Sermon Series: New Testament Book

Contentment In Our Calling

| by | Scripture: 1 Corinthians 7:17-24

Paul’s counsel to the Corinthian believers is “remain in the condition in which you were called.” Whether you are married or single, slave or free, Jew or Gentile, serve Christ in that condition. But where can believers receive the strength to be content in their present circumstances. The Word of God gives us answers to that question from this passage.

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Paul’s Counsel To The Unmarried

| by | Scripture: 1 Corinthians 7:25-40

What should unmarried people seriously consider before deciding to get married? Paul gives counsel considering this very issue in this passage. He says they need to consider the present distress, the fact that the time has been shortened, the truth that marriage will bring new distractions, and the fact that marriage is permanent until your spouse dies.

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Loving Others More Than Your Liberty

| by | Scripture: 1 Corinthians 8:1-13

The 1st century church in Corinth had questions for Paul related to whether it was all right to eat meat sacrificed to idols or not. Today we might ask whether it is all right to get a tattoo, listen to secular music, drink alcohol, or send our children to a public school. The apostle Paul gives us principles by which we may discern God’s will in whether we ought to engage in these “gray” issues.

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Paul’s Use Of His Rights

| by | Scripture: 1 Corinthians 9:1-18

1 Corinthians 8-10 comprise a single section in which Paul is teaching the Corinthians to be willing to yield their rights for the sake their brothers.  In 1 Corinthians 9 Paul refers to his own example to be willing to give up his right to refrain from secular work as an apostle so that the gospel will not be hindered.  This section touches on whether it is the will of God for those who labor to proclaim the gospel today to receive their living from the gospel.  

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Take Heed Lest You Fall!

| by | Scripture: 1 Corinthians 10:1-13

God has given us the examples of the children of Israel to demonstrate His judgment upon willful sin. In this passage Paul urges the Corinthians not to become self-confident and cocky simply because they were baptized and observed the Lord’s Supper. The Israelites had their own form of baptism and a sacred meal, yet they were laid low in the wilderness.    

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Why Head Coverings?

| by | Scripture: 1 Corinthians 11:2-16

Have you ever wondered about whether a woman should wear a head covering?  This study focuses on this issue. Admittedly, this is a touchy issue, and comes from a confusing and obscure passage. Hopefully, our study will throw some light on this subject for those who are seeking to know what Paul was teaching on this subject.     

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The Lord’s Supper

| by | Scripture: 1 Corinthians 11:17-34

Jesus gave His disciples 2 ordinances:  one to celebrate a disciple’s entrance into the New Covenant community (baptism), and one to commemorate the basis for a disciple’s inclusion in the New Covenant community (the Lord’s Supper).  We believe there has been much misunderstanding concerning the section dealing with “examining yourselves” before observing the Lord’s Supper. We hope that this message will bring light and clarity to this subject!

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The Diversity of Spiritual Gifts

| by | Scripture: 1 Corinthians 12:1-11

In 1 Corinthians 12-14 Paul launches into a 3-chapter discussion of spiritual gifts. In this message we are going to survey 9 different manifestations of the Spirit. We are continuationists who do believe that these manifestations of the Spirit are still available to the church today. However, we are Charismatics with a seatbelt! We hope you gain spiritual blessing from this study. 

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The Unity Of The Body

| by | Scripture: 1 Corinthians 12:12-31

In this section, we find Paul’s extended teaching on the Body of Christ, especially the unity of that body. How does a person get into this body?  What enemies did the Corinthians face regarding this unity?  How should we live in the body so that we actively promote this unity?  These are some of the questions that we seek to answer from this message.

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The Greatest Of These Is Love

| by | Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:1-13

1 Corinthians 13 is arguably the best known chapter in the entire Bible – the famous Love Chapter.  But how does this chapter “fit” in the context of spiritual gifts in chapters 12-14?  What does this chapter teach us about the importance and definition of love?  More importantly, what does it teach us about the duration of spiritual gifts?  Are they still available to the church today?

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Tongues and Prophecy

| by | Scripture: 1 Corinthians 14:1-33, 37-40

There are few subjects more controversial than the role of tongues and prophecy in the church today.  But that is exactly the theme of 1 Corinthians 14.  In this study we seek to learn the comparative value of tongues and prophecy in the public meetings of the church, and the regulations the apostle Paul placed upon the exercise of each.  Listen in!

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Women Keeping Silent In The Churches

| by | Scripture: 1 Corinthians 14:33b-35

Women are to keep silent in the churches!  What in the world did Paul mean by that?  In this message, we survey several different possible interpretations of this thorny passage, and decide which one makes the most sense from its context. If you’ve ever wondered what this passage means, this message is for you!

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How Does Jesus Continue To Do And Teach?

| by | Scripture: Acts 1:1-8

In this message, we begin our study of the Book of Acts. Brian begins by giving an introduction and overview of the Book of Acts. This is followed by examining the first 8 verses of chapter 1, and asking the question, “What did the apostles need in order for the risen Christ to continue to do and teach through them?” In this study we conclude by examining the subject of the baptism with the Holy Spirit.

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The Devil’s Distractions

| by | Scripture: Acts 6:1-7

The devil has tried many tactics to stop the advance of the church, including distracting them from their calling.  In this message we examine his tactics and how the apostles overcame him by refusing to be sidelined from their primary calling to preach the word.

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The Samaritans Receive The Gospel

| by | Scripture: Acts 8:5-25

In this message we examine the mission of Philip the evangelist to the Samaritans, who were at mutual animosity with the Jews for over 700 years. As the Samaritans receive the gospel, we see how our God is a missionary God, going out to save all of the nations of the world, not only the Jews.

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The Making of a Missionary – Pt. 1

| by | Scripture: Acts 12:25-13:52

God is on mission to save sinners who are doomed to everlasting punishment.  As his church, we get to announce the good news of his salvation to all men – to be on mission with him.  In this teaching, we see some of the characteristics of the missionaries in the early church.

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Grace Alone!

| by | Scripture: Acts 15:1-35

God accepts everyone on the same basis – by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone.  Therefore, in this message we see the apostles and elders of the early church rejecting the teaching that Gentiles need to be circumcised and keep the law of Moses to be saved, and affirming that salvation is purely by grace!

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Effective Missional Communities

| by | Scripture: Acts 15:36-16:10

A missional community is a group of believers who are on mission in a particular community to make disciples for Jesus. Today, as we read about the apostle Paul setting out on his second missionary journey, we will look at some of great characteristics of an effective missionary team.

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Jesus Calls Out His People in Philippi

| by | Scripture: Acts 16:11-40

As Jesus uses his missionaries in Philippi to build his church, he uses both their personal witnessing to various people, the casting out of a demon from a fortune-telling slave girl, as well as an unjust imprisonment of Paul and Silas brought about by the angry owners of the slave girl, to make a church in Philippi consisting of people from very different backgrounds, including even the very jailor that was charged to watch over Paul and Silas as they were imprisoned.

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People That Turn The World Right Side Up

| by | Scripture: Acts 17:1-15

Although God created our world perfect, sin has turned it on its head. As Paul and his team go about confronting sin and preaching the gospel of grace, their enemies say they are turning the world upside down, although they are really turning it rightside up! In this message we examine 4 marks of the kind of person who turns the world rightside up.

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Who Is The Only True God?

| by | Scripture: Acts 17:16-29

Today, as in Athens 2000 years ago, we are tempted every day to worship idols, or false gods – by putting our hope and seeking our joy in created things, such as technology, entertainment, other people, etc. – rather than the one true God who created all things. When we put all our hope in created things, we will sooner or later be completely disappointed. Let’s listen as Paul brings us to the only true God, who is worthy of our worship.

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Jesus The Risen Judge

| by | Scripture: Acts 17:30-34

Jesus Christ has been raised from the dead and he will judge the world on a day that God has appointed. How will you respond to this knowledge? Derision (laugh it off), delay (I’ll think about it later), or decision to repent and believe in Jesus?

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The Lord’s Encouragement to Paul in Vanity Fair

| by | Scripture: Acts 18:1-17

The city of Corinth that Paul came to on his second missionary journey was like Vanity Fair in the book Pilgrim’s Progress: it was full of immorality and wickedness. Upon coming to Corinth, Paul was alone and prone to discouragement from of all of the persecution that he had suffered from city to city. In this message, we see how the Lord encouraged him by giving him friends, converts, and promises.

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Jesus Triumphs Over Satan’s Stronghold

| by | Scripture: Acts 19:8-41

Many years ago Hal Lindsay wrote a book entitled, “Satan Is Alive And Well On Planet Earth.” And, you know what – he was right. Satan is alive and well on Planet Earth. But you know what – Jesus is More Alive and He’s More Well on Planet Earth! We’re going to see that truth as we come to Acts 19 today.

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Paul Sets His Face To Go To Jerusalem

| by | Scripture: Acts 21:1-36

As Paul courageously travels to Jerusalem, we see 5 Powerful Principles for our own lives: the priority of Christian fellowship, the nature of New Testament Prophecy, our need to respect those with whom we disagree, the need to follow our convictions, and our need to be all things to all men.

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Sharing Your Faith

| by | Scripture: Acts 21:37 – 22:21

Paul’s testimony before the angry Jewish mob provides us with many powerful principles for sharing our faith: having an earnest desire for the lost, finding common ground, emphasizing the inability of religion to save, relying on the sovereign initiative of God, and not resting until we see evidence of the supernatural work of God in their heart!

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Paul On Trial

| by | Scripture: Acts 22:22 – 26:32

In Acts chapters 23-26 we see several things about the apostle Paul while he is on trial: he is consumed with the hope of the resurrection, he is compelled to preach Christ fearlessly, he was commissioned to call men to repentance, and he was committed to seizing opportunities for the gospel.

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The Lord And His Servant

| by | Scripture: Acts 28:1-31

In Acts 28 we have an illustration of Paul’s description of his relationship to God — “the God to whom I belong and whom I serve.” In the first half of the chapter we see the Lord’s commitment to His servants and in the second half we see the servant’s commitment to His Lord.

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God’s Sovereign Choice

| by | Scripture: Romans 9:1-24

God applies the gospel according to His sovereign choice. Before the creation of the world, He chose particular individuals to eternal salvation, not based on foreseen faith, but based only on His good pleasure alone.

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God’s Irresistible Call

| by | Scripture: Romans 8:28-30

How does God apply the gospel? Those whom He has chosen for salvation He irresistibly calls to Christ. In this message we focus on the Originator, Objects, Omnipotence, Outcome, and Order of this great and mighty call of God.

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Transformed By A New Master

| by | Scripture: Romans 6:15-23

Not only is the believer transformed by a new Joy and a new Union, but also a new Master. Whereas Sin was a hard taskmaster paying only bondage, misery, and death, God is a loving and kind Master granting holiness and everlasting life!

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Transformed By A New Husband

| by | Scripture: Romans 7:1-6

The believer is transformed by a new husband. He has died to his old husband, the Law, and been joined to his new husband, Jesus Christ, in His resurrection glory. This new marriage gives the believer an entirely new motivation and power for living the Christian life.

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Kindle Afresh the Gift of God

| by | Scripture: 2 Timothy 1:1-7


As we embark on an expository sermon series on 2 Timothy, we see Paul exhorting Timothy, his young friend and apprentice, to kindle afresh God’s gift to him, and serve the Lord with all his might, because there is a promise of life in Christ Jesus.

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