Sunday Service

When Jesus was born, hope came into the world. Galatians 4:4 tells us that "But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law.” Paul said it was just the right time. What does that mean?

A couple of weeks ago I titled my message “Mission Possible” with the thought of the television series “Mission Impossible” that always began with a scene where team leader, Mr. Phelps, would receive a “tape”  describing his next mission. The show began with the message, "Your mission, should you choose to accept it..." Paul here in Romans chapter 12 is telling us that our mission as followers of...

How many of you recall back in the late 60’s and early 70’s, the television show that preceded all the “Mission Impossible movies that Tom Cruise made famous and went by the same name, “Mission Impossible”? It always began with a scene in which the team leader, Mr. Phelps, would receive a “tape” (a cassette tape that will tell you how old the show was) describing his next mission. The tape invaria...

Here in Romans 12 we are in the last section of the book. When you study the book of Romans you can break the book down into four parts.  Section 1: The Wrath of God. Chapters 1-3. Section 2: The Grace of God. Chapters 4-8. Section 3. The Plan of God. Chapters 9-11. Section 4. The Will of God. Chapters 12-16.  The apostle Paul is writing to believers here in chapter 12 instruct us in God’s will fo...

I ended the service last week with a question that went like this, “If everyone in the church was just like me, what kind of church would my church be? Would you attend it?” If we each answer that question honestly its all the proof we need that we need each other to fulfill the purpose of God for our lives. We need spiritual gifts to do that.  In Romans chapter 12 Paul lists 7 gifts that are not...

Before we turn to Romans 12 turn with me really quickly to Ephesians 2 and let me ask you a question as we begin our study this morning.  Have you ever really stopped and considered God’s greatest work, His crowning achievement, His masterpiece?  Its you! 

Here in chapter 12 Paul makes a pivot. He spent the first 11 chapters laying out for us all that God has done for us in Christ and now as he closes out the book of Roman’s the apostle Paul spends the last 5 chapters laying out for us what our response to “the mercies” of God. 

When you look at the world around you today what do you see?  Do you feel helpless? Hopeless? Judges 17:6, “In those days Israel had no king; all the people did whatever seemed right in their own eyes” If you are a follower of Jesus you have a weapon at your disposal that can change the world and all it takes is 20 seconds to enact it. Most of us know it by heart. Let’s say it together this mornin...

One of the main lessons we take away from the study of Romans chapters 9-11 is nothing can stop God from fulfilling His word. Not towards the nation of Israel and not towards me and you! God is so faithful even when we are faithless we find over and over again in Romans 9-11. The bottom line is, When God says it that settles it. The nation of Israel is proof. The apostle Paul spends 3 chapters in...

Its been over 2,000 years since The Roman army under Titus rolled into Jerusalem and sacked the city destroying the temple and killing many of the Jews and taking even more captive and dispersing the rest to the far corners of the earth. Jesus prophesied of what would take place for those who would reject so great a salvation. Like anyone who rejects Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, it ends in the...

Chapter 9-11 might best be summed up as God, the Jews and You as the apostle Paul here in Romans chapter 11 makes sure the church understands the message Paul has spent his life sharing with the Jews in every city he visited on his missionary journeys. The jews in large part have rejected Paul’s message of salvation by grace where as the gentiles have largely accepted and embraced the message. The...

The study of eschatology which means “last things” or “end times” has 3 basic positions with regard to the Rapture of the church. There is pre-mid and post tribulation perspectives. I hold firmly to a pre tribulation perspective for many reasons all of which are found in the study of scripture.

Luke 4 gives us an example of how we can beat temptation. Not by our own strength, but by the power of the holy spirit. Jesus was tempted just like we were, although he never gave in to that temptations. Let's look at the example He set by his actions and words...

Hearing the Gospel, the Good News about Jesus Christ is essential to someone experiencing “Saving Faith” Its important to note its not just any kind of faith that saves a person, its faith in Jesus Christ, believing who He is and what He came to do and placing “our weight” upon Him. Remember the word “Believe” in the Bible means more than knowing something. To believe according to the Scriptures i...

Last week I began what I thought was going to be a simple two part series titled “Sharing is Caring” from Romans 10 where we find 7 stages of salvation. The 7 stages are as follows 1. Caring 2. Praying 3. Going 4. Sharing 5. Hearing 6. Believing 7. Calling The first 4 stages, CARING, PRAYING, GOING and SHARING are what believers do with the gospel and the last three, HEARING, BELIEVING and CALLING...

Can you say this with me this morning, “Sharing Is Caring” Every time I hear those words, I am reminded of my granddaughter Reese as when she was about 3-4, her mom and dad were teaching her to share. Believe it or not, we are not born with the desire to share with others. Whenever all our kids would come over with our extended family and the grandkids and nieces and nephews, cousins, and everyone...

The gospel doesn't require us to go find Jesus. We don’t have to work to find Jesus. We don’t have to go up to heaven to find Him, we don’t need to search among the dead as if to bring Him up. Paul says the message is on our lips and in our heart. All we need to do is believe and receive. All we need to do is trust in the word of God and what God has said all along. Verses 6-7 speak of the Incarna...

Don’t you love Paul’s heart for people... He is the real deal. Its why he could say, “be imitators of me as I am of Jesus” or “follow my lead as I follow Jesus” Paul has the heart of an evangelist... If you don’t have a passionate heart it’s hard to reach people. You can tell someone who loves you and cares about you. They take an interest in you. Wherever Paul went no one questioned his passion f...

Dads often times get a bad rap… Humor: The story is told of a family who had three small children who were determined to have a puppy. Mom protested because she knew eventually she would end up caring for the dog. True to form, the children promised that they would take care of it. Eventually, she gave in and they brought their new little puppy home. The children named him Danny and cared for him...

We read last week in Chapter 9 that the apostle Paul was willing to give up his own salvation if only Israel could be saved. He more than anyone knew in spite of the blessings of God upon the nation of Israel, Israel failed. When the Messiah appeared, Israel rejected Him and crucified Him. No one knew this better than Paul, because in his early days he persecuted the church. Jesus said “those who...

As we look at the first part of Romans 9 this morning I am reminded of something CS Lewis once said, “Why love if it hurts so much.” In Romans 9-10 and 11 we get a glimpse of the passion of the apostle Paul for his jewish brethren. Though Paul is the apostle to the gentiles by God’s calling, Paul has a deep love for the nation of Israel and the tone of the next three chapters is a contrast to what...

We choose to remember the supreme sacrifice on this Memorial Day weekend and to appreciate the great men and women of our armed forces who have paid the ultimate sacrifice so that we could know the freedoms we enjoy today.