Messages

[Luke 1:26-35] The Lord is with you, favored one. We are all like Mary in this, being favored-God with us; but are we humble like she was? This eternal Son of the Most High will be conceived by the Holy Spirit in the Virgin Mary’s womb to reign in the throne of David over His kingdom forever.

[Luke 1:5-25] Zecharias and Elizabeth were righteous and blamelessly obedient the sight of God - we can be too. He was chosen by lot and burned incense in the temple according to the Law of Moses, and God sent an angel to tell him He heard his prayer and is giving him a son who will be named John - God hears our prayers uttered out of the suffering experiencesof this life. Zecharias doubted the an...

[Luke 1:1-4] Twelve Apostles were chosen as faithful eyewitness of the Old Testament fulfillment in their midst. Islam and Mormonism stand in opposition to this as unverifiable, secret revelation claimed by one man. Creation is our apologetic for God, but the Old Testament is our apologetic for Jesus. 
The Spirit and the Word together is the guarantee of truth; personal experience of objective tru...

[1 Cor 1:10-17] Baptism does not confer grace, it is not a sacrament. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is what saves by grace through faith. There is nothing magical in the act itself that accomplishes forgiveness and eternal life but the faith that reaches out to Christ and obeys His example and command. The gospel is the diamond which shines on its own, clever speech is not needed to adorn the gospel...

[Luke 1:1-4] Luke, and the other 3 biblical gospels, are apostolic eyewitness testimony, not myths distorted over decades like the game of telephone. Gospel is a unique type of literature which certainly contains history, narrative, and biographical material, but it is a unique genre. Evangelion (the greek word) literally means "good news widely proclaimed and gladly received." Luke's gospel is go...

[Luke 1:1-4] If you met Luke, after hearing of all his missionary journeys, hardships endured with Paul, skills as a physician & historian, intensive and thorough research as a faithful friend and man of God, would you trust him to write an orderly account of all that Jesus did and taught?

[2 Peter 1:5-9] What does Christian diligence look like? If you’re not growing as a Christian, you’ve forgotten something - the cross of Christ that purified you from your sins. We as Christians must never forget our entry into this grace in which we stand, and continue to add to our faith so that we will be useful to God, bearing much fruit.

[Psalm 139:1-24] David reflecting on the all seeing, all knowing God, transcendent and personal God from the moment of his conception and in all places is ever present, guiding and helping him through every circumstance. The awe of this reality brings him to a sense of awe and worship of this powerful creator, protector, and guide.

[2 Cor 12:1-10] Paul was driven to boasting by necessity, in order to respond to the super apostles who are false teachers leading the beloved Corinthians astray from the truth, but he only boasts in his weakness.

[2 Peter 1:4] The word of God actually makes you more like God. The source is God’s glory and excellence and the goal is to become partakers of the divine nature through the means of His precious and magnificent promises. Continue to renew your mind by the Word of God.

[Romans 6:1-4] Water baptism, "immersion," is fundamental to Christianity because it represents the entry point so that we will understand what salvation is from the beginning; saving faith (justification) and personal holiness (sanctification) are required for salvation. Paul is using baptism as an illustration of the true gospel - don't you "know" what baptism teaches?

[Matt 5:1-3] Blessesd are those who mourn - see Isaiah 61, which Jesus takes up and applies to himself for the entirety of humanity in the sermon on the Mount, not just Israel. This hope manifested is finally fulfilled in the New Heavens and New Earth depicted in Revelation 21.

[2 Peter 1:3-4] God has one agenda in our lives: conform us into the image of His Son in godliness and holiness. These verses provide us the source, goal and means of this sanctification. Source: His divine power granted to you Goal: Life and godliness, partakers of divine nature - like God Means: Through true knowledge of Him Only through knowing Jesus-fixing our eyes on and seeking Him-will we b...

[2 Peter 1:2] Peace is an absence of conflict and presence of well-being and wholeness with a sense of blessing. God’s peace can be granted in the midst of conflict. God is the only one with the ability to free our hearts from debilitating worry and establish us in a sense of loving control of our lives, that He is for us. Why are you afraid? Do you have a prayer life, full of thanksgiving? Jesus...

[1 Peter 1:2] Peter wants us to experience God‘s multiplying grace and His peace so that we might live holy and fruitful lives. The Grace of God is something from God to you for your everyday life and every sphere of your life so that you can be fruitful and have hope. Grace is God‘s love and favor embued with power given to the undeserving.

[1 Peter 1:1] Jesus Christ is the one true God and only savior of sinners like us. God is who Jesus is, and Savior is what he has done as Christ-the purpose for which he came into the world.

[2 Peter 1:1] Holiness and certainty go hand in hand, for those who doubt are fruitless and tossed about. Peter writes this second letter to inoculate the saints against false teaching with the truth. What does it mean to be a bond-servant of Jesus Christ and to have the same kind of faith as Peter?

Steve Cowden and Michael Reece visited our brother Andre in the Central African Republic earlier this year and report back what they saw and heard with a presentation full of photos. They also visited Jonathan's House, an orphanage, clinic and school that serves hundreds of children and adults in the area. We praise God for the opportunity he has given us to partner with faithful brethren in Afric...

What are we doing? Appointing an elder before God with His authority: Jonah Stauffer What is our responsibility? As elders: diligently labor, charge over the body, admonish, work, bring the word of God, example of life and faith. As body: appreciate, esteem, love, peace, obey, submit, and let them do their oversight with joy and not grief.

[1 Peter 5:13-14] Family relationships are a precious reality in Christ, full of tender love and peace.

[1 Peter 5:13] Fact. He chooses When. Before the world was Why. Love

[1 Peter 5:12-13a] Silvanus - a faithful brother - take note young men and be faithful in the little things now! Peter is writing to exhort and testify in the true grace of God - stand firm in it!

[1 Peter 5:10-11] Warfare yields a wholeness to our Christian lives that makes us more useful to Jesus. After recounting the glorious truths of life in Christ, believers are moved to exclamations of worship & praise of our sovereign God, maker and ruler of Heaven and earth.

[1 Peter 5:9b] This verse reminds us of seven truths about suffering: it is universal, has purpose, is inevitable, painful, and temporary, God has promised to help us in it and it reminds us of God's call.

[Matt 18:1-6] Jesus answers the question of who is the greatest by showing His disciples a child and launching into an object lesson about humility and love of the brethren. If you see yourself as a needy child before God your Heavenly Father, you will pray to seek His provision, help, salvation. If you love the Lord, you will love His children.