Fellowshipmtz

Genesis 2:18-25 God's designed intention was to create the man, followed by the woman as the man's complimentary partner & helper.  These verses which are so often divisive are meant to a beautiful celebration of marriage before sin.

The first few minutes were not recorded, but it was basically review and setting the context for today's teaching.  We took a closer look at God's prohibition concerning "the tree of the knowledge of good and evil" and the declared consequence, "death".  After that we surveyed the next section, verses 18-25 -- noting that verse 18 drives the unfolding narrative.

Genesis 2:7-17 Adam is formed from dirt; at the same time, the LORD God uniquely makes him in His own image, breathing into his nostrils the "breath of life!"

Minor Prophet: Joel 1-2 Our own Dylan Ackley preaches on important themes from Joel chapters 1-2 -- focusing especially on the significance and importance of "the day of the LORD."

Matthew 27:45 - 28:9 Curt Fleck, the Executive Director of Civil Servant Ministry, preaches a "condensed" message from the regular Bible study series  (Matthew's gospel) he hosts with various State governmental officials in Springfield.

Genesis 2:5-17 In today's message we consider difference between vegetation created by God on Day 3 and the description in 2:5, "When no bush of the field was yet in the land and no small plant of the field had yet sprung up—for the LORD God had not caused it to rain on the land, and there was no man to work the ground". We also survey the larger context of verses 5-17 to glean what we can know ab...

Genesis 2:4 -  Genesis 1:1-2:3 narrates seven chronological days of creation (6 days of activity followed by an explicit day of cessation).  Then (apparently without adequate explanation) chapter 2:4ff recounts what appears to be creation with significantly different details.  Are the two "versions" of creation irreconcilable, or are they complimentary?

Resurrection Sunday! On this year's resurrection Sunday we take a closer look at Death, because it's only as we face the reality of death that we can (by the grace of God) celebrate Jesus's resurrection!

Genesis 1:26-31 NOTE: The First five minutes (or so) are missing from the recording.  What was emphasized at the beginning is that the word translated in verses 26-27, "man" is the Hebrew word transliterated, "Adam," and that word is used in these verses as a collective noun for BOTH the first man and the first woman.  Both male & female are created in God's image & likeness, emphasizing a...

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."