Podcast Deleted: Recent Episodes
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RESOURCES:
God Helps Those Who Helps Themselves - David Dykes
Blue Letter Bible
Post Christian Thinking - Jared Wilson (Christianity Today)
Ephesians - Martin Lloyd-Jones
RESOURCES:
God Didn’t Say THAT - Scott Behe
God Will Not Give Us More…. - Steve Johnson
Blue Letter Bible
Enduring Word Commentary - David Guzik
RESOURCES:
“The Object of our Faith.” IHS Global Resource
Acts: Expositors NT (Richard Longnecker)
The Expositor’s Greek Testament (RJ Knowling)
The Message of Acts (John RW Stott)
Acts (Barclay)
RESOURCES:
Commentary on Acts 2:14-41 (Scott Shauf)
Peter’s First Sermon (Ronnie Floyd)
The Message of Acts (John RW Stott)
Church at the Ballpark (JD Greear)
Acts (Barclay)
RESOURCES:
The Enduring Word Commentary (David Guzik)
Acts (Barclay)
The Theology of Work Project: Holy Spirit
The Gifts of the Spirit (Pytches)
Biblical Guidelines for Speaking in Tongues (Flavis Johnson)
RESOURCES:
The Legioneers Commentary - Darrell Bock
Acts - William Barclay
The Expositors Book of Acts - Merrill Tenney
Enduring Word Commentary - David Guzik
The People God Uses - Rick Brown
RESOURCES:
Enduring Word Commentary - David Guzik
Acts - William Barclay
Faith and Courage - Derek Carlsen
The Greek English Lexicon - Bauer
Acts 1:8 - David Platt
RESOURCES:
The Parable of the Fig Tree - Fred Craddock
Daily Study Bible - Barclay
Theology of NT Theology - Colin Brown
A Plain Account - David Johnston
Parables of the Kingdom - Robert Farrar Capon
RESOURCES:
Our King is Nothing like Archelaus - Brian Evans
The Parable of the 10 Minas - Theology of Work Project
Doing Business for Jesus - Steven Cole
You Only Had One Job - Philip Bethancourt
Luke - William Barclay
Parables of Judgment - Robert Farrar Capon
RESOURCES:
Parable of Grace - Robert Farrar Capon
The One with the Most Points is Dead - Michael Marsh
Parable of the Pharisee and Publican - Yohan Perera
Work Righteousness - Brian Evans
Greek Grammar Beyond the Basics - Daniel Wallace
RESOURCES:
Parables of the Kingdom - Robert Farrar Capon
The Responsibility of the Kingdom - Rory Mosely
Richard Clayton - Matthew 13
Matthew 13 - Barclay
RESOURCES:
Parables of the Kingdom - Robert Farrar Capon
People of the Kingdom - James Montgomery Boice
Hidden Treasure - Joshua Harris
The Case for Buried Treasure - Ray Steadman
Priceless Treasure - Dan Myers
Matthew 13 - Barclay
RESOURCES:
Parables of Grace - Robert Farrar Capon
Teach Us to Pray - Rory Mosely
The Theological Dictionary of the NT - Colin Brown
Luke - Barclay
Perseverance Through Prayer - Scott Harris
The Emotionally Naked Blog - Unanswered Prayer
RESOURCES:
Winning the War with Worry - Ralph Miller
Bauer, Ardt, and Gingrich Resouce
Dictionary of the NT - Colin Brown
Luke - Barclay
A Disciple’s Perspective - Bob Deffinbaugh
RESOURCES:
Fundamentals for Spiritual Maturity - MacArthur
Commentary on 1 Peter 5 - Edwin Blum
Notes on 1 Peter 5:7 - Chuck Smith
Humility vs. Anxiety - Grace to You Blogpost
RESOURCES:
When God is Silent - Steve Thomason
Dealing with Depression - Paul Ries
Commentary on 1 Kings 19 - Paul LeBoutillier
Elijah Commentary Notes
RESOURCES:
Commentary on Philippians 4:4-7 - Edward Pillar
How to Have Peace - John Miller
When You’re Anxious - Bryce Morgan
Defeating Anxiety - Blog by Brent Kerchecville
Prayer vs. Worry - S. Peak
RESOURCES:
The Burial of our Lord - Robert Rayburn
The Gospel of John - Barclay
What a Difference - Lee Bechnall
The King who Takes Away Fear - Nick Esch
RESOURCES:
The Blind See - Steven Cole
The Gospel of John - Barclay
The Blue Bible Commentary
The Blind Man - Phil McLarty
RESOURCES:
Greek-English New Testament - Eerdmans
What’s Wrong with the World - GK Chesterton
Judging the Judges - Ray Steadman
Exegesis on John 8 - RN Donavan
John - William Barclay
RESOURCES:
John - William Barclay
A Lame Excuse - David Henderson
Do You Want to Change - Greg Laurie
Healing of the Man at the Pool - Ralph Wilson
RESOURCES:
John - William Barclay
The Woman from Sychar - Scott McCallum
By His Stripes - Eric Celeria
John - Merrill Tenney
RESOURCES:
Jesus Meets Nicodemus - Jeremy Norton
The Son of God Know Nicodemus - Brian Evans
Twin Truths: Sovereignty and Responsibility - MacArthur
The Gospel According to John - R. Brown
John - Merrill Tenney
RESOURCES:
Expositor’s Luke Commentary - Walter Liefeld
The Culture is Wack - Rob Renfroe
2 Timothy - The Gospel Coalition
Biblical Interpretation - I. Howard Marshall
RESOURCES:
Commentary on Luke 15 - Matt Shiver
The Father’s Love - Brian Evans
The Parable of the Prodigal Son - Philip McLarty
Expositor’s Luke Commentary - Walter Liefeld
The Tale of Two Sons - MacArthur
RESOURCES:
The God of the Neglected - R. Stedman
Lost and Found - All Carr
The Parable of the Lost Coin - Yves I-Beng Cheng
Expositor’s Luke Commentary - Walter Liefeld
The Seeking Savior - MacArthur
RESOURCES:
The Heart of God Toward Sinners - Ron Latulippe
The Parable of the Lost Sheep - Greg Carey
Laid on his Shoulders - Bryce Morgan
The Seeking Savior - MacArthur
Expositor’s Luke Commentary - Walter Liefeld
RESOURCES:
Treasury of David – C.H. Spurgeon
Psalms – David Legge
Psalms – George DeVol
Four Names – Greg Webb
RESOURCES:
Tyndale House Publishers. (2015).Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.
Keller, Timothy. The Songs of Jesus: A Year of Daily Devotions in the Psalms (pp. 292-293). Penguin Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.
Jones, E. Stanley. The Way (p. 93). Abingdon Press. Kindle Edition.
Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains, Logo Bible Software Version 8.
RESOURCES:
Treasury of David – C.H. Spurgeon
The Working Preacher – Rolf Jacobson
Psalms of Ascent – Ray Fowler
YouVersion Daily Readings – Lifechurch.tv
RESOURCES:
Treasury of David – C.H. Spurgeon
Effective Prayers – C.H. Spurgeon
Seeing God Intervene – Mike Minnix
Psalms – Arno Gaebelein
Another Lesson on Prayer – Steven Cole
RESOURCES:
A New Covenant in My Blood – Ralph Wilson
The New Covenant – Keith Mattison
Covenants – David Leggett
Covenant Relationships – Keith Intrater
RESOURCES:
Loving Confrontation – Lynden Shook
Covenant Relationships – Keith Intrater
Covenant Theology – Ligon Duncan
The Covenant Guarantee – Ray Vander Laan
RESOURCES:
Genesis – Bill Arnold
Essence of Femininity – Elisabeth Elliot
Covenant: The Heart of the Marriage Mystery – David Foster
A Promise Kept - Robertson McQuilken
RESOURCES:
Covenant Relationships – Keith Intrater
The Blood Covenant Foundation – Malcolm Smith
Blood Covenant – Clay Turnbull
Studies in 1 Samuel – John Ortberg
RESOURCES:
Covenant Relationships – Keith Intrater
Galatians – John MacArthur
Blood Covenant Foundation – Malcolm Smith
Abraham the Friend of God – J.C. O’Hair
As Jesus’ resolute journey to the Cross moves one step closer, we find him now on trial before the Sanhedrin, the ruling council for the Jewish people. But, while standing trial sounds like Jesus has a chance to be exonerated of all charges, the outcome had already been decided before he even came before them. Although an elaborate system had been set up to assure justice was provided for everyone facing trial, the men of the Sanhedrin disregarded all of these measures in order to ensure conviction. This was Jesus after all, and they needed to get rid of him quickly and quietly. To achieve this end they weren’t above lying, manipulation, bribery, and even violence. Today we still find Jesus standing trial. People are looking for a reason to discredit and deny him all the time. But, knowing that, Jesus willingly and resolutely endured it all to lay his life down as a perfect sacrifice for our sin. Yes, the crucifixion and death of Jesus is coming…but that certainly is not the end of his great journey!
As we continue this series walking with Jesus toward the Cross and Resurrection, once again the Pharisees use a question in an effort to trap, accuse and eliminate him. This time they focus on their area expertise, the Law.
"One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 'Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?'" Matt. 22:35-36 Jesus' response, once again reveals his heart and mission..."Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind...Love your neighbor as yourself."
Jesus knew his mission was to love his Father by choosing to obey His Word. He also understood that his mission was to love others well by choosing to treat them with compassion, speak truth to restore them, and show forgiveness, even to his death.
In pt. 3 of the Resolute series, Pastor Branson shares the astonishing truth about resurrection and what it means for those who are in Christ. In Matthew 22:23-32 Jesus is again confronted by the Jewish leaders who want to eliminate him. This time their efforts focus on resurrection. Jesus responds to their veiled trap with a simple but amazing truth: “Have you not read what God said to you, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’? He is not the God of the dead but of the living.” Matt. 22:31-32. God is the God of the living! This is an amazing truth for us to hold onto! Because Jesus conquered death and rose again we have the promise of an eternal life with God through faith. And, because God can do “immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine”-Eph. 3:20, we can have great hope and confidence in the wonderful relationship He wants with us, and all that is awaiting us in Heaven!
In part 2 of the Resolute series, we find Jesus once again confronted by the religious leaders of the Jewish people. They are threatened and frustrated by the authority with which Jesus acts and teaches. Jesus' authority is in direct opposition to the authority they perceive they have, and they want him removed.
If we are honest, like the Pharisees and Chief Priests, we don't always like Jesus' authority in our life. We don't like the idea of someone telling us what we should or shouldn't do, and we certainly don't like it when our comfortable way of doing things is threatened. We like to walk in the perception that we are our own authority. But, the truth is, Jesus has all authority in heaven and on earth (Matthew 28:18). As his disciples we must choose to trust him, place ourselves under his authority, and follow him in every area of our lives.
"As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem." Luke 9:51 As we enter into a new sermon series that will lead us to Easter...the trial, the beating, the crucifixion, the grave, and the empty tomb we fix our eyes on Jesus, who with determination and focus, went to Jerusalem to fully accomplish all He came to do. Along this journey He will encounter opposition and questioning, and how He responds reveals His true heart for His mission here on earth. In part 1 of this series, Jesus enters the Temple courtyard and finds it to be far from the place of worship it was meant to be. He proceeds to clear the Temple of all who would hinder worshipping God, making room for all who need healing to come to Him. Following His actions, Jesus receives two types of responses. A group of leaders question Jesus' authority while a group of children lift "Hallelujah's" to Him in humble praise. As we walk through this Easter season, what are we carrying into His House, and how can we be like the children, lifting our humble praise to Him?
As we close this sermon series we are challenged with a simple but powerful principle from Paul's word to the people of Corinth.
"Remember this, whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously." 2 Cor. 9:6
The principle looks something like this: - We live intentionally and generously, trusting in God's supply. (Sowing) - God shows Himself faithful to provide abundantly for all our need. - We come to know Him more as we receive His provision and blessing, and we reveal His glory to others. (Reaping) - God is glorified!
God desires for us to trust Him for what we need, and when we do He delights in showing Himself faithful to abundance!
In part 2 of his Wrestling with Finances series, Branson shared three principles related to the purpose of money from a parable in Luke 16. This story of the shrewd manager teaches us that money is a tool we are to use to build relationships that will last in eternity, money is a test that can reveal where our heart dwells, and money is a trademark that shows what we really serve. Money is not good or evil, but how we handle our stuff or "mammon", including our money, matters to God and therefore should matter to us.
A steward is not the owner but rather the manager of what has been entrusted to him/her by the owner. From Scripture we understand that God is the owner of all things and we are His stewards, called to manage His creation well. As stewards, we are to manage all that has been entrusted to us in such a way as to bring the most honor to God and to grow and advance His Kingdom. When we understand this one thought it changes everything about how we live.
Over the past few weeks Pastor Branson has led us through a message series called Killing Kryptonite, which highlights the destructive power of idolatry within the church. While we may not be casting idols out of gold to worship, we frequently choose to turn from God's Word and make a way for ourselves that we can shape and control as we see fit. This is idolatry and it is destructive in our church and in our lives. But, there is an antidote to this deadly poison, it's called repentance. Repenting means turning from our old way of thinking and acting, and instead, choosing to align ourselves with God's way. Letting go of our old ways and turning to trust God takes great humility and courage, but when we do we are freed to fully live in the power of the Spirit within us.
In this weekend's sermon we looked at a story from the Old Testament that is probably familiar to many. In Exodus 32 we find the Israelite people quickly becoming impatient with God and deciding to take matters into their own hands, even after they have seen Him do great things for them. When they decide that God isn't accommodating their desires the people of Israel decide to fashion an idol out of gold so that it can be the object of their worship.
We can easily read this story and say "What were they thinking? That is ridiculous!" But the reality is we are much like the people of Israel. How quickly we become impatient or frustrated with God when He doesn't act when or how we think He should. We fashion counterfeit gods for ourselves when we want a god we are more comfortable with, a god who fits better into our circumstances, our thinking, or our way of living. This is idolatry, and it is Kryptonite to the Body of Christ because it turns our hearts from God and His good plans for us.
Part 2 of the Killing Kryptonite series is all about the power of unity among the Body of Christ. Jesus' prayer for all his disciples in John 17:21-22 was that they would be unified as one, just as he, the Father and the Spirit are one, so that the world might believe. There is great power in unity among believers, but it can be weakened, if not destroyed by our sin and disobedience. Self-centeredness and unrepentant sin will always act as Kryptonite against the power of the Church.
n part 1 of his new sermon series, Killing Kryptonite, Pastor Branson shared three powerful promises from John 14:12-14, as well as three spiritual principles for accessing and applying the power of these principles in our lives. As followers of Jesus Christ, we can stand on the truth from Romans 8:11 that tells us the same "Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you." As we begin to understand and live out of the power of this truth, we will see God do amazing things through us, to impact the world around us!
"But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times." Micah 5:2
In part 3 of the Dilly! series we stopped to answer the question "Why Bethlehem?". It was no remarkable place for the Son of God to be born. It was small and certainly not the center of attention in the ancient world. Yet, God chose Bethlehem to bring about His most remarkable plan of redemption for the world. That plan reveals to all of us the true humility and grace of God, that He chooses to use the small and ordinary to bring about His extraordinary grace and love!
We often begin the story of Jesus with an angel visiting Mary, but his story goes back much farther than that. In Part 2 of the Dilly! series Pastor Branson walked us though a part of Jesus' story in Matthew 1:1-17 that we often breeze past. This passage lists the genealogy of Jesus, and it is a most remarkable list indeed! Among other things, this list highlights three very remarkable things related to Jesus' story: He really did come in the flesh (Emmanuel-God with us); He really is the focal point of history (the fulfillment of God's promises and plan); and He really did come to save all people (God loved us and chose us).
We began the Christmas sermon series and it is remarkable! In fact, it is Most Remarkable! The word dilly actually means "most remarkable", and while many products want to tout themselves as being remarkable, we know there is only One who is Most Remarkable, and his name is Jesus! Although there are many things that are most remarkable about Jesus, Pastor Branson shared three in part 1 of this series. First, His origin was remarkable in that the God of all creation left Heaven and came to Earth as a baby, born in a manger. Secondly, His name was remarkable because no one name could contain all that he is! "He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." Isaiah 9:6 Finally, His mission was most remarkable because he came, not only to rule and reign, but to take on the full weight and punishment for all sin, for all people, for all time! To that we say Dilly!!
The theme of Redemption runs throughout the book of Ruth, and this final chapter in the story is no exception. As we close out her story we see Boaz live into his role as Ruth's kinsman redeemer by marrying her and caring for both her and her mother-in-law Naomi. Pastor Branson shared that two great blessings came to Ruth and Naomi from this redemptive act: a renewed life, and a lasting legacy. Ultimately, we see God's amazing redemptive plan through Ruth's story. Jesus coming as our Kinsman Redeemer brings us the opportunity to know new life and to be part of a lasting legacy in the Kingdom of God!
Pastor Branson continued his theme of "Two" in our walk through the book of Ruth this week. As we go deeper into the story of Ruth and Boaz, we see two people who have made a decision to live with intentional righteousness. We see this in how they care for and show respect to those around them and to one another. Ruth and Boaz give us two great examples of how to intentionally live in such a way that others are cared for well and God is honored
This week, Pastor Branson focuses in on two key words from the book of Ruth that describe Boaz but ultimately describe God and point to Jesus our kinsman-redeemer.
In part two of Ruth the Moabite Pastor Branson talks about the characteristics of Ruth and Boaz that we should imitate.
Say What? is a new series that takes a closer look at some of the things that Jesus told his disciples about following Him. This week Pastor Branson unpacked Luke 9:46-48, “He who is the least among you all-he is the greatest.”
This week Pastor Branson talked about the importance and reliability of the Bible and it's relevancy in our lives today.
Pastor Branson kicked off the Rooted series by describing a church that we can all be proud of.
Pastor Jay Buckingham closes out the Let Us series with Hebrews 13:15-16 which urges us to continually offer a sacrifice of praise with the fruit of our lips regardless of our circumstances.
In this message Joe Cox, Director of College Ministries, shows from Hebrews 13:10-14 how Jesus went outside to us so that we could be inside with Him. God will do whatever it takes for us to be in His presence.
In this message Pastor Branson reminds us of all that we already have through Jesus and encourages us from Hebrews 12:28-29 to be thankful & worship God with reverence and awe.
In this message from Hebrews 12, Pastor Branson shares some important keys to finishing the race that has been set before us well.
Modern technology offers many ways to listen or watch sermons from anywhere in the world (podcasts, youtube, Facebook live, etc.). In this message, Pastor Branson points out the importance of habitually “meeting together” from Hebrews 10:25.
In this message Pastor Branson points out the importance of looking out for one another and encouraging each other in our faith. We weren’t meant to do life alone and, as Christians, we have a responsibility to each other.