Fellowshipmtz

Guest speaker Robert Chapman preaches a message from Esther chapter four.  The highlight of the dramatic narrative comes in verse 14 when Mordecai tells Esther, "For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father's house will perish.  And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?"

Genesis 1:20-27 / Days 5 & 6 Note: The first 7 minutes the microphone was cutting out a bit.  After that, I used a handheld with better results. The biggest part of the teaching (and discussion afterward) was on the significance of the designation "living creatures".  According to the narrative, fish, birds, animals, and man are ALL created "living creatures."  That designation is something th...

Guest: Will Cooper Text: Mark 7:24-30 - The Great Banquet & a Persistent Faith

Genesis 1:6-13 On an earth "without form" (verse 2) finishes creating His intended "forms" or "structures"; after which, He begins to "fill" the empty forms.  Day three concludes (culminates!) with God calling forth vegetation on the earth.  Today's message pays particular attention on the meaning of God's created "expanse, firmament" and the significance of created vegetation "bearing fruit" or "...

Galatians 3:7-14 Our guest, Brad Corfman preaches today's message.  Unfortunately, for unknown reasons, the recording did not turn out well.  Besides being recorded at a level lower than normal, there are a couple of minutes when the recorder lost its signal.  At about the 12 minutes mark I cut (removed) the two minutes; that explains a rather abrupt progression after several seconds of silence.

Genesis 1 - Days 1 & 4 God created "light" on Day 1; and then on Day 4 "made the two great lights" [the sun & the moon].  How to understand and/or harmonize these two activities has been fodder for a lot of (unnecessary, in my opinion) discussion.  The simplest explanation seems best.

Genesis 1:1-31 We begin by defining three key words in verse 1: "God," "created," and "heavens." Then, we consider the "big picture" of the six days of creation, and does "day" ever mean something other than a twenty-four day?

Genesis 1:1-3 Today's message explains the best reasons why some might advocate for what is commonly known as the "Gap Theory" -- a gap of unspecified duration between Genesis 1:1 and 1:2.  To be clear, I am NOT recommending the Gap Theory, but I do want to evaluate it fairly.  I personally am unconvinced by the popular arguments that dismiss it.  It seems to me a speculative possibility.

Genesis 1:1-3 For our purposes, within Biblical Christianity, there are three general approaches to understanding the first three verses of Genesis.  (I am NOT including less Biblical approaches that discount or disregard what the text says.)  The point here is to fairly recognize how otherwise good Christians may approach the text different from one's own tradition or persuasion.

Genesis! (Laying the foundation for how the book -- especially the Creation account -- will be approached)

Guest speaker, Jim Johnson, considers select Bible passages on the (inevitable) prospect of believers enduring hardship or affliction -- and how Scripture offers encouragement and guidance during those times.

Psalm 33! A terrific psalm for the first Sunday of a new year (a week late since the actual first Sunday was cancelled due to inclement weather).  Side note: The recording begins with applause, but that's not for me (the pastor) -- rather, it's from a congregational stereo song that just ended that ends with applause.  :-)

Psalm 148 A praise psalm if there ever was one!  "Praise" occurs 13x in the English Standard Version Bible; "all" occurs 9x.  What are you waiting for?

Psalm 112:6-10 Arthur E. Cundall,  Daily Devotional Bible Commentary, Psalms–Malachi, vol. 2, (1974), 98 In Psalm 112 the sentiments are, as might be expected, in the tradition of Proverbs, no mention being made of exceptions.  Note the link made by v. 3b between the two psalms; since man's righteousness is derived from God, the same affirmation can be made of man's and God's.  We should translate...

Psalm 112 (part 1) The last verse of Psalm 111 reads, "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom;  all those who practice it have a good understanding.  His praise endures forever!"  The first verse of Psalm 112 picks up where the last psalm left off: "Praise the LORD!   Blessed is the man who fears the LORD,  who greatly delights in His commandments!"

Psalm 111 This alphabetic acrostic psalm celebrates the LORD's works and His precepts (what we might recognize as His Word).  The psalm ends with the important precept: "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding.  His praise endures forever."

Psalm 92:6-15 In part 1 (the week before) we considered the first strophe (movement, stanza).  In this message we cover the remainder of the psalm, especially contrasting two kinds of "flourishing" -- one that ends in death and disappointment and one that bears eternal rewards.

Psalm 92  ( part 1 ) After some general observations we considered the psalm's first strophe (movement), verses 1-5.  The LORD's thoughts (and works) are a beautiful tapestry of His steadfast love and faithfulness.

Nehemiah 12:43 > The High Point of Reformation! Nehemiah 12:44-47 & 13:1-3 > Two Appendices Nehemiah 13:4-31 > Coda (Failure) Including two audio excerpts featuring Don Carson: "We earnestly seek reformation, but help us never to be so foolish as to imagine that by our reforms, by our organization, by our gifts, somehow we will bring in utopia.  For this, merciful God, we await in eag...

Nehemiah 12:1-43 Gregory Goswell (Academic Dean at Christ College in New Zealand) writes in A Study Commentary on Ezra-Nehemiah,  (EP, 2013), 380.  "There is little prospect of Nehemiah 11 becoming one of the Old Testament's most famous or best loved chapters.  The modern reader does not find long lists of difficult Hebrew names very interesting.  The chapter is not, however, without its value or...

Nehemiah 11 So many genealogies!  So many names!  Why does it matter to God?| In Nehemiah, it is evident the people understand and support the larger mission to reestablish Jerusalem.  Similarly, the Church is tasked with a mission bigger than any of our own individual aspirations.  What is the mission?

Nehemiah 10:30-39 We draw our attention to understanding the significance of the three specific categories to which the Israelites pledge their obedience (and how those categories apply to the Christian Church).

Special message on the meaning and significance of Christian baptism.

Nehemiah 10:30-39 It is relatively *easy* to talk in general terms about making necessary changes, but now Israel gets down to some very specific, identifiable, measurable steps:  Intermarriages (family)  Sabbaths  Supporting Temple ministry

Nehemiah 9:38-10:29 Most Christian's view of Mosaic Law is entirely shaded by what the Apostle Paul teaches about the failure of the Law to justify the sinner.  No matter how hard s/he tries, it isn't good enough to gain entrance into the kingdom of heaven.  So how are we to understand Israel's pledge in Nehemiah 9:38 and 10:29: "Because of all this we are making a binding agreement in writing on...