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
