If God is for us, who is against us? The answer is that no one or nothing can successfully stand against a true child of God, because the Lord has an invincible love toward him that nothing can stop.
Yearly Archives:: 2020
Who Will Separate Us From The Love Of Christ?
Paul brings the 8th chapter of Romans to a great crescendo, as he challenges anyone or anything in all of God’s universe to separate a child of God from His love. Nothing can!
Understanding Hebrew Thought in the Bible
Join us as Pastor Jerome Wade goes through what it was like to think and live as a first century Jew in order to better understand some of the language and expressions of the Bible.
Worship
God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” John 4:24
Praise
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Colossians 3:16
Israel Accursed!
Paul’s heart was broken and in deep pain as he contemplated the terrible situation Israel was in, having rejected God’s Son and Messiah.
Unconditional Election
Why does one person come to Christ, while another does not? The apostle Paul answers that question in Romans 9:6-13, as he shows how God sovereignly included Isaac and Jacob in the true Israel, while He passed over Ishmael and Esau, by including them in His purpose, His choice, and His call.
Is God Unjust To Choose Some And Not Others?
Is God unjust to choose some and not others? That’s the burning question that Paul’s teaching on unconditional election in Romans 9:6-13 has elicited. If not, why not? And why was Pharaoh’s heart hardened? Find out in this message.
The Reason Why We Sing
Sing to the Lord a new song;
Sing to the Lord, all the earth. Psalm 96:1
Is God Unjust to Judge Those He Hardened?
Is God unjust to Condemn those He hardens? That’s the question posed in Romans 9:19. In the next five verses the apostle Paul answers that question, but in a way you might not expect. Man has no right to question God’s actions, and God has every right to do whatever He wants with His creation.
Hallmarks Of A Great Church
And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved. Acts 2:42-47
God’s Way of Forming His True Israel
How does God go about forming the True Israel? By calling Gentiles, and preserving a Jewish remnant. The implications for God’s people are staggering: We are the People of God! We are Beloved! We are sons of the Living God! God is saving a remnant and preserving a posterity! All glory to His Name!
Why Isn’t Israel Saved?
What isn’t Israel saved? That was the question people were asking in Paul’s day. Paul’s first answer is in Romans 9:6-29 – God has not included all physical descendants of Abraham in the True Israel. Rather, He has sovereignly chose some, but not all. His next answer, is because of Israel’s failure. Israel sought righteousness by works, stumbled over Jesus Christ, had a zeal for God that was not according to knowledge, and refused to submit to God’s righteousness. Oh, may we not repeat Israel’s mistakes!
How Do Sinners Receive Salvation?
What must a person do to be saved? Paul, with Israel in mind, answers that question. Israel was pursuing righteousness by works, and would not subject themselves to God’s righteousness. Paul teaches that people must abandon that approach, and instead pursue it by faith: faith in what Christ has accomplished, faith in the risen Lord, faith from the heart, and faith that expresses itself in confession.
Israel Has No Excuse
Why is Israel lost? Is she to blame? The apostle Paul declares that she heard the gospel, understood the gospel, but refused the gospel, so she is culpable in the matter.
The Portrait of a True Prophet
Join us as Dave Wagner goes through what makes a false prophet and what are the markings of a true prophet of the Lord!
The Christian’s Identity
“To the saints who are in Ephesus, and are faithful in Christ Jesus”
Ephesians 1:1
Spiritual Richness In Christ
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ Ephesians 1:3
The Chosen Jewish Remnant
Because the Jewish people by and large rejected Christ and the gospel in the first century, has God rejected them? No, God has a remnant according to the election of grace.
All Israel Will be Saved
What does Paul mean when he says, “so all Israel will be saved?” There is a great deal of disagreement and controversy over the correct interpretation of that statement in Romans 11:26. In order to understand Paul’s teaching in Romans 11, we need to answer 2 questions: 1) who is “all Israel”?; and 2) when will “all Israel” be saved?
The Spiritual Blessing Of Sanctification
even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. Ephesians 1:4
Holy and Blameless Before The Father
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. Ephesians 1:3-4
We apologize, the beginning of the sermon wasn’t recorded.
The Christian’s Use of Time
Pastor Brian shows how a Christian should use their time wisely.
The Greatness Of God
The apostle Paul winds up his doctrinal section of Romans by extolling God’s riches, and wisdom and knowledge. Here we see logic on fire, truth and passion united in a God-centered vision of all things.
Predestined for Adoption
He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. Ephesians 1:5-6
Dedicate Yourselves to God!
In light of God’s incredible mercies, how should the believer respond? Paul tells us in Romans 12:1, it is by presenting our bodies to Him to be used to do His will and bring Him glory!
How To Experience Spiritual Transformation
We all want to experience spiritual transformation, but how does it take place? Join us as we meditate on Romans 12:2 and see the crucial role that renewing our minds plays in this transformation.
Redemption
In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, Ephesians 1:7
The Mystery of God’s Will
In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. Ephesians 1:7-10
How the Renewed Mind Kills Pride
How does the Christian with a renewed mind put pride to death? Pastor Brian seeks to answer that question as he expounds Romans 12:3 at The Bridge.
The Gift Of Prophecy
What is the gift of prophecy? Is it still available today? If so, how should it be exercised? These are the questions Pastor Brian seeks to answer in this message.
Our Inheritance in the Lord
In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory. Ephesians 1:11-14
Encouragement to not be Fearful During the Pandemic
For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer. 2 Corinthians 1:5-6
The Opportunities God Is Giving Us Through The Coronavirus
The coronavirus has quickly filled people the world over with fear and anxiety. However, this crisis has also provided Christians with unique opportunities to do good and to glorify God.
Exercising Your Spiritual Gifts in The Body
All believers have been given spiritual gifts. Paul describes them and urges us to put them to use to serve His church.
Brotherly Love
How are we to love one another in the Church? Paul answers that question with 5 short exhortations in Romans 12:9, 10, 13. We are to love sincerely, affectionately, selflessly, generously and hospitably.
Read More...Abhor What is Evil – Cling to What is Good
God has called us to be like Him – abhor evil and cling to what is good.
Read More...Full-Time Ministry
All Christians have been called into full time ministry – that is we are to serve the Lord all the time, every day, even in the “secular” and mundane issues of life.
Read More...How To Persevere In Tribulation
Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God. But just how can we persevere in tribulations? We do it by rejoicing in hope, and being devoted to prayer.
If You Only Knew – The Power of God in the Life of a Christian
Paul’s last prayer petition in Ephesians chapter 1 is one of power………..literally! The Apostle’s prayer for the Ephesians is that the eyes of their heart would be enlightened to know the power of God directed toward them. Do you know the power of God directed toward you?
Black Lives Matter, Civil Unrest and the African American Experience in America – A Christian Response
How should a Christians respond to the civil unrest and Black Lives Matter protest and what do these events have to do with God’s grace?
How to Love Saints and Enemies
We are called to love the church and the world. We are to love the saints by displaying sympathy and humility. We are to love all of God’s children without partiality. We are to love our enemies by refusing to retaliate against them and purposing to do good to them.
Submit To Governing Authorities
There has been so much opposition to governmental authority in our country in recent weeks. But, what does the Scripture have to say about how the Christian should relate to government? Paul deals with that exact subject in our text – Romans 13:1-7.
The Mission of the Church
And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
A Stroll Down Memory Lane: Life Before Christ and the Power of God
And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience.
Ephesians 2:1-2
We All Formerly Lived In The Lusts Of Our Flesh
Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.
Ephesians 2:3
The Preeminence of Love
Love is of the utmost importance in the Christian life. It is a debt that we will never pay off, and it fulfills God’s Law. We must appropriate the power of the Spirit in order to love our neighbor as ourselves.
Living On The Edge Of Eternity
We are living on the edge of eternity, so how ought we to live? We need to lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the Lord Jesus Christ!
The Mercy of God and the Jesus Treatment
But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
Ephesians 2:4-7
The Mercy of God and the Jesus Treatment, Part 2
But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
Ephesians 2:4-7
How To Live With Christians With Different Convictions
In every church there will be Christians who hold different convictions from each other on non-essential gray areas. It is very easy for one believer to despise or judge another under these circumstances. In this passage, the apostle Paul shows us why we should not judge or despise one another in these situations.
Love Limits Liberty
How should we live with other Christians when we disagree over secondary issues? Paul exhorts those strong in faith to give up their Christian liberty to eat and drink certain things when it may hinder another believer in his walk with the Lord. Our aim is to accept one another, build up one another, and please one another.
God’s Masterpiece
For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.
Ephesians 2:8-10 NASB
Remember Your Former Life Before Christ
Therefore remember that formerly you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called “Uncircumcision” by the so-called “Circumcision,” which is performed in the flesh by human hands— remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.
Ephesians 2:11-12
In Him Shall The Gentiles Hope
We are called to accept one another, because Christ has accepted us. He accepted the Jews by confirming the promises given to the fathers. He accepted the Gentiles by bestowing saving mercy upon them. And He did it all that they (and we) may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit!
A Minister of Christ Jesus, Part 1
Paul was a minister of Christ Jesus. In Romans 15:14-33 we see 7 character traits of a minister of Christ. Every Christian is a servant of Christ, so there is much in this passage that we can apply to our lives, whether or not we are a pastor, missionary or elder of a church, or just an ordinary Christian.
A Minister of Christ Jesus, Part 2
As a minister of Christ Jesus, Paul sought the unreached, labored for the peace of the church, expected God to use him, and coveted the prayers of God’s people. There are many gold nuggets in Romans 15:20-33 that each Christian can apply to their own life and ministry.
Our Unity In Christ
“But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace”
Ephesians 2:13-15
The Forgotten Victory of the Cross: How the Gospel Sets the Dinner Table and Brings Unity Among the Nations
“But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace, and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity. And He came and preached peace to you who were far away, and peace to those who were near”
Ephesians 2:13-17
Greetings To Some Unsung Heroes
What are we to make of Romans 16 and all these greetings? Surprisingly, there is a lot of wonderful spiritual truth tucked away here. We will be introduced to a whole bunch of heaven’s unsung heroes. And they are not much different from you or me!
Living In Unity In A Time Of Cultural Disunity
Do not lie to one another, since you stripped off the old self with its evil practices, and have put on the new self, which is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created it— a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, and free, but Christ is all, and in all.
Colossians 3:9-11
When False Teachers Infiltrate The Church
How should the church respond to false teachers? The apostle Paul tells us in this chapter what the false teachers do, why they do it, and how we must respond to them.
The Ultimate Goal of the Gospel – The Glory of God!
The Book of Romans is all about the gospel. Paul concludes the book with a mighty crescendo as he summarizes again the main elements of the gospel and shows how it all brings glory to God.
Follow Us!