A message from the series “1 Timothy: Life in God\’s House.” Being a good servant for the Lord is all about our example, faithful proclamation of the Word of God, and putting to use the gift or gifts he has given to us. May the Lord raise up pastors who live out this passage, and may His church, be blessed by those pastors who provide a godly example, and follow His Word.
A message from the series “The Gospel of John: That We May Believe.” John 18:28-32 reveals Jesus’ otherworldly authority, where Jewish leaders, avoiding defilement, bring Jesus to Pilate, who ironically holds temporal power but questions Jesus about kingship, leading to Jesus clarifying His kingdom isn’t worldly but heavenly, a truth the leaders miss, necessitating His death for God’s plan to fulfill prophecy and offer salvation, highlighting Jesus’ sovereign control even in His unjust trial as the true King whose reign transcends earthly politics.
A message from the series “Special Sermons.” When Jesus gave the Great Commission to his disciples, he commanded them to “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you (Matt. 28:19-20).” This Sunday we will be looking at what the Bible has to say about Baptism: what it means, who it’s for, and why do it.
A message from the series “The Gospel of John: That We May Believe.” In John 18:33-38, Pilate questions Jesus about being the “King of the Jews,” a politically charged title, to which Jesus clarifies his kingship is spiritual, not of this world, defined by bearing witness to truth, not earthly power. Jesus explains that if His kingdom were earthly, His followers would fight, but instead, He came to testify to truth, a truth recognized by those who belong to it.
A message from the series “The Gospel of John: That We May Believe.” The passage of John 18:38-19:16 details the trial of Jesus before the Roman governor Pontius Pilate, a scene of profound irony where Jesus, though repeatedly declared innocent by Roman authority, is condemned to death due to political pressure and the demands of the Jewish leaders.
A message from the series “The Gospel of John: That We May Believe.” John 19:16-27 describes Jesus’s crucifixion at Golgotha, emphasizing his identity as “The King of the Jews” through Pilate’s inscription, despite Jewish leaders’ objections, fulfilling prophecy as soldiers cast lots for his seamless tunic while his mother and beloved disciple watched, to whom Jesus entrusted his mother’s care. This passage highlights Jesus’s fulfillment of scripture, his royal status even in suffering, and his human compassion for his mother, even as his earthly life ends.
A message from the series “Christmas 2023.” The parable of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15:11-24 illustrates that “home for Christmas” means a radical, unconditional welcome from a loving Father (God) who eagerly awaits the return of His lost children, celebrating their homecoming with extravagant grace, forgiveness, and restoration, not punishment, showing that God’s love embraces all who return, even when they’ve squandered their inheritance and fallen into deep despair.
A message from the series “Christmas 2023.” In Micah 5:2, Yahweh describes the coming ruler as someone with ancient, eternal origins (“from of old, from everlasting”) but emerging from the insignificant town of Bethlehem, emphasizing a paradoxical figure who is both divine and humble, a shepherd-king from David’s lineage whose rule brings peace, unlike any political leader, as he comes “for Me” (for God’s purpose) to govern Israel with God’s strength, fulfilling prophecy through unexpected, humble means, a foretelling applied by Jewish leaders to the Messiah, Jesus Christ.
A message from the series “Special Sermons.” Philippians 4:10-13 is about finding true contentment, a learned skill not dependent on external circumstances like wealth or poverty, but rooted in a deep reliance on Christ’s strength; the Apostle Paul explains he has learned to be satisfied whether he has plenty or lacks, understanding how to live with abundance and need, and he can do all things through Christ who empowers him, revealing that this inner peace comes from God, not from worldly possessions or situations.
A message from the series “The Gospel of John: That We May Believe.” John 19:31-42 fulfills Scripture by detailing Jesus’s real death and burial, confirming He is the promised Messiah, not just a symbol, with specific actions like the spear-piercing (fulfilling Psalm 34:20) and the burial in a new tomb (echoing Isaiah 53:9), showing His complete identification with humanity, culminating in His honorable rest before resurrection, and foreshadowing His triumph over sin and death, all occurring before the Sabbath as required by Jewish law and prophesied in the Old Testament.