Lake Murray BC Podcast

As we reach verse 12 of 1 Timothy, Chapter 1, Paul begins to share his story of salvation. As we study this passage, we're reminded that no testimony is insignificant. Your story is meant to put the transformational power of the Gospel on display.

In this bonus episode,  Pastor David Sons gives points of application for this past week's sermon in 1 Timothy 1:3-11.  Paul's words give us instruction about how the church can be on guard against false teaching.

There were several issues facing Timothy as the young pastor in the church at Ephesus, but at the outset of his letter, Paul draws attention to the most pressing of these issues: the truth of the gospel had come under attack. False teachers in the church and culture had sought to distort the message of Jesus and distract the church from her mission and purpose. Paul begins his letter seeking to en...

Today we begin our new series in 1 Timothy, "Entrusted".  We have been entrusted with a message that changes the world: the reality that through faith in Jesus Christ, we can be made right with God and that in Christ, God is making all things new.

Hebrews 2:1  is very simple and yet profound in its warning and encouragement for us: "...we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it."  Today we'll discuss what "drifting" means in our walk with Christ and how we can prevent it.

Lake Murray Baptist Church is a church committed to the Great Commandment and the Great Commission. Today, we'll set 5 strategic goals for the next 5 years that align with the vision and values of our church.

Who Jesus calls, what he calls them to, and why he calls them is key to understanding the Christian life. In this passage, we will observe how disciples of Jesus become who they were designed to be as they follow him on mission.

Remembering is important. In this message, we'll look to the book of Deuteronomy and see how God continually reminds his people to remember his past faithfulness. Our recollection of what God has done has a direct impact on our present and our future.

What does it look like to prepare for a move or work of God? What does a work of God even look like? As we study the account of Jesus' first miracle, we can observe that preparation for a special work of the Spirit involves simple acts of faithfulness.

In these last few verses of his letter, John wants to remind the church both what he has taught and what they "know". He establishes two primary themes in his letter: "God is light" and "God is love". In God’s light and love we have life--life in his Son, Jesus Christ.

The place of Jesus’ birth is often seen as the most unique aspect of the story: born in a stable, laid in a manger, etc. However, what makes the birth story of Jesus unique is not the place, but the purpose, person, and plan of God revealed to us through his birth.

In the concluding remarks of his letter to the church, John wants to re-emphasize again the importance of recognizing and confessing exactly who Jesus is. The truth of the incarnation, that God became human, was born in a manger to a poor carpenter and his virgin wife, would grow up to live a sinless life, die on the cross as our substitute, and be raised to new life in victory, is the reason we c...

Today’s passage operates as a summary of sorts—the ‘Spark Notes’ version of John's letter.  Throughout the letter, John offers three tests, so that the church would examine their lives to determine whether their faith was genuine: the doctrinal test (right belief), the moral test (obedient living), and the social test (love for God and others). Today, as we study this section of John’s letter...

In this passage, John reminds us of some core truths about love; namely that followers of Jesus show a distinct love that only comes from God.

As Christians, people of the truth, it is incredibly important that we are not spreading disinformation, especially in an age where objective truth is under attack. In our passage this morning, John wants to address the false teachings & teachers who have sought to deceive the church.

We were created to be loved and to love. It is essential to our existence, yet we live in a world that is increasingly confused about what exactly love is. In this passage, John gives insight into what love looks like in the life of the church.

Today, we will see John continue to encourage the church to live faithfully, not only considering Jesus’ second coming, but because of his first. In this text, John wants to deal with the issue of sin in the lives of the believers.

John reminds us in this passage that we are children of the one true God! As God's children, we must hold fast to Christ and remember who we are in him.

In his letter to the church, John presents three tests to believers to evaluate the genuineness of their faith. The church is deeply divided over doctrine. Specifically, the doctrine of the nature of Christ. John wants them to understand the importance of getting this right.

In this passage, John continues his letter by moving from encouragement to exhortation.  John gives clear commands to the church about what they are supposed to be doing—or not doing—because of who they are.

As we continue this morning in 1 John, John breaks off from his train of thought to provide a boost of confidence to his readers. What can we learn from this passage that can encourage us in our own faith and walk as believers? How can this passage help us be confident and assured of God’s love and promise?

Am I truly saved? Is my salvation real? Do I really know God in a way that has implications for my life? These are questions that every believer asks at some point in their walk. In this passage, John is going to give us evidence for how we can know we are saved.

Much of what threatened the church in Ephesus in the 1st century still threatens our churches in the 21st century. In these verses, John addresses false teachings while also talking about how followers of Jesus are to live in the light of the gospel. What can we learn from the Scriptures regarding the assurance of our salvation and how to confidently walk in the truth of the gospel?

In verse 5, John writes that "God is light." What does he mean by this? And how does this truth about who God is inform our understanding of Him and how we should respond to Him?

As we study the first 4 verses of 1 John, we'll see that John testifies to who Jesus really was. Jesus is God in the flesh and has made it possible for us to have fellowship with the Father and complete joy in Him.