Wayside Bible Chapel

This year's Good Friday message was an overview of the war of the ages, the only war that really counts in eternity. We skim through history and see how this war culminated in the final battle that was won on the cross. The paradox was that through defeat and death, Jesus actually won the war. "It is finished!" was a victory shout.

Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem was filled with intrigue. There were different powers and political views that all factored into that day. There were also numerous prophecies, some of which the crowd was singing. But Jesus knew things would not turn out as the crowd hoped. Nevertheless, he wept for them and what He could see coming. The message concludes with how this account brought two dif...

In this passage, Paul gives multiple reasons full-time ministers should be supported. Then he declares he is free to deny himself that privilege. Paul did not want anything to interfere with the message of the gospel, so he poured himself out into teaching and working for the sake of the Corinthians. His zeal challenges us to give our all and to let no personal freedom interfere with communicating...

In this chapter, Paul instructs us that knowledge without love can be harmful to weaker believers. We need to set aside our freedoms to not offend our weaker brothers and sisters. Paul went to a great extent to not stumble those who were weak in the faith because of his concern for their eternal souls. If we stumble them because of our "knowledge" we can destroy someone for whom Jesus died!

In this passage, Paul addresses a question the church had about sexuality. Should people marry or remain single? What about a couple who is betrothed? As Paul often does, he gets down to the heart of the issue, but he also addresses the fact that the current situation is a major factor in our choices.

New believers in Corinth wanted to change their employment because of the persecution they would face, but Paul encourages them to stay and be a witness. God has sovereignly assigned us our lot in life. He has us where we are to be a witness. This sermon shows the need for Christians to be in every part of society.

In 1 Corinthians 7, the Apostle Paul teaches on God's plan for sexuality in marriage. Unlike those who were teaching abstinence, Paul taught that regular sex with the bounds of married life helped both partners avoid temptation. He also teaches on being single, and under what conditions it is permissible to separate.

When the Scriptures declare those who are in Christ are free, what does that mean? The church of Corinth took it to include acting outside of the boundaries found in other passages. Paul brings it back to the fact that our bodies belong to God. He purchased us with His body and blood. Our freedom is from the enslavement of sin, to glorify God, and lead others to that same freedom.

The first half of 1 Corinthians 6 deals with the Corinthian church's bad example of taking their differences to civil court. Paul tells them the humblest person in the church could decide the issue better than the local magistrate. Anyone with the Spirit of God should be able to arbitrate more fairly than an unbeliever. It presented a poor example to the city.

The church in Corinth thought grace was a license to sin. But God did not save us so we could stay in sin, but that we might forsake sin. If we love one another, and if we realize the damage sin does in our lives, we will lovingly and gently dissuade one another from sinful behavior. Instead, we will encourage one another to pursue holiness.

Our passage for this sermon is a warning to believers to live up to what they know. Head knowledge needs to become heart and body action or it means little. Paul encouraged them to imitate his way of life. Would we ask fellow Christians the same? If not, what needs to change in our daily lives?

In the passage we cover in the sermon, Paul reminds us that we have no reason to be proud or to boast in men. Everything we have comes from God and He is the One in whom we should boast. We should never go beyond what is written in God's Word if we want to be truly blessed.

The Corinthians were divided over who was the best teacher, but in the passage today, Paul explains that all the teachers are their servants. Even more than that, all things are ours. That is because we belong to Christ, and He is God's. It is a concept that is difficult for us to believe, but if we do, it changes our whole outlook on life.

Our passage for this sermon describes those who build the temple of God made up of the living stones which are believers in Jesus. But it also warns of those who tear down the building through their false teaching and selfish agendas. We all have a part to play in building the temple of God and we must take great care in how we build. Our eternal condition is affected by it.

Are science and religion at odds? This year starts with a review of Eric Metaxas book Is Atheism Dead? In this short summary, we'll see how modern education has withheld from us the incredible odds that show life could not possibly have come about by chance. We'll see why seraphim sing that the whole earth is full of His glory. And we will wonder at the great faith of the educated atheist!

There has been a cosmic battle for the souls of men and women from the beginning of creation. Jesus' birth was the turning point in that battle. It was a kind of sneak attack that would end in the fulfillment of the promise to Eve that the battle would be won in an unusual way.

The root of the problem of factionalism in Corinth was their spiritual immaturity. The sermon explains from Scripture just how that immaturity is expressed and how we grow beyond it.

The world's wisdom is foolishness to God and yet we so often lean on it instead of looking to the wisdom that comes from above. The eternal wisdom that comes from God is often the opposite of what the world thinks. Yet, it is the answer to the world's problems. Jesus showed us that it is better to give than receive. In giving His life, He conquered sin and death and purchased His bride.

Paul was determined to preach the cross and trust the Holy Spirit to convey to listeners' hearts the power that it has to convict of sin and reveal the love of God. In this message, you will hear of dozens of effects that the Scriptures tell us the cross has in our lives.

This message touches on the fact that God's wisdom is infinitely superior to that of man. God chooses those that this world looks down on and reveals to them His divine wisdom demonstrated on the cross. While the Corinthians were pridefully associating themselves with an individual teacher whom they thought to be the best, Paul was telling them that the kingdom of God does not work along those lin...

Psalm 118 repeats the national anthem of Israel. It is a message we desperately need today. Gratitude should be the key element in every human heart, but especially in the hearts of believers. God has shown His love for us, declared His promises to us, and prepared a future for us that is greater than we can imagine. Though we have trials in this life, we are blessed beyond measure, and it is only...

In the passage for this week Paul quotes from Isaiah to explain that God doesn't honor what the world honors. He calls those who are weak and inconsequential. And the reason He does that is because it shows how foolish man's wisdom is. The place where God has supremely destroyed all human arrogance and pretension is the cross.

Paul begins his corrections to the church in Corinth by addressing the cult of personality. Division and strife over which elder was the favorite was harming the testimony of Christ in that city. The problem is just as prevalent today. How is a church supposed to function according to Scripture? The sermon addresses which issues are essential and what a person should do about disagreement over min...

Verses 4-9 of the first chapter in the letter to the Corinthians tells them of Paul's thankfulness for the growth he has seen in them. He reminds them that they have all that they need to see them through to the return of Christ. And perhaps most encouraging of all, he tells them that God will present them guiltless on the day of Jesus' appearing and keeping them in fellowship with Jesus. It was a...

The first three verses of the first letter to the Corinthians give Paul's typical greeting, but in that greeting, we can see the gospel of grace. It was grace that called Paul to be an apostle. It was grace that calls us to be saints. It is grace that sees us as sanctified. In the light of these wonders the world's typical greeting of that day, "grace and peace," took on a much richer meaning. Are...