction” (Spurgeon). Their purpose is to tell us how the Lord Jesus expects us to live our lives before him and others. Join us as we dive into them.
The most hope-filled statement we can hear is: You are a sinner. This is short, simple statement gives us hope because it means that our great problem is fixable through our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus overcame the temptation for us because we can't do it on our own. Listen in and find the hope in the reality that though we are sinners, we can overcome through Christ.
In John 1 we find a Jesus who is both transcendent and present with his followers. Specifically, he is identified as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit, and the chosen one of God. These realties confront us with one main question: Who is Jesus to me? Our answer to this question will determine the way we live our lives. The Lamb wants us to follow him. Will we?
When John the Baptist comes to Judah in Matthew 3, he has a simple, yet profound message: "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." Surprisingly, the crowds flock to hear him preach as respond to it by being baptized for the repentance of their sins. Join us as we break down this story and seek to find out why the people were willing to do whatever it took to welcome the kingdom of heaven and its king.
"Can I trust God to be present in my life?" is a very real question that very real people ask often. You may be asking the same question this morning, especially at this Christmas time.
Initially, we all answer with a resounding, “Yes!” “Of course we can trust God to be present in our lives,” we may say. And, we're right. But, what happens when we get out of the theoretical and into the practical, the reality of our lives — the place we spend our time, the place where pain and doubt cloud our thinking? Can we trust him then? Can we trust him to be present when he seems so far away and our circumstances are too great to bear?
Join us as we dive into this question and its answer from Matthew's gospel. Also, we apologize for the scruffy recording. The lapel mic rubbed on the jacket throughout.
How does a righteous Judge bring peace? By offering himself as a sacrifice for the sins of the world. Wholeness comes from reconciliation with God, and reconciliation with God can only come through the shed blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. Join us as we think through this reality from Isaiah's prophecy in Isaiah 11:1-11.
During the Thanksgiving season, many of us will spend time around family and friends telling each other the things for which we are thankful. Our lists will include: family, friends, homes, jobs, freedom, food, happy times, etc. These are great things for which we should be thankful as they all come from God. Psalm 116 takes us deeper with our thanksgiving. We will find 6 things for which we should give thanks in our study of the psalm. Join us.
Join us as Tom Trexler from the Gideon's International ministry shares about how the Lord Jesus is still working to build his kingdom through the distribution of God's Word around the world. Tom encouraged us greatly as he told of the hunger for God's word, God's providential ordering of all things, and of men and women being saved through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
David had every reason to retaliate against King Saul as he pursued David throughout the wilderness, but he didn't. Why? Because he trusted God to vindicate him, to be his and Saul's judge, and to reward his faithful life of obedience. He knew that his future as king in no way justified a sinful murder of the current king. We can learn a lot from David regarding how to respond when someone wrongs us.
Everyone of us builds crutches to help us deal with the pressures of our lives. Without them, we'd crumble under the weight of our burdens. God has to remove them in order to prepare us to be used by him as he intends because they keep our focus horizontal, become replacements for God, and only satisfy us temporarily. God created us to live in total dependance upon him, and we can only do that after our crutches are removed. We must trust God to be good through the process.
Paul encouraged the Philippians to find their joy in living unified lives while disagreeing with one another, in offering their requests to God with thanksgiving, and in thinking on the pure things of God. Join us as we think through what this wisdom means for us today.
We need friends in this life to help us get through it. David and Jonathan had a great one, and there are many things we can learn from it. Join us as we examine.
Paul had many reasons to consider himself worthy of Christ and of the reward of Heaven. Yet, he thought of it all as rubbish for the surpassing greatness of the knowledge of God in Christ Jesus. Why? He knew that none of his accomplishments formed the bases for his acceptance before God. Only Christ mattered for his salvation. So, he willingly threw everything away to know Christ more.
Paul found great joy in the friendships and community relationship he had with the Philippian congregation. The congregation encouraged him while he was in prison by sending aid by way of Epaphroditus who was a great friend to Paul and the congregation. Paul joyfully expressed his appreciation for their kindness to him. He also took the time to encourage them to work together for the glory of God and to work out their salvation through fellowship with one another.
David had humble beginnings and no training for his future responsibilities as Israel's second and greatest king, but he had the one thing necessary -- a heart devoted to the Lord. A willing and humble heart is all God needs to do amazing things in and through your life. Join as we read through 2 Samuel 16 and seek to apply it to our lives.
We will all face opposition and sometimes it comes from those who are closest to us. It hurts. It takes it toll. It confuses us. It causes us to want to run away. But, there are some wonderful things we can do to ensure that we find and execute the wisdom of God for our lives. Join us as we consider Psalm 55 in light of King David's experience with his son Absalom's rebellion. We will learn four things we can do when we are attacked.
God has richly blessed us with the Church of Jesus Christ. We have the privilege of having others to share our joys and to help us along the way as we strive together for the glory of God in Christ. There is great encouragement, comfort, affection, and fellowship in the Church body as we maintain the same mind of the Christ. In so doing, we learn to put the interests of others over our own. Join us as we examine Philippians 2:1-4.
Troubles are a normal part of our lives. They are the natural result of living in a fallen and broken world, and they will not go away until the Lord Jesus returns in glory. The question, then, is what do we do when we face the troubles? Psalm 54 offers some wonderful advice and a pattern for us when we face the troubles of our journey of faith.
Christians are called to have joy while living a life worthy of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul gives some clear wisdom to us about living joyfully in the midst of hardships. Join us as we think through Philippians 1:27-30 together.
Atheism is the denial of God's existence and it's absolute craziness in all its forms. Classical atheism denies the light of creation and deadens the light of our natural consciences. Practical and religious versions do much of the same in their practical manifestations. This denial of God has tremendously negative effects in the lives of men, women, and children, and societies as a whole. Join us as we discuss them and find that the answer to the problems atheism presents are found in turning to Christ and following him.
From prison, Paul writes that his suffering under house arrest has really served to advance the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. How is this possible? Join us and find out. We'll see that Paul's imprisonment brought the gospel to people who wouldn't have encountered it otherwise. It also gave him the opportunity to strengthen other believers to proclaim the gospel in their lives. And, it gave him a chance to help the Roman government understand Christianity properly as it was becoming embraced more and more.
We all know deceitful and slanderous people. They are driven by their love for themselves and desire to advance their own cause regarding of the cost to others. In Psalm 52, David helps us identify those people in our lives, teaches us how to deal with them, encourages to trust Christ fully while enduring the hardship they bring, and calls us to examine our hearts to repent from our tendency to slander others and pursue our own advancement.
The feeling of guilt and shame is natural to us because the sin that causes it is natural to us -- original to our nature. Today we learn how to deal with it properly in Christ as we turn our attention to David's song of confession in Psalm 51. Join us.
The final message in our series on Mark's Gospel is titled, "The Suffering Son." In it we think about the depth to which Jesus suffered for us and what his sufferings mean to and for us. He is a distressed and devoted Savior as well as a dying Redeemer in Mark 14-15. Join us as we see our Savior as he suffered for us.
The religious leaders of Jesus's day challenged his authority regularly. They did it because they did not want to submit to him, follow him, nor did they want him to gain a significant following of people. Chief among their many reasons for this was their refusal to submit to him and receive him as their Messiah. These challenges often came as questions meant to trap him. Each time Jesus responds properly, avoiding the trap and proclaiming his central message to repent and believe the gospel of the kingdom of God.
Do you want to find your fulfillment and calling in life? Sure you do. The only way to do that is to die to yourself and to follow Christ in service of him and others. You will find your best self by sacrificing your pride and pouring yourself into a life of service of Christ and other people.
Jesus loves the little children, red, yellow, black, white, and brown, they are precious in his sight. Jesus loves the children of the world.
And, those who are baptized into the covenant community of the church are exceedingly blessed by God, in his grace!
Jesus is the source of glory and he shows that reality to his disciples, those who have followed him up the mountain. Join us as we read and imagine the story of Jesus' transfiguration and receive encouragement from the fact that we, like the disciples, can have direct contact with the holiness of God and not die because we will stand with Jesus -- the bridge between God and sinful men, women, and children.
We all want our lives to matter, and for them matter eternally we must posses two distinct qualities: Clarity in our confession of Christ, and Commitment to Christ and his Cause. Join us as we study these qualities and apply them to our lives.
Jesus famously fed 5,000 in a deserted area. This familiar story, like many of them in the gospels, takes new life as we view from different perspectives. Join us as we view Jesus’ miracle through a lens that helps us see that he frees from transactional relationships, enables us to love others selflessly and unconditionally, and shows us that Jesus really is all that we need in this life.
Jesus is the calmer of storms. He calms natural, spiritual, and physical storms. This series of stories illustrates Jesus' power to bring control to the uncontrollable, blessing in the midst of destruction, healing where there is sickness, and life to the lifeless. Join us as we walk through the stories to see the glory of Jesus, the Calmer of Storms.
Jesus is not afraid to sit down with sinners. Join us as we work through these two stories that challenge our thinking and practice regarding who is worthy of Christ and who isn't.
The Holy Spirit invites us to join the disciples as they walk with Jesus and see his kingdom on display. We see that it is authoritative, powerful, compassionate, and forgiving. Listen as we take the journey with Mark off Jesus' early days on earth.
What is Jesus really all about? is a question that is asked and answered in a number of different ways in our time. Join us as we try to find the most biblical answer to this question and apply the answer to our own lives.
Join us this Sunday to hear from Michael and Laura Cochran regarding their mission work in Oxford, England during a joint Sunday school. Also, during worship, we will hear from the first chapter of Mark's gospel, where he tells us the heart of Jesus' life and message. We'd love to have you!
Jesus is our priest, king, and prophet. He is the complete fulfillment of each phase of Christian worship and activity. Join us as we think through and apply how this reality effects and enables our faith.
Jesus is the main act in God's plan to save the world. He is the Savior and the one in whom God fully reveals himself to us. Mark wastes no time introducing us to him and his opening act, John the Baptist. Join us as we work through the beginning of Mark's Gospel and get ready to meet Jesus -- the one whose sandal John isn't worthy to untie.
Forgiveness and Prayer are inextricably tied together. This sermon is the second part of a two part sermon on Forgiveness's connection to Prayer. Join us as we think about biblical forgiveness, why we don't forgive, and how we can pray regarding forgiveness.
This morning marks the 3rd week in this year’s Prayer Emphasis Sermon Series. If you’ve been with us, you know we are looking at several different aspects of prayer from Jesus’ teaching on prayer. We’ve seen the priority of prayer in Luke 11:1-4 and the importance of persistence in prayer from Luke 11:5-13. This morning, we turn our attention to Jesus’ teaching on humility and prayer from Luke 18:9-14. Join us.
We are to persist in prayer and God has a sanctifying purpose for it. Join us as we work through Luke 11:5-13 and its connection to our persistence in prayer.
There is a proper priority for our prayers, and Jesus teaches us what that is in his famous model prayer, we commonly know as "The Lord's Prayer."
We read the lessons and sang the carols in celebration of the Savior's birth. Join us and sing along.
In the Bible, peace is defined as wholeness, completeness. It is God who makes our live complete by first making us whole before him through Christ Jesus our Lord. Jesus then puts the pieces of our lives together through the sanctifying work of His Spirit. Jesus is the Prince of Peace.
There is great hope in the birth of Christ for each us as was the case for the promise of his birth to Ahaz in Judah. Even though Ahaz didn't believe the promise God gave through Isaiah, the hope of a coming Messiah remained nonetheless. Join us as seek to find the hope of the promised Messiah.
What is stewardship? It's an attitude of the heart that leads to our lives being offered unto God as living sacrifices of worship. Join us as we think on stewardship as an attitude of life that impacts the way we spend our time, money, and live our lives.
We have an enemy that is greater and stronger than we are. He is always present and scheming in his power to lead us away from our pursuit of Christ. We have to always be on guard and suited up in the armor of God to withstand his attacks. Join us as we walk through Paul's encouragement to his readers.
Prayer is one of the greatest blessings Christians have as they follow Christ daily. The problem is that we don't know who to pray instinctively. We must learn how to pray from Jesus. The disciples asked him to teach them and Luke has recorded the story for our benefit. Join us as we think through it.
Imagine how you would respond to being dropped into a foreign land where you didn't know the language or the culture. The only people you would know are those with whom you came on a mission. What would you do first? How would you begin to assimilate into the culture? How much would you rely upon those Christians with you? Where would you go to find your strength and courage? How would that effect your mission and how would you go about it as a follower of Christ? Those are great questions that we all must answer. We seek to do so in this sermon.
Sometimes we must confront the challenges our culture causes in our congregational and personal lives. One of those is that we can be a growing Christian without being involved in a local christian congregation. It simply not true. It's not biblical; it's not reasonable; and, it's dangerous for your soul. Join us as we talk about the importance of true biblical fellowship.
Do you ever struggle with living a life of victory? If you do, this message is for you. We know the truth of the gospel of grace -- that Christ Jesus died and rose for us, winning the victory on our behalf. In him, we are conquerors, the victors. But, we struggle to live in that that objective reality because we have a habit of sinfulness. We have to develop a habit of victory to overcome. Join us!
We have access to God's great and awesome power through faith in Him. His Spirit -- the third person of the Trinity -- gives us his power as we seek to walk with Christ and rely upon Him. Join us as we talk about the unbelievable power of our great God that empowers us to walk with him.
We all want to feel significant, important, valued, and loved. And, that is the result of the way we were created. God created us so that he could love us and so that we will have the capacity to feel that love and return it to him. But, in the fall from grace, we lost our connection to the holy, just, and loving God. We still wanted to feel the love and significance, but we sought to find that love in every other place than God. However, God loved us enough to send Jesus and reconnect us to himself through Christ. We can now feel how significant we are to him through our relationship with Jesus.
The Christian life is rooted in our connection with God through Christ Jesus. We must learn to connect our lives to God’s life through faith more. He is the one who lives independently, not us. This first week we discuss the blessedness of our assurance of salvation in Christ Jesus through faith. Our assurance is found solely in who Jesus is and what he has done for us, which we access through faith in him. Join us as we dive into 6 assurances we have in the Bible.
We're starting a new sermon series titled, "Connections" this fall. God wants to connect with us in every aspect of our lives. This series is going to be about connecting our lives with God's.
Suicide is a growing concern for our community. And, though we don't ever fully know why someone would take his/her own life, we do know that a majority of suicides are committed by people suffering depression. Join us as we think through what depression is and what the Bible says we are to do about it.
What does it mean for us to say that our great God is sovereign over all things and all people? It simply means that God is the supreme ruler of everything and everyone. It means that he has the authority and might to ensure that his will is done in everything -- good or bad. Psalm 47 is a beautiful worship song that proclaims this wonderful reality. Join us as we find joy in it.
Psalm 45 is a beautiful song about the king's wedding. The king is the focal point of this Psalm because of his majestic rule and gracious welcoming of the queen into his kingdom. She was once far off and outside of God's kingdom, and now she is brought near to the king through his love -- A familiar story throughout the Bible.
Do you ever wonder where God is? Where is he in the midst of your greatest suffering? Why are you struggling so much when you haven't forgotten him? Has he rejected and disgraced you? If so, you are not alone. God's people often experience the same thing as a whole. Join us as we turn our attention to Psalm 44 with the plea for God to come to our help.
Finding hope in the guiding hand of the great Jehovah God is the supporting strength and grace of Christians. He is our great and mighty God who guides us every step of the way.
Have you ever felt all alone? Have you ever felt like those you've helped have turned their backs on you? Have you ever felt like you are not receiving the grace, comfort, and gentleness in return after you have given it to so many people? If so, you and King David have something in common. He felt that way so strongly that he wrote a Psalm about it. Join us as we dive deeply in Psalm 41 and see where David found his hope in the midst of his loneliness.
Our days are measured by the Lord, who is our only hope in this life. We wait patiently for him all our days. Join us as Buzzy Elder leads us through this pointed Psalm.
Do you have a credible Christian testimony? David helps us work through the appropriate parts of a good Christian testimony in Psalm 40. His song of deliverance is a beautiful testament of God’s saving grace.
The video says Ezekiel 27, but it's Ezekiel 23. This chapter is a story of how God deals with his people's unfaithfulness.
David clearly connected his suffering with his sin. And, while most instances of suffering in the Bible aren't the result of specific sins, David's in Psalm 38 certainly was. He suffered physical, emotional, and social issues because of it. His only hope was to plead with God for mercy.
God will not forsake his people. We know this intellectually, but we struggle to accept it emotionally. Our hearts and minds tell us otherwise. We have to listen to the Word of God and continually speak the truth that God will not forsake us to ourselves.
Man is sinful in his very nature. Yet, God is gracious and kind to forgive us our sins. We must be on constant watch over our souls though.
In our final sermon on James, we deal with the call to prayer and to pursue those who've wandered from the church. James says we are to pray in every season of life: suffering, joy, and sickness. Its a pleasure to pray for one another and to confess our sins corporately. Folks who've wandered away put themselves in a dangerous position. Join us as we discuss James' timely words.
Suffering is a real and sometimes ever present reality in our lives. James encourages us to stand firm in our faith while we patiently wait for the Lord.
Arrogant pride shows up in a variety of ways in our lives and in the life of God's people. James tells us four main areas that we see it clearly -- Slander, Judgmentalism, Overconfident Planning, and Amassing Wealth for Earthly Security. The answer to our problem is submission to Christ in faith. Join us as we learn to love and submit to Christ.
Mature Christians are those who follow the wisdom of God and who are not friends of the world, meaning they do not align with the beliefs, values, and behaviors of the world. Such an alignment puts us at odds with God. God's people walk and think in line with him.
When our faith in Christ works it tames the tongue. The tongue, though small, has an incredibly dangerous potential for harm. Join us as we listen to James' teaching on our tongue and consider its application to us.
True Biblical Faith in Christ is faith that works itself out practically in our lives. Genuine faith produces genuine works of righteousness for God's glory. Join us as we talk about about how the road to satisfaction is characterized by self-sacrifice and how that effects the way we live our lives.
There is no forgiveness without the shedding of blood. A bloodless Savior is no Savior of sinners. Join us as we prepare our hearts for the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper by thinking on the shed blood of Christ.
Missions Trips Impact the lives of those who participate in wonderful ways. Listen to Mitchell and Christian tell of their experiences.
We go to tell others about Jesus, to teach them the good news of Christ. We often learn from them about humility, grace, and resilience. Listen to Megan explain her story.
Why do we go to Appalachia? To take the gospel to lost people and to see God work among us.
Showing partiality is sin, and we do it all the time -- consciously and unconsciously. Join us as we think through how we show partiality and are challenged to live holy lives of faith and repentance.
Hosea and Amos are two of the most relevant minor prophets for our contemporary Christian context as they speak to the Israelites about their moral and spiritual corruption, greed, and injustice. Join us as we briefly overview these two important books.
James gives us a simple test for our simple religion. The test is this:
- Do you control your tongue?
- Do you have compassion of the helpless and hopeless?
- Do you keep yourself unstained from the world?
Joel helps us deal with suffering by giving us the proper perspective and pattern for dealing with the pain while placing our faith in the great God of the Bible. He also calls us to heed the warnings of the suffering we endure. They are meant to purify us and lead us to live repentant life so we will escape the judgment of the great day of the Lord.
What is simple religion? That's a great question. James answers it by saying it is a combination of a heart commitment to Christ and a life lived in obedience to Christ and based on the word of truth. In short, it is the belief and practice of a person who's profession of faith in Christ matches his/her behavior leading to a life of consistency.
God has given us his wisdom in his word. Our responsibility is to listen to it, clean out our lives, and follow the wisdom we find in the Bible.
God tests our faith through trials in order to make our spiritual journeys complete. These tests are are good gifts from God because they come from a good God and they make us complete in Christ. God's great desire for us is to make us like Jesus -- the picture of perfect humanity. We will never reach completion or perfection on this earth, but we are sure to reach it at the Day of the Lord should we remain steadfast in our faith. This is a wonderful encouragement to us
Calling us to prayerfully identify 3 people for whom we can pray and hopefully see come to Christ.
The question of what kind of church are we is one that every congregation must continually ask. Buzzy Elder, our Minister of Visitation, helps us think through that question by phrasing it, "Are We a 5-Star Church?" The 5 stars are: devotion to the apostles teaching, fellowship, breaking of the bread, prayers, and generously meeting one another's needs.
A disciple of Christ is one actively involved in reproducing himself or herself asa disciple of the Lord Jesus. Jon us as we talk about practical steps we can take to join Christ in his mission to make disciples.
A disciple of Christ is one who is led by the Holy Spirit -- the Spirit who led Jesus himself. Join us as we think through three questions:
- Who is the Holy Spirit?
- What was His role with Jesus?
- What does He do for/with us?
A disciple is one who has an genuine trust in the Lord Jesus Christ that is actively lived out in a dynamic relationship with him and a life lived in obedience to his commands. Jesus commands his disciples to love like he loves. Therefore, a disciple must be someone who imitates the love of Christ in one’s life and among other believers.
As disciples of Christ, we are:
- Motivated by our Love for Him.
- Responsible for Living in Obedience to Him.
- Characterized by these traits: Compassion, Honesty, Graciousness, Service, Generosity, Faithfulness, and Self-Controlled.
In his gospel, John defines a true disciples of Jesus as one who has a genuine and enduring trust in Christ that is expressed in a dynamic, faith-filled relationship with Jesus and lived in a life of obedience to him for his glory. In short, a disciple is one who follows Christ. Join us as we unpack this definition from John 1:35-51.
Abraham found peace in his pursuit of God. His journey parallels ours. Listen to find out how.
"We call it the Lord's Supper or Eucharist, because in it we are spiritually fed and nourished by the goodness of our Lord, and we in turn give him thanks for his kindness... It is meant to assure us that the body of our Lord Jesus Christ was once and for all delivered up for us, so it is now and forever will be ours; and also that his blood was once and for all shed for us, so that it is and always will be ours." -- John Calvin
The story of the woman at the well’s conversion can be summed in five different pictures. They are:
A Picture of a Woman talking with a Man. A Picture of a Confused Woman. A Picture of a Vulnerable Woman. A Picture of a Woman Who Has Surrendered Her Life to Her Savior. A Picture of a Woman Testifying to the glory of Her Savior.
Join us as we work through these pictures and see her store of conversion.
The Israelites participated in the Passover meal while in Egypt at God’s command. It signified his election of them as his people and their deliverance from slavery in Egypt. God met their needs just as he meets ours in Christ, our Passover Lamb. Join us as we see he grace and mercy of God in this first Passover.
Exodus 12 is a crucial chapter in the story of the Exodus and in the story of the Bible. It brings the conflict between God and Pharaoh to resolution. Join us as we begin our study of this chapter with the first 6 verses. The Passover Lamb had to be just right!
In the book of Exodus, God visited 10 different plagues on Pharaoh and the Egyptians. Each of the fist nine plagues served as building action to prepare the Egyptians and Israelites for the ultimate conflict of the tenth — the killing of the firstborn sons. God intentionally hardened Pharaoh’s heart during these plagues, which is a puzzling thing for many of us. How does the Bible explain this reality, and what does it mean to us? Join us as we answer these questions.
Is there anything greater than the resurrection of Jesus Christ? No. It is the single most glorious and wonderful act in all of human history. It changed the world and has a tremendous amount of significance to everyone, especially Christians. Join us as we discuss it!
Jesus entered Jerusalem as a humble king. He was the one about whom the prophets foretold, and he brought with him a kingdom of peace, joy, salvation, unity, and access to God. Our call is to bear fruit in keeping with his kingdom. Join us as we hear from Mark 11:1-26.
Moses simply didn’t want to go to Egypt to fulfill God’s will for his life. Moses came up with 4 different excuses to cover up this fact. Each time God countered with a solution. Oftentimes, we do the same with God. We simply don’t want to do what he’s called us to do. But, our excuses are no more legitimate or acceptable to God than Moses.
Moses asked God a legitimate question after God had told him that he would be the one to go to Pharaoh to demand the release of the Israelites. He wanted to know who it was that was sending him to deliver them. God said, “I Am.” This covenant name of God gives us a tremendous amount of information about who God is.
God’s people cried out for deliverance. He heard them; He knew their pain; and, He acted to deliver them. The Israelites were physically enslaved by the Egyptians, but we are enslaved by a much stronger and more evil master, sin. These verses encourage us to cry out to God in the confidence that He will deliver us in Christ Jesus.
Moses would become the great deliverer of God’s people from the oppression of the Egyptians. But, before he rose to prominence he had to go through a period of preparation in the wilderness. God had to prepare him for the task.
The book of Exodus is the story of how a faithful God delivered His people from the mighty and oppressive hand of an Egyptian Pharaoh. This historical isn’t meant to simply give us good and dramatic stories to tell; its meant to instruct us about how great the God of the Bible is and to guide us as we seek to follow Him. Join us as we dive into the first chapter of the book and discuss the nature of Pharaoh’s opposition to the people of God.