Heritage Bible Church | Lincoln, NE: Recent Episodes
Heritage Bible Church
A gospel-centered community seeking to glorify Christ and love people well. We love the Havelock Community!
Our Core Values: Centered on the Gospel | Sound in Worship | Intentional in Community | Committed to Mission | Surrounded by Grace
Luke 18:35-43-9:1-10 | Pastor Dustin RogersG - God Created us to be with HimO - Our Sins Separate us from GodS - Sin Cannot be Removed by our good DeedsP - Paying the Price for Sin, Jesus Died and Rose AgainE - Everyone who Trusts in Him Alone has Eternal LifeL - Life that is Eternal starts now and Lasts Forever with Him!Last week, with the help of Paul's language and allusion in Galatians 3:13-14, we peered into the horror of Christ's mangled body affixed to the cross. There He became the curse and absorbed the wrath of God so that we might know His mercy and grace. It is finished...He paid the price for sin and then rose in triumph over it! What good news. But, a few questions remain.Who is this gospel for? Who should we share it with? Does Jesus have a type? And...since Christ's death has satisfied the wrath of God, is the barrier that separates us from God automatically removed for all people?
Genesis 3 | Pastor Dustin RogersLast week in our G.O.S.P.E.L. series we saw that God created us to be with Him. We stand in awe of the fact that the incomparable God, who spoke the Universe into existence, wants to dwell with us. We marvelled last week at the wonder of how and what He created, and what it all reveals to us about His character. God is SO great...and He is SO very good. Yet, for many people, this is a difficult premise because when they look at the world, it doesn't seem to paint the full picture. I mean, if God is so good, why is the world so bad? Why is there so much pain, sorrow, and injustice here?God created us to be with HimOur sin separates us from GodSin cannot be removed by our good deedsPaying the price for sin, Jesus died and rose againEveryone who trusts in Him alone has eternal lifeLife with Jesus starts now and lasts forever
Pastor Matt McGrew | Pastor Dustin RogersThe vision to see an authentic, gospel-centered church planted in northeast Lincoln originated within a small group of believers who began to meet and pray together toward this end in 2006. In 2009, they invited Pastor Dustin Rogers to move to Lincoln from Virginia to lead the launch of this new church. On September 27th, 2009 Heritage Bible was born.God has richly blessed over these last 13 years as Heritage has grown from a small community into a thriving congregation. We're so thankful for what God's grace has accomplished for His glory and yet we continue to lean forward. On September 10th, we will launch Anchor Bible Church, a new church south of Lincoln. What a milestone and answer to prayer this will be!
Philippians 1:12-26 |. Pastor Dustin RogersAs we have begun to engage the book of Philippians, we have already seen that true Christian joy transcends our circumstances. This reality jumps off the page as we envision Paul writing from a prison cell, and yet communicating with exclamations of rejoicing. What an example! Yet, as we will see in Philippians 1:18-26, Paul's joy is anchored in substance. It's anchored in a robust hope. To be clear, Paul's example of joy is not one of eternal optimism. He doesn't reluctantly try to put a smile on his face and "be happy" because he knows that this is what Christians are supposed to do. Get this, his joy is not even merely a reflection of his trust in the sovereign plan of God. No, Paul will tell us that his joy transcends his adverse circumstances because of his confidence in a number of things that he lays out in the text. And friends, these same aspects of hope are available to you.Friends, our text will proclaim that you can know a profound joy that transcends all circumstances. Isn't that a phenomenal truth?!
Acts 16Pastor Dustin RogersWe'll wrap up our flyover of Acts 1-16 and our effort to see and learn from how the gospel advanced in the early stages of Christ's Church. It will be an unusual sermon tomorrow as we take some time to highlight a few important elements from Acts that directly relate to our vision to plant Anchor Bible Church. Additionally, we'll take a brief look at Acts 16 as a springboard to our upcoming verse-by-verse series in Philippians. Man, I'm stoked about what God did in this ancient city in Macedonia and am eager to see how it will shape us today.
Acts 10-11Pastor Dustin RogersLast week in Acts 9 we saw that when Saul of Tarsus showed up one Sunday to church in Jerusalem, they were like, “Nope! He's the #1 enemy of the church, hates Jesus, and murders Christians like it's his job! He needs to go." But, he wouldn't leave and over time they found that he was legit...because Jesus had saved him. Friends, no one is beyond the reach of God's grace! The church was surprised by grace.Well, in chapters 10 and 11 it would happen again. The church would be shocked and appalled by another movement of God. But, as was often the case and is often the case today, the church of God will need to get out of His way.
Acts 5 & 6Pastor Matt McGrewAs we continue our flyover of the book of Acts, we'll look at Acts 5-6 and will be reminded that even the first church had "Growing Pains". After reading Acts 2-4, it would be easy to think that the experience of the early church here in Acts was simply euphoric and fairly utopian. But, as Pastor Matt will show us, sin and suffering have always been present in Christ's Church. So, how would these things affect the people of God back then? Furthermore, how should we think about the reality of sin and suffering in our present and future?
Ephesians 2Guest speaker Virgil L. Walker serves as the Executive Director of Operations for G3 Ministries. Virgil served as the Discipleship Pastor at Westside Church in Omaha, Nebraska for 6 years and is the co-host of the Just Thinking Podcast.
Pastor Matt McGrew
“Without Christ's resurrection, and the salvation and blessings it brings, Christianity would be pointless and pitiable. Without the resurrection, we would have no Savior, no forgiveness, no gospel, no meaningful faith, no life, and we could never have hope for any of those things.”— John MacArthur
1 Peter 1:13-21 | Pastor Matt McGrew This week we will be in I Peter, focusing on the lifestyle of obedience and holiness that should flow out of our salvation. Peter wants us to see that sanctification is the natural result of a heart motivated by the great price Christ paid to redeem us.
HBC Women's Conference | A Heart at Rest | Speaker: Mrs. Cory McGrew
Often we can find ourselves in a whirlwind of uncertainty or worry. Our hearts and minds are pulled in multiple directions causing us to feel burdened, exhausted, and sometimes even hopeless. How can we live a life that is characterized by peace? How can we find rest in the midst of a culture that denies truth, embraces destructive philosophies, and elevates self-fulfillment while they reject the only One Who truly satisfies? Join us as we pursue "A Heart at Rest."
Session I. Discernment: Walking in Wisdom.
Session II. Contentment: His Purpose, Our Peace.
Session III. Untangling from the World: Eternal Living.
Last week our studies in John 2 took us inside the Temple with Jesus and His disciples during the Passover week in His first year of public ministry. But, this visit inside the Temple courts took an unexpected turn. Instead of kneeling for prayer, Jesus knelt to tie together a whip of cords and proceeded to clean house! He was righteously angry that these courts in His Father's house had been reduced to a kind of flea market. In this, we saw the real Jesus and His zeal for real worship. But, the scene wasn't over. When the dust cleared, one of the guys who had just been run out of the Temple, steadied himself to challenge the authority of the Man with the whip. My friends, Jesus' response to this challenge is remarkable and pregnant with meaning for us today.
TEXT: John 2:13-17. Let's suppose that you were to survey a hundred random people with the following question: "what adjectives would you use to describe Jesus Christ." My guess is that adjectives like loving, merciful, kind, forgiving, and gracious would be well represented. To be clear, they should be. However, a comprehensive study of the life of Christ helps the honest person to see that the list of adjectives to describe Him is much longer. In fact, the list includes adjectives that some might find surprising. One such adjective is front and center in our text. In John 2:13-17, Jesus is angry. We'll see why Jesus is so angry and why His reaction is not only appropriate it's also endearing.
Text: John 2:1-12 As we open up chapter 2 of John's gospel, we will see the first of seven signs that John records in chapters 1-12, whereby Jesus manifests His glory. It's the Sign of Fine Wine =). Yes, this first manifestation of glory is familiar, but there may be more to it than you originally thought.
Pastor Matt McGrew walks us through John 1:35-51 as we continue our study of John 1-12.
I trust you've had a good week and that you're looking forward to another opportunity to gather together in worship of our great God! As we open His word together, we'll be engaging John 1:19-34. In this opening act of the narrative of John's Gospel, we'll see a curious delegation of the religious establishment pay a visit to our friend, Jonny B. As they inquire about whether he is or claims to be "the One", we'll see both a denial and an affirmation. John the Baptist expressly denies his own importance and affirms the identity of the One who is. Friends, we can learn so much from him about how to engage people today - how to be a witness for Christ. Moreover, we will also have ample reason to stand in awe of our Savior again! Let's get ready to worship as we "Behold the Lamb of God who comes to take away the sin of the world"!
Well, as we continue to make our initial descent into the Gospel of John, we'll consider the latter half of the introduction (or prologue) to his record about Jesus. In a message we've titled "The Word and Witness," we'll consider the two characters verses 6-18 reveal. The first (the Witness) is an eccentric character whose aim is to draw our attention to the second (the Word). The "Word" is both the point of this passage and the ultimate point of all of human history. You see, the "Word" is a person...the revelation of God in Christ!
Test: John 1:1-5 Pastor Matt McGrew begins our new sermon series in the Gospel of John. See & Believe
Listen as Pastor Matt McGrew walks us through Proverbs 3:1-12 as we kick off the new year.
"They shall his name Immanuel (which means, God with us)" - Mt. 1:23
The reality of Christ's coming to this earth to be with His people - to be with us - is cause for great rejoicing and reflection. Thus, it is such a good rhythm for us to pause each December to celebrate Christmas. So far in our corporate gatherings, we've taken intentional time to consider the joy and comfort His advent should bring. Tomorrow, we consider the theme of Hope. As we do, we will seek to consider the coming of the Messiah through Jewish eyes...as family history. And this is appropriate as the tale of redemption is our story. Indeed, it is our family history! So, I want to encourage you to prepare your hearts and minds to see the fuller picture tomorrow as we continue to dwell upon the meaning of Christmas. It is a picture that will undoubtedly fill us with HOPE!
"It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas." I was singing along with Michael Buble to this classic today as I thought about the many things that are so great about this time of year. I love the parties, cookies, decorations, gift-giving, family time, and music, etc. But, most of all, I love the rhythm of remembrance regarding the coming of Christ. Indeed, Jesus is the reason for the season.
Last week Matt helped us to think about the many reasons we have for genuine Joy as we consider the coming of Christ. Tomorrow we will consider the theme of Comfort. While it may not seem to possess an immediate connection to joy, I think that the path to the kind of joy that transcends circumstances must first pass through the comfort of God. As we consider this Christmas theme tomorrow, I hope that you will be reminded of the tremendous comfort that is available to you in Christ. Moreover, I hope that you will be motivated to spread it to those around you. The best present you give this year might be a hug...along with a heartfelt expression of love.
Pastor Matt McGrew reminds us of why we should always be thankful because of the Good News of Jesus Christ.
Thanksgiving week is upon us! I love Thanksgiving for many reasons. Though a friend of mine recently told me that Thanksgiving is "just a good meal on the way to Christmas", I remain undeterred in my love for this holiday =) The food, family, football, and spirit of gratitude make it a favorite for me. But really, Thanksgiving should be much more than a holiday...it should be a lifestyle.
As we engage the book of Philippians again, I trust that we will be both challenged and encouraged by Paul's instructions toward "Living Thanksgiving". Tomorrow we will see that when we surrender our lives to God's Word and Will, we will experience internal joy and make eternal impact. See you tomorrow friends! *As we enter this holiday season, let's be mindful of the many in our midst who grieve recent loss. May our hugs, cards, words, and prayers communicate the care and support of our gracious God.
I hope that you've been able to enjoy the beauty of fall in these past couple of weeks. Trees turning fiery red or bright yellow is spectacular to see and another beautiful reminder of the goodness of our great God. Fittingly, these sights are also a reminder that Thanksgiving is upon us. But, I hope that Thanksgiving is more than a holiday for you. I truly hope that it is more than an event where we might be forced to come up with a few things we're thankful for. I hope that Thanksgiving is a lifestyle.
I think that the book of Philippians could be subtitled something like "Thanksgiving Living". So much of what Paul shares with the church at Philippi in this letter is aimed at a lifestyle of joy and thanksgiving. We're going to consider this over the next two Sundays as we dive into Philippians 2:14-18. I look forward to studying this with you! *As we enter this holiday season, let's be mindful of the many in our midst who grieve recent loss. May our hugs, cards, words, and prayers communicate the care and support of our gracious God.
Billions of dollars are spent each year to keep our nation, homes, bank accounts, investments, internet, passwords, and our lives secure. We want to live with the confidence that we are safe from enemies who would steal, kill, and destroy. But, what about the ultimate enemies? What about Satan and all his forces of evil? All those billions can't ultimately protect against him. What about death? All the money and supposed security in the world will eventually fail against this (nearly) undefeated foe.
But friends, we have access to a SECURITY that money can't buy! In Christ, we are tethered to the ONE who has defeated death and hell and Satan! In Him, we have overcome the enemy who would steal, kill, and destroy. With the real Jesus, we have an abundant life that is full of joy and hope! The Real Jesus has made All the Difference and provides Real Assurance. This is what John has reminded us of in his first letter, and I, for one, have been blessed by it over these last several months. We conclude this study tomorrow as we look at 1 John 5:13-21, yet I hope we don't conclude the experience of security. I trust that we will put the message of this portion of God's word into a Belt of Truth that we wear every day!
What a beautiful fall weekend! And hey, every weekend is a good weekend to gather with the family of faith to worship Jesus. As we open up the Word of Life together tomorrow, we'll consider one amazing verse - 1 John 5:13. Having worked our way through the whole of the book of 1st John, we'll be able to consider this standout verse in light of its broader context. I trust that in doing so, we will find this treasured verse to be all the more valuable for our walk. Speaking of our walk, at some point along the way in our Christian journey, we will come across moments of disappointment, failure, and fear. We will journey through seasons of dryness or doubt. In times like these we need a Savior...in times like these, we need an anchor. 1 Jn. 5:13 beautifully reminds us that we can be very sure that we are tethered to the Rock that is Jesus Christ. Our heavenly Father wants us to KNOW that we are safe and secure! "A Wonderful Savior is Jesus my Lord...He hideth my soul in the cleft of the Rock and covers me there with His hand"
It's a matter of life and death!
Hi friends! I hope you've had a great week and are eager to gather again to worship Jesus with brothers and sisters in Christ. Last week in our studies in 1st John, God showed us three birthmarks of authentic faith: True Belief, True Love, and a True Life (1 Jn. 5:1-5). In verses 6-12, John does a deeper dive into the centerpiece of True Belief, the doctrine of Christ. As he continues to battle against false teaching about Jesus, John wants to help his people have precision about the object of their faith...for he knows that this is a matter of life and death. "Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life". (1 Jn. 5:12)
As we’ve worked through the letter of 1st John, we’ve seen the Apostle weave a web of security for the people of God…a web of security that shields us from the fears and insecurities that seek to hunt us down and rob us of the joy of knowing where we stand with Him. What a blessing it is that God desires for us to know and experience assurance and security in Him!
In 1st John 5:1-5, John brings the main points of this web of security together as he moves toward his powerful conclusion. I look forward to studying this with you as we gather for worship.
Pastor Matt McGrew steps in to teach 1 John 4:13-21 in our 1 John Secure Series this morning.
It's time we had a talk about masks. Through the first 18 months of this COVID crisis, I have been so thankful to God and proud of this church family for how we have navigated the difficult waters. It has been challenging to be sure and yet the collective efforts toward brotherly love and unity in our continued worship of God have been remarkable to witness and experience. However, the recent edicts from our local governing authorities have posed new challenges to us and have raised new tensions in our midst. As Elders, we want to be honest about these and address them biblically, directly, and transparently. So, as we open God's Word we will seek God's eternal wisdom that imports so readily to our present day. Though the mask mandate will sit in the background as a pressing issue, the sermon will not fundamentally be about masks but about God, His Word, His Body, and our collective worship of Him!
“with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”(Ephesians 4:2–3)
1 John 4:1-6 ESV 4 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3 and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already. 4 Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. 5 They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world, and the world listens to them. 6 We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error.
Heritage Family,
This passage has been the single most impactful text for me in the midst of difficulty. I'm thankful the LORD led me to study it in more detail these past two weeks and share it with you. It's so important and helpful to be able to grasp a text that can quickly center your mind and stabilize your heart in the midst of storms. Friends, Philippians 4:1-9 is one such text that you should constantly have in your spiritual tool belt. We'll be looking at it again tomorrow as we consider the 5 ways Paul seeks to help us STAND FIRM!
It is Independence Day here in the great country we're privileged to call home. What a great day to give thanks for the freedom we've been given as citizens of America (1 Tim. 2:2), and to celebrate a greater freedom as citizens of heaven (Phil. 3:20)! We are FREE INDEED!
I look forward to gathering with you around the Lord's Table and around His Word. As we do, we will be freshly reminded that Jesus has been Mighty to Save us from our sin and set us free to rejoice in His goodness no matter what circumstances we face. Let freedom ring!
As we continue our study in 1st John tomorrow, we come to one of the most encouraging texts in this letter aimed at our SECURITY. Led by the Spirit, John knew that the sensitive hearts of believers would struggle with self-incrimination. He knew that we would be tempted to believe Satan's lies and plunge into seasons of doubt. So he wrote 1 Jn. 3:19-24. What a blessing this text is to our hearts. We'll see here that while our Feelings are fallible, well-placed Faith is formidable against our fear.
Incidentally, for those that are reading ahead in preparation for what we will study tomorrow, you are likely intrigued by a particular phrase in this middle of this text. The phrase is, "whatever we ask, we receive from him because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him". 1) Really? Whatever we ask we're guaranteed to get? 2) Is our relationship with God contingent upon performance?
As a heads up, I won't address this verse until the very end of the sermon tomorrow but when I do, I hope that the context of this phrase will help make perfect sense of what John is saying! In my view, what seems like a confusing statement is really a phenomenal encouragement!
As we study God's Word together, we will continue the message from last week that primarily focused on 1 John 3:16-18. In this text, we saw the kind of love that Christians should have. It's the kind of love that Christ has displayed and His children should give. Last week we noted that this kind of love is Super and Selfless. We will see that it is, furthermore, a love that Sees and Serves. Reflected in our lives, God's love has eyes and hands. I pray that this love would be reflected in our homes and in the great Body of Christ.
As we study God's Word together, we will return again to 1 John 3:10-18. You would have noticed last week that we did not finish our study of this text and thus we must return. There is simply so much here! (In fact, we won't even finish this text tomorrow!) It's hard to truly soak in the love of God. Moreover, it's nearly impossible to weigh out all the necessary changes His love should make in our lives. But, this text helps immensely.
As we continue to our series in 1st John, understand that we've reached a kind of hinge in the letter. We’ll begin to see John emphasize the second major litmus test as he aims at helping his people find security in their relationship with God. Now, the first major test is the test of Light – do you walk in the Light? The second is the test of Love – do you walk in Love? I continue to hope and pray that each of us will bring a heart open to the instruction of God's word.