Brother Bill Hickey, visiting from Pennsylvania, presented this ministry yesterday on our need to really find what the Lord meant by giving us "life more abundantly" in our day-to-day experience. Taking us through some familiar scriptures such as John 3:16, Psalm 23, and Ephesians 1, Brother Bill encouraged us to try to see our lives through God's eyes.
Brother Viv John preached this message of encouragement while he and his wife were in town for the funeral of his nephew. What a hope we have in Jesus, whatever our current circumstances. Drawing from each chapter of 2Timothy, Brother Viv challenged us to be stirred up, strong, studied up in the Scriptures, and ready to depart when the Lord calls us.
During a visit from Jacksonville this past Sunday, Brother Donovan McFarlane shared this encouragement to resolve to be more Faithful, Available, and Teachable in 2017. He drew examples from the lives of Joshua, Achan, and Samson.
This message considers the difference between a gift and a wage in the context of our salvation. What do we owe God for our salvation and the gift of His Son? Why do many hymns contain the language of debt if eternal life is a free gift? "Jesus paid it all; all to Him I owe"; "Praise the Saviour, ye who know Him; Who can tell how much we owe Him?" Considering these thoughts in light of Romans 3 and 6 can be helpful.
Jim Auld delivered this message on the first Lord's Day of the month, reflecting on some of the things God has shown us that will come to pass.
This message tracks the changing attitude toward Jesus in John 9 of the man who was born blind.
Luke Harriman gave this message on Sunday about the greatness of our Lord Jesus Christ. May we truly see Him and time spent with Him as essential to our lives on a moment-by-moment basis. As one temple guard put it in John 7, "No one every spoke like this man!"
Scripture passages: John 6:63; 7:37-46
Brother Vic Coffman shared this message to us during a visit from Minneapolis this Sunday. Drawing from Paul's instruction to Timothy, Brother Vic suggests the command to "pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace" represents God's program for the church to follow during the last days.
Scripture passage: 2Tim 2:22
Brother Collin Beckford gave this message on the Lord's Day, considering the peerlessness of the Lord. There is truly none like Him! May our worship be fueled by the knowledge that the Lord Jesus has no equal!
Orrin Ledgister gives this message regarding the many things Scripture tells us the Lord Jesus "became" and "was made" and calls us to show our appreciation to Him in worship. One example Brother Orrin focuses on is appreciation shown by the demon-possessed man the Lord restores in Mark 5.
Scripture passage: Mark 5:1-20
Luke Harriman presented this message considering three instances in Scripture where someone laments, "I have no man." God claims through the prophet Ezekiel that He found no man to stand in the gap for broken down Israel. The invalid by the pool of Bethesda complained that he had no man to help him get healed. And the Samaritan woman responded to the Lord's challenge to bring her husband (man) by claiming "I have no man." In each instance, the Lord Jesus proves to be the Man of God's own choosing. We do well to honor Him as Lord of all.
Scripture passages: Ez 22:30; Jn 5:1-14; John 4
Brother Viv John delivered this message from the gospel of Matthew on our need to truly see the Lord for who He is and then to go tell what we have seen to a world desperately in need of a Savior.
Scripture passages: Matt 27:36; 28:6-7, 10-20
Brother Ken Huebner delivered this message on the Lord's Day, considering the meaning of the word "Lord" and its significance for our relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ. Visiting several passages of scripture, Brother Ken asked us to search our own hearts and determine whether we have truly submitted to Christ as the Lord of our entire being: body, soul, and spirit.
Brother Norris Clarke shared this message on the Lord's Day from the life of Gideon. Using this remarkable story of God's power, Brother Norris described four principles that will lead to an experience of victory in the Lord: vision, valor, vigilance, and vitality.
Scripture passage: Judges 6 & 7
Passing through on his way to the conference in Orlando, Brother Ashton Bristol shared this message from Ezra about the mixed response to the rebuilding of the Lord's temple. As we consider the current state of the Church, we also might have feelings of sorrow mixed with joy. May we all be motivated to put these emotions to use in the Lord's service as we go on in His strength.
Scripture passage: Ezra 3
Luke Harriman concludes this series by considering the "how" and the "why" of baptism. It is good for us to meditate on God's purposes in instituting this practice as we continue to follow his command to "make disciples of all nations, baptizing them."
Scripture passages: 1Pet 3:20–21, Rom 6:1–15; Gal 3:26–29
Luke Harriman returns to the topic of baptism and addresses the most divisive aspect of the doctrine: the question of infant baptism versus believer baptism. After considering a strong argument in support of baptizing infants, Brother Luke defends the practice of only baptizing those who are able to confess their faith in Jesus Christ for salvation. He concludes with the example of Naaman being cured of his leprosy, which has beautiful implications for the practice of baptism.
Scripture passages: Col 2:8–15; 2Kings 5
This week, Brother Kazi Chhetri encouraged all of us as he stood to speak on Psalm 77, led there by the Holy Spirit during our breaking of bread meeting. In difficult times, the believer's only resource is to cry out to the Lord, who has promised to always hear His people. Although there are times when His "footsteps were unknown" (v. 19), He is always with us. May we all be more faithful to bring our cares and concerns to Him!
Scripture passage: Ps 77
Last week, Brother Ken Huebner shared a helpful message in which he took us through several of the hymns in our Spiritual Songs hymnbook. In each one, Brother Ken directed our attention to a line that calls us toward personal holiness in response to the Lord's love, and he supported each one with several verses of scripture. Indeed, may we sing these hymns with honesty and sincerity as we strive to "be holy even as He is holy."
In anticipation of an upcoming baptism in the fall, Luke Harriman began a three-part series on the practice of Christian believer's baptism. Although it has been almost universally practiced in the church, this important element of the faith has been a source of great confusion and division for many. In an attempt to cut through some of the disagreements and discover the beauty of baptism itself, Brother Luke considers the who, what, when, where, why, and how of the practice.
Scripture passages: Rom 6, Acts 8