In our message, ADVANCING THE GOSPEL (Philippians 1:1-18), we started a new series in the book of Philippians which focuses on JOY. There is great joy in partnering with God in His work when it is done with the right heart attitude (John 15:11; Phil. 1:15-17; 1 Cor. 4:5, etc.).
Like the book of Colossians, Paul wrote the book of Philippians during his first Roman imprisonment “in his own rented house” awaiting trial before Caesar (see Acts 28:30-31). … Continue reading
In our message, FOLLOW THE WILL OF GOD (Colossians 4:7-18), we completed our series in the book of Colossians. Scripture here teaches the truth that Jesus is all we need (Col. 2:3, 9-10, etc.) and even all we desire (when we are seeing things correctly, James 1:16-17, etc.). And today in our message we saw the Holy Spirit ended this letter mentioning several bothers in the faith with whom we can learn more about our call to follow Jesus in our life…
Tychicus and Onesimus brought the Word of God to the church in Colosse and the surrounding area to encourage the Christians there and help them know Christ better (Col.… Continue reading
In our message, FAITH, LOVE, AND HOPE (1 Thes. 1:1-5), we started a new series on the book of 1 Thessalonians.
The Apostle Paul founded the church in Thessalonica on his second missionary journey in LESS THAN FOUR WEEKS after heeding the call from the Holy Spirit to preach in that region of Macedonia (Acts. 16:6-10; Acts 17:2). Thessalonica was the regional capital of that Roman province, numbering about 200,000 inhabitants to include Greeks, Roman citizens, and a strong Jewish minority with its own “synagogue” (Acts 17:1).… Continue reading
In a message titled, THE GODLY MOTHER (Prov. 31:10-31), we thanked God for His gift of mothers to us (Prov. 18:22; James 1:17). All mothers are to be honored by virtue of who God made them to be and the example of His undying love they reflect (Gen. 1:27b; Isa. 49:15, etc.). How much more should mothers who “fear the Lord” be honored! (Prov. 31:10, 30)
The word “virtuous” (Heb. ḥayil) can also mean “capable” or “valor” in battle (Prov.… Continue reading
In a message titled, PAUL, A PRISONER OF CHRIST JESUS (Philemon vv. 1-3), we began Paul’s smallest letter in the Bible- the book of Philemon. Paul wrote this work during his first Roman imprisonment, along with his letters to the Colossian, Ephesian, and Philippian churches (Col. 4:10; Eph. 4:1; Phil. 1:13; 2:23-24; Phile 22; Rev. 1:9, etc.).
However, in this heartfelt request, Paul corresponded not to a church but with an individual (i.e. the “you” is singular in verses 4, 6-8, 10-12, 16, 18-21, and 23).… Continue reading
Today we finished our series in Galatians with a message titled, GRACE- PEACE AND MERCY (Gal 6:16-18). Who has “peace and mercy” with God? (Gal. 6:16). Judicially, we know it is all who have placed their faith in Jesus Christ as their Savior (John 14:6; Rom. 3:24-25; 1 John 2:2, etc.) to include both Gentile believers (i.e. the “them” of Gal. 6:16) “and… the Israel of God,” that is, also Jewish believers in Galatia (e.g. Gal.… Continue reading
In our Easter Sunday sermon titled, JOHN’S PERSONAL TESTIMONY, we see the Apostle John’s eyewitness account as to how he first came to believe Jesus had risen from the dead (John 20:1-10). The resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ is what Easter is all about, and it is also central to the Gospel itself, which states, “…Christ died for our sins… was buried, and… rose again the third day according to the Scriptures” (1 Cor.… Continue reading
In our Palm Sunday sermon titled, JESUS PRESENTS HIMSELF AS KING, we read the Matthew account of that special day when Christ entered Jerusalem before dying for our sins on the cross (Matt. 21:1-11). Prior to this time, Jesus refused to be made Israel’s king (e.g. John 6:15/Matt 14:13; 17:19, etc.), but on this day He orchestrated a public demonstration of His role as “THE KING OF THE JEWS” for all to see (Matt. 27:37; Luke 23:38; Isa 62:11, etc.).… Continue reading
In our March 19th sermon titled, THE LAW OF CHRIST, God summarized His call for Christians to walk in the Spirit before going onto some practical applications of how we can live the life (Gal. 5:24-6:5). Christians, whether we realize it or not, “are Christ’s [and] have crucified the flesh” when we first came to faith in Jesus (Gal. 2:20; 5:24, etc.). This is our identity in Christ, by grace through faith, and it is what we are called to continually “reckon” or consider as true- because it is!… Continue reading
In a message titled, AN ALLEGORY: ISHMAEL VERSUS ISAAC (Gal. 4:17-24a), Paul continues his doctrinal defense of the Gospel in chapters 3 and 4 as we pass from Paul’s fifth argument to start his capstone justification for our salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.
In this passage, we are shown the Judaizers (i.e. “false brethren”) courted the Christians “for no good” (Gal. 4:17a; Gal. 2:4, etc.), and their devotion to the Galatian churches was only for the purpose of bringing believers under their power, influence, and authority in an effort to satisfy their “ungodly lusts” (Gal.… Continue reading
