West Lynchburg

James 1 - we can be unshakable because of the wisdom of God James 2 - we can be unshakable by faith in what we do. James 3 - we can be unshakable with our speech. 3 primary characteristics of an unshakable faith that speaks: - Maturity, Consistency, and Purity Matt. 12:34 “For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.”  1) Faith Speaks with Maturity (3:1-5) KEY PHRASE - "he is a per...

James, in chapter 2, warns us of the danger of being confused in the area of having a faith that is false! 4x in this section, James makes it very clear.  v14: “if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?” v17: “Faith by itself … is dead.”  v20: “Faith apart from works is useless.”  v26: “Faith apart from works is dead.” James picks up on Jesus’ warning from Matt...

1. We live to remove the darkness (2:1) 2 Cor 4:4, “In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.”  2 Cor 4:6, “For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus...

Paul points to a few realities of joy that bring unity: 1. We are partners (1:3-5) - Joy comes with a partnership The Philippians church is part of something much bigger than themselves 2. We are a work in progress (1:6) - Joy comes with progress 3. We are united (2:1-2) - Joy comes with unity Paul calls us to unity in our thinking, love, passion, and purpose. (v3-5) We are called to unite with th...

1) Pay Attention to Righteousness (v19-20) * quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger 2) Put aside to Receive (v21) Delight to receive Condition to receive Manner to receive Incentive to receive 3) Prove an abiding (enduring, everlasting) Religion (v22-27) Don’t be Deceived  (v22) Don’t be Distracted (23-25) Don’t be Defiled (v26-27) control your words (the goal is truth) care for the wido...

Romans 12:1-2  1) Understand Temptation (v13-16)   God is not the source of your battles. v 13 – Stop Blaming God v 14 – Start Accepting Responsibility v 15-16 – Stop Being Deceived 6 stages of temptation: 1) Attraction 2) Deception 3) Preoccupation 4) Conception 5) Subjection  6) Desperation  Antitode to the temptations and lies of Satan: We need a deep-seated conviction of th...

I. Lean on our THREE resources (v5-8) a. wisdom (5 If any of you lacks wisdom ) b.  prayer ( let him ask God ) * first - you have to be conscious of your lack of wisdom * second - be willing to humble yourself to ask God * lastly - trust that God is able and willing to supply our deficiencies [God] who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.. * "gives" – God is an...

1) Joy is an internal perspective - Attitude Count it all joy , my brothers , when My brothers – family and pastoral tone JOY is the overarching attitude of this passage. Count – consider – in your inward mind and heart, put a stake in the ground of JOY When –not IF, but when v2 when you meet trials of various kinds , - trials are going to happen… Don’t be surprised. Troubles, disappointments, and...

1) Who is the real James? Son of Joseph & Mary, brother of Jesus Matthew 13:55 , “Is not this the carpenter's son? Is not his mother called Mary? And are not his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? Mark 6:3 , “Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James & Joses and Judas (Jude 1:1) and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?” JAMES is the 2nd born in a f...

1. Because God is in control, MY PLANS HAVE A LIMIT . 2. Because God is in control, MY PROBLEMS HAVE A PURPOSE. 3. Because God is in control, MY PRAYERS HAVE AN IMPACT.

1) WHEN do we need to Call Upon God for Power?   A. We need God’s power to Get Started! B. We need God’s power to Keep Going! 2) HOW do we Call Upon God for Power? a. Admit our lack of power and ASK (Eph 3:20) b. Believe by Faith and THINK (Eph 3:12 & 20) c. Connect  to DO. (Eph 3:20-21)

4 essentials to Calling Upon God for Joy: Call Upon God for…  1) A Perspective to Live From (v12-14) (v12) I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel * It affects unbelievers (v13)   so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ. * It encourages believers (v14)...

Psalm 50:14-15, "Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and perform your vows to the Most High, and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.” In 2023, we must develop a...  1) Heart of Thanksgiving 2) Habit of Obedience  3) Humility of Prayer 

Numbers 24:17, " I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near: a star shall come out of Jacob , and a scepter shall rise out of Israel;" Micah 5:2, " But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days." Wise men - 1) Sought the truth 2) Caugh...

Worship is elevated by... 1) Living & Loving God's Covenant of Marriage (2:10-16)  2) Living & Loving God's  Commitment to Men (2:17-3:6) 3) Giving & Growing Our Best (1:6-2:9) 4) Giving & Growing Our All (3:7-12) 5) Trusting & Turning to God’s Promise of Glorification of God (1:1-5)  God is Love (v2) PAST God is Loyal (v2-4) - PRESENT God is Limitless (v5) - FUT...

Worship is elevated by... 1) Living and Loving God's Covenant of Marriage 2) Living and Loving God's Commitment to Men Malachi: Empty Religion or Vibrant Faith with Possessions Worship is elevated by... 1) Giving and Growing Our Best (1:6-2:9)  2) Giving and Growing Our All (3:6-12) 4-Month Giving Challenge - wlbc.life/four/

Here, worship is broken. It is not acceptable. Presence & emotion are not enough! Sunday worship is only as valid as your life all week Worship is either helped or hindered by: how we treat people - possessions - God’s promises Malachi writes with a Chiastic structure: a literary technique working from the center outward. Worship is elevated by… 1) Living and Loving God's Covenant of Marriage...

Everyone can persevere by understanding 3 life-changing truths: Truth #1: Suffering produces perseverance. All sufferings are not the same and there are three basic types of sufferings. a) Suffering to bring you back to God b) Suffering for others benefit for God’s glory c) Suffering as a Christian in a non-Christian world Truth #2: Perseverance produces character. Truth #3: Character produces hop...

Stand for Truth - 1 Timothy 4:1-9 We are in a Spiritual War 1 Tim 4:1 “Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons,” Deceit is Satan’s most powerful weapon. It looks like truth from the outside, but as we get closer, sometimes it raises questions that we choose to ignore. 1 Tim 4:2 “through th...

3 consistent standards to set in order in every generation of the church 1) Raise Godly Leaders - What Leaders are to be: FAMILY  -   CHARACTER - GIFTING - What Leaders are to do: Protect the flock - Rebuke and Restore 2) Reproduce Growing Disciples Older men - Older women  Younger women - Younger men  3) Reach Grace-starved People Grace redeems us - reforms us - rewards us Rea...

117 year anniversary of West Lynchburg Baptist Church Eph 3:20-21 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. Envision a church where… 1) God’s ability is exhibited (v20) - “Now to him who is able to do” 2) Our aspira...

Soli Deo gloria is the motto that grew out of the Protestant Reformation and was used on every composition by Johann Sebastian Bach and George Frideric Handel with the letters “SDG” Romans 11:36, “For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.” We may often use the phrase glory of God, but what does it mean? The glory of God is the holiness of God put on dis...

Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace you have been saved through faith . And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 2 important truths: grace means 1) God is Good 2) We are not Romans 3:10-12, “ as it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one ; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless...

There are 2 key bible passages that help us with this important doctrine. 1) Romans 1:16-17 2) Romans 3:28 1) What is justification? It means “to declare righteous” BF&M. Justification is God’s gracious and full acquittal upon principles of His righteousness of all sinners who repent and believe in Christ. Justification brings the believer unto a relationship of peace and favor with God. (IV.B...

Matthew 16:13-18, v13 “ Who do people say that the Son of Man is? ”... v15 “ But who do you say that I am? ” 16 Simon Peter replied, “ You are the Christ, the Son of the living God .” Acts 4:12 , And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. 1 Co 3:11 For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is...