Gooch Lane Church of Christ Podcast

There is great excitement in becoming a Christian and knowing that salvation is secured through the power of Jesus Christ. Still, the pressures of life, temptation, and plain old apathy can sometimes cause those once faithful to allow their excitement to wane. God does not want this, and He provides many ways to keep this flame burning. This sermon will examine the encouragement given to early Chr...

A true understanding of sin's consequences will create excitement about God’s plan of salvation. Understanding what God offers will be pursued with zeal to enter into eternal union with Him. A point brought out clearly in the books of Ephesians and Titus is this zeal will be seen in good works by those who love the Lord and receive His gracious salvation. This is what God has always wanted. This s...

Those in specialized military training fully understand the power of motivation. Often, these men and women must endure what many would consider brutal training to achieve the desired success or promotion. Always keeping eyes fixed on the end goal motivates one to continue the training. Christian soldiers can learn much from this! This sermon will make these comparisons and explain how the people...

Often, the short account of Nadab & Abihu is lifted from its context, and in doing so, important learning from this text is missed. This study will focus not only on the sins of these two men but also on the actions of their father and brothers. A sermon given by Greg Chandler on March 2, 2024.

While pain is a part of every life, it is rarely, if ever, easy to bear. Many people struggle with emotions toward self, others, and God in the face of these difficulties. In this, we are not alone; humans of all generations have faced these crises. In His great wisdom, God preserved a psalm of David to help us in times of need. This study will explore how David dealt with the dilemma he faced and...

The word hope makes its first appearance in the New Testament via an Old Testament quote used by Matthew. In the midst of accounts illustrating the Pharisee’s rejection of Jesus, Matthew boldly claims that Jesus is the Servant of the Lord about whom Isaiah prophesied many years earlier and that it is this Servant who is the salvation of all the world. This study will focus on Matthew’s use of this...

Member speaker Anthony Dempsey presents a sermon on living for eternity. A sermon given on Feburary 16, 2025.

Does Christianity call on us to believe the unbelievable? If yes, God has commanded us to do the impossible. Does Christianity call on us to believe the unexpected? The answer to this question is a resounding yes! Salvation for people who want out of the pit of sin is a gracious and merciful gift from our Lord. The Bible explains this in many ways and through many people; however, one of the most...

This sermon will center on Jesus' confrontation with the Jews (as recorded in John 8), which ultimately led Him to declare that their father is the devil.  A sermon given by Greg Chandler on February 2, 2025.

Disaster is assured if we do not take the threat of our spiritual enemies seriously. While God does not give a great amount of detail on these enemies, what He does tell us should make us realize the magnitude of the war in which we are engaged. In Ephesians 6, the Apostle Paul shares details about these enemies and admonishes the Christian army to take up the whole armor of God. This study will f...

As Paul draws the Ephesian letter to a close, he admonishes his readers to demonstrate two great signs of strength. Ironically, the first of these is often viewed as weakness; in the eyes of many, submission to another's will reflects inferiority. This, however, could not be farther from the truth. This study will examine the apostle’s view of submission through his three examples. Husbands and wi...

Larry Vinson is an evangelist living and working in Malawi, Africa. During a visit to the U.S., he brought us this message.

Subtle and not-so-subtle happenings around us can significantly impact how we think, even when we do not realize it. The Apostle Paul was well aware of this and warned the Christians of Ephesus to maintain their guard against the corrupt culture in which they lived. Setting the highest of standards, he told them to “walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us, a fragrant offering a...

From an early age, most children hear many admonitions about the choices that they will make in life. Wise parents seek to help their children have a better future through this good teaching. In writing to the Christians at Ephesus, the Apostle Paul spoke of choices, making it clear that wise decisions spring from the right mindset. He instructed his first-century readers, as well as every reader...

Churches serve a significant place in the plan of God. Small bands of Christians join together to both worship and carry out the work God has given them as lampstands holding up the light of Christ in their community. God has entrusted elders with the duty of shepherding and deacons to serve these churches. Deacons serve a vital role in a church’s work running smoothly as they typically work behin...

After Paul’s grand description of God’s plan of salvation as a mystery now revealed, he turns attention to how this should impact those who faithfully choose to follow God. While one might expect Paul to discuss several moral or doctrinal issues, he instead turns His attention to unity. Indeed, a God who has sought to draw the families of heaven and earth together and who has broken down the wall...

“Seeing the Big Picture” is a phrase that has been in our vocabulary for at least 75 years. It denotes understanding how all the perceived “smaller parts” work together as a whole. Ephesians 1-3 is a “big picture” view of God’s grand plan of salvation. In these chapters, Paul demonstrates how the mystery has been revealed in Jesus Christ and, as he brings these powerful thoughts to a climax, he pr...

A report by Larry Vinson on his work preaching the gospel in Malawi. A sermon given by Larry Vinson on December 15, 2024.

Mysteries have long been a staple of popular literature. Readers enjoy putting the pieces together, including that final piece that helps everything make sense. In the book of Ephesians, the Apostle Paul employs the term mystery to the plan of God. He explains that it is through Jesus that the mystery is made known. This study will examine the implications of this revealed mystery, seeing what it...

Knowing your family history is not always a good thing. While those related to presidents, celebrities, and philanthropists will brag about their DNA connection, it is a different story when the genealogy is filled with criminals and reprobates; these details are often left unspoken. As Paul wrote to the Ephesians, he told the Gentiles about their family history, and it was nothing to bring pride....

This sermon will explore Paul’s powerful introduction to the book of Ephesians. In a sermon entitled, “Who is Chosen,” this rich text will be explored, along with a discussion of how it is often interpreted by those who hold to Calvinist doctrine. A sermon given by Greg Chandler on December 1, 2024.

As the Apostle Paul wrote to the Ephesians, he shared a very comforting thought that he was praying for them. This prayer was not for physical needs; rather, it was for their growth in understanding what is possible when one has faith in Jesus. This sermon will explore the three requests he made for believers both then and to come.  A sermon given by Greg Chandler on December 1, 2024.

Feeling powerless is a frightening experience, yet it is one that often confronts humanity. Both in ancient times as well as modern, men and women struggle when they feel there is no one to help. In defeating such feelings, the author of Psalm 124 robustly stated that the Lord was on His side; later, Israelites would take the psalm as a hymn of victory to remind them of who fought their battles. T...

Sometimes being close is good, but not good enough. Luke illustrates this with two accounts, one dealing with a foreigner and one with the Jews. As he recounts these events, he demonstrates that while the Jews in Jesus’ presence are close to understanding his greatness, it is the foreigner who really “gets it.” These ancient accounts provide very important lessons for a modern audience. This study...

Member speaker Brian Moore brings us a sermon about courage. A sermon given on November 10, 2024.