Grace Baptist Church: Recent Episodes
A triple braided cord is not easily broken- Solomon is encouraging us to be stronger together. So how can we benefit one another in God's church-- How does He build us together-- In what way are we -members one of another--- We'll consider that together this Sunday as we praise the Lord for the glory of what He has done in building His church over the ages -see text below-.
Romans is an amazing book. As the Gospel is unveiled it is almost -unbelievable-... and so we need to look to the whole Bible and its witnesses to share the Gospel's reliability. This week we listen to David's witness and He shares the great joy we have as a result of salvation that we do not earn by our works but God provides in His Son.
Romans is an amazing book. As the Gospel is unveiled it is almost -unbelievable-... and so we need to look to the whole Bible and its witnesses to share the Gospel's reliability. This week we listen to Abraham's witness.
The third and final Scene in our series on Abraham's faith this Sunday. This third was the most trying scene for Abraham and yet the most blessed scene by far- Let's consider Abraham's faith proved as he follows the Lord in bringing Isaac to sacrifice. --Of course, God's provision is seen even greater as Abraham makes this sacrificial step. So too, we find God provide for us as we give up for Him.
Hannah tells us a lot about life and parenting. Let's listen to her challenge in praise - Don't Boast. Trust-
Very often focusing on the Law and religious rituals distract us from where the power to change comes from. When this happens, these Laws become empty and even dangerous. Those principles don't grow us.--God's power changes us- And it is His grace, not His Law that does that changing. Both the motivation for change and the power to change is all of God's grace- grace that is living through us in Jesus Christ.
So much going on in the world- Much of the headlines this week have to do with Israel, even the headlines about our city. Last week our study in Romans touched on this same topic. If Israel is a stage on which to show God's glory, what went wrong-- We'll find this out in the sermon today. And this same truth will search our own hearts as Jewish or Gentile Christians today. Are we living up to the light of His word-- Let's graciously encourage one another... Even more so as -we see the day approaching--
God is light- And as we reflect His light well we guide people to Him. THey glorify our Father for the light that He shines through us. This was one of the roles of the Jewish nation in the Old Testament and is our honor today as Christians. May we reflect well on the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob today. This sermon we will praise God as light and see how He shines light on His stage of the Jewish people. As He does, the satan rises up to destroy His stage. But God uses even that wrath for His good.
We felt an earthquake and observed an eclipse the past couple weeks. Do these signify that Christ will come this week-- What did He say about His second coming-- We'll look at His teaching and survey some of the other teaching on Christ's return as we consider the Scripture's perspective.
Friends are a blessing in life. At times you may find yourself among many friends and at times with just one or two close friends. Some may be stuck in exile on a remote island, or solitary confinement and yet enjoy a close friendship with the Lord Jesus Christ. In this message, we highlight what God teaches in His Word about friendship.
God shows no partiality at all- That is comforting. He will not judge based on our economic status, ethnicity, or natural abilities. But He will judge fairly. How will you measure up to His impartial judgment-- That is a central question in life and one that the BIble answers.
The Law convicts of sin, but the Gospel motivates repentance. It is God's kindness in Christ that builds us up and spurs us forward. In our own strength we become miserable failures. Through God's kindness we find abundant hope and peace. Let's meditate on His rich love and kindness in the Gospel---Here is a link to the slides- https---prezi.com-view-8f1BFNiL52GsFQbxqIvb-
God's Justice is amazing- It is comforting in that He will set the record straight. That is convicting as well- Let's learn about God's Gospel Justice from Romans 2-1-3 today.
As we shine the bright light of the new life of Christ, one area that is so important is our trustworthiness. We take our word seriously and come through with what we say. As you make promises, you deliver. --Thank God that He does this- He keeps His promises exceedingly abundantly above all we could ask or think- Let's praise the Lord this Sunday for keeping His Word to us. --IN this sermon we finish out Romans1.
Let's take a checkup ... a spiritual MRI to see how many of the old things are passed away in us. These 21 vices of a depraved society are extremely practical in detailing a heart that has wandered from Christ. Let there be light- The Light of Christ's Gospel in our life.
Let's take a checkup ... a spiritual MRI to see how many of the old things are passed away in us. These 21 vices of a depraved society are extremely practical in detailing a heart that has wandered from Christ. Let there be light- The Light of Christ's Gospel in our life.
As we continue into the slide down into human depravity in Romans 1 we find a group the third time God hands over a society to Judgment... the handing over results in the danger of a disapproved moral compass.
As we continue through Romans 1, we find desires that are mis-aligned and spent on lesser things. Not just the lesser desirie of idolatry, but also the lesser desire for immorality. May the Lord give continue to -build us up on the most holy faith- as we go phrase by phrase through this Holy Word.
We've all been angry at one time or another. We become angry when something we love is threatened or harmed. We should love as God loves and we will be angry when God is angry.--Romans 1-18 shares how His wrath is revealed.
Have you ever been in trouble with an authority-- I guess all of us have been in trouble at one time or another. It's so great when you are able to get things cleared up. But when you know you are guilty and are waiting for the consequences of your actions it can be a stressful time- -We are all in that state by birth and the Gospel's third -unashamed- fact from Romans 1-17 will give us a deep appreciation that this is no longer the case because of Jesus Christ- Join us this Sunday as we praise God for justification-
Faith. We all have it. Without it, no one can please God. Do you have faith today-- Praise the Lord for it- Do you need more faith-- Ask the Lord for it. Faith is the victory that overcomes the world.- -This Sunday, the theme for our worship service is faith. We'll continue learning from Romans 1-16 why faith makes us unashamed.
What are your largest regrets-- Perhaps something that if it were known you would be ashamed. Thankfully God sees all these and waits for us to confess, forsake and learn from these failures. One thing that none of us should be ashamed of is God's glorious message. --What is it about the Gospel that motivates us not to be ashamed of it-- It has to do with its Power. Let's praise God for His power this Sunday. All Hail the Power Jesus Name-
The gathering of God's called out ones is a beautiful scene to Him- Called to gather is at the core of the meaning of the word -church.- It's not just beautiful, our gathering each week is also essential. - -The Lord knows that we need one another. As a body needs each of the other parts of the body, so you and I need each other. And as we gather, we build one another up in our faith. - -You need the church and the church needs you- That's the theme that we find here in Romans 1-10-12.
Happy Memorial Day weekend- This weekend we remember those who have fallen in battles past. At church, we will remember a couple of these prayer warriors of the past - Elijah and Paul. As we do so, we'll find principles to spur us along in this warfare.
God is compassionate -theme for Sunday- and calls us to trust His plans even when it does not seem loving. At times that trust is much more difficult than at other times.--Ruth and Naomi were called to walk through some dark valleys. And yet the Lord was their provider. This Sunday we will look at the example of Ruth in contrast to Naomi as an illustration of courageous faith in the face of circumstances that would cause most to become very bitter.
Faith- That's a great word. It encapsulates so much. . . the action of believing, what we hold on to as we believe, and how we desire to grow. Faith is also contagious. That was sure the testimony of the Roman church. Consider this truth from Romans 1-8.
What do we need more than anything else-- Of course, the Lord- But also the blessing that He gives - like God's amazing grace and calming peace. Those are two of the mirriads of blessings we have as those called in Christ. Sunday we'll consider these and other blessings that are ours in Christ - -The Blessings of God's children.---Prezi link here- https---prezi.com-view-RGI9VoVIXiSkQwpAkH5Q-
You Belong---Have you ever felt like you did not belong-- This can be a difficult feeling. Perhaps people there treat you as if you don't belong. That would be horrible.-Not belonging can also be a good thing. -I really don't belong here-- --If you have been born again through faith in Christ Jesus, you have true belonging. You are called out to belong to Jesus Christ. What a glorious truth- We will praise the Lord for this truth Sunday as we consider our calling as God's children-
What is our ultimate purpose in life-- Can you say you are fulfilling that purpose-- Those are deep thoughts. And yet, as you answer them, they clarify many other life questions that leave us puzzled. Our theme this Sunday points us to that purpose as we give -Glory to His Name----In this sermon we find the Bible's revelation about our ultimate purpose in life as we continue through the study of Romans 1.
Christ has risen- Our eternal life has been secured by His sacrifice- The Garden of Eden has turned into the Garden of Gethsemane has turned into the Garden of the Empty Tomb which has turned into the Garden of Eternal Heaven. Because He rose we will enjoy His presence forever. --This Sunday we'll celebrate this truth and learn how the fact of the resurrection secures our eternal life from Romans 1-4.
Christ is KING- We remember that scene from long ago, that original -Palm Sunday- as Jerusalem welcomed her King. Yes, He is the Descendant of David Who faithfully rules as David never could. May our Lord Jesus rule in our hearts today.Romans 1-4 gives the explanation of what Palm Sunday was all about.
Continue with us through the Book of Romans. In this sermon we consider verse 2 and discover why the book of Romans is so important in the NT Cannon. Be encouraged that the Gospel is what God promised beforehand through Christ the prophets. Glorious Gospel Treasure-
How steady do you feel spiritually-- Do you feel weak or strong-- The Bible states that God is able to establish us through the Gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ -Romans 16-25-. - -In this message, we continue through the letter of Romans and find how this Gospel can establish us for life and for eternity. As we worship we'll praise God for His work in us through the Gospel-
Let's begin Romans together- I'm so excited to start Romans 1-1- As we do, we consider the questions- What's our identity-- What's our calling-- What's our mission-- We will worship the Lord as Lord as our theme for Sunday as well.
God uses even negative circumstances in our lives to work great and grand purposes in the earth and in our own lives.--We find that in the life and ministry of the Apostle Paul as well. He trusted the Lord and was willing to face the most difficult of times, knowing that the Lord's purposes were best. His purposes are eternal. Let's thank the Lord for His work in our lives and trust His ways.
As a church reaches the city, it reaches the world. Look at Paul's ministry in Ephesus as it reaches all of Asia.
A loving family is a beautiful thing- And yet, it is just a picture of what God is in our heavenly relationships. You may not have a supportive earthly Father. But you do have a supportive Heavenly Father- And that relationship with your Father will dispel fear, conquer anxiety and bring an end to worry. That will be our message and text for Sunday as we consider our heavenly Father.
The Gospel message has a huge, life-changing impact on society. As you read the book of Acts, this idea blasts across each page as a primary message. Does it do the same in a culture that has no Judeo Christian background at all-- This Sunday, we'll discover how Paul shares this glorious message with a city that was totally secular. What do we do when we approach people who have no knowledge of the Bible at all-- Where do we start--
-You shall receive power- . . . Too often we know what to do but we can not find the power to do so. That power comes from God and in our age, God promises enabling power through His Holy Spirit living in us. This Sunday we will examine the first portion of the book of Acts -the power of Pentecost- and how the church exploded from just a few followers huddled in an upper room to a world-changing momentous movement.
One of the marks of a society that is given over to a depraved mind is that they are no longer thankful -Romans 1-. When we lose sight of God we lose sight of gratitude. And so this week is a great reminder for the Country and for all of us this week to be thankful. --We look forward to having the Bickels joining us this Sunday and Jer will be preaching from Colossians 3 sharing God's appeal for thanks.
What a great example it is before the world when we find in Christ what unifies us rather than what divides us. The things that divide are often surface compared to the heavenly things that tie us- -Bless be the ties that bind--- -This Sunday we will look at a few of these things from Philippians 2 and find how the Lord uses our commonness the biblical concept of koinonia.
One of the most thought provoking sentences from I John has got to be -God is love.- A one-word theology of God -- agape. Jesus stated that love summarizes all the commands of the Bible. This great action word summarizes God's nature and what we are to be in relation to Him and one another. So, of course it is also one of our primary directives for a Bible driven church. - -Let's worship the Lord Sunday for His great love toward us. And let's grow in our love for one another.
God grows His church spiritually and He uses you - - You are the means He promises to use, that's why each of God's children are essential to the proper function of the whole body of the church. - -How can we do this effectively-- When is someone ready to start building up others in the local body-- We'll find a vital lesson that answers that question Sunday as we look at Galatians 6-1-5. Feel free to read ahead. In our worship service we will praise God for how He grows His church spiritually.
God grows His church spiritually and He uses you - - You are the means He promises to use, that's why each of God's children are essential to the proper function of the whole body of the church. - -How can we do this effectively-- When is someone ready to start building up others in the local body-- We'll find a vital lesson that answers that question on Sunday as we look at Galatians 6-1-5. Feel free to read ahead. In our worship service we will praise God for how He grows His church spiritually.
Let's look at some of the primary passages in the Bible about Discipleship and dig out primary Bible principles for successful Christian Discipleship.
Join us for our 14 year old celebration. God has brought us through two sevens as a church. May He keep us for many more---I'm so thankful for the 75 volunteers that made this Sunday celebration possible. The Lord is good and gives good gifts to His church. Although they are not all named here, you will get to know a few of them as you hear songs, hymns and spiritual songs.
As you know, another group of innocent bystanders was shot this past week in a 4th of July celebration. These events sadden and even anger hearts of compassion. -How long, Lord------We not only find this happening on the streets, but also acts of oppression, violence and injustice occur in schools, businesses-workplaces and communities all over the world. All too often people take advantage of others just because they are stronger or more well connected. How do we respond-- How do we pray----We can learn from the Psalmist who responded in song when he saw violence enacted against the innocent. As we saw in our overview of the Psalms, there is a group of Psalms you could summarize as Justice Psalms. Psalm 10 is one of these where the Psalmist is face to face with oppression and he calls on God to act. How should we pray----Sunday we will look at this Psalm and praise the Lord for His justice.
Although Jesus was King, God chose to reveal His Son as a Servant. Although He was the Lion of Judah, God revealed Him as a Lamb. We find instruction here in how we treat one another in the household of faith. In love, we must serve one another. - -This is our theme for Sunday as we continue to consider the church's primary principles. As we survey the ministry of deacon, we will find important truths for how to live today and how to glorify God in how we live.
We can trust God as our Leader because we know He cares for us and everything He does is good. He does all things well. And He causes all things to work together for good. All things- What a great promise. - -And so He calls us as leaders to treat others with kindness out of a heart that is good - that is godly. Sunday we will focus on God's goodness and how He works all things together for good.
We can trust God as our Leader because we know He cares for us and everything He does is good. He does all things well. And He causes all things to work together for good. All things- What a great promise. - -And so He calls us as leaders to treat others with kindness out of a heart that is good - that is godly. Sunday we will focus on God's goodness and how He works all things together for good.
Life can be confusing and dangerous. We may not know what direction to take or even what dangers to avoid. We need wise leaders. Praise God for being our Good Shepherd and giving us human shepherds to help us---But caring for others is hard, especially in settings of high sin and high stress. Every human leader is still human, with a sinful flesh and finite limits. This is why God gives much direction in Scripture to the shepherding leadership of His people.--Join us for the worship service where we will praise God for His perfect shepherding.
Life can be confusing and dangerous. We may not know what direction to take or even what dangers to avoid. We need wise leaders. Praise God for being our Good Shepherd and giving us human shepherds to help us---But caring for others is hard, especially in settings of high sin and high stress. Every human leader is still human, with a sinful flesh and finite limits. This is why God gives much direction in Scripture to the shepherding leadership of His people.--Join us for the worship service where we will praise God for His perfect shepherding.
Aren't you thankful that God answers prayer-- I sure am- How personal our Lord is in attending to our cares and concerns. And yet He Holds the world in His hands- This will be our theme of praise Sunday.- -Prayer is the one element of our spiritual warfare that we did not cover last week. It is the all-pervasive need for each of us and for our church to be victorious. It is the practice of prayer.
Aren't you thankful that God answers prayer-- I sure am- How personal our Lord is in attending to our cares and concerns. And yet He Holds the world in His hands- This will be our theme of praise Sunday.- -Prayer is the one element of our spiritual warfare that we did not cover last week-- It is the all pervasive need for each of us and for our church to be victorious. It is the practice of prayer.
Be strong in the Lord. Our strength as children of God comes from Him, and yet He asks us to put on His Gospel armor in order to stand in the evil day. Let's consider Ephesians 6-10-17 to know what God's armor is in our spiritual armory for victory in spiritual warfare.
How beautiful is their feet-- Well, they may not look great on the outside. But the person who first told you the Gospel story has beautiful feet in God's book. ---And how can anyone preach unless they are sent-- As it is written- 'How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news'- -Romans 10-15----I wonder who first proclaimed Christ to you-- Praise the Lord they shared. How beautiful are your feet-- Have you proclaimed Christ to those who don't yet believe-- What about this question, have you proclaimed Christ and those who do believe-- Both of those are central to a Bible-driven person.- -God's Word will challenge us forward to this end tomorrow as we consider how to encourage each other to proclaim Christ as individuals and as a church.
How beautiful are their feet-- Well, they may not look great on the outside. But the person who first told you the Gospel story has beautiful feet in God's book. ---And how can anyone preach unless they are sent-- As it is written- 'How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news'- -Romans 10-15----I wonder who first proclaimed Christ to you-- Praise the Lord they shared. How beautiful are your feet-- Have you proclaimed Christ to those who don't yet believe-- What about this question, have you proclaimed Christ and those who do believe-- Both of those are central to a Bible-driven person.- -God's Word will challenge us forward to this end tomorrow as we consider how to encourage each other to proclaim Christ as individuals and as a church.
So many very good things to do and be in life- We must use focus to concentrate on those things that are most important. The same is true for a church.--As we approach our 14th church birthday at Grace, we will do just that, we'll look into God's Word to see exactly what the Lord wants us to focus on as a church body. In the mornings, we'll look together at our church book- -8 Principles of a Bible-Driven Church- and then in the service we'll focus our attention on a portion of God's Word that teaches that.--This Sunday, we'll focus on God's glory as the chief end of man. He is the only lasting, and eternal Royal.
So many opportunities to focus on as a church. What should be our priority-- In this series we gain an understanding on what God wants in churches as we endeavor to be Bible-Driven. This week our first priority. Our church exists to glorify God.
We often highlight the sensational things God does as He heals our body or provides for a physical need. But often the greatest supernatural works are the things that He does in our hearts to change us. We'll find a few examples of this supernatural work in the lives of several different people in 2 Kings 5 this Sunday. One of the most striking is how God gave a little girl healing victory through forgiveness. - -God's forgiveness will be the theme for this Sunday's service.
We often highlight the sensational things God does as He heals our body or provides for a physical need. But often the greatest supernatural works are the things that He does in our hearts to change us. We'll find a few examples of this supernatural work in the lives of several different people in 2 Kings 5 this Sunday. One of the most striking is how God gave a little girl healing victory through forgiveness.
Our Lord is worthy of all of our praise and especially of our songs of worship. This Sunday we'll enjoy the final sermon in the summer's sermons through the Psalms series. We will enjoy singing Psalms together as a church, and learn a new song written by one of our church members.
What is required of us as God's servants-- You could answer that in many ways, but one word that summarizes it well is -Faithful.- ---Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful- -1 Corinthians 4.-2 NKJV-.--This Sunday we will examine this principle from Scriptures regarding our need to be faithful witnesses. Also we'll praise God for being a faithful, God to us.
Our Lord is worthy of all of our praise and especially of our songs of worship. This Sunday we'll enjoy the final sermon in the summer's sermons through the Psalms series. We will enjoy singing Psalms together as a church, and learn a new song written by one of our church members.
How does God respond to rebels-- That question is answered so clearly in Psalm 2. In this song, the enemies of God are represented as trying to overthrow His rule. And He responds in a memorable way. We'll consider this Sunday as we remember that Christ is King and God is in control.
At times you feel like your elected representatives do not have your best interest at heart. Even worse is when you feel your attorney is not doing their best to represent your interests. That can be very difficult. We want someone to represent us who both knows us and has our best interests at heart. We want faithful and competent representation. - -As we continue through Psalm 110, we find that many years before Jesus came to earth, He was called out as our perfect Representative. This Sunday we will worship our Lord as our faithful High Priest.
I've been gripped by so many phrases in Romans 1. The one that gripped me this week was that our service is -for the sake of His name.- The name of Jesus fills the pages of Scripture, fills our hearts with worship and our hands for service. The Psalms are packed with references to Christ as well.--Sunday we'll study the Psalm that is quoted most in the NT. We'll focus our praise on the two primary verses in David's song of praise to Christ - Christ is King and Priest.
Slugging along through -uncharted waters- in life can be stressful if we feel alone. But the truth is we are not alone. God is with us to help and guide us. - -Psalm 37 helps us sing that truth. We'll focus on that Psalm and that idea in the worship service as we build our confidence and trust in the Lord. Let's follow His perfect plan as God lovingly guides and protects us.
Perhaps Psalm 23 has ministered to our soul more than any other Psalm. Here we find a restful spot in the world's stress and confusion. These words are in themselves a place of -still waters and green pastures.---I can't wait to walk through them together Sunday as we worship the Lord as our Shepherd-
Have you ever messed up big time-- Of course, you have. We all have. We've made decisions that we regretted. We've sinned in ways that have affected us personally, perhaps even in devastating ways.- -What should you do to get back on track-- What is the first step-- We find that in one of David's well known Psalms - Psalm 51. Tomorrow we'll look at that Psalm and consider the truth that God gives us both physical and spiritual life.- -Following the service we will enjoy celebrating the Lord's Table together.
God is to be blessed by all the earth- And yet, sometimes our praise becomes just lip-service. We sing but do we act-- Sunday we'll look at another Psalm and praise God for the truth that He deserves our devotion.
God shows compassion on His children. Tomorrow we will celebrate Father's Day by celebrating our heavenly Father and His steadfast commitment to the needs of His children. Allow Psalm 103 to encourage your heart, whether you are oppressed, guilty, or weary. And join us as we consider a psalm that urges us to worship God as He truly deserves.
Speaking the Psalms to one another is not an option in our churches. As the congregation is filled with God's Spirit -Ephesians 5-19- and allowing God's Word to richly dwell in us -Colossians 3-16-, we will be speaking Psalms to each other. And so our church is beginning a summer series on the Psalms.--This Sunday, we will consider how great God is as our theme for the service. We will also learn about the book of Psalms as a whole and dive into the shortest Psalm of the 150. Let's sing the Psalms of the saints and draw closer to God in song.
Speaking the Psalms to one another is not an option in our churches. As the congregation is filled with God's Spirit -Ephesians 5-19- and allowing God's Word to richly dwell in us -Colossians 3-16-, we will be speaking Psalms to each other. And so our church is beginning a summer series on the Psalms.
We have witnessed the effects of heart-breaking evil this week. 19 children's lives were torn from families leaving the whole country in mourning. What should be safer than an elementary school-- Our world is getting increasingly violent and evil. And our hearts break. We will be sure to pray for these families Sunday, as I trust you have already been doing faithfully.- -What is a response other than grief-- What answer is given to a society, and what can Christians do in a society of great evil--- -Our text for Sunday really answers this among other questions. What do you do when the days are evil--
Do you know the answer to this question-----What is the chief end of man-----This has been asked and answered millions of times by families churches and individuals over the centuries. Sunday, we'll consider the answer through a text from the final pages of the human history book in Revelation. - -In the worship service Sunday we will consider that God is worthy of worship. Let's come ready to worship Him-
Whether it's interpersonal turmoil, internal turmoil, or international turmoil, you are, no doubt, facing some type of uproar. We are all in that boat. Times change, but turmoil does not- so the steps given to rest during times of turmoil in the Bible are just as appropriate for us today. They are God-breathed and profitable for us for every step. In Psalm 4, the Lord gives us practical instruction on the steps to take to find inner peace even when the outward circumstances continue to unravel.
This Sunday, we'll be able to look at a Psalm that shares the secret to a families success, but also shares God's perspective on both birth and the vanity of trying to accomplish anything without God's compassionate care. We'll focus on God's compassion as our theme for Sunday's service.
This Sunday we will continue to focus on our mission as Christians now that the Lord has ascended. He made clear to His disciples what their lives should be about, and that is our mission too. Let's Follow Him.
The Resurrection of Christ, of course, is not the end of the story of Christ. In one sense, it is just the beginning. And as he ascends to the Father, He gives a commission that all His followers took seriously... to this day. --The life of Christ is more than a doctrine, it is a calling. And that calling is what we look at Sunday from Matthew 28-18-20.
It is amazing what some people pick up that others completely overlook. One of these has to be the final major event before Jesus enters Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. At this point it appears only one person truly knew what was about to happen and was responding in the way that she should. We'll learn her story this Sunday and celebrate the fact that Jesus is worthy of worship.
One central scene from Jesus' life and ministry comes shortly after the miracle of feeding the thousands. Jesus has a heart to heart chat with the disciples in the far northern city of Caesarea Philippi. They spend some time answering the question -Who is Jesus---- As they respond, He shares more details about the type of ministry He actually came to do and the calling that He was making to them was not one of military conquest but of a cross. Will they follow- Are you ready to follow-- -Pastor Andrew will be sharing this text from Matthew 16. I know it will be a blessing to you-
Times of world unrest are times that Christians can stand out in how we rest in Someone's power over all kings and kingdoms. Christ is still all-powerful. - -We only have seven weeks left for our study from Christmas to Easter considering the life and ministry of our Lord from the eyes of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Where the teaching ministry of Jesus may highlight Christ as Son of Man, the miraculous ministry of Jesus highlights Him as Son of God. This Jesus of Nazareth is not just to be heard, He is to be worshiped- - -Sunday, we will spend time praising Christ as all-powerful as we----All hail the power of Jesus' name--Let angels prostrate fall.-Bring forth the royal diadem,-and crown him Lord of all.-- -See you there, --Grace-
One of the questions that I get often when war breaks out on an international level is, -does this mean that Christ is returning soon-- The Bible gives a great answer to that question. And the Lord taught much about His return during His final week on earth... One of the final lessons He gave to the larger group of disciples on the Mount of Olives -often called the Olivet Discourse-.- -Sunday we will focus in on one of the parables of Christ during this teaching -see below-, and we'll focus on the comfort of the fact that He is coming to set all wrongs right in the future.
Jesus is the greatest Teacher, and His content is the most important for all to hear. This Sunday we will survey His message as the four Gospel authors recorded it. We will focus our worship and song on this aspect of our Lord even today- May we continue to listen to Him.---You call Me Teacher and Lord- and you are right, for so I am. -John 13-13--
Jesus is no stranger to conflict. Strong opposition came at Him from birth to death. And, actually you could track that opposition all the way back from the Garden to the Gates of Glory. As we track the life of Jesus, one of the big themes of the Gospels tracks the way that His message and ministry was opposed.--As we look at this Sunday, we will find Christ victorious over opposition and recognize His power over opposition in our life as well.
On Sunday we get right back into our series on the Life of Christ from Christmas to Easter with the fourth lesson. What a contrast the next two scenes are in the life of Jesus- He goes from water to the desert, from the Holy Spirit to the prince of demons. And in both, He does the will of His Father. These two scenes give us such insight into answering the question - Who is Jesus---As we look at these next Scriptures, we will be able to find the way out of temptation in our own lives as well. This will be the theme for our church service this Sunday. Following the service, we will have a fellowship meal.
Have you ever had the privilege of introducing someone you love or respect to others- I still remember introducing Sarah to my parents. I was a little nervous, but more excited than anything. That is something I looked forward to- --Who would God choose to introduce His Son to the world- What is the significance of the setting, and surroundings as He does this- And what significance does this have to our lives today- Does this affect our lives today or just those in the first century---We will look at this Sunday as we see Jesus' baptism and consider the need for repentance in our own lives.
Few concepts clarify the Christian life and the Christian worldview more than the concept of discipleship. And yet, perhaps we have made discipleship a little confusing over the centuries. Let's grasp what Jesus calls us to as disciples this Sunday.- -Why follow Christ- He is worthy of our following whole-heartedly- That will be our theme for the heart service this Sunday.
What would it have been like to be the neighbor of Mary and Joseph in Nazareth- That is a fascinating question- Does the Bible give us a clue- What does Jesus' birth and childhood teach us about God and how we should live our lives today- Sunday we will delve into this aspect of answering the question -Who is Jesus--
Happy New Year- How will your New Year be directed correctly- Well, I'd like us to consider a great request for us all to pray in the New Year that we would be able to fix as a compass for our 2022 as a church and as individuals. As we do so, we will thank the Lord this Sunday in worship and praise that His Word is powerful in our lives.
Happy New Year- How will your New Year be directed correctly- Well, I'd like us to consider a great request for us all to pray in the New Year that we would be able to fix as a compass for our 2022 as a church and as individuals. As we do so, we will thank the Lord this Sunday in worship and praise that His Word is powerful in our lives.
Merry Christmas to all of you today- May the Lord bless you with the joy of the Lord's gift of us -- the gift of -God with us.- That is what this Season is all about. The curse is reversed because Christ has taken on the flesh that will be rent, and the blood that will be spilt. Praise God for His gift---Tomorrow we will look at -The Wise Woman- of Christmas. We will advance to the weeks after Jesus' birth at a scene in the temple as Anna blessed all who were there. -Luke 2-36- See text below.-.--Following the service we will have food available in the basement. Consider bringing a dish, dessert or beverage. And we'll see you then.--Merry Christmas---Tim
Good morning- What a scene in this Christophany, as Satan accuses God's people, the Lord steps in and rebukes Him. But was Satan's accusation correct- -- This Sunday we will have our final Christophany. This one is so precious and very comforting to us all. We'll summarize it as the fact that Christ saves.
Good morning- What a scene in this Christophany, as Satan accuses God's people, the Lord steps in and rebukes Him. But was Satan's accusation correct- -- This Sunday we will have our final Christophany. This one is so precious and very comforting to us all. We'll summarize it as the fact that Christ saves.
The next appearance of Christ in the Old Testament will shock you a bit, and it should. When we get this glimpse of Jesus, we will respond in manner to His holiness and glory. --God's holiness is a great theme for us to focus on in a time when His name is treated so lightly and His Person is regarded with contempt. Join us this Sunday as we worship the Lord-
Christ remains faithful to us even when society and world events put His children in the fire of affliction and testing.
Imagine walking down a dark hallway. You become blind if no light is shining. Then you become injured if you stub your toe on the invisible furniture -or child's lego toy- right in front of you. You and I aren't fans of the dark.--To walk down a dark hallway is one thing. To live a dark life is another. And it can be terrifying. We need direction for our uncertain path, and we need protection from the invisible dangers around us. We need answers.--Join us for worship Sunday as we continue looking at the glories of Christ in the shadows of the Old Testament. We'll consider a dark time in human history as well as the light that God shines in that dark time. And we'll realize that we too can find light and stability in Jesus Christ. The songs and Scriptures will remind us of God's faithfulness to His people. See you there-
Unfamiliar challenges are difficult, right- Whenever you are challenged to try something new you are stretched. A new school, a new group of friends, or perhaps a new trial like an illness or failure can all be uncomfortable.--And yet, if we move forward into the unknown challenge with others that we know well and know the challenge well, we can go forward with some confidence and assurance. This is exactly what the Lord does for us as we move forward with Him.--This Sunday, we will continue to find Christ in the Old Testament and find the comfort of His presence. Even in the most difficult of transitions in life, if He is with us, we need not fear---Join us Sunday and praise the Lord for this great truth.
Have you ever disagreed with someone- Of course you have. How about other Christians- What do we do when we disagree with other Christians- We have had a multitude of items lately that no doubt you have had to disagree with everyone to one extent or another. In Romans 14 -See below-, the Lord outlines what our approach should be over items that Christians have differences of opinion.- -Let's thank the Lord for the peace and unity He provides even in the midst of these differences. We are thankful that our unity in Christ and His Gospel far outshines the differences of opinion on minor matters. We will praise the Lord for HIS peace and dive into Romans 14 this Sunday at Grace.
This Sunday falls on a very significant day in world History. As you may know, October 31st is regarded as the beginning of the Reformation. On this day in 1517, Martin Luther asked for a public theological debate about several key issues -95 to be exact-. These issues centered around what we summarize as the solas of the Reformation. Sola or Alone - Scripture Alone, Christ Alone, Faith Alone, Grace Alone, and to the Glory of God Alone.---These are great themes- We will sing through each of them this Sunday and then look at another Scripture text where we see the Deity of Christ in the Old Testament. Jesus did indeed walk in many scenes of the Tanack. This Sunday we will enjoy one of my favorite scenes - Genesis 22 -text below-.
Job faced many difficulties and yet he was able to see past his day and even past our day to know that he would be vindicated at the resurrection. Why- Because He had a Redeemer -Text below-.--Let's look at this Redeemer this Sermon as we begin a mini-series on Christ in the Tanach. Jesus walks through all the pages of your Bible.
As we consider Paul's prophecy about a day in which -they will not endure sound doctrine,- it is important to remember that the Lord knew the day. The Lord encourages His church to continue to move victoriously forward through the power of His Word.
Messages come at you non-stop. Text, picture, audio-visual--the world screams and subtly whispers to us our attention to take action. We cannot stop the messages from coming our way, and yet we can be careful to hear God's messages and share His message with others. This was Paul's final challenge to Timothy while waiting for his own death sentence.
If your foundation is shaky, all you do on it is dangerous. This is the life lesson that Jesus shares as He concludes the Sermon on the Mount.
I am astounded each time I hear of a well-known pastor or church leader who no longer professes what they taught so boldly about the Gospel. This does not mean the way was false, but that they were false- In fact, they were most likely a wolf along the way. --Last Sunday Jesus directed us to the way to God. This Sunday He is going to guard us against the wolves who are along the way. Beware lest you be taken, or lest you be a wolf in the sheep's way-
Christ's conclusion to the Sermon on the Mount is one of exhortation. He does not leave us on the fence but prods us forward in a commitment to discipleship. Follow Him- The road is narrow, but the road leads to life.
When we consider the anniversary of 9-11 we remember those who fell and who served faithfully during those dark hours. We also remember God's use of trials in our lives as we endure them. Our darkest times are often times of greatest spiritual growth.--In this message, we consider this theme and praise the Lord for how He is in control even in our greatest trials. Let's trust Him- We will consider James 5-10-11 as our encouragement to endure in trial.
No one enjoys difficult seasons of life. And yet, these times of endurance are placed there by the Lord to help us grow in our Christian faith. Join three men as they share their story of endurance and the lessons that the Lord taught them. --As we share these stories together, we will as we swim, bike and run a triathlon in NYC and encourage you to help our church take the next steps in raising funds for a building project. Each step of faith is important. Help us move forward- --Donate here- https---nycgrace.org-race
As we contrast the lives of Jonah and Paul, we find valuable lessons for us and an appeal to radical great commission living.
There is no such thing as a selfish Christian. If you are living for self then you are not living out the servant mindset of our Lord who came to serve rather than to be served. This is a central component to finding our calling in what God is doing on the earth today... to be plugged in to what He is building. --The Bible gives a stark illustration of the necessity of serving one another in Romans 12. God designed us as Christians to be healthy when we are serving one another in love. Your life is not your own. It is wound up in what God is doing as He builds His church.
Joshua faced a daunting task and God gave him grace to complete the task with joy. How did He prepare Joshua and what can we learn from his life-
What is the perfect society- Sociologist and Philosophers have struggled with the answer to that question for a long time. What would it look like and more importantly, how might we get there---Our Lord gives us the description and prescription for a perfect society in one verse. We will examine that passage Sunday as we consider God's kindness to us.
In the next section of the Sermon on the Mount Jesus draws us into His embrace asking us to speak with God about what is on our heart in prayer. And He does so in relationship to children with a parent.
Following a command not to be judgmental, the Lord cautions us not to be naive in how we allow others to take advantage of His Gospel truths in our lives. When do we cut these relationships off-
Don't Judge others- That is the next topic in Jesus' Sermon by the Sea. All judgment has passed over to Him Who judges perfectly. Does this mean that I should never correct someone- In what way do we judge- Let's dive into Matthew 7-1-5.
One of the most quoted, and inspirational verses in the Bible is Matthew 6-33. Let it encourage you again to put Christ first in your life as Jesus preaches His Kingdom priorities on the Sermon on the Mount.
God's Great words of compassion come to us from Ephesians 2-1-7. In this Sermon Dr. Baker focuses our attention primarily on verse 4.
In our Lord's teaching on anxiety, He focuses our attention on getting rid of worry through worrying about bigger things. Things that involve His strength.
At times we struggle with being anxious. That may be anxious about work, family or relationships Today you may be anxious about bills, health, children, world problems, city problems, loneliness, what others think, an upcoming task or transition . . . the list could go on and on.--Those Jesus taught felt the same pressures, and He encourages His followers to consider the Lord's care for them. The Lord's preaching in the Sermon on the Mount not only challenges us at the heart level, it also encourages our faith in a practical way. He teaches us how our Theology affects our everyday life.
In the faith chapter, Hebrews 11 teaches that faith is the -evidence- for what we -hope- for. By faith, we worship and serve a God Whom we have not seen, expecting that He will take us to a place that we have not seen when we die. --Seeing the unseen -faith- touches every part of our lives. The truth is, if you are a follower of Christ, you will live this way. Or if you stray from living this way, God will guide you back to living this way. Not only is this a central truth in Christianity it is the primary point of Jesus' sermon on the Mount. Serving and seeing One we cannot see.
Giving our heart to God--Who already owns all things--is one primary application that Jesus gives in the Sermon on the Mount. In this instruction, Jesus' gives a revolutionary view of -treasures- and trust for followers in His kingdom. His followers trust Him with everything as they give Him their heart -see text below-.
In Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, He repeatedly refers to God as our Father. What kind of Father is He- He is One Who notices, Who cares, and Who loves to graciously reward His children. This is why we come to Him in prayer and seek Him even with fasting. --Your Heavenly Father notices you. That will the theme for the service tomorrow as Jesus picks up the theme of prayer and fasting
We finish our study of the Lord's Pattern Prayer as we leave this great text with a closing for the Glory of God in our purity.
The life that God blesses is clearly outlined in Psalm 1. Brother Muki takes us carefully through this Psalm to encourage us to follow the Lord toward the righteous way of His blessing.
What do you need- As the Lord teaches us to pray for our needs, it is significant that He only uses a few words to describe what we need physically, and yet He uses many to describe what we need spiritually. And so we begin again with the text. What do you need- You need forgiveness.
As we continue through Jesus' Pattern Prayer, we find the only phrase that deals with praying for our physical needs. Let's glean from our Lord's teaching on how to pray for your daily bread.
Easter Sunday brings us to the house of a skeptic. How does Jesus handle such a person--
The Lord's Pattern Prayer can turn into another rote recitation that loses out on its true spiritual significance.
we will find that prayer itself can be sinful- After all, the first temptations to sin for creation came in that heavenly place as Satan chose to serve himself instead of the Lord.--The same tension exists today, even as you enter heaven's palace in prayer, you will be tempted to pray in a sinful way. Let's ask the Lord to instruct us from the sermon by the sea on how to avoid sin in our praying.
The Lord gives us no wiggle room when it comes to a changed heart. He continues to encourage us to follow Him to the end.
Complete Justice. What does that look like- This Sunday we find out as we praise the Lord for completing our Justice.
Satisfaction is not just difficult in life, it is impossible. Outside of understanding the world from a Christian Philosophy of living, we would not be able to cope with the deep ideas of life. In Ecclesiastes, Solomon searches these truths and gives us some direction to find a purpose in what might otherwise be considered life's purposelessness.
No one has seen God at any time. We need to show His love to others through kindness. In this way we can manifest Christ to the lost world and bring them to Him.
Are we devoted to prayer- I'm convinced that there are things the Lord waits to do till we are asking Him to do it. I'm convinced of this because that is how He dealt with His disciples. Let's follow our Lord's example, and the early church's example in being devoted to this task-
The last few sermons, we've learned that the early church was a devout bunch. Right after their birthday, they devoted themselves to the Apostles' teaching, to fellowship, and this Sunday we will discover how to devote ourselves to -the breaking of bread.-
Ours is an age of outrage. Anger, fear, and frustration have populated the headlines. People are not naturally concerned with each other, and whatever displays of good-will are often not very genuine or permanent.--How has God called us to live differently- How would your life appear different if you followed His calling to true fellowship-
God does not save us to set us on a shelf. We wants us to do His work. How can we use our unique talents and abilities to do -the work of the Lord-- Sunday we begin to consider how we can do this by applying Acts 2-42 to our own culture. We will also thank God for speaking to us in His Word as a theme for the worship service.
We have had another slew of images and stories develop here in the US which have reverberated across the world, through the news cycles, and no doubt your mind and thoughts. COVID headlines are replaced with the storming of the Capital buildings. It does make you wonder the -what- and -why- of what is happening. Or perhaps more importantly, what part do I play in all this as a Christian-- -I thought it would be helpful for our church to pause our New Year series -see below-, and consider God's hand in world events--and especially the coming and going of administrations and rulers. Also, how should God's people respond to these coming and going of events- We will answer these questions in this Sermon from the book of Daniel.
One is often tempted to feel let-down following the beginning of a New Year, because so much anticipation and hope surrounds that turn of the calendar page. It seems that more are let down this time than normal. After all, many things seemed to be moving more positively just a bit ago as we looked ahead to 2021. But then, we find many of the same stress factors still in our lives. Perhaps you have found your hopes dashed because of hopes that are unfulfilled. . . -The vaccine, is here- yay-... but delayed in getting to many.-Political unrest continues to boil.-COVID numbers increase leaving schools and restaurants closed.-The loss of loved ones and -normalcy- hurts more in this time of year.--I thought 2021 was going to bring new hope-- Well, it does. Please continue patiently in the Lord. And yet, perhaps these continuing factors will hep us have a good 2021 focus... in the best places. Let's try to gain the right focus for the New Year together in light of all the pressures surrounding us in life.
Brother Phiri shares how the genealogies of Jesus point us past the baby in the Manger to the Lord of all.
What glory is this One Whom Wesley states - --Born in flesh, the Godhead see, -Hail the Incarnate, Deity.--Perhaps John 1-14-18 gives the closest explanation to this mystery that we will ever know.
Our Lord always keeps His promises. Because of Jesus, all the promises of God to us are -yes.- That is why we will praise Him this Sunday----For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory- -2 Corinthians 1-20-.--This is not only a call to praise, it is a call to follow. As we admire the Lord's commitment to His promises in Christ, we follow by fulfilling our promises one to another in our marriages and in our promises. This is the next topic that the Lord speaks to in the Sermon by the Sea.
I love reading the Old Testament examples -- good and bad. They are there both for our learning and our warning. They teach about how the Lord sees our gratitude or grumbling. In this sermon, we will look into 1 Corinthians 10 to learn the Lord's pleasure in our thanks.
Christ's law of love encourages us to find our ultimate fulfillment in our relationship with Him. In Christ we can be truly satisfied - thankful for our current conditions. This gives us a new perspective on love and lust.
There are times when we do not obey the Lord's command from last Sunday to refrain from speech that is unkind. Even in the church body this can happen. So, what should our response be if we have offended, or are offended- The Lord encourages us to reconcile with one another first.
We want to thank God for how He speaks with kindness towards us in the Gospel. This kind speech is a genuine test of someone's Christianity. This is the first of several applications that Jesus gives in the Sermon on the Mount to the internal Law of Love.
Of course, so much rides on elections. Perhaps we get a little too caught up in the news cycle because of that. So let's learn from God's Word what is our primary responsibility as a Christian citizens. Whether that be citizens of Rome, Argentina, or the United States, the Bible is clear in what God would have us do -first of all- as Christians in a country.
God always completes what He promises. As the Psalmist claims----The Lord will accomplish what concerns me--Your lovingkindness, O Lord, is everlasting--Do not forsake the works of Your hands- -Psalm 138-8-.--We can be thankful that the Lord will accomplish His purposes in us. We do well to wait for Him while -He's still working on us.- He accomplishes all His promises for good for His children.--We trust Him to complete what He begins in us because He is the One Whose Word is reliable. In fact not one Word of His promises will fail. Jesus Himself is fulfillment of that Word. We will praise Him for this as we continue through the Sermon on the Mount where Jesus declares His relationship to this faithful Word -text below-.
Living out the beatitudes will set us apart in so many ways. Our Lord pictures this in two helpful illustrations. We are salt and light in the world. We examine those two pictures in this Sermon.
As we follow Jesus' path, we will find some of the same opposition and hardship that He faced. He not only suffered hard times, He was persecuted to death. If we follow Christ well, we must receive His help, and His encouragements during those times. We will find the this in the worship service and the final beatitude in the Sermon on the Mount.
God gives peace and rest to the soul at storm. Not only does our soul need peace, our society does as well. The concepts of peace, justice, and violence are such a major part of discussions in the political arena, the -outdoor- coffee shop arena, and just about every other arena you can imagine. No doubt many of your social media feeds are stuffed with these topics.--Not only does God give us peace in our soul, He encourages us to make peace with others. Does the Lord's appeal to peace in the Sermon on the Mount give us some idea of a solution to the unrest in our society- I believe it does. -Happy are the peacemakers.- We will continue to delve into the Sermon on the Mount for this timely message from our Lord.
Personal holiness is not a common theme for preaching today, nor is the topic popular in many other public forums for that matter. But it is one that Jesus deals with as He shares the -blessednesses- of kingdom citizens. And it is a condition for seeing God. This Sunday, we will work through this next beatitude, and praise the Lord for his holiness in worship.
The journey toward happiness for the citizens of Jesus' kingdom is paved with mercy. We are in His kingdom by mercy and we make mercy a trait of our own lives. In this sermon we look at the next beatitude from Jesus' sermon by the sea. Blessed are the merciful-
Where do we go after times of destruction- Even destruction so great that it looms over our horizon for 20 years---This is a quiet day down here at the 9-11 memorial. Today marks 19 years since those dreadful attacks that killed 2,977 people. Perhaps you are grieving the loss of a loved one today - or perhaps just remembering someone that you miss.--Perhaps you are facing a different day of destruction in your town today. We see images of many other devastating events today, because of fire, looting, or even the effects of COVID on a community.--And, perhaps you are facing another, internal devastation that no one even knows about. The Bible gives us a place for hope in these times.
The children of Israel failed the test of faithful obedience time and time again. Let us heed the warnings to their unfaithfulness and follow our faithful God-
The Lord continues His paradoxical preaching as He gets deep into our heart and our desires. Do we desire His kingdom- Are we finding our right standing in our own works or His finished work-
Events, people, movements come and go - the flow of history. And as they do, they dot our skyline with lasting monuments which provide security, and beauty to our existence now. In this video, we look at the greatest of these events. Please take the time to watch the entire presentation, and prayerfully consider God's beautiful skyline of justice and mercy--It was a joy to preach this message to a Promenade of Pedestrians in Brooklyn Heights - -
What is the kingdom- And how is the kingdom of God inherited- As we continue to walk through the Beatitudes, we find another paradox of blessing.
As we continue to consider the Life God blesses, we find that He brings comfort to those who are grieving. Let's consider together the secrets of Christ's Kingdom.
Much is said of God's Blessing. We want His hand to be on us for good. This desire in all of our hearts must have been a primary reason that Jesus began the Sermon on the Mount with this topic. And so we will do the same- Let's dive into this Sermon with great attention and commitment to change.--In the first words, Jesus gives us the true Key to the life God blesses.
The battle is clear. And the way to stand comes as we learn to pray. May all of God's people find encouragement to join the path of a prayer warrior.
In the message, we look at more illustrations of a changed Christian. These are the examples that the Holy Spirit gives the church to help us visualize what the -new life- of Christ looks like. The men we will examine from Colossians 4 will give our Father's some good thought for change on -Father's Day- tomorrow.
So often we need pictures and illustrations to help us visualize the new life of Christ. As Paul finishes this letter to the Colossians, he does that. We find several faithful examples of living out the life of Christ. In this sermon, we find a high testimony and a transformed testimony.
As Christians, I know we all want positive change for everyone in our communities, no matter our age or ethnicity. And yet, it is sad at times where our society goes to try to ensure that change. Some avenues toward change can be distracting to the need of the moment and otherwise helpful solutions.--I am thankful that the Bible speaks to the needs of our society today with lasting solutions. I realize they are not necessarily easy solutions. But the Gospel does bring hope and peace toward a fractured society. In this sermon, we survey the Bible's teaching on that positive change.
The current scenes around the country bring many different topics that need addressing and narratives that need telling. This is just one of the many. Join us on the rooftop to consider the a vision decrying racial prejudice.
When life is down, we must look up. The God of heaven stands poised to work.--Moses and his enslaved people labored hopelessly under the domination of Pharaoh. What was God's message to them- And how did He lead them to the point of deliverance- The answer will stimulate us to praise God once more.
Our passage in Colossians sure is appropriate to our current situation in our culture. Let's ask the Lord for the wisdom that comes from above to make the most of every opportunity He gives -see text below-. Please join the stream at 1-00 pm-
Let's praise the Lord during this time in our culture that God answers our prayer. What difficulties are you facing today- God knows your needs and wants you to come to Him in prayer.--Would you describe yourself as devoted to prayer- As the Lord continues to develop the changed character of the Christian, He moves from our work attitude to our prayer life.
This Mothers' Day we will look at the ladies in the Faith chapter of the Bible who are examples of faith in the face of difficult circumstances. As we do so we will praise God for the example of the faith and love of these ladies. May God's love be exhibited through each of us this week.
David cried out, -I was glad when they said to me, -Let us go to the house of the LORD.- I think we understand King David's longing heart a little more during this period away from church gatherings. There were several times in his life that he was not able to meet in corporate worship with the congregation.--Because we are in Queens, we are not ready to do that this Sunday. But it won't be too long - Keep a calm heart my brothers and sisters, we will be able to meet again. And when we do, we will be sure it is a safe meeting. Also, we will want to be careful not to put pressure on you if you are not yet ready to meet- that's ok- But, eventually we will all want to meet at church again.--We all want to meet, it's in our heart to as Christians. Why is that- In this video, I want to lay out a few theological reasons for this, rather than just practical reasons. --Of course, I could go on and on with reasons we meet, sharing hundreds. But I'm primarily picking things that we cannot really do well virtually through zoom or screen-based communication. Let's, all ask the Lord to bring about the re-gathering of His people in churches.
When Christ changes us, He begins to work in every area of our lives. And one very important area is our working - the way we interact as both employee and employer. Paul shares this change in Colossians 3-22-4-1
The next portion of Colossians is so practical- How do we live in community victoriously- In this passage, we find the Christo-Centric life fleshed out in how to live in family. The focus for the worship service will be Christ in His humble helpful servanthood.--Living in community is so important at this time. What does this look like- How an I accomplish this in my family-
Welcoming the Word of Christ is of vital importance to you. How can we welcome the Word- What are the byproducts of this lifestyle-
Sunday finally came- And as it did, their tears turned to joy. In this message, we look at John's account of the Resurrection of Jesus. He is risen indeed- We learn the responses that the first believers had to Jesus' resurrection and the need to follow their example.
We remember Christ as King on Palm Sunday. This is a great theme to consider during these unsettling times. Events are not out of the -reign- of Jesus' control. We can continue to rest completely on our King, giving Him praise. Surely, if we do not praise Him, the -rocks would cry out.-
Even the strongest believers in the Bible needed fresh encouragement to keep their eyes on the Lord during their times of trial and temptation. And so, we need that as well- In this sermon, we look at one of the texts in the Bible that is designed to do just that. --The book of Lamentations is a tearful poem over the destruction of a city. And yet the author finds in the middle of that distress an island of hope, an anchor for his soul.
What great lessons we learn from nature- Jesus uses the lessons of the birds and the flowers to encourage us to trust Him implicitly. And so, as we work through a time when nature is bringing death, and discord, we should remember Jesus' commands -Matthew 6- not to be anxious. Christ encourages us to be calm.
Why is sickness in the world- What is a Christian perspective on illness- Tomorrow we will dive into the Scriptural answer to these questions. Our primary passage will be Paul's perspective in 2 Corinthians 12 where Paul learns that God's strength is actually more pronounced in His weaknesses.
The New Life in Christ is not just a bunch of don'ts. There are a new set of attitudes to look forward to putting on as well- We pick up on these positive attitudes in the sermon this Sunday. The primary new attitude is that of love.
In Christ we are a new creation. Part of that is also a new community. A society where we overlook the natural barriers that might divide us and encourage us to treat each other with kindness.--In this sermon, we continue this aspect of the New Spiritual body and its effect on us as Christians.
Your new nature in Christ is demonstrated in all areas of life - even in our speech. The Word of God is pure and that character trait should be shared by our speech as well. --In this sermon, we resume our study of Paul's letter to the Colossians - -It's all about Him--... even our words Your new nature in Christ is demonstrated in all areas of life - even in our speech. The Word of God is pure and that character trait should be shared by our speech as well.
Have you faced difficulty or trial this week- Trouble comes to all of us. And often we struggle with the question of why. Why did this happen---No doubt Job struggled with this as well. And God gives us, in this Old Testament book and the life of Job, some very good answers to the question - -Why do bad things happen-----In this sermon, we answer this question through summarizing this book.
We can always find comfort in the power and compassion of Christ. As we read the Gospel of Luke, we are amazed at Jesus power over storms, weather, demons, disease and death. In this sermon, we examine Luke's account of Jesus power from Luke 8.
In this Sermon, we continue to focus our vision the New Year above. The Lord is the one satisfying constant in life. Let's focus our eyes on Him - -Be Thou My Vision-