Lake Wildwood Baptist Church: Recent Episodes
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The church isn't called merely to expose deception—we're called to rescue the deceived. Jude gives us three responses for three spiritual dangers: Mercy for the doubting. Urgency for those in danger. Discernment for those entangled in sin. The rescued are called to become rescuers.
n a world of deception and compromise, how does a Christian remain faithful? Jude shifts from exposing false teachers to equipping believers with God's battle plan: build your faith, pray in the Holy Spirit, keep yourself in God's love, and wait with hope for Christ's return. Discover how to cultivate a faith that doesn't fold.
In this audio of the Sermon, you will watch Jude add the finishing touches to his portrait of the apostates (false teachers). He will paint 5 quick defining strokes in the form of 5 metaphors and will end with a final touches of an examination of their fruit. It is a message for every saint & sinner.
History may not always repeat itself but it definitely rhymes. This sermon paints a portrait of apostasy in vs 11 of Jude's only chapter. Here we are warned again of the errors made by false teachers who look like us...until you look a little closer.
Not everyone who carries a Bible speaks the truth.
Jude warns that false teachers don't always look dangerous—they often sound convincing. They claim spiritual authority while rejecting God's authority, following their own desires instead of His Word.
n “The Man in the Middle,” Pastor Paul Dziadul unpacks God's high calling for men to stand between Heaven and home as prophets, priests, and kings. Learn what it means to speak the Word, seek the Lord, and lead the way.
The ruins of Sodom still have something to say. In Jude's final example of God's certain judgment, we are reminded that God's truth does not change with culture. How do we stand for biblical truth while genuinely loving our neighbors? Join us as we examine Jude 7 and learn what it means to contend for the faith in a world that celebrates what God condemns. #TheFaithFight #Jude #ContendForTheFaith #TruthAndGrace
Join us at we unpack the Grace of God distilled into one single verse: Romans 6:23. The perfect conclusion to the whole chapter.
What happens when angels rebel against God?
Listen as Deacon Paul Dziadul Jr. opens Jude verse 6 and explores the mysterious account of the fallen angels who are now kept in chains under judgment. What sin brought such a severe response from a holy God? What warning does it hold for us today?
Join us and find out.
In this opening message through the epistle of Jude, we discover that before believers are called to fight for the faith, they are reminded whose they are. Jude 1–2 anchors weary Christians in the sovereign grace of God — called by God, loved by the Father, and kept by Jesus Christ in a world filled with compromise and confusion.
Jesus didn’t just die for sin—He became sin for us, bearing our guilt in His body so we could be counted righteous before God.
This sermon unpacks the great exchange: He took our place… so we could receive His.
In the wilderness, Israel was bitten by fiery serpents, but God provided a remedy: look and live. In this gospel-rich message from Numbers 21, discover how the bronze serpent points to Jesus Christ lifted up on the cross—the only cure for the poison of sin.
In this message from Mark 16:9–20, we tackle one of the most discussed passages in the Bible with honesty, confidence, and hope. See how even a debated ending still points clearly to the risen Jesus Christ, the unstoppable gospel, and the trustworthiness of God’s Word.
This message from John 21 shows how Jesus restores fallen disciples and gives fresh purpose to weary hearts. The same Savior who met Peter on the shore still meets us with grace today.
They buried Him.
They sealed the tomb.
They thought it was over.
But early Sunday morning… everything changed.
Listen as Rev. Nick Morgan unpacks the reality of the Victory that Jesus won for the saints. Be challenged to invite someone to Church and more importantly, to Jesus.
The drama of the Cross is complete but the story is far from over. Today we are invited to watch the funeral of Jesus. It is NOT what you think. Put your seatbelt on!
When Jesus breathed His last, three witnesses spoke. The curtain tore, a Roman centurion confessed, and faithful followers remained at the cross. In this message from Mark 15:37–41, we see how the death of Christ reveals what He accomplished, who He truly is, and how we are called to respond.
What was happening during the three hours of darkness at the cross? Listen to this sermon from Mark 15:33–37 and see how Jesus was forsaken so that we never would be.
This is the audio from Sunday’s message at Lake Wildwood Baptist Church from Mark 15:26–32, where we examine the sign above Jesus’ head — “The King of the Jews.” What Rome meant for mockery, God meant for proclamation. Join us as we see the King numbered with rebels so rebels could be saved.
At the third hour — 9 a.m. — while priests were binding the morning lamb to the horns of the altar, the true Lamb of God was being bound to a cross outside the city. In this sermon from Mark 15:22–25, we explore the historical depth and covenant beauty of the crucifixion — the rejected King, the refused cup, and the Lamb slain on heaven’s schedule.
This is a weighty sermon, but a necessary one. We look at what Scripture says about innocent blood, how cultural “line-drawing” blurs moral clarity, and how the church can respond with both conviction and compassion—especially toward mothers, families, and the vulnerable. My prayer is that this message helps us think biblically, love sacrificially, and act faithfully.
Welcome to Lake Wildwood Baptist Church. Today’s message is titled “Helping Jesus: Lessons from the Accidental Disciple,” from Mark 15:21. In one powerful verse, we meet Simon of Cyrene—and discover what it means to go from a bystander to a cross-bearer.
Jesus is mocked, beaten, and crowned in shame—yet He never stops being King. In this sermon from Mark 15:16–20, we see the silent strength of Christ, who willingly endured humiliation to save sinners. When the world mocks Jesus, heaven reveals His glory.
Truth is on trial—and the verdict was decided before the questions were asked.
Mark 15 exposes how power panics when justice becomes inconvenient.
Peter’s bold confidence collapses in a cold courtyard—but Christ’s faithfulness never wavers.
In When the Rooster Crows (Mark 14:66–72), we see how fear exposes our weakness and grace meets us in our failure.
Christmas is more than a season—it’s God’s love made visible. From 1 John 4:7–14, this sermon reveals how the Father sent His Son to save sinners and calls us to reflect that same love to one another.
Joy isn’t found when life gets easier—it’s found when God gets bigger. Discover how Mary sang with joy in the middle of uncertainty, and how you can too.
Let's face it...The Christmas Season doesn't always lend itself to peace. Maybe true peace is in a person who surpasses all seasons.
In the darkest trial in human history, Jesus declared, “I am.” Mark 14:53–65 reveals the King who was condemned in our place. His faithfulness stands where ours collapses.
On the night when darkness fell and every follower scattered, Jesus walked forward with calm, sovereign courage. These four scenes from Gethsemane expose our frailty and exalt Christ’s faithfulness. Come behold the Savior who stood alone so we would never stand alone again.
In the quiet shadows of Gethsemane, Jesus faced the darkest night of His soul. While His disciples slept, He wrestled in prayer, submitting fully to the Father’s will. This passage pulls back the curtain on the cost of obedience and the agony of redemption. Before there was a cross on Calvary, there was surrender in the garden.
In “From Is It I to Not Me” (Mark 14:22–31), we trace the journey from self-doubt to self-confidence — and how both can miss the mark without faith in Christ. As Jesus transitions the Passover into the Lord’s Supper, we see the old covenant give way to the new, and the disciples move from asking, “Is it I?” to insisting, “Not me!” — reminding us that humility, not pride, keeps us near the Savior when others fall away.
In the Upper Room, Jesus reveals that one of His own will betray Him — and the question echoes through every heart: “Is it I?” Judas’ tragic choice reminds us how close one can be to Christ and still be lost. This message from Mark 14:10–21 calls us to examine our hearts, trust God’s sovereign plan, and marvel at how He uses even sin to accomplish salvation.
While the world plotted His death, one woman poured out her treasure in love.
In Mark 14:1–9, Jesus calls her act “beautiful” — a fragrance that still fills the house of faith.
Discover what true, costly worship looks like when love meets the cross.
Psalm 23 – “The Shepherd and His Sheep”
On our 50th Anniversary Homecoming Sunday, Pastor Paul returns to the very text that began his ministry here 25 years ago. Together we give thanks for God’s faithfulness, renew our commitment to follow the Shepherd into the future, and call all people to trust in Christ, our Faithful Shepherd-King.
“No one knows the day or the hour — not the angels, not even the Son. But the Father does. Jesus calls us not to speculate, but to stay awake. Listen in as we close Mark 13 with a word every generation needs: Be ready. Stay faithful. Live today for the Day.
“Jesus said heaven and earth would shake—but His Word would never fail. In Mark 13:24–31 we see prophecy fulfilled in AD 70, proving Christ’s authority and the certainty of His promises. When worlds collapse, His Word still stands.”
Charlie Kirk’s murder is a sobering reminder that evil is real — but God is sovereign. This sermon calls the church to Lament, Repent, and Comment: to grieve biblically, cleanse our hearts of compromise, and speak gospel truth with courage and hope.
Judgement in inevitable because sin is a reality. This week's sermon is designed to remind us of choices & chaos, decisions & destiny. History really does repeat itself...
🎙️ New Sermon Audio: Let the Reader Understand
Jesus warned His disciples about a coming tribulation that would shake Jerusalem to its core. What did He mean by “the abomination of desolation”? Why did He urge them to flee without looking back? In this message, we unpack the prophetic words of Mark 13:14–23 and see how they were fulfilled in history—and why they still call us today to repentance, faith, and endurance.
👉 Listen now: Let the Reader Understand
Dragged into courts. Betrayed by family. Hated by all. Jesus warned His disciples what was coming—and every word came true before AD 70. Discover how their endurance saved the church, and why your endurance matters today.
“When the Stones Fall” (Mark 13:1–8)
What did Jesus mean when He said the Temple would be torn down stone by stone? Was He talking about our future—or theirs? In this sermon, we explore how His prophecy came true in AD 70 and why that gives us confidence to trust His Word today. Don’t miss this eye-opening look at one of Jesus’ boldest predictions.
“Do You Dare Read Mark 13 Without Your Tradition?”
What happens if you set aside the prophecy charts, headlines, and hype—and just let the text speak for itself? Before the dust settles, discover how Jesus’ prophecy to His disciples reveals a victorious gospel, not a retreating church.
🎧 New Sermon Audio: "By His Wounds We Are Healed"
Why did Jesus give us bread and a cup? What did His body carry that the blood alone did not?
In this powerful message from Isaiah 53:5 & 1 Peter 2:24, we explore how Christ bore our very sins—not just in spirit, but in His body, on the cursed tree.
🔥 Listen now and remember: the bread you hold tells the story of the Savior who held you.
Communion #ByHisWounds #ThisIsMyBody #GospelTruth #SermonAudio
When No One’s Watching
Mark 12:38–44 | Jesus contrasts the showy religion of the scribes with the quiet, sacrificial faith of a poor widow.
True worship isn’t measured by what we give—but by what it costs and who we trust.
Jesus started the day by flipping tables...Now he's turning them on his adversaries. And yet there is much for us to learn here as Jesus reveals just how far we may be from the Kingdom. It's all about Jesus.
Resurrection Correction.
Jesus didn’t tell the Sadducees they were wrong to be mean. He told them they were wrong because they didn’t know the Scriptures or the power of God.
That warning isn’t just for ancient skeptics.
It’s for us.
"Terminus ad quem" is Latin for “the end to which something is aimed.” In a world filled with competing loyalties—politics, power, and personal comfort—Jesus redirects our aim. When asked about paying taxes to Caesar, He answered with divine clarity:“Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”
As Proverbs 18:21 reminds us,
“Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.”
Fathers, the words you speak over your children carry eternal weight—either sowing life or permitting decay.
Jesus continues to fulfill scripture as the 'testing of the Lamb' for passover. He is tested thoroughly by the Religious Elite of his day and passes with flying colors. Listen as we see the rejection of Messiah by the Temple Leadership and Jesus Logic lesson that he schools them in. Then apply it to yourself. Are you treating Jesus as your CONSULTANT or your KING?
Have you ever bought a watermellon that looked perfect on the outside—but when you bit into it, it was dry, tasteless, and disappointing? It had form without flavor, promise without produce.
Jesus encountered the same thing—not in a grocery aisle, but in a fig tree and a temple.
He saw leaves with no fruit, worship with no heart, and religion with no relationship.
And He didn’t stay silent.
This week Rev. Phillip Johnson brings a solid teaching on Love. Not sloppy agape but obedience that has evidence to back it up. Say Amen or Ouch.
Have you ever been completely blindsided by reality?
You thought it was going to be one way—but when the moment came, it turned out to be something entirely different?
The triumphal entry was one of those moments.
The crowd expected a warrior king, but they got a Servant Savior.
They wanted a revolution, but Jesus came to bring redemption.
They were ready to crown Him with glory, but He was riding straight toward a crown of thorns & the shame of the cross.
Ask yourself honestly:
Have I withheld honor from someone God told me to esteem?
Have I honored my parents with my lips but withheld my heart?
Don’t let this command become just another line on a tablet of stone.
Let it be etched in your heart by the Spirit of God.
Malachi 4 is the final chapter of the Old Testament—the last dot in the storyline before the Savior arrives.
God doesn’t end with casual conversation.
He ends with a charge, a promise, and a warning.
It’s His “Remember this before I go” moment.
It’s as if God is connecting the dots from the Old Testament to the New
Today, this lake is not just a lake.
It’s a grave for the old life—and a stage for the new one.
Baptism shouts a message to every person here, and to every power in heaven and hell:
"I’m not who I used to be.
I have died with Christ.
I have been buried with Christ.
And I have been raised with Christ!"
We began in the Garden—a place of perfect presence where sin slammed the door shut.
We saw the Curtain—Woven with Warrior Angels who reminded us that because of God’s holiness & our unholiness: “You can’t come in.”
But at the Cross, Jesus’ atoning death tore the curtain from top to bottom.
What was lost in Eden… was reclaimed at Calvary.
What sin locked… the Savior unlocked.
God's people had stopped fearing the Lord.
And in that exact moment—into a weary, rebellious, doubting people—God speaks.
And here’s the word He gives in Malachi chapter 4:
“The day is coming…”
This is not a vague maybe.
Not a soft warning.
This is a divine certainty.
A day of fire and finality.
A day of joy and healing for the righteous, and a day of total reckoning for the arrogant and wicked.
In this passage, God doesn’t just overhear their complaints—He records them.
He listens to both the grumblers and the faithful. And He draws a clear line between those who merely use His name and those who truly fear it.
Today, we’re going to step right into that same conversation.
This is the only section of Malachi that we ever hear preached and that is usually out of context. As one attender said of this sermon, "That's the first time I ever heard any Pastor preach that text accurately". Take a listen and see for yourself.
You may have spent your life demanding justice for others while pleading for mercy for yourself. But today, God is calling you out of the judge’s seat and into the defendant’s chair.
Malachi’s audience wanted justice—until they realized they were the ones on trial. And so are we.
God’s desire for marriages is not only about the relationship between the husband and wife, but it also directly impacts the next generation. When we honor God in our marriages, it builds a strong foundation for our children to grow and thrive.
Listen as Rev. Phillip Blinson paints a stark picture of the Foster Care need in our neighborhoods. He also uncovers scripture that help us to live out a love for our nearest neighbors. Keep an eye on our Facebook page and Website for a more in depth Q&A session coming soon.
click here for all the slides in this presentation
Listen as Rev. Eric Freel, no stranger to the Lake Wildwood pulpit, unpacks what "Christian Metamorphosis" looks like based on 2 Corinthians 3:18
God’s plan for marriage is simple yet profound: it’s meant to be a lifelong partnership, built on love, companionship, and faithfulness. Marriage is not just about sharing life together, but about reflecting God’s love and commitment to us.
As we reflect on God’s covenant and the call to holiness in our marriages, let us remember that we are called to protect our identity as the people of God. Marriage is not just a personal decision but a sacred covenant that impacts our relationship with God and the future of our children.
"Is God’s glory really my gain?" We might affirm this with our words, but the question is, do our lives reflect this truth? God’s glory is not just a theological statement; it’s a lived reality. When we align our lives with His commands, when we live in reverence and awe, we experience the fullness of life He promises—a life of peace, purpose, and joy.
Giving God our best in worship is not just about offering rituals or sacrifices—it's about a heart posture that reflects our deep reverence, sacrifice, and commitment to Him. The Priests allowed the People to devolve into worthless worship and God was letting them know the consequences.
From the pew to the pulpit, we often offer worship that is displeasing to God and therefore rejected and at times even disciplined. Therefore, in this study of Malachi 1:6-14, we’ll consider principles about offering God acceptable worship—worship that is pleasing to him—both corporately at church and personally through our acts of devotion.
We may know intellectually that God loves us, but sometimes it feels hard to truly experience that love, doesn’t it? Malachi, the last prophet of the Old Testament, addresses this very skepticism—this disconnect between what God says and how we feel.
We’re kicking off the new year with a timely new sermon series through the book of Malachi, called Last Things First. As the final book of the Old Testament, Malachi addresses powerful themes that are just as relevant today, especially in the year 2025.
This Sunday, join us for a special "Getting to Know You" introduction and overview of the series. We’ll explore how Malachi’s message speaks to our world and sets the stage for the new year ahead.
Today’s sermon is a powerful reminder of the profound way God communicates with us—not just through words, but through stories, symbols, and even genealogies! God invites us INTO this great HIStory via the cross work of Christ Jesus.
My guess is that we think we know all we need to know about the wise men of the Christmas story, but is that really true? Good question. You see, most of what we know about the wise men actually does not arise from the Bible but rather arises from tradition and legend.
Love, not a sloppy agape, has come in the person of Jesus. Listen as we are reminded of the reality of God's substance as love, the connection between love & wrath, & the demand to give away what you've been given by God.
Peace is not a WHAT but a WHO. Join us as we get handles on Peace and learn to walk in it.
Rev. Eric Freel is no stranger to the LWBC pulpit. He kicks off our Advent Celebration by unpacking Titus 1:1-3. There is hope and then there is HOPE.
It is good & necessary to Review, Retell, & Remember our History as a nation. Today we go on a pilgrim journey & trace the finger of God in the founding of our nation. Listen, Learn & Love our Faithful God!
Come and Catch the rest of the walk through Psalm 20 - King David's Primer on Praying for your Leader. He reminds us of the danger of misplaced trust, pride, & man's wisdom. Use this Royal Psalm as a road map to pray for all of our leaders
We all are in a post election hangover. How to move forward away from the partisan in the power of the Holy Spirit? David gives us a blueprint in Psalm 20 on how to pray for your leaders.
Voting is an acknowledgement of God's sovereign wisdom in placing us in a nation where we can have a direct effect on the direction of our national conscience. We can either download heaven or upload hell based on who God's people elect to lead our nation.
David's day was not terribly unlike our own. The media/counselors of his day, like ours, was adept at assessing the problem. Their advice however left out one vital element - the Sovereign Reign of Almighty God.
There's been a shift over that past century to a nearly complete emphasis on grace & an open aversion to obedience. If you were on a desserted Island with no faith context & a Bible, you would never come to that conclusion. Jesus has a very different view as we will see today.
What gets you up every day? What propels you forward toward purpose? Paul tells us what it should be in 2 Corinthians 5:14. Then he goes on in typical Pauline fashion to peel off the layers & reveal the core of the Gospel in vs 21.
This week we welcome our friend and brother, Pastor Jay Lauritsen, back to the Lake Wildwood Pulpit. Listen as he takes the mask off of Satan's lies devilishly designed to deceive God's creation.
These laws seem harsh but there is a Holy God behind them. Listen & see the kindness of God and the Shadow of the Savior in some OT rules for living in the Wilderness.
“Our sin debt has been paid in full with a currency we do not and never will possess.” — Clark Whitten
Sin is a Debt, an act of War, & a Crime against the Creator. God has roles at Creditor, Offended Party & Judge. Thankfully we have Jesus. Listen & rejoice
Did you know that the vast majority of the time that "Salvation or Saved" is used in scripture that it doesn't refer to our standing with God? Have you ever considered WHAT we are saved or rescued from? Listen & find out.
In this Psalm, David gives us a window into how he battled Anxiety as a King. The interesting fact is that this method works for people like us.
Have you ever given your children back to God? (Some of you are thinking, “I’d like to give them back—but I didn’t think God would take them back. I thought He had a ‘no return’ policy on kids! Besides, I lost the receipt!”). In this sermon, we look at Abraham's faith in giving his son Isaac back to God.
Many a soldier has gone into battle with a copy of this Psalm in hidden in his uniform if not his heart. It is a cogent reminder of God's care for those who know His name and as such love Him. Listen and be exhorted & encouraged.
We need to stop & look up...long enough to realize how small we are, how big God is and how privileged we are to be called into the Creator's mangement team.
Four Kings, Three Prophets & The Sacrifice of infants to Molech. Is there something more nefarious behind the culture of death that we live in? Does the church realize what is at stake? Listen to Brother Logan Flynn of Operation Gospel unpack Isaiah 1 with precision & passion
Psalm 2 is really a continuation of the back half of Psalm 1. A polemic on the end of the wicked verses the wise. It has a message for us today that must be heard & obeyed.
Two People, Two Paths, Two Pay-Offs. Today we move from the climactic contrast of this multiplied blessed man, stable & nourished like a mighy oak transplanted to a place of water, sun & soil. The picture of thriving & success, only to hear a double "Not so" as the wicked man is brought into focus. The obvious question left purposely by the writer is, "Which man am I?" To ask is to answer.
There is admitidettly a real tension between the control of God and the responsibility of man to his revealed truth about Himself. In this sermon, the friend of Lake Wildwood Baptist, Pastor Jay Lauritsen, gives a clear, cogent & compelling word to explain this delicate topic.
We're all chasing it. The best life we could possibly be living in the NOW. In the introduction to a musical prayer book of exiled Israel, we are introduced to a fictitious guy who's living his best life now. The YBH of his path...now that's something worth checking out.
It was the last miracle that Jesus performed before his own Resurrection. This was the only miracle that the person healed was actually named. How is it that a blind man had more vision than Jesus' own guys? Listen & find out.
Jesus is on the move...to his execution. The disciples are bewildered & the crowd is afraid. For the final time, Jesus plainly lays out what is going to happen to him and even who is going to do it. Right on the heels of this detailed description of his passion, James & John jump in with a self seeking request. Jesus once again must give them a lesson on leadership in his upside down kingdom.
"We've got enough of the World to make us miserable with Jesus and enough of Jesus to make us miserable with the world. Choose." Jesus lays some hard truth on a sincere self righteous young man...because he loved him.
God's commands are intended to be blessings not burdens. Today, we look at the 5th with an eye to practical application. Join us on this Mother's Day 2024 as we explore the wisdom & grace of God via the 5th Commandment
Listen in as we look at good intentions, Moms who get it & a Jesus who values the souls of children.
Jesus' enemies question him yet again. This time about marriage. While their motives were poor, Jesus' teaching was rich. This is a teaching about Marriage from a Kingdom viewpoint.
Jesus' enemies question him yet again. This time about marriage. While their motives were poor, Jesus' teaching was rich. This is a teaching about Marriage from a Kingdom viewpoint.
Jesus' enemies question him yet again. This time about marriage. While their motives were poor, Jesus' teaching was rich. This is a teaching about Marriage from a Kingdom viewpoint.
This is the presentation from the leaders of Lake Wildwood Baptist Church given at a Membership Luncheon on 4/21/24. This is an informative introduction to the membership process for LWBC.
What is the deal with Church Discipline? Most have never seen it done, some have seen it done harshly & precious few have experienced the cleansing & encouraging fruit of grace when it is done in love with tears.
Is this a prayer or an invitation? What would happen if God's will was done in your life as if you were in the Throne Room of Heaven? Well, God's Kingdom would show up. His Rule & Blessing would be in & over your entire life. Be careful praying this revolutionary prayer.
We need the Blood for FORGIVENESS'; We need the Cross for DELIVERANCE; We need the Second Man for a new start. Ever wonder why there are two elements in communion. You could probably explain the significance of the Cup but many would be hard pressed to relate the reason for the bread. Listen to today's teaching and see if we can't learn a bit about both.
Christ is Victorious. He has won! He is the Lamb who is a Lion. He went into the tomb a Lamb and came out a Lion. Hear the truth about Just what he won!
God planned everything out for our redemption even to the day and time that he died and the songs sung at his funeral
See the Church written large through the pages of scripture. God had a plan that culminates. in our Imaging Him as His Church.
Love God, Love People, Serve King Jesus, Expand His Kingdom. You can't do that without being a member of the Church you attend.
The Temptations greatest single was "My Girl". In it, Smokey Robinson writes of his opinion of his wife. We can hear the song and the tune comes naturally. Did you know that King Jesus has a wife too? He does and the real church is her.
Today, we go back to the beginning. The first time that the word 'Church' shows up in the N.T. - Matthew 16. Listen today to discover the historical, political, & spiritual authority embedded in the very word 'Church'.
Today guest speaker, Pastor Victor Herman, shares his story of God's amazing grace to save him from his prison bunk. He understands what it's like to be lost and to be found by God. Hear his stories of reaching out to the least of these like Jesus did with the leper.
What are we supposed to be as a Church? Today we look at the 3 great mandates of the Church. The Great Commandment, the Great Commission & the Great Cultivation.
Words have meaning. Familiarity breeds contempt. Communion is one of those words. In 1 Corinthians 10:16 Paul uses the word 'koinanea' and it is translated communion, share, or participation. That normative 1st century understanding has a lot to teach us about what is really happening when we engage Christ in the sacrament of 'Communion'
Division - Exclusion - Corruption. 3 potholes on the path to greatness where first are last & servants are kings. Jesus, once again, turns the disciples' thinking upside down. The Kingdom of God is the photographic negative of the kingdom of man. Jesus shoots them a hard hitting challenge to ruthlessly root out sin in all it's forms.
Jesus sneaks out the back door on the heels of casting a demon out of a young boy and heads back to his home base (Peter's house) in Capernum. On the way Jesus , for the second time in as many weeks, plainly tells his men of his impending death at the passover feast in Jerusalem this year. They can't receive the news because they are too busy deciding who will be the greatest in the Kingdom. Wow...Pride divides and Jesus is going to show them how to fix it.
Jesus comes down from the mountain of Transfiguration into the Valley of 'Go Figure'. His disciples have blown it and are arguing with the scribes. A desperate Dad and a sick son are at the center of the chaos. Jesus demonstrates his power, cleanses the boy, infuses the Dad with faith and rebukes the disciples...all in a day's work.
What does it look like to live for the Glory of God Alone? Listen in as we explore the Y.B.H. of the Soli Deo Gloria life in this paradigm shifting sermon from the Lake Wildwood Baptist pulpit.
Two gardens, two temptations, two results. One started in Joy & life but ended in death & sorrow. The other started in sorrow and death & ended in joy. The only question is, what garden are you living in?
How are we to understand the Person of Jesus Christ? The Church hammered out some important definitions in the creeds based on the totality of revealed truth. While the term "Hypostatic Union" may not cause you to rejoice, the reality of it will. Take a listen & find out why.
The Theology of Christmas series Continues with LWBC friend, Rev. Eric Freel's message from Galatians 4:4-6. Don't miss this excellent unpacking of the great theology of the incarnation of God himself.
Jesus’ birth is the defining event in all of human history. We turn to John's account of Jesus' origin story. We go back before back, before time, way back...to the beginning. There is a Word who is THE Word and the co-creator of all things. We will see the Mystery of the incarnation as well as the Majesty of the Word made Flesh.
Why would God write himself into HIS story? We look to the epistle of Hebrews to discover the clear answer in 5 verses. Listen and marvel at the mystery of the incarnation of Jesus.
Have you ever been so overwhelmed that you didn't know what to say? Today we find Peter in that situation as Jesus reveals his nature as the 2nd person of the Trinity. Peter says something based in fear and ignorance & God the Father has to instruct him personally.
On this Thanksgiving Sunday, we look at the perils of ingratitude. It's a big deal. If left unchecked, this proceeds to a path than ends in all out idolatry.
"Jesus loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life". Well that plan includes self denial, and a cross. Today Jesus thins the crowd with a tough talk on the high cost of following Him. It seems that message has lost favor in today's 'mesenteric' society but it none the less stands.
Today we continue to follow Jesus in his ministry to a blind man. This account is only found in Mark but it is also the only healing that came in stages. What are we to make of that? Maybe several take a ways are available as we observe the timeline here. Most of these are encouraging in one way or another. Take a listen and see for yourself.
The disciples just didn't get it. How frustrating for Jesus. They still don't get who he is. They are...Slow Learners. And so are we.
This miracle is only recorded in Marks' account. In it we encounter and isolated, ignorant deaf man who was marked by his inability to help himself. Sound like someone you know? All of this highlights the sovereign goodness of the Servant King.
Jesus is needing rest so he hikes the 34 miles into enemy territory to find some. Instead, he finds a desperate mother in the demon dominated town of Tyre. What transpires is nothing short of baffling. Jesus seems aloof and almost rude yet she responds in great faith and Jesus grants her daughter freedom. We need that kind of mega faith and we've got a lot to learn from this determined Mom today.
No stranger to the Lake Wildwood pulpit, our friend Rev. Eric Freel finishes his high level overview of Ephesians in his wonderful 30k foot view of Paul's letter. He is 'Word Saturated" and skilled in communicating such powerful truths such as the centrality of the Church. Listen, Pray, Rejoice, Repent & love the Church like God does.
Jesus takes the gloves off with the visiting Pharisees when they complain that, while all of Galilee may be healed, His disciples weren't following the traditions of the elders. Jesus justly calls them a bunch of hypocrites and then uses a teachable moment to explain to the people where defilement actually comes from.
Disclosure: There is an audio issue in the back half of the recording.
The last section of Mark 6 maps our the last two months of Jesus' 2nd year of public ministry. He can no longer keep his fame at bay. Word is out and Jesus is swamped & surrounded...with the sick, lame, blind, & possessed. They come hopeless and leave hope filled. Saving Faith makes all the difference.
The disciples were exhausted, Jesus was beyond tired & the crowds were clueless. Sounds like ministry to me. Jesus sends his men away to sail back to the home base, dismisses the crowd that wants to forcibly make him King & hikes up a mountain to pray. All of this to show his guys the difficulty of obeying with out his help. We've much to learn as did the disciples.
How are you investing your time? Guest Pastor Jeff Gongwer walks us through an exposition of Ephesians 5:15-18 to reveal 4 ways to use our time for God. Don't miss this straight forward look at our time & how to best invest it.
Context is so important. Jesus is truly God & truly human. He is grieving the execution of his cousin John while also celebrating with the, now, apostles as they return from their first successful Ministry adventure. They are surrounded by people so Jesus decides on an impromptu retreat to recharge with his men. They sail to the desolate side of the lake but they are followed by the crowds, feelings of compassion & yet another big lesson for his men. Take a listen and see what the masses need, the mission demands, and the Messiah provides.
The disciples have graduated to apostles - sent ones! They've been training for 2 years and now they are commissioned & sent to preach the same sermon that they heard their King preach over & over - Repent, Believe & Follow the King. Jesus grants them Kingdom Authority & Power and they ride it all the way. As they are off spreading their kingdom gospel wings, Jesus gets the news that his cousin & forerunner John has been executed by Herod. As his apostles come home, he takes them away for a time of rest. There is so much in there for us today. Listen and see why.
In Mark 6, we find Jesus and his disciples heading to Jesus' home town for a missionary trip. What could go wrong? His teaching was powerful, the news of his verifying miracles made it to Nazareth before Jesus got there and yet they got Jesus wrong because they thought they knew him. As the old saying goes, "Familiarity breeds Contempt." This was actually a case of his hometown crowd not knowing him well enough. They refused to accept his actual identity no mater the works to back them up. And we're no different. We've got just enough Jesus to be inoculated to the gospel.
"Waiting is the rust of the soul." - Carlos Ruiz Zafón
"Waiting is the art of hoping." - Luc de Clapiers
Jairus, in this passage, is in a desperate hurry - He's trying to get Jesus to his dying 12 year old daughter. The crowd was making the going slow & then precious minutes were lost in a strange healing of a woman with a 12 year old disease. Today we learn some of God's purposes in waiting. There are many and Jairus would learn many of them on this journey of Faith over Fear.
Demonic Presence, Demonized Person, Demented Pigs & Dominion Power Demonstrated. That about explains the wild scene that unfolds "Immediately" upon the beaching of the boat in the land of the Gadarines.
Pastor Ray Pritchard summarized the text well when he said, "Three worlds meet in this strange story: the underworld of evil spirits, the visible world of human experience, and the upper world of divine control."
Listen & hear this history as you almost never do...in context. What does the seed parables & a local hurricane of Mark 4 have to do with a wild gentile filled with demons in Mark 5? Only everything.
The disciples had seen it all by now...or so they thought. Jesus was about to reveal his identity by exercising His authority over wind and waves. These good Jewish men knew the reality of Psalm 107:23-32 - the Sailor's Psalm. Only God creates and calms storms. This has much to say to us today as we too must learn via experience just who Jesus really is.
Waiting is hard. Growth happens over years not minutes. "The days are long but the years are short" is one of my wife's favorite sayings. The same is true in the Kingdom of God. Growth is mysterious but it does happen. Listen and be encouraged.
On the heels of the paradigm parable of the soils, Jesus launches into a series of short principle packed parables. Today we look at the first two - the Purpose principle & the Proportion Principle. These instill confidence & inspire an all in commitment.
The seed is the same and it works. The obvious variable in Jesus' Paradigm Parable is the Soil which represents our hearts and lives. There are two ways to hear. Heeding is Hearing. Our lives, hearts, souls are the soil and we need to pay close attention to what is going on there. In this part 2 of the Parable series, Pastor Paul pushes the practical in a call for good soil maintenance.
Listen...You hear that? Jesus makes a major shift in his teaching ministry as he presses deeper into the second year of his public ministry. He transitions to teaching via 'Parables' but the reason should be frightening to all of us. He begins and ends his primary paradigm parable with the command to "Listen". Maybe we should.
We are prone to forget. Jesus gave us a memorial meal to help us remember the dual quality of our salvation. It took his body & his blood to bring an end to our old man & pay the price for our sin.
Have you ever been misunderstood by the people closest to you? Well, you're in good company...so was Jesus. In today's text we'll see Jesus attacked for his sanity by his family and his spirituality by the Scribes. His answer is both brilliant & beneficial.
There are two people in the Kingdom, the King & the Dom & we're not the King. Baptism is a swearing a allegiance to King Jesus and it really matters
Sooner or later everyone sits down to a banquet of consequences. - Robert Lewis Stephenson. Words matter because they have consequences.
The common assertion that we, even as believers, are all "sinners," is not to be found anywhere in the Bible as the term is never used in reference to a believer. In searching the Scriptures, we discover that the term is not defined as is generally supposed, i.e., anyone who commits a sin is a "sinner." What we do find is that God has drawn a clear line of distinction between "saint" and "sinner," believer and unbeliever, the regenerate and unregenerate, the righteous and the wicked, and this distinction is directly related to the conduct and practice of our daily lives.
Our friend Rev. Eric Freel takes us on a trip through the first 3 chapters of Ephesians to display the Centrality of the Church in the Word & the World. Take a listen and prepare to be challenged.
From a fight in a field to a squabble in a synagogue to a deal in the dark. Connect the dots that the Servant King drops to show how the Self Righteous are turning Blessings into Burdens.
Hey! We're all fasting here so why don't your guys fast? That's what the super spiritual leaders asked Jesus. Jesus uses a tradition followed by 2 parables to drive home his point of the New to Old paradigm. This NEW won't work with your OLD.
Mark is the only gospel writer to add 'and Peter' to the message, "go the the disciples...". Why single Peter out? The resurrection was a game changer for this fallen failure of the fisherman. But God was just getting started. He wasn't done with Peter and he's not done with you either.
The birth, death, and resurrection of Jesus means that one day everything sad will come untrue. - J.R.R. Tolkien
Levi or Matthew (same man) was the least likely of candidates to round out what would eventually become the 12 disciples. A wealthy sell out of a Jew hated by his fellow Israelites including the disciples who were extorted by him in Capernaum. We've much to learn and apply today from this 'Last Call'.
November 22, 1963, is a date remembered by most people as the day John F. Kennedy was assassinated. Students of history will remember that two renowned authors passed away just about an hour before Kennedy and within minutes of each other: C. S. Lewis and Aldous Huxley (Brave New World - 1032). All three deaths were noteworthy, but one attracted far more publicity than the others.
In our reading today, we find three miraculous works by Jesus that happened at this house in Capernaum. Usually only one of these gets the most attention, so we will try to examine all three today and see how they are connected
A sin eater was a person who would eat bread from a corpse and thus consume their sin. Jesus was our sin eater. In today's text, Jesus encounters an unclean leper and cleanses him completely. The analogies are all right there as low hanging fruit for us to pick and apply.
Who is in charge here? Is it me or Christ? Fool or Wise? Join guest Preacher Rev. Eric Freel as He unfolds God's commands in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18.
Mark is moving fast and gives us a fast report of the first few miracles in Jesus' ministry in Galilee. Mark seems to be focusing on the Authority of the great Servant King. He speaks and demons & sickness obey.
"The Gospel you preach determines the disciple you get", Bill Hull. We've amputated Sanctification from Salvation and created a new category of "Christian" - Carnal Christian. There's plenty of them in our churches and American culture but you will not find any in the Bible. Jesus clearly had "follow me" as part and parcel of his Kingdom good news. If you're not fishing then are you really following?
I remember my first sermon though I'd prefer not to. Jesus' first sermon sounded a lot like his cousin John's only sermon - Repent! Jesus further expands on repent by including 'believe' in Him as Messiah - King.
John Mark is the Action Disciple. Immediately is his favorite word. He's not one for details either. As this was the 1st written account of "Jesus Christ the Son of God", the 1st century Roman saints who read it would only have Mark's terse, reader's digest version of the life of the Servant King. To that end, in this sermon, Pastor Paul has endeavored to stay true to the Author's information alone. What is discovered is the possible reason that he leaves out the details of the the 40 day wilderness scene. When you strip away the details...you're left with the unflinching obedience of the great servant King.
It is time. Jesus will leave the carpenter shop for the last time. He'll walk south along the Jordan river until he finds his cousin John.
He knows that what is ahead of him is the very reason he came. It would all begin and end with utter unflinching obedience. And was the Father ever proud of His Son!!
75% of the victory depends on preparation - Dr. CE Matthews.
The more important the event, the more vital the Preparation. The coming of King Jesus was the most important event in human history.
God had a plan & a man to introduce himself through Jesus to His world.
The plan & the man were chosen well in advance of the Advent and Launch of the Public Ministry of King Jesus.
People get ready...Jesus is coming!
Mark's gospel is the first one of the 4. The word 'immediately' is prominently featured. This is a gospel of action. Written to mostly gentile Roman saints who needed an historical account of Jesus' life, ministry, passion & death. John Mark (son of Peter - spiritual & literal?) knew something of failure and yet he is not benched to sit but enlisted for faithful service to our Servant King Jesus. He Failed Forward and so can we.
We love Jacob because he, if nothing else, is relatable. He's a 'hot mess' of a man. A master manipulator who manipulated himself right into a corner. That's when God showed up. See if you can relate to the outcome. We're all "Limping Home"
Guilty. Silent. Hopeless. All of humanity is declared guilty before God. Only to have that same Judge be the Justifier of those who put their Faith in Christ Jesus.
He is our Prophet, Priest and King. A Prophet who WAS the Word that He brought from the Father. A Priest who WAS the Sacrifice that He offered for our alienation. A King who IS the Obedience He demands and the Righteousness that God Requires to rule over our Rebellion.
We need a Priest to offer a sacrifice from a sinful man to a holy God. To stand in between offended Sovereign & offending sinner. Oh but this Priest isn't just any priest. He is the priest to end all priests. The Sacrifice he offers...is himself!
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior who is Christ the Lord.
Prophet, Priest & King. Jesus fulfilled all three roles in himself...and He still does.
The Virgin Birth is not a warm and sentimental doctrine of Advent. It is a declaration of War, a demonstration of the wages of sin and human inability. It is also an unspeakable act of the Mercy of the Almighty. When we understand this truth then all we'll want for Christmas is a crushed snake skull.
Every wonder why there are 2 elements on the communion table?
There's a very good reason. Listen and find out
Don't skip the end of the letter. You wouldn't do that with a book so don't do it with the Bible.
Sometimes we just need to have spiritual realities 'enfleshed' or 'fleshed out' for us. That's the point that the imprisoned, impassioned apostle makes in the oft overlooked vs 9. The context drives us back to vs 2 to see this whole section as a path to relational peace. Good, solid, practical truth.
We do a lot of 'thinking' on any given day. How many of those thoughts are we bringing under the authority of King Jesus? Paul presents a list of pondering fodder that will lead to Peace. We would do well to pay close attention.
Paul just comes out and called out the 2 saints who are in a stubborn disagreement. What are the take aways for us today? I bet there are a few.
What are you known for?
Is Saint Paul being arrogant after giving one of the most powerfully poignant polemics on humility in all of Scripture when he says, "follow me as I follow Christ"? Most likely no. Instead, He's being honest. Listen as veteran Pastor, Shepherd & Preacher Rev. Eric Freel unpacks this precious text and reveals a man who really is the bondslave of King Jesus our Master!
When the Past knocks, don't answer - it has nothing new to say. Paul said he 'forgot' (ignored) the past list of accomplishments that he now put in the category of sewage. He's too busy pushing, straining, reaching ahead for the glory of King Jesus.
If parenting wasn’t hard enough, wondering if you’re doing it correctly adds to the stress and effort. Advice abounds in countless books, blogs, websites, and seminars—some of it can be helpful, some is common sense, some is actually harmful. So how do you discern the good from the bad—the true from the false—when it comes to parenting?
What does it take to raise your kids in a way that invites the Lord’s blessing on your family?
Are you growing your Kids God’s Way?
What are you counting on to please God enough to keep you out of Hell?
Paul’s answer - certianly nothing that I have done. I’m counting on my Master King Jesus & His perfect record which is given to me by faith. The Flesh will fail you. Faith will see you home.
Paul takes the gloves off in our text today as he says some not so nice things about the Judiazers and then goes on to leave us with 3 unmistakable marks of a circumcised heart.
May God give us ears to hear what the Spirit has to say to the Church today.
Veteran Missionary Pastor Seth Lewis asks a poignant question in today's challenge from Philippians 2 - Is the Church Worth it and if so, why?
Listen as he unpacks the text to deliver the truthful answer from the pen of Paul & the heart of God. This is a teaching that we need to come back to again & again.
Re-Model, Re-Pair, Re-Do. "Re" means "Again". Re-Joice means to Re-Visit the Joy of the Lord's Salvation. Have you gotten over your Redemption? Take a listen, repent & rejoice.
Epaphroditus. Who was that guy named after Aphrodites? Paul says he was a Brother, Servant, Soldier, Messenger, and a Minister. He was the picture of Slavitude. He lost himself in King Jesus and adopted His humble attitude in order to risk his life for others. J.O.Y. was definitely in the right order for him. What's that got to do with you? Listen & find out.
"Slavitude": The attitude of a Slave. But not just any slave. A bondslave. Loved, cherished, purchased at a high cost..Beloved. In today's text, Philippians 2:19-24, we will find Paul & Timothy as a model for the humble attitude of a slave of our King. We will remember King Jesus as the penultimate example of "Slavitude". "Christ is the Christian's model. These men (Paul, Timothy & Epaphroditus) are model Christians"
Today we are reminded of the Sanctity of Life & what a Righteous response might look like for the Church in the days ahead.
Living out our Salvation is called Sanctification. Listen as Pastor Jay lays out this truth & shows us from our text exactly what that takes and what it looks like.
Pastor Jay lays out the beginning of a two part sermon on the joy of God in our salvation. Listen in as he teaches us from the Apostle Paul's perspective in Philippians 2
The way up is down. Paul now takes us from the lowest of the low, death on a cross, voluntary, chosen out of obedience & shows us the result. When we go low, God lifts us up.
This text was a hymn that was sung during communion in the first century. Paul uses the doctrinally rich song as an example of 'Humility in the Flesh'. He drives home a humility based unity using King Jesus as our example and empowerment.
In this exposition of Philippians 1:27-30, we see Paul turn from reporting on his situation to his expectation of the Saints. This section, specifically vs 27, has been called his purpose statement for the rest of the letter. Unity is a major theme. The words one, together, & same show up frequently in this letter that explains how to have joy. We all need this one!
The death toll is 100% & yet we're amazingly proficient at ignoring the inevitable. The question is WHY? I think we know the answer but again, we don't want to say it. So today we are, yet again, challenged to answer the question honestly, "For me, to live is ____________. ). The honest answer leads us to answer the next - "And to die is _______)
If for me to live is Christ then to die is gain. This is a conditional syllogism. If my life is all about Christ then my death is a gain. That is the only way it works. If life is not about, all about Christ then death should be feared. Come and see the witness to Paul's singular devotion to his King.
We are such good Gentiles that sometimes we forget the Hebrew roots of our faith. Join the journey from the shadow of the Old Covenant to the Substance of the New, see Jesus like you've never seen him before. Be forewarned, you may never see Holy Week the same.
Sounds trite but after you listen to this outstanding exposition of Philippians 1:12-18 by Rev. Eric Freel. He helps us to see that the "Gospel" wasn't a word, it was a life focus and it had a radical impact, not only on Paul's life but on mine to and yours if you'll let it.
Love. That's the one theme and request that Paul has for his favorite Church. How's your agape these days? Full & overflowing, trickling like a dried up stream or dammed up in your sin? We have the super abounding love of the Holy Spirit in us so if its not coming out, well that's a you problem.
Do you have those gospel partnerships with people that bring a smile to your face? Not just friends, but gospel partners that you are working together with unto the gospel end of Kingdom Expansion. In this unpacking of Philippians 1:3-8, we will identify these people in St. Paul's life & hopefully in our lives as well. Then we will, this week, express our appreciation to them for the JOY they bring us as we work together for Kingdom Expansion.
This 'sermon' will give you the Backstory & history for the city, the Birth of the church (Acts 16) & the Blueprint of the letter. It ends with a few of the Big Rocks / Ideas that will be pressed into our hearts as we press into Philippians.
Don't ignore the introductions! You just might be surprised at what is in there to radically adjust our thinking and behavior. Paul gives a definition of the gospel & clarifies the core IDENTITY of the people of God in these 2 verses.
David tops the hill, Ziklag is smoldering, Family is captive, Wealth is stolen. Weeping ensues then talk of revenge: Not on the Amalekits...On David. Our future King is in the Press of God. He's being crushed & what comes out of him after his tears are exhausted is Repentance & a Return to the Lord his God. "Bring me the Ephod" is the command. Let's see what God has to say. We have much to learn & apply from this chapter of David's life.
I suspect that you've never had to run for your life for a decade. David did along with his family & the families of his 600 men. That'll wear on you after ten plus long years. 1 Samuel 27 is the record of a man who was weary of God's plan so he turns his back on faith and leans on his own best idea. On the surface, it worked. God even blessed him...until the bottom fell out and David, via God's sovereignty and grace, came to his senses and began to seek God again.
The Rich young ruler "Went away sorrowful..." Among the saddest commentaries in the gospels. He had too much to lose here and didn't see that loss as gain. You know, we're not much different than he. Listen in as Pastor Jay unpacks this history and then helps us apply it.
Sometimes God's Commands seem hard, severe and nearly unkind. But there is more to it or should we say, behind it than that. Behind our Lord's commands is a grace that enables us, cleanses us & frees us.
John 15 lets us in on a conversation between Jesus & the now 11 disciples as he walked with them to Gethsemane. Are we fruitful & is that the NORM or only for super Christians? Join us as this truth is exposed and some hard questions are asked.
The toughest, finger in your eye, step on your toes, punching pride in the face sermon EVER was preached by King Jesus in Matthew 5-7. Known as "The Sermon on the Mount", an unfortunate name for such a tough sermon, Jesus throws everyone under the camel and proves that our faith is in Self and not the Sovereign God. Listen as Pastor Paul uncovers the hinge and focal point of the sermon in vs 33 of Chapter 6. You may never look at it the same again.
3 Words & the Law of First Mention. They show up in Genesis 22 for the first time. Listen and discover the inseparable connection between LOVE, WORSHIP & OBEDIENCE.
3 Words. 3 contextual foundations introduced with their advent for the first time in Scripture. Genesis 22 forever links LOVE, WORSHIP & OBEDIENCE. Listen and see how.
Love, the actual word, shows up for the first time in Genesis 22:2. The Law of First Mention sets the contextual foundation for it's use in the rest of the Bible's narrative. Love's context here is the love of a Father for a one and only Son of Promise. Sound familiar?
Join Pastor Jay as he puts us in the Shepherd's Sandals that glorious night when they were the first guests to welcome Messiah in His world. Are we filled with Joy? Are we telling everyone? Have we met and received this Messiah as King?
Peace on Earth & Good Will to those on whom God's favor rests. The finale of the first recorded carol - or at least we made a carol out of it. I was probably a booming chant from warrior angels. The point? Without God's favor, there is no peace.
Simeon is one of those Advent supporting cast characters but don't overlook this godly, just & devout man. You & I have much to learn from him. At 112 years old, he has learned to obey the Holy Spirit and the results are the stuff that hope is made of.
A young man is murdered in the church parking lot. Now what? What would Jesus do or say? We don't have to wonder. Luke 13:1-9 is clear. Listen, learn, repent & repeat
Revelation 21:4 is a most precious promise. An understanding of the timeline context is vital to appreciating the change that will have taken place in our beings. We will have an eternal and holy perspective on sin & rebellion. Hell's sorrows will never touch the shores of the New Earth - our eternal home. This answers the hardest questions about eternity & loved ones.
A fresh look at the Mission that our King calls us to JOIN Him in. If you're not fishing...then you're not following. Our King is still Emmanuel - God with us!
Will we spend eternity in heaven? That depends on your definition of 'Heaven' is. There is the Intermediate Heaven & the Eternal Heaven and these two aren't exactly the same. Listen as Pastor Paul explains what heaven is NOW and what it will be THEN.
Will I be married in Heaven? Will my pet be there? Will my miscarried baby be there? These are all important questions that have answers from scripture - some very specifically and others implied. Some cause us to have to lean on the goodness of God and those may be the best answers of all.
One of the highest hurdles to understanding Heaven is that we don't envision the idea of a "Kingdom". If we embraced the biblical description of the Kingdom of Heaven then the crazy ideas of people becoming angels, eternal harp playing, floating on clouds, etc would evaporate instantly.
We blew it through our first parents. God restores paradise through the second Adam. Listen as Pastor Jay unpacks the gospel
19th century British theologian J.C. Ryle said, “I pity the man who never thinks about heaven”. It’s not that we don’t think about heaven, we just don’t think accurately about it. Join us as we launch the series, "Heaven Matters" and learn how to rightly understand and pursue Heaven.
Psalm 2 is a perfect conclusion to both Psalm 1 and the whole psalter of the Psalms. It continues with a description of the wicked and their ultimate doom and ends with the multiplied blessings of the righteous. Enjoy the unfolding of the text by Wes Fuller.
First you will hear a testimony of God's grace about a man who wanted to die but God instead would give him eternal life.
That brother, Justin Fordham, unpacks and reveals the glory of God through David's song in Psalms 19. This is what a man on fire for God sounds like as he shares God's Holy Word.
Psalm 130 contains key gospel truths. Samuel Cox calls it “a tiny Gospel, announcing the truths which men in every age need to know.” It may start low, but as Charles Spurgeon said: “Certainly it does rise rapidly out of the depths of anguish to the heights of assurance.” The psalm is a Cry from the depths, a Call for forgiveness, a Caution to Wait, culminating in a Command to HOPE in the Lord!
In this exposition of Psalm 100, Pastor Jay Lauritsen lays out a path through this dearly loved song. See how the Psalmist teaches us how to both prepare for and participate in the Worship of the great God of all. Far from a lofty treatise on worship, this Psalm and sermon are full of practical steps to offer up to God the Praise, Shouts, Singing & Worship due His glorious name!
Today we dive into a Psalm of Repentance and we learn that suffering is not an elective but a required course for the Righteous.
Listen as our Brother Wes Fuller unpacks the hard but beautiful providence of Psalm 6 as He demonstrates what David Felt and then what David Knew.
Isn't it discouraging, distracting and even depressing to see bad people and systems succeeding and celebrating darkness? Well the good news is that it's not a 21st century problem. David struggled mightily with it way back in Psalms 37. He's got some sage advice for us on exactly how to find our way back to peace when it looks like the wicked are prospering.
Psalm 1 is a tutorial on Happiness and it's path.
It is also a contrast on the Blessed or Happy Man verses the Cursed Man. Join us as we examine both People, Paths & Places then courageously take the test and find out which one you are.
The people mentioned at the end of Colossians played a big role in Paul's ministry. Join us as we introduce these people and then ask ourselves some tough questions about them and us.
Today we look at every man's ministry based on his stage in life. Put on your steel toed boots...this might hurt a bit
Paul transitions his letter in chapter 4 and verse 2 to detail the importance of sharing the gospel. There are 7 truths that show up in this text that relate to sharing the gospel of God's grace. Paul uses these truths to encourage and equip the Colossians Saints in their defense and declaration of the gospel.
Jesus commands us to Remember Him as we participate in this memorial meal often called Communion. We would do well to look backward, inward & forward to the significance of the body and blood of our Rescuer King.
Warning! This message is NOT PC but it IS BC = Biblically Correct. Children must obey (much easier as a born again child) and Fathers must not provoke and dishearten his children while insisting on their obedience.
What does it look like to live out a Spirit saturated, Word of Christ at home in your heart life at home for Husbands? Listen and find out as Pastor Paul unpacks Colossians 3:19 in today's teaching.
Today we tackled the command for wives to voluntarily come under the leadership of their husbands. The context is what it looks like for the Word of Christ to be at home in your heart abundantly in wisdom...at home. Our closest human relationships are the very place that the fruit of this NEW YOU shows up and Paul shows us what that looks like. Be sure to listen all the way as Pastor Paul & his wife Elizabeth discuss the YBH of this blessing called submission.
God's Peace is to rule, direct, and call the shots in our lives. This sermon will unpack Colossians 3:15-17 in order to leave us with a clear understanding of the Y.B.H. (Yah But How) of God's Peace governing our lives.
New Clothes! We love New Clothes! The New Clothes that Paul is admonishing the Colossians to PUT ON look a lot like Jesus. WWJW...What Would Jesus Wear.
There are 4 major areas that divide us. Just turn on the news and you will see a story about every one of the them. The answer is Christ and Christ alone. Our identity is wrapped up in His and that makes these differences null and void.
The OLD SELF has been put off and the NEW SELF has been put on. This matters more than you could imagine. Listen and find out why.
Palm Sunday, the Triumphal Entry. Sunday school 101 right? Listen to this behind the scenes explanation of the shadows that pointed the substance that is Christ. You'll never look at it the same again.
We will bring up in the bucket of our mouth everything that is in the well of our hearts. Paul now deals with the sins of the mouth in verses 8-9. These 6 sins are to be "Stripped Off". Our list of commands continue: Seek, Set, Set Not, Slay & Strip Off. Grave Clothes have no place on the living. "Loose him and let him go!"
"Every unmortified sin will certainly do two things:-- [1.] It will weaken the soul, and deprive it of its vigour. [2.] It will darken the soul, and deprive it of its comfort and peace.” - John Owen then went on to say, "Be Killing sin or sin will be killing you". In a very frank declaration of the text, Pastor Paul details the violent execution of sexual sins in the life of a Saint.
God's commands are His empowerment. In this transitional section of Paul's letter to the Colossians, We are reminded of our Co-Resurrection with Christ as the ground of God's empowerment to obey the commands to Seek, Set & Set Not.
This week Pastor Nick Brown returns to the Lake Wildwood Baptist Pulpit to lay out a clear exposition of 1 Peter 2:9 in a sermon called "Know Your Role"
Enjoy this excellent sermon from a gifted Pastor
Jesus is Enough...unless He isn't. In the text of Colossians 2:16-23, We will uncover 3 'Ism's' that should have become 'wasims' by now. But no. Every one of these substitutes are alive and well in the Church today.
Say amen or ouch
Today we finish the teaching through vs 15 of Colossians 2. Paul deals with our 3 barriers to God:
1: Our Sin Nature/Old Man - Crucified in Christ (dead)
2: The Law - which condemns us justly
3: Satan - our enemy who promotes disobedience to the law
When St. Paul is done, we discover our freedom to live in the Completeness of vs 10
There's a lot of 'baptizing' of secular philosophies and empty ideas going around the church today...and in Paul's day. Join us as we walk through three verses that tell us to Beware, to Be Wise & to Be Woke to the truth.
Paul tells the Colossians that they walk in Christ daily the same way they received Him initially. In this exposition of Colossians 2:6-7 you will discover what it means to Receive Christ by faith and to walk around Him in the same way.
Assurance. It is in short supply these days because our sources are suspect. There is an assurance that is Centered in Christ, thrives in Community, and encouraged by faithful Shepherds that will never disappoint.
Join Pastor Jay as he takes us through the last section of Colossians chapter 1. How much do you love the body of Christ? Are you willing to suffer for it? Paul was and he rejoiced that he could.
Nature shrinks from suffering. It is altogether above nature to triumph in it. It is Christianity alone that inspires us with joy in tribulation. (G. Barlow.)
Does Saint Paul here undo and contradict everything he ever wrote on the redemptive cross work of Christ or do some misinterpret this declaration to put us back under a works based Salvation? Listen and find out.
Sheep are dumb, petty and way more needy than they know. In Psalm 23, David compares himself to a sheep and God to the great shepherd.
In this last sermon of 2020 we dive into an exegetical exploration of cultural history that impacts us today. You'll never look at Psalm 23 the same again.
Why must the Redeemer be truly human?
That is a question worth pondering. In this sermon we look into marvelous truths concerning the person of Christ Jesus. Come and re-discover the wonder of a truly human Messiah.
Why must the Redeemer be truly God? That because of his divine nature his obedience and suffering would be perfect and effective; and also that he would be able to bear the righteous anger of God against sin and yet overcome death.
Question 23 of the New City Catechism
Listen as this question is explained in depth
Peace, Reconciliation & Endurance, all major themes that saturate the first Advent of the Christ. We will work our way through 5 verses that display the Price of Peace, the Ransom for Reconciliation, and the Endurance of Eternal Life. It is a truth that the Colossians saints were in danger of rejecting and Paul forcefully reminds them of the simplicity of the Gospel.
Is Jesus preeminent in your life? Jay Lauritsen walks through Colossians 1:15-18 highlighting Jesus as God as the greatest icon, rank, creator, & leader.
The Word of the Truth of the Gospel. In Paul's opening section of giving thanks for the Colossian saints, he begins addressing the heresy that is creeping into the fledgling fellowship. We see the Exclusivity of the Gospel, the Effect of the Gospel and the Faithful Servant of the Gospel. Paul connects the Gospel with immediate fruit.
Today we look at some more historical context for the letter to the Colossians as well as a solid outline for the letter under the heading of "Christ is Enough". Then we will begin to unpack the oft repeated trilogy of Grace, Love & Hope.
Today we read... Why take 15 minutes and publicly read Paul's letter to the Colossians saints? Because that's exactly what they did in A.D. 60 when they received his letter. This is followed by some brief introductory remarks designed to aid in the context. Please check out the excellent intro video done by the Bible project here: https://bibleproject.com/videos/colossians/
Today we finish our outline and description of the 4 stage disciple maker based on the 4 challenges of Christ to "Come and See", "Follow Me", "Follow me and I will make you Fishers of Men", and "Go and Bear Fruit".
Do you know what the next step in your growth journey is? Do you understand what Jesus' expectation is of all followers?
A lack of understanding the 4 stages of following Christ keeps us in the dark and stunts our spiritual growth. Listen to part 1 to begin the process of understanding where you are and then tune in next week for the clarifying culmination of your "Next Steps"
Faith over Fret. King David lays out for us a relevant treatise on how to choose Faith over Fret. Join Pastor Jay Lauritsen as he exposes this timeless truth one verse at a time.
Are we seeking God or his hand? God reveals Habakkuk's (and our) theological & ideological idols. Is God worth it? Is he enough? Can we praise him when we can't see his hand of blessing? Habakkuk begins with a question mark and ends with and exclamation point...and so can we.
"The same yesterday, today and forever". Immutability - God doesn't change. He's sovereign, holy, and unchanging. Habakkuk reminds God, and thus himself, that Judah would be saved just like the children of Israel were delivered from Egypt. We will see that this is a look back at history and forward in prophecy to the anointed one who will ultimately save us all.
When you know that judgement is coming, but you have to be convinced that God is going to be with you in the Midst of it...You write a Prayer Song' and sing it with all your heart.
That's what Habakkuk did and we have so much to learn from it.
"How to Lose it All" is not the title of a best selling book but it is exactly what happens when we do life our way and not God's way. Our way seems right but in the end we lose everything. Babylon was going to learn this the hard way. You don't have to. Listen to find out how and why.
Is God Fair? Habakuk had his doubts...and so do we. Walk with me through the last section of chapter 1 and the first few verses of chapter 2 and see how God helps his prophet come to terms with the evil in his land and the evil that was coming. It is as relevant as the latest breaking news.
“Does God care?” It is a question that has haunted countless persons over the ages as they have grappled with the problem of evil in the world. “If God is all powerful, then why does he allow evil and suffering? Is God concerned about us? Does he notice all the troubles that take place on our planet? Does God care?” If you have ever asked questions similar to these, then you are not alone. Habakkuk struggled with the same questions and doubts, and he was a prophet!
We've heard the parable of the prodigal son. The key to understanding it is remembering who Jesus told it for...His 'buddies' the pharisees & saducees.
When we understand this, it unlocks a beautiful principle of Jesus as our perfect elder brother who comes to restore our sonship and reunite us to the Father.
We should always draw the line where the Word of God draws the line. Jay Lauritsen preaches through Daniel 1:1-21 on being consistent and persistent in standing on the Word of God.
The heart of the human problem is the problem of the human heart. Jay Lauritsen preaches through Proverbs 4:20-23 and getting to the bottom of our own heart problem.
There is a movement afoot in the Church that has the potential to distract, divide & dilute the very gospel we clam to believe. The 'Woke' Social Justice Gospel is, in fact, 'another gospel'. Find out why & how & what we must do to keep our commitment to the historical gospel of Christ. It is enough.
"He's such a 'good' guy!" Maybe we should define 'good' and then take the test that Jesus gives this rich young ruler. Eternal life is at stake and you will discover the gospel tucked away in this conversation.
What are the biblical terms that comprise the sin of racism? Listen as Pastor Paul deconstructs this ancient vice only to discover that our main problem isn't ethnicity, it is enmity. And not with other people groups who look different than you but rather with a God who IS different (completely) from you.
The Saga of a Nation is the Story of it's Families written large. Discover God's plan for dominion through the first family and see how it applies to yours.
A wrong starting point never leads to a right conclusion. Join me for a frank look at two mutually exclusive views of anthropology and see what they have and will continue to reproduce.